Sevilla, Racing Santander into Copa semis

January 28, 2010

Sevilla and Racing Santander booked their spots in the 2009-10 Copa del Rey semifinals on Wednesday with aggregate victories over Deportivo La Coruña and Osasuna, respectively.

Sevilla dropped a 1-0 result at home to the Galician side on Wednesday, but won 3-1 on aggregate thanks to a strong performance in last week’s opener at the Riazor.

Needing a strong performance to overcome the deficit, and they managed to open the scoring a minute before halftime as Rodolfo Bodipo got on the end of Pablo Álvarez’s cross for the finish past a helpless Javi Varas.

Bodipo missed another chance in the second half when the striker’s header missed the target, but he was forced off due to injury in the 67th minute, giving Depor no chance at the comeback.

While Sevilla coasted into the semis, Racing stormed into the last four with a 3-0 victory at Reyno de Navarra, completing a 5-1 aggregate thrashing of Osasuna.

Xisco bagged the opener after just six minutes when his sliding effort against Nacho Monreal beat goalkeeper Roberto.

The lead was doubled in the 23rd minute when Monreal was again beaten, this time by a Henrique header at the far post off a corner kick, and recent Real Madrid super signing Sergio Canales completed the rout with 12 minutes go with a phenomenal free kick.

Sevilla will play Mallorca or Getafe in the semifinal round, while Racing await the winner between Atlético Madrid and Celta de Vigo. The second legs of those quarterfinal ties take place on Thursday.

Tags: atletico madrid, celta, corner kick, del rey, deportivo la coruna, legs, MADRID, Navarra, Pablo Alvarez, racing santander, real madrid, Rey, reyno, riazor, Roberto, Rodolfo Bodipo, rout, santander, second half, Sergio Canales, SEVILLA, striker, target, Vigo, Xisco

Libertadores Cup – domain of the Golden Oldies?

January 23, 2010

What more could Ronaldo and Roberto Carlos have in common with Juan Sebastian Veron later this year apart from being among the greatest players in South American football?

As Rex Gowar and Pedro Fonseca write, it is not new for South Americans to return home after brilliant careers in Europe and gain a new lease of life well into their 30s. Veron, though, touched new heights when he led Estudiantes to victory in the Libertadores Cup — South America’s Champions League — in 2009.

Corinthians, with Ronaldo and now Roberto Carlos on board, are celebrating their centenary this year and they have set themselves the target of winning South American football’s top club prize for the first time.

The other big clubs in the Sao Paulo region, Pele’s Santos in the 1960s, Sao Paulo and Palmeiras in the last two decades, have all won it. So have Cruzeiro from Belo Horizonte, Flamengo and Vasco da Gama from Rio de Janeiro and Gremio and Internacional from the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul.

It rankles with Corinthians that the Libertadores Cup has not embellished their trophy cabinet. They have not even reached the final, something a few lesser Brazilian sides like Sao Caetano and Atletico Paranaense have achieved.

Ronaldo, 33, has already had a year at Corinthians, having turned his back on Flamengo to join them after recovering from the knee injury that ended his European career at AC Milan.

He spearheaded them to victory in last year’s Paulista state championship and the Copa Brasil, the title that secured their place in this year’s Libertadores.

Corinthians, looking to the pair to emulate their great Real Madrid days together, signed Roberto Carlos from Turkey’s Fenerbahce this month to boost their chances.

However, fans of other Brazilian sides have a different view of Roberto Carlos. They see him as one of the men responsible for Brazil’s defeat by France in the 2006 World Cup quarter-finals in Germany.

When Thierry Henry scored the only goal, the Brazil left back was bending down pulling up his socks –- a scene repeated and commented on extensively on television after the elimination of the defending world champions.

Three and a half years later, and now 36, Roberto Carlos hopes to put that episode behind him at Corinthians alongside Ronaldo, also criticised for his 2006 performance.

The played together again this week for the first time since 2007 at Real Madrid, when they turned out for Corinthians in an unimpressive 2-1 win over Bragantino in the Paulista championship.

