Rob Smyth's Blog, page 11
April 14, 2025
Bournemouth 1-0 Fulham: Premier League – as it happened
Antoine Semenyo’s classy first-minute goal gave Bournemouth a vital victory that moved them above Fulham into eighth
3 min Antonee Robinson has got a heap of assists this season so he’s still well in credit. Even so that was an untimely slip, especially given Bournemouth’s fragile morale going into the game.
Antoine Semenyo has put Bournemouth ahead inside 60 seconds. Bournemouth broke through Scott, who lost his balance as he tried to push a pass out to Semenyo on the right. It was intercepted by Robinson – but then he was robbed by Semenyo, who cut inside Andersen on the edge of the area and shaped an excellent left-foot shot into the far corner. That’s a really good finish, although Robinson will know that his mistake led to the goal.
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April 10, 2025
Lyon 2-2 Manchester United: Europa League quarter-final, first leg – as it happened
André Onana was at fault for both Lyon goals as Rayan Cherki’s stoppage-time strike cancelled out what looked to be a late winner from Joshua Zirkzee
It sounds like a number of Man Utd supporters are struggling to make it to the ground in time for kick-off. I’m sure we’ll hear more about that after the game.
Lyon will be missing their young wingers Ernest Nuamah and Malick Fofana when they host Manchester United on Thursday, which is a huge blow given their penchant for attacking down the flanks. The good news for Paulo Fonseca is that he will be able to call upon Rayan Cherki and Thiago Almada to carry out the attacking duties either side of Corentin Tolisso, with Georges Mikautadze leading the line.
Continue reading...April 9, 2025
PSG 3-1 Aston Villa: Champions League quarter-final, first leg – as it happened
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s magnificent goal symbolised an awesome PSG performance that overwhelmed Villa
Marquinhos’s suspension means there are no thirtysomethings in the Paris Saint-Germain XI. No galacticos either. The players may be younger, but the team is all growns up
“I realise PSG may well hand out a good tonking tonight, but Villa’s bench is looking strong at least!” says Rob Knap. “Is it the strongest bench among the eight teams in the quarter finals? I’m not sure on what basis you can measure that really - so I suspect some people reading this who have seen a lot of, say, Hector Fort and Pablo Torre might disagree with that idea.”
Continue reading...April 8, 2025
Arsenal 3-0 Real Madrid: Champions League quarter-final – as it happened
Two majestic free-kicks from Declan Rice, the first of his professional career, inspired a stunning first-leg victory
It’s been a season of incessant frustration for Arsenal. Yet it could end with them winning the European Cup for the first time. Right now, in this exhilarating, occasionally bowel-loosening window just before kick-off, anything is possible. And nights like this don’t come along very often: it’s only Arsenal’s second Champions League quarter-final in the last 15 years.
This is great fun: Sean Ingle’s minute-by-minute report of Arsenal’s win in the Bernabeu 19 years ago.
47 min - GOAL! Real Madrid 0 - 1 Arsenal Brilliant from Thierry Henry! Absolutely brilliant! From just over the half-way line he turns past Ronaldo and ghosts past three Real defenders before coolly sliding it into the far corner from 15 yards. Superb.
Continue reading...February 28, 2025
Afghanistan v Australia abandoned due to rain at Champions Trophy – as it happened
The match was washed out with Australia well in control, a share of the points guaranteeing them a place in the semi-finals
5th over: Afghanistan 23-1 (Ibrahim 3, Sediq 6) Johnson, who is moving the ball both in the air and on the pitch, beats Sediq with three successive deliveries. As Ian Smith says on commentary, Afghanistan just need to get through this spell – it’s fine if they are 40 for 1 after 10 overs.
4th over: Afghanistan 20-1 (Ibrahim 1, Sediq 5) So far Dwarshuis has been able to control the swing pretty well; two from his second over.
Continue reading...Afghanistan v Australia: Champions Trophy cricket – live
4th over: Afghanistan 20-1 (Ibrahim 1, Sediq 5) So far Dwarshuis has been able to control the swing pretty well; two from his second over.
3rd over: Afghanistan 18-1 (Ibrahim 1, Sediq 3) Ibrahim Zadran is beaten by his first ball, a beauty from Johnson that moves away from a full length. It was a loose drive from Ibrahim, whose judgement was so good against England.
Continue reading...February 27, 2025
West Ham United 2-0 Leicester City: Premier League – as it happened
Tomas Soucek scored on his 30th birthday as West Ham cruised to victory against struggling Leicester
6 min “In response to Gary Naylor’s question, I’d say some of these players had potential!” says Russell Yong.
5 min West Ham are starting to get on the ball. You’d expect them to dominate possession tonight, and for much of Graham Potter’s time at the club given his methodology.
Continue reading...February 25, 2025
Australia v South Africa: Champions Trophy cricket match washed out – as it happened
Persistent rain in Rawalpindi meant no play was possible in the heavyweight Group B clash
“Just a heads up Rob...” begins Alistair Connor. “Check out weather.com , the rain’s only getting worse in Rawalpindi. Can’t see any sort of match happening. Or are you contractually or diplomatically obliged to avoid mentioning that?”
It’s more that I’m one of nature’s optimists you can’t always trust the weather apps.
Australia v South Africa: start delayed in Champions Trophy cricket – live
Still raining in Rawalpindi. It’s very light, frustratingly so, but the outfield is in good condition so the turnaround should be very quick if/when the rain stops.
Here’s something to read while we wait. The bogeyman is back.
Continue reading...February 24, 2025
Sheffield United 1-3 Leeds United: Championship – as it happened
Leeds scored three goals in the last 20 minutes to stun Sheffield United and move five points clear at the top
9 min: Off the line by Gruev! Meslier is looking vulnerable on set-pieces. He paws Peck’s corner back towards his own goal – he thought he was fouled, the referee disagreed – and Gruev did brilliantly to stoop forward and head the ball off the line.
8 min A long throw from the left is spilled by Meslier, who is very relieved to dive on the loose ball before any Sheffield United player can get to it.
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