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REDS SECURE PLACE IN ASIA TROPHY FINAL
Liverpool booked their place in the final of the 2007 Barclays Asia Trophy with a hard-earned 3-1 win over South China FC on Tuesday.
John Arne Riise, Xabi Alonso and Daniel Agger were on target as the Reds maintained their unbeaten start to pre-season and set up a clash with Portsmouth on Friday.
Riise and Alonso netted before the half-hour mark and, although the Hong Kong champions pulled a goal back before the break, Agger sealed victory 16 minutes from time.
A delay in the granting of international clearance denied Fernando Torres, Ryan Babel and Lucas Leiva a run-out in the Hong Kong Stadium, while skipper Steven Gerrard also watched from the sidelines after suffering an abdominal strain when training earlier in the week.
In his absence the captain's armband went to Jamie Carragher and he led out a side that included Harry Kewell, who was hoping to shake off the disappointment of Australia's penalty shoot-out defeat in the Asian Cup quarter-final at the weekend.
A loud and enthusiastic crowd greeted Liverpool's entrance and the decibels were quickly raised another notch when Riise opened the scoring.
Sissoko was fouled on the edge of the box and from the resulting free-kick the Norwegian blasted one of his trademark 'rocket' shots high into the roof of the South China net.
Liverpool went close to doubling their lead two minutes later when Andriy Voronin cleverly tricked his way into the box following good work by Kewell and forced the keeper into a low diving save.
South China briefly rallied and Yossi Benayoun was forced to clear off the line from a threatening corner and Scott Carson had to pull off an impressive save to keep out a well-struck angled drive moments later.
The lively Voronin was, once again, a constant threat and it was his determination that won the penalty from which Alonso increased the lead on 27 minutes. The Ukrainian was brought down in the area by Sidrailson and Alonso made no mistake from the spot, his clinically taken low shot leaving the keeper stranded.
South China didn't allow their heads to drop, however, and Li Haiqiang reduced the deficit ten minutes before the break when he managed to beat Scott Carson from 40-yards out with a spectacular curling free-kick.
The half ended with Alonso twice trying his luck from distance and the game descended into a lull until second half substitute Dirk Kuyt blazed over with a good opportunity shortly before the hour mark.
Jermaine Pennant, Steve Finnan and Sami Hyypia were also introduced as the hot and humid conditions began to take their toll.
Despite his earlier miss, Dutchman Kuyt was looking sharp and he linked up well with Voronin on a number of occasions, the most notable being when his crossed from the left was headed narrowly over by his pony-tailed strike partner.
With 16 minutes remaining Agger put the result beyond doubt when he impressively started and finished a flowing move by smashing the ball powerfully past the helpless Chinese keeper from just inside the box.
Youngsters Robbie Threlfall and David Martin were brought on for a rare taste of first team action late in the game, as South China keeoer pulled off two stunning stops to prevent Kuyt and Pennant increasing the lead further.
Teams
Liverpool: Carson, Riise, Agger, Carragher (captain), Arbeloa, Kewell, Sissoko, Alonso, Benayoun, Crouch, Voronin. Subs - Hyypia, Reina, Threlfall, Kuyt, Pennant, Darby, Martin, Finnan
South China FC: Chunhui, Chi Ho, Chin Hung (captain), He, Ribeiro, Haiqiang, Wai Ho, Chi Hong, Weijun, , Dos Santos Jnr. Subs - Zianz Hong, Barros, Chun Yu, Pei Tak, Kin Pong, Chi Ho, Siu Wai, Zicheng, Ching Kwong, Man Fei, Jinghuang
Referee: Mark Clattenburg
Conditions: Very hot
Attendance: 36,801
Liverpoolfc.tv Man-of-the-Match: Xabi Alonso
Liverpool booked their place in the final of the 2007 Barclays Asia Trophy with a hard-earned 3-1 win over South China FC on Tuesday.
John Arne Riise, Xabi Alonso and Daniel Agger were on target as the Reds maintained their unbeaten start to pre-season and set up a clash with Portsmouth on Friday.
Riise and Alonso netted before the half-hour mark and, although the Hong Kong champions pulled a goal back before the break, Agger sealed victory 16 minutes from time.
A delay in the granting of international clearance denied Fernando Torres, Ryan Babel and Lucas Leiva a run-out in the Hong Kong Stadium, while skipper Steven Gerrard also watched from the sidelines after suffering an abdominal strain when training earlier in the week.
In his absence the captain's armband went to Jamie Carragher and he led out a side that included Harry Kewell, who was hoping to shake off the disappointment of Australia's penalty shoot-out defeat in the Asian Cup quarter-final at the weekend.
A loud and enthusiastic crowd greeted Liverpool's entrance and the decibels were quickly raised another notch when Riise opened the scoring.
Sissoko was fouled on the edge of the box and from the resulting free-kick the Norwegian blasted one of his trademark 'rocket' shots high into the roof of the South China net.
Liverpool went close to doubling their lead two minutes later when Andriy Voronin cleverly tricked his way into the box following good work by Kewell and forced the keeper into a low diving save.
South China briefly rallied and Yossi Benayoun was forced to clear off the line from a threatening corner and Scott Carson had to pull off an impressive save to keep out a well-struck angled drive moments later.
The lively Voronin was, once again, a constant threat and it was his determination that won the penalty from which Alonso increased the lead on 27 minutes. The Ukrainian was brought down in the area by Sidrailson and Alonso made no mistake from the spot, his clinically taken low shot leaving the keeper stranded.
South China didn't allow their heads to drop, however, and Li Haiqiang reduced the deficit ten minutes before the break when he managed to beat Scott Carson from 40-yards out with a spectacular curling free-kick.
The half ended with Alonso twice trying his luck from distance and the game descended into a lull until second half substitute Dirk Kuyt blazed over with a good opportunity shortly before the hour mark.
Jermaine Pennant, Steve Finnan and Sami Hyypia were also introduced as the hot and humid conditions began to take their toll.
Despite his earlier miss, Dutchman Kuyt was looking sharp and he linked up well with Voronin on a number of occasions, the most notable being when his crossed from the left was headed narrowly over by his pony-tailed strike partner.
With 16 minutes remaining Agger put the result beyond doubt when he impressively started and finished a flowing move by smashing the ball powerfully past the helpless Chinese keeper from just inside the box.
Youngsters Robbie Threlfall and David Martin were brought on for a rare taste of first team action late in the game, as South China keeoer pulled off two stunning stops to prevent Kuyt and Pennant increasing the lead further.
Teams
Liverpool: Carson, Riise, Agger, Carragher (captain), Arbeloa, Kewell, Sissoko, Alonso, Benayoun, Crouch, Voronin. Subs - Hyypia, Reina, Threlfall, Kuyt, Pennant, Darby, Martin, Finnan
South China FC: Chunhui, Chi Ho, Chin Hung (captain), He, Ribeiro, Haiqiang, Wai Ho, Chi Hong, Weijun, , Dos Santos Jnr. Subs - Zianz Hong, Barros, Chun Yu, Pei Tak, Kin Pong, Chi Ho, Siu Wai, Zicheng, Ching Kwong, Man Fei, Jinghuang
Referee: Mark Clattenburg
Conditions: Very hot
Attendance: 36,801
Liverpoolfc.tv Man-of-the-Match: Xabi Alonso
