Supersub ´Gedo´ the hero as Egypt retain African crown

February 1, 2010

Egypt entered the record books here on Sunday, beating Ghana 1-0 in the final of the Africa Cup of Nations with supersub Mohamed ‘Gedo’ Nagy lifting the Pharaohs to their third straight title.

Gedo, who has scored from the bench in Egypt’s last four games in Angola, came on in the 63rd minute and produced his magic with five minutes left on the clock to cement Egypt’s standing as the kings of Africa.

The win also gave veteran coach Hassan Shehata a history-making third championship after Cairo in 2006 and Accra in 2008 and extended Egypt’s unbeaten record in the competition to an astonishing 19 games.

Shehata’s assistant, Shawky Garib, said: “I’d like to congratulate Ghana for what they did today (Sunday).

“It’s important to take your chance, and today we took it. But we respect the Ghana team, they played a very good match today.

“We said we were the champions from the first day we arrived in Angola, and we would defend our title.

“We have won three titles in 2006, 2008 and 2010. This was the most difficult of all of them.”

Ghana coach Milovan Rajevic, who has worked wonders to put the World Cup qualifiers into their first continental final in 18 years with most of his top players injured, commented: “We are not so experienced, we wanted to win it so badly in our hearts but in the end Egyptian experience was crucial.”

Egypt were unchanged from the XI that crushed Algeria 4-0 in the semi-finals save for the absence of suspended defender Mahmoud Fatalla – former Spurs midfielder Hossam Ghaly started in his place.

Ghana named an identical line-up to their last four win over Nigeria, with captain Richard Kingson taking up residence between the posts despite a late fitness scare.

The Black Stars made it to the final playing pragmatic rather than beautiful football, but they began in enterprising fashion, matching the Egyptians for speed and dexterity.

In-form striker Asamoah Gyan had an early shot go high over the Pharaoh’s crossbar and Serie A-based Kwadwo Asamoah had a long range effort safely scooped up by Essam al-Hadary as the supposed ‘underdogs’ counter attacked with menace.

Towards the end of the first period both skipper Ahmed Hassan, on his 172nd international appearance, and Emad Motaeb, failed to connect with a floating 25m Egyptian freekick into the box.

Honours even it was as the sides re-emerged after the break with the 50,000 capacity Chinese-built stadium by now three-quarters full and the near 40 degree heat which greeted the players at kick-off cooling down as night fell.

Opoku Agyemang went into Mali referee Coulibaly Koman’s book for an ill-judged tackle on Ahmed al-Mohamady and not to be outdone Egypt’s Sayed Moawad picked up a yellow card seconds later for handball.

Koman had his hand in his pocket again to fish out a card for al-Mohamady after a collision with Opoku.

The game badly needed a goal but what it got was another booking, this time Ghaly for pulling Asamoah.

Shehata brought on supersub Gedo with 20 minutes left for Motaeb hoping the Al-Ittihad striker would repeat his magic.

Ghana’s best chance came in the 78th minute when al-Hadary did well to punch away Gyan’s lethal looking 28m freekick as Ghana’s youngsters had Egypt’s red shirts on the run.

Then unbelievably, with the game heading towards extra-time, Gedo conjured up the decisive goal with a sublime 1-2 with Zidan down the left to slot an angled shot past Kingson.

LUANDA (AFP)

Tags: ACCRA, africa cup of nations, captain richard, crossbar, dexterity, egyptian experience, four games, garib, gedo, ghaly, gyan, pharaohs, record books, semi finals, unbeaten record, veteran coach, world cup qualifiers

Rooney injury could shatter United´s title bid: Ancelotti

January 27, 2010

Carlo Ancelotti has warned Manchester United that an injury to Wayne Rooney could shatter their Premier League title challenge because they don’t have the same squad strength as Chelsea.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s pre-season move to Real Madrid has allowed United manager Sir Alex Ferguson to restore Rooney to his favoured central attacking role and the England forward has responded with a superb run of form.

He has already scored 20 goals in all competitions and emphasised his importance to United with the first four-goal haul of his career, against Hull on Saturday, to send the champions to the top of the table.

