I also write for The Football Reporer now, here's last night's match report, also on Suite101:
http://www.thefootballreporter.com/public/story.aspx?messageid=3326
Thursday, 3 March 2011
Saturday, 19 February 2011
Toffees Topple Cup Holders Chelsea (external link)
You can now follow me at Suite101! Here's a match report from today's FA Cup 4th round replay between Everton and Chelsea:
http://www.suite101.com/content/toffess-topple-cup-holders-chelsea-a349789
http://www.suite101.com/content/toffess-topple-cup-holders-chelsea-a349789
Sunday, 13 February 2011
Matri Dents Inter’s Title Hopes
Juventus 1 Inter Milan 0
Leonardo saw the Nerazzurri lose for only the second time of his managerial reign in the Derby d’Italia continuing the visitors’ poor record in Turin, with the home side managing a clean sheet for the first time in 2011. Alessandro Matri’s header on the half hour proved to be the difference between these two giants, sending Juventus sixth and leaving Inter eight points behind Serie A leaders A. C. Milan putting their chances of retaining the Scudetto into further doubt.
Just four of Luigi Delneri’s starting XI were playing for the Turin club this time last year, with the much travelled Luca Toni partnering his fellow January transfer window signing from Cagliari up front. Leonardo picked the same team which took to the field in the remarkable 5-3 win over Roma last weekend. Unlike that fixture though this was a more tense affair with the message that today was a game neither could afford to lose clearly having been imparted to the players from their coaches.
Andrea Ranocchia again showed very little evidence of his high rating with another poor display at the back with Ivan Cordoba. Time and again he made errors which on another day would have cost him dear. It should be noted that the centre back pairing which won last season’s unprecedented treble, Lucio and Walter Samuel, are both out injured at the moment and it is one area of the pitch where there isn’t a lot of cover.
Juventus exploited this weakness and after ten minutes a Giorgio Chiellini cross, playing at left back the position he started his career in, was headed over by Toni. The visitors did look dangerous with balls over the top with Giampaolo Pazzini giving chase. The former Sampdoria favourite was wrongly flagged offside on a couple of occasions by the officials; such was Inter’s luck that these tight calls went against them.
Milos Krasic coming inside from the right wing gave the Nerazzurri problems with the ageing Javier Zanetti showing that three games in a week, including his one hundred and thirty ninth cap for Argentina against Portugal, was perhaps a little too much for him. Sneijder looked fatigued as well, failing to have the influence and impact the Dutchman had last weekend and on international duty.
Delneri’s side could not make the most of a 3-on-3 counter with Cordoba stepping up to snuff out the danger. The match winner came from Krasic’s ability to commit players. Both Zanetti and compatriot Esteban Cambiasso tracked him wide on the right and he laid it back to young Freddy Sorensen up from full back in space. A cross from the Dane was missed by Cordoba and that gave Matri the space for a free header which he put into the corner with Julio Cesar stranded to net for the third time in three matches.
Inter continued to have good possession either side of the break, but never seemed to do anything particularly creative or forward-thinking with the ball. Matri spurned another opportunity that would have seen the Turin outfit increase their lead eight minutes into the second half. Krasic provided the ball in, but this time the former Cagliari striker’s header was off target.
The Nerazzurri boss looked to Goran Pandev off the bench replacing the absent Kharja, but nothing clear cut came for the visitors until late in the match. After an encouraging display in the target man role, Toni was replaced by Vincenzo Iaquinta who offered nothing like the same outlet through the last quarter of the match. Matri took a blow to the ribs and was in some discomfort, but Delneri somewhat surprisingly kept him on the pitch. Claudio Marchisio who had kept Maicon’s forays from right back down to a minimum with the help of Chiellini on the left side departed for Simone Pepe and after Felipe Melo began to struggle he too was brought off for Momo Sissoko leaving no more substitutes at Juventus’s disposal.
A poor Sorensen back pass had Eto’o marauding in on goal from off the left wing, but Buffon was alert and came off his line to block an effort from the Cameroonian. Inter pressed for an equaliser inside the last ten minutes and again the home side were indebted to their goalkeeper. Sneijder’s ball over the top found Eto’o racing through again coming in from a wide position, but Italy's number one smothered out the danger. Despite playing through the pain Matri missed a further opportunity at the other end, volleying wide from Pepe’s cut back.
