Benfica too strong for Uniao

February 4, 2010

Benfica successfully defended their position at the top of the Portuguese table with a 3-0 win over Uniao de Leiria on Wednesday.

Oscar Cardozo put the Lisbon outfit in the lead after 10 minutes at the Estadio da Luz, and Argentinian forward Javier Saviola doubled the advantage one minute after the hour mark.

A late goal from Ruben Amorim set the score to 3-0, which would also be the final result.

Benfica are now three points ahead of Sporting Braga, but the latter do have a game in hand.

Tags: amorim, benfica, Braga, estadio da luz, final result, game, Javier, leiria, Lisbon, oscar cardozo, Ruben Amorim, score, Sporting, sporting braga, uniao de leiria

Pumas scores twice late, draws 2-2 with W Connection

September 17, 2009

Paco Palencia scored two minutes into injury time to rally Pumas to a 2-2 draw with W Connection on Wednesday, keeping it unbeaten in the Group Stage of the CONCACAF Champions League.

Pumas twice equalized from one-goal deficit in the final three minutes with a flurry of offense not seen earlier in the match. Victor Rosales had equalized for Pumas in the 87th minute before Renato Pereira converted a corner kick in the 89th minute to restore W Connection’s lead.

Jonathan Farias scored his second goal of the Champions League from a bouncing cross in the 21st minute, a tally that looked like it would hold until the flurry of goals in the final minutes.

The result left Pumas atop Group D with seven points, four better than Comunicaciones and Real Espana, which were face off on Thursday.

W Connection remained at the bottom with only one point.

Pumas, which has lost seven of eight games in the Mexican Apertura this season and sits 16th in the 18-team league, scored more in the last three minutes than it had in its previous two league matches.

Rosales latched onto a ball that pinged through the penalty area from a corner kick to seemingly rescue Pumas, which had been outplayed for much of the match. Pereira responded two minutes later, looping a backward header from a corner into the upper corner of the net.

Palencia, who has not scored in seven games in the Mexican Apertura, was unmarked at the back post when a corner was headed through the area in the 92nd minute, driving a right-footed shot from the edge of the six-yard box.

Pumas started an all-Mexican team with a mix of veterans such as Palencia and rarely used reserves. It had the better of possession for the first 10 minutes, but produced nothing dangerous.

W Connection eventually asserted control, generating a pair of corners by the 20th minute and finally exploiting the advantage a minute later.

Hughton Hector bounced a cross into the penalty area from the right side that Farias took off his chest, and volleyed the bounding ball with his right foot across the goal just inside the left post from 10 meters.

W Connection continued to have the better of play for the remainder of the half, forcing Pumas goalkeeper Odin Patino to punch away a shot from distance by Hector in the 30th minute and grab another shot by Farias in the 39th.

Pumas’ only real opportunity came in the 41st when W Connection keeper Jan Michael Williams had to dive right to knock away Javier Cortes’ shot from distance.

The Mexicans started more brightly to start the second half, with Oscar Rojas forcing Williams into a save in the 48th minute and three minutes later when Fernando Espinoza worked his way through the penalty area before the ball was tackled away.

But W Connection again reasserted itself. Farias was sent in on goal virtually unmarked in the 60th only to shoot wide. He also ran onto a loose ball in the 81st in the penalty area, and again shot wide.

MARABELLA, Trinidad

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Tags: concacaf champions league, eight games, farias, Fernando Espinoza, group stage, hector, injury time, Jan Michael Williams, Javier, last three minutes, mexican apertura, Odin Patino, oscar rojas, Paco Palencia, palencia, Pereira, possession, pumas, Renato Pereira, seven games, seven points, tally, Trinidad Pumas, two minutes, victor rosales, W. Connection

Benitez claims Fergie is worried about City

August 14, 2009

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez believes Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is feeling the heat from big-spending Manchester City.

City pinched Carlos Tevez from Old Trafford during the close-season and also landed Emmanuel Adebayor and Kolo Toure from Arsenal as the club’s Abu Dhabi-based owners handed Mark Hughes a massive transfer warchest.

Ferguson was infuriated when City erected a billboard in Manchester city centre with a picture of Tevez above the slogan “Welcome to Manchester” and has been quick to dismiss the threat posed by United’s local rivals.

But Benitez insists Ferguson is worried about the threat City could pose this season.

