Mark Szczuka – Prost International [PINT]

Dublin dream over for Liverpool

Mark Szczuka — Fri, 19 Apr 2024 09:25:54 +0000

Photo: Stephen Gormley (Red Eye Photo Agency)

Liverpool’s hopes of reaching the UEFA Europa League Final in Dublin in May evaporated as they failed to overcome their mountainous 3-0 first leg defeat.

Liverpool needed a minor miracle to get through against Atalanta after the devastating shock 3-0 defeat at home last week. However they got off to the perfect start with an early goal after just seven minutes to give them a fighting chance. Mo Salah slotted home a penalty following a hand ball in the box to give The Reds early belief.

Liverpool were living dangerously as they tried to reduce the deficit further. Allison had to make a point blank save and an Atalanta goal was chopped off following a close offside call.

Salah then had a glorious chance to double the score on the night when he was put through on goal in the 38th minute. However the keeper came rushing out and the Egyptian striker lobbed it over him and watched as the ball went two feet wide of the goal.

Atalanta seemed to gain confidence from the miss. They went into the half time break 1-0 down but most importantly still 3-1 up on aggregate.

Atalanta managed to get a stronger grip on the midfield in the second half and their man-marking system and physical presence troubled Liverpool. Nunez, Jota and Danns came on with 20 minutes to go for Liverpool but it had little impact and Atalanta continued to control the game.

Atalanta move on to the semi finals of the Europa League where they will take on Marseille, who won 4-2 against Benfica on aggregate.

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Land-slide victory for Atalanta signals likely dead-end for Liverpool on road to Europa Final in Dublin

Mark Szczuka — Fri, 12 Apr 2024 10:03:54 +0000

Photo: Stephen Gormley (Red Eye Photo Agency)

Atalanta surprised almost everyone with an emphatic 3-0 away win at Anfield in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League quarter final tie.

The nature of the victory for the Italians was even more surprising given Liverpool’s impressive 14-month unbeaten home record in all competitions before this match.

There were signs early on of a potential shock when, with just two minutes on the clock, Liverpool defender Van Dijk’s clearance richoted off an Atalanta player straight to Pasalic, who was only six yards out with only the keeper to beat. However he fired his shot straight at the face of Kelleher, who had dived towards the point-black shot, and the ball went wide for a corner.

Liverpool came agonisingly close to going ahead in the 30th minute when Harvey Elliott came in off the right and hit a curling shot from outside the box, which struck both the crossbar and post and somehow stayed out.

Atalanta seemed to gain a lot of confidence from that escape and Gianluca Scamacca gave Atalanta a shock lead in the 38th minute. A ball came across the box from the right and the former West Ham United striker hit a low and seemingly tame effort that somehow went underneath the diving Kelleher into the net.

At the start of the second half Mo Salah had a strike at goal saved by the inspired Musso in the Atalanta net. However Scamacca doubled the visitors’ lead in the 65th minute with a fine side-footed half-volley from 14 yards out after he was left completely unmarked in the box.

Liverpool kept battling to get back into the game. Robertson set up a great chance by driving down the left with pace and firing in a low ball across the box for Salah to finish at the back post to make it 2-1 for a moment but the goal was ruled out for a very tight offside.

In the 83rd minute it was 3-0. Kelleher saved from close range but the rebound deflected straight to Pasalic who lashed it into the back of the Liverpool net to add more misery for The Reds.

It will take a Houdini effort in Bergamo in the second leg for Liverpool to turn this tie around. However they could perhaps take some comfort when looking back at their last meetings with Atalanta in Europe in 2020 in the Champions League and remembering that they lost 2-0 at Anfield but won very comfortably in Italy 5-0.

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Tijuana still winless after sharing four goals with buoyant Santos Laguna

Mark Szczuka — Mon, 18 Mar 2024 02:53:23 +0000

Tijuana are still searching for their first league win of the season after just missing out in their 12th attempt due to a 94th minute equaliser for Santos.

