DL Cup: Week 2 results

Welcome to week 2 of the DL cup and here are the games we have in question

Group A

Burnley v Quick Boys Katwijk

Burnley:
Begovic, Corchio, Zouma, Varane, Mendy, Busquets, Matic, Mata, Fabregas, Grenier, Cornelius
Subs:
Unnerstall, Untiti, Zelalem, Deulofeu, Lukaku

Quick Boys:
Gabriel, Fabinho, Gimenez, Laporte, Rodriguez, Martinez, Rafinha, Lopez, Anderson, Markovic, Leonardo
Subs:
De Amores, Bressan, Zuculini, Iturbe, Giva

The Match

This game got off to a very slow start with both sides cancelling each other out in the opening exchanges. Burnley did however, try and have the first chance of the game and a lovely interchange move between Busquets and Fabregas saw young Martinez put a stop to that. LC’s young guns were very organised in the early exchanges too letting Burnley have the ball but once they’d gotten anywhere near the final third Quick Boys weren’t letting them get a sniff in or around the box. However, a pacey attack from Quick Boys saw Rodriguez and Markovic play a cute 1 + 2 down the left and Rodriguez swung a low cross into the box only for Leonardo to fire the ball wide. Burnley themselves were short on idea’s and like I said LC’s young guns were putting in a shift to make it hard for them to get anywhere near the box. This continued to be the theme very much throughout the first half. However, just before the break Fabinho broke down the right and played the ball to Lopez who slipped the ball into the box and young Leonardo fired the ball just over the bar.

The second half Tbag must have shot an arrow up the backsides of his team because on 50 minutes Burnley had an awesome chance to go ahead. This time Cesc broke free of Martinez and played the ball out to Mata, Mata cut in on his favourite left foot and had a shot from 25 yards out and goalkeeper Gabriel fumbles the ball but Cornelius tries to get his foot on the ball but it’s taken away from him by Laporte before he can fire it into the net. Big let off for LC’s boys that but after that they went on to be a solid as a unit and creating decent chances when they had the ball. You really could see that Quick Boys were starting to get the feel of each other and on 59 minutes Anderson produced a fine solo effort from 30 yards out that was tipped over the bar from Begovic. The game continued to be stretched throughout most of the second half but young Martinez was having a belter of a game and was reading every situation well. Just when we thought that the game was about to fizzle out into a goalless draw though MATA produces a goal out of nothing on 88 minutes and fires the ball home from 27 yards passed Gabriel, Burnley 1-0 Quick Boys.

Burnley 1-0 Quick Boys
Burnley scorer:
Mata
MOTM: Martinez – gutted he was on the losing side though but he can be very proud of his performance today was top draw and read the game well.

Eastbourne Borough v Club Deportivo Wanka:

Eastborough Borough:
Adler, Diwarra, Rafinha, Mertesacker, Juan Jesus, Balzarretti, Nordveit, Wilshere, Niang, Drogba, Rosicky
Subs: Fabianski, Burdisso, Rode, Holtby, Huntelaar

Club Deportivo Wanka:
Courtois, Foulquier, Kalas, Hummels, Cole, Luiz, de Bruyne, Iniesta, Messi, Lamela, Hazard
Subs:
Konbogbia, Xavi, Oliver, Salvio, Gabbiaddini

The Match


Well we have Club Deportivo getting the game kicked off today and from the off their dominating the ball. Iniesta and De Bruyne are pulling the strings in midfield and a chance is create when de Bruyne plays a neat 1-2 with Iniesta, Iniesta plays the ball to Lamela who comes back and gets the ball and plays a lovely ball over the top of Juan Jesus for Hazard to break onto only the former Chelsea man fires the ball wide. It was a quick opening few minutes for Club Deportivo who we passing the ball in the midfield area for fun. Luiz got the ball and played it straight to Iniesta who skinned Wilshere and played the ball to Lamela (who again was dropping off deep and none of the Eastbourne players were picking him up) who then saw Hazard yet again break free of his marker and yet again the Belgium international’s shot went wide of the target. Eastbourne didn’t look interested at all in creating anything today but almost took an unexpected lead on 20 minutes when Luiz who was taking far too long to pass the ball to anyone and Wilshere stole the ball off him and passed the ball to Niang who tried to go round Cole but couldn’t. So instead he whipped the ball into the box for Drogba to get on the end of but his header went straight into the arms of Courtois. I’m afraid that was the only attack that Eastbourne could manage this first half with Club Deportivo dominating the game for long periods of time but Eastbourne defending beautifully. That was until the struck of half time when Club Deportivo produced some fine one touch football. Luiz played the ball to de Bruyne who played a one-two with Iniesta and got the ball back from him, de Bruyne saw Lamela coming deep for the ball and passed it to him and Lamela saw that for the first time in this game that Messi broke free of his marker and was running from deep so played the ball over the top of the Eastbourne defence to MESSI who from 6 yards out wasn’t gonna miss the chance to put the ball into the back of the net, Eastbourne 0-1 Club Deportivo.

