Redknapp won’t let Spurs dwell on Leeds let-down

January 26, 2010

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has told his players to put recent disappointments behind them and renew their push for a top four Premier League finish when Fulham visit White Hart Lane on Tuesday.

Redknapp’s side have endured a frustrating week in which they were denied victory against Hull by goalkeeper Boaz Myhill’s impressive display and then out-played by Liverpool, one of their main rivals for a Champions League place.

Saturday’s FA Cup fourth round clash with League One Leeds was meant to provide an opportunity to get back on track but Jermaine Beckford’s stoppage time penalty condemned Tottenham to a replay at Elland Road.

Spurs remain in the coveted fourth spot for the time being but will be overhauled if either Aston Villa or Manchester City win their games in hand while Liverpool sit just one point behind having played the same number of games.

Despite their recent slump, Redknapp knows his squad can still enjoy a successful season if they pick themselves up quickly.

“We won’t dwell on it. I’m disappointed because we threw the game away when we had it in the bag but you have to pick yourself up and go again Tuesday,” Redknapp said.

Unsettled Russia striker Roman Pavlyuchenko scored in the 2-2 draw with Leeds and earned praise from Redknapp, who scotched rumours he was about to be sold to Birmingham.

“Pav is here, he’s part of the squad and if he plays like he did when he came on every week he will be in the team every week. There’s nothing in the offing,” Redknapp said.

One player less likely to figure in Tuesday’s game is David Bentley after Redknapp left the former Arsenal man out of the squad for the cup clash in favour of youngster Danny Rose, paving the way for a possible move away from the Lane.

“He (Bentley) is here and he has to work hard to get in the team. That is all I asked them to do – come in every day, train hard and work hard,” Redknapp added.

“Footballers have a fantastic living, so it is not a lot to ask, is it? Come in every day, train hard and show a good attitude.”

Fulham are equally in need of a change of fortunes as their impressive start to the league campaign has spluttered in recent weeks.

Although Roy Hodgson’s team are still sitting pretty in ninth place, the west London club have lost their last three league games and haven’t won in the league since their 3-0 demolition of Manchester United in December.

The Cottagers claimed a 3-1 victory in Saturday’s FA Cup tie against Accrington Stanley, but Hodgson’s team struggled in disposing of their lower league opposition.

Hodgson also faces an anxious week as he waits to see if highly rated young defender Chris Smalling is the subject of a bid by Arsenal before the transfer window closes on February 1.

“If Arsenal are interested then I guess they better get in touch with us,” Hodgson said. “I have not spoken to Arsene (Wenger) at all. It has never been mentioned, and our chief executive has not spoken to their chief executive.

“Presumably that means they have got no interest, or the interest is being generated by someone else in the club or outside the club,” he added.

Hodgson will be without American striker Clint Dempsey who injured his knee during their 2-0 defeat by Blackburn last week.

LONDON (AFP)

Tags: aston villa, Birmingham, Boaz Myhill, Chris Smalling, Clint Dempsey, cup clash, Danny Rose, David Bentley, day train, disappointments, Elland Road, FA Cup, fulham, Goalkeeper, Harry Redknapp, Hart Lane, HULL, impressive display, jermaine beckford, Liverpool, london, manchester city, pav, paving the way, premier league, roy hodgson, slump, Stanley, stoppage time, time penalty, Villa, west london, white hart lane, youngster

Ivory Coast 3-1 Ghana: Elephants seal passage to quarters

January 16, 2010

Tournament favorites Ivory Coast became the first team to reach this year’s African Nations Cup last eight after beating Ghana 3-1 with 10 men in Group B on Friday.

A Didier Drogba header in the last minute finished off the Black Stars after Gervinho put the Ivorians ahead at the Chiazi National Stadium in the first half and Siaka Tiene added another midway through the second.

But Elephants’ task was made harder when Arsenal’s Emmanuel Eboue received his marching orders for a two-footed challenge as Ghana failed to take advantage.

The win put Ivory Coast, held 0-0 by Burkina Faso in their opening game, top of the group with four points from two games. Burkina Faso are second with one point and Ghana, playing their first game in the three-team group, are third.

Ghana got a consolation goal with a stoppage-time penalty by Asamoah Gyan. Ghana must beat Burkina Faso in Luanda on Tuesday to progress.

