Football Dispatch

Monday Football
06 October 2008
by Jerrad Peters

Most compelling viewing

Manchester City 2-3 Liverpool

Dirk Kuyt capped a memorable Liverpool comeback against Manchester City at Eastlands on Sunday. The 28-year-old Dutchman was put into the clear after Fernando Torres’ effort took a deflection off Richard Dunne and landed at Kuyt’s feet. With goalkeeper Joe Hart hopelessly out of position, the right-winger smashed the ball into the back of the net to claim all three points for the Reds.

City had taken an early lead after some sloppy Liverpool defending allowed Stephen Ireland to open the scoring in the 19th minute. The hosts went two goals ahead just prior to the interval when Javier Garrido’s superb free-kick from 22 yards left Pepe Reina helpless between the posts.

The visitors found their legs in the second half, however, and Torres leveled matters with his second brace in two matches. He notched his first of the night and third of the season after latching onto an Alvaro Arbeloa cross after Steven Gerrard had released the right-back. Liverpool were boosted further when Pablo Zabaleta was dismissed in the 68th minute for a two-footed challenge on Xabi Alonso. Five minutes later, the scoreline was level – Torres heading Gerrard’s corner beyond the reach of Hart.

Notable results

Everton 2-2 Newcastle

An energized Newcastle United earned a crucial point at Goodison Park, Sunday, and broke for the international schedule with some confidence restored. Trailing 2-0 with seconds to play the first period through Mikel Arteta’s penalty and Marouane Fellaini’s first goal for the Toffees, the Magpies earned a crucial lifeline when Steven Taylor headed Geremi’s cross past Tim Howard to pull the visitors within a goal. They managed to keep the momentum through the interval. Shortly after the restart, it was Taylor again who was making things happen. The 22-year-old, having been kept onside by Phil Jagielka, passed the ball to Damien Duff who pegged the equalizer in the 46th minute.

St. Mirren 1-0 Rangers

St. Mirren won at home against Rangers for the first time in 22 years, Sunday. Stephen McGinn’s lovely, curling effort proved the only goal of the match as the Saints edged a point clear of Falkirk, Aberdeen, and the relegation zone. Rangers, meanwhile, directed 24 attempts at Mark Howard but could not find the breakthrough. Jean-Claude Darcheville was particularly wasteful and Kenny Miller scuffed a hatful of chances as well. Most worrying for Rangers, however, was the injury to Kevin Thompson in the 58th minute after a collision with Gary Brady. The 23-year-old Scotland midfielder had to be stretchered off the park and is doubtful for the upcoming World Cup qualifier against Norway.

Rennes 3-0 Lyon

A Mickael Pagis hat-trick lifted Stade Rennais over seven-time champions Lyon at Stade de le Route-de-Lorient on Sunday. The 35-year-old journeyman had his first after 17 minutes when he calmly deposited Moussa Sow’s pass beyond Hugo Lloris with the side of his foot. He had the brace just prior to the hour-mark after connecting with a sublime Olivier Thomert cross. And the trio was completed in the 66th minute after Kim Kallstrom made a careless mistake in his own end. The win lifts Rennes to a share of fourth-place in the standings – just five points adrift of leaders Lyon

Stuttgart 4-1 Werder Bremen

After a run of form which saw them score 13 goals in wins over Energie Cottbus, Bayern Munich, and Hoffenheim – not to mention an impressive 1-1 draw with Inter Milan at the San Siro – Werder Bremen fell flat on their faces at Stuttgart on Saturday. The 2006-07 champions were very much in the mood. Germany Under-21 marksman Sami Khedira got things going in the 18th minute and Christian Trasch, also just 21-years-old, doubled the scoreline before the interval. Diego pulled one back for Bremen in the 65th minute, but not before Roberto Hilbert had made it 3-0 just two minutes earlier. Former Hoffenheim midfielder Martin Lanig scored his first goal for Stuttgart in the 88th minute to complete the 4-1 demolition. With 13 points from 7 matches, Stuttgart are joint second with Hoffenheim and three points back of leaders Hamburg. Bremen, meanwhile, have 11 points and sit in seventh position.

Barcelona 6-1 Atletico Madrid

After taking only a point from their first two matches in La Liga this season, Barcelona seem to be humming along nicely. They climbed to fourth-place in the table, Saturday, and destroyed Atletico Madrid along the way. In front of over 75,000 spectators at the Nou Camp, the hosts made a quick start of it. Rafael Marquez, Samuel Eto’o, and Lionel Messi had the Blaugrana 3-0 ahead after just eight minutes. Eto’o struck again in the 18th minute to cancel Maxi Rodriguez 13th minute tally for the Rojiblancos. But Barcelona went four goals ahead in the 28th minute when Eidur Dudjohnsen scored his 14th goal for the club. Thierry Henry completed the 6-1 route in the 73rd minute. With 13 points from six matches, Barcelona are a point back of Sevilla and three behind joint leaders Valencia and Villarreal. On the other side of the ball, Atletico are now in seventh-place with nine points.

Key contributors

Fernando Torres

The 24-year-old bagged his fourth and fifth goals of the season at Eastlands. Playing much of the 90 minutes as a lone striker, his brace canceled Manchester City’s 2-0 advantage and set the stage for an exhiliarating comeback. He also launched the shot which Dirk Kuyt turned into the match-winner in stoppage time.

Fernando Menegazzo

The 6-foot-1 Brazilian midfielder scored twice in two minutes, Saturday, to propel Bordeaux to a deserved win over Lorient at Stade du Moustoir. With his club trailing by a goal in the second half, Menegazzo’s cunning deke in the 67th minute put goalkeeper Fabien Audard out of position for the equalizer. Moments later, the 27-year-old won the match win an accurate drive from just inside the 18-yard box.

Demba Ba

With a pair of goals from the edge of the six-yard box, Demba Ba restored Hoffenheim’s winning ways and lifted the surprising village outfit to a 2-1 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt at Carl-Benz-Stadion. Ba now has four goals on the campaign – three less than team leader Veded Ibisevic. Both strikers are 6-foot-3 and cast an imposing shadow throughout the attacking third.

Man of the weekend

Mickael Pagis

There’s very little that Mickael Pagis hasn’t seen over the course of his 15-year career in professional football. That said, the 35-year-old’s performance against champions Lyon on Sunday was very likely the finest in his repertoire. The Angers-born striker was in a punishing mood at Orient Road. He connected well with his teammates for his first two goals before making Kim Kallstrom pay for a foolish error in the 67th minute.

Lyon manager Claude Puel praised Pagis in his post-match comments, saying, “Pagis caused us plenty of misery. He’s an excellent player but we gave him too much space.

Have a question about football? Email your query to jerradpeters@gmail.com.

Jerrad Peters covers football for the Winnipeg Free Press, Soccer Three-Sixty magazine, ESPN Soccernet, and Soccer365.com. His work has also appeared on TheMirror.co.uk, Canadian-soccer.com, Footy247.co.uk, Foot2ball.com, and Squadinfo.com.