Showing posts with label Barclays PL. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Barclays PL. Show all posts
Wednesday, 9 December 2015
Newcastle United 2-0 Liverpool
Laporan Pertandingan: Newcastle United 2-0 Liverpool
Newcastle United sukses mensunyikan 'Heavy Metal' Liverpool lewat skor 2-0 di St James Park, dalam lanjutan Liga Primer Inggris matchday 15, Senin (7/12) dini hari WIB.
Manchester United 0-0 West Ham United
Laporan Pertandingan: Manchester United 0-0 West Ham United
Babak Pertama
Manchester United memulai pertandingan dengan agresif, Anthony Martial
mencoba menembus sisi kanan pertahanan West Ham, namun aksinya berhasil
dihentikan oleh Tomkins dengan tekel bersih di dalam kotak penalti.
Beberapa saat kemudian, McNair melepas tembakan pertama di laga ini,
namun sepakan bek Setan Merah itu masih belum menemui sasaran.
Pada menit ke-12 kesalahan Blind nyaris dibayar mahal, Noble melepas
umpan terobosan dari lini tengah setelah pemain asal Belanda itu
kehilangan bola, beruntung Moses yang memanfaatkan itu melepaskan
tembakan yang mengarah tepat ke David De Gea.
Tekanan West Ham untuk tuan rumah ternyata tidak berhenti sampai di
situ. Dalam tempo satu menit, mistar gawang Man United harus bergetar
oleh dua peluang tim tamu. Pertama, ketika sapuan Smalling membentur
kepala Zarate dan mengarah ke gawang, kemudian tandukan Reid
memanfaatkan tendangan penjuru.
Tidak banyak peluang dan insiden, kecuali satu pemain dari masing-masing
kubu harus ditarik keluar karena cedera, yang menghiasi laga setelah
itu, hingga turun minum kedudukan tanpa gol tetap bertahan.
Babak Kedua
Pertandingan jauh lebih atraktif di babak kedua, dengan Man United dan West Ham tampil lebih agresif untuk memburu gol.
West Ham mengancam terlebih dahulu ketika Zarate melepaskan tembakan
mendatar dari luar kotak yang masih bisa diredam De Gea, dan ketika
berhadapan satu lawan satu dengan kiper, namun sayang tembakannya
melebar.
Man United langsung membalas dengan peluang yang tidak kalah bagus,
Martial bergerak bebas di kotak penalti sebelum melepas umpan silang
mendatar yang disambar oleh Fellaini, namun penyelamatan gemilang Adrian
membuat skor masih tanpa gol.
United kemudian terus memegang kendali permainan dan terus memberi tekanan, terutama setelah Memphis Depay dimasukkan.
Martial dan Lingard memperoleh ruang untuk melepas tembakan di dalam
kotak penalti tim tamu pada sepuluh menit akhir laga, tetapi kedua kans
berakhir sia-sia karena melenceng tipis dari sasaran.
Hingga akhir laga, kedua tim akhirnya gagal memecah kebuntuan. Hasil ini
memaksa skuat asuhan Louis van Gaal digusur Arsenal ke posisi empat
klasemen sementara EPL.
Susunan Pemain
Manchester United: De Gea; Darmian, McNair, Smalling, Blind; Schneiderlin, Schweinsteiger; Mata, Fellaini, Lingard; Martial
West Ham United: Adrian; Tomkins, Reid, Ogbonna, Cresswell; Song, Noble, Kouyate; Moses, Zarate, Carroll.
Chelsea 0-1 Bournemouth
Laporan Pertandingan: Chelsea 0-1 Bournemouth
Chelsea masih belum lepas dari kutukan performa buruk. Sempat diprediksi bangkit, mereka malah kembali menelan kekalahan. Kali ini Bournemouth,
klub peringkat 18 Liga Primer Inggris, yang berhasil menaklukkan mereka
dengan skor 1-0 di Stamford Bridge, Minggu (6/12) dini hari WIB.Babak Pertama
Baru 13 menit bergulir, Bournemouth sudah menyajikan kejutan pertamanya di Stamford Bridge. Serangan balik mereka berjalan efektif seiring Joshua King menggiring bola dan memberikan umpan terobosan pada Junior Stanislas. Nama terakhir berhasil melepaskan tembakan, tetapi Thibaut Courtois sukses menggagalkannya.
Tim tamu kembali melakukan serangan balik beberapa menit kemudian. Cesc Fabregas kehilangan bola dan King kembali memimpin serangan balik. Kali ini, sang gelandang langsun berspekulasi dengan tendangan jarak jauh. Akurat memang, tetapi Courtois kembali melakukan penyelamatan gemilang.
Kondisi Chelsea mulai membaik begitu laga memasuki menit ke-30. Eden Hazard dan Pedro mulai menjalin kerja sama apik seiring nama pertama melepaskan tembakan keras ke gawang the Cherries . Beruntung, Artur Boruc tak kalah sigap dengan Courtois dan melakukan penyelamatan.
Pedro ikut meramaikan peluang Chelsea. Ia coba melepaskan tembakan jarak jauh ke gawang Boruc, tetapi sang penjaga gawang berhasil menggagalkannya. Dua menit jelang bubaran, winger Spanyol itu mengarsiteki peluang untuk Hazard, tetapi sentuhan sang gelandang Belgia berhasil digagalkan Boruc.
Paruh pertama berakhir imbang tanpa gol. Transaksi serangan begitu intens terjadi, tetapi penampilan Courtois dan Boruc di bawah mistar begitu memukau.
Babak Kedua
Buntu di lini depan, Jose Mourinho akhirnya menurunkan Diego Costa untuk menggantikan Oscar. Eden Hazard dikembalikan ke belakang penyerang sementara Pedro mengisi sayap kiri. Perubahan ini sedikit membawa dampak positif bagi Chelsea.
Willian dan Costa bergantian menciptakan peluang bagi the Blues . Nama pertama coba melepaskan tembakan spekulasi dari luar kotak penalti, tetapi masih meleset. Beberapa menit setelahnya, Costa menanduk umpan silang Willian, tapi Boruc masih sukses menghadangnya.
Bournemouth tidak punya ruang menyerang lagi sejak Costa masuk lapangan. Chelsea semakin mendominasi pertandingan dan melepaskan ancaman demi ancaman. Sebagai ujung tombak, Costa juga menghasilkan satu peluang emas. Ia menguasai umpan terobosan Fabregas dan berhadapan dengan Boruc. Sayang, sepakannya terlalu lemah dan Boruc dengan mudah mengantisipasinya.
Delapan menit jelang bubaran, Bournemouth sukses memanfaatkan kelengahan Chelsea. Lewat sepak pojok, tadinya bek Chelsea berhasil menjangkau bola, tepi bola malah mengarah ke kepala Glenn Murray yang baru masuk lapangan. Bola pun berhasil ditanduk melewati Courtois, Chelsea kebobolan di saat yang tidak menguntungkan.
Wasit memberikan waktu tambahan sebanyak empat menit. Namun Chelsea tidak mampu memanfaatkannya dan harus relah kalah 1-0 dari Bournemouth. The Blues tertahan di peringkat 14, sementara Bournemouth di peringkat 18.
Susunan Pemain :
Chelsea : Courtois; Ivanovic, Zouma, Cahill, Baba; Fabregas, Matic; Willian, Oscar, Pedro; Hazard.
Cadangan : Begovic, Azpilicueta, Mikel, Loftus-Cheek, Traore, Remy, Diego Costa
Bournemouth : Boruc, Daniels, Cook, Francis, Smith, Arter, Gosling, Surman, Ritchie, Stanislas, King.
Cadangan: Allsop, Cargill, Butcher, O'Kane, Kermorgant, Murray, Rantie
Tuesday, 1 December 2015
Leicester City 1-1 Manchester United
Leicester City 1-1 Manchester United: Schweinsteiger cancels out Vardy's record breaker
Bastian Schweinsteiger cancelled out Jamie Vardy's record-breaking goal to ensure Leicester City and Manchester United shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw on Saturday evening.
