West Ham´s Tristan sinks self-destructing Stoke
December 28, 2008
LONDON (AFP) – West Ham striker Diego Tristan stole a 2-1 win over 10-man Stoke after City striker Ricardo Fuller was sent off for punching his own team-mate at Upton Park on Sunday.
Tristan's first goal for the Hammers was perfectly timed with two minutes to play after Carlton Cole had cancelled out Abdoulaye Faye's early opener for Stoke.
But Tony Pulis' side had only themselves to blame for the result after Fuller was sent off in the second half for taking a swipe at Andy Griffin.
The bizarre flashpoint came just moments after Cole's equaliser as Fuller lost his cool following a row with Griffin over who was responsible for the goal.
West Ham had taken just one point from their last six home games and looked set for more misery in front of their own fans when Stoke scored after four minutes.
Fuller tested goalkeeper Robert Green after capitalising on a sloppy pass from Luis Boa Morte, and from the resulting corner Faye headed home at the far post.
Cole had a glorious chance to equalise immediately after the restart but sidefooted Jack Collison's left-wing cross wide, while Hammers defender Matthew Upson also headed wide in the opening exchanges.
Stoke threatened again when Richard Cresswell's chipped effort forced a stretching save from Green.
The visitors were pushed back after that and keeper Thomas Sorensen did well to claw Herita Ilunga's teasing left-wing cross away from Cole, who had already volleyed over the bar from just inside the box.
Cole then wasted the Hammers' best chance of the half when he headed over following excellent work on the right from David Di Michele.
West Ham piled on the pressure again after half-time and scored a deserved equaliser in the 51st minute.
Cole controlled Scott Parker's chip into the area, got a fortunate deflection and swivelled on the loose ball to curl his shot into the far corner.
Stoke's frustration at conceding boiled over in spectacular fashion as Fuller and Griffin became embroiled in an angry exchange that ended with Fuller being sent off by referee Michael Jones for throwing a punch at his team-mate.
Scenting blood, West Ham poured forward and could have gone ahead but Cole volleyed wide before Parker and Di Michele both fired over.
Boa Morte's scuffed shot was cleared off the line by Danny Higginbotham and Parker screwed a shot wide from outside the box.
The pressure finally paid off in the 88th minute when Spanish substitute Tristan deflected in Cole's shot for the winner.
Written by: AFP
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Gerrard stars in rout of Newcastle
December 28, 2008
NEWCASTLE, England (AFP) – Liverpool maintained their grip on first place in the Premier League table with a stunning 5-1 win against a toothless Newcastle United here at St James' Park on Sunday.
Reds captain Steven Gerrard scored twice and had had it not been for Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given, the hosts could have been on the wrong end of a double-figure disaster after being completely outclassed.
The Republic of Ireland international made five world-class saves in 10 minutes to prevent Newcastle from total capitulation before the midway point of the first-half.
Liverpool assistant manager Sammy Lee said: "I think we are improving with every game we play and that is all we can look for. You haven't seen the best of Liverpool yet.
"You win nothing in December but you can certainly lose a lot. We're very pleased to be going into the New Year at the top."
Newcastle boss Joe Kinnear – whose 62nd birthday celebrations on Sunday have been distinctly muted having been beaten by Wigan on Friday and now Liverpool – said that his depleted side had not been able to hold off the attacking hordes from Liverpool.
"We were short of six or seven players and everything that could go against us did go against us.
"We had to play one of the best teams I've seen for a long while. You have to take your hat off to Liverpool. They were in command for a long time and could have put the game to bed in the first half."
Arsenal target Given began his run of jaw-dropping stops in the 10th minute as he pushed away a fierce near post strike from lone Liverpool forward Dirk Kuyt.
Within a minute England midfielder Gerrard weaved his way around three United defenders only to see his left foot shot palmed away by Given.
