FA Barclays Premiership Report (16th - 18th October)

AFTER another international breather, the Premiership returned to action.  This weekend’s highlights included another painful defeat for Liverpool, another lead thrown away by Manchester United and more controversy about the very unclear offside ruling.  Basically, a typical weekend then. . .

Sunday 17^th October: Everton 2-0 Liverpool

AFTER a week that seemed more fitting for a storyline in Brookside, Liverpool’s on-field issues continued with another limp display that saw Roy Hodgson’s men crash to a sorry 2-0 defeat in the Merseyside derby.  With new owner John W. Henry in attendance, he saw first-hand of the issues currently in the Anfield changing room.  Forget restraining orders and injunctions, Liverpool need orders from their defensive line, for two more sloppy goals that they conceded on Sunday.  Ten minutes before the interval, youngster Seamus Coleman ran past a static Paul Konchesky, before crossing for Merseyside derby specialist Tim Cahill to smash an unstoppable shot past Pepe Reina.  Five minutes into the restart, Raul Meireles gave Mikel Arteta too much room to aim a shot from the edge of the penalty area and the result was inevitable.  Everton’s second win in a row lifts them into mid-table, whilst sorry Liverpool slip to second from bottom, their lowest ever position in Premiership history.

Saturday 16^th October: Manchester United 2-2 West Brom

MANCHESTER UNITED continued their recent trend of opening up an early Christmas gift shop, as West Brom stole another result off one of the big teams.  After a pathetic performance for his country in midweek, Wayne Rooney was restricted to a sideline role from the start and United didn’t need him in the first half, as his replacement in the starting eleven, Javier Hernandez and Nani fired the home side into a quick fire 2-0 lead.  However, it all went pear-shaped in the early moments of the second half, when Chris Brunt’s free-kick from a narrow angle took several deflections and came off the unlucky Patrice Evra.  Moments later, Edwin van der Sar made the biggest mistake of his United’s career so far, by allowing a Brunt cross to slip through his hands, despite getting both hands onto the ball.  The unknown Somen Tchoyi couldn’t miss from seven yards out.  Afterwards, the visitors looked more likely to get the winner, on another damaging afternoon for Sir Alex Ferguson’s team.

Saturday 16^th October: Fulham 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur

FULHAM’S unbeaten start to the Premiership season ended in controversial fashion at home to Tottenham.  In a London derby that was always going to throw up thrills and spills, the two teams exchanged goals within 60 seconds of one another, midway through the first half, courtesy of Diomansy Kamara and Roman Pavyluchenko.  The winner on 63 minutes came from Tom Huddlestone, with a long-range drive.  Initially, the linesman disallowed the goal for offside, but referee Martin Atkinson decided that William Gallas wasn’t interfering with play, and allowed the goal to stand.  Television replays suggest an inconclusive call, but Spurs will be pleased with this result, before their testing trip to the San Siro to play Inter Milan tomorrow.

Sunday 17^th October: Blackpool 2-3 Manchester City

MANCHESTER CITY closed the gap to two points on leaders Chelsea, with a lucky victory at Blackpool, who definitely were robbed by a series of decisions by referee Phil Dowd that left Tangerines boss Ian Holloway very perplexed.  A quiet first half gave way to a crazy second forty-five minutes, which began when Carlos Tevez put City infront, with a goal that looked marginally offside.  Super sub Marlon Harewood equalised for the home side, a deserved leveller, as they had the better of the first half play.  Less than two minutes later, Tevez scored his second, again controversial, as it looked like he had fouled Ian Evatt on the edge of the penalty area in the build-up.  Spanish winger David Silva put the game beyond doubt, with a brilliant individual third goal and although Gary Taylor-Fletcher scored a consolation in stoppage time, it didn’t change the final outcome. 

Saturday 16^th October: Arsenal 2-1 Birmingham City

ARSENAL edged past Birmingham City in Arsene Wenger’s 800^th game in charge of the club.  The visitors, who have only won one game all season, took a shock lead when Nikola Zigic headed home a Keith Fahey cross.  Arsenal levelled the match before half-time, when Scott Dann made minor contact with Marouane Chamakh in the penalty area.  Samir Nasri levelled from the spot and Chamakh scored a magnificent solo effort shortly after the second half had begun.  The only black cloud on a good afternoon for the Gunners was the red card of Jack Wiltshire, dismissed for a crazy tackle on Zigic in the closing stages.

Saturday 16^th October: Aston Villa 0-0 Chelsea

CHELSEA will be pleased to leave Villa Park with a point, on a ground in which they only won once in 12 Premiership attempts.  Nicholas Anelka and Branislav Ivanovic both hit the crossbar for the Blues, whilst Nigel Reo-Coker went closest for Villa, missing a great chance when one-on-one with Petr Cech in stoppage time.

Saturday 16^th October: Bolton Wanderers 2-1 Stoke City

IN A hard-fought encounter, Bolton’s impressive start to the season continued with victory over Stoke.  Wanderers were infront through Lee Chung-Yong’s brilliant curling effort in the first half.  Stoke pegged the home side back in the second half, when Rory Delap scored his first goal in two years, nodding in Robert Huth’s flick-on from Jermaine Pennant’s corner.  Stoke were also denied a stone-wall penalty, when Zat Knight handled, before substitute Ivan Klasnic scored a magnificent injury time winner, then got sent off for two yellow cards with seconds to go.