Vardy
drew level with the 10-game mark established by United great Ruud van
Nistelrooy when he netted at Newcastle United last week but the
division's most miserly defence stood in the way of his landmark
achievement.
It was breached after 24 minutes as, sporting gold
boots, the England striker demonstrated the coolness and precision in
front of goal that are quickly becoming his trademarks to put the hosts
ahead.
On the stroke of half-time, Schweinsteiger's first goal
for United cancelled out Vardy's 40th in Leicester colours to temper the
party atmosphere and a cagey second half threw up few clear-cut
chances.
The draw means Manchester City sit ahead of Leicester
at the top of the Premier League table on goal difference, with United a
point further back in third.
Shinji Okazaki replaced Leonardo
Ulloa to join Vardy in the Leicester attack, while Paddy McNair and
Michael Carrick returned from injuries as two of four changes made by
United boss Louis van Gaal.
The home faithful roared in
response to Vardy's every touch and his first opening came in the 13th
minute when Carrick carelessly presented possession to his England
team-mate, who found N'Golo Kante for a shot that was deflected behind.



United, operating with a 3-5-2 system, were controlled and methodical
in their play and Wes Morgan blocked a strike from Schweinsteiger as the
half reached its midway point.
Shortly afterwards, Leicester's contrasting approach heralded an historic moment.
Kasper Schmeichel claimed a United corner and threw the ball to
Christian Fuchs. The Austria full-back charged over the halfway line on a
rapid break to release Vardy with a measured pass from the right.
The man of the moment scampered clear and clipped a low finish beyond
De Gea before embarking on an adrenaline-fuelled celebration as the King
Power Stadium went wild.
Spurred on by their raucous fans,
Leicester sought to press home their advantage and Riyad Mahrez
completed a delicate one-two with Okazaki to force a sharp stop from De
Gea.
United threatened sparingly but, after Leicester
midfielder Danny Drinkwater headed nervously behind, they had an
equaliser in first-half stoppage time.
Daley Blind delivered
the resulting corner into a dangerous area and Schweinsteiger won his
wrestling match with Okazaki to head home.
Four minutes into
the second half, the Germany captain was afforded more space on the end
of Juan Mata's free-kick but his headed attempt was too close to
Schmeichel.
The first-half's earlier pattern re-emerged -
United controlling possession before they were almost punished by
another lightning Leicester break in the 66th minute.
Mahrez
was the architect on this occasion and, with Ulloa and Vardy on his
inside, he picked out the recently introduced substitute who could not
match the top scorer's incisiveness as De Gea saved.
A striker
experiencing contrasting fortunes to Vardy, Wayne Rooney, made way for
Memphis Depay two minutes later following a lacklustre display.
Depay blazed over from close range in the 84th minute but former
non-league man Vardy did not get the chance to add another twist to his
fairytale before taking the acclaim of the stadium at the final whistle.
Tottenham 0-0 Chelsea
Tottenham 0-0 Chelsea: Kane & Spurs thwarted as Blues hold on for draw
Tottenham extended their unbeaten run in the Premier League to a club record 13 games with a 0-0 draw against Chelsea at White Hart Lane.
Mauricio Pochettino's side controlled possession for much of Sunday's
match but were unable to turn it into goals in a contest which starkly
contrasted Tottenham's 5-3 win in last season's corresponding fixture.
Jose Mourinho's decision to drop Diego Costa left his side lacking in
attack, with an interchangeable front four - spearheaded by Eden Hazard -
only threatening on the break.
John Terry was absent due to
injury for Chelsea, and his presence was quickly felt as Harry Kane
forced Asmir Begovic into a pair of early saves.
Chelsea grew
into the game but did not test Hugo Lloris until the 68th minute, when
the Frenchman denied Hazard with an excellent stop.
Neither
goalkeeper was to beaten before the final whistle, leaving Mourinho's
side 14th in the table with one win in their last five Premier League
matches.



Tottenham
- who made one change with Ryan Mason replacing the suspended Dele Alli
- applied the early pressure and Begovic showed bravery and skill to
twice deny Kane, first at the striker's feet before taking two attempts
to hold a powerful, deflected drive.
Mourinho's men began to
create better opportunities and, after Hazard sent a header off target,
Pedro fired a swerving strike from 20 yards over the crossbar.
Tottenham continued to enjoy the majority of possession, although Son
Heung-min was unable to make it count when he directed a free header
straight at Begovic with 27 minutes played and the Bosnian was forced
into further action soon after, diving low to his left to turn Mousa
Dembele's skidding 25-yard hit around the post.
The absence of a
recognised striker meant Chelsea lacked a target inside the box, with
Oscar's shank into the side netting ensuring they ended the half without
a shot on target.
Kurt Zouma narrowly missed out on a simple finish from a Willian free-kick early in a second period that saw few chances.
Shortly after the hour, Son provided an attacking injection via a one-two with Erik Lamela - on in place of the injured Mason - but his shot was sent straight at Begovic.
It was a rare chance for Tottenham in the second half, and with 68 minutes gone they required a fine save from Lloris stop Hazard finding the net with an impressively executed volley.
Chelsea retreated further in the latter stages and looked to break at pace, but Pedro again failed to test the opposition keeper with a wayward strike from the edge of the area.
Costa remained on the bench despite Chelsea's need for a goal, and threw his substitutes' bib away in disgust in stoppage time when Ruben Loftus-Cheek emerged as Mourinho's final change to cap yet another frustrating outing for the champions.
Liverpool 1-0 Swansea
Liverpool 1-0 Swansea: Milner penalty settles scrappy encounter
James Milner scored from the penalty spot for the second game running to earn Liverpool a hard-fought 1-0 win over Swansea City at Anfield on Sunday.
Milner
was on target with a penalty in Thursday's Europa League victory over
Bordeaux, and he proved Liverpool's matchwinner against Garry Monk's
side after the hosts had looked set for a frustrating stalemate.
Liverpool
were on top for large spells prior to Milner's goal shortly after the
hour but lacked a cutting edge without playmaker Philippe Coutinho, who
was not risked following a hamstring problem picked up in the 4-1 win
over Manchester City.
Jurgen Klopp's team were a long way off
reproducing their stunning display at the Etihad Stadium but Milner's
penalty, following a questionable decision for a Neil Taylor handball,
ensured the German enjoyed a first Premier League win at Anfield.
Captain
Jordan Henderson and striker Daniel Sturridge both made their
long-awaited returns from injury to feature under Klopp for the first
time - adding gloss to a third victory in a row in all competitions that
lifts Liverpool to sixth in the table.
Swansea will consider
themselves unfortunate, but a run of just one win in 10 league outings
means the pressure continues to build on Monk.



Following
back-to-back wins over City and Bordeaux, Liverpool began confidently
and almost went ahead five minutes in via Kyle Bartley.
Jordon
Ibe burst forward and Bartley's challenge diverted the ball onto Lukasz
Fabianski's right-hand post as Swansea were given an early let-off.
Ibe
- one of two Liverpool changes due to Coutinho's injury and Lucas
Leiva's suspension - was heavily involved in the opening stages as
Liverpool dominated possession.
Missing suspended former
Liverpool man Jonjo Shelvey, Swansea gradually grew into the game around
the half-hour mark but, like their hosts, failed to muster a shot on
target before the interval.
Having survived early Liverpool
pressure, Swansea were on top after the break but Ibe had the first
effort of the second period when he forced Fabianski into a save down to
his right.
Klopp's men continued to lack a decisive pass in the
final third but, when Taylor was harshly adjudged to have handled Ibe's
delivery, Milner produced an impressive penalty to beat Fabianski and break the deadlock.
