Quick Report: Argentina 2-1 Netherlands

August 16, 2008

SHANGHAI (SW) – Argentina have secured their spot in the semi finals after a tough and close match with the Netherlands in Shanghai.

The Argentinians had a good start with Messi opening the score after 14 minutes.

But the Dutch, who had hardly been given a chance in advance of this game, came back as Bakkal scored in the rebound after a shot from Evander Sno.

The Netherlands were in fact the better side in the second half and had an enormous chance to decide the match just before time, but Royston Drenthe send a shot over the bar in a one-on-one with the keeper.

Just before the end of the first half in extra time, it was Angel Di Maria to send a diagonal shot past keeper Vermeer for 2-1.

Argentina will now meet with arch rivals Brazil in the semi finals on Tuesday. Whoever wins that match, faces Belgium or Nigeria in the final.
Written by: Jonathan Roorda

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Quick Report: Nigeria 2-0 Côte d’Ivoire

August 16, 2008

QINGUANGDAO (SW) – Nigeria are through the semi finals of the Olympic tournament after beating fellow Africans Côte d’Ivoire 2-0 in the quarters.

Nigeria, who won Gold in 1996, were never truly threatened by the Ivorians and took the lead through Peter Odemwingie just before the break.

The match was decided when a penalty kick in the 82nd minute was converted for 2-0 by Victor Obinna.

In the semi finals on Tuesday, the Nigerians face Belgium who surprisingly beat Italy earlier today.
Written by: Jonathan Roorda

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Nasri´s debut goal sinks Albion

August 16, 2008

LONDON (AFP) – Samir Nasri ensured Arsenal made a successful, if unconvincing, start to the new season as his debut goal secured a 1-0 win over West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.

The French winger, who signed from Marseille last month, took just four minutes to open his account for Arsene Wenger’s side as he converted Denilson’s pass from close range.

But Arsenal failed to build on that flying start and Albion, making their return to the Premier League after winning promotion last season, might have caused their illustrious opponents significant embarrassment had they applied a finish to some promising possession.

Wenger will be satisfied with opening his 13th season at Arsenal with a victory, but the Frenchman’s growing band of doubters will not have been assuaged.

Albion were able to harbour hopes of an unexpected point far longer than they should have, given the obvious quality gap between these two sides, and there was little evidence to suggest Arsenal had developed the cutting edge which stymied their title challenge last season.

Arsenal’s lack of depth was also glaringly apparent from the quickest of glances at their team-sheet. They started the afternoon with a side boasting just one outfield player – captain William Gallas – over the age of 25, while Wenger’s bench contained more awkward looking teenagers than the average school disco.

Even allowing for the injury crisis which robbed Arsenal of four senior players, including Cesc Fabregas, it was a disconcerting sight for the home hoards which packed the Emirates stadium to bursting point.

Wenger can at least point out that his callow youths are more blessed than most and for 30 minutes at least, their performance was outstanding.

Albion were sliced open in the fourth minute when Gael Clichy’s measured pass released Denilson in Arsenal’s left channel. Some neat footwork took the Brazilian to the byline and a precise cut-back allowed Nasri to score with ease.

Arsenal smelled blood. Moments later, Theo Walcott’s goal-bound header was blocked – fairly, despite the home protests – by Paul Robinson while Gallas’ 35-yard shot skimmed fractionally wide.

Somehow Albion withstood the barrage and, with Arsenal’s early fire sputtering out, the tie gradually became a genuine contest.

Chances for the visitors remained at a premium but they were within inches of drawing level in the 30th minute, when Do-Heon Kim seized on Ishmael Miller’s flick on.

The South Korean’s low shot was bobbling towards the bottom corner until Manuel Almunia stuck out a left hand to turn it aside.

The interval did little to clear Arsenal’s heads.

An energised Albion started the second period in determined fashion and, within five minutes, Almunia was called into action again, the Spaniard blocking Miller’s low shot. The rebound fell to Robinson, but his effort was cleared off the line by a tumbling Johan Djourou.

From then on, the game lurched to and fro at a dizzying rate. Emmanuel Adebayor should have given Arsenal breathing space when he was set clear by Nasri, only for the Togo striker to shoot just wide, while the muscular Miller was causing some anxious moments in the home defence.

Wenger, clearly ruffled by his team’s failure to nail down an emphatic victory, dispatched Robin van Persie from the substitutes’ bench and the Dutchman almost had an immediate impact, slicing wide from 10 yards after being teed up by Adebayor.