Expectation was enormous, though. Corinthians’ first home match of the year drew 32,000 fans, double the number who watched national champions Flamengo at the Maracana in their opener last weekend in the Carioca (Rio de Janeiro) state championship.

PHOTO: Ronaldo of Corinthians (R) talks to teammate Roberto Carlos before their Paulista soccer match against Bragantino in Sao Paulo January 20, 2010. REUTERS/Paulo Whitaker

Tags: ac milan, belo horizonte, brazil, brilliant careers, Carlos, european career, flamengo, Germany, gremio, juan sebastian, juan sebastian veron, knee injury, libertadores cup, new lease, palmeiras, Paulo, Pedro Fonseca, rex gowar, Rio, rio de janeiro, rio grande, Roberto, roberto carlos, Santos, sao caetano, South America, South American, south american football, South Americans, target, thierry henry, trophy cabinet, Turkey, vasco da gama

Lovenkrands hat-trick gives Magpies FA Cup joy

January 14, 2010

Danish international striker Peter Lovenkrands scored a hat-trick on Wednesday to ease Newcastle United to a 3-0 victory over fellow Championship side Plymouth Argyle in their FA Cup third round replay.

The 29-year-old – a former Rangers and Schalke 04 player – struck twice in the first-half and added his third in the 72nd minute to send the Championship leaders through to a fourth round meeting away at another second-tier outfit West Bromwich Albion, managed by former FA Cup winner Roberto di Matteo.

Lovenkrands has rarely shone at the Magpies but he more than repaid the faith shown in him by manager Chris Hughton as he struck in the 10th minute shooting home after fine work by man of the match, Argentinian winger Jonas Gutierrez.

Lovenkrands, who appeared at the 2002 World Cup finals and the Euro 2004 finals, struck again five minutes from the break with a header.

Plymouth, who are third from bottom of the Championship, never threatened Newcastle’s goal and Lovenkrands duly wrapped up the match 18 minutes from full-time with a soft shot which still crept past goalkeeper Roman Larrieu and extended Newcastle’s unbeaten run to 13.

LONDON (AFP)

Tags: 2002 world cup finals, Chris Hughton, cup winner, danish, euro 2004 finals, FA Cup, former rangers, hat trick, Jonas Gutierrez, london, magpies, Matteo, NEWCASTLE, newcastle united, peter lovenkrands, Plymouth, plymouth argyle, replay, Roberto, roberto di matteo, schalke 04, striker, West Bromwich, west bromwich albion, winger

Ze Roberto apologises to HSV

January 6, 2010

Ze Roberto has offered his apologies to his club Hamburger SV. The 35-year-old, who is in his homeland Brazil, surprised coach Bruno Labbadia and his team-mates by not reporting for training as planned last Sunday.

“I am sorry that I did not come to the training camp and to have informed HSV so late about my reasons,” Ze Roberto said on the club’s official website.

“I have a serious family problem which I can only resolve by being in Brazil.

“I hope to be back in Hamburg as soon as possible and will remain in contact with those in charge,” added the former Bayern Munich midfielder.

“I would like to ask people not to doubt the reliability I have always shown during my career.”

Ze Roberto is still recovering from an ankle surgery. “My foot is getting better,” the Brazilian midfield ace said.

“I now have to rebuild the calf muscles which I lost by wearing a plaster cast.”

Tags: Ace, ankle surgery, apologies, apologises, Bayern, bayern munich, brazil, bruno labbadia, calf muscles, coach, Hamburg, hamburger sv, last sunday, midfield, plaster cast, reliability, Roberto, team mates, training camp, ze roberto

World Cup win would be icing on Dunga´s cake

December 3, 2009

A World Cup win in South Africa would put the icing on the cake for coach Dunga, under whose stewardship Brazil have been looking a strong bet for a sixth title.

As a player Dunga already has a winners medal from 1994 when he lifted the trophy as skipper.

But now he is gradually homing in on the remaining ambition he harbours in the game – to win the biggest prize in sport as coach and emulate Franz Beckenbauer, who performed the feat in both roles for Germany.

