Emirates FA Cup Report | Argyle 1-0 Liverpool
Argyle produced the greatest cup result in their history, as a Ryan Hardie penalty eliminated Premier League leaders Liverpool.
Premier. League. Leaders. Not only that, but the team leading the Champions League rankings, the eight-time FA Cup winners, 19-times English champions.
And they got beat by the Sky Bet Championship’s bottom side, a team who, two home games ago, were 5-0 down at half-time. Football, eh?
Argyle began well, and within a minute had sent a ball forward which Bundu flicked on, Wright helped on, and Hardie ran on to. His shot was blocked, but it was an illustration of how Argyle were going to look to take it to Liverpool.
A few minutes later, Hardie made a run into the right-hand channel, and sent in a low cross that Kelleher claimed. The story of this attack, though, was that Joe Gomez looked unable to go with Ryan Hardie and, sure enough, he was replaced a few moments later by youngster Isaac Mabaya. This meant Wataru Endo dropped back into a central defensive position.
Argyle’s defence, with Nikola Katic at its centre, was not troubled for much of the first half. Indeed, Katic’s worst moment was when a stray arm of his team-mate Adam Randell caught him mid-face. Play – and Katic – continued, and when the ball left play, Katic went down, apparently now with one fewer tooth.
The danger here is to say something about Liverpool being toothless, but certainly to that point the Reds, in white, had done little to distress their hosts, 43 places below them in the league structure.
Argyle, meanwhile, were the epitome of hustle, not letting their lofty adversaries have the time on the ball they would be used to, and would crave.
Just after the half-hour mark, Mustapha Bundu was the perfect example, bullying his way into the area, and although Argyle appeals for a penalty were fanciful, the Greens were rattling the ‘Pool.
On 36 minutes, James McConnell, who had switched from right-back to the centre of midfield when Endo took a backwards step, had a shot from 20 yards with Hazard saved, reasonably comfortably. It was the first thing the Northern Irishman had been asked to do, apart from a few routine gathers and clearances.
That said, there were clear signs in the last 15 to 20 minutes of the half that Liverpool were getting the ball more often, and higher up the park, but Argyle’s shape was impeccable, and there was no way through.
After the break, Argyle kept at it, and more Bundu bustling led to a chance for Callum Wright. The Scouser, the boyhood Liverpool fan, the one-time Anfield mascot, came inside and took a shot that was deflected not far over at all.
And then came the moment.
Three years and four days after missing an extra-time penalty at Chelsea, Ryan Hardie was given one of those moments of redemption that football does a very fine line in.
He can thank a few people in the build-up. Darko Gyabi, back to goal, had the ball reach him just inside the area, and hooked over his head, hopefully. Harvey Elliott instinctively reacted lifting an arm above his head to block the flight, and referee Sam Barrott pointed to the penalty spot.
Over 14,000 Pilgrims’ heads went to Stamford Bridge, when Kepa Arrizabalaga broke their hearts, but in Hardie’s head, it was all about this moment. Calmly, he stepped up, sent Kelleher the wrong way, and sent Home Park into raptures, the like we have seldom ever seen.
It nearly got even better. Stealing in at the near post, Hardie struck the upright in front of the reeling Babcock Devonport End.
Stung, Liverpool brought on their own number 9, Darwin Nunez, to generate more power and presence up front. They needed something, after all.
Naturally, Argyle got a bit deeper, Liverpool got a bit more desperate, and the clock seemed to be going incrementally slower. And then hearts were in mouths.
Chiesa – a European Championship winner, mind – did brilliantly on the right wing, and sent in a low cross that Luis Diaz was bearing down on. As the Green Army sensed the inevitable equaliser, there was Matty Sorinola, making the greatest tackle of his life, to halt the attack.
He was not the only one putting everything on the line. Every block, header, clearance and challenge was met with a roar from the Green Army, who were trying to plate-juggle the conflicting emotions of hope, fear, trepidation, elation and disbelief.
Nine minutes of injury time didn’t help the nerves in the slightest. Mind you, it featured a chance for Muhamed Tijani, who slightly mistimed a diving header to make it 2-0. He also performed one in his own area to clear the lines at one stage, part of the greatest 11-man injury-time prevention act Home Park has ever seen.
Then came Conor Hazard’s moments. Jota took aim from range, and it was on target, but Hazard soared, to ensure Jota hadn’t scored. Then, in the very last knockings, he tipped over a close-range effort that seemed a certain goal, for a corner.
Kelleher had stayed forward, and headed the corner straight into Hazard’s arms. And then the whistle blew.
Over recent years, Argyle fans have taken to singing the Beatles’ classic Twist and Shout in moments of victory and elation. They did at the start of this mammoth stoppage-time period, but at full-time, it was simply joy at their number 9’s famous goal.
After, it was A Hardie’s Night. And that makes us feel alright.
Argyle: 21 Conor Hazard, 5 Julio Pleguezuelo (44 Victor Palsson, 67), 9 Ryan Hardie (14 Michael Obafemi, 81), 11 Callum Wright, 15 Mustapha Bundu (26 Muhamed Tijani, 72), 17 Tymoteusz Puchacz, 18 Darko Gyabi, 20 Adam Randell (capt, 19 Malachi Boateng, 72), 25 Nikola Katic, 29 Matty Sorinola, 40 Maksym Talovierov. Substitutes: 31 Daniel Grimshaw (gk), 2 Bali Mumba, 4 Jordan Houghton, 28 Rami Al Hajj, 30 Michael Baidoo.
Goals: Hardie pen 52
Booked: Bundu 70, Sorinola 79, Hazard 90, Talovierov 90+8
Liverpool: 62 Caoimhin Kelleher, 2 Joe Gomez (capt, 52 Isaac Mabaya, 11, Darwin Nunez,58), 3 Wataru Endo, 7 Luis Diaz, 14 Federico Chiesa, 19 Harvey Elliott, 20 Diogo Jota, 21 Kostas Tsimikas, 53 James McConnell, 78 Jarell Quansah, 98 Treymaurice Nyoni (51 Trent Doherty, 76). Substitutes: 56 Viteslav Jaros (gk), 17 Curtis Jones, 65 Amara Nallo, 73 Rio Ngumoha, 77 James Norris, 82 Ranel Young.
Booked: Nyoni 18, Mabaya 43
Attendance: 16,724 (2,592 away)
Referee: Sam Barrott.
