Gareth Bale notches for Spurs in a 1-1 draw with LA Galaxy. Mauro Boselli is amongst the goals for Wigan, a solitary Grant Holt strike is enough for Norwich to see off Celtic, Jonathan De Guzman marks his Swansea debut with a superb free-kick, while Arsenal seal a late comeback to secure victory in Malaysia:
Malaysia XI 1 Arsenal 2
Arsene Wenger fielded a strong first XI for Arsenal’s match against a Malaysia XI, with first-team regulars such as Thomas Vermaelen and Mikel Arteta featuring from the off. With the likes of Robin Van Persie, Olivier Giroud and Lukas Podolski all staying behind in England to build up their fitness, Marouane Chamakh led the line and went close on a couple of occasions – as did Andre Santos, who was fielded in an attacking position, with Kieran Gibbs handed the left-back role. The humidity and difficult playing surface caused the Gunners problems and Wenger used the occasion to field plenty of his travelling party, making 10 changes at the break after his side went in 1-0 behind. Theo Walcott and Alex Song were amongst those handed game time in the second half, though the former was given just 35 minutes before making way for Thomas Eisfield due to fitness issues. Eisfield slotted home the equaliser with just three minutes remaining after good work by Nico Yennaris before Chucks Aneke grabbed the winner just prior to the final whistle.
Arsenal First Half: Mannone; Jenkinson, Vermaelen, Djourou, Gibbs; Diaby, Coquelin, Arteta; Gervinho, Chamakh, Santos
Arsenal Second Half: Mannone; Bartley, Miquel, Yennaris, Eastmond; Aneke, Alex Song, Oxlade-Chamberlain; Walcott (Eisfeld 80) , Afobe, Miyaichi
GW Micheldorf 1 Wigan 3
Roberto Martinez handed 22 players a run out in last night’s win in Austria. Last season’s great hope Mauro Boselli grabbed a goal and had an effort cleared off the line, with both his chances created by Jean Beausejour; at 5.5 in FPL, the latter is clearly continuing the form that saw him average 4 points per game in the second half of last season after arriving from Birmingham. Shaun Maloney also came in for plenty praise for his 45 minute display, while Victor Moses and Callum McManaman grabbed a goal apiece after coming on as subs after the break. In a night that also saw new signing Fraser Fyvie make a brief appearance in the second half, Moses continued to wreak havoc and created chances aplenty, with the Latics spurning four opportunities towards the end of the match and failed to produce the scoreline their dominance deserved.
Wigan First Half: Nicholls; Alcaraz, Caldwell, Mustoe; Stam, McCarthy, Gomez, Beausejour, Dicko, Maloney; Di Santo (Boselli 24)
Wigan Second Half: Nicholls; Golobart, Boyce, Lopez; Crusat, Jones (Fyvie),Watson, Redmond; McManaman, Moses; Sammon
Reading 0 Sheffield Wednesday 2
Brian McDermott trialled a couple of formations during last night’s 2-0 defeat in Portugal. The first half saw Reading line up in a 4-3-3 shape, with Garath McCleary afforded the most advanced central midfield role behind Jason Roberts and, in central defence, Adrian Mariappa partnered Kaspars Gorkss. Nicky Shorey was handed free-kick duties and had an effort tipped onto the bar, while McCleary was impressive is his new role – the summer signing was denied by a last-ditch tackle and almost teed up Simon Church for a chance to notch before the Owls took the lead with the last kick of the first half. McDermott rang the changes after the break and rolled out a 4-4-2, with Pavel Pogrebnyak handed his debut alongside Adam Le Fondre up front. The latter was the main goal threat in the second half; he had an effort disallowed for offside and went close on a couple of occasions – Jobi McAnuff and Pogrebnyak both almost notched, but Wednesday proved more efficient in front of goal and added a second near the end.
Reading First half : Andersen; Cummings, Gorkss, Mariappa, Shorey; Leigertwood, Tabb, McCleary; Church, Roberts, Hunt
Reading Second half: Andersen; Gunnarsson, Morrison, Pearce, Harte; Robson-Kanu, Guthrie, Antonio, McAnuff; Le Fondre, Pogrebnyak
Celtic 0 Norwich 1
Grant Holt grabbed the only goal of the game as Norwich picked up their first win under Chris Hughton. The Canaries boss kept with his 4-4-2 formation and started with Steve Morison and James Vaughan up top, after the latter grabbed a double in the previous match with Hertha Berlin. Steven Whittaker began the game at right-back but lasted just 23 minutes before being replaced by Russell Martin after picking up a knock, while Anthony Pilkington and Elliot Bennett were handed the wide roles. Both wingers impressed and were integral to their side’s attacking forays, while Vaughan again showed promise despite failing to find the net. Hughton made nine changes at half-time, bringing on Holt and Simeon Jackson as his front two, with the likes of Wes Hoolahan also afforded a chance to shine. Norwich continued to spurn their opportunities but, just as it seemed the match would end goalless, Holt sealed the victory on 89 minutes after a fierce drive from fellow-sub Jonny Howson was parried directly into his path by Hoops keeper Fraser Forster.
