CCPL Matchday 8Emo United(sam) 0 v 0 TWAT(lozz)
Thunder Hawks(amino) v Down Under United(iliad)
Redcar Royals (cena) 1 v 1 TRC (panc)
Norfolk and Chance(ice) v Red Stick Cajuns (lsu)
Game 2Thunder Hawks(amino) v Down Under United(iliad)
The teams finally emerge from the tunnel. Iliad will be looking for a simple win today against TH who have failed to impress in recent weeks. DDU are currently sitting in third and nothing less than a win will be acceptable, where as poor Thunder Hawks will be hoping that new striker David Villa can bring a change in fortune.
Teams:
Thunder Hawks (animo)1. Given 31, Excellent
2. R. Ferdinand 29, Excellent
3. Sagna 25, Very Good
4. Ballack, 31, Very Good
5. Pederson 26, Very Good
6. Denilson 20, Very Good
7. Villa 26, World Class
8. Mellberg, 30, Very Good
9. A. Smith 27, Very Good
10. Viduka, 32, Very Good
11. Berbatov, 27 Excellent
12. Whitehead 26, Good
13. Dawson 24, Excellent
14. Agbonlahor, 21, Very Good
Down Under United (illy)1. Hart 20, Very Good
2. Vidic 26, Excellent
3. Agger 23, Excellent
4. Xavi, 28 World Class
5. Lampard, 29, World Class
6 .Arshavin, 27 World Class
7. Drogba, 30, World Class
8. Yobo 27, Very Good
9. K. Miller, 28, Very Good
10. A. Young 22, Very Good
Match Report:Both teams started off on the attack with Thunder Hawks attempting to break quickly and going all out for it. It was DDU however who created the first opening, Arshavin played it to Xavi who laid it back for Lampard. He then chipped the ball in behind Sagna and Drogba caught it first time on the volley, it soared past Given and DDU found themselves with an early lead. Thunder Hawks 0-1 Down Under United
Thunder Hawks responded by flinging men forward and got a chance for their effort. Ballack played the ball in for Villa who strolled through the DDU defence it took an age for him to be closed and when Vidic did he was simply shrugged off the ball, Villa move into the box and hit a hard shot that was going well wide. Agger swung to clear it, but the ball flew up into the air and into his own net! It’s only TH 3rd league goal and what a fluke! Thunder Hawks 1-1 Down Under United
The goal seemed to give TH heart and game turned into an end to end thriller. DDU seemed to be trying to walk the ball into the net when they got their chances and at the other Villa was playing a blinder while the DDU defence was poor at best. On 41 minutes Arshavin made a good run through the TH defence before threading a pass on for Lampard. Lampard turned Sagna and was about to strike it when Sagna tugged on him from behind, penalty! Lampard took it and smashed it down the middle, Given dived out of the way and DDU are back in the lead. Thunder Hawks 1-2 Down Under United.
The second half started in similar fashion TH were throwing everything they had at it and DDU were still lacking a final shot. On 57 minutes DDU had a chance to widen their lead. Drogba and Xavi combined well to bat a few defenders before playing it into to Lampard. Lampard then fed through Arshavin who dinked the ball into the box, Drogba ran on and volleyed it, and it went just over the bar.
Down Under United continued to push forward and a long and left little at the back allowing TH to create an opening. A long ball thumped up by Sagna was headed on by an unchallenged Ballack. It fell for David Villa, Vidic came in for the tackle but was simply shrugged off of the ball. Villa bore down on Hart who left a big gap to his left and Villa wasn’t going to miss it, TH are back level!! Thunder Hawks 2-2 Down Under United.
As the minutes ticked by the match started to become rather rough, with the Thunder Hawks players booting everyone in sight. They were picking up a fair few cards but stopping a frustrated DDU side in their tracks. One particularly bad tackle, however led to a free-kick in a decent position for DDU. Xavi took it and dipped it over the eall only for it to be tipped by the post by Given. Xavi then swung in the corner with Drogba going up for the header against Ferdinand. Ferdinand won the battle and cleared the ball, a fantastic point for Thunder Hawks!
Thunder Hawks 2-2
Down Under United.Agger OG 22
---------Drogba 6
Villa 71
---------------Lampard (pen) 57