Tags: african nations cup, arsenal, asamoah gyan ghana, burkina faso, consolation, elephants, emmanuel eboue, first game, four points, ghana, Ivory Coast, Luanda, midway, quarters, seal passage, stoppage time, team group, time penalty, tournament favorites

Aussie star Cahill enjoys birthday to remember

December 7, 2009

Tim Cahill enjoyed a birthday to remember as the Australia midfielder’s late equaliser helped Everton rescue a dramatic 2-2 draw against Tottenham.

Cahill turned 30 on Sunday and the Socceroos star won’t forget the milestone in a hurry after heading the crucial 86th minute goal that capped Everton’s fightback from two down at Goodison Park.

After three successive league defeats, David Moyes’ side desperately needed to stop the rot, but they looked dead and buried when second half goals from Jermain Defoe and Michael Dawson put Tottenham on control.

Louis Saha sparked injury-hit Everton’s revival when he scored with 12 minutes remaining, then captain Cahill turned in Leighton Baines’ cross for his third goal of the season – and his first in the league since September.

There was still time for more drama as Everton defender Tony Hibbert conceded a stoppage time penalty with a clumsy barge into Wilson Palacios, but American goalkeeper Tim Howard ensured Cahill’s birthday celebrations would go with a swing as he saved Defoe’s spot-kick with his legs.

“We tried our hardest. We went down, picked ourselves up and Tim Howard produced a great save and I guess there’s a bit of justice,” Cahill said.

Howard was given some advice by Saha during a lengthy delay between Palacios being fouled for the spot-kick and Defoe finally taken the penalty after the Tottenham midfielder was stretchered off.

The instructions appeared to have been relayed from the home dugout and Howard said: “He gave me a word of advice. I kind of knew what to expect.

“There’s so much video now that there’s not one penalty taken that’s not there to see. You try your best not to leave any stone unturned.”

Moyes admitted Howard’s penalty save was the kind of good fortune that Everton deserved for such a gutsy display.

“It was a vital save. We work hard to do what we can (on penalties) but he is a good goalkeeper, he is lively and he should make penalty saves because he is very agile,” Moyes said.

“I thought we deserved a bit of luck and the goalkeeper helped it. It was important because the players had worked incredibly hard and had got stuck in.

“We tried to get something and because of that we earned a bit of good fortune when it came around.”

Injuries continue to be a problem for Everton, who lost centre-back Joseph Yobo to a recurrence of a hamstring strain after just 15 minutes but that actually turned into a positive for the Toffees.

Moyes had to send on Seamus Coleman for only his second Premier League appearance and the 21-year-old had a hand in both goals, earning him the man-of-the-match award.

“He was fantastic. He played really well, he got forward and made a difference for us at times. Good on the youngster,” Moyes added.

While Moyes breathed a sigh of relief at Everton’s escape, Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp was frustrated at the careless way his side squandered two points which would have taken them third in the table.

“There looked to be only one winner. It was game over as we looked to be in control and I couldn’t see any way we weren’t going to go on and win,” he said.

“We had chances to go 3-0 up and then they pulled a goal back. It was poor defending, we got sucked in and then suddenly the crowd get a lift.

“When you get it back to 2-1 you are going to throw the kitchen sink at the opposition and that is what they did.

“Then we get a great chance to win it with a penalty with the last kick of the game.

“Robbie Keane is our penalty taker but you’d fancy the little man (Defoe) to score with the form he is in but it wasn’t to be.”

LIVERPOOL, England (AFP)

Tags: american goalkeeper, Australia, birthday celebrations, captain Cahill, David Moyes, England, fightback, good fortune, Goodison Park, Harry Redknapp, home dugout, jermain defoe, joseph yobo, leighton baines, lengthy delay, Liverpool, Louis, louis saha, minute goal, Robbie Keane, Seamus Coleman, socceroos, stoppage time, tim cahill, tim howard, time penalty, Tony Hibbert, Wilson, wilson palacios, word of advice

Cahill and Howard help Everton frustrate Spurs

December 7, 2009

Australia midfielder Tim Cahill scored a late equaliser and Tim Howard saved Jermain Defoe’s stoppage time penalty as Everton came from two goals down to snatch a dramatic 2-2 draw against Tottenham on Sunday.

