Saturday, August 12, 2006

West Ham 1 Olympiakos 1

West Ham fielded a strong attacking line-up for this game, featuring three strikers in Ashton, Harewood and Zamora.

West Ham started the half well with Reo-Coker forcing a save from the keeper in the first minute of the game. West Ham's next good chance came in the 20th minute when Zamora volleyed high from an Ashton chipped cross.

West Ham opened the scoring in the 24th minute with a superb individual goal from Marlon Harewood, who dribbled past three defenders, before scoring with his left foot from eight yards.

Olympiakos had their best chance in the 32nd minute from a Djordjevic free-kick. However Carroll blocked the shot and Mullins cleared the ball from danger.

In the 37th minute Ashton set Harewood up who shot over the bar from only six yards. In the 43rd minute Djordjevic's long shot took a deflection that wrong footed Carroll but the ball just missed the outside of the post.

Second Half

At half-time Gabbidon replaced Ferdinand and Paintsil replaced Mears.

Olympiakos started the second half well with three good chances in the first five minutes. First from a corner a good chance was headed wide by Zewlakow. Then in the 51st minute a low cross across the face of the goal by Castillo just evaded the on-rushing Borja. A minute later Castillo fired a left-foot shot just wide of the post.

In the 54th min Bowyer was set up by Ashton but fired narrowly over from 20 yards. In the 64th min Sheringham replaced Ashton, Cole replaced Harewood and Reid came on for Zamora.

In the 68th minute Olympiakos equalised when West Ham failed to clear the ball from the area and Castillo fired low past Walker despite the best efforts of Collins to get across and block the shot.

In the 72nd minute Cole forced a good save from the Olympiakos keeper after being set up by Sheringham. In the 75th minute Tomkins relaced Collins and Ephraim came on for Reo-Coker.

In the 76nd minute Djordjevic's fierce free-kick from 25 yards out was well held by Walker at the foot of his post. In the 79th minute Castillo's low cross from the left found Djordjevic, but he shot a close-range effort wide of the target.

In the 84th minute West Ham were reduced to ten men as Konchesky was forced off after a heavey challenge from Okkas, and the Hammers had already used all their subs.

In the 87th minute West Ham almost snatched a winner, as Sheringham found Cole clean through on goal, but the striker was denied by Nikopolidis as he tried to round the goalkeeper.

Attendance: 14,065

Starting XI: Carroll; Mears, Collins, Ferdinand, Konchesky; Bowyer, Mullins, Reo-Coker (c); Harewood, Ashton, Zamora.

Subs: Gabbidon, Tomkins, Pantsil, Cole, Reid, Ephraim, Sheringham, Walker.

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