Estudiantes into World Club Cup final

December 16, 2009

Copa Libertadores winners Estudiantes de La Plata beat South Korean side Pohang Steelers FC 2-1 to book their place in the final of the Club World Cup here on Tuesday.

The Argentina side completely outplayed the Steelers, who were reduced to eight men with less than quarter of an hour remaining at the Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium.

Benitez opened the scoring with a free kick at the stroke of halftime. The striker then added a second goal eight minutes into the second half to make it 2-0 for the South Americans.

Steelers’ Brazilian striker Denilson cut the lead in the 71st minute, but they could apply any further pressure after Jae Sung received his second yellow card in the 72nd minute, followed by a red card for Hwa Yong in the 77th.

Steelers had already lost the services of skipper Jae Won in the 56th minute after being booked for the second time.

Estudiantes now face the winners of Wednesday’s other semi-final between Barcelona and Atlante in Saturday’s final.

ABU DHABI (AFP)

Tags: abu dhabi, Argentina, atlante, Barcelona, Benitez, club world cup, free kick, hwa, jae, korean side, La Plata, Mohammed Bin, mohammed bin zayed, second half, skipper, South Americans, steelers, striker, stroke, Sung, yellow card, zayed stadium

Vidic wants Man United to bite back against Wolves

December 15, 2009

Nemanja Vidic has called for an immediate response as Manchester United look to force their way back into control of the English Premier League title race against Wolves here Tuesday.

With Chelsea only managing a 3-3 draw with Everton on Saturday, second-placed United passed up the chance to move level on points with the leaders when, later that day, they lost 1-0 to Aston Villa at Old Trafford.

Vidic returned to the side against Villa following a spell on the sidelines with illness.

And as United manager Sir Alex Ferguson’s injury problems continue to lighten, Vidic could be joined by Wes Brown, who has been missing with a hamstring injury, against a Wolves team who climbed out of the bottom three with a 1-0 win away to Tottenham last weekend.

Serbia international Vidic wants English champions United to show what they are made of against a team tipped for relegation.

“This is our best chance to play well, score goals and bring the confidence back,” he said.

“It’s important when you lose a game to have the next one quickly, so you can play better and fix what you did in the last match.

“We are very disappointed. We had a game at home and the chance to share the first position with Chelsea but we didn’t take it.”

South Korea midfielder Park Ji-Sung believes the congested festive period is the time when United will put together a run that will pile the pressure on Carlo Ancelotti’s Chelsea.

United traditionally come on strong around the turn of the year and Park, who has retuned to the team in recent weeks following a knee injury, is banking on a similar run as the Old Trafford club aim for a record fourth straight league title.

“We have a lot of games until the end of the season and December and January are particularly busy,” Park said.

“It’s going to be hard but we have done well at this stage in the last few seasons so we have to do that again.

“We can’t worry about what other teams do, we just have to concentrate and do our best in every game.”

Park added: “It’s a pleasure to be back among the team. When you play you feel more a part of the side.

“I want to play as many games as possible and I want to help the team win as much as possible, starting with the (English) title. It would be amazing to win four in a row.

“To make three Champions League finals in a row would also be amazing for the club.

“The FA Cup is one I haven’t won yet so I want that but all four (United are also in this season’s English League Cup semi-finals) would be great.”

Wolves pulled off one of the shocks of the weekend with their victory at White Hart Lane. They are though set to be without midfielder David Edwards with an ankle injury sustained at White Hart Lane.

But there was better news with chief executive Jez Moxey promising owner Steve Morgan will back manager Mick McCarthy in the January transfer window.

“Steve Morgan is so passionate about the club that he thinks about it 24/7,” Moxey said.

“As regards January our position is quite simple – if we found the right players that the manager thinks can strengthen the team, then the board will do everything within its power to try to bring that player to Molineux.

“We have also done good business in January in previous years and are currently looking to see if we can strengthen the team.”

MANCHESTER, England (AFP)

Tags: alex ferguson, carlo ancelotti, club aim, david edwards, England, english champions, English Premier League, festive period, first position, game park, Hart Lane, ji sung, knee injury, last match, Manchester, manchester united, mick mccarthy, premier league, score goals, sir alex ferguson, south korea, steve morgan, straight league, Sung, wes brown

Korean, Saudi sides meet in AFC Champions League final

November 7, 2009

Al Ittihad of Saudi Arabia take on Pohang Steelers of South Korea in the AFC Champions League final this weekend with both sides aiming for a record third continental championship.

