Cup hero Defoe ‘up with the best’ says Redknapp

February 4, 2010

Harry Redknapp believes Jermain Defoe went a long way towards cementing his place in England’s World Cup squad after watching him score a hat-trick to take Tottenham Hotspur into the fifth round of the FA Cup.

The 27-year-old England forward might have wasted several chances but he still managed to score a hat-trick at Elland Road to spare Tottenham’s blushes in a 3-1 win away to League One promotion-chasing Leeds here on Wednesday.

That took his tally for the season to 23 goals with his third hat-trick which helped secure Spurs a last 16 clash against Premier League rivals Bolton Wanderers.

Defoe remains one of the leading goalscorers in England and Redknapp was full of praise for the impish striker who, barring injury, will surely be part of Fabio Capello’s World Cup squad in South Africa later this year.

“It was well deserved in the end,” said Redknapp of Defoe’s treble.

“But it was a difficult game against a good Leeds team.”

Redknapp, who knows Defoe well, having first signed the front man back in 1999 when he was manager of West Ham before working with him again at Portsmouth, added: “He could have scored six tonight.

“He had some great opportunities. He showed three great finishes but missed three easier chances. But he’s always in the right place.

“Jermain has always scored goals ever since he was a little boy and he’s up there with the best.

“He’s a terrific finisher and his confidence is good at the moment. He got good service from wide positions and Peter Crouch can flick things on for him. There aren’t many better than him at the moment.”

Redknapp was also pleased by Wednesday’s return to form of former Arsenal and Blackburn winger David Bentley, which threatened to leave the Spurs manager with a welcome dilemma.

“David Bentley was outstanding. He’s a great player and I thought he did really well. It will be a nice problem to have when everyone is fit.

“Those who came in showed the right attitude and got on with it. This is one defeat in 13 games now and players are doing their jobs.

“We’ve got a chance (of winning the FA Cup), but we’ve got some tough games coming up,” insisted Redknapp, who took Pompey to FA Cup glory two years ago.

He also readily conceded Spurs had come through two tough encounters with Leeds, who belied their third division status to draw 2-2 at White Hart Lane after producing the shock of this season’s FA Cup by knocking out English champions Manchester United at Old Trafford in the previous round.

“This is a massive club,” Redknapp said of Leeds. “Their fans were incredible and it was a great atmosphere.

“People were hoping to come here and see an upset but it didn’t happen and now we have a big game with Aston Villa this weekend,” added Redknapp whose side are vying with Villa for a top four finish that would guarantee a place in next season’s Champions League.

Leeds manager Simon Grayson said he was proud of his players and insisted their two games with Tottenham could inspire them to win promotion – they presently lie second three points behind leaders Norwich but with two games in hand.

“To win at Old Trafford and draw at White Hart Lane isn’t a bad effort for a team in League One,” Grayson said

“Nights like this motivate you even more and give you memories of when this club was in the Premier League and Champions League.

“Over the two games we have pushed them hard and the players have got to have that belief now that they can go on and play at a higher level.”

LEEDS, England (AFP)

Tags: blushes, bolton wanderers, David Bentley, Elland Road, England, fabio capello, front man, Harry Redknapp, Hart Lane, hat trick, leading goalscorers, league rivals, LEEDS, leeds england, Manchester, nice problem, Norwich, old england, peter crouch, Portsmouth, premier league, scored goals, Simon Grayson, South Africa, west ham, winger, world cup squad

Four-star Rooney sends United top

January 23, 2010

Wayne Rooney’s four-goal performance helped ensure Manchester United’s focus returned to on-field affairs as the defending Premier League champions moved to the top of the table for the first time in more than three months with a 4-0 victory over Hull.

Manager Sir Alex Ferguson has spoken of the need to give Rooney a rest but the England forward’s form and importance to his team make such a move unlikely any time soon.

It took Rooney just seven minutes against struggling Hull to illustrate the point perfectly to his manager and also to ease the pressure and growing dissatisfaction around Old Trafford in the wake of recent developments off the field surrounding American owners the Glazer family.

The announcement this week that United’s debts stand at 716 million pounds did not impress many of the club’s supporters, even though a successful 500 million bond issue will allow the Glazers to re-structure that debt.

Ferguson felt moved, in his pre-match programme notes, to call upon supporters to show unity behind their club and cease their anti-Glazer agitating.

However, as long as Rooney remains fit and in the sort of goal-scoring form he showed against Hull, United’s future does not look quite so precarious.

United’s first goal came after Park Ji-Sung played the ball into the path of Paul Scholes, who drilled in a vicious shot which Hull goal keeper Boaz Myhill could only parry.

