Rob Smyth's Blog, page 58
March 22, 2023
PSG 0-1 Wolfsburg: Women’s Champions League quarter-final – as it happened
VAR was Wolfsburg’s friend in a Parisian tale of two penalites, with Dominique Janssen giving the away side a precious first-leg lead
5 min Bachmann is fouled on the left wing by Hendrich. PSG have made a superb start, and Wolfsburg are struggling to get out of their half.
3 min Now Frohms has to charge from her area to beat Diani to a long ball forward.
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March 19, 2023
Barcelona 2-1 Real Madrid: La Liga – as it happened
Franck Kessie scored in injury-time to secure the points after Real Madrid had a goal disallowed following a VAR review
3 min: Good save by Courtois! Lewandowski rolls Kroos, 25 yards from goal, and pings a shot that is pushed away to his right by the diving Courtois. It’s been a cracking start to the game.
1 min Benzema forces ter Stegen to make a save after 23 seconds. It was comfortable enough, low to his right, after Benzema hit one from just outside the area with his left foot.
Continue reading...Manchester United 3-1 Fulham: FA Cup quarter-final – as it happened
Fulham had two players and their manager sent off in the space of 60 seconds, turning the match on its head
“As the match is on what used to be known as terrestrial TV I can watch Fulham go down to, I hope, honourable defeat,” says Richard Hirst. “Equally pertinently, I can test out whether the MBM coverage is as accurate and unbiased as I assume - no pressure!”
Who told you that goddamn lie?
Continue reading...March 18, 2023
Taking on the powerhouses: Grimsby’s golden age in the FA Cup
This year’s surprise quarter-finalists have previously gone further in the competition – to the semi-finals in 1936 and 1939
It’s hard to know what, in the year 2023, looks more far-fetched. That when Grimsby play Brighton on Sunday they will be attempting to reach the club’s third FA Cup semi-final, not the first; or that the previous runs to the last four, which included wins over Manchester City and Chelsea, had nothing to do with David or Goliath.
Grimsby’s semi-final appearances in 1936 and 1939 were highlights of the greatest period in the club’s history. From 1929–48, including a break for the second world war, they spent 10 out of 12 seasons in the top flight. All three of Grimsby’s England internationals were capped in that time: the inside-forward Jackie Bestall (described in this paper as an “artful dodger and constructive genius”), the goalkeeper George Tweedy and the inspirational centre-back Harry Betmead each made a single appearance between 1935 and 1937.
Continue reading...March 17, 2023
Nottingham Forest 1-2 Newcastle United: Premier League – as it happened
The outstanding Alexander Isak scored twice, including an injury-time penalty, to give Newcastle a precious victory
“Hi Rob!” says Joe Pearson. “Writing from the Midwest, where we are beset by overlapping basketball games all day and most of the night, thanks to the behemoth that is the NCAA Tournament.
“Don’t get me wrong, I love the First Round. But it’s just that after a day and a half of wall to wall basketball, I need a break. So a calming display of association football is just what the doctor ordered. Of course, a chaotic pitch invasion would be a change of pace as well. Just saying.”
Continue reading...Patrick Vieira and a sacking swimming in an ocean of melancholy
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The Premier League is the greatest cult in the world, a microclimate of hot air, dependent thought, confused entitlement and pound notes. On Friday morning, hitherto popular member Patrick Vieira disappeared, no questions asked. Who fancies some Kool-Aid?
Can I one be of 1,056 readers who may have spotted that the fonts in your letters section have changed from to italics then back to normal (Fiver letters passim)? Hmm, on rereading what I’ve just written, I realise this could probably be the most boring letter ever penned. However it IS the Fiver so it will be interesting to see whether you publish it, even in an ironic way (y’know with italics or something) or humorously cut me off in mid fl – Rod de Lisle
Congratulations to Football Daily for its contribution to this. “Fifa’s hastily-squashed Women’s World Cup sponsorship deal with Saudi Arabia, which had been condemned by *checks notes* ... Football Australia and others.” Clearly those notes failed to mention Team Heroine, the Government of the People’s Republic of Aotearoa, and NZ Football, all of which may have expressed their feelings with, or well before, our Fifa Women’s World Cup joint hosts in the West Island – Ewan McDonald
I was delighted to see David Squires’ cartoon about my adopted hometown finally getting a shot in the flamin’ A-League (men’s), and especially for the shoutout to our excellent A-League (women’s) side. If we can’t get a men’s team called the Canberra Skywhales, the least we deserve is a supporters group called Capital Punishment – Adam Osborne
This is an extract from our daily football email … Football Daily. To get the full version, just visit this page and follow the instructions.