In Saturday’s match, the Saudi giants, who defeated Japan’s Nagoya Grampus 8-3 on aggregate in the semi-finals, will have a chance to regain the AFC Champions League title they won in 2004 and 2005.

The Korean powerhouses, who beat Umm-Salal of Qatar 4-1 on aggregate in their semi-final clash, won the former Asian Club Championship in 1997 and 1998.

“Before every match, the chance to win is 50-50 for each team, so I can’t say who will win,” said Al Ittihad coach Gabriel Calderon, a former Argentine international.

“But we always play for a win and we will do so again in the final. We have a good team and that’s why we are now in the final,” he added.

Al Ittihad’s Tunisian striker Amine Chermiti, 21, has scored in his past three Champions League games since arriving on loan from Bundesliga club Hertha Berlin in August.

The attacking threat also comes from Moroccan forward Hicham Aboucherouane, who finished as the Saudi league’s joint top scorer last season and has been the club’s top scorer in the Champions League with five goals.

Skipper Mohammed Noor, who scored a hat-trick in the first leg against Nagoya in Jeddah, is expected to pull the strings behind them.

“The final is going to be great as we are going to face a good team similar to ours,” said Pohang’s Brazilian coach Sergio Farias, who led Brazil to the quarter-finals of the 2001 under-17 World Cup.

“We are playing the final as a representative of the K-League. This is the biggest motivation that we need. Al Ittihad are not easy opponents but at the same time I don’t think they feel we are such an easy side to beat either.”

Farias is expected to use a 4-3-3 formation with Macedonia striker Stevica Ristic flanked by the Brazilian Denilson and Noh Byung-Joon in a three-pronged attack.

The 27-year-old Ristic has scored three goals in his past four Champions League games, while Denilson, the team’s top scorer in the K-League, has netted seven times in the Champions League.

Noh has scored three times in this season’s competition and Kim Jae-Sung, an attacking midfielder, has four goals.

Al Ittihad, who defeated two Korean teams on their way to their 2004 victory, won the 2008-2009 Saudi Pro League.

Pohang have won the league cup and finished second in the K-League to book a place in the final stages of the play-offs.

The one-leg final at the National Stadium will kick off at 7:00 pm local time (1000 GMT), with the teams vying for the winner’s prize of 1.5 million dollars. The runners-up will receive 750,000 dollars.

TOKYO (AFP)

Tags: afc champions league, Al-Ittihad, amine, asian club championship, berlin, continental championship, farias, Gabriel Calderon, grampus 8, hat trick, hertha berlin, Japan, Jeddah, joon, k league, Macedonia, Mohammed Noor, Nagoya, noor, pohang steelers, powerhouses, pronged attack, Qatar, quarter finals, Sergio Farias, Sung, tokyo, Umm-Salal

Home town honours Man Utd star Park

October 6, 2009

Manchester United star winger Park Ji-Sung presided Tuesday at a ground-breaking ceremony for a sports complex named after him in his South Korean home city.

The Park Ji-Sung Football Centre in Suweon just south of Seoul will be completed in May next year and offer two playing fields, a clubhouse, a clinic, a museum and a library, city officials said.

The centre plans to run a training programme initially for children aged between six and 13 and later for older players.

“I started playing football and spent most of my youth here,” Park was quoted by Yonhap news agency as saying.

“I hope that the centre will help many young players grow physically and mentally through football and encourage them to enjoy the sport.”

Hundreds of sports officials, including Chung Mong-Joon, vice president of the International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA), attended the groundbreaking.

Park is one of the country’s biggest sporting stars. A street, a park and a forest are named after the player in and around his home town.

Park, who joined United from PSV Eindhoven four years ago, signed a new two-year contract with United on Friday. The improved deal is reportedly worth 3.6 million pounds (5.9 million dollars).

SEOUL (AFP)

Tags: Chung Mong-, city officials, clubhouse, Eindhoven, football associations, ground breaking ceremony, international federation, ji sung, joon, man utd, Manchester, manchester united, million dollars, mong, news agency, park ji sung, seoul, south korean, sports complex, sports officials, star park, Sung, town park, winger

Park signs new two-year contract with Man Utd

September 18, 2009

South Korea winger Park Ji-Sung signed a new two-year contract with Manchester United on Friday.

