AXA FA Youth Cup, semi-final 1st legThurs 5th April 2001Arsenal 3 (2) Ipswich 4 (1)Arsenal: Craig Holloway; Israel, Ben Chorley,
Ryan Garry (Justin Hoyte 84), Nicky Nicolau; Steven Sidwell,
Rohan Ricketts (Carlin Itonga 73), Jerome Thomas (David Bentley 81),
Moritz Volz; Jeremie Aliadiere, Jermaine Pennant Scorers: Aliadiere 7,38,89 Ipswich: Kelly; Artun, Snowdon, Beevers, Westlake; Bonwick,
Bloomfield, Ambrose, Burton; Dickinson, Bent Scorers: Bent 12,90, Ambrose 47,53
Ref: P Armstrong A highly entertaining game at Highbury last night, plenty of chances at both ends. Arsenal looked the stronger team for much of the game, but were outplayed for long periods by the visitors who came back from 2-1 down at half time to lead 3-2. A goal for each side in the final few minutes provided an aptly exciting climax to the match. The young Gunners dominated the opening few minutes, and having already come close a couple of times, duly went ahead after 6 minutes. The full back Israel did well on the right, tricking his way past a defender before crossing with his left foot to find Pennant in the middle. He headed back to find Aliadiere unmarked about 4 yards out and he knocked it home via the keeper's body. Arsenal continued to look the better team until the match turned 5 minutes later. Israel played a pass across towards Chorley in his own half, but it was short and the latter wasn't expecting it and the Ipswich striker Bent nipped in and bore down on goal. Garry came across to cover but Bent went round him and bent a lovely shot round Holloway in goal from the edge of the area, and into the far bottom corner. From that moment Ipswich gained in confidence and Arsenal seemed to lose some, and the visitors played much the better football for the next 20-25 minutes. Their crisp and accurate passing game had the young Gunners looking distinctly second best for a while, though I can't remember them actually creating too much in the way of clear cut chances. In the last 15 minutes of the half though Arsenal gradually got more of a grip. Some pressure down the right forced a hasty clearance from the keeper which went straight to Volz, about 40 yards out wide on the right. With the keeper out of his goal he hit a shot goalwards but hooked it somewhat and it curled wide. Another attack ended with a cross from Israel again I think being overhit, but it was picked up by Thomas on the left. From an acute angle he tried a shot at goal which I think glanced off the angle of bar and far post. In the same attack I think the ball was then played back into Sidwell's path and he seemed certain to score with a crashing shot from just outside the area, but the keeper made a fantastic save. Aliadiere then put Arsenal back in front about 5 minutes before half time. He cut in from the left before lashing in a shot from the edge of the box which beat the keeper at his near post. Reminiscent of Anelka's goal against Schmeichel at the same (Clock) end. Pennant came close to putting Arsenal 2 up just before half time, going on a great run down the right, cutting back into the area and across goal before hitting a left foot shot which he hooked slightly and the ball missed the near post by a couple of feet. Arsenal were possibly guilty of coming out for the second half thinking the game was already won, because slack defending meant that within 10 minutes of the restart Ipswich were ahead. After 2 minutes a cross from the right wasn't cleared properly and the ball dropped to Ambrose who hit a tremendous volley from just inside the area which gave Holloway no chance. A few minutes later a corner from the left again wasn't cleared properly and it was played back low into the area, and Ambrose scored again with a crisp finish from 15 yards. The young Gunners took a while to recover from the shock, but as the half wore on gradually cranked up the pressure and the last 15-20 minutes or so were a virtual seige as the Ipswich goal appeared to lead a charmed life. The most notable chance missed was when a ball was floated in from the left to find Aliadiere, I think, and Ricketts in the middle marked by one defender. They all got in each others' way but the ball eventually fell to the latter's feet but he had to react quickly and from about 3 yards out somehow dragged his shot and it bounced off the foot of the far post. He was replaced by Itonga with about 15 minutes left, and the young striker should also have scored. After another great run down the right, Pennant whipped over a superb cross which found Itonga unmarked in the middle just outside the 6yd area, but he mistimed a header and somehow managed to head the ball back across goal. It was bobbling just wide of the post and Aliadiere following in just failed to turn it in, somehow putting the ball into the side netting while he finished up in the net. The keeper also made 2 or 3 good saves, from Pennant and Aliadiere I think, but the breakthrough finally came as the match moved into injury time. Itonga did well down the left, getting past a defender to the byline before pulling the ball back across goal. It found Aliadiere in the middle, and he completed his hattrick with a good finish, gliding a shot across goal and in off the far post. Arsenal them continued to storm forward in search of the winner, almost getting it when Aliadiere broke through again before a desperate last gasp tackle deprived him in the act of shooting. However it was the visitors who got the winner. Israel failed to clear properly and the ball went straight to Bent about 30 yards out. He spotted Holloway slightly off his line and fired in a brilliant shot which cleared the keeper and dipped into the goal. Overall it wasn't a very good performance from Arsenal, and for a lot of the game Ipswich's passing and movement was much sharper, and they seemed mentally brighter too, perhaps because the young Gunners went into the game believing they should win comfortably. Arsenal's main problem was their defending which was rather hesitant and unconvincing. I thought the baby of the team, Nicolau had a good game, and Chorley was dominant in the air throughout, but both Garry and Israel had poor games defensively. Neither has played at all since the last cup game over 3 weeks ago, so I assume they've only just recovered from injuries. In midfield Sidwell and Ricketts didn't gain their usual control, and I thought both were slightly off their games. Thomas also never really got going, and Volz had a poor first half but got stronger and stronger as the game went on. Playing up front Pennant had a pretty good game overall, was consistently dangerous and looked the best player on the pitch, though his finishing was rather weak. Aliadiere also had a good game and his finishing by contrast was superb. Arsenal are very strong in attack, so I think there is still a good chance of reaching the final. They'll be able to play more on the break at Portman Road and I should think they'll go into the game with a better attitude having had a kick up the backsides by yesterday's defeat. Interestingly only 2 teams have won at Highbury so far this season, both of them from Ipswich... Derek
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