Articles
Comeback kings
by Anthony Jones at Talklfc
For a time, the biggest cup competition in the World was the Football Association competition. However with the financial benefits attached to league performance and European football plus some poor decisions from the FA themselves, the cup has lost something of it's aura. However between them, Luton and Liverpool helped add back a good deal of sparkle to the FA Cup following a magical game in this season's third round.
Last season Rafa Benitez the Liverpool manager was accused of failing to understand the significance of the competition by fielding a team full of young players with little or no senior experience. There could be no accusations this season as a relatively full strength side took to the field. The only players missing were Morientes and Luis Garcia, with new signing Jan Kromkamp making the bench after joining just a few days earlier.
Despite the quality of the side fielded, Liverpool will wish to forget much of the opening forty five minutes as they were outfought in every aspect of the game. Luton were quicker, stronger, more thoughtful and played the superior football in the opening period. Fearful of the creative ability within the Liverpool ranks, Luton opted to press Liverpool all over the field in the hope of knocking them out of their rhythm. The plan worked perfectly as the Liverpool back four, given little time to think, resorted to playing the ball long. Cisse and Crouch were left to fight for scraps with little success whilst the midfield struggled to get into the game, with Alonso surprisingly the most guilty of dwelling too long on the ball.
Despite their hard working start it was Liverpool who took the lead, somewhat against the run of play. Djibril Cisse found rare gap in the Luton back four and moved down the right side before pulling the ball back to Crouch who was stationed inside the box. The tall striker who was booed all night, seemingly a continuation of the campaign being waged against him by some England supporters, attempted to find space to shoot. With the Luton defence keeping him out, Crouch moved the ball back to Cisse who hit the ball back first time to the edge of the box. Waiting was Steven Gerrard who struck the ball first time with incredible technique to curl his shot across Beresford in the Luton goal and into the inside of the side netting.
At this stage Luton could well have buckled, but with great spirit they continued with their game plan and forced Liverpool onto the back four again. Benitez will be alarmed at the run around his back four was given. In particular the lack of pace across the back four was exposed as Luton consistently found space in behind both full backs, whilst Hyypia was made to look cumbersome on a number of occasions. Even Carragher who has been so assured since Benitez arrived will not look fondly back on this game, though his fighting spirit would show through in the second half. Scott Carson who had come in for Reina for this match also looked far from convincing and those in front of him may have been missing Reina's calm style.
Luton were creating chances and Howard missed after good work from Vine down the Liverpool right. However it wasn't long until they'd levelled up as Riise played Howard onside. The burly striker was held up by Carson as the keeper rushed off his line but he managed to hook his shot into the unguarded net.
The game was quickly being taken from Liverpool as Luton pressed for another goal. A header from Heikkinen was cleared off the line by Steve Finnan whilst Carson did well to parry a shot from range, though the swerve of the ball nearly took it past him. A ball in from the impressive Carlos Edwards on the right found Robinson who's first touch left Carragher stranded. His next touch was to put the ball past Carson to send the Luton fans into dreamland.
The break offered Benitez a welcome opportunity to try and reorganise his team. Liverpool came out with Cisse who had shown little in the first half moved out to the right allowing Gerrard to take a more central position. It wasn't long until he was back in the centre of the action. Peter Crouch won the ball just inside his own half and with the Luton defence unorganised he slipped the ball to Kewell. Kewell was clean through with only Gerrard for company. The winger moved towards goal and looked set to strike only to decide to play the ball across the area to Gerrard. It was a strange decision and one that looked as if it would be costly as the pass was overhit. Luton's Underwood though had not judged the pass and caught Gerrard who went down with referee Clattenburg opting to award the penalty, a generous decision seeing as it was unlikely the Liverpool skipper would have reached the pass. With the opportunity to get back into the game, Djibril Cisse stepped up to take the penalty. His effort was hit too close to Beresford who made a sharp save to maintain Luton's lead. It summed up Cisse's match whilst it looked like it might just be the moment that turned the tie beyond Liverpool's reach.
