In a match that was compared by the commentator to the snow scene in Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill, a struggling Dynamo Moscow somehow found its way to a win over a team that should not have been difficult to beat. The first half was another sorry sight for Dynamo fans as the team failed to create chances against an outsider. The scenario was almost as embarrassing as the first half of Reading vs. Arsenal, except that it was scoreless, snowy, and with a last-place Second tier team. Like Arsenal, though, Dynamo had various significant absences, including forwards Balázs Dzsudzsák and Aleksandr Kokorin, defender Luke Wilkshire, and midfielder Aleksandr Sapeta. Dynamo had the ball for less than 15 minutes, long enough for Christian Noboa to try his hand at some long balls and make use of Khimki keeper Gavrilov's bad clearance. Despite starting off with the initiative, the Premier League outsiders soon lost the ball to Khimki. Solovyev made a run on the left flank, passing to Gvazaev, whose shot flew right into Dynamo keeper Shunin's hands. The next attempt was a solid one, and Shunin came through with a save, converting the powerful shot to a corner. Jantscher made occasional runs on the right flank, but the striker so far is the Lukas Podolski of his new team - his past success on the pitch is not very visible in the present. Khimki were quick to counter at every opportunity, though in most cases the players sent the ball high over the bar. Komkov's chip shot tested Shunin, and the keeper came through with a great save. As the game drew closer to a scoreless halftime, Dynamo created one serious attempt, led by skipper Igor Semshov's long ball. Gavrilov's diving save left the ball in play, and Kevin Kuranyi picked up the rebound, but the keeper was quick to react a second time. With six players up front for another attack, it seemed illogical that Dynamo wouldn't open up the score, but Granat's cross from the left flank only resulted in another high shot by Kuranyi. The lack of Aleksandr Kokorin was just as apparent as the absence of Cesc Fabregas would be for Barcelona. Dynamo Manager Dan Petrescu had his usual falling out with the referees. Taking cover behind the local police, he was ultimately escorted off the pitch by the fourth official, forced to watch the rest of the match from the stands.

Despite having a home field advantage and being well ahead in the game, Khimki were first to make a substitution, bringing out their injured player. The match remained the same - Dynamo looked like they had switched places with Khimki, with veterans Semshov and Kuranyi losing the ball in the box, unable to get even one shot on Gavrilov's net. Naturally, Petrescu's team was first to concede, as Filatov's cross from the left flank gave Sobolev a close-range shot that Shunin failed to save. Dynamo responded by strengthening the midfield, bringing out Misimovic for Noboa and 19-year-old reserve player Ivan Solovyev for Nekhaichik. Weak attempts by Misimovic and Kuranyi were like flies for keeper Gavrilov. The Blue-and-Whites collected a series of unnecessary yellows. Too many passes drew out Dynamo's combinations into long, grueling progressions. The entrance of another rookie, Andrei Panyukov, got Dynamo back into an attack-oriented game, though they nearly conceded a second goal after Fernandez lost the ball in the 18-yard box, while his teammate gave away a dangerous free kick. In a worst-case scenario, Khimki would have gotten their second win over Dynamo since 2006. Yet Leandro Fernandez made up for his defensive mishap. After a cross into the box, the Argentine made a last-second pass as he flew past the goal line to Kevin Kuranyi, who finished the job inches away from the net. The team once again avoided a Khimki goal after Komkov's dangerous cross in the box went out, neither of his teammates willing to go the extra mile. As the guest team's fans chanted louder and louder, and snow began to lightly fall on the pitch, 18-year-old Andrei Panyukov picked up a beautiful through ball in a solo run and swiveled before sending in the goal and sending his team to the Quarterfinals. Khimki were back on the attack, however, and there were still four minutes left to change the score. Fortunately for the Blue-and-Whites, Khimki's long balls and set pieces flew far from the net.

"Loyalty to the grave". Khimki supporters hope for a win.

Though not as stylish a comeback as Arsenal's, both Dynamo and the Gunners are through to their respective Quarterfinals. Dynamo will face Hiddink's Anzhi for a spot in the Semifinals. It'll be a tough match, especially for Petrescu's team. The manager would do well to rotate the keepers and let the veteran Roman Berezovsky play instead of Anton Shunin. The latter was excluded from Capello's NT roster, and for good reason. Unlike Shunin, the 38-year-old Berezovsky has a brilliant record and is a penalty-saving legend. Ironically, he had a spell at FC Khimki, where he played 175 games before being sold to Dynamo. Another important player is forward Aleksandr Kokorin, who will hopefully be fit for that match as well - he's a goal-scoring giant when he wants to be, and like Panyukov, he's still young and can do wonders for his career by giving his best.

Dynamo manager Dan Petrescu gestures from the stands.

"The team showed character today, winning against a very uncompromising opponent," said Dan Petrescu in an interview with the club's press. Regarding Panyukov and the other rookies, Petrescu believes that every player has a chance to become a regular starter for the team if he proves himself. He spoke briefly about the game, but failed to elaborate on the situation with the referees, saying only that he has a valid reason to be upset. "Many of the referee's decisions, in particular his whistles and bookings in our direction, I cannot understand. But the fact that only we (Dynamo) were punished is, in my opinion, very strange."

If Arsenal fans have long debated the importance of winning the League Cup, Chelsea's legendary defender and current Dynamo manager knows exactly where he stands on the issue. "I don't ask that question," he said. "For me, there's only the next game."