Park has been rewarded with an improved deal worth a reported 3.6 million pounds (5.9 million dollars) a year after his impressive displays established the former PSV Eindhoven player as a key figure in Sir Alex Ferguson’s squad.

The 28-year-old, who became the first Asian to play in the Champions League final in the Premier League club’s 2-0 defeat to Barcelona last season, is now committed to Old Trafford until at least June 2012.

He joined United from PSV four years ago and has made 127 appearances, scoring 12 goals.

“I am so pleased to have this new contract. I’m really enjoying my time here and I appreciate all that Sir Alex and the staff have done for me, but I have to mention the fans too, as they are incredible,” Park told ManUtd.com

“We have achieved great success over the last four years and won many trophies. It is a great experience for me to play at this magnificent football club along with other world famous players.”

Ferguson admitted Park’s versatility makes him a valuable assest.

“We are always pleased to secure the future of our star players and Ji-Sung has proved himself to be a fantastic professional and an important, versatile player in our squad. Therefore, we’re delighted he’s signed a new contract,” Ferguson said.

MANCHESTER, England (AFP)

Tags: assest, Eindhoven, England, famous players, Ferguson, football club, impressive displays, Manchester, manchester england, manchester united, old trafford, park ji sung, park signs, premier league, psv eindhoven, sir alex ferguson, south korea, star players, Sung, versatile player, versatility, winger

S.Korea outclass Australia

September 5, 2009

South Korea outclassed Australia 3-1 in a friendly on Saturday in what coach Huh Jung-Moo said was a useful work-out ahead of next year’s World Cup.

The South Koreans, who in June won their seventh consecutive berth at the World Cup finals, quickly gained control against the Socceroos when Park Chu-Young scored after only four minutes.

The hosts doubled their advantage on 20 minutes when Lee Jang-Soo scored from close range.

Australia, who also qualified for South Africa next year, struck back in the 33rd minute when Patrick Kisnorbo headed home a free-kick.

But South Korea’s Seol Ki-Hyeon headed in a cross from Manchester United star and national captain Park Ji-Sung in the 87th minute to make the game safe.

“Australia is a team that is on a level with European teams in terms of having a strong defence,” coach Huh was quoted by Yonhap news agency as saying.

“The match gave us an opportunity to examine what we should do in facing teams of such level and what areas to supplement.”

The South Koreans finished the World Cup Asian qualifying round on top, while North Korea and Japan also reached the finals.

SEOUL (AFP)

Tags: Australia, berth, chu, close range, four minutes, free kick, huh, jang, Japan, ji sung, lee jang soo, Lee Jang-, Manchester, manchester united, news agency, North Korea, Patrick Kisnorbo, S. Korea, seol, seoul, socceroos, south korea, south koreans, strong defence, Sung, world cup finals

Mowbray backs Celtic to bounce back from Euro misery

August 29, 2009

Celtic manager Tony Mowbray wants his players to use the pain of their Champions League exit against Arsenal to spark a charge for the Scottish Premier League title.

Mowbray’s side crashed out of Europe’s top club competition in the final qualifying round on Wednesday as Arsenal cruised to a 5-1 aggregate victory over the Glasgow outfit.

The disappointment of failing to qualify for the lucrative group stage was made all the more galling by the nature of Arsenal’s first goal.

Eduardo won and converted a first half penalty that put the tie beyond Celtic with a dive that looks set to earn a ban from UEFA after European football’s governing body opened disciplinary proceeding against the Croatia forward.

But Mowbray knows Celtic can’t afford to dwell on the defeat as they try to keep pace with champions Rangers at the top of the table.

The Hoops face Hibernian at Easter Road on Sunday and Mowbray is hopeful that his team will put their chastening experience in north London to positive effect.

“I would suggest there are only four teams in the English Premier League of the quality of Arsenal,” Mowbray said.

“You have to take the positives out of the way we played in these two matches.

“I expect us to compete very well in the Europa League and in the Scottish league.”

Meanwhile, Mowbray expects both club captain Stephen McManus and midfielder Scott Brown to remain at Celtic despite speculation linking them with moves to England.