Under Dunga, the side have been showing their form across the year, ticking off a slew of the goals he set for them.

“We can’t complain. We qualified in double quick time for the World Cup, we won the Confederations Cup and we beat Argentina away (in the qualifiers),” Dunga told reporters Wednesday.

Brazil cruised through the qualifying programme to book their passage with three games to spare and topped the group ahead of Chile, Paraguay and an Argentina who just limped over the line.

The 2009 record reads 14 wins, two draws and one defeat – to Bolivia when finals tickets were already assured – and Dunga says the run has bolstered his ambitions of landing further success next summer.

“This is the fruit of three-and-a-half years work and the dedication of the players. The group is very happy,” said Dunga, whose side looked hyper-confident in seeing off England in a friendly last month in Doha.

Some contradictions do show up when the side’s recent record in that the likes of Uruguay and Argentina were sent packing whereas there were some hiccups in the form of goalless draws against minnows Bolivia and Venezuela.

Four years ago the Brazilians went out in the quarters after losing to France, which spelt the end for Carlos Parreira, now in charge of hosts South Africa.

The old guard, such as Ronaldo and Roberto Carlos, have since left the international stage but fresh talent has arrived in spades, including Seville striker Luis Fabiano and the likes of the experienced but still young Kaka as well as Robinho.

Even if Dunga does emulate “Kaiser” Beckenbauer, the German legend is hoping that the Brazilian will do so in more style than he fears.

Beckenbauer has yet to be converted and clearly remains a fan of the Brazil that triumphed in his own era.

“This is not the Brazil I know. It’s a team that plays very tight with only one up front. I don’t like that,” said Beckenbauer.

Brazil will try to fine-tune their game in a March 3 friendly against Ireland in Dublin.

RIO DE JANEIRO (AFP)

Tags: Argentina, bolivia, brazil, brazilians, Carlos, Carlos Parreira, Chile, confederations cup, contradictions, Doha, dublin, England, France, franz beckenbauer, hiccups, Ireland, kaka, luis fabiano, minnows, paraguay, parreira, quick time, rio de janeiro, Roberto, roberto carlos, ronaldo, seville, slew, South Africa, spades, stewardship, striker, three games, uruguay, venezuela

Allardyce advises Martinez to keep his mouth shut

October 30, 2009

Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce has advised Roberto Martinez to keep his mouth shut in future.

Wigan manager Martinez was at the centre of a storm this week after he reportedly suggested that some of his top-flight colleagues were little more than Sir Alex Ferguson’s loyalists.

Martinez was alleged to have told a Spanish newspaper that Allardyce viewed himself as Ferguson’s successor at Old Trafford and was part of a group of managers sympathetic towards the Manchester United boss.

Martinez subsequently denied making the comments and Allardyce confirmed that the Spaniard had phoned him to apologise.

Allardyce, whose team take on United at Old Trafford in the Barclays Premier League on Saturday, accepted Martinez’s apology but warned him to be more careful in future.

“I accept what he said when he rang me” Allardyce said. “When I saw the papers I thought, ‘Is it true or isn’t it? But I have to take his word for it, which I do.

“Welcome to the Premier League, Roberto. Keep your mouth shut in the future or make sure you remember what is going to be done in the Premier League.

“If they have distorted his words, then that is something of a regular occurrence at this level.

“It’s not a real problem for me, I just think Roberto has learnt a harsh lesson about what happens in the Premier League if you start diverting away from you and your club business.

“You can say you can be misinterpreted, you can say you can be read wrong, but it’s a lesson that when you comment in this league on anything it can be blown out of all proportion.

“He’s apologised to me and I accept that apology.”

Abhimanyu Rajput

Tags: alex ferguson, apology, barclays premier league, boss, club business, harsh lesson, loyalists, manchester united, occurrence, old trafford, premier league, proportion, Roberto, roberto martinez, Sam, sam allardyce, sir alex ferguson, Spaniard, top flight

Ze Roberto eyes Bundesliga title – and world crown

September 26, 2009

League-leaders Hamburg face the biggest test of their tenure at the top of the Bundesliga on Saturday as their Brazilian midfielder Ze Roberto takes on his former club Bayern Munich.

