GAME OF THE WEEK: CHELSEA LEGEND SNEAKS DRAW FOR MANCITY IN TITANIC BATTLE OF THE BLUES

Story written by Patrick Kamanga

GAME OF THE WEEK: CHELSEA LEGEND SNEAKS DRAW FOR MANCITY IN TITANIC BATTLE OF THE BLUES

Battle of the Blues, a rugged and uninspiring affair

In a tight, tense and foul laden battle between the two top EPL sides, defending Champions Manchester City and their main challengers Chelsea fought out to a one all draw at the Etihad Stadium. 

Coming after a disappointing showing in the Champions League earlier in week where the home side lost 1-0 away to Bayern Munich while Chelsea had to make a come back and force a one all draw at home to Schalke, this was bound to be a difficult game for either side. Ironically and inexplicably, though set out in an ultra-offensive 4-1-4-1 formation Chelsea seemed more intimidated by the occasion considering their recent rich vein of form but sat back deep for most of the game, content on preventing their rivals, who set out with what initially looked like a more defensive 4-4-2, to dictate the proceedings. 

With the game headed for a drab nil nil draw, a flurry of tackles from both sides gave the ref Mike Dean little choice but to dish out a handful of yellow cards as the match disintegrated into a wrestling contest. 

Zabaletta gets his marching orders for a clumsy tackle

Subsequently, a late flagrant tackle by right back Pablo Zabaleta on Diego Costa earned him a second yellow card and therefore a red card in the 68^th minute. A double change a  little earlier that saw an Andre Schurrle, Obi Mikel double substitution for the Brazilian pair of Ramires and Willian paid instant dividends with the extra player giving Chelsea the impetus to go forward. From a cleared corner, a lightning quick counter attack initiated by Hazard got five touches; Fabregas, to Costa, back to Hazard who whipped a wicked low cross beyond the retreating Man City defense for Schurrle to latch on and slide home beyond Joe Hart. 

Schurrle's brace put Chelsea momentary in front

With a one man advantage, Mourinho should have gone for the kill and brought in the pacy Loic Remy to aid Costa with City on the ropes and was made to rue his inaction. His opposite number, “El Ingeniero” Manuel Pelligrini quickly engineered a crafty comeback plot bringing in Bacary Sagna as defensive cover for Edin Dzeko, Jesus Navas for Fernandinho and former Chelsea icon and cult hero Frank Lampard for Kolarov to maintain shape and played out the rest of the game with a 4-4-1. Miraculously, the Sky Blues not only came back but kept making forays and took the fight into Chelsea's half.

Poor positioning and anticipation by Branislav Ivanovic in the 83rd minute afforded his former team mate Lampard the luxury of flicking a cross beyond a diving Courtouis in goal to bite the hand that fed him for so long. 

Hushed celebration, "prodigal son" Lampard came back to bite the hand that once fed him

A 1-1 draw is perhaps a fair result in this uninspiring display.

In an earlier match, the new look Manchester United and Coach Louis Van Gaal were given a painful reality check after they were brought crushing down back to earth by a resilient Leicester away at the King Power arena. After a going up 3-1 at the beginning of the second half, the Red Devils defensive fallibility was to haunt the Merseysiders when they surrendered a two goal cushion to crush out 5-3 and send the home crowd into pandemonium in an eight goal fiesta!

Radamel Falcao turned from deadly striker to provider when he shielded the ball from a Marcos Rojo’s pass on the left flank, swiveled past fullback Ritchie De Laet then chipped a beautiful cross that found Dutchman Robin Van Persie beyond the last defender and who duly smashed a header at the near post in the 13th minute. In a blistering five minutes of breathtaking football a two man run initiated by Angel Di Maria in the 16th minute, Wayne Rooney threaded back ball back into space and as the Leicester defense opened up in front of him like a flower in full blossom, Di Maria then spooned an audacious dink beyond the advancing Kasper Schmeichel for Man U’s second and a “goal of the season” contender!

Man U celebrate RVP's goal in first half

The pace and menacing attitude of Leicester’s Jamie Vardy was the key and catalyst for this victory. He proved a handful throughout and from a tee in the 17th minute, flicked the ball with his heel past Rojo then outran his marker and from a ball that seemed out of play, crossed to the waiting head of deadly Argentine striker and record signing Jose Ulloa (pronounced Uzoa) who smashed a bullet header past a rooted De Gea in goal to hand Leicester a lifeline.

