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Anelka clinches Chelsea group win on the nod

A second half header from Nicolas Anelka handed Chelsea victory in Champions League Group D on Wednesday, securing a 1-0 win over Porto to clinch top spot.

Anelka had been the Portuguese side’s assassin in the opening match in the group and once again the Frenchman made the difference, launching himself to connect with Florent Malouda’s cross from the left after good approach work from Yuri Zhirkov, the Russian making a rare start.

The 69th-minute effort, Anelka’s third goal of the competition this season, left Chelsea as clear group victors with 13 points though Porto had already ensured qualification with the nine points they had racked up beforehand to secure a spot in the last 16.

Chelsea skipper John Terry said the win underpinned the English Premiership leaders’ confidence ahead of a tricky weekend match against Arsenal.

“We’ve done what we had to do today and that was get the win. We’re playing with confidence at the moment,” Terry told Sky Sports.

Anelka’s strike partner Didier Drogba was also ebullient, noting that “it was important for us to finish top of the group.”

Coach Carlo Ancelotti, determined to lead the Londoners to their first title, echoed the Ivorian.

“To finish top of our group was our objective, it was the most important thing. This means we could have a good draw. It is not easy to come here and win. The Champions League is our aim.”

In the same group, Atletico Madrid had to come from behind to draw 1-1 at minnows APOEL Nicosia, likewise winless to date.

Chelsea were good value for their win in a tight encounter which saw the visitors settle quickly.

Michael Ballack fired an early deflected effort wide as the visitors settled quickly and Drogba then sent a header from a Deco cross off target.

But Porto came close to taking the lead on 21 minutes when Petr Cech saved well from Fernando Belluschi, who then hit the bar with a rasping drive after latching on to a pass from Silvestre Varela.

Drogba started despite Ancelotti hinting beforehand he might rest the Ivorian, suspended for the opening three pool games following his outburst at the referee of the Blues’ semi-final against Barcelona last season.

Ancelotti also handed a start to Deco, in place of Joe Cole. The Brazilian-born Portuguese lifted the trophy with Porto under Jose Mourinho in 2004.

Porto Jesualdo Ferreira left Brazil striker Hulk on the bench and also had to field second choice keeper Beto after regular Helton failed a fitness test on an ankle problem.

Deco fired inches wide following a probing Anelka run down the left as Chelsea came out in attacking mode after the break.

Porto responded as Ferreira withdrew Varela, giving Hulk half an hour to prove his worth and add to his two-goal tally in the competition.

Hulk – who won his first two Brazilian caps in their recent friendlies against England and Oman – put himself about but a late close-range drive was well smothered by Cech.

The home fans roused themselves for a belated cheer as Deco made way for Cole with minutes remaining.

PORTO (AFP)

Tags: approach work, Barcelona, brazil, carlo ancelotti, champions league group, Cole, England, english premiership, fernando belluschi, florent malouda, frenchman, ivorian, Joe Cole, john terry, Jose, londoners, Michael Ballack, minute effort, Nicolas Anelka, Nicosia, Oman, Petr Cech, PORTO, Silvestre Varela, Sky Sports, taking the lead, target, victors, yuri, Yuri Zhirkov

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Ancelotti thinking long-term at Chelsea

Carlo Ancelotti is still enjoying the honeymoon period of his relationship with Chelsea but already his thoughts are turning to the long-term.

The Italian, who turned 50 in June, revealed Friday that he plans to retire in six years and hinted that he could spend all that time in west London.

“I started to train in 1995 and, after two years of this job, I thought that, for me, I would end my career in 2000,” said Ancelotti.

“When I got to 2000, I said, ‘now it’s better to continue because I like this.’

“I thought I’d close my career in 2005 but after (AC Milan’s) Champions League final defeat against Liverpool, I thought it was better to continue. Now, my stop is 2015.

“I hope to stay here. It depends not only on me. But I can say that, after three months here, I hope to stay a long time.”