Rooney responded more quickly than anyone else on the field, gathering the loose ball and steadying himself before burying his 17th goal of the season into the gaping goal.

Goal number 18 came in the 82nd minute after Myhill had made a poor job of dealing with a long-range Nani free-kick. Rooney himself kept the loose ball in play and Nani found the forward, who finished clinically from 15 yards.

The hat-trick was just three minutes away as the irrepressible forward ran in to meet Nani’s hanging cross and head into the goal from six yards.

For good measure, the 20th goal of Rooney’s increasingly remarkable season followed in injury-time as he collected Dimitar Berbatov’s neat flick, saw three defenders back off, and converted his shot from 12 yards.

Rooney, partnered by Michael Owen, who was making just his fifth league start of the campaign, was comfortably his team’s greatest threat, from early in the contest, and, midway through the first half, almost had a hand in two more goals.

First, he met Nani’s cross with a devastating shot on the turn which looped off a defender and behind for a corner. Then, seconds later, Rooney produced an audacious back heel which played in Owen but the former England striker was slow to respond and Andy Dawson made the recovering tackle.

Rooney was again the threat, just after the half hour, when George Boateng brought down Park on the edge of the area and Rooney curled a free-kick beyond the Hull wall and inches past Myhill’s right-hand post.

While United only led by a goal, there was still anxiety, not aided when Jonny Evans’ weak back header almost allowed Nick Barmby to equalize, his shot being saved well by Edwin van der Sar.

The other side of Rooney’s football personality was on display just before the half-time whistle when he was booked for hacking at Stephen Hunt out of frustration having just lost the ball badly to Ricardo Garcia.

Also before the interval, Owen was on the end of the move of the match, a flowing passing sequence which ended with Nani’s neat through ball and a weak tap straight at Myhill from the out-of-sorts striker.

It was a similar story after the re-start with United creating enough chances to win the game comfortably before Rooney put the outcome beyond all doubt with a devastating spell of three more goals in the final eight minutes.

MANCHESTER (AFP)

Tags: andy dawson, Boaz Myhill, Edwin van der, England, free kick, george boateng, glazer family, glazers, goal keeper, goal performance, hat trick, HULL, league champions, loose ball, Manager Sir Alex Ferguson, Manchester, manchester united, michael owen, nick barmby, number 18, old trafford, park ji sung, paul scholes, poor job, sir alex ferguson, wayne rooney

Can Ronaldinho really get back to his best?

January 20, 2010

Ronaldinho is enjoying his best form in four years but he is still some way off the awesome performances he managed in the middle of the last decade (Noughties? ).

Sunday’s hat-trick in AC Milan’s 4-0 win over Siena featured a penalty and a close range header, but the third goal where he sent a perfect shot into the top corner from distance was a reminder of the Brazilian at his Barcelona best.

But only a reminder. He has lost a yard of pace and some of the passes he tries to make are baffling. Increasingly though, he is splitting defences open and playing with that really broad smile on his face, which has rarely happened since winning the Champions League with Barca in 2006.

It’s the Milan derby on Sunday and leaders Inter will be keeping an extra eye on the 29-year-old.

The main reason he is flourishing is rookie coach Leonardo’s new tactics, which have propelled Milan to second in Serie A after an awful start. Ronaldinho is now playing on the left of a front three rather than behind a front two meaning he has slightly less responsibility and if a pass isn’t on, a bog-standard cross towards Marco Borriello’s head will at least excite the crowd.

Another reason is the absence of Kaka. With both of them at the San Siro last season, at times it was like they were falling over each other.

He tried a bicycle kick on Sunday, something I’ve not see him do in ages. But it didn’t go in. I think that might be the difference at the moment between old Ronaldinho and new Ronaldinho.

Before, about 75 percent of his tricks came off. Now it’s around 40 percent. Bridging that gap will be difficult now he is pushing 30 and his fitness, despite the work of the famed MilanLab, is not quite what it was.

All top players have a purple patch. Will Cristiano Ronaldo ever reach the zenith of the last two seasons at Manchester United? Real Madrid team mate Kaka has not looked the same player he was in 2007. Wayne Rooney is probably in the middle of that patch now but how long will it last?

Even the likes of Zinedine Zidane were not great for a long, long time. The Frenchman was not that well-known in the early years of his career.

So Ronaldinho may have had ”his day” but current performances could put him back in the thoughts of Brazil coach Dunga.

