TORRES STRIKE RESCUES REDS
An injury time goal from Fernando Torres has saved Liverpool from the brink of defeat and given them a deserved 2-2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League on Sunday.
It had looked like the Reds would slip to their first league defeat of the season when Robbie Keane struck either side of the break to cancel out Andriy Voronin's opener, but Torres rose highest at the far post to head a stoppage time leveller that made Anfield erupt.
The game had started well for the Reds when Voronin gave them a 12th minute lead, but they failed to capitalise on chances to increase their lead and Keane's goals put them in trouble before Torres' rescue act.
Rafa Benitez made five changes from the side that started against Marseille. Jermaine Pennant was available again after suspension and their were also recalls for Alvaro Arbeloa, John Arne Riise, Javier Mascherano and Andriy Voronin, who started up front with Fernando Torres.
Tottenham threatened first when Bale's free kick brushed the outside of the post, but Liverpool were soon on the attack themselves and good play between Torres and Gerrard gave Voronin a shooting chance that was comfortable for Robinson.
Both sides were wrestling for control, but it was Liverpool who grabbed the initiative and took the lead through Andriy Voronin in the 12th minute. It came when a foul on Gerrard brought a free kick on the edge of the box and Voronin was first to the ball to shoot home after Robinson had only been able Gerrard's curling shot.
The Reds were on top and they were unlucky not to double their advantage when another curling free kick from Gerrard bounced back off the post with Gerrard beaten. Tottenham reminded us of their threat when Keane flashed a header across the face of goal, but Liverpool again went close when good play between Torres and Voronin gave Gerrard a chance that brought a last ditch block from Dawson.
Liverpool could have been three up, but they were rocked on the stroke of half time when Robbie Keane scored an equalizer out of nothing. Keane the first to react when Robinson's long punt bounced clear of the Reds defence to flick the ball beyond Reina and into the net.
It went from bad to worse for Liverpool at the start of the second half because Keane struck again to give Spurs the lead. And it was another Robinson long ball that undid Liverpool, with this time a flick on by Berbatov sending Keane clear to score over Reina.
Liverpool's unbeaten start to the season was now under serious threat and Rafa Benitez replaced a defender for attacker when he brought Babel on in place of Arbeloa.
The Reds poured forward in search of an equalizer and Torres was only a whisker away from getting it when Robinson parried Finnan's shot, but Kaboul was there to clear.
It looked all over when Robinson did well to save Mascherano's near post shot, but Liverpool grabbed the equalizer they had so desired when Torres headed home Finnan's deep cross.
Teams
Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa, Hyypia, Carragher, Finnan, Riise, Gerrard (captain), Mascherano, Pennant, Voronin, Torres. Subs - Itandje, Leiva, Babel, Benayoun, Kuyt
Tottenham Hotspur: Robinson, Lee, Dawson, Kaboul, Chimbonda, Bale, Jenas, Zokora, Tainio, Berbatov, Keane (captain). Subs - Gardner, Malbranque, Defoe, Cerny, Huddlestone
Referee: M Halsey
Conditions: Dry
Attendance: 43,986
Liverpoolfc.tv Man-of-the-Match: Andriy Voronin
Breakdown
14:02 GMT : Match Starts
1 min : Liverpool get the game underway at Anfield
1 min : Riise delivers an early ball into the box which is cleared
3 mins : Bale bends a free kick from outside the area just wide of the post
6 mins : Voronin's effort from distance doesn't cause Paul Robinson any problems
13 mins : Gerrard is brought down by Jenas as the Reds win a free kick in a dangerous area
13 mins : GOAL! Andriy Voronin: Robinson spills Gerrard's free kick and Voronin slots the ball home from close range
15 mins : Spurs almost hit right back as Keane glances a header just wide from Jenas' free kick
18 mins : Hyypia tries an ambitious volley from distance which drifts a long way wide
23 mins : Keane collects the ball on the edge of the box but curls a right footed shot well over
26 mins : Torres finds space 18 yards from goal but his low drive just misses the far post
28 mins : The woodwork comes to Tottenham's rescue as Gerrard's bending free kick crashes against the post
29 mins : Carragher and Reina almost gift Spurs an equaliser but Carra recovers to keep Berbatov's effort away from the goal
33 mins : Liverpool guilty of trying to walk the ball home as space opens up for Torres, Gerrard and then Voronin before Spurs clear
39 mins : Pennant gifts Spurs a corner which comes to nothing
45 mins : GOAL! Robbie Keane: Keane latches onto Berbatov's header to slot past Reina and level the scores
14:49 GMT : Half Time Reached
15:03 GMT : Second Half Begins
46 mins : Tottenham kick off the second half
47 mins : GOAL! Robbie Keane: Another Keane goal from another Berbatov header gives Spurs the lead
48 mins : Goof defending at the far post from Tainio as Riise challenges for the ball
59 mins : Liverpool losing their way and Tottenham controlling the game at the moment
61 mins : Jenas goes for goal but his shot rebounds off Voronin
62 mins : Substitution: Ryan Babel for Alvaro Arbeloa:
63 mins : First Booking: Michael Dawson: Late challenge on Torres
66 mins : Babel cuts in from the left and fires a low shot wide of the Kop goal
68 mins : Substitution: Dirk Kuyt for Jermaine Pennant:
72 mins : Mascherano goes down in the box but the ref waves away the penalty claims
76 mins : Substitution: Steed Malbranque for Teemu Tainio:
77 mins : Finnan's low drive is well saved by Robinson before Dawson hacks the ball to safety
77 mins : Substitution: Yossi Benayoun for Andriy Voronin:
78 mins : The ball falls nicely to Riise on the left but he rushes his shot and skies it over the Kop goal
79 mins : Gerrard's corner is headed wide by Hyypia as Liverpool start to apply some pressure
81 mins : Torres smashes the ball high into the Kop with a wild shot from 20 yards
85 mins : Mascherano goes for goal from 30 yards and his shot whistles just past the far post
90 mins : Three minutes to find an equaliser
90 mins : GOAL! Fernando Torres: Torres heads home Finnan's cross to salvage a point for the Reds
15:53 GMT : Match Over |
發表於 2007-10-8 12:13 AM
| 