Club Tijuana Xoloitzcuintles de Caliente, or rather more easily referred to as just Xolos, are a relatively new club, having only been formed 17 years ago in 2007. They are named after the dog Xolo Mayor, the national dog of Mexico, which the ancient Aztecs considered sacred some 4,000 years ago.

Xolos made an incredibly strong impact very early on in their short history.

After just five seasons they had not only made it into Liga MX, the top division in Mexico, but had actually won the Championship in 2012, an incredible feat for such a new club.

This success is recognised by the three stars on their current team badge – one for promotion, one for winning the 2nd division and the third for winning the top division.

Tijuana continued their success onto the international stage by getting as far as the quarter finals of the Copa Libertadores the following season, with impressive victories along the way against Brazilian giants Corinthians and Palmeiras.

Their was a fairly sizeable crowd for their Friday night match against Santos Laguna in their 27,000 capacity Estadio Caliente.

From a pre-match tour of the tail gate party in the stadium’s car park, it was clear they have a sizeable support who travel across the nearby border from California in USA.

In fact, an upcoming event over the border may impact this club further when Major League Soccer arrives in San Diego next season just 20 miles north of Tijuana.

There is huge potential for a strong partnership between both clubs to promote and enhance football in both local communities across the border and there is already talk of an annual pre-season friendly between the clubs.

Xolos took full advantage of having the only artificial pitch in the 18-strong Liga MX by hosting two of their youth matches in the same stadium in the hours building up to the main kick off.

This makes for a great opportunity for fans to get a regular view of the upcoming talent for their club.

This season had not been rosy thus far for the winless Xolos. Eleven Liga MX games had produced seven draws and four losses.

They started the match against Santos in 16th position and in desperate need of a win. Santos meanwhile were riding high on confidence following three wins in a row, which had seen them climb to 12th position, after suffering four defeats in a row.

Santos continued this strong run by deservedly leading the match 1-0 at half time following a 28th minute goal by midfielder Aldo López Vargas, who headed in his first goal for the club after 53 matches.

Under pressure manager Miguel Herrera made two changes at half time for Xolos. That, alongside his half time team talk seemed to transform his side’s performance in the second half. They looked a completely different side, from docile kitten to barking xoloitzcuintli, you could say.

Second half goals from Paraguayan international striker Carlos González and Colombian midfielder Christian Rivera turned round the match and seemed to be enough to give the home side their first long awaited win of the season.

However when the fourth official signalled there would be eight minutes of injury time, the doubts started to appear in the Xolos’ players’ and fans’ minds alike.

Sure enough Ronaldo Prieto popped up to get the 94th minute equaliser for the away side.

Xolos will now have two full weeks because of the international break to work on how they get back to winning ways.

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Liverpool smash Sparta again!

Mark Szczuka — Fri, 15 Mar 2024 11:08:36 +0000

Photo: Stephen Gormley (Red Eye Photo Agency)

Liverpool go one better with a 6-1 victory in their second leg Europa League match against Sparta Prague, following their 5-1 away victory the previous week

It was always going to be strange when you turn up to a football stadium with the home team already 5-1 up from the first leg. Even stranger that Liverpool started and ended this match with a very strong line up on the pitch when they were already so far in front in the tie.

With both Salah and Nunez starting it was not going to take long for the scoring to restart again. A great one-two between Salah and Nunez before the latter lashed the ball into the bottom corner of the net with just seven minutes on the clock.

In the blink of an eye it was 2-0. Salah put pressure on the Sparta defence and the defender panicked and deflected the ball off Salah which fell to Bobby Clarke who scored his first goal for Liverpool.

With only 10 minutes on the clock Mo Salah made it 3-0 and also broke another club record – seventh season in a row with over 20 goals in all competitions. It was two assists and a goal in the first 10 minutes of action for the King of Anfield.

The Liverpool faithful did not have to wait long for goal number four. Gakpo lashed the ball into the net with still only 14 minutes played!