Things got worse for the Reds moments later as Sami Hyypia dwelled on the ball for far too long inside his own half. Closed down by two Luton players he lost his balance, then lost the ball and Luton were in. Scott Carson came to the edge of his box and slip in to win the ball. The onrushing striker stood on Carson's foot outside of the area and went down inside the box. Clattenburg again pointed to the spot though only decided to give Carson a yellow card when arguably having made his decision it should have been red. Nicholls stepped up to take the penalty and made no mistake to give Luton a two goal lead.
Benitez responded by throwing on Pongolle and was no doubt praying for a Milan like come back. What he was to get was something even more spectacular than that famous night in May. Pongolle had not been on the pitch for long when he pulled the first goal back. Steven Gerrard got the opportunity to run at the Luton back four, whilst Pongolle made an intelligent run to create space. The Liverpool skipper timed his pass to perfection and Pongolle took the ball in his stride before shooting across Beresford.
Suddenly the atmosphere of the game changed completely. Liverpool were now winning the battles all over the pitch and finding more space in which to play. Xabi Alonso in particular was enjoying the extra freedom and he managed to find room in the Luton midfield to move forward with the ball. He was still fourty yards from goal when he started to come under pressure yet after looking up to check his options he still launched a shot on the Luton goal. The ball looped up with pace and more significantly dip as it arrowed just under the crossbar and into the back of the net. Liverpool were now back on even par and looking to finish off their opponents whilst Alonso could ponder one of the greatest goals in the FA Cup.
Luton's hopes were extinguished by the player who had sparked the come back. Finnan moved with the ball inside the Luton half and then swung in a high cross. Just inside the eighteen yard box, Pongolle leaped above the weary defenders and powered home a header into the top corner. The Liverpool defenders behind the goal were sent into raptures, whilst the Luton fans were stunned at the speed of the comeback.
With time running out, Luton won a corner and decided to throw everyone forward including their keeper Beresford. The ball was swung in and cleared to Alonso who's first touch gave him the chance to move forward. Luton defenders were scrambling back whilst Gerrard surged forward begging for the ball, sensing an opportunity to add to his personal tally. Alonso had other ideas though and still well within his own half he moved the ball to his left before curling it forwards. Gerrard initially responded by chastising his midfield partner for failing to make the pass, only to realise the ball had crossed the line for one of the strangest goals in the Cup's history.
For a time, the biggest cup competition in the World was the Football Association competition. However with the financial benefits attached to league performance and European football plus some poor decisions from the FA themselves, the cup has lost something of it's aura. However between them, Luton and Liverpool helped add back a good deal of sparkle to the FA Cup following a magical game in this season's third round.
Last season Rafa Benitez the Liverpool manager was accused of failing to understand the significance of the competition by fielding a team full of young players with little or no senior experience. There could be no accusations this season as a relatively full strength side took to the field. The only players missing were Morientes and Luis Garcia, with new signing Jan Kromkamp making the bench after joining just a few days earlier.
Despite the quality of the side fielded, Liverpool will wish to forget much of the opening forty five minutes as they were outfought in every aspect of the game. Luton were quicker, stronger, more thoughtful and played the superior football in the opening period. Fearful of the creative ability within the Liverpool ranks, Luton opted to press Liverpool all over the field in the hope of knocking them out of their rhythm. The plan worked perfectly as the Liverpool back four, given little time to think, resorted to playing the ball long. Cisse and Crouch were left to fight for scraps with little success whilst the midfield struggled to get into the game, with Alonso surprisingly the most guilty of dwelling too long on the ball.
Despite their hard working start it was Liverpool who took the lead, somewhat against the run of play. Djibril Cisse found rare gap in the Luton back four and moved down the right side before pulling the ball back to Crouch who was stationed inside the box. The tall striker who was booed all night, seemingly a continuation of the campaign being waged against him by some England supporters, attempted to find space to shoot. With the Luton defence keeping him out, Crouch moved the ball back to Cisse who hit the ball back first time to the edge of the box. Waiting was Steven Gerrard who struck the ball first time with incredible technique to curl his shot across Beresford in the Luton goal and into the inside of the side netting.
At this stage Luton could well have buckled, but with great spirit they continued with their game plan and forced Liverpool onto the back four again. Benitez will be alarmed at the run around his back four was given. In particular the lack of pace across the back four was exposed as Luton consistently found space in behind both full backs, whilst Hyypia was made to look cumbersome on a number of occasions. Even Carragher who has been so assured since Benitez arrived will not look fondly back on this game, though his fighting spirit would show through in the second half. Scott Carson who had come in for Reina for this match also looked far from convincing and those in front of him may have been missing Reina's calm style.