But Chelsea boss Ancelotti is convinced Rooney’s effervescent displays only serve to underline how much Ferguson’s team depend on the 24-year-old.

“Without Rooney it would be difficult (to win the league). He’s the best striker at Manchester United, one of the best strikers in the world,” Ancelotti said.

“Rooney, for me, is a fantastic player. He’s not only a striker because he’s not only a finisher, he’s a champion, a world-class player.

“He plays for the team. I saw him play left wing last year and coming back to help out the team defensively. He’s a football player. I’m a big fan of Rooney’s.

“He’s a very decisive player for United. We have a possibility without Didier because we can put Anelka on, another top striker in the world.”

Ancelotti feels United would struggle if Rooney was sidelined for a long period because, in contrast to his own squad, Ferguson has only the aging Michael Owen to turn to.

Although Chelsea have been without star striker Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou, one of his main understudies, over the last month due to the African Nations Cup, Ancelotti has been able to rely on Nicolas Anelka – who has five goals in four games – and highly-rated youngster Daniel Sturridge.

Even without Drogba, who is expected back for Saturday’s game at Burnley, Chelsea had scored 14 goals in three matches prior to Wednesday’s clash against Birmingham.

Ancelotti believes that is a tribute to the quality of Anelka and his squad’s impressive depth.

“Without Didier we have the possibility to put other strong, fantastic players in. Without Didier in the Champions League at the start of the season, Nicolas did very well,” he said.

“Now we have Nicolas and Sturridge doing very well in this month. So we had the possibility to play without Didier.

“We changed something on the pitch but if we have less strength in forward areas we can use other players.

“Our aim was to keep all the players in good condition because, if we stay without four players and we then have some injuries, it could have been a difficult period.

“We have those injuries but we can put Deco in because he’s in good condition. In training and work, the players have worked very hard in this period and we could do well without those (African) players.”

With the title race looking set to be a three-horse sprint between Chelsea, United and Arsenal, Ancelotti believes the team that keeps most of its’ star players fit during the run-in will lift the trophy.

“I think that, in this moment, to avoid injury is very important,” he said. “We have to control training and the players’ rest and we can do that because we have good facilities.

“We have to control the load of the matches and training. To have injuries now is very difficult. The risk is to arrive at the end of the season with a tired squad.”

COBHAM, England (AFP)

Tags: Birmingham, carlo ancelotti, cristiano ronaldo, Daniel Sturridge, didier drogba, effervescent, football player, four games, HULL, MADRID, Manchester, manchester united, michael owen, Nicolas Anelka, premier league, real madrid, ronaldo, Salomon Kalou, sir alex ferguson, star striker, strikers, Sturridge, title challenge, wayne rooney, youngster

Anelka fires Chelsea into 5th round

January 24, 2010

France striker Nicolas Anelka took the plaudits after his goal inspired a 2-0 win at Preston keeping Chelsea on course to land the FA Cup for the third time in four seasons.

Anelka set the platform for the Premier League club’s fourth round success at Deepdale on Saturday with his fifth goal in four games.

Young strike partner Daniel Sturridge doubled the holders’ lead in the second half as Carlo Ancelotti’s team saw off Darren Ferguson’s Championship outfit.

But it was Anelka’s performance which caught the eye of Chelsea assistant manager Ray Wilkins and he was keen to salute the former Arsenal and Real Madrid star.

“He’s playing some outstanding football at the minute,” Wilkins said. “He’s clearly enjoying his football and training.

“He’s an outstanding player and hopefully he will carry in this rich vein of scoring form.”

Wilkins insisted Chelsea’s professional performance against Preston is proof that the west London club are determined to retain the FA Cup they won last May after beating Everton 2-1 in the final.

“I thought our lads were extremely professional,” he added. “This is not an easy place to come and the Preston fans really got behind their team.

“But we are the holders and we want to retain it. This is not an easy place to come and the fact that Carlo picked a strong team shows how seriously we are treating the competition.”

Wilkins refused to blame referee Mike Dean for disallowing a goal by substitute Florent Malouda when the tie was goalless.

Malouda found the net soon after coming on in the first half for the injured Juliano Belletti. With the scores locked at 0-0, the goal was ruled out as the referee had blown for a foul committed on Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard.

