I originally planned to keep this as part of the FA cup roundup, but since I actually watched this game I want to talk about it now. I'll roll it into that post when the whole round is over.
Landon Donovan showed that he is every bit as good as Clint Dempsey today in the meeting between Everton and Fulham at Goodison Park in the fourth round of the FA Cup. Assisting from the right wing with both feet, the Los Angeles Galaxy captain is proving to his detractors that he has what it takes to succeed in the Premier League.
Fulham took an early lead from a penalty earned after a John Heitinga handball in the box. Heitinga slid across to block (successfully) but the deflection went straight into his raised hand, and Danny Murphy slotted it past Tim Howard in the 14'. Everton drew level as Donovan received the ball down the right flank, then cut back inside onto his left foot and put a pinpoint cross onto Denis Stracqualursi's forehead, which he diverted inside the far post just before the half hour. They took the lead off the American's right foot as his cross found Marouane Fellaini in the 73', which he headed back across goal over a diving David Stockdale.
The game was pretty chippy, with a lot of restarts and fouls. Clint Dempsey's name is conspicuously absent from the above paragraphs, as he had a pretty subdued game today, drifting in and out of the match. Part of this was due to Everton's relative dominance and Fulham's poor attacking form today. Dempsey did get involved later in the match as he dropped deeper and deeper to help win the ball and develop the attack, gaining the usual pound of dirt on his kit and a yellow card for his efforts. Neither team played particularly beautiful football, though Everton was much better in gradually building up play and putting themselves in dangerous positions. Fulham was poor in build up as well as off the break, and likely would have lost by more if not for some great saves from Stockdale.
No comments:
Post a Comment