MATCH 29
ARAGON VS. GREAT LAKES REPUBLIC
WESTFALENSTADION, DORTMUND
LINEUPS:
ARAGON
12. Gianluigi DONNARUMMA
2. Jordi ALBA
14. Marc BARTRA
4. Gerard PIQUÉ ©
5. Ignazio ABATE
6. Cesc FABREGAS
9. Sergio BUSQUETS
18. Marco ASENSIO
19. Antonio NOCERINO
10. Ciro IMMOBILE
11. Simone ZAZA
GREAT LAKES REPUBLIC
1. Bradley GUZAN
2. Eric LICHAJ
3. John BROOKS ©
4. Timothy REAM
5. Wil TRAPP
6. Perry KITCHEN
8. Harry SHIPP
11. Alfredo MORALES
7. Robbie BRADY
10. Christian PULISIC
9. Joshua SARGEANT
19:30
We're here in Dortmund for tonight's game between Aragon and the GLR. My name is Cuthbert Chin and joining me on the desk are Zhao Lee and Gao Ruyin. This could prove to be a very decisive game tonight, with the impressive looking GLR team capable of qualifying for the Round of 16 if they can beat the favoured Aragon, who themselves will see victory as an imperative following Hoenn's victory over Atlantica earlier today as the seeded team could find themselves languishing on the verge of elimination if this match doesn't go their way. Zhao, how do you feel their chances are tonight?
I felt they looked pretty comfortable against Hoenn and that the final scoreline wasn't really what they deserved - if they've put that disappointment behind them, there's no reason they can't get three points here. That said, they're going to be missing Marco Verratti due to his suspension and Sergi Roberto's fitness is still questionable, so this won't be an easy ride for Aragon and Pep Guardiola clearly wasn't happy with something from the Hoenn game because he's reverted back to a 4-4-2. Even still, the attacking combination of Immobile and Zaza is a force to be reckoned with and they have a lot of power in the midfield to support them with so expect to see goals from this Aragon side. Despite a couple of mistakes against Hoenn, their defence is usually quite strong, so I think Aragon will be right to expect a win here.
Trying to stop them will be a GLR team that established themselves strongly against Atlantica and a win either tonight or against Hoenn will be sufficient for the Lucky 11 to reach the Round of 16. Gao, is this just luck or are they really capable of bringing the fight to the likes of Aragon?
This GLR team is still a little rough around the edges, but they certainly have the potential to worry Aragon tonight. Christian Pulisic has shown himself to be a force in front of goal against Atlantica and they've shown themselves able to control play in the midfield. The defenders were untested against Atlantica and will definitely be up against a much harder challenge from the Aragon offence so it remains to be seen whether they can handle it, but notably manager Mauricio Pochettino has decided to field the exact same eleven, so clearly he saw no problems in the Atlantica match. That said, Aragon are still the favourites for this match, so the GLR will take any points they can get from tonight.
19:52
The players are about to come onto the pitch, so it's time to make the final predictions.
2-0 Aragon
I think GLR will run them a bit closer, but Aragon will still come on top 2-1.
So it's unanimous in the studio, but the match will be won and lost on the pitch. It's time to join Steven Sanderson and Mike Wong who will provide commentary for this match.
19:57
Aragon win the coin toss and will kick off.
00:00
Zaza kicks off to Immobile.
03:11
Busquets knocks the ball wide to Nocerino who advances forwards down the wing. Nocerino passes forward onto Zaza, but the ball is intercepted by Brooks who passes wide to Ream. Ream plays it long to Kitchen who is able to dribble past Fabregas and Busquets without much challenge, before making a long through ball to an onside Robbie Brady. Brady continues the charge down the wing and is able to get a cross in, but slightly overhits it and it sails over the head of Sargeant and straight to Ignazio Abate who quickly clears upfield. An early opportunity for the GLR wasted, but their counterattacking style asked serious questions of the Aragon defence.
08:46
Bartra plays forwards to Busquets. Busquets quickly knocks it forwards to Fabregas. Fabregas knocks it between the legs of Morales and dribbles further, before passing it to Zaza, who would much rather shoot than take on the GLR defence, but the resulting effort sails well over the crossbar. Not the best effort from the striker.