“We can always talk about the top four, but Manchester City are doing a very good job and have bought some excellent players. I can understand why Mr Ferguson at Manchester United is a little bit worried,” Benitez said.

“Aston Villa and Tottenham have also spent some money, so there will five, six or more fighting now.”

While City have been splashing the cash, Benitez has only bought England defender Glen Johnson and Italy midfielder Alberto Aquilani.

Even those deals were offset by the departure of Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid, yet Benitez is confident Liverpool are strong enough to end United’s three-year reign as champions.

“We have signed Glen Johnson and Alberto Aquilani, that is all, we are different,” Benitez added.

“The important thing was to try and extend the contracts of key players. And that is what we did.

“We had 86 points last season to finish second, and we have more or less the same squad, so maybe we can do the same again or better.

“But we will need to improve at home, and Johnson as an attacking full-back is the sort of player who can make the difference in difficult home matches when opponents are defending.

“As for our title chances, the players know we were very close last season and they want to improve. We know what this team can achieve and they will be ready.”

If Liverpool are to win the title for the first time in 19 years, Benitez will need Argentina midfielder Javier Mascherano will shrug off the disappointment of his aborted move to Barcelona.

After losing Spain midfielder Alonso, Benitez was determined to hang onto Mascherano and told him he would not be allow to leave Anfield despite expressing his preference for a switch to the Nou Camp.

Benitez admits now that there were many times during the close-season when he believes Mascherano’s head was turned by his international colleague Lionel Messi.

But with the player still having more than three years left on his contract, Benitez refused to do business.

“Javier has a very good friend in the national team and that is Messi,” he said.

“Messi was on to him every day and that is not easy, but Javier knows what we think of him and he will be okay.

“I talked with Javier, his agent and Barca. It is normal they see him as such a good player, and an option for them.

“We told Javier he was so important for us and we wanted to keep him. We were not talking about any price.

“He was a bit disappointed as it was a fantastic opportunity with a big club. But he is happy here, and as a player and a person you can trust him 100 percent.”

LIVERPOOL, England (AFP)

Tags: abu dhabi, alberto aquilani, Alonso, Argentina, aston villa, Barcelona, carlos tevez, CITY, emmanuel adebayor, England, glen johnson, Italy, Javier, Javier Mascherano, Johnson, lionel messi, Liverpool, MADRID, Manchester, manchester city, manchester united, Mark Hughes, massive transfer, midfielder, mr ferguson, old trafford, real madrid, sir alex ferguson, Spain, title chances, xabi alonso

Benitez hails Gerrard after acquittal

July 25, 2009

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez hailed Steven Gerrard on Saturday after he was cleared of an alleged assault, voicing confidence that his captain would be mentally ready for the new season.

Gerrard was accused of being part of a group that injured a man at the Lounge Inn nightclub in Southport, near Liverpool, northwest England, on December 29.

Gerrard was found not guilty on Friday and celebrated his high-profile acquittal by playing for the Liverpool reserves just hours later.

The England star scored a goal in their 2-2 draw against neighbours Tranmere Rovers, but Benitez said he will not travel to Singapore to join the rest of the squad for the final days of their Asian tour.

“We are really, really pleased with the news which means he can now play football and focus on football,” said Benitez.

“But the plan is to rest him and he will start again next week.”

His non-appearance in Thailand and Singapore put a dampener on their much-hyped Asian swing with some fans upset after his image was used prominently in promotional material to sell tickets.

His court date was set before the trip to Asia was announced.

Benitez said he hoped supporters understood that, despite the trial being over, Gerrard needed to be treated with care as the new season was just weeks away.

“We were in touch with him every day and knew what was happening and we were confident everything would be okay,” he said.

“Now we need to take care of him, he must rest.

“I have to protect my players. We have already lost two to injury (defender Martin Skrtel and forward Nabil El Zhar). I’m sorry for the fans that we can’t bring Gerrard but he is the captain of the team so he is a key player for the rest of the season.

“I hope the fans can respect the decision. We have other big names like (Pepe) Reina, (Xabi) Alonso, Fernando (Torres) and (Javier) Mascherano and they are all here.”

Asked if Gerrard would be mentally ready for the new campaign given the stress he has been under, Benitez said: “He’s alright, he scored a goal against Tranmere on Friday night.”