However, the onslaught had only just begun and in the 14th minute the Magpies 'keeper denied Gerrard again as he sprung to his right to claw away a rising left footed shot.
But that stunning save was eclipsed by an even better show of agility five minutes later as Given denied the Brazilian midfielder Lucas from point-blank range.
When the former Gremio player saw his header, from a Gerrard corner, beaten away by the Newcastle goalkeeper moments later, the visitors must have begun to fear this would be no easy win on Tyneside.
United, for their part, had barely managed to break beyond halfway and the Magpies' owner, Mike Ashley, must have been wondering whether he had been premature in announcing his decision to take the club off the market for the foreseeable future.
If his aim had been to usher in a period of calm at St James' Park, the effect had not extended to the pitch.
Liverpool continued to press forward at will and two goals before half-time appeared to end the game as a contest.
Inevitably, given his sensational start to the match, it was Gerrard who broke the deadlock in the 31st minute when he drilled Yossi Benayoun's pass in off the post.
Poor Given had no opportunity to reprise his heroics and the Irishman was stranded again five minutes later when defender Sami Hyypia was given the freedom of the Newcastle penalty area to head home Gerrard's corner.
The experienced Finn could have grabbed a second three minutes before the break only for a diving Given to push the ball into the path of Newcastle's Charles N'Zogbia, who cleared.
These were torrid times for United but, incredibly, Canada international defender David Edgar reduced the arrears on the stroke of half-time by heading in Danny Guthrie's corner.
Liverpool's third, five minutes after the restart, had an element of luck about it, with referee Mark Halsey failing to spot Lucas's hand ball. But Dutch international Ryan Babel tapped-in from five yards despite being surrounded by Newcastle players.
Gerrard grabbed his second from Lucas's astute through ball in the 66th minute.
And when substitute Xabi Alonso wrapped things up with a well taken penalty 13 minutes from time with Gerrard off the field, after his fellow replacement David Ngog had been brought down by Edgar, Liverpool could celebrate heading into 2009 on top of the Premier League pile.
Written by: AFP
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Gerrard scores twice as Liverpool stay top
December 28, 2008
LONDON (AFP) – Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard scored twice as the Merseysiders ended 2008 on top of the Premier League with a 5-1 win away to Newcastle at St James’ Park in Sunday’s early kick-off match.
Victory left Liverpool four points in front of second-placed Chelsea.
But the Blues had a chance to again cut the gap to just a point by winning away to Fulham in the west London derby later in the day.
England midfielder Gerrard opened the scoring from close range just after the half-hour mark.
Five minutes later Sami Hyypia made it 2-0 with a header from a corner.
But slack marking by Liverpool saw Newcastle, who before kick-off found out that owner Mike Ashley had reversed his decision to sell the club, pull a goal back on the stroke of half-time when a corner was headed in by David Edgar.
Ryan Babel though made it 3-1 to Liverpool five minutes into the second-half when he forced the ball home from a corner despite being surrounded by five Newcastle players.
Gerrard made sure of the points with a cool finish in the 66th minute before Xabi Alonso added a fifth from the penalty spot after Edgar brought down substitute David Ngog.
Written by: AFP
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Real Madrid keen on Valencia
December 28, 2008
MADRID (AFP) – Spanish giants Real Madrid are keen to sign Ecuadorean international wing Luis Antonio Valencia, a newspaper reported on Sunday.
The 23-year-old Wigan Athletic star has become Real’s preferred target after they dropped their interest in Aston Villa’s Ashley Young and having pulled out of a deal for Liverpool’s Jermaine Pennant because of his wage demands.
Valencia – scorer of three goals in 20 matches this term – would cost Real 17.5million euros and they could face stiff competition for the former Villarreal player from several of Wigan’s Premier League rivals.
Real – who are fifth in the title race some 12 points adrift of Barcelona – are in desperate need of reinforcements to their squad after several key players such as Ruud van Nistelrooy and Malian midfielder Mahamadou Diarra suffered season ending injuries.
