Have a bang on that! Portugal snatch a draw from the jaws of defeat!
23/06/14 01:59
Day 11 in the Footcall house...
First up saw the return of the outside favourites Belgium as they took on Fabio's Russia. Belgium were dead lucky to nick a winner against Algeria in the first game and they lacked a certain lustre, it was a good job that their opponents were equally as unambitious. The first half was poor and goalless, the only thing that dazzled us was the fancy bright boots on display; yellow, green, orange, it's more colourful than a tube of Smarties! I'm sure many of you have noticed a few players have one blue and one red. WTF? I can only think they've left their boots at home and had to go through lost property? Anyway back to the game, a few chances went begging for both sides and in the second half the amusingly named Shatov set up Eshchenko to put it wide. At the other end Mirallas hit the post it really was looking like nil nil all over it. In the closing minutes Origi latched onto a Hazard cross and put the Belgies one up. Soon after they nearly doubled their lead but the time was up and they had done enough... just! If Belgium are going to be force to be reckoned with in this competition they need to buck up, at the moment they are more like dark donkeys than dark horses!
Next up was South Korea v Algeria; surely this couldn't be any worse than the previous match? Well in the 26th minute an absolute dream ball was punted up field, route one. It found Slimani running into the box and he dinked it over the keeper. This was already a better game. Barely two minutes later Halliche made it two nil. The Koreans were at sixes and sevens and before they new it they were three down as Djabou put his name on the scoresheet. Half time couldn't come soon enough for Korea and maybe they decided against a career change in the dressing room as they came out fired up. Their diligence was rewarded a little treat to get back into the match as it bounced off the back of Son Heung-min but he turned well and nutmegged the keeper. Sadly for the Asians, the Africans extended their lead with one of the best goals of the tournament from Brahimi and made it 4-1. Although Koo Ja-cheol got a consolation goal, it just wasn't enough and it finished 4-2. The perfect antidote to what had gone on previously.
Finally USA faced Portugal who had to pick themselves up after being thumped by Germany in their first match. Well it didn't take long as the boy Ronaldo showed his wizardry with five step overs and fed the ball out Postiga who crossed it into Nani who lofted it into the roof of the net in only the fifth minute. After seeing the US fight back against Ghana we knew not to write them off. They were doing well and had plenty of possession. In the second half they made it pay as Jermaine Jones struck a sweet ball from just out side the box. It curled majestically into the right corner and now it was one all. Chances were being spurned at either end especially from Michael Bradley from six yards out. On the 81st minute the US were pinging the ball about the box and it fell to crotch of Clint Dempsey to bundle it over the line. With the seconds running out all America had to do was maintain control but they lost in the middle of the park and was knocked out wide to Ronaldo who swung in the cross of the match to the incoming Varela's powerful header deep into added time. It was the last touch of the match and it finished two apiece.
And so to the Footcall league...
Well Kelly hangs on to the top spot but only by the number of red squares she has over Andrew Brunt who has just snuck up on the inside rail. Stuart Acott is bag in the mix and Richard Goodwin was doing unbelievably well in several games until late goals went in. I'm sure we all have stories like that, it's great fun to watch the in-play league change every time a goal goes in. Matt and Amaia Clark did well as did Jack Wakefield, Matthew (I'm catching you up Nick) Young, Tim Jennings, James Vallender has had a reasonable day, Paul Storey Smith, Grant Broad, Adam (has anyone seen Sean) Botting, Nick D'Avanzo, Kevin Appleton, Leigh Boardman and Nick Stacey all picked up red squares today.
I'd like to give special mention to Harry Whitehouse who has 17 points with no exact results yet, I wonder how long he can keep that run going. My player of the day is going Keith (I'm not used to being this low down the table) Firmston who published on the Footcall Facebook page a graph charting his progress from the top of the table as he has slipped lower than a Ghanaian's shorts down into 62nd. As is typical Footcall to want to keep everyone entertained he was rewarded with a red square for the Belgium result. It might take with one hand but it will give with the other, unless of course your name is Keith Reynolds who is trying to hang on to the Vuvuzela award.
Until tomorrow...
David