080217: FA Cup 5th Round Man Utd 4 - 0 Arsenal

It could have been the defeat against bitter rivals Man City on their own turf last week. People were writing them off after two lacklustre displays prior to this meeting. Man Utd had other ideas in this knockout tie against the current league leaders, though.

It was a wonderful first half performance worthy of a champions' title in what was Sir Alex Ferguson's 100th game in charge of Man Utd in the FA Cup. Fluid passing and incessant harrying and bustling by the Red Devils saw them raced to a 3-0 lead by the end of the first half.

Arsenal had their fringe players in their starting line-up but they can't deny Man Utd had their own fringe players too. Besides, these same Arsenal youngsters have been earning their plaudits in local newspapers.

In a relatively untested formation, apart from the backline, Nani, Fletcher and Park Ji Sung started alongside Carrick and Anderson in a 5-man midfield.

In the opening minutes, Brown, Nani and Fletcher proved they deserved their places in the first XI, although they must play more consistently to hold on to it. As the match wore on, the 5-man midfield stuck to their task although Park was the quietest among the quintet. One-touch passing and off the ball movement allowed United to create chances but at the same time, pegged Arsenal offence to limited goal-scoring chances too. It was fair to say Ronaldo, Giggs and Scholes wasn;t missed.

Nani, in particular, was the man of the match for me. His corner led to the first goal for Rooney, his stepovers and dribble led to the second for Fletcher that deflected off a Gallas header and his deserved cool finish for the third goal rounded up his all-around display.

Arsenal started the second half in one of the worst ways possible when Eboue was red-carded somewhat harshly after a challenge with Evra.

The extra man advantage had United spraying shots with regularity and it was disappointing that Rooney did not add to his tally when compared to the number of chances he had on the night.

In the last 20 minutes, Arsenal made three simultaneous substitutions and United brought on Scholes and Saha for Anderson and Rooney.

In a somewhat reminiscent goal to the second, Nani again became a provider for Fletcher. It certainly does not get any sweeter for his best performance so far in a Man Utd jersey. He even entertained the Old Trafford crowd with some juggling tricks that had Hoyte and Flamini closing him down in frustration. The frustration boiled over when Gallas acted rather immaturely as club captain when he nudged Nani on the butt. Such petty shenanigan surely belonged to Sunday park football.

Near the end, Saha should have make it 5, but Lehmann, who has done well to keep the score down, saved his tame effort.

When the final whistle blows, Sir Alex must have been delighted with his gamble. The result was 3-fold. Firstly, Man Utd stamped their superiority and possibly dealt a psychological blow to the league leaders with a truly first class performance. Secondly, it was a great way to bounce after two poor recent performances. Lastly, Man Utd proved they can play without Ronaldo. Let's not forget, I did not even mention one Carlos Tevez.

080210: Man Utd 1 - 2 Man City

In a match similar to the reverse fixture earlier in the season, Man Utd found the two centre backs in Richard Dunne and Micah Richards of Man City the barrier en route to goal in a one-sided match in Man Utd's favor. If the 2 brilliant performers failed, there was the England prospect in Joe Hart, the goal custodian.

Man Utd did all they could except scoring.

For some freak reason, Man City went 1-0 in the 25th minute through Darius Vassell whose initial shot was parried by Van Der Sar. The goal was a setback as Man Utd had been dominating proceedings but not really threatening Man City's goal.

Rooney and Evra was suspended for this game and Nani and O'Shea took their places with Ronaldo playing the 2nd striker alongside Tevez and it was fair to say the Red Devils missed the dogged tenacity and aggression of Rooney and the pace and attacking option of Evra, though to Man City's credit, Richards and Dunne will have been an impenetrable fort as they commanded their defence well and on this night, harried and stifled the creativity of almost every Man Utd attack, who were destitute of ideas.

Man Utd faced a mountain to climb when debutant Benjani signed from Portsmouth headed in off a corner just before half-time.

The 2nd half was similar to the 1st but thankfully, Man Utd did not break down and continued carving, scraping really, for chances.

At one time, I felt that Man Utd should have gone more direct and play through the middle as they have the players to unlock the defence with short passes, which provided the consolation goal in injury time through Carrick.