Then who knows? Ronaldo, another Brazilian, looked to be past his best before lighting up the 2002 World Cup…

PHOTO: AC Milan’s Ronaldinho celebrates after scoring against Siena in their Italian Serie A soccer match at San Siro stadium in Milan, January 17, 2010. REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini

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Tags: ac milan, barca, Barcelona, bicycle kick, brazil, close range, hat trick, kaka, leonardo, MADRID, Manchester, manchester united, Marco Borriello, Milan, perfect shot, purple patch, pushing 30, real madrid, ronaldinho, ronaldo, rookie coach, san siro, Stefano Rellandini, team mate, wayne rooney

Leonardo: ‘Ronaldino is the best in the world’

January 18, 2010

With his first hat-trick for Milan, Ronaldinho paved the way to victory against Siena (4-0) on Sunday. The Brazilian has started the new year excellent by netting six goals in three games.

Leonardo hasn’t been surprised by his compatriot’s performances. “Ronaldinho has always lived his career like this, transmitting passion and happiness,” the coach told the press.

“This is what he wants. He is the greatest footballer in the world and he has refound his taste for football.”

Milan benefits from Ronaldinho’s excellent form. The gap with league leaders Internazionale has been reduced to six points.

Leonardo was also keen to remember the other protagonists who have played their part in Ronaldinho’s revival.

“He has to thank this team, who could have given up on him when he made mistakes. Instead they supported him and took him to where he is today,” he concluded.

Ronaldinho has caught national coach Dunga’s interest with his recent performances, according to several Brazilian media. The 87-times capped forward played his last international match on April 1, 2009.

Tags: april 1, brazilian media, compatriot, dunga, footballer, happiness, hat trick, internazionale, league leaders, leonardo, Milan, national coach, new year, protagonists, revival, ronaldinho, ronaldino, Siena, six points, three games, victory

Leonardo: ‘Ronaldino is the best in the world’

January 18, 2010

With his first hat-trick for Milan, Ronaldinho paved the way to victory against Siena (4-0) on Sunday. The Brazilian has started the new year excellent by netting six goals in three games.

Leonardo hasn’t been surprised by his compatriot’s performances. “Ronaldinho has always lived his career like this, transmitting passion and happiness,” the coach told the press.

“This is what he wants. He is the greatest footballer in the world and he has refound his taste for football.”

Milan benefits from Ronaldinho’s excellent form. The gap with league leaders Internazionale has been reduced to six points.

Leonardo was also keen to remember the other protagonists who have played their part in Ronaldinho’s revival.

“He has to thank this team, who could have given up on him when he made mistakes. Instead they supported him and took him to where he is today,” he concluded.

Tags: april 1, brazilian media, compatriot, dunga, footballer, gap, happiness, hat trick, interest, internazionale, league leaders, leonardo, national coach, new year, protagonists, revival, ronaldinho, ronaldino, Siena, six points, three games

Centurion scorer Messi hungry for more success

January 18, 2010

At just 22, Lionel Messi just can’t stop making history and on Saturday his glittering career shone even brighter when he became the youngest player in Barcelona history to score 100 goals for the club.

It was the latest landmark for the Argentine star who has already won three league titles, two Champions Leagues and collected both the Ballon d’Or and FIFA World Player of the Year awards in 2009.

Messi scored twice in the final five minutes in Barcelona’s 4-0 home win over Sevilla on Saturday to mark his 100th and 101st goals in Barca’s colours and he has needed just 188 games to reach his century.

The Argentine has 68 goals in the league, 19 in the Champions League, 10 in the Kings Cup, two in the Spanish Super Cup and two in the World Club Championship.

Messi said he was happy to bring up his century but cherished the vital goals he scored in finals last season such as the header against Manchester United in the 2-0 Champions league final win and his goal in the World Club Championship victory.

“I remember the important goals, the ones in finals, more than the nice goals,” said Messi.

“Just like the other important things that have happened in the past this doesn’t hold too much importance and I don’t think about it. I am relaxed over the whole thing and just want to do more things.”

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola heaped praise on the modest Messi and said the forward could go on to write many more new chapters in Barcelona history.

“You just have to congratulate him. It’s amazing at his age and it’s in his hands to break all the records,” said Guardiola.

“What we all like about him is his endless ambition. I can tell he wants more. The figures show what a great trajectory he’s had and he’s a great example for future generations.”

The two late goals from Messi against Sevilla made it five in his last two matches following a hat-trick at Tenerife last weekend and he now leads the goalscoring charts on 14.

Barcelona are now five points ahead of Real Madrid in the standings after their rivals lost 1-0 at Athletic Bilbao, but Messi called for caution with the season not even at the halfway point.

“It is an important advantage because five points is a decent lead but we know there are a lot of games to go and it is a long season,” said Messi. “There is the whole second half of the season left and Madrid will be up there.

