Rob Smyth's Blog, page 38
January 25, 2024
India v England: first Test, day one – live
Mark Ramprakash on England’s risk/reward balance
Ambassador…
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January 23, 2024
Asian Cup: Australia 1-1 Uzbekistan, Group B – as it happened
Martin Boyle’s controversial penalty ensured Australia topped Group B after a hard-fought draw with Uzbekistan
1 min Peep peep! The Socceroos kick off from left to right as we watch.
Uzbekistan are coached by Srecko Katanec, which is a good excuse to link to a piece from the archive that was all kinds of fun to do. The joy of that Sampdoria team was embodied by the wonderful Gianluca Vialli.
Continue reading...January 21, 2024
Sheffield United 2-2 West Ham: Premier League – as it happened
Oli McBurnie scored a 103rd-minute penalty to earn the home side a point in a dramatic game that included two red cards in injury time
4 min West Ham are playing with Ings slightly behind Bowen rather than the other way round. The reason for this tactical observation is that bugger all is happening on the field.
3 min “Good morning from Pittsburgh!” writes Eric Peterson. “I think there’s a shade of utter lunacy among that certain faction of West Ham supporters responsible for the vitriol directed at David Moyes given not only their recent achievements (European silverware, for crying out loud) but also their current league status.
Continue reading...January 20, 2024
Brentford 3-2 Nottingham Forest: Premier League – as it happened
Ivan Toney wrote his own script on his return to football by scoring and inspiring Brentford to a crucial victory
I was just typing that Toney had caught Yates with his studs – accidentally I think – when Danilo scored a brilliant goal. A flustered clearance from Janelt went straight up in the air on the edge of his own area. Mee headed it away but only as far as Danilo, who controlled the ball on his left thigh and slashed a beautiful volley past Flekken with his right foot.
Forest take the lead out of nothing!
Continue reading...January 18, 2024
Asian Cup: Syria 0-1 Australia, Group B – as it happened
Jackson Irvine’s quick-witted goal settled a scruffy game and put the Socceroos through to the last 16 with a game to spare
5 min: Sabbag hits the post! Syria almost took the lead with their first attack. A ball into the area from the right was controlled near the byline by Al Aswad, who laid it back to Sabbag. He moved the ball onto his left football and cracked a low shot that took Ryan by surprise. It beat his dive and thumped off the near post.
4 min Australia appeal for a penalty when Bos’s cross hits the arm of Ousou. It was tight to his body, though, and he was trying to pull it behind his back. Not even the sickest VAR deviant would give that.
Continue reading...January 14, 2024
Everton 0-0 Aston Villa: Premier League – as it happened
The home side defended superbly to end a run of three straight league defeats in a rugged, occasionally spiteful match at Villa Park
4 min Everton win the first corner of the game on the right. It’s curled in by Harrison and claimed with authority by Martinez.
3 min McGinn’s bounces through to Bailey beyond the far post. He tries to cut back inside Mykolenko but slips over.
Continue reading...January 13, 2024
Ivory Coast 2-0 Guinea-Bissau: Africa Cup of Nations – as it happened
Seko Fofana and Jean-Philippe Krasso scored fine goals as the hosts began the tournament with a comfortable victory
7 min The goal came from a poor ball out of defence, and Ivory Coast have smothering Guinea-Bissau since the kick-off. A free-kick on the halfway line gives them a few seconds’ respite.
It was a terrific goal from Seko Fofana. He received a square pass from Kessie on the edge of the D, shifted the ball neatly away from Djalo and Rodrigues and slammed a thrilling shot into the far corner.
Continue reading...Asian Cup: Australia 2-0 India, Group B – as it happened
Jackson Irvine and the substitute Jordy Bos scored second-half goals as Australia proved too good for a brave but limited India
A PFA Player of the Year and two other fellas wish India well
The Socceroos have played India only once at the Asian Cup before, a 4-0 victory in 2011. Tim Cahill got two, Harry Kewell thrashed a fine goal and Brett Holman also troubled the scorers. I can’t embed the highlights because the AFC have blocked that particular rush of dopamine, but there’s a link below. It says ‘highlights’.
Continue reading...January 9, 2024
Middlesbrough 1-0 Chelsea: Carabao Cup semi-final first leg – as it happened
Boro will go to Stamford Bridge with a slender lead after Hayden Hackney’s goal gave them a hard-fought victory over Chelsea
1 min Peep peep! Boro, in red, kick off from right to left as we watch. Chelsea are wearing their dark blue away strip.
The teams emerge from the tunnel on a bracing night in the north east. Both managers are apparently without 12 senior players; Chelsea haven’t filled the substitutes bench.
Continue reading...January 7, 2024
Arsenal 0-2 Liverpool: FA Cup third round – as it happened
Liverpool recovered from a first-half battering to win the game at the death through an own goal from Jakub Kiwior and a rasper from Luis Diaz
“As a Liverpool fan I’ll take any result except for a draw,” says Niall Mullen. “Or maybe a win. I’m not sure this is the squad to compete on all fronts and we need to be wary of Generals Janvier and Fevrier as they have done for us in past campaigns.”
I think the squad is big enough, especially as you’re in the Europa League rather than the Champions League. Liverpool are almost uniquely dangerous when they get on a roll, whether it’s during an Anfield comeback or across a season, so I’d want to stay in as many competitions as possible. Easy for me to say, in my ivory tower.
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