[Liverweb] Luton Town Match Report

Liverweb FA Cup Match Report

Luton Town 3 Liverpool 5

Liverpool : Carson, Finnan, Riise, Carragher, Hyypia, Gerrard(C), Kewell,
Alonso, Sissoko, Cisse, Crouch

Subs Used : Pongolle for Sissoko (56), Kromkamp for Crouch (78), Warnock
for Cisse (88)

Subs Unused : Reina, Hamann

Att : 10,170

Ref : M.Clattenburg

The Reds made it to round 4 but they really had to dig deep to win this one
After taking a lead they were 3-1 down at one point before Sinama-Pongolle
changed the game and the Reds ran out 5-3 winners. This was simply a superb
game for the neutral to watch because it had everything including a goal by
Alonso in his own half.

Luton got the game underway at Kenilworth road and unlike eighteen years
ago this one was on grass. The home side started well and look a good side
who may well get to the Premiership one day soon if they play like this
every week.

The first chance for the Reds was on seven minutes when Cisse threatened to
burst through on goal. It was cleared for a corner kick though which
Gerrard swung to the back post. It fell for Hyypia but his shot blazed
across goal and out. Just three minutes later at the other end Carson was
alert and out quickly to clear danger as Luton had the Reds' back line at
sixes and sevens.

Carson was again involved a minute later as he was forced to save a volley
from Rowan Vine. On sixteen minutes he Reds took the lead through Gerrard.
Cisse collected a ball on the right and crossed to Crouch. When Crouch
couldn't find space though he pushed the ball back to Cisse who played it
inside to Gerrard. Standing on the edge of the area he curled a great shot
past Beresford. Little celebration from Gerrard though as the Reds were now
in the lead.

Harry Kewell went close on nineteen minutes but his shot across the keeper
also went just across the goal as well. Momo Sissoko picked up a booking on
twenty four minutes as he brought his man down just after the ball had
gone. It was tight call but just late.

Luton hadn't let their heads drop at 1-0 though and were still pushing on
well. On twenty five minutes Carragher was dragged wide but couldn't
prevent the cross coming in. In the middle of the box Howard was unmarked
but thankfully slipped trying to get his foot around the ball. He had no
such problems on thirty one minutes though as he equalised. He broke the
offside trap and despite a good attempt by Carson to get the ball Howard
danced around him and finished really well to send the home crowd barmy.

The goal really got Luton going as well and they pushed on well. The Reds
simply were getting over run at times and Luton tried to take full
advantage. On thirty nine minutes Finnan headed off the goal line from a
header and the next corner saw the Reds scramble like mad to get rid of the
ball. The back line just didn't look at all comfortable.

On forty two minutes Carson was down well to save a shot from Carson and
Riise was back well to clear the loose ball away. Just a minute later
though and the Reds were behind. A ball played in to Robinson from the
right wing started it. Robinson turned on a sixpence though in the area
leaving Carragher for dead before he shot across and past Carson. The home
crowd was delirious and sensing an upset now. Half time simply couldn't
come quick enough for the Reds.

No changes came at half time and he Reds got it started again. The Reds
raced straight up the pitch and created a chance. Kewell tried to lob the
keeper but at full stretch he managed to tip the ball over the bar. The
Reds were trying t push a higher line now and it showed. On forty eight
minutes Kewell was played in around the back and as he approached the
keeper he played Gerrard in with an open goal. As Gerrard was about six
yards out and trying to get to the ball to finish he was bundled over.
Penalty! This was given but very strangely no card was shown. This was a
Red card offence for sure. Cisse spotted the ball up and took the kick only
to see Beresford go the right way and make a great save.

Just four minutes later and that miss looked to be costly when Luton were
awarded their own penalty. Hyypia lost the ball to Vine just inside his own
half and the Luton striker raced through. At the edge of the area he was
challenged by Carson. Vine went down but Riise was getting back to the goal
line. Again a penalty was awarded and this time Carson was yellow carded.
Luton took the penalty and despite Carson diving the right way they scored
for a 3-1 lead and the chants of Easy followed from the home crowd.