Nunez, Salah and Clark continued the onslaught on the Prague defence in the first half but couldn’t add any further goals. To be fair the Prague players lept on trying despite conceding four and they got a consolation goal back just before halftime. Birmanceviv broke free and slotted it past Kelleher to give them a deserved goal much to the delight of the away fans in the stadium.

The second half started like the first half ended. Szoboszlai shot deflecting into the Prague net to make it 5-1 on the night. Things didn’t get any easier for Prague with Robertson and Virgil coming on and Salah staying on for the whole match.

The visitors however continued to battle hard in the second half and only conceded one further goal. An Eliott shot from 20 yards out getting a neat little flick from Gakpo making it two for him on the night and 6-1 altogether.

With the final aggregate score finishing 11-2 to Liverpool they will be full of confidence as they advance to the quarter finals against Atalanta.

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Liverpool smash Sparta

Mark Szczuka — Fri, 08 Mar 2024 11:47:12 +0000

Photo: Stephen Gormley (Red Eye Photo Agency)

Liverpool emphatically destroy Sparta Prague 5-1 away from home in Europa League

Sparta Prague’s home record this season before meeting Liverpool in the last 16 of the Europa League has been very impressive. They have not lost a league game at home all season and currently sit top of the table in their domestic league. They were also unbeaten in the Europa League at home with five home wins and a 0-0 draw against Glasgow Rangers.

The 18,000 capacity Epet Arena was full and rocking on a chilly night in Prague. Sparta started off like they meant business. However a short pass at the back and Alexis MacAllister was on to it like a light before being taken down in the box after just seven minutes on the clock. The Argentinean got up to take the penalty and sent the keeper the wrong way to make it 1-0 to Liverpool.

As much as Prague huffed and puffed throughout the first half they never really recovered from that early set back. Kelleher did make a great reflex save and Gomez also cleared off the line. But once Nunez hit it from 20 yards out in the 25th minute to make it 2-0 the tie was over. In the 3rd minute of injury time just before the half time whistle, he hit another shot from outside the box to make it 3-0.

Just at the start of the second half Prague managed to get a goal back through a Conor Bradley own goal. But it made no real difference. Diaz went up the other end and made it 4-1 with a shot that got a bit of a deflection in the 53rd minute.

Szoboszlai put the icing on the cake in the 94th to make it 5-1 to Liverpool to really make sure they are in the draw for the last eight of the Europa League, despite the second leg still to come.

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Ireland lose to Wales in Women’s friendly

Mark Szczuka — Wed, 28 Feb 2024 10:05:32 +0000

Stephen Gormley (Red Eye Photo Agency)

Wales secured a surprise but well-deserved 2-0 away victory against The Republic of Ireland in front of record crowd in Dublin.

A record crowd for a Women’s match in Ireland of 8,218 was in attendance in the redeveloped Tallaght Stadium.

The Welsh got off to the perfect start by opening the scoring after only seven minutes. Irish keeper Brosnan made a decent save following a corner kick. However the ball was not cleared properly and was put back into the box for 37-year old striker Jess Fishlock to divert it into the net for Wales.

It was double trouble soon after for the Irish with Welsh full back Lily Woodham hitting a sweetly struck shot past Brosnan into the top corner to make it 2-0 after 22 minutes.

Ireland’s manager Eileen Gleeson changed the formation in the second half from a back four to a back three which seemed to help the home side. However despite decent efforts from Little John and Hayes, The Girls in Green couldn’t get back into the game.

Irish manager Gleeson admitted after the match.

“I think there’s lots to learn. In the first half we simply made it hard work for ourselves.”

Attention now switches for both side to the Euro 2025 qualifying draw on Tuesday.

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Newcastle finish bottom of Champions League Group

Mark Szczuka — Wed, 13 Dec 2023 13:52:18 +0000

Photo: Stephen Gormley (Red Eye Photo Agency)

Newcastle United crash out of Europe after losing 2-1 at home to AC Milan

It was win or bust for United and the home crowd did their part to try to help their side continue the European adventure.