As the second half got underway we had very much of the same from the first half Club Deportivo dominating the ball and not letting Eastbourne get on it at all. Eastbourne were holding out very well against a very strong attack minded team. However, the first chance of the second half went to (you guessed it) Club Deportivo when Luiz found de Bruyne in aces of space and the young Belgium found Lamela who came deep to pick the ball up from de Bruyne and then saw Hazard from the corner of his eye making a cute little run behind the Eastbourne defence and the Belgium fired the ball straight at Adler. But that was a thing to come for the next five minutes until they got their rewards. With Luiz playing a lovely pass to de Bruyne who now saw Messi making a brilliant run in off the right wing and played the ball over the Eastbourne defence and MESSI who was in a lovely position when he received the ball fired the ball into the net Eastbourne 0-2 Club Deportivo. Eastbourne did try and attack Club Deportivo after this but the away side were well organised and Luiz was having a blinder of a game back in his more comfortable DM position. Luiz blocked Wilshere from getting the ball forward to Drogba and played the ball immediately to Iniesta who played a cute 1 and 2 with de Bruyne (who was having just as good a game as Luiz) and he stopped fellow Belgium international Hazard making a run into the box but yet again his shot was tame and the ball landed straight into Adler’s hands. However on 70 minutes Club Deportivo made the game safe with Messi receiving the ball from De Bruyne he was brought down by Mertesacker after twisting and turning in the box and the ref waisted no time pointing to the spot. MESSI stood up and Messi scored to seal a wonderful hatrick Eastbourne 0-3 Club Deportivo. After this Club Deportivo kept spraying the ball around the field for fun for the rest of the game, not even the introduction of Huntelaar was enough to see Eastbourne create a chance.

Eastbourne 0-3 Club Deportivo Wanka
Club Deportivo’s scorer:
Messi x3 (Lamela, de Bruyne + Pen)
MOTM: David Luiz – he produced a top draw performance that warrants this award.


Group C

Blackpool v Salisbury City

Blackpool Starting Line Up: 4-3-3/4-5-1
Leno, Rafael, Garay, Rakitskiy, Cissokho, Capoue, Schweinsteiger, Pirlo, Dzagoev, Kagawa, van Persie
Subs: Musacchio, Etxebarria, Gaitan, Nani, Higuain

Salisbury Starting Line Up: 4-2-3-1
Butland, Stones, K Toure, Rekik, Schennikov, Ward Prowse, Tibbling, Vydra, Anderson, Redmond, Unal
Subs: Foderingham, Oboabona, Duncan, Pozuelo, Bo-Kyung

A lot can be said about the 2 line ups today and each manager’s relation with their respective chairmen. Salisbury manager RAP has been given ‘Carte Blanche’ by his boss and picked an experimental and youthful looking side. Blackpool manager Pride is under mounting pressure from his chairman who made qualification for the Shield a must for Pride and his expensively assembled middle aged XI.

The Match
The youthful Salisbury came tearing out of the blocks right from the whistle and almost caught a lethargic looking Blackpool out with a great move down the right by Vydra . The ball was passed neatly out of defence by Toure and Tibbling played a lovely weighted ball into the path of Vydra. Kagawa and Cissoko were both napping and Vydra ghosted past them both and played a lovely cross in only for Anderson to make a hash of his effort from point blank range. That really should have been 0 – 1. The Salisbury youngsters were showing no fear and were not afraid to run at their opponents. A few experienced heads in Toure and Shennikov were astounded looking at the youngsters enthusiasm. Young Tibbling was doing a few good things in the middle but this Salisbury purple patch was soon to be brought to an end. Blackpool started to play some football and their power and experience meant they began to take control of the midfield with Ward Prowse and Tibbling starting to chase shadows. A lovely lob over the top of the Salisbury defence by Pirlo saw van Persie bring the ball under control on the edge of the 18 yard box. He had all the time and space to get it on his favoured left foot and pick his spot in the far corner. 1 – 0 Blackpool on 25mins. Credit must go to Salisbury as they were trying but it wasn’t looking like they were going to see much more of the ball. Blackpool managed to fluff chance after chance and Butland was pulling off some great saves. On 40 mins young Ward Prowse brought the lively looking Dzagoev down in a very dangerous area. Up steps Pirlo – boom, 2 – 0 and no chance for Butland.

