Hello! What day is it? Saturday maybe. All that really matters is that it is Day 6 of the 2021 CM Cup and today we’ll see Groups E and F play out their second matchday. Can defending champion Rob turn it around? Will we have more of an idea who will escape Group F? Let’s find out.
Group E
Taitanator vs MarkCarruthers_
Rob needs a result here after the opening day defeat. He’s gone for a more conventional 4-2-3-1 but will it be enough to kickstart his campaign?
As you were for Mark – I should point out we swapped Lee and Kanchelskis after the screenshot.
Papin has been deadly for me in CLM but here he opens the scoring for Mark after just five minutes. Rob can’t get a foothold in the game at all and throws on Garcia Aspe for Beardsley at half time. It is to no avail though, as Papin makes it 2-0 on 59 and the mercurial Gascoigne makes it 3. Rob is cast in the role of Spain 2014.
A result that matches the statistics. One shot on target for the defending champions.
Mijatovic has been particularly disappointing. Papin takes the champers.
Onto Jakob and Dan then and a win for either team will put them through to the last 16.
Williewrap vs S4ooter
Jakob’s tactics remain the same though Blanc is benched.
Dan is sticking with this lopsided thing. If it works, it works. There is, however, some big injury news on the day of the game. What on earth goes on in this training session?
With two out injured there’s a personnel reshuffle:
Molnar is in the form of his life and he gives Jakob the lead. However Dan has a decent side together here and a quick fire double before the break turns it round, first Klinsmann and then “Eddie” Guerrero has Dan dubs him. Molnar equalises and substitute Bye Andersen scores the winner shortly after arriving from the bench. Did I say winner? Captain Marc Overmars equalises in added time to steal a point. Wow!
38 shots in the match. It finishes a draw but the fans are the real winners.
Somehow Chamot gets man of the match. The two keepers played well but better men than me have tried to figure the ratings out.
That draw means Rob now can’t qualify automatically! He needs a big win in the final round of games and even then, he’s trusting he is one of the best third placed teams.
Group F
RetroFootyGames vs TJRostance
Dan won’t be able to call on Matt Le Tissier who has a month off with “Injury” which I think is really just more time to work on conspiracy theories. Francescoli is in.
Tom persists with 5-3-2 but in comes Lee Hendrie. He wants to pass his way up the table too.
Jardel is at the party! He gives Tom the lead after 34 minutes as hopes of clawing himself back into contention grow. Kluivert though bothers himself to find an equaliser and that’s how it finishes. A result that helps nobody.
Not a great game in comparison to some we’ve seen. I blame Tim Breacker.
I think we all do. Jardel takes man of the match.
One more game for today…
RossBell1984 vs QuicklyKevin
Ross is leaving things the way they are. It’s a formation full of flair and Germans. Or flairy Germans.
Michael brings in Hagi for Baggio after his equaliser last time out. This could be a pivotal game for Ross who’ll qualify with a win.
The 90s podcast storms out of the blocks and goals from Giggs and Wright give the away side a 2-0 lead. Tony Yeboah smashes one in to half the deficit and one minute after coming on, little known Brazilian Palhinha makes it 2-2. That’s how it finishes.
Ross by his own admission is pleased to get away with a point here. Ross’ lads were very efficient but Michael will be wondering how they didn’t win.
Somehow it’s Schmeichel who gets man of the match for saving two shots and letting two in.
Ross is still in the driving seat but will be vulnerable if he loses to Dan and Michael beats Tom. Everybody can still qualify so it’ll be a fascinating finish next week.
Another day done and now we’ve seen every team play twice. It’s three days of judgment to come – teams will be going home from tomorrow. Business is about to pick up.