If Oscar Wilde were here to witness this match, he’d probably say “there’s only one thing worse than not making a call, and that is making a call.” What may have been a tie between two of the season’s biggest contenders ended in a narrow and controversial win for the Red Devils. It can’t be denied that United started strong, dominating the pitch with a certain former Arsenal star in the mix. Their first goal came from an unfortunate error by David Luiz, who was simply in the wrong place. Robin van Persie‘s shot bounced off the post and ricocheted against Luiz straight into the net. RVP made it 2-0 himself after Valencia’s cross. Although Torres was marked well by the opposition, Chelsea was still able to test De Gea from set pieces, like Luiz’s long-range effort that was saved by De Gea’s leg. The Spaniard came through a second time with a save in a similar fashion. The keeper still has much to learn – his saves were not as solid as they should be. Di Matteo’s team was right to rely on long balls – they’ve got skilled players like Ramires who can make the run and find space to shoot from afar. Chelsea was likewise able to put on enough pressure to drive United out of the right flank and retake the initiative. Evans nearly scored an own goal as Chelsea nabbed a corner. United’s 2-goal lead seemed to have reawakened Di Matteo’s team. Even before the second half players were contesting Mark Clattenburg‘s decisions. United’s Valencia seemed upset at how easily and quickly free kicks were being awarded to the Blues. The other side was none to happy as well after Clattenburg blew his whistle in favor of United after Rafael’s retaliation to Ramires’ foul on Wayne Rooney. Chelsea soon broke through United’s defense, and in the words of a commentator, Torres was no longer waiting to star in the next Twilight movie. Two attempts in a row by the Spaniard targeted De Gea’s net, but it just wasn’t meant to be. It was all up to Juan Mata, Chelsea’s set piece specialist, after Rooney was booked for heading cleats-first into Hazard, giving away the set piece at the top of the box. Mata’s left-footed shot curved over the 15-man wall and right in the near post, not too high a shot to save but a difficult ball nonetheless. He scored his fourth goal this season and nearly made his fifth after a pass from Torres, but De Gea stopped him in his tracks. The yellow for Torres’ high challenge against Cleverley was uncontested, but would later lead to a far less agreeable one.

Mr. Clattenburg makes a costly decision.

With the match more or less equal, the second half promised to be a goal-scoring fest. It started with a back-and-forth between the Premier League leaders, marred only by Clattenburg’s blind eye to a David Luiz hand ball after Valencia’s shot from the right flank. Most took no note of it, and the game carried on with Juan Mata trying to get in a double. A great combination by the Blues that started from the left moving in to the center sent the ball to Torres, who delivered back left to Oscar. The latter’s cross got the feisty Ramires a header, leveling the game. De Gea was solid, and Hazard’s attempt was futile. Mata lacked accuracy in his close-range effort, despite having gotten a good cross. RVP couldn’t get in through the Chelsea defense and Ashley Young was no better on his attempt, providing an easy ball for Cech. A red card was issued to Ivanovic for a foul on Ashley Young after the Red Devil was brought down on his solo run. Though a card should have been issued, the red seemed a bit of a harsh call. As Chelsea supporters upped the volume on their chants and United regained possession, the worst that could happen found a way to occur at Stamford Bridge. Fernando Torres was on the counter, Michael Carrick had contact with the Spaniard, and Clattenburg whistled for Torres to exit the pitch. Instead of a yellow to Carrick, Torres was booked for a dive. Di Matteo was furious, while Abramovic was just mildly slipping in to a state of melancholy. With Chelsea down in the dumps, United continued their efforts. RVP’s shot was saved by Cech, but the keeper failed to collect, and the ball teased the post dangerously. The newly-subbed Chicharito got out of a close offside just in time to make the shot on the rebound, scoring his second goal this season. With 9 men, Chelsea looked to their counters, but Ramires lacked accuracy, and Hazard failed to produce dangerous shots. Stamford Bridge resounded with supporters calling to whichever players had the ball to step it up for the home team. Clattenburg chose to head out with a fair decision, booking Valencia for simulation in stoppage time. United were in no hurry to score, and, after several weak attempts, settled in to rolling the ball around. Thousands of fans folded their arms as they witnessed Chelsea’s first loss of the season, not in a style that was marked entirely by pure sportsmanship, but in a match heavily controlled by a half-blind man and his whistle. United witnessed their first win at Stamford Bridge in over a decade, but are they really content with a tainted victory?

It’s not the first time nor, unfortunately, the last time that the football world will be flooded with accusations of biased refereeing. If any team encountered such problems as of late, it’s the Red Devils. “Referees favoring United” has been a hotly-disputed topic over the years – remember Howard Webb? One could contest that it was a difficult derby to referee, which is why it’s even more ironic that Mark Clattenburg managed to err on the easier calls.

The officials are simply “trying to eradicate this diving disease that ruins the game…and in attempting to eradicate it, they will make mistakes,” said an English commentator. Perhaps not. Perhaps it is corruption and not good intentions going awry that bring the level of refereeing into such absurdity. From the isles of Italy to the fields of Russia, referees have been known to openly accept bribes for years. The respective football associations must be willing to “put up their dukes” and go to battle against any and all officials who act outside of the laws of the game, or they too will be synonymous with corruption.


Barclays Premier League – 9th Matchweek
Sunday, October 28, 2012, 12:00PM EST

Chelsea vs. Manchester United – 2:3 (1:2)
Arena: Stamford Bridge (London)
Referee: Mark Clattenburg
Goals:
0:1 David Luiz (Own Goal) (Asst. Robin van Persie) (4′)
0:2 Robin van Persie (Asst. Antonio Valencia) (12′)
1:2 Juan Mata (44′)
2:2 Ramires (Asst. Oscar) (53′)
2:3 Chicharito (75′)

Match Stats – Half Time:
7:3 shots on target
1:1 shots off target
4:6 fouls
59:41% possession

Match Stats – Full Time:
11:7 shots on target
3:8 shots off target
13:11 fouls
2:2 yellows
2:0 reds


Published on Get Real Premier

There are two kinds of outsiders in a league. One of them is not so obvious, and certainly not like the other. The Gunners have for awhile now been the team that's either getting late goals or scoring by chance, and barely eking out three points. Wenger's challenge this season is coming up with a consistent way to score. Once any system changes, one has to adapt. We haven't seen much adaptation yet, but we've certainly been shown the possible options. Jack Wilshere's performance in the starting lineup was spectacular. One of the few Arsenal players to pose a threat to QPR's highly skilled keeper Julio Cesar, Wilshere's presence in the match was most notable. Giroud has been pretty good on the pitch in the last few games as well. Lukas Podolski has so far been the big disappointment for the Gunners, failing to bring his National Team and Bundesliga skills to the club. Despite his teammates' performance, the first half was a major flop. Arsenal maintained possession and even tested Cesar's net a few times, but playing against a last-place QPR, their chances should have come every two minutes, if not 30 seconds.