Henderson
was introduced soon after for his first appearance since mid-August and
assumed the captain's armband from Milner before Sturridge featured for
the first time in almost two months.
The striker missed the
midweek Europa League success after sustaining a knock in training but
almost got himself on the end of Milner's wayward shot at the far post
shortly after his introduction.
Swansea substitutes Jefferson
Montero and Befetimbi Gomis saw late shots blocked, as Liverpool's
momentum continues to grow ahead of Wednesday's League Cup quarter-final
at Southampton.
Manchester City 1-4 Liverpool
Manchester City 1-4 Liverpool: Coutinho, Firmino keep Pellegrini's side off summi
Liverpool produced an incisive attacking display to make the most of some dreadful defending from Manchester City and pick up a 4-1 victory at the Etihad Stadium.Jurgen Klopp's side was clinical on the counterattack, racing into a three-goal lead that brought an end to a run of six Premier League matches at City without a win.
Eliaquim Mangala – brought into the center of defense along with Martin Demichelis as two of Manuel Pellegrini's four changes – opened the scoring with an own goal early on, setting the tone for a dismal defensive display.
Philippe Coutinho scored his fourth goal in five top-flight appearances against City to double Liverpool's advantage, with Roberto Firmino – in for Christian Benteke as one of Klopp's three changes – adding the third in sensational fashion.
Making his return after a seven-week absence, Sergio Aguero brilliantly pulled one back for City shortly before the interval, but the home side was unable to push on in the second half.
City's misery was compounded nine minutes from time when Martin Skrtel blasted past Joe Hart from the edge of the box, meaning City now sits third behind rival Manchester United and shock leader Leicester City.
Mangala got off to a poor start in his return to the starting lineup, putting the ball into the back of his own net off a cutback from Firmino, though Bacary Sagna was partly culpable having lost possession beforehand.
Liverpool grabbed its second when a mix-up between Mangala and Aleksandar Kolarov was capitalized upon by Firmino, racing through and picking out Coutinho with a sublime pass which he slid between Hart's legs.
In contrast, Liverpool's defense was proving extremely resilient and the Reds' counterattacking play continued to trouble Pellegrini's side.
Another break led to a third shortly after the half-hour mark, when Emre Can's back-heel set Coutinho in behind the defense and he squared for Firmino to round off an exquisite move with the simplest of finishes.
The former Hoffenheim forward came close to adding to his tally twice in quick succession soon after, first being denied by a good save from Hart before firing narrowly wide nine minutes before the break.
Aguero gave City a lifeline two minutes before the interval when he curled home an exceptional finish from 25 yards, becoming the highest-scoring South American in Premier League history with his 85th goal.
Pellegrini replaced Yaya Toure and Jesus Navas with Fernandinho and Fabian Delph for the second half in a bid to add more solidity to his team.
But it compromised City's creativity and the home side was carved open once again on the hour mark, but Hart made a vital save to deny Firmino.
Klopp's side suffered a wobble moments later, with Simon Mignolet forced into a diving save to keep Aguero at bay before Fernandinho skied an effort from 6 yards out off a set-piece delivery.
Skrtel fired home a powerful fourth from just inside the box and City's day was summed up when Raheem Sterling – facing his former employer – failed to make contact with the goal at his mercy as Liverpool moved up to ninth.
Monday, 16 November 2015
Manchester United 2-0 West Brom
Manchester United 2-0 West Brom: Lingard strikes in comfortable win
Jesse Lingard's first goal for Manchester United and a late Juan Mata penalty secured a 2-0 Premier League win over West Brom at Old Trafford on Saturday.
Louis
van Gaal's side snatched a late goal in midweek against CSKA Moscow and
the match looked to be following a similar pattern as West Brom's
defensive approach kept them at arm's length.
But Lingard broke the deadlock with a fine finish shortly after half-time as United finally made their dominance count.
Saido
Berahino, surprisingly left on the bench, headed a wonderful chance
over the crossbar in the closing stages as West Brom looked for an
equaliser, but United extended their lead in injury-time as Anthony
Martial was fouled by Gareth McAuley - an offence which earned the
Northern Ireland international a red card - and Mata netted from the
spot.
United began with typical control of possession, but it
took 15 minutes for the first real chance to be created, as Mata curled a
shot just wide of goalkeeper Boaz Myhill's right-hand post after Wayne
Rooney had found him in space in the area.
Van Gaal's men enjoyed
76 per cent possession in the opening 35 minutes but found it difficult
to break through West Brom’s defensive lines, though it took a superb
sliding block from Jonny Evans to deny Lingard as he broke into the
area.



Myhill
remained unchallenged until just before the break, when Martial turned
superbly on the edge of the area before firing a shot straight at the
32-year-old.
United's pressure finally told seven minutes into the second half. Martial's cross from the left was headed away only as far as Lingard, who took a touch before placing a side-footed finish into the far corner from 20 yards out.
The
game began to open up as West Brom sought an unlikely equaliser and
Pulis opted to throw on Berahino in hope of a repeat of his Old Trafford
strike from two seasons ago.
And the 22-year-old wasted a
glorious chance within minutes of his introduction, heading Craig
Dawson's cross over when totally unmarked inside the six-yard box.
Evans
was fortunate to escape a handball on the edge of the area from a Mata
flick as United, who handed a senior debut to Cameron Borthwick-Jackson,
chased a crucial second goal to alleviate the tension inside Old
Trafford.
Lingard's penalty appeals were waved away after a soft
push by McAuley but United clinched the victory in stoppage time, with
the defender again at fault. Martial was brought down by a desperate
challenge from the centre-back, allowing Mata to clip a penalty straight down the middle of Myhill's goal.
McAuley
was dismissed and United saw out the remaining three minutes in
comfortable fashion as they ended a run of three straight draws in
domestic competition.
Stoke City 1-0 Chelsea
Stoke City 1-0 Chelsea: Mourinho absent as Arnautovic condemns Blues to defeat
Marko Arnautovic's second-half goal gave Stoke City a 1-0 victory over Chelsea to pile yet more pressure on the absent Jose Mourinho.
Chelsea
boss Mourinho was not at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday as he served
a one-match stadium ban following his sending off against West Ham, and
there was little to cheer the Portuguese - reportedly watching on
television from the team's hotel - as his side fell to a result that
marked his worst league run as a manager.
Defeat was the seventh
in their first 12 Premier League matches for the Blues - the first time
any defending champions have struggled so badly, as well as a personal
unwanted record number of defeats in a league season for Mourinho.
The
last time Chelsea lost so many games so early in the campaign, 1978-79,
they ended up being relegated - and although they will surely not
suffer that same fate this term, they are now 16th in the table, just
three points clear of the bottom three.
Arnautovic's acrobatic
goal ultimately proved the difference, as the Austrian forward scored
with an excellent finish after 53 minutes.
Pedro shot against
the post as Chelsea pushed for a leveller late on, but that was the
closest they went to finding an equaliser.
The absent Mourinho
made two changes to his starting line-up, bringing in Eden Hazard and
Pedro for Cesc Fabregas and Oscar, who both dropped to the bench.



Stoke
were unchanged, with Jon Walters starting in attack following the news
earlier on Saturday that he had signed a new contract with the club
until 2018.
The hosts made a bright start, as Xherdan Shaqiri
shot off-target, before Glen Johnson collected a pass from Bojan, turned
on to his left foot and sent a placed shot towards the corner to force
Asmir Begovic into a diving one-handed save against his former club.
It
was then home goalkeeper Jack Butland's turn to impress when he got up
well to push a dipping long-range effort from Ramires over the crossbar.
Walters
headed onto the roof of the net after good work from Shaqiri down the
right, while Diego Costa’s shot was saved by Butland with his legs prior
to half-time, and Stoke then opened the scoring eight minutes after the
break.
