NEWS-FINANCE -QUOTE-EDUCATIONAL AND MOTIVATIONAL
Key events
I don’t know why teams touch these free-kicks to the taker, allowing the defenders amblocked on the goalline to launch themselves at it. Just welly it goalwards and hope it goes in off somebody, surely?
An interesting thing! McGregor’s back-pblock bounces over Schmeichel’s head, and forces the keeper to use his hand to stop it crossing the line. Kairat will therefore have an indirect free-kick on the six-yard line.
The players are back out for the second half. No substitutions have been made.
Joe Pearson has filed a half-time match report: “As a retired football fan in central Indiana, I always enjoy the opportunity to watch an early afternoon weekday match,” he enthuses. “But. This match is dire. I feel I have made a bad life choice.”
Half time: Kairat 0-0 Celtic
Still no sign of a goal in this tie, but the two teams now have 15 minutes to come up with a plan to create one.
There will be one minute of first-half stoppage time. That Forrest header remains the only effort on target.
You may be wondering what exactly happens if this tie remains level on aggregate at the end of this second leg. And I have an answer! It follows the Champions League knockout system, so is exactly the same in format as the knockout matches at the sharp end of the competition will be come next April and May. Here’s the relevant bit of the tournament regulations:
Article 21 Knockout system, extra time and penalty shoot-outs
21.01 For matches played under the knockout system, if the two teams involved in a tie score the same number of goals over the two legs, two 15-minute periods of extra time are played at the end of the second leg. The team that scores more goals during extra time qualifies for the next stage. If both teams score the same number of goals or no goals are scored during extra time, a penalty shoot-out determines which team qualifies for the next stage.
21.02 If extra time is required, there is a five-minute break between the end of normal time and the start of extra time. As a rule, the players remain on the field of play during this five-minute break, at the discretion of the referee.
21.03 Penalties are taken in accordance with the procedure laid down in the IFAB Laws of the Game.
The game has developed into something more interesting, a little more plump with potential. By which I mean, the ball is spending much more time in the vicinity of penalty areas than it did in the opening 20 minutes. Celtic are currently preparing to send it into one of them, from a free-kick on the right.
And one for Celtic moments later! Hatate crosses, Forrest heads goalwards, and Anarbekov turns over the bar! It was a good header, plenty of power on it, but right down the middle of goal and the keeper only needed to fling up a hand.
Chance for Kairat! But Schmeichel saves! And Ricardinho is miles offside anyway!
This game has not been hugely intense so far. Kairat just worked a decent crossing chance on the right, but Tapalov did not produce a decent cross.
The Celtic game has started, and after seven minutes the score remains very much 0-0 (Kairat have had the only shot so far, not on target). The teams look something like this:
Kairat Almaty: Anarbekov, Mrynskiy, Sorokin, Martynovich, Mata, Glazer, Tapalov, Arad, Gromyko, Jorginho, Ricardinho. Subs: Kalmurza, Kasabulat, Kurgin, Sadybekov, Baybek, Shirobokov, Stanojev, Gadrani, Bekbolat, Tuyakbayev, Bagdat, Reimov.
Celtic: Schmeichel, Ralston, Carter-Vickers, Scales, Tierney, Nygren, McGregor, Hatate, Yang, Maeda, Forrest. Subs: Sinisalo, Doohan, Simpson-Pusey, Idah, McCowan, Yamada, Osmand, Kenny, Engels, Bernardo, Murray, Donovan.
Referee: Maurizio Mariani (Italy).
Hello world!
And so another day draws towards a close. Here’s a little summary of what this fine August Tuesday has brought us so far:
1) The Manchester United badnewsometer has swung once again towards 11, what with this:
And also this:
With a side order of this:
2) A bit more transfer news courtesy of Jacob Steinberg, who says West Ham are hunting Monaco’s 21-year-old midfielder Soungoutou Magblocka.
3) That Rio Ngumoha is a bit special is he not?
4) David Squires has had his pencil set out again:
5) Max Rushden has guided the Football Weekly panel through a breathless, hugely entertaining and sometimes bizarre discussion of a breathless, hugely entertaining and sometimes bizarre football match, and the result is here:
And now, on with the evening! We’ve got three Champions League play-off fixtures to look forward to tonight, being as follows:
***Potential humiliation klaxon*** Kairat v Celtic (1st leg score 0-0, 5.45pm BST kick-off)
Pafos v Red Star Belgrade (2-1, 8pm)
Sturm Graz v Bodo/Glimt (0-5, 8pm)
And also a bumper 19 Carabao Cup games (7.45pm BST kick-off unless stated):
Accrington Stanley v Doncaster
Barnsley v Rotherham
Birmingham v Port Vale
Bournemouth v Brentford
Bromley v Wycombe
Burnley v Derby
Cambridge Utd v Charlton (7.30pm)
Cardiff v Cheltenham
Millwall v Coventry
Norwich v Southampton
Preston North End v Wrexham
Reading v Wimbledon (7pm)
Sheff Wed v Leeds (8pm)
Stoke v Bradford
Sunderland v Huddersfield
Swansea v Plymouth
Wigan v Stockport County
Wolverhampton v West Ham (7.30pm)
Burton Albion v Lincoln City
There are also some Scottish Challenge Cup games, one FA Cup preliminary round replay, and the potential for other unscripted excitement. Strap yourselves in, it’s going to be a cracker*!
* cracker not guaranteed. Your statutory rights are unaffected
