Cameroon coast to record sixth World Cup appearance

November 14, 2009


Cameroon coasted to a 2-0 win in Morocco Saturday and clinched a record sixth appearance for an African team at the World Cup.

The ‘Indomitable Lions’ took a one-point lead over Gabon into the final round of Group A fixtures and stretched it to four by full-time as their only rivals for a place at the 2010 finals in South Africa fell 1-0 away to Togo.

Achille Webo put Cameroon ahead on 18 minutes in Fes and three-time African Footballer of the Year Samuel Eto’o added a second soon after half-time against a poor Moroccan team.

Qualification was a personal triumph for French coach Paul Le Guen, who took over last August from German Otto Pfister with Cameroon bottom of the table having secured just one point from two outings.

But the highly successful former Lyon coach steered the four-time African champions to four consecutive victories and top place with 13 points followed by Gabon (nine), Togo (eight) and Morocco (three).

Cameroon booked a passage to South Africa a few hours after Nigeria topped Group B by winning 3-2 in Kenya and they join South Africa, automatic qualifiers as hosts, Ghana and Ivory Coast as African representatives.

Egypt or Algeria, who clash later Saturday at the Cairo Stadium, will fill the remaining place.

JOHANNESBURG (AFP)

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Barcelona braced for Valencia, Real without Ronaldo

October 17, 2009


Barcelona’s perfect record of 18 points from six Spanish League matches comes under threat on Saturday when the champions travel to Valencia in arguably their most difficult fixture so far.

Real Madrid have an easier task with a home game against Valladolid but must again do without Cristiano Ronaldo whose ankle injury flared up on international duty with Portugal.

Valencia are likely to be without star striker David Villa – who Barcelona tried to capture for a reported 40 million euros in the summer – due to a thigh injury but still have the firepower to hurt Barcelona in Spanish internationals Juan Mata and David Silva.

“We may have to bring in some back-up players to cover injuries but we can’t start moaning about injuries to Villa, (Carlos) Marchena or anyone else,” said veteran midfielder Ruben Baraja.

Barcelona equalled their best ever league start with six wins and hope to set a new club record by notching a seventh successive win at the Mestalla Stadium.

Madrid, who welcome Valladolid, fell to their first defeat of the season – a 2-1 loss at Sevilla – last time out and the sometimes dramatic local media decided to attribute the defeat to the absence of Ronaldo claiming Real suffered from ‘Ronaldo dependency’.

Ronaldo has scored nine goals in seven games for Real but will again be missing after aggravating his ankle injury in a brief appearance for Portugal.

“I am not some kind of saviour but after the Sevilla defeat I wanted to help my teammates win the upcoming matches,” explained Ronaldo. “I am sad because I was on a good run and getting injured again is a blow.”

Sevilla outclassed Real to suggest they could disrupt the Madrid-Barca title monopoly, but need to build on that win at Deportivo La Coruna on Saturday.

Deportivo have had a great start to the season lying fourth in the standings after three straight wins while Sevilla are on a run of five consecutive victories.

It is a great time for Sevilla new boy Alvaro Negredo who helped defeat old club Real last time out, made his Spain debut against Armenia on Saturday and scored his first international goals against Bosnia-Herzegovina on Wednesday.

“I left Madrid because I wanted to play football and I am very happy with my choice to join Sevilla,” said Negredo.

“It was a unique opportunity for me (to play for Spain) and I wanted to take advantage of the door that Vicente del Bosque (Spain national coach) opened for me to go to the World Cup.”

Elsewhere only two teams have yet to win a league match with six games gone and they meet on Sunday when promoted Xerez host Villarreal.

Xerez were expected to struggle but Villarreal?s stuttering start has come as a surprise with coach Ernesto Valverde longing for his maiden win.

Three points from six games sees Villarreal languish second from bottom a point above basement boys Xerez.

“The international break has been good for us as it helps take our minds off our situation and prepare for our forthcoming matches,” said Villarreal midfielder Robert Pires.

“We cannot let our heads go down because we have sufficient quality to get back on track soon.”

Fixtures

Saturday

Deportivo La Coruna v Sevilla 1600 GMT, Real Madrid v Valladolid (1800 GMT), Valencia v Barcelona (2000 GMT)

Sunday (all 1500 GMT unless stated)

Xerez v Villarreal, Espanyol v Tenerife, Real Zaragoza v Racing Santander, Malaga v Almeria, Real Mallorca v Getafe, Athletic Bilbao v Sporting Gijon (1700 GMT), Osasuna v Atletico Madrid (1900 GMT)

MADRID (AFP)

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Puerto Rico, Cruz Azul set for 2009 semifinal rematch

September 15, 2009


In a rematch of last year’s CONCACAF Champions League semifinals, the Puerto Rico Islanders will host Cruz Azul on Tuesday night in Bayamon.

While the Islanders, which were eliminated last year on penalty kicks, would love their revenge, Puerto Rico is playing for Champions League survival after failing to secure a point in its first two matches.

