Raheem Sterling and Philippe Coutinho scored spectacular
late goals to secure progression to the fifth round of the FA Cup at the
expense of Bolton Wanderers in dramatic fashion at the Macron Stadium last
night.
Neil Lennon’s men had taken the lead thanks to a harshly
given but clinically dispatched Eidur Gudjohnsen penalty on the hour mark.
However, the dismissal of Neil Danns with 25 minutes remaining after his second
rash challenge on Joe Allen changed the game, and the Reds’ best two performers
this season produced the goods when it mattered most to keep the Merseysiders’
Cup dream alive.
Skipper Steven Gerrard returned to the starting line-up to
make incredibly his 700th appearance for the Reds, becoming only the
third player in Liverpool’s illustrious history to achieve the remarkable feat.
He played in the centre of midfield alongside Joe Allen, as Henderson and Lucas
were rested. Returning slowly to action after injury, Daniel Sturridge started
on the bench once again, while Balotelli was thankfully nowhere to be seen.
 |
| 700 not out for the skipper |
With both teams mirroring each other’s formation and
adopting an attacking approach, the opening stages were unusually open, with
the frequent occurrence of counter attacks producing an enjoyable contest in
keeping with the esteemed traditions of the FA Cup.
Rodgers’ men were slightly in the ascendancy, Gerrard
side-footing straight at Lonergan, who also denied Sterling and saw Coutinho
drag an effort from range wide in the opening 15 minutes. The hosts more than
held their own, however, and maintained an attacking threat, Gudjohnsen blazing
over when well placed in a manner reminiscent of the goal-scoring opportunities
he spurned at Anfield and Wheater calling Mignolet into action with a downward
header from Feeney’s free kick.
The best chance of the half came on the hour half mark when
Sterling hit the woodwork. Moreno had squared the ball to Lallana, who spun on
the edge of the box and then played in Sterling. The youngster cleverly worked
some space for himself by adjusting his feet, but agonisingly saw his bending
right footed shot bounce back off the post with the keeper beaten.
It was a great effort on goal but Liverpool just lacked that
bit of luck that you need sometimes. At times, it felt like bad fortune was
going to cost the Reds dearly last night, as not only were they repeatedly
denied by the woodwork, they were also on the receiving end of some poor
decisions from the match officials.
At the end of the first half, Raheem Sterling was wrongly
flagged offside when clean through on goal and also inexplicably refused a free
kick when quite clearly clipped by Bolton defender Dorian Dervite as he
embarked on a similar run down the centre. Worst of all, referee Roger East awarded
the Championship side a highly questionable spot kick 13 minutes after the
restart.
19-year old Zach Clough knocked the ball past Martin Skrtel
and then went to ground under the slightest of touches from the Slovakian
centre back. Contentiously, East pointed to the spot and Gudjohnsen did the
rest, calmly converting past Mignolet from 12 yards.
 |
| Gudjohnsen converts a controversial penalty |
It was an unbelievable decision and one that could have
proved particularly costly, but, to be fair to East, he made a correct and
important call five minutes later, as he showed Danns a second yellow for his
second dangerous challenge on Joe Allen of the match. Admittedly, the referee
had no choice as, despite Neil Lennon’s ludicrous post-match protestations,
Danns clrearly had to be sent for an earlier bath. However, considering his
performance up to that point, it wouldn’t have been entirely surprising if he’d
been unduly lenient on Bolton’s number 18.
Unexpectedly, immediately after the sending off Bolton had
two great opportunities to score a second and give Liverpool a mountain to
climb. First, Clough ran the length of the pitch but fired just wide. Then,
Gudjohnsen’s header from Feeney’s fantastic cross was weak and thus unable to
trouble Mignolet from close range. The Icelandic striker really should have done
better, and will be ruing his inability to direct a decent header goalwards
today.
With time running out, Rodgers went all out for victory,
sending on Fabio Borini and Daniel Sturridge and pushing Emre Can higher up the
pitch as Liverpool pressed the matter in order to keep their Cup dream alive.
Thankfully, the strategy eventually paid dividends, although travelling Kopites
suffered some nervy moments as the clock ticked down and the visitors continued
to be frustrated by a combination of good defending and bad luck.
Henderson’s deflected strike hit the post and Can’s curling
effort was brilliantly tipped on to the bar by Lonergan, while Sterling was
denied by excellent last ditch defending by Dervite as the Reds wondered
whether it was just not going to be their night.
To Rodgers’ relief, the breakthrough finally came with four
minutes of normal time left. The superb Can dinked a wonderful pass over the
top and into the path of Sterling, who peeled away from his marker and magnificently
struck a first time volley through Lonergan’s legs and into the net with his
weaker left foot.
 |
| A superb finish from Sterling |
It was an excellent goal, but not enough to satisfy Liverpool,
who tasted blood and wanted to kill off Bolton and win the tie without the need
for extra time. Borini’s tame header was saved by the keeper and Gerrard’s shot
from the edge of the box was blocked, before Philippe Coutinho produced a
magical goal worthy of winning any Cup tie in the first minute of injury time.
Cutting in from the left, the diminutive Brazilian fired a
stunning strike that flew in off the bar, giving the goalkeeper absolutely no
chance. Critics say that Coutinho’s main weakness is his lack of an end
product, and that was only his third goal of the season, but if he can keep up
his current form and give us more moments like that, then he’ll justify the new
and improved contract he recently signed and put himself in contention for
Liverpool’s player of the season prize.
 |
| The match-winner Coutinho is mobbed by his teammates |
It might have seemed in doubt at some stages last night, but
Liverpool’s dream of seeing skipper Steven Gerrard lift the FA Cup at Wembley
on his birthday after his final game in a Red shirt is still alive thanks to
the brilliance of Raheem Sterling and Philippe Coutinho.
Perhaps just as importantly, the Merseysiders’ momentum has
been maintained ahead of crucial upcoming League matches against local rivals
Everton and fellow contenders for Champions League qualification Tottenham
Hotspur.
YNWA
No comments:
Post a Comment