A superb slide-rule pass from Shaqiri found Johnson in
space on the right and the former Liverpool defender's cross was helped
on by Walters before bouncing to Arnautovic. The Austrian netted with an excellent scissor kick – his first home goal in the Premier League for 18 months.
The
visiting fans responded immediately with chants in support of their
under-pressure manager, and Matic shot straight at Butland as Chelsea
sought a response before Hazard lashed a shot off target.
They
thought they had levelled soon afterwards when Willian found Pedro and
the former Barcelona forward unleashed a left-footed attempt from the
edge of the area, but the ball struck the foot of the post and bounced
to safety.
Rui Faria and Steve Holland - taking charge of the
champions in Mourinho's absence - brought on Fabregas, Oscar and Loic
Remy in the closing stages as they attempted to turn the game around and
Hazard shot just wide after a neat passing move with 10 minutes to go.
Walters
missed the target with a presentable opportunity to put the game beyond
doubt at the other end after being found by substitute Mame Biram
Diouf, before Remy - off-balance after being clipped as he attempted to
round Butland - passed up the last big opportunity to save Chelsea as
their terrible start to the season continued.
Aston Villa 0-0 Manchester City
Aston Villa 0-0 Manchester City: Pellegrini’s men frustrated at Villa Park
Rock-bottom Aston Villa held Premier League leaders Manchester City to a 0-0 draw in manager Remi Garde's first game in charge.
The
home side did not offer much of an attacking threat at Villa Park,
failing to register a shot on target, but produced a brave defensive
display for their new boss to halt a dreadful run of seven consecutive
league defeats.
Aleksandar Kolarov hit the post in the first half
and Raheem Sterling felt he should have been awarded a penalty after
being felled by Ciaran Clark.
Sterling and Kevin De Bruyne missed
good chances after the break and Fernando struck the crossbar in injury
time on a frustrating Sunday for City, who failed to score for the
second away league game running following last month's draw at rivals
Manchester United.



Ex-Lyon
coach Garde made an immediate mark with six changes to the Villa team,
while Manuel Pellegrini had just one alteration to his starting XI as De
Bruyne came back in at the expense of Jesus Navas. Fabian Delph and
Gael Clichy returned from injuries to claim places on the substitutes'
bench.
After a slow start to the game, Kolarov's effort was
shovelled onto the post by an unconvincing Brad Guzan save after the
left-back had been played in by Sterling. Fernando lashed a good chance
way off target after the resulting corner fell into his path.
City
suffered a blow midway through the first half when Wilfried Bony was
forced off injured, meaning Navas was brought on with De Bruyne moving
into a central role in attack.
Sterling was unhappy not to be awarded a penalty by referee Craig Pawson
as half-time approached. Yaya Toure sent the England international
through on goal and he was clipped by a challenge from Clark as he
attempted to cut back on to his right foot, but nothing was given.
Sterling
came so close to finding the opener early in the second half. Navas
sent in a perfect floated cross and the former Liverpool attacker beat
the offside trap, but saw his header from inside the six-yard box kept
out by a point-blank Guzan save.
Another chance went begging
after Navas showed great pace down the right and flashed a threatening
delivery across the face of goal but De Bruyne could not sort his feet
out in time and the close-range chance went begging.
City brought
on Delph against his former club and Kelechi Iheanacho in the closing
stages and the latter provided the cross that saw Fernando rattle the
woodwork with a close-range header in stoppage time as Villa held on for
a point.
Liverpool 1-2 Crystal Palace
Liverpool 1-2 Crystal Palace: Dann delivers first defeat for Klopp
Scott Dann's header eight minutes from time earned Crystal Palace a 2-1
win over Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday as Jurgen Klopp suffered his
first defeat since taking charge at Anfield.
A month since his
appointment as manager, Liverpool's steady progression under Klopp was
curtailed by goals from Yannick Bolasie and Dann either side of Philippe
Coutinho's equaliser as Palace continue to prove tricky opposition for
the hosts.
In front of watching former captain Steven Gerrard,
the hosts' late pressure failed to yield a breakthrough as Palace
secured a third consecutive Premier League win over their hosts.
Following
victories over Chelsea and Rubin Kazan, Klopp's men go into the
international break feeling the sting of defeat after Palace recorded
their fourth away win of the league season.
Despite losing
forward Dwight Gayle to a hamstring injury in the days before the game,
Palace started strongly with well-timed challenges from Emre Can and
Sakho required to deny Wilfried Zaha and Yohan Cabaye early on.



Direct
running from Jordon Ibe - who retained a starting place following his
midweek winner in the Europa League - helped ease the pressure until
Bolasie made the most of sloppy Liverpool defending 21 minutes in.
After questionable play from Alberto Moreno, Can then failed to clear inside the box, allowing Bolasie
to end Palace's wait for a goal in open play, their first since the
same man hit the back of the net against West Brom on October 3.
The
opener sparked Liverpool into life, Coutinho's effort saved by Wayne
Hennessey following good play from Ibe before the Palace goalkeeper kept
Martin Skrtel's header out.
The withdrawal of in-form defender Mamadou Sakho due to injury appeared
to have compounded a frustrating half for the hosts but Coutinho
restored parity before the break with a slick equaliser.
Ibe found Nathaniel Clyne down the right, the full-back's cross diverted into Coutinho's pass by Adam Lallana, with the Brazilian scoring for the second Premier League running.
Christian
Benteke threatened with an effort from inside the box early in the
second half before former Liverpool defender Martin Kelly snuffed out a
Coutinho opportunity while Palace too looked dangerous going forward in a
breathless second half.
Referee Neil Swarbrick waved away
penalty appeals after Benteke went down under Dann's challenge, with
Bakary Sako then finding the side-netting at the other end.
Dann
would prove the match-winner in the latter stages however, seeing a
header saved by Simon Mignolet before reacting quickest to nod home the
rebound as Palace leapfrogged their opponents to move into eighth place
on the table.
Arsenal 1-1 Tottenham
Arsenal 1-1 Tottenham: Gibbs denies Spurs derby glory
Kieran Gibbs came off the bench to bundle in a late equaliser and rescue a 1-1 draw for Arsenal against Tottenham on Sunday.
Harry
Kane slotted past Petr Cech in the first half to give Mauricio
Pochettino's side a deserved lead against a Gunners team lacking any
real spark in attack.
Olivier Giroud hit the crossbar with a
second-half header and glanced another effort just wide, but Cech kept
Arsenal in the match with fine saves to deny Toby Alderweireld and
Christian Eriksen.
And the goalkeeper's performance proved
pivotal when substitute Gibbs converted Mesut Ozil's cross at the far
post 13 minutes from time to secure a share of the spoils for the home
side.
Arsenal continue to trail Premier League leaders Manchester
City on goal difference, while Spurs are back up to fifth in the table,
five points adrift of their north London rivals.
Arsene
Wenger's men had the best of a scrappy opening 20 minutes but both sides
lacked composure in the final third, with early chances at a premium.



Eric Dier headed a good opportunity wide of the far post from Eriksen's
flighted free-kick as Spurs began to settle on the ball, and Danny Rose
lashed over from 18 yards when given time and space.
Tottenham
were growing in confidence and Kane silenced the frustrated home fans
after 32 minutes with his fifth goal in three league matches. The
England striker's simple run through the heart of the Arsenal defence
was picked out by Rose's long ball into the left channel, and Kane
rolled a shot past Cech and into the far corner.
Giroud went
down under a challenge from Jan Vertonghen off the ball and promptly
barged the Belgium international to ground as tempers flared before Cech
denied Kane a second by parrying away a fierce low shot.
Arsenal came out of the blocks quickly in the second half and Joel
Campbell had Hugo Lloris at full stretch with a curling effort from the
right, but Eriksen came even closer with a shot that clipped Mathieu
Flamini's knee and flew just wide.
