Welcome back! Day 6 of 13 match days here in the 2019 CM9798 Cup and after losing our defending champions last time out, it just goes to show anything can happen. It’s Groups and B today, where there is still all to play for. With FC Garrincha not in action, nobody can be eliminated today but Supernova Dragons will have the chance to put themselves into the last 8.
We’ll start in Group A as Rostance Rovers look to get their tournament up and running.
Group A
Rostance Rovers vs AFC Supernova Dragons
Tom Rostance lead his side to an entertaining if ultimately fruitless defeat in their first match against PCR. He’s sticking with his philosophy though, most likely down to a chronic lack of full backs (with apologies to the Steve Potts fan club). Salas and Maurice both needed in that defeat and you feel any success will be down to the potency of these two.
Supernova Dragons were more or less written off by some idiot blogger but here they sit with a 100% record and a win this time out would seal a spot in the last 8. They are full strength, too.
Here’s a video for you to enjoy. As ever, words are below if you prefer. Over to the Stade de Rostance…
The Dragons were quickest out of the blocks, going ahead through a scruffy goal from McManaman after five minutes. Salas was on hand to equalise just 8 minutes later but the Dragons showed their great counter attacking abilities to go back ahead through Tomlinson. Florian Maurice equalised shortly before half time to bring an entertaining half to a close with the scores level.
Sabri Lamouchi was thrown on for Rob Lee at half time but the second half was a much cagier affair. The game looked to be heading for a draw with no further additions to the scoreline but Marcelo Salas had other ideas, racing on to a through ball and finishing past David James. A vital win for Tom that really keeps this group on a knife edge.
Tomlinson has scored in every game so far, his tally now stands at four goals. Salas meanwhile has scored three times in his two appearances, both will be tough to stop in this form.
The Dragons sit out the next match day whilst Rostance host Glipton Grasshoppers, who we’ll see now.
Glipton Grasshoppers vs Plumstead Common Rangers
Glipton have won one from one so far and could really cement their position as a tournament favourite with a win here. They have so many options in forward positions and Tommy Svindal Larsen to pull the strings, a fearsome combination.
Ash is still without captain Marc Overmars but it’s a strong team even without him. Suker, Okocha and Bergkamp have all provided a goal threat so far.
Here’s the video. Scroll down for words.
This match was more of a scrap than anticipated. Chances were few and far between and the quality perhaps not what was expected – perhaps the pressure of this stage of the group was starting to show. The only shot on target in the half came from the away side when Bergkamp was denied by Landreau. In fairness, the defending was very good.
The second half was only marginally better. The scrapiness continued but there was to be a pivotal moment. Suker went through one on one and although he was denied by Landreau, the rebound fell for Okocha who scored and sent the away fans into raptures. Glipton’s search for an equaliser was derailed by a red card for Diego Fuser – the winger picked up a second yellow card on 73 minutes and the equaliser proved too tall an order for the 10 men. A defeat to really put the cat amongst the pigeons in Group A!
Not a vintage game but in many ways the perfect away performance from Ash. His side are really Alive and Kicking now.
PCR go top of the group but the top two have played a game more than the teams on three points. Chris sat out this week and if he wins his last two games (against Tom and Ash) this could be a very complicated group indeed.
Let’s move on to Group B to see if the picture is any clearer.
Group B
Corinthian Collector vs The Rookies
Last time out Corinthian Collector played his first game of the tournament and won it 7-2. That’s a pretty good way to make your entrance to a tournament. They head into this one knowing that a second win would go a very long way to securing their passage as their goal difference will be looking very healthy indeed. Maradona is preferred to Henry in this one.
King of the Rooks has opted to leave Santos in central midfield with Baggio performing anchor duties. This one looks like quite an even match on paper.
Video time. Words below.
If Corinthian Collector was full of confidence following that big win, it didn’t transfer onto the pitch. The Rookies really needed a win and they did their manager proud, a double salvo from Vieri and Svensson had them sitting pretty at the break as the attack that scored 7 in the previous game seemed a little out of sorts.
Unsurprisingly, Thierry Henry replaced Maradona at the break but the Rookies were not to be denied. Luis Figo added a third and ended the game as a contest and Corinthian’s day was summed up when Robbie Fowler missed a guilt edged chance to reduce the arrears just a few minutes before full time.
Few would have predicted such a one sided victory but this is a group that continues to surprise.
Just one game to go today then…
Patrick Thistle vs Bayern Bru
The team of Patrick’s sit bottom of Group A having lost their one and only game so far but they were 4-1 up in that one, so…that’s like a win? Anyway, here they face Bayern Bru, who won 5-3 and lost 7-2. This group is ridiculous. @90sfootball is unchanged for this one.
Mark Carruthers meanwhile has shuffled his pack to bring in Claudio Lopez for Chapuisat whilst Steve Bould is injured, so Thomas Gravesen is in. Yes, he’s a defender on this game.
Final video of the day. Words below.
A slow opening was soon brought to life when Jardel’s blockbuster shot was spilled by Lodewijks and Ronaldo was on hand to give Bayern Bru the lead. The team of Patrick’s were underdogs but not overawed, hanging on in against superior opposition. Bayern though were heading for the top of Group B.
Bayern went in search of the killer second goal and Patrick Thistle were very much on the ropes. Pat Nevin’s arrival from the bench lasted 8 minutes before a push in the back caused an injury to his old bones. On came Patrick Revelles though and amidst a serious of rotations to find the right formula, Kluviert headed down for Revelles to equalise on 81 minutes. An unlikely point looked on the cards for 5 minutes but Ronaldo put a proverbial pin in proceedings, smartly finishing a one on one before Chapuisat arrived from the bench to secure the points in stoppage time.
A remarkable final ten minutes but it leaves Patrick Thistle very much up against it.
Bayern though move to 6 points and they top Group B for now, however they will have to sit out the next round which will give three teams the opportunity to overhaul them.
Both groups are shaping up very nicely indeed with just two rounds of matches to go – we’ll be back with Groups A and B on Tuesday. It’ll be Groups C and D on Sunday though, so we’ll see you there for that.