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Tuesday 27 May 2014

TEAMtalk Soccers: Game of the Season

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Joe Urquhart continues the 2014 TEAMtalk Soccers ceremony by handing out the award for the Game of the Season.


The 2013-14 season was one of the most exhilarating and entertaining in recent memory.


The Premier League title race once again went to the final day, the Capital One Cup final swung one way and then another, and the FA Cup final went to extra-time after the underdog looked set to slay the giant.


Here are the games that you, our loyal readers, voted the most memorable of the past nine months.


5. Manchester City 4 Manchester United 1, September 2013:



At number five is the Manchester derby from September. This was arguably David Moyes' first real test as United boss - and oh how he failed.


Having previously lost 1-0 to Liverpool in the weeks before, as well as drawing 0-0 against Chelsea at Old Trafford, the United faithful were keen for a positive result against their rather loud 'noisy neighbours'.


However, Sergio Aguero made easy pickings of the ageing United backline to put City ahead on 16 minutes with a magnificence volley, an early blow that must have had even the most hardened United fan reeling.


So, when Yaya Toure put City 2-0 up on the stroke of half-time, you couldn't help feel that this was the changing of the guard in Manchester.


Sixty-one seconds into the second half maybe Moyes himself realised this too, Aguero again drifting into the box unmarked to ease the ball past a frantic David de Gea to put the hosts three goals to the good.


The rout was completed just three minutes later as Samir Nasri slotted home from six yards out. City didn't just have United on the ropes; they had them on the deck with the referee counting to 10.


A late but brilliant free-kick from Wayne Rooney gave United little consolation as they had been well and truly outplayed by their City rivals, from start to finish City outclassed Moyes' side in every aspect.


Hindsight is a wonderful thing - we now know the struggles that United faced under Moyes in the coming months - but this particular game, more than any, epitomised the Scot's time at Old Trafford.


Lots of misery followed by the slight glimmer of hope that something, maybe something could be done to right the wrongs in the red half of Manchester.


4. Arsenal 3-2 Hull City, May 2014:



Saturday, May 17, Wembley Stadium. The day Arsenal fans had been dreaming of. Nine long years since their 2005 FA Cup triumph over old foes Manchester United.


With haunting memories of the 2011 League Cup final against Birmingham City, Arsenal fans must have been wary the threat a strong Hull City side possessed. And when James Chester reacted quickly to divert Tom Huddlestone's wayward volley into the Arsenal goal after four minutes Gunners fans must have been thinking the worst.


If Arsenal fans were thinking the worst then, lord knows what they made of what happened four minutes later as Curtis Davies was given the freedom of the Arsenal box to place the ball calmly past the onlooking Lukasz Fabianski.


Arsenal were in deep trouble and after only just eight minutes. The hoodoo had seemingly struck again - and this was supposed to be their year, the year they finally reclaimed some long-awaited silverware which many Arsenal fans young and old had been drooling over.


However, Santi Cazorla's stunning set-piece after 17 minutes sparked a historic comeback for the north London club at the home of English football. Cazorla's delightful curling strike evaded the scrambling Alan McGregor and gave Arsenal a glimmer of hope. Maybe, after all, there was something in the Wembley air for Arsenal.


Arsenal probed and pressured Hull City's defence but the long-awaited equaliser did not come until 19 minutes from time from an unlikely source as Laurent Koscielny tapped home from close range to haul his side level.


Full-time came and went with the two sides locked at 2-2 apiece, and extra-time was a nervy affair with neither side wanting to make that fatal error that could cost their team dearly.


Finally, and fittingly, the comeback was completed by arguably Arsenal's player of the season, Aaron Ramsey, as he rifled home a well-struck shot from a brilliant Olivier Giroud back heel - sparking scenes of delirium amongst the Arsenal fans. They had finally done it.


3. Real Madrid 3 Barcelona 4, March 2014:



Often, El Clasico is...well, shall we say, not exactly a classic, but this time boy did it deliver.


In recent times this fixture has had a bad rap for the play-acting, feigning injury etc. but these two Spanish giants don't half produce a good game when they try and play football.


An early strike from Andreas Ineista after seven minutes brought the game to life. This season Barcelona have been, well, very un-Barcelona like. So perhaps it was a slight shock when the Catalans struck first.


However, Real Madrid were not about to lie down in their own backyard after 17 straight wins at the Bernabeu, and a quick-fire double from Karim Benzema after 24 minutes turned the game on its head.


A game that means so much to both sides, it was unusually open, and with just three minutes of the first half remaining Lionel Messi announced himself to the game, drawing Barcelona level heading into the break.