In the end, the miss counted for nought, but Arsenal will need to improve – and quickly – if they hope to end their four-year wait for the title.

Writtend By :AFP
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Nasri gets Arsenal´s young guns firing

August 16, 2008

LONDON (AFP) – Samir Nasri gave Arsenal’s young guns a winning start to the Premier League campaign as the France midfielder’s debut goal clinched a 1-0 victory over West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.

Nasri, 21, struck early in the first half at the Emirates Stadium to calm fears that the close-season departures of Mathieu Flamini, Alexander Hleb and Gilberto Silva would cast Arsenal adrift of their title rivals.

Arsene Wenger sent out a youthful team that lacked a host of injured stars including Cesc Fabregas and Kolo Toure. But it took the Gunners just four minutes to carve open newly-promoted Albion.

Gael Clichy played Denilson in down the left wing and the Brazilian’s cutback teed-up Nasri, a 12-million-pounds signing from Marseille, to sidefoot a cool finish past Scott Carson.

Wenger’s side nearly squandered their lead in the second half as Ishmael Miller brought a smart stop from Manuel Almunia and Johan Djourou had to clear James Morrison’s shot off the line.

Writtend By :AFP
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Hoyte joins Middlesbrough

August 16, 2008

MIDDLESBROUGH (AFP) – Middlesbrough signed Arsenal defender Justin Hoyte for three million pounds (3.8 million euros) on Saturday.

Hoyte agreed a four-year contract with the Premier League club after passing a medical and negotiating personal terms.

The full-back, who found it impossible to break into Arsene Wenger’s side on a regular basis, did not sign in time to play in Saturday’s Premier League clash against Tottenham, but was set to be presented to fans at the Riverside Stadium.

Writtend By :AFP
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Luch-Energiya Vladivostok v Krylia Sovetov Samara match preview

August 16, 2008

Source The Offside

Deep into the fight for a European spot, Krylia Sovetov Samara faces the dreaded away trip to Vladivostok. However if any team can overcome this challenge, the red-hot Krysy look ready.

Recent Form
Krylia Sovetov Samara – combined (2 W, 3 D, L) (7 GS, 1 GA)
Jul 12 YFK Shinnik Yaroslav 0 – 0 Samara Kryliya Sovetov
Jul 19 Spartak Nalchik 1 – 1 Samara Kryliya Sovetov
Jul 30 Samara Kryliya Sovetov 4 – 0 Saturn Moscow
Aug 3 CSKA Moscow 0 – 0 Samara Kryliya Sovetov
Aug 9 Samara Kryliya Sovetov 2 – 0 Lokomotiv Moscow

Krylia Sovetov Samara – away (0 W, 5 D, 0 L) (4 GS, 4 GA)
May 7 Dynamo Moscow 2 – 2 Samara Kryliya Sovetov
May 15 FC Moscow 1 – 1 Samara Kryliya Sovetov
Jul 12 YFK Shinnik Yaroslav 0 – 0 Samara Kryliya Sovetov
Jul 19 Spartak Nalchik 1 – 1 Samara Kryliya Sovetov
Aug 3 CSKA Moscow 0 – 0 Samara Kryliya Sovetov

Luch-Energiya Vladivostok – combined (2 W, 2 D, 1 L) (4 GS, 5 GA)
Jul 16 Luch-Energiya Vladivostok 0 – 0 Zenit St Petersburg
Jul 20 Luch-Energiya Vladivostok 1 – 0 Dynamo Moscow
Jul 27 Spartak Moscow 3 – 0 Luch-Energiya Vladivostok
Aug 3 Luch-Energiya Vladivostok 1 – 1 Rubin Kazan
Aug 9 YFK Shinnik Yaroslav 1 – 2 Luch-Energiya Vladivostok

Luch-Energiya Vladivostok – home (1 W, 3 D, 1 L) (3 GS,4 GA)
May 7 Luch-Energiya Vladivostok 0 – 2 Spartak Nalchik
Jul 5 Luch-Energiya Vladivostok 1 – 1 Khimki
Jul 16 Luch-Energiya Vladivostok 0 – 0 Zenit St Petersburg
Jul 20 Luch-Energiya Vladivostok 1 – 0 Dinamo Moscow
Aug 3 Luch-Energiya Vladivostok 1 – 1 FK Rubin Kazan

