Blog, Blog - The Toe Poke, Clubs, Harry Maguire, Manchester United, Story, UEFA Europa League

Products You May Like

The Toe Poke Daily is here every day to bring you all the weirdest stories, quirkiest viral content and top trolling that the internet has to offer, all in one place.

Jump to: Chris Smalling takes ball to face, referee gives penalty for handballLiverpool fans who went to Gent instead of Genk given tickets for Gent vs. Genk in Ghent by Gent | Magic Johnson, Will Ferrell revel in LAFC’s thrilling victory in ‘El Trafico’

Harry Maguire was handed the Manchester United captaincy for the first time for Thursday night’s Europa League trip to Partizan Belgrade.

The visitors won 1-0, but the centre-back got his evening off to an inauspicious start when he almost missed the prematch coin toss.

Maguire made light of the incident after the game, explaining that he’d missed the memo about coin tosses apparently now taking place over toward the touchline and pleading with fans to “let him off.”

He shouldn’t worry too much. After all, it’s completely normal to succumb to jitters on the first day of a new job.

ESPN fantasy soccer: Sign up now!
Luck Index: Liverpool too good by half?
All the new 2019-20 kits for Europe’s top clubs

Chris Smalling takes ball to face, referee gives penalty for handball

Roma defender Chris Smalling endured a rough old night against Borussia Monchengladbach in the Europa League on Thursday, and through no fault of his own.

The “fun” began in the 94th minute when, with the Giallorossi trying desperately to nurse a narrow 1-0 lead over the line, Smalling conceded an extremely late penalty.

However, on closer inspection it soon became apparent that the decision was harsh to say the very least.

The ball clearly hit Smalling in the face but that didn’t stop referee Willie Collum from awarding the spot kick to Gladbach.

Substitute Lars Stindl duly stepped up and converted it to draw the German side level in the very depths of injury time amid howls of derision in the Stadio Olimpico.

Still, that didn’t stop Gladbach’s social media team aiming a BoJack Horseman-inspired jibe at Smalling’s expense.

Yep. Too soon.

At least Roma can take some consolation from the fact that Gladbach are making these pithy jokes from the bottom of Group J.

Sterling, Ronaldo, Neymar on UCL’s quickest hat tricks list
Chelsea’s new super-sub… Jorginho’s mother
POLL: When will United next win Premier League title?

Liverpool fans who went to Gent instead of Genk offered tickets to watch Gent vs. Genk in Ghent by Gent

On Thursday we featured the tale of the two hapless Liverpool fans who missed their side’s Champions League game against KRC Genk after accidentally travelling to the wrong Belgian town.

Indeed, after failing to double-check the precise spelling of their destination, the pair wound up near the stadium of KAA Gent, who are based in the town of Ghent, which is roughly 150 kilometres from their intended target of Genk, and only realised their mistake 30 minutes before kick-off.

Thankfully, they were able to watch the game but only on a television in a local bar on the far side of the country from the Luminus Arena, where Liverpool strolled to a 4-1 win.

To help make up for their wasted trip, Gent offered Rob and Lee a pair of complimentary tickets for their Europa League tie against Wolfsburg the following day. Unfortunately, the pair were unable to accept as they had to return to England.

However, still keen to make it up to Rob and Lee, Gent have generously seen fit to make a second offer, this time laying on tickets for their upcoming home league game against — you guessed it, Genk!

The match is next month, giving the Reds supporters plenty of time to organise their journey and it should be a doddle for them.

After all, they know exactly where they’re going this time.

Magic Johnson, Will Ferrell revel in LAFC’s thrilling victory in ‘El Trafico’

At the sixth time of asking Los Angeles FC mustered their first-ever victory in the “El Trafico” derby against LA Galaxy on Thursday night, powering to a 5-3 victory at the Banc of California Stadium to set up a Western Conference final against Seattle Sounders on Tuesday.

As you might expect, it was a special night for the Supporters’ Shield winners and their home fans. 

Stream the replay in full on ESPN+ (U.S.)
– Carlisle: LAFC finally slays Galaxy dragon
MLS playoffs: All you need to know

NBA legend Magic Johnson took on the role of special guest falconer for the match…

… but not before firmly nailing his colours to the LAFC mast with a motivational message to the fans.

The prematch buzz was also accented by a truly inspired tifo in the terraces which saw Carlos Vela reimagined as Indiana Jones as a gigantic “Raiders of the Lost Ark”-themed banner was unfurled.

However, it didn’t take long before fans of the New England Revs pointed out that the Indy choreo wasn’t quite as original as first thought.

Vela went on to score twice in the ensuing victory, which led to a shirty postmatch exchange between LAFC coach Bob Bradley and an ESPN reporter who questioned the Mexican striker’s big-game mentality.

This is the very same Carlos Vela who became the highest single-season goalscorer in MLS history just a few weeks ago, of course.

Over on the Galaxy side, their star man Zlatan Ibrahimovic was forced to leave the pitch in a rotten mood — derisory crotch grab and all — after watching his side stumble to a humbling defeat.

Not that it mattered a bit to LAFC co-owner Will Ferrell, who was already out on the field leading the cheers alongside Walker Zimmerman.

That’s one win the LAFC family will be reminiscing about for a good while to come.

Products You May Like

Articles You May Like

Flick dismisses title-favourites tag: Long way to go
UEFA pledges $1 billion to grow women’s soccer
Fans prefer new stadium over Old Trafford refurb
Premier League injury and suspension news, predicted lineups, fantasy updates
Man Utd to visit Spurs in Carabao Cup quarters

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *