Bremen Bludgeon Bayern in Munich
September 20, 2008
Well who’s the Big Bad Wolf now? Werder Bremen went into Bayern’s house and put on an absolute demolition derby, taking a 5-0 lead until Bremen’s newly old boy Tim Borowski got a couple back for Bayern in the 71st & 85th. No red cards, just good old fashioned goal scoring from Markus Rosenberg (2), ex-Bayern man Claudio Pizarro, Mesut Ozil (a beauty after the jump) and Naldo. Worse yet this is Jurgen Klinsmann’s first loss at the head cheese at Allianz Arena, and it’ll surely sting a bit; now and when the title race starts to form a bit later in the season.
And once again, it seems the weekend’s best show is put on in Germany. (The rest of the goals after the jump.)
Naldo, 2-0
Ozil, 3-0
Pizarro, 4-0
Rosenberg, 5-0
Borowski, 5-1
Borowski, 5-2
Goto Source
Related posts
Bayern Munich 2 - 5 Werder Bremen
September 20, 2008
Thank God for Tim Borowski. That’s all I can say right now. What started out as a promising game turned into a very disappointing, shameful performance. Franck Ribery and Miroslav Klose were both out for today’s match. Ribery was scheduled to make a come back, but during training his muscles went tight and they decided it best to give him a little rest so he doesn’t further injure himself. Miro picked up an injury during the Champion’s League game mid week.
The first half started off pretty evenly paced. Both teams were pushing forward and presenting an attacking style that made this match very interesting to watch. Even though Werder were without four of their regular players, they still pulled together well and it was evident from the start that they weren’t going to make this an easy task for Bayern. Midfield looked good for Bayern. Defense, however looked a little weak. Demichelis ha made several crucial mistakes, completely out of character for him. The little article on the FCB Site about Demichelis being ‘hot for Pizza’ made me think, while watching that game, that possibly he just can’t defend Pizarro.
Baumann was pretty forceful throughout the first half, which resulted in a yellow and a talking to from the ref. I think the talking to should’ve been a second yellow and even the announcers said it was worthy a second booking, but the ref was pretty lenient today. Bremen walked away from the half with a two point lead over Bayern.
Baumann - yellow - 16′
Demichelis - yellow - 26′
Rosenburg - goal - 29′
Naldo - goal - 44′
Second Half changes brought on Borowski for Lell and Oddo for van Buyten. I was surprised by the van Buyten change because for all the screw ups from Demichelis and his inability to cover Piazzaro in the first half, it should’ve been him. And I know there will be tons of arguments about this and everyone will think it’s just my flag waving DVB loving supporting heart, but seriously, he was better than Demichelis today. I would like to thank the camera crew from a strictly girl point of view on the gratuitous Oddo shirt changing shot. 
Which actually turned out to be the highlight of the game for me because the second half performance by Bayern was just embarrassing. Maybe they shouldn’t have made those half-time changes so quickly. Baumann was taken off in lieu of Hunt, which was probably to save him from getting a second booking. Podolski had a great start. He was all over the place and was giving a strong show, but in classic Podolski fashion, the second half rendered him completely invisible and this is why he doesn’t deserve a regular starting position. He lacks consistently. Sometimes he plays well, sometimes he plays like he could care less if he got any game time. Until he plays consistently like he wants to be in the starting line, then he doesn’t deserve to be there.
I keep waiting to see what Oddo is capable of, but have yet to witness it. He does, however, provide great, spot on crosses. If not for Borowski, this would’ve been a 5-0 thrashing by Bremen. Granted, Toni should’ve scored probably three times and Podolski should’ve scored once, but they didn’t so that left it all up to Boro. I was greatly disappointed in the change of play between the first half and the second half. Bayern were a mess in the second half and Bremen deserved to walk away with the win. I’m getting more and more uncertain of Rensing’s ability to be a consistent number one. No one will ever be Oli Kahn, but he needs to be better than he was today.
Anyways, that’s about all I have to say on today’s performance.
Ozil - goal - 54′
Pizarro - goal - 59′
Rosenburg - goal - 67′
Borowski - goal - 71′
Vranjes - yellow - 82′
Borowski - goal - 85′
Goto Source
Related posts
Week 26 Preview - Playoff Push
September 20, 2008
It’s unusual business this week as Houston and San Jose see their fixture from this weekend canceled, thanks in part to Hurricane Ike. Best wishes go out to the people of Texas and Houston as they try to piece together their lives and homes.