Giroud then caught the
crossbar with a header from Ozil's free-kick and Laurent Koscielny
looped another header wide as the Gunners turned up the pressure in
search of an equaliser.
Arsenal's aerial threat looked their best chance of breaking down
Spurs' resistance but Giroud's accuracy was off and he nodded Ozil's
latest delivery wide of the far post after rising unchallenged.
Eriksen and Alderweireld were both thwarted by Cech again as Spurs
looked to kill the game off before the Gunners finally made their
goalkeeper's excellence count.
Ozil clipped a cross towards the
far post from the right and Gibbs, introduced off the bench just three
minutes earlier, arrived in perfect time to force the ball over Lloris
at the near post for his first goal in over a year.
With their
tails up, Arsenal pushed forward for a winner and Lloris did well to
save Giroud's glancing header low to his right, but Spurs held out to
remain unbeaten since the opening day of the Premier League season.
Tuesday, 3 November 2015
Chelsea 1-3 Liverpool
Laporan Pertandingan: Chelsea 1-3 Liverpool
Kekalahan ini membuat The Blues tetap tertahan di papan bawah, sementara kemenangan perdana Jurgen Klopp di Liga Primer Inggris membawa The Reds mendekati zona Eropa.
Babak Pertama
Liverpool yang memulai laga berusaha mengontrol pertandingan dengan memainkan ball possesion, tetapi Chelsea berkata lain. Sang tuan rumah menggebrak dan berhasil mencetak gol cepat di menit ke-empat setelah Ramires menyambar umpan silang Azpilicueta dengan tandukannya.
Gol tersebut membuyarkan rencana The Reds yang mau tidak mau menaikkan tempo permainan mereka. Tetapi, The Blues masih tampak berbahaya dengan serangan balik cepat, sehingga tim tamu tidak bisa leluasa memberi tekanan.
Pada menit ke-20, Asmir Begovic dipaksa melakukan penyelamatan pertama di laga ini ketika Adam Lallana melepaskan tembakan yang masih berada dalam jangkauannya.
Lallana tak menyerah, enam menit berselang, ia kembali mendapatkan ruang tembak tetapi lagi-lagi sepakannya masih belum bisa menaklukkan Begovic di bawah mistar gawang.
The Reds terus menekan di sisa waktu paruh pertama, Clyne mengklaim penalti ketika umpan silangnya diblok John Terry tetapi wasit mengabaikannya dan peluang yang didapat Lucas Leiva masih bisa diamankan kiper.
Saat paruh pertama akan berakhir, Phil Coutinho menyelamatkan asa The Reds, ia melepaskan tembakan indah dari luar kotak penalti di detik-detik terakhir yang gagal diantisipasi Begovic. Alhasil, skor kembali imbang saat turun minum.
Babak Kedua
Chelsea mengawali paruh kedua dengan lebih agresif, pergerakan Oscar langsung membuat pertahanan The Reds kerepotan di menit awal, beruntung tidak ada gol tercipta.
Pelatih Jose Mourinho membuat keputusan cukup mengejutkan dengan menarik keluar Hazard dan memasukkan penyerang muda, Kenedy. Tetapi pergantian tersebut nyaris langsung membuahkan hasil ketika sang striker merangsek menembus kotak penalti Liverpool sebelum melepaskan tembakan yang sayangnya masih melebar.
Tuan rumah terus menekan hingga membuat pemain-pemain Liverpool dipaksa melakukan pelanggaran-pelanggaran. Salah satunya menimbulkan kontroversi ketika Lucas, yang sudah mengantongi kartu kuning, menjatuhkan Ramires dengan cukup keras. Pemain-pemain Chelsea sudah mengerubungi wasit meminta kartu kuning kedua dicabut, namun wasit mengabaikannya, dan itu disambut dengan tawa sarkastik dari Mourinho.
Satu menit setelah tembakan Oscar ditepis dengan cantik oleh Mignolet, Chelsea harus melihat gawang mereka kembali kebobolan. Coutinho kembali menunjukkan magisnya dengan melepaskan tembakan melengkung dari dalam kotak penalti yang tidak bisa diantisipasi oleh Terry dan juga Begovic sehingga The Reds berbalik unggul 2-1.
Chelsea langsung merespons gol itu dengan memasukkan Radamel Falcao, menggantikan Azpilicueta. Tetapi keputusan yang bagai pisau bermata dua itu akhirnya terbukti malah melukai diri sendiri.
Sektor pertahanan yang semakin keropos dengan keluarnya Azpi, dimanfaatkan Liverpool untuk mencetak gol ketiga pada menit ke-83. Christian Benteke menjadi pembobol berikutnya setelah eks striker Aston Villa itu melepas tembakan mendatar dari dalam kotak penalti.
Gol tersebut terbukti menjadi penentu pertandingan, The Blues tidak mampu mengejar defisit dua gol dalam sisa waktu pertandingan yang ada...
Susunan Pemain
Chelsea: Begovic; Zouma, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta; Ramires, Obi Mikel; Willian, Oscar, Hazard; Diego Costa
Liverpool: Mignolet; Clyne, Skrtel, Sakho, Alberto Moreno; Milner, Can, Lucas; Lallana, Coutinho, Firmino>
Swansea City 0-3 Arsenal
Laporan Pertandingan: Swansea City 0-3 Arsenal
Kemenangan 3-0 Arsenal atas Swansea City di Liberty Stadium, Sabtu [01/11] WIB, diwarnai dengan gol perdana Joel Campbell bagi klub.
Raihan tripoin ini, membuat The Gunners terus menempel ketat Manchester City, yang juga menang atas Norwich City, di puncak klasemen. Duo tim teratas Liga Primer Inggris ini kini mengoleksi poin yang sama, yakni 25.
Babak pertama
Tim tamu mengawali laga dengan positif. Nacho Monreal dari dalam kotak penalti melepas tembakan, tapi arahnya melenceng dari sasaran sebelum Campbell menembakkan bola dari jarak jauh, walau arahnya melayang di atas mistar.
Bafetimbi Gomis melewatkan dua peluang untuk membawa tuan rumah memecah kebuntuan. Hector Bellerin berusaha mengejar striker Prancis itu dari situasi satu lawan satu dengan Petr Cech sebelum sang kiper menyelamatkan dari tandukan mantan pemain Olympique Lyon tersebut.
Sesaat sebelum jeda, Arsenal dua kali nyaris membuka skor. Olivier Giroud mendentumkan bola yang sayangnya masih mengarah ke atas mistar gawang, disusul aksi gemilang Fabianski menahan upaya Campbell.
Babak kedua
Selepas interval, tim tamu mengontrol pertandingan dengan terlihat lebih nyaman. Di menit ke-49, kebuntuan pun akhirnya pecah juga. Menyambut umpan tendangan penjuru Mesut Ozil, tandukan Giroud menaklukkan Fabianski.
Swansea hampir membalas dengan lekas. Gylfi Sigurdsson memaksa Cech jatuh bangun dilanjut dengan kiper Ceko tersebut membuat tip sempurna dari tendangan melengkung Ki Sung-yeung.
Menginjak menit 68, Arsenal menggandakan kedudukan setelah Fabianski yang mendapatkan tekanan dari Giroud, memudahkan Koscielny bereaksi cepat melakukan tap-in ke gawang yang kosong.
Keran gol Arsenal berlanjut memasuki lima menit terakhir sebelum kedua tim bersalaman. Ozil menyervis Campbell di kotak penalti The Swans untuk membuatnya mencetak gol debut bagi Arsenal.
Ashley Williams hampir saja menciptakan gol di pengujung laga, di mana sang bek berada di posisi ideal mencetak gol lalu menguji Cech di tiang dekat. Tapi skor 3-0 tidak berubah hingga peluit akhir dibunyikan.
