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Draft CL Draft: Semi-Final 1: AGFC vs Hunskelpers FC
- Thread starter Rex Stone
- Start date
- Replies 24
- Views 1,377
- Thread starter
- #22
Country: Wales
Onto the second leg and there was a lot to cover for the media in the pre-match build up. @bingobob had gone the combative route in his post match interview. When told that @A_G was shocked that in three games AGFC hadn't won against Hunskelpers he came out firing!
He said it was to be expected to continue for the second leg and backed his players to get the job done at the AG Arena. Full of confidence his captain Deschamps backed him up and also had some choice words for Messi saying that if he was a manager he wouldn't be bothered by Lionel Messi.
The AGFC manager raised an eyebrow in his press conference and said his players would do their talking on the field.
As for AGFC they'd have to reshuffle the line up due to the Rui Costa suspension. With a lot of questions for the manager about his relationship with Abedi Pele he fully admitted that they'd had a rocky road but in training he'd apologised to the Ghanian and said he wasn't familiar with his game but he was now.
This wasn't even covering the biggest story of them all... the fitness of Lionel Messi and David Beckham. The Englishman was more straight forward and after a couple of days in a dark room listening to the soothing melodies of his wife's music he'd shaken off his concussion symptoms and was ready to play!
Messi meanwhile was more mysterious... no-one knew how badly he was injured and AGFC staff had been seen carrying a box marked horse placenta into their training ground. Also there were even rumours he'd had electro-shock therapy.
The team sheets had everyone waiting in a state of hope and desperation. Training snaps had seen Pablo Aimar practicing with the starting XI which surely meant Messi would be out. Finally an hour before the game the news was out....
MESSI WAS STARTING!
The fans who'd got to the AG Arena well ahead of kick off let up a huge roar! Their star man was going to be playing!
In fact the only change for both teams was Abedi Pele coming in for the suspended Rui Costa.
Straight into the game and Hunskelpers were happy to sit on the defensive. In the last game of the regular season they'd held AGFC to a frustrating 0-0 draw at this ground so they knew what they needed to do.
Messi was welcomed to the game by a crunching tackle but any sign of lingering injury wasn't there and he was up on his feet. Lampard meanwhile was booked and had almost a whole 90 minutes to get through on a yellow.
Despite heading out AGFC were truly shackled by Hunskelpers. Deschamps was marking his former Marseille teammate Abedi Pele out the game and Messi wasn't getting the ball in good positions. He had to drop deeper and deeper to get involved but that just played into the Hunskelpers hands as they were stuffing the field with almost 11 men in between.
AGFC had fashioned a couple of long range drives for Vinicius Jr and Drogba but they'd been well of target.
Right at the end of the half, Lampard had thrown himself into another tackle but thankfully for him didn't make contact with Abedi Pele!
It did mean the Ghanian had a little bit of space to work in though... ball went in to Drogba who held off Jaap Stam masterfully...
He got it into Vinicius Jr who was too quick for Lahm... pulled it back at the byline....
OFF THE CROSSBAR FROM ABEDI PELE!
He started and almost finished that move! One moment of magic in that half from either team but as both teams walked off it was 0-0 on the night and that meant that Hunskelpers were 45 minutes away from the CL Draft Final!!
He said it was to be expected to continue for the second leg and backed his players to get the job done at the AG Arena. Full of confidence his captain Deschamps backed him up and also had some choice words for Messi saying that if he was a manager he wouldn't be bothered by Lionel Messi.
The AGFC manager raised an eyebrow in his press conference and said his players would do their talking on the field.
As for AGFC they'd have to reshuffle the line up due to the Rui Costa suspension. With a lot of questions for the manager about his relationship with Abedi Pele he fully admitted that they'd had a rocky road but in training he'd apologised to the Ghanian and said he wasn't familiar with his game but he was now.
This wasn't even covering the biggest story of them all... the fitness of Lionel Messi and David Beckham. The Englishman was more straight forward and after a couple of days in a dark room listening to the soothing melodies of his wife's music he'd shaken off his concussion symptoms and was ready to play!