Though Wenger made no halftime subs, he certainly fired up his players. The Gunners came back on the pitch with a bit more urgency. Arteta's free kick gave Podolski one of his few well-executed shots, and Arsenal's first real encounter with the net. Cesar's save quickly transferred to a counter by the Rangers, and the game was just getting started. QPR's Sean Wright-Phillips continued to hover around Arsenal's box, but it was the Gunners who failed to take their best shot of the match. A wonderful delivery from Walcott gave Cazorla the perfect opportunity just 12 yards shy of the net, but the Spaniard managed to miss. Anyone would easily think it just wasn't meant to be for Arsenal, and they wouldn't know just how wrong they were. The Rangers were down to 10 men after Mbia's pointless, reckless retaliation on Vermaelen got him sent off. The referee had not noticed Vermaelen's initial challenge. With a little help from Lady Luck, Arsenal were back in business. An unfortunate Julio Cesar failed to keep a clean sheet, despite having done all he could to prevent the Gunners from scoring. Just moments before conceding, the Brazilian keeper saved the ball after a pinball series, deflecting the shot mere inches away from the goal line in a heroic jump. The great combination came seconds after Andrei Arshavin came on the pitch. The Russian went on to provide a brilliant cross on the left flank. Cesar saved another pinball effort, but Arteta's goal on the rebound was inevitable. Cesar went in for a diving save after Aaron Ramsey's shot on a half-volley, preventing the Gunners from a 2-0 win. Former Real Madrid midfielder Esteban Granero had a few good ideas for the guests and nearly got his team the equalizer in the last minute of regulation time after Taarabt's delivery. The Spaniard vied against both Wilshere and Cazorla earlier on, and was lucky enough to only get one yellow. In a sense, luck was on either side today.

They've got that #23 to thank. Source: tokeletesterdek

It took one substitution to turn the match around. The lesson for Wenger here is simple: don't underestimate the Russians. The Russian Premier League has created quite a few impressive players over the years. Pavel Pogrebnyak, who had his start at Spartak Moscow, did wonders at Fulham, scoring 5 goals in 3 games, including a classic hat-trick against the Wolves in which he scored from both of his feet as well as his head. Needless to say, the Russian's move to Reading had upset Fulham manager Martin Jol at the time. Then there was Yuri Zhirkov, whose defensive skills prevented Chelsea from conceding several goals in their Champions League match against Inter Milan in March 2010. Of course, several RPL stars have failed to shine on English soil, regardless of their talents. Andriy Voronin, who saw great success alongside Kevin Kuranyi at Dynamo Moscow, started off well for Liverpool in '07 but failed to continue his goal-scoring streak after recovering from an injury. Many will remember that former Spurs manager Harry Redknapp constantly benched striker Pavlyuchenko, despite the Russian's success at Spartak and his National Team. Wenger can't be making the same mistakes that got Benitez and Redknapp on a downward slope. He needs to refurbish the starting lineup. Out of all the possible changes to be made, perhaps the most crucial is giving Andrei Arshavin more playing time. While it's still unclear exactly who's going to step it up for Arsenal, from the looks of it, Arshavin might just be able to rekindle both his own and his team's successes. It all starts with giving him a chance.

Barclays Premier League - 9th Matchweek
Saturday, October 27, 2012, 10:00AM EST

Arsenal FC vs. Queens Park Rangers - 1:0 (0:0)
Arena: Emirates Stadium (London)
Referee: Anthony Taylor (Manchester)
Goals:
1:0 Mikel Arteta (84')


Published on Get Real Premier

Despite a few defensive mishaps and the usual problematic RPL refereeing, Dynamo Moscow got an important win away at Start Stadium in Saransk. Aleksandr Kokorin got an early goal in with a run on the left flank and a perfect shot smack dab in the far corner of the net. Luke Wilkshire lost his marking on the opposition, and the guests were lucky to escape an equalizer. Mordovia took their home field advantage seriously, despite the sounds of passionate Dynamo supporters. Dynamo were great on defending Mordovia's set pieces, never letting the shots get past the wall. Mordovia kept up their attacks on the right flank, earning consecutive corners. There were a few nice plays featuring Kokorin, Kuranyi, and Dzsudzsak, but none that resulted in a sharp finish. Dynamo keeper Anton Shunin made a great save on a Mordovia free kick, colliding with Aleksei Ivanov, who kept going for the ball even after the keeper had collected it. Needless to say, Ivanov earned the first yellow of the match, one of the few good decisions made by the official.

Dynamo supporters: "We talk in the eyes, and don't shoot in the back."

