Gerrard urges Reds to keep momentum

February 8, 2010

Steven Gerrard hopes the win over Everton can inspire Liverpool to beat Arsenal on Wednesday. The Reds skipper has urged his teammates to build on their victory in last Saturday’s Merseyside derby.

Liverpool’s recent results have increased their hopes on securing a top-four Premier League finish. The Reds produced another battling display to sink Everton on Saturday (1-0).

Gerrard was pleased with the result and performance, especially as Liverpool had to play most of the game with ten men following Sotirios Kyrgiakos’ sending-off.

The talismanic captain is now hoping to take that form into Wednesday’s clash with struggling Arsenal.

“You always enjoy beating your local rivals but it was the way we did it that was really satisfying, particularly after losing a man after half an hour,” Gerrard told the Liverpool Echo.

“I thought we showed fantastic character, a great attitude and I also thought we played some decent stuff at times. I thought it was a fully deserved win.

“You could see what it meant to everyone on the pitch at the end and it was the same again in the dressing room afterwards; everybody is still on a high.

“Now we have got to take that high into the next game. It’s a tough one, Arsenal away always is. But we have used beating Everton as a platform in the past and we’ve got to do it again.

“We want to extend our run and go on to better things.”

The results of Manchester City (2-1 loss to Hull City) and Tottenham Hotspur (goalless draw against Aston Villa) made Liverpool’s day even better.

Rafael Benitez’s men now occupy for the final Champions League spot but Gerrard does not want complacency to creep in.

“We know there is a long way to go and we want to make sure we are in the top four at the end of the season,” he stated.

“It’s performances like this that will get you in there. We have got to try and keep this run going, as we can’t afford any slip-ups.

“There is pressure coming from Tottenham, Manchester City and Aston Villa.

“There are a couple of very tough games coming up but if we can show what we have done in the last six games, I don’t see why we can’t maintain it.”

Tags: Aston, aston villa, complacency, dressing room, Echo, final champions league, great attitude, half an hour, hull city, last saturday, Liverpool, liverpool echo, manchester city, Merseyside, merseyside derby, premier league, rafael benitez, reds, slip ups, sotirios kyrgiakos, Steven Gerrard, tottenham hotspur, ups

Ancelotti backs Terry as Chelsea held by Hull

February 3, 2010

Carlo Ancelotti has backed John Terry to come through his personal crisis and lead Chelsea to the title despite his side’s disappointing failure to overcome Hull City in a 1-1 draw at the KC Stadium.

Terry’s week of woe showed no signs of improving as he was subjected to abuse on Humberside on Tuesday evening.

And just to make matters worse he was booked before having to watch his side drop two crucial points against Phil Brown’s struggling team, blowing their chance to open up a four-point lead over Manchester United at the top of the table.

Terry had to run a gauntlet of hate from the home supporters that promises to become a regular event for the defender, but Ancelotti insists his captain can handle the flak and will carry on playing.

Terry will meet England manager Fabio Capello later this week to discuss his future as his country’s captain following reports of his affair with the former girlfriend of international team-mate Wayne Bridge.

But he has the backing of Ancelotti, even if the Italian admits he might give the centreback a family holiday later this month when Chelsea face Cardiff City in the FA Cup fifth round at Stamford Bridge.

Ancelotti said: “Nothing can distract our concentration in this competition. In every game the Chelsea team has good focus and we can play good football.

“Concentration is always on top. This is an issue for me and John Terry. I think it’s not a problem. You can see the line-up against Cardiff.

“If he needs a holiday he will have one and if not, he will play against Cardiff.

“I don’t like to speak about this. It’s not a question I want to speak about.

“For him (Terry) nothing has changed. He continues to play a very good game and every game he’s living a good moment.

“He’s doing his best. The atmosphere in the team is the same. There has been no change.

“We are in a good position now. We are top. We know Manchester United are very good and it will be a long race until the end of the season.

“We are happy to have a two-point lead. This was an opportunity, but it’s impossible to win every game.”

Chelsea had to rely on Didier Drogba’s clinical free kick to salvage a point for the league leaders. It was his 20th goal of the season and cancelled out Stephen Mouyokolo’s opening goal for Hull, his first for the club.

Ancelotti praised the impact Drogba had on his return to the side following international duty at the African Cup of Nations and believes his form and fitness will be key as the season enters its final third.

Ancelotti added: “It’s an important moment for us, but we need to have all the players in good condition between now and the end of the season.”