Messi meanwhile was more mysterious... no-one knew how badly he was injured and AGFC staff had been seen carrying a box marked horse placenta into their training ground. Also there were even rumours he'd had electro-shock therapy.
The team sheets had everyone waiting in a state of hope and desperation. Training snaps had seen Pablo Aimar practicing with the starting XI which surely meant Messi would be out. Finally an hour before the game the news was out....
MESSI WAS STARTING!
The fans who'd got to the AG Arena well ahead of kick off let up a huge roar! Their star man was going to be playing!
In fact the only change for both teams was Abedi Pele coming in for the suspended Rui Costa.
Straight into the game and Hunskelpers were happy to sit on the defensive. In the last game of the regular season they'd held AGFC to a frustrating 0-0 draw at this ground so they knew what they needed to do.
Messi was welcomed to the game by a crunching tackle but any sign of lingering injury wasn't there and he was up on his feet. Lampard meanwhile was booked and had almost a whole 90 minutes to get through on a yellow.
Despite heading out AGFC were truly shackled by Hunskelpers. Deschamps was marking his former Marseille teammate Abedi Pele out the game and Messi wasn't getting the ball in good positions. He had to drop deeper and deeper to get involved but that just played into the Hunskelpers hands as they were stuffing the field with almost 11 men in between.
AGFC had fashioned a couple of long range drives for Vinicius Jr and Drogba but they'd been well of target.
Right at the end of the half, Lampard had thrown himself into another tackle but thankfully for him didn't make contact with Abedi Pele!
It did mean the Ghanian had a little bit of space to work in though... ball went in to Drogba who held off Jaap Stam masterfully...
He got it into Vinicius Jr who was too quick for Lahm... pulled it back at the byline....
OFF THE CROSSBAR FROM ABEDI PELE!
He started and almost finished that move! One moment of magic in that half from either team but as both teams walked off it was 0-0 on the night and that meant that Hunskelpers were 45 minutes away from the CL Draft Final!!
- Thread starter
- #23
Country: Wales
With just one to go before a place in the final neither manager decides to make a change to start off.
Almost immediately though Lampard is in trouble, ball is played into Messi who feints and rolls one way then the other...
Lampard pulls him down!! The AGFC fans are on their feet baying for Lampard to walk!
The referee isn't interested though!!
That looked a pretty cut and dry second yellow card there... but the referee said no! @bingobob has seen enough though and with Lampard surely on his last warning, Paul Pogba is subbed on as a pretty clear cut like for like replacement.
AGFC meanwhile make a change of their own and they're sacrificing one of their holding midfielders to get Pablo Aimar in the game and provide some more creativity.
They're ratcheting up the pressure and ten minutes in the ball is with Matthias Sammer just inside the Hunskelpers half. He carries the ball under little pressure and plays it to Aimar...
He's got Javier Zanetti up with him...
The right back takes one touch and tries to run Andy Robertson...
The Scot is up with him but can't stop the cross...
It's over almost everyone...
BUT NOT ABEDI PELE!!!! HE SCORES AN INCREDIBLE BICYCLE KICK!!!
THAT IS ONE OF THE GREATEST GOALS YOU WILL EVER SEE!
He's mobbed by his teammates before he can even stand up... 3-3 on aggregate and AGFC are going through as it stands!
Abedi runs up to his manager and he and an ecstatic @A_G hug it out.
The home side aren't settling on this though and minutes later they're on the charge again... it's a good ball to Messi from Zanetti again...
Robertson wards him off though...
He's forced inside... head up....
And curls an inswinger from deep towards the back post....
WHERE IT'S HEADED IN BY DROGBA!
Mr Semi-Final scores AGAIN to surely send AGFC through! 2-0 on the night and 4-3 on aggregate... now Hunskelpers have to find two goals in half an hour!
Again it's AGFC who are in the ascendency and Davids sends Vinicius scampering down the left... he cuts in....
Holds off Lahm...
Crosses towards Drogba again...
He absolutely dwarfs Deschamps with his leap...
AND HEADS IT ONTO THE POST!
Hunskelpers would really have been dead and buried if that goal went in!