That aside, it’s another important weekend for just about every club. The Crew are distancing themselves from the rest of the pack, and the Supporter’s Shield is just about theirs. Watching the game on Thursday, it’s clear that even without Schelotto that they are a very strong team. I’m supporting them, at the very least. Who will join them in the playoffs? This weekend will help determine that. Here’s a look at what to expect.
Kansas City v Toronto
A battle of the Eastern Conference cellarmates, the loser could see themselves all but out of playoff competition. For the Wizards, the time is now to step up with a late run, as they did last year, to pull themselves into contention. It’s not without question, as they sit only four points out of the last spot currently held by DC United. For them, it’s a question of new additions Herculez Gomez and Abe Thompson providing attack up front, as they’ve kind of given up on DP Claudio Lopez as an out and out forward - he’s been spending some time in the midfield. Toronto just can’t seem to win on the road, and unless that changes today, it’s hard to see them alive in the postseason. I think their woes on the road continue out in KC.
Kansas City 2-1 Toronto
Colorado v New England
The Revolution continue to play second fiddle to the Crew, despite a rash of injuries that could have set them back a great deal. This week they’ll get a lot of players back, and face a Colorado team that all of a sudden is even on points for the last playoff spot with Chivas. A lot of the Rapids success has come at the expense of Christian Gomez and Bouna Coundoul, both whom have been sitting on the bench recently, and Gomez hasn’t even come off the bench. It’s been the work of players like Terry Cooke and Mike Petke who have helped engineered a turn around out in Commerce City. New England is coming off a 4-0 thrashing of Chivas, with the likes of Taylor Twellman and Steve Ralston helping carry the attack. The Revs will give the Rapids a real go of it tonight, and I think things will end on equal terms.
Colorado 1-1 New England
Real Salt Lake v Chivas USA
This is a big week for RSL, as they bid farewell to their fortress, Rice Eccles Stadium. They’ve been practically unbeatable there, having yet to taste defeat at home. They’ll look to close that out in style, with a struggling Chivas coming to town. Javier Morales and Yura Movsisyan will need to generate in the attack, with Fabian Espindola’s bird brained celebration on a non goal keeping on the sidelines. It’s a narrow margin for error out West as well, with RSL just one point up on both Chivas and Colorado. Chivas needs Ante Razov to bring something to the attack, or they’ll end up losing out on the road. Which I think will happen. The losing part.
Real Salt Lake 2-0 Chivas USA
Los Angeles v DC United
This one shapes up to be a real shootout, with the league’s second and third highest scoring teams meeting up out in LA. It’s do or die time for the Galaxy, who haven’t won in 12 games. That is just shocking. Bruce Arena has had no luck so far - even with the addition of Eddie Lewis, and the play of Becks and Landycakes, he hasn’t experienced a win back in MLS. United, on the other hand, is unlucky on the injury front, and won’t have Marcelo Gallardo and Jaime Moreno, among other players. They have never been successful on the defensive side of the ball. It’ll be up to Luciano Emilio and Santino Quaranta to provide the scoring they’ll probably need to compete with the Galaxy. Hard to say who will come out on top in this one, but if the Galaxy has a chance to win, this week is one of their best opportunities.
Los Angeles 3-2 DC
Chicago v FC Dallas
Wrapping things up will be the final match of the Brimstone Cup, with Dallas visiting Windy City. Dallas is struggling, fading from the playoff picture. The Fire haven’t had much recent offensive success, with the addition of McBride only leading to one goal in league. Despite their offensive struggles, their defense remains rock solid. Kenny Cooper will have a devil of a time trying to get by the back line of Chicago and Jon Busch. He’ll need a lot of help to get through. Not sure if Dallas can do much, but neither can the Fire.
Chicago 0-0 Dallas
Goto Source
Related posts
Cotonsport crush 10-man Enyimba to top table
September 20, 2008
GAROUA, Cameroon (AFP) - Cotonsport Garoua of Cameroon outplayed 10-man Enyimba of Nigeria 3-0 Saturday to top their African Champions League group and dodge Egyptian giants Al-Ahly in the semi-finals.