Dynamo really took the game into their hands in the second half, with Kuranyi, Kokorin, and Jantscher creating early chances. Mordovia's Tomislav Dujmović, on loan from Dynamo, was eager to score for his new team, getting a free kick after the referee whistled for a non-existent foul by Leandro Fernandez. Dynamo's wall kept holding up the fort, time and time again. Perhaps the worst refereeing blunder of the match, and arguably the worst decision made this season, was the call on Aleksei Ivanov's simulation, which should have earned him a yellow. Nobody brought the player down, but after apparently consulting with the linesman, the referee signaled for a penalty kick. Who should attempt the penalty but Tomislav Dujmović? Again, Shunin was great on the save, and he would have gotten a clean sheet today if it wasn't for that meddling official. Vasily Kazartsev booked Jakob Jantscher for having run out into the box during the penalty, but replays clearly showed that several Mordovia players had done the same much earlier than the Dynamo striker. The official called for the penalty to be retaken, and this time Ruslan Mukhametshin netted the ball in past Shunin for the equalizer. Thankfully, justice was served, and Balasz Dzsudzsak provided a cross from the left flank to Kokorin, who jumped high enough to land a brilliant header. His goal elicited a few passionate responses. Dynamo manager Dan Petrescu gestured triumphantly at the linesman, while Marko Lomic got booked for a rude gesture that was not shown on camera.

What looked to be a great combination for a third goal resulted in an unfortunate injury to one of Dynamo's top strikers. Kuranyi's combination with Kokorin and Dzsudzsak resulted in a bad fall for the forward, who injured his ankle in the fall following his shot. Igor Semshov came on for Kuranyi, but wasn't very present on the pitch in the last half. The match proceeded with more efforts by Kokorin and Dzsudzsak, with the occasional long shot from Mordovia. The home team didn't provide any challenging shots for Anton Shunin as almost every cross into Dynamo's 18-yard box was cleared in every possible direction. Aside from the unaccounted-for penalty save, Anton Shunin did get his heroic moment in the last seconds of stoppage time, taking up a ball from Dujmović right as the forward and a few other players were running on to him.

Though it was a great game and a much-needed win, Dynamo can't get by on random goals. They need to get a consistent build-up and get more combinations in until they become second-nature. The team also needs some defensive work, especially from the likes of Luke Wilkshire. The blue-and-whites still tend to give the ball away on their side of the pitch. A lot of the game was full of volleys and such, so more long-range efforts from the Moscovites would be much appreciated.

Kuranyi's ankle injury will have him out for awhile, so Dynamo will have to rely on Kokorin, Dszudszak and Semshov for the time being. As for Jakob Jantscher, he has yet to really prove himself at Dynamo. It's time for his previous success to translate onto the pitch in the present.

Mordovia manager Fyodor Shcherbachenko had plenty to say about his players as well as the refereeing in his post-match interview. "I think matches have to be heated up," said Shcherbachenko. "My players played and controlled the ball very well, and as a result there weren't many moments created around our net. You know, the refereeing reflects the result. There were a few moments that went unnoticed. The linesman tells the referee that there was a foul, but the official doesn't whistle. The refereeing was prejudiced and ugly." Sometimes the referee would whistle when there was no foul, or fail to whistle when there clearly was one. The penalty situation was simply absurd. But as Dynamo's third keeper Yevgeni Frolov said in his half-time interview, "the important thing is to get the result". Dynamo earned another three points, moving up from 14th to 12th place in the Premier League table. With only 12 points and 12 goals after 12 games, they'll need to keep working hard to make it back to the top 4 by the end of the season and not let the quality of the refereeing get in the way of their success. We've seen some terrible officiating in bigger leagues like La Liga and the EPL, and the best of teams have been unfazed by it. As for the refereeing itself, let's take Scherbachenko's advice and "let the competent people deal with it."

GoalChatter has the exclusive English play-by-play as it happened.


Russian Premier League - 12th Matchday
Sunday, October 21, 2012, 9:45AM EST

FC Mordovia Saransk vs. FC Dynamo Moscow - 1:2 (0:1)
Arena: Start Stadium (Saransk, Russia)
Referee: Vasily Kazartsev (Saint-Petersburg)
Goals:
0:1 Aleksandr Kokorin (6')
1:1 Ruslan Mukhametshin (penalty kick) (60')
1:2 Aleksandr Kokorin (Asst. Balasz Dzsudzsak) (63')

HT Stats:

Goals - 0:1
Shots (on goal) - 6(1) : 3(3)
Corners - 6:1
Offsides - 1:0
Substitutions - 0:0
Fouls - 6:11
Yellow cards - 1:0
Red cards - 0:0

FT Stats:
Goals - 1:2
Shots (on goal) - 15(4) : 14(5)
Possession - 51% : 49%
Corners - 7:2
Offsides - 3:1
Substitutions - 3:3
Fouls - 17:18
Yellow cards - 1:2
Red cards - 0:0

Highlights:

"Would you like your humble pie with chips?" asked Jon Champion during the halftime break. What a great question for Arsene Wenger, especially this season. Arsenal's future has been looking somewhat grim; from losing van Persie to United to injured keepers Szczesny and Fabianski, the team has had their share of troubles. On top of that, they're now 10 points behind Roberto Di Matteo's European Champions. Today's match saw an incredibly sloppy performance from the Gunners, a lot of possession and not a lot of chances. Gervinho didn't see the field as well as he usually does, getting in quite a lot of passes to offside players. There were a couple of early attempts by Podolski, but none were on target. Grant Holt opened up the score for Norwich after Alexander Tettey's shot was pushed away by Arsenal keeper Mannone. Holt picked up the ball on the rebound - all he needed was a simple tap to score. Holt has been the star for Norwich this season, scoring in three consecutive games against the likes of Liverpool, Chelsea, and now Wenger's side. Paradoxically, possession was almost always in Arsenal's favor, yet the score could have easily been 2:0 for Norwich. Michael Turner's header from a corner delivery just missed the far post. Podolski wasn't aggressive enough on the ball and completely missed out on a chance to go head-to-head with the Norwich keeper. It's one thing when a player misses a shot, and quite another when he doesn't take it.
Just as many had speculated about Sir Alex Ferguson's halftime substitutions, so too did some Arsenal supporters sit with sweaty palms, anxiously anticipating the arrival new faces on the pitch. Neither manager had made any half-time changes. In United's case, the choice made sense. The Red Devils came out of the halftime break to score. That said, after watching Manchester United come back from 1-goal deficit to Stoke, I half-expected Arsenal to do the same. Instead, the match had a rather different shock value - it was Norwich that continued to carry the initiative. Arsenal didn't get to the opposition's net in over 20 minutes. By then, Wenger had made up his mind - it was up to Oxlade-Chamberlain to take over from the lackluster Podolski. An interesting decision, considering the Ox was recently axed from the England squad. Not only that, but he had to be subbed out after less than 10 minutes due to an injury. With 15 minutes left in the game, Wenger brought on Andrei Arshavin. The Russian international took on set piece deliveries and partook in one combination. I should point out that Norwich's substituted players received a standing ovation for their efforts, which is much more than can be said about the Gunners. The crowd of just under 27,000 saw their team get their first win of the season and the first win against Arsenal at Carrow Road since Boxing Day in 1984, an unforgettable moment for manager Chris Hughton's career.