Continue reading...India beat Australia by five wickets in first men’s ODI – as it happened
A calm unbeaten 73 from KL Rahul gave India a five-wicket victory in a low-scoring match in Mumbai
5th over: Australia 29-1 (Marsh 13, Smith 5) More extras, leg side again from Shami and this time it clips Smith on the thigh before finding the boundary. And another wide, Shami’s errors undoing some of his good work. He overcorrects in response to those mistakes, gives Smith width outside off, and Smith cracks it through cover for four.
4th over: Australia 19-1 (Marsh 13, Smith 0) Marsh throws the hands at Siraj, not a convincing shot as he slices the drive behind point while aiming through cover, but it gets him four as it rolls slowly into the rope. More convincing next time round though! On the back foot to meet a shorter length, timing it perfectly through cover for four. Then bash, down the ground. On the front foot and lofting his off drive. Three boundaries in the over after a quiet start from Marsh.
Continue reading...India v Australia: first men’s one-day international – live
2nd over: Australia 5-1 (Marsh 0) What an over! The contest is great. Siraj bowls over the wicket to the left-hander where Shami was coming around. Head back-cuts so close to the body, as he always tends to do. Then flashes at a wide one and misses, shades of Warner in both. Misses out again off his pads, then finally climbs into a delivery, wide and not so short but lumberjacked out through cover. Siraj dials back the length and Head is beaten on the top edge, nice bounce from this surface. The bowler gives him a long stare off a long follow-through. A challenge to ask whether he’s willing to come after the ball. So Head does, the last ball of the over. Walks at it, swings through midwicket, and gets a bottom edge back onto the stumps. Advantage Siraj.
1st over: Australia 1-0 (Head 1, Marsh 0) A good start from Shami, the cricket following on from the Test series as he hits a length outside the off stump, finds some bounce, and Head plays cautiously for a few balls before carefully taking a single to point. Marsh gets squared up but survives a thick outside nick along the ground.
Continue reading...March 12, 2023
Newcastle 2-1 Wolves: Premier League – as it happened
Miguel Almirón came off the bench to score a vital winner for Newcastle in a goal of tight decisions and fine margins
On this day in 1994… goals were not a problem for Newcastle.
On this day in 1996…
Continue reading...March 11, 2023
Tottenham 3-1 Nottingham Forest, Leicester 1-3 Chelsea: clockwatch – as it happened
Kai Havertz’ exquisite goal helped Chelsea to a third straight win, while Harry Kane scored twice to give Spurs victory
Talking of Brighton, this is a cracking read on Roberto De Zerbi’s tactical audacity. That’s right: tactical audacity.
A summary of the BBC/Gary Lineker story, cut and pasted with love from our dedicated blog
Gary Lineker’s suspension from the BBC has been followed by dozens of presenters, pundits and contributors withdrawing from BBC duties this weekend.
As the corporation attempted to find a replacement host for Match of the Day on Friday, pundits Ian Wright and Alan Shearer announced they were pulling out of the show in solidarity.
Match of the Day is still due to air tonight, but without a presenter, pundits or commentators.
On Saturday morning, Alex Scott announced she had withdrawn from presenting Football Focus, and Jason Mohammad, the presenter of Final Score, followed suit. Both of those shows were then replaced on the BBC TV schedule.
The BBC’s Radio 5 Live sports coverage was also withdrawn, as was Colin Murray’s 11am Fighting Talk show on the station.
Former England striker Jermain Defoe has tweeted that he will not appear as planned on Sunday’s Match of the Day 2.
Former BBC director general Greg Dyke has said the BBC has undermined its own credibility because it will be viewed as having bowed to government pressure.
Lineker, meanwhile, has travelled to Leicester to watch his former side’s match against Chelsea.
Continue reading...Rob Smyth's Blog
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