Saturday 31 May 2014

Super Sunday Game Week 38

Manchester City 2 v 0 West Ham United Nasri (39), Kompany (49)
First Half: Noble survives a handball penalty appeal. Silva volleys over at the far post. Zabaleta has a penalty appeal turned down. Kolarov has a long range blast tipped over. Goal! 1-0, City take the lead as Nasri scores with a low shot from long range that goes in via the inside of the far post. Silva has a low shot across goal deflected onto the bar.
Half Time: 1-0.
Second Half: Goal! 2-0, Kompany slots in from close range following a corner. Aguero heads wide of the near post. Aguero spurns a great chance from close range. Nasri has a low volley saved.
Full Time: 2-0.
Man City 1st, 83>86pts
West Ham 12th>13th, 40pts



My Opinion:
My man of the match was Nasri. Man City win Premier League title. Manchester City only needed a point to win the league but they sealed their second title in three years with a comfortable victory over West Ham. City were at ease and never looked like losing. Nasri gave them the lead six minutes before half time with a brilliant long range strike which put the crowd at ease whilst the players were able to relax. They have been on a fantastic run over the last ten games this season and came out on top.
West Ham didn't pose much of a threat going forward and never looked like defeating City. They spent most of the game defending as City were just too good for them. At 1-0 down they had a massive task on their hands to beat City but the concession of another goal soon after half time killed the game off. West Ham finish their season by falling one place into 13th.

Liverpool 2 v 1 Newcastle United Skrtel OG (20), Agger (63), Sturridge (65)
First Half: Suarez has a goal ruled out for taking the free kick too quickly. Goal! 0-1, Newcastle take the lead as Gouffran's cross is turned in by Skrtel across goal. Gouffran has an effort saved before Anita blazes a volley over from the edge of the box. Sturridge heads wide of the far post.
Half Time: 0-1.
Second Half: Goal! 1-1, Liverpool equalise through Agger who volleys in from an acute angle at the far post from Gerrard's free kick. Goal! 2-1, Liverpool come from behind to take the lead as Sturridge taps in from close range at the far post from a Gerrard free kick. OFF! Ameobi is shown two yellows cards for dissent. OFF! Dummett is shown a straight red card for a dangerous tackle on Suarez.
Full Time: 2-1.
Liverpool 2nd, 81>84pts
Newcastle 9th>10th, 49pts

My Opinion:
My man of the match was Sterling. Subdued end to Liverpool's season. Liverpool got off to a sluggish start which may have happened as they knew their fate was not in their hands. They actually went behind after Skrtel turned into his own net but a better second half performance saw them turn things around. Two similar goals saw Agger and Sturridge put them in front but it was a rather sullen way to end their season.
Newcastle put in a decent performance in the first half which saw them go into half time ahead. However, they failed to cope with a couple of Gerrard free kicks which saw them trail in the 65th minute. Some very poor discipline after going behind saw both Ameobi and Dummett sent off in what was a poor end to the game and season for the toon army. 

Tottenham Hotspur 3 v 0 Aston Villa Paulinho (14), Baker OG (35), Adebayor (38pen)
First Half: Goal! 1-0, Spurs take the lead through Paulinho who has his first attempt parried before tapping in the rebound. Goal! 2-0, Rose's cross is headed in by Baker at the near post. Penalty! Sandro's shot hits Agbonlahor's hand. Goal! 3-0, Adebayor scores from the spot with a high strike into the near side.
Half Time: 3-0.
Second Half: Delph fires a low shot from the edge of the box just wide of the near post.
Full Time: 3-0.
Spurs 6th, 66>69pts
Villa 15th, 38pts

My Opinion:
My man of the match was Paulinho. Spurs seal Europa League place. It was a pretty comfortable afternoon for Spurs who strolled past Villa with three goals. By the end of the first half it was all over and a place in the Europa league was sealed. Paulinho put in a very good performance and was the best player on the field. Sherwood has done a decent job with Spurs but it remains to be seen whether or not he will be the manager next season.
Villa arguably cost themselves the game after an own goal and avoidable penalty put them 3-0 down before half time. Thus, had some sloppy defending been cut out, Villa may have had a chance of taking a point. However, they were soundly beaten and finished the season with a disappointing result. Delph had their best chance of the match but fired a low shot just wide of the near post. 

Norwich City 0 v 2 Arsenal Ramsay (53), Jenkinson (62)
First Half: Redmond has long range driven shot parried past the near post. Podolski has a close range effort beaten away at the near post. Giroud has an effort well tipped over the bar. Giroud has a shot from the edge of the box parried at the far side.
Half Time: 0-0.
Second Half: Goal! 0-1, Arsenal take the lead through Ramsay who scores with a majestic volley into the far top corner. Goal! 0-2, Jenkinson scores with a low shot into the near bottom corner. Loza has a driven shot parried away from the far side.
Full Time: 0-2.
Norwich 18th, 33pts
Arsenal 4th, 76>79pts

My Opinion:
My man of the match was Ramsay. Arsenal too strong for Norwich. Norwich needed a 15 goal difference swing to stay up and it didn't happen which means the Canaries are relegated. They really struggled with their final five games against the top teams and it cost them dearly. Despite giving it a go, they were outplayed for the majority of the match and didn't really look like scoring. Redond and Loza came closest to finding the back of the net but it wasn't to be. 
Arsenal finished 4th once again and secured champions league football for the 16th season in a row. Their fans will be pleased to be playing in Europe's elite competition but it was a disappointing second half to their season that saw them fade away from the title race. Today's result reminded us why Arsenal were so strong earlier in the season and that was through Ramsay. What a great player he is and he scored quite a spectacular volley to open the scoring. Jenkinson doubled their lead with his first ever goal for the Gunners in what was a decent display from Arsenal. 