“In our eyes it was the wrong decision,” added Wilkins. “But I’m not going to have a go at the referee. We got a free kick out of it and didn’t make the most out of it.”

Lampard was substituted in the second half after suffering a calf problem, but Wilkins is hopeful he will be available for Wednesday’s home game with Birmingham City.

The tie might have had a different ending had Preston midfielder Darren Carter not missed from three yards towards the end of the first half, when the score was 1-0.

Ferguson, son of Manchester United manager Sir Alex, refused to criticise Carter for his astonishing blunder, which came after Portuguese keeper Hilario had failed to hold a header by Chris Brown.

“At half time I said to him to keep getting stuck in,” said Ferguson, taking charge of his first home game since replacing Alan Irvine as Preston manager earlier this month.

“I didn’t want him hiding in the second half. The lad needed a bit of a lift, but that’s football.

“A few minutes before half time we miss a great chance and two minutes in the second half we concede a goal.

“But I can’t have any complaints about my players. We played some great football.”

Ferguson revealed Celtic had made an inquiry for Republic of Ireland international defender Sean St Ledger, but said: “Celtic have no chance of getting him on what they are offering.”

PRESTON, England (AFP)

Tags: Alan Irvine, birmingham city, Carlo, carlo ancelotti, CHELSEA, chris brown, Daniel Sturridge, Darren Carter, Darren Ferguson, deepdale, England, FA Cup, fifth goal, florent malouda, four games, France, frank lampard, free kick, juliano belletti, london club, MADRID, Manchester, Mike Dean, Nicolas Anelka, plaudits, premier league, Preston, professional performance, ray wilkins, real madrid, republic of ireland, rich vein, Sean St, Sir Alex, west london, wrong decision

Angola face ´biggest game ever´ against Ghana

January 23, 2010

Angola face the biggest game in their history when they take on Ghana in the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final, coach Manuel Jose declared here Saturday.

The 2010 hosts reached the last eight in Ghana two years ago, and also made it to the 2006 World Cup finals in Germany, but Sunday’s showdown at Luanda’s 11 November stadium is on a higher plane, according to the Portuguese manager.

“In Ghana we reached the same position, but tomorrow is different, we’re playing in front of our home fans, and we have a good chance of reaching the semi-finals.”

Jose took over a deflated Angola side last year after a trophy-filled spell at Egyptian giants Al-Ahly.

Discussing the two jobs at a press conference at the team’s hotel on Saturday he joked: “At Al-Ahly we had 40 million fans, in Angola only 14 million…

“It’s impossible to compare, but I would say I have more pressure on me as national coach than I did in Egypt.”

He said his priority when he took the Angolan job was to build a team that could do itself justice on home soil at the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations.

“When I began I had one important problem to solve. The last four games before I became coach Angola lost three and drew one and let in seven goals and didn’t score one.

“I knew that it was normal with Angola playing at home all the people wanted a team that had the ability to reach the final here in 2010. To get to the final you have to win matches, must play good football – that was my priority.

“And that’s what we have done, we’ve built a very solid and competitive team that plays nice football.”

While much of Ghana’s squad is based in Europe Angola’s players are culled either from local clubs or generally second tier sides in Europe, prompting Jose to comment: “We don’t have famous players, our players are with medium not top teams, except Flavio and Gilberto.

“So we have had to compensate by having a highly organised side.

“With our high motivation we can deal with stars on other teams, and tomorrow with that attitude I hope we can reach the semi-final.”

Captain Kali, who is clubless, expressed optimism that key players Ded and Flavio had overcome their fitness concerns and would play a part in Sunday’s match.

The defender added: “Ghana are a great footballing country, we know it will be very very hard. We will have to at the top of our game, both mentally and physically, to beat them

“I’m proud of my country, of what we have achieved so far, and we want to do more.

“Playing at home we are almost obliged to win. If we get through the quarter-final, anything can happen.

“Ghana are a feature on the world football map, Angola want to climb higher to be the same.”