After three consecutive victories following a 3-1 loss to Deportivo Saprissa in their Champions League match, the Islanders have dropped back-to-back United Soccer Leagues First Division matches. A 5-2 drubbing by Minnesota was followed by a 2-1 road defeat to the Carolina RailHawks on Saturday.

In third place in the USL-1, Puerto Rico has just one game remaining in their regular season, heading to South Florida to take on Miami FC Blues Saturday night.

Goalkeeper Bill Gaudette, who was suspended for the Islanders last group match because of yellow card accumulation, has missed the last two league matches because of a knee injury. The American, though, is expected to play against Cruz Azul.

The Islanders have also lost Domenic Mediate and Sandy Gbandi to injury.

“We cannot make excuses. We must move forward,” Puerto Rico coach Colin Clarke said. “Now comes the important part of the season as the playoffs begin. We also have a great game on Tuesday, which I think we need to win to get through the group stage.”

Cruz Azul will come in confident, especially after a 1-0 victory on Saturday against Atlas at Estadio Jalisco. Mario Ortiz scored the dramatic 90th-minute winner for La Maqunia, which is one point in front of Santos in the Mexican Apertura’s Group 3. Cruz Azul has won three straight league games.

Saprissa and the Columbus Crew are tied with three points apiece in Group B and they’ll clash at the Monster’s Cave in San Jose, Costa Rica on Wednesday night.

On Sunday, Saprissa rallied from an early deficit to draw 1-1 with Herediano at Estadio Rosabel Cordero. Armando Alonso Rodriguez struck for the equalizer in the 42nd minute for Saprissa, which remains unbeaten in Costa Rica’s Invierno 2009.

On an Eddie Gaven stoppage time penalty kick, the Columbus Crew defeated the Houston Dynamo 2-1 Sunday at Crew Stadium. Columbus maintains a three point advantage over the Chicago Fire in the MLS Eastern Conference and now move two points in front of Houston in the race for the Supporters Shield, awarded to the regular-season champion.

It was a contentious match, which saw both teams have a man sent off after an altercation between Columbus’ Adam Moffat and United States international Ricardo Clark of Houston in the 82nd minute. Gaven’s PK was also hotly disputed and reportedly words were exchanged between Crew star Guillermo Barros Schelotto and Houston coach Dominic Kinnear in the tunnel after the match.

“We won. That is more important, not what is said by the Houston coach” Schelotto said. “It’s his problem, not my problem. We played very good, better than them and we won.”

By Dylan Butler

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Confederations Cup preview: Iraq – New Zealand

June 20, 2009


Iraq still have a small chance to reach the semi final stage in the Confederations Cup. The Asian champions would have to beat New Zealand, while South Africa lose to Spain. And even then, goal records may not be in their favor.

After a draw and a defeat in their first two group games, Iraq would normally be very unlikely to make it through to the semi’s. The only good news is that while Spain may be qualified already, they might want to beat South Africa to set a new world record of 15 consecutive victories. This is Iraq’s only chance of survival.

New Zealand are already out of contention after losing their first two matches, and the question is how motivated they will be to give Iraq some trouble in their final match at this tournament.

While Iraq haven’t showed much in previous games, they should be able to get a few points from this game as New Zealand simply seems to lack the skills to perform at this international stage.

The match will be played in Johannesburg at 8:30pm local time.

Written by: Jonathan Roorda

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What now for wondrous Wolfsburg?

May 20, 2009


Wolfsburg are only 90 minutes away from winning their first German championship and they have equalled or broken several records in achieving that.

No other team have ever had two strikers score 20 goals or more in a Bundesliga season. Grafite has 26, Edin Dzeko 25.

Wolfsburg equalled the longest winning streak in one season in the Bundesliga with 10 consecutive victories after the winter break. They have a near perfect home record, dropping only two points in 16 matches this term.

What can they improve on after such a season?

Coach Felix Magath will not be there next term, having signed with Schalke 04. Grafite has said he will stay on but Dzeko looks unlikely to partner him up front next season with big European clubs including Arsenal rumoured to be eyeing the Bosnian and team mates.

But don’t expect Volkswagen-backed Wolfsburg to be a one-off thing.

Former VfB Stuttgart coach Armin Veh is a leading candidate to succeed Magath. Veh has tasted Bundesliga success with Stuttgart in 2007.

What is even more important though is that Wolfsburg have another three years on the contract of playmaker Zvjezdan Misimovic, the main reason why Grafite and Dzeko have scored so many and why the team are a match away from winning the Bundesliga.

Misimovic, who had a spell at Bayern Munich, has been the driving force of the team, capable of splitting open defences with a vast arsenal of skills and his presence at Wolfsburg will be guarantee for other players to remain.

Car maker Volkswagen has invested heavily in the team under Magath, and with a boost in revenues next season due to Champions League football, it looks set to continue spending.

So for next season, just like in the final match of this campaign, Wolsburg have their fate in their own hands.

PHOTO: VfL Wolfsburg players celebrate following their German Bundesliga soccer match against Hannover 96 in Hanover, May16, 2009, REUTERS/Christian Charisius

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Pumas faces Mexico City rival Cruz Azul with revenge as goal

February 24, 2009

Pumas may want revenge against Cruz Azul. This may not be the best time to expect it.