Cardiff City 1 v 2 Chelsea Bellamy (15), Schurrle (72), Torres (75)
First Half: Torres has an effort blocked behind an open goal. Goal! 1-0, Cardiff take the lead through Bellamy who scores with a long range deflected strike across goal into the far side. Oscar places a low effort wide of the far post. Campbell blazes a shot wide of the near post.
Half Time: 1-0.
Second Half: Goal! 1-1, Chelsea equalise as Azpilicueta has a header parried against the bar before hitting the rebound against the bar from close range which leads to Schurrle volleying into the ground and over the keeper. Goal! 1-2, Chelsea come from behind and take the lead through Torres who chests the ball down and scores with a low shot from close range into the far bottom corner. Schurrle has a shot from the edge of the box across goal parried over.
Full Time: 1-2.
Cardiff 20th, 30pts
Chelsea 3rd, 79>82pts

My Opinion:
My man of the match was Schurrle. Chelsea comeback against Cardiff. Despite already being relegated, Cardiff gave Chelsea a really good run for their money. Bellamy put them ahead in the 15th minute thanks to a deflected shot from long range and they managed to keep Chelsea out for 70 minutes. However, the story of the their season was summed up after they conceded twice in the space of three minutes to fall behind. Not the way they would have wanted to bow out from the league and it may be a while before we see them playing the premier league again.
Chelsea got off to a slow start which probably comes as no surprise but they dug in well to grind out a good comeback. Schurrle was very impressive and got them back on level terms in the 72nd minute before Torres scored a rare goal to put them in front. Chelsea may not have finished in the top two this season but they can go into next season with strong aspirations. 

Southampton 1 v 1 Manchester United Lambert (28), Mata (54)
First Half: Vidic survives a handball penalty appeal. Lallana has a flicked effort saved, Wanyama has a low shot from long range saved. Goal! 1-0, Southampton take the lead through Lambert who gets played in on goal and coolly fires into the near side.
Half Time: 1-0.
Second Half: Goal! 1-1, United equalise through Mata who scores with a brilliant free kick over the wall and into the near top corner. Fletcher heads wide of the far post. Welbeck prods an effort wide of the near post.
Full Time: 1-1.
Saints 8th, 55>56pts
Man United 7th, 63>64pts

My Opinion:
My man of the match was Lallana. United held by Saints. Southampton played pretty well but the game had that end of season feel about it as both teams didn't really have much to play for. Saints went ahead in fairly controversial circumstances as Lambert seemed to elbow Vidic, whose face was covered in blood, before going through on goal and slotting neatly past De Gea. However, they were pegged back by a brilliant free kick from Mata and that ended up being that. Shaw and Lallana were the two players who stood out as both enjoyed a strong performance.
United were nowhere near their best but went behind to a goal that I don't think should have stood. Vidic received a head injury in the build up to Lambert's goal and therefore play should have been stopped. Instead, all the United players stopped playing which allowed Lambert an easy chance to open the scoring. However, they were back on level terms early in the second half thanks to a wonderful free kick from Mata who found the top corner. Fletcher and Welbeck had chances to win it but a draw was a fair result. 

Hull City 0 v 2 Everton McCarthy (9), Lukaku (46)
First Half: Goal! 0-1, Everton take the lead through McCarthy whose strike is pushed into the far side. Lukaku has a low effort saved at the near post.
Half Time: 0-1.
Second Half: Goal! 0-2, Lukaku is played through on goal and slots an effort over the keeper into the far side. Davies heads wide of the near post. Meyler has a long range driven shot parried across goal.
Full Time: 0-2.
Hull 16th, 37pts
Everton 5th, 69>72pts

My Opinion:
My man of the match was Lukaku. Everton at the double to beat Hull. It was not the best display from Hull who most likely have the FA cup final next week in their minds. They went behind early on and never recovered, instead going two down early in the second half. More chances were created by Hull in the second half but both Davies and Meyler failed to find the back of the net. I'm sure we will see more effort from them next week against Arsenal. 
Everton have been very impressive this year and ended with a decent victory which saw McCarthy get his first goal for Everton. Lukaku doubled their lead straight away in the second half as the result never looked in doubt. Martinez has done a brilliant job with the team this year and although they just missed out on a champions league spot, they will be playing European football next season in the Europa League. 

