Uruguay tops Costa Rica 1-0 in first leg of World Cup playoff

November 16, 2009

Uruguay damaged Costa Rica’s hopes of qualifying for a third straight World Cup, scoring a first-half goal and holding off the 10-man Ticos 1-0 Saturday night in the first leg of their inter-confederation playoff.

Diego Lugano capitalized from the second chance off the same corner in the 22nd minute and Uruguay will return home on Wednesday for the second leg with a clear advantage.

Randall Azofeifa all but sealed Costa Rica’s fate in the 53rd minute, arriving late for a challenge on Alvaro Fernandez, tripping him with a lunging left leg and drawing his second yellow card from Spanish referee Alberto Undiano.

Costa Rica, playing without manager Rene Simoes on the bench due to his expulsion from the Ticos’ final CONCACAF qualifier on October 14 against the United States in Washington, had the better possession early. Walter Centeno had a chance from distance in the 19th and it created a number of set piece situations that appeared to give it the early momentum.

But Uruguay, which trained in Guatemala to get accustomed to Estadio Saprissa’s artificial turf pitch, adjusted and scored with a second effort on Nicolas Lodeiro’s corner kick.

Lugano headed Lodeiro’s offering at goal, which had to be headed off the line at the right post by Azofeifa. The ball sailed to the top of the area, where Fernandez sent it back in and Lugano reacted, getting enough of a high right leg to push it inside the right post, where goalkeeper Keilor Navas could reached while being blocked by Azofeifa.

Uruguay had better possession after the goal, but Costa Rica had its best chance in the 43rd when Azofeifa’s ball out of the midfield was flicked high past Uruguayan goalkeeper Fernando Muslera, who had come off his line, but sailed just over the bar.

Costa Rican felt it should be offered the chance to equalize in the 48th when Uruguayan defender Sebastian Eguren appeared to settle a high ball at the top of the area with his right arm. Television replays appeared to indicate Eguren clearly hit the ball with his upper right arm, but Undiano allowed play to continue and five minutes later Azofeifa was sent off.

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica

Concacaf

Tags: 53rd, alvaro fernandez, artificial turf pitch, confederation, corner kick, eguren, estadio saprissa, Fernando Muslera, keilor, left leg, midfield, Rene Simoes, replays, right arm, second chance, second effort, straight world, uruguayan, Walter Centeno, yellow card

United States beats Honduras, qualifies for sixth consecutive World Cup

October 11, 2009

Conor Casey scored a pair of second-half goals and Landon Donovan added another, sending the United States to a sixth consecutive World Cup with a 3-2 victory over Honduras Saturday night.

Casey scored in the 55th and 66th and Donovan added a free kick in the 71st to send the United States to South Africa along with Mexico, which clinched earlier in the day. Carlos Pavon missed an equalizing penalty in the 86th to doom Honduras.

Julio de Leon had a pair of goals for Honduras, which fell to the bottom of the standings in CONCACAF World Cup qualifying with one match remaining.

The result kept the United States atop the standings with 19 points, one ahead of Mexico, four in front of Costa Rica and six ahead of Honduras. Three sides are guaranteed berths in the 32-team World Cup field with the fourth-placed side entering a two-leg playoff with the fifth-placed team from South America for the final berth in South Africa.

Honduras , in fourth place with 13 points, travels to faces already eliminated El Salvador on Wednesday in their final match needing a victory to have any chance of earning one of the three guaranteed berths. The United States will face Costa Rica in Washington on Wednesday.

Honduras had more chances in the first half but U.S. forward Charlie Davies had the best opportunity in the 32nd when, unmarked, he headed Stuart Holden’s cross that Noel Vallardares blocked with an outstretched right arm. The rebound came back to Davies, who sent it well over the bar.

Honduras took the lead in the 47th after U.S. defender Oguchi Onyewu fouled Carlos Pavon just outside the area. De Leon’s right-footed blast curled into the upper left corner past goalkeeper Tim Howard.

The United States responded when Casey outleapt Noel Valladares and looped a headed ball over the Salvadoran goalkeeper in the 55th. He took one touch after a feed from Donovan and placed a right-footed shot around Valladares for a 2-1 lead.

Donovan then matched De Leon, blasting a 24-meter free kick past Valladares and the United States looked secure. But De Leon added his second in the 78th to create some anxious moments, especially when a bounding ball hit Stuart Holden’s right arm.

Pavon, however, sent the shot well over the bar.

SAN PEDRO SULA, Honduras

Source

Tags: berth, Carlos Pavon, Casey, Charlie, conor casey, Costa Rica, de leon, El Salvador, final match, free kick, Goalkeeper, holden, Honduras, Julio de Leon, landon donovan, Mexico, noel, Noel Vallardares, oguchi onyewu, rebound, right arm, saturday night, South America, Stuart Holden, tim howard, U.S, United States, valladares, Washington, world cup field

Cheryl Cole Buys Thigh Fat Buster, err Why??

June 4, 2009

Cheryl Cole has reportedly purchased a £36,000 vacuum exercise bike, for fat busting the thighs and bum.

But the question is why on earth?? The tiny popstar has about as much fat on her thighs as I have in my right arm, if she gets any smaller we’ll struggle to see her.

The very pricey machine is designed to to reduce inches and cellulite by creating a pressurised environment inside a chamber while you cycle inside.

Sounds great if you can afford it!

In other Cheryl Cole related news, Dannii Minogue has finally signed up for the new series of The X Factor, we all new she would!

Get ready for the fashion off ladies, it’s going to be good and probably a lot more outrageous. Can’t wait!

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Tags: bum, cellulite, cheryl cole, Cheryl Cole Buys, dannii minogue, earth, exercise bike, Fashion, Fat, popstar, pressurised environment, related news, right arm, series, thigh, thighs, vacuum, WAGS, x factor

Adriano didn’t handle on purpose, says Italian FA

February 18, 2009

Brazilian striker Adriano will not be punished for scoring with his arm during Internazionale’s match with arch rivals AC Milan on Sunday.

The forward directed the ball into the net with his right arm in the first half, giving Inter a 1-0 lead. His team went on to win the match 2-1.

The Italian FA (FIGC) judged that Adriano didn’t handle the ball on purpose, and therefore shouldn’t have to undergo any consequences. Earlier this season, Alberto Gilardino of Fiorentina was suspended for two games after deliberately using his hand to score.

Written by: Jonathan Roorda