OSTRAVA AWAY 30-9-04
Banik Ostrava 1 Middlesbrough 1 (Boro win 4-1 on aggregate)
UEFA Cup Round 1 it's the second leg in Ostrava,
Can we finish off the job tonight, without any palava?
Serious injuries have, unfortunately, depleted the Boro's ranks,
And we're playing this game tonight with real youth out on the flanks.
There were, sadly, sporadic and unpleasant bouts of trouble,
But the riot police were present and they got stuck in 'at the double',
The scenes that we were shown were most certainly not pretty,
After the trouble-free first meeting it was certainly a pity.
In general the atmosphere is really quite amazing,
As Banik come at Boro with all their guns a' blazing,
Papadopulos quite clearly tried to score one with his hand,
But it was so awfully blatant: we could see it from the stand.
The ball in was a good one, with the Boro then retreating,
The Banik man got a yellow card for his attempt at cheating,
The Italian officials, though, were not so easily deceived,
And the game was then restarted with the Boro much relieved.
Banik have a great chance, which the Boro must resist,
And as the free kick's sent in, Schwarzer gets a brilliant fist,
The ball falls for Papadopulos but a foul is then adjudged,
As the ball was safely gathered, 'keeper Schwarzer had been nudged.
Papadopulos seems their danger-man as he scoops one past the post,
Schwarzer will say he had it covered: he was totally engrossed,
That's not what Boro want to see: it was really rather scary,
Just a little warning that, throughout, we need to be most wary.
Franck plays in Bolo Zenden, who is so enthusiastic,
His great shot hit the target after a turn that was fantastic,
But praise goes to the 'keeper who, this time, proves Bolo's equal,
And sadly for the Boro there is to be no happy sequel.
Downing wins a free kick right on the quarter-hour,
Queudrue climbed to head the ball with quite amazing power,
Then the fingertips of Raska, who was brilliant and brave,
Got the ball away to safety with a really smashing save.
Once again, from Downing, what a brilliant ball from wide,
He's proving, without doubt, give him the ball and he'll provide,
It's the help of colleague Nemeth that he's seeking to enlist,
But Szilard somehow slices it and then can't believe he's missed.
Then came a goal for Banik that had supporters feeling jolly,
With a shot that was unstoppable; a quite terrific volley,
So Banik have a lifeline with a sensational left-foot strike,
Now the Boro must ensure no further breaching of their dyke.
Boro are making chances in a game that's really brisk,
As Banik on the night simply have to take a risk,
So, 'play it tight and patience' has to be the recipe,
And give the ball to Downing, who could really hold the key.
Bystron, the goal-scorer, is like a man who's on a mission,
He succeeds in pulling Southgate, really 'miles' out of position,
Papadopulos, with his back to goal, turns quickly and then swoops,
And who got in a brilliant block? The one and only Coops.
So, we'd had three opportunities, which is really no mean feat,
And although a goal down on the night, we're in the driving seat,
It remains 'advantage Boro,' much to everyone's delight,
And so far not a bad performance, but it still remains so tight.
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The teams remain unchanged as we now start the second half,
And Boro start again to write the Banik epitaph,
Matusovic under pressure almost ran it out of play,
Then Schwarzer plucked the ball, mid-air, and saved the Boro's day.
Queudrue who, in recent times, has played out of his skin,
Creates a Boro problem with a lack of discipline,
Quite clearly and deliberately he tried to make use of his hand,
And deservedly got a yellow card by way of reprimand.
Matusovic (or, the 'Blond Lad' as Bernie Slav prefers),
Leads to a save from Schwarzer that was made for connoisseurs,
After he'd left young Parnaby trailing he got the ball across to Licka,
Who tested Schwarzer to the hilt: and that's not too good for my ticker.
The corner, sent into the box, caused consternation when,
Boateng seemed to pull his man and it might have cost a 'pen,'
But the players just got on with it, to applause throughout the ground,
Appreciating both sides' endeavour and great football all around.
Someone from the Banik side then suddenly lost his self-control,
And back-headed unbelievably towards his empty goal,
As the 'keeper left his charge to meet the red, onrushing horde,
Nemeth very narrowly failed to get a just reward.
Then came a massive blow for Boro with a somewhat harsh decision,
For Franck tried so hard to play the ball, as seen on television,
He had words then with the linesman for he thought that he'd been wronged,
And he sadly left the field on which he felt he still belonged.
With half-an-hour left to play that's a really bitter blow,
Then Colin Cooper's hurt to further add to Boro's woe,
Though he's feeling awfully groggy he's soon able to continue,
And, being the player he is, he'll still be straining every sinew.
Before Colin Cooper returns and with the Boro still down to nine,
Zenden saves the Boro by bravely heading off the line,
It was, oh, so very close and, to be truthful, rather chilling,
But this European football is, we're learning, really thrilling.
Zurek's on for Banik in a game that's not for slackers,
Which means now that Ostrava are fielding four attackers,
They immediately forced a corner, which was anything but sublime,
It brought relief for Boro and a little bit more time.
Once again Ostrava seek to twist the tourniquet,
But Cooper, acrobatically, somehow scoops the ball away,
Pat on the back from Schwarzer for Boro's veteran, Colin Cooper,
Who's once more proved to everyone that he's a truly super trooper.
Suffering now from cramp, Papadopulos is being replaced,
And the gangly Velkoborsky certainly will not be disgraced,
And Christie's on for Nemeth, who's understandably rather jaded,
All alone up front with Boro's goalmouth barricaded.
Southgate, once again, has been the Boro's outstanding rock,
Banik have found it nigh impossible our rearguard to unlock,
Aided by Colin Cooper he's been a real joy to behold,
And, generally, between them, they've maintained a stranglehold.
With four added extra minutes and Banik's fans now somewhat mute,
Boro were rather lucky when Zenden wildly swung his boot,
Fortunately for Boro, Schwarzer cleared and how fans roared,
Then Velkoborsky got a header and perhaps he should have scored.
Well done to Malcolm Christie, who had set young Morrison free,
With Banik still high up the field and defenders all at sea,
He set off seeking glory, let there be no ifs or buts,
But he sadly couldn't finish though he showed the heart and guts.
As we await the referee's whistle we finally break the Banik heart,
And thanks must go to Boateng, who had played a massive part,
He brilliantly picked out Morrison, who displayed such great composure,
To coolly find the empty net and thereby bring about the closure.
As the 'keeper came to thwart him, James had one thing on his mind,
And what a lovely, lovely moment, and a finish so refined,
He stepped around the 'keeper as he faced him one-to-one,
To score Boro's first goal in Europe and we say to James, (Well done.'
We then saw Southgate standing proud with trademark, raised clenched fist,
For Boro had been successful in their first European tryst,
Now their fans can all fly home, no doubt they're feeling over the moon,
To quickly get prepared again for Man. United and 'The Roon.'
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