Match: Leeds United vs Liverpool FC

[Admin]

Good evening everyone and welcome to highlights of the penultimate friendly game before the first season of the Ultimate League kicks off. Tonight features an in-form Leeds United side taking on Liverpool, who would love a win here after their last result ended in a 2-2 draw. Let's take you over to the action.

Kicking off tonight's game is...

• Leeds.[dice=10](7)
  
• Liverpool.[dice=10](6)
  

It's the home team starting the game, and here we go!

4th minute: It's looking like a warzone in the midfield at the moment, due to the congestion as Leeds have four there and Liverpool have five. Finally someone has possession of the ball, and it's...

• Leeds player Hartley.[dice=10](9)
  
• Liverpool player Caillard.[dice=10](5)
  
• Leeds player Campbell.[dice=10](9)
  
• Liverpool player Veron.[dice=10](6)
  

Both Hartley and Campbell bring the ball under control between them, and Campbell needs to get it past Caillard of Liverpool who's currently sitting just in front of the defensive line...

Campbell dribbling(1) + technique(5) + [dice=10](4)

Caillard dribbling (5) + technique(6) + [dice=10](4)

Caillard's total of 15 allows him to easily dispossess Campbell with his total of 10, and he has enough time to decide what to do with the ball.

• Caillard attempts a pass to Colado.[dice=10](6)
  
• Caillard attempts a pass to Rodriguez.[dice=10](6)
  
• Caillard attempts to hit it long to Kerzakov.[dice=10](2)
  
• Hartley manages to attempt a tackle.[dice=10](6)
  

Caillard simply can't decide with all those sixes, and Hartley needs a score of [dice=10](2)
to make a fair challenge!
[dice=10](9)
And he does! Hartley wins the ball back for Leeds as the two midfield forces continue to battle it out in the middle of the field! What's Hartley going to do now that he's got the ball off the defensive midfielder?

• Hartley attempts the through ball to Jones.[dice=10](5)
  
• Hartley attempts to cross it over to Ricketts.[dice=10](3)
  
• Hartley runs at the defence himself.[dice=10](7)
  

Hartley looks unsure if Jones is onside, and Ricketts is outnumbered on the far side! Hartley is going to attempt to take this on himself with Pantil rushing forwards to make the tackle and Constantin trying to cover the hole behind him!

Hartley pace(10) + dribbling(9) + technique(9) +[dice=10](2)
Pantsil pace(7) + composure(8) + tackling(4) +[dice=10](3)
He easily shrugs off the challenge with nothing but raw skill and determination, and he lines up a shot from a few yards inside the penalty area!

Hartley technique(9) + finishing(5) +[dice=10](4)

He gets an 18 in total, and Constantin is diving in to make the clearing header! He needs a score of [dice=10](8)

to get there

Goodness me! He just about gets there, and with the exact score he needed it's gone out for a corner kick! Good defending from the Romanian!

Jones has jogged over to the corner flag to take the kick, and it's going to be a three way fight between Hartley, Pantsil and goalkeeper Chung for the ball!

Hartley corner bonus(9) + heading(6) + [dice=10](8)

Pantsil jumping(9) + heading(6) + composure(8) + [dice=10](6)

Pantsil gets the ball away with a total score of 29 to Hartley's 23, but that was a close call for Liverpool in the opening few minutes!

22 minutes: It's still anyone's game, and on the ball now is...

• Leeds winger Potts.[dice=10](8)
  
• Liverpool winger Flynn.[dice=10](8)
  

It's impossible to tell, they're both battling for it!

Potts pace(5) + dribbling(5) + technique(4) +[dice=10]

Flynn pace(4) + dribbling(8) + technique(9) +[dice=10]

It's Flynn with the ball for Liverpool, and he's left Potts almost tangled in his own feet with that display of skill to win the ball! He's going for the cross, and it needs to be a score of at least [dice=10](2)

to make it a good one!
[dice=10](2)

And it's good! Kerzakov is there to head it home perhaps...

Kerzakov crossing bonus(2) + composure(3) + heading(10) +[dice=10](5)

Nagasawa alertness(6) + composure(9) + diving(9) + [dice=10](8)

The Japanese goalkeeper catches that effort with ease, and just liike he did in the Manchester United game he's stopped his team from going a goal behind!

33 minutes: This has been a game largely dominated by the clustered midfield, but the ball has worked it's way back to the...

• Leeds goalkeeper.[dice=10](8)
  
• Liverpool goalkeeper.[dice=10](7)
  

It's Nagasawa with the ball, and he decides to...

• Play it short to Boland.[dice=10](7)
  
• Play it short to Kershaw.[dice=10](9)
  
• Spank it up field.[dice=10](4)
  

Nagasawa plays it wide to Kershaw, but has Billy Flynn sensed the move?

• Yes.[dice=10]
  
• No.[dice=10]
  

Flynn remains oblivious to the fact that he could have challenged Kershaw for the ball, and that allows Kershaw to dribble down the right wing unopposed with plenty of time to decide his next move...