Hull rode their luck at times with goalkeeper Boaz Myhill once again impressive but Brown is convinced this result can provide his side with the belief that they have what it takes to go on and avoid relegation for the second season in succession.

“Against the quality of the opposition, that performance is right up there. I’m just disappointed we can’t perform like this on a more regular basis,” said Brown.

HULL (AFP)

Tags: Boaz Myhill, cardiff, cardiff city, carlo ancelotti, CHELSEA, England, england manager, FA Cup, fabio capello, family holiday, flak, former girlfriend, gauntlet, good game, home supporters, HULL, hull city, humberside, john terry, kc stadium, Manchester, personal crisis, phil brown, stamford bridge, Stephen Mouyokolo, team mate, wayne bridge

Hull apply the brakes to Chelsea title charge

February 3, 2010

Didier Drogba celebrated his return to Premier League duty with a first half equaliser at the KC Stadium to cancel out Stephen Mouyokolo’s earlier effort on a frustrating night for Carlo Ancelotti’s Chelsea.

Drogba struck his 20th goal of the season on 43 minutes to haul the Premier League leaders level after Hull defender Mouyokolo had headed Phil Brown’s Hull City side into a surprise lead with his first ever goal for the top flight strugglers.

But despite Drogba coming to the rescue it wasn’t enough to help Chelsea secure the win they so badly needed to restore their four point advantage over Manchester United at the top of the table.

The London club now have a lead of just two points and United manager Sir Alex Ferguson will be thankful to Hull for holding his great rivals to a draw to blow the title race wide open.

Ancelotti had the luxury of recalling Drogba for the first time since he departed for the African Cup of Nations over four weeks ago, while England internationals Joe Cole and Ashley Cole had to be content with a place on the bench.

John Terry also maintained his place in the side despite the on-going pressure on him to resign as England captain following his off-field problems while Deco was recalled to the starting line-up.

Brown, meanwhile, made just one change to the side which was held to a disappointing draw with Wolves last weekend, recalling Craig Fagan on the right wing in place of Bernard Mendy. The Hull manager resisted the temptation to hand a full debut to new loan signing Amr Zaki.

Hull had gone nine games without a victory and found themselves entrenched in the relegation zone. Considering Manchester City were the next visitors to the KC Stadium then the immediate future looked bleak.

But Chelsea struggled to find their rhythm from the start and seemed to make Hull’s evening easier than expected.

Frank Lampard worried Boaz Myhill with a swerving drive inside nine minutes which the Hull goalkeeper could only palm straight to Nicolas Anelka but the French striker stubbed his shot badly wide with the goal at his mercy.

It wasn’t until the 24th minute that Chelsea threatened again when Branislav Ivanovic sent over an inch-perfect cross for the waiting Michael Ballack but all the German midfielder could do was power his diving header straight at Myhill from close range.

The longer the game went on the more Hull seemed to grow in confidence but it still came a surprise when they took the lead with their first real attack of the game.

Terry was nowhere to be seen as Stephen Hunt swung over a corner and Mouyokolo rose the highest to head past the helpless Petr Cech.

But Hull’s lead always looked fragile and it lasted just 13 minutes before Drogba levelled the scores with a powerful free kick into the bottom corner of Myhill’s goal.

Hull could have restored their lead on the stroke of half time when Tom Cairney’s free kick found the head of the unmarked Anthony Gardner, but the defender could only direct his effort over the crossbar.

Yet Chelsea always carried a threat and Myhill had to be at his best to keep the scores level with a fine double save just before the hour mark.

First he got down sharply to tip wide a skidding drive from Florent Malouda before producing an even better stop to keep out Drogba’s downward header from Malouda’s cross as Brown’s men hung on for a point that is of much more use to them than Chelsea.

HULL, England (AFP)

Tags: african cup of nations, alex ferguson, Anthony Gardner, ashley cole, bernard mendy, Boaz Myhill, Brown, carlo ancelotti, CHELSEA, Cole, Craig Fagan, didier drogba, England, england internationals, frank lampard, frustrating night, HULL, hull city, Joe Cole, john terry, kc stadium, london, london club, Manchester, manchester city, Michael Ballack, Nicolas Anelka, Petr Cech, phil brown, point advantage, premier league, relegation zone, sir alex ferguson, Stephen Hunt, Stephen Mouyokolo, Terry, Tom Cairney, Zaki

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

We predict the worst … you show us how it’s done

January 29, 2010

It seems like ages since we last managed a proper weekend programme* but at last, here we are, with an all-singing, all-dancing snow-free extravaganza, with the dubious attraction of Arsenal v Man Utd’s traditional handbags at 10 paces highly competitive fixture being shown in 3D at select boozers across the land.

