Fern Mc Costigan: September 2018

Sunday, September 30, 2018

Burnley getting its winning grove back against Cardiff City

Cardiff City 1, Burnley 2

Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff City

For Sean Dyche Clarets it is back to their winning ways and todays they prove it with a lot of bravado, as an opportune Sam Vokes came on the clutch and netting three valuable points on the road.

Still do not count the local Blue Birds out as manager Neil Warnock looking to deliver a one of a kind afternoon for the City faithful and crowning it with a much-desired win that could at least start lifting this squad feeble confidence.

The need to deliver that elusive victory somehow is putting City manager in a state of siege as he is seeing his project coming to a dead end with a not so amazing run that puts this squad in the bottom three spots of relegation.

As a fighting Cardiff, side started making strides and taking an all-around initiative that in a matter of one minute the CCFC had a couple of clear chances to open up the score in the 17’ via Josh Murphy and in the 18’ Greg Cunningham.

As well in the 32’, minute Sol Bamba had his opportunity with a wide shoot and two minutes later Kenneth Zahore tried his luck unsuccessfully, as the locals after many tries in the first half their intentions were in vain.

Despite the efforts put in the locals, halftime came up with the score tied at zero goals, despite the dominance by the local City lads looking forward at any cost to open up the scoreboard with no luck.

However, the way manger Sean Dyche spoke to his side, on the second half we saw the display of a much-improved game by the Burnley boys looking at any cost, to try and get back and net the win at any cost.

In the minute 51’ Burnley Ashley Westwood assist to a wide-open Johann Berg Gudmundsson to open up the scoreboard in favor of the visiting Clarets with a 1-0, lead to a stunned Cardiff City Stadium in what seemed to a strange play.

Nine minutes later the locals rally with a one two combination from Bruno Ecuele Manga finding an open Josh Murphy in the 60’ minute to level the scoreboard and sending the whole of City Stadium to a frenzy with a gem of a goal in the 30.

Suddenly we had a contest and both squad looking forward at any cost to net the win, the response from the hard working Clarets came in the 70’ minute when Johann Berg Gudmundsson managed to filter a pass inside the area.

There Sam Vokes by shaking off his defender after that amazing pass the opportune moment came when the Clarets operate push the ball and silence the whole of City Stadium and seeing the visitor’s defensive game steeping up for the win.

So far, with back-to-back wins for Burnley uplifts this squad to twelve spot in the overall table and with seven points, for the Clarets it looks like they have their positive game rhythm back.

Photos Credit and Property of © Copyright Premier League. com 2018

Portland Timbers and FC Dallas share the spoils in Providence Park

Portland Timbers 0, FC Dallas 0

Providence Park, Portland, Oregon

For the Portland Timbers every match and point considered important if not vital. With the Western Conference leaders in town FC Dallas, the outlook of an easy win was beyond their belief.

However, the task was not impossible after early in the campaign, the Rose City Boys almost pulled a win in Frisco, Texas. Still for Oscar Pareja and his Hoops, the need to add a point was among one of his aims.

Contrary to the Timbers manager, Gio Savarese three points would be ideal. As the league in its final stages, the need to steep for every team above the red line is necessary. Ask that to a rushed Timbers squad looking to seal their invitation to the grand fete of the postseason.

Despite the Seattle Sounders winning today, still the lone point earns by Portland gives them a point lead. So far, the Timbers with the draw are in fourth place with 48 points.

For the Rose City, squad with two backs to back games against their nemesis Real Salt Lake. The Portland stance for sure looks a bit challenging to seal a spot in the playoffs.

This series will put Gio Savarese and company in a big test if not a challenge on the road at always-difficult Rio Tinto Stadium. A place in the past seen as their house of horrors and the way these Timbers the way these been struggling on the road lately.

In today’s match after a dull and lack of build up or opportunities by both squads. The half ended up tied at zero goals, despite a late play in the 42 minute where the Timbers had the clearest of chances to put the game winner.

In the end, the play became just a mirage in the end.

For many this match became a defensive one ever since the beginning until its ending. In the end, these two titans had a share of spoils and a point for each one. In the case of FC Dallas this point, they are the first squad of the Western Conference to clinch a spot for the postseason.