LUANDA (AFP)

Tags: 11 november, Africa, africa cup of nations, al ahly, Angola, captain Kali, competitive team, Egypt, Europe, famous players, four games, Germany, ghana, higher plane, home fans, local clubs, Luanda, Manuel Jose, national coach, playing at home, score one, semi finals, world cup finals

PSV’s Kromkamp returns to fitness

January 7, 2010

PSV Eindhoven are set to start 2010 with a boost, as defender Jan Kromkamp returns from a long-term knee injury.

The former Liverpool player underwent surgery in September, his third knee operation in three years time.

The 29-year-old played his most recent match on August 20th, a Europa League encounter with Bnei Yehuda. In total, Kromkamp appeared in four games this season.

Kromkamp left Liverpool to join PSV in 2006 and after two successful seasons at the Dutch club, he made only 12 league appearances in the entire 2008-09 season.

Tags: Bnei, boost, Club, Eindhoven, encounter, fitness, four games, jan kromkamp, knee injury, league appearances, Liverpool, liverpool player, match, PSV, psv eindhoven, yehuda

Carvalho wants Chelsea stars to stick together

December 16, 2009

Ricardo Carvalho has told his Chelsea team-mates they must stick together in Wednesday’s clash against Portsmouth to avoid any more of the costly blunders that threaten to derail their title challenge.

After moving five points clear at the top of the Premier League on the back of five successive cleansheets, culminating in a ruthless 3-0 win at Arsenal late last month, the previously impenetrable Chelsea defence has been leaking goals at an alarming rate.

Carlo Ancelotti’s rearguard has been breached 10 times in four games in all competitions, with Everton taking advantage of more sloppy play by Carvalho, John Terry, Petr Cech and company in Saturday’s 3-3 draw.

While Manchester United’s defeat against Aston Villa allowed Chelsea to extend their lead over the champions to three points, there is a growing sense of unease over the chaotic nature of the league leaders’ defending in recent weeks.

Those goals were the first conceded by Chelsea at home in the league since the opening day of the season, but the jeers that echoed around Stamford Bridge stands at the weekend reflected a fear that Ancelotti’s men could blow a golden chance to win the title through a careless lack of concentration.

Czech Republic goalkeeper Petr Cech has come in for the most criticism and his nervous displays have undoubtedly forced the back-four to defend too deep of late, giving opposition attackers the chance to force more mistakes.

But Portugal centre-back Carvalho, who should make his 200th appearance for Chelsea at the Bridge on Wednesday, insists the team are just going through the kind of freakish patch of bad luck where every error is punished by a goal.

“Right now every mistake we make, we concede a goal,” he said. “We are playing well but we have to be more compact, especially at free-kicks and corners.

“When someone makes a mistake you have to be there to help him. Against Everton one goal came from a throw-in and the other two from free-kicks.

“I think I am playing well, however I can’t enjoy it because we’re drawing or losing. I’m a little bit frustrated.”

If Chelsea could have hand-picked the opposition for a game they desperately need to win to steady the nerves, then rock bottom Portsmouth would surely be top of the list.

Pompey boss Avram Grant brings a team to Chelsea for the first time since being sacked by the Blues in the aftermath of the 2008 Champions League final defeat to United in Russia.

But for Terry’s penalty shoot-out slip in the the Moscow rain, Grant would be a European champion and likely still Chelsea’s coach.

Instead he is facing up to the prospect of a five-month struggle to keep Portsmouth in the top-flight against a background of financial uncertainty that has already seen the club fail to pay their players’ wages twice this season.

Portsmouth fans issued a vote of no confidence in the club’s board this week, but Grant can at least take heart from the determined way his side ground out a 1-1 draw at Sunderland on Saturday thanks to Younes Kaboul’s stoppage time equaliser.

Grant believes surviving with Portsmouth is a far greater challenge than his task of steadying the ship when he succeeded Jose Mourinho at Chelsea.

“At Chelsea I took over a team that was on the way down and the challenge was to bring them back to winning ways and we did it,” Grant said. “This is a different challenge, first to take the team away from the bottom and then for the future to make them an exciting team.

“The challenge is bigger here because there are so many problems. Everybody said to me when I was offered it not to take the job, but for me it made me even more ambitious to take it.”

