Yaya Toure is integral to City’s triumph over Arsenal as the Ivorian provides a goal and assist in the 2-0 win in Beijing. Danny Guthrie grabs Reading’s goal against Olhanense, Steven Taylor marks his comeback from long-term injury with Newcastle’s opener in the draw with Olympiacos, while Sunderland fall to defeat at the hands of local rivals Hartlepool after missing chances aplenty:
Arsenal 0 Man City 2
Arsene Wenger handed Gervinho a starting role through the centre in the Gunners’ front three, with Andre Santos once again playing as an attacking midfielder – Thomas Vermaelen was joined by fellow regulars Mikel Arteta, Alex Song and Theo Walcott from the off. For City, Roberto Mancini rolled out a 3-5-2 formation, with Aleksandar Kolarov and Pablo Zabaleta utilised as wing-backs; elsewhere, Yaya Toure started in midfield and Carlos Tevez again partnered compatriot Sergio Aguero up front.
Santos looked dangerous for the Gunners – he managed a couple of efforts and also teed up Walcott for a shooting chance, while Carl Jenkinson and Arteta both narrowly missed opportunities to score. Yaya Toure was wreaking havoc for City, bombing forward in support of the front pair – the Ivorian and Aguero were both denied by last-ditch tackles from the Gunners before Toure set up Zabaleta to fire Mancini’s men ahead just before the break. As the game approached half-time, City extended their lead – Kolarov’s cross was squared by Aguero for Toure to fire home.
The humid conditions hardly helped either team and the start of the second-half brought torrential rain and lightning for the players to contend with. Arsenal made eight changes and City replaced five of their players, but it was the Gunners who looked the more likely to score – City keeper Costel Pantilimon denied Gervinho, Kieran Gibbs and Chucks Aneke, while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain saw a drive beat the keeper only to rebound off both posts to safety. Aguero went close to adding a third but neither side were able to find the net as City clinched the Winoly Cup 2-0.
The most intriguing event took place post-match, however. Aside from revealing Vincent Kompany has a “slight problem” with his calf, Roberto Mancini also admitted he may roll out the 3-5-2 system on occasion next season – while this could boost the attacking prospects of the club’s full-backs, there’s no doubt Mancini’s penchant for rotation is always likely to frustrate Fantasy managers, regardless of his intentions:
I think this game can help me try different formations from time to time. It is good to have other options and things went well this evening so it maybe something we use again at certain times. We played a good game – it was an important win and a great performance against a very good side so I am happy with the way things went.
Arsenal Starting XI: Fabianski; Jenkinson(Eastmond 65), Vermaelen, Bartley(Miquel 46), Gibbs; Diaby(Coquelin 46), Song(Eisfeld 77) Arteta(Oxlade-Chamberlain 46); Walcott(Chamakh46), Gervinho(Aneke 65), Santos(Afobe 58)
Man City Starting XI: Pantilimon; Kompany, (Boyata 57), Savic, K Toure; Zabaleta, Biton, Y Toure (A Johnson 77), Razak (Suarez 88), Kolarov; Aguero (Lopes 90), Tevez (Evans 84)
Hartlepool 1 Sunderland 0
Martin O’Neill rolled out a 4-4-2 for the trip to rivals Hartlepool last night. Ryan Noble started alongside Connor Wickham up front, with Fraizer Campbell afforded a role on the right wing – Campbell’s delivery caused the hosts plenty of problems in the first-half but, with David Meyler unable to take advantage on a couple of occasions, the Black Cats went in at the break a goal down after Steve Howard netted within 10 minutes. O’Neill’s side took the game by the scruff of the neck in the second-half and laid siege to Hartlepool’s goal but were thwarted time and again by the heroics of keeper Scott Flinders. Wickham and Kieran Richardson both missed two opportunities, while Campbell – who had three real chances after the break – was denied by a superb point-blank save from just six yards out. With such an obvious lack of cutting-edge, it’s little wonder O’Neill has been talking up his desire to boost the club’s forward options for the season ahead earlier this week.