13:38
Having spent a couple of minutes knocking the ball around, Aragon begin another attack with a well placed long ball from Piqué finding Fabregas, who quickly forwards it onto Asensio. Asensio passes to Immobile, who immediately passes back with a through ball that leaves him open, but a last gasp sliding challenge from John Brooks slices the ball from his feet and to Lichaj who quickly clears. The Aragon players protest for a penalty, but nothing is given.
17:12
Brady is dispossessed by Busquets who dribbles forwards into the GLR's half. Busquets makes a long ball to Asensio who quickly finds himself fenced in by the GLR defence, but is able to work a through ball to Ciro Immobile who can get a shot off, which Guzan is able to push wide for a corner.
18:01
Fabregas plays the corner deep into the box and onto the head of Jordi Alba, who sends the ball straight into the hands of Guzan. Guzan quickly throws it far to Shipp, who runs forward before making a long ball to Pulisic, but makes it too long and Donnarumma gets there just before and clears the ball away.
22:43
Piqué plays it wide to Abate, who dribbles down the wing before knocking it onto Nocerino, who collects the ball and moves towards the middle of the pitch but is quickly brought down by a sliding challenge from Morales, who misses the ball in the process. The referee is taking a dim view of that challenge.
23:09
YELLOW CARD
11 - Alfredo MORALES
28:57
Two quick passes from Lichaj to Trapp and onto Shipp allows the midfielder an open run down the wing before Abate finally provides an obstacle. Shipp crosses to Pulisic who takes three touches to get into the box and shoots - straight into the gloves of Gianluigi Donnarumma who was not at all challenged by the shot.
33:29
Lichaj intercepts a loose ball intended for Asensio and knocks it forwards to Trapp. Trapp controls it and holds it for a few seconds before passing along to Kitchen. Kitchen dribbles forwards and passes to Morales who continues the run before connecting a beautiful chip over the Aragonese defence and to the feet of Pulisic, who half-volleys the ball, sending it thundering against the crossbar and back out, with Bartra heading the rebound wide to Alba, who clears the ball forwards.
38:45
Bartra plays a long ball to Fabregas out wide. Fabregas is able to effortlessly get past Trapp and beguns to run, before passing to Asensio in the middle of the pitch. Asensio's attempt at a through ball finds Brooks, whose clearance goes straight to Nocerino, who returns the ball back to Asensio. Asensio then finds Zaza who gets a shot off, only for it to go well wide. This is not the performance in front of goal Zaza needed.
42:32
A long aerial pass from Alba finds Nocerino on the opposite wing. Nocerino gets mugged by Shipp, but Busquets recovers possession and runs forwards and passes to Immobile, who dribbles between Brooks and Ream and shoots, but Guzan is just able to hold it and keep the score level.
45:00 + 0:01
The fourth official signals two minutes of stoppage time is to be played.
45:00 + 1:32
Long throw from Abate finds Nocerino, who easily escapes his marker and advances down the wing. Lichaj tries to squeeze him out, but Nocerino gets past him too and is able to get a cross into the box which finds the foot of Asensio who volleys the ball a few centimetres wide. And Guzan's thumping goal kick provides the cue for the half time whistle. Neither team looks exactly thrilled as they walk into the dressing room, but they at least know it's all to play for in the second half.
45:00
Sargeant kicks off to Pulisic to resume the match.
48:43
Lichaj knocks the ball onto Trapp, who plays it directly onto Morales. Morales pauses for a few seconds, allowing Brady to escape his marker in Fabregas and Morales connects the pass to him. Brady charges forward down the wing only to find himself pinned in by Alba. Brady attempts to dribble around Alba, but Alba slides in and collects Brady while missing the ball. The referee immediately blows his whistle and Alba begins his second half by finding himself booked.
49:18
YELLOW CARD
2 - Jordi ALBA
49:30
Kitchen plays the free kick into the box. Pulisic volleys goalwards, but Donnarumma is able to parry the ball wide for a corner. Lichaj plays the corner short to Shipp who dribbles closer before crossing the ball - Donnarumma fists the ball away, but the referee blows his whistle for Sergio Busquets who had been knocked to the ground after banging heads with Robbie Brady jumping for the cross. Busquets eventually picks himself up and is able to continue.
