Monday, 4 August 2014

ARSENAL AND CHELSEA LOSE, EVERTON DRAW

Monaca Radamel Falcao celebrates after scoring with a free header

A review of Sunday's major pre-season friendly action as Arsenal were beaten at home by Monaco.


Radamel Falcao announced his return to goalscoring action as Monaco's 1-0 win prevented Arsenal from winning the Emirates Cup.
Hopes were high that the Gunners would lift the trophy for the first time in four years, but Arsene Wenger's side were caught napping when Falcao ghosted into the box and nodded home from a free-kick eight minutes before the interval.
The hosts struggled to find a way through last year's Ligue 1 runners-up but will feel aggrieved that they were not awarded a penalty when Monaco keeper Danijel Subasic brought down Chuba Akpom late on.
Referee Martin Atkinson gave a free-kick, although replays suggested it was clearly inside the area, and the hosts were thwarted in their hunt for the equalising goal they needed to win the tournament.
Instead, it was Valencia who took the trophy after earlier beating Benfica 3-1.
An eventful day at Goodison Park saw Everton celebrate Leon Osman's 11 years of service and present record-signing Romelu Lukaku to the crowd, but they still could only manage a 1-1 draw with Porto.
The Toffees struggled to craft and take clear-cut opportunities in the absence of a recognised number nine, but Steven Naismith still managed to coolly sidefoot them in front just before the interval.
It was then that Lukaku was paraded to rapturous applause and his potency up front was clearly the missing ingredient as Porto fought their way back into the game and Jackson Martinez grabbed a deserved equaliser.
Thibaut Courtois got the nod ahead of Petr Cech for Chelsea's game withWerder Bremen, but he was unfortunate to find himself on the wrong end of a 3-0 scoreline.
The Belgian keeper, returning to Stamford Bridge after two years on loan in Spain with Atletico Madrid, was beaten from the spot by Eljero Elia before Ludovic Obraniak's powerful header made it 2-0 at half time.
Didier Drogba made his return to action for Chelsea in the second half, but Felix Kroos made it 3-0 with another spot-kick late on.
Two goals in two minutes from Luis Alberto and Ezequiel Rescaldani consignedWest Ham to a 2-0 defeat to Malaga as the Spanish side won the inaugural Schalke Cup at the Veltins-Arena.
Newcastle rounded off the tournament by humbling the hosts 3-1 thanks to goals from Emmanuel Riviere, Rolando Aarons and Remy Cabella, while Donis Avdijaj pulled one back for Schalke.
Elsewhere, former Barcelona forward Bojan struck a sweet left-footed drive from 25 yards to earn Stoke a 1-1 draw at Blackburn after Jordan Rhodes had nudged the hosts in front with a trademark poacher's finish just before half-time.

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