“We don’t have anything to prove to anyone. We will continue with the same mentality as last season and we want to continue winning things and I think we have shown that.”

Barcelona crashed out of the Kings Cup to Sevilla on Wednesday so they won’t be able to match last season’s treble.

But they are unbeaten leaders in the league and are in the last 16 of the Champions League where they face VfB Stuttgart.

MADRID (AFP)

Tags: ambition, Argentine, ballon, Barcelona, Bilbao, champions league, champions leagues, championship victory, five minutes, five points, future generations, hat trick, important things, kings cup, league titles, lionel messi, MADRID, Manchester, pep, SEVILLA, stuttgart, Tenerife, trajectory, vital goals, world club championship

Lovenkrands hat-trick gives Magpies FA Cup joy

January 14, 2010

Danish international striker Peter Lovenkrands scored a hat-trick on Wednesday to ease Newcastle United to a 3-0 victory over fellow Championship side Plymouth Argyle in their FA Cup third round replay.

The 29-year-old – a former Rangers and Schalke 04 player – struck twice in the first-half and added his third in the 72nd minute to send the Championship leaders through to a fourth round meeting away at another second-tier outfit West Bromwich Albion, managed by former FA Cup winner Roberto di Matteo.

Lovenkrands has rarely shone at the Magpies but he more than repaid the faith shown in him by manager Chris Hughton as he struck in the 10th minute shooting home after fine work by man of the match, Argentinian winger Jonas Gutierrez.

Lovenkrands, who appeared at the 2002 World Cup finals and the Euro 2004 finals, struck again five minutes from the break with a header.

Plymouth, who are third from bottom of the Championship, never threatened Newcastle’s goal and Lovenkrands duly wrapped up the match 18 minutes from full-time with a soft shot which still crept past goalkeeper Roman Larrieu and extended Newcastle’s unbeaten run to 13.

LONDON (AFP)

Tags: 2002 world cup finals, Chris Hughton, cup winner, danish, euro 2004 finals, FA Cup, former rangers, hat trick, Jonas Gutierrez, london, magpies, Matteo, NEWCASTLE, newcastle united, peter lovenkrands, Plymouth, plymouth argyle, replay, Roberto, roberto di matteo, schalke 04, striker, West Bromwich, west bromwich albion, winger

Bojan, Canales suggest La Liga no longer a teenage wasteland

January 12, 2010

Lionel Messi hogged most of the headlines thanks to his wonderful hat-trick at Tenerife, but it was the performances of a pair of teenagers who had pundits, coaches and team mates purring following the weekend’s La Liga action.

Barcelona’s Spanish forward Bojan Krkic has been around for a while –- he made his first-team debut in a friendly in Egypt in 2007 -– but all three of Messi’s goals came from passes supplied by the 19-year-old and coach Pep Guardiola was effusive in his praise.

“He constantly demonstrates his quality, but the problem is his coach doesn’t let him play very much,” Guardiola joked at a news conference.

“He didn’t manage to score (against Tenerife) but he has to see that the team doesn’t just survive on goals but on assists too.”

Racing Santander midfielder Sergio Canales is a newer phenomenon.

The 18-year-old had already earned himself the nickname “Peter Pan” with some polished performances that belied his relative youth.

But two outstanding goals in a 2-1 win at Sevilla on Saturday, in which he made experienced goalkeeper Andres Palop look rather foolish, have put him firmly in the spotlight as one of La Liga’s hottest young talents.

He was applauded by both sets of fans when substituted in the second half and the Spanish sports press even rolled out comparisons with Diego Maradona.

“He’s a monster,” Racing defender Pablo Pinillos said. “Although he has zero responsibility, he still has an incredibly cool head,” added forward Pedro Munitis.

There is no real prospect of Bojan leaving Barca, where he has already spent 10 years, but Santander-born Canales is out of contract at the end of the season and is being linked in the Spanish media with interest from big clubs at home and abroad (with Real Madrid the favourites to sign him, according to Marca and As today).

In the past, players tended to make an impact in La Liga at a much later age and Spanish clubs used to gaze enviously at thriving teenage superstars in rival European leagues.

The success of players like Bojan, Canales and Athletic Bilbao’s Iker Muniain, who became Spain’s youngest top-flight scorer at the age of 16 in October, suggests that trend is changing.