• Kershaw crosses long to Ricketts.[dice=10](3)
  
• Kershaw passes infield to Hartley.[dice=10](2)
  
• Kershaw attempts to take on Bocksor.[dice=10](2)
  

Kershaw crosses long to Ricketts, but has he stayed onside?

• Kershaw remains onside.[dice=10](1)
  
• Kershaw strays offside.[dice=10](1)
  

It's impossible to decide, but Wardwell is there to challenge from behind!

• Wardwell fouls Ricketts.[dice=10](6)
  
• Wardwell attempts a fair challenge.[dice=10](5)
  

We never did find out if Ricketts was offside anyway, but the referee blows for a dangerous foul from behind! What's the referee going to give?

• The referee doesn't give a card to Wardwell.[dice=10](9)
  
• The referee issues a red card.[dice=10](10)
  
• The referee issues a yellow card.[dice=10](10)
  

The referee isn't sure what to do here, so he's asking his official who was probably in a better position to call it!

• It's a red card.[dice=10](7)
  
• It's a yellow card.[dice=10](2)
  

Oh dear, it's a RED CARD for Oscar Wardwell for that challenge!

It's going to be Campbell with the free kick right on the edge of the penalty area, and you can be sure he'll go for goal from this position...

Campbell free kicks(10) + technique(5) + finishing(7) +[dice=10](2)
Chung alertness(9) + diving(9) + catching(8) +[dice=10](6)

Chung is easily able to catch the ball, that was a poor free kick.

45 minutes: And there's the half time whistle, it's 0-0 here at Elland Road but Liverpool are down to ten men. Let's see how well they fare in particular in the second half, which will be coming up shortly.[rand=6584853355060842612377757828114776693692110053899711580414893421]

[Admin]

Welcome back to the game, it's Liverpool who'll kick off this second half.

50th minute: On the ball now is...

• Leeds defender Robinson.[dice=10](2)
  
• Liverpool defender Pantsil.[dice=10](5)
  
• Leeds defender Rosenberg.[dice=10](8)
  

Rosenberg has the ball here, and he has time to weigh up the options available to him...

• Rosenberg hits it forwards to the strikers.[dice=10](3)
  
• Rosenberg hits it wide to a winger.[dice=10](4)
  
• Kerzakov is able to attempt a challenge.[dice=10](6)
  

Rosenberg took a little too long on the ball, and Kerzakov comes forwards to make a challenge!

Kerzakov pace(3) + technique(10) + composure(3) +[dice=10](5)

Rosenberg pace(10) + dribbling(10) + technique(5) +[dice=10](9)

Rosenberg made it look so easy as he glided past Kerzakov, and the two Leeds strikers are getting forward quickly! Can Rosenberg put i a good cross and get a least a [dice=10](2)

[dice=10](5)

Yes he can, and are either of them offside?

• The linesman flags for offside.[dice=10](1)
  
• The linesman's flag stays down.[dice=10](4)
  

The flag stays down, and Liverpool are in all kinds of trouble! The ball bounces right through their three man defence and who's there to take the shot first time...

• Jones takes the shot.[dice=10](2)
  
• Ricketts takes the shot.[dice=10](3)
  

It's going to be Ricketts!

Ricketts crossing bonus(5) + first touch(3) + composure(10) + finishing(10) +[dice=10](1)

Chung composure(4) + diving (9) + shot stopping(7) + [dice=10](2)

Ricketts gets a 29! Chung gets a 22! RICKETTS SCORES FOR LEEDS UNITED!!! What a well worked goal that was, the two strikers had the awareness to both make the run forward and completely tear through the defence, and the long ball from Rosenberg was excellent! It;s Leeds United one, Liverpool nil!

63rd minute: Still one-nil here and the ten men of Liverpool need to get it together here, and on the ball is...

• Leeds player Campbell.[dice=10](5)
  
• Liverpool player Caillard.[dice=10](7)
  

Caillard has the ball now, and he's cautiously moving the ball forward. Both Liverpool wingers are well placed for a cross...

• Caillard passes to Veron.[dice=10](8)
  
• Caillard passes to Flynn.[dice=10](3)
  
• Campbell intercepts the pass.[dice=10](4)
  

It's an excellent pass out to Veron, and all he needs to do is get past left back Boland to deliver the cross into Colado or Rodriguez who have both got into the penalty area and are desperate to get the equalizer!

Veron pace(9) + dribbling(7) + technique(10) +[dice=10](8)
Boland pace(1) + composure(10) + tackling(3) + [dice=10](6)

Veron zips past Boland and is completely on his own to deliver a good cross if he can get a score of...[dice=10](1)

[dice=10](5)

The cross is decent! Who's going to connect with the header?!?

• Colado.[dice=10](6)
  
• Rodriguez.[dice=10](7)
  

It's going to Rodriguez with the header!!

Rodriguez cross bonus(5) + technique(7) + heading(2) +[dice=10](7)

Nagasawa composure(9) + punching(5) +[dice=10](10)

21 for Rodriguez! 24 for Nagasawa! That's a good punch clear but it could fall to anyone! Rodriguez is still there as is Colado!