David Moyes’ injury-ravaged side looked dead and buried with 12 minutes to go at Goodison Park after second half strikes from Defoe and Michael Dawson put Spurs firmly in control.

But Louis Saha came off the bench to reduce the deficit and Cahill headed home four minutes from full time.

Defoe had a chance to win it from the penalty spot but the England striker’s kick was kept out by American goalkeeper Howard.

After three successive league defeats, Everton’s great escape will feel like a victory, although the Toffees are still just three points and three places above the relegation zone.

Tottenham would have gone third with a win but stay fourth after a meltdown that capped a dispiriting week which also included a League Cup exit at Manchester United.

Everton’s lengthy injury list had deprived Moyes of nine potential first-team regulars including defenders Sylvain Distin and Phil Jagielka, so right-back Tony Hibbert had to play at centre-back alongside Joseph Yobo.

It wasn’t long before Tottenham began to turn the screw on Everton’s under-manned defence. Peter Crouch fired over after Aaron Lennon’s pass cut open the home back-four, then Defoe completely wrong-footed Hibbert and brought a fine stop from Howard.

Nigeria international Yobo had been passed fit after a hamstring injury but he lasted just 15 minutes before limping off with a recurrence of the problem as Moyes’ injury woes continued.

The lack of options at Moyes’ disposal became clear as he sent on Seamus Coleman, 21, for only his second Premier League appearance in place of Yobo.

Defoe always looked capable of tormenting the Everton defence and he took Niko Kranjcar’s clever pass in stride before poking his shot narrowly wide.

Tottenham defender Benoit Assou-Ekotto was lucky to escape with a yellow card after appearing to scrape his boot down the back of Cahill’s head as the pair lay on the floor and then pushing the Australian and Marouane Fellaini.

Fellaini was also cautioned in the same incident and the Belgium midfielder could have been sent off seconds later for elbowing Crouch.

Defoe gave Tottenham the perfect start to the second half as he opened the scoring in the 47th minute.

Lennon whipped in a cross from the right and Defoe got ahead of Hibbert at the near post to turn in his 13th goal of the season.

Dawson made it 2-0 as he escaped Lucas Neill’s attentions to meet Kranjcar’s 59th minute corner with a diving header that flashed past Howard for his second goal in successive games.

But substitute striker Saha set up a dramatic finish when he volleyed in Coleman’s cross at the near post in the 78th minute.

Everton had been given a lifeline and Cahill equalised in the 86th minute with a low header from Leighton Baines’ cross.

That wasn’t the end of the drama. In the second minute of stoppage time, Crouch headed down to Wilson Palacios and Hibbert conceded a penalty with a clumsy barge on the midfielder.

A lengthy delay followed while Palacios received treatment and when Defoe finally stepped up to take the spot-kick his low strike was pushed away by Howard’s legs to cap a remarkable finale.

LIVERPOOL, England (AFP)

Tags: Aaron Lennon, american goalkeeper, Australia, Belgium, Benoit Assou-, David Moyes, distin, England, equaliser, Goodison Park, injury woes, jermain defoe, lengthy injury, Liverpool, Louis, louis saha, Lucas Neill, Manchester, michael dawson, nigeria, Niko Kranjcar, peter crouch, Phil Jagielka, premier league, relegation zone, Seamus Coleman, stoppage time, tim cahill, tim howard, time penalty, Tony Hibbert, Wilson, yellow card

Atletico Madrid president appeals for patience

November 24, 2009

Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo on Monday urged fans to be “patient” after the club’s disastrous start to the season which has left it in the relegation zone after just 11 matches.

“We must be patient and start to win. We only have seven points, it is not normal. I hope that we will get out of this complicated crisis,” he said.

Atletico came fourth in La Liga last season to reach the Champions League but this season their form has been dismal and they have had their worst start to a season in 56 years.

The club has already been eliminated from the Champions League and currently lies third from bottom of the league table, just one point off basement side Malaga.

It has the worst defence in the Spanish league, having conceded 24 goals this season.

The club’s two star strikers, Argentina’s Sergio “Kun” Aguero – Diego Maradona’ s son-in-law – and Uruguay’s Diego Forlan, the Spanish league’s top-scorer last season with 32 goals, appeared to have lost their confidence.

