Ancelotti admits set pieces troubling Chelsea

February 3, 2010

The storm centred on John Terry’s future as England captain is not the only headache that Carlo Ancelotti has to deal with at the moment.

The Chelsea boss is also grappling with his team’s tendency to leak goals from set pieces amid fears it could cost them dear at the business end of the season.

The depth of Chelsea’s squad has seen them installed as favourites to reclaim the Premier League title from Manchester United.

But with United starting to hit form, Chelsea’s problems in defending corners and free-kicks have once again been put in the spotlight by the ease with which Steven Mouyokolo headed Hull into the lead in Tuesday’s 1-1 draw at the KC Stadium.

Didier Drogba cancelled out Mouyokolo’s strike but Hull might easily have claimed all three points if Anthony Gardner had not missed an excellent chance from Tom Cairney’s free-kick.

“I know very well how many goals we have conceded from set pieces,” said Ancelotti. “Every team here in England has a very good jumper and a very good striker and it can happen that you concede a goal.

“How we score, sometimes we can concede. I think we did our best but it was a tough game and Hull played well and put a lot of pressure on us.”

Hull boss Phil Brown admitted he had identified Chelsea’s weakness on set pieces as a potential key to the outcome of the match.

“It’s my job to investigate how to score goals against Chelsea and they’ve conceded something like nine out of 10 of their goals, or something like that, from set pieces,” Brown said.

“If that’s the Achilles heel for Chelsea then we have to exploit it.”

LONDON (AFP)

Tags: achilles heel, Anthony Gardner, Brown, business end, carlo ancelotti, CHELSEA, didier, England, england captain, fears, free kick, free kicks, headache, HULL, john terry, jumper, kc stadium, london, Manchester, match, phil brown, premier league, Steven Mouyokolo, striker, tendency, Tom Cairney

Japan held to goalless draw by Venezuela

February 2, 2010

Japan were held to a goalless draw by Venezuela in the first home game of the season for the Blue Samurai on Tuesday as they prepare for the World Cup in South Africa.

Japan were the first team to qualify for international football’s biggest prize while Venezuela failed to reach the finals after finishing eighth in the South American group.

Venezuela had the first chance of the match when 17-year-old debutant forward Fernando Aristiguieta missed a header from close range in the ninth minute following midfielder Giacomo Di Giorgi’s long-off effort.

But it appeared to be the best chance for either side in a game bereft of clear scoring opportunities.

Mitsuo Ogasawara, playing for Japan for the first time since the 2006 World Cup, fired a sizzling shot from outside the area, forcing goalkeeper Leonardo Morales to save in the 16th minute.

Ogasawara and Brazilian-born Marcus Tulio Tanaka missed a couple more shots, while Aristiguieta failed to catch up with Caracas defender Hose Manuel Rey’s free kick to end a goalless first half.

Venezuela piled on the pressure in the second half but managed just one shot on goal through defender Giovanny Romero.

Sota Hirayama, who scored a hat-trick in an Asian Cup qualifier against Yemen last month, was sent on with Sanfrecce Hiroshima striker Hisato Sato in a fruitless attempt to lend the Japanese some rhythm.

Overall, Japan hit a total of 12 shots on goal and Venezuela four.

“I was disappointed that we couldn’t win because Venezuela put wonderful pressure on us. But as an early game of the season, it was a nice game,” said Japan coach Takeshi Okada.

“Mitsuo struggled in the first half as the combination with the others was not so good but he did very well in the second half.

“We have three more games this month (in the East Asian championship). We are going to level up our team through the championship, looking forward to the World Cup,” Okada added.

Japan will play China, South Korea and Hong Kong in the championship starting in Tokyo on Saturday.

