Velázquez leads Libertad to Libertadores group phase
February 3, 2010
Two Pablo Velázquez goals put Paraguay’s Libertad in the 2010 Copa Libertadores group stage after a 3-1 second-leg win over Venezuela’s Deportivo Táchira gave them a 3-2 aggregate triumph.
Despite Libertad firmly controlling the proceedings early, Táchira snatched the advantage completely against the run of play on the half-hour mark.
A corner kick to the center of the area was headed on twice, first by Armando Maita and then José Villafraz, to Pedro Boada, whose half-volley eluded Libertad goalkeeper Bernardo Medina.
Libertad kept up the pressure got their deserved goal in the 40th minute when, after Sanhouse vacated his goal to chase down a loose ball, Rodolfo Gamarra did well to control and fire in from a tough angle on an overhead kick.
In the 68th minute, an attempted clearance by Sanhouse led to Libertad taking a 2-1 lead.
After making the stop on a close-range shot by Rodolfo Gamarra, his kick away deflected off defender Harold Viáfara. Velásquez took full advantage and slotted home to level the tie at 2-2, though Libertad still trailed on away goals.
That situation lasted only until the 82nd minute when Velásquez took fired a phenomenal drive from 25 yards out that beat Sanhouse low to the right post.
Roberto Gamarra could have made it four for Libertad, but missed from the spot late on.
Libertad now advance to play in Group 4 with their first match on 16 February at home against Blooming of Bolivia.
Tags: 16 february, Armando Maita, boada, bolivia, close range, Copa, corner kick, gamarra, Goalkeeper, group phase, group stage, half hour, half volley, Harold ViÃ, libertad, loose ball, maita, Medina, overhead kick, Pablo VelÃ, paraguay, Pedro Boada, proceedings, Roberto Gamarra, Rodolfo Gamarra, triumph, venezuelaRelated posts
Quick Report: Nigeria (w)0-0 Zambia
January 26, 2010
Nigeria are through to the semi finals of the Africa Cup of Nations following a 5-4 win on penalties against Zambia. No goals were scored in regular or extra time.
The first chance fell the way of Nigeria in the 15th minute when Dickson Etuhu fired a drive from the top of the area, but Zambia goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene.
Mweene then stopped another long drive on the half hour when Jon Obi Mikel’s powerful effort was nicely denied from 30 yards away.
But the best chance of the first half fell to Zambia with just 90 seconds to play in the opening period. Emmanuel Mbola crossed in low from the left side, but James Chamanga scuffed his first-time shot well wide of the first post with a lot of the goal to shoot at.
Zambia then nearly went in front in the 66th minute when Hichani Himoonde’s shot off a corner kick was cleared off the line by Mohamed Yusuf.
The best chance for Zambia came in the final minute of normal time when a corner kick by Felix Matongo found the head of Emmanuel Mayuka, but the substitute’s header went just narrowly over the top of Vincent Enyeama’s goal.
Extra time went by without goals, and a penalty shoot-out was required to determine which of the two teams would advance to the semi finals.
Apam Onyekachi of Nigeria could not take part in that shoot-out after conceding a second yellow card in the 107th minute.
After three converted penalties from each side, Zambia’s Thomas Nyirenda had his attempt saved by keeper Enyeama. The keeper himself went on to take his team’s final spot kick to take Nigeria to a semi final encounter with Egypt.
Tags: Africa, africa cup of nations, corner kick, Dickson Etuhu, Egypt, Emmanuel Mayuka, Emmanuel Mbola, extra time, Felix, Felix Matongo, final encounter, first chance, Goalkeeper, half hour, James Chamanga, Jon Obi, jon obi mikel, mayuka, Mikel, mohamed, nigeria, Vincent, vincent enyeama, yellow card, Yusuf, ZambiaRelated posts
Mozambique 2-2 Benin: Keeper errors doom Benin
January 13, 2010
A pair of costly errors by Benin goalkeeper Yoann Djidonou helped Mozambique earn a 2-2 draw on Tuesday in the nations’ Group C opener at the African Cup of Nations in Angola.
Benin started the better of the two sides and took a deserved lead in the 15th minute. Mozambique goalkeeper Kapango hauled down Razak Omotoyossi in the penalty area, and the striker slotted home up the middle from the spot for a 1-0 lead.
Six minutes later, Mozambique gifted Benin a second goal when Dário Khan slotted into his own net during a scramble in front of goal.
The east coast side, though, were resilient and pulled a goal back on the half hour after an error by Benin goalkeeper Yoann Djidonou. A corner kick from the far side was punched high into the air, but with Djidonou caught out it gave Almiro Lobo the chance to send a looping header into an open net.