Manchester City 2-1 Norwich City
Laporan Pertandingan: Manchester City 2-1 Norwich City
Skuat Manuel Pellegrini mengalami kesulitan menembus lini belakang lawan sepanjang babak pertama berkat penampilan disiplin pemain belakang Norwich. Tapi di babak kedua, laju The Citizens tak terbendung.
Penalti Yaya Toure memberikan tiga angka untuk Manchester biru, meski Cameron Jerome sempat menyamakan kedudukan setelah gol Nicolas Otamendi. Sama-sama mengantungi 25 poin, The Citizens berada di pucuk klasemen berkat keunggulan selisih gol dari Arsenal.
Babak pertama
City dan Norwich kurang berani melancarkan serangan di menit-menit awal pertandingan. Peluang pertama pun baru diciptakan di menit ke-13, dengan Jarvis memberikan crossing yang dapat dijangkau Bassong, tapi Norwich belum dapat menjebol gawang City karena sundulannya tidak tepat sasaran.
The Citizens baru menebar ancaman nyata memasuki pertengahan babak pertama. Kerja sama Otamendi dan Iheanacho sukses membuat lini belakang keteteran, sebelum pemain asal Nigeria memberikan umpan kepada Bony yang sukses melewati Bassong. Sayang, tendangannya masih melebar sehingga belum tercipta gol.
Armada Manuel Pellegrini menguasai pertandingan, namun mereka tampak kesulitan menembus rapatnya lini belakang tim tamu. Sebuah peluang kembali sia-sia saat Toure memanjakan Kevin De Bruyne dengan umpan matang.
Tak ada gol tercipta sampai wasit meniup peluit tanda berakhirnya babak pertama.
Babak kedua
Di luar dugaan, Norwich justru bermain menyerang di awal babak kedua, mereka bahkan nyaris mencetak gol andai Otamendi tak melakukan penyelamatan krusial untuk menggagalkan potensi gol tim tamu.
Melihat timnya diserang, Pellegrini melakukan pergantian pemain dengan memasukkan Raheem Sterling. Masuknya mantan pemain Liverpool memberi warna pada permainan The Citizens dengan mereka mulai menekan pertahanan lawan.
Setelah beberapa kali melakukan percobaan, gol yang dinantikan suporter tuan rumah akhirnya tercipta di menit 67. Otamendi berhasil melepaskan diri dari kawalan Bennett di kotak penalti dan melepaskan sundulan yang tak mampu dijangkau Ruddy setelah menerima umpan sepak pojok De Bruyne.
City hampir menggandakan skor di menit 79, tapi sepakan Bony dapat diblok O’Neill.
Norwich akhirnya menyeimbangkan kedudukan. Hart gagal mengantisipasi umpan silang Brady sehingga Cameron Jerome dengan mudah menjebol gawangnya di menit 83.
Lima menit kemudian, tim tamu harus kehilangan pemain setelah Russell Martin diganjar kartu merah akibat melakukan pelanggaran terhadap Sterling. Tak berhenti sampai di situ, wasit juga menghadiahi City tendangan penalti.
Yaya Toure yang menjadi eksekutor tanpa kesalahan menceploskan bola ke gawang untuk membawa City kembali unggul 2-1.
The Citizens seharusnya bias menutup laga dengan gol lain, tapi sepakan Aleksandar Kolarov dari titik putih masih dapat digagalkan Ruddy. Tuan rumah memperoleh penalti kedua menyusul pelanggaran Brady yang menjatuhkan Sterling di area terlarang.
Meski demikian, City berhak mengantungi tiga angka berkat kemenangan 2-1 di Etihad.
Susunan Pemain
Manchester City: Hart; Sagna, Kompany (c), Otamendi, Kolarov; Navas, Toure, Fernandinho, De Bruyne; Iheanacho, Bony
Cadangan: Caballero, Mangala, Fernando, Sterling, Demichelis, Roberts, Garcia
Norwich City: Rudd, Whittaker, Grabban, Hoolahan, Dorrans, Redmond, O'Neil
Cadangan: Ruddy; Martin (c), Bennett, Bassong, Olsson; Tettey, Mulumbu; Jarvis, Howson, Brady; Jerome.
Crystal Palace 0-0 Manchester United
Laporan Pertandingan: Crystal Palace 0-0 Manchester United
Babak Pertama
Crystal Palace bermain sangat agresif dalam awal laga, pertahanan Manchester United diobrak-abrik dan nyaris kebobolan seandainya David De Gea tidak cekatan di bawah mistar gawang.
Peluang sudah tercipta di menit pertama, memanfaatkan kesalahan Darmian, Gayle mendapatkan ruang tembak tetapi sepakannya masih mengarah ke kiper sehingga tidak terlalu merepotkan De Gea.
Kemudian pada menit ke-11, Bolasie melakukan penetrasi dari sisi kiri pertahanan United dan melepaskan tembakan keras dari dalam kotak penalti. Sayang, bola berhasil ditepis oleh De Gea sehingga menerpa mistar gawang.
Beberapa saat kemudian, De Gea kembali dipaksa melakukan penyelamatan ketika tendangan penjuru mampu disambut dengan baik oleh Dann.
Namun, setelah itu, giliran United yang banyak memberi tekanan terhadap pertahanan tuan rumah. Tim tamu berbalik mendominasi sehingga membuat pemain lawan frustrasi dan melakukan pelanggaran di daerah berbahaya.
Rooney dua kali menjadi eksekutor tendangan bebas tetapi masih belum membuahkan hasil setelah eksekusi pertamanya sedikit melenceng dan yang berikutnya berhasil ditangkap dengan gemilang oleh Hennessey.
Striker asal Inggris tersebut memiliki peluang yang lebih baik lagi pada menit ke-31, ketika ia mendapatkan umpan terobosan yang membuatnya berhadapan satu lawan satu dengan kiper. Namun, sayang reaksinya terlambat sehingga Hennessey berhasil menggagalkan peluang emas tersebut.
Palace sempat bangkit di menit-menit akhir, tuan rumah kembali mampu mengancam gawang United melalui aksi Cabaye dalam mengirim umpan kepada Gayle, namun sayang sontekan sang striker masih terlalu lemah. Skor imbang tanpa gol bertahan hingga turun minum.
Babak Kedua
Usai jeda, kedua tim memulai kembali pertandingan dengan hati-hati sehingga tidak banyak peluang yang terjadi pada menit-menit awal.
Namun, Palace terlihat lebih mampu mengembangkan permainan di pertengahan waktu dan memaksa pertahanan United mendapatkan tekanan bertubi-tubi dari para penyerang tuan rumah.
Pada menit ke-72, Palace mendapatkan peluang terbaik di pertandingan ini ketika bola umpan Bolasie disambut Cabaye yang berada dalam posisi bebas beberapa meter di depan gawang United, tetapi sayang tendangan voli pemain asal Prancis itu masih menyamping dari gawang United.
Beberapa menit kemudian, giliran tendangan penjuru Cabaye yang menghadirkan ancaman, bola kirimannya disambut dengan sangat baik oleh Dann, tetapi lagi-lagi arahnya masih melenceng.
Kembali dalam tempo yang singkat, Palace mendapatkan kesempatan emas untuk mencetak gol. Kali ini, tembakan mendatar Gayle di dalam kotak penalti masih bisa ditahan De Gea dengan kakinya.
United bukan tidak mengancam, tetapi peluang mereka selalu berhasil digagalkan oleh lini pertahanan tuan rumah. Tambahan tiga menit injury time tidak cukup bagi kedua tim untuk mencetak gol di pertandingan ini sehingga skor tanpa gol bertahan hingga akhir.
