Benitez keeps an eye on the transfer market

January 27, 2010

On Tuesday night, Rafael Benitez suffered another setback as the Wolves kept Liverpool to a draw at Molineux (0-0).

The disappointing result dented the confidence the Reds gained from the win against Tottenham, last week. The transfer window is still open for five days. “We are working and analysing things but it is not easy. There is not too much time left.”

Benitez’ position came under further scrutiny as Liverpool again failed to defeat a Premier League minnow.

“If you analyse our position in the table, then maybe it was two points dropped,” Benitez told the club’s official website. “If you analyse the game then it was fair enough.

“In the first half we were in control, we didn’t create clear chances and the final pass in the final third was the difference.

“In the second half they were pushing harder and we had to defend, but we still had some good counterattacks. Again the final pass was the difference. If you analyse the game, then the result is fair.”

Reds skipper Gerrard repeated the words that have been used several times during this season.

“We will keep fighting for this fourth place. We’ve a couple of home games to play now and if we can keep the momentum going and take maximum points then we’ll edge into the top four.

“If we keep battling and keep defending as we have been then results will follow.”

Tags: confidence, difference, game, gerrard, home games, Liverpool, market, Maximum, maximum points, momentum, premier league, rafael benitez, reds, scrutiny, setback, several times, skipper, tuesday night, window, wolves

De Rossi strike helps Roma into semis

January 27, 2010

Roma entered the semi-finals of the Coppa Italia on Tuesday night. A goal from Daniele De Rossi was enough to knock Catania out of the Cup: 1-0. The Sicillians ended the match with nine men after Giuseppe Bellusci and Blazej Augustyn saw red.

Roma, who faced Catania with a weakened attack due to the absence of the injured Luca Toni, Mirko Vucinic and Francesco Totti, dominated the match from start to finish.

Just before half-time it looked like De Rossi broke the deadlock. The Italian midfielder side-stepped his way past two defenders, his shot beat Catania goalkeeper Andrea Campagnolo, but it shaved the upright as the rampant Lupi continued to press forward.

Campagnolo continued to be the hero after the break as he denied De Rossi’s low-driven free kick with his feet. He then pulled off a majestic double save from Simone Perrotta and Stefano Okaka to keep hopes alive.

Roma finally took the lead after Augustyn’s red card. De Rossi’s measured strike in the bottom corner left Campagnolo without a chance.

The Giallorossi are set to face Milan or Udinese in the semi-final.

Tags: Andrea Campagnolo, attack, Blazej Augustyn, bottom corner, campagnolo, catania, coppa italia, daniele de rossi, deadlock, francesco totti, free kick, giallorossi, giuseppe, Giuseppe Bellusci, Goalkeeper, luca toni, lupi, midfielder, Milan, Mirko Vucinic, okaka, perrotta, Roma, semi finals, Simone Perrotta, Stefano Okaka, Toni, tuesday night, udinese

Pavlyuchenko set to leave Spurs

December 1, 2009

Roman Pavlyuchenko’s agent is trying to engineer a move to AS Roma for his player which is expected to take form shortly.

The Russian striker has started only two games for Tottenham Hotspur this season, in the League Cup, but instead of leading the attack at White Hart lane, Pavlyuchenko is preparing for talks with Roma.

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has been linked with a move for the striker as he tries to find a partner for Fernando Torres up front and Birmingham City and Spartak Moscow have also been linked but the striker’s agent Oliver Wendt is hoping to fix up a move with Roma this week.

“Roman wants to leave London and he wants to go to Roma. If Tottenham allow him to go, Roman could be a Roma player,” Wendt said.

“Everything depends on the meeting we will have today or tomorrow with Roma. I had contact with the Roma directors last week too and they showed they were interested.”

Pavlyuchenko has been fourth choice striker for Tottenham this season, with Harry Redknapp preferring Robbie Keane, Peter Crouch and Jermaine Defoe to the Russian.

Tottenham Hotspur next face Manchester United in their League Cup quarter-final on Tuesday night.