Ancelotti has certainly made a good start at Chelsea winning eight games in all competitions under his stewardship and aiming for a seventh straight victory in the Premier League at Wigan on Saturday.

The head coach’s options have been bolstered by the return to action of Joe Cole and Yuri Zhirkov but both men, who featured in the League Cup win over QPR in midweek, will be on the bench at Wigan, Ancelotti said.

Striker Didier Drogba is fit after shaking off the calf injury which resulted in him limping out of Sunday’s win over Tottenham.

Ancelotti added: “At the moment there’s a very good atmosphere around this team. We have won all the games, so that atmosphere isn’t unusual.

“Wigan like to play football on the ground, they don’t use a lot of long balls and we have respect for this team because they have very good players.”

LONDON (AFP)

Tags: ac milan, bench, calf injury, carlo ancelotti, champions league, CHELSEA, Drogba, eight games, head coach, honeymoon period, Joe Cole, london, midweek, Milan, premier league, QPR, stewardship, straight victory, west london, Wigan, yuri, Yuri Zhirkov

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Deco confident Chelsea career on the up

Chelsea midfielder Deco insists his decision to stay at the Premier League club despite enduring the worst season of his life will pay off this year.

Deco struggled to adapt to English football last season after joining from Barcelona as a series of injuries stopped the Portugal playmaker from finding his rhythm.

He could have cut his losses in the close-season as several clubs, including Inter Milan, were keen to sign him, but he opted to stay and is already showing signs of a significant improvement.

Playing behind just behind the strikers in Tuesday’s match at Sunderland, Deco scored a superb goal and was Chelsea’s most influential performer.

“Last season was the worst season of my career because I never had so many injuries before,” Deco said.

“This season things can be different. I know I am well and fit and I can play. I want to help the team and I think (new manager) Carlo Ancelotti trusts me.

“I have a contract and they respect me here – the fans, the people in the club and the new coach.

“I had other offers but I never said that I want to go. I just said the last season was difficult and I wouldn’t like this one to be like the last one.

“But I talked with the club and the coach and the first time he said he wanted to keep me in the squad, I said okay, I want to stay.”

Meanwhile, Chelsea winger Yuri Zhirkov has rejected fears he will need surgery to cure a problem with his right knee.

Zhirkov, who joined Chelsea in the close-season from CSKA Moscow, has missed the start of the season because of a knee injury aggravated on the club’s pre-season tour of America.

But the Russian, 26, hopes to return to training in the next few days and denied reportsthat he would need an operation to cure his problem.

“I don’t know who spread these rumours, but they don’t correspond to reality,” Zhirkov said.

“My condition has improved and the doctors say that in two or three days I will be able to return to training, although not fully. I’ll work on an individual programme.

“I was feeling pain and noticeably limping when running, but now that’s behind me. I just need to tone up the leg.”

LONDON (AFP)

Tags: America, Barcelona, carlo ancelotti, CHELSEA, cska moscow, deco, english football, fears, few days, inter milan, knee injury, london, losses, match, midfielder, Milan, Moscow, playmaker, portugal, premier league, rhythm, rumours, significant improvement, strikers, Sunderland, winger, yuri, Yuri Zhirkov

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Former Belarus manager Kurnenin dies

Former Belarus manager Yuri Kurnenin has died at the age of 55, just a month after leading the nation’s youth team at the UEFA Under-21 Championships.

Kurnenin was mostly famous for his days as a player, and was part of the FC Dinamo Minsk side that became the first Belarussian team to win the Soviet championship in 1982.

As a manager, Kurnenin coached the Belarus national team in 2005 and 2006, and joined the Under-21 team in 2008 with a spot at the tournament finals as result.