The 35-year-old has enjoyed a new lease of life since swapping Bavaria for the Hanseatic city and with three goals in six games is hoping to help Hamburg win the German league title this year.

Bruno Labbadia’s Hamburg side will certainly have their credentials tested by third-placed Bayern who are getting stronger and chasing their fourth consecutive league win.

“Our team has a bright future and I am in the form of my life,” said the midfielder.

“Bayern always starts the season with the goal of being German champions, we must also make sure that doesn’t happen.

“My goal is to win the Bundesliga with Hamburg – and the World Cup with Brazil.”

Having effectively retired from the Brazil national team so he could re-join Bayern in 2007, Ze Roberto said he would love to play for his country again at next year’s World Cup in South Africa.

“Resigning from the national team was the biggest mistake of my life,” he said having won 84-caps for his country.

“If national coach Dunga calls me, am I there.

“It is my biggest dream to still play at another World Cup for Brazil, I want to be a world champion.”

Hamburg suffered a German Cup upset when they lost their second round tie at third division Osnabrueck on Wednesday, while Bayern roasted second division Rot-Weiss Oberhausen 5-0 at the Allianz Arena.

After being dumped out of the German Cup on Wednesday by Cologne, defending league champions Wolfsburg are ninth and need a win to boost flagging confidence at home to Hanover.

Goalkeeper Diego Benaglio is banned for this weekend’s game having been sent off in the defeat by Leverkusen nearly a fortnight ago.

But both Edin Dzeko and strike partner Grafite are both in fine form playing in front of play-maker Zvjezdan Misimovic.

Jens Lehmann returns for Stuttgart against Eintracht Frankfurt after his club suspended the ex-Arsenal stopper for an unauthorised trip to Munich’s beer festival.

The 39-year-old missed Wednesday’s German Cup injury-time win against VfB Luebeck because he attended the Oktoberfest last weekend for a charity event after his side’s 2-0 defeat by Cologne.

Neighbours and bitter rivals Dortmund and Schalke meet in Saturday’s 134th Ruhr valley derby then later that night the draw for the third round of the German Cup takes place with both teams still involved.

With just one win in their last four games, Schalke are down to fourth in the league while Dortmund are 13th in the table with only their opening day of the season win over Cologne to show after six games.

Cologne are chasing their third consecutive win at second-placed Leverkusen having beaten Stuttgart and Wolfsburg in their last two games with striker Manasseh Ishiaku in form alongside Germany’s Lukas Podolski after scoring twice against Wolfsburg.

Friday

Nuremberg v VfL Bochum

Saturday

VfL Wolfsburg v Hanover 96

Borussia Dortmund v Schalke 04

Werder Bremen v Mainz 05

Cologne v Bayer Leverkusen

Eintracht Frankfurt v VfB Stuttgart

Hamburg v Bayern Munich

Sunday

Freiburg v Borussia M’gladbach

Hoffenheim v Hertha Berlin

BERLIN (AFP)

Tags: allianz arena, Bayern, berlin, brazil, Bremen, bruno labbadia, cologne, consecutive league, diego benaglio, dunga, edin dzeko, eintracht frankfurt, FRANKFURT, german cup, german league, Germany, grafite, Hamburg, Hanover, hanseatic city, jens lehmann, league champions, league leaders, Lukas Podolski, mistake of my life, Munich, national coach, nuremberg, Roberto, rot weiss oberhausen, six games, South Africa, Wolfsburg, world champion

Roberto: We need to win

September 25, 2009

Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Roberto has urged his team-mates to dig deep and produce a result at Valencia as they try desperately to turn their season around.

Los Rojiblancos are in something of a crisis following a dreadful start to the season and coach Abel Resino is clinging on to his job by an ever-thinning thread.