Below you will find the Reuters Soccer Blog standings and predictions for the week but remember, we’d like you to join in as well. If you’re a newcomer, you get 10 points for correctly predicting the exact score from the weekend’s Premier League game, or two for getting the right result. (If you’ve been with us for a while, it’s five points and one point).

Being on double-bubble means you can catch us up in no time, especially with huge bonus points on offer for incidental details like scorers, penalty misses, substitutions, or indeed anything else. So please send in your scores and have the satisfaction of out-predicting the stat-obsessed football nerds here at Reuters Soccer Blog Towers.

Reuters Soccer blog panel: Patrick Johnston 194, Mitch Phillips 182, Paul Radford 181, Neil Maidment 166, Kevin Fylan 148, Mark Meadows 142, Simon Evans 142, Julien Pretot 137, Mike Collett 132, Asia Sports Desk 115, Martyn Herman 109, Miles Evans 107, Sonia Oxley 71, Justin Palmer 41

Here are this week’s matches … leave your predictions in the comments.

Birmingham City v Tottenham Hotspur: Patrick Johnston , Mitch Phillips , Paul Radford 1-0, Neil Maidment 1-1, Kevin Fylan 0-2, Mark Meadows , Simon Evans 1-1, Julien Pretot , Mike Collett 0-2, Asia Sports Desk , Martyn Herman , Miles Evans 1-3, Sonia Oxley

Fulham v Aston Villa: Patrick Johnston , Mitch Phillips , Paul Radford 1-0, Neil Maidment 0-1, Kevin Fylan 0-2, Mark Meadows , Simon Evans 1-2, Julien Pretot , Mike Collett 1-1, Asia Sports Desk , Martyn Herman , Miles Evans 1-0, Sonia Oxley

Hull City v Wolverhampton Wanderers: Patrick Johnston , Mitch Phillips , Paul Radford 1-0, Neil Maidment 1-2, Kevin Fylan 0-2, Mark Meadows , Simon Evans 0-1, Julien Pretot , Mike Collett 0-2, Asia Sports Desk , Martyn Herman , Miles Evans 0-1, Sonia Oxley

Liverpool v Bolton Wanderers: Patrick Johnston , Mitch Phillips , Paul Radford 2-0, Neil Maidment 1-1, Kevin Fylan 4-0, Mark Meadows , Simon Evans 5-0, Julien Pretot , Mike Collett 3-1, Asia Sports Desk , Martyn Herman , Miles Evans 2-3, Sonia Oxley

West Ham United v Blackburn Rovers: Patrick Johnston , Mitch Phillips , Paul Radford 2-1, Neil Maidment 1-2, Kevin Fylan 1-0, Mark Meadows , Simon Evans 2-0, Julien Pretot , Mike Collett 1-0, Asia Sports Desk , Martyn Herman , Miles Evans 1-0, Sonia Oxley

Wigan Athletic v Everton: Patrick Johnston , Mitch Phillips , Paul Radford 0-1, Neil Maidment 0-2, Kevin Fylan 1-3, Mark Meadows , Simon Evans 1-1, Julien Pretot , Mike Collett 1-2, Asia Sports Desk , Martyn Herman , Miles Evans 1-1, Sonia Oxley

Burnley v Chelsea: Patrick Johnston , Mitch Phillips , Paul Radford 0-3, Neil Maidment 0-4, Kevin Fylan 0-3, Mark Meadows , Simon Evans 1-1, Julien Pretot , Mike Collett 0-2, Asia Sports Desk , Martyn Herman , Miles Evans 1-3, Sonia Oxley

Playing on Sunday:

Manchester City v Portsmouth: Patrick Johnston , Mitch Phillips , Paul Radford 4-0, Neil Maidment 4-0, Kevin Fylan 5-0, Mark Meadows , Simon Evans 4-1, Julien Pretot , Mike Collett 3-0, Asia Sports Desk , Martyn Herman , Miles Evans 2-2, Sonia Oxley

Arsenal v Manchester United: Patrick Johnston , Mitch Phillips , Paul Radford 1-1, Neil Maidment 1-2, Kevin Fylan 1-3, Mark Meadows , Simon Evans 3-2, Julien Pretot , Mike Collett 1-2, Asia Sports Desk , Martyn Herman , Miles Evans 2-1, Sonia Oxley

Monday: Sunderland v Stoke: Patrick Johnston , Mitch Phillips , Paul Radford 0-0, Neil Maidment 1-1, Kevin Fylan 3-1, Mark Meadows , Simon Evans 1-1, Julien Pretot , Mike Collett 0-1, Asia Sports Desk , Martyn Herman , Miles Evans 1-3, Sonia Oxley

PHOTO: Manchester City’s Carlos Tevez reacts during their English League Cup defeat by Manchester United, January 27, 2010. REUTERS/Phil Noble

* Please insert your own joke about the BBC here.