Susunan Pemain
Crystal Palace: Hennessey; Kelly, Dann, Delaney, Ward; McArthur, Cabaye; Zaha, Puncheon, Bolasie; Gayle
Manchester United: De Gea; Darmian, Blind, Smalling, Rojo; Schneiderlin, Schweinsteiger; Rooney Herrera, Mata;>
Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 Aston Villa
Laporan Pertandingan: Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 Aston Villa
Tambahan tripoin ini pun membuat Spurs kini menghuni poisi terakhir zona Eropa atau berada di tempat kelima dengan menghimpun 20 poin. Sementara Villa masih harus bersabar di dasar klasemen dengan perolehan empat poin.
Babak pertama
Tuan rumah tanpa basa-basi langsung mengoyak gawang yang dijaga Brad Guzan saat laga baru berusia tiga menit. Moussa Dembele mampu melewati hadangan dari Ciaran Clark sebelum melepas tembakan yang melewati di antara kaki sang penjaga gawang.
Gol tersebut direspons cepat oleh Villa melalui aksi Scott Sinclair. Tapi tidak seberuntung Dembele. Usahanya mampu dimentahkan kiper Hugo Lloris.
Harry Kane lalu menebar ancaman lewat tendangan kerasnya yang terdefleksi dan memaksa Guzan jatuh bangun mentip bola yang menghasilkan tendangan penjuru. Sejurus kemudian sepakan Danny Rose melambung di atas mistar.
Menjelang rehat, Spurs menambah keunggulan mereka. Dele Alli mengontrol bola hasil sapuan anak-anak Villa dari area jantung pertahanan tim tamu, kemudian mendentumkan tembakan datar yang merobek gawang Villa kali kedua.
Babak kedua
Selepas interval, Spurs tetap menjadi tim yang mengancam melalui pergerakan dari Rose yang melepaskan diri dari penjagaan di dekat garis gawang untuk menyambut umpan silang Erik Lamela. Sayang, penempatan bola dengan tandukannya melayang di atas mistar gawang.
Dari jarak 25 meter, Christian Eriksen coba unjuk gigi dengan keberuntungannya melepas tembakan. Namun, laju bola enggan menemui target.
Villa terus berusaha memaksimalkan setiap kesempatan, mereka berupaya memperkecil ketinggalan saat Rudy Gestede berada di dalam box Spurs dan melepas sepakan kencang. Namun terdefleksi dan berujung corner.
Usaha Leandro Bacuna juga tak mampu menemui jaring Spurs saat dia melepas dentuman dari ruang kosong. Sepakan datarnya hanya keluar dari gawang Spurs.
11 menit sebelum laga rampung, The Villans menghidupkan asa bangkit, di mana Jordan Ayew melepas tendangan spekulasi dari jarak jauh. Sempat mengenai badan Jan Vertonghen, membuat bola berbelok arah dan masuk ke pojok gawang.
Gol ini membuat semangat Villa membumbung tinggi untuk menyamakan skor. Mereka terbilang sukses menghadirkan kepanikan di diri Spurs kala Gestede menyundul bola, tapi tidak membahayakan Lloris karena melebar tipis saja. Demikian juga sepakan Ayew yang hanya membut sang kiper melongo karena terbang tinggi di atas tiang gawang.
Alih-alih menyamakan skor, di pengujung laga, justru Spurs yang menambah lagi keunggulan via sepakan terukur Kane usai menjumpai umpan dari Lamela.
Susunan pemain
Spurs XI vs. Aston Villa: Lloris; Walker, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Rose; Alli, Dier; Dembele, Eriksen, Lamela; Kane.
Aston Villa XI vs. Spurs: Guzan; Hutton, Clark, Lescott, Richardson; Bacuna, Westwood Sanchez; Sinclair, Agbonlahor, Grealish.
Monday, 26 October 2015
Arsenal 2-1 Everton
Laporan Pertandingan: Arsenal 2-1 Everton
Untuk pertama kalinya sejak setelah satu setengah tahun Arsenal menggenggam puncak tabel Liga Primer Inggris seiring keberhasilan menaklukkan Everton 2-1 di Emirates, Sabtu (24/10).Tambahan tiga angka yang dipastikan dua gol sundulan Olivier Giroud dan Laurent Koscielny - yang hanya mampu dibalas sekali oleh Everton via Ross Barkley - membawa The Gunners menggusur Manchester City, yang bakal bakal melakoni derby menghadapi Manchester United di Old Trafford esok hari.
Babak Pertama
Mengambil inisiatif serangan di awal pertandingan, Arsenal memperoleh setidaknya dua kesempatan untuk mematahkan kebuntuan dalam sepuluh menit pertama.
Keduanya lahir dari eksekusi tendangan penjuru Santi Cazorla, namun Olivier Giroud dan Gabriel yang sejatinya mendapat umpan empuk gagal mengarahkan sundulan mereka ke target.
The Gunners terus mendominasi alur permainan, tetapi Everton nyaris mencuri keunggulan jelang setengah jam laga lewat John Stones. Berawal situasi sepak pojok, Aaron Lennon mengirim umpan silang rendah yang ditepis Petr Cech, namun bola jatuh ke Stones.
Sayangnya, walau gawang menganga cukup lebar, tendangan voli dari sang bek justru melayang terlalu tinggi.
Deadlock pada akhirnya terpecahkan sembilan menit jelang interval untuk keunggulan Arsenal. Bebas tekanan dari pemain bertahan lawan, Mesut Ozil dengan leluasa memberikan umpan silang yang disantap sundulan akurat Olivier Giroud.
Sesaat kemudian gawang Everton bobol kembali oleh tandukan legiun Prancis milik Gunners. Kali ini tendangan bebas Cazorla menemukan kepala Laurent Koscielny dan membuat Tim Howard tak berdaya.
Meski tertinggal dua gol, pasukan Roberto Martinez tidak begitu saja mengibarkan bendera putih. Tim tamu merespons lewat gol balasan Ross Barkley, hasil tembakan yang terdefleksi Gabriel, tepat sebelum istirahat.
Babak Kedua
Arsenal tetap menjadi kubu yang dominan di paruh kedua. Sepuluh menit pertama dilewati skuat Wenger dengan penciptaan tiga peluang bagus: dua dari Alexis Sanchez dan satu dari Giroud.
Kans pertama Sanchez dari bola terobosan Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain pupus oleh penyelamatan Howard, pun dengan yang kedua saat kiper veteran Amerika Serikat itu lekas menyergap maju buat menutup ruang tembak sang bintang Cile.
Howard kembali membuat penyelamatan penting saat ia mementahkan sepakan voli Giroud di menit 55.
Giroud sendiri punya kans lebih baik untuk menambah keunggulan Arsenal seperempat jam kemudian, tatkala ia menerima bola dari Mesut Ozil dan melepas tendangan melengkung yang gagal menjadi gol karena membentur mistar.
Kendati banyak tertekan, Everton bukannya tanpa peluang. Bahkan, seperti Giroud, hanya nasib sial yang menggagalkan Romelu Lukaku melesakkan gol penyeimbang untuk The Toffees ketika sundulan sang striker Belgia menyongsong umpan silang mengenai woodwork.
Permainan semakin terbuka dan pertukaran serang kian intens memasuki pengujung laga. Dalam rentang sekejap di menit 86 Arsenal gagal memperbesar skor via sundulan Mathieu Flamini yang ditangkap Howard, diikuti Everton yang juga gagal menyeimbangkan angka saat Cech melakukan penyelamatan brilian untuk menghadang tembakan jarak dekat Gerard Deulofeu.
Menginjak menit pamungkas di waktu normal, Arsenal "seharusnya" mampu menyegel skor 3-1, sayang sepakan Ozil menyusul umpan satu-dua dengan Giroud menabrak tiang. Pada akhirnya itu tak berpengaruh banyak karena tiga angka tetap masuk kantong Gunners, sementara persis sebelum bubaran prahara tim tamu bertambah setelah kehilangan Gareth Barry akibat kartu kuning kedua.
