We are all former students at Lakenheath High School and other public schools in East Anglia. We were in school in the 70s and 80s and drank deeply from the well of British culture of those decades - the pints, the telly, and of course the footie!
It's all on the line today as Liverpool try to rescue their Europa League campaign. They go into Anfield tonight a goal down to Lille. Join me to see action from 4:05 pm onward.
posted by The Blue Devil @ 3:24 PM
We are all former students at Lakenheath High School and other public schools in East Anglia. We were in school in the 70s and 80s and drank deeply from the well of British culture of those decades - the pints, the telly, and of course the footie!
107 Comments:
Fulham are currently engaged in a quite remarkable match with Juve. They were 3-1 down from the away leg and when David Trezeguet scored after 2 minutes they must have thought it was all over. But they've responded marvelously with three goals from Zamora and a brace from Zoltan Gera.
It's 4-4 on aggregate!
Roy Hodgson has thrown Clint Dempsey into the mix. He's going for a sensational win here.
In another Europa League cracker, Werder Bremen are currently 3-4 down on the night and 4-5 down on aggregate to Valencia. David Villa - who else? - has scored a hat-trick already and there's still twenty minutes to play.
Even more interesting - the commentary team has hinted that Juve are down to ten men! That might have happened when Fulham got a penalty in the first half.
The commentator has indicated that it was none other than Italian World Cup winning captain Fabio Cannavaro who was controversially sent off in the first half for bringing down Bobby Zamora for the penalty. Wow!
Hello Blue Devil. I have been viewing the Fulham match since about the thirty minute mark. I am really impressed with Fulham's performance vs Juve. Looks like extra time in a tie that appeared to be a sure thing for Juve.
GOAL! A quite sensational goal from Clint Dempsey.
The roof of Craven Cottage is rocking now as Clint turns and chips the keeper. Brilliant!
4-1 Fulham!
I started viewing the match about two minutes after the sending off.
Missed the goal. What an upset if Fulham hold on and advance.
That Dempsey goal just gets better on replays. He couldn't have picked his spot better. A definite contender for goal of the season, especially if it puts Fulham through.
We're still on a knife's edge here because one goal would put Juve through.
Handbags between Duff and Del Piero now and Sabena came wading in with a stamp and gets himself sent off!
Juve down to nine now with only three minutes of extra time to play!
Hi MUR - sorry, with the excitement and eating my lunch, I missed your earlier comments. Welcome!
Full-time!
Fulham have knocked out Juve and the kid from Texas is the hero. Fantastic.
The commentators are saying that Fulham were good value for their win. Do you agree, MUR?
Now we can settle in for the Liverpool match. I'm watching on Channel 1 of VSS.net. That is:
http://livevss.net/channel1.php
Yes Juve's one of the tournament favorites out in disgrace finishing with nine men and losing the plot. Makes them and Italian football look really bad and like an embarassment. Fulham with an historical night. If Costa advance I wonder if Platini will arrange an all English qurterfinal.
Fulham were definitely dominaant. Juve were really lethargic with the exception of the unsavory incidents. The best I have ever seen Fulham play and the worst I have ever seen Juve play.
You're right - Michel won't be happy with that result tonight. We'll see if Liverpool can make it two English sides in the quarterfinals.
Alan Kardec has scored a late goal that should see Benfica through 2-3 on aggregate over Marseille.
Werder and Valencia have ended at 4-4, which I assume puts Valencia through on away goals.
Standard Liege have gone through 4-1 on aggregate against Panathinaikos.
Teams coming out of the tunnel at Anfield to the usual rousing chorus of "You'll Never Walk Alone."
I am on livevss.net with the teams still in the tunnel and switching to a commercial.Marseille 1 Befica 2 a final. Benfica through 3-2 on aggregate.
Great - I'm glad that VSS is working out for you. Kick off time!
Than you Blue Devil. Babbel with an early chance. Costa making their intentions known early on. Some surprisingly high quality Europa League matches.
