Van der Vaart pleased with ´dream debut
August 9, 2008
MADRID (AFP) – Dutch international midfielder Rafael van der Vaart celebrated a “dream debut” with Real Madrid, having contributed one of the Spanish champions’ goals in their 2-1 friendly win over Colombian side Santa Fe.
“I am very happy because during my first match I scored a goal and my team achieved a very important victory,” he said in comments published Saturday on the club’s web site.
“You are always a bit nervous at the beginning, especially because it is your start with a new club but after the goal everything was much better. It was a dream debut in a very difficult match,” he added.
Van der Vaart, who completed his move from German side Hamburg on Tuesday, made his goal scoring debut in a 74th minute free-kick on Friday in Bogota. He then went on to provide the assist for Pepe’s winner.
The 25-year-old, whose mother is Spanish, signed with Real for five seasons in a deal reportedly worth 13 million euros (20 million dollars).
Van der Vaart, who has won over 50 caps for his country and scored 12 goals, joined Hamburg in 2005, scoring 29 goals in 74 Bundesliga matches.
Writtend By :AFP
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Glasgow Rangers off to a shaky start
August 9, 2008
Glasgow Rangers scraped a narrow 1 – 0 win away at Falkirk earlier this afternoon in the first afternoon of Scottish Premier Fixtures.
Suffering from their shock defeat on Tuesday in the Champions League qualifiers, it took them over an hour to find their composure.
Lithuanian striker Andrius Velicka scored the vital goals that separated the two teams in the sixty third minute when he tapped in a low cross from Kyle Lafferty.
Written by: Dave Cohen
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Aston Villa to make a bid for Roque Santa Cruz
August 9, 2008
Aston Villa are expected to make a bid for Blackburn Rovers’ striker Roque Santa Cruz.
One can expect Aston Villa’s manager Martin O’Neill to make an official bid within the next few days. The signing of Santa Cruz will further strengthen an already formidable attacking force.
However it may be easier said than done as O’Neill can expect some stiff competition from other Premier League clubs who have quietly been hinting towards signing the Paraguayan international striker.
The clubs, besides Aston Villa, who have shown interest, are Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur.
Blackburn Rovers’ new manager Paul Ince is desperate to hold on to his prized asset. However if he were to move he may be lured to Manchester City where his former Rovers manager Mark Hughes is now the manager.
Written by: Dave Cohen
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Bouazza joins Charlton Athletic
August 9, 2008
Out of favour Hameur Bouazza is set to join Championship side Charlton Athletic from Fulham.
The twenty three year old winger was bought by Fulham last season from Watford.
Plagued by injury last season he was not allowed to settle down into the team and Fulham’s manager Toy Hodgson has agreed to loan him to Charlton for the entire season.
It is expected that the Algerian international will make hius debut later today against Swansea City.
Written by: Dave Cohen
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Stoke reveal Zigic talks
August 9, 2008
STOKE (AFP) – Stoke manager Tony Pulis has revealed his newly promoted Premier League club are speaking to Valencia striker Nikola Zigic about a move to the Britannia Stadium.
Pulis confirmed that Stoke chief executive Tony Scholes is in Spain for talks with the 6ft 8in (2 metre) Serbian international, although the deal is still some way from completion.
“Tony (Scholes) is over in Spain speaking to the player at the moment but that doesn’t mean he will be signing for us,” Pulis told Stoke’s website.
“He is a player with great pedigree and has an outstanding goalscoring record, but he isn’t the only player we are looking at.”
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Hibernian sign Yantorno, loan out Benjelloun
August 9, 2008
EDINBURGH (SW) – Hibernian have completed the signing of out of contract Uruguayan midfielder Fabian Yantorno and loaned striker Abdesellam Benjelloun to Belgian side Royal Charleroi on the eve of the kick-off to their 2008-09 Scottish Premier League campaign.
Yantorno appeared in 21 games last season for recently relegated Gretna before succumbing to a knee injury in February. Hibs sign Yantorno as a free agent, after Gretna released the player. The contract will see Yantorno at the Edinburgh club for the next two seasons.