Luton were creating chances and Howard missed after good work from Vine down the Liverpool right. However it wasn't long until they'd levelled up as Riise played Howard onside. The burly striker was held up by Carson as the keeper rushed off his line but he managed to hook his shot into the unguarded net.
The game was quickly being taken from Liverpool as Luton pressed for another goal. A header from Heikkinen was cleared off the line by Steve Finnan whilst Carson did well to parry a shot from range, though the swerve of the ball nearly took it past him. A ball in from the impressive Carlos Edwards on the right found Robinson who's first touch left Carragher stranded. His next touch was to put the ball past Carson to send the Luton fans into dreamland.
The break offered Benitez a welcome opportunity to try and reorganise his team. Liverpool came out with Cisse who had shown little in the first half moved out to the right allowing Gerrard to take a more central position. It wasn't long until he was back in the centre of the action. Peter Crouch won the ball just inside his own half and with the Luton defence unorganised he slipped the ball to Kewell. Kewell was clean through with only Gerrard for company. The winger moved towards goal and looked set to strike only to decide to play the ball across the area to Gerrard. It was a strange decision and one that looked as if it would be costly as the pass was overhit. Luton's Underwood though had not judged the pass and caught Gerrard who went down with referee Clattenburg opting to award the penalty, a generous decision seeing as it was unlikely the Liverpool skipper would have reached the pass. With the opportunity to get back into the game, Djibril Cisse stepped up to take the penalty. His effort was hit too close to Beresford who made a sharp save to maintain Luton's lead. It summed up Cisse's match whilst it looked like it might just be the moment that turned the tie beyond Liverpool's reach.
Things got worse for the Reds moments later as Sami Hyypia dwelled on the ball for far too long inside his own half. Closed down by two Luton players he lost his balance, then lost the ball and Luton were in. Scott Carson came to the edge of his box and slip in to win the ball. The onrushing striker stood on Carson's foot outside of the area and went down inside the box. Clattenburg again pointed to the spot though only decided to give Carson a yellow card when arguably having made his decision it should have been red. Nicholls stepped up to take the penalty and made no mistake to give Luton a two goal lead.
Benitez responded by throwing on Pongolle and was no doubt praying for a Milan like come back. What he was to get was something even more spectacular than that famous night in May. Pongolle had not been on the pitch for long when he pulled the first goal back. Steven Gerrard got the opportunity to run at the Luton back four, whilst Pongolle made an intelligent run to create space. The Liverpool skipper timed his pass to perfection and Pongolle took the ball in his stride before shooting across Beresford.
Suddenly the atmosphere of the game changed completely. Liverpool were now winning the battles all over the pitch and finding more space in which to play. Xabi Alonso in particular was enjoying the extra freedom and he managed to find room in the Luton midfield to move forward with the ball. He was still fourty yards from goal when he started to come under pressure yet after looking up to check his options he still launched a shot on the Luton goal. The ball looped up with pace and more significantly dip as it arrowed just under the crossbar and into the back of the net. Liverpool were now back on even par and looking to finish off their opponents whilst Alonso could ponder one of the greatest goals in the FA Cup.
Luton's hopes were extinguished by the player who had sparked the come back. Finnan moved with the ball inside the Luton half and then swung in a high cross. Just inside the eighteen yard box, Pongolle leaped above the weary defenders and powered home a header into the top corner. The Liverpool defenders behind the goal were sent into raptures, whilst the Luton fans were stunned at the speed of the comeback.
With time running out, Luton won a corner and decided to throw everyone forward including their keeper Beresford. The ball was swung in and cleared to Alonso who's first touch gave him the chance to move forward. Luton defenders were scrambling back whilst Gerrard surged forward begging for the ball, sensing an opportunity to add to his personal tally. Alonso had other ideas though and still well within his own half he moved the ball to his left before curling it forwards. Gerrard initially responded by chastising his midfield partner for failing to make the pass, only to realise the ball had crossed the line for one of the strangest goals in the Cup's history.