With a minute to go Eto’o unbelievably spurned a guilt edge chance, an effective open goal from four yards out was not found. A Maicon cross eluded everybody at the near post and the twenty seven goal striker came steaming in at the back stick, but somehow put his shot against the bar. It was a big let off for Juventus, but they hung on to secure what might prove a vital win come the end of the season and it could well be the difference between them settling for the Europa or making a return to the Champions League.
The Nerazzurri were not at their best today and problems at the back are apparent. This wasn’t exactly the most convincing display from their hosts either, with Barzagli and Bonucci having about the same experience as a centre half pairing as Inter’s defensive duo. The big names did not perform at the end of what has been a demanding week. This fixture was compelling evidence that there is at least something in claims that internationals are a tiring experience.
Leonardo saw the Nerazzurri lose for only the second time of his managerial reign in the Derby d’Italia continuing the visitors’ poor record in Turin, with the home side managing a clean sheet for the first time in 2011. Alessandro Matri’s header on the half hour proved to be the difference between these two giants, sending Juventus sixth and leaving Inter eight points behind Serie A leaders A. C. Milan putting their chances of retaining the Scudetto into further doubt.
Just four of Luigi Delneri’s starting XI were playing for the Turin club this time last year, with the much travelled Luca Toni partnering his fellow January transfer window signing from Cagliari up front. Leonardo picked the same team which took to the field in the remarkable 5-3 win over Roma last weekend. Unlike that fixture though this was a more tense affair with the message that today was a game neither could afford to lose clearly having been imparted to the players from their coaches.
Andrea Ranocchia again showed very little evidence of his high rating with another poor display at the back with Ivan Cordoba. Time and again he made errors which on another day would have cost him dear. It should be noted that the centre back pairing which won last season’s unprecedented treble, Lucio and Walter Samuel, are both out injured at the moment and it is one area of the pitch where there isn’t a lot of cover.
Juventus exploited this weakness and after ten minutes a Giorgio Chiellini cross, playing at left back the position he started his career in, was headed over by Toni. The visitors did look dangerous with balls over the top with Giampaolo Pazzini giving chase. The former Sampdoria favourite was wrongly flagged offside on a couple of occasions by the officials; such was Inter’s luck that these tight calls went against them.
Milos Krasic coming inside from the right wing gave the Nerazzurri problems with the ageing Javier Zanetti showing that three games in a week, including his one hundred and thirty ninth cap for Argentina against Portugal, was perhaps a little too much for him. Sneijder looked fatigued as well, failing to have the influence and impact the Dutchman had last weekend and on international duty.
Delneri’s side could not make the most of a 3-on-3 counter with Cordoba stepping up to snuff out the danger. The match winner came from Krasic’s ability to commit players. Both Zanetti and compatriot Esteban Cambiasso tracked him wide on the right and he laid it back to young Freddy Sorensen up from full back in space. A cross from the Dane was missed by Cordoba and that gave Matri the space for a free header which he put into the corner with Julio Cesar stranded to net for the third time in three matches.
Inter continued to have good possession either side of the break, but never seemed to do anything particularly creative or forward-thinking with the ball. Matri spurned another opportunity that would have seen the Turin outfit increase their lead eight minutes into the second half. Krasic provided the ball in, but this time the former Cagliari striker’s header was off target.
The Nerazzurri boss looked to Goran Pandev off the bench replacing the absent Kharja, but nothing clear cut came for the visitors until late in the match. After an encouraging display in the target man role, Toni was replaced by Vincenzo Iaquinta who offered nothing like the same outlet through the last quarter of the match. Matri took a blow to the ribs and was in some discomfort, but Delneri somewhat surprisingly kept him on the pitch. Claudio Marchisio who had kept Maicon’s forays from right back down to a minimum with the help of Chiellini on the left side departed for Simone Pepe and after Felipe Melo began to struggle he too was brought off for Momo Sissoko leaving no more substitutes at Juventus’s disposal.
A poor Sorensen back pass had Eto’o marauding in on goal from off the left wing, but Buffon was alert and came off his line to block an effort from the Cameroonian. Inter pressed for an equaliser inside the last ten minutes and again the home side were indebted to their goalkeeper. Sneijder’s ball over the top found Eto’o racing through again coming in from a wide position, but Italy's number one smothered out the danger. Despite playing through the pain Matri missed a further opportunity at the other end, volleying wide from Pepe’s cut back.
With a minute to go Eto’o unbelievably spurned a guilt edge chance, an effective open goal from four yards out was not found. A Maicon cross eluded everybody at the near post and the twenty seven goal striker came steaming in at the back stick, but somehow put his shot against the bar. It was a big let off for Juventus, but they hung on to secure what might prove a vital win come the end of the season and it could well be the difference between them settling for the Europa or making a return to the Champions League.
