Division 4 round 2 round up

Afternoon lads, hope you all enjoying the start to the world cup, that match last night between Spain and Ronaldo was fantastic. Everything a world cup match needs. Just finished watching a poor French side who rode their luck against a spirited Australia.

Anyway on to the real football and the latest round up of the Division 4 action…SWANSEA 5 BOCA JUNIORS 1

The biggest win of thursday night was at the Liberty Stadium where Swansea ran riot against Boca. Adriano bagged the first of his brace after 12 minutes and there was no looking back after that. Just on 30 minutes Jimenez fired the swans 2 up after unselfish work from Seferovic. Jimenez was obviously eager to repay the assist and he only had to wait 5 minutes to square his debt, playing in Seferovic to fire past Moya into the top corner. The 2nd half continued in the same form, Radoja getting in on the scoring action just before the hour point of the game, firing home from a free kick just outside the box. Adriano then completed his brace flicking home from a Jimenez cross. That was Swansea done for the night and they allowed Boca a consolation goal through Mehmedi. A heavy defeat against their fellow relegated side will be a bitter pill to swallow for Golden Bear.

Espanyol continued their 100% winning start to the season with a comfortable win against Dinamo Zagreb. Lee Reynolds side needed just 4 minutes to take the lead through Teixeira from the spot after a harsh hand ball decision against Hallfredsson. The Croatians were clearly riled by the decision and took just 6 minutes to level things up, Alvarez firing home after great work from Mayoral. That was as good as it got for Jess Jobe’s side and Espanyol stepped up through the gears and were ahead 10 minutes from the break after a sublime Lima free kick. Dinamo’s task became harder after the break when Hallfredsson flew into a two footed challenge and was promptly shown a red card after 47 minutes. Arias completed the scoring in a one sided 2nd half playing a fine 1-2 with Teixeira and smashing home. 

Arguably the shock of the round came here as Celta Vigo maintained their own 100% record against Monaco. In a game that was evenly match for long periods Monaco, same as in week 1, found finishing their chances a real problem. Higuain had a fine match but again snatched at his chances that came his way. The game turned after a triple substitution on 75 minutes for Vigo, and a switch of formation which pushed Monaco deeper and came to fruition with 2 minutes left on the clock when Arnautovic cheekily finished Niederlechner’s wicked cross. A fine start to Division 4 for last season’s Division 5 champions. 

The only other 100% record left resides with Tom Parfitt’s Torino who many claim rode their luck in this win against Basel. In a match devoid of any real quality Torino snatched the 3 points with 11 minutes to go with their only shot on target, Extebarria doing all the hard work bringing the ball out of his own half and playing a devine ball through for Valeri who strode on to the ball and hit a quick snap shot at the near post which left Sirigu off balance and unable to shift his feet. 

Levante got their opening win of the season away in Greece. In a match which the Spanish side controlled the ball well they took the lead on 13 minutes and what a goal it was, Gignac dropped his shoulder and beat 2 men before laying the ball to Rafinha who smashed home from 30 yards out. Goal of the season contender for sure. Olympiakos were not without their chances though and were level through big Andy Carroll who showed he is just as good on the floor with a deft flick of his left foot finishing a Vela cross at the near post. The winner for Levante came on 67, Musa hitting a fierce dipping shot from just outside the box which left Mandanda grasping thin air. Chances came and went for both sides after but Levante held on for a fine away win. 

A fine 2-0 win for Cruzeiro maintained their promising start to the season under new boss Mr Ipswich, A great captains performance from Lucas Silva who led by example and was rewarded with 2 goals to boot. All the damage for Cologne was done early doors, Lodeiro playing in Silva after just 5 minutes who confidently finished well past Arrizabalaga. Just 17 minutes on the clock and it was 2, a foul from Vogt on the edge of the box was fully punished by Silva for his 2nd goal of the game as he blasted through a pitiful german wall to send the Brazilian crowd wild. A stunned Cologne only really threatened in the 2nd half but it was a comfortable win in the end for Cruzeiro. 

Both sides picked up their 1st point of the season in an even match at the Britannia Stadium. A dull first half provided little to warm the 26,321 fans on a cold thursday night. The match finally got going in the 2nd half and Stoke took the lead on 58 through Bou who was awarded far too much space by the Dnipro defenders in the box to take the ball down and finish Castillejo’s fine cross. It looked like that would be enough to see the home side take all 3 points until 2 minutes from time when the unlikely hero Javier Manquillo strode forward and spotted Zoet slightly off his line and expertly chipped him from 25 yards out. A fair point in the end. 

Aston villa will be the happier of the two sides taking a point home. A fine goalkeeping performance from Villa’s Strakosha helped keep Partizan at bay in the first half, saving well from Inui twice and Quagliarella before the break. Gray thought he had given villa the lead just after half time but his celebrations were cut short by the assistant’s flag and his misery was compounded on 65 minutes when he inexplicably elbowed Quagliarella right in front of the referee and received a straight red. The red actually fired Villa on though and 3 times Teodorczyk was denied late on. Both sides maintain their unbeaten record.

Warren Livesey will be wondering just how his Alkmaar side failed to win this game. From start to finish the dutch side showed more desire and imagination to win but were foiled by Fernandez in the home goal. Walter Gogh’s side were jeered from the pitch at the end of the game after failing to muster a shot on target in the whole match. However both sides maintain their unbeaten start to the season and will quickly, like the 40,000 in the Veledrome, want to move on from this game. 

The 3rd 0-0 draw of the round saw Mark Deadman pick up his 1st point as manager of Palace. In an even game both sides created chances but struggled to get many on target. The only real controversy came mid way through a tepid 2nd half when Ibisevic found the back of the net only for the goal to be ruled out for offside, A furious Ibisevic had to be restrained from confronting the assistant by his manager. Atalanta held for their 2nd successive draw to start the season. 

So there we have it, round 2 all completed which leaves 9 teams still unbeaten and Espanyol leading the table on goal scored from Torino. Boca Juniors the side at the bottom without a point so far this season. 

Thanks for reading and will update round 3 hopefully monday/tuesday.