“I have no problem with people being interested in our players, but what I would suggest, from my understanding, is Stephen McManus would have no interest in going to Ipswich Town,” said Mowbray, himself once in charge at Portman Road.

“He is captain of our club and wants to get himself back into our team.

“Real Madrid may be interested in one of our players but that does not mean he is going.”

Mowbray also confirmed that he is set to sign South Korea international Ki Sung-yong in the January transfer window.

The 20-year-old FC Seoul midfielder will join at the end of the K-League season.

However, Italian midfielder Massimo Donati is set to complete his move to Bari before the transfer window shuts.

GLASGOW (AFP)

Tags: aggregate victory, Bari, captain stephen, captain Stephen McManus, club captain, club competition, croatia, disciplinary proceeding, Easter Road, Eduardo, England, English Premier League, Glasgow, governing body, group stage, hoops, korea international, mcmanus, midfielder, north London, Portman Road, premier league, real madrid, Scott Brown, scottish league, Scottish Premier League, seoul, south korea, Sung, tony mowbray

Blake the hero as Burnley shock United

August 20, 2009

Robbie Blake scored the only goal as promoted Burnley shocked Premier League champions Manchester United with a 1-0 victory at Turf Moor on Wednesday.

Owen Coyle’s side refused to be intimidated by their illustrious visitors and took the lead in the 19th minute thanks to Blake’s powerful strike.

And they kept their lead just before the break when goalkeeper Brian Jensen pulled off a fine save from Michael Carrick’s penalty.

United pressed hard after the interval but could not find a way past Jensen as the Clarets, who have been tipped strongly for relegation, held on for a memorable victory to celebrate ending their 33-year spell outside the top flight.

The hosts tore into Sir Alex Ferguson’s team from the very start and even though Wayne Rooney was at his probing best, the outsiders quickly took control.

Steven Fletcher should have opened the scoring when Martin Paterson’s cross was flicked on by Chris McCann but the Scot missed the target with a wild effort.

Rooney was a constant early threat and as the England star looked to run onto Carrick’s pass, Stephen Jordan was lucky to see his interception fly just wide.

Then Carrick bounced an effort over the bar after he was left unmarked for Ryan Giggs’ corner.

The Clarets were looking to pass at every opportunity and opened the champions up with a fine passing move.

Graham Alexander took a free-kick quickly to Wade Elliott, who threaded through for Paterson only for the Northern Ireland man’s drive to be blocked by Ben Foster.

But in the 19th minute, Burnley, who underlined their quality with League Cup wins over Arsenal, Chelsea and Fulham last season, grabbed a shock lead thanks to Blake’s thumping strike.

Jordan’s deep cross for Paterson was headed away by Patrice Evra but Blake met the ball on the volley and fired into the top corner.

The hosts did not settle for that and when Blake’s whipped free-kick was glanced on by John O’Shea, Fletcher fired wide with a bicycle kick.

United still looked a major threat and a flowing move saw Michael Owen feed Rooney but the ex-Everton man curled wide from just outside the box before Owen glanced wide with a header from a deep cross from Wes Brown.

The champions looked like they would get back in the game when Owen fed Evra and Blake tripped the Frenchman in the box just before the break.

But Jensen guessed right to push Carrick’s penalty away to preserve the Clarets’ lead.

Burnley kept the tempo up after the restart and Blake found a gap in the wall with a free-kick only to see his shot just fly past the post.

But Jensen had to be aware to block from Rooney after the England striker was played in behind Clarke Carlisle by Anderson.

Antonio Valencia came on for Anderson to give United more width but immediately failed to hit the target with a header from Evra’s deep cross.

England coach Fabio Capello was in the stands to see Owen replaced by Dimitar Berbatov.

The Bulgarian missed with a curling shot and Park Ji-Sung’s drive was pushed away by Jensen.

Danish goalkeeper Jensen showed great awareness once again when he was out quickly to block Giggs as the United captain raced onto Rooney’s pass.

Burnley again had to rely on Jensen’s speed of thought to deny Berbatov after the United striker was played in by Rooney.