Anurada Bhat

Tags: bhat, birmingham city, boss, Fernando Torres, Harry Redknapp, jermaine defoe, Liverpool, london, Manchester, manchester united, Moscow, Oliver Wendt, peter crouch, Robbie Keane, Roma, roma liverpool, russian striker, Spartak, spartak moscow, spurs, tottenham hotspur, tuesday night, two games, white hart lane

No Great Escape for Liverpool

November 25, 2009

Liverpool hopes of one more great Champions League escape were dashed on Tuesday night, as Fiorentina sealed their place alongside Olympique Lyon with a 1-0 win over the French side, leaving the English team’s 1-0 success against Debrecen irrelevant.

Liverpool, of course, only have themselves to blame for leaving their fate in the hands of a team that had already secured their own qualification.

There will doubtless be a lot more criticism of Rafa Benitez, his transfer dealings and the perceived failures of man management, but the analysis of exactly why Liverpool failed to progress can wait for another post.

For now, consider one question: Might this result actually work in Liverpool’s long-term favour?

The club could certainly have done with the revenue from a run to the semi-finals or beyond but, with the best will in the world, did this season’s team ever really look capable of making it as far as Madrid?

With a squad that (everyone has said) is inferior to last year’s, maybe it will prove in their interests that they no longer have to juggle Champions League and Premier League campaigns. They can now have a leisurely tilt at the Europa League — if they make it to the final it will be an enjoyable run, if they don’t … well, who really cares? — and concentrate on doing something about that dreadful domestic form.

The priority, as always, must be to secure qualification for the group stage of next year’s Champions League. That 19th league title looks as elusive as ever but a top-four finish may have just become a more realistic possibility.

PHOTO: Liverpool’s coach Rafael Benitez looks on as Steven Gerrard walks off during the Champions League soccer match against Debrecen at the Puskas stadium in Budapest November 24, 2009. REUTERS/Laszlo Balogh

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Tags: Budapest, champions league soccer, fate, favour, french side, great escape, group stage, laszlo balogh, Liverpool, man management, olympique lyon, premier league, rafa benitez, realistic possibility, semi finals, Steven Gerrard, tilt, tuesday night

Women’s U-20, Women’s U-17 championship groups set

November 25, 2009

Defending and two-time champion Canada will face Costa Rica, Cuba and host Guatemala in the first round of the 2010 CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championship, while the reigning world champion United States will be grouped with Mexico, Trinidad & Tobago and Jamaica.

With the field set, the eight teams will head to Guatemala City for the January 19-30 tourney at the 17,000-seat Estadio Cementos Progreso. After the last two tournaments were held in Mexico, this will be the first time since the event began as an under-19 championship in 2002 that it will be held in Central America.

Canada, Costa Rica, Cuba and Guatemala were drawn into Group A with the United States, Mexico, Trinidad and Jamaica placed in Group B.

For the Women’s Under-17 Championship, the defending champion United States will face host Costa Rica, Haiti and either the Dominican Republic or Cayman Islands in Group B. Group A will be comprised of Canada, Mexico, Jamaica and a second team from Central America.

Costa Rica will stage the second U-17 championship March 9-20 in Estadio Saprissa and Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto in the San Jose area.

The Dominican Republic and Cayman Islands must face each other in a two-leg playoff for the last of three berths from the Caribbean, set for December 5 and December 12. The remaining Central American side will be decided among Panama, Nicaragua and El Salvador starting Tuesday night and finishing Saturday in Panama.

Both draws were conducted Monday by Deputy General Secretary Ted Howard during the CONCACAF Executive Committee meeting in New York.

The full schedules for both tournaments are expected to be announced next month.

NEW YORK

Concacaf

Tags: berths, canada mexico, cayman islands, champion canada, committee meeting, concacaf women, defending champion, deputy general, executive committee, general secretary, guatemala city, january 19, progreso, saprissa, ted howard, time champion, tuesday night, world champion, york women

Barca set to face Alcorcon after solid Cup win

November 11, 2009

Barcelona did what it had to do in the Copa del Rey. They moved on to the next round after defeating third division side Cultural Leonesa (5-0).