Source

Tags: asia sports, aston villa, bonus points, boozers, double bubble, hull city, league game, maidment, man utd, mark meadows, Mike Collett, Miles Evans, mitch phillips, patrick johnston, paul radford, reuters, simon evans, sports desk, tottenham hotspur, wolverhampton wanderers

Real Madrid: No Rooney bid

January 26, 2010

European giants Real Madrid have ruled out a bid for Manchester United’s star striker Wayne Rooney, despite confirming their admiration for the player.

The England international is having a remarkable season in front of goal, having netted 19 times for the Red Devils which includes his recent four-goal haul against Hull City.

The former Everton player has been credited with single-handedly maintaining United’s title charge following last summer’s world-record sale of Cristiano Ronaldo.

It had been thought the Spanish giants were weighing up a move for the 24-year-old in order to reunite him with ex-Old Trafford team-mate Ronaldo.

While Real president Jorge Valdano concedes Rooney is an extraordinary player, he does not believe he would adapt to Spain’s top flight.

“He is extraordinary, very, very good,” he told Radio COPE.

“Rooney is English, we all know they find it difficult to adapt to another type of competition other than the Premier League.

“He is a very interesting player but we have not ever been interested.”

Tags: England, england international, everton, giants, hull city, Jorge Valdano, MADRID, Manchester, manchester united, premier league, radio, real madrid, red devils, remarkable season, ronaldo, Spain, star striker, team mate, top flight, wayne rooney, world record

Zambia derail highrollers Gabon to make last eight

January 22, 2010

Zambia derailed highrollers Gabon 2-1 here on Thursday to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals for the first time in 14 years.

Goals in either half from Rainford Kalaba and the Chinese-based James Chamanga earned Herve Renard’s side, who went into the game footing Group D, a place in the quarters along with Cameroon, who drew 2-2 with Tunisia over in Lubango.

Zambia’s reward for topping the table was a last eight match up with Group C runners-up Nigeria.

Renard said: “When we came to Angola we said we will qualify for the quarter-finals but people were laughing at us. Against Nigeria, our target is to reach the semi-final.”

Zambia skipper Chris Katongo added: “It’s a great moment for me as a captain to reach the knockout stage of the Nations Cup. We have achieved something, broken the barrier, which a lot of people thought was impossible.”

Katonga’s Gabon counterpart Daniel Cousin cut a sad figure.

“We thought we had qualified but after a short while, we received the news that we did not qualify,” he said.

“We started well against Cameroon (in their first match), but whatever happened, happened.”

Zambia burst out of the blocks in Benguela as befitted a team that needed the three points to escape the clutches of Group D – whereas Gabon required just a solitary point.

On 11 minutes Zambia had their first major opportunity after a neat move involving Felix Katongo and Jacob Mulenga only for the Utrecht striker to shoot high over.

The Gabon defence was under pressure for the first real time in the tournament as Zambia maintained their energetic start.

By far the more menacing of the two sides Zambia’s South Africa-based Felix Katongo, the captain’s brother, squandered another gilt-edged opportunity when he scuffed the ball from in front of goal.

Zambia took a deserved lead in the 28th minute when defender Kampamba slid the ball upfield to Kalaba and the Uniao Leiria midfielder kept his cool to knock the ball from the left of the box past the onrushing Gabon keeper Ebang Ovono.

That was the first goal Gabon had conceded since arriving in Angola.

At the break, with Tunisia leading Cameroon 1-0 in Lubango, it was the Tunisians and Zambia who were set to march on.

But with Cameroon levelling shortly after the break that put them in a three way tie with Zambia and Gabon on four points, with Gabon the ones to miss out.

Zambia, twice Africa Cup of Nations’ runners-up, emerged for the second half intent on killing off the tie.

Lax defending led to Zambia’s second goal with Mulenga fighting off Gabon defender Moise Brou to cross the ball from the near post to the waiting Chamanga with the forward tapping in to an open goal.

