Match Day 2
London Vs Rome
This game was going to be a thriller with 2 of the title contenders going at it on Match Day 2. Both teams won their first match and both teams would have to play extremely well to win this match. London went into the match with only one change made to the starting XI, with Carlos Marchena dropped for Moussa Sissoko. Rome didn?t make any changes to the side that beat Madrid last week with no injury concerns for either side. There are a few good matchups on show today with Fabregas going up against Steven Gerrard while Tottenham midfielders will be going up against each other with Gareth Bale vs. Luka Modric. Samuel Eto?o meanwhile is coming off a double so the London defence will have to be solid against the 2 strikers, with Edin Dzeko also looking to find his feet in today?s match.
London
GK: Edwin van der Sar
LB: Eric Abidal
CB: Thiago Silva
CB: Carles Puyol
RB: Darijo Srna
LM: Michel Bastos
CM: Steven Gerrard
CM: Moussa Sissoko
RM: Luka Modric (c)
ST: Alexandre Pato
ST: Antonio Cassano
Subs: Gomes, Harry Kane, Angel Di Maria, Jeremy Toulalon, Simao, Mesut Ozil, Carlos Marchena
Rome
GK: Iker Casillas
LB: Giorgio Chiellini
CB: Nemanja Vidic
CB: Bruno Alves
RB: Philipp Lahm
LM: Gareth Bale
CM: Cesc Fabregas
CM: Javier Mascherano
RM: Cristiano Ronaldo
ST: Samuel Eto?o (c)
ST: Edin Dzeko
Subs: Steve Mandanda, Glen Johnson, Mateo Musacchio, Eden Hazard, Nicolas Anelka, Mattia Cassani, Salem Al-Hoseni
Vidic losing the ball in a dangerous position gave Cassano the first opportunity of the match for London but Casillas made a nice save to deny them the opening goal. The corner nearly brought a penalty as Vidic brought Gerrard down, or so it looked but the referee deemed it fair and allowed play to go on, although London were furious at the referee. Despite London?s dominance in the first 10 minutes, it was Rome who scored first, with Edin Dzeko getting his campaign underway with a pretty simple goal. Chiellini played a great ball down the line for Eto?o who ran into the box, and the defenders didn?t close him down, allowing him to pass through to Dzeko on the edge of the 6 yard box who was unmarked and applied the finishing touch to put Rome up 1-0 after 11 minutes. The game continued with either side making many chances, and those that were made, went to waste with the target failing to be hit. Bale scored though during stoppage time but the assistant referee brought the end of the celebrations by raising his flag, Bale just in an offside position. It seemed like it would be a 1-0 score line going into the halftime break but Dzeko made that not the case with his second goal, right on the half time break. Always one to watch out for in the air, Bale put in a great cross into the centre and the defender must have thought he had it covered but Dzeko came in with a great header, getting above Puyol to head the ball home for Rome?s second and Dzeko now was on his way for a hattrick. London had really been on top for most of the half, with 58% of possession and 10 shots on goal, to Rome?s 5 but Rome made their chances pay, and had Edin Dzeko to thank for their 2-0 lead. Going around the grounds, it was still goalless in the Auckland and Paris match, Madrid vs. New York also 0-0 at the halftime break. Berlin however were looking to be in with another high scoring match, 2 all at the break, with goals to Messi and Pandev for Berlin while Torres and Sneijder had scored for Melbourne.
Edin Dzeko was booked less than a minute into the second half which wouldn?t be helpful for him. Cristiano Ronaldo finally showed his magic with a great run down the sideline before cutting back in, but his curling shot went just wide of the goal. Rome had definitely came out of the break very positive as they were on top of London and Dzeko set up Ronaldo for a really good shooting opportunity in the 58th minute but his shot cannoned off the post and out for a goal kick. The referee was being very lenient today, it seemed when he denied Rome?s claims for a penalty, when Ronaldo was brought down by 2 defenders in the box off a corner but again did the referee allow play to go on. With 8 minutes to go, Dzeko missed the perfect chance to complete his hattrick when he hit it right at the keeper from inside the 6 yard box but the result was pretty much settled. London didn?t believe it to be over though, when Cassano slid in to bring London back to within 1 goal with 5 minutes remaining. Could Rome score another late goal though to take a point here at Wembley. They couldn?t though as Rome held out to take a 2-1 win in the biggest match so far of the season. Dzeko took a deserved MOTM for his double which really put Rome on top going into half time.
Around the grounds, only 1 goal was scored in the second half from all 3 games, with Tevez scoring to give Berlin a 3-2 win. The Auckland vs. Paris game finished with a boring 0-0 result but Auckland captain, Juan Sebastian Veron got himself sent off in the 50th minute but Paris couldn?t take advantage of the extra man as they now have 4 points in 2 matches. The Madrid vs. New York match also finished 0-0 with Sergio Ramos being sent off late in the game. So Rome will be sitting on top of the table, as they are the only team to win both games. All teams have at least a point though after 2 games. There were a few injuries from this weeks games. Ashley Cole has been ruled out for the next 2 weeks with a bruised thigh, so he will miss Berlin?s next 2 matches. Also in the Berlin vs. Melbourne match, Fernando Torres suffered a more serious injury, a groin strain, that will keep him out for between 4 to 5 weeks, a big blow to the Melbourne side. Daniel Agger was the only other injury to report about, a dead leg which might keep him out of New York?s next weeks game against Auckland.
Match Day 2 Results:
Auckland 0 - 0 Paris
Berlin 3 - 2 Melbourne
London 1 - 2 Rome
Madrid 0 - 0 New York
Again, viewers can choose which of next weeks games, they want to see. The 4 matches are:
Melbourne Vs Madrid
New York Vs Auckland
Paris Vs London
Rome Vs Berlin
