HYPOTHETICAL FC

Dirk Kuyt at 206th Merseyside derby

History of the game ep 14 (late)

Welcome to another weekend of fantastic sport, The Merseyside Derby, a London Derby, and AC Milan vs Juventus always make people reminisce about great fixtures from seasons past. The US Grand Prix, the second one of three, in Austin is always a brilliant circuit and The Rugby World Cup is drawing to its conclusion. 

Liverpool vs Everton: 16/01/2011 2-2

Dirk Kuyt at 206th Merseyside derby
Dirk Kuyt penalty in the Merseyside derby. Image courtesy of BBC.

This rivalry is stacked with history, with over 200 games, including two FA Cup finals.

So many memories and this game lived up to the hype of a regular derby.

In the Premier League era, Everton only won three games at their old ground Anfield, and the last time they did the double over their neighbours from across Stanley Park was in 1984-85.

Everton won the fixture at Goodison Park 2-0 with goals by Tim Cahill and Mikel Arteta the return fixture was fiery as expected with Kop favourite Kenny Dalglish returning home to manage Liverpool.

Liverpool took the lead through Raul Meireles’ shot from 18 yards out after two saves from Tim Howard to deny Dirk Kuyt.

Just after halftime, Sylvain Distin equalised for Everton, a powerful header to equalise for the Toffees.

Seven minutes later Jermaine Beckford made it 2-1 for the Toffees as Leon Osman found him in the box.

However, Tim Howard brought down Maxi Rodriguez and gave away the penalty, Which Dirk Kuyt gladly scored.

Everton would have to wait a few more years to win a derby, which they did at Anfield in 2021, 22 years after their last win at the Reds and 11 years after their last win against the Reds.

The draw kept Everton and Liverpool level on points until in 12th and 13th position respectively, by the end of the season Liverpool finished sixth one place and four points above Everton. 

Chelsea vs Arsenal: 29/10/2011 5-3 Arsenal

Van Persie
Robin Van Persie. Image courtesy of Goal.com.

Another classic Premier League fixture, Arsenal versus Chelsea has always delivered.

This game more than any other, at a time when people questioned if Arsenal could still compete, and Chelsea had an awful Premier League season but from it, they finally achieved their European dream.

Arsenal had a terrible time playing Chelsea since the takeover by Roman Abramovic in 2003.

The Blues started as they always did Juan Mata’s cross delivered to perfection for Frank Lampard to score the opener in the 15th minute.

The Gunners equalised after a simple pass carved through the Chelsea defence Gervinho found Robin Van Persie with an open goal.

Mr. Chelsea himself scored the go-ahead goal just before halftime, John Terry kneeing the ball in from a corner.

Arsenal was quick to equalise after halftime, Alex Song found Andre Santos who found the back of the net in his one-on-one duel with Petr Cech.

Theo Walcott’s beautiful dancing around defenders allowed him a shot at goal to make it 3-2 for Arsenal.

A wild turnaround that lasted until the 80th minute when Juan Mata’s fantastic looping shot beat Wojciech Szczesny.

A horrible slip by John Terry let Robin Van Persie through to make it 4-3 and surely win the game for Arsenal five minutes later.

And in stoppage time Van Persie’s hat-trick was complete, one of the great games at the Bridge.

Arsenal’s win and Chelsea’s loss started a reversal of fortunes, the Blues were sitting fourth on that day but would finish sixth come the end of the season.

Arsenal on the other hand went from seventh to third. Chelsea would become the first-ever team from London to win the Champions League though to have one last laugh. 

AC Milan vs Juventus: 07/07/2020 4-2 AC Milan

Football players wrestling for the ball on the pitch
Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Cristiano Ronaldo. Image courtesy of Manchester Evening News.

Always a classic between great teams, a rivalry with so much history it even includes a Champions League final in 2003.

Some of the World’s best players have played in this fixture throughout the ages, and this game was no different with Cristiano Ronaldo representing Juventus and Zlatan Ibrahimovic playing for AC Milan.