This was serious stuff now and you feared another exit from the Cup now.
There was plenty time though and we had to up the tempo. Pongolle came on
for Sissoko and this changed the whole game. Momo hadn't been great in the
centre on the day and Gerrard moved inside allowing Flo to go up front and
Cisse pulled out wide.

On sixty two minutes Pongolle turned the game on its head. Gerrard picked
his run out well and Flo did the rest by finishing past Beresford really
well. Game on at 3-2 now and the Reds had to stick to what they were now
doing. This was the first time they had really starting passing the ball
around.

The chances soon followed for the Reds as they pushed forward. Cisse saw a
header go wide and then he hit a volley in to the side netting. Then on
sixty eight minutes it was all square. Alonso picked the ball up in
midfield and looked to shoot. Under challenge he hit a looping ball over
Beresford and in to the back of the net. A superb strike and who knows how
he got so much spin on the ball but it was in and plenty time to march on.

It took just five more minutes for the Reds to take the lead. For one of
the first times Finnan got down the right side and managed to cross in from
there and Pongolle jumped superbly and headed even better past Beresford
who was left standing.

Jan Kromkamp came on for his debut on seventy eight minutes. He replaced
Crouch for the Reds and played right midfield as Cisse went back up front
again with Pongolle. It became very end to end stuff now. Luton made a
double switch which meant they had four strikers on and they looked to put
the Reds under pressure. Carragher was back well on eighty two minutes to
poke the ball back as Luton threatened to burst through.

Riise saw a shot well saved by Beresford as it swerved through the air on
target. Time was starting to tick down now and the Reds were under the cosh
a bit as Luton threw everything in to getting a replay. They probably
deserved that on the day but it wasn't to be. Warnock replaced Cisse for
the last two minutes of the game and slotted in at left back allowing Riise
forward.

Gerrard had a couple of chances late on but didn't take advantage of either
of them and as full time approached Luton attacked one last time. Finnan
was forced to clear a bouncing ball in the area for a corner. Luton threw
everyone in to the box including the keeper to try and score. Their corners
had been superb all day and a lesson for the Reds really in to how to cause
problems with a corner kick.

The corner was cleared by the Reds and Alonso picked it up five yards
outside his own area. After he skipped around the keeper he looked up and
despite screams from Gerrard for a pass, Alonso struck the ball from about
sixty yards towards the Luton goal. The direction was spot on and the ball
had enough weight on it as well. Five goals to tree and this was finally
game over.

This for the neutral was simply a superb game and had a huge scare for the
Reds before they fought back to win it. Pure entertainment! However from a
Reds point of view this was awful if we're honest. Luton played some good
stuff and put us under pressure but a few players seemed to think when we
went one up that it would be a stroll. The celebration from Gerrard when
you see it had the air of this is going to be easy after all. Huge credit
to Luton for pushing this all the way and they deserved something out of
this. The Reds simply didn't track their players down well in the first
half especially and it was only the introduction of Pongolle who rescues
this for the Reds. Don't forget this isn't the first time Pongolle has done
this either - Olympiakos anyone?

MotM : Florent Sinama-Pongolle - he may have played less than half of the
game but he turned this one on it's head. He came on at three one down but
within seventeen minutes we were 4-3 up. He had purpose about him and it
changed the way the Reds were playing completely.

Match Stats
Luton - Liverpool
47% Possession 53%
8 Shots On Target 8
2 Shots Off Target 12
0 Blocked Shots 0
7 Corners 5
15 Fouls 7
3 Offsides 6
1 Yellow Cards 3
0 Red Cards 0

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Choose from Each season and see all those pre-season friendlies and
testimonials as well as team photos and league and cup results

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mail me back and ask me.
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