News
A tie against Liverpool
Published: 24-07-2008 11:01Following a good first half and a weaker second half Wisła Kraków drew a 1:1 tie against Liverpool in a friendly match held in Fryburg.
Liverpool played without their starting lineup. Among those absent was the star of the recent Euro Championship, Fernando Torres, as well as Steven Gerrard, who is currently suffering from an injury. Coach Maciej Skorża, just as he announced before the start of the match, fielded his strongest team.
Their titled opponents didn’t frighten Wisła’s players. As early as the 2nd minute of the match Arkadiusz Głowacki took a headshot on “The Reds’” goal, but Diego Cavalieri had no trouble catching the ball. Three minutes later Głowacki missed hitting the ball in the penalty area following a corner kick. Marcin Baszczyński stopped a threatening counterattack, but despite this fact, a minute later it was 1:0 for Rafael Benitez’s side. Andriej Voronin got a hold of the ball in the penalty area – Mariusz Pawełek managed to defend Voronin’s first shot, but was helpless when it came to the Liverpool forward’s second rebounded shot.
The White Star didn’t despair after losing a goal and quickly managed to even the score, demonstrating a nice combinational play in the process. In the 12th minute Rafał Boguski passed the ball to the right to Marcin Baszczyński, who ran into the penalty area and sent the ball over to Tomas Jirsak, just as he was running into the penalty area. The Wisła midfielder was left with nothing to do but direct the ball into the net.
Ten minutes later it could have been 2:1 for Wisła, but Marek Zieńczuk’s shot from the corner of the penalty area just minimally passed over the goal. Liverpool then executed a threatening counterattack, which should have ended in a goal. Following a mistake made by Wisła’s defense, Voronin found himself one-on-one against Pawełek, yet the White Star’s goalie managed to save the shot.
Fifteen minutes before the end of the first half Rafał Boguski added his name to the list of scorers with a headshot, but the referee called offside and the goal wasn’t recognized. Six minutes later a goalpost saved Rafael Benitez’s players from losing a second goal.
During the second half of the match Wisła’s pace markedly slackened. Rafael Benitez made as many as six substitutions, while a fatigued White Star, in whose ranks only one substitution was made after half time, didn’t play as well as they did in the first half. Despite this fact, the Cracovians created a good opportunity to take the lead in the 50th minute, but Paweł Brożek’s shot was too weak and “The Reds” goalie had no trouble catching the ball.
Liverpool had an opportunity to score a second goal in the 59th minute. Fabio Aurelio sent the ball from the left side of the penalty area to a running-in Benayoun, who’s shot was kicked clear from an empty goal at the last moment by Arkadiusz Głowacki.
Wisła could have guaranteed a victory for themselves in extra time. Patryk Małecki outplayed Insue on the right flank, but his shot was off target and missed Liverpool’s goal by a short distance.
Liverpool FC – Wisła Kraków 1:1 (1:1)
0:1 Voronin 6’
1:1 Jirsak 12’
Liverpool FC: Cavalieri (63’ Martin) – Darby, Carragher (46’ Skrtel), Agger (46’ Hyypia), Dossena (63’ Insua) – Benayoun (63’ Pacheco), Plessis (46’ Spearing), Leiva (46’ Mascherano), Leto (46’ Aurelio) – Voronin (71’ Hobbs), Babel (46’ Pennant)
Wisła Kraków: Pawełek – Baszczyński, Głowacki, Cleber (75’ Singlar), Piotr Brożek (71’ Niedzielan) – Boguski (79’ Małecki), Sobolewski, Cantoro (46’ Diaz), Jirsak (76’ Mączyński), Zieńczuk – Paweł Brożek (83’ Dawidowski)
Ania M.
Photo. Maks Michalczak
Press Office of Wisła Kraków SA
Their titled opponents didn’t frighten Wisła’s players. As early as the 2nd minute of the match Arkadiusz Głowacki took a headshot on “The Reds’” goal, but Diego Cavalieri had no trouble catching the ball. Three minutes later Głowacki missed hitting the ball in the penalty area following a corner kick. Marcin Baszczyński stopped a threatening counterattack, but despite this fact, a minute later it was 1:0 for Rafael Benitez’s side. Andriej Voronin got a hold of the ball in the penalty area – Mariusz Pawełek managed to defend Voronin’s first shot, but was helpless when it came to the Liverpool forward’s second rebounded shot.
The White Star didn’t despair after losing a goal and quickly managed to even the score, demonstrating a nice combinational play in the process. In the 12th minute Rafał Boguski passed the ball to the right to Marcin Baszczyński, who ran into the penalty area and sent the ball over to Tomas Jirsak, just as he was running into the penalty area. The Wisła midfielder was left with nothing to do but direct the ball into the net.
Ten minutes later it could have been 2:1 for Wisła, but Marek Zieńczuk’s shot from the corner of the penalty area just minimally passed over the goal. Liverpool then executed a threatening counterattack, which should have ended in a goal. Following a mistake made by Wisła’s defense, Voronin found himself one-on-one against Pawełek, yet the White Star’s goalie managed to save the shot.
Fifteen minutes before the end of the first half Rafał Boguski added his name to the list of scorers with a headshot, but the referee called offside and the goal wasn’t recognized. Six minutes later a goalpost saved Rafael Benitez’s players from losing a second goal.
During the second half of the match Wisła’s pace markedly slackened. Rafael Benitez made as many as six substitutions, while a fatigued White Star, in whose ranks only one substitution was made after half time, didn’t play as well as they did in the first half. Despite this fact, the Cracovians created a good opportunity to take the lead in the 50th minute, but Paweł Brożek’s shot was too weak and “The Reds” goalie had no trouble catching the ball.
Liverpool had an opportunity to score a second goal in the 59th minute. Fabio Aurelio sent the ball from the left side of the penalty area to a running-in Benayoun, who’s shot was kicked clear from an empty goal at the last moment by Arkadiusz Głowacki.
Wisła could have guaranteed a victory for themselves in extra time. Patryk Małecki outplayed Insue on the right flank, but his shot was off target and missed Liverpool’s goal by a short distance.
Liverpool FC – Wisła Kraków 1:1 (1:1)
0:1 Voronin 6’
1:1 Jirsak 12’
Liverpool FC: Cavalieri (63’ Martin) – Darby, Carragher (46’ Skrtel), Agger (46’ Hyypia), Dossena (63’ Insua) – Benayoun (63’ Pacheco), Plessis (46’ Spearing), Leiva (46’ Mascherano), Leto (46’ Aurelio) – Voronin (71’ Hobbs), Babel (46’ Pennant)
Wisła Kraków: Pawełek – Baszczyński, Głowacki, Cleber (75’ Singlar), Piotr Brożek (71’ Niedzielan) – Boguski (79’ Małecki), Sobolewski, Cantoro (46’ Diaz), Jirsak (76’ Mączyński), Zieńczuk – Paweł Brożek (83’ Dawidowski)
Ania M.
Photo. Maks Michalczak
Press Office of Wisła Kraków SA
