…And Group E is blown wide open! as Sydney hack their way through a stacked Kediri defense to ram home three unanswered goals while Urawa and Shanghai slogged out a goalless stalemate at Yuanshen Stadium. The top spot is now anyone’s with Urawa (8), Sydney (7) and Persik (6) separated by a single point each. Culina’s re-jigged squad (SBS was right – Milligan at left midfield!!?!) struggled for much of the first half to to put anything past a parsimonous Persik 5-4-1 defense* before Steve Corica opened up the gates in the second half, rushing in to finish off a David Zdrillic free kick parried but not held by Persik’s goalie**. Alex Brosque added to the total at 73′, sending a low clip in off the far post before veteran Corica struck again at 90′*** finishing off a decisive defeat.
With Urawa’s help Sydney have managed to wrest their fate back into their own hands, now needing to beat Shanghai at Aussie on May 9 before facing off against the mighty Red Diamonds at Saitama Stadium in what is sure to be a match straight from hell’s red depths if Urawa’s away brigade is anything to go by. Only victory will suffice in both games, though Persik staging another monsoonal mugging against Urawa wouldn’t go astray.
In Group G, however, Adelaide have been effectively snuffed out by Seognam Ilhwa in front of 30,000 fans at Ilhwa Stadium 2. This was a tough game for Aurelio Vidmar’s men who were strangled, with key players Djite, Fernando and Burns marked out for much of the game by a vociferous Ilhwa defense. Better luck in ’08, fellas.
*No thanks to a Mark Rudan goal disallowed in the 37th minute off a nothing push. Cheers, Tri Minh Vo.****
**who was later stretchered off at 61′ after the most ridiculous and shameful attempt to win a penalty I have yet witnessed, after Zdrillic clearly and cleanly jumped over him as he made a lunge for the ball. Thankfully Zdrillic wasn’t penalised, and Persik may well have shot themselves in the foot by running in a substitute goalie just as pressure was starting to mount. Regardless, it was a deeply unimpressive display.
***putting him at at equal first goalscorer in the league alongside Sayed Mohammed Salehi of Iran’s Sepaham
****who was otherwise quite balanced.
6 responses so far ↓
Mungo Amanda // Apr 26, 2007 at 11:33 am
That Seognam Ilhwa goal was a beauty.
Thanks for these reports Leinad.
Five // Apr 26, 2007 at 12:53 pm
Heh, I understand not one word of what you are writing about, but your paragraph at ** is funny.
Leinad // Apr 26, 2007 at 2:34 pm
Cheers, Amanda – I would’ve covered the Adelaide game in greater depth but by that time me and my mates were riotously pissed and it all gets a little hazy…
Five: I aim to amuse even the baffled – it wasn’t funny at the time however, as the goalie’s stunt (thrashing around like an epileptic despite not making contact with Zdrillic) could’ve earnt his side a penalty kick and/or a red card for Zdrillic.
Five // Apr 26, 2007 at 3:36 pm
Oh, I’m sure, but your outrage is also funny. I say this in the best possible spirit – I just love sports commentary, and fans who express their feelings.
Now you’ve added the image of ‘thrashing around like an epileptic despite not making contact’, I shall laugh more. Indeed, let’s pause to reflect on soccers’ best moments of faux injury … mwahahaha!!!
Leinad // Apr 26, 2007 at 4:12 pm
Compared to AFL’s compulsory match-day ‘handbangs at ten paces’ mass shirt-pullings and stroppy preen-offs I’m happy to have the occaisional retarded faux-injury.
Bricks. Glass houses. etc
Bring Back CL's blog // Apr 27, 2007 at 9:20 am
highly impressive display.
Sydney could have doubled even tripled their score.
The game against Urawa will be a beauty