Fenerbahce limit damage against Diyarbakirspor

February 8, 2010

Fenerbahce were close to defeat in their home match with Diyarbakirspor on Sunday, but scored a late goal to limit the damage.

After Galarasaray were held to a goalless draw at Kayserispor on Saturday, Fenerbahce had a perfect opportunity to extend their one-point lead to three points.

But it was not meant to be at Istanbul’s Sukru Saracoglu stadium where Diyarbakirspor even took the lead through Ayman Abdelaziz in the 83rd minute.

Fenerbahce, who had Mehmet Topuz sent off in the dying minutes, did avoid defeat as Andre Santos netted for 1-1 in minute 90.

Although Diyarbakirspor missed out on achieving a major upset, the draw does allow them to leave the relegation zone at the expense of Manisaspor.

Tags: abdelaziz, diyarbakirspor, fenerbahce, home match, Istanbul, kayserispor, relegation zone, sukru saracoglu stadium

Benfica held, Sporting lose in Portuguese league

February 7, 2010

It was not the best of Saturday’s for Lisbon’s top clubs as leaders Benfica were held to a draw at Vitoria Setubal while Sporting Lisbon lost their home match with Academica.

Benfica began the day with a two-points lead over Braga but risk having to share the top spot again following a 1-1 draw at Setubal.

The match at the Estadio do Bonfim was entirely decided by own goals. Marco Zoro first hit his own target to put Benfica ahead in the 14th minute, and David Luiz then helped the hosts level in minute 38.

Braga play an away match to Belenenses on Monday, and a win would leave them back in shared first place.

Fourth-placed Sporting Lisbon lost 1-2 to Academica de Coimbra who needed just two minutes for Orlando to score the opening goal.

Joao Moutinho equalised in minute 23 but Joao Ribeiro restored Academica’s lead in the 29th. His goal would turn out to be worth three points.

Tags: Academica, academica de coimbra, benfica, Braga, Coimbra, david luiz, home match, hosts, joao moutinho, joao ribeiro, Lisbon, Marco Zoro, Orlando, portuguese league, setubal, sporting lisbon, target, top clubs, Vitoria Setubal, zoro

Cruzeiro crush Potosi to advance to Libertadores group phase

February 4, 2010

Brazilian outfit Cruzeiro scored no less than seven goals in their home match with Real Potosi of Bolivia to secure a spot in the group phase of the Copa Libertadores.

Last week’s first leg in Bolivia ended in a 1-1 draw but at home, Cruzeiro were of a different class.

Marquinhos Parana put the Brazilians in the lead after 28 minutes, shortly followed by a goal from Thiago Ribeiro for 2-0. Kleber added a third in the 39th minute for a 3-0 half time score.

The second half began in exactly the same manner as the first half had ended as Cruzeiro continued to dominate and Jonathan made it 4-0 in the very first minute after the break.

The worst was yet to come for the visiting side as Eliandro (88), Bernardo (89) and Joffre Guerron (92) added late goals for a 7-0 final score.

The Bolivians were not helped either by two red cards. Argentinian Gerardo Yecerotte received a direct red card in the 46th minute and Gonzalo Galindo followed with a second yellow in the 74th.

In the group phase, Cruzeiro meet with Velez Sarsfield of Argentina, Nacional of Uruguay and Deportivo Cuenca of Ecuador.

Tags: Argentina, bolivia, bolivians, brazilians, copa libertadores, cuenca, Deportivo, deportivo cuenca, Ecuador, final score, galindo, gerardo, Gerardo Yecerotte, Gonzalo, group phase, half time, home match, jonathan, red cards, sarsfield, second half, Thiago Ribeiro, time score, uruguay

Top three win in Eredivisie

February 4, 2010

There were no surprises in the Dutch Eredivisie this Wednesday, as all of the top three teams won their home matches without particular difficulties.

Joint leaders PSV hosted FC Utrecht and went ahead through Ola Toivonen in the seventh minute. Sander Keller did level with six minutes to go until the break, but midfielder Orlando Engelaar went on to net the home side’s winner on the hour mark.

Utrecht goalscorer Keller was sent off with a second yellow card in the 77th minute.