Cruz Azul comes into Wednesday’s opening leg of the knockout stage of the CONCACAF Champions League with the momentum of a huge road win in the seventh round of the Mexican Clausura on Sunday. Pumas, meanwhile, is riding a five-match winless streak.

If Pumas is looking to avenge its 3-1 loss at home on November 30, a defeat which eliminated it from the Mexican Apertura playoffs, it will need a reversal of fortunes on two fronts. Luis Angel Landin, Cruz Azul’s big off-season acquisition from Morelia, scored twice inside of 12 minutes, Jaime Lozano scored a goal and set up another and Christian Riveros also scored as La Maquina defeated Necaxa 4-2 to snap a five-match losing streak.

While Cruz Azul travels with the confidence of a big road win, Pumas UNAM hasn’t won since the second week of the Mexican league season and has been outscored 8-3 in its last five matches, including a 2-0 loss at Atlas on Saturday. The Clausura started with consecutive victories against Necaxa and Santos, but Pumas has had only one draw since.

A defense which allowed just 13 goals during the Apetura, already has conceded nine through seven rounds of the Clausura, including six in the past three games.

“We’ve gone five matches without a win and we obviously can’t feel good,” said Pumas manager Ricardo ‘Tuca’ Ferretti, who conceded his team lost on a pair of “golazos” Saturday. “Our fans are hurting and our club is hurting.”

Pumas cruised to the knockout phase of the CONCACAF Champions League as the only team without a loss in the Group Stage. Winners of Group B, UNAM also was the highest scoring team in the first round with 18 goals in six matches.

Veteran Paco Palencia led the way with five goals, enough for a four-way share for second-best in the competition with Gregory Richardson of Trinidad’s Joe Public, Pando Ramirez from Municipal of Guatemala GUA and Brunette Hay of Panama’s Tauro FC.

While Pumas limps in with the 16th-best record in the Mexican Clausura, Cruz Azul arrives in the middle of the pack with nine points, eight behind league-leading Pachuca.

It lost to Toluca on penalty kicks in last season’s Apertura finals, but already has qualified for next season’s Champions League by reaching the Mexican title series in December.

Cruz Azul was the lone Mexican team to not win its group in the Champions League, finishing three points behind Honduras’ Marathon in Group A and reaching the knockout stage by edging Costa Rica’s Saprissa on goal difference in their head-to-head meetings.

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Eto´o double rescues Barcelona in Seville

February 15, 2009

MADRID (AFP) – Samuel Eto’o scored twice as leaders Barcelona came from two goals down to preserve their 22-match unbeaten league run with a 2-2 draw at Real Betis on Saturday.

The point gives champions Real Madrid, currently 13 points behind in second, a chance to cut the gap at the top to 10 points when they face Sporting Gijon on Sunday.

Juan Melli and former Liverpool man Mark Gonzalez put Betis into a 2-0 lead after just 25 minutes as Barcelona looked set for their first defeat since the opening day of the season.

Eto’o pulled a goal back close to half-time and then equalised six minutes from the end for his 23rd goal of the season but Barcelona’s run of ten straight league wins still came to an end.

"A point isn’t bad and I can’t fault the players for their effort," said Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola. "We dominated the game and had lots of chances to win it but Betis are a good side and they defended well .

"After so many consecutive victories it is normal that we eventually slip up and it happened here (in Seville)."

Barcelona had a number of stars in action on international duty during the week and Guardiola rested forwards Lionel Messi and Thierry Henry while captain Carles Puyol was missing through injury.

Barcelona had a nightmare start with Betis scoring twice inside seven minutes.

Melli found the target on 18 minutes with a fine header before Gonzalez struck for the hosts on 25 minutes after the visitors failed to deal with Sergio Garcia’s cross.

Trailing 2-0 Barcelona got a break seconds before the break when Andres Iniesta used his quick feet to win a penalty although contact was minimal.

Eto’o stepped up and his weak spot-kick was saved by Ricardo but the ball fell back into his path and he reacted sharply to prod home the rebound.

Barcelona’s unbeaten league run – stretching back to the opening day of the season – was under threat.

Betis, who won at rivals Sevilla for the first time in 13 years last weekend, thought they had made it 3-1 but a 48th minute strike was ruled out for offside.

A minute later Eto’o should have equalised. The Cameroon forward lost his marker with a great turn but shot wide with the whole goal to aim at.

Eto’o made amends late on though with the leveller to salvage a point.

Elsewhere, Deportivo La Coruna and Osasuna played out a scoreless draw at the Riazor Stadium.

Osasuna beat Valencia last time out and Unai Emery’s team are looking to bounce back against Malaga at the Mestalla Stadium later Saturday.

Valencia lie fourth but are only two points above Malaga who have been a revelation since winning promotion last season.

Champions Real Madrid play at Sporting Gijon Sunday hoping to repeat the 7-1 thrashing they gave the promoted outfit earlier this season.

Coach Juande Ramos must do without Dutch duo Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder who picked up knocks on international duty with the Netherlands while compatriot Rafael van der Vaart is suspended.

Written by: AFP

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