Instead, they were playing down both flanks playing low crosses that found no Man Utd players and when it did, no decisive impact ensued. It did not help that when the crosses are played, Man City had half of the team camped inside the box.

Nevertheless, I am proud of Man Utd's performance. They may have looked jaded recently but hopefully, they hit top gear soon.

080206: Soccer fiesta Pt 2

Match 2: England 2 - 1 Switzerland on soccernet.com

In the 2nd significant match, England took on Euro 08 co-hosts Switzerland.

For me, this match is significant because of the wonder of the expectations Fabio Capello is expected to fulfil as the new manager of England. Based on this match, it was a major coup for England to have one of the most successful managers in soccer history.

True, the scoreline does not reflect a thumping scoreline expected from the most-hyped national team in the world from this region, and the formation for the match certainly did not reflect anything new. Yet the performance was more convincing than it ever was in England's disastrous Euro 08 qualifying campaign.

There were many positives to be taken and that means that Capello's appointment will only bear fruit in time to come.

*****
Match 3: Saudi Arabia 2 - 0 Singapore on FAS website

It was no fault that expectations for my national team was high to the point we could have snatched a shock draw against the Saudis. Yet, there was also a reality check that we are simply not good enough yet.

We had three friendlies against Gulf teams before this match, winning the first but losing the next two. So, surely we could not beat the pick of the Gulf teams in Saudi Arabia, which was proven true last night.

However, I do not deny we have come a long way progressing as a true footballing nation in recent times. The next match against Lebanon on home soil on March 26 should give us a clue as to where we exactly stand as I feel we are more on a par with them as compared to the Saudis.

~akim~

080206: Soccer fiesta

Three significant matches were played last night and I am pleased to blog that 2 of those ended favorably well.

Match 1: Italy 3 - 1 Portugal
Click below for goals
1 - 0
2 - 0
2 - 1
3 - 1

Italy are the world champions while the Portugese was the fallen finalist at the last Euro competition in 2004. In a match pitting technical versus flair, the Italians proved that they are serious contenders in June in Euro 08.

This match featured the new Italian Euro 08 kit and I sure am looking forward to buy this one.



Also featured was the Euro competition match ball, which costs a whopping $200 in stores here!



It was also an occasion for Ronaldo to captain his side, not the first and definitely not his last. In goal, Buffon was replaced by Amelia due to injury.

Italy started with a 4-3-3 formation with Pirlo playing the more advanced position in midfield while Portugal played with 4-2-3-1.

In the 4th minute, Italy had the ball in the net only for Pirlo to be wrongly ruled for handball.

Quaresma then made the first of his many good runs with the ball in the 11th minute and Ronaldo thread a ball to Caneira, the left back, only to be ruled for offside. A couple of minutes later, Italy displayed one-touch football, one of the first of many good offensive play, left/right forward, Palladino, failing to connect with a slide-rule pass from the right flank.

These two sets of play were rather the order of the night with Italy relying on good build-up play while Portugal relying on the individualism specifically, Ronaldo and Quaresma. However, based on his performance, Ronaldo will not survive Italian football.

Quaresma, who started on the right flank, took over Ronaldo's flank on the left on the 18th minute and proved as effective with the ball there, and making a menace of himself, though the end product was still lacking. Ronaldo won the first of 3 direct on goal set-piece situations and cue his trademark rugby-style, but the ball slammed into the wall and deflected out for a corner, from which Alves, the centre-back, made a surging run but his header sailed over the top. At this moment, Portugal were gradually increasing their performance. One such play came in the 25th minute when Italy had their defence stretched and Deco shot wide.

The counter riposte, however came when Toni split apart the Portugese, Di Natale getting his shot on target but calmly palmed away by Ricardo for a corner.

The 1st substitution of the night came in the 29th minute when Grosso took over Zambrotta at left-back who seemed to have sustained a slight injury.

Another example of reliance on Ronaldo and Quaresma was in the 34th minute when the two exchange one-two passes before Ronaldo got a corner for his efforts. Italy almost punished them when Toni just failed to latch on to Grosso's cross when Toni had a clear path to goal. The Portugese defence led by Carvalho and Bosingwa seemed to have trouble coping with the 3 Italian forwards.