Twente played a home match with fifth-placed Heracles and scored one goal in each half to beat their guests 2-0. Costa Rican Bryan Ruiz opened the scoring in minute 43, and Blaise N’Kufo doubled the advantage in the 66th.

Ajax forgot to score in the first half against Roda JC, but made up for it in the second. Luis Suarez scored two penalties, one in the 54th minute and one in the 69th, and went on to find the target again in the 79th and 86th minutes for a stunning total of four goals.

Roda played part of the second half with a man less, as Davy de Fauw collected his second yellow card in the 67th minute.

Tags: Ajax, Blaise, break, Bryan Ruiz, Davy, dutch eredivisie, fc utrecht, Heracles, home match, kufo, luis suarez, no surprises, PSV, Sander Keller, second, second half, six minutes, target, toivonen, twente, utrecht, yellow card

Ancelotti expects Anelka to stay

January 26, 2010

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti insists Nicolas Anelka is 100 percent committed to the Blues despite reports that talks over a new contract for the France striker have broken down.

Anelka has 18 months left on his current deal and Chelsea have been unable to tie him to a new contract during several months of negotiations.

The 30-year-old has proved his value to Ancelotti’s team this season with 11 goals, including five in his last four appearances, and his fine form has ensured Didier Drogba has hardly been missed during his time at the African Nations Cup.

Reports on Tuesday that there was only a small chance of a positive contract resolution raised the unwanted possibility of Chelsea having to sell Anelka in the close-season or risk losing him on a free transfer in a year.

But Ancelotti is adamant the former Real Madrid and Arsenal star wants to remain at the west London club and he expects a compromise to be reached.

Asked if he believed Anelka wanted to stay, Ancelotti said: “Yes. The same for Nicolas. He’s happy to work with me and I’m very happy to work with him. That’s a wedding, no? We don’t want to break up!

“I think that they are speaking with his agent and they will try to find the right solution for both the club and for him.

“I’m confident he’ll sign. Anelka is a top player and this club needs to have a lot of top players. There will be a resolution.”

After dropping to third place in the Premier League while on FA Cup duty at the weekend, Ancelotti’s side have a chance to regain top spot with a win over Birmingham at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday if Arsenal fail to defeat Aston Villa the same day.

Ancelotti knows in-form Birmingham will pose a tough test for his team after extending their unbeaten run in all competitions to 15 matches over the weekend.

But Chelsea have won 10 of their 11 home league games this season – scoring seven times in their last home match against Sunderland – and Ancelotti expects his players to rise to the challenge of ending Birmingham’s impressive streak.

“It’s not good (to be third). I think it is important to win on Wednesday because we need three more points. But it’ll be very difficult because everyone knows Birmingham’s quality,” he said.

“They haven’t lost for 15 games and are having an unbelievable season. They have done fantastically well.

“So it’s important for us to have a very good performance. The same as we did against Sunderland, we hope, because we play a very compact team.

“It’s important to move the ball quickly against them because they are able to stay compact for 90 minutes. If we do our best, I think we can win.”

Ancelotti expects United and Arsenal to push his side all the way in a title race shaping up to be a tense three-team scramble for the finish line.

“I think we have to keep in control of both teams. Both teams have enough quality to stay in the top until the end of the season,” he said.

“It’ll be a sprint to the final game. I think all three teams will be in it until the end.”

The Blues, who have two games in hand on current leaders United, will be bolstered by the return to training of Drogba and Salomon Kalou on Wednesday after Ivory Coast were knocked out of the African Nations Cup.

Neither will feature against Birmingham but the pair should be available for Saturday’s trip to Burnley.

“Drogba is an important player for us but we’ve played very well without him,” added Ancelotti.

“It’s important that he comes back here because we have a lot of games in this period and we need to have a lot of players able to play.”

However Juliano Belletti won’t be available for up to a month after a scan revealed the Brazilian defender suffered a knee injury during Saturday’s FA Cup win at Preston.

COBHAM, England (AFP)

Tags: african nations cup, arsenal, Birmingham, carlo ancelotti, CHELSEA, compromise, contract resolution, didier drogba, England, France, home match, impr, Ivory Coast, league games, london club, MADRID, negotiations, new contract, Nicolas, premier league, Preston, real madrid, right solution, Salomon Kalou, seven times, stamford bridge, Sunderland, west london

Fowler´s A-League future ´in doubt after dispute´

January 23, 2010

Liverpool great Robbie Fowler’s playing future in Australia’s A-League is in doubt after a selection dispute at his North Queensland Fury club, reports said on Saturday.

