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Tuesday 19 August 2014

Games of the Week #2 - 2014-15

This weeks' games of the week have are:

  1. AZ Alkmaar vs Ajax (Dutch Eredivise)
  2. Heart of Midlothian vs Hibernian (Scottish Championship)
  3. Toulouse vs Lyon (French Ligue 1)

AZ Alkmaar 1-3 Ajax
AFAS Stadion, Att: 16011

Both teams went into this one with 100% records but it was Ajax who struck first, as a quarter of a hour in, Schone's through ball to Klassen was enough to beat a weak AZ defence and to take the lead in the North Holland Derby. Five minutes later, AZ almost equalised as Tankovic's header was only a few inches wide. AZ finally equalised after half time, when a through ball from Tankovic found Berghuis on the 18 yard line and the Dutch Midfielder slotted home from 15 yards out. The men from Amsterdam took the lead again when Schone was allowed to run from the corner flag to the "D" outside the box unchallenged, this left him to slot home from 20 yards out. AZ threw the kitchen sink at Ajax, despite this late pressure, their fate was sealed in stoppage time when Icelandic striker Sigthorsson set up substitute Anwar El Ghazi who beat goalkeeper Alvarado from 20 yards out.

MoTM: Lasse Schone

Heart of Midlothian 2-1 Hibernian
Tyncastle, Att: 17280

The first Edinburgh Derby outside the top flight, was just like any other Edinburgh Derby. On the half hour mark, Danny Handling was taken out by Hearts goalkeeper Jack Hamilton inside the box and a penalty was awarded, but when the foul was scrutinised further, we can see that Hamilton got a touch of the ball. Liam Craig took the penalty and the woeful effort was about a yard wide of the right goals post. Hearts were denied a penalty of their own when Kevin McHattie was tripped inside the box by Lewis Stevenson but Willie Collum ordered play on. Ex-Dundee and Dundee United player Scott Robertson gave two rough tackles in 10 seconds, at the end of the half, the referee added him to his book after the second one. Jordan McGee had a crack at goal from 25 yards out was only 6 inches wide and was unfortunate not to have scored.

The end of the second half was most exciting part of the game, as with fourteen minutes left Sam Nicholson's shot from 30 yards beat Mark Oxley and ricocheted of the post into the net to give the home side the lead. It got worse for Hibs 4 minutes later when Scott Robertson brought down his ex-teammate Prince Buaben inside the box. He gave away a penalty and got himself a second yellow card and had to exit the pitch. Prince Buaben stepped up to take and slotted it into top-right corner. With two minutes left, Osman Sow had a moment of madness as he elbowed Michael Nelson.in the face and had to go off the park for violent conduct. Hibs, however clawed one back when Farid El Alagui lobbed the ball over Danny Wilson and powered the ball past Jack Hamilton. Stevenson and Walker had some afters in injury time but neither player was sent-off. 


Toulouse 2-1 Lyon
Stadium Municipal, Att: 13,283

Three Minutes, Toulouse could have taken the lead through Martin Braithwaite, as his shot from ten yards out was saved onto the post by Lyon goalkeeper Anthony Lopes.Toulouse took the lead seven minutes later, when a one-two between Jean-Daniel Akpa Akpro and Oscar Trejo, letting the former chip the keeper from 10 yards out, and really showing  the lacklusterness of the visiting defence. Toulouse made it two right on half time, as sneaky direct free-kick from Wissam Ben Yedder beat the wall and the keeper to sneak in at the front post. Fifteen minutes from time, some great Link-up play from Lyon allowed Lacazette in to score from 10 yards out and to bring Lyon back into the game. However, it was too little, too late as Toulouse held on for a win.

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