At this point, Portugal was enjoying ball possession, while the classic Italians absorbed the pressure. Makulula, the lone Portugese striker, got a shot just wide off the post, belying the lack of creativity in that build-up despite the presence of Deco and the two flying wingers. Italy too were dearth of attacking onus upfront lacking the creativity and inspiration of a true no.10 in the mould of Totti or Baggio. De Rossi, wearing the coveted number, is not that player.

In the 41st minute, Ronaldo won a 2nd free-kick and this time, he managed to shoot on target.

Just before half-time, Quaresma tried to play Ronaldo but his pass was over-hit and from the resulting offensive transition, Grosso got in another cross, a low one this time and Toni was at hand to tap in for the game's opener. After a slow start, the match was turning out to be an highly entertaining affair. Portugal had for the most parts about 4 players in Italy's half while Italy were able to efficiently break down Portugal's attack and convert from defensive to offensive phases with ease.

The second half saw the introduction of Nani for Deco, who looked out of sorts, Fernando Meira for Petit and Ferreira for Caneira. The introduction of Nani allowed Ronaldo to play in a more central forward position.
It was Italy, however who went 2-0 up. From a corner, a loose ball fall to Pirlo just outside the box and his shot deflected off Cannavaro before nestling nicely in the bottom corner of the net.

More substitutions came shortly after, this time for the Azzuris. Gamberini took over Barzagli in central defence and Perotta took over De Rossi in midfield. Almeida replaced Makukula as a central striker, who was isolated in this match due to the individualism.

Another example of transition from defence to attack was displayed in the 58th minute, Di Natale providing the last touch but failing to add to the tally. Minutes later, another one-two between Di Natale and Toni was cut out, but Portugal will have been wise to take notice as they too have such players at their disposal to play such one-two movements, yet it was for the most part not evident.

Meireles then replaced another out-of-sorts Portugese player in Maniche.

A neat play from Perotta found Cannavaro who crossed well for Palladino, who chested down nicely and shot brilliantly to be denied equally excellently by Ricardo who forced his shot off the crossbar. Italy were really turning on the style.

Ribeiro was on for Bosingwa in centre-back for Portugal and Borriella replaced Toni who received a standing ovation for his efforts.

The Portugese then exerted some pressure and pulled a goal back in an almost similar fashion as to Italy's first goal. This time, Nani was the provider, his low cross drilled across goal eluding all but Quaresma who was at the back post to clinically finished his shot into the roof of the net.

Minutes later, a crossfield pass from Grosso met Di Natale, who really deserved a goal for his performance, had the awareness to flip the seemingly unreacheable ball back to Perotta who headed back into the 6-yard area and found Quagliarella. The subsitute who had replaced Palladino, was looking for his 1st Italy goal and he directed Perotta's cross over the unfortunate Ricardo, who was not helped by his abysmal defence.

Ronaldo was struggling all night against the Italian defence and also could not inspire Portugal, but his last trademark free-kick of the night almost found the back of the net but denied by a mostly untested Amelia. Nani also had his effort denied by the stopper, and in him, they may have found a safe back-up for Buffon.

When the final whistle blows, Italy were mildy celebrating an impressive win proving their Euro 08 credentials. Donadoni seemed to have forge an attacking identity, yet still maintaining Italy's famed watertight defence. In a 4-3-3 formation, the one aspect lacking in this tactic seemed to be the attacking functions of the 3-men midfield who are more build for defensive play rather than offensive. The two midfield destroyers in Ambrosini and De Rossi do not provide the attacking edge and Pirlo plays to receive the ball deeper than Totti or Baggio did previously.

Positively, the midfield ably support the forwards as and when needed. Quick interchange of passes and the superb and swift transtition from a defensive phase to offensive phase meant that Italy were dangerous on the counter-attack. It helps when you have defenders with good ball control such as Cannavaro and Zambrotta who can play out of defence.

They rely on the 3 forwards to convert and create chances and based on last night's match, the forwards were in tandem and played off the other very well with three distinctive styles. Toni being the only true striker for Italy at the moment being tall and technically sound. Palladino being the foil for Toni while Di Natale used his wits. Yet, the true test will come when either of the 3 do not come good.