56:21
Piqué makes a long pass to Nocerino. Nocerino dribbles forwards, but then passed back to Busquets who passes forward to Fabregas. Fabregas slowly makes his way forward before finding a through pass onto Immobile who takes two touches and shoots of the post. Asensio is first to the loose ball, but he can only hammer it wide. On the sidelines, Pep Guardiola is visibly frustrated by the team's efforts and Lorenzo Insigne begins warming up.
60:02
SUBSTITUTION
OFF: 9 - Sergio BUSQUETS
ON: 21 - Lorenzo INSIGNE
62:27
Long ball across wings from Brady finds Shipp. Shipp passes to Trapp in the middle. Trapp dribbles forwards and tries to get past Bartra, but the Aragonese defender knocks the ball from his feet, but it is collected by Pulisic who attempts a one-two with Sargeant, but the return pass is intercepted by Piqué and cleared away.
65:36
Fabregas knocks the ball forward onto Asensio who dribbles forward contemplatively before passing to Insigne. Insigne continues his run forward and uses his fresher legs to break through a gap in the GLR defence and shoot, but Guzan is able to tip the ball away for a corner. Alba curls the ball in and once again it is Insigne that gets the shot off, but it hits the crossbar and bounces out for a goal kick.
68:53
SUBSTITUTION
OFF: 6 - Cesc FABREGAS
ON: 20 - Sergi ROBERTO
SUBSTITUTION
OFF: 11 - Alfredo MORALES
ON: 15 - Tyler ADAMS
71:13
Piqué passes wide to Alba. Alba knocks the ball to Roberto who effortlessly gets past Brady and then Kitchen and continues his long run down the wing and makes a through ball onto Immobile. Immobile is forced wide by Ream and attempts to cross to Insigne, but he can only head it straight into the hands of Guzan. Guzan quickly throws to Lichaj, who passes straight onto Trapp who begins a run of his own before passing to Adams. Adams dribbles past Nocerino and attempts an aerial pass over the defenders to Pulisic, but misjudges the height, allowing Donnarumma to collect the ball from infront of the GLR striker.
76:18
Brady is dispossessed by Roberto, who dribbles towards the centre of the pitch, threading the needle between Trapp and Kitchen before passing to Immobile. Immobile takes a few touches before lifting the ball over the defenders to Insigne who volleys the shot into the net. But while the Aragon players celebrate, the GLR defenders claim offside! VAR is called in and after a tense period of waiting from both teams, the referee calls no goal - Insigne had started his run moments too early!
79:45
SUBSTITUTION
OFF: 9 - Joshua SARGEANT
ON: 14 - Michele GRELLA
82:33
SUBSTITUTION
OFF: 11 - Simone ZAZA
ON: 22 - Fabio QUAGLIARELLA
85:47
Abate plays the ball to Nocerino who dribbles past Shipp and passes to Asensio, who knocks the ball back to Roberto on the wing. Roberto once again gets past the flagging Kitchen and plays the ball onto Insigne. Seeing no way past the defenders, Insigne tries to chip the ball over to Quagliarella, who gets his shot off, but Guzan is able to hold it and maintain his clean sheet.
87:21
Nocerino's pass to Roberto is intercepted by Adams, who attempts to play forward to Shipp, but Abate collects the ball back for Aragon. Abate tries to dribble around Shipp, but Shipp sticks his foot out to get the ball, but only gets the player and Abate is tripped. The referee doesn't like the look of the challenge and awards a free kick, while Shipp finds his name in the book.
87:56
YELLOW CARD
8 - Harry SHIPP
89:58
The fourth official indicates three minutes of stoppage time will be played.
90:00 + 3:01
The referee blows the full time whistle, with the match finishing goalless.
22:15
I hope you can join us again for live coverage of all of tomorrow's matches, with Asturias taking on Shannon at 10PM, the Caribbean Confederation playing Mogadishu at 1AM and of course Canton will be playing the Dutch Republic at 4AM. Until then it's goodbye from all of us at CBC Sport.