Zambia had to survive a nerve tingling final eight minutes after Gabon got back into the match when Hull City striker Cousin floated in a high ball from the left flank for substitute Fabrice do Marcolino to shoot past Ovono.

Zambia will be without the services of suspended Chintu Kampamba for the quarters after the defender picked up his secoond booking of the competition.

BENGUELA, Angola (AFP)

Tags: africa cup of nations, Angola, benguela, cameroon, Chris Katongo, clutches, counterpart, daniel cousin, fabrice, Felix, Gabon, great moment, herve renard, hull city, jacob mulenga, James Chamanga, kalaba, knockout stage, leiria, midfielder, nations cup, nigeria, quarter finals, skipper, solitary point, South Africa, Tunisia, Tunisians, utrecht, Zambia

Zambia go for broke against Gabon

January 21, 2010

Zambia have to beat high-flying Gabon here on Thursday to reach the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals.

Zambia are bottom of Group D with a point from two matches, but victory at the Ombaka Stadium could well take them to their first last-eight spot since 1996.

“On Thursday we play against Gabon and we must win,” said Zambia midfielder Isaac Chansa, who added that the team were unlucky to lose 3-2 to Cameroon on Sunday in their second Group D match.

Chansa’s must-win declaration comes on the heels of a controvery stirred by coach Herve Renard back in Zambia, when he said that the team are not welcome in their country and that they are more at home when they play away from Zambia.

“Zambians are not proud of Zambia,” Renard said.

He added: “When you are home, comments from Zambia are hard but from Europe and Africa they are happy. You have to be realistic and believe in yourselves because it is a long process building this team.”

Fans in Lubango cheered the team in their opening group match against Tunisia, which finished in a 1-1 draw.

“You know why they supported us?” he asked. “It is because we played some very good football in the first 30 minutes.”

Gabon are the in-form team in having lost out to Cameroon for a place at the World Cup.

They avenged their failure to reach South Africa in part when they beat Cameroon 1-0 in Lubango to get their Nations Cup campaign off to a fine start before they drew 0-0 with Tunisia.

As co-hosts of the next Nations Cup, Gabon are under pressure to post an impressive outing in Angola, and they have already proved that this is not a one-man band – Hull City’s Daniel Cousin and 10 others.

Midfielder Eric Moutouloungui, who plays with Nice in France, has been full of running and enterprise and could have grabbed at least two goals against Tunisia on Sunday, while Ebang Ovono has looked safe and assured in goal.

“We must work hard to win this match,” Le Mans goalkeeper Ovono told AFP at the team’s Hotel Tropicana in Lobito, about 30 kilometres from Benguela.

“Zambia are a good team and they were unlucky to lose through a late goal to Cameroon. We have to be at our best.

“It’s equally important that we start preparing our team for the 2012 Nations Cup, which we will host with Equatorial Guinea.”

“We have a good chance of winning a very difficult game against a good and young team. Victory will qualify us for the quarter-finals and further lift our confidence,” added skipper Cousin.

Angola 2010 is their fourth appearance at the Nations Cup and they recorded their best showing at the bi-ennial tournament 1996, when they reached the quarter-finals before they were sent packing on penalties by eventual finalists Tunisia after scores were tied at 1-1 even after extra-time.

Ovono added that the biggest asset for Gabon, with an average age of 26, is that most of the players have been together since the 2003 African Youth Championship in Burkina Faso.

“We are not like Cameroon, who have so many individual stars,” he added.

“Rather we play together as a team and that way it is often difficult to beat us.”

United Arab Emirates-based midfielder Cedric Moubamba is the team’s only injury worry and will face a late fitness test on Wednesday.

BENGUELA, Angola (AFP)

Tags: Africa, africa cup of nations, Angola, burkina faso, cameroon, Cedric Moubamba, controvery, cup campaign, daniel cousin, ebang, Equatorial Guinea, Eric Moutouloungui, Europe, first 30 minutes, France, Gabon, herve renard, home comments, hotel tropicana, hull city, impressive outing, Isaac Chansa, kilometres, lobito, man band, Mans, midfielder, nations cup, Ombaka Stadium, quarter finals, second group, South Africa, Tunisia, united arab emirates, World Cup, Zambia

Zaki set for Hull loan move

January 18, 2010

Egypt’s Amr Zaki is set to return to the English Premier League in a loan spell with Hull until the end of the season, subject to receiving a work permit, the top-flight strugglers said Monday.