Man U seemed in control of the match for most of the first half and even at the advent of the second when Anders Herrera back-heeled a deflected Di Maria shot past Schmeichel for a 3-1 score line in the 57th minute.

The Red Devil’s capitulation started with a silly foul by Brazilian full back Raphael, a hot head who retaliated in kind after a nudge by Vardy pulling him down in his own box giving referee Mark Clattenberg little choice but to award the home side a penalty. David Nuggent buried the resultant spot kick sending De Gea the wrong way to jump start the spectacular comeback. This goal seemed to galvanize and energize the home side that relentlessly swarmed forward like angry bees pinning back the Red Devils.

From another of his runs, Vardy set up new signing, veteran Argentine midfielder Esteban Cambiaso who made no mistake with a first time volley into the bottom corner of the net in the 64^th minute. 3-3! What a game!

Man of the match Vardy, gave a virtuoso performance

Leicester’s equalizer seemed to take the life and the fight out of the Red Devil’s and their game subsequently collapsed having no answers to the home side’s new found determination, who now smelled blood and like a pack of hounds in a fox hunt went right for the kill!

From a mix up between Mata who’d just come on for Falcao and Rojo in the middle of the park, De Laet set up Vardy who stole away with a blistering solo run and went all the way slicing the ball past a helpless De Gea to put the home sides’ noses in front for the first time.

In another piece of comical defending, Blackett retaliated from an earlier nudge by Vardy who sneaked away into the box with Blackett clumsily hacking him down for Leicester’s second penalty which Ulloa tucked in for his fifth goal of the season to send the home crowd into seventh heaven. As the last man, Blackett’s indiscipline and naivety only succeeded in earning him a straight red card and put his team in an impossible position.

A shell shocked Di Maria couldn't bail out the Red Devils

In a case of trying to fit square pegs in round holes, Man U’s expensively assembled side with so many good players brought in at once and LVG’s quandary with which system to play was the perfect storm of events that came together to give the Red Devils a torrid game they would rather quickly forget. Apart from a weak defense, another glaring problem that was brought forth in this defeat was Man U’s inability to play in transition, a quality that crippled their ability to both go forward as well as defend well. If the events witnessed are anything to go by this might be a very long season for the Red Devils.

Ozil gave an improved performance

In another interesting game pitting a top four contender against one of its bogey sides, Arsenal came to the Villa Park knowing only too well how difficult ties against Aston Villa have been for the last few seasons, a 3-0 hiding in last seasons’ opening game at the Emirates notwithstanding. After a tumultuous few weeks that saw the Gunners draw away to Leicester then surrender a lead against Manchester City at home and a near midweek meltdown away to Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League, Arsenal silenced their doubters with some scintillating football. In a magical four minute spell, like a big, bad, lethal automatic assault weapon with the safety lock on free and its trigger pressed with gusto, the Gunners emptied the magazine unleashing some rapid fire, high octane football not seen since the days of the magical trio of Henry, Bergkamp and Pires! 
When the dust settled and smoke cleared, the Clarinets were strewn on the turf, the home crowd silenced and the only noise heard, well came from the traveling horde of Gunner’s fans celebrating the 3-0 lead!

Even the misfiring German international and record signing Mesut Ozil was on top of his game scoring one and setting up another for new recruit Danny Welbeck who scored to open his account for the season and returned the favour to tee up Ozil. 

Overall, Arsenal played a discipline game even in defense, pressed hard and gave the home side little to work with and had most of the possession for most of the game, their best show so far.

THE RED EMPIRE ARISES WITH A QPR DEMOLISION JOB!

Story written by Patrick Kamanga

THE RED EMPIRE ARISES WITH A QPR DEMOLISION JOB!

Manchester United emphatically registered their first win of the season with a 4-0 thumping of the newly promoted QPR. After spending a fortune at the transfer window for the restoration of the Red Devil Empire, the new look Galacticos, eh hmm! sorry! Red Devils’ Coach Louis Van Gaal chose to abandon his preferred 3-5-2 system for the more adaptable 4-4-2 with a diamond formation after the former proved too complicated in the 3 previous games, a move that paid instant dividends!

Di Maria's performance brought smiles at the Old Trafford

Record signing Angel Di Maria opened his EPL goal account on the 24^th minute with a wicked free-kick that curled beyond the wall, missing all heads, then bounced off the turf beyond Robert Green’s reach. Di Maria’s beautifully curved shot was a tid-bit fortuitous but his blistering run set Rooney who teed  Anders Herrera to hush any doubters with the second goal from a low volley. 

