Coventry add to Portsmouth woes with FA Cup draw

January 3, 2010


Premier League strugglers Portsmouth endured another dispiriting day as Championship side Coventry earned a 1-1 draw in the FA Cup third round at Fratton Park.

For the third time this season, Portsmouth’s players are still waiting to receive their monthly salaries as Saudi owner Ali Al-Faraj tries to agree a bank loan that will ease the club’s perilous financial situation.

Avram Grant’s side have found it hard to cope with the financial distractions as their position at the foot of the Premier League shows all too clearly and they fared little better in the Cup on Saturday.

Coventry, 17th in English football’s second tier, deservedly took the lead in the first half through David Bell’s superb strike and it took an equaliser on the stroke of half-time from Kevin-Prince Boateng to salvage a replay for the beleaguered hosts.

A crowd of just 11,214 watched as Portsmouth, who won the FA Cup in 2008, failed to make the most of a bright start.

Tommy Smith tested Sky Blues goalkeeper Keiren Westwood after just three minutes, then Frederic Piquionne shot across the face of goal.

Coventry gradually grew in confidence though and Chris Coleman’s side took the lead in the 30th minute when Bell lashed a long-range effort past Asmir Begovic.

Portsmouth’s supporters began to show their frustration with chants of ‘where have your wages gone?’ and Grant’s men finally showed enough energy to get back in the match.

They almost equalised when Westwood made a fine stop to deny Piquionne from Smith’s cross.

And Boateng made sure Piquionne wouldn’t regret that miss when he headed in a Richard Hughes cross in the 45th minute.

Coventry suffered a blow at the break when the injured Westwood was forced to come off, but Portsmouth couldn’t find a way past substitute stopper Dimitrios Konstantopoulos.

Konstantopoulos made a fine close-range save when Boateng chased down Michael Brown’s pass and turned to shoot sharply at the Greek.

John Utaka was picked out by a superb sweeping ball from Younes Kaboul after 81 minutes but, despite controlling the pass beautifully, Konstantopoulos kept his curling effort out with an impressive save.

Pompey looked stronger in the closing stages but Konstantopoulos secured a replay with excellent late stops from Utaka and Smith.

PORTSMOUTH, England (AFP)

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Boyd double keeps Gers in title mix

December 13, 2009


A Kris Boyd double helped Rangers to a convincing 3-0 win over St Johnstone to keep them two points behind Celtic in the race for the Scottish Premier League title.

Celtic’s 3-2 win over Motherwell in the early kick-off meant Rangers started the game five points behind but they showed no signs of nerves as Boyd netted within 30 seconds.

Nacho Novo won a penalty mid-way through the half which Boyd duly converted before the Spaniard added a second-half strike as Rangers ran riot.

Rangers will have the chance to top the table if they win their game in hand over Dundee United on Tuesday.

“Throughout the match we created an awful lot of opportunities,” Ranger manager Walter Smith said.

“We should have done better when we did get the opportunities but all-in-all I’m delighted with the performance.”

St Johnstone boss Derek McInnes said: “We slit our own throats and never got going defensively at all.

“All credit to the lads who kept going, but it wasn’t an enjoyable afternoon.”

Before kick-off a thigh injury for Allan McGregor meant Neil Alexander took his place between the posts, Kirk Broadfoot made his first start in nine months while Boyd also returned from injury.

And it took just 30 seconds for the SPL’s top-scorer to add to his already impressive tally for the season.

A slack clearance allowed DaMarcus Beasley to play in Boyd, who spun on the edge of the box and sent a measured shot beyond former Rangers keeper Graeme Smith.

Only a fingertip save from Smith stopped Kenny Miller from doubling the lead in the eighth minute with the keeper at full-stretch to keep out his acrobatic volley.

A lapse in concentration allowed Chris Millar to rob Novo of possession just outside his own box before he unleashed a fierce drive that Alexander did well to turn round the post.

Broadfoot almost marked his Rangers return with a goal in the 19th minute but he headed Novo’s pass over the bar.

