Match Report


Birmingham CityBirmingham City     ArsenalArsenal
Andrew BlightAndrew Blight Luke Kerr Luke Kerr
Bart GrotB. Grot60
G
1
G
65Noel HenryN. Henry
Pierluigi BazzaniP. Bazzani55
D
2
D
51Sjaak WilnisS. Wilnis
Frank MelchiotF. Melchiot60
D
3
D
63Jacob MossJ. Moss
Kemal WilcoxK. Wilcox60
D
captain4
D
64Vincenzo LorenzV. Lorenz
Atam HillA. Hill66
D
5
M
58Said MonteiroS. Monteiro
Rafael MartinezR. Martinez66
M
6captain
M
58Luke KoncheskyL. Konchesky
Franco CristalliniF. Cristallini58
M
7
M
55Spencer PriorS. Prior
Joe VonkJ. Vonk61
M
8
M
60Kevin BrightonK. Brighton
Cristiano BarbosaC. Barbosa64
A
9
A
66Spencer BarmbyS. Barmby
Angelo RivaltaA. Rivalta70
A
10
A
58Stanley WardS. Ward
Kieron BridgeK. Bridge60
A
11
A
64Leon PattersonL. Patterson
 
Robert BrownR. Brown44
D
12
A
60Ugo ParkerU. Parker
Jamie OwenJ. Owen56
M
13
G
56Jose Del SolJ. Del Sol
Said BrugginkS. Bruggink45
A
14
D
40Gilles JamesG. James

Ski France
today's match is sponsored by Ski France
Match Report
There are a few clouds overhead here at St Andrews where Birmingham City play host to Arsenal. A crowd of 20,246 fill this 21,000 capacity stadium.
The pitch is in poor condition.
Birmingham City are playing in a 4-3-3 formation while Arsenal appear to be shaped for 3-4-3.
Today's match is refereed by Marcus Dichio.


0.00
Arsenal kick off the first half!
8.21
Sjaak Wilnis knocks the ball to his team mate, Vincenzo Lorenz. Vincenzo Lorenz sees Spencer Barmby in space ahead and quickly passes the ball. Spencer Barmby knocks in a cross ball which is cleared easily by the defence.
10.34
Showing composure, Spencer Prior laces a through ball forward to Stanley Ward. Stanley Ward finds some space and shoots from distance. The ball swerves in the air but the keeper is a match for it. Nice save!
18.11
Spencer Prior comes in with a late challenge on Franco Cristallini. The referee calls over Spencer Prior and shows him a yellow card! Franco Cristallini stretches but gets up unharmed.
21.12
Said Monteiro threads a neat ball through to Spencer Prior. Spencer Prior shoots from 20 yards. The ball swerves in the air but the keeper is on top of it. Great save!
28.45
Joe Vonk brings the ball forward. Joe Vonk knocks in a cross ball which is cleared easily by the defence.
30.33
Atam Hill threads the ball through to Rafael Martinez. Rafael Martinez makes a simple pass to Franco Cristallini. Franco Cristallini finds some space and shoots from distance. Noel Henry gathers the ball up comfortably. Fabulous stop!
33.10
Luke Konchesky hacks Frank Melchiot from behind! The referee calls over Luke Konchesky and shows him a yellow card! Frank Melchiot runs off the knock.
36.40
Kemal Wilcox flicks a high pass forward. Frank Melchiot holds off his marker to collect the ball on his thigh. Frank Melchiot knocks the ball forward to Kieron Bridge. Kieron Bridge lofts in a cross ball towards Joe Vonk. Joe Vonk makes a deft header but is denied by Noel Henry. Excellent save.
38.18
Jacob Moss knocks the ball forward to Spencer Prior. Spencer Prior threads the ball through to Spencer Barmby. Spencer Barmby shoots from distance but it slams into the crowd!
39.11
Spencer Barmby catches Frank Melchiot on the ankles. The referee calls over Spencer Barmby and shows him a yellow card! Frank Melchiot runs off the knock.
40.26
Joe Vonk surges forward with the ball. Joe Vonk lofts in a cross ball towards Kieron Bridge. Kieron Bridge makes a looping header on goal. The ball clips the outside of the post and goes out!
42.56
Said Monteiro flicks a high pass forward. Leon Patterson holds off his marker to collect the ball on his thigh. Leon Patterson shoots from 20 yards his aim is horrendously poor!
44.06
Rafael Martinez sees space and advances. Rafael Martinez passes the ball forward to Angelo Rivalta. Angelo Rivalta whips in a cross ball towards Cristiano Barbosa. Cristiano Barbosa is unmarked! He powers a header at goal. The ball edges inside the post - goal!!
45.00
The whistle blows and the first half comes to an end!