Rooney netted one of his own from another thunderous volley on the 44^th minute to put matters to rest before the break. QPR players cut out forlorn figures as they walked off the pitch with their shoulders huddled at half time.

Former Captain Rio Ferdinand got a rude welcome, was on the receiving end of thumping

Man U continued where they left off at the break with one more goal after a miscued Di Maria shot that found a lone Juan Mata beyond Rio Ferdinand who smashed the ball into the roof of the net. With the game sealed LVG gave the long suffering Red Devil fans what they really yearned the most, deadly striker Radamel Falcao! El Tigre made a cameo appearance after coming on as a late substitute for Mata. 

El Tigre made a grand entry to the delight of expectant crowd at the Old Trafford

A composed LVG must have been proud of this confidence boosting performance with QPR the perfect punching bag for his newly assembled squad, to jump start his project. Man U face a stern test against Everton in their next game, a match that will give a clearer picture as to the Red Devil’s current strengths as LVG sets out to achieve his gargantuan target of a top 3 finish.

GAME OF THE WEEK: GUNNERS AND MANCITY SHARE THE SPOILS IN GILT-EDGED AFFAIR!

Story written by Patrick Kamanga

GAME OF THE WEEK: GUNNERS AND MANCITY SHARE THE SPOILS IN GILT-EDGED AFFAIR!

"Battle of the Engineers", modern football's two leading minds

In a thrilling match played at the magnificent Emirates Stadium in North London that saw end to end action for the entire 90 minutes, hosts Arsenal and the visiting Manchester City alternated the lead then finally settled for a two all draw.

In a battle pitting two of modern football’s top intellectual minds, with the 3-0 hiding handed by his opposite number and fellow Mechanical Engineer, “Le Professeur” Arsene Wenger at the Community Shield in August still fresh in mind, “El Ingeniero” (the Engineer) as Sky Blue’s manager Manuel Pelligrini is otherwise known opted to approach the game with a little bit of trepidation settling for a more defensive 4-2-3-1 formation. Wenger made his intentions clear by setting his charges out with an ultra-offensive 4-1-4-1. Unlike last season when Pelligrini set out to overwhelm his opponents with his team’s superior fire power, a free flowing style of play that regularly threw caution to the wind, the few games played so far thus affirm a change of tact, with the humble Engineer preferring caution and playing on the counter-attack.

Aguerro's sucker punch against the run of play drew first blood

From a defensive clearance by Captain Vincent Kompany in the 28^th minute, in an attempt to stop the advancing Sergio Aguerro at the center circle Matheu Flamini’s sliding tackle only succeeded in playing the ball through to a flying Jesus Navas on the right. With acres of space and left back Nacho Monreal nowhere in sight, Navas made a solo run on the right then whipped hard a low cross that gave Aguerro, who’d sneaked in between Flamini and Mertersacker, the easiest of tap-ins for City’s opener which came against the run of play. The goal seemed to galvanize the Sky Blues who shifted gear with Danny Silva guilty of two consecutive near misses in as many minutes.

With Arsenal’s midfielder exhibiting an improved performance compared to their two previous games, Jack Wilshire in particular gave flashes of what he’s capable, dominating the midfield as he single-handedly took on his bigger opponents (in Yaya Toure’s absence) often rushing and bullying them off the ball or pressuring them into making mistakes.

Sublime finish, Jack Wilshire gave a virtuoso display

To cap off a great performance, he scored a sublime equalizer then set up the second. In the pedantic style innate to the Gunners, Wilshere played a beautiful one-two with Ramsey in the 63^rd minute which carved open the resolute City defense, then shook off former teammate Gael Clichy and chipped an audacious dink above the advancing Joe Hart. For Arsenal’s second goal, from a headed clearance from Kompany, Wilshire headed the ball back into play that found Sanchez clear on the top of the box, who’s right footed half volley found the roof of the net to complete a comeback. 

Sachez was a constant menace throughout

New recruit Danny Welbeck showed plenty of promise and almost opened his goal account with a chip over Joe Hart similar to Wilshire’s that hit the right post early in the first half. Welbeck made plenty of intelligent runs into space but was let down by Ozil’s off colour display. What Arsenal lacked throughout was the precision and intelligence of Santi Cazorla who was sorely missed.

Another plus to Welbeck’s game was his physicality, a quality that has long been absent in the Gunners’ game since the days of Viera and Gilberto. He gave Kompany and De Michelis a few anxious moments hustling them off the ball on a few occasions, and almost sneaked the ball beyond Joe Hart on one instance after wrestling the ball off Kompany. 

