TEST2 - All Golds FC @ Harchester United FC

25th minute - Robinho with a chance here on the right wing with both Torres and Eto'o ready to take it inside the penalty area. He tries a cross but it's been blocked by Ashley Cole and now Xabi Alonso has it in the centre. Harchester counterattack as Ronaldo takes it on the right. He crosses it the the other wing and the mismatch of Ramos and Messi shows again! Ramos just cannot keep up with Messi and he is free down the left wing again. He crosses and DIDIER DROGBA LEAPS OVER CORDOBA! GIVEN WAS OUT OF POSITION TRYING TO INTERCEPT THAT CROSS AND IT'S ALL TOO EASY FOR DROGBA! GOAL! 2-1 to Harchester.

 

30th minute - The Harchester attack is pushing up trying to spot a gap as they pass it up and down the right wing. Didier now. Is he going to try anything? No! Puyol and Cordoba close down on him immediately and he is forced to pass back out the right. Maicon now, marked closely by Silva. Oh, what a clever one-two with Xabi Alonso to take out both Silva and Lampard. Now he tries an ambitious cross into the penalty area! GUESS WHO HAS IT FOR HARCHESTER? DIDIER WITH THE HEADER AND IT BEATS GIVEN! HITS THE POST! Cordoba clears it out but Maicon has it down the right. He lobs it to the middle for Xavi who heads it on. AND DIDIER DROGBA AGAIN! HE GETS FREE OF BOTH GERRARD AND CORDOBA AND NOW HE SHOOTS! GOAL HARCHESTER! That's his hattrick and now it is 3-1.

 

41st minute - All Golds have been on the attack for the last few minutes as they try to claw back into the game, including a wasted opportunity by Gerrard, who was nowhere near as he attempted a strike from about 25 yards out. They do have a corner now after the ball rebounded off a Harchester defender from Torres' shot. Robinho into the 6 yard box, but Ashley Cole easily clears it before Puyol got a chance to head it. You really have to wonder whether the dominance in the air is the key factor today. And now Sergio Ramos has it in centre field. But Drogba is just doing everything today as he snatches that one off him and now Cristiano Ronaldo is free of any defenders on the left! Surely he has to score now as he prepares to shoot just a moment after the first defender even gets into the penalty area. AND HE SHOOTS! Oh, what a save by Shay Given there. He was at full stretch there but did enough to deflect it.

 

HALFTIME. Score is 3-1 to Harchester.

Escath's analysis: Messi is running circles around Sergio Ramos today. Combine that with Drogba's dominance in the air and Shay Given has no choice but to concede a few. On the other end of the pitch, the All Golds are trying too many wild shots. They also lack an aerial dominance to cancel out Rio Ferdinand.

 

50th minute - Looks like the only way for Sergio Ramos to keep up with Messi is to foul him. The ref calls him out for the trip, but no card is given. Messi looks in pain so the physio comes on. Seems fine now. Now Xavi with the free kick on the left. He kicks it to Messi who SHOOTS! Over the bar.

 

71st minute - Harchester have done a lot better to keep possession in the last few minutes. Cristiano Ronaldo on the right now but Patrice Evra is sticking to him like glue. Running out of room now so he kicks it into Evra to force the corner. Xavi into the six yard box! FERDINAND OUTLEAPS PUYOL AND THAT'S A GOAL! Not only was he destroying the All Golds forwards, but he just showed Puyol how it's done on the other side of the pitch too. 4-1.

 

80th minute - Silva is allowed to take it from centre field to the left wing, but Essien has now come up to defend him. He manages to take the ball and clears into touch. Still a danger area for Harchester though. Cordoba with the throw and he gives it to an unmarked Eto'o right next to the corner flag. He seems to have learnt not to cross it into Ferdinand as he runs it into the penalty area. Maicon can't catch him! HE'S IN THE SIX YARD BOX NOW AND BOTH MAICON AND FERDINAND TRY TO TAKE THE BALL OFF HIM BUT HE GETS A SHOT OFF! IT MANAGES TO GET THROUGH A SMALL GAP BETWEEN CASILLAS AND THE POST! SAMUEL ETO'O! GOAL! 4-2 with 10 minutes to play. O'Shea is now on for Eto'o.

 

82nd minute - Oh, just like Verigotta predicted, O'Shea tries to clip it into the goal! HE DOES WELL TOO AND IT LOOKS LIKE IT'LL BEAT CASILLAS! Oh, horrible luck there as it hits the crossbar and goes out. Goal kick.

 

83rd minute - Robin van Persie comes on for Drogba. The Harchester fans are on their feet as they applaud his work today. Kaka replaces Xavi.

 

84th minute - O'Shea has it in the centre now and that's a good ball to Gerrard. Tries to lob it to Robinho on the right but it's been deflected by Essien. Gerrard takes the rebound and gives it to Silva. Silva WITH THE CROSS TO ROBINHO WHO IS FREE! HE SHOOTS... straight into the hands of Casillas. He throws it to Maicon and the midfielders are just passing it around on the right now. Xabi Alonso in the centre of the field. I can see Messi by himself on the left there. Alonso to van Persie AND HE SEES MESSI! SERGIO RAMOS IS AT LEAST 5 YARDS BEHIND MESSI! INTO THE PENALTY AREA AND SHOOTS! SAVED BY GIVEN! Ramos does something right for once and pounces on the rebound and kicks it behind the goal before Messi could attempt another shot.

 

86th minute - Well, Torres was free on the left there and he could have crossed it to O'Shea in the middle but instead he passes it back a bit for Lampard. Hilarity there as it looks like Lampard slipped as he tried to shoot. Way off there.