LONDON (AFP)

Tags: alarming rate, aston villa, blunders, carlo ancelotti, chaotic nature, CHELSEA, cleansheets, czech republic, five points, four games, free kicks, Goalkeeper, golden chance, jeers, john terry, Jose, lack of concentration, league leaders, london, Manchester, Moscow, Petr Cech, Portsmouth, portugal, premier league, ricardo carvalho, stamford bridge, team mates, Terry, title challenge

Drogba scare for Chelsea ahead of Portsmouth game

December 15, 2009

Chelsea’s mid-winter mini-crisis could be aggravated by the loss of Didier Drogba after the talismanic striker injured his back in training on Tuesday.

Manager Carlo Ancelotti revealed that Drogba is doubtful for Wednesday’s Premier League match with bottom club Portsmouth, in which Chelsea will be looking for their first win in five matches in all competitions.

Ancelotti claimed to be unconcerned about Chelsea’s recent run of three defeats and a draw.

But he admitted that his work on the training ground had focused on defending set-pieces in the wake of a 3-3 draw with Everton on Saturday that again underlined his side’s vulnerability in that area.

“We have trained and worked on the set-pieces,” said Ancelotti. “We have conceded some goals in these situations and we want to improve on that. We have to improve our attention and concentration in these situations.

“It is very important to win (on Wednesday). We didn’t win in the last four games but the team is in a good moment. I don’t see a big problem. We have the mentality and the feeling to find a solution immediately.”

The Italian also professed to be unconcerned by the jeers some of the Chelsea supporters directed at their players at the end of Saturday’s match.

“I think the reaction of some of the fans was normal. We are top of the league and this means our fans always want to see the best. We want to do the best. When supporters pay for a ticket, he can do anything, with respect, naturally. To boo is not a problem. It can be a motivation for us.”

Ancelotti absolved goalkeeper Petr Cech of blame for Chelsea’s recent defensive fragility.

“Everyone at the club thinks we have one of the best goalkeepers in the world,” he said. “I certainly do. He is a very professional player and maintains a good control when he does the right things or bad things.”

Wednesday’s match sees Avram Grant return to Stamford Bridge for the first time since he was sacked as Chelsea boss in the wake of their 2008 Champions League final defeat by Manchester United.

“I don’t know him,” said Ancelotti. “I saw him take Chelsea to the final of the Champions League and for that I think he did a very good job in that season.

“He has arrived at Portsmouth and done a good job, so I expect a difficult game tomorrow.”

LONDON (AFP)

Tags: best goalkeepers in the world, bottom club, carlo ancelotti, cech, champions league, CHELSEA, chelsea supporters, concentration, Drogba, four games, fragility, jeers, london, Manager Carlo Ancelotti, Manchester, mentality, mid winter, Petr Cech, Portsmouth, premier league, stamford bridge

We’re going to Bordeaux to win, says Cannavaro

November 25, 2009

Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro insisted his Juventus team would be looking for the three points when they play Bordeaux in the Champions League on Wednesday.

A victory over the Group A leaders would ensure Juventus’s name is in the hat for the second round draw but anything else could result in a winner takes all showdown with German giants Bayern Munich in Turin in two weeks.

“A team like Juve always plays to win, we know that to progress we have to come home with three points and play well,” said the 36-year-old before leaving for France.

“Bordeaux are a team that are improving and have shown over the last few years that they are one of the best in France and they have the motivation to fight for top spot in the group because everyone knows how important that is.

“It’s important for us because we can secure qualification otherwise we’ll arrive at the last game against Bayern, which would be interesting.”

Bordeaux lead the group with 10 points from four games and have already qualified.

Juve are second on eight points, four ahead of Bayern, who must win their last two games to have any chance of progressing.

Israelis Maccabi Haifa have already been eliminated after four straight defeats.

ROME (AFP)

Tags: bayern munich, Bordeaux, champions league, fabio cannavaro, four games, giants, haifa, Italy, juve, last game, maccabi haifa, motivation, ROME, turin, two games, victory

Palermo fire coach Zenga after derby draw

November 23, 2009

Palermo on Monday sacked coach Walter Zenga, a day after their 1-1 home draw against Sicilian rivals Catania.

Zenga, a former coach at Catania, becomes the sixth Serie A coach to be sacked this season while Luciano Spalletti also quit as AS Roma boss.

