Soccer Scene Quinn and Phillips give Chelsea the blues

By Dermot Clarke

Brian Clough once said that a minute in football was a long time. The statement was lent credence on a couple of occasions by Manchester United alone last season. Imagine, then, the changes that a couple of months can bring.

Opening day, Aug. 7, and a carnival display by Chelsea sees them destroy the premier newcomers Sunderland. A brilliant volley by Gustavo Poyet makes the score 4-0 and has people tipping the Londoners for the title.

Others were skeptical, however. Had we seen championship contenders or had we witnessed yet another promoted side headed straight back down? The answer: neither, apparently.

Roll it on a few months to the reverse fixture at the Stadium of Light and almost the reverse happens. Chelsea lose 4-1 and all but relinquish their title hopes, while Sunderland stay among the elite. They won’t be winning the title, but they wouldn’t have dreamed that they would be where they are now, as they departed Stamford Bridge on opening day.

Peter Reid is attempting to do what the aforementioned Clough did at Nottingham Forest: that is, bring a team bereft of a household name to the top. One name that is sure to be used in many kitchens in the future is Kevin Phillips. Phillips’s brace on Saturday took his tally to an amazing 17 goals in 17 games. He is one off the top mark of last season and it’s not even Christmas yet. It was Phillips who broke Sunderland’s post-war record of 35 goals in all competitions in 1997-98, and the man who held that record before him was none other that Brian Clough.

So what’s the secret to this man’s sudden success? In a few short years he has risen from factory worker to the hottest striker in the best league in the world. Well, he’s quick, he’s skillful and he’s not afraid to have a go. He has a good head on his shoulders and he couldn’t ask for a better strike partner than Niall Quinn.

Quinn, indeed, seems to get more pleasure from a Kevin Phillips goal than he does from one of his own. The now veteran Irish striker is full of encouragement for his young strikemate, but more than that, he has been like the straight man in a comedy double act, setting it up for his partner to deliver time and again.

Last Saturday, Sunderland were out for revenge and it took us less than a minute to realize this. When Eric Roy carved a hole in the Chelsea defense and found Quinn, there were only 44 seconds on the clock. Quinn scored and Chelsea knew they had yet another tough domestic day in front of them. A couple of chances went abegging at either end before the home team went two up. On 24 minutes, an intended cross by Michael Gray was deflected. It bounced in front of Phillips fully 25 yards out and the young striker unleashed an unstoppable volley past a despairing Ed de Goey in the Chelsea goal.

So, Sunderland had paid back half of the hammering and the atmosphere about the Stadium told us that there was more to come. Quinn was giving one Marcel Desailly the run around and in a 3-minute spell before the break he was to lose his marker on two more occasions, Chelsea would pay each time. Quinn almost scored when he got behind Desailly, controlled the ball on his chest, and lobbed toward the left hand corner. De Goey did well to palm it away, but guess who was waiting? Kevin Phillips, 3-0. Big Niall then slipped the attentions of the French center-back and connected onto a Nicky Summerbee corner, volleying home with his left foot. Sunderland 4, Chelsea nil at halftime.

Gianluca Vialli decided that Desailly had suffered enough and he left him in the dressing room for the resumption. The second half was predictably anti-climactic. Chelsea got one back late in the game through Poyet. But the damage was done in the first half . The points were in the bag and Peter Reid’s men remain in the top four and Gianluca Vialli remains puzzled as to his sides dismal domestic form.

Busy at the top

Arsenal were the first team to go top of the premiership at the weekend. Goals from Gilles Grimandi, Lee Dixon and Marc Overmars gave them a 3-0 away victory at Leicester. It was Martin O’Neill’s first home defeat of the season and for a few hours Arsene Wenger’s squad held pole position.

Manchester United faced Everton at Old Trafford later on and a win for the newly crowned World Champs would see them go top for at least 24 hours. Francis Jeffers almost had Everton 2 up before a quarter of the game had elapsed. He got in front of Denis Irwin to open the scoring but his second effort, a superb headed effort struck the post. A few minutes later, Richard Dunne handled in his own box, Irwin converted the penalty awarded, and the game turned.

Enter Ole Gunnar Solskj’r. Four goals, two in each half from the Norwegian, and United win 5-1 to go top.

Derby County could have kept them there if they could hold Leeds United at bay on Sunday. This game, though, was decided by yet another controversial decision. Almost four minutes into injury time, Horacio Carbonari was adjudged to have fouled Harry Kewell in the box. Ian Harte converted the penalty and Leeds went back on top. The replay of the incident showed that no contact was made by Carbonari on the Leeds man. The decision could have great significance at the season’s end for both clubs. Jim Smith can’t be too happy with the referee.

Liverpool rally

Liverpool, as usual, went a goal behind at Anfield. Niclas Alexandersson put the visitors, Sheffield Wednesday, a goal up, but the home side got the job done in the end. Sam Hyypia headed home from a corner to equalize. Danny Murphy made it 2-1 on 41 minutes with a fine shot. Young Steven Gerrard got the insurance goal when he skipped around the Wednesday defense before rifling home and another youngster, David Thompson, put the bow on it with a fine individual goal. Robbie Fowler made a return to the fray when he was introduced for Michael Owen on 81 minutes. Liverpool now move into fifth place in the table.

Moravcik leads Celtics

In Scotland, Rangers didn’t play, allowing Celtic to creep to within a point. Recent form coupled with the controversial transfer in the week of Craig Burley to Derby County, meant that a big win was the only way John Barnes could dig out of a hole with the fans. Hibernian were the opposition at a once again packed stadium and once again Lubomir Moravcik stole the show. Celtic kept the title race alive by winning 4-0. Moravcik got two, Mark Viduka and Morton Wieghorst one apiece.

Irish for U.S.

And, finally, Ireland have once again taken up the invitation to play in the U.S. Cup next June. Mick McCarthy will bring Gary Breen and the players over to take on South Africa, Mexico and the host nation. The games are likely to be played in Boston, New York and Washington.

The games will again be seen as a chance for Mick to blood some new talent. He will introduce, no doubt, some young lads who we’ll never see again in a green shirt. The competition will be played from June 3-11 and, personally, I can’t wait for it.