Photo: Stephen Pond/Empics Sports Photography Ltd. Source: Yahoo! Eurosport UK

How can a Premier League giant that is 72:28% ahead in possession lose the match? It would be wrong to say that Arsenal don't have much talent in their team right now without van Persie. The problem isn't what the players can do - it's what the players aren't doing, and therefore, what the manager isn't doing. If seen from the most objective viewpoint, Wenger isn't taking cues from his players. If you've been watching the documentary series Being Liverpool, you'll know that Brendan Rodgers is very serious about every single player being fully committed to the team. Anyone who shows signs of neglect is kindly reminded that they can just as easily be playing for the reserves. Then there's Sir Alex Ferguson's remarkable Red Devils, the team that carries more stability with them than both Arsenal and Liverpool. That stability comes from the manager's mindset and his ability to communicate with and motivate the players to get the results he desires. At Arsenal, there's clearly a problem with motivating players - with the likes of Podolski and Arshavin on the team, there's so much untapped potential. These players have proven themselves before, largely on the National Team level and under different managers. So why not now? Wenger is losing hold over his players, and the Gunners might soon find themselves trading places with last season's Liverpool, if he doesn't get some of that humble pie.

Manchester United is a team that tends to always meet or exceed expectations, so it was a bit of a shock that the Red Devils didn't quite achieve what they were hoping for during the first ten minutes. A free kick by Stoke City's Charlie Adam accidentally became an own goal by Wayne Rooney. The situation is not uncommon - a player going in to defend the ball in front of the net is always putting himself up to an unnecessary ricochet. United were pretty quick to take back the game at Old Trafford, and Rooney soon saw his first career goal against Stoke, a brilliant header from an RVP delivery. Neither the denied penalties nor Paul Scholes' near-elimination had any effect on Fergie's team. Valencia's cross seemingly nutmegged a defender, giving the always ambitious Robin van Persie his 8th goal in a United jersey with a brilliant one-touch finish.

source: all-soccer

It didn't take long for Fergie's spidey senses to kick in. No sooner was the second half underway than United were scoring. Rooney's cross from the right flank gave Danny Welbeck a diving header to propel the ball into the far post. RVP was down in the box, but United managed to only get a corner. Stoke's keeper Asmir Begovic nicely saved Johnny Evans's close-range header, temporarily halting United's goal-scoring frenzy. Two consecutive combinations by the home team couldn't find their way into the net, leaving Stoke with an opportunity. With three defenders ahead of him, Michael Kightly managed to push past and got his left-footed shot in despite De Gea's diving effort. It was a surprising return for Stoke, who up till then hadn't really been in the game. Rooney ultimately had the final word in this match. In true United spirit, the hair-plugged striker landed one more goal himself, the 200th in his career, from an RVP corner delivery. He had an odd hat-trick of sorts, but more than made up for his accident at the start of the game. Though a few players were clearly still exhausted from National Team duty, the team played their usual solid match. The refereeing was questionable at times, not only for United but for Stoke as well. Of course, the one thing Fergie's team needs to look out for now is any sort of defensive mishaps. The three-against-one scenario should have ended in their favor. But the great thing about United is as always their ability to bounce back in the game, and today was no exception.


Barclays Premier League - 8th Matchweek
Saturday, October 20, 2012, 10:00AM ET

Manchester United vs. Stoke City - 4:2 (2:1)
Arena: Old Trafford (Manchester)
Referee: Anthony Taylor (Cheshire)
Goals:
0:1 Wayne Rooney (own goal) (11')
1:1 Wayne Rooney (Asst. Robin van Persie) (27')
2:1 Robin van Persie (Asst. Antonio Valencia) (44')
3:1 Danny Welbeck (Asst. Wayne Rooney) (46')
3:2 Michael Kightly (59')
4:2 Wayne Rooney (Asst. Danny Welbeck) (65')


Published on Get Real Premier

It's been a rough ride for the U.S. leading up to today's Qualifier. The team's past three games have had mixed results - a draw, loss, and 1-0 win. With an injured Landon Donovan and Brek Shea out of the roster, Jurgen Klinsmann had some tough decisions to make regarding the lineup. He didn't change up the roster much; with the exception of the aforementioned players and Jozy Altidore's absence, much of the usual faces were present in today's game.