Zaki, who scored 11 Premier League goals for Wigan during a loan spell last term, will be joining from Egyptian club Zamalek if the deal is approved.

Hull manager Phil Brown will hope Zaki’s latest stint in England is as productive as his last as the Tigers look to climb out of the relegation zone.

“We are pleased to confirm the loan signing of Amr Zaki from Zamalek FC,” a statement on Hull’s official website, www.hullcityafc.net, said Monday.

“The player yesterday (Sunday) signed a loan agreement until the end of the season to join Hull City AFC.

“As is the case with all non-EU (European Union) transfers, there are work permit and other red tape issues still to be confirmed, but we are expecting the player to return to England and join Hull City on Friday this week.

“The playing contracts are signed and confirmed, however the final details must be undertaken before the loan can commence.”

Zaki said he was looking forward to playing in the Premier League again.

“I’m happy to be back in the Premier League through Hull City,” he told his official website, www.amrzaky.com, on Sunday.

“Tigers are good side and I’m looking forward to do my best for the team.

“I want to thank both Phil Brown and (chairman) Adam Pearson for the faith they showed in me and my target is to repay this faith on the field by helping my team-mates to do the best for the club and for the fans.

“I’ll travel back to Cairo on Tuesday to finish some stuff then back to join my team on Thursday.”

Hull’s leading scorer in the league this season is Republic of Ireland midfielder Stephen Hunt with five.

HULL, England (AFP)

Tags: Adam Pearson, amr, Cairo, egyptian club, England, English Premier League, HULL, hull city, hull city afc, hull england, loan agreement, midfielder, phil brown, premier league, premier league goals, red tape, relegation zone, republic of ireland, Stephen Hunt, stint, target, team mates, top flight, Wigan, Zaki, zamalek

Flavio, Manucho help Angola down Malawi

January 15, 2010

Angola avoided another Mali-style collapse to beat Malawi 2-0 and move to the top of Africa Cup of Nations Group A Thursday.

The 2010 hosts put the trauma of seeing a four-goal lead evaporate in the last quarter of an hour of their opening game behind them with goals from Flavio and Manucho.

The result put Angola on four points with Malawi and Algeria on three and Mali, beaten 1-0 by the Algerians in Thursday’s first match, propping up the table on one point.

“The team put in a fantastic effort,” said Angola coach Manuel Jose.

“We had a lot of injuries, I had to take Gilberto off early. If he had stayed on perhaps we could have closed down the game sooner.

“Then there was Flavio and Zuela, who had a problem in the last minute. But they are the sort of sacrifices you have to make if you want to be champions.

“I believed before the game we could win it. The players were free in their minds, their confidence was very high.”

Angola captain Carlos ‘Kali’ Alonso added: “We showed our strength. We felt more secure and our morale was high.”

Malawi coach Kinnah Phiri was upset over training facilities accorded to his team in the run-up to the game.

“We’ve written a letter of protest to (organisers) CAF – they didn’t let us train at the stadium, we were denied a chance to train yesterday (Wednesday).” Angola, with President Eduardo Jose dos Santos, sporting the team’s scarf, among the 50,000 crowd, burst out of the blocks.

They almost took a lightning lead when Manucho volleyed Flavio’s cross only for Malawi keeper Swadick Sanudi to smother the ball.

On 33 minutes Djalma set up former Manchester United and Hull City striker Manucho, whose fierce effort was only stopped by a superb save from Sanudi.

Jose was forced into an unscripted change of personnel when Jamuana came on for injured Gilberto.

There was a touch of artistry from Malawi’s Peter Wadabwa in the 40th minute when, with his back to the Angola goal, he flicked the ball with his heel at keeper Carlos Fernandes, whose reflex save was equal to the threat.

In first half injury time Flavio’s corner found Manucho in the box, but the striker headed over the woodwork from close range.

The second half was only three minutes old when Angola got the goal they deserved.

Djalma, enjoying a bright game, raced down the left in a move started by Mabina and lofted the ball into the box for a charging Flavio, the striker based in Saudi Arabia, to head past Sanudi.

The president, tapping his white trainers excitedly, beamed.

His smile was even wider when, on 54 minutes, Manucho beat off Malawi skipper Peter Mponda to score from close range.

Mali had defied greater odds to grab a point last Sunday but Angola weren’t about to be caught napping twice.

The one sting in the tail for Jose was the sight of a raft of his troops hit the deck with various degrees of injury – Flavio had to be stretchered off as the hour struck.

LUANDA (AFP)