hedger_14
ICC Chairman
World Group Knockout Tournament - Fixture 1
Paris Vs Rome - Group A
Now the Group KO Tournament was about to get underway. De Rossi and Robinho would still be missing for Paris while Eto'o and Casillas were both doubtful for the match for Rome. Both ended up not playing in the match but would be available for the weekends game against the same opponents in the normal competition. Paris decided to drop Yury Zhirkov, a very surprising move after his MOTM performance a few days earlier. Salomon Kalou was brought into the starting XI for Zhirkov. Rome went in with their strongest XI, hoping to start the competition with a win.
Paris
GK: Victor Valdes
LB: Patrice Evra
CB: Alex
CB: Juan
RB: Maicon
CDM: Gerard Pique
CM: Xavi
CM: Marek Hamsik (c)
LWM: Salomon Kalou
RWM: Pedro
ST: David Villa
Subs: Sebastien Frey, Frederic Kanoute, Luis Suarez, Yury Zhirkov, Dedryck Boyata, Romelu Lukaku, Kaka
Rome
GK: Steve Mandanda (c)
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: Nicolas Anelka
ST: Edin Dzeko
Subs: Matej Delac, Glen Johnson, Mateo Musacchio, Eden Hazard, Jefferson Farfan, Mattia Cassani, Salem Al-Hoseni
Paris got the first real chance of the game with a couple of consecutive corners but they couldn't make anything from them and Bale then showed some talent for Rome, running down the wing, then putting it an optimistic shot which was knocked out for a corner by Valdes. Chances came for both sides in the first half, as they brung some good entertainment even though there was no score yet. It was a set piece which ended up bringing the first goal as Xavi curved it superbly around the wall and the keeper couldn't get to it, Xavi ecstatic with the goal. Paris got one more chance before the half time interval but didn't make the most of it as Paris went into the break 1-0 up. In the other matches, Auckland led New York 1-0 thanks to a goal from Higuain in the 14th minute, Pjanic scored for Berlin in the 38th minute to give them a 1-0 lead over London and Madrid and Melbourne went into the break level at 0-0.
Rome had several good opportunities in the second half but they didn't make the most of them as they still trailed 1-0 with only 25 minutes remaining. The match winner, Yury Zhirkov was brought on in the 79th minute minute for Salomon Kalou with Paris already up 1-0, Paris obviously wanting to improve their position in the match with another goal. Rome couldn't create any chances though but Paris suffered a blow when Pedro was forced off the field with an injury in the 90th minute, Kaka going on for a quick run whlie Rome also made 2 changes, Glen Johnson and Jefferson Farfan coming on. But it was Xavi's stunning free kick strike that ended up being the difference between the 2 sides, Rome's strikers unable to get on the scoresheet. Xavi got the MOTM award for the only goal of the match although I think the fans would have wanted more goals.
The other matches didn't bring much in the second half, with Navas equalising for New York against Auckland and Modric scoring for London to give them a 1-1 draw with Berlin. Goals from Marko Marin and Diego Forlan meanwhile in the space of 3 minutes gave Melbourne an important 2-0 win over Madrid as their horror start continued. Who would win this tournament though?
Results:
Auckland 1 - 1 New York
London 1 - 1 Berlin
Madrid 0 - 2 Melbourne
Paris 1 - 0 Rome