Though the U.S. started off slow and missed out on creating chances from set pieces, they were able to make use of Eddie Johnson's aerial threat. Out of 14 goals that he scored for the Seattle Sounders in the MLS, 10 were in the air. It was a great move by Klinsmann letting the striker start. His goal came was a perfectly-timed header from a cross by Graham Zusi. However, Klinsmann's team couldn't hold on to their lead for more than five minutes; Antigua equalized with one of several attacks from the right flank. Peter Byers made a speedy run through half of the field and provided Dexter Blackstock with the perfect back-heel pass in front of the net. The U.S. team's central defenders didn't do a good job of marking the players, the ball simply flew past Clarence Goodson, and Tim Howard didn't come off his line. Antigua's Blackstock had another chance soon after, but Howard played more steadily this time. If anything, what Klinsmann's team was able to achieve after conceding was retaking possession. Yet they still lacked those long-range efforts to quicken their build-up, get more chances in, and test the young keeper. Michael Bradley had several chances for the U.S. with a long shot earlier in the game and another off the post after a quick one-two combo. Howard came through, saving a long-range effort. Cherundolo was great on the defense but not so much on his cross on the attack. The official added just one minute of stoppage time, just enough to allow Antigua's Griffith to get another shot at the net. The 20-year-old had quite a presence on the pitch, as did his hair.

Herculez Gomez is generally a very productive player, but today wasn't his best game at all; he couldn't control the ball or finish, and his coordination in general was off. His combinations with Dempsey were completely resultless. Klinsmann should have benched him much earlier in the match, but waited until the 73rd minute instead. An earlier substitution got Jermaine Jones on the pitch for Danny Williams, a poor choice on Klinsmann's part. Jones was already on a yellow from a previous match; getting a second would immediately exclude him from Tuesday's Qualifier against Guatemala. Sure enough, Jones managed to get booked. The commentators aptly described the situation as "a silly yellow" - Jones stuck out his hand in the air and touched the ball. Antigua's Parker had a close call after his great turn in finished in a shot from about 25 yards. It also signfied a shift in the game - Antigua had finally out-shot the U.S. in the second half. The USMNT's set piece taker Zusi was subbed out for the oft-forgotten midfielder Sacha Kljestan. Immediately the Anderlecht player had a right-footed shot that tested Antigua keeper James, who bounced the ball off the pitch in front of him. Byers and Gordon exchanged attempts for their teams. Michael Bradley got in a minor scuffle with Griffith after he was brought down from behind in the box. The referee awarded a corner instead of a penalty, but Bradley got back with a shot on goal anyway. James made two of his best saves in today's match, proving he's clearly not like his English namesake, Calamity James. Klinsmann's team finally did what they set out to do in the last seconds of regulation time. 30-year-old debutante Alan Gordon's deep throw gave Johnson the double, earning the U.S. a much-needed and hard-earned 3 points. Klinsmann should keep the momentum up. We've seen the U.S. succeed against much more difficult teams, nabbing some historic wins earlier this year. If they can beat Italy and Mexico, they can beat a few CONCACAF teams. It's all a matter of practice and good coaching. The USMNT manager, however, is on a bit of a slippery slope reminiscent of a successful businessman who wants to stick to a proven model. If Klinsmann can change up the team's playing style to a more attack-oriented one despite his rather conservative outlook, it'll be worth the risk. Just like his decision to include Eddie Johnson in the lineup, pushing the players to go forward with the ball instead of the usual slow 'standing passes' will work wonders on the pitch.

Johnson's header, assisted by Zusi. Source: icantfeelmyarms

2014 World Cup Qualifiers

Friday, October 12, 2012, 7:00PM EST

Antigua & Barbuda vs. USMNT - 1:2 (1:1)
Arena: Sir Vivian Richards Stadium (North Sound, Antigua)
Referee: Neal Brizan (Trinidad)
Goals:
0:1 Eddie Johnson (Asst. Graham Zusi) (20')
1:1 Dexter Blackstock (Asst. Peter Byers) (25')
1:2 Eddie Johnson (Asst. Alan Gordon) (90')


HT stats:

3:1 shots on goal
1:5 corners
0:2 offsides
3:7 fouls
no yellows or reds

FT stats:

11:9 shots
4:2 shots on goal
7:2 corners
4:0 offsides
1:1 yellows, no reds

Moldova's National Team came off two consecutive losses in World Cup Qualifiers, including a 5-0 defeat to England. Disregarding the supremacy of the Three Lions over FIFA's 145th ranked team, it was evident in today's game that even an average National Team can take on Ion Caras's Moldova. What should have been a pretty simple win for the Yellow-Blues turned into one of those chance-filled spectacles in which nobody scores. Ukraine manager Oleh Blokhin was unable to be at the match after having had surgery to remove a blood clot, leaving the Qualifier in the hands of his assistant. Luckily, Ukraine came off strong, not letting Moldova finish, but lost the ball in the midfield on several occasions. Nevertheless, the Moldovan side had no real chances. Ukraine missed a bucket-full of chances from several meters out and a whole lot more on set pieces. Moldova could have gotten ahead before halftime if it wasn't for the French referee's blatant disregard of defender Yevhen Khacheridi's handball. The official soon committed another error, calling for a goal kick after a Ukraine corner deflected off of a defending Moldovan. Yarmolenko was active on the right flank, but his closest attempts made their way behind the net. Another somewhat controversial moment graced the game when the referee seemingly disregarded what looked like a goal from the Ukraine side. Some commentators however speculated that Husyev's ball went off the crossbar. There was no question though that Butko's attempt on the rebound from 5 meters out did not make its way in, having been cleared by Moldova's Onica. An error on Khacheridi's part gave Moldova their first serious attempt, a one-on-one rendezvous by Igor Picuşceac that was cut short only by the brilliance of good goalkeeping.