HALF TIME : Blackpool 2 – 0 Salisbury
The second half began just how the first half ended. Salisbury were finding it hard to get a touch of the ball and Blackpool were stroking the ball about at their leisure. For all their enthusiasm and passion this young Salisbury team were lacking creativity and it looked like a step too far for this young midfield against vastly experienced Internationals. The 3 – 0 came on 55 mins when a badly out of position Stones gave the dangerous looking Kagawa acres of space to cut inside a thump a shot past Butland and off the under side of the bar to make it 3 – 0 for the home team. There’s not much more to say really. The game continued in the same vein and Salisbury can be thankful that this didn’t turn in to a cricket score. On 70 minute Nani replace the influential Pirlo and Scweinsteiger looked to sit a bit deeper alongside Capoue. The game faltered out a bit and Salisbury after a few subs of their own tried but to no avail. Credit has to be given to them though for keeping the score at a respectable 3 – 0

FULL TIME : Blackpool 3 – 0 Salisbury
1 – 0 : van Persie (Pirlo)
2 – 0 : Pirlo (Dzagoev)
3 – 0 : Kagawa
MOTM : Butland – for keeping the score at 3 – 0 and pulling off string after string of top class saves.
Notes : A commendable selection by Salisbury but for them it was just unfortunate that Blackpool decided to go with a full strength squad. Butland again showed his quality and Tibbling has something about him but with such an inexperienced midfield and CF then I am afraid you need to be happy that it remained 3 – 0 aginst, Pirlo, RVP, Schwein and co

Aberdeen v Dagenham & Redbridge
Aberdeen Starting Line Up: 4-3-3
Ahamada, Martinez, Howedes, Chiellini, Digne, Bender, Vidal, Leitner, Sanchez, Ibrahimovic, Mertens
Subs : Rabia, Ozil, Mirallas, Klose, Weimann
Dagenham & Redbridge Starting Line Up: 4-2-3-1
Lloris, Lahm, Dante, T Silva, Alaba, Goretzka, Muller, Draxler, Bale, Gotze
Subs: Lewandowski, El Shaarawy, Papadopoulos, Bender, Aubameyang

Another 2 teams who are taking this cup very seriously. Neither of these managers are interested in giving youth a chance and it was a battle to see who could put the most expensive XI on the field. D & R managed that comfortably, so much so that their subs bench cost more money to assemble than other DL team’s entire squads. So plenty of talent on show today so hopefully a great game.

The Match
It was clear here from both selections that the 2 managers were as worried about the others tactics and selections as they were their own. An injury to Neymar saw Fan tinker with his formation a wee bit and set up in a 4-3-3 (ish) formation. A few strong challenges in midfield right from the off by both Vidal and Bender showed that Aberdeen were up for this game and wanted to stamp their authority right from the start. Aberdeen were passing nicely, short and crisp and nothing over elaborate. Their opponents however had opted for a ‘false 9’ formation and at times looked as if they could be over complicating things. It was however end-to-end stuff and after both teams got in to their rhythm the first goal came on the half hour. Great work down the left flank by Digne and then Mertens saw a wonderful ball whipped in. It was millimetre perfect and Dante’s outstretched leg couldn’t stop Big Ibra getting his head on to it. He doesn’t miss those from 6 yards. 1 – 0 Aberdeen. With Aberdeen and Vidal in particular bossing the midfield, D & R were looking to their midfield to step it up a gear and try and supply their ubertalented attack with some ammunition. A quickly taken goal kick saw Dante come charging out of defence with the ball. With Aberdeen for some reason looking scared to put a tackle in it was Bender who gave away the inevitable foul in his own half on 40 mins. With Aberdeen protesting about the wall a quick thinking Goretzka took the free kick quickly and slipped the ball through to Muller who rounded the keeper and made it 1 -1. The Ref let the goal stand and the teams went in at the break all square.

HALF TIME : Aberdeen 1 – 1 Dagenham & Redbridge

The second have started again at full pace and it was clear that both these teams saw the next goal as crucial. This goal was to come on 50 mins and it was the Aberdeen RB, Martinez of all people to get his name on the scoresheet. Another great probing run from Sanchez saw Martinez go on the overlap. Alaba totally wrong footed himself and slipped letting Martinez get away from him. He never looked like he was going to cross it and with absolute precision he unleashed what will probably be the best shot of his career beyond the fingertips of Lloris and into the top corner 2 – 1. Aberdeen were bossing the midfield and on the hour mark Dagenham were the first to make a change. On came Lewandowski for the ineffective Draxler and they switched to an out and out 4-2-3-1. A good decision as with pace like theirs to burn then a CF is essential to make the most of it. Bale was sticking out wide and in one foray forward left Martinez stranded and squared a lovely ball to Lewandowski who abolutely buried it from 15 yards. 2 – 2 and game on 68 minutes. On 70 mins Aberdeen made a change of their own with Ozil for Leitner who had a good game in midfield. They changed shapa a bit and Ozil seemed to play a bit further forward. It was end to end stuff and both teams were probing and having good spells in possession with Bale being wasteful on a number of occassions. Another couple of changes saw Klose replace Ibra and in a strange way it would be Klose who would decide the game. 88 mins and Bale goes on a mazy run on the left that results in a corner. In the mellee that follows, Klose seems to strike out at Lewandowski only 5 yards from the ref who points to the spot and produces a yellow for Klose who has been on the pitch for not even 5 mins. Alaba makes no mistake from the spot kick and the final whistle blows.