His sacking comes as a surprise as Palermo were having a reasonable season and some had been suggesting that Zenga, a former Italy goalkeeper, would be in the running to be the next Inter Milan boss.

Palermo had not won in four games but one of those was a thrilling 5-3 defeat at leaders Inter where Palermo hit back from 4-0 down at half-time to 4-3 at one point.

Prior to those four games they had won three in a row, including a 2-0 success over Turin giants Juventus, prompting Zenga to proclaim that his team could finish in the top four this season.

They currently sit 12th but are only seven points off fourth in a tight mid-table.

Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini, though, is known for his short patience. He bought Palermo in 2002 having previously owned Venezia since 1987 and has sacked 29 coaches during his 22 years in football.

“I thought about it all night and I decided we couldn’t continue like this,” said Zamparini, who only hired Zenga from bitter rivals Catania before the beginning of the season.

“After 13 games while all the other teams are progressing Palermo are getting worse without even having a game.

“I’m sorry on a human level but Zenga wasn’t the right coach for Palermo.”

Former Lazio coach Delio Rossi is considered by the Italian media to be Zenga’s likely successor.

ROME (AFP)

Tags: 22 years, bitter rivals, boss, catania, former coach, four games, giants, inter milan, italian media, italy goalkeeper, luciano spalletti, Maurizio Zamparini, mid table, Palermo, patience, seven points, turin, venezia, zenga

Nilmar at the double for resurgent Villarreal

November 23, 2009

In-form Brazilian forward Nilmar scored a brace to help slow-starting Villarreal climb into mid-table with a 3-1 home win over Valladolid on Sunday.

Nilmar had scored in both of Brazil’s last two international games – against England and Oman – and continued his purple patch with two more goals.

Argentine Damian Escudero centred for Nilmar after just six minutes and the Brazilian headed a second two minutes after the break for his third goal of the season as he begins to repay his club record 11 million euro fee.

Villarreal had their worst ever start to a season in the top-flight with just three points from the first six matches but have bounced back to push up the standings plundering 14 goals in their last four games.

“Despite the result it wasn’t easy,” said Villarreal coach Ernesto Valverde.

“I liked what I saw of my team and think we were better so we are happy with how we played as well as the result.”

Elsewhere Real Mallorca maintained their perfect home record making it six wins from six at their Ono Stadium with a late 3-1 victory over Almeria.

Substitute Victor and Gonzalo Castro both scored in the final two minutes as Mallorca closed to within two points of the top four.

“We took our chances and they didn’t take theirs – that’s what made the difference,” said Mallorca manager Gregorio Manzano.

In other matches, goal-shy Xerez drew 0-0 with Sporting Gijon to stay second from bottom of the table while Sporting are a creditable seventh.

Malaga continue to prop up the table after a heated 1-1 draw with Real Zaragoza which saw both teams reduced to ten men.

Zaragoza went in front through a highly-disputable 49th minute penalty after Angel Lafita went down theatrically and Brazilian Ewerthon converted the spot-kick.

The game got ugly in the second half and there were two expulsions in as many minutes with Zaragoza left back Javier Paredes awarded a second yellow on 58 minutes for a robust challenge.

Two minutes later Malaga’s Weligton got a straight red for lashing an arm at Raul Goni as he jostled for space in the penalty area.

Malaga equalised to set up a frantic finale containing yellow cards, diving and complaining before Lafita almost won it hitting the post in the final minute.

Later Valencia hope to reclaim fourth place from Deportivo La Coruna, 2-1 victors over Atletico Madrid on Saturday, when they travel to Osasuna.

On Saturday Barcelona were supplanted by Real Madrid at the top with the latter now holding a one-point advantage over Barcelona ahead of next Sunday’s ‘El Clasico’ at Camp Nou.

Real defeated Racing Santander 1-0 at home to move to the summit and Barcelona failed to respond drawing 1-1 at Athletic Bilbao to surrender top spot ahead of the biggest league fixture of the season.

Both teams have important Champions League commitments prior to the Clasico with holders Barcelona hosting Inter Milan on Tuesday and Real entertaining FC Zurich on Wednesday.

MADRID (AFP)