Novo won the home side a penalty in the 27th minute. The Spaniard was quickest to a loose ball in the box but was sent flying by the trailing hand of Smith as he rounded the keeper.

Boyd stepped up to take the resultant penalty and he buried his shot low into the bottom left-hand corner. Miller came close with a dipping volley from 12 yards that just cleared the bar before he turned provider for Boyd with only the outstretched leg of Smith denying the striker his hat-trick.

Boyd did have the ball in the net in the 45th minute but was flagged offside before he finished high past the keeper. The lively Novo added a third in the 51st minute.

Beasley’s cross picked out Miller in the box whose shot was well saved by Smith but Novo was there to drill the rebound into the net from 10 yards. A slack Kevin Thomson pass allowed Graham Gartland to race in on goal but his lobbed shot floated over the crossbar before Saint’s Millar sent a weak header straight to Alexander.

Novo was inches away from his second as he slammed a shot off the post from the edge of the box, Smith saved well from Beasley’s rising shot and sub John Fleck fired just over as Saints were run ragged.

In the early kick-off Georgios Samaras gave Celtic the lead before goals from Lukas Jutkiewicz and Mark Reynolds sent Motherwell in ahead at the break. Aiden McGeady scored Celtic’s 1000th SPL goal to equalise and Barry Robson missed a penalty before substitute Marc-Antoine Fortune scored a 25-yard screamer within seconds of coming on to seal the win.

Elsewhere St Mirren and Falkirk and Kilmarnock versus Hibernian both finished 1-1, Hearts and Dundee United ended goalless and Hamilton won 2-1 away to Aberdeen.

GLASGOW (AFP)

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Controversy as French seal World Cup spot

November 19, 2009


Former champions France flattered to deceive before securing their World Cup spot in controversial fashion here Wednesday after a dramatic 1-1 draw with the Republic of Ireland at the Stade de France.

Giovanni Trapattoni’s visitors, beaten 1-0 in Dublin last Saturday, had taken a shock lead in the 32nd minute through Robbie Keane and the Irish were unlucky not to score more before forcing the match to extra time.

In the first 15-minute spell France had an appeal for a penalty turned down after striker Nicolas Anelka tumbled to the turf under pressure.

Five minutes later France skipper Thierry Henry, who had moments earlier been denied a free kick after falling to the ground 25 yards out, won the match for the hosts when his angled pass amid a goalmouth scramble was met by the head of William Gallas.

Henry’s pass, however, came after the ball appeared to make contact with his hand prompting a rash of immediate protests by the Irish players to referee Martin Hansson.

Hansson waved away appeals, allowing France to qualify and thus avoid a repeat of their humiliating failure, at the hands of Bulgaria, to qualify for the 1994 World Cup finals.

Gallas was non-committal on the goal circumstances.

“It all happened so quickly. I received the ball from Thierry. It happened so quickly that I couldn’t see (if the ball hit his hand).”

A clearly relieved French coach Raymond Domenech said France had had to scrap to the end.

“It was hard, laborious and indeed miraculous,” he told French television.

“I was sure we would make it though. My forecast was 1-1!”

Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger candidly told broadcaster TF1 that “France never found their game. We lacked cohesion.

“We went through thanks to a refereeing error – and thanks to poor Irish finishing!”

French President Nicolas Sarkozy saluted a “gallant Irish” team before praising his countrymen.

“It’s fabulous – we’re really glad to get through. Qualification is important as it’s a major event,” Sarkozy told TF1.

Ireland, especially captain Keane, had the lion’s share of the chances in regulation time, and they will be kicking themselves having last qualified for the 2002 World Cup where they got to the second round.

Domenech was forced to reshuffle after the first leg victory in Dublin last Saturday after injuries to midfielder Jeremy Toulalan and central defender Eric Abidal.

After just nine minutes, Abidal’s pre-match replacement, Julien Escude, came off injured to be replaced by Sebastian Squillaci.

While France looked dangerous in the opening stages, they went on to look exceedingly mediocre up against an astute Irish defence which gave keeper Shay Given plenty of protection.