Sunderland 1 v 3 Swansea City Dyer (7), Emnes (14), Borini (50), Bony (54)
First Half: Goal! 0-1, Swansea take the lead through Dyer who curls a shot into the far top corner from close range. Goal! 0-2, Emnes turns on the ball and fires a fierce strike into the near side. Amat's flicked header bounces back off his own far post. Bardsley has a long range driven shot tipped over.
Half Time: 0-2.
Second Half: Goal! 1-2, Borini heads in from a corner at the near post to half the deficit. Johnson has a low strike across goal beaten away. Goal! 1-3, Bony scores with a low shot that goes in via the inside of the far post. Johnson fires a low driven shot from close range just wide of the near post.
Full Time: 1-3.
Sunderland 14th, 38pts
Swansea 13th>12th, 39>42pts

My Opinion:
My man of the match was Dyer. Swansea fire three past Sunderland. Going two goals down inside the first fifteen minutes proved pivotal for Sunderland who gave it a real go but were unable to get themselves back on level terms. Borini gave them a little ray of hope early in the second half but they conceded only four minutes later which pretty much settled the outcome. 
Swansea started the game brilliantly and found themselves two goals up as Dyer and Emnes scored inside the first quarter of an hour. They didn't start the second half as strongly but restored their two goal advantage in the 54th minute through Bony. Dyer was particularly impressive for the Swans in what was good final performance of the season. That result means that Swansea move up one place to finish 12th. 

Fulham 2 v 2 Crystal Palace Gayle (28,84), Woodrow (61), David (90+4)
First Half: Goal! 0-1, Palace take the lead through Gayle who latches onto Ward's long range shot to turn it past the keeper at the near side from close range.
Half Time: 0-1.
Second Half: Rodallega heads against the far post. Goal! 1-1, Fulham equalise through Woodrow who cuts back inside and curls a shot into the far top corner. David has a penalty appeal turned down. Goal! 1-2, Palace retake the lead through Gayle who scores with a curling free kick around the wall and into the near side. Murray hits the bar with an effort at the near side. Goal! 2-2, Fulham equalise again through David who scores with a long range shot across goal that goes in via the underside of the bar and into the far top corner.
Full Time: 2-2.
Fulham 19th, 31>32pts
Palace 11th, 44>45pts

My Opinion:
My man of the match was Gayle. Fulham claim dramatic draw at Craven Cottage. Fulham played a pretty youthful team in their last game of the season and they looked pretty good. Promising signs ahead for the team who will have to fight it out in the championship next season with players such as Woodrow impressing today. It looked like they were going to lose when Gayle scored his second but a late equaliser sealed a point. Both Woodrow and David scored great goals but they needed more of that earlier in the season.
Palace played well and probably should have taken all three points. They created lot of chances but it was Gayle who scored twice to put Palace in the lead on two occasions. After going 2-1 up, Palace really should have held on but they conceded a goal that would have beaten most keepers in the 94th minute. 

West Bromich Albion 1 v 2 Stoke City McCauley OG (22), Sessegnon (56), Adam (87)
First Half: Sessegnon hits the underside of the bar from close range whilst the ball bounces away off the line. Walters has a shot across goal from an acute angle parried away. Walters heads wide from close range of the near post. Odemwingie has a low shot across goal parried away. Goal! 0-1, Stoke take the lead after a low Arnautovic cross is deflected in off McCauley at the near post.
Half Time: 0-1.
Second Half: Goal! 1-1, West Brom equalise through Sessegnon who scores with a low shot into the far bottom corner. Arnautovic curls a low shot from the edge of the box just wide of the far post. Mulumbu hits the far post with a strike across goal. Goal! 1-2, Stoke go back in front as Adam scores with a low strike from long range into the far bottom corner.
Full Time: 1-2.
West Brom 17th, 36pts
Stoke 10th>9th, 47>50pts

My Opinion:
My man of the match was Arnautovic. Late Adam strike stuns Baggies. West Brom were much better in the first half but found themselves a goal down going into half time. They were back on level terms when Sessegnon struck just before the hour mark but they came undone from a late strike from Adam. I felt West Brom could have taken more from that game but they were just poor in front of goal. They created some good chances but scuppered most of them. 
Stoke proved themselves to be the better team and were much stronger in the second half. Victory was deserved in the end but it came down to a great goal from Adam to decide it. Those three points move Stoke up one place into 9th in what was a decent season for Hughes and Stoke. 

Best Goal: Nasri, Ramsay, Mata, Emnes, Gayle, Woodrow, David, Adam. Winner: Ramsay Watch the goal here

League Leaders:
1. Manchester City P38 - 86pts Champions
2. Liverpool P38 - 84pts CL
3. Chelsea P38 - 82pts CL
4. Arsenal P38 - 79pts CL
5. Everton P38 - 72pts EL
6. Tottenham Hotspur P38 - 69pts EL

*CL - Champions League
* EL - Europa League

Relegation Zone:
16. Hull P38 - 37pts
17. West Brom P38 - 36pts
18. Norwich P38 - 33pts Relegated
19. Fulham P38 - 32pts Relegated
20. Cardiff P38 - 30pts Relegated

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