Before the match there was a minute of silence in memory of Robert Enke. The German goalkeeper, who died on Tuesday night, had a two year spell with Barca after moving from Benfica in 2002.

The game ignited in the second half. Cultural Leonesa, that lost the first match at home (0-2), lost their hopes of a historic win in ten minutes. Bojan Krkic ended their hopes of a sensational victory scoring two goals in less than five minutes.

In the next round of the Cup, Barcelona faces Alcorcon. The third division side threw Real Madrid out of the Cup (4-1 on aggegrate).

Fifth round Copa del Rey:

Alcorcon – Barcelona

Atletico Madrid – Sevilla

Valencia – Villarreal

Paul Haring

Tags: barca, barcelona atletico madrid, benfica, cultural leonesa, five minutes, game, Goalkeeper, Krkic, madrid sevilla, memory, minute of silence, robert enke, tuesday night

Kaka: “A nice, emotional evening”

November 4, 2009

Kaka returned to the San Siro on Tuesday night to play with his new club Real Madrid against his former, beloved club AC Milan. The match ended in a draw: 1-1. The Brazilian midfielder was impressed by the way the Milan fans welcomed him.

“It was beautiful, just like I hoped it would be,” Kaka explained to Sky Sports Italia. “I’ve experienced so many beautiful moments in the San Siro and this was, again, an emotional night. I want to thank all the fans for their appreciation.”

“It wasn’t easy to deal with the emotions but I was prepared for it and I knew it was going to be tough,” said the attacking midfielder.

“I went to their locker room before the match and it was great to meet my old teammates again.”

Paul Haring

Tags: beautiful moments, emotional evening, emotional night, emotions, locker room, MADRID, match, midfielder, Milan, milan fans, Paul Haring, san siro, Sky Sports, teammates, tuesday night

Psychological problems affect Pavlyuchenko’s performances

October 29, 2009

Tottenham Hotspur striker Roman Pavlyuchenko suffers from psychological problems due to his bad relationship with manager Harry Redknapp. His agent says Pavlyuchenko feels he is not trusted by his coach.

The Russia international is fourth choice at White Hart Lane behind Jermain Defoe, Robbie Keane and Peter Crouch and has spent most of this season warming the substitutes bench.

He was handed a rare start during Tottenham’s 2-0 League Cup victory over Everton on Tuesday night, but did not perform well.

Pavlyuchenko’s agent, Oleg Artemov, claimed that the striker’s performances on the pitch are being affected by “psychological problems”.

“His poor performance recently is not due to a lack of match practice but psychological problems.

“Of course, not getting into the starting line-up, sitting on the bench is not good for any player.

“But Roman is much more affected by the feeling that the manager doesn’t trust him and prefers to use other forwards,” Artemov told The Sun.

Artemov has once again hinted that Pavlyuchenko will look to leave if he doesn’t get more starts.

“The World Cup is next summer, to waste another half a year on the bench may be very bad for his international career.

“It may become clearer after our next meeting with Redknapp.

“Roman and I plan to talk to him again after Russia’s two World Cup play-off games against Slovenia in November.”

Paul Haring

Tags: cup victory, everton, forwards, Harry Redknapp, Hart Lane, international career, jermain defoe, match, oleg, Oleg Artemov, Paul Haring, peter crouch, pitch, poor performance, psychological problems, Robbie Keane, russia, sitting on the bench, slovenia, starting line, striker, tuesday night, World Cup

Rangers slam ‘disgusting’ abuse

October 21, 2009

Rangers have condemned the “moronic behaviour” of supporters alleged to have racially abused Maurice Edu after Tuesday night’s Champions League thrashing by Unirea Urziceni.

United States midfielder Edu, 23, played no part in the 4-1 Group G defeat but watched the match at Ibrox and says he was targeted by his own club’s supporters as he left the stadium.

A statement released by the Ibrox club read: “Rangers Football Club condemns out of hand this moronic behaviour.

“The action of this individual is disgusting and completely unacceptable.

“It is extremely disappointing that people such as this attach themselves to the wider Rangers support and tarnish the image of the club and its fans.

