Olympic Footie Saturday
Before that, Japan have just completed a 3-0 thumping of nine-man Egypt, Mexico are up shortly and Brazil kick-off against a thuggish Honduras at noon (all EST times). I'm off to do a few Saturday morning errands but I'll be back for the Brazil kickoff.
posted by The Blue Devil @ 9:01 AM
128 Comments:
Good morning lads. I will chip in with a comment before I leave.Mexico have taken the lead vs Senegal at Wemberley after everyone's favorite ref, Mark Clattenburg, awarded a free kick.Shep Messing idiotically asked if the ref would influence the match. How about not leaving a player completely unmarked to head in a free kick?That's why he's a talking head instead of a coach.
Halftime and 1-0 to Mexico. It has been end to end stuff as Mexican keeper,Corona, has had to make two excellent saves to preserve Mexico's lead. I have not seen Mark influencing the match as he has done an excellent job of letting the players play. Should be an interesting second half.
Chaos in the Senegal box as the defense failed to clear, the keeper blocked a shot , and Aquino scrambled home at the far post to make it 2-0.
Senegal pull one back as Konate heads in superb cross from the left. Mexico now lead 2-1.
We are in for a grandstand finish.
Mague Gueye of Everton has just come on a s a sub for Senegal.
Nearly Desmond as a header into the ground went about a foot wide.That goal by Senegal was the first conceded by Mexico in this tournament.
That goal by Konate was his fifth of the tournament and that makes him the leading scorer. He plays in the Israeli league, but for how much longer.
GOAL !!! IT'S DESMOND AT WEMBERLEY AS BALDE HEADS IN A CORNER. A SUPERB COMEBACK.
The first goal by Senegal in this tournament by someone other than Konate.
According to my calculations that seven quarterfinal goals and we have not even completed two matches.
A surprise in the Wemberley sunshine as Senegal scored twice in seven minutes against a team who had not conceded in this tournament.A footie feast at Wemeberley.
The Senegalese keeper is down injured as he came out of his box to clear from Peralta ,w ho was through on goal and there was a nasty collision.
Into stoppage time as Senegal replace their skipper and there will be four minutes of that
Headed just over by Peralta from a asty cross from the left that could have won it for Mexico.
So it's extra time as it is Desmond at Wemberley. This musty be the match of the tournament.
Senegal have made all their allotted substitutions. Mexico have two remaining.
Extra time is underway from Wembelerley.
will this delay the start of the next match?
The keeper made a great save from a long range effort from Peralta as he held it at the second attempt.
The winner of this match plays Japan in the semis on Tuesday.
Well wide from Herrera from long range as Mexico have attacked this extra time
Now the keeper comes out to the edge of the box to block from the on rushing De Santos, then makes a superb kick save as it's all Mexico.
Ousmane Mane has single handedly kept Mexico in this match with a string of fine saves.
GOAL !!! 3-2 MEXICO AS DE SANTOS SCORES WITH A GREAT FINISH
It was a defensive lapse as Senegal failed to clear and Dos Santos took advantage with a great finish in the corner from the edge of the box.
Mexico make their final change as it takes forever.
Hector Herrera has been booked and will be suspended if Mexico make the semis.
Nearly 3-3 as Corona made a superb save from long range . Now Senegal have a corner.
Headed over off a corner from Souare, who has two assists.
Make it three assist if you count the back pass that led to that third Mexican goal.
One minute of stoppage time.
Senegal win a corner off a long throw.
Corona drops the corner from Souare, but it is thumped away and it is halftime of extra time.
The second half of extra time is underway.
Now Mexico make their final change as it takes forever Raul Jimenez is on for Peralta.
Senegal win a free kick just outside the box.
Into the wall and it's a wasted free kick.
GOAL !!! 4-2 MEXICO
SECONDS LATER THE SENEGALESE KEEPER RUSHED OUT AS IT WAS A BREAK , A POOR BACK PASS , THE KEEPER SAVED WITH HIS HANDS OUTSIDE THE BOX , THEN A HEADER INTO AN EMPTY NET.