And the dismissal at the end of October of Abel Resino as Atletico’s coach and his replacement by Enrico Sanchez Flores, a former Spanish international who has previously been in charge of Getafe and Valencia, has failed to give the club the expected boost it badly needs.

Deportivo La Coruna’s 2-1 win over Atletico over the weekend thanks to a controversial injury time penalty has deepened the pessimism swirling around the club.

Club officials have been criticised for not bringing in new players before the start to the season and they may take advantage of the winter transfer period to bring in new blood.

According to AS, Atletico is planning to sell its French striker Florent Sinama-Pongolle, who has struggled to find his place at the club and who has sparked interest from several French and English sides.

Atletico visit APOEL Nicosia in the Champions League on Wednesday. The club lie third in Group D, behind already qualified Chelsea and Porto, and need a win over the Cypriots to claim a place in the Europa League.

“Our immediate objectives are clear. We must beat APOEL, then Espanyol and Xerez. The solution is to win and the players know it. They have the feeling that things aren’t going right, and they don’t like it,” said Cerezo.

“We must look forwards and get out of this bad moment as soon as possible.”

MADRID (AFP)

Tags: Abel Resino, Argentina, atletico madrid, CHELSEA, club officials, cypriots, deportivo la coruna, diego forlan, diego maradona, Enrico Sanchez, enrique cerezo, flores, getafe, injury time, MADRID, Malaga, new blood, Nicosia, pongolle, PORTO, relegation zone, Sergio, sergio kun aguero, seven points, spanish league, strikers, time penalty, transfer period, uruguay, Valencia

Dynamo slumping, Pachuca flying heading into Group A clash

September 15, 2009

This probably wasn’t the week the Houston Dynamo wanted to travel to Mexico to face Pachuca.

Winless in their last four, the Major League Soccer power faces an in-form Pachuca side at Estadio Hidalgo on Wednesday in what is clearly the most intriguing and most anticipated match in Group A of the CONCACAF Champions League.

Pachuca enters the match undefeated in its last four, including three wins and a 2-1 victory at Pumas on Sunday.
The Dynamo just surrendered first place overall in the MLS to the defending champion Crew with a 2-1 loss on an injury time penalty at Columbus on Sunday. By contrast, Pachuca beat Pumas on an 80th-minute goal by Argentine striker Damian Alvarez.

The victory left Pachuca in third place in Group 2, the most competitive group in the Mexican league this season, but fourth overall with 16 points, two behind fellow Champions League participant Toluca.

Pachuca has the second-best offense in Mexico with 17 goals, four behind America. Besides Juan Cacho’s team-leading four in the Mexican Apertura, Ulisis Mendivil leads the Champions League with five goals – not counting his other two in the Apertura.

The Dynamo and Pachuca have some history – including a 2-0 victory by Houston in the semifinals of the 2008 SuperLiga, a heated affair with a disallowed goal that sparked a post-game shoving match.
Their last CONCACAF clash was in the semifinals of the old Champions Cup in 2007, when Pachuca won 4-2 at home and reached the final 6-4 on aggregate.

“Last time we were there [Hidalgo] we came out on the losing end of an exciting and controversial game,” Dynamo goalkeeper Pat Onstad said. “Pachuca plays a beautiful style of soccer and are extremely good at home. So if we want to truly be considered as one of the better teams in CONCACAF, than this is an excellent opportunity to prove we belong.”

Houston shares the Group A lead with Arabe Unido, which travels to winless Metapan on Tuesday in the other group place. It will be the Panamanian side’s first away game and Metpan’s first at home.
The Salvadoran side will be looking to ride the momentum of its league play, including a 3-1 win over Firpo that was its second straight. Anel Canales had his second goal in as many games and is the in-form striker for the Los Caleros.

However, in its four losses this season over all competitions, Metapan has been outscored 12-1.

Arabe Unido is undefeated in its last nine games this season, including a 4-1 victory over Pachuca on August 19 and 1-1 draw with Houston a week later. Since losing 2-1 at Olimpia in the first leg of the Preliminary Round, Arabe Unido has won six and drawn the other three, allowing more than a goal only once.

