Prague –
Liverpool get closer to 2023/2024 Europa League quarterfinals. This is after the Reds won 5-1 over Sparta Prague.
In the first leg Europa League Round of 16 at epet ARENA, Friday (8/3/2024) early morning WIB, Liverpool took a 3-0 lead in the first half through a pair of goals from Darwin Nunez and a penalty from Alexis Mac Allister.
Sparta scored a goal through Conor Bradley’s own suicide. Liverpool’s two goals in the second half were created by Luis Diaz and Dominik Szoboszlai.
This result makes it easier for Liverpool to progress to the next round considering that the second leg will be held at Anfield next week.
The course of the match Sparta Prague Vs Liverpool
Just two minutes into the game, Darwin Nunez already had a chance to score a goal when he was just facing the goalkeeper. He was able to pass, but his shot was easily cleared by two Sparta Prague defenders.
Liverpool opened the scoring in the sixth minute. At the start of Asger Sorensen’s mistake when receiving a short pass from the goalkeeper, Alexis Mac Allister grabbed the ball and then dropped it in the forbidden box.
The referee pointed to the spot and Mac Allister was the executor to outwit Sparta goalkeeper Peter Vindahl, so the score changed 1-0 to the visitors.
s Alexis Mac Allister scores their first goal from the penalty spot REUTERS/David W Cerny” title=”Sparta Praha vs Liverpool” class=”p_img_zoomin” />Penalti Alexis Mac Allister membawa Liverpool memimpin 1-0. Foto: (REUTERS/David W Cerny)
Being left behind by one goal actually made Sparta stung and they put all the pressure on Liverpool. In the 15th minute, Sparta counterattacked from the right side and ended with Jan Kuchta crossing to the far post.
Lukas Haraslin responded with a flick but the ball was pushed over by Caoimhin Kelleher. The ball thrown towards the goal was quickly cleared by Joe Gomez.
Kelleher was back in action in the 21st minute when he jumped to tip Carlos Preciado’s header in the box after a scramble for a corner.
Liverpool, who were under a lot of pressure, doubled their lead in the 25th minute through Nunez. A long ball to the left from Luis Diaz ended with a short pass to Nunez.
Nunez controlled the ball for a moment and then shot from 30 yards and into the middle of the Sparta goal.
Sparta threatened Liverpool’s goal again in the 37th minute when Kutcha stabbed from the left side and shot into the corner of the goal. Kelleher was able to brush it off and the ball that Veljko Birmancevic tried to hit went wide.
Gakpo missed two golden opportunities in the remaining five minutes of the game. First in the 41st minute when his shot into the right corner was parried by Vindahl, then in the 44th minute from close range.
Sparta had a chance in injury time from Haraslin, but again Kelleher was able to block his shot from close range.
Nunez! The Uruguayan striker made Liverpool close the first half with a 3-0 lead. Starting from Mac Allister’s long ball, Nunez went wide to the right to catch up and immediately fired a first-time shot which hit the right corner of the goal.
s third goal during the UEFA Europa League 2023/24 round of 16 first leg match between AC Sparta Praha and Liverpool FC at Letna Stadium on March 07, 2024 in Prague, Czech Republic. (Photo by Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)” title=”Sparta Praha vs Liverpool” class=”p_img_zoomin” />Gol ketiga Liverpool yang dibuat Darwin Nunez. (Foto: Liverpool FC via Getty Images/Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC)
After just a minute of the second half, Liverpool’s goal was broken because Conor Bradley misanticipated a cross and instead directed the ball into Kelleher’s net.
Sparta then created another chance through Haraslin in the 48th minute. From close range, Haraslin had space to shoot but the ball was blocked by Kelleher for a corner.
Liverpool extended their lead to 4-1 thanks to Diaz’s goal in the 53rd minute. Diaz completed the collaboration between Bradley and Elliott on the right side of Liverpool’s attack with a flick in front of goal, the ball hit Vitik’s foot before beating the Sparta goalkeeper.
s Luis Diaz scores their fourth goal REUTERS/David W Cerny” title=”Sparta Prague vs Liverpool” class=”p_img_zoomin” />Luis Diaz made the score 4-1 in the second half. (Photo: REUTERS/David W Cerny)
Two minutes later Sparta almost scored a beautiful goal from the middle of the field when Preciado fired a lofted shot. The ball headed towards the top of the goal but Kelleher swiftly tipped it.
Vindahl thwarted Gakpo’s chance for the fourth time in the 63rd minute. This time he swiftly parried the ball on the goal line.
Mohamed Salah, who came on as a substitute, scored a goal in the 85th minute after receiving Dominik Szoboszlai’s pass. However, VAR annulled it because Gakpo, who was caught offside, was deemed to have taken part in the game.
Szoboszlai ensured Liverpool’s 5-1 victory in the final minute of injury time. Receiving an area pass from Elliott, Szoboszlai made a solo run into the penalty box before breaking into the Sparta goal from close range.
(mrp/ran)
2024-03-07 19:47:01
#Sparta #Prague #Liverpool #Reds #Goal #Party