The former England international striker refused to play in a changed playing formation for the Fury’s home match against Brisbane Roar in Townsville, according to Fox Sports.

Fowler, 34, was subsequently not named in the Fury’s squad for the match and his position with the club appears uncertain.

The former Liverpool star is the highest-profile signing in the five years of the A-League and is playing club football outside England for the first time since he finished as the fourth-highest all-time scorer with 161 goals in the Premier League.

There have been reports that Fowler has been prepared to walk out on the club with a year of his contract still remaining because his wife has failed to settle in North Queensland.

Fowler told a British newspaper this week that his wife was finding it tough to adjust.

“The kids are very adaptable to where they are, but I think my wife still needs a bit of convincing,” he said.

“It’s not like back at home where there’s more stuff to do and more families that we know, so she’s still adjusting.”

MELBOURNE (AFP)

Tags: Australia, brisbane, club football, doubt, England, fox sports, home match, Liverpool, Melbourne, north queensland, premier league, Roar, robbie fowler, striker, time scorer, townsville

Milan´s title chances on line against Inter

January 23, 2010

AC Milan head into this weekend’s top of the table derby clash with Inter Milan knowing defeat could spell the end of their Serie A title hopes.

Champions Inter have a six-point lead at the top although Milan, in second, have a game in hand, away to Fiorentina in February.

In-form Milan head into this match with eight wins from their last nine Serie A clashes while Inter have stumbled several times recently, particularly on their travels.

They have won only one of their last four away matches in the league and even needed two late strikes to earn a 4-3 victory at home to rock bottom Catania in their last home match.

They will be the hosts at the San Siro on Sunday, although the stadium is also Milan’s home.

The nominal visitors know that while a draw would not be a disaster, the loss of all three points would be.

“The table says we are six points back with a game in hand although that is away to Fiorentina and will be very difficult,” said combative midfielder Gennaro Gattuso.

“But we cannot afford to lose the derby, even with a draw we’d still be in with a chance. We’d still be six points back but with a game in hand and the fight would be open.”

Gattuso, though, admitted to being worried about Inter’s amazing powers of recovery.

“Inter cause fear because many times they go behind but still pull out incredible recoveries,” he said.

“I’m thinking of the match against Siena or the one at San Nicola (stadium) when they were 2-0 down to Bari and only narrowly failed to come home with the three points.

“Inter have a strength and a squad that worries you. There’s (Wesley) Sneijder and (Diego) Milito who have great quality but it’s (coach Jose) Mourinho himself who worries me the most because he’s one who certainly won’t go to sleep until he’s found a solution to stop us.

“I know that right now he’s watching many videos to study and see how to stop us.”

Mourinho is going to have to come up with something as he is likely to be without three important midfielders in Dejan Stankovic, Thiago Motta and Sulley Muntari, all stuggling with muscle problems.

Things are little better in their neighbours’ treatment room where striker Pato and full-back Gianluca Zambrotta have been ruled out while centre-back Alessandro Nesta is struggling to be fit.

Further down the table crisis-club Juventus host AS Roma with Claudio Ranieri coming back to face the club that fired him two games before the end of last season.

Ironically, it was following a 3-1 home defeat to Juve at the beginning of the season that saw Luciano Spalletti leave Roma and replaced by Ranieri.

Juve looked set for a great season back then as they won their first four league matches while Roma struggled.

However, Roma have won seven and drawn three of their last 10 league games while Juve have lost seven of their last 10 in all comeptitions and Ranieri’s replacement Ciro Ferrara is under extreme pressure.

Roma are third with Juve down in fifth, although they could be overtaken by both Fiorentina and Cagliari if they win their games in hand.

