Rabotnicki Skopje 0 - 2 Liverpool
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By Marc Vesty
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David Ngog's double strike eased an inexperienced Liverpool side to victory over Rabotnicki in their Europa League third qualifying round first leg.
In his first competitive game in charge, Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson left out 10 of his World Cup stars, including captain Steven Gerrard.
But Liverpool were comfortable, opening the scoring when Ngog lofted over the goalkeeper after a defensive mix-up.
Ngog's second was a cool six-yard volley from Martin Kelly's cross.
For Hodgson, the victory was vindication of his decision to leave most of his key players at home, a risky strategy considering the Europa League represents Liverpool's only hope of European glory this season.
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Hodgson had criticised governing body Uefa for making Liverpool play a qualifying game only 18 days after the World Cup and left the likes of Gerrard, new signing Joe Cole, Jamie Carragher and Glen Johnson back in Liverpool.
Argentina duo Javier Mascherano and Maxi Rodriguez did not travel either, as well as Spain's Fernando Torres, goalkeeper Pepe Reina and Dutch forwards Dirk Kuyt and Ryan Babel.
But the patched up Liverpool team proved to have more than enough strength and guile to hold off an enthusiastic but limited FK Rabotnicki side, who should not pose any problem in the second leg at Anfield on 5 August.
From the start, Liverpool's game plan appeared to focus on being tight in defence and worrying about attack secondarily.
And with only half of the starting XI being first-team regulars it was perhaps telling that three of the experienced players called on were defenders, in Martin Skrtel, Daniel Agger and Sotirios Krygiakos - all of whom played in the World Cup group stages for Slovakia, Denmark and Greece respectively.
That defensive unit gave Liverpool the solid platform to build on as, after a slightly disjointed start, the Premier League side grew in confidence and controlled the game.
The only clear-cut chance of the first half produced the opening goal when captain Lucas chipped his free-kick towards the edge of the area for Ngog to chase.
The Frenchman was rewarded for his endeavour when goalkeeper Martin Bogatinov and Egzon Belica both missed the ball and he was left to comfortably lift his finish over the keeper.
Rabotnicki were limited to one first-half chance but Ze Carlos's long-range strike was easily collected by Brazilian compatriot Diego Cavalieri.
Liverpool often looked in cruise control in the second half with their main threat coming through the impressive Ngog.
The 21-year-old striker scored eight goals in 37 appearances for Liverpool last season, a return which could not make up for the loss of Torres for long periods through injury.
But the France under-21 international showed glimpses of real quality against the Macedonian side in a display which suggested he may be able to force his way into Hodgson's thinking this season.
Ngog's second goal came when he met Kelly's cross from the right with a neat volley on the edge of the six-yard box which flew into the top right corner.
Another striker on show for Liverpool was Milan Jovanovic, who signed on a free transfer from Standard Liege this summer.
But playing on the left of a front three for the most part, the Serbia international was unable to mark his debut with a goal.
Liverpool used much of the second half as a training exercise, with Hodgson throwing on youngsters Stephen Darby, Lauri Dallaa Valle and Nathan Eccleston as his first competitive game in charge went almost entirely to plan.
Live text and stats
Thursday, 29 July 2010
Europa League Q'fying
| Home Team | Score | Away Team | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rabotnicki Skopje | 0-2 | Liverpool | FT |
| (HT 0-1) | |||
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Rabotnicki Skopje
- 01 Bogatinov
- 03 Sekulovski (Adem 43)
- 05 Dimovski
- 02 Belica
- 13 Todorovski
- 16 Gligorov
- 19 Tuneski (Petkovski 77)
- 07 Fernando Lopes
- 10 Filho (Mojsov 57)
- 15 Da Silva
- 23 Dos Santos
Substitutes
- 25 Kandikijan,
- 14 Adem,
- 18 Roberto Carlos,
- 09 Marcio,
- 11 Mojsov,
- 20 Petkovski,
- 24 Sinkovic
Liverpool
- 01 Cavalieri
- 05 Agger (Darby 72)
- 16 Kyrgiakos
- 34 Kelly
- 37 Skrtel
- 04 Aquilani (Dalla Valle 83)
- 21 Lucas
- 26 Spearing
- 14 Jovanovic
- 24 Ngog
- 46 Amoo (Eccleston 83)
Substitutes
- 42 Gulacsi,
- 32 Darby,
- 40 Ayala,
- 33 Shelvey,
- 38 Dalla Valle,
- 39 Eccleston,
- 45 Ince
- Final Result
- Full Time
- 90:00+2:04 The referee ends the match.