De Michelis exposed Gunner's defensive frailties

Arsenal’s defensive frailties were to return to haunt them yet again for City’s second goal. An 83^rd minute corner kick found De Michelis with acres of space and the luxury of time, who gratefully picked the top corner with a free header beyond a diving Szczeny’s flailing reach with both Mertersaker and Kolcieny both guilty of ball watching for City’s equalizer.

Debouchy's injury increased Arsenal's injury woes ahead of their trip to Dortmund

Another worrying development for Arsene Wenger was the injury to right back Mathieu Debouchy who seemingly twisted an ankle and subsequently got stretchered off.

Chelsea's defense caught in no-man's land

In a contest pitting the EPL’s two top of the table sides, a freakish show of power saw Chelsea come from behind to subdue a resilient Swansea side.

In a game of two halves, Swansea took the lead against the run of play with a sucker punch that caught the Blue’s defense napping. Theo Routledge dispossessed Nemanja Matic in the middle of the park then teed the advancing Ki Sy who played Taylor on the left. Taylor whipped a wicked cross that left Chelsea’s defense stranded in “no-man’s land” with Captain John Terry helplessly planting the ball into his own net! The Blue’s found it hard breaking down their opponents who sat back deep and played off the counter but progressively clawed their way back into the game with their efforts finally paying off at the stroke of half time via a powerful Diego Costa header from a Fabregas corner to attain parity.

Diego Costa seems unstoppable at the moment

The second half was a completely different affair with Chelsea coming out fired up and produced an inspired performance! 
Jose Mourinho made a half time substitution that made an instant impact when he brought in Ramirez for Andre Schurrle. With the Brazilian playing alongside Matic, Fabregas was freed to play further up the field, a change that provided more punch with Fabregas, Oscar, Hazard and Diego Costa linking up at will.

With the positive change, Chelsea played some free flowing, high voltage football not seen at the Stamford Bridge since the days of Gianfranco Zola, Gus Poyet and company which left Swansea living dangerously. 
A one-touch ping pong move between Oscar and Hazard, set Fabregas on the left who easily picked Costa with a diagonal cut back to smash in Chelsea’s second. The “Diego Costa Show” continued when he netted a 67^th minute brace that completed his first Premiership hat trick to the rapturous cheers of the home crowd that included Russian owner, Roman Abramovich who could not contain his delight at the carnage unfolding on the pitch. The score line actually belied Chelsea’s dominance with the Blues missing a host of chances and should have registered a bigger margin.

Diego Costa exited the stage for new recruit Loic Remy who duly opened his account with a first time volley ten minutes after coming on in the 81^st minute. Wilfred Bony came in for the misfiring Bafetimbi Gomis, a change that seemed to energize Swansea who subsequently got their second late in the game as Chelsea took their foot off the gas  from a Bony through pass that split the Blue’s defense and set Jonjo Shelvey free to slice the ball home.

CONGO OUTFOX NIGERIA SENDING SHOCKWAVES IN AFCON QUALIFIERS

Story written by Patrick Kamanga

CONGO OUTFOX NIGERIA SENDING SHOCKWAVES IN AFCON QUALIFIER

Thievy Bifouma was a live wire and gave Nigeria a game they'll long remember

The Republic of Congo’s national football team better known as The Diables Rouges (the Red Devils) lived up to their name and gave defending African Champions and World Cup representatives, The Super Eagles of Nigeria a nightmare of game. The Ogas will probably require some “exorcism” for the men in green to overcome the mental trauma of their 3-2 lose at the now popular home venue of U.J Esuene Stadium in the Port City of Calabar, Cross Rivers State. Not to offer excuses but in a classic David vs Goliath match up, if one considers that Congo are only in contention because Rwanda were disqualified for playing an ineligible player in the earlier round, then you can understand why the Super Eagles grossly underestimated their opponents.

The Super Eagles were uncharacteristically outsmarted, outplayed and out-muscled by their less fancied opponents who ran rings around them in front of their disbelieving fans. Even the Nigerian football commentators who are known to routinely taunt visiting teams were left to eat humble pie as they gave plaudits and heaped praise on the deserving Congolese visitors at the end of the game.

The Red Devils’ win pivoted upon two players; Ferebore Dore and Thievy Bifouma who gave the Super Eagles a torrid time during the entire game. 