Damian Duff and Liam Lawrence had already shown their ability to carve openings in the French defence and it was Duff’s cutback from deep on the left side of the French area which found Keane, who drove home first time to beat Hugo Lloris in the France goal.

In the 39th minute France striker Nicolas Anelka turned his marker nicely on the edge of the area but his shot was deflected by an Irish body and went for a corner.

A subdued Stade de France welcomed a more hopeful French team for the second half, but Ireland quickly stated their intent as Keane won a free kick on the left flank and Lawrence’s kick found John O’Shea unmarked at the back post.

But after controlling the ball the Manchester United defender’s shot was struck over the crossbar from four yards out.

Anelka, seemingly the only motivated Frenchman on the park, provided France’s first chance a minute later but his 20 yard effort shot was driven straight to Given.

Striker Andre Pierre Gignac then made way for Sidney Govou.

Just after the hour mark, Ireland were given another golden opportunity, Duff racing through only for Lloris to block his effort.

Keane, one of the survivors of the 2002 tournament, was left frustrated after he missed a golden chance to put Ireland 2-0 up when he put the ball wide from a tight angle with only Lloris to beat.

After struggling all night to overcome a packed Irish defence France’s late stroke of luck finally proved Ireland’s downfall.

PARIS (AFP)

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Ramsey´s supershow piles pressure on Burley

November 14, 2009


Arsenal teenager Aaron Ramsey piled more pressure on Scotland coach George Burley as his virtuoso display inspired Wales to a 3-0 win over Scotland in Saturday’s friendly.

Ramsey, 18, played a key role in the first two Wales goals from David Edwards and Simon Church and then got on the scoresheet himself to cap a superb first half display at the Cardiff City Stadium.

This was the sort of eye-catching performance that persuaded Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger to pay Cardiff five million pounds to sign the midfielder in June 2008, even though he had made just a handful of appearances for the Welsh club.

He was far too good for Burley’s woeful Scots, who were completely out-classed. To make matters worse for Burley, who was handed a vote of confidence despite his failure to lead Scotland to the World Cup, he had to endure the indignity of listening to the Scottish fans calling for his sacking throughout the second half.

Burlet handed Celtic defender Danny Fox his debut, while James McFadden returned to the team and David Marshall started in goal in the absence of injured first choice Craig Gordon.

Birmingham forward McFadden threatened early on when he took Kenny Miller’s flick in stride and shot straight at Wayne Hennessey.

Miller went even closer with a powerful strike that flashed wide, but Wales took the lead in the 17th minute.

Ramsey showed great poise as he curled a cross towards Edwards and the midfielder timed his run perfectly to drive past Marshall.

The hosts pushed home their advantage in the 32nd minute as Ramsey continued to pull the strings. The teenager’s pass found Joe Ledley on the left and his cross was expertly flicked in by Church from close range.

Scotland were in disarray at the back and Ramsey exploited their fragility again three minutes later. His surging run took him past Stephen McManus and Darren Fletcher and opened up space to shoot beyond Marshall for the second goal of his brief international career.

It could have been worse for Scotland before half-time as Ched Evans saw his shot blocked by Marshall.

Furious Scotland fans made their feelings towards Burley known at half-time, but there was only a marginal improvement after the break.

Marshall was fortunate not to be sent off when he handled outside his penalty area, but referee Cyril Zimmermann let him off with a booking before Gareth Bale’s resulting free-kick was deflected wide.

Burley was the target for more verbal abuse from the Tartan Army in the closing stages but Scotland’s supporters were drifting towards the exits well before the end.

CARDIFF (AFP)

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Negredo fires a double as Spain trounce Bosnia 5-2

October 15, 2009


Alvaro Negredo scored twice as European champions Spain cruised to a 5-2 victory over Bosnia on Wednesday to make it 10 wins out of 10 in World Cup Group Five qualifying.

