Peace Cup Semi Final

Well what a game, a friendly no way, 8 bookings, a sending off and a duff referee, Despite this we played excellently throughout and fully deserved the win.

We started the game slowly but Albrighton as he did throughout the game crossed brillaintly for Heskey to tap in, then we dominated and deserved a second, a Sidwell poke in from a corner. Porto has MON fully knows are a whinging side and a bust up in the secod half led to Heskey rightly being sent off for a push ina Porto players face but words were said we may not hear the end of this.

Then a period of Porto pressure where Guzan was fantastic and one close range save was world class. However NRC was stupid in the first min of injury time and gave away a pen and Hulk scored. A nervous few minutes but the kids held out to face either Madrid or Juve in the final.

Very good stuff from all players and excellent performances from Cuellarm, Shorey, Albrighton and NRC. However Guzan clear MOTM for some fantastic saves and shows we have a quality reserve and we can be confident he can be a very good first choice keeper.

21:22 – VILLA WIN !!!!!!!!!!!! Play against Juve or Real

21:19 – Hulk scores, three mins left

21:18 – stupid challenge by NRC – penalty

21:17 – Yet another booking – guzan

21:15 – Clark is another quality youngster some very good stuff

21:12 – Bannan on for Shorey

21:07 – Herd booked, is this a friendly ?

21:05 – what a fantastic save from Guzan from a shot from 6 yeards

21:03 – Off the bar from Clark from a corner

21:01 – Herd and Weimann on for Young and Albrighton – protection

21:00 – Great save by Guzan from Hulk at the near post

20:59 – subs coming on it appears got to protect players here

20:55 – Porto losing it, flare up on the pitch and Heskey sent off, for flapping out at a Porto player who appeared to say something

20:53 – good save from Guzan from a free kick

20:52 – NRC booked

20:51 – Lowry on for Carew

20:50 – Considiring the tempaertures over there and three games in a week we look very fit

20:46 – Porto getting rattled and somehow Albrighton gets booked

20:44 – Yet another great block by Cuellar

20:38 – Hulk on for Porto and que the jokes !!

20:36 – Porto hit the side netting, should have been a corner, Lichaj booked

20:33 – 2nd half kicks off

20:19 – First half finishes 2-0 to Villa and very encouraging with Sidwell and Albrighton starring, shame about Davies injury but does not look too serious he wanted to come back on

20:12 – another great cross from Albrighton nearly set up Heskey again

20:09 – GOALLLLLLLLLLL !!!!!!!!!! And from the Corner Sidwell sticks it in from 6 yards !!!

20:08 – Corner after very good work from Young and a blocked shot

20:07 – good build play and from a Young cross, Carew narrowly wide with a header

20:01 – Word of praise for Cuellar been really good this pre season and another important block

19:58 – bright game after a very slow half, Albrighton really showing off !!

19:56, good save by Guzan

19:55 – Something obviously wrong and Ciaran Clark now on, another bright prospect

19:54 – Davies is getting his shoulder protection checked, still worried he has that on

19:53 – Another good cross by Albrighton, kid is a star in the making

19:46 – GOALLLLLLLLLLLL !!!!!!!!!!! Albrighton again with a great cross to set up Heskey !!

19:45 – good play by Shorey to set up Young for a run and cross, poor delivery though

19:42 – Nothing much to report – this is at the pace of a proper friendly and not like the Atlante game, however Porto just had a brak down their left, better ball and could have been a tap in

19:34 – John Robertson is not Martin O’Neil and Freddie on the bench !!

19:32 – Kick Off !! Respect for Bobby Robson against his former club with black armbands

18:54 – Team News – Guzan; Shorey, Cuellar, Davies, Lichaj; Albrighton, Sidwell, Reo-Coker (c), Young, Heskey, Carew. Subs: Friedel, Parish, Clark, Lowry, Bannan, Herd, Weimann.

Porto: Nuno, Alves, Pereira, Roque, Fucile, Meireles, Guarin, Reges, Falcao, Gonzalez, Varela. Subs: Helton, Beto, Benitez, Fonseca, Andre, Belluschi, Valeri, Costa, Lopes, Prediger, Rodriguez, Hulk, Farias.

Much as expected , but interesting to see Guzan in after a solid performance

Game kicks off at 19:30 BST

Team news will appear around 19:00 BST