Meanwhile, Moroccan international striker Benjelloun is on his way to Belgium to spend the next season on loan to Royal Charleroi. He has been with Hibernian since 2006, featuring in 53 matches with 6 goals, most notably a brace in the club’s 5-1 victory over Kilmarnock in the 2007 CIS Insurance Cup final. Benjelloun had also attracted interest from Charleroi’s Jupiler League rivals Anderlecht and Westerlo.
Written by: Ryan McGrantham
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US women get the better of Japan
August 9, 2008
QINHUANGDAO, China (AFP) – Defending women’s champions the United States scored a well-deserved 1-0 victory over Japan Saturday with Carli Lloyd poaching the decisive goal.
It was a crucial victory for Pia Sundhage’s side after losing their opening Group G game 2-0 against Norway, the only team to finish ahead of the Americans in the past three Olympics.
Lloyd make the breakthrough in the 27th minute when she found herself unmarked on the edge of the box and launched a powerful drive into the top left-hand corner of the net.
“I am very happy to win the game against a technically good Japan side,” said Sundhage of a country which has failed to beat the United States in the 21 matches they have played.
“I do not think luck won the game, today was about tactics. We are improving from one game to the other.”
The Americans, without star striker Abby Wambach who broke a leg in July, should of had five or six, but poor finishing kept the game alive until the final whistle.
They now have three points from two games, while Japan have one point after drawing with New Zealand on Wednesday.
The Americans went close after seven minutes when Heather O’Reilly whipped in a low cross that beat goalkeeper Miho Fukomoto with defender Yukari Kinga fortunate not to score an own goal as she cleared over the bar.
Lindsay Tarpley forced a save from Fukomoto a minute later before Japan bounced back with an impressive five minute spell that put the US defence under intense pressure.
At the other end Lloyd nearly broke the deadlock in a goalmouth scramble while Homare Sawa produced a delicate chip that had American goalkeeper Hope Solo back-peddaling to tip over the bar.
The Americans ramped up the pressure in the second half with Shannon Boxx firing 20 yard drive over the bar on 55 minutes and Lloyd shaving the post with header soon after.
A second goal looked inevitable with Boxx forcing an acrobatic one-handed save from Fukomoto and Amy Rodriguez wasting a golden opportunity by wildly skying over the bar.
Writtend By :AFP
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Sampdoria renew interest in Shevchenko
August 9, 2008
What may have, at one stage seen as a hopeful dream, Sampdoria could land one of the transfer scoops of the season.
It may be necessary for Chelsea to sell the Ukrainian as the Stamford Bridge outfit plan to make a few more big signings in the remaining time left to the clubs in the transfer window.
It had been expected that if Shevchenko were to leave it would have been back into the Serie A and at AC Milan. That has changed since AC Milan has turned their attention to bolstering their defence in the aftermath of the injury to Alessandro Nesta.
It is now well known and publicised that Andriy Shevchenko doesn’t really fit into Luiz Felipe Scolari’s future plans and the move could mean more regular first team action for the striker even if it does mean a 50% drop in wages.
The more relaxed atmosphere at Sampdoria could eventually rekindle the form that has eluded him at Stamford Bridge.
Written by: Dave Cohen
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Written by: Dave Cohen
August 9, 2008
Makaay, one of the three dispensation players for the Dutch, injured his foot in the first half of the match with Nigeria, played last Thursday, and had to be replaced at half time.
“Roy is having difficulties walking. He definitely can’t participate against the USA. We have to be careful with injuries,” said Under-21 manager De Haan.
It remains uncertain whether Makaay will be fit in time for the final group match with Japan, although the player himself appears to be confident.
During his absence, Makaay will normally be replaced by fellow striker Gerald Sibon.
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Hull City sign England Youth goalkeeper
August 9, 2008
The fee is said to be ₤150 000 but it could be increased, but that would depend on the number of appearances he makes.
After much deliberation Rotherham United boss Mark Robins welcomed the move as the funds could assist the club’s present financial situation.
Rotherham United begin the season with a seventeen point deficit.
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