Djidonou then was guilty of another horrible error in the 54th minute that led to Mozambique nodding the match at 2-2.
After coming well out of his area to clear the ball, Djidonou was caught out on a quick throw in. The ball was crossed into the center of the area, where Fumo slotted home into an open net.
Both sides pressured after the equalizer, but neither was able to come through with the decisive goal.
Tags: african cup of nations, Angola, Benin, corner kick, costly errors, decisive goal, doom, east coast, equalizer, far side, Goalkeeper, half hour, horrible error, lobo, match, Mozambique, nations group, six minutes, strikerRelated posts
AZ, Feyenoord win in Eredivisie
December 20, 2009
Temporary AZ Alkmaar manager Dick Advocaat earned his first victory at the club on Saturday, a 3-0 win over ADO Den Haag in the Eredivisie.
AZ dominated from the start and Rasmus Elm put the reigning champions ahead after just ten minutes.
Sebastien Pocognoli made it 2-0 on the half hour, and Maarten Martens netted the third and final goal near the full time whistle. Ari came close as well, but his effort ended up on the crossbar.
Feyenoord defending their fourth spot with a 1-0 win over Willem II. The only goal came from Sekou Cisse in the 12th minute.
Tags: ado den haag, alkmaar, ari, az alkmaar, cisse, crossbar, Den Haag, dick advocaat, Eredivisie, feyenoord, first victory, full time, half hour, Martens, Rasmus Elm, Sebastien Pocognoli, whistle, willem iiRelated posts
Spurs claim bragging rights over City
December 17, 2009
Tottenham maintained the pressure on the top four as two goals from Niko Kranjcar and Jermain Defoe’s 13th league goal of the season completed a comfortable 3-0 victory over Manchester City.
But City manager Mark Hughes was left facing growing problems after his side failed to improve on a run that has now brought just one win in ten league games.
While Spurs sit fifth, just two points behind fourth-placed Aston Villa, City have slumped to eighth, a further four points adrift of the Champions League places.
For Spurs manager Harry Redknapp this win marked a return to form after the uninspired performance in the weekend home defeat to struggling Wolves had raised questions about their ability to sustain their challenge at the head of the table.
Hughes, though, is still looking for a winning formula after a summer of heavy investment and this result places greater pressure on the weekend meeting with Sunderland.
The City manager was forced into changes following the weekend dismissal of Craig Bellamy that paved the way for Robinho to return.
But the City manager?s plan suffered another unexpected blow in the build-up to this clash when England centre-back Joleon Lescott was ruled out for up to five weeks with a knee problem.
Nedum Onuoha came in but Lescott’s absence meant City lost height in the backline.
And with the towering Peter Crouch restored to the Tottenham attack following Robbie Keane?s ineffective showing against Wolves, the visitors were clearly more vulnerable to Spurs? greater aerial threat.
There was little evidence of any threat from either side during a frantic opening half hour that was interspersed by a series of snatched, long-range efforts directed at either goal but precious few clear chances.
Carlos Tevez fired in two hopeful efforts that flew tamely wide while Robinho forced Heurelho Gomes into his only real save of the first half when a dipping shot that the Tottenham keeper easily tipped over.
At the opposite end Kranjcar should have done much better when Aaron Lennon pulled the ball back from the byline and Defoe was later slow to react when he found himself on the end of a similar move.
The balance of play was tipped in Tottenham?s favour though, largely because of Lennon?s ability to get past City left-back Sylvinho.
The England winger had been successfully bottled up by Wolves when it was noticeable that Spurs lacked an alternative source of quality service.
But this time Lennon benefited from the extra space he was given by his opponents and it quickly became clear that Spurs best opportunities were likely to come from the right.
And they owed their 37th minute opening goal to another darting run by Lennon, who sent in a deep cross towards Crouch at the far post.
The striker out-jumped his marker and powered in a downward header that was blocked initially by City midfielder Stephen Ireland on the line only for Kranjcar to follow up and stab the ball home from close range.
The goal injected life into the home side and Crouch should have made it two a minute later when Defoe played him in only for the striker hesitate and City keeper Shay Given smothered the danger.
City’s front three of Robinho, Tevez and Emmanuel Adebayor had laboured during the opening half with only Tevez showing any signs of urgency.
And that pattern continued after the interval when Tottenham continued to press before claiming a second nine minutes into the second period.
Crouch was again involved, but this time Gomes was the unexpected provider with the Spurs keeper sending a long punt that the striker flicked on into Defoe?s path and the in-form forward finished with ease.
Robinho was quickly withdrawn in favour of Roque Santa Cruz and was clearly unhappy at the decision, heading straight down the tunnel.