Susunan Pemain
Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Cech; Bellerin, Gabriel, Koscielny, Monreal; Coquelin, Cazorla; Oxlade-Chamberlain (Flamini 81'), Ozil, Sanchez (Gibbs 89'); Giroud
Cadangan: Macey; Debuchy, Walcott, Chambers, Campbell
Everton (4-2-3-1): Howard; Coleman (Kone 89'), Stones, Jagielka (Funes Mori 52'), Galloway; McCarthy, Barry; Lennon (Mirallas 70'), Barkley, Deulofeu; Lukaku
Manchester United 0-0 Manchester City
Laporan Pertandingan: Manchester United 0-0 Manchester City
Tidak ada pemenang untuk duel panas yang mempertemukan dua kekuatan
utama kota Manchester, Manchester United dan Manchester City. Dalam hal
ini, keduanya bermain sama kuat 0-0 dalam lanjutan Liga Primer Inggris matchday kesepuluh, Minggu (25/10) malam WIB.
Di
laga ini, tidak ada banyak peluang yang tercipta di babak pertama,
namun jalannya laga mulai meningkat di paruh kedua. Meski demikian,
kedua kubu gagal menciptakan gol dan terpaksa berbagi poin, yang mana
membuat United tertahan di urutan keempat selagi City kembali ke puncak
klasemen menggeser Arsenal.
Babak Pertama
Memainkan
derby Manchester ke-170, baik United dan City mengawali laga dengan
tempo sedang. Tidak ada peluang berarti di sepuluh menit pertama meski
Juan Mata sempat mengklaim penalti kepada wasit Mike Clattenburg
menyusul handball Fernandinho dan Aleksandar Kolarov.
Peluang
pertama justru berhasil diciptakan City lewat liukan Raheem Sterling di
menit ke-13. Menerima bola dari Yaya Toure, mantan pemain Liverpool itu
menari-nari di depan barisan pemain United namun sepakan yang kemudian
ia lancarkan masih terhalang lini pertahanan yang cukup rapat.
United
sendiri tidak tinggal diam. Tim arahan Louis van Gaal itu mencoba
mengembangkan permainan memanfaatkan kecepatan Anthony Martial dari sisi
kiri. Dan jelang setengah jam, pemain internasional Prancis itu sempat
merepotkan pertahanan City meski tidak ada kesempatan berarti untuk
mendekati gawang sang rival.
Setelah itu, City pimpinan manajer
Manuel Pellegrini berusaha menancapkan dominasinya dengan mengerahkan
serangan dari segala lini. Dalam hal ini, sterling dan Kevin De Bruyne
serta Toure menjadi motor serangan kubu Eastlands guna menopang
pergerakan Wilfried Bony yang dipasang sebagai striker tunggal.
Terlepas itu, The Citizens tidak mampu menembus lini belakang United yang dikomando Phil Jones dan Chris Smalling. Hal yang sama juga berlaku untuk The Red Devils yang gagal membongkar ketatnya pertahanan tim lawan, yang di laga ini menurunkan duet Vincent Kompany dan Nicolas Otamendi.
Babak Kedua
Setelah tidak mampu
mengarahkan bola ke gawang Joe Hart di paruh pertama, United mencoba
tancap gas sejak laga kembali digulirkan. Bek Smalling nyaris membuat
timnya memimpin namun sundulannya di menit ke-51 melebar tipis dari
gawang.
Di paruh kedua ini, tekanan United kian meningkat dan hal
itu memaksa manajer Pellegrini untuk melakukan pergantian strategi.
Dalam hal ini, menimbang Sterling yang tampil tidak berkembang, pria
asal Cile itu lantas menariknya sebagaimana posisi pemain internasional
Inggris itu digantikan oleh Jesus Navas.
Meski demikian, kubu
tuan rumah yang didukung suporternya terus berusaha membongkar
pertahanan lawan, dan dua menit setelah satu jam Mata nyaris berhadapan
dengan gawang secara langsung andai Hart tidak keluar dari sarangnya
untuk melakukan clearance.
Van Gaal kemudian memutuskan
untuk mengubah skema permainan timnya dengan menurunkan Jesse Lingard,
yang menggantikan tempat Mata di menit ke-67. Sementara itu, Bastian
Schweinsteiger juga ia tarik keluar dengan Marouane Fellaini masuk
sebagai pengganti tak lama berselang.
Ketika laga memasuki enam
menit terakhir, Lingard hampir menjadi pahlawan kemenangan untuk United.
Berawal dari umpan brilian Martial, Lingard yang merangsek ke kotak
penalti menyontek bola tersebut dengan satu kaki, namun tiang gawang
masih menjadi penghalang.
Hingga wasit Mark Clattenburg meniupkan
peluit panjang, tidak ada gol yang tercipta. Dan derby Manchester
ke-170 ini berakhir sama kuat 0-0.
Susunan Pemain
Manchester United:
De Gea; Valencia (Darmian 81'), Jones, Smalling, Rojo; Schweinsteiger,
Schneiderlin (Fellaini 75'), Herrera; Mata (Lingard 67'), Rooney,
Martial.
Cadangan: Romero, Blind, Carrick, Memphis.
Manchester City:
Hart; Sagna, Kompany, Otamendi, Kolarov; Fernando, Fernandinho, Toure
(Demichelis 77'); Sterling (Jesús Navas 55'), De Bruyne, Bony (Iheanacho
83').
Cadangan: Caballero, Zabaleta, Mangala, Roberts.
Bournemouth 1-5 Tottenham Hotspur
Laporan Pertandingan: Bournemouth 1-5 Tottenham Hotspur
Harry Kane mencetak hat-trick untuk membantu Tottenham Hotspur menang besar atas tuan rumah Bournemouth dalam lanjutan Liga Primer Inggris. Spurs mendulang tripoin dengan raihan kemenangan 5-1.Kemenangan dengan marjin empat gol ini membuat pasukan Mauricio Pochettino beranjak ke peringkat enam klasemen sementara, sedang Bournemouth turun ke posisi 17.
Babak pertama
Setelah mencetak 31 gol di seluruh kompetisi musim lalu, Kane menyambut laga ini dengan posisi kering gol, di mana hanya satu torehan dia bukukan dalam sembilan pertandingan. Namun di Dean Court, pemain 22 tahun ini sukses membantu Spurs memperpanjang rentetan tak terkalahkan dalam sembilan pertandingan.
Bournemouth sendiri sejatinya membuat kejutan hebat saat laga baru berusia 49 detik. Matt Ritchie melepas tembakan ambisius yang tak mampu ditahan Hugo Lloris.
Namun keunggulan Bournemouth tidak berjalan lama. Di menit kesembilan, penalti yang dieksekusi Kane menyeimbangkan skor menjadi 1-1. Penlati didapat setelah kane dijatuhkan oleh kiper Arutr Boruc.
Mousa Dembele menggandakan skor timnya delapan menit berikutnya dalam situasi kemelut di box Bournemouth, sebelum Erik Lamela berhasil mengonversi kesalahan Boruc menjadi gol.
Dua kali Bournemouth berkesempatan melepas tembakan. Pertama aksi Marc Pugh yang dapat diredam Toby Alderweireld, disusul sepakan datar Josh King, yang juga sama tak membuahkan hasil.
Babak kedua
Spurs semakin di atas angin saat memasuki menit ke-56. Kane menamakan dirinya untuk kali kedua di papan skor. Christian Eriksen memberikan servis matang pada Kane, yang memudahkan si penyerang kembali membobol gawang lawan. Gol ini semakin membuat tim tuan rumah sulit mengejar ketertinggalan.
Enam menit berselang, Boruc kembali melakukan kekeliruan. Kiper Polandia ini mampu menahan tandukan dari Alderweireld, tapi bola lalu mengarah kepada Kane, yang lantas melepas tembakan rebound dari jarak enam meter untuk memastikan kemenangan 5-1 bagi Spurs..
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