OITA, Japan (AFP)

Tags: africa japan, asian championship, asian cup, blue samurai, Caracas, China, close range, cup qualifier, East Asian, Fernando, first chance, free kick, fruitless attempt, Giacomo Di Giorgi, giorgi, hiroshima, home game, Hong Kong, international football, Japan, japan coach, Marcus Tulio, nice game, Oita, okada, sanfrecce hiroshima, shots on goal, sota hirayama, South Africa, South American, south american group, south korea, Takeshi Okada, tokyo, tulio

Costa Rica earns first trip to U-20 Women’s World Cup

February 2, 2010

Costa Rica earned its first trip to the Under-20 Women’s World Cup with a 1-0 victory over Canada in Saturday’s third-place game of the CONCACAF championship.

The result sent Costa Rica to Germany in July with the United States and Mexico, who were to play in the CONCACAF Under-20 Women’s Championship final later Saturday, and denied the two-time and defending champion Canadians their first trip in five tries.

The Ticas become the first team from outside North America to earn a berth at the World Cup from CONCACAF. Katherine Alvarado’s goal in the 19th minute was the difference, despite Canada enjoying slightly better possession and chances.

Alvarado lofted a free kick from 35 meters on the left that Canadian keeper Cynthia LeBlanc appeared to have covered. But LeBlanc drifted three meters off her line and then had to retreat, flailing unsuccessfully with her outstretched arm as the ball carried over her and under the bar into the goal.

It was only the third goal in five games allowed by Canada, and the second straight that LeBlanc appeared to flub.

In Thursday’s semifinals, she allowed a corner kick to slip through her hands, bounce off her face and into the goal in the 104th minute, enabling Mexico to win 1-0.

It also was the second straight game Canada was held without a goal and extended its goalless streak to 232 minutes.

Canada started quickly, creating its first chance 93 seconds after the opening kickoff when Christabel Oduro’s header off a cross from Bryana McCarthy was headed just wide at the right post.

Costa Rica had a goal disallowed a minute later for offside when LeBlanc was able to block Raquel Rodriguez Cedeno’s initial shot from outside the area, but wasn’t able to corral the rebound and Carolina Venegas tapped in the rebound.

After leaving Adriana Leon, who had two of Canada’s six goals, on the bench to start the match, coach Carolina Morace inserted her to start the second half. The Canadians had the majority of possession in the final 45 minutes, but were largely limited to chances from distance with Costa Rica often committing 10 players behind the ball.

It swarmed around the Costa Rican net for much of the final 15 minutes, forcing the ball into the Tica area in the 84th before it was finally cleared.

GUATEMALA CITY

Concacaf

Tags: adriana, canadians, cedeno, concacaf championship, corner kick, first chance, five games, free kick, mccarthy, offside, opening kickoff, place game, rebound, straight game, World Cup

Sunderland freefall goes on

February 2, 2010

Sunderland failed to halt their slide towards the relegation quagmire after Stoke claimed a deserved point in an uninspiring goalless stalemate here on Monday.

The draw means Steve Bruce’s side, who started the season in such promising fashion they were being tipped as contenders for Europe, have now won only once in their last 14 league matches and they are just four points above the bottom three.

Stoke had the better of the chances, with former Sunderland player Dean Whitehead enjoying a couple of good chances, although the hosts could justifiably claim they had been denied a second-half penalty following an apparent handball by Robert Huth.

Whitehead had the best chance of a lacklustre opening period with less than three minutes on the clock.

The forward did well to get clear of the home side’s back line but his tame shot was comfortably smothered by Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon.

Kenwyne Jones forced Thomas Sorensen into his first save of the evening in the 10th minute but the Trinidad and Tobago forward could not generate enough power in his shot after Michael Turner had headed down Andy Reid’s free-kick invitingly.

Steed Malbranque was narrowly off target and it required a smart clearance from Ryan Shawcross to prevent Darren Bent from opening the scoring.

Bent then created an opening for Malbranque with a cute dummy but the Frenchman’s shot did not seriously test Sorensen.

