Welcome to the first game of the Cricsim Preseason Cup, between the All Golds and Hartley Town. There has already been some controversy with the All Golds management, with manager Bovver of Elite Warriors accusing Ames of misleading Bovver's partner, Das in the trade between Robinho and Cordoba. Personally, I don't think Robinho is any good and it seems like the Ames/Verigoat management team agrees as Robinho is absent from the lineup. Anyway, the punters have the All Golds as slight favourites at 2.25 compared to the 2.75 of Hartley Town, most likely due to home advantage. Skysport.com have predicted that this will come right down to a penalty shootout. Keeper Julio Cesar has been highlighted as the key player for All Golds and Spaniard Andres Iniesta looks to be a huge threat to the All Golds defence. Personally, I will have to back All Golds on a 2-1 victory.
6th minute: Beckham trips Benzema and Hartley have the free kick. Modric plays it into the penalty area. Carvalho heads it back and RAUL ALBIOL... oh, just over the bar.
17th minute: Gerrard goes up to challenge Fletcher for the ball but he's been pinged by the ref for pulling on Fletcher's shirt. With the free kick now, Albiol taps it.. INIESTA SHOOTS! That long range shot almost skimmed the crossbar! Julio Cesar isn't complaining.
19th minute: Hard challenge by Benzema takes Cannavaro down. Play on says the ref and All Golds press on the attack a bit. Now Albiol has it for Hartley, to Sagna. He's seen the player down and kicked it out. What sportsmanship. Cannavaro looks alright after receiving some attention from the physio.
We need some ****ing possession. Gerrard needs to start playing like a god and win us some ball and use it.
24th minute: Steven Gerrard has the ball in the middle and that is beautiful through ball to Huntelaar. Oh dear, he was free and got a bit too excited, tapping the ball too far forward into the grateful hands of Petr Cech.
34th minute: Fletcher has the ball for Hartley. The whistle blows. Ah, Gerrard pulling Fletcher back again. This time it's a yellow card. Soldaldo with the free kick. He shoots and it curls just outside the left upright.