Post by QPR Report on Dec 5, 2008 0:01:39 GMT
The goal - www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1r2VQz0d20
From The Guardian
A howler from David James sent Portsmouth crashing out of the Uefa Cup last night as they crashed to a tense defeat in Germany. The England goalkeeper gifted Wolfsburg their third and winning goal 16 minutes from time, when Zvjezdan Misimovic took the ball from his feet and rolled it into the net, although James partially atoned five minutes later, with a penalty save from the same player.
Portsmouth's manager Tony Adams had opted for containment, asking Jermain Defoe to operate alone up front with Peter Crouch dropped to the bench with Arnold Mvuemba bolstering the midfield alongside Niko Kranjcar. The captain Sol Campbell was fit to take his place in the centre of defence, moreover, but Pompey were a goal down in the fourth minute when Christian Gentner showed neat skill on the right and crossed low for Dzeko to flick home from close range.
Adams' side were level in the 11th minute, however, after a brilliant counter-attack instigated by James' early throw to Armand Traoré following a corner. The Frenchman surged down the left and clipped in a cross that Diego Benaglio could only palm to Defoe, who scuffed his shot and it crept over the line.
Amazingly they took the lead three minutes later when a neat passing move involving Glen Johnson and Sean Davis saw the ball end up with Mvuemba, who fired a brilliant shot into the corner of the net from 20 yards. It was very nearly three in the 20th minute, too, but Defoe slid a shot inches wide from Traoré's low cross.
The match was level again in the 23rd minute, however, when Gentner's low centre from the left evaded everybody and nestled into the net.
Campbell was enduring a torrid evening and Defoe was also booked for a clumsy and late tackle on Andrea Barzagli. The England striker was played in brilliantly by Johnson on the half-hour mark, but he struggled to control the lofted ball and when he turned and shot from eight yards, the weak attempt was deflected wide.
Wolfsburg then replaced the limping full-back Cristian Zaccardo with Makoto Hasebe as the interval approached, and in the 42nd minute, James got down low to tip a well-placed Misimovic shot just past the post.
The second half began amid a cauldron of noise from the crowd of around 21,000, and Kranjcar was within a whisker of restoring Pompey's lead with a 20-yard free-kick which he curled over the wall but off the bar.
Adams then decided to introduce Crouch in place of Mvuemba as he sought a potentially vital winner.
James then gifted Wolfsburg the lead once again with a horrible mistake. The England keeper attempted to dribble around Misimovic near the penalty spot, but the forward simply robbed him of the ball and rolled it into an unguarded net.
Kanu was introduced for Kranjcar in a desperate bid to save the match. Five minutes later Campbell brought down Dzeko for a penalty, but James partially atoned with a parry from Misimovic's spot-kick, Johnson completing the clearance.
But with Wolfsburg content to play keep-ball for the remaining minutes, Pompey could not muster an equaliser.
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From The Guardian
A howler from David James sent Portsmouth crashing out of the Uefa Cup last night as they crashed to a tense defeat in Germany. The England goalkeeper gifted Wolfsburg their third and winning goal 16 minutes from time, when Zvjezdan Misimovic took the ball from his feet and rolled it into the net, although James partially atoned five minutes later, with a penalty save from the same player.
Portsmouth's manager Tony Adams had opted for containment, asking Jermain Defoe to operate alone up front with Peter Crouch dropped to the bench with Arnold Mvuemba bolstering the midfield alongside Niko Kranjcar. The captain Sol Campbell was fit to take his place in the centre of defence, moreover, but Pompey were a goal down in the fourth minute when Christian Gentner showed neat skill on the right and crossed low for Dzeko to flick home from close range.
Adams' side were level in the 11th minute, however, after a brilliant counter-attack instigated by James' early throw to Armand Traoré following a corner. The Frenchman surged down the left and clipped in a cross that Diego Benaglio could only palm to Defoe, who scuffed his shot and it crept over the line.
Amazingly they took the lead three minutes later when a neat passing move involving Glen Johnson and Sean Davis saw the ball end up with Mvuemba, who fired a brilliant shot into the corner of the net from 20 yards. It was very nearly three in the 20th minute, too, but Defoe slid a shot inches wide from Traoré's low cross.
The match was level again in the 23rd minute, however, when Gentner's low centre from the left evaded everybody and nestled into the net.
Campbell was enduring a torrid evening and Defoe was also booked for a clumsy and late tackle on Andrea Barzagli. The England striker was played in brilliantly by Johnson on the half-hour mark, but he struggled to control the lofted ball and when he turned and shot from eight yards, the weak attempt was deflected wide.
Wolfsburg then replaced the limping full-back Cristian Zaccardo with Makoto Hasebe as the interval approached, and in the 42nd minute, James got down low to tip a well-placed Misimovic shot just past the post.
The second half began amid a cauldron of noise from the crowd of around 21,000, and Kranjcar was within a whisker of restoring Pompey's lead with a 20-yard free-kick which he curled over the wall but off the bar.
Adams then decided to introduce Crouch in place of Mvuemba as he sought a potentially vital winner.
James then gifted Wolfsburg the lead once again with a horrible mistake. The England keeper attempted to dribble around Misimovic near the penalty spot, but the forward simply robbed him of the ball and rolled it into an unguarded net.
Kanu was introduced for Kranjcar in a desperate bid to save the match. Five minutes later Campbell brought down Dzeko for a penalty, but James partially atoned with a parry from Misimovic's spot-kick, Johnson completing the clearance.
But with Wolfsburg content to play keep-ball for the remaining minutes, Pompey could not muster an equaliser.
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