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Europa League Qualifier: Rabotnicki 0-2 Liverpool - David Ngog brace helps Roy Hodgson claim win in first competitive game as Reds boss
Makeshift side take a European stroll in Macedonia...
By Michael Landon
A brace from David Ngog ensured Liverpool picked up victory in their Europa League third round tie away to Rabotnicki. The Reds, who were missing many of their first team regulars, outclassed their Macedonian opponents and ensured new boss Roy Hodgson's competitive debut as manager ended in victory.
Ngog opened the scoring in the first half after some weak defending from the hosts allowed him through on goal. In the second half, the Frenchman found his second with an excellent first time effort to secure a routine victory for a makeshift Reds' side.
The Reds squad that travelled to Macedonia was missing many first team regulars with Daniel Agger, Alberto Aquilani and Lucas Leiva being surrounded by mostly fringe and youth players in the starting line-up for the tie. Young Ngog was selected to spearhead the attack.
A hostile reception greeted Hodgson's side, but the Merseysiders managed to keep things tight in the opening 10 minutes. The manager's tactical choice of a five-man midfield with a lone striker hinted at a gameplan of security rather than all-out assault, and the first sniff at goal for the Reds didn't arrive until the 12th minute when Aquilani sent through Lucas, but 'keeper Martin Bogatinov was quick off his line to clear the danger.
The Reds slowly began to assert their authority on the match thereafter. Aquilani and Lucas were beginning to show their Premier League quality in midfield, and it wasn't long before it told.
Lucas, given too much time and space on the ball, looked up and delivered a simple lofted ball over the top, and Ngog was there to pounce on a shaky back-line. The Frenchman let the ball bounce once and then easily beat the keeper to score Liverpool's first competitive goal of the season.
With the deadlock broken, Liverpool settled. Agger tried to force a second by charging up the left-channel and crossing into the box, but Ngog was just denied contact with the ball by good defending from Vladimir Sekulovski.
The home side's lack of craft was making defending mostly routine for the Liverpool backline, and a tame shot from Jose Ze Carlos was one of the rare times that Reds 'keeper Diego Cavalieri was called into action.
As the half wound to a close, Liverpool should have found the decisive second goal. Defending a corner, the ball fell to Sotirios Kyrgiakos, of all people, who broke at pace with the Rabotnicki defence spread thin. David Amoo and Ngog broke with him but the Greek couldn't find either with his cross, much to the joy of the Macedonian crowd.
Right at the end of the half Liverpool had an even better chance. A corner was swung into the box by new signing Milan Jovanovic, and Kyrgiakos should have buried it but his header floated wide to the left of the goal.
HALF-TIME: RABOTNICKI 0-1 LIVERPOOL
Neither changed personnel at the interval and the second period started with the Reds firmly asserting their superiority on the Macedonians, dominating possession but struggling to find the quality on the final ball.
Young Amoo was looking lively on the right channel with his speed causing anxiety in the Rabotnicki defence, but on the two occasions he broke to the byline, his cross into the box was tame.
The English side were wasting chances, and they almost received a rude awakening when a long ball over the top wasn't dealt with properly by Agger, allowing Dos Santos Wandeir to shoot at goal. His effort was extremely tame though, and Liverpool were let off the hook.
Against top sides you have to take your chances, and Rabotnicki would learn that lesson a few minutes later when the Premier League club scored a second.
Kelly avoided the attentions of two defenders deep down the right channel and delivered an accurate cross to the feet of Ngog in the box. From the right of goal, the Frenchman hit the ball on the half-volley and it flew into the top of the net. A sublime finish which left the 'keeper no chance to put the Reds 2-0 up and cruising.
The Merseysiders were having a great deal of success on the right channel and Amoo again threatened to make something happen down that flank. This time, instead of wasting his cross, he cut in to goal and produced a strong shot that Bogatinov had to collect at the second attempt.
The home side looked dejected and they were being made to work hard to deny a third goal. Their passing in midfield was good at times but Liverpool easily dealt with any hint of a comeback as the minutes clicked towards 90.
The two-goal cushion allowed Hodgson to give a run-out to some of the youngsters he had selected on the bench. Lauri Dalla Valle, Nathan Eccleston and Stephen Darby all saw action in the final 10 minutes.