The Magpies started the game like they meant business with a high tempo that the Italians didn’t seem able to cope with. Joe Linton came close with a few efforts and Milan goalkeeper Maignan was kept busy in the first half an hour.

The home side’s efforts finally paid off in the 33rd minute – Gorgan gave the ball to Miley who quickly got it back inside to Linton who smashed it into the Milan net from 20 years out giving newcastle one foot into the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League.

The second half started with Newcastle seemingly in two minds on whether to get the second goal or to defend their slender lead. In the 59th minute their lead disappeared when Pulisic smashed it into the Newcastle net when the ball broke to him around six yards out after a deflection.

This woke up Newcastle and they were on the attack again with Bruno Guimaraes unlucky with a great effort from 20 yards out that took a great save from Milan goalkeeper Maignan who tipped it on to the bar to keep the score at 1-1.

However as the match draw to a close, Milan broke quickly on the counter attack in the 84th minute and Chukwueze cooly put it past Slovak keeper Dubravka to break Newcastle’s hearts.

Milan kept their nerve in a cauldron of an atmosphere and somehow held on to beat Newcastle who for so long in the game had looked the better team.

From having one foot in the last 16 of the Champions League to having the consolation of Europa League football after Christmas, Newcastle suddenly found themselves crashing out of Europe in last place in their difficult group. The 1-1 draw between PSG & Borussia Dortmund meamt Milan had to settle for third place and Europa League football in the spring.

Milan just kept their nerve in a cauldron of an atmosphere and somehow held on to beat Newcastle who for so long in the game had looked the better team

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Liverpool destroy Lask

Mark Szczuka — Fri, 01 Dec 2023 07:57:27 +0000

Photo: Stephen Gormley (Red Eye Photo Agency)

Liverpool win comfortably 4-0 at home to Austrian side Lask in their fifth Europa League Group stage match

On a cold night in Liverpool, Lask brought 4,000 supporters all the way from Austria for what was really the biggest European adventure of this club’s history. With a squad worth around £25 million they were definitely the underdogs against Liverpool.

Liverpool made nine changes from the team that started against Man City but they still had a strong starting line up with Konate, Salah, Gakpo, Diaz and Nunez all among their top players starting.

Liverpool started off like they meant business after their slip up against Toulouse the last time out in Europe. It did not take them long to get into their stride. After only twelve minutes The Reds broke the deadlock. A great ball in from the right from Gomez was met by Diaz with a great diving header to make it 1-0 to the home side.

Three minutes later Salah was off down the right and sent in a beautiful ball over to Gakpo who could not miss from three yards out to make it 2-0 after 15 minutes.

Liverpool were well on their way to their tenth win in a row at home this season by two goals or more.

It looked like the flood gates were going to open but to be fair Lask got stuck in and stayed solid for the rest of the first half. They broke a few times too just to keep Liverpool back four on their toes.

At the start of the second half Gakpo was played through and the Lask goalkeeper came flying out at his feet, but did not get the ball and Liverpool were awarded a penalty. Mo Salah stepped up and hit his 199th goal for Liverpool to make it 3-0 on the night.

A few minutes later Salah’s night was over as he was subbed off for Nunez. Nunez looked like a man on a mission but as so often for him just when it looks like it is easier to score he hits a post or hits it off the keeper and tonight was no different.

It was left to Gakpo to finish the night off. He got the ball just inside the box and got it on to his right foot and smashed it into the back of the net to make it 4-0 on the night.

It was a little bit harsh on Lask and their sizeable traveling support who never stopped singing from start to finish.

With a draw in France for Toulouse in the other fixture it meant that Liverpool topped the group with a game to guarantees they will be playing in the last 16 in March.

The road to Dublin remains the dream for the final in May and who would bet against them being there in this form.

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St Pat’s win their 5th Irish Cup

Mark Szczuka — Mon, 13 Nov 2023 06:05:43 +0000

Photo: Stephen Gormley (Red Eye Photo Agency)

St Patricks come from behind to beat Bohemians 3-1 in the FAI Cup Final

It was a repeat of the 2021 FAI cup final with Bohs seeking revenge. But of course St Pat’s would have other ideas.