Led by Orlando Rodriguez’s team-best three goals, Arabe has outscored its opponents 15-8 in its unbeaten run.

By Peter Mallett

Tags: alvarez, America, Argentine, cacho, champions cup, clash, COLUMBUS, competitive group, concacaf champions league, Damian Alvarez, defending champion, Houston, houston dynamo, injury time, Juan, Major League Soccer, mendivil, metapan, mexican apertura, minute goal, Orlando, participant, pat onstad, Peter Mallett, pumas, striker, time penalty

Eredivisie: McClaren sent off, as Twente are held to 1-1 draw by Feyenoord

August 31, 2009

Former England coach Steve McClaren was sent off on Sunday in FC Twente’s 1-1 draw by Feyenoord at Feijenoord Stadion in the Eredivisie.

Former Bayern Munich star Roy Makaay scored an injury-time penalty after Nicky Kuiper’s 74th-minute goal in a game dominated by McClaren’s ejection.

The FC Twente coach was dismissed for storming onto the field to protest referee Roelof Luinge’s decision to caution Cheick Tiote after the Ivorian midfielder’s 58th-minute foul on Karim El Ahmadi.

Twente and Feyenoord, both unbeaten after five rounds, are tied with PSV Eindhoven in second place with 11 points, one less than AZ Alkmaar, which beat Willem II 2-1 Saturday.

Abhimanyu Rajput

Tags: abhimanyu, ahmadi, alkmaar, Bayern, bayern munich, coach steve mcclaren, Eindhoven, England, fc twente, feyenoord, injury time, ivorian, Karim, Karim El, kuiper, minute goal, referee, roy makaay, stadion, Steve McClaren, time penalty, willem ii

Goodson, Cooper send United States to third straight Gold Cup final

July 24, 2009

CHICAGO – The United States returned to the Gold Cup final for a third straight time, subduing Honduras 2-0 Thursday night in its bid for a record fifth title.

Stuart Holden set up goals for Clarence Goodson just before halftime and did much of the work on the left side before feeding Kenny Cooper in the 90th for his second goal in as many games.

The Americans will make their sixth appearance in the final on Sunday in Giants Stadium outside New York City.

The United States attacked from the opening kickoff, creating a corner within the first minute and putting a shot wide in the second when Jay Heaps headed a low ball just short of the post. It was the first in a half where the United States outshot Honduras 10-5.

The victory was the Americans’ third over Honduras in six weeks, including a 2-0 win in group play on July 8. The United States created three consecutive chances before Goodson leaped between two defenders and powered his header through the middle of the goal from the edge of the six-yard box.

He was the 10th different player score in the Gold Cup for the United States, which has outscored its opponents 12-3 in six games.

Honduras’ best chance in the first 45 minutes came when Martin Chavez’s left-footed strike from the edge of the penalty area had to be slapped upward by USA goalkeeper Troy Perkins and off the crossbar in the 20th minute.

The Americans dominated the second half as well, controlling possession but unable to convert for a second goal and nearly paid for it in the 85th minute.

Carlo Costly had two consecutive chances inside the area, the first hitting Perkins in the chest, while the second one bounced was blocked by a diving Jay Heaps.

Cooper, who converted an extra-time penalty to get the United States past Panama in the quarterfinals on Saturday, replaced Davy Arnaud in the 86th and added his second goal four minutes later. Holden traded passes with Brian Ching on the left side of area and then sent a sharp low ball across the face of the goal, where Cooper redirected it into an open net.

The match started under a light drizzle after thunderstorms with lightning threatened kickoff.

With the victory, the United States extended its unbeaten streak at home against CONCACAF opponents to 58, its last loss coming against Honduras in 2001 in World Cup qualifying.

By: By Kathryn L Knapp

Tags: brian ching, Carlo Costly, Chicago, clarence goodson, crossbar, davy arnaud, extra time, four minutes, giants stadium, Goalkeeper, gold cup, Honduras, jay heaps, Kathryn L Knapp, kenny cooper, martin chavez, new york city, opening kickoff, Panama, quarterfinals, six games, sixth appearance, Stuart Holden, time penalty, troy perkins, United States, USA

USA beat Panama in extra time

July 19, 2009

An extra time penalty converted by Kenny Cooper earned the United States a 2-1 win over Panama and a spot in the semi finals of this year’s Gold Cup.

