Boys Director of Coaching-Carl Rose will offer his insight, thoughts and lessons for our youth players to learn from a recent EPL, MLS, or Champions League game in Carl's Corner. Gain the insight of a former professional player and his take on the recent match.
English Premier League
October 5, 2008
Liverpool @ Manchester City
This was a big game for Liverpool because a win would keep them tied for first place
with Chelsea.
From the start of the game Liverpool applied pressure on Man. City, but were unable to score, after about 5-7 minutes of pressure Man. City settled down and started to play better. Wright-Philips started the play that ended up with Man. City scoring the first goal, he came at the defender with good speed and went around him to the end line and cut the ball back to Robinho who fell on the ball as the Liverpool defenders were coming to close the space down. Quick thinking from Robinho who was on the ground played the ball back to Steven Ireland as the defenders where unable to clear the ball out of the penalty area, Ireland hit a volley to score the games first goal.
The game then stared to get livelier with both teams attacking at a good speed of play.
However in the 42nd min Man. City were awarded a free kick just outside the penalty area. Again Wright – Philips was involved in the play to set up the free kick. He was on a penetrating run and tried to go between two players when he was fouled outside of the area. The free- kick was taken by Javier Garrido, it was a beautiful free-kick the ball went over the wall and curved into the upper right corner of the goal. Man. City went in at half time leading 2-0; you would have thought that they would then go on to win the game.
In the second half Liverpool came out inspired and determined to score which they did in the 55th minute. The played started on the left side of the field and was played to the right side with four crisp passes, by the time the ball had reached the right side the Liverpool defender made a penetrating run towards the penalty area with Robinho chasing him, Robinho stopped his chase and the ball was played to his player who received the ball in the penalty area and with one touch crossed the ball into the middle of the area where Torres got on the end of the play and scored the first goal for Liverpool. Now the game started to get more exciting as we know a 2-1 score is dangerous and the fact that the momentum had changed in Liverpool’s favor.
To make matters worst for Man. City in the 66th minute Zabaleta was red carded for a studs up tackle on Alonso, so now Man. City have 10 players and Liverpool breathing down their necks. In the 72nd minute Liverpool are rewarded a corner kick, the corner was taken by Steven Gerrard, his corner was played to the near post where Torres meets the ball in the air and directs it into the goal to tie the game he was unmarked when he made contact with the ball. Now the game starts to get more exciting with time running out and Man. City now hanging on for a tie.
Torres gets another opportunity to score into an empty net and he kicks the ball over the goal, in the 87th minute Man. City play a long diagonal pass when the ball lands it bounces and nearly goes over the last Liverpool defenders head, after he makes contact with the ball he has a bad landing and hurt his knee, the game was stopped to take care of this player, he was taken off the field but Liverpool could not sub for him because they had already used their allotted number of subs so now both teams are playing with ten players.
Does it get any more exciting the answer is yes, with 6 minutes to go and both teams now trying to get all 3 points Liverpool go on the attack Gerrard plays a give and go in the Man. City area and then takes the ball to the end line and cuts the ball back to Torres who shoots with a first time shot which is deflected and then stopped by the keeper, but he gave up a rebound and Kuyt followed up the shot and scored into the empty goal for the match winner.
Again as in the Man. United vs. Chelsea game set plays are important and also following up on shots taken for there might be a rebounds. In this case the player following up the shot scored the game winning goal. Always remember to follow shots and track your runners.
Until the next Carl’s Corner-enjoy playing the game!
