OLIĆ MISSED A GOLEN OPPORTUNITY IN THE OPENING MINUTE
OLIĆ MISS
Ivica Olić started for Hamburg in their UEFA Cup semifinal clash with Werder Bremen while Mladen Petrić sat out due to an injured chin. Olić had a fantastic chance to get things off the right way in the first minute as he found himself one-on-one with the Bremen goalkeeper. Ivica decided to take an extra touch on the ball and then shanked it off the keeper.
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Hamburg are in complete control with this 1-0 away win. Petrić might have to return from injury early for next week’s second leg as Hamburg striker, Jose Paolo Guerrero, received a yellow card today and is out for the return match.
VUKOJEVIĆ CELEBRATING EARLY LEAD
Darijo Srna and Shakhtar Donetsk had a fine away draw to Ukrainian foes, Dynamo Kyiv, in the first leg of their UEFA Cup semifinal round. Ognjen Vukojević and Goran Sablić played the entire match for Kyiv, which resulted In a 1-1 final. The game was boring to say the least as most first leg encounters are.
SRNA APPRECIATES THE EQUALIZER
Vukojević and Sablić hardly touched the ball for Dynamo as they played conservative in the back. However, ‘Vuki’ did receive a yellow card in the first half for a hard mistimed tackle. Srna put in his usual crosses but couldn’t find any solid connections for Shakhtar chances.
Although UEFA credits Dynamo’s first goal as an ‘own goal’, it’s irrelevant as the free kick was blistered into the box full of players and ‘pinballed’ its way into goal. The return leg in Donetsk should be a bit more entertaining with a ticket to Istanbul on the line. Shakhtar will be the early favorite to progress as they scored an all-important away goal today.
I’d like to see Srna lift the UEFA Cup he’s earned it. I mean sure Olic and Petric are a great duo and run Bundesliga but with Olic already going to Bayern munich i think Srna lifting the Uefa Cup will increase his chances of going to a top club, Spain most likely. As far as Hajduk goes they still have a chance. Slaven Belupo plays Dinamo in Maksimir in two weeks so if Dinamo loses which they can because Belupo has beaten them already this year then all Hajduk has to do is win hahaha all. I’m hoping for a final showdown in split to decide it all we’ve proven we’re the better team 3 times this year.
@ Oliver
Hamburg is in trouble without Guerrero, however, I think they will squeak one out. Shakhtar got that precious away goal, and I also see them advancing. A Croat will lift the UEFA Cup for the last time. Next Year we will call it the “Europa”
@ Tom
Great stuff…. actually, your stuff was better than the match.. appreciate the info
@ marko
Yes, yes, yes… from now on its “a classic Olic moment”(Marko)
Dynamo-Shakhtar was like watching a chess match. Dynamo took the first pawn and was in control of the match most of the way, swapping pieces till the very end. Then at the last second Shakhtar take a Dynamo pawn and in the end they settle for a draw.
Vuki and Sablic looked invisible most of the game. they did their part, however, were never tested and barely broke a sweat.
Ivica Olic had quite a few “classic Olic moments”(Marko) which is what I expect from him now-a-days…. if he can match his speed with technique and skill, without a doubt the best striker in the world…. key word “if”
Should we just call every huge miss by Olic a “Classic Olic Moment”.
Here’s a blurb from UEFA.com re: Vukojevic and Srna…
“Presidents past and present were in attendance at the Valeriy Lobanovskiy Stadium, crossing the political divide to watch a historic date for Ukrainian football. Such diplomacy was less evident on the pitch as the game got under way. Ognjen Vukojević set the tone for a fractious opening when he scythed Shakhtar captain Darijo Srna within 30 seconds of the kick-off; it was the first of 25 first-half fouls.”
I followed both games closely and can’t predict who the outcommer of the ukrainian clash will be.
but on the other hand side HSV with geruerro missing the second leg and petric most proably out due to injury it will be very hard for olic and company.