Gerrard said in a brief statement that he wanted to put the case behind him.

“I’m really looking forward to the season ahead and concentrating on football,” he said.

Meanwhile, reserve team coach John McMahon hailed Gerrard’s “world class” contribution in the Tranmere match, saying he was delighted with the impact he made in a 64-minute appearance.

“Steven is different class and he wanted to play,” he told the Liverpool website.

“He was a real inspiration to the young players and they can learn from playing alongside a world class player like him.

“He is a model professional and his attitude in the dressing room before the game and at half-time was fantastic. Young lads look up to Steven and they can only learn from that.”

Gerrard is likely to rejoin the team for their friendly against Espanyol on August 2.

SINGAPORE (AFP)

Tags: acquittal, alleged assault, alonso fernando, Asia, asian tour, dampener, december 29, el zhar, england star, Fernando, Fernando Torres, Javier, Javier Mascherano, John McMahon, Liverpool, liverpool reserves, martin skrtel, Nabil, northwest england, pepe reina, promotional material, rafael benitez, Reina, SINGAPORE, southport, Steven Gerrard, trip to asia, xabi alonso

Saturday’s Transfer Rumors

July 11, 2009

‘After pulling the plug on a deal to bring Samuel Eto’o to the club, Manchester City are also set to miss out on Carlos Tevez, who is in no rush to finalise his future with Chelsea reportedly also interested in the Argentine striker.’ – Daily Star

‘Alternatively, City will tie up a deal for Tevez before jetting out on their pre-season tour of South Africa on Wednesday.’ – The Sun

‘City will sign Tevez and are also set to increase the stakes in their pursuit of Chelsea defender and captain John Terry with a third bid worth £40m.’ – Daily Express

‘City captain Richard Dunne is determined not to leave Eastlands and is prepared to see out another season despite Stoke and Sunderland have each having £4m offers for the centre-back accepted.’ – Daily Express

‘Manchester United have targeted Atletico Madrid forward Sergio Aguero and are willing to offer £30m plus Portuguese winger Nani to land the Argentine.’ – Daily Mirror

‘Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has laughed off rumours linking the club with a move for French international midfielder Franck Ribery.’ – The Sun

‘However, Benitez is interested in Wigan midfielder Lee Cattermole – the subject of a failed £5m bid from Sunderland on Friday – as a possible replacement for Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano, who have been linked with moves away from Anfield.’ – Independent

‘Arsenal can rest easy this summer after Russian forward Andrey Arshavin denied any interest in a move to Champions League holders Barcelona, and big-spending Real Madrid insisted they are not pursuing midfielder Cesc Fabregas.’ – Daily Express

‘Tottenham are set to make a last-ditch attempt to hijack Everton’s plans to sign Sheffield United’s England Under-21 right-back Kyle Naughton.’ – The Sun

‘Spurs boss Harry Redknapp wants Sunderland striker Kenwyne Jones to be part of any deal that sees forward Darren Bent join the Black Cats.’ – Daily Mirror

‘Everton have launched a £12m bid for Standard Liege captain Stephen Defour, formerly the midfield partner of Toffees’ record signing Marouane Fellaini at the Belgian club.’ – The Sun

‘Fulham are closing in on an £11m deal for Portsmouth and England striker Peter Crouch after agreeing to sell forward Bobby Zamora to Hull.’ – Daily Mail

‘Sunderland are also chasing Crouch but may have to raise their bid to £15m in order to land the striker after having an £11m offer rejected by Pompey.’ – The Times

‘Former Liverpool and Middlesbrough midfielder Boudewijn Zenden – currently with Marseille – claims Fulham want to bring him back to England to add experience to their forthcoming European campaign.’ – Daily Mirror

‘Sunderland have won the £6m fight to sign Manchester United striker Fraizer Campbell, who was also a target for Hull, West Ham and Newcastle.’ – The Sun

‘Stoke are reeling after being snubbed by Rennes midfielder Stephane M’Bia, who has agreed to join Marseille in a £10m deal instead.’ – Daily Mirror

‘Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate has given the green light to Aston Villa’s £18m double swoop for Boro’s attacking duo Stewart Downing and Tuncay.’ – The Sun

‘Arsenal’s French defender Mikael Silvestre is a target for French champions Bordeaux.’ – Daily Mirror