Whitehead was fortunate that referee Howard Webb appeared to be in a lenient mood, dispensing only a booking after the Stoke player kicked out at Lee Cattermole following a robust challenge from Sunderland’s midfield enforcer.

Sunderland had just about edged the first half on points, but Stoke should have taken the lead after generating two good chances in quick succession in the opening minutes of the second half.

Mamady Sidibe almost converted following a chipped Glenn Whelan free-kick, then Whitehead attempted to drill home the loose ball only for John Mensah to deflect it over the crossbar.

Sunderland had a strong penalty appeal turned down just after the hour mark when Huth appeared to stop Bent’s lofted pass with his arm.

But Stoke might easily have emerged with all three points after Ricardo Fuller was sent clear with nine minutes left. The striker had only Gordon to beat but the Scots stopper stood firm to deny him, ensuring a result which was probably just about right.

SUNDERLAND (AFP)

Tags: Andy, andy reid, cattermole, Craig Gordon, Darren Bent, free kick, Howard Webb, john mensah, Jones, kenwyne jones, Lee Cattermole, less than three minutes, loose ball, Michael Turner, quagmire, Reid, ricardo fuller, robert huth, Ryan Shawcross, scotland, shawcross, steed malbranque, Steve Bruce, Sunderland, thomas sorensen, trinidad and tobago, uninspiring, whelan, whitehead

Zola desperate for McCarthy to boost relegation battle

January 31, 2010

West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola hopes South African forward Benni McCarthy will provide a major boost to his struggling side’s bid to avoid relegation.

Zola’s team drew a blank in Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Blackburn at Upton Park and remain too close to the Premier League’s bottom three for comfort.

With new co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold willing to back Zola in the transfer market, the Italian has lined up a 2.5 million pounds move for McCarthy, who is out of favour at Blackburn.

Zola expects the deal to be done before Monday’s transfer deadline and is confident the former Porto forward will fire the 15th placed team away from the drop zone.

“It looks like it is done and next week he should be coming to train with us,” Zola said.

“I do not know the terms yet, but they have told me the deal is done. He should be available for the next game.

“Benni will be a threat in the last third. He is a player who can score goals and he will be a very good help for us.”

Sullivan and Gold are both life-long Hammers fans and their buy-out of a controlling interest from Icelandic bank CB Holding settled what has been a turbulent period.

Zola added: “They have given us stability and maybe some more players to strengthen the team, and that is a good thing.”

Blackburn had the better chances of a drab game, with Morten Gamst Pedersen’s free-kick hitting the crossbar before substitute Jason Roberts failed to beat Robert Green when clean through with 15 minutes left.

Green also pulled off a brilliant save to deny Martin Olsson, while Mark Noble appeared to handle Gael Givet’s shot before it was cleared off the line by Carlton Cole.

Zola added: “I was expecting us to create a bit more quality, but we were not able to do that.

“The tension caught us a little bit, everybody was nervous and we could not express the quality we needed to break them down.

“But I take it as a good day, because this point means we step up the table.”

Rovers boss Sam Allardyce added: “We are disappointed we have not turned a very, very good second-half performance into a victory.

“We feel a little hard done by, but in the main we should have been a bit more clinical in front of goal and would have won.”

LONDON (AFP)

Tags: blackburn, controlling interest, crossbar, david gold, david sullivan, drab game, drop zone, free kick, gianfranco zola, jason roberts, london, Martin Olsson, Morten Gamst, morten gamst pedersen, PORTO, premier league, robert green, turbulent period, upton park, west ham

Wolves rob Hull of precious points

January 30, 2010

Hull City remained in the Premier League relegation zone after twice squandering the lead in a 2-2 draw at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday.

Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink gave Hull, who remained second bottom, an early lead only for Wolves, now a point above the bottom three, to draw level through Anthony Gardner’s farcical own-goal at the KC Stadium.

Stephen Hunt restored the Tigers’ lead from the penalty spot but there was still time for Matthew Jarvis to rescue a point for Wolves.