There were calls for his dismissal during Wednesday’s home draw with Almeria which left them second from bottom of the Primera Division table.

Atletico travel to Valencia, for a match which is a must-win affair for both teams, looking for their first away points of the season and Roberto knows just how much the three points would mean.

“The team really needs a victory,” he said.

“We had it in the match against Almeria until they levelled in the final moment.

“We didn’t expect that goal and it affects you in the hours after the game.

“Then, you get home, you go to sleep and you wake up with a different attitude, with a desire to train and move on.

“All of the team members look forward to coming to work and we’re aware that we have the chance to win and resolve this situation every three days.

“Now we have to grit our teeth and fight to achieve our goals.”

Raul Garcia, Mariano Pernia and Ignacio Camacho are injured, while Sergio Asenjo, Alvaro Dominguez and Leandro Cabrera have been called up to the Under-20 World Cup and are also missing.

Valencia have hit a bit of a slump of late following an impressive start to the season.

Los Che were one of four sides to win the opening two games and looked certain to make it three on the trot last weekend until surrendering a late goal at home to Sporting Gijon.

That disappointing 2-2 tie was then followed by a miserable 3-1 defeat at Getafe and Hedwiges Maduro is desperate to get back to winning ways at the Mestalla.

“Against Atletico we have to show intensity and motivation,” he said.

“It’s a good game to do that because we have to give a victory to our fans at home.

“We’re all working to the maximum to achieve the three points.

“The only answer is to win, showing our qualities.

“Winning a game is not easy. But we have only just suffered our first defeat and it’s not a problem.

“Now we all have to improve and learn from our mistakes. Wednesday’s was an odd game but we have to face the next one and we will do it with great desire to win.”

However, Unai Emery will be without Ruben Baraja, Angel Dealbert, Manuel Fernandes, Asier del Horno, Nacho Gonzalez and Vicente, who all look set to miss out through injury.

The Mestalla fans will be hoping David Villa continues his fantastic start to the season, with the Spain striker having scored five goals in four matches.

Abhimanyu Rajput

Tags: abel, Abel Resino, almeria, Angel Dealbert, atletico madrid, Che, DAVID VILLA, getafe, Goalkeeper, Gonzalez, good game, hedwiges maduro, ignacio camacho, manuel fernandes, mariano pernia, Primera Division, raul garcia, Roberto, ruben baraja, Sergio Asenjo, slump, Spain, sporting gijon, team mates, team members, two games, Valencia, Vicente, winning ways, World Cup

Barcelona v Atletico: Is there a more entertaining fixture?

September 20, 2009

You are guaranteed goals when Barcelona take on Atletico Madrid each season, and Saturday’s encounter at the Nou Camp was no exception as the European champions romped to a 5-2 victory.

Barca were 4-0 up within 41 minutes after goals from Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Lionel Messi, Daniel Alves and Seydou Keita, before Atletico pulled one back through Sergio Aguero.

Diego Forlan made it 4-2 late on but any thoughts of a late rally disappeared when an inspired Messi grabbed his second at the end.

Whereas most managers think Rorke’s Drift or the Alamo when they go the Nou Camp, Atletico coach Abel Resino went to trade blows with Barca, lining up five attacking players ahead of one holding midfielder.

Their goal was guarded by reserve keeper Roberto, who was making only his second first-team appearance – the first having been four years ago.

Xavi has described Pep Guardiola as a football romantic for his attacking ideals, and perhaps Resino falls into the same category. But his ‘Charge of the Light Brigade’ perhaps owed more to history than good sense.

He could have looked back to their previous meeting at the Calderon last February. When his side fell two goals behind he threw caution to the wind, and the team came back to win 4-3 with a last minute goal from Aguero.

Recent meetings have been littered with goals.

In January, Barca knocked Atletico out of the King’s Cup 5-2 on aggregate, and at the Nou Camp for the first meeting of last season Barcelona trounced Javier Aguirre’s team 6-1.