Panama took the lead just before half time when Blas Perez smashed the ball past keeper Perkins, but a powerful shot from Beckerman levelled the score four minutes after the interval.

Extra time was needed in Philadelphia, where the USA slowly began to control the pitch.

After 15 minutes in extra time, a Torres foul on Holden had referee Archundia call for a penalty. Substitute Kenny Cooper struck it home with goalkeeper Penedo unable to get his hands to the ball.

The United States play their semi final match against Honduras on Thursday, at Chicago’s Soldier Field.

By: Jonathan Roorda

Tags: 15 minutes, beckerman, blas perez, Chicago, CONCACAF Champions' Cup, extra time, final match, four minutes, gold cup, holden, Honduras, interval, jonathan, kenny cooper, MLS, Panama, penedo, perkins, Philadelphia, referee, semi finals, soldier field, time penalty, United States, USA

Atlante not making room in display case for Champions League trophy just yet

May 12, 2009

His team has a two-goal edge on Mexican rival Cruz Azul and will be playing the second leg of the CONCACAF Champions League final in the friendly confines of Estadio Quintana Roo in Cancun.

However, Atlante manager Jose Guadalupe Cruz hasn’t already picked out a place in his office to display a medal.

“Nothing’s defined yet, that’s why we will take the second leg as serious,” Cruz said after the first leg. “The rival is hurt but not dead. We can not underestimate Cruz Azul because they are a big club.”

Rafael Marquez Lugo, whose injury time penalty completed a 3-1 victory over Santos and a 4-3 aggregate win in the semifinals, set up goals by Fernando Navarro and Christian Bermudez in the 17th and 24th minutes to give Atlante the 2-0 win on April 22 at Estadio Azul in Mexico City.

“I am happy with what we did in the first half, we played a serious game where could have gone up in the score line even more,” Cruz said. “I was not satisfied with the functioning and stamina in the second half. We kept up with them for a good 15 to 20 minutes, but after that they were all over us.”

The second leg was originally scheduled for April 29, but was postponed because of concerns over the swine flu outbreak.

Atlante scored a pair of goals in the first 15 minutes to defeat Santos 2-1 in their Mexican Clausura finale Saturday night in Cancun. Luis Carrillo scored in the fourth minute and Andres Carevic struck in the 15th minute as Atlante jumped in front 2-0.

Daniel Ludueña scored early in the second half for Santos, but Atlante claimed another win against los Guerreros, after a Champions League semifinal victory last month, snapping a seven-match league winless streak.

Meanwhile, Cruz Azul have been busy off the field, sacking manager Benjamin Galindo and replacing him with Robert Dante Siboldi on Tuesday.

“I am ready for these upcoming challenges; Saturday at Jaguares and the [CONCACAF Champions League] final against Atlante,” Siboldi said at an introductory press conference. “We’ll have to rely on everything we’ve done over the last four years, as well as the previous work done by the manager since we do not have time to make major changes.”

In Siboldi’s debut, Cruz Azul played with passion in a wild 3-3 draw with Chiapas Saturday at Estadio Victor Manuel Reyna. Alejandro Vela, Julio Cesar Dominguez and Javier Orozco scored for Cruz Azul, which was denied a victory when Adolfo Bautista converted a penalty five minutes from full time for his second goal of the game.

This isn’t the first time Cruz Azul is facing a deficit entering the second leg. La Maquina trailed 2-0 in the opening leg of the semifinals, but rallied to beat the Puerto Rico Islanders on penalties to advance to the final. This time, though, Cruz Azul, which failed to win any of its final 10 Clausura games, needs to get a result away from home.

Atlante will have to play the second leg without defender Miguel Martinez, who drew a second yellow card since the start of the knockout quarterfinals and will be suspended for the home match. But back will be Luis Venegas and Giancarlo Maldonado from suspension, while Gerardo Torrado and Cristian Riveros will return for Cruz Azul.

The winner on aggregate advances to the Club World Cup in Dubai in December.

“We dream of going to Dubai, but reality tells us that there is one more game to go,” Cruz said. “We have to go back home and play a good game. We are very close, closer than Cruz Azul.”

By Dylan Butler

Go to Source