Former Celtic striker Vennegoor of Hesselink opened the scoring in the 11th minute with a 20-yard shot after the Dutchman had been played in by American forward Jozy Altodore, who had held off two defenders.

It was a lead that lasted until four minutes after half-time when Wolves drew level in comical fashion.

Hunt allowed Wolves’ Ronald Zubar to chase down a ball the Republic of Ireland midfielder felt was going out of play.

Zubar’s hopeful cross appeared easy enough for Gardner to clear but his sliced kick spiralled over Hull goalkeeper Boaz Myhill and into the net.

Minutes later, however, Zubar returned the favour when he clattered into Altidore and Hunt scored from the penalty spot.

But Hull were pegged back again when Matthew Jarvis’s right-footed shot beat Myhill in the 67th minute.

The visitors then had a chance to win it late on but Myhill saved well from new Wolves on-loan signing Geoffrey Mujangi Bia after a free-kick caused problems in the Tigers’ box.

HULL, England (AFP)

Tags: bia, Boaz Myhill, dutchman, England, four minutes, free kick, Geoffrey Mujangi, Goalkeeper, HULL, hull city, hull england, Jan Vennegoor, jan vennegoor of hesselink, kc stadium, matthew jarvis, midfielder, precious points, premier league, relegation zone, republic of ireland, ronald zubar, Stephen Hunt, Wanderers, wolves

Blackburn frustrate West Ham

January 30, 2010

Blackburn earned a gritty 0-0 draw against struggling West Ham on Saturday to frustrate the east London club’s hopes of kick-starting the new era at Upton Park.

Gianfranco Zola’s side were playing at home for the first time since co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold finally completed their takeover of the Hammers, but there was precious little for the watching duo to get excited about.

Blackburn, who have scored just eight times in 12 away league matches, would have won with better finishing and West Ham – in 15th place – remain precariously close to the relegation zone.

Sullivan and Gold are well aware of West Ham’s troubles and have been attempting to sign several new players before Monday’s transfer deadline.

A deal for Blackburn striker Benni McCarthy is still in the pipeline but Zola may need more than that to save his side from the drop.

Rovers started well and appealed for a penalty when Nikola Kalinic went down under pressure from Jonathan Spector, but referee Peter Walton waved away their protests.

After 35 minutes, an inswinging corner from Morten Gamst Pedersen forced West Ham goalkeeper Robert Green to tip over the crossbar at full-stretch.

Rovers came agonisingly close to taking the lead just before half-time when Pedersen’s free-kick flashed past Green and cannoned back off the bar.

Zola sent on England forward Carlton Cole, in action for the first time since November following a knee injury, with 30 minutes to play but even he couldn’t spark West Ham into life.

Green was called into action again to push Pedersen’s goal-bound drive away, then Cole cleared Gael Givet’s shot off the line after it appeared to hit Mark Noble on the arm.

Blackburn goalkeeper Paul Robinson had barely been troubled all game but he was finally forced to save in the final minutes as he pushed Alessandro Diamanti’s free-kick over to preserve the draw.

LONDON (AFP)

Tags: Alessandro Diamanti, benni mccarthy, Carlton, Cole, crossbar, david gold, david sullivan, diamanti, east london, England, free kick, gael givet, gianfranco zola, jonathan spector, knee injury, london, london club, Mark Noble, Morten Gamst, morten gamst pedersen, Nikola Kalinic, paul robinson, Peter Walton, playing at home, relegation zone, robert green, transfer deadline, upton park, west ham, Zola

Davis keeps Rangers on title track

January 30, 2010

Steven Davis scored one and set up the other two as Rangers retained their 10-point lead at the top of the Scottish Premier League with a 3-0 win over bottom side Falkirk on Saturday.

In the early kick-off, Marc-Antoine Fortune had a penalty saved as Celtic struggled to a narrow 1-0 win over Hamilton at New Douglas Park to put some pressure on their Old Firm rivals.

