Tuesday, February 20, 2007

Champions League LiveBlog: Arsenal v. PSV Eindhoven 2nd Half

2nd Half

Well, I must say I have been surprised at how well PSV has played given Arsenal's form as of late. I don't foresee any changes to the lineups for the second half. It has been good yet unexciting match so far. Let's hope for, as Cedrick does, for something to liven it up.

51:00 - Six minutes in and still no excitement. If I were Arsenal I might be a little concerned with all the mistouches and poor play in the back. Several times the defense has looked suspect. Oh, and damn my stupid computer.

54:00 - Very nice cross to Kone, who looked offside, who attempted a full volley but didn't get his foot on it solidly. This is how PSV will score if they do at all. Springing Kone with a nice pass/cross on a counter.

57:00 - PSV is playing with fire because it can't get the ball out of its end and is concedeing corners.

60:00 - There's the Henry we've come to love, whining about a small touch from PSV.

61:00 GOAL!!! Well, I was wrong about Kone scoring but Mendes knocks one in from 28 yards out after Kone fed him nicely. It was definitely against the run of play and perhaps the first mistake Lehmann has made all night.

63:00 - Senderos is booked after slipping and then deliberately handling the ball. That's the problem with Senderos, he makes youthful mistakes and gets too many cards.

65:00 - We're witnessing history as Sun Xiang comes on for PSV's da Costa. Sun Xiang is the first Chinese player to get field time in a CL match.

69:00 - Rosicky set up Fabregas for a hard shot from the top of the 18 but Gomes made a tremendous save.

72:00 - Sun Xiang gets his first CL foul. That, my friends, is history as well.

76:00 - The Beast, Julio Baptista, on for Hleb. Tardelli out for PSV.

77:00 - PSV had another great opportunity but Senderos blocked the Mendez shot.

81:00 - The Beast put a dangerous free-kick on goal that Gomes bobbled. Apparently, Smyth thinks there is a third Arsenal side. The one that doesn't play inspired or with much creativity. That's 3 sides. Can he go for a fourth?

87:00 - Only a few minutes left. WE'll see an all out attacking effort from the Gunners but will they be able to break out of the poor form they have shown. Gomes with another quality save coming out of the goal to snatch the ball out of the air.

90:00 +1 - Game over. PSV 1 - Arsenal 0. An upset I would say. Arsenal surely didn't come out with much life. Rather flat if you ask me. PSV played a masterful match and obviously had the better tactics and execution. Arsenal will have to play much better in the 2nd leg to advance. Man of the Match goes to Gomes for PSV who was mistake free all night and made several outstanding saves.

Thanks for being with me on my first LiveBlog efforts. I'll be here tomorrow for the Liverpool - Barcelona match. Hope to see you again.

Bayern Munich pulled one back with van Bommel's second half goal but still lost 3-2. Ryan Giggs put Man U up one with only a few minutes left to lead them to a 1-0 victory. Celtic and AC Milan fought to a scoreless draw.

4 comments:

The NY Kid said...

He was CLEARLY offisdes there, Smyth.

The NY Kid said...

FOOK!

The NY Kid said...

and FOOK again. Damn Cesc.

The NY Kid said...

I feel so alone.