Under instruction from their new boss, the trio ensured the Reds kept possession of the ball to see out victory comfortably. Hodgson's side will now look forward to the return fixture at Anfield with the hard work done away from home.
Goals from Rabotnicki 0-2 Liverpool
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Ngog opened the scoring in the first half after some weak defending from the hosts allowed him through on goal. In the second half, the Frenchman found his second with an excellent first time effort to secure a routine victory for a makeshift Reds' side.
The Reds squad that travelled to Macedonia was missing many first team regulars with Daniel Agger, Alberto Aquilani and Lucas Leiva being surrounded by mostly fringe and youth players in the starting line-up for the tie. Young Ngog was selected to spearhead the attack.
A hostile reception greeted Hodgson's side, but the Merseysiders managed to keep things tight in the opening 10 minutes. The manager's tactical choice of a five-man midfield with a lone striker hinted at a gameplan of security rather than all-out assault, and the first sniff at goal for the Reds didn't arrive until the 12th minute when Aquilani sent through Lucas, but 'keeper Martin Bogatinov was quick off his line to clear the danger.
The Reds slowly began to assert their authority on the match thereafter. Aquilani and Lucas were beginning to show their Premier League quality in midfield, and it wasn't long before it told.
Lucas, given too much time and space on the ball, looked up and delivered a simple lofted ball over the top, and Ngog was there to pounce on a shaky back-line. The Frenchman let the ball bounce once and then easily beat the keeper to score Liverpool's first competitive goal of the season.
With the deadlock broken, Liverpool settled. Agger tried to force a second by charging up the left-channel and crossing into the box, but Ngog was just denied contact with the ball by good defending from Vladimir Sekulovski.
The home side's lack of craft was making defending mostly routine for the Liverpool backline, and a tame shot from Jose Ze Carlos was one of the rare times that Reds 'keeper Diego Cavalieri was called into action.
As the half wound to a close, Liverpool should have found the decisive second goal. Defending a corner, the ball fell to Sotirios Kyrgiakos, of all people, who broke at pace with the Rabotnicki defence spread thin. David Amoo and Ngog broke with him but the Greek couldn't find either with his cross, much to the joy of the Macedonian crowd.
Right at the end of the half Liverpool had an even better chance. A corner was swung into the box by new signing Milan Jovanovic, and Kyrgiakos should have buried it but his header floated wide to the left of the goal.
HALF-TIME: RABOTNICKI 0-1 LIVERPOOL
Neither changed personnel at the interval and the second period started with the Reds firmly asserting their superiority on the Macedonians, dominating possession but struggling to find the quality on the final ball.
Young Amoo was looking lively on the right channel with his speed causing anxiety in the Rabotnicki defence, but on the two occasions he broke to the byline, his cross into the box was tame.
The English side were wasting chances, and they almost received a rude awakening when a long ball over the top wasn't dealt with properly by Agger, allowing Dos Santos Wandeir to shoot at goal. His effort was extremely tame though, and Liverpool were let off the hook.
Against top sides you have to take your chances, and Rabotnicki would learn that lesson a few minutes later when the Premier League club scored a second.
Kelly avoided the attentions of two defenders deep down the right channel and delivered an accurate cross to the feet of Ngog in the box. From the right of goal, the Frenchman hit the ball on the half-volley and it flew into the top of the net. A sublime finish which left the 'keeper no chance to put the Reds 2-0 up and cruising.
The Merseysiders were having a great deal of success on the right channel and Amoo again threatened to make something happen down that flank. This time, instead of wasting his cross, he cut in to goal and produced a strong shot that Bogatinov had to collect at the second attempt.
The home side looked dejected and they were being made to work hard to deny a third goal. Their passing in midfield was good at times but Liverpool easily dealt with any hint of a comeback as the minutes clicked towards 90.
The two-goal cushion allowed Hodgson to give a run-out to some of the youngsters he had selected on the bench. Lauri Dalla Valle, Nathan Eccleston and Stephen Darby all saw action in the final 10 minutes.
Under instruction from their new boss, the trio ensured the Reds kept possession of the ball to see out victory comfortably. Hodgson's side will now look forward to the return fixture at Anfield with the hard work done away from home.
Goals from Rabotnicki 0-2 Liverpool
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