I agree - in many ways the Europa League matches have been more open and unpredictable than the CL matches.
Penalty to Liverpool!
Penalty for Costa. Pretty obviuous as Lucas dribbles his way through the Lille defense and is taken down in the penalty area.
Gerrard steps up and...
1-0 Liverpool!
On the replay, it was a good decision from the referee. Lucas was looking for the contact in the box but there definitely was a foul.
Level on aggregate. An early goal and Lille can only defend if they want the match to go to penalties. Should be more open.
Torres nearly in there. Liverpool are in full flow now with a tremendous crowd roaring them on.
Liverpool can't relax. A Lille goal at this stage would leave the Reds needing two goals.
All the tabloid chatter today was about Fernando Torres being on his way to Chelski in the summer if Liverpool don't get CL status.
I am not sure about Torres' future at Anfield. Also rumors that he and Raffa don't get on very well. The tie still in the balance. Costa could use another goal.
Costa dominating possession and playing their typically cautious style. I guess their philosophy or Raffa's is to dominate possession and then they will eventually dominate Lille.
At some point, Hicks and Gillette would have to lose patience with Rafa, right?
Two early goals in Portugal as Sporting and Athletico are 1-1, with the priceless away goal for the Spanish side by Aguero.
Rubin Kazan have scored an early away goal at Wolfsburg. It's 1-2 on aggregate there.
That's not good - Stevie G. has gone done. He's up now but walking gingerly.
I think it is much more expensive to sack Raffa due to the terms of his contract. he seems to have overstayed his welcome.
I know what you mean when you say that it's expensive to sack managers. Part of our financial mess is that we were still paying off David O'Leary et al long after they'd been sacked. In fact, we might still be paying El Tel! But how much money will Costa lose by not getting into the CL?
Great header from Agger. I thought that was going in.
Still 0-0 between Anderlecht and Hamburg. The German side is 1-3 up from the home leg though.
I thought that was a goal too. Great corner and great header by Agger. A lucky deflection took it straight to the keeper. Costa would lose a great deal of revenue by not being in the CL. They have a chance as poorly as they have played. It would be a travesty if you are paying EL TEL. He started the rot in the first place along with Ridsdale.
Hazzan was clean through there after a great marauding run but his shot was well snuffed out by Reina.
Latest update Sporting Lisbon 1 Atletico Madrid 2. This is also the aggregate score. Sergio Aquero with both Atletico goals.
Lille beginning to get back into this match. All level on aggregate.
Header wide by Torres after a great cross by Kuyyt. That was a great chance to go ahead on aggregate.Costa need to put their chances away.
I'd definitely like to see a bit of Sergio Aguero down the Elland Road. Great striker.
Insua goes into the book for some garden variety obstruction.
Nearing half time now. Liverpool need to regain the momentum after the interval.
Torres clean through,but marginally offside as halftime approaches.
Half time then: Pool 1-0 up but all to play in the second half.
Halftime and level on aggregate. Costa need to regain their early domination. If they do this then I predict they will be in the quarters. Possibly one eye on Sunday's match.
Latest update Sporting 2 Atletico 2. Atletico ahead on away goals with all to play for in the second half.
That looks to be another Europa League thriller going on.
Three quick goals around the half-time mark in Belgium. It's 2-1 Anderlecht on the night, but 3-4 Hamburg on aggregate. Another thriller!
I saw the higlights of the Fulham match as I had originally missed Dempsey's winner. It appeared to be meant as a cross. They all count.
Lille have started as they finished the first half - on the attack.
I'm going to give Clint the benefit of the doubt and assume that he meant to put it where he did.
GOAL! Torres tucks an easy one home after a bit of a hash of a clearance there by the Lille defender.
2-0 Pool! (2-1 on agg.)
That doesn't change that much. Liverpool would still go out if Lille get one back.
2-0 Costa as Torre scores with a through through a porous Lille defense. Costa 2-1 up on aggregate and in control. Lille can score and go up on away goals. Costa need to concentrate.