PHOTO: Racing Santander’s Sergio Canales (L) celebrates next to Sevilla’s goalkeeper Andres Palop after scoring during their Spanish First Division soccer match at Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium in Seville January 9, 2010. REUTERS/Marcelo del Pozo

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Tags: 18 year old, barca, cool head, diego maradona, hat trick, Krkic, lionel messi, monster racing, pep guardiola, peter pan, real madrid, relative youth, spanish clubs, spanish media, spanish sports, team debut, team mates, teenage superstars, zero responsibility

Sato hat-trick lifts Japan into Asian Cup

January 6, 2010

A hat-trick by Hisato Sato saw Japan qualify for the 2011 Asian Cup with a come-from-behind 3-2 victory away to Yemen on Wednesday.

After allaying security fears over the match in Yemen, Japan traveled to the game which started quite poorly for the World Cup qualifiers.

Basem Alaqel fired the home side in front after just 13 minutes, and the Japanese were left reeling when Sami Karama doubled the Yemeni advantage seven minutes before half-time.

Sato, though, gave Japan some hope in the 42nd minute when he pulled a goal back for the visitors to make it 2-1 at the half-time interval.

The Sanfrecce Hiroshima striker pulled Japan level in the 55th minute, and he completed the comeback 10 minutes from with his third of the game – and seventh of his international career – to secure the comeback victory.

The victory secured one of the top two spots in qualifying Group A for Japan, ensuring their place for the Asian Cup finals in Qatar.

Tags: Alaqel, asian cup, asian cup finals, comeback victory, game, hat trick, hiroshima, international career, Japan, Japanese, Qatar, qualifying group, Sami Karama, sanfrecce hiroshima, sato, security fears, striker, time interval, world cup qualifiers, Yemeni

Buoyant Boyd greedy for more goals

December 31, 2009

Kris Boyd broke Henrik Larsson’s Scottish Premier League scoring record with five goals in a 7-1 mauling of Dundee United on Wednesday but the striker says he is greedy for more.

The Scottish striker – who only on Tuesday said he was interested in playing for Scotland again after retiring from international football under the George Burley regime because he was not happy with the time he spent on the bench – scored his 160th league goal in 283 appearances since making his league debut for Kilmarnock in May 2001 as a 17-year-old.

Boyd had gone into the game against United three goals short of the former Celtic striker’s record but a hat-trick in ten first-half minutes soon had him level.

His chances of breaking the 158 total looked to have been dealt a blow when United pulled one back through Damien Casalinuovo and strike partner Kenny Miller was sent off in the first five minutes of the second period.

But Rangers rallied and a late double from the goal-machine, in between strikes from Steven Whittaker and Algerian defender Madjid Bougherra, landed him the SPL record.

And the 26-year-old, who is out of contract in the summer and has attracted interest from French First Division side Sochaux, said he was still hungry for more starting with Celtic in the Old Firm derby on Sunday.

“I think this was my best night in a Rangers shirt and I’m delighted to get it over with and pass Henrik Larsson,” Boyd said.

“To get past someone like Henrik Larsson is a great achievement and one I’m proud of doing.

“But as I have said before I’m greedy and I want more. The next target for me is getting the three points on Sunday. If I manage to get on the score-sheet it’s a bonus but the most important thing is the three points as that’s what brings trophies home.”

It was the second time in his career that Boyd has netted five past United after achieving the same feat while a Kilmarnock player in 2004.

“There is always a team you seem to score more against and I am fortunate enough that Dundee United has been mine and I have managed to do that again,” Boyd added.

Boyd has been criticised in the past for his lack of goals against Celtic with only one of his 160 strikes coming against his Glasgow rivals.

The sides meet in Sunday’s Old Firm derby and a win could send Rangers ten points clear at the top of the SPL. While the striker said he would love to score against the Hoops he didn’t care as long as Rangers collected the league trophy at the end of the season.

“I look forward to the game with confidence and hopefully we can go there and get the three points,” the striker said.

“At the end of the day it doesn’t matter who scores as it’s just about the three points.

“It doesn’t bother me who I score against as the most important thing is winning.

“If it was that easy to score against everyone else then everyone would be doing it so I must be doing something right.”

Rangers manager Walter Smith singled out Boyd for praise for his performances this season.

“I thought he played exceptionally well tonight, never mind his goals,” Smith said.

“He has always managed to get us a level of goals but his performance tonight, as it has been for the last two or three months, has been very good with some exceptional finishes.

“I am very pleased for him. He has been working hard this season and to break Henrik Larsson’s record in the manner in which he did do was fantastic.

“The manner in which he scored the goals sum him up. There are very few players who can score the goals that he does.

“This season alone he has improved a lot and I think that he had the realisation that he had to do more.

“He has been doing that. It’s not affected his level of goals so he’s been doing fantastically well and it’s a great achievement to break that record.”

GLASGOW (AFP)