City finally started applying some pressure in the Brazilian’s absence but were unable to gain a foothold in the match before Kranjcar completed a comfortable win for Spurs with a close range effort in added time.
LONDON (AFP)
Tags: backline, champions league, craig bellamy, four points, gomes, half hour, Harry Redknapp, jermain defoe, league games, league goal, manchester city, Niko Kranjcar, peter crouch, Robbie Keane, Robinho, spurs, tottenham, wolvesRelated posts
Birmingham come back to beat Wigan
December 5, 2009
Birmingham City stretched their unbeaten run in the Premier League to six games by coming from a goal behind to beat Wigan Athletic 3-2 at the DW Stadium here on Saturday.
Charles N’Zogbia’s 33rd minute curler put Wigan in front before three goals in 11 minutes after the half hour mark, two free-kicks from Sebastian Larsson separated by Christian Benitez’s effort, saw Birmingham in front.
Wigan substitute Jordi Gomez pulled a goal back with a late free-kick but it was not enough to deny the Blues all three points.
The Latics dominated the opening 45 minutes and deservedly went ahead when Jason Scotland’s cut-back found N’Zogbia and the Frenchman curled the ball high into the top corner.
By that stage Wigan had already seen goalkeeper Chris Kirkland go off with a back injury and replacement Mike Pollitt made a fine save to deny Benitez.
Birmingham though were level when Larsson’s free-kick from deep on the left evaded everyone in a crowded penalty area and somehow crept past Pollitt.
But there was no denying the quality of his second free-kick goal, a sharply curling strike from just outside the box that left Pollitt helpless.
By then Birmingham were already in front after Ecuador international Benitez latched onto Lee Bowyer’s pass, beat Titus Bramble and fired past Pollitt.
Wigan substitute Gomez’s 88th minute free-kick gave the home side hope of a draw but Birmingham held out.
WIGAN, England (AFP)
Tags: back injury, birmingham city, chris kirkland, christian benitez, Ecuador, free kick, free kicks, frenchman, gomez, half hour, latics, Lee Bowyer, mike pollitt, premier league, scotland, sebastian, six games, Titus BrambleRelated posts
Atletico get back to winning ways
November 30, 2009
Madrid giants Atletico Madrid got their season back on track by thumping RCD Espanyol 4-0 at the Vicente Calderon on Sunday.
Europe’s much-coveted striker Sergio Aguero was the star of the show, scoring two and making two, for strike partner Diego Forlan and Maxi Rodriguez, as the hosts claimed just their second win of an underwhelming season so far.
The young Argentinian, who this week insisted he has no intention of quitting the Rojiblancos in the January transfer window, ran Espanyol ragged with the visitors’ frustration manifesting itself in the late dismissal of Facundo Roncaglia.
Atletico started brightly, Simao Sabrosa firing over the bar after 10 minutes.
The hosts were dominating possession but creating little. That changed in the 22nd minute, however, when they came within inches of taking a deserved lead.
Aguero cut the ball back from the left and Jose Reyes flashed in a shot which brought a smart, parried save out of Carlos Kameni. The rebound also fell to Reyes but the former Sevilla, Arsenal and Real Madrid star’s follow-up was deflected on to the post by the Cameroon goalkeeper.
The home side finally made the breakthrough five minutes later.
Aguero cut in from the right, played a neat one-two with Reyes and, before he could square it across the box, was challenged from the side by Moises Hurtado. Hurtado’s intervention cut out the advancing Kameni and the ball fell nicely for Forlan to stab home from 12 yards.
The Uruguayan ought to have made it 2-0 just before the half-hour mark. Tomas Ujfalusi whipped in a wonderful cross from the right but Forlan could only head wide from eight yards with Kameni woefully out of position.
The impressive Reyes could have scored two minutes before half-time but shot wide from close range.
Atletico also dominated the start of the second half and they added a second 17 minutes in.
Reyes was fouled by Shunsuke Nakamura and, from 25 yards out, Aguero curled a right-footed free-kick around the wall and inside Kameni’s near post.
Espanyol finally responded and began to emerge as an attacking force.
They had a number of corners but failed to seriously trouble home keeper Sergio Asenjo, with their best effort a low, driven effort from Ferran Coro which was simple for Asenjo to gather on his knees.
The visitors’ pressure eventually petered out and their hopes of taking anything back to Barcelona were effectively dashed when centre-half Roncaglia was sent off.
Already on a yellow card, the Argentinian, on loan from Boca Juniors, needlessly barged Aguero over when the striker was running away from goal and received his second booking.
From the ensuing free-kick, Aguero made it 3-0. Simao curled it in and, after Espanyol failed to clear, Aguero was on hand to stab home at the second attempt after his first shot had hit the post and trickled across the line.