Two years ago, it was a similar story. Ronaldinho scored his last ever goal for Barcelona with a spectacular overhead kick at the Calderon only for Atletico to storm back and win 4-2. At the Nou Camp, Barca ran out 3-0 winners.

Three years ago, Barcelona smashed six past Atletico without reply in the Calderon after having drawn 1-1 earlier in the season.

Four years ago, Fernando Torres scored three as Atletico did the double over the eventual league and European champions with 2-1 and 3-1 victories.

Anyone got tickets for Barcelona’s visit to the Calderon in February?

PHOTO: Barcelona’s Leo Messi (L) is tackled by Atletico Madrid’s Pablo Ibanez during their Spanish First Division soccer match at Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona September 19, 2009. REUTERS/Gustau Nacarino

Source

Tags: Abel Resino, atletico madrid, barca, Barcelona, camp nou, caution to the wind, charge of the light brigade, diego forlan, european champions, Fernando Torres, Javier Aguirre, leo messi, lionel messi, MADRID, minute goal, nou camp, overhead kick, pablo ibanez, pep guardiola, Roberto, Sergio Aguero, seydou keita, win 4, zlatan ibrahimovic

Gomez strike rescues point for Bayern

August 15, 2009

Germany striker Mario Gomez hit a second-half equaliser as Bayern Munich drew 1-1 with Werder Bremen on Saturday to leave the German giants still chasing their first Bundesliga win of the season.

Having been held 1-1 by Hoffenheim on the opening weekend, Bayern coach Louis van Gaal is still waiting for his first German league win in charge.

Bayern fans have bad memories of Werder Bremen at the Allianz Arena after Thomas Schaaf’s team cruised to a stunning 5-2 win there last season.

Mesut Oezil, who terrorised Bayern in the last campaign, struck again when Bremen midfielder Richard Hunt set him up in the penalty area. Despite the attention of five defenders, Oezil slotted home on 39 minutes.

Van Gaal switched Germany striker Miroslav Klose for Croatia’s Ivica Olic at half-time in a bid to get back on level terms and Bayern had an attempt cleared off the line on 50 minutes.

But moments later at the other end, Bremen striker Boubacar Sanogo just went wide.

Gomez then scored his first league goal for Bayern since his summer switch from Stuttgart to secure a valuable point on 72 minutes after being set up by Germany team-mate Philipp Lahm.

Some much-needed good news for Bayern fans was that French play-maker Franck Ribery made his first appearance of the season when he came off the bench in the second-half.

Hamburg have two wins from two games after sealing a 4-1 win at home to Borussia Dortmund, having raced into a 3-1 lead in just 12 minutes.

The goal rush began when Hamburg’s Ivory Coast defender Guy Demel slotted home after three minutes only for Dortmund’s Nelson Veldez to head his team level on five minutes.

Hamburg regained the lead when ex-Bayern Munich midfielder Ze Roberto scored on 10 minutes before Jose Paolo Guerrero added another two minutes later to effectively end the game as a contest.

Swedish striker Marcus Berg netted the fourth on 72 minutes.

Stuttgart bounced back from their opening day defeat to defending champions Wolfsburg with a 4-2 win over Freiburg as Russian striker Pavel Pogrebnyak scored his first goal in the Bundesliga since joining from Zenit St Petersburg.

The home side went further ahead when Brazilian striker Elson converted a 65th minute penalty before Freiburg’s Cameroon international Mohamadou Idrissou pulled a goal back for Freiburg.

Elson then bagged his second goal to make it 3-1 on 76 minutes before Idrissou also grabbed his second on 86 minutes, but Stuttgart’s striker Julian Schieber struck with time running out to seal the 4-2 win.

In the day’s other matches, Leverkusen enjoyed a 1-0 win over Hoffenheim thanks to a Stefan Kiessling goal, Hanover drew 1-1 with Mainz while Frankfurt were also held 1-1 by Nuremberg.

Defending champions Wolfsburg play Cologne later Saturday while, on Sunday, Borussia Moenchangladbach welcome Hertha Berlin while Schalke host Bochum in a local derby.

BERLIN, Germany (AFP)