The Nerazzurri were not at their best today and problems at the back are apparent. This wasn’t exactly the most convincing display from their hosts either, with Barzagli and Bonucci having about the same experience as a centre half pairing as Inter’s defensive duo. The big names did not perform at the end of what has been a demanding week. This fixture was compelling evidence that there is at least something in claims that internationals are a tiring experience.
Saturday, 12 February 2011
Rooney Wonder Strike Wins Manchester Derby
Man United 2 Man City 1
An out of this world overhead kick proved to be the difference between the Red Devils and the Citizens at Old Trafford as the home side extended their lead at the top of the Premier League table to seven points and now sit eight ahead of their neighbours.
City were by far the better side in the first half, but as is so often the case it was United who went in at the break with a lead courtesy of a smash and grab Nani goal. A lead that Sir Alex’s side scarcely deserved on their opening forty-five display was cancelled out by a real stroke of fortune for the blues. Substitute Edin Dzeko’s shot cannoned off the back of David Silva to level the score, but Wayne Rooney completed his rehabilitation in the eyes of Red Devils fans with a world class finish twelve minutes from time.
When the team sheets came in there was a real fear that this match might repeat the drab goalless draw at Eastlands earlier in the season, with both Ferguson and Mancini going with five in midfield. Right from the first whistle these concerns were allayed, as the first real opening camie inside four minutes and for the visitors. Silva attacked down the right and fed Yaya Toure, who passed to Tevez who slipped the Spaniard in who had continued his run into the box, but poked his shot wide of Edwin Van Der Sar’s goal from a narrowing angle.
Much of City’s joy came from exploiting the space in the right channel between Vidic and Evra. On the quarter hour Silva fed Toure, but Chris Smalling came across to put it behind for a corner. The young defender had been earmarked by many as a weak link in the United back line, but performed with composure and maturity beyond his years throughout.
Similarly for the visitors, Vincent Kompany had an impressive display despite receiving the first booking of the match from referee Andre Mariner for a foul on Wayne Rooney. He was strong in the air all afternoon, riling the man he was marking. Further up the field City showed wonderful off-the-ball movement with Kolarov ending a spell of possession with a shot over from edge of the box.
It took United over half an hour to create a real chance. Ryan Giggs’s deep cross was met by the head of Darren Fletcher, but it was straight at Joe Hart. Nani then began to come off the right wing and had two sighters before firing the Red Devils into a half time lead. Van Der Sar’s long kick up field towards Rooney was won by the England striker in the air ahead of Joleon Lescott, Giggs then put a first time pass towards the Portuguese winger down the middle. His first touch was exquisite to bring the ball down and he rolled it into the corner with Hart exposed.
Mancini introduced Shaun Wright-Phillips off the bench five minutes after the break and Dzeko came on at the hour mark. The substitutes combined to set up the equaliser. Wright-Phillips put a low cross into Dzeko’s path and his shot deflected off the back of Silva with the ball looping into the corner with Van Der Sar wrong-footed. Ferguson responded to being pegged back by throwing Premier League top scorer Dimitar Berbatov on, but it fell to his strike partner to steal the headlines and earn the Red Devils the three points.
After some great build up, Nani’s cross from the right took a nick off a City defender but reached Rooney at the perfect height to execute his overhead kick which flew into the top corner leaving Hart with no chance. It’s no exaggeration to say that the United winner was worthy of settling any game and the strike will be one that is talked about for years to come. What technique and confidence to attempt such an audacious effort!
The extraordinary goal is not something that Mancini and the City players will admire as they have lost further ground on their neighbours and now face a mountain that may be too great to climb in order to win the Premier League title. The race is by no means over, but only Arsenal can now feel confident of catching United.
An out of this world overhead kick proved to be the difference between the Red Devils and the Citizens at Old Trafford as the home side extended their lead at the top of the Premier League table to seven points and now sit eight ahead of their neighbours.
City were by far the better side in the first half, but as is so often the case it was United who went in at the break with a lead courtesy of a smash and grab Nani goal. A lead that Sir Alex’s side scarcely deserved on their opening forty-five display was cancelled out by a real stroke of fortune for the blues. Substitute Edin Dzeko’s shot cannoned off the back of David Silva to level the score, but Wayne Rooney completed his rehabilitation in the eyes of Red Devils fans with a world class finish twelve minutes from time.
