Atlético Juggernaut Rolls Past Recreativo

Claud · Sep 20, 2008

Atlético Madrid 4-0 Recreativo Huelva

Free-scoring Atlético Madrid continued to find the back of the net for fun as Sergio Agüero, Maniche and Florent Sinama-Pongolle all netted to give the mattress men another resounding 4-0 victory at home.

Los Colchoneros were in sizzling form after ripping PSV Eindhoven to shreds in midweek in the Champions League and Javier Aguirre’s men were eager to bring that momentum back home to La Liga, as they look to recover from their shock 2-1 loss at Real Valladolid last weekend.

First Half
But Recreativo weren’t about to let their hosts run rampant as they took the game to Los Colchoneros in the opening exchanges. Just seconds into the game, Camuñas darted down the right flank and drilled in a threatening low cross for Marco Rubén but it was cut out by a sliding Tomas Ujfalusi interception.

Recre’s over-adventurousness almost cost them on five minutes, though, when Florent Sinama-Pongolle streaked down the right flank on the counter, whipped in a cross to the centre but the speed of the delivery caught Maniche by surprise and the Portuguese failed to guide his header as he thumped it over the bar.

But three minutes later, Atleti went ahead. Simão’s curling freekick from the right found an unmarked Agüero and the in-form Argentine rose high with poise and nodded the ball home with authority from six yards out.

A 14th minute Simão corner almost found a way when his delivery found Maxi at the far post but the captain’s soft left-footed volley was blocked by Recre defender, Morris.

El Decano’s early attacking philosophy went straight down the drain as Atleti took full control of the game and Manolo Zambrano’s men found themselves pinned back in their own half.

Twenty three minutes gone and Agüero had the ball in the back of the net again, only for referee Teixeira Vitienes to rule it out. Seitaridis’ long throw-in bounced all the way to El Kun inside the box, who gratefully looped a header past Asier Riesgo at the near post but the officials spotted an infringement by Sinama during the build-up.

On the half-hour mark, Atleti goalkeeper Gregory Coupet was forced into his first meaningful piece of action when Jesús Vázquez’s long through pass to Adrián prompted the Frenchman to race off his line and smother the ball off the striker’s feet.

Two minutes later, a lovely build up involving a Simão-Agüero give and go opened up space for Maniche, but the midfielder’s piledriver outside the box was parried away by Riesgo.

Recreativo, to their credit, managed to end the half the stronger and Adrián, in particular, was presented with a number of half chances but he couldn’t find a way past the rojiblancos backline or Coupet.

Second Half

The visitors picked up where they left off as they bombarded the Atlético goal with crosses, corners and shots early on.

But Recreativo absolutely did not learn their lesson from the first period as the mattress men made it 2-0 on the 53rd minute, eight minutes into the restart.

Simão’s corner bobbled all the way out to Maniche on the edge of the box and the ex-Porto man pummelled in a thunderous low shot to beat Riesgo at his left post.

Less than ten minutes later, substitute Luis Garcia’s teasing freekick into the box found Maxi and the captain’s flick on was desperately swatted away by Riesgo.

With the lead strengthened, Aguirre withdrew the two goalscorers, Agüero and Maniche, to conserve their energy after their similar heroics in midweek against PSV.

Zambrano, on the other hand, made his own flurry of changes in an attempt to claw back into the contest. But instead, it was Atlético who wrapped up the game with a third goal 12 minutes from time. Miguel de las Cuevas streamed down the left flank, cut into the box before slipping the ball to the centre for Sinama-Pongolle, who smacked his first time shot into the back of the net. The 23 year old showed his respect for his former club with his muted celebrations.

In the 85th minute, Recre almost found a consolation goal when Sisi crossed from the right and Akale drilled in a volley at the far post into the side netting.

The icing on the cake was applied on the 88th minute when Luis Garcia’s cheeky back-heel flick on released Sinama, who shimmied past Arzo and then finished off clinically past Riesgo, before once again celebrating quietly.

Four-nil was how it finished and Atlético have now racked up nine goals in the opening three La Liga games, eight of them alone at the Vicente Calderón.

LINE-UPS

Atlético Madrid (4-4-2): Coupet – Seitaridis, Perea, Ujfalusi, Antonio López – Maxi, Raúl Garcia, Maniche (Banega 69’), Simão (Luis Garcia 56’) – Agüero (Miguel 60’), Sinama-Pongolle

Unused subs: Assunção, Pablo, Pernia, Leo Franco

Recreativo Huelva (4-4-2): Riesgo – Oliveira, Morris, Arzo, Poli – Camuñas (Javi Guerrero 71’), Javier Fuego (Sisi 58’), Jesús Vázquez, Aitor (Akale 71’) – Marco Rubén, Adrián

Unused subs:, Casado, Roberto, Barber, Lamas

Goals
1-0: Atlético Madrid (Agüero 8’)

2-0: Atlético Madrid (Maniche 53’)

3-0: Atlético Madrid (Sinama-Pongolle 78’)

4-0: Atlético Madrid (Sinama-Pongolle 88’)

BOOKINGS
Atlético Madrid: Nil

Recreativo Huelva: Camuñas (57’)
Click to expand...

Wow, Los colchoneros are looking very impressive so far!

La Bomba · Sep 20, 2008

Maniche looks like he is going what was expected of him when he was transfered to At. Madrid. Two goals in two games, not bad.

Claud · Sep 20, 2008

Yeah I think he is finally getting used to the spanish style of play.

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Atlético Juggernaut Rolls Past Recreativo

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