Sunderland Starting XI: Mignolet (Westwood, 46); Gardner, Kilgallon (Laing, 80), Bramble, Richardson; Campbell, Meyler, Cattermole (Knott, 80), Colback; R Noble, Wickham (Reed, 68).
SC Olhanense 1 Reading 1
Brian McDermott handed plenty of his squad a chance to impress in last night’s draw with Olhanense. The Royals boss started with two of his new signings in the first XI; Danny Guthrie took his place in central midfield, while Pavel Pogrebnyak was paired by Adam Le Fondre up front. At the back, McDermott began with last season’s first-choice defence; Chris Gunter missed out with a knock, while Nicky Shorey and Adrian Mariappa were handed sub roles on the hour mark. Reading created only two real chances in the first-half; Harte had a 30-yard free-kick saved before Guthrie highlighted why many Fantasy managers are eyeing up his cut-price potential with a smartly-taken goal to give his side the lead at the break. In an ill-tempered second-half, both Pogrebnyak and Simon Church were hauled back by debatable refereeing decisions when they looked set to extend Reading’s lead before Olhanense equalised after a dubious handball decision was given against Shorey. Guthrie showed further attacking intent by teeing up Noel Hunt but the Irishman fluffed his lines and the game finished all-square.
Reading Starting XI: McCarthy; Cummings, Gorkss, Pearce, Harte; Robson-Kanu, Guthrie, Leigertwood, McAnuff; Le Fondre, Pogrebnyak
Reading from 60mins: McCarthy; Gunnarsson (Cummings 77), Mariappa, Morrison, Shorey; Antonio, Guthrie, Tabb, Obita; Church, Hunt
Olympiacos 1 Newcastle 1
With another game on the Magpies’ agenda this evening, Alan Pardew started many of his squad players for last night’s match with Olympiacos. Only Tim Krul and Davide Santon were regulars last time round, though Steven Taylor made his comeback after a seven-month Achilles absence. Newcastle lined up in a 4-4-1-1 formation with Harris Vuckic playing in “the hole” behind Shola Ameobi and new boys Gael Bigirimana and Romain Amalfitano both starting in midfield. Santon – who played the entire match at left-back – set up Ameobi from a free-kick early on but the latter was denied by a superb Roy Carroll save in the opposition goal. Taylor gave his side the lead on 25 minutes after the Greeks failed to clear an Amalfitano corner and, while Gabriel Obertan’s creativity set up a couple of chances, the Magpies failed to convert and went in just 1-0 up at the break. The second half was devoid of much incident for Pardew’s side – despite being reduced to 10 men, Olympiacos showed some spirit to level on 79 minutes; three minutes later, Papiss Cisse had a point-blank effort saved and struck the post with his follow-up effort but the Magpies were unable to further breach their opponents’ backline. The game then went to penalties, where the rules of the mini-tournament meant each side was afforded only five spot-kicks apiece – both scored four times (Cisse, ironically, missed for Newcastle) and the game finished as a draw.
Newcastle Starting XI: Krul; Perch, S Taylor (Dummett 46), Williamson, Santon; Obertan (Sammy Ameobi 72), Bigirimana, Gosling (Abeid 36), Amalfitano; Vuckic; Shola Ameobi (Cisse 72)
Dynamo Dresden 3 West Ham 0
Sam Allardyce put out an almost full-strength lineup against their Bundesliga opponents but saw his side crash to worrying 3-0 defeat. This was the Hammers’ third setback in a troubled pre-season thus far. Significantly perhaps, Big Sam started with both Guy Demel and George McCartney in his backline, both budget players who are attracting interest from Fantasy managers. West Ham’s defending throughout the match, however, gives cause for concern with Allardyce surely looking to bolster his options in the remaining weeks prior to the season kick-off. The Hammers have the opportunity to revive their fortunes in Sunday’s clash with Energie Cottbus.
West Ham Starting XI: Jaaskelainen, Demel, O’Brien, Reid, McCartney, Noble, O’Neil, Nolan, Vaz Te, Taylor, Cole