Goals from Ahmadou Ngomna, Kamilou Daouda and Baba Ousmaila earned the club from the northern Cameroon cotton town of Garoua an unexpectedly easy passage into a last-four showdown with the Group A runners-up.
The Cameroonians, semi-finalists after reaching the mini-league phase for the first time this year, will discover their rivals Sunday with Dynamos of Zimbabwe, ASEC Mimosas of Ivory Coast and Zamalek of Egypt the contenders.
Cotonsport entered the Group B match at the Omnisport Stadium knowing only a win would prevent Tout Puissant Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo accompanying Enyimba to the next stage.
And their task was simplified just 14 minutes into the first half when the Ugandan referee showed Enyimba goalkeeper Rabo Saminvu a red card for a foul outside the penalty area.
Although television replays proved Saminvu made contact with his opponent, it appeared a harsh decision especially as the goalkeeper was not the last defender.
Reserve goalkeeper Sani Haliru came on and an outfield player departed, but the fighting spirit quickly evaporated from the Nigerians and it was a question of when rather than if Cotonsport scored.
Ngomna broke the deadlock after 39 minutes with a rising shot from the edge of the penalty area and Niger-born Kamilou Daouda punished a Haliru error to head the second 16 minutes into the second half.
Enyimba protested angrily that Ousmaila was offside when he fired the final goal nine minutes from full-time, but replays showed the referee made the correct decision.
While Garoua will feel more confident having avoided perennial title favourites Ahly, that challenge now falls to Enyimba, who have been deadly at home this year but vulnerable away in the premier African club competition.
The Nigerians conceded three goals in each of three away pool matches, a major concern for Belgian coach Maurice Cooremans ahead of a visit to Cairo Stadium come mid-October.
Leading African Champions League scorer Stephen Worgu, far ahead of any rival with 13 goals, was a virtual spectator against Cotonsport on an afternoon the ‘Peoples Elephant’ will wish to hastily forget.
Written by: AFP
Related posts
Klinsmann rues ´black´ Saturday as Bremen rout Bayern
September 20, 2008
BERLIN (AFP) - Bayern Munich coach Jurgen Klinsmann could only rue his side’s ‘black’ Saturday as Werder Bremen routed the defending Bundesliga champions 5-2 in Munich.
Bremen’s teenage midfielder Mesut Oezil, 19, provided the two final passes which helped put Bremen 2-0 up at half-time at Bayern’s Allianz Arena and the Germany Under-21 international then bossed the midfield to crush the hosts.
Sweden striker Markus Rosenberg scored goals either side of half-time to leave Bayern’s dreams of going top of the league in tatters and put them fifth in the table.
“That was a black day. Bremen were better, more spirited and more aggressive than us,” Klinsmann told German television channel Premiere. “They were brighter and more intelligent.
“From this we can only learn, we can’t bury our heads in the sand, we have to improve.”
But with Munich’s Oktoberfest - the world famous beer festival - starting this weekend, there will be some glum faces around the city’s beer halls.
“I don’t envy you, you need to drink a few large glasses of beer tonight - that is the only solution,” glum-faced Bayern president Franz Beckenbauer told Klinsmann on Premiere.
Bayern were missing injured Germany striker Miroslav Klose and French midfielder Franck Ribery, but were second in the table before this weekend.
In contrast, Bremen only managed their first league win of the season last weekend, but last season’s Bundesliga runners-up dominated the champions.
“We won three points, which are very important for us,” said Bremen coach Thomas Schaaf.
“It will give us a confidence boost to beat such a strong club as Bayern and I congratulate my team, but I will expect the same thing in future.”
A well-timed pass from Oezil after half an hour split the Bayern defence and Rosenberg flicked the ball past Bayern goalkeeper Michael Rensing to put his side ahead.
On 45 minutes, Oezil floated his free-kick over the Bayern defence and Brazilian defender Naldo fired home from just metres out after Rensing blocked a shot to make it 2-0.
After the break, Bayern coach Jurgen Klinsmann brought Germany midfielder Tim Borowski and Italian defender Massimo Oddo into the fray.
But it was soon 3-0 when Oezil unleashed a superb shot which beat Rensing at the near post on 54 minutes.
