Leroux, U.S. dominate Jamaica 6-0

January 22, 2010

Sydney Leroux scored two goals and assisted on another to lead the United States to a dominating 6-0 victory over Jamaica in the opening game for both Thursday at the CONCACAF Under-20 Women’s Championship.

Leroux, the Golden Ball winner at the 2008 Under-20 Women’s World Cup in Chile, also hit the post twice and enabled the United States to control the match from the start.

Christine Nairn scored a goal in each half and Teresa Noyola and Tiffany McCarty each added a second-half goal for the Americans, who are the defending World Cup champions.

Leroux, who plays collegiately at UCLA, put a volley from 12 meters off the crossbar in the fifth minute and Nairn converted in the ninth minute as the United States to start an impressive showing that saw the United States outshoot Jamaica 11-1 in the opening half.

Nairn finished a play that started with Zakiya Bywaters working in from the right and feeding McCarty inside the area. McCarty was unmarked but tipped the ball back to the top of the area, where an onrushing Nairn – the only player on the U.S. team to have earned a cap with the senior American women’s team — hit a right-footed shot just inside the right post.

The U.S. players clearly appeared bigger, faster and stronger than their Caribbean counterparts, but Jamaica managed a brief period of possession, highlighted by Sashana Campbell’s 19-meter free kick that crashed off the American crossbar.

But the United States quickly regained control and doubled its lead in the 25th when Leroux moved in from the left, raced around Shanise Foster and cut inside Nicole Campbell before unleashing a right-footed shot from 25 meters that deflected in off the left post.

Leroux hit a left-footer from 12 meters that struck the post in the 33rd, two minutes before capitalizing on a Jamaican defensive blunder for her second.

Goalkeeper Bianca Henninger blasted a goal kick that bounced once. Leroux raced past a slow reacting Jamaican defense to head the ball just outside the area, beating keeper Sashagay Spence coming off her line.

Jamaica was unable to maintain any significant possession in the U.S. half, leading to the most lopsided result in the first four games of the tournament.

The U.S. onslaught continued in the second half, with Noyola volleying a long ball from Leroux to hike the American lead to 4-0 in the 49th. Nairn, the vice captain who plays for Penn State University, scored her second in 71st, sending a left-footed free kick from 23 meters just inside the left post.

McCarty, who was involved in several chances, finally was rewarded in the 83rd, beating an offside trap to take a pass from Bywaters and finish with a ball across the face of goal inside the left post.

GUATEMALA CITY

Tags: american women, ball winner, Bianca Henninger, blunder, bywaters, Caribbean, Christine Nairn, concacaf, counterparts, crossbar, Foster, free kick, goal kick, Goalkeeper, guatemala city, Jamaica, left footer, leroux, nairn, nicole campbell, possession, Spence, SYDNEY, teresa noyola, Tiffany McCarty, two minutes, U.S, ucla, United States, volley, world cup champions, Zakiya Bywaters

Coyle ready to quit Burnley

January 5, 2010

Owen Coyle is set to be named the new manager at Bolton Wanderers. Burnley confirm on their official website that the coach has informed them he wishes to take up the vacant managerial post at the Reebok Stadium.

The two clubs are now reportedly in negotiations to determine the compensation package Bolton owe their Premier League counterparts, because Coyle is still under contract at Turf Moor.

Last week, Bolton axed Gary Megson, who had been under pressure for a while. They immediately targeted 43-year-old Coyle as Megson’s successor. Coyle was a popular player for The Trotters midway through the nineties.

The Scottish coach helped Burnley gain promotion to the Premier League last season. Coyle has been in charge of The Clarets since 2007.

A statement from Burnley read: “Owen Coyle has today reaffirmed his desire to leave Burnley Football Club and join Bolton Wanderers Football Club.” “Burnley Football Club will now enter discussions with Bolton Wanderers Football Club, due to the fact that compensation between the two parties has yet to be agreed.”

“There will be no further comment at this time.”

Tags: Bolton, bolton wanderers football club, burnley football club, clarets, coach, compensation, compensation package, counterparts, desire, gain promotion, gary megson, negotiations, Owen Coyle, premier league, reebok stadium, Scottish, trotters, turf moor, Wanderers

FIFA opens disciplinary action against Egypt

November 20, 2009

FIFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against Egypt following the violence before their World Cup qualifier with Algeria in Cairo last week, world football’s governing body said.

“According to the official reports received by FIFA, on 12 November, there were incidents affecting the Algerian team on its way from the airport to the hotel,” a statement posted on FIFA’s website said.

“Consequently, disciplinary proceedings have been opened against the Egyptian Football Association. The FIFA Disciplinary Committee will decide on the case,” it added.

FIFA officials had already acknowledged that three Algerian players and the goalkeeping coach suffered injuries that “weren’t superficial” when their coach was attacked.

Egypt later won that match, leading to a tie in their group and a play-off in Sudan on Wednesday that Algeria won 1-0 to secure a berth in the World Cup finals.

The incidents and subsequent row over the play-off have triggered a diplomatic spat between the two countries.