Vicente del Bosque’s side had already secured their place in the finals with two matches to spare and Bosnia were sure of a place in the playoffs thanks to Saturday’s 2-0 win over Estonia.

After Spain came under early pressure, Gerard Pique rose to glance in a header from Xabi Alonso’s floated free kick on 13 minutes and David Silva raced clear a minute later to beat onrushing goalkeeper Nemenja Supic.

Negredo picked up Silva’s pass in the centre of the area just after the break and sent Supic the wrong way with a low shot and the Sevilla striker was at the far post to steer Albert Riera’s cross into the net from close range five minutes later.

Juan Mata struck the fifth for Spain before Edin Dzeko and Zvjezdan Misimovic pulled two late goals back for Bosnia.

Abhimanyu Rajput

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Owen´s last-gasp winner helps United see off City

September 20, 2009


Manchester United halted Manchester City’s surge towards the top of the Premier League as Michael Owen’s last-gasp winner clinched a sensational 4-3 victory over their bitter rivals on Sunday.

City had sparked talk of a title challenge from the blue half of Manchester after winning their first four matches of the season.

But United remain English football’s real power-brokers and the champions underlined their determination to retain the title by seeing off stubborn City at Old Trafford.

United took the lead in the second minute when Patrice Evra poked a pass to Wayne Rooney, who took a touch before stabbing his shot past Shay Given.

But City striker Carlos Tevez, who received a predictably hostile reception from the Old Trafford crowd on his first return to United, had recovered from a knee injury in time to start and played a key role in his side’s 16th minute equaliser.

He refused to give Ben Foster time to kick down field and, as the United goalkeeper dithered, Tevez stole possession before slipping a pass for Gareth Barry to shoot into the empty net.

United regained the lead in the 49th minute when Darren Fletcher headed home a Ryan Giggs cross.

Their advantage was short-lived as Craig Bellamy curled in a stunning long-range effort three minutes later.

Fletcher struck again in the 80th minute with another header, this time from Giggs’s free-kick.

City looked to have stolen a point when Bellamy out-paced Rio Ferdinand and squeezed in a 90th minute equaliser.

But Owen, on as a substitute, had the last word when he converted Giggs’s pass in the sixth minute of stoppage time.

MANCHESTER, England (AFP)

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Burnley´s Nugent double stuns Sunderland

September 19, 2009


Burnley striker David Nugent marked his home debut with his first goals since February to give the Clarets a 3-1 win over Sunderland on Saturday.

Nugent joined Owen Coyle’s team in a six-month loan from Portsmouth on transfer deadline day and the England international made an immediate impact on his first appearance at Turf Moor.

The former Preston star hadn’t found the back of the net since scoring for Portsmouth against Liverpool last season, but he finally ended the drought in his 16th game since then to give Burnley a third home win in three attempts.

Coyle’s side, promoted via the play-offs last season, had taken the lead through a Graham Alexander penalty, but Darren Bent levelled before the break.

Then Nugent came off the bench just after the hour and turned the course of the game with two fine finishes.

Sunderland striker Fraizer Campbell caused early panic in the Burnley defence with an incisive run and cross which was parried by Brian Jensen and hacked clear by Wade Elliott.

Steven Fletcher had Burnley’s first chance when he took Clarke Carlisle’s pass and drove a powerful shot over the bar from the edge of the box.

The Clarets were on the front foot again in the 12th minute and this time they got the breakthrough.

Anton Ferdinand needlessly tripped Elliott, who was running away from goal in the right corner of the penalty area and referee Chris Foy pointed to the spot.

Burnley captain Alexander stepped up to lash the penalty past Craig Gordon to open the scoring.

Steve Bruce’s team mounted an impressive response to that setback. Bent should have punished a mistake by Andre Bikey but shot straight at Jensen in the 21st minute.

Bent wouldn’t rue that miss for long. In the 39th minute Reid played a superb pass into the Burnley penalty area and Bent, cleverly timing his run to stay onside, slotted past Jensen for his fifth goal of the season.

