Scott Murray's Blog, page 59

Wales 2-1 Austria: World Cup playoff semi-final – as it happened

Gareth Bale scored two world-class goals to stay on course for a place in Qatar

4 min: Austria are buzzing around as well, resulting in a somewhat scrappy game during these very early stages. A lot on the line tonight, to be fair.

2 min: Austria struggle with the Welsh press. Ramsey forces Alaba into shipping possession. James cuts in from the right and shapes for the top left, but doesn’t get a good contact and his shot sails harmlessly into the arms of Lindner in the Austria goal. That’s got the crowd going, not that they needed much encouragement.

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The Fiver | Aaron Ramsey is playing regular football again, sort of

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It’s not pushing a point too hard to suggest Wales don’t have the greatest record at the World Cup. It’s 1958 – and that’s it. Having said that, they did get to the quarter-finals that year, and may well have won the whole thing had John Charles not been kicked out of the competition. Also, in the process, they scored the greatest goal in the entire history of the whole goddamn thing. Ivor Allchurch, boneddigion a boneddigesau, knocking Diego Maradona, Carlos Alberto, Maxi Rodríguez, Dennis Bergkamp, Esteban Cambiasso, Archie Gemmill, Saeed Al-Owairan, Michael Owen and Marco Tardelli into a jauntily-cocked hat.

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Wolves 2-3 Leeds: Premier League - as it happened

Leeds came back from two down to claim three precious points after a wildly entertaining and sometimes feisty match at Molineux

3 min: James latches onto a loose Wolves pass, 30 yards from goal, and launches a shot at goal. It’s always going over, but not by miles. Decent enough effort.

1 min: A bright start to this game, with James whipping in from the Leeds left, forcing Sa to stoop to claim, then Jimenez making a nuisance of himself down the inside-right channel, nearly opening the visitors up with a fancy spin. More, please!

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The Fiver | Liverpool and the eerie channelling of that 1981 spirit

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The draw for the rounds of Big Cup that don’t involve Paris Saint-Germain was made on Friday morning. At first glance, the runes read nicely for Liverpool, who face Benfica in the quarters, then possibly Bayern Munich in the semis and Real Madrid in the Stade de France showpiece. Could this be some sort of omen? Liverpool won the League Cup in 1981, you see, then went on to beat Bayern in the Big Cup semis and Madrid in the final … which, yes, you’ve got there before us, was held in Paris. Something something Coronation Street and royal family blah, and there you have it. Eerie or what?

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Arsenal 0-2 Liverpool: Premier League – as it happened

Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino both love scoring against Arsenal … and both did it again after Liverpool weathered a first-half storm

3 min: Arsenal clear this one easily enough, and the hosts have managed to survive that early pressure from Liverpool. “You could count on one hand how many players a team could have that it wouldn’t matter Salah wasn’t starting for them, so not convinced Mr Arteta,” writes Zach Neeley. “Not that I should worry. As an Arsenal fan, going in to a big game and no sight of David Luiz on the team sheet, no photo of his lustrous coiffure a top the page, I’ve already won.”

2 min: A corner on the left leads to another on the right. Alexander-Arnold takes. Van Dijk sends a header towards the bottom right. Ramsdale does well to turn the ball around the post for another corner, and keeps Arsenal’s record of not conceding from a corner this season in tact.

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The Fiver | Generating the sort of publicity only badly-spent money can buy

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Arsenal haven’t been able to compete in their one-time eponymous round of Big Cup for a while now, but in their absence from top-flight European competition, PSG have done an admirable job in holding the fort at the last-16 stage. Getting regularly knocked out of the Round of PSG (né Arsenal) is one of the highest-profile gigs in football, generating the sort of publicity only badly-spent money can buy, so it’s not surprising that Manchester United fancied some time in the spotlight and a slice of the underperforming-dysfunctional-big-club pie. Move aside, Poch! Do one, Leo! If anyone can keep us entertained during extremely testing times, United know a few €50m-plus men who can!

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Crystal Palace 0-0 Manchester City: Premier League – as it happened

Liverpool are now just four points behind Manchester City with a game in hand after this goalless draw at Selhurst Park

4 min: Grealish nips between two Palace defenders down the left, then nearly squeezes between another couple. The door is shut on the edge of the box, but that’s a promising run by the City midfielder, who already shows all the signs of being up for this.

3 min: Cancelo sends Mahrez into space down the right with a fine crossfield pass. The ball’s cut back for Rodri, who takes the first shot of the evening from the edge of the Palace box. Blocked. Cleared.

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The Fiver | Lampard and the glazed expression of confused impotence at Everton

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We’ll be honest with you: The Fiver went big on the struggles of Everton last week because we thought we’d get our trademark cheap digs in while the going was good. After all, they’d surely pick up six points from their matches in the Goodison cauldron against Wolves and Newcastle, whereupon any notions of impending relegation would become fanciful and the chance to riff, bebop and scat on Frank Lampard’s pain would be gone. The mental gymnastics we have to perform, eh, readers? We go to these extra lengths just for you. You deserve it. Nil Satis Nisi Optimum, right?

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Manchester United 3-2 Tottenham: Premier League – as it happened

Cristiano Ronaldo produced a superb hat-trick on his return to secure a priceless win for United against top-four rivals

2 min: Spurs get the ball back. Hojbjerg passes long down the right in the hope of releasing Kane. Varane comes across to block off the channel.

1 min: United snaffle possession in short order and stroke the ball around hither and yon. Spurs sit back and hold their shape.

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Brighton 0-2 Liverpool: Premier League – as it happened

Liverpool closed the gap on leaders Manchester City with a routine win at the Amex, as Brighton’s losing streak continued

2 min: Mac Allister finds Cucurella down the left. Cucurella wins a corner, but the flag pops up for offside. A nice open start with both teams showing their ambition.

1 min: Liverpool are on the front foot immediately, Diaz with a couple of touches down the left. Keita then clatters into the back of March in the agricultural style. He’s slightly fortunate not to go into the book, but with less than 60 seconds gone, the referee lets it slide.

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