Lakenheath Old Boys

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!

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Europa League Semi Finals Live!

Anybody still interested in the Europa League. If so, tonight's the night with both English clubs - Fulham and Pool - still in with a shout to reach the final. When was the last time that two British teams reached the Europa League/UEFA Cup/Fairs Cup? Answers provided as we go on this evening....

59 Comments:

Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Fulham take a serviceable 0-0 in the away leg back to Craven Cottage this evening.

Meanwhile, on Merseyside, Liverpool will have to turn around a 1-0 deficit against Atletico Madrid.

1:42 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

I'll be honest in that I'll probably have half an eye on the final UK election debate, which begins at 3:30 EST this afternoon. The Guardian has live coverage of that. Gordon Brown is right under the cosh after the latest "bigoted woman" gaffe. Crikey!

1:43 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

I've got a great Veetle stream for the GOLTV coverage of tonight's Europa League clash at Anfield here:

http://veetle.com/view/index.html#4bd0b9bd999fa

3:01 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

It's all change for Rafa tonight who will play Javier Mascherano at right back and Ryan Babel up front.

3:02 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Magic - it's a chance to enjoy the incomparable Ray Hudson doing the color work today.

3:04 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Liverpool get us underway. Big match tonight for the Reds. Their last chance to secure some silverware this season. It's not the trophy they would have wanted but it might keep Rafa in his seat.

3:07 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Liverpool come out of the traps quickly, with Benayoun bringing a great save from the Atletico keeper straight away.

3:08 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

The teams at Craven Cottage tonight:

Fulham: Schwarzer, Pantsil, Hangeland, Hughes, Konchesky, Davies, Murphy, Etuhu, Duff, Gera, Zamora. Subs: Zuberbuhler, Nevland, Riise, Dempsey, Smalling, Greening, Dikgacoi.

Hamburg: Rost, Aogo, Mathijsen, Boateng, Demel, Pitroipa, Ze Roberto, Jarolim, Tesche, Petric, van Nistelrooy. Subs: Hesl, Rozehnal, Guerrero, Berg, Arslan, Rincon, Schulz.

3:10 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Nice burst forward by Gerrard but he spread it wide too early for Babel to latch onto. Good early signs for Costa.

3:12 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Babel does well to get free on the left but his ball was too high for Kuyt and Aquilani in the middle.

3:14 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Atletico seem to have weathered the early going here at Anfield.

3:17 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Kuyt sets up Aquilani nicely there but his shot is straight at the keeper.

3:17 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Tremendous save from Pepe Reina.

3:27 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Half an hour gone at Anfield and Craven Cottage. Still 0-0 in both matches.

3:28 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Bit of afters between Carra and Aguero there.

3:30 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Poor ball in there from Masch. He's wasted at right back.

3:30 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

I've got the audio for the UK election debate on now with video from Anfield. A bit odd but I like to multitask.

3:31 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Oh - a bad miss from Kuyt after a lovely move there by Pool. He was just six yards out and merely had to keep the ball down to score.

3:32 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

A near thing there for Atletico. Aguero runs through, rounds Reina, who did well to stay on his feet, but Aguero can't hit the target.

3:35 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Oh dear - Petric has scored a vital away goal for Hamburg at Craven Cottage. Fulham need two goals now. They're up against it.

3:36 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Liverpool are ending the half on the up here, pushing for that goal that would level things.

3:46 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Stevie G. goes into the book for a nasty scything tackle on Aguero.

3:49 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

GOAL! What a cracker from Aquilani!

The cross came over and it looked a bit behind the player but he bent his body back around the ball and arrowed it just inside the right post.

1-0! (1-1 on agg.)

3:51 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Half-time at Anfield. It's 1-0 on the night and all square in the tie. Liverpool seem to have the momentum on their side now and I'll pick them to run out winners tonight.

3:54 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

The second half has kicked off but I have to run off in a minute for a late meeting.

4:11 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

It's getting a bit tense out there now with loads of wild tackles flying in.

4:15 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

I'm back from my meeting and Liverpool are still 1-0 up in the 85th minute. This one looks like it's going into extra time.

4:49 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Fulham, meanwhile, have roared back into the lead with two quick goals in the second half by Davies and Gera. They're now 2-1 up on aggregate. But one more goal by Hamburg would send them out.

4:50 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

The goalscorer Aquilani is trooping off now to be replaced by El Zhar.

4:52 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Into stoppage time now at Anfield.

4:54 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

GOAL! Benayoun has shot Liverpool into the lead here. This is looking more and more like an all-English final now. Fulham already through tonight on a 2-1 win.

5:12 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Oh dear! Diego Forlan has broken Anfield hearts by sticking in an opportunistic goal.

2-2! Atletico would go through now on the away goals rule.

5:13 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

It's all happening now. Kuyt runs through and catches the Atletico goalkeeper Dominguez in the process. He gets up and is cuffed round the ear by a defender. Yellows all round.

5:15 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Fifteen minutes left now for Liverpool to pull something out of the fire.

5:17 PM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Hey Bob
I am here for a few minutes before I go to college
WOW about Fulham. When I left they were losing
Now Liverpool are losing.
I don't want them to be tired and depressed for Sunday's match!

5:19 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Atletico are trying to kill it off in the opening minutes of the second period of extra time.

5:19 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Squeaky bum time for Rafa, for sure. The Liverpool faithful look really worried.

5:20 PM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Struth!
Madrid hits one just over!

5:25 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Former Arsenal man Juan Antonio Reyes has been at the heart of everything for Atletico tonight. There he set up Aguero who was a wee bit greedy in the end.

5:26 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Rafa with one more roll of the dice, sticking on the Barca teenager Pacheco for Benayoun.

5:27 PM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Is this going to knock Liverpool for a loop for Sunday?

5:27 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Afternoon, Dave! How are you?

5:27 PM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

Not even a hello from yo111

5:28 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

I'm afraid it will. It's got to be the end of their season. They could easily end up with no trophies this season and out of Europe entirely next season. Wow!

5:28 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Who's "Yo111?" ;-}

5:29 PM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

'bout time!

Is this going to hurt my chances on Sunday?

5:29 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Less than five minutes now for the Reds. I can't believe that they're going to go out at Anfield.

5:29 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

I'm afraid it will. Liverpool will be down in the dumps. I hope they come roaring back, though. I hate Chelski. (Sorry, Tony, if you're lurking)

5:30 PM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

you with a missed placed letter and no shift!

5:30 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

There's your man Diego Forlan, the hero for Atletico for the night.

Nacho Camacho!

5:31 PM  
Blogger United We Stand said...

I have to go!!!

Take care and best of luck on Saturday!

5:31 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

I've been feeling that way all week. Bit of a cold that left me with "no shift."

5:31 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Cheers, mate!

5:32 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Babel has been hopeless tonight. You'd have to think that Liverpool will shed several players this summer, including Lucas, Insua, Riera, El Zhar, and Babel.

5:34 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Wonderful play from Reyes. Skips down the wing, but Aguero couldn't latch onto his ball in.

5:34 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

And that's the last of Aguero's night.

5:35 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

Three minutes of stoppage time now.

5:35 PM  
Blogger The Blue Devil said...

That's it! Atletico have knocked Liverpool out of the Europa League and they're dancing around Anfield. Liverpool players down on the turf dejected. Could get spicy tonight on Merseyside.

5:37 PM  
Blogger Chelskilad said...

2 - 2

9:53 AM  

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