Sunday's Match Report (17/08/08)

Hey people,

As promised, the reports for the 3 matches that was played on Sunday.

Chelsea 4 - 0 Portsmouth
The signs were there that Chelsea was out to attack and destroy when Joe Cole scored with just 12 minutes shown on the clock. A perfect through ball by Michael Ballack left Joe Cole in a one on one situation with goalkeeper David James. He proceed to calmly shoot just out of reach of David James' out-stretched arms and into the goal. Chelsea dominated the game and if not for the heroics of David James who saved 3 more goal bound attempts, Portsmouth would have lost by a much much larger margin and made to look like an amatuer club. However, on the 26th minute, when Deco headed the ball over David James after a cross from Bosingwa, Nicholas Anelka rose highest despite the attention from Sylvain Distin to head the ball into an empty goal.

Michael Ballack suffered an injury and had to be replaced by Florent Malouda. Portsmouth then had a short period of dominance, highlighted by Niko Kranjcar's fierce drive which goalkeeper Peter Cech parried away and striker Peter Crouch latched onto the rebound to steer the ball goal-wards, only for Peter Cech to once again prove that he is one of the best in the goalkeeping business by bravely using his body to block the shot. All hopes of any come back was smashed when Sylvain Distin handled Joe Cole's cross during first half's extra time and the referee wasted no time in awarding the penalty. David James was booked for showing his frustration by kicking the ball away and Frank Lampard tucked the spot kick away. It is only half time and Chelsea already lead by 3 goals.

The second half did not have much action as compared to the first though Chelsea continue to attack. The only goal in the second half came from Deco in the 89th minute, a powerful and swerving effort from 30 yards that James could only parry into the top corner. A fair reward for his all action display in midfield. Portsmouth looks lost, void of any ideas and belief shown clearly by their lack of ability to keep possession. Chelsea has 70% possession, which shows how dominating they were in the game. The game ended with Portsmouth needing to find the formula to gel together both as a defensive unit and as an attacking unit. The strike partnership of Peter Crouch and Jermain Defoe clearly needs time to gel. Let's hope Harry Redknapp solves all the problems soon if Portmouth is to return to their winning ways.


Aston Villa 4 - 2 Manchester City
Gabriel Agbonlahor, the hat-trick hero at Villa Park lead Aston Villa to winning their first game of the season. The first half of the match was full of misses but Aston Villa threatened more as City goalkeeper Joe Hart had to make several saves from John Carew. John Carew was a constant thorn in Man City's defense, using his height and physical nature to dominate the aerial battles.

The break through came 2 minutes into the second half when Ashley Young send in a pin-point cross which Carew delightfully headed a poweful effort past Joe Hart from six-yards out. Man City briefly equalized when Luke Young brought down Michael Johnson after much hesitation between Young and Nicky Shorey which allowed Johnson to run on the ball in thee penalty box. Elano took the spot kick and sent Brad Friedel the wrong way. 1-1 and the game is on! However, Agbonlahor soon regain Villa's lead with a right foot volley after a flick on from Curtis Davies from Ashley Young's corner. 5 minutes later, Agbonlahor doubled Villa's lead when he headed in a cross from Barry. Agbonlahor got his first ever senior hat-trick in the 76th minute after chipping the ball past Hart into goal after a through ball from Barry. Corluka scored an 89th minute consolation goal for City but they were well beaten by the final whistle.


Manchester United 1 - 1 Newcastle United
Last season's champion failed to break down a resilent Newcastle side at their home ground. Their lack of firepower up front was glaring and laid out for all to see. What better time to take points off Man United than now? That's exactly what Newcastle did. Lacking a proven senior goal scorer (Carlos Tevez had to fly home because of a family bereavement), Man United started with youngster Frazier Campbell partnering Wayne Ronney up front. Campbell was impressive as an individual and Man United dominated the proceedings early on.

New Newcastle signing, Argentinian Jonas Gutierrez posed Man United lots of problems and unsettled the whole of Man United's defense. Newcastle managed to break the dreadlock 22 minutes into the game when an unmarked Martins headed into goal from a pin-point Milner corner. However, the lead lasted for only two minutes as Darren Fletcher diverted a cross from Giggs past Shay Given and into goal. The first half ended with the two sides on level terms.

The second half is very much similar to the first as an open game ensure that Man United looks as capable of scoring a second goal as conceding a second one. Both Martins and Campbell tested the goalkeepers from long range. Had Martins been able to head on target after another Milner corner found him, Newcastle might even have won the game.

The game ended 1-1 with Newcastle happy to share the spoils and any neutral party will say that they deserve the point. Man United needs to address the serious injury issue that is robbing them of a fair number of senior players. They need to bring in new quality players before the rot sets in and title contenders become mere bystanders.