The Moldovans managed to even out the first half and parts of the second, but were clearly unable to create even half as many chances as Ukraine. Hats off to their keeper, who had quite a lot of work to do during the game, saving a lot of close-range shots. While Ukraine spent the second half creating as many, if not more chances than they had in the first, the same problem persisted. Whether it was Zozulya not getting on the end of the ball or Yarmolenko's reckless shots, the players were still unable to finish. It's no wonder that all three substitutions brought in forwards. The team's set piece chances kept on coming and coming, as did the missed attempts -Yarmolenko's ball behind the net, Rotan's ball over the top, Marko Devych's embarassing miss from three meters out...The one attempt that was of critical importance - Rotan's late free kick from outside the box - was miraculously saved by none other than Moldovan keeper Stanislav Namaşco. The 25-year-old keeper has 27 caps for Ukraine and plays for Kuban Krasnodar in the Russian Premier League. He's already made a name for himself after having saved an Ibrahimovic penalty in March 2011. With a performance like today's, he'll save many more. Although Ukraine's keeper, Andriy Pyatov, did not see quite as much action as Namaşco, he came through with a fantastic save of his own towards the end of regulation time, diving in to clear Gațcan's shot from 25 meters out.

Namasco saves for Moldova from all possible angles. AFP PHOTO/ SERGEI SUPINSKY

A well-prepared Ukraine failed to get an important three points. The game was played well enough to be devoid of any reckless challenges; the only two yellows given out were for dissent, which could easily have been prevented. It's hard to blame lack of motivation for this result; it's obvious Ukraine could have won, had they managed to get at least one ball in. The team could have scored on so many occasions that the 0-0 draw is almost paradoxical. They were today's England, and the game should have been at least 5-0 in favor of the Yellow-Blues. At times the Moldovans played nearly an equal game. Five players from Moldova's NT play in the Russian Premier League, a testament to the skill and talent in the RPL.

Ukraine may be undefeated in their first two games, but they haven't won yet either. Blokhin's players have proven time and time again that they have what it takes to do well in big tournaments. But there's a clear difference between having potential and using it. Sometimes teams that are ranked lower and don't necessarily play better make it further. It's all about finishing the job, getting the goals in. The Yellow-Blues have had a record of creating moments and being unable to finish. It's their Achilles' heel going into any tournament. Even if the team qualifies, they'll have to overcome this problem before they can ever truly hope to be the team to beat.



2014 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers
Friday, October 12, 2012, 2:00PM EST

Moldova vs. Ukraine - 0:0 (0:0)
Arena: Zimbru Stadium (Chişinău, Moldova)
Referee: Clément Turpin (Oullins, France)
Goals: N/A

The Spanish Clasico is always worth the wait, and today was no different. Jose Mourinho's side was thirsty for goals, and as usual, put on lots of pressure. Madrid not only had the first opportunities of the match, but seized dominance after the first twenty minutes. The guests are dangerous on set pieces, so it was surprising that Sergio Ramos's header missed the target from 6 yards out. Ronaldo made up for lost opportunities by picking up the ball from Benzema and scoring in the near post. At that point, the guests made Vilanova's players look like a terrible MLS defense, leaving Ronaldo wide open and free to do as he pleases. Madrid missed two solid attempts again after Benzema's shot hit the post, while Di Maria shot the ball wide after the rebound. In true Clasico fashion, Lionel Messi scored the equalizer after playing through the defense in a style that only he can deliver. Several defenders were right on the ball, but that didn't stop Leo from running past them to net it in. There was some commentary as to whether Pedro was offside before Messi got the ball, but with the speed of the game, it was difficult to tell. Nevertheless, it was an unlikely turn of events after Madrid's dominance. The commentators remarked that after the goal, Ronaldo and company "found themselves in a different game". They couldn't be more right - both teams soon exchanged the first yellow cards, and it was Barcelona who had the final say before the halftime whistle.

The changing course of the game went in the home team's favor as Madrid's players wore down. As if the game wasn't exciting enough, a controversial decision by the referee left Vilanova's team without a penalty. Pepe's challenge on Iniesta looked like a clear call. Replays clearly showed that there was contact with Iniesta's foot, but as per FIFA's usual ignorance, instant footage was unavailable to the ref, who chose to carry on the game. Another odd moment arrived when Leo Messi was brought down by Xabi Alonso, who was already on a yellow card from the first half. The referee awarded Barcelona the free kick, but did not book the Madrid midfielder for the challenge. The joke was on the official, however, as Messi scored his 8th goal of the season directly from the set piece. Casillas was late on the dive, powerless against the Argentine striker, who has scored over 150 league goals for Barcelona. Messi is just three goals short of legendary Madrid player Alfredo Di Stefano's record of 18 competitive goals in the Clasico. But the Argentine has a much closer rival in the form of Cristiano Ronaldo. Ozil's through-ball gave Ronaldo his own double in today's match. The Portuguese forward even attempted a hat-trick, which would have given him a record of 3 consecutive hat-tricks this season (he scored the last two in a 5-1 win over Deportivo La Coruna in La Liga and a 4-1 win over Ajax in the Champions League, respectively). Messi fired back, but couldn't get his own hat-trick in the last twenty minutes. There were no more goals from set pieces today, but Barcelona's passing looked fierce and was a stressful presence in the 18-yard box.

Madrid may be the set piece masters and may see the pitch very well, but it was Lionel Messi's free kick that gave his team the lead. Barcelona managed to take back possession right after the equalizer, making it difficult for their age-old rivals to get enough of the ball. "Barcelona's a bit like a toss of a coin," said commentator and former manager Terry Venables during halftime. But with a coin toss, there's not a clear-cut fifty-fifty spread unless the process is repeated a good number of times. The match was quite uneven, leaning heavily towards Madrid in the beginning and more towards Barcelona in the second half.

Has today's Clasico lived up to the Messi vs. Ronaldo stereotype? Maybe so - after all, Ronaldo did open the score, only to be faced with Messi's equalizer less than ten minutes later. Both players scored doubles and were moments away from hat-tricks. Arguably the best two players in the world, they defined today's Clasico more than ever as a rivalry of styles between two potentially equal forces. In a weekend teeming with lesser-known Clasicos and well-known derbies, La Liga's matchup still stands out as the most technically brilliant show on Earth.