After a first half in which the Bianconeri got the best chances most notably Gonzalo Higuain forcing a save from Milan keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma on the turn.

Adrien Rabiot put the visitors ahead at the San Siro cutting in and shooting from outside the box to score the opener in the 47th minute.

In the 53rd minute, Ronaldo finally got in on the act getting in behind the two Milan defenders to score the goal to send Juventus 2-0 up.
Then came the ten minutes of the turnaround for the Rossoneri starting with a penalty.

A handball, allowed Ibrahimovic to get in on the act slotting home the penalty.

A brilliant build-up play gave Frank Kessie the opportunity to swoop past two defenders in one take and bury the ball into the bottom corner for the leveller.

A minute later Milan scored again to make it 3-2 after a clear foul the referee waved play on, and Rafael Leao obliged burying the ball himself.

Donnarumma kept the score at 3-2 with a fantastic save from a Daniel Rugani header.

The final blow in the coffin was dealt by Ante Rebic with space smashing the ball into the back of the net.

Milan walked away with all three points as their rebuild started that evening.

Juventus would win the league by one point from Internazionale, whilst AC Milan languished in sixth place 17 points off the champions. 

2007 Rugby World Cup final: South Africa 15-6 England

Rugby World Cup 2007 final, South African team celebrates
South Africa lifting the World Cup in 2007. Image courtesy of Rugbypass.com.

England and South Africa have now played in two World Cup finals together.

The first was the most eventful one with both teams coming into it among the favourites.
England was reigning World champions whereas South Africa was bouncing off the strength of Bakkies Botha, Victor Matfield and Schalk Burger, and the speed of Bryan Habana.

The Springboks beat England in the group stages humiliating them 36-0 before beating Fiji and Argentina on their way to the final.

England would have the difficult task of beating Australia and France at the Stade de France.

South Africa scored the opening penalty with Percy Montgomery after England failed to release the ball early in the game.

Jonny Wilkinson kicked England back but two penalties for the Springboks meant that South Africa would be 9-3 up at halftime.

England had one chance in the second half but Lewis Moody fell short, inches in fact, and South Africa would be safe knowing they won the battle of discipline.

South Africa won 15-6 in a tense match, winning their second-ever World Cup their first since 1995 12 years earlier.

England would struggle to regain form and wouldn’t reach another World Cup final until 2019 when they lost to South Africa again. 

2012 US Grand Prix: Lewis Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton raising his trophy over his head in celebration
Lewis Hamilton US GP 2012. Image courtesy of Motor Authority.

A classic in the country of motorsport, once upon a time the only Formula One fixture in the USA now we have three races.

Miami and Las Vegas are hosting as well as Austin, of course, the Circuit of the Americas is built specifically for racing as opposed to the other two street races.

The first season there was in 2012 with a star-studded line-up featuring Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel, Fernando Alonso, Felipe Massa, Kimi Raikkonen, and Jenson Button.

The qualifier started the weekend very nicely with Vettel and Hamilton chasing for pole position.

Mark Webber was also in the mix finishing third on the starting grid, and Romain Grosjean narrowly missed out by one-fifth of a second, unfortunately, he was given a five-place grid penalty for changing gearboxes.

The start of the race was perfect for the two Red Bull drivers as Vettel kept Hamilton at bay and Webber managed to jump Hamilton before the first corner.

Hamilton chased down Webber for most of this race and almost overtook but could not stay on track allowing Webber to go back in front.

Hamilton finally overtook Webber in the DRS zone and managed to stay on track to stay ahead.

Eventually, Hamilton caught up on Vettel and with another DRS move he overtook him to lead the race.

Hamilton would keep the lead winning the First US Grand Prix since 2007 in Indianapolis which he won.

Vettel and Alonso completed the podium, second and third respectively, the two were still battling for the title with only the Brazilian Grand Prix left and 13 points in Vettel’s favour.

Bettel would win the World title finishing sixth was enough points to beat Alonso who finished second behind Button in Brazil.

Hamilton would finish the season fourth overall, a mixed bag of a season with McLaren. 


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