And Rensing’s embarrassment was only heightened on 59 minutes when Bremen’s former Bayern striker Claudio Pizarro poked the ball under him to make it 4-0.
Another Rensing mistake made it 5-0 when he tried to punch the ball away, but Rosenberg was on hand to stab the ball home on 67 minutes.
Borowski pulled goals back on 71 and 85 minutes with two well-taken strikes, but it was far too little, too late as Bremen moved up to fourth.
Schalke 04 went top thanks to an own goal at home to ten-man Eintracht Frankfurt.
Brazilian defender Chris was sent off on 34 minutes for assaulting Germany defender Heiko Westermann.
And on 41 minutes Frankfurt’s misery was complete when Patrick Ochs tackled Schalke striker Jefferson Farfan in the area only to slide the ball under his own goalkeeper.
Also on Saturday, Hertha Berlin went seventh with a 1-0 win at Borussia Moechengladbach, while mid-table Arminia Bielefeld beat Cologne 2-0. Energie Cottbus drew 1-1 with VfL Bochum.
On Sunday, VfB Stuttgart host Karlsruhe as Borussia Dortmund travel to Hoffenheim.
Second-placed Hamburg have the chance to regain the league’s lead when they travel to Wolfsburg.
On Friday, Bayer Leverkusen’s Patrick Helmes scored a hat-trick in their 4-0 home victory over Hanover 96 which left them third in the table.
Written by: AFP
Related posts
Derbyshire lifts Rovers
September 20, 2008
BLACKBURN, England (AFP) - Matt Derbyshire’s late winner gave Paul Ince his first home win as Blackburn manager and bragging rights over his Fulham counterpart Roy Hodgson, once his boss at Inter Milan.
Derbyshire was only involved for the final quarter hour of a well-balanced contest.
But the local hero made the difference six minutes from the end with a goal that was very much a South American production.
Chilean Carlos Villanueva, making his first Premier League appearance as a substitute, delivered a superb through ball that Paraguayan striker Roque Santa Cruz flicked on for Derbyshire to claim his third goal of the season.
Fulham, who only escaped relegation on the final day of last season, have been a revelation since the start of this campaign and Hodgson’s men arrived at Ewood Park looking for a third straight win.
They very nearly got off to a perfect start when summer signing Andy Johnson drew a superb save from former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson, who somehow palmed the striker’s close-range shot over the bar.
Keith Andrews then shot into the side-netting for Blackburn and it took a fine save from Mark Schwarzer to keep out Roque Santa Cruz’s drive as the home side responded.
Andrews picked up a deserved booking midway through the opening period after hacking down Jimmy Bullard, who was also on the receiving end of a brutish challenge from Brett Emerton, who followed his team-mate into the referee’s book.
From the resulting free-kick, Danny Murphy found Bobby Zamora, who headed over.
Santa Cruz responded for Blackburn by breaking clear of the Fulham back four but his shot was directed straight at Schwarzer.
Emerton came closest to breaking the deadlock before the interval, cutting in from the left and unleashing a curling shot that beat his fellow Australia international Schwarzer but came back off the post.
That was to be as close as the home side came until Derbyshire emerged from the bench to secure a win that lifts Blackburn clear of the relegation zone.
Fulham’s best chance after the break came in the 63rd minute, when Johnson got clear and fired in a low shot that Robinson saved but could not hold, forcing Ryan Nelson to make an important clearance under pressure from Simon Davies.
Written by: AFP
Related posts
Dream start for Zola deepens Newcastle nightmare
September 20, 2008
LONDON (AFP) - Gianfranco Zola made a dream start to life at West Ham after David Di Michele inspired a 3-1 win over Newcastle on Saturday.
The Italian striker, who completed a season’s loan from Torino on transfer deadline day, wasted no time in making his compatriot feel at home with a bravura performance.
He scored twice in the first half and then teed up Matthew Etherington for a third just after the interval.
Zola could hardly have scripted a more satisfying afternoon for his first game in charge in east London, yet he was generally restrained in victory, marking each goal with nothing more elaborate than a little punch of the air.
The Sardinian probably realises that far stiffer tests await this season. Indeed, if he could have hand-picked the opposition for his managerial bow, Newcastle might well have been his choice.