Herrera headed the goal, but will be suspended for the semis.
Corona tipped over from Balde.
With less than ten minutes remaining I would think this match is done and dusted.
Both extra time goals were due to fundamental defensive errors.
Souare is fouled near the touch line.
A terrible free kick from Souare straight to Corona.
Naughty by Abdoulaye Ba on dos Santos and he is booked for that. Not a good tournament for him as he made the back pass for that fourth goal and was sent off vs Uruguay
High and wide by Dos Santos.
Now miles over by Senegal.
I will bugger off now as there is just over a minute remaining and Mexico have all but booked their place in the semis.Their first semi since 1996.
Cheers lads
I'm back just in time to see Honduras take a shock lead against the heavily favored Boys from Brazil.
I do have to admit that Honduras are making a good fist of this but Brazil seem slightly off the pace so far.
Sandro picks up the first yellow for a trademark lunge.
Oscar is just beginning to impose himself; I'm really going to enjoy watching him play for Chelski next season.
The goalscorer Martinez is keeping Marcelo from romping up the left flank as is his wont.
Two quick yellows for Crisanto for tripping up Neymar and he's off!!
Honduras down to ten men!
For some reason the crowd is giving Crisanto a nice round of applause as he comes off the pitch. I remember the day in which a sending off was a source of shame.
A bit of anti-Brazilian sentiment in the crowd at SJP today, for some reason.
Oh - Marcelo threaded a beautiful ball through to Oscar but Mendoza did well to collect.
GOAL! So many weapons, so many weapons. Damiao finishes off a lovely move there by Hulk getting to the by-line and pulling it back. They were all lining up for that one but Damiao looks like a born sniffer.
1-1!
Oh - Marcelo with a rocket from distance. Mendoza did well to hold on. Brazil clearly on top now.
Another great move ends with Rafael crossing and Mendoza tipping out for a corner.
Two minutes of stoppage time to come.
Good lord, it's 'Cello, looking increasingly like an aging Pocahontas, in for the half-time show.
We're back on for the second half, then. 1-1 going in. All to play but you have to fancy Brazil, especially with a man advantage.
GOAL! Well, what do you reckon!?
Espinoza with Honduras' second shock goal of the match.
2-1! WOW!
Rather relaxed defending by Marcelo there to be honest. He should have tracked the left-footed Espinoza down the side.
Penalty to Brazil and the crowd does not like it - audible boos around SJP.
Still, Damiao went down under a reckless challenge. Had to be given.
Neymar to take....
Buries it!
Desmond!
Neymar is getting a wee bit floppy for my taste at this point.
GOAL! Leandro Damiao gives Brazil its first lead in this match!
A quintessential striker's goal there. Marcelo played the ball into his feet and in one movement, Damiao turned and shot. He got a wee bit lucky on the deflected block but he deserved it.
3-2!
Fifteen minutes for Brazil to dig this one out now.
Antony Lozano is coming on for the last roll of the dice for Jeremy Bengtson.
Surely Brazil can see this one out over the last remaining minutes.
Quack quack! It's Pato time as two-goal Damiao has a rest.
Goalscorer Espinoza is off!
Two yellows and he's off for a slightly early bath. Game over as Honduras are reduced to nine.
And more applause from the Toon Army here at SJP - I don't get it. Like his compatriot Crisanto, Espinoza has gone off after two ridiculous, reckless challenges that could have injured the Brazilians who were targeted. And the Newcastle fans are eating it up. Have they missed the antics of Joey Barton?
That's it - Brazil made heavier work than expected with Honduras but they're through to a semi-final on Tuesday.
Right then - we're at Millennium Stadium for Team GB v. S Korea. Team GB's first knock out match in the Olympics since 1956. Crikey!
Psycho's side is of course unchanged from that dramatic win against Uruguay.
Some long ball stuff from South Korea earns them a foul off Tom Cleverley.
Arsenal's Park over the free kick....
Straight into the bottom of the wall - poor free kick there.