‘Bolton want to sign Real Betis midfielder Achille Emana but are struggling to meet the £11m asking price.’ – The Sun

‘Wolves boss Mick McCarthy is set to join the the chase for Aston Villa centre-back Zat Knight, who is also wanted by Bolton.’ – Daily Mirror

‘Burnley manager Owen Coyle is ready to clinch a £600,000 deal for Hamilton’s Scottish Under-21 defender Brian Easton, who has expressed an interest in a move to the Premier League.’ – Daily Mirror

By: Abhimanyu Rajput

Tags: aguero, Bent, black cats, Bordeaux, Brian Easton, Campbell, captain John Terry, captain richard, captain Richard Dunne, captain stephen, captain Stephen Defour, carlos tevez, cesc fabregas, CHELSEA, CITY, club manchester, daily express, daily mirror, Eastlands, England, English Premier League, french international, fulham, gareth southgate, Hamilton, Harry Redknapp, HULL, Javier, Javier Mascherano, Jones, LA Liga, last ditch attempt, Lee Cattermole, Ligue 1, Liverpool, MADRID, manchester city, Marseille, mick mccarthy, middlesbrough, Mikael Silvestre, nani, NEWCASTLE, Owen Coyle, peter crouch, Portsmouth, rafa benitez, Rennes, richard dunne, samuel eto, samuel eto o, Scottish Premier League, Sergio, Sheffield, sheffield united, South Africa, standard liege, stewart downing, Stoke, Sunderland, west ham, xabi alonso

Xabi and Masch will be staying, says goalkeeper Reina

July 5, 2009

Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina is confident the club will keep hold of Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano.

Reina’s Spanish team-mate Xabi Alonso has been strongly linked with Real Madrid, while Barcelona are thought to be courting Mascherano.

Reds boss Rafa Benitez has rejected speculation linking the pair with moves out of Anfield and Reina believes his manager has no plans to sell the pair as he builds a side capable of challenging for the Premier League title.

“I believe that he [Benitez] has his mind very clear and his idea in these moments is to not sell,” Reina told EFE.

“He wants to continue with a team he has known for a long time, with an already fundamented base and where we know almost everything.

“Whoever wants to touch this team or this structure [Liverpool] will have to pay a lot of money.”

Meanwhile, Reina has hit out at Gareth Barry and Carlos Tevez for snubbing moves to Liverpool this summer.

Long-term transfer target Barry left Aston Villa to join City earlier this summer and Tevez looks set to join him at Eastlands after ruling out a switch to Liverpool.

Reina believes the pair have made a mistake in shunning Liverpool feeling money was the motivating factor in their decisions to spurn a switch to Anfield

“Apparently, they moved for the money. That is their decision but I also think it is their problem if they cannot see that Liverpool is a bigger club,” Reina is quoted as saying in the News of the World.

“It’s up to them what they do but let me tell them that I am very proud to play for Liverpool. We can offer European football and I think that should have been a consideration for them.”

“Everybody knows what it is to play for Liverpool. It’s a pleasure and a tremendous honour. I am surprised they didn’t consider these things.”

“Some things in a player’s career should be more important than money.”

By: Abhimanyu Rajput

Tags: Alonso, anfield, Barcelona, Barry, carlos tevez, club reina, Eastlands, EFE, English Premier League, everybody, everything, Gareth Barry, honour, Javier, Javier Mascherano, LA Liga, Liverpool, liverpool goalkeeper, mascherano, news of the world, pepe, pepe reina, premier league, rafa, rafa benitez, real madrid, reds, Reina, spanish team, speculation, target, team mate, transfer, xabi alonso

Real´s Saviola heads to Benfica

June 27, 2009

LISBON (AFP) – Argentine forward Javier Saviola could finally put an end to a frustrating spell with Real Madrid after the Spanish giants agreed to sell him to Lisbon side Benfica.

Saviola, who was used sparingly by the Spanish giants last season and had expressed his desire to move, is set to sign a three-year deal with an extra year’s option according to the Portuguese league side.

Tags: Argentine, benfica, desire, giants, Javier, LA Liga, LigaBwin, Lisbon, MADRID, portuguese, portuguese league, real madrid, saviola

Messi wants Masch at Camp Nou

June 24, 2009

Barcelona wonder kid Lionel Messi has urged Liverpool FC midfielder Javier Mascherano to consider a move to Camp Nou.