Danish striker Morten Rasmussen, in only his second appearance for the club, scored two minutes after replacing Georgios Samaras to net his first Celtic goal since signing from Brondby before Tomas Cerny saved Fortune’s spot-kick after Mark McLaughlin was adjudged to have felled the striker.

However, if the Rangers players felt any pressure it never showed and Davis gave them the lead with a superbly hit free-kick before setting up John Fleck and Steven Whittaker to seal the win in the second period.

The league leaders, despite injuries to top-scorers Kris Boyd and Kenny Miller, were expected to run rampant against the team propping up the table but both sides were evenly matched in the opening period.

Danny Wilson had the first opportunity of the match in the 16th minute when he headed Sasa Papac’s floated cross goalward but Robert Olejnik got down low to his right to save.

The much-maligned Kyle Lafferty won a free-kick on the edge of the box after being hauled down by Brian McLean in the 18th minute and from the resultant free-kick Davis gave Rangers the lead.

The Northern Irish international scored his second in two games as he curled his kick into the top right-hand corner of the net.

Scott Arfield should have done better when he was played into the box by Vitor Lima but he hit his shot straight at Allan McGregor.

The Bairns came close to an equaliser when Ryan Flynn’s header from Jack Compton’s corner was cleared near the goal-line by Lafferty.

Rangers could have doubled their lead seconds after the break when Davis picked out Lafferty in the box with a cross from the right but the Northern Irishman headed high and wide under no pressure.

Falkirk had captain Darren Barr to thank two minutes for blocking Nacho Novo’s shot when he bravely threw himself in front of his rasping effort.

The Spaniard and Lafferty both sent shots flying over the bar before Davis set up Fleck to make it 2-0 in the 57th minute.

The midfielder raced down the right wing and cut into the box before firing the ball across goal to the back post where Fleck was on hand to knock in his first league goal of the season.

Rangers fans didn’t have to wait long for their side’s next goal in the 62nd minute and once again Davis had a hand in it.

He sent a pass to Whittaker who controlled it with his back to goal before spinning his marker and racing into the box to fire low past Olejnik.

Elsewhere Hibernian scored a last minute goal to beat St Mirren 2-1 to stay third, Motherwell thrashed Aberdeen 3-0, Kilmarnock and Dundee United ended 4-4 and Jim Jefferies return to Hearts ended in a 1-0 defeat away to St Johnstone.

GLASGOW (AFP)

Tags: Aberdeen, arfield, bairns, bottom side, Boyd, brian mclean, brondby, captain Darren Barr, cerny, danny wilson, Davis, Douglas Park, Dundee, Falkirk, free kick, Glasgow, Hamilton, irish international, jim jefferies, John Fleck, Kenny, kenny miller, kilmarnock, marc antoine fortune, mark mclaughlin, Morten Rasmussen, northern irish, Northern Irishman, olejnik, premier league, Robert Olejnik, samaras, sasa papac, Scott Arfield, Scottish Premier League

Everton ride luck to snatch win at Wigan

January 30, 2010

Tim Cahill’s late goal earned in-form Everton a smash-and-grab 1-0 victory at Wigan on Saturday that extends their unbeaten run to nine matches in the Premier League.

The visitors were indebted to off-colour finishing from a string of Wigan players, with Hugo Rodallega, Jason Scotland and substitute Paul Scharner all unable to convert presentable chances before Cahill struck in the 84th minute.

The Australian international midfielder, who also scored in the 2-0 mid-week win over Sunderland, was allowed to run unchecked onto Leighton Baines’s corner and he beat Vladimir Stojkovic with a powerful header.

Everton’s crossbar was rattled deep into injury time when Charles N’Zogbia crashed a rising drive against the woodwork, giving Everton their final let-off on an afternoon of close shaves.

Victory allows David Moyes’s side to edge to within two points of eighth-placed Birmingham, while Wigan remain 14th.