• Rodriguez hits the rebound.[dice=10]
  
• Nagasawa is able to clear it with the punch.[dice=10]
  
• Colado hits the rebound.[dice=10]
  
• Robinson gets there in time to clear.[dice=10]
  

Rodriguez hits it! Nagasawa gets a touch on it! The ball could end up anywhere!!

• The ball goes in for a goal.[dice=10](6)
  
• Nagasawa manages to get the ball away.[dice=10](7)
  
• Robinson finally manages to clear.[dice=10](6)
  

Nagasawa just manages to clear the ball with that outstanding reflex save, and Liverpool came within a whisker of equalizing!

80th minute: On the ball now is...

• A Leeds player.[dice=10](3)
  
• A Liverpool player.[dice=10](2)
  

It's Leeds now who have the chance to put this game beyond the reach of Liverpool, and Tony Scott is going for a quick pass to make sure that happens.

• Scott hits it long to Jones.[dice=10](6)
  
• Scott plays it short to Hartley.[dice=10](8)
  
• Veron is able to intercept.[dice=10](9)
  

Veron has stolen it! He's off like a bullet, and wastes no time getting into the danger area!

• Veron attempts a pass to Kerzakov.[dice=10](2)
  
• Veron carries on dribbling into the penalty area.[dice=10](2)
  
• Veron shoots from distance.[dice=10](6)
  

And Veron is going for goal here out of desperation!

Veron technique(10) + finishing(2) +[dice=10](8)

Nagasawa alertness(6) + shot stopping(8)+[dice=10](3)

VEROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOON!!! OH MERCY ME HE'S SCORED FROM 25 YARDS!! What an unreal way to get back into this game, and the visiting fans and the manager are going absolutely mad! This is so much more than a friendly game to them, and look what it means to Guilha on the touchline!!

90 minutes: It's interesting to note that Billy Flynn scored an almost identical goal in Liverpool's previous game, with natural long-distance strikers of the ball like those two who needs strikers? Anyway, we're in the dying minutes of the game here, is there a chance for one more attack?

• Yes, to Leeds.[dice=10](4)
  
• Yes, to Liverpool.[dice=10](5)
  
• No.[dice=10](3)
  

Can you believe it? Liverpool are in a position to mount one final assault here! Surely the 10 men who have never really threatened until ten minutes ago can't win this thing? Rodriguez is on the ball here, and here comes Robinson to make the challenge before he can get in the penalty area!

Rodriguez dribbling(10) + technique(7) + pace(4) +[dice=10](4)
Robinson pace(5) + composure(5) + tackling(9) +[dice=10](8)

Robinson's score of 27 allows him to break up the attack with Rodriguez's score of 25, and here comes the counter attack! This is last chance saloon here!

• Robinson lumps it forwards.[dice=10](8)
  
• Robinson passes it to the wing.[dice=10](5)
  
• Robinson loses possession back to Liverpool.[dice=10](5)
  

Robinson absolutely blasts it forwards! It's Hartley who collects the ball and...

• Threads it through to Jones.[dice=10](7)
  
• Threads it through to Ricketts.[dice=10](10)
  
• Gets challenged by Pantsil.[dice=10](5)
  

It's an absolute peach of a pass to Ricketts who wastes no time lining up the shot!

Ricketts first touch(3) + finishing(10) +[dice=10](10)

Chung composure(4) + shot stopping(7) +[dice=10](6)

Ricketts with 23! Chung with 17! He can't get anywhere near it! RICKETTS HAS JUST WON THE GAME FOR LEEDS UNITED!!! The home fans are going wild, and it looks like Guilha's just experienced a hernia! What a fabulous second goal from the striker, and there's the final whistle!

Final score:

Leeds United 2 - 1 Liverpool FC

52' Ricketts

81' Veron

90+2' Ricketts[rand=148235391403120146823750456699958565215791157234237744694954785585]

[Jose Mourinho]

Neither team particulary convincing a great match to read though. Surprised Leeds only won in the last minute against 10 men to be honest.

[Roy Keane]

Leeds = a bit of a pre-season roll eh!

Good match - that Ricketts is quite something ain't he

Nice work again Assassin!

[Admin]

Cheers Roy, and you're right Bubba, once Liverpool went down to 10 men I was expecting Leeds to trounce them. Still a good result for them though, two wins in a row now and only one more game to go before the season starts.

[Jose Mourinho]

Exciting times im really looking forward to start of the season, does this tell you something about Liverpool though, maybe a little resilient and hard to break down?

[[Liverpool FC] Guilha]

good match although i lost... i, like you, thought i'd be like crushed after i got Wardwell off with a red card... i think this means my defence is pretty solid although i still need to buy 2 defenders and one of them is to take Flynn's place...

anyway, good match really

[Admin]

Sept 18, 2008 21:25:59 GMT 1 Jose Mourinho said:

does this tell you something about Liverpool though, maybe a little resilient and hard to break down?

Absolutely, I think with 11 men Liverpool could have got something out of that game. They definitely have a very solid defence, and with a bit of fine tuning they could be one of the teams to watch this season.