AGFC are looking to attack again but there's an awful pass from the substitute Vidic and all of a sudden Hunskelpers have been gifted a 3 on 2...
Pogba has to make the right decision he--
OH HE'S BEEN PULLED DOWN BY SAMMER! WAS HE THE LAST MAN?
Sammer is pointing out to the ref who he thought was the covering defender...
BUT THE REF ISN'T INTERESTED AND SENDS HIM OFF!!
Now that changes everything... that two goal lead is all of a sudden very precarious with just over 20 minutes left.
@A_G has an eyebrow raised in shock as it's the second red card for his team in this semi final and even though VAR confirmed the decision it looks an absolute shocker...
Zanetti was clearly on the cover and no way Sammer was the last man! Still though even with super sub David Villa on the pitch the Hunskelpers aren't able to force the man advantage home...
Minutes tick by and all of a sudden the 4th official is putting up his board for added on time. AGFC are dying on their feet but they're now just 5 minutes away from the final!
It's now or never and Hunskelpers are sending everyone forward trying to try and find the net! Ball is with Beckham who plays a pinpoint switch out to Figo...
He stands over the ball facing down De Boer...
Here comes Lahm on the overlap...
De Boer moves to cover the run...
But Figo is off and has wrong footed him...
He needs to get a good cross in here...
Outside of the right boot....
Vidic gets a head on it....
BUT NOT ENOUGH TO STOP KANE TAPPING IN AT THE BACK POST!!
Vidic is screaming at the ref that he was fouled by Larsson but that was a really weak attempt at a clearance and a grateful Kane has pulled one back!
Now with 3 minutes to play it's 2-1 on the night and that means just ONE MORE GOAL will send the Hunskelpers through!
Time is running out though...
5 minutes has elapsed... the referee looks at his watch...
One last attack for the Hunskelpers...
Ball pumped into the box... header down from Larsson to Pogba...
AND HE'S FOULED!! FREE KICK JUST OUTSIDE THE BOX!
This is surely going to be the last kick of the game! There's a committee standing over the ball including Pogba and Figo for the Hunskelpers but there's only one man who's going to take this...
David Beckham steadies himself... if there's a free kick to send you to the final it's him you want taking....
ONE KICK TO DECIDE THE TIE!
Beckham steadies himself... the referee blows...
Up he steps....
Here we go...
It beats the keeper.....
AND HITS THE CROSSBAR!!!! SO UNLUCKY!
It's over for a goal kick and THE REFEREE BLOWS FOR FULL TIME!
Heartbreak for the Hunskelpers as Beckham has his head in his hands! That was a majestic free kick that if it was a centimetre or two lower would've sent his side through! Oliver Kahn watched it the whole way...
Nonetheless after surviving a crazy end to the tie it's AGFC who are through... the home crowd is going crazy in celebration and Abedi Pele celebrates arm in arm with his manager!
It finishes 2-1 on the night to AGFC with a final score of 4-4 on aggregate meaning AGFC go through on away goals!
Great tie both and comiserations to @bingobob for going out after a brilliant run but congratulations to @A_G
YOU'RE IN THE FINAL!
Almost immediately though Lampard is in trouble, ball is played into Messi who feints and rolls one way then the other...
Lampard pulls him down!! The AGFC fans are on their feet baying for Lampard to walk!
The referee isn't interested though!!
That looked a pretty cut and dry second yellow card there... but the referee said no! @bingobob has seen enough though and with Lampard surely on his last warning, Paul Pogba is subbed on as a pretty clear cut like for like replacement.
AGFC meanwhile make a change of their own and they're sacrificing one of their holding midfielders to get Pablo Aimar in the game and provide some more creativity.
They're ratcheting up the pressure and ten minutes in the ball is with Matthias Sammer just inside the Hunskelpers half. He carries the ball under little pressure and plays it to Aimar...
He's got Javier Zanetti up with him...
The right back takes one touch and tries to run Andy Robertson...
The Scot is up with him but can't stop the cross...
It's over almost everyone...
BUT NOT ABEDI PELE!!!! HE SCORES AN INCREDIBLE BICYCLE KICK!!!
THAT IS ONE OF THE GREATEST GOALS YOU WILL EVER SEE!