Jonathan Roorda

Tags: belarus, Belarussian, Championship, Championships, fc dinamo, Minsk, player, tournament finals, uefa, uefa under 21, uefa under 21 championships, yuri, Yuri Kurnenin

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Buck backs Blues’ spending

English giants Chelsea’s chairman Bruce Buck has revealed that the club remains confident on landing one of their two big transfer targets this summer.

The Blues, who are still interested in Alexandre Pato, David Villa and Wesley Sneijder, have not given up hope of buying Franck Ribery from Bayern Munich.

With the French international insisting that he wants to join Real Madrid only, has been priced £70million, asum that Real’s general director, Jorge Valdano, claims they are not prepared to meet and hence the subsequent withdrawal of signing the playmaker.

Having already made three signings, Ross Turnbull, Daniel Sturridge and Yuri Zhirkov, Buck has claimed that the London side is far from spending big this summer.

“We said before the transfer season started that we expected four or five players in and a couple out,” said Buck.

“That is still our expectation. We are looking for a marquee name and are chasing a few but most of the big clubs are chasing the same players.”

“We are only going to get one of those top-notch players if the price is right and he fits into our team appropriately. But we are optimistic.”

“We think we know the right price for these players and there is still a lot of time left in the transfer season so let’s see how things work out.”

By: Abhimanyu Rajput

Tags: alexandre pato, Bayern, bayern munich, bruce buck, Buck, Daniel Sturridge, DAVID VILLA, English Premier League, expectation, franck ribery, french international, giants, Jorge Valdano, london, marquee name, playmaker, real madrid, ross, Ross Turnbull, top notch, transfer targets, turnbull, Wesley Sneijder, yuri, Yuri Zhirkov

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Chelsea sign Russian winger Zhirkov

LONDON (AFP) – Russian international winger Yuri Zhirkov has signed for English Premiership giants Chelsea, the club’s new manager Carlo Ancelotti said on Monday

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Zhirkov to undergo medical at Stamford Bridge, say reports in Russia

Russia International Yuri Zhirkov has flown to London to undergo a medical with Premier League side Chelsea, according to reports in his native Russia.

The CSKA Moscow winger has been rumoured to be close to joining the Blues all summer but it now appears likely that he will be unveiled as manager Carlo Ancelotti’s latest signing next week.

The 25-year-old, who has been linked with a move to Manchester United in the past, is thought to be the subject of an £18million fee and will negotiate personnel terms once his medical is complete.

The Russian daily newspaper Sport Express revealed that Zhirkov, had left his homeland to board a plane destined for London earlier on Sunday.

As of yet there has been no confirmation from either club but Sport Express claim that CSKA president Eugene Giner confirmed that the Russian international was close to joining the Blues.

By: Abhimanyu Rajput

Tags: carlo ancelotti, CHELSEA, confirmation, cska moscow, English Premier League, Eugene Giner, london, Manchester, manchester united, Moscow, native russia, premier league, Rusia Premier League, russia, russian international, sport express, stamford bridge, winger, yuri, Yuri Zhirkov

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Malouda rewarded with new contract

LONDON (AFP) – Chelsea’s French international midfielder Florent Malouda signed on Tuesday a four-year contract extension with the FA Cup winners.

The 29-year-old, who had two years remaining on his current contract, had been linked with a move to Italian Serie A giants AC Milan despite a generally hugely disappointing spell at Chelsea since joining for 13.5million pounds from French champions Lyon in 2007.

“I am staying. I have four years left on my contract,” commented Malouda, whose performances improved once Guus Hiddink replaced Luis Felipe Scolari at the club earlier this year.

“Every time the transfer window opens there are rumours and I hope in this one people will know what happened,” added Malouda, who was part of the France team that reached the 2006 World Cup final.

Malouda had been widely expected to move on after Chelsea were linked earlier this year with a move for Russia’s far more impressive attacking midfielder Yuri Zhirkov, who plays for CSKA Moscow.

But Malouda found his form under Hiddink and eventually started 31 games for the Blues last season, scoring nine goals.