The visitors saw most of the ball in the game’s early stages but Wigan soon began to find gaps at the other end and their forwards Scotland and Rodallega both spurned chances to put the hosts in front.

First Rodallega was denied by Tim Howard in the Everton goal after Scotland set him free and when Rodallega returned the favour moments later, the former Swansea man blazed well over.

Everton handed a first start to on-loan Arsenal centre-back Philippe Senderos and his timely touch prevented Rodallega from putting Wigan in front just short of the half-hour as the Colombian prepared to pull the trigger.

Louis Saha had a strong penalty appeal waved away after tussling with Wigan new boy Gary Caldwell shortly before half-time, while Wigan old boy Baines tested Stojkovic from a free-kick early in the second period.

Controversy ensued shortly after when N’Zogbia was bundled over by Jonny Heitinga right on the edge of the Everton area.

The Wigan players appealed for a penalty but Alan Wiley gave a free-kick and the home side were unable to take advantage.

In their push for a breakthrough Wigan introduced Scharner, who has scored four of his 13 Premier League goals against the Toffees, and he twice went close, volleying over the crossbar and then shooting straight at Howard with 18 minutes to play.

LONDON (AFP)

Tags: alan wiley, Birmingham, Charles, crossbar, David Moyes, forwards, free kick, Gary Caldwell, hugo rodallega, injury time, Jason Scotland, leighton baines, london, louis saha, midfielder, Paul Scharner, philippe senderos, premier league, second period, Sunderland, Swansea, tim cahill, tim howard, vladimir stojkovic, Wigan, woodwork

Kalinic helps Blackburn sink Wigan

January 28, 2010

Blackburn pulled clear of the English Premier League relegation zone as Nikola Kalinic’s late goal clinched a 2-1 win over Wigan on Wednesday.

Sam Allardyce’s side had slipped dangerously close to the relegation zone in recent weeks but this victory, which followed a league success against Fulham, has rocketed Rovers up to 11th place.

They took the lead through Morten Gamst Pedersen’s first half strike and although Gary Caldwell equalised after the break, Croatia striker Kalinic popped up with his first league goal for Rovers with 14 minutes to play at Ewood Park.

With Chris Kirkland ruled out with a collarbone injury, Wigan boss Roberto Martinez handed a league debut to Serbia goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic.

Rovers should have taken the lead in the opening moments when David Hoilett crossed to the far post and Steven Nzonzi headed back into the path of Kalinic, but the Croatian’s close-range shot hit a post and rebounded to safety.

That only delayed the inevitable as Blackburn dominated the early stages and took the lead in spectacular fashion in the 20th minute.

Former Sporting Lisbon goalkeeper Stojkovic sprinted off his line through a crowd of players to punch clear Brett Emerton’s free-kick.

But he made a weak conection and the ball dropped perfectly for Pedersen to smash a long-range strike back past the out-of-position keeper and into the top corner for his seventh goal of the season.

Charles N’Zogbia came close to equalising after half an hour when he whipped in a dipping shot that Paul Robinson tipped over at full-stretch.

Wigan were beginning to get control in midfield and they threatened again when James McCarthy touched on Hugo Rodallega’s free-kick towards Paul Scharner.

It seemed certain Scharner would dive to head home but he opted not to throw himself at the ball and the danger passed.

The momentum remained with Wigan at the start of the second half and the visitors drew level in the 58th minute.

McCarthy’s corner wasn’t cleared by the Rovers defence and Caldwell rose above Pascal Chimbonda to head home from three yards for his first goal since his recent move from Celtic.

Rovers almost regained the lead instantly when Emerton’s cross found Pedersen, who rose above Mario Melchiot and headed past Stojkovic, only to see his effort cannon off the crossbar.

Allardyce’s side didn’t have to wait long to get the winner. In the 76th minute, Kalinic stooped to reach Pedersen’s corner and the former Hajduk Split star headed home to seal the points.

BLACKBURN (AFP)