Egypt also announced it was suspending its membership of the Union of North African Football Federations, complaining that Algerian fans had thrown stones at its fans in Sudan.

The Egyptian Football Federation wrote to its counterparts in Algeria, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia charging that its fans had come under sustained assault during the make-or-break qualification play-off on Wednesday, the state MENA news agency reported.

ZURICH (AFP)

Tags: 12 november, african football, berth, Cairo, counterparts, disciplinary action, disciplinary committee, disciplinary proceedings, egyptian football federation, football association, goalkeeping coach, governing body, match, news agency, world cup finals, world cup qualifier, world football, ZURICH

Egypt quits N. Africa league after Algeria defeat

November 20, 2009

Egypt suspended its membership of the Union of North African Football Federations on Thursday, complaining that Algerian fans had thrown stones at their supporters during the country’s World Cup exit.

Egypt had already called in the Algerian ambassador and recalled its own envoy from Algiers for consultations in protest.

The game’s Sudanese hosts strongly contested Egypt’s version of events insisting just four Egyptian fans had sustained minor injuries and calling in the Egyptian ambassador in Khartoum in its own protest.

By contrast, world football’s governing body FIFA said that three Algerian players and the goalkeeping coach suffered injuries that “weren’t superficial” ahead of Egypt’s 2-0 victory in Cairo on Saturday that forced the play-off.

A number of Algerian fans were also injured after the game, triggering attacks against Egyptians and Egyptian interests in Algeria.

CAIRO (AFP)

Tags: african football, algiers, body fifa, Cairo, consultations, counterparts, egyptian ambassador, egyptian football federation, egyptian interests, egyptians, goalkeeping coach, governing body, khartoum, Libya, minor injuries, news agency, sudanese, world cup exit, world football

Costa Rica returns home from U-17s after 4-1 loss

November 1, 2009

Costa Rica was eliminated from the Under-17 World Cup on Saturday, playing a man down for all but the first 13 minutes and allowing two first-half goals before losing its second straight game, 4-1, to Burkina Faso.

The Ticos, whose older counterparts advanced to the Under-20 World Cup semifinals earlier this month, return home with fellow CONCACAF member and Central American rival Honduras, which was eliminated on Friday.

Adrian Mora was ejected by Uzbek referee Ravshon Irmatov a minute after Zidane Zoungrana gave Burkina Faso the lead.

Abdoulaye Ibrango doubled the advantage in the 38th and Louckmane Ouedraogo all but sealed the victory with a goal in the 82nd. Juan Golobio pulled Costa Rica within 3-1 in the 86th, but Bertrand Traore restored the three-goal bulge in the 90th.

Burkina Faso had more than twice as many shots on goal as the Costa Ricans (15-7) and earned a second-round match Thursday against the winner of Group E.

Costa Rica finished last in Group D with one point, earned in its opening 1-1 draw with New Zealand, and saw its streak of reaching the quarterfinals in the past four tournaments come to an end.

Mexico already has qualified for the second round and could be joined by the United States, which plays its final group game against the United Arab Emirates on Sunday.

ENUGU, Nigeria

Source

Tags: 17s, Adrian Mora, Bertrand Traore, bulge, burkina faso, Central American, costa ricans, counterparts, E. Costa Rica, enugu nigeria, final group, group game, Honduras, Juan, Mexico, New Zealand, nigeria, ouedraogo, referee, shots on goal, straight game, ticos, united arab emirates, United States, World Cup

Who will win the battle between Ibra and Eto’o?

September 15, 2009

Boy, the Champions League is back with a bang. How much juicier can you get than holders Barcelona at Inter Milan in their first game?

If the Spanish champions against their Italian counterparts wasn’t enough, we’ve got the added spice of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Samuel Eto’o playing against their former clubs at the first possible opportunity following their extraordinary close-season swap deal.

Barca midfielder Xavi has told Reuters it will still be strange to line up against Eto’o on Wednesday while Inter’s Jose Mourinho, who has had an up and down relationship with the Catalans, has been stealing the headlines as usual.

“Eto’o is the best attacker in the world. My players are always better. Last year

Ibrahimovic was the best forward in the world, now I say

Eto’o,” he told reporters.

So will Ibra come back to haunt the San Siro or will Eto’o prove that Inter are not missing him?

No one is really sure what reception the Swede will get on Wednesday.

Although he was the driving force behind Inter’s last three titles, fans were not crazy about him — especially when he clashed with a few at the end of last season when he’d made clear he wanted to move.

So fireworks expected in Milan but there are a few other tasty games such as Chelsea v Porto. And that Rome final only seems like yesterday…

PHOTO: Look they have the same celebration! REUTERS

Source

Tags: added spice, attacker, Barcelona, catalans, champions league, counterparts, fireworks, first game, former clubs, inter milan, Jose, jose mourinho, Milan, PORTO, reuters, ROME, samuel eto, samuel eto o, San, san siro, spanish champions, swap deal, zlatan ibrahimovic

Amsterdam mayor wants a Sunderland ban

July 13, 2009

Amsterdam city mayor Job Cohen wants Premier League side Sunderland banned from the Amsterdam Tournament, fearing violence could break out between Black Cats and Newcastle fans.