Both teams emerge for the second half. Birmingham City appear unchanged since the first half. Arsenal also appear unchanged since the first half.

45.00
Birmingham City start the second half!
51.28
Frank Melchiot flicks the ball to his team mate, Joe Vonk. Joe Vonk flicks a high ball forward to Rafael Martinez who takes it down. Rafael Martinez runs straight at the defence! Rafael Martinez takes a shot at goal. Noel Henry is helpless! The ball slams into the back of the net - goal!!
54.08
Said Monteiro catches Joe Vonk on the ankles. The referee calls over Said Monteiro and shows him a yellow card! Joe Vonk gets up, but that knock is affecting his game.
55.36
Spencer Prior kicks a strong pass forward to Said Monteiro. Said Monteiro passes the ball forward but Spencer Prior is offside!
59.00
Seeing a gap ahead, Frank Melchiot plays the ball forward to Franco Cristallini. Franco Cristallini flicks a high pass forward. Joe Vonk controls it well on his chest. Joe Vonk controls the ball perfectly and tries a long range shot on goal. It smacks hard against the advertising boards behind the goal. Just wide!
60.49
Birmingham City have made 2 substitutions with Jamie Owen replacing Rafael Martinez and Said Bruggink replacing Kieron Bridge .
61.55
Kemal Wilcox threads a neat ball through to Cristiano Barbosa. Cristiano Barbosa controls the ball well before passing to his team mate, Said Bruggink. Said Bruggink threads the ball through to Cristiano Barbosa but he's offside!
63.18
Frank Melchiot controls the ball well before passing to his team mate, Angelo Rivalta. Angelo Rivalta kicks a strong pass forward to Franco Cristallini. Franco Cristallini advances inside the box! Franco Cristallini shoots from just inside the box but it's a woeful effort!
65.58
Frank Melchiot flicks a high ball forward to Joe Vonk who takes it down. Joe Vonk makes a beautiful pass to the feet of Angelo Rivalta. Angelo Rivalta whips in a cross ball towards Jamie Owen. Jamie Owen connects with a diving header. Magnificent save by Noel Henry!
66.43
Luke Konchesky flicks the ball to his team mate, Kevin Brighton. Kevin Brighton knocks in a cross ball which is cleared easily by the defence.
72.07
Said Monteiro catches Joe Vonk on the ankles. Said Monteiro is warned by the referee! Joe Vonk hobbles a bit, but should be okay.
81.16
Kevin Brighton flicks the ball to his team mate, Luke Konchesky. Luke Konchesky knocks in a cross ball which is cleared easily by the defence.
83.03
Franco Cristallini threads a neat ball through to Said Bruggink. Said Bruggink whips in a cross ball towards Cristiano Barbosa. Cristiano Barbosa outjumps his marker and heads the ball goalward. The ball dips under the bar and into the back of the net. Goal!!
90.00
The whistle blows full-time!

Match Statistics
 

Birmingham City

Arsenal
Goals
3
0
Shots on Target
6
2
Shots off Target
3
2
Offsides
1
1
Fouls
0
5
Yellow Cards
0
4
Red Cards
0
0

Possession
57.1%
42.9%
Play Area
30%
48.6%
21.4%

Scorers
Cristiano Barbosa 44, 83
Rafael Martinez 51

Man of the Match
The man of the match was awarded to Cristiano Barbosa of Birmingham City

Match Ratings
1.Bart Grot (GK)
6
2.Pierluigi Bazzani (DEF)
6
3.Frank Melchiot (DEF)
6
4.Kemal Wilcox (DEF)
6
5.Atam Hill (DEF)
6
6.Rafael Martinez (MID)goal scored
8
7.Franco Cristallini (MID)
6
8.Joe Vonk (MID)
8
9.Cristiano Barbosa (ATT)goal scoredgoal scored
9
10.Angelo Rivalta (ATT)
7
11.Kieron Bridge (ATT)
6
 
12.Robert Brown (DEF)
0
13.Jamie Owen (MID)
6
14.Said Bruggink (ATT)
6

1.Noel Henry (GK)
7
2.Sjaak Wilnis (DEF)
6
3.Jacob Moss (DEF)
6
4.Vincenzo Lorenz (DEF)
6
5.Said Monteiro (MID)yellow card
5
6.Luke Konchesky (MID)yellow card
5
7.Spencer Prior (MID)yellow card
6
8.Kevin Brighton (MID)
6
9.Spencer Barmby (ATT)yellow card
5
10.Stanley Ward (ATT)
6
11.Leon Patterson (ATT)
6
 
12.Ugo Parker (ATT)
0
13.Jose Del Sol (GK)
0
14.Gilles James (DEF)
0