With the pressure finally lifted, Atletico completed the rout with two minutes to go. The irrepressible Aguero burst down the left, using his pace and power to get away from his markers before crossing for Maxi to tap in at the far post.
Abhimanyu Rajput
Tags: aguero, atletico madrid, Barcelona, cameroon, carlos kameni, close range, Coro, diego forlan, Europe, free kick, half hour, insid, Jose, jose reyes, MADRID, maxi rodriguez, moises, rcd espanyol, real madrid, Reyes, Sergio Aguero, Sergio Asenjo, SEVILLA, shunsuke nakamura, Simao, simao sabrosa, star of the show, tomas ujfalusi, uruguayan, Vicente Calderon, wonderful crossRelated posts
Queiroz ´respects´ Real stance on injured Ronaldo
October 13, 2009
Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz says he “respects” Real Madrid’s decision to prevent injured star Cristiano Ronaldo from travelling to watch his country’s final World Cup qualifier against Malta.
“If that is their decision it will be based on medical advice and we must respect that,” Queiroz said on Tuesday.
“It’s probably because Real Madrid want to guarantee continuity in his treatment.”
Queiroz added that he had not been officially told by the Spanish club that Ronaldo had been banned from attending the match, which Portugal must win to secure a place in the play-offs for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Ronaldo, the reigning European and World Player of the Year, sprained his ankle during Real’s Champions League group stage win at home to Marseille last month.
He started Portugal’s 3-0 victory over Hungary last Saturday but was forced off before the half-hour mark and is likely to be out for between three and four weeks.
TVE television and sports daily AS both reported on Monday that Real had insisted that Ronaldo, the Portuguese captain, remain in Madrid.
“The important thing is recuperating perfectly to get over the problem,” the player himself said on Real’s website – though he did earlier ask for permission to make the trip.
LISBON (AFP)
Tags: AFP, Carlos Queiroz, champions league group, continuity, cristiano ronaldo, group stage, half hour, Hungary, last saturday, Lisbon, MADRID, Malta, Marseille, medical advice, play offs, portugal, portuguese, real madrid, ronaldo, South Africa, spanish club, world cup qualifier, world player of the yearRelated posts
Ajax and Feyenoord win in Dutch league
September 27, 2009
Ajax reduced the gap with leaders PSV and Twente to one point thanks to a 3-0 win over ADO Den Haag, while Feyenoord scored two second-half goals to make a difference at NAC Breda.
The match between Ajax and ADO had been underway for 25 minutes when Demy de Zeeuw put the home side in the lead. Marko Pantelic doubled the gap in minute 70 and Siem de Jong made it 3-0 near full time.
Ajax remain in third position, at just one point from joint leaders PSV and Twente.
Feyenoord left it until the last half hour of the game to take distance from NAC Breda. Andwele Slory broke the deadlock after 63 minutes, and Leroy Fer ended all doubts in the third minute of added time.
There was also bad news for Feyenoord however, as Denny Landzaat conceded a second yellow card in the 89th minute and will be suspended for his team’s next match.
Feyenoord are currently in fourth position at three points from the leaders.
Jonathan Roorda
Tags: added time, ado den haag, Ajax, bad news, Breda, de jong, deadlock, denny landzaat, difference, doubts, dutch league, feyenoord, gap, half hour, Leroy Fer, nac breda, point thanks, PSV, roorda, side, Siem, third position, twente, yellow card, ZeeuwRelated posts
Standard draw again while Anderlecht cruise to fourth win
August 23, 2009
Standard de Liege were held to a third draw in four games, while Anderlecht earned their fourth consecutive victory, a 0-2 win at Zulte-Waregem.
Champions Standard struggled at home against Charleroi, although de Liege outfit did take the lead through Milan Jovanovic in the 22nd minute. The hosts couldn’t prevent however that Mahamadou Habibou levelled on the half hour mark, for what would also be the final score.
Anderlecht are having a much better start of the season, and the Brussels side already have twice as many points as Standard.
At Zulte-Waregem, Anderlecht needed 45 minutes for Mbark Boussoufa to open the score and Romelo Lukaku made it 0-2 shortly before full time.
Gent remain in second place after a convincing 4-1 win over Lokeren with goals from Adnan Custovic (2), Stef Wils and Christoph Lepoint.
Jonathan Roorda
Tags: adnan custovic, anderlecht, Boussoufa, brussels, charleroi, christoph, Christoph Lepoint, consecutive victory, final score, four games, full time, half hour, jonathan, lepoint, Liege, Lokeren, Milan, milan jovanovic, standard de liege, stef, Stef Wils, take the lead, wilsRelated posts
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