Tags: ac milan, attacking, CHELSEA, contract extension, cska moscow, English Premier League, fa cup winners, florent, France, france team, french international, giants, italian serie, london, luis felipe scolari, Lyon, malouda, midfielder, Milan, Moscow, new contract, one people, russia, World Cup, yuri, Yuri Zhirkov

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Mexico, United States win to remain on track for title match at CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championship

PUERTO VALLARTA, Mexico – Favorites Mexico and the United States both won their final group games Friday to remain on track for a title match meeting in the CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championship.

Yuri Morales, who scored twice in an opening 6-2 victory over the Bahamas on Wednesday, scored three times against Costa Rica, leading a 6-1 win that set up a semifinal meeting against El Salvador on Saturday.

Mexico got two goals from Gustavo Rosales to pace a 4-1 victory over El Salvador and earn a semifinal against Costa Rica. El Tri finished atop Group A with the USA atop Group B in the six-team event that will send two teams to the Beach Soccer World Cup in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates November 16-22.

Morales scored twice within three minutes midway through the first period to rally the United States, which fell behind for the second time in as many games. Francis Faberhoff scored his first goal of the tournament before the end of the period and Morales added his third midway through the second to put the Americans ahead 4-1.

Raphael Xexeo scored twice in the final period to complete the victory and get the United States within a win of returning to the World Cup.

“This is a great result for us. Our first aim was to finish as first in our group to try to avoid Mexico in the semifinals,” Morales said. “Now we can totally focus on tomorrow’s game, hoping our opponent will be El Salvador to get another chance to show that we’ve improved and deserve to go to the World Cup.”

Rosales, who had three goals in Wednesday’s 10-0 victory over Canada, scored twice in the first seven minutes to pace Mexico over El Salvador. Isaac Rodriguez and Jose Navarette added goals to increase Mexico’s lead to 4-0 before Jose Agustin replied for El Salvador.

Go to Source

Tags: Bahamas, beach soccer, Canada, concacaf, CONCACAF Beach, CONCACAF Champions' Cup, Costa Rica, Dubai, El Salvador, el tri, final group, final period, first period, group games, Gustavo Rosales, Isaac Rodriguez, Jose, jose agustin, Mexico, mexico and the united states, morales, opponent, puerto vallarta, puerto vallarta mexico, raphael, Raphael Xexeo, second time, soccer world cup, three minutes, Tri, united arab emirates, United States, USA, yuri, Yuri Morales

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Twente secure second place in Dutch league

FC Twente are certain of a spot in the third preliminary round of the Champions League, beating champions AZ Alkmaar 3-0 while Ajax crashed to a painful 4-0 defeat at Sparta.

Twente were clearly the better side against AZ, and got their reward through former AZ player Kenneth Perez in the 47th minute. Peter Wisgerhof made it 2-0 on the hour and Eljero Elia added a third in minute 78.

Ajax visited Sparta at Rotterdam’s Kasteel stadium and couldn’t have expected the 4-0 trashing. Edouard Duplan and Yuri Rose scored just before the break, Joshua John did so in minute 77 and Dele Adeleye had the final say in injury time, 4-0.

With just one match to go in the Eredivisie, the gap between Twente and Ajax stands at four points.

At the bottom, things are getting difficult for Roda JC. The Kerkrade outfit are now the main candidates for direct relegation following a 0-1 defeat by Willem II. The winning goal came from Niels Vorthoren in the 92nd minute.

Written by: Jonathan Roorda

Tags: Ajax, alkmaar, dutch league, edouard duplan, elia, Eredivisie, fc twente, four points, gap, injury time, Jonathan Roorda, Joshua John, kasteel, kenneth perez, Kerkrade, match, Niels Vorthoren, Peter Wisgerhof, relegation, roda jc, roorda, ROTTERDAM, sparta, trashing, willem ii, yuri, Yuri Rose

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