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 LiverpoolWijnaldum jadi penyebab kekalahan 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.

Georginio Wijnaldum jadi bintang utama di laga tersebut, dengan menyebabkan gol bunuh diri Martin Skrtel di menit ke-69 dan mencetak gol pemasti kemenangan di masa injury time.

Babak Pertama

Meski bertindak sebagai tim tamu, Liverpool langsung menggebrak selepas sepakan mula dilakukan. Pasukan arahan Jurgen Klopp bahkan sanggup menghasilkan dua sepak pojok dalam tempo satu menit laga. Sayang tak satu pun menghasilkan gol.

Perlahan namun pasti, Newcastle United sanggup mengimbangi penguasaan bola yang dilakukan. Namun permainan super hati-hati kedua tim membuat pertandingan ini berjalan amat monoton. Tak ada satu pun peluang bersih lahir hingga 20 menit pertandingan berlangsung.

Kans emas pertama akhirnya lahir dimenit ke-21, yang jadi milik Liverpool. Bomber utama mereka, Christian Benteke, melepaskan tembakan kencang yang sayangnya masih melambung tinggi di atas mistar.

Newcastle kemudian baru membalasnya satu menit jelang paruh pertama usai. Adalah tandukan Chancel Mbemba yang kembali gagal menemui gawang, sehingga babak pertama berakhir imbang tanpa gol plus sorotan pada permainan monoton kedua tim.

Babak Kedua

Paruh kedua berjalan jauh lebih seru dengan kedua tim sama-sama mengincar gol pertama, guna meraih keunggulan. Peluang pertama di babak penentuan ini dimiliki Newcastle, melalui tembakan kencang Georginio Wijnaldum yang diblok oleh lini pertahanan Liverpool.

Memasuki satu jam jalannya pertandingan, dua pegantian langsung dilakukan Klopp dengan menarik Christian Benteke dan Roberto Firmino, untuk Adam Lallana dan Daniel Sturridge. Namun pergantian itu seakan jadi petaka, karena Newcastle malah kemudian memperoleh keunggulan.

Sebuah serangan cepat dilakukan Newcastle pada menit ke-69. Berawal dari umpan lambung Moussa Sissoko yang kurang akurat, bola sampai di kaki Wijnaldum yang bergerak di sisi kanan kotak penalti Liverpool. Bola langsung ditendangnya dengan keras dan terdefleksi oleh kaki Martin Skrtel! Gol, The Magpies unggul 1-0.

Tertinggal 1-0, The Reds keluar menyerang namun pertahanan Newcastle bermain begitu rapat sehingga tak ada peluang berarti lahir. Tuan rumah malah akhirnya memastikan kemenangan di masa injury time, setelah Wijnaldum sukses memaksimalkan umpan panjang Sissoko lewat situasi serangan balik. Kedudukan akhir 2-0 bagi kemenangan Newcastle.(Goal.com)

Manchester United 0-0 West Ham United

Laporan Pertandingan: Manchester United 0-0 West Ham UnitedLaporan 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 BournemouthLaporan 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

 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 drawTottenham 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 encounterLiverpool 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 summiLiverpool trio Roberto Firmino, Philippe Coutinho and Emre Can celebrate 

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 winManchester 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 defeatStoke 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 ParkAston 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 KloppLiverpool 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

 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

Laporan Pertandingan: Chelsea 1-3 Liverpool  

Chelsea masih belum bisa bangkit dari keterpurukan, skuat asuhan Jose Mourinho dipaksa menelan kekalahan di kandang sendiri oleh Liverpool dengan skor 3-1.
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

Swansea City versus 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

 Laporan Pertandingan: Manchester City 2-1 Norwich City     

Manchester City kokoh di puncak klasemen - bersama Arsenal - setelah susah payah menaklukkan Norwich City di Etihad Stadium, Sabtu (31/10).
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

 Crystal Palace vs. Manchester United    

Crystal Palace dan Manchester United harus berbagi angka setelah kedua tim bermain imbang tanpa gol di Selhurst Park.

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

Tottenham Hotspur versus Aston Villa   

Tottenham Hotspur menambah rentetan tak terkalahkan mereka di Liga Primer Inggris menjadi sepuluh pertandingan usai meraup kemenangan 3-1 atas Aston Villa di White Hart Lane.
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 EvertonLaporan 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 CityLaporan 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 HotspurSelebrasi 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..
Soccer Ball 4