Sunderland who have been invited to play in the prestigious pre-season tournament, along with Benfica, Atletico Madrid and hosts Ajax from 24 to 26 of July, have seen their fans buying upto 4,000 tickets.

However, with north-east rivals Newcastle also playing in Holland at nearby Utrecht on July 26, the Football Association have told their Dutch counterparts, the KNVB, they are worried about trouble.

Utrecht is around 30 miles from Amsterdam.

“It is out of the question that both clubs can play at the same time,” Cohen told Dutch daily De Telegraaf.

“Talks with the municipal authorities and the club Utrecht have not ended in a result and I don’t want to take any risks.”

“It’s not for nothing that we have been warned by the English FA.”

“I understand that such a measure has far-reaching consequences for Ajax’s traditional tournament but the safety of the city is the first priority.”

By: Abhimanyu Rajput

Tags: abhimanyu, Ajax, Amsterdam, amsterdam tournament, Association, atletico madrid, benfica, black cats, city mayor, Cohen, consequences, counterparts, de telegraaf, east rivals, english fa, English Premier League, Eredivisie, football association, Holland, knvb, municipal authorities, NEWCASTLE, newcastle fans, premier league, telegraaf, utrecht

Czech Goalkeeper set to join Chelsea

June 21, 2009

Chelsea FC are closing towards the signing of teenage goalkeeper Jan Sebek, according to the player’s agent.

Sebek, who had joined the Blues in 2007 for a trial, struggled to adapt to life away from the Czech Republic.

However returning to his homeland, the 18 year old was offered another chance to impress at Stamford Bridge last year.

Upon his return to West London, Sebek was handed the chance to represent the club’s reserve side and he kept a clean sheet versus their Arsenal counterparts.

“I can confirm that Sebek is going to sign a professional contract with Chelsea on 2nd July,” Sebek’s agent, Pavel Zika, told deniksport.cz.

Sebek said: “It is a dream come true for me. I had been playing football at Tachov until I was 15 and I could not imagine that I would be going elsewhere then.

“After moving to Viktoria Plzen and a first half-year I earned my first international call-up and then the Chelsea offer came.”

Written by: Abhimanyu Rajput

Tags: 18 year old, arsenal, Blues, CHELSEA, chelsea fc, counterparts, czech goalkeeper, czech republic, English Premier League, half year, international call, Jan Sebek, Pavel, Pavel Zika, plzen, professional contract, stamford bridge, Viktoria Plzen, west london, zika

Italian clubs agree Premier League-style breakaway

May 1, 2009

ROME (AFP) – Serie A’s 20 clubs on Thursday voted to break away from their Serie B counterparts and form a new competition along the lines of the English Premier League.

The new league, which would no longer involve second-tier clubs in its decision-making process, is to be called Lega Serie A.

Only Lecce, who are in the relegation zone and look set to drop to Serie B next season, voted against the motion to split from the Lega Calcio, which currently organises the top two divisions in Italy.

The new organisation has picked Maurizio Beretta, a former director of Italian television channel Rai Uno, as its new head.

“We’ve agreed a new A league. Am I satisfied? No, but it was necessary,” said Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini following the meeting in Rome.

Tags: A's, A. Only, beretta, breakaway, counterparts, decision making process, English Premier League, italian clubs, italian television, Italy, league style, lega calcio, Maurizio Beretta, Maurizio Zamparini, Palermo, premier league, Premier League-style, rai uno, relegation zone, ROME, Serie A, television channel

S.Africa´s neighbours promise WC will be electric

April 27, 2009

MAPUTO, Mozambique (AFP) – South Africa’s neighbours on Monday pledged to help ensure that the country has enough electricity during the football World Cup next year, the state power company Eskom said.

The Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) met in Maputo to discuss how the region can help make sure that South Africa does not suffer a repeat of the power cuts that crippled the country in January last year.

Eleven countries agreed to reduce pressure on the regional grid during the 2010 competition by encouraging manufacturers to slow production during peak evening periods for the games.

They also agreed to boost energy efficiency and maximise power plant production during the events.

“We are delighted with the level of co-operation we are receiving from our SAPP counterparts,” Eskom Project 2010 unit managing director Johnny Dladla said in a statement.

“This initiative confirms that the 2010 FIFA World Cup is truly and indeed an African event,” he said.

In addition to South Africa, the power pool includes Angola, Botswana, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

South Africa was early last year hit by rolling power cuts as Eskom failed to meet increasing demand for electricity.

In November last year, Eskom signed a 500 million dollar (393 million euro) loan with the African Development Bank (ADB) to aid its expansion programme.

The company says it plans to increase its capacity to 80,000 megawatts by 2026 from the current 43,000 megawatts.

A 4,800 megawatt coal-powered power plant, which would be the fourth-largest in the world, is already under construction but won’t be operational until 2012.