FLO BACK WITH A GOAL IN RESERVES DEFEAT
Steve Hunter at Wrexham 16 August 2005
Florent Sinama-Pongolle made a scoring return for Liverpool Reserves after seven months out in the Reds 3-2 defeat to Everton, in the first second string match of the season at Wrexham's Racecourse Ground.
Sinama-Pongolle entered the field as a 50th minute substitute to make his first appearance for the Reds since injuring his knee in the Carling Cup semi-final win at Watford on January 25th.
The France Under-21 star played on the right wing and was absolutely superb. He was so sharp and almost single handedly rescued a point for a Liverpool team which had at one stage been 3-0 down and Everton had missed a penalty. Right wing is a position that seems comfortable for Sinama-Pongolle and he can take players on and cause havoc. The watching Rafael Benitez will have been pleased to see him back in action.
Reds midfielder Danny Guthrie scored a superb individual goal to make it 3-2 but it was too little too late for Liverpool. Everton also ended the game with 10 men after James Harris was sent-off.
Liverpool's chief scout Paco Herrera is in charge of the Reserves this season with Hughie McAuley as reserve coach.
Both teams fielded young players with Liverpool giving debuts to centre half Jack Hobbs, Spanish right back Antonio Barragan and Ghana defender Godwin Antwi. Spanish centre half Miquel Roque couldn't play as he is waiting for international clearance.
With Paul Harrison and Patrice Luzi leaving the club in the summer the goalkeeping responsibilities for the new reserve season will fall to Northern Ireland youth international Paul Willis.
In order to fit all the players into the team on the night a few were in different positions. Godwin Antwi is a centre half but because of a striker shortage had to play up front while Hobbs was asked to play a new role just in front of the back four, in the Didi Hamann role if you like. Lee Peltier, one of the new Melwood recruits from the Academy this summer is normally a central midfielder, but had to play left back. Peltier hasn't played for over nine months due to a back problem so he will have been grateful to get a game under his belt.
Zak Whitbread captained the team and partnered Danny O'Donnell at centre half.
Until the introduction of Sinama-Pongolle Everton were causing all sorts of problems in the air and were 3-0 up inside the opening 50 minutes with all three goals coming from set pieces.
Everton winger Bjarni Vidarsson scored the first two goals both from headers. The first one came after seven minutes when Vidarsson headed home Christian Seargeant's left wing free-kick.
It was 2-0 after 37 minutes when Vidarsson headed home right back Stephen Wynne's cross.
A minute into the second half Everton missed a penalty. A mistake from Danny O'Donnell let in Victor Anichebe who was brought down by Zak Whitbread. Liverpool keeper Paul Willis made a superb save to keep out Mark Hughes spot kick.
However a minute later it was 3-0 and another set piece goal. Hughes was allowed a free header at the back post and nodded it across goal for the unmarked Anichebe to head home.
That was the cue for Paco Herrera to bring on Florent Sinama-Pongolle after 50 minutes and the French star transformed the team almost single handedly. He inspired all around him and Liverpool began to play and looked a real threat every time they attacked.
Within five minutes of coming on Sinama-Pongolle made it 3-1 with a fine header from David Mannix's free-kick. Sinama-Pongolle had won the free-kick himself with some great work down the right wing.
Josemi was then introduced on the hour mark for Peltierand played at centre half and was very competitive making several crunching tackles.
With Sinama-Pongolle causing all sorts of problems Liverpool were a different side. He set up a great chance for Godwin Antwi who shot wide then Liverpool went so close after 66 minutes. Antonio Barragan, who looks a very promising player down the right hand side, whipped in a great cross which Richard Wright couldn't hold under a challenge from Antwi and Hughes headed clear from the line.
Zak Whitbread then headed just over the bar from a corner and Sinama-Pongolle had a shot deflected just wide after a great run when he beat three defenders.
With five minutes remaining Danny Guthrie made it 3-2 with a great shot fired into the corner of the net giving Wright no chance.
Everton were then reduced to 10 men when James Harris was shown a red card for dissent after a brawl.
Sinama-Pongolle went close for the Reds in stoppage time but there was to be no comeback in the mini derby as Everton beat Liverpool at Wrexham for the second successive season.
As far as the new boys are concerned Godwin Antwi worked hard but it is unfair to make any judgement yet because he is a centre half in a new country playing as a lone striker. That is a difficult role but he kept working hard which was a good sign. He also showed some neat touches with some good lay-offs for team-mates.
Antonio Barragan did well at right back. He has skill, can beat opponents and looks a very decent prospect.
Jack Hobbs played in a new role too and worked hard. He certainly likes a tackle and was constantly shouting encouragement to his team-mates.
The biggest positive on the night for the watching Benitez was seeing Sinama-Pongolle back in action after seven months out. Flo gives the Reds boss a number ofdifferent possibilities as is comfortable playing up front or on the right hand side.
If we don't sign a right winger, could Pongolle be the answer to the problems on the right? And if we sign one having a player like Pongolle who can play well on the right gives us another option and possibility. Either way it doesn't sound too bad.
