After two uninspired and downright frustrating scoreless draws in the premiership, the assembled Kopites at Mbar was understandably edgy and a touch too anxious for the visit to the JJB. Rafa’s squad rotation continued but he limited the changes to just Riise on the left wing while Kuyt was joined by Torres upfront which seemed to please the assembled masses.
As early as the second minute, former Reds keeper Chris “Sicknote” Kirkland was tested by a swerving Stevie G free kick. But that was the sum total of goal mouth action for the next 30 minutes as both sides engaged in the proverbial midfield battle.
Yaaaawn. . .
It took a bad pass from Koumas to spark our strikers into action when Kuyt intercepted the ball and sent Torres clear with only the keeper to beat. Kirkland made a good save but was lucky the rebound off “El Nino” did not bounce into his empty gaping goal. Numerous chances were then wasted as Riise, Pennant, Kuyt and finally Torres trying an audacious scissor kick after Arbeloa had sent an inviting cross into the Lactics penalty box. With the scoreline still 0-0, frustration levels were on the rise again. We should have been awarded a penalty when Titus “the Joker of St James” Bramble cluttered into Big Sami in the box but ref wasn’t convinced.
The second half started with a scare when Bent was left unmarked and beat Pepe with a ferocious shot, only to be wrongly penalised for offside (Shanks must be watching our backs from up there as the game was being played on the 26th anniversary of the great man’s passing). That certainly woke us up and we started to push further up to get that elusive goal leaving greater gaps for Wigan to exploit at the back.
Only bad finishing from Scharner and great goal keeping from Pepe stopped us from going behind. Sensing the urgency to score, Rafa brought in Benayoun to replace Aurelio on the hour. In the 75th minute, he out witted and turned a couple of defenders before slotting the ball pass the charging Kirkland into the back of the net after receiving a pass from Pennant just outside the box.
That goal was a beauty (Benayoun’s second spectacular goal in as many matches) and it sent everyone in M Bar into a frenzy. Cue plenty of clenched fists punching the air and plenty of high five smacks.
1 comment:
Again, I started watching the match late into the 1st half. Daddy duties.
The 2nd half was really frusrating. With Torres and Kuyt missing chances that should have been buried, it looked to me as if it was heading for another dour draw. Game was shouting for a creative force, something we've not had in God knows how long; until Benayoun arrived.
For the 2nd game running, he showed slick skills and gulie to caarve out his own goalscoring chance. Plus putting it away too.
We didn't play well but not as shite as against the brums but we still got the 3 points. Mark of champions if you ask me.
Onwards and upwards. Bring on the french.
The last I saw on Astro, the kick off time was changed to 1 am. Anyone to confirm?
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