Towering midfielder Doree was like a brick wall

At 6ft 4inches, the towering midfielder Ferebore Doree who plies his trade with Bulgarian side Botev Plovdiv out-muscled and dominated his opposite number, Chelsea’s John Obi Mikel winning most aerial tussles, held the ball well to set up his team mates and thus dictated the game from the middle of the park. One would have to jog their memory hard to come up with occasions where the Super Eagles were the diminutive side! Well, eeehmm maybe when they've played the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon at the three AFCON (Africa Cup of Nations) finals they've met in the past, all of which Cameroon won.
The burly, clever and quick footed French born Bifouma gave a virtuoso performance, was the live wire who tormented the Super Eagles at will as well, as the architect who created all the three goals.

The Super Eagles dictated proceedings in the early exchanges and rightfully took the lead from a header by Captain Efe Ambrose off a goalmouth scramble from a corner in the 14^th minute. Instead of subduing the visitors, the goal only roused and stung them from their slumber where they quickly equalized moments later, then took control of the game.

For the Red Devil’s first goal, Bifouma, donning an outrageous Mohawk hair style that would turn Mario Balotelli red with envy, took advantage of a mix-up between two Nigerian defenders; Chelsea apprentice Kenneth Omerua and Godfrey Oboabona and made a darting run on the right.  On getting to by-line, Bifouma made a cut back that took out the chasing Omerua leaving him sprawled. This act of trickery availed him the opportunity to pick the advancing team Captain Prince Oniangue with a diagonal pass who subsequently made no mistake with a first time volley.

Their second came off an unnecessary foul by Obi Mikel and from the resultant foul kick the home side conceded a corner after Ejide parried a thunderous strike. From the corner, a deflected cross found Bifouma who played a lightning quick one-two triangular play in the box that froze the entire Nigerian defense who were left ball watching as Bifouma from a threaded through pass and with acres of space beat the advancing Ejide at the near post to silence the partisan crowd.

With a courageous move that belies his tender age of 22 years, Bifouma currently on contract with Espanyol but on a loan stint with Almeria in Spain was at it again when he made an audacious run taking on two Nigerian players Echiejile and Ogenyi Onazi from a through pass, in the 52^nd minute. From the subsequent nutmeg, a move straight from Latin America or the Spanish league, he twisted and spun away from his two opponents with Onazi’s trailing leg, a knee jerk reaction tripping him in the box for a subsequent penalty which he slotted comfortably to pile the misery on the home side for a 3-1 lead!

A frustrated Obi Mikel had a terrible game and was culpable for the second goal

The frustrated Super Eagles fought hard and pulled one back at the stroke of the 90^th minute having survived several sucker punches as the Congolese sat back and played off the counter attack as the game drew to a close.

The Nigerian ploy of taking visiting teams to the far flung Port town of Calabar where they are reputed to host visitors in deplorable accommodations and training facilities all meant to psychologically pound opponents into submission even before they take the field on game day, failed miserably as the Congolese strutted out the winners with a comfortable win. 
Nigeria now travel to South Africa needing nothing short of an outright win against the Bafana Bafana next Wednesday to keep their hopes of qualifying for the Morocco finals alive.

Congo's Coach Claude Le Roy gets a thumbs up for a tactical masterstroke

  

With Nigerian football in disarray due to political infighting, national Coach Stephen Keshi looked baffled and clueless throughout as he helplessly watched the carnage unfold in front of his eyes as the game progressed.
In contrast, Congo’s jubilant Coach Frenchman Claude Le Roy retained his impeccable record over the Super Eagles that dates back 26 years when he coached Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions to a 1-0 win over Nigeria in the 1988 AFCON finals in Morocco, a game where Keshi was coincidentally the Super Eagles' Captain. Le Roy, the most widely acclaimed coach in African football history having traversed the length and breadth of the continent on numerous coaching assignments with different nations, sustained his record over Nigeria on prior coaching stints with Senegal’s Teranga Lions and the Black Stars of Ghana. Congo is the fifth African nation he’s coaching having led Cameroon on two different occasions, Senegal, Ghana, Democratic Republic of Congo and currently the Republic of Congo.

In another game Ghana's Black Stars needed a second half penalty to tie the game and save their blushes in a one all draw against the Uganda Cranes in Kumasi.
Tunisia gave a good account of themselves fighting from a goal down to overcome a resilient Botwana 2-1 who had taken a first half lead against the run of play.
In Dakar Senegal, the once invisible Pharaohs of Egypt continued their tumble with another disappointing show when they went down 2-0 to the pacy West Africans from two quick first half goals.