White Suburban Punk

More dropped points by Liverpool and now that’s seriously it — they absolutely must win each of their five remaining games to have any hope of finishing in the top four.  Liverpool deserved a better result in this game, especially after essentially dominating the second half.  The first half was rather ho hum, played at a slow pace with few chances either way.  Maxi Rodriguez drilled a shot that was tipped off the crossbar at 35 minutes and Birmingham had a chance a few minutes later, but that was it and it was 0-0 at half.

Steven Gerrard scored on one of his patented blasts a minute into the second half and Liverpool dominated possession after that, but a complete defensive breakdown led to a tie game.  Liam Ridgewell came in wide open, completely unmarked, fielded a cross and deposited it past Pepe Reina, who had no chance.  This kind of mistake has killed the Reds this year.

At 65 minutes, Rafa Benitez replaced a slightly bewildered Fernando Torres with David Ngog.  The cameras caught Gerrard with a confused look and a slight roll of the eyes at this seemingly bizarre move.  Benitez said after the game that Torres was exhausted, which was understandable after the beating he took in Portugal on Thursday.  In fact, the whole team looked exhausted.  Ngog missed two good chances in the last 25 minutes and Maxi also had a couple that were not converted.  Missed opportunities and a colossal mistake equal a draw and just one point.  Liverpool now trail fourth place Manchester City by four points and have played one game more.  Thursday they play Benfica and Sunday Fulham, both at Anfield.

Photo from The Guardian

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In honor of today’s national semifinals, here’s a story from 1999 about the classy Coach K and Duke “winning the right way,” by screaming at William Avery’s mother, “your son is going to f#$% my program!”

Here’s another story about Duke using an ineligible player in the Final Four, Corey Maggette, just like Memphis did with Derrick Rose.  Memphis’ records were erased by the NCAA, but for some reason, this hasn’t happened with Duke.

Don’t believe the hype.

10 man Liverpool lost in Lisbon to Benfica, 2-1, in the first leg of the Europa League quarterfinal.  Some truly unbelievable officiating sealed their fate.

Liverpool started strong, continuing their flowing play from last Sunday’s game against Sunderland.  At nine minutes, Steven Gerrard was taken down just outside the box and he cleverly grounded his free kick to a wide open Daniel Agger, who backheeled it into the net.  Liverpool had the all-important away goal and it forced Benfica to attack.  Coming into the game, Benfica was unbeaten at home in their last 25 games in all competitions, and although they created some quick, clever chances, it was all Liverpool for the first 15 minutes.

Things started to change as Benfica’s play got rougher and more reckless and they were not sanctioned by the official, Swede Jonas Eriksson.  Twice in the first 25 minutes Liverpool players were kicked in the head by wild Benfica players going after loose balls and neither resulted in a foul.  Then, at 30 minutes, Fernando Torres was slammed to the ground from behind by Luisao, who then went after Ryan Babel.  Babel tried to defend himself by putting out his hand to keep the thug away from him.  Shockingly, Luisao received just a yellow card and Babel was shown red.  So Babel was thrown out of the game after Torres was fouled.  Say what?  With Liverpool down to 10 men, Benfica realized that it was open season on Torres and began mugging him every time he came near the ball.  Incredibly, Torres scored at 37 minutes off a free kick, but the play was mysteriously ruled offside.  As the announcer said in his sing-song British accent, “it’s a very, very hostile atmosphere on the pitch at the moment.”

The perversion continued late in the first half when Emilio Insua, who was on a yellow card from a previous game, received another one for barely touching a Benfica player.  He is now suspended for the second leg next week.  Incredibly, Liverpool still led at halftime, 1-0, and I actually wrote in my notebook, “it’s looking like the ref will have to give some penalties for Benfica to get the win.”  That’s exactly what happened.

The attacks on Torres continued, and at 58 minutes, Benfica was awarded an extremely questionable free kick right outside the box.  The ball was drilled off the post and in the battle for the rebound, Benfica was incredibly awarded a penalty kick, apparently due to a phantom foul where a Benfica player dove to the ground near Insua.  The PK was converted by Oscar Cardozo to tie the game at 1-1, and then the crowd really started getting out of control, shooting fireworks at the Liverpool goal for the rest of the game.  A second PK was awarded and converted at 79 minutes off a handball from Jamie Carragher, and Torres was mercifully replaced at 82 minutes before he could be injured.  It’s incredible he lasted that long without getting seriously hurt.  After the game, I didn’t see any Liverpool players shake the hands of any officials, and Rafa Benitez blasted them after the game, but the result stands.  At least Liverpool got the away goal, they can’t take that away from them.  The return leg is Thursday, April 8.  Meantime, Liverpool play at Birmingham in the Premiership Sunday.

Photo from ESPN Soccernet