“The club will now undertake a full investigation to identify the individual in question and take appropriate action.

“We would urge anyone who has information on the identity of the individual responsible to contact the club immediately.

“Everyone associated with Rangers will once again demonstrate their on-going commitment to Show Racism the Red Card as we support the Weekend of Action at the Hibernian game at Ibrox Stadium on Saturday.”

Edu wrote a message on his Twitter feed which read: “Not sure what hurt more: result last nite or being racially abused by couple of r own fans as I’m getting in my car.”

The Rangers Supporters Trust condemned anyone who might have abused Edu, who has been out all season with a knee injury.

RST spokesman David Edgar said: “We would absolutely condemn that if that’s the case.

“These are not Rangers fans and they should be caught and prosecuted to the full extent of the law.”

Billy Singh, Campaign Manager for Show Racism the Red Card, said: “The racial abuse suffered by Maurice Edu last night was totally unacceptable.

“Would the same fans have reacted in the same way if he had scored the winning goal last night?

“It proves that as a society we have a long way to go to eradicate this type of behaviour.

“Official statistics show that on average there are 14 reported incidents a day.

“Anecdotal evidence suggests that 80% goes unreported.

“Football is leading the way in trying to change peoples attitudes and behaviour within football grounds.

“I call upon fans of all Scottish clubs to challenge this type of behaviour not only within football but in society in general. Show Racism the Red Card will continue to spread the anti-racist message in football but also in communities throughout Scotland.”

Abhimanyu Rajput

Tags: Billy Singh, campaign manager, champions league, david edgar, full extent of the law, game, Ibrox Stadium, knee injury, last nite, match, Maurice, midfielder, official statistics, racial abuse, racism, rangers football club, scotland, spokesman, tuesday night, unirea urziceni, United States

Saprissa downs Puerto Rico 3-1

August 26, 2009

SAN JOSE – Saprissa came from behind to defeat the Puerto Rico Islanders 3-1 Tuesday night in a CONCACAF Champions League encounter at the Estadio Ricardo Saprissa.

The visitors clearly missed the services of their outstanding goalkeeper Bill Gaudette, who was serving a suspension for yellow card accumulation. As a result, Puerto Rico’s usually solid defense displayed uncharacteristic flaws that enabled Saprissa to get open looks at the goal.

Domenic Mediate put the 2009 Champions League semifinalist ahead in the 26th minute, controlling the ball with his chest and dribbling just inside the box before unloading a shot at the far post that Saprissa goalkeeper Fausto Gonzalez could not reach.

The Purple Monster was undaunted and leveled nine minutes later. Armando Alonso crossed from the right, finding an unmarked Jairo Arrieta on the penalty spot. The forward celebrated his 26th birthday with a goal as he chested the ball and uncorked a right-footed blast just under the crossbar. Mike Behonick, Gaudette’s replacement, could not react quickly enough and did not see the ball barely land over the line.

Saprissa struck again in the 40th minute, when veteran midfielder Walter Centeno struck a beautiful right-footed shot from 20-yards out, beating Behonick to his right.

Puerto Rico head coach Colin Clarke made no half-time changes and Saprissa increased its advantage to two goals only four minutes after the interval. Andre Nunez was allowed space on the left to deliver a cross that Alonso headed downward, leaving Behonick stranded.

The Islanders nearly got back into the game in the 73rd minute, but Gonzalez did well to put a Scott Jones attempt from the left side of the box onto the post. Just as it appeared the ball was going to cross the line, it somehow spun in reverse on the stadium carpet.

Sandy Gbandi hit the bar in the 80th minute after a defensive header by Saprissa’s Douglas Sequeira fell in his direction.

It was not to be Puerto Rico’s night, posting its second loss in two games.

After dropping its opener 2-0 at Cruz Azul, Saprissa will be pleased to obtain its first points of the competition and returns to Champions League action at home on September 16 against the Columbus Crew. The Islanders host Cruz Azul at the Estadio Juan Ramon Loubriel in Bayamon one day earlier.

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