Barcelona (1) 1 - 1 (2) Manchester United
The first match of the night was a real nail biter. Barcelona, out in their new pink strip, where out to upset favourites Manchester United and take a place in the semi finals. The match started very tentatively with no team being able to take control of the game. Manchester United eventually settled first and could’ve been ahead after a Barca defensive mix up set Festus Drakes up with an easy chance. The Blaugrana defensive was nervy as they couldn’t find a way to deal with the threat of Mannchester but yet they rode their luck and held on. On a rare Barcelona attack Phillip LaFlouf made a delicious cross but no one at the back post to put them ahead. Man Utd kept piling on the pressure but just couldn’t find a way past the blaugrana. The match finished all square as the players went in at half time.
With 15 minutes to go and a place in the semi final at stake, Man Utd came back out with guns blazing. Dominating possession as they did in the first stringing together passes and making forays forward, something looked set to happen for the red devils. Barcelona would eventually take the lead as the opposition’s defence was caught out and a quick counter attack created a 4 v 1 situation and Kinte' Serrant (playing in goal in the first half) put Barcelona ahead. The staff team seemed to prove the critics that said they implode in the knock out stages right. Barcelona just had to hold out now and defend to defy the odds. Man United would however find the equaliser through a spectacular goal, Arise Sir Andre Lynch. Lynch picked up the ball in his half and walked into the Barcelona half unchallenged and let loose a cracking drive that left the keeper and defence shell shocked. Man United were back in it. The match would have an exciting end as both sides searched for the winner but to no avail. They would then go onto the dreaded penalty shoot out.
Man United would went on to win the penalty shoot out due to the heroics of their keeper ( simply known as “The Dash”) who saved Kenray Browne’s effort to send Barcelona crashing out of the tournament.
Manchester City 0 -2 Dortmund
In another David v Goliath battle Manchester City were out to upset the odds and continue on their remarkable run in the competition. Dortmund dominated from the off and an early 1 v 1 chance say Paul Murrell firing the ball into the side netting. The boys in blue were guilty of trying to turn defence into attack too fast and were losing possession easily in the process. Dortmund dominated the proceedings building the ball form the back and spraying their passes out wide, but they were not doing much in the attack and City’s defence stood strong. The resilient defence led by their captain, played with huge amounts of confidence and composure catching Dortmund players in possession and making rare forays forward. Dortmund’s pressure would however prove too much to handle but the impressive keeper Jelani saved his side as a fierce low shot was parried and pinged off the bar. Persistence paid off and a Dortmund corner caught City’s defence sleeping. Bostic’s low cross was dummied and finished off by Christian Renwick with an easy tap in.
City started the second half playing as they did in the opening 15 minutes. Christopher Alleyne, Stefano Periera and Jamal Clarke were linking in the attack as City searched for the equaliser. Dortmund thwarted all of these attacks and stood firm of any challenge. The match would however have a bad spot as tempers would flare between Clarke and Dortmund’s Henderson Forde over a rash challenge in the corner flag. Clarke would receive his marching orders for trying to fight, leaving his team in a lurch in an already difficult battle. Dortmund would dominate the rest of the match with chance after chance. Jelani Adams saved a spectaclur drive from Renwick and was saved by the cross bar from a shot by hendy. Dortmund would eventually make it 2 after a one touch passing move ended with Renwick finding Ryan Dates who put Manchester City out of their misery. Fair play to the city lads who should walk with their heads held high.
Ajax 4-0 LA Galaxy
Both teams would start the match missing key players. Ajax did not have Chad Bynoe and striker Omari Eastmond and LA Galaxy were without their solid defender Mikhael Dulal-Sealy. This game was all Ajax from the beginning to the end. The dutch would go ahead in the early after Rene Best skins an opponent and squared to Gregg Applewaithe who finished home. So quick was the dribble from Best that the defender hobbled off injured. Every time LA Galaxy were trying to kick start an attack the Ajax midfield and defence would intercept the play and turn it into a quick counter attack. Ajax had another chance to go ahead but Tazeio Riley would miss his easy one on one chance. The Dutch played a patient attack with precise passing and stretching out the opposition’s formation with wide passing eventually tiring them out. Tazieo would however make up for his indiscretions as Ajax literally walked in the second. A very easy game so far.
The second half would continue as the first as Ajax out muscled their weaker opposition with plaudits in the crowd declaring Caleb Morgan one of the defenders of the tournament. Square and Eto’o were trying very hard to work an attack for the galaxy but always found themselves surrounded by blue shirts. Best would power home the third as Renaldo Gilkes fierce cross across the goal mouth found him at the back post. LA Galaxy were done and dusted as it was evident on their exhausted faces and drenched shirts. Ajax started playing at walking pace keeping possession as it seemed they never moved out of first gear (or park ?) and they killed off the tie as Tito barrow scored the team’s fourth.
The dutch dominance continued and Galaxy couldn’t wait for the whistle to blow as they were sent packing out of the competition.
Chelsea 4-0 Porto
The marquee match. The Main event. This was supposed to be the first match, but overwhelming emails and letter requests forced organizers to save the best for the last. Ok I’m lying, but this match up was talked about even before the groups were drawn and it didn’t fail to disappoint. Daniel Rowe started in goal for the blues as Hosea Boyce was a no show. Possession was traded between the sides and Porto would have the first chance but Kurtley Clarke would scoop it over. Shaquille Layne would prove to be a head ache as he was causing the Porto defence problems in the early. Porto won a free kick and Kyle Smith stepped up to lash a shot straight into the top corner but Rowe was equal to the challenge and tipped it over. Chelsea would take the lead as a Tevyn Gill won a free kick and hit a daisy cutter which beat the keeper far too easy. The defence, Porto’s sideline and bench were bewildered to concede such a soft goal. Porto would step up their game and search for the equaliser through Stefan Ward but he missed an easy chance. Chelsea were growing in confidence and Captain Damien Small was dictating the proceedings from deep by supplying his attack of Layne and Christopher Austin. Porto kept pressing but were guilty of trying to do too much as their tricks and flicks were not coming off and couldn’t seem to string passes together. Gill who was having a storming game was the victim of a few rash challenges winning free kick after free kick. Christopher Greenidge would find Austin with a pass through the flat porto defence and he would finish it to make it two, Porto didn’t know what hit them.
After a poor flat first half display Porto went in to regroup and found out what went wrong, Chelsea were 15 minutes away from a semi final spot. The second would continue as the first with Chelsea dominating possession and with Porto not being able to conjure up an attack. Another poor defensive error allowed Gill to find Layne who scored his side’s third. Porto still seemed to be recovering from the first half (or a heavy lunch) as the team were playing very flat. Chelsea would rub salt in the wounds of Porto as Small took over the goalkeeping post to give Rowe a run out. Some of Porto’s substitutes would gear down and leave early as Chelsea continued to pass rings around them. Rowe would kill off the tie indefinitely by powering home a drive that was “too hot to handle” as the keeper got a touch but it went into the back of the net.
Porto were sent packing after a disappointing display and Chelsea would progress to meet Ajax in the semis.
NB: If you find the reviews/previews on this blog too harsh DEAL WITH IT !! We’re all adults here. No need to want to fight or come to blows over a blog about a SEVEN A SIDE TOURNAMENT.
“Sensitive Thugs ya’ll all need hugs” – Jay-Z ‘Heart of the City’
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