AEK 1-2 Villarreal: Recap

We lost, yet we progress. One of these days, the entire squad is going to play well at once.  

Toszer, who looked so promising these past several weeks, gave away possession repeatedly in the first half.  Nsaliwa, meanwhile, played his heart out, interrupted Villarreal’s plays, tackled hard and dispossessed with aplomb.  Strangely, Ferrer rewarded this effort with a 46th minute substitution, taking him out for Kafes.  Kone played where I would have put Pappas, and, by the looks of things, I would have been right.  He was replaced by Manduca in the 59th minute, about fifty minutes late.  Kone was a non-presence.  

Cesar, for once this season, played well.  He looked like he did last season, on a good day.  The defense, as always was flawless except for one thing: Edson Silva Ramos.  Papastathopoulos had to cover for him repeatedly (including a really egregious error committed by Silva right in front of our goal in the 41st minute).  Arruabarrena does not get nearly the credit he deserves.  Today he made as much of an offensive contribution as Ramos Silva but still covered his side, thus allowing the center backs to stay in position or cover Ramos Silva’s side.  Villareal got the first goal of the game in the 40th minute.  They were offsides, barely but clearly, but that’s the game.  Some days you get lucky, some days you get unlucky.  (No footage up on the net yet, but I will post the goal when I get it).

We missed two huge chances.  First, in the 51st minute, Edson Ramos Silva missed a sitter, then, in the 60th minute, Lyberopoulos, one on one with the keeper, volleyed his best chance high over the cross bar.  Pappas came on for Rivaldo in the 82nd minute.  He was fast, good on the ball, tried to do too much and did not pass.  I’m going to forgive him.  This is what happens when you bench talent for three months and only stick him into random games for eight minutes at the end.  It’s a coaching problem. 

Villarreal’s second goal was legit, though a tad painful coming as it did mere seconds after Rivaldo’s set-piece equalizer.  The game should have been 1-1 but missed offside calls are part of the game, so chalk it up to a bit of bad luck.  Overall, I’d say this was a very evenly matched game.  Statistics bear this out.  Possession was exactly 50-50.  Shots on target were nearly equal as were blocked shots.  Fouls were about even (11 and 12) and corner were close as well (5 and 7).  We both controlled for stretches and we both threatened on counter-attacks.  But no matter.  Fiorentina defeated Mlada Boleslav, so we are on to the round of 32.  A bit of good luck.  Onward.