Another positive aspect is the overlapping full-backs, mostly through Grosso who shone through at the last World Cup. Oddo does not get forward as often and playing Zambrotta in his place may solved this.

In goal, Italy seemed to have found a successor to Buffon, though admittedly at 30, Buffon's decline still seemed light years away.

As for Portugal, they really have issues to sort out if they are to challenge.

In defence, they were on the whole torn apart by one-two passes and failed to subdue the Italian trio of forwards.

In midfield, Deco, like at Barcelona, was subdued. Maniche is not the same player when he won the Champions' league with Porto in 2004. Petit is simply not good enough for Portugal. Bringing in a youngster may be the solution and give a fresher angle. As mentioned, Portugal relies on Ronaldo and Quaresma. Yet, Ronaldo was effectively marked out though Quaresma impressed and more often than not, got the Italians on the backfoot. Ronaldo's free-kicks, however, will be a crucial weapon as long as he practices them and score them as he does with Man Utd. As a result of this over-reliance, there was no significant interplay between the midfield exhibited to the fore by the Italians and quick one-two passes were noticeably missing despite the array of talent.

The most disappointing was the central striker role. They had no focal point, hasn't been since Pauleta. It was firstly Makukula and later Almeida. Almeida especially disappointed when he kicked air on a couple of occasions including the only Portugal goal.

~akim~

080202: Tottenham 1 - 1 Man Utd

Tottenham 1 - 1 Man Utd on ManUtd.com
Tottenham 1 - 1 Man Utd on Soccernet.com

In a very tough game for the champions, Man Utd stole the points after a superb performance from Spurs. It was again Spurs who scored first (after the FA Cup loss to the champions last week) only to be denied a deserved victory in injury time which came from the champions only real chance of the match.

Having known that Arsenal had regained top spot after their marvellous 3-1 win against Man City earlier in the day, Man Utd only needed a 1-0 win to reclaim leadership on goal difference.

Yet, they seemed in awe of the occasion perhaps in part due to the tough game handed to them at Old Trafford last week. Spurs did not disappoint and were a real menace. Berbatov game them the lead after only 20 minutes. But later, Robbie Keane tamely shot at Van Der Sar after a brilliant carved out chance split open United's defence. That proved to be a fortunate escape from Man Utd as it will have been an uphill task to come from 2-0 down.

Despite that Keane miss, Man Utd did not really make the most of it. Giggs was having an awful game misplacing certain key passes in the first half, Ronaldo was marked out by Chimbonda, playing at left back, on the right flank, as well as by debutant Alan Hutton, Chimbonda's previous position, on the left flank. Another significant signing, Jon Woodgate, also seemed to have brought calmness to the defence and due to that, Tevez and Rooney failed to make any real headway. In fact, Rooney and Tevez were seldom in the game.

The first half ended 1-0 and it was still just about the same story in the 2nd, though Spurs seemed content to let Man Utd take control of the ball now. Despite that, the defence and midfield really pressed Man Utd well ensuring United did not get any significant shot on goal till Anderson, replacement for Scholes, tested Cerny though it was an easy save. Nani also eventually replaced Giggs and though it was a refreshing substitution, Man Utd were simply outplayed.

At the last, though, Man Utd came good and from a Nani corner, Tevez were left unmarked to tap the ball home at the near post. It was rather disturbing to see, yet not surprising, as the Spurs had, I felt, decided to stop playing when that goal came thinking that Man Utd will not be able to carve a chance out of it.

Disappointingly, Man Utd had 7 players booked including Rooney and he will missed next week massive local derby against Man City. Even more disturbing was that Man Utd failed to break down a well-organised side even with the array of talent at their disposal. If there was one key element, and I have attacked it all season, was probably the right-back position where Wes Brown again failed to add anything useful. I am just hoping for Gary Neville to make his comeback.

All credits to Juande Ramos for again impressing me with another display of football. He has drilled tactical discipline and plugged in gaps at the right places. However, Spurs will do well to try not to step off the gas because that was what they did against Man Utd in the 2nd half. Apparently, they had done the same against other teams that include Arsenal.