La Liga: Week 7
Sunday, October 7, 2012, 2:00PM EST

El Clasico
FC Barcelona vs. Real Madrid - 2:2 (1:1)
Arena: Camp Nou (Barcelona, Spain)
Referee: Carlos Delgado Ferreiro
Goals:
0:1 Cristiano Ronaldo (Asst. Karim Benzema) (23')
1:1 Lionel Messi (31')
2:1 Lionel Messi (61')
2:2 Cristiano Ronaldo (Asst. Mesut Ozil) (66')


Published on Get Real Premier.

In a Triple Clasico weekend (including the Super Clasico in Liga MX and La Liga's Madrid-Barcelona match), the MLS' own infamous rivalry squared off at the Home Depot Center, watched anxiously by a sell-out crowd. LA started off strong with several consecutive attempts, putting on the pressure on the guests and getting a whole lot of space on the opposition's side of the pitch. The Galaxy were the undisputed favorites in the first ten minutes, and at many times, it seemed they could have won. Landon Donovan's combinations with Robbie Keane brought some major sparks to the first half. It was no surprise that Keane's one-touch finish opened up the score. Bruce Arena's team continued to dominate the midfield as well as RSL's 18-yard box. Despite another fantastic combo by the Galaxy's duo, aided by Magee, Donovan was unable to get the ball in. The guests seized the opportunity to equalize, getting a one-two play in and making use of a defensive mishap. Fabian Espindola got his 8th goal of the season, and soon after he got his double. The latter goal was a brilliant header off the ground, a ball that's always a challenge for even the best of keepers. RSL's playmaker has continued his success after scoring a career high of 10 goals last season. The guests' goalkeeper Nick Rimando was sharp, as well, finding the right positions to save Franklin and Magee's shots. The Galaxy were not without their own stellar keeper. Saunders stopped Saborio's one-on-one attempt and prevented Espindola from getting a hat-trick in both halves. 

The Galaxy continued where they left off, still dominating RSL's box at the start of the second half. Among the numerous attempts, Donovan and Juninho's shots stood out. Once again, Rimando came through for the guests. The shots were 16:4 in favor of LA, so it seemed paradoxical that the team was unable to get another ball in for over 45 minutes. Sadly, the Galaxy had lost some of that momentum and rhythm they had created early on. Robbie Keane's presence on the pitch became less and less prevalent as the game came to a close. Real Salt Lake captain Kyle Beckerman prevented a great counter from shaping into a potential goal and had a long-range effort. Yet the Galaxy still had more of the ball. The guests resorted to the occasional foul and a few fake dives, anything to take back the initiative. Donovan made a brilliant run for LA on the left and was visibly taken down in the 18-yard box. The ball went out for a corner, and the referee seemingly dismissed what was a most obvious penalty. Even with one of their best players out and Keane's creative effort lost, the Galaxy pressed on. David Beckham continued to feed the ball into the box and set up the attempts. He was impressive all throughout the game, one of the best set piece masters of his day. RSL still had some tricks up their sleeve, however. It was only Saunders' skillful saves that prevented Saborio from scoring and Espindola from getting his hat-trick during stoppage time. Villarreal, who came in for Donovan earlier, had a last-second effort that was saved by Rimando, before the final whistle blew and the home team was forced to accept an undeserved loss.

LA had one too many chances to get ahead; perhaps one of the factors that prevented them from doing so was the refereeing. Poor calls by the linesman prevented the home team from getting a corner, gave a way a free kick to the guests, and left the Galaxy without a penalty. On the other hand, LA had many more attempts they could have - and should have - used. As we've seen with the Mexican Super Clasico earlier today, it's not about the moments you create, but how you use them. A team can have a few shots on goal altogether but score from every single one, while another can test the keeper all they want but get absolutely nowhere. This will likely be a major theme during playoffs and may lead to some unexpected yet interesting results.

There's something about watching a packed Estadio Azteca during El Super Clasico. It's not just the historic, legendary moments that occurred there, either. Having been in a stadium surrounded by half as many fans as the masses that occupied Azteca today, I know firsthand of the beauty in being a part of the spectacle, and the sights and smells that accompany the scene. One can only imagine that Chivas' away win against Club America went a little something like that. Although the match started off suspiciously slow, both teams soon tested the other's keeper. Hugo Duran saved Rafael Marquez Lugo's one-on-one attempt, while Chivas keeper Luis Michel prevented Rubens Sambueza from getting ahead. Chivas opened up the score after a well-executed throw-in gave Marco Fabian the header into the near post. Ironically, it was Fabian who was booked for bringing down Sambueza, giving America a free kick that carried much potential for the equalizer. But the home team tied the score during regular play, with Juan Carlos Medina picking up a cross that his teammates failed to get their heads on. 

All of the goals were scored beautifully. The game did not seem to be leaning heavily in favor of either team, although America did seem to have more possession at first. In the end, Chivas made more use of their chances and broke through America's defense by bombarding the net from long-range shots, while America resorted to trying to play the ball into the opposition's box. The home team's tactics slowed their game and decreased their chances as the players tired out in the second half. Albeit being devoid of the over-the-top action characteristic of a Clasico, the match was full of enough surprises to fulfill every fan's expectations. 


Liga MX - 12th Matchweek
Saturday, October 6, 2012, 6:00 PM EST

El Super Clasico 
Club America vs. Chivas - 1:3 (1:1)
Arena: Estadio Azteca (Mexico City, Mexico)
Referee: Jorge Perez Duran (Orizaba, Mexico)
Goals:
0:1 Marco Fabian (36')
1:1 Juan Carlos Medina (40') 
1:2 Rafael Marquez Lugo (60') 
1:3 Rafael Marquez Lugo (68')

MVP = Rafael Marquez Lugo (Chivas)