by Teamtalk
Two classic Liverpool counter strikes saw the Reds through
into the Fourth Round of the FA Cup as they condemned
Huddersfield to a 2-0 defeat.
A great cup tie at the McAlpine saw Huddersfield make the
early running against an in form Liverpool for whom Titi
Camara secured the lead on 35 minutes.
Town forced a corner as early as the third minute. Jamie
Vincent's outswinger was flicked on at the near post before
falling to captain Kenny Irons. The former Tranmere man's low
drive was well held by Reds 'keeper Sander Westerveld low to
his right just as striker Clyde Wijnhard tried to stab home.
Within a minute the Dutch forward was put through and
comfortably outpaced defender Sammy Hyypia who he turned
inside out before having his right footed shot blocked again by
Westerveld who was injured temporarily in the resulting
collision with his countryman.
Ex-Manchester United man Ben Thornley made a surging run
on the left after 10 minutes which culminated in a fine left foot
shot which was turned around for a corner by Westerveld.
Dean Gorre and Clyde Wijnhard linked well on the right as they
worked the angles around the Liverpool back four before the
ball came back to the former who scuffed his effort wide.
The best of the early chances for the Reds fell to Titi Camara
on nine minutes when he was put through but with a clear site
on goal scuffed his left footed shot wide across goal.
Michael Owen finally beat the offside trap on 13 minutes and
his delicate chip was only just held onto by Belgian 'keeper
Nico Vaesen.
Steve Bruce must have been tearing his hair out at the amount
of chances missed by his Terriers. Dean Gorre was unlucky to
see his left foot effort deflected wide of goal after running
directly at the Liverpool defence on 23 minutes.
The most profligate waster of chances was Wijnhard.
Receiving a ball from Scott Sellars the striker found space
between the centre backs Stephane Henchoz and Sammy
Hyppia but could only prod his right foot effort wide. He then
followed this with a rash blaze over the bar when put behind
the Liverpool defence on the right.
Liverpool, always dangerous on the break, reminded Town of
their pedigree when a superb volley from Hyypia from outside
the box was deflected over the bar on 27 minutes.
Another glorious chance to take the lead went begging for
Town when Scott Sellars was left in acres of space on his
favoured left foot but he screwed his effort wide.
Immediately after Liverpool made Huddersfield pay when
Camara received the ball outside the box and sprayed it wide
for Vladimir Smicer. The Czech's excellent cross was met by
Camara whose right footed volley found the corner of the net
despite Nico Vaesen's left hand just making contact with the ball.
Into the second period Gorre had a goal bound shot deflected
wide for a corner from which Clyde Wijnhard headed narrowly
wide on 51 minutes.
Hamann fired over from Smicer 's cut back two minutes later
and then a killer blow was struck on 59 minutes when
Camara's cross field ball found Dominic Matteo on the left. He
galloped into the area rode the challenge from Kenny Irons and
then fired left footed across Nico Vaesen to give Liverpool a
2-0 lead.
A third Liverpool goal looked odds on just five minutes later
when a superb touch from Camara played Owen in. The
England striker delayed and allowed Jamie Vincent to rescue
Town as Owen was about to fire home.
Wijnhard should have halved the arrears on 69 minutes when
put clean through only to roll his right footed effort wide of the
right hand post.
Owen then showed a clean pair of heels as he ran half the
length of the pitch before firing a fizzing shot at Vaesen who
beat out the effort to safety.
The Terriers never gave up and a surging run from Marcus
Stewart into the area brought a save from Westerveld as the
striker tried to cut the ball back to Wijnhard.
Huddersfield threw on former Blackburn man George Donis to
add pace down the right for the closing stages of the game and
his 78th minute strike was well turned over by Westerveld.
Resolute defending and fine counter attacking marked another
excellent result for Liverpool who responded well to the early
onslaught from the Nationwide Division One table toppers.
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