They have already signed French international midfielder Lassana Diarra from FA Cup holders Portsmouth for 20million euros.
Written by: AFP
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Adelaide stay top in tight A-League title battle
December 28, 2008
SYDNEY (AFP) – Adelaide United carved out a hard-fought 1-0 win over Perth Glory to retain a one-point lead as all their Australian A-League title rivals posted victories this weekend.
Midfielder Kristian Sarkies scored the winner in the 40th minute but they also had goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic to thank for the victory after he pulled off a terrific reflex save in the 90th minute.
Aurelio Vidmar’s team have games in hand on their rivals after their FIFA Club World Cup campaign in Japan earlier this month and they remain favourites for the A-League title with four rounds left to next month’s finals.
An injury-time free kick by 17-year-old rookie Tommy Oar gave Queensland Roar a 3-2 win over Wellington Phoenix on Sunday and second place on goal difference over Melbourne Victory.
Oar came on as a substitute with 30 minutes left and it was his scorching left-foot drive that clinched all the points for Roar, who twice fought back from a goal down at home.
Substitutes Nick Ward and Ney Fabiano both grabbed late goals as Melbourne Victory completed a comeback 3-2 win over Sydney FC in Melbourne on Saturday.
It was the third straight defeat for Sydney, who are now struggling to stay in touch with the top four and under pressure after starting the season as title favourites.
For the Victory it broke a three-game losing run with spectacular goals through Archie Thompson, Ward and Brazilian Fabiano.
Central Coast Mariners crushed champions Newcastle Jets’ finals hopes and boosted their own, coming from behind to win 2-1 in Newcastle on Friday to stay fourth, just two points behind Adelaide.
A second-half strike by Sasho Petrovski and an 80th-minute winner by substitute Matt Simon gave the Mariners a vital win after an early Joel Griffiths penalty had put the Jets in front.
The lively derby match ended in controversy, with Mariners striker Dylan Macallister red-carded after the whistle and Simon a yellow following on on-field melee between the sides.
The loss means the Jets’ title defence is almost certainly over and leaves them 10 points off the top four.
Written by: AFP
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Newcastle no longer for sale, says owner Ashley
December 28, 2008
NEWCASTLE, England (AFP) – English Premiership club Newcastle United is no longer for sale, owner Mike Ashley said Sunday after failing to find a buyer.
The billionaire sportswear magnate has decided to push ahead with his own plans for the club following a fruitless three-month campaign to find an interested party.
Ashley engaged the services of investment bank Seymour Pierce after deciding to call it a day at St James’ Park in September following mass protests against his regime in the wake of Kevin Keegan’s departure as manager.
Ashley said in a statement on the club’s official website: "I am happy to end the uncertainty the fans may have had about the future direction of Newcastle United.
"I know just how important that is to you.
"I have withdrawn Newcastle United from the market, and for me 2009 will be the year in which we drive the club forward together.
"Even when I haven’t been at games I have remained a keen supporter, kicking and heading every ball and cheering the team on TV and being first to congratulate (manager) Joe (Kinnear) whenever there’s a good result."
Ashley revealed the club had failed to find a suitable buyer.
"When I took the decision to put the club up for sale in September I made a point of saying two things were very important.
"Firstly any potential buyer would have to show they had the best interests of Newcastle United at heart and had both the commitment and finance to be worthy custodians of such a fine football club before I would even consider doing a deal.
"And secondly, I gave you my word that as long as I remain owner, this club would continue to be run responsibly at all levels. I hope you will accept that I have stood by that pledge."
Ashley launched a 134.4million-pound takeover of the club in May last year and has since invested around a further 100millon pounds in servicing the debt burden and attempting to strengthen the playing squad.
Michael Ord, a spokesman for the Newcastle United Supporters’ Club, insists the news will be unwelcome to many on Tyneside.
