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The group stage of 'Poly 2004 kicked off today, with Ceroo dealt a HUGE blow with the news that star player Ryan Giggs will miss the game through injury. Coupled with return of Karakas star defender Roberto Ayala, it looked like Ceroo were in for a torrid time, and the predictions were not wrong, as only determined defending could keep out the Karakan attack which laid seige to the Cerooan 18-yard box.
After half an hour, the Karakan dominance was rewarded as midfielder Will Rosenberg hit a suberb 30-mtr shot past Paul Jones.
After half-time Ceroo upped the tempo, with big forward John Hartson making way for the young Robert Earnshaw, whose skill and pace dazzled the Karakan defence, but was unable to beat the woodwork, as he hit each post and the crossbar, before a Karakan counter-attack led to Rosenberg's second goal.
Manager Mark Hughes then substitued the ineffective Robbie Savage for Mark Pembridge, which proved to be an inspired substitution, Pembridge spliting the Karakan defence with a superb pass, Earnshaw scoring- but the goal was disallowed- Earnshaw judged to have elbowed Ayala. Tails up, Ceroo continued to press and eventually Pembridge was rewarded with a goal. The hosts were clearly rattled, and Ceroo dominated the last 20 minutes, only some fantastic goalkeeping from Brad Sherwood denied them a point...
Ceroo 1 - 2 Karakas
The group stage of 'Poly 2004 kicked off today, with Ceroo dealt a HUGE blow with the news that star player Ryan Giggs will miss the game through injury. Coupled with return of Karakas star defender Roberto Ayala, it looked like Ceroo were in for a torrid time, and the predictions were not wrong, as only determined defending could keep out the Karakan attack which laid seige to the Cerooan 18-yard box.
After half an hour, the Karakan dominance was rewarded as midfielder Will Rosenberg hit a suberb 30-mtr shot past Paul Jones.
After half-time Ceroo upped the tempo, with big forward John Hartson making way for the young Robert Earnshaw, whose skill and pace dazzled the Karakan defence, but was unable to beat the woodwork, as he hit each post and the crossbar, before a Karakan counter-attack led to Rosenberg's second goal.
Manager Mark Hughes then substitued the ineffective Robbie Savage for Mark Pembridge, which proved to be an inspired substitution, Pembridge spliting the Karakan defence with a superb pass, Earnshaw scoring- but the goal was disallowed- Earnshaw judged to have elbowed Ayala. Tails up, Ceroo continued to press and eventually Pembridge was rewarded with a goal. The hosts were clearly rattled, and Ceroo dominated the last 20 minutes, only some fantastic goalkeeping from Brad Sherwood denied them a point...
Ceroo 1 - 2 Karakas
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