Bentfica 2 Liverfool 1
Quite apt that the date was April 1st as the sheer farce of last night's game seemed appropriate for the day.
Liverfools? Yeah. Foolish for expecting an even-handed and fair refereeing performance. Foolish that we allowed the game to continue in the second half when Pepe Reina's goal was under a constant bombardment of fireworks and coins from the Bentfica "supporters".
The 65th official - or whatever he was - that clown who bowed to the pressure and gave both penalties - drew the referee's (referee - now there's a laugh if ever there was one) to the bombardment. Don't think the missiles were aimed at him though do you?
More likely the idea was to disrupt Pepe Reina.
Let's be truthful here. If even ONE coin gets thrown on the pitch during the return leg at Anfield next week, Platini-led UEFA would probably make us play behind closed doors for the next 50 years or so.
Reaction to the Bombardment at Bentfica? Silence.
Babel was also foolish to raise his hands into the face of the thug Luisao after his horrendous challenge on Torres but wasn't Luisao getting right into Babel's face?
Luisao should have been sent off for that challenge alone - if not, then the tackle and the altercation with Babel should have been two yellows and off.
The referee is supposedly a multi-millionaire. Wonder how he made his money?
I am thrilled to be alive at a time and place where even the most inept can be such a remarkable success.
Bentfica are a disgrace. The team and the supporters.
I saw their game against Braga recently and when discussing them with a mate described them as being like Mourinho's Porto team. Physical, dirty but with an obvious desire to hit the deck and dive at every opportunity.
So it was last night. Factor in the crowd's behaviour - which UEFA probably won't punish - and the whole night left a sour taste. If that is European football - and let's be honest Portuguese football has been like that for some time - then you can keep it.
Every Liverpool fan I've met is angry about last night. We can't wait for next week. Although if you trawled a few of our supporter websites last night there were quite a few lily-livered apologists for Bentfica and their supporters. People like that make me laugh. Bentfica cheated and bullied their way to a result last night and will quite happily do so again next Thursday. Wake up and smell the coffee.
Next week Anfield - for those of us who actually go - will be a cauldron. We need another night like St.Etienne or Chelsea in 2005. Doesn't matter how or when we win - in 90 minutes or after extra time or on penalties. We just must win and knock Bentfica out of this competition.
Problem is, we have no left side to the team. Insua and Babel are both banned. Riera seems to have backtracked on his "Liverpool are a sinking ship" statement.
OK Albert. Prove it where it really matters. On the pitch. Go out against Bentfica and attack their full back and get into the box on every occasion. Even be like their Angel Di Maria and fall over in the box when buffeted by a passing butterfly. Fight fire with fire.
Last night at the Stadium of Light they released an eagle on the pitch that circled the stadium to help get their "supporters" warmed up.
Hope they bring it next week.
45,000 people will likely turn up with packets of Paxo.
Bring it on.
Older/Newer
« Latest LFC news from the Liverpool ECHO | John Aldridge: Second leg cracker can see Liverpool FC overhaul first leg Benfica deficit »
0 TrackBacks
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry: Bentfica 2 Liverfool 1. TrackBack URL for this entry: http://www.liverpoolbanter.co.uk/cgi-bin/mt421/mt-tb.cgi/204380
4 Comments
Leave a comment
Keep up to date
Liverpool Twitter
Follow me on Twitter
Technorati
Blogs that link here
Keep dreaming.
We are in the worn competition; we should be in the champions, and with a good chance to win it.
FACTS of Benfica 2009/2010:
- Only 2 losses - Braga (2-0) and Vit. Guimaraes (2-1)
- Only 5 draws.
- Only 2 games without any score Nacional (0-0), and Braga (2-0)
- JUST SOME smashing victories; Sporting (1-5), Porto (3-0), Everton (5-0), AcMilan (1-0), At. Madrid (2-1), Marsella (1-2)
- 106-15 in goal average.
CONCLUSION:
We will score in Liverpool, and then you need to score 3 goals, something NO ONE did this year. Like any other team, if you open the defense you will be smashed. And you will need to do it. Liverpool is just one more in the way…
We are back in business. BENFICA4EVER!
I agreed my benfica friend! The naughty Liverpool fan that actually goes to the game and not sits on the internet pontificating and pretending he's a fan - like I do - is wrong!
Please come to Liverpool again next week and cheat us again!
While I agree with you on most points made here I think that the penalties were fair and sqare. That thug Luisao should have been sent off for the foul on Torres, but unlike the ref I've had the chance to see it close range and more than once. My feeling about Babel was that he tried to defend himself from the attacking Luisao.
And there were a few scenes when those Benfica players were hitting the deck to get Insua sent off too. Nothing was given so the diving players should have got yellow on each of those occasions. Also the yellow Insua got was a farce. Given any consistency in the refereeing, Torres' opponents probably would have seen two yellows each after half an hour.
Really Mr Benfica? You THINK you'll score do you? And we WON'T score three will we? (can't score three can we? Why not ask Milan, Leverkusen or Olympiakos IF we can't score 3?) On a ground where we got FOUR against Real Madrid only a year ago with almost the same side as we have now? ''If you open the defence, you will be smashed'' Will we? Who said YOU will get out of defence at YOUR end of the pitch enough to find out? You'll be pinned back by wave after wave of Red attacks and won't GET many attacks of your own - just watch.
With a striker (sorry THE striker) whose scored SEVEN goals in his last FIVE games? And not one who cheats and dives like that pathetic shambles Cardozo? And a referee who WON'T give you penalties after being bullied/bribed/scared/all three by your crowd AND with a crowd like ours with the noise of our game against Chelsea from 2005?
With all THAT against you - you THINK you'll win easily do you my friend? So did Lille who ALSO had a great record in Europe and THEY not only LOST 0 - 3 at our place but they DIDN'T let in an away goal - YOU did and even AFTER all your cheating to get our players banned and con penalties out of the referee - you STILL could only get two of your own at home couldn't you? BOTH penalties - Your attack were pathetic, your defence not much better and thanks to our away goal? We only need to score ONE goal at Anfield next week to knock your cheating excuse for a football team out - And we'll score more than one goal Just watch. Benfica OWE us - and next week? We're GOING to collect, you can take THAT to the bank...............................
NB: I think that cheating thug Luisao should watch out for ahem stray elbows or dangerous tackles HIMSELF next week - European Referees are ALWAYS homers and next week? WE are at home. You've been warned Benfica...............