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Roma
|
4
|
Till,
Simon (3)
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Dundee
United
|
2
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Bernardo,
Mark
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Unlike previous games, this one had a frantic opening
with four goals in the first five minutes and all
six in the first half. Straight from the kick-off
Till received the ball and hit a speculative shot
from nearly the half-way line. Maik was caught cold
and could only push the ball into the roof of the
net. It was two-nil moments later as Simon skipped
past a couple of challenges on the left and hit a
low shot which trickled into the net again via Maik's
gloves.
Credit
to Dundee, who managed to even things up quickly.
Firstly Alex Hurley delayed his reverse pass perfectly
for the overlapping Sam V, whose cross was controlled
on Bernardo's thigh and volleyed past Thorben. Sam
V again provided the pass for the equaliser. Though
Mark's first effort was saved he made no mistake from
the rebound. There were two more goals left in the
half and both were scored by Simon. As Dundee appealed
that the ball was out of play on the right, Simon
advanced on Maik and calmly slotted the ball into
the corner. He completed his first-half hat-trick
by cutting in again from the right onto his favoured
left foot and smashing a low drive into the near corner.
Hardly a surprise that the second half couldn't live
up to the first in terms of goals, but there was still
plenty of action as Alex Hurley sent a left foot shot
over. Fabrizio then managed to hit the same post twice,
in between which Alex hit the crossbar and missed
a glorious chance from Sam V's pass. Simon finished
the game by taking the ball to the corner and running
down the clock and the score remained 4-2 to Roma
as the final whistle blew.
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Hamburg
|
1
|
Ivan
|
|
Roma
|
1
|
Rein
|
Missing quite a few regulars, Hamburg were underdogs
against a rampant Roma. Simon fired an early warning
but Barnard stood firm. Koty almost put through
his own net, but then the blues came into the game.
Gergely had two mazy dribbles down the right but
Ben and then Soma couldn't profit from the crosses.
A
quick break saw Hamburg take the lead as Leonard
cleared to Soma, who drew the last defender before
slipping the ball to Ivan. At full speed he took
one touch with his right and slipped the ball under
the oncoming Thorben with his left for an excellent
goal. The Reds' response was quick as Ricardo shot
over then Simon crossed to Till who volleyed left-footed
against the post and away.
After half-time the Red wave was relentless in their
search for a goal and only last-gasp defending and
Barnard in goal kept them at bay. Jelle was having
a great tussle with Simon but it was Till's corners
that provided the biggest threat, Fabrizio just
failing to direct one header goalwards. Till's long
cross nearly floated in, but Barnard somehow clawed
the ball out of the top corner and over the bar.
Rein then met Till's corner from the left with a
strong header, but Barnard again pulled off a great
save with Simon just poking the rebound over.
The
keeper could do nothing about Till's next effort,
though, as he hit a screamer which cannoned off
the underside of the bar, onto the line and out!
Just as it seemed they could hold on, the Blues
conceded with just seconds to go. Till hit a low
corner from the right. Fabrizio could afford to
miss his kick as Rein bundled the ball in from close
range.
Hamburg
will be kicking themselves about the lack of marking
as they snatched a draw from the jaws of victory...
a draw which felt more like a defeat.
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Hamburg
|
2
|
Leonard,
Soma
|
|
Dundee
United
|
0
|
|
A strange game, as once again the Tangerines came
away empty-handed despite having most of the possession
and chances. Soma provided a couple of pot shots
for the Blues, but the action was mainly at the
other end as Bernardo forced a good save and Sam
V could only find the side netting with his follow-up.
Adrian then had a shot saved by Barnard, before
Alex Hurley hit a low shot against the keeper's
legs and Jelle was there to scramble the ball away
for a corner.
The second half was all one way as Sam Maas found
Adrian on the right and his cross almost drifted
in, but Ivan somehow hooked the ball clear from
the goal line. Ivan then provided the spark which
changed the game as he found some space and hit
a left-foot shot which Maik could only parry into
Leonard's path, who made no mistake.
Dundee fought hard as Mark's long ball caused havoc
in front of Barnard as Alex and Bernardo tried to
force the ball home. Adrian then rolled the loose
ball into Mark's path and he lashed a 25-metre shot
which swerved towards the top corner, but unfortunately
came back off the crossbar and out.
The sucker punch arrived shortly after as Ben broke
through the middle and, with no defence in place,
calmy drew the keeper before unselfishly rolling
the ball to his left, leaving Soma the simplest
task of finding the empty net. Try as they might
it just wasn't Dundee's day as Bernardo, Sam V,
Sam M, Alex and Adrian all had efforts blocked or
saved and the back three of Kostya, Jelle and William
managed to hold out for a valuable victory.
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