AZ Alkmaar escape in Dutch Cup

October 29, 2009

AZ Alkmaar needed extra time to take distance from amateur side Spakenburg in the Dutch Cup, while PSV Eindhoven advanced after an away win at Roda JC.

Defending league champions AZ had an extremely difficult time in their home match with Spakenburg, who took an early lead through Thijs Houwing.

It took until the 51st minute for substitute Pontus Wernbloom to equalize, after which Stijn Schaars made it 2-1 in minute 76. Against all expectations however, Christy Bonevacio leveled late on to force extra time.

But in extra time, AZ clearly had more energy than their opponents. Wernbloom, Nick van der Velden and Mounir El Hamdaoui scored for a 5-2 win.

PSV Eindhoven never impressed in the match at Roda JC, but walked away with a 0-2 win. Stanislav Manolev netted the opening goal in the 32nd minute, and Jonathan Reis added a second in the 78th.

FC Twente left it until late to increase the gap with amateur team Capelle. A goal from Luuk de Jong gave Steve McClaren’s men a lead in the 28th minute, but it took until the 88th minute for De Jong to add a second. Nikita Rukavytsya went on to make it 3-0 in added time.

The draw for the round of sixteen will be performed on Thursday, following the match between Dordrecht and Ajax.

Jonathan Roorda

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Socceroos missing big guns for S.Korea friendly

August 26, 2009

Captain Lucas Neill and midfield talisman Tim Cahill were on Wednesday left out of Australia’s squad for next month’s friendly against South Korea in Seoul, with striker Harry Kewell also in doubt.

Socceroos Coach Pim Verbeek omitted Neill from the 24-man squad as the defender searches for a new club in Europe and was forced to drop Cahill, a two-goal hero in Australia’s win over Ireland this month, due to a foot injury.

Verbeek included Kewell but admitted the former Liverpool player may miss the Seoul match after sustaining a knock on his ankle representing his Turkish club Galatasaray last week.

“He got a very nasty kick on his ankle, I was with him on Friday when he had his medical, it didn’t look good,” the coach said.

The Dutchman dismissed fears that Cahill’s injury was similar to the broken metatarsal that sidelined the Everton star for six months last year.

“It’s a totally different injury. At this moment it’s much better to leave him in England because I have enough other players,” Verbeek said.

Verbeek said Neill, who is out of contract with England’s West Ham, was released so he could talk to prospective clubs and undergo medicals.

He included two A-League players, Jason Culina and Shane Stefanutto, along with Japanese-based striker Josh Kennedy.

Vince Grella returns from injury, with Michael Beauchamp, Mark Milligan and Michael Petkovic the other inclusions.

Verbeek said Kennedy and Celtic’s Scott McDonald were likely to play as dual strikers against South Korea.

Australia’s 24-man squad announced Wednesday for the September 5 friendly against South Korea in Seoul:

Michael Beauchamp (Aalborg/DEN), Mark Bresciano (Palermo/ITA), Nick Carle (Crystal Palace/ENG), David Carney (Sheffield United/ENG), Ante Covic (Elfsborg/SWE), Jason Culina (Gold Coast/AUS), Vince Grella (Blackburn/ENG), Brett Holman (Alkmaar/NED), Danny Invincibile (Kilmarnock/SCO), Mile Jedinak (Antalyaspo/TUR), Josh Kennedy (Nagoya Grampus/JPN), Harry Kewell (Galatasaray/TUR), Patrick Kisnorbo (Leeds/ENG), Scott McDonald (Celtic/SCO), Mark Milligan (Shanghai Shenhua/CHN), Jade North (Incheon United/KOR), Michael Petkovic (Sivasspor/TUR), Nikita Rukavytsya (FC Twente/NED), Mark Schwarzer (Fulham/ENG), Matthew Spiranovic (Nurnberg/GER), Shane Stefanutto (North Queensland/AUS), Dario Vidosic (Nurnberg/GER), Rhys Williams (Middlesbrough/ENG), Luke Wilkshire (Dinamo Moscow/RUS)

SYDNEY (AFP)

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Dutch club FC Twente make offer for Rukavytsya

January 25, 2009

SYDNEY (AFP) – Australian A-League club Perth Glory said Sunday they had received an offer from Dutch first division club FC Twente for the transfer of their striker Nikita Rukavytsya.

Glory officials said they were examining the offer prior to any negotiations taking place with the Dutch club’s officials.

"At this early stage it is expected that negotiations would occur over several days and the club will make an official announcement at the completion of those discussions," a Glory spokesman said.

The offer for Rukavytsya arrived just prior to Perth’s match with Queensland Roar in Brisbane on Saturday, but coach David Mitchell said he had no hesitation in giving the youngster what could be a final run in Glory colours.

Rukavytsya scored a goal as Perth went down 4-2 to the Roar.

"Word only came through late today (Saturday) that they (FC Twente) had made an offer and so we weren’t quite sure if he was going to play but he was still our player and he gave everything out there, you could see why he is in demand," Mitchell said.

"Nikita has a great future in front of him and if the negotiations are successful and he leaves Perth Glory then he will do so with our blessing and the best wishes for a successful career."

The FC Twente offer comes after the 21-year-old Olympic team striker spent a week on trial there earlier this month.

Rukavytsya played for Australia at last year’s Beijing Olympics and this season has scored 10 goals for Perth.

Written by: AFP