LFL: ZAGREB
Zagreb were clearly the best side we’ve faced so far in this competition and though we looked better after the four substitutions at half-time, we never looked like winning this game. Poor defending, too many very bad passes and weak finishing all contributed to a very disappointing show.
Given our poor league form, I welcome this evening's match as a bit of light relief. Once again there should be a considerable amount of rejigging the starting-eleven and it was good to hear that Talbi is now in our Euro squad. Zagreb are currently second in their league and have averaged two goals a game so far so we'd better not gift them any chances like we have been doing. I'm back in London and will be watching the game in the company of other members of the London Branch. Match prediction: 2-1 to us.
I got to the bar just before 7.30, a bit later than usual, and there were already plenty of our fans there. As for team-news Roefs, Alderete, Xhaka, Rigg and Angulo were starting, as they did against Coventry, while Meunier, Danso, Methalie, Ahoka, Fofana and Isidor were also there. The bench was looking strong and included Talbi, Brobbey, Le Fee, Sadiki and Tutierov. There was a minute’s silence for Jesus Alameda who recently lost his life playing the game he loved. As the game kicked off there were around thirty of our fans in the bar and the atmosphere was buoyant. There was a good turnout in the Stadium by the looks of it.
THE MATCH
We had a shot on target in the fifth minute but Isidor’s rather weak effort was never going to trouble Kotarski in goal. In the ninth there was a bit of action up the other end when Meunier conceded a corner. Zagreb took it short and it ended with Misic lamming it well over the bar. Next thing we put together a pacy move down the right and from the cross Ahoka headed on target but again it didn’t really trouble Kotarski.
We were doing most of the attacking and I could see us getting something if we kept pressing down the right wing. The next chance fell to Isidor but he headed way too high. We had another chance in the twentieth from a free-kick in a good spot but the final ricochet came off Isidor’s private parts and not only did it not go in the net, it looked very painful for poor Wilson. Next thing, though, Zagreb were ahead and it came from a corner.
When it came over from our left, Stojkovic had plenty of time to chest it down and blast it into the net. A very good goal, I have to say, reluctantly. Shortly afterwards they almost had a second but thankfully Meunier was there to clear it off the line. There was much gnashing of teeth in the bar so I could imagine the feeling in the stadium.
Xhaka had to receive some treatment and then a Meunier cross came off the inside of their left post while Kotarski looked at sixes and sevens. There were moans from everyone around me as Isidor weakly passed the ball to Kotarski instead of blasting it. We were having a go and there was an hour or so on the clock so I wasn’t chucking the towel in by any means. Our passing was leaving a lot to be desired and then Danso was yellow-carded, though it seemed harsh. Zagreb were looking a cut above us when they felt like going forward and as half-time wasn’t too far away, I could see a change or two coming up then but in the thirty-ninth we were two down. A poor clearance from Danso in the box set up Zagreb and it culminated in Beljo chipping the ball over Roefs’ shoulder. Poor defending and good finishing. If we could pull one back before the break, we had a chance of a result but it was hard to see that coming as Zagreb looked composed at the back. Three minutes of added-time were announced and though we put some pressure on, no real chances were created. I could hear the boos in the crowd as the whistle went.
When we kicked off again, we’d made four changes bringing on Le Fee, Sadiki, Hume and Reinildo for Meunier, Ahoka, Rigg and Methalie. We soon had the ball in their net when Isidor headed in strongly from a free-kick on our left but the replays showed that we’d had several players offside so it was no surprise when the VAR check proved negative. We’d showed a lot more oomph at any rate. In the fifty-third Hume whipped in a low ball across their box but nobody was there to get on the end of it. Next thing Hume blasted in a strong effort following an attempt from Fofana but it was deflected for a corner, which came to nothing. In the fifty-sixth Isidor received another good low ball from the left but he just stroked it weakly wide of the mark. I hoped to see Brobbey on soon. We were really having a go at last and from a Xhaka free-kick a Reinildo effort was blocked by Kotarski and then Danso hit the woodwork. Zagreb still looked like they could get another if they upped the pace a bit but I reckoned we would get at least one back. There were cries of approval as we could see Brobbey warming up on the hour and he was applauded as he soon came on for Isidor. Brobbey had an attempt in the sixty-seventh and his stray boot caught Kotarski in the head but it wasn’t intentional.
So, as we entered the final quarter could we battle back for a draw? It was certainly possible as long as we got a goal quickly but Zagreb looked like they had one in them too if they pushed things a bit. We were certainly going for it and I could hear the home fans roaring us on. A low shot from Xhaka in the seventy-sixth had Kotarski diving at any rate. With ten minutes on the clock we had a shout for a penalty when Brobbey went down but nothing was given. Fofana hit a decent curling shot on target but again it was comfortably held by Kotarski. With five minutes to go and without the prospect of much added-time things were looking grim and on screen we could see home fans making for the exits.
There were long faces in the bar and among the fans on the screen as the time ticked away all too quickly. Four minutes of added time were announced and then we won a corner on the left but we made nothing from it. We got another corner right near the end but we failed to create anything from that as well and then the whistle went to boos coming from the stadium.