BURNLEY (AFP)

Tags: alex ferguson, Anderson, Antonio Valencia, bicycle kick, Brian Jensen, Chris McCann, clarets, England, england star, fabio capello, Fletcher, Graham Alexander, illustrious visitors, john o shea, John O'Shea, jordan, Manchester, Martin Paterson, memorable victory, Michael Carrick, michael owen, Northern Ireland, Owen Coyle, patrice evra, Robbie Blake, ryan giggs, s pass, sir alex ferguson, stephen jordan, Steven Fletcher, Sung, turf moor, Wade Elliott, wayne rooney, wes brown

Ronaldo sale forces Fergie to change tactics

July 31, 2009

Alex Ferguson admits Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure to Real Madrid has forced him to change the way Manchester United will play this season.

Ferguson often set up his team with three central midfielders last season to allow Ronaldo a free role.

That allowed Ferguson to get the best out of Ronaldo, while keeping a solid defensive base, and the Portugal winger responded with over 60 goals in the last two season.

But after Ronaldo’s world record 80 million pounds sale, Ferguson wants more goals from all his players and he has been experimenting with different combinations in midfield and attack.

In an interview in Inside United, posted on manutd.com, Ferguson said: “Obviously Cristiano is a big loss in terms of the goals he gave us.

“But we will just have to find the goals from somewhere else and our tactics will adjust accordingly. Fans will see us playing a slightly different style of football this season.”

Ferguson has already used Wayne Rooney more as a central striker, rather than playing him out wide as he did last season.

“Usually you look to score about 100 goals in all competitions, so we are aiming for that again,” Ferguson said. “If we are going to win the league again or do well in Europe we certainly need players to step up.

“Going back a few years, we could always guarantee goals from Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and David Beckham, who always pitched in with about 10 a season.

“Those goals from midfield have dried up a little in recent years, so we have to address that.

“I will be looking to Park Ji-Sung, Nani, (Luis Antonio) Valencia – even (Danny) Welbeck and (Federico) Macheda – to contribute 40 goals between them. The defenders will contribute a few from set-pieces too.”

MANCHESTER, England (AFP)

Tags: alex ferguson, cristiano ronaldo, Danny, David Beckham, different style, England, Europe, ji sung, luis antonio, MADRID, Manchester, manchester england, manchester united, midfield, nani, park ji sung, paul scholes, portugal, real madrid, ronaldo, ryan giggs, striker, Sung, Valencia, wayne rooney, welbeck, winger, world record

Man Utd overcome stern test in Seoul

July 24, 2009

English Premier League champions Manchester United saw off a determined FC Seoul here Friday night, taking a see-sawing exhibition match 3-2 with a brace of second-half goals.

With the scores levelled at 2-2 it was left to second-half substitute Dimitar Berbatov to save the Premier League champions’ blushes.

Darron Gibson’s sharp cross set up the game-winning header from close range in the 65th minute, as Berbatov redirected the ball inside the near post past the Seoul keeper Kim Ho-Jun.

The home side had opened the scoring in the 23rd, with Kim Seung-Yong’s curling cross from the right finding the charging Dejan Damjanovic, who squeezed past two defenders and deftly slotted past the helpless Tomasz Kuszczak.

United equalised eight minutes later when an unmarked Wayne Rooney soared to convert a John O’Shea cross from the right, just out of reach of the diving Kim.

Damjanovic put Seoul back in front moments before half-time. A nifty pass from Lee Seung-Yeoul sent the Serb through alone against Kuszczak, and FC Seoul’s leading scorer flicked the ball in over the Polish keeper for the lead. Federico Macheda tied the score again in the 57th when Rooney’s through pass from just inside the halfway line set up the 17-year-old, who easily put the ball past the charging Kim.

Berbatov’s strike edged United in front and Michael Owen could have put the game beyond doubt but headed wide after diving to redirect Gibson’s low, curving cross from the right in the 73rd.

After going quiet for most of the second half, Seoul pressed for an equaliser but late strikes by Jung Jo-Gook and Ki Sung-Yueng went straight to the United keeper.

Seoul had managed to frustrate United early on by crowding their box but the England champions showed their class in the end.

Park Ji-Sung, United’s Korean winger who was the star attraction for much of the crowd, did not start and entered the match in the 73rd minute to deafening applause.

Fans had cheered on and chanted Park’s name as the giant screens showed him seated on the bench. United travel to China for their next match on the Asian tour against Hangzhou Greentown Sunday. FC Seoul resume their domestic league play on August 1.

SEOUL (AFP)