Still this match its highlight was not by its offensive display.

With both Portland Timbers, just managing nine shoots at goal and twelve by FC Dallas. Of those nine, the Timbers just managed to get two shoots versus one from FC Dallas.

One thing for sure, the Timbers offensive game was affected by one of its most important players suspension in Sebastian Blanco. Another setback for the Portland squad will not be having Liam Ridgewell due to a red card on injury time and missed in next week match considered crucial for these battling Timbers postseason hopes.

In spite of Gio making a move for Lucas Melano for Samuel Armenteros, the Argentinian little could do to turn his squad offensive game around. In addition, of a near play in the 81’ minute but Dallas keeper Jesse Gonzalez came with the save.

Now the attention of Portland is agasint their archrivals Real Salt Lake and a positive result in Utah for sure will uplift this squad confidence. Coming home against them, for sure to back-to-back wins will clinch for Portland a spot in the postseason.

In the end, the Portland Timbers defensive game saw uplift and played a marvelous game. by denying FC Dallas foursome no liberties and for Jeff Attinella again coming big under the arches. Portland is in need of standing up their offensive game with more dynamism.

however the need to wait for results on injuries on Alvas Powell and Jeff Attinella will be vital for the Portland Timbers and manager Gio Savarese, both players considered vital and important.

Photos Credit and Property of Diego Diaz 2018

Saturday, September 29, 2018

West Ham absolute winner in the battle of United’s

West Ham United 3, Manchester United 1

London Stadium, London

The crisis continues to rein in the ranks of Jose Mourinho and his Red Devils not seeing the day of light of day with another defeat in league play with a 3-1 rout from the Hammers seeing their second win of the campaign.

For Mauricio Pellegrini the sigh of relief evidently seen in his face after his Hammers deliver a notable and important win over their long dominating foes and today at home these put in evidence the crisis going in its ranks.

From a squad reinforced dearly in the preseason finally the long awaited results are starting to make their way for the Irons suddenly seeing a revival after a dormant start of the campaign and now aiming for much bigger challenges and goals.

In Jose Mourinho case his days maybe numbered in Old Trafford as the crisis deepens between his relationship between him and his players, seeing his efforts totally in disarray as the Portuguese.

So far, the Red Devils situated in a not so comfortable positon in the overall table with just 10 points and experiencing their worst start as we seeing once again another meltdown of Mou and his players relationship going totally sour.

For this match the Portuguese sent a more defensive prone 5-3-2 formation putting in its frontal attack the likes of Romelu Lukaku and Anthony Martial to counter on the Academy of Football defensive might put in by manager Pellegrini.

As the Chilean sent opposite a more conservative 4-1-4-1 with a lone Andriy Yarmolenko in the attack but well accompanied by the Hammers Talisman Marco Arnatouvic who is pure danger to opposing defenses and today he made his case against the Manu defense.

Not even five minutes were in the game clock when the Irons made their presence felt with a first goal by Felipe Anderson in the 5’ minute and sending the whole of London Stadium into a frenzy and disbelief of seeing their side up on the scoreboard.

As the dominance of the locals was put in evidence against a start studded Manchester side not being able to make any damage to the Hammers side until disaster hits once again to the visiting side with a own goal by United defender Victor Lindelof.

Under Mauricio Pellegrini, we are seeing an inspired and determined Andrei Yarmolenko displaying a one of a kind game in every match and contributing for his side sudden revival, in the 43’ minute a shoot by the Ukrainian put the sore up 2-0 for the Irons.

Going to halftime the local Academy of Football had a commanding lead and with the promises of s much contested second half with the visiting United looking forward a second half rally or a sort of a comeback.

However, these managed to get one past West Ham goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski in the 71’ minute when Luke Shaw found a well-placed and opportune Marcus Rashford to come within one goal, and make it a contest.

Still the local Irons had the last word and decided this one with one from their man Marko Arnatouvic to seal the deal with the go-ahead goal in the 74’ minute and net another win in the campaign that uplifts this squad to 13th place with seven points.