With a record attendance for an FAI Cup Final of 43,881 in the stadium it was a great atmosphere with a competition going on between the both sets of rival fans for who could light up the most flares in the stadium. It made for a spectacular sight just before kick off. The FAI and UEFA may not have been too happy but it is all part of the show these days in Irish domestic football between rival fans.

The match started off at a frantic pace and from the off you could see this was not going to be a game of tactical football chess. This was two sides going all out to win and bring home the cup to their fans.

Bohs got off to a flyer after just 9 minutes with Afolabi making it 1-0 after he won a penalty and calmly kept his head to strike it home. The Bohs fans went wild in the south side of the stadium with more flares being let off and another delay to let the smokey mist clear.

Bohs knew they needed victory for a European place and their first domestic trophy since 2009. St Pat’s had a strong finish to their league campaign and were safe in the knowledge with a third place finish in the league they were already in Europe next season.

St Pat’s were not behind for too long. A great ball into the box from Jake Mulraney which was headed into the back of the net by Mark Doyle, to make it 1-1 going into the break.

St Pat’s came out in the second half and lifted their level. It was another great free kick from Mulraney into the box causing havoc in the Bohs defence, which eventually went in off the luckless Nowak for an own goal to make it 2-1 to St Pat’s.

St Pat’s never looked back from that moment and took over control of the midfield. Bohs to be fair were pushing forward to try and find the equaliser, but a mistake from playing out from the back in the 86th minute was pounced on from Tommy Lonergan who raced through on goal to make it 3-1 and break Boh’s hearts once again.

It was a bitter pill for Bohs and their fans to swallow. There was double the amount of Bohs fans in the stadium than for St Pat’s. They really thought it was their year for the cup but St Pat’s were just too strong on the day, especially in midfield.

The future looks good for St Pat’s who had four teenagers on the pitch for the last 10 minutes including Mason Melia, who at 16 years old became the youngest player to play in a FAI Cup Final.

Manager Jon Daly was asked if he thought there were future Ireland internationals on the pitch for Pat’s?

“I hope so. Sam is exceptional. Kian Leavy (21) is outstanding. They’ve all added something. They’re all at different stages of their career and I’d like to think down the line one or two would get the opportunity to play for the national team.”

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Shakhtar shock Barca

Mark Szczuka — Wed, 08 Nov 2023 06:30:37 +0000

Photo: Stephen Gormley (Red Eye Photo Agency)

Shakhtar Donetsk defeated Barcelona at “home” 1-0 in their fourth Champions League Group match

While the war continues on in Ukraine, Shakhtar Donetsk have made their home this season in Hamburg in northern Germany. Over 50,000 turned up to watch their match against Barcelona at the Volksparkstadion just outside Hamburg’s city centre. A lot of the crowd came to have a look at Xavi Hernandez’s edition of Barcelona but maybe also with the hope of seeing a European giant killing.

The match started how you would have expected with Barca dominating possession. Shakhtar however were very organised and were hitting Barcelona very hard on the break with their wingers Zubkov and Newerton keeping Alonso and Cancelo on their toes. Even though Barcelona had almost 70% of the ball it was Shakhtar in the first half that looked the more dangerous on the break.

Barcelona were hitting shots from outside the box just going wide and over the bar from Gavi and Lewandowski.

But on the 40th minute the Ukraine side broke down the right hand side and Gocholeishvili whipped in a beautiful cross which Danylo Sikan met with a looping header to beat Barcelona captain and keeper Ter Stegen to make it 1-0 on the night.

It made for a frantic second half. However for all of Barcelona’s possession they just could not get the equaliser. They had many attempts but only managed one on target with over 98 minutes played on the night.

It was an historical result for Shakhtar with the large crowd in the Volksparkstadion really appreciating the effort from the Ukrainian side on the night.

With two big games left for Shakhtar in the Champions League Group stage you would not bet against them making it to the last 16.

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