"It’s the most unwelcome late Christmas present Newcastle United supporters could have," he told Sky Sports.
"He needs to start thinking long and hard about what he is saying, because I don’t think Mike Ashley will take Newcastle forward at all."
Written by: AFP
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Alexis Sanchez wants to move to Manchester United
December 28, 2008
Twenty-year-old Chilean and Udinese striker Alexis Sanchez has said that his greatest desire is to play for Manchester United.
Sir Alex Ferguson, Manchester United’s manager has already shown an interest in the young star and had him watched regularly when the youngster was on loan at Boca Juniors.
Sanchez added that he was a fan of the Red Devils as well as the fast game that is currently being played in the English Premier League.
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PSV Eindhoven and FC Twente play out goalless draw
December 28, 2008
EINDHOVEN (SW) – PSV Eindhoven and FC Twente both failed to make a significant gain on the Eredivisie leaders AZ Alkmaar after playing out a goalless draw.
In the first half, both sides had many opportunities to win the match but they both proceeded to hit the woodwork more often than they did the goal netting.
The second half saw far fewer chances as they both settled for a point each.
AZ Alkmaar leads the Eredivisie. PSV are lying in fourth place eight points behind while FC Twente are in third place only four points behind AZ Alkmaar.
Today AZ Alkmaar plays NEC while second-placed Ajax Amsterdam entertains ADO Den Haag.
Ajax Amsterdam is three points behind AZ.
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Great Scott leads Aussie SPL charge
December 28, 2008
GLASGOW (AFP) – Scott McDonald and Danny Invincibile made Australian strikers headline news on Saturday in the Scottish Premier League.
McDonald, with his eighth goal of the season, was on target as Celtic defeated city rivals Rangers 1-0 in the Old Firm derby at Ibrox as the champions opened up a seven-point lead.
Celtic manager Gordon Strachan described McDonald as "phenomenal" after seeing the Australian score in the 58th minute after linking with Georgios Samaras before turning Kirk Broadfoot and volleying past Rangers goalkeeper Allan McGregor.
"I thought McDonald was phenomenal", Strachan said whose team are comfortably on course for a fourth successive league title.
"I think both sides would agree it’s best to lose a game to a brilliant goal than a horrible mistake. Scott has always been a good team player, he just hasn’t had a settled partner this season, that has been the problem.
"We have been chopping and changing all season and that has been a problem not only for him, but for us.
"It would be nice if he could get a settled run with somebody in attack. Scott is picking himself at the moment, we need somebody else to do the same."
McDonald said he couldn’t describe his memorable strike as the best goal of his career.
"It was very special, especially scoring it against your rivals at their home ground," he said.
"I don’t know if it beats the one I scored against Manchester United in the Champions League, but I couldn’t have hit it any better.
"Georgios got a great flick-on and I managed to roll the defender. I had to wait for the ball to come down but I couldn’t have hit it any better and it was great when it went in."
Meanwhile, Invincibile marked his return from injury with two goals for 10-man Kilmarnock in a 4-2 victory at Hibernian.
The Australian opened the scoring in the fifth minute and added his second two minutes after the break as Kilmarnock cemented their place in mid-table.
Written by: AFP
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Redknapp rules out Defoe return
December 28, 2008
LONDON (AFP) – Tottenham coach Harry Redknapp said Saturday that he will not be forced to pay an inflated transfer fee to bring England striker Jermain Defoe back to White Hart Lane from Premier League rivals Portsmouth.
Redknapp took Defoe to Portsmouth in January when he was in charge at Fratton Park, but admitted he may now switch his attention to Middlesbrough’s international winger Stuart Downing.
"I think they have a massive offer from somebody for him (Defoe). I paid about nine million pounds for him," Redknapp said.
"He is a good player but we’re not going to pay over the top for anyone. I like Downing but I don’t know whether Middlesbrough want to sell him."
Written by: AFP
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