CCPL Matchday 7
Matchday 7:
Redcar Royals(cena) v Norfolk and Chance (ice)
TWAT (lozz) v Down Under United (iliad)
Red Stick Cajuns (LSU) v Emo United (sam)
TR Clowns (pancake) v Thunder Hawks (amino)
Game 1:
Redcar Royals(cena) v Norfolk and Chance (ice)
Teams:
Redcar Royals (cena)
1. Jääskeläinen, 32, Very Good
2. Senderos 23, Very Good
3. Carr 31, Very Good
4. Babel 21, Excellent
5. Joe Cole, 26, Excellent
6. Downing 23, Excellent
7. Tevez, 24, Excellent
3. G. Neville 33, Very Good
9. Arteta 26, Very Good
10. Davies, 31, Very Good
Norfolk and Chance (ice)
1. Almunia, 30, Excellent
2. Finnan 31, Excellent
3. Toure, 27, Excellent
4. Nani 21, Excellent
5. Makelele 35, Excellent
6. Gerrard, 27, World Class
7. Rooney, 22, World Class
8. Heraidersson 33, Good
9. Huth 23, Very Good
10. Mascherano, 23, Excellent
11. Eduardo, 25, Excellent
Before last week this game would look straight forward, Norfolk and Chance would be expected to walk it, but after an impressive win over Emo United last week Redcar Royals showed anything is possible. Top of the league and unbeaten Norfolk and Chance will still be heavy favourites and will be looking to go into the midseason break still at the top of the table.
Match Report
The match started off at high speed and in dramatic fashion. Norfolk and Chance went on the attack straight from kick off, Nani burst down the wing skipping past Carr and firing a ball across the face of goal. Rooney went in for the header but missed it by inches, the ball fell to Babel who booted the ball clear. Toure miss-timed his header and the ball bounced onwards with Tevez running on to control it. He played through Joe Cole on the left wing who was brought down by Makelele. Tevez swung the free-kick into the box and Senderos got his head on it to see it fire into the back of the net, is another shock on the cards? Redcar Royals 1-0 Norfolk and Chance.
Icedagger was furious with his players and screamed for his players to push forward to get an immediate response. As they pushed forward again they lost possession when Gerrard’s cross was caught by Jaaskalinen. The keeper punted the ball up field but this time Toure won the header, only for it to fall to Downing. Downing pushed on holding off challenges from Finnan and Makelele before slipping the ball through for Tevez on the edge of the box. With his first touch Tevez knocked the ball through Toure’s legs and with his second he rattled a shot past Almunia and into the top corner, Cena goes nuts on the touchline his side are 2-0 up against the league leaders!! Redcar Royals 2-0 Norfolk and Chance.
The rest of the half continued in a similar manner with Norfolk and Chance pushing forward and creating the odd opportunity but a new and rejuvenated RR hitting them well on the break. % minutes before half time Norfolk and Chance managed to create a clear cut chance. Gerrard played the ball into the feet of Rooney who laid it of for Nani, Nani then played a first time cross into the box which Makelele chested past Carr and shot goalwards. Jaasklainen dived and was equal to it, but he could only send in Rooney’s direction, and it was tapped into the net, Norfolk are right back in this. Redcar Royals 2-1 Norfolk and Chance.
The second half started in a similar way to the first and the game was a fascinating one to watch. This time it was Redcar that pushed forward only to lose possession at the vital moment, they had a 2v1 situation against Finnan but Finnan came out on top intercepting a poor pass from Babel. It was then passed to Makelele who played it through for Gerrard who in turn passed to Rooney. Rooney played the ball out wide to Nani whos cross went deep in on Jaaskalinen, the Redcar goalie jumped up to catch it but let it slip through his hands and into the net, the silly mistake allows Norfolk back level. Redcar Royals 2-2 Norfolk and Chance.
The pulsating game took another twist on 63 minutes when Norfolk and Chance’s star player Rooney went down injured, he will be out for a week or so but will not miss any matches due to the midseason break. Eduardo came on as a substitute for him. From the resulting free-kick Gerrard played it short down the wing to Eduardo who cut inside and skinned Carr he shot from an awkward angle but it was blocked by Cole. The ball flew up in the air and Gerrard got up well and headed it back towards goal, Makelele caught his header on the half volley and the net bulged once more, what an unbelievable comeback. Redcar Royals 2-3 Norfolk and Chance.
Redcar failed to give in and pushed on to try and draw level once more. However they would have to wait until the 79 minute to get a chance to do so. Carr cleared the ball right up into the corner where a race in sued between Tevez and Finnan they got their roughly at the same time and the ball ricocheted out for a corner. The corner was delivered poorly by Cole and was easily cleared by Gerrard. However the ball only went as far as Downing who struck it first time on the volley, the ball sailed through the air and the open arms of Almunia, it dropped into the back of the net and this amazing game swings back towards Redcar. Redcar Royals 3-3 Norfolk and Chance.
In the 85 minute the chance for a winner came. Makelele played a one-tow with Gerrard and then played a ball in behind the Redcar Royal defence, substitute Eduardo ran onto it and came through one-on-one with Jaaskalinen. He hit the ball low and hard, Jaaskalinen dived out of the way but managed to stick out a foot to stop it from going in. The ball fell safely to Carr who booted it away, but it smacked off Eduardo and into the goal, Norfolk win it late and they needed a bit of luck too. Redcar Royals 3-4 Norfolk and Chance.
Redcar Royals 3 v 4 Norfolk and Chance.
Senderos 2-----------Rooney 40
Tevez 6---------------Nani 50
Downing 79-----------Makelele 64
------------------------Eduardo 85
What a game! And so close too.