The Tynesiders have been mired in turmoil ever since Kevin Keegan’s dramatic resignation as manager two weeks ago: a replacement has still to be found and owner Mike Ashley, shocked by the levels of vitriol from supporters, has put the club up for sale, albeit at a prohibitive asking price of 450 million pounds (823 million dollars).
Such strife occasionally triggers a doughty defiance, but not with Newcastle. They slumped to an embarrassing home defeat to newly-promoted Hull last weekend and this performance, which leaves them second from bottom of the table, bordered on the shambolic, despite a late flurry prompted by Michael Owen’s well-taken goal.
West Ham, sensing Newcastle’s nerves, were in no mood for sympathy. It took them just seven minutes to break through, although even this was overdue. Etherington and Di Michele had already seen shots blocked before the latter finally cracked the Newcastle rearguard.
The striker, who has settled in impressively after a career spent exclusively in Italy, waltzed past limp challenges from Fabricio Coloccini and Steven Taylor before unleashing a shot which struck David Edgar and looped over a stranded Shay Given.
Newcastle, dazed by the set-back, were there for the taking. Mark Noble might have compounded their misery had he struck the target with two inviting free-kicks and Di Michele, a bundle of occasionally eccentric energy, drew howls from the home crowd when he opted to cross rather than shoot six yards out.
Their dismay was soon forgotten. In the 37th minute, Di Michele seized on an exquisite through-ball from Noble and advanced on Given. The Ireland goalkeeper saved brilliantly from his initial shot but Di Michele showed admirable composure in collecting the loose ball, flicking over Taylor and driving in low at Given’s near post.
Newcastle had to start the second half at a sprint to maintain their interest and the chance they craved presented itself in the 52nd minute, when Geremi’s free-kick deflected off Taylor and into the path of Owen, who headed tamely at Robert Green.
The miss was costly. Within a minute, West Ham had torn upfield, Di Michele cutting inside from the right and rolling a teasing pass across the six-yard box. Etherington, arriving late at the back post, could hardly miss.
Owen went on to throw Newcastle’s travelling throng a crumb of comfort with 23 minutes remaining, manoeuvring some space at the edge of the penalty area before curling a precise shot into the right-hand corner.
The goal sparked Newcastle’s strongest spell of the game, with Charles N’Zogbia and Damien Duff both missing presentable chances, but West Ham escaped.
The only thing missing was a hat-trick for Di Michele, but when Luis Boa Morte broke free with the former Palermo forward in support in stoppage time, the Portuguese opted to shoot rather than pass. The ball skimmed wide, but it still did not spoil Zola’s big day.
Written by: AFP
Related posts
Liverpool frustrated by Sorensen heroics
September 20, 2008
LIVERPOOL, England (AFP) - Stoke goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen produced a memorable display to thwart Liverpool as Tony Pulis’s promoted team battled for a 0-0 draw at Anfield on Saturday.
Just seven days after sealing a 2-1 Anfield victory against European champions Manchester United, Liverpool could find no way through the packed Stoke defence.
The draw ensured Liverpool missed the opportunity to pull three points clear of overnight leaders Chelsea ahead of the Londoners’ clash with United at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
The victory against United dismissed the notion that Liverpool could not deliver the goods against the very best, but winning championships is about more than raising your game against the top teams.
If Liverpool are to win their first league title since 1990 this season, then it will be their results against the likes of Stoke that will ultimately decide their destiny.
In recent campaigns, too many points have been dropped against the Premier League’s also-rans, so the visit of Pulis’s team was an acid test of Liverpool’s credentials.
Had luck been on their side, Liverpool could have taken the lead as early as the second minute when Steven Gerrard curled in a free-kick from 25 yards.
But as the midfielder wheeled away to celebrate what he believed to be his 100th goal for the club, the linesman raised his flag to disallow the goal — seemingly for a questionable offside decision against Dirk Kuyt.
It was a let-off for Stoke and they gained confidence from their good fortune and, when Mamady Sidibe dispossessed Xabi Alonso 30 yards from goal, Dave Kitson should have done much better with a free strike on goal from 20 yards that he wastefully sent high over the Liverpool crossbar.
Liverpool struggled to overcome Stoke’s resolute defending and determination.
Pulis’s team will never win awards for the beauty of their football, but their style is certainly effective.