Samara Kryliya Sovetov is a beast of late, focusing on counter-attacks and intelligent Football. Thenew Yevgeny Savin, Jan Koller striker combination is error free and raised the play of Anton Bober, Ruslan Adzhindzhal and Oleg Ivanov. The home squad, Luch-Energiya Vladivostok is deep in the relegation fight but knows how to squeeze out points at home. They will pack the midfield in a 4-5-1, look to control play and base any offensive moves on a counter or error. I don’t expect it to be enough as Krylia Sovetov Samara is a hot squad that knows they have a strong chance at a European spot.
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  Quick Report: Brazil 2-0 Cameroon
  
  August 16, 2008
  
  SHENYANG (SW) – With two goals in extra time, tournament favorites Brazil shook off a strong Cameroon to secure a spot in the semi finals.
  
  Considered absolute favorites for this match in advance, pressure was on the Brazilians in Shenyang. And it showed, as the South Americans were hardly able to put pressure on their African opponents.
  
  Cameroon went down a man as result of a red card to Baning in the 52nd minute, but his side continued to hold on to the stalemate.
  
  In extra time, Brazil finally managed to make a break through. Sobis beat a defender and pushed the ball past the goalkeeper to make it 1-0 in the 101st minute.
  
  Four minutes later, it was Marcelo to double the lead and decide the clash.
  
  On Tuesday, the Brazilians play their semi final match against arch rivals Argentina or the Netherlands.
  Written by: Jonathan Roorda
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  Quick Report: Italy 2-3 Belgium
  
  August 16, 2008
  
  BEIJING (SW) – In a heroic performance on Saturday, Belgium beat match favorites Italy to make their way into the semi finals in China.
  
  The Olympic quarter final between Italy and Belgium was bound to be a rather one-sided clash and it seemed to be heading that way when Thomas Vermaelen caused a penalty in the 18th minute and was sent off by the referee.
  
  Rossi did well to convert the spot kick but Belgium, despite being a man down, came back through Dembele six minutes later.
  
  Mirallas went on to put Belgium in the lead just before the break.
  
  The Italians were handed another penalty kick in the 74th minute and again it was Rossi to put the ball past the goalkeeper.
  
  But the decider came six minutes later, when Dembele netted his second and Belgium’s third to eliminate Italy from the tournament.
  
  In the semi finals, Belgium will face the winner of the match between Nigeria and Ivory Coast
  Written by: Jonathan Roorda
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  Mourinho backs Liverpool for shot at title
  
  August 16, 2008
  
  LONDON (AFP) – Former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho believes Liverpool could be serious title challengers this season.
  
  The new Inter Milan coach said Rafael Benitez has assembled a team which can now push Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal further in the title race.
  
  “It is time for Liverpool to make their move in the Premier League,” Mourinho wrote in his column in the Daily Telegraph on Saturday.
  
  “I honestly believe this could be Liverpool’s year.
  
  “Rafa Benitez arrived in England at the same time as I did and is beginning his fifth year at the club.
  
  “It has been the same group of players and the same management structure for the past four years.
  
  “Weaknesses are exposed in that time frame and dealt with.
  
  “It is impossible to win the championship without a world-class goalkeeper and a world-class striker – and Liverpool have both.
  
  “Last season, when the club bought Fernando Torres, the spine of the team was completed: Pepe Reina, Jamie Carragher, Steven Gerrard and Torres.”
  
  Writtend By :AFP
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  Scolari is another Mourinho, says Terry
  
  August 16, 2008
  
  LONDON (AFP) – Chelsea skipper John Terry has hailed new manager Luiz Felipe Scolari as the man to emulate former boss Jose Mourinho at the Premier League club.
  
  The Brazilian replaces Avram Grant who was sacked after the team missed out on the Premier League and Champions League titles to Manchester United.
  
  And Terry believes Scolari is the right man to lead the Blues’ challenge and follow in the footsteps of Mourinho who lead the club to two league titles.
  
  The 27-year-old told the Daily Mail: “A top manager will always make a difference. And we’ve got a top manager again. A World Cup winner and a great football man.
  
  “Tactically he is very aware and when he talks everyone listens. He has that aura about him.
  
  “He doesn’t speak very often but when he does he gets the attention of everyone. We needed that.
  
  “He also has that fear factor. We haven’t really seen that side of him yet but I’m sure we will.
  
  “And when he occasionally raises his voice you think ‘oh, there it is’.
  
  “He also likes to have a joke and a laugh. He has that charisma Mourinho had.”
  
  Writtend By :AFP
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