CCV starting in defense for Bournemouth against premiership squad Norwich City. No shock Americans included in the opposition side. Norwich score in the fifth minute, via Buendia, as I create the thread. CCV not involved. Playing RCB in what I think is a 4-3-3.
Norwich get a questionable red on Giannoulis in the 17th minute, so Bournemouth's chances go way way up ...
Adam Smith taken down in the box by Cantwell, referee rules it was the invisible hand that took him down and not a penalty. Weird game leaving CCV little to do - keeps going forward for corners and free kicks, not too close to finishing.
Surridge equalizes - linseman puts up flag to cal lit back, center ref overrules - apparenntly correctly. I think the linesman thought a deflection off a defender was off an attacker, but it appears justly 1-1, unless you wonder whether there should have been a red card. CCV nice steal shortly after the restart, and the intensity is kicking in here.
Loose ball behind the defense and CCV beats Pukki to it - Pukki then tries to pull CCV down and winds up with both arms around CCV's waist and still failing to pull him off of the ball.
Danjuma ridiculous drive horizontally across the field to create space, and shoots back across his body into the upper corner from beyond the arc. Goal of the week candidate in this league, and Bournemouth are up 2-1.
Another nice goal for Bournemouth, this one from their LB I think. Scorcher into the bottom corner out of Krul's reach. CCV has put in a nice 2nd half, smartly dealing with a few threatening counters for Norwich when they were up 2-1. Every game starter for the hottest team in the EFL, surrounded by most of the players who were with Bmouth for 3-4 EPL seasons. According to Tranfermkt (for what it's worth), they are the highest valued team in the EFL. Wouldn't be surprised to see them win the playoff.
Kelly, who has sucked, drives a 30 yarder inside the far post, low and apparently screened from Krul. 3-1 and it's time to bring in Soto, but he's not on the radar and I'm off to focus on Dest trying to win a cup.
CCV starting first leg of Promotion playoff with Brentford, who is back in this tournament for the second year in a row. He's the RCB in a 4-2-3-1, scoreless about 30 minutes in .
I'm sure I've read that in the play-off away goals don't count (extra) but do we know why? Is it because away goals are a European thing and not a British thing?
CCV gets accused of a foul in the box on a defensive corner - think the ref did well to not blow the whistle. This match is very testy. CCV just committed a foul ending an attack that led Brentford to ask for a yellow. Ref will struggle to hold onto this one the whole way.
Bournemouth's whole team keeps going down injured, and they're not faking. It's wild. Third guy at least considering coming off for injury. This time it's Cook, CCV's partner in the central defense.
Cook is coming off, Mepham coming on, tough break for Bournemouth, but he's a solid player for this level.
Last play of the first half free kick, CCV wins it and heads it down dangerously, but it's cleared by Brentford.
CCV gets a talking-to related to fighting for possession on a corner, then wins the header on the actual corner.
GOAL BOURNEMOUTH - very composed counter where they got serious numbers into it. Danjuma with the finish of a very good Brooks final pass, and the pass to Brooks by Solanke was about perfect. Last 60 yards in two passes and one shot, five touches.
CCV one great, complicated stop in the defensive box to get back goal side of an attacker and position himself to block the shot.
Miracle - Mbeumo misses an open net sliding for a hard low cross across the six yard box. Marking problems for an outnumbered defense - CCV stepped up to mark the near post run, but Smith was still guarding the wide man, and no one was with Mbeumo. But he somehow managed to miss.