Stoke’s only problem is when they have the ball at their feet. With a game-plan so reliant on the long ball forward, anything that sees them with the ball on the grass appears to leave their players confused as to what to do next.
Still, Liverpool were just as bemused by the challenge in front of them and, aside from long-range efforts from Gerrard and Alonso — both well-saved by Sorensen — they barely threatened a first-half goal.
Coach Rafael Benitez opted against changes at half-time, preferring to give his players the chance to make up for their poor first-half showing, and Liverpool visibly upped their game in the early stages of the second-half.
But the opening goal continued to elude them, with Robbie Keane, Fernando Torres and Kuyt all seeing good opportunities wasted or well saved by Danish keeper Sorensen.
Keane, still waiting to score his first goal since arriving in a 20.3-million-pound switch from Spurs, was unlucky not to break the deadlock when his close range volley from Alvaro Arbeloa’s cross was saved brilliantly by Sorensen.
Chance after chance went begging for Liverpool and, sensing the possibility of an upset, Pulis introduced pacy Jamaican forward Ricardo Fuller with twelve minutes left to play in a bid to sneak a winning goal.
Fuller certainly worried Liverpool during his brief cameo, but not enough to find a way through to goal. But Stoke still emerged with a point and they will treasure that almost as much as a victory.
Written by: AFP
Related posts
Chopra puts personal strife behind him to sink Middlesbrough
September 20, 2008
SUNDERLAND, England (AFP) - Sunderland striker Michael Chopra made amends for a miserable start to the season as his double-strike clinched a 2-0 victory over Middlesbrough on Saturday.
Chopra missed the first three matches of the campaign through suspension after being sent off in a pre-season friendly, but that was the least of his problems.
The former Cardiff star has spent time in the Sporting Chance clinic, which specialises in helping sports people deal with addictions, following a stormy period in his personal life.
He put those problems behind him at the Stadium of Light to give Roy Keane’s side their first home league win since April, when they also defeated local rivals Middlesbrough.
Keane had started with Chopra on the bench but sent him on before the break after an injury reshuffle. It proved an inspired decision.
After Middlesbrough winger Stewart Downing missed a second half penalty, super-sub Chopra netted twice in the final nine minutes.
Middlesbrough had been disappointing in their loss at Portsmouth last weekend and boss Gareth Southgate responded by dropping record signing Afonso Alves. But Eygpt striker Mido was injured in the warm-up, forcing Southgate to reinstate Alves into his starting line-up.
Alves nearly made an instant impact when he pressured Sunderland keeper Craig Gordon into a hurried clearance as he tried to deal with Anton Ferdinand’s back-pass the ball.
Sunderland’s first chance came when Djibril Cisse got the benefit of a tight offside decision, but the France striker shot woefully wide.
Downing’s fierce drive from Alves’s blocked free-kick forced Gordon to make a fine save in the 19th minute as the visitors pressed for a breakthrough.
Jeremie Aliadiere should have done better than weakly steer his shot wide of the far post when he met Downing’s cross in the 26th minute.
Alves was denied by Gordon when the Brazilian took Adam Johnson’s pass and drove a low strike against the Sunderland keeper’s legs.
Keane was forced to make a change on the stroke of half-time when Teemu Tainio, who hurt his shoulder in a clash with Alves, was replaced by Chopra. Gordon was the busier of the two goalkeepers again in the second half and had to get down well to turn away another Alves effort soon after the interval.
Sunderland’s Kieran Richardson fired over the top after Chopra had laid off Steed Malbranque’s cross to him.
A mistake by Middlesbrough keeper Ross Turnbull almost handed Sunderland the lead four minutes later when, having collected the ball, he dropped it at Diouf’s feet.
Diouf passed wide to Cisse but Emanuel Pogatetz made a fine block as he and Huth threw themselves into the path of the shot.
Turnbull redeemed himself 19 minutes from time when he dived to his right to turn away Richardson’s curling shot, but the drama was only just beginning.
Nyron Nosworthy tripped Aliadiere as he tried to block the striker’s shot and referee Howard Webb pointed to the spot, only for Downing to fire the penalty way over.
That set the stage for Chopra to snatch the points when he slotted past Turnbull in the 81st minute. He made it 2-0 and completed a remarkable finale in injury time with a cool finish from Malbranque’s pass.
Written by: AFP