- 90:00+1:14 Nathan Eccleston challenges Goran Dimovski unfairly and gives away a free kick. Gjorgji Mojsov takes the direct free kick.
- 90:00+0:54 Nathan Eccleston crosses the ball, blocked by Egzon Belica.
- 90:00+0:25 Lauri Dalla Valle is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Egzon Belica takes the free kick.
- 87:11 Gjorgji Mojsov fouled by Lauri Dalla Valle, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Gjorgji Mojsov.
- 82:14 Substitution (Liverpool) makes a substitution, with Nathan Eccleston coming on for David Amoo.
- 82:14 Substitution Alberto Aquilani goes off and Lauri Dalla Valle comes on.
- 82:03 Alberto Aquilani has an effort at goal from 35 yards and went wide left of the target.
- 81:04 Martin Kelly crosses the ball, save made by Martin Bogatinov.
- 80:04 Goran Dimovski produces a cross, Martin Skrtel manages to make a clearance.
- 76:23 Substitution Filip Petkovski replaces Vladimir Tuneski.
- 76:05 Gjorgji Mojsov crosses the ball.
- 75:23 Effort from outside the penalty box by Martin Kelly goes wide left of the goal.
- 73:32 Foul by David Ngog on Emir Adem, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Alcantara Fernando Lopes.
- 73:15 A cross is delivered by David Ngog, Alcantara Fernando Lopes gets a block in.
- 72:16 Gjorgji Mojsov challenges David Amoo unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Leiva Lucas.
- 71:23 Direct free kick taken by Martin Skrtel.
- 71:23 Substitution (Liverpool) makes a substitution, with Stephen Darby coming on for Daniel Agger.
- 71:23 Unfair challenge on Leiva Lucas by Fabio Da Silva results in a free kick.
- 70:18 The ball is crossed by Martin Kelly, blocked by Alcantara Fernando Lopes.
- 68:04 Foul by Fabio Da Silva on Alberto Aquilani, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Alberto Aquilani.
- 66:46 The ball is crossed by Jay Spearing, Alcantara Fernando Lopes makes a clearance.
- 65:18 The ball is sent over by Emir Adem, Gjorgji Mojsov takes a shot. Save by Diego Cavalieri.
- 63:04 Nikola Gligorov takes a shot. Blocked by Alberto Aquilani. Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Gjorgji Mojsov, Martin Skrtel makes a clearance. Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Gjorgji Mojsov, save made by Diego Cavalieri.
- 62:45 Goran Dimovski sends in a cross, clearance by Daniel Agger.
- 58:03 Martin Kelly provided the assist for the goal.
- 58:03 GOAL - David Ngog:Rabotnicki Skopje 0 - 2 Liverpool David Ngog scores a goal from close in high into the middle of the goal. Rabotnicki Kometal 0-2 Liverpool.
- 57:52 Martin Kelly produces a cross,
- 56:04 Substitution Gjorgji Mojsov replaces Jose Ze Carlos.
- 56:04 Dos Santos Wandeir has an effort at goal from outside the area which goes wide right of the goal.
- 54:07 Milan Jovanovic delivers the ball. Free kick awarded for a foul by David Ngog on Egzon Belica. Free kick taken by Martin Bogatinov.
- 53:17 Unfair challenge on Leiva Lucas by Vladimir Tuneski results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Martin Skrtel.
- 51:10 David Amoo fouled by Emir Adem, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Leiva Lucas.
- 50:26 Corner taken by Alberto Aquilani.
- 47:38 The referee blows for offside against David Amoo. Alcantara Fernando Lopes takes the indirect free kick.
- 46:46 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jay Spearing by Nikola Gligorov. Jay Spearing restarts play with the free kick.
- 45:50 The ball is sent over by Daniel Agger, clearance made by Goran Dimovski.
- 45:43 Martin Kelly sends in a cross.
- 45:01 The match restarts for the second half.
- Half Time
- 45:00+2:39 The referee calls an end to the first half.
- 45:00+1:56 Fabio Da Silva fouled by Leiva Lucas, the ref awards a free kick. Fabio Da Silva takes the direct free kick.
- 44:53 Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Milan Jovanovic from the right by-line, Headed effort from inside the area by Sotirios Kyrgiakos misses to the left of the target.