With the game finely poised heading into the second half it didn't take long for Cristiano Ronaldo to get in on the action, Dani Alves' clumsy challenge on Ronaldo himself was deemed just inside the area, although television replays suggested otherwise, and Ronaldo slotted home the resulting penalty kick.


Ten minutes later Neymar broke through the Madrid back line at pace before a slight (very slight, if non-existent) touch from Galacticos skipper Sergio Ramos resulted in a penalty and sending off for the centre-half. Messi did the honours from the spot.


Seven minutes from time Messi sealed his hat-trick and the Barcelona win from the spot again after Ineista was caught in a Xabi Alonso and Daniel Carvajal sandwich after some quick footwork.


Messi wheeled away in delight as he became the second highest scorer in La Liga history, moving ahead of former Real striker Hugo Sanchez onto 236 goals.


The Argentine also became the all-time top scorer in Clasicos with 21 goals, surpassing Real legend Alfredo Di Stefano.


2. Crystal Palace 3 Liverpool 3, May 2014:



Liverpool were three goals to the good with 11 minutes to play at Selhurst Park. You would be mad to bet against a team from that position; even the most hardened gambler would have ticked this one off his slip.


As it transpired it could be an 11 minutes that could haunt Brendan Rodgers, Steven Gerrard and co. for the rest of their lives. Was this the Premier League title that got away?


Chelsea ended Liverpool's 11-game winning run the previous week and put the title back into Manchester City open palms, but it was Crystal Palace who turned those open palms into a clenched fist.


An unmarked Joe Allen nodded Liverpool in front inside 20 minutes as normal service was resumed.


The Reds remained mainly in control, but it wasn't until Daniel Sturridge's second half strike that Liverpool doubled their lead. However, when Raheem Sterling fed Luis Suarez the ball just three minutes later, surely the points were heading back up to Merseyside as the Uruguayan poked the ball past the flailing Crystal Palace goalkeeper Julian Speroni.


Damien Delaney gave the hosts a glimmer of hope with 11 minutes remaining after his deflected shot flew past Simon Mignolet in the Liverpool goal.


The Crystal Palace ultras couldn't quite believe their luck when three minutes later Dwight Gayle cleverly turned a Yannick Bolasie cross into the Liverpool goal. It was well and truly game on.


The comeback was complete seven minutes later and with just two minutes remaining on the clock. It was the goal that broke Liverpool hearts, reduced Luis Suarez to tears and caused widespread depression across the red half of Liverpool. It was Gayle again that calmly slotted the ball home from 10 yards out to all but end Liverpool's title dream.


A Tony Pulis masterclass which is worthy of second place in this year's Game of the Season awards.


1. Liverpool 3 Manchester City 2, April 2014:



"This does not f**king slip now"...well Steven, you may not have won the Premier League title this season but you have won our coveted Game of the Season award.


As Liverpool and Manchester City took to the Anfield turf to choruses of 'You'll Never Walk Alone', nobody could have predicted the football that was about to unfold in front of our very eyes.


Liverpool made an exhilarating start to the game and were rewarded for their efforts in the sixth minute after Luis Suarez played a phenomenal ball to Raheem Sterling, who showed the experience of a veteran striker to calmly place the ball past Joe Hart in the Manchester City goal.


Anfield erupted when 18 minutes later Martin Skrtel peeled off the front post to guide a Steven Gerrard corner cleverly into the net. Liverpool were rampant.


Manuel Pellegrini made a shrewd change just after half-time, however, bringing James Milner on for the non-existent Jesus Navas.


Milner made his presence felt just seven minutes after coming off the bench as a quick one-two with Yaya Toure saw the England International break through the Liverpool defence to feed the ball back across to David Silva, who slotted home.


It was that man Silva again who drew City level five minutes later - although Glen Johnson was credited with the own goal, it was Silva's clever play that led to the big spenders drawing level.


For all the money in the world it looked like City had Liverpool found out, but it was the hosts who found a second wind, and finally, with twelve minutes to go Philipe Countinho pounced on a Vincent Kompany sliced clearance to put Liverpool back ahead on the field and two points clear in the title race.


Even a late red card for Jordan Hendersen couldn't do anything to dampen the Liverpool spirits as the title swayed towards Merseyside.


As it turned out this season was the one that got away for Liverpool, but they have no doubt produced some brilliant attacking football this season, thrilling hard core supporters and neutrals alike.


A five-goal thriller that produced the highest level of football is a worthy winner of the 2014 Game of the Season.


Congratulations to Liverpool and Manchester City, you have our blessing to produce a game of this standard again.







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