When the team sheets came in there was a real fear that this match might repeat the drab goalless draw at Eastlands earlier in the season, with both Ferguson and Mancini going with five in midfield. Right from the first whistle these concerns were allayed, as the first real opening camie inside four minutes and for the visitors. Silva attacked down the right and fed Yaya Toure, who passed to Tevez who slipped the Spaniard in who had continued his run into the box, but poked his shot wide of Edwin Van Der Sar’s goal from a narrowing angle.
Much of City’s joy came from exploiting the space in the right channel between Vidic and Evra. On the quarter hour Silva fed Toure, but Chris Smalling came across to put it behind for a corner. The young defender had been earmarked by many as a weak link in the United back line, but performed with composure and maturity beyond his years throughout.
Similarly for the visitors, Vincent Kompany had an impressive display despite receiving the first booking of the match from referee Andre Mariner for a foul on Wayne Rooney. He was strong in the air all afternoon, riling the man he was marking. Further up the field City showed wonderful off-the-ball movement with Kolarov ending a spell of possession with a shot over from edge of the box.
It took United over half an hour to create a real chance. Ryan Giggs’s deep cross was met by the head of Darren Fletcher, but it was straight at Joe Hart. Nani then began to come off the right wing and had two sighters before firing the Red Devils into a half time lead. Van Der Sar’s long kick up field towards Rooney was won by the England striker in the air ahead of Joleon Lescott, Giggs then put a first time pass towards the Portuguese winger down the middle. His first touch was exquisite to bring the ball down and he rolled it into the corner with Hart exposed.
Mancini introduced Shaun Wright-Phillips off the bench five minutes after the break and Dzeko came on at the hour mark. The substitutes combined to set up the equaliser. Wright-Phillips put a low cross into Dzeko’s path and his shot deflected off the back of Silva with the ball looping into the corner with Van Der Sar wrong-footed. Ferguson responded to being pegged back by throwing Premier League top scorer Dimitar Berbatov on, but it fell to his strike partner to steal the headlines and earn the Red Devils the three points.
After some great build up, Nani’s cross from the right took a nick off a City defender but reached Rooney at the perfect height to execute his overhead kick which flew into the top corner leaving Hart with no chance. It’s no exaggeration to say that the United winner was worthy of settling any game and the strike will be one that is talked about for years to come. What technique and confidence to attempt such an audacious effort!
The extraordinary goal is not something that Mancini and the City players will admire as they have lost further ground on their neighbours and now face a mountain that may be too great to climb in order to win the Premier League title. The race is by no means over, but only Arsenal can now feel confident of catching United.
Wednesday, 9 February 2011
England Come from Behind in Copenhagen
Denmark 1 England 2
A first international goal for Ashley Young twenty minutes from time ensured that Fabio Capello’s Three Lions fought back from a goal down to beat Martin Olsen’s side in the Parken Stadium. Daniel Agger had given the Danish an early lead, heading in a cross from the eye-catching Christian Eriksen, but with little more than ten minutes played England had responded and equalised through Darren Bent.
Jack Wilshere got his first start and looked solid in a deep lying role in midfield. The home side wasted a couple of early half chances through the profligate Nicklas Bendtner, but it was the visitors who created the first clear sight of goal. Bent pounced on a slack backpass, but Thomas Sorensen came off his line sharply to smother. Wayne Rooney was the first to rebound but was forced wide and Mathias Jorgensen cleared his shot off the line.
With seven minutes played Michael Krohn-Dehli who also had an excellent game for the Danes passed into Eriksen and the Ajax prodigy’s cross was met by the flying Agger ahead of Michael Dawson whose header went beyond Joe Hart to give Olsen’s men the lead. Capello got an instant response to going a goal and two and a half minutes later England were on level terms. After patient build up and a lengthy spell of possession, Rooney had the vision to find Theo Walcott with an inspired cross field pass. The Arsenal winger then showed strength and skill to get the better of Simon Poulsen and his cross was tapped home by Bent about a yard out.
Eriksen continued to be a thorn in the side of the Three Lions. Taking up a position in the hole every Danish attack went through him and were it not for good tracking back from Wilshere and Dawson’s tackle on Bendtner the home side might have had another clear sight of goal. With ten minutes to go to the break the England captain Frank Lampard allowed Eriksen to drift away from him and free the Ajax forward exchanged passes with Bendtner before cracking a shot from the edge of the area that came back off the post. Krohn-Dehli blazed the rebound well over.