Saturday 16^th October: Wolves 1-1 West Ham United

MARK Noble scored from the penalty spot to rescue a draw for West Ham United against fellow strugglers Wolves.  Wolves dominated the first half; infront inside of ten minutes through Ryan Jarvis, but Noble levelled the match when Kevin Foley fouled Victor Obinha.

Saturday 16^th October: Newcastle United 2-2 Wigan Athletic

CHARLES N’Zogbia returned to St. James Park and scored twice in quick succession to put Wigan in command at Newcastle.  Newcastle produced a gallant fightback with goals from Shola Ameobi and a 94^th minute equaliser from Fabricio Coloccini which rescued a point for the home side.

Monday 18^th October: Blackburn Rovers 0-0 Sunderland

ON A soggy night at Ewood Park, Blackburn and Sunderland played out a very tame goalless draw.   The only flashpoint of a tedious match was a red card before half-time for Christopher Samba.  The Rovers defender saw red for bringing down Danny Wellbeck when the striker was in on goal.

World Cup Report: Days 1-3

Three days in to the start of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, and the tournament is well underway now, with half of the thirty-two teams, having started their campaigns for success in South Africa.  Apart from England (who will be covered in separate match reports), here are minor details of the other seven matches to be played over the weekend.

Friday 11^th June: South Africa 1-1 Mexico

After a colourful and spectacular opening ceremony in Soccer City, the hosts won an unlikely and deserving point in the Group A opener in Johannesburg.  Against the talented North Americans Mexico, South Africa overcame the expected early nerves to break the deadlock early in the second half, when neat build-up released Siphiwe Tshabalala, who fired in a thunderbolt of an opening World Cup goal.  Cue massive celebrations for Bafana Bafana.  Barcelona’s Rafael Marquez ruined the party, taking advantage of slack marking to score from close range with 12 minutes left, but South Africa had done a nation proud and kept them believing of an unlikely passage into the knockout stages.

Friday 11^th June: Uruguay 0-0 France

As in the 2002 Group Stages, Uruguay and France played out a dull goalless draw in Cape Town.  Sidney Govou went closest in the early exchanges, failing to connect on a wonderful Patrice Evra cross.  Despite Diego Forlan threatening on occasion, the South Americans failed to capitalise on Raymond Domenach bizarre decision to leave Thierry Henry and Florent Malouda out of his starting eleven.  Substitute Nicolas Loderio picked up two yellows in the last ten minutes, which saw the Uruguay player become the first player to be dismissed in the finals.  It was an awful match, and left the favourites happy to see the French pose absolutely no threat to the probable final outcome in the tournament’s later stages.

Saturday 12^th June: South Korea 2-0 Greece

In Port Elizabeth, South Korea made a confident start with an emphatic 2-0 success over ageing Greece.  The 2004 European champions made little impact on the proceedings, conceding in either half to Lee Jung-Soo and Manchester United winger, Park-Ji Sung.

Saturday 12^th June: Argentina 1-0 Nigeria

A dominant Argentina gave Diego Maradona a winning start to World Cup management at Ellis Park.  Africans Nigeria, who beat Argentina to win the Olympic gold in 1996, was no match for Maradona’s superstars, and ended up being lucky to lose this Group B encounter by just the one goal.  This was largely down to an inspired goalkeeping performance from Vincent Enyeama and poor finishing from the South Americans, Gonzalo Higuain and Lionel Messi especially guilty.  The only goal came in the sixth minute, with Gabriel Heinze powering home from Juan Sebastian Veron well-executed corner.

Sunday 13^th June: Algeria 0-1 Slovenia

England shouldn’t be too worried about their fellow Group C opponents, if this game has anything to go by.  Slovenia won their first ever World Cup match in a stinking match, settled by Robert Koren’s optimistic drive with ten minutes to go, which slipped through the grasp of Algerian goalkeeper Faouzi Chaouchi.

Sunday 13^th June: Serbia 0-1 Ghana

Africa received its first victory on day three, courtesy of Asamoah Gyan’s late penalty, earning Ghana a hard-fought 1-0 success against Serbia.  Raddy Antic’s side failed to cope with the powerful Ghanaian midfield, which dominated the game and were reduced to ten men, when defender Aleksandar Lukovic was dismissed for two yellow cards in the 74^th minute.  Gyan’s penalty came five minutes from time, when Serbia substitute Zdravko Kuzmanovic needlessly handled a dangerous cross.

Sunday 13^th June: Germany 4-0 Australia

Germany sent a message to the rest of the global opposition, with an impressive demolition of Australia in Durban last night.  Joachim Low’s gamble to play out-of-form strikers Lukas Podolski and Miroslav Klose paid off, as the strike duo answered any doubters, with two first-half strikes.  Klose’s goal was his 11^th in three FIFA World Cup tournaments.  Everton Tim Cahill was harshly dismissed for a mistimed challenge on Bastian Schweinsteiger early in the second half, which ended outside hope for the Socceroos.  Bayern Munich’s Thomas Muller and substitute striker Cacau rounded off the rout midway through the second half, with two classy finishes to quality moves.  Make this note: The Germans must be taken seriously after this performance.