Norwich First Half: Ruddy; Whittaker (R. Martin 23), Ayala, Ward, Tierney; E. Bennett, Crofts, Johnson, Pilkington; Morison, Vaughan
Norwich Second Half: Ruddy; R. Martin, Barnett, R. Bennett, Lappin; Howson, Surman, Hoolahan, C. Martin; Holt, Jackson
Stoke City 1 Columbus Crew 2
Tony Pulis was left grasping for positives as Stoke were stung by a Columbus Crew comeback in the early hours of Wednesday morning. Jonathan Walters had given the Potters the lead form a Ryan Shotton assist, only for their US opponents to rally with two second-half strikes. Pulis certainly fielded an experienced lineup, with Peter Crouch and goalscorer Walters up front and a midfield four of Dean Whitehead, Wilson Palicios in the centre, with Matt Etherington and Shotton on the flanks. Jamie Ness was an impressive debutant at left-back but otherwise Pulis put out a first choice defence with Marc Wilson at right-back and Ryan Shawcross and Robert Huth paired in the centre. Asmir Begovic got the nod over Thomas Sorensen in goal for the first half, an indication that he perhaps holds the number one jersey right now.
Stoke Starting XI: Begovic (Sorensen 45), Wilson (Sidibe 70), Ness (Arismendi 70), Huth (Upson 65), Shawcross (Higginbotham 65), Whitehead (Wilkinson 45), Palacios (Tonge 60), Shotton (Delap 60), Etherington (Whelan 45), Crouch (Jones 60), Walters (Jerome 60)
LA Galaxy 1 Tottenham 1
Spurs were held to a 1-1 draw with LA Galaxy, after taking an early lead from a Gareth Bale header. The Welshman started the move and then converted a Gylfi Sigurdsson cross to hand Andre Villas-Boas’ side the advantage but Galaxy fought back and deserved a share of the spoils. Tottenham’s evening was blighted by two injury concerns: both Rafael Van der Vaart and Kyle Walker were forced off. Early indications are that Van der Vaart has suffered a groin injury having been withdrawn on 36 minutes, whilst Walker fell foul of a nasty collision with an advertising hoarding. Villas-Boas offered us this reassurance on the knocks…
“We are looking at three or four days for both, hopefully….Reassessment is always important, I wouldn’t like to extend myself without the knowledge of both injuries but Van der Vaart felt a little tight in his abductor and Kyle slightly in his ankle….But both should be back.”
Despite being withdrawn from the Great Britain Olympic squad, Bale took centre stage with his goal and performance – early indication that he could again continue to grow as an attacking force in this Spurs outfit. It should also be noted that Villas-Boas started both Van der Vaart and Sigurdsson, although the Icelandic midfielder was given a deeper role in the 4-2-3-1 formation, with Andros Townsend completing an attacking three behind lone striker Jermaine Defoe. In defence, there was a first start to new signing Jan Vertonghen who started alongside Younes Kaboul in the centre, while Sebastien Bassong started at left-back.
Tottenham Starting XI: Cudicini; Walker (Naughton, 65), Kaboul (Dawson, 65), Vertonghen, Bassong (Assou-Ekotto, 46); Livermore (Huddlestone, 74), Sigurdsson (Carroll, 76); Townsend (Lennon, 46), van der Vaart (Jenas, 36), Bale (Bentley, 74); Defoe (Kane, 65).
Portland Timbers 2 Aston Villa 2
Paul Lambert rolled out a 4-4-2 last night, with Brett Holman handed a starting role ahead of fellow new boy Matt Lowton on the right wing. With Darren Bent out for a fortnight due to a thigh problem, Nathan Delfouneso and Andreas Weimann took their places up front but it was Holman who offered the midlanders’ first threat. The Australian played in Stephen Ireland only for the effort to be ruled offside and also went close himself on a couple of occasions before Ciaran Clark nodded home just before the break. As the second half progressed, Lambert made as many as seven changes but, after Lowton had grabbed his first goal since joining this summer, the hosts pegged them back once again. Penalties then ensued after the 2-2 draw, with Brad Guzan the hero as the Villains ended their US tour unbeaten after triumphing 5-4 on spot-kicks.
Aston Villa Starting XI: Guzan; Lowton, Collins (Lichaj, 59), Clark (Baker, 67), Warnock (Stevens, 60); Holman (Johnson, 68), El Ahmadi (Gardner, 68), Bannan, Ireland (Carruthers, 68); Delfouneso, Weimann (N’Zogbia, 59).
Colorado Rapids 2 Swansea 1
Michael Laudrup fielded a different starting XI in each half of Swansea’s 2-1 defeat last night. The Dane handed Michu his debut – as we expected, the new boy played in “the hole”, with Leon Britton and Mark Gower sitting deeper in the central midfield. The Welsh outfit struggled to cope with the intense heat and were quickly two goals down and, while Danny Graham and Michu both came close to clawing back the deficit, Laudrup’s side went in goalless at the break. Swansea were a much-changed side in the second half, with only keeper Gerhard Tremmel remaining from the starting line-up – summer signings Chico and Jonathan De Guzman were afforded their debuts, with the latter playing a significant role in his side’s attacking forays. De Guzman has mainly been overlooked by Fantasy managers due to Michu’s goalscoring form in La Liga last season but the Dutchman served a reminder of his potential by lashing home an outstanding free-kick from 25 yards out. Handed set-pieces by Laudrup, he then almost created the equaliser – another set-piece fell to Alan Tate but a last-ditch block prevented Swansea from grabbing the equaliser their pressure perhaps deserved.
Swansea First half: Tremmel; Richards, Monk, Williams, Bessone; Britton, Gower, Michu; Dyer, Graham, Dobbie.
Swansea Second Half: Tremmel; Rangel, Chico, Tate, Davies; Agustien, Orlandi, De Guzman; Routledge, Lita, Moore.