- 44:19 Corner taken by Milan Jovanovic, clearance made by Egzon Belica.
- 43:29 David Ngog fouled by Alcantara Fernando Lopes, the ref awards a free kick. The free kick is delivered right-footed by David Ngog from right channel.
- 43:00 Substitution Emir Adem replaces Vladimir Sekulovski.
- 40:33 Foul by Milan Jovanovic on Vladimir Sekulovski, free kick awarded. Vladimir Sekulovski crosses the ball, Header by Vladimir Tuneski from deep inside the penalty area misses to the left of the goal.
- 39:08 Fabio Da Silva concedes a free kick for a foul on Sotirios Kyrgiakos. Free kick taken by Diego Cavalieri.
- 38:19 David Amoo produces a cross, free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Alcantara Fernando Lopes by David Ngog. Direct free kick taken by Martin Bogatinov.
- 37:59 Unfair challenge on David Amoo by Egzon Belica results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Daniel Agger.
- 36:17 Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Milan Jovanovic from the right by-line, Egzon Belica makes a clearance.
- 35:35 Effort from the edge of the area by Fabio Da Silva goes wide of the right-hand post.
- 33:01 Foul by Dos Santos Wandeir on Jay Spearing, free kick awarded. Martin Skrtel takes the direct free kick.
- 32:16 Unfair challenge on Alcantara Fernando Lopes by David Ngog results in a free kick. Goce Todorovski restarts play with the free kick.
- 31:38 Foul by Leiva Lucas on Nikola Gligorov, free kick awarded. Alcantara Fernando Lopes takes the direct free kick.
- 29:47 Jose Ze Carlos takes a shot. Comfortable save by Diego Cavalieri.
- 28:51 Leiva Lucas gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Nikola Gligorov. Nikola Gligorov restarts play with the free kick.
- 28:04 Foul by Fabio Da Silva on Sotirios Kyrgiakos, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Sotirios Kyrgiakos.
- 23:09 A cross is delivered by Milan Jovanovic, clearance made by Goran Dimovski.
- 22:16 Corner from the right by-line taken by Milan Jovanovic, clearance by Goran Dimovski.
- 20:45 The ball is sent over by Daniel Agger, Goran Dimovski manages to make a clearance.
- 19:30 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Alberto Aquilani by Goce Todorovski. Direct free kick taken by Alberto Aquilani.
- 18:44 The referee blows for offside against David Ngog. Free kick taken by Martin Bogatinov.
- 18:20 The ball is sent over by Vladimir Sekulovski, clearance by Sotirios Kyrgiakos. Vladimir Sekulovski crosses the ball, Martin Skrtel makes a clearance.
- 16:53 The assist for the goal came from Leiva Lucas.
- 16:53 GOAL - David Ngog:Rabotnicki Skopje 0 - 1 Liverpool David Ngog grabs a goal from close range low into the middle of the goal. Rabotnicki Kometal 0-1 Liverpool.
- 16:29 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on David Ngog by Alcantara Fernando Lopes. Direct free kick taken by Leiva Lucas.
- 14:44 Corner from the left by-line taken by Alberto Aquilani, Leiva Lucas concedes a free kick for a foul on Egzon Belica. Free kick taken by Martin Bogatinov.
- 13:12 The ball is swung over by David Amoo, clearance by Egzon Belica. Corner from the right by-line taken by Alberto Aquilani, Headed effort from inside the area by Sotirios Kyrgiakos misses to the left of the target.
- 11:05 Free kick awarded for a foul by Milan Jovanovic on Alcantara Fernando Lopes. Direct free kick taken by Goran Dimovski.
- 10:20 Daniel Agger delivers the ball.
- 7:39 Corner from the left by-line taken by Dos Santos Wandeir, clearance by Martin Skrtel.
- 7:00 Martin Kelly gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Dos Santos Wandeir. Direct free kick taken by Vladimir Sekulovski.
- 4:57 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Nikola Gligorov by Martin Skrtel. Jose Ze Carlos has a direct shot on goal from the free kick.
- 3:45 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Nikola Gligorov by Jay Spearing. Direct free kick taken by Nikola Gligorov.
- 2:46 Milan Jovanovic takes a shot. Martin Bogatinov makes a save.
- 0:59 Martin Skrtel challenges Vladimir Sekulovski unfairly and gives away a free kick. Vladimir Sekulovski takes the free kick.
- 0:00 The match begins.
Live text and data provided by The Press Association.
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