FULL TIME : Aberdeen 2 – 3 Dagenham & Redbridge
1 – 0 : Ibrahimovic (Mertens)
1 – 1 : Muller (Goretzka)
2 – 1 : Martinez (Sanchez)
2 – 2 : Lewandowski (Bale)
2 – 3 : Alaba (penalty)
MOTM : Vidal - Although on the losing side the South American was at the heart of everything good in this game.


Group D

Shrewsbury v Tenby

Shrewsbury: Weidenfeller, Caulker, N'Koulou, Mangala, Piszczeck, Schmelzer, Khedira, Montolivio, Hamsik, Rodriguez, Jovetic (subs: Aurier, Kirchhoff, Blaszcykowski, Di Natalie)

Tenby: Reina, Alderweireld, Godin, Agger, Moreno, Lucas, Wesley, Cuenca, Michu, Tello, Morata (subs: Illarramendi, Arteta, Bojan, de Marcos, Villa)

Group D saw Di take her Tenby side 137 miles North East to face Punt and his Shrewsbury Town side, brimming with confidence after a stong end of the league season. Under Dream League Cup rules, the ticket allocation has been a 50/50 split, and the groundsman from Blackpool was drafted in to prepare the surface, ensuring neither side had any kind of advantage. A close to capacity attendance produced a carnival atmosphere, and the blue and gold at one end of the stadium contrasted wonderfully with the red and black at the other, overseen by the mid summer British sunshine in all her glory.

Shrewsbury got the game underway, having lost the toss and been forced to play into the sun in the first half. Weidenfeller in the Shrewsbury net wore a cap to help maintain his vision, but even then, there was still drama as early as the 4th minute as Tello whipped the ball across and N'koulou lost sight of it in the glare, allowing Michu a free header which cannoned off of the crossbar.

In truth the first half was scrappy. Both sides clearly wanted to play, but Tenby's insistence on playing disciplined keep ball and Shrewsburys more direct attitude of feeding balls through at pace meant the midfield became heavily congested, with the heat taking some of the fizz out of things. Di's decision to go with 4 at the back also seemed to catch Shrewsbury slightly by surprise, suffocating their forward line and ensuring the inside forwards were always kept under check. That said, Shrewsbury did create the next best chance of the half after 27 minutes. Montolivio threading an absolute peach of a ball into the path of Jovetic, but Reina did just enough to force him wide of goal, forcing the Montenegran to check back and pick out Rodriguez, who dragged his effort wide of the near post whilst under pressure from Agger.

The half time break and refreshments seemed to breathe some life into the game, and gaps started to appear. First Wesley scuttled away from Khedira for the first time all afternoon, but his effort from 25 yards looked to be heading for the stands before dipping late and forcing Weidenfeller to scramble across and tip the ball over the bar.

Shrewsbury were next to fashion a chance, again it was Montolivio pulling the strings with a direct pass into the feet of Jovetic. Despite the attention of Agger, Jovetic dropped a shoulder before firing his shot straight at Reina who caught the ball and immediately looked to launch a counter attack, only for Aderweirelds pass to find Cuenca straying offside.

The game continued to be incredibly tight, and as both teams made substitutions with 20 minutes to go, Shrewsbury switched their shape, moving to a 4-2-3-1 which matched them up man for man with Tenby. This stretched the game slightly, and Tenby substitute David Villa nearly broke the deadlock with his first touch, but as he stretched to meet a Michu knockdown, he just failed to make enough contact and saw the ball roll harmlessly wide.

The breakthrough finally came in the 86th minute, substitute Paul Pogba picking the ball up deep and running at the heart of the Tenby midfield, before dropping a beautifully weighted through ball into the path of Hamsik, who timed his angled run to perfection before caressing the ball, first time, into the bottom left hand corner of the net, beyond the outstretched arm of Pepe Reina.

Try as they might, Tenby couldn't find an equaliser and resorted to a couple of long range efforts, first from Michu, and then from Bojan, but neither really forced Weidenfeller to break a sweat, and Shrewsbury held on for a very hard fought and narrow victory.

FULL TIME: Shrewsbury 1-0 Tenby
Goalscorer: Hamsik
Assist: Pogba
MOTM: Montolivio (Shrewsbury) - pulled the strings in a tight midfield, always looking to make something happen.


A massive thank you to Lc and RAP for giving me a hand with results this week and .

Group B's game will take place on Monday .