[lfc-news] Boro report - PA

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PA Sport, 20 Nov 2004
Middlesbrough 2 Liverpool 0

Bolo Zenden's fifth goal in six games kept Middlesbrough's Champions League
charge on track as toothless Liverpool wilted at the Riverside Stadium.

The Dutchman fired home from Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink's 62nd-minute pass to
seal the victory after defender Chris Riggott had put the home side in
front nine minutes before the break to help the Teessiders extend their run
to seven games without defeat in the Barclays Premiership.

It was a win their performance richly merited as they broke down an
initially resilient Reds side, but one which lacked the firepower to
trouble them at the other end.

With Djibril Cisse out for the rest of the season with a broken leg and
Milan Baros sidelined for a month with a hamstring injury, Rafael Benitez
went into the game with a major headache over who to play up front.

His decision was to ask Australian Harry Kewell and Spaniard Luis Garcia to
do the job, and it was not one which paid dividends.

Luis Garcia did have the ball in the net with 39 minutes gone, but from an
obvious offside position, while Kewell spooned one effort high over the bar
and saw a second-half header superbly saved by Mark Schwarzer.

Boro will head into Thursday night's UEFA Cup clash with Villarreal on a
high, while their opponents face a major test against Monaco two days
earlier in some disarray.

Liverpool, despite playing some very neat football, rarely threatened with
any conviction, although for half an hour, nor did their hosts as the
visitors got men behind the ball in regimental fashion.

However, as the first half wore on, the Teessiders started to make their
presence felt and could have gone in at the break with a commanding lead.

Full-back Franck Queudrue missed his kick in front of goal and Hasselbaink
saw a shot on the turn blocked at point-blank range by Chris Kirkland, but
Boro finally got their noses in front with 36 minutes gone.

Winger Stewart Downing took a throw-in to Zenden and when the ball was
returned to him, sent in a dipping cross which the unmarked Riggott slammed
home from inside the six yard box to open the scoring.

Luis Garcia's strike three minutes later, despite being ruled out, served
as a warning, but the home side could have increased their lead on the
stroke of half-time.

Mark Viduka was loitering with intent on the edge of the Liverpool penalty
area when a series of ricochets presented him with the ball at his feet in
space.

The striker turned and took aim, but fired agonisingly wide with just
Kirkland to beat to let the Reds off the hook.

Liverpool returned significantly earlier than their opponents for the start
of the second half, and with Steven Gerrard warming up on the touchline,
the mood of the travelling supporters improved markedly.

And they might have had something to cheer on 48 minutes, but for the
heroics of Australian 'keeper Schwarzer.

Xabi Alonso's deep free-kick found Kewell unmarked at the far post and his
downward header looked to have caught his compatriot on the wrong foot.

However, Schwarzer managed to throw out a hand and deflect the ball just
around the post.

The game was starting to open up as the visitors in more adventurous mood,
and Downing almost cashed in with 54 minutes gone when he stepped inside
full-back Josemi only to drag his right-foot shot wide.

Gerrard's introduction as a replacement for Dietmar Hamann came two minutes
later, and he almost did the trick within seconds.

His free-kick was cleared by Viduka at the far post, but only as far as
Luis Garcia, and he smashed a volley just wide.

Ray Parlour did almost the same at the other end after a Downing free-kick
was cleared to him minutes later, but Boro did not have to wait too long
for their second goal.

Downing picked off a loose ball and found Hasselbaink, and he waited for
Zenden's run before sliding him in to claim his fifth goal in six games.

Jamie Carragher in particular was furious the flag had not gone up and may
well have had a point, but referee Steve Bennett would have none of it.

Liverpool were starting to crumble as Downing in particular got the bit
between his teeth to such an extent Josemi was withdrawn with 20 minutes
remaining.

However, his replacement, Florent Sinama-Pongolle, might have dragged his
side back into it with 18 minutes remaining when Kewell diverted the ball
into his path in front of goal only for Gareth Southgate to get in an
important touch.

Kewell fired wide after running on to Sami Hyypia's long ball and rounding
Schwarzer, but there was simply no way back, and Luis Garcia's 89th-minute
miss after being played in by Gerrard summed up his side's afternoon.

Middlesbrough: Schwarzer, McMahon, Riggott, Southgate, Queudrue, Parlour,
Boateng, Zenden (Nemeth 89), Downing, Viduka, Hasselbaink (Job 86)
Subs not used: Nash, Doriva, Cooper
Booked: Southgate, Boateng, Zenden
Goals: Riggott 36, Zenden 62

Liverpool: Kirkland, Josemi (Sinama Pongolle 70), Carragher, Hyypia,
Traore, Finnan, Hamann (Gerrard 56), Alonso (Biscan 83), Riise, Luis
Garcia, Kewell
Subs not used: Dudek, Mellor
Booked: Josemi, Hyypia

Att: 34,751
Referee: S Bennett (Kent)


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