The visitors continued to live dangerously as half time approached. Eriksen slipped a ball in to Rommedahl between Terry and Ashley Cole and his shot form a tightening angle was saved by the legs of Hart to keep the score even. At the interval Capello swapped Lampard, Rooney and Wilshere for Gareth Barry, Scott Parker and Ashley Young and these changes had the desired effect. England pressed for a second goal, with the Aston Villa front line almost combining, but Sorensen bravely punched with Bent lurking. Young had chipped up a cute cross from his teammate. James Milner also posed a threat down the left, putting in some dangerous balls into the box.
Denmark had a great chance of their own to retake the lead with a quarter of the match remaining. Krohn-Dheli found Eriksen yet again and his audacious back heel set up Rommedahl but he couldn’t put his shot across Hart and the Manchester City keeper smothered it out with his body. The Danish number nine would get caught in possession by Glen Johnson and this would lead to the visitors getting their winner. The Liverpool full back played a crisp pass into Young’s path and he slotted it past the exposed Sorensen at the near post.
The victory is Capello’s first since the win in Switzerland, with a subsequent draw with Montenegro and defeat at the hands of France in the interim. There are a number of positives for England fans to take from tonight’s performance. Resiliency, patient build-up and good football got their reward, but some of the defending needs to be tightened up. Wilshere acquitted himself well in the middle of park. For Denmark there’s no doubt Eriksen is a real talent and one of Scandinavian football’s players to watch in future.
A first international goal for Ashley Young twenty minutes from time ensured that Fabio Capello’s Three Lions fought back from a goal down to beat Martin Olsen’s side in the Parken Stadium. Daniel Agger had given the Danish an early lead, heading in a cross from the eye-catching Christian Eriksen, but with little more than ten minutes played England had responded and equalised through Darren Bent.
Jack Wilshere got his first start and looked solid in a deep lying role in midfield. The home side wasted a couple of early half chances through the profligate Nicklas Bendtner, but it was the visitors who created the first clear sight of goal. Bent pounced on a slack backpass, but Thomas Sorensen came off his line sharply to smother. Wayne Rooney was the first to rebound but was forced wide and Mathias Jorgensen cleared his shot off the line.
With seven minutes played Michael Krohn-Dehli who also had an excellent game for the Danes passed into Eriksen and the Ajax prodigy’s cross was met by the flying Agger ahead of Michael Dawson whose header went beyond Joe Hart to give Olsen’s men the lead. Capello got an instant response to going a goal and two and a half minutes later England were on level terms. After patient build up and a lengthy spell of possession, Rooney had the vision to find Theo Walcott with an inspired cross field pass. The Arsenal winger then showed strength and skill to get the better of Simon Poulsen and his cross was tapped home by Bent about a yard out.
Eriksen continued to be a thorn in the side of the Three Lions. Taking up a position in the hole every Danish attack went through him and were it not for good tracking back from Wilshere and Dawson’s tackle on Bendtner the home side might have had another clear sight of goal. With ten minutes to go to the break the England captain Frank Lampard allowed Eriksen to drift away from him and free the Ajax forward exchanged passes with Bendtner before cracking a shot from the edge of the area that came back off the post. Krohn-Dehli blazed the rebound well over.
The visitors continued to live dangerously as half time approached. Eriksen slipped a ball in to Rommedahl between Terry and Ashley Cole and his shot form a tightening angle was saved by the legs of Hart to keep the score even. At the interval Capello swapped Lampard, Rooney and Wilshere for Gareth Barry, Scott Parker and Ashley Young and these changes had the desired effect. England pressed for a second goal, with the Aston Villa front line almost combining, but Sorensen bravely punched with Bent lurking. Young had chipped up a cute cross from his teammate. James Milner also posed a threat down the left, putting in some dangerous balls into the box.
Denmark had a great chance of their own to retake the lead with a quarter of the match remaining. Krohn-Dheli found Eriksen yet again and his audacious back heel set up Rommedahl but he couldn’t put his shot across Hart and the Manchester City keeper smothered it out with his body. The Danish number nine would get caught in possession by Glen Johnson and this would lead to the visitors getting their winner. The Liverpool full back played a crisp pass into Young’s path and he slotted it past the exposed Sorensen at the near post.
The victory is Capello’s first since the win in Switzerland, with a subsequent draw with Montenegro and defeat at the hands of France in the interim. There are a number of positives for England fans to take from tonight’s performance. Resiliency, patient build-up and good football got their reward, but some of the defending needs to be tightened up. Wilshere acquitted himself well in the middle of park. For Denmark there’s no doubt Eriksen is a real talent and one of Scandinavian football’s players to watch in future.
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