He's mobbed by his teammates before he can even stand up... 3-3 on aggregate and AGFC are going through as it stands!
Abedi runs up to his manager and he and an ecstatic @A_G hug it out.
The home side aren't settling on this though and minutes later they're on the charge again... it's a good ball to Messi from Zanetti again...
Robertson wards him off though...
He's forced inside... head up....
And curls an inswinger from deep towards the back post....
WHERE IT'S HEADED IN BY DROGBA!
Mr Semi-Final scores AGAIN to surely send AGFC through! 2-0 on the night and 4-3 on aggregate... now Hunskelpers have to find two goals in half an hour!
Again it's AGFC who are in the ascendency and Davids sends Vinicius scampering down the left... he cuts in....
Holds off Lahm...
Crosses towards Drogba again...
He absolutely dwarfs Deschamps with his leap...
AND HEADS IT ONTO THE POST!
Hunskelpers would really have been dead and buried if that goal went in!
AGFC are looking to attack again but there's an awful pass from the substitute Vidic and all of a sudden Hunskelpers have been gifted a 3 on 2...
Pogba has to make the right decision he--
OH HE'S BEEN PULLED DOWN BY SAMMER! WAS HE THE LAST MAN?
Sammer is pointing out to the ref who he thought was the covering defender...
BUT THE REF ISN'T INTERESTED AND SENDS HIM OFF!!
Now that changes everything... that two goal lead is all of a sudden very precarious with just over 20 minutes left.
@A_G has an eyebrow raised in shock as it's the second red card for his team in this semi final and even though VAR confirmed the decision it looks an absolute shocker...
Zanetti was clearly on the cover and no way Sammer was the last man! Still though even with super sub David Villa on the pitch the Hunskelpers aren't able to force the man advantage home...
Minutes tick by and all of a sudden the 4th official is putting up his board for added on time. AGFC are dying on their feet but they're now just 5 minutes away from the final!
It's now or never and Hunskelpers are sending everyone forward trying to try and find the net! Ball is with Beckham who plays a pinpoint switch out to Figo...
He stands over the ball facing down De Boer...
Here comes Lahm on the overlap...
De Boer moves to cover the run...
But Figo is off and has wrong footed him...
He needs to get a good cross in here...
Outside of the right boot....
Vidic gets a head on it....
BUT NOT ENOUGH TO STOP KANE TAPPING IN AT THE BACK POST!!
Vidic is screaming at the ref that he was fouled by Larsson but that was a really weak attempt at a clearance and a grateful Kane has pulled one back!
Now with 3 minutes to play it's 2-1 on the night and that means just ONE MORE GOAL will send the Hunskelpers through!
Time is running out though...
5 minutes has elapsed... the referee looks at his watch...
One last attack for the Hunskelpers...
Ball pumped into the box... header down from Larsson to Pogba...
AND HE'S FOULED!! FREE KICK JUST OUTSIDE THE BOX!
This is surely going to be the last kick of the game! There's a committee standing over the ball including Pogba and Figo for the Hunskelpers but there's only one man who's going to take this...
David Beckham steadies himself... if there's a free kick to send you to the final it's him you want taking....
ONE KICK TO DECIDE THE TIE!
Beckham steadies himself... the referee blows...
Up he steps....
Here we go...
It beats the keeper.....
AND HITS THE CROSSBAR!!!! SO UNLUCKY!
It's over for a goal kick and THE REFEREE BLOWS FOR FULL TIME!
Heartbreak for the Hunskelpers as Beckham has his head in his hands! That was a majestic free kick that if it was a centimetre or two lower would've sent his side through! Oliver Kahn watched it the whole way...
Nonetheless after surviving a crazy end to the tie it's AGFC who are through... the home crowd is going crazy in celebration and Abedi Pele celebrates arm in arm with his manager!
It finishes 2-1 on the night to AGFC with a final score of 4-4 on aggregate meaning AGFC go through on away goals!
Great tie both and comiserations to @bingobob for going out after a brilliant run but congratulations to @A_G
YOU'RE IN THE FINAL!
Country: Scotland
Well done Rex and AG 