The Champions League medal winner has admitted that he would relish the opportunity to play alongside his countryman at club level. Mascherano, who is considered as key player at Anfield, has been heavily linked with a move to the Nou Camp.

The Argentina Captain dropped the biggest hint, that he might switch to La Liga by admitting that he was flattered by the reported interest from Spanish Champions Barcelona and their fierce rivals Real Madrid.

Encouraging his compatriot to consider a move to Barca, Messi admits a possible deal is exciting for him and the club.

“Of course I would like him to join,” he told El Mundo Deportivo.

“Who would not want to play with great players like Javier? I hope he can come here.”

Written by: Abhimanyu Rajput

Tags: anfield, Argentina, Barcelona, camp nou, champions league, compatriot, countryman, el mundo deportivo, Javier, Javier Mascherano, LA Liga, lionel messi, liverpool fc, MADRID, mascherano, medal winner, midfielder, nou camp, real madrid, spanish champions, wonder kid

Benitez spends big, but does Johnson fit the bill?

June 24, 2009

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez fought long and hard for greater control of the Anfield club’s transfer funds and first through the door since he agreed his new contract is Portsmouth’s Glen Johnson. He didn’t come cheap, either.

At a reported 17 million pounds, Johnson is an expensive acquisition for a player who never quite made it at Chelsea, and has only recently found success in the England team after raiding down Portsmouth’s right hand side last season.

There may be a lot of rebuilding work still to come from Benitez if Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa are allowed to leave to join the Real Madrid party (and who knows, perhaps Javier Mascherano along with them).

Johnson is not at all a bad player. His general attacking play is more appealing than his defensive talents, but they can be coached. It is not his capabilities that are in question, it’s his price tag.

Another striker must be high on the priority list, but having always openly admired Barcelona’s Dani Alves and then settling for Johnson, Liverpool fans could expect links with Samuel Eto’o or David Villa and end up with Carlton Cole.

PHOTO: England’s Glen Johnson outjumps Kazakhstan’s Tanat Nuserbayev (R) and Zhambyl Kukeyev during the World Cup 2010 qualifier against Kazakhstan at the Central Stadium in Almaty June 6, 2009. REUTERS/Eddie Keogh

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Tags: almaty, Alonso, alvaro arbeloa, anfield, Barcelona, Benitez, Carlton Cole, Central Stadium, CHELSEA, dani alves, DAVID VILLA, Eddie Keogh, England, england team, English Premier League, glen johnson, Javier, Johnson, kazakhstan, keogh, Liverpool, liverpool fans, MADRID, mascherano, new contract, photo england, Portsmouth, price tag, reuters, samuel eto, samuel eto o, striker, tanat, world cup 2010, xabi alonso

Liverpool tell Barca: Hands off Javier

June 10, 2009

LIVERPOOL (AFP) – Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez on Wednesday insisted that the club would not sell Javier Mascherano, despite claims from the player’s agent that the midfielder would favour a move to Barcelona.

“Mascherano has no price,” Benitez told www.liverpoolfc.tv. “Barcelona could not afford to match his value to Liverpool Football Club. We do not want to sell and Javier is very happy here.

“I have spoken to Javier two or three times this summer – the last time was only last week – and he was very happy, very positive.

“He gave me the private number of his agent, Walter Tamer, and again the conversation was very positive and was all about football.”

Tamer was quoted in the British press as saying that Argentina captain Mascherano, arguably the best defensive midfielder in world football, would be proud that Barca were interested in him and suggested a move could be “feasible”.

But Benitez claimed he had made it clear that Liverpool would not sell a player he regards as a key component of his side.

“Walter told me that two clubs with big, big names were asking after Mascherano – and I told him to forget it, that Javier was happy in Liverpool and he was not for sale,” the Reds manager added.

“So I was surprised to see the agent’s comments today.

“He has a long contract and any club can forget about bidding for him. They can offer 40 million pounds or even 50 million, we don’t want to sell.”

There has been speculation that Benitez could be forced to sell some key players this summer because of the financially precarious position of the club’s American owners, who have to refinance 350 million pounds of debts by July 24.

But the Spaniard has insisted he will only consider offloading fringe players and that he does have some money to spent. An extra striker and a new right-back are the club’s main priorities with Valencia’s David Silva the principal target in the former category.