Campbell almost put the visitors ahead in the 52nd minute when his low drive was blocked well at close range by Jensen after a neat lay-off by Steed Malbranque.

But with clear chances at a premium, Coyle sent on Nugent just past the hour.

It took just minutes for Nugent to make an impact as he met Elliott’s cross from the right and headed past Gordon.

Nugent scored just three goals in 34 league games for Portsmouth, but he had two for Burnley in less than half an hour after curling home a superb strike from long-range in the 86th minute.

BURNLEY, England (AFP)

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Super-Pippo at the double to punish spirited Marseille

September 16, 2009


AC Milan left their mediocre form in Italy’s Serie A well behind them to beat Marseille 2-1 at the Stade Velodrome and strike a first blow in their Champions League group C on Tuesday.

Milan striker Filippo Inzaghi proved a thorn in the side of Didier Deschamps’ side on a wet and rainy night in Marseille scoring a goal in either half of an entertaining match and coming close on several other occasions.

Marseille scored early in the second half through Argentine defender Gabriel Heinze but despite plenty of pressure from the hosts Leonardo’s visitors held on to claim their first ever victory in Europe over the team that beat them 1-0 to win the trophy in 1993.

Deschamps said: “At the highest level only the result counts. We can say we did some things well…but like I said before the game Milan are Milan. They are among the great sides, used to this level.

“As is often the way Italian realism made the difference…we’re now in a tricky position for the start of the competition.”

Despite a string of poor league results Milan were worthy opponents for a determined Marseille side in an entertaining first half in which both sides missed several scoring chances.

The first scare for the hosts came on 10 minutes when an onrushing Inzaghi almost made contact with a corner delivered to the near post, only for the ball to rebound off ‘keeper Steve Mandanda before being cleared.

Marseille, being marshalled upfield by captain Mamadou Niang, gradually found their rhythm and soon began applying the pressure but Milan remained consistently dangerous on the counter-attack.

Niang had a chance to open the scoring on 25 minutes when he picked up Bruno Cheyrou’s pass on the right after the midfielder’s initial shot was blocked, but his effort sailed over Marco Storari’s crossbar.

Two minutes later Marseille were punished for leaving Inzaghi on his own at the far post as Milan opened the scoring.

A superb Pato toyed with several Marseille players before Clarence Seedorf coolly picked up the ball, switched feet and spotted Inzaghi unmarked and heading to the back post, where he beat Mandanda with ease to claim his 43rd Champions League goal.

Marseille were then let off the hook in the 37th minute when Pato, unmarked near the penalty spot, failed to make full connect with a right wing cross as his tame effort missed its target.

Two minutes later Inzaghi could have doubled Milan’s lead but after an inch-perfect free kick from Andrea Pirlo the striker’s head failed to make full contact with the ball.

Moments before the interval Cheyrou almost gave the hosts the equaliser but his well-struck volley from the edge of the area was saved by Storari.

Marseille came out fired up after the break and Argentine midfielder Lucho struck a superb first-time shot from the edge of the area which took a slight deflection before shaving Storari’s left upright.

That was a sign of things to come and on 48 minutes Heinze rose unchallenged to meet Cheyrou’s free kick to head the ball through Storari’s legs to claim his first ever Champions League goal.

Marseille defender Taye Taiwo then tested Storari with a stinging shot from the left of the area and a Cheyrou free kick then forced a double-fisted save from Storari, the rebound falling to Lucho whose first time effort went high and wide.

A moment of madness from Milan midfielder Mathieu Flamini saw the former Arsenal man cautioned on the hour mark for a blatant two-footed tackle.

Inzaghi then pounced for the second time in the match, outfoxing the Marseille defence in the 74th minute to send a cross from the left past Mandanda with the outside of his right foot.

Marseille rallied in the closing minutes but despite Deschamps sending on forward pair Hatem Ben Arfa and Fernando Morientes, Milan held on for what could prove a crucial victory.

MARSEILLE, France (AFP)

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Baines penalty gets Everton off the mark at last

August 31, 2009


Everton climbed off the bottom of the Premier League as Leighton Baines’s late penalty snatched a 2-1 win against Wigan on Sunday.