Torres with another chance as he disposses a Lille defender. The French team seem to have lost their composure.
Torres goes close again with a nice shot just past the left post.
Another chance off a corner. One more goal for Costa should seal it.
Clever chipped free kick but Kuyt had strayed offside.
Odd free kick that is wasted. A chipped pass goes to a player in an offside position.
That would be fine by me. That would mean two English sides in the last eight alongside one Portuguese, one Belgium and one Spanish club.
Hamburg have just scored again at Anderlecht and move on to 3-5 on aggregate. That should put them through.
Wolfsburg have equalized through Newcastle old boy Obafemi Martins. It's 1-1 on the night and 2-2 on aggregate now. Could go to extra time there.
Dangerous Lille free kick wasted by an offside player.
Wolfsburg vs Rubin all tied on aggregate.I guess Costa and Benfica would be considered favorites in the competition along with Valencia.
Masch tries an audacious effort from a free kick from over the half-way line. Wide of the mark.
Wow - two quick goals for Anderlecht and it's 4-2 on the night but 5-5 on aggregate. Hamburg still have the slight advantage having scored 2 away goals to Anderlecht's 1.
Another thriller. Chance for Lille as Nyang is off target in a great position.
Liverpool defenders living dangerously here. One slip and it could turn sour for the Reds.
The cameras pick up a t-shirt that reads "You don't have to walk in a storm, Rafa. We'll carry you."
I don't really understand the loyalty at this point.
That is a strange banner. Success in the Europa league may preserve his position as manager.
Rafa replaces Babbel with Benayoun. Good move - Babbel is exactly the kind of player to cough up the ball in a dangerous position.
Hamburg get a third goal! 5-6 on aggregate now.
Good save keeper from a Dirk Kuyt drive.
Costa hanging on. Great substitution. What a thriller between Hamburg and Anderlecht. That should seal the tie as Anderlecht need two goals in ten minutes to advance.
I agree - Hamburg should be the first German side through to the final eight, perhaps to be joined by Wolfsburg.
I've lost my link just at the worst time possible. Searching...
I'm on Atdhe now:
http://atdhe.net/15295/watch-liverpool-fc-vs-lille-osc
I was losing the link,but regained it. Nervous fans at Anfield. Nail biting moments.
GOAL! Torres knocks in an easy one after a great Gerrard run. Liverpool home and hosed.
3-0 (3-1 on agg.)
Sporting and Atletico still at 2-2. Sporting will need a goal soon or they'll go out to the away goals rule.
Full-time. A great result and relief for Rafa and co. In the end it seems easier than it was.
Liverpool into the draw for the quarters in the morning.
Final whistle as I regain the link and see a relieved Raffa walking down the tunnel.
Hamburg 6-5 up on aggregate. Wolfsburg and Rubin seem to be heading for extra time. Sporting and Atletico as you stated.
Hamburg are through to the quarters as well.
Full time at Wolfsburg - they'll need extra and possibly pens.
Should be interesting. I wonder if that match is on a streaming video.
Atletico Madrid are now through on the away goals rule. So that's two Spanish sides into the quarters.
Extra time has started between Wolfsburg and Rubin. Now in the 92nd minute and still level between the two sides.
Yeah - here's one on Atdhe:
http://atdhe.net/15297/watch-vfl-wolfsburg-vs-rubin-kazan
Now in the 96th minute and still level.
I will try that . Thank you.
Rubin are making a double change now.
It looks to be the same coverage that we were just watching for the game at Anfield. Channel 5?
Looking at the soccernet commentary. Still in the 96th minute.
Well - this has been fun but I've got to get some papers graded tonight. I'm going to sign off and leave you to enjoy the rest of this one. I'll catch up with you at the weekend, eh?
Cheerio!
See you later Blue Devil.
Whoah! Clint-Bleeding-Dempsey! That's the coolest non-Arsenal match report I've read in a long time.
Wait until you see the goal - it's all that!
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