Fixtures:

Saturday

Catania v Parma, Juventus v AS Roma

Sunday

Bologna v Bari, Genoa v Atalanta, Inter Milan v AC Milan, Lazio v Chievo, Livorno v Napoli, Palermo v Fiorentina, Siena v Cagliari, Udinese v Sampdoria

ROME (AFP)

Tags: Alessandro Nesta, Bari, catania, cause fear, clashes, Claudio Ranieri, Diego, diego milito, gennaro gattuso, genoa, home match, inter milan, Jose, lazio, livorno, luciano spalletti, midfielder, napoli, Palermo, rock bottom, ROME, san siro, several times, Siena, six points, strikes, Thiago Motta, Wesley, Wesley Sneijder, zambrotta

Juve fans continue to bait Balotelli

January 17, 2010

Juventus fans continued their campaign of abuse against Inter Milan striker Mario Balotelli during Sunday’s match away to Chievo in Verona.

Earlier this week Juve were hit with a partial stadium closure due to chants of a racial nature their fans directed at Balotelli, an Italian of Ghanaian origin, in previous matches.

It was the third time this season that Juve had been punished for racial chants, although previously they were hit only with fines.

This time around their south stand, from where the majority of the chants tend to originate, has been closed for their next Serie A home game against Roma next weekend.

Last season they were forced to play one match behind closed doors due to racist chants against the same player during their home match against Inter Milan.

The chants during Sunday’s game were not racial in nature but the continued targeting of Balotelli, who is black, has ensured racism remains a hot topic in Italian football circles.

Juve were previously punished when fans chanted: “There are no black Italians”, while Sunday’s chorus consisted of: “If you jump up and down, Balotelli will die”.

Teenager Balotelli is a divisive figure in Italian football largely due to his occasionally impetuous on-field behaviour.

However, the forward is also considered one of the country’s brightest young talents and many commentators are clamouring for him to be included in Italy’s World Cup for South Africa in June.

Balotelli’s parents are Ghanaian immigrants and he was born in Palermo on the island of Sicily before being fostered to an Italian family when he was three.

His birth-parents’ surname is Barwuah but he uses the surname of his adoptive parents.

ROME (AFP)

Tags: adoptive parents, birth parents, black italians, chants, closed doors, commentators, home game, home match, immigrants, inter milan, island of sicily, italian family, italian football, Italy, juve fans, juventus fans, Mario Balotelli, Milan, Palermo, play one, Roma, ROME, sicily, South Africa, striker, third time, verona

‘Beckham is a great acquisition, just like last year’

January 7, 2010

David Beckham made his return for Milan on Wednesday night in the home match against Genoa (5-2).

Injuries to Alexandre Pato and Clarence Seedorf meant second-placed Milan had to start the Englishman further forward than usual on the right of a front three.

“He had a week where we tried him in every role in training,” coach Leonardo said after the match.

“I think that is the synthesis of what he is all about. He has an absolute willingness to help, extraordinary quality and tactical intelligence.”

34-year-old Beckham hopes to secure a World Cup spot during his loan spell at Milan. National coach Fabio Capello advised the Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder to continue his career in Europe.

Beckham produced some superb crosses, went close with a drive and worked hard defensively in front of Capello.

“Beckham, just like last season, has been a great acquisition,” Milan chief executive Adriano Galliani said.

“He earns very little from us. He came to Milan for all different reasons than money.”

Tags: acquisition, adriano galliani, alexandre pato, capello beckham, chief executive, clarence seedorf, coach fabio capello, crosses, David Beckham, different reasons, englishman, Europe, fabio capello, genoa, home match, leonardo, Los Angeles, los angeles galaxy, Milan, national coach, tactical intelligence, wednesday night, willingness, world cup spot

Panathinaikos extend lead in Greek league

January 7, 2010

Panathinaikos beat Ergotelis 4-1 to extend their lead in the Greek league, while second-placed Olympiakos suffered a 1-2 defeat by AEK Athens.

Leaders had a bad start in their home match with Ergotelis as Michalis Fragoulakis put them one goal down after eight minutes.

But Djibril Cisse levelled in minute 26 and Giorgios Karagounis completed the turn-around just before half time. Cisse then added a third six minutes after the hour and Sebastian Leto made it 4-1 near the full time whistle.

Olympiakos allowed the gap with arch rivals Panathinaikos to grow from two to five points with a 1-2 defeat by AEK.

Avram Papadopoulos did put the defending champions in the lead after 27 minutes but two goals from Ignacio Scocco, one in the 33rd and one in the 40th, allowed AEK to take three valuable points from this derby.