David Moyes’ side had lost their first two league games this season and they were heading for another defeat when Paul Scharner gave Wigan a second-half lead at Goodison Park.

But Louis Saha equalised and, in stoppage time, Emmerson Boyce hauled down Jo and Baines stepped up to crash home the spot-kick.

Victory was much-needed for Moyes, who had moved quickly to spent some of the 24 million pounds received from Manchester City for Joleon Lescott.

The Toffees boss handed a debut to French defender Sylvain Distin, while another new signing, Russia winger Diniyar Bilyaletdinov, got his debut as a late substitute.

Moyes must have hoped the end of the Lescott saga and new faces putting pressure on his established stars would give Everton the lift they needed to climb off the bottom of the table.

They started brightly enough as Tim Cahill directed a diving header just wide from Leighton Baines’s corner.

A fine move almost broke the deadlock afer half an hour. Jack Rodwell’s turn and pass found Leon Osman, who instantly sent Cahill racing away down the left.

The Australian’s cross found Saha powering into the six-yard box, but Mike Pollitt managed to get his body in the way of the striker’s shot.

After being thrashed by Manchester United and knocked out of the League Cup by Championship club Blackpool, Wigan had a point to prove and shuddering tackles were the order of the day for Roberto Martinez’s team.

Even Moyes felt the strength of Wigan’s tackling. He bent down to collect the ball as it crossed the touchline in front of him, and he was sent spinning by Hendry Thomas, who was sliding in trying to keep it in play.

Saha fired a cross-shot narrowly past the far post after bursting onto Tony Hibbert’s pass.

Wigan broke the deadlock in the 57th minutes when Charles N’Zogbia crossed and Scharner arrived unmarked to arrow a diving header past Tim Howard.

Jordi Gomez was unlucky not to increase Wigan’s lead as he side-footed a Mario Melchiot cross against a post.

But Everton’s fightback started in the 62nd minute when Saha headed home Baines’s corner.

Everton defender Joseph Yobo’s header was cleared off the line before Cahill nodded wide.

Wigan substitute Scott Sinclair, on loan from Chelsea, should have won it when he sprinted clear, only to have his shot blocked by Howard.

But, three minutes into injury time, Boyce brought down Jo, and Baines smashed home the penalty.

LIVERPOOL (AFP)

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Owen plans to prove the critics wrong

August 23, 2009


Michael Owen insists his first goal for Manchester United will be a springboard to prove the critics wrong.

Owen opened his account for the Premier League champions in Saturday’s 5-0 victory against Wigan at the DW Stadium when he came off the bench to convert Nani’s pass with a typically clinical finish.

The 29-year-old’s goal was his first since January but he believes it offered a compelling response to the pundits who claimed he had little to offer Sir Alex Ferguson’s team after missing several chances in pre-season.

Owen arrived at Old Trafford last month as a free agent after leaving relegated Newcastle. An ankle injury and a groin operation disrupted his final year on Tyneside but his overall contribution of 30 goals in 65 starts commands respect.

So too does his England tally – 40 in 89 international appearances – and Owen said: “I’ve missed a couple since the season started and, as ever, everyone is quick to write you off. It was as if I hadn’t scored for a couple of years.

“That’s something I’ve had to deal with for 10-odd years now and I don’t think that will change until I hang up my boots.

“It was certainly a great feeling to score. I’d got a few in pre-season but there’s nothing quite like doing it in a competitive game.

“I probably scored the hardest chance I’ve had. I had two chances at Burnley and one against Birmingham, but this was the fourth real opportunity I’ve had.”

Owen is keen to kick on and in the process catch the eye of England manager Fabio Capello, who has so far refused to bring the former Liverpool star back from his international exile.

“I’d be disappointed if people didn’t think I could go on from here,” he told MUTV.

“I obviously believe I can as I have done throughout my career and I certainly expect to score more goals in the red shirt.”

MANCHESTER, England (AFP)

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