South Korea forced into an early subsitution as Kim is off with what looks like a broken wrist.
Ji turns well and shoots. Butland did well to reach it at full leap.
Team GB looking a wee bit overawed by the occasion. Not the same zip that they had against Uruguay.
GOAL! Ji rifles one in from an acute angle to give South Korea the early lead. It was coming.
Oh dear - that was poor from Butland on the replay. It looks as if he was going to punch it away for some reason but completely bollixed it up.
Better from Team GB but it comes to nothing in the end as Bellamy tries to cut it back but it cannons off a Korean and off him for a goalkick.
Penalty to Team GB!!!!!
Slightly unfortunate by the Korean as Bertrand shot toward goal and it bounced up on his arm.
Some handbags before the penalty and Craig Bellamy is at the center of it.
Aaron Ramsey to take....
Scores under the keeper!
1-1!
Another penalty for Team GB - this is extraordinary. The Koreans are incensed!
This one was clearer than the first. Sturridge burst into the area and there was certainly contact.
Ramsey again....which way will he go?
Saved!
That was poor. He took a really strange run up at an extreme angle. I never like those. I prefer a simple straight run up.
Still 1-1.
Kim and Sturridge went into the book for some off the ball incident before the pen that we didn't see.
Half-time: 1-1. In truth, Team GB would have been fortunate to go in 2-1 up, as South Korea have dominated possession for much of the first half. Maybe some changes to come.
Back on for the second half, then.
Oh - Bellamy laid a lovely cross over and Cleverley was inches away from turning it in.
Better from Team GB from the off here. Psycho has clearly had a word with one or two players.
Bellamy had a good chance there but he chose the wrong option IMHO laying it off to Scott Sinclair rather than feeding Sturridge.
Richards and the keeper with a terrible clash there and neither of them has survived. Changes all round.
Good free kick chance for Cleverley out wide right.
A wasted corner there from Korea. Psycho won't worry about those.
Joe Allen picks up a yellow for a wild kick to the chest.
Down to fifteen minutes now - this feels like one that's going to go the distance.
I've just got confirmation that the mighty LUFC saw off PNE at Deepdale today 1-3 with goals from Tom Leeds, Aidan White and substitute Sam Byram.
Full-time at the Millennium - 1-1.
Extra time to come - that Aaron Ramsey missed penalty is looking rather significant at this point.
Right then - extra time starting up.
This one could definitely swing either way.
Oh - free header for the goalscorer Ji. He'll want that one back.
End of the first period. Danny Rose about to come on.
Park has a go but Butland is well behind it. I can't see this ending in any other way than with penalties. And you know what that means.
That said, Stuart Pearce is a veteran of penalty losses and he has claimed that his team practiced penalties from Day One. We'll see about that.
Big free kick chance....
Sturridge curls it - and it's well wide. Crowd booing because Giggsy didn't take it. Frustration setting in.
Deep into stoppage time now - perhaps time for one more chance.
That's it - 120 minutes played and still no winner. Psycho will have to get his list of five penalty takers together.
So, here we go...
The body language for the Koreans looks better - they're huddled up in a circle. Team GB just kind of wandering about.
19 year old Jack Butland will have to be huge now.
It's Aaron Ramsey to go first - his third penalty of the evening. Cor!
Ramsey scores! 1-0 GB
Ku for Korea....
Right footed in. 1-1
ManYoo's youngster Tom Cleverley next....
scores high right! 2-1 GB
Baek to take for Korea....
2-2
Craig Dawson, the substitute center back next....
Scores! 3-2!
Jung up next for Korea...
Scores - 3-3
Giggsy up next - the Welsh hero.
Scores! 4-3!
Park must score.....
And does! 4-4!
Sudden death time. Daniel Sturridge up....
Oh really poor. Stutter step up and then an easy save for the keeper.
Mental note for the future - do not let Sturridge take pens for England!
Ki to win it...
And does! Korea are through! Sturridge is a wanker.
That's it for me, lads. Over and out.
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