LIVERPOOL (AFP) - Robinho fired Manchester City to only their second away win in the league this season with a 2-1 victory as Everton showed the effects of their recent efforts against Manchester United and Chelsea.
The Brazilian striker scored City's opener and then set up Stephen Ireland for their second as the visitors claimed their first win at Goodison Park since 1992.
Substitute Dan Gosling claimed an injury-time consolation for Everton but City were always in control against the FA Cup finalists.
A reported training ground bust-up with manager Mark Hughes did not prevent England defender Micah Richards from being included in the City starting XI as a replacement for the injured Pablo Zabaleta.
Everton made four changes from the midweek goalless draw at Chelsea. Defenders Tony Hibbert and Phil Jagielka came in for Lars Jacobsen and Joleon Lescott, Marouane Fellaini replaced Tim Cahill and Louis Saha came in up front for the on-loan Jo, who was ineligible to play against his parent club.
Robinho has been criticised for some lacklustre performances in the club's away fixtures but City's Brazilian forward appeared in the mood as he mesmerised Hibbert with multiple stepovers before tumbling in the box.
The referee was unimpressed and it was Everton who registered the first shot on target although Saha's effort scarcely troubled Shay Given.
At the other end, Tim Howard had to pull off a full-stretch save to keep out Robinho's strike after Elano's shot had been blocked by Leighton Baines.
Left-back Baines came to Everton's rescue once more, snuffing out the danger when Ireland was sent through the middle by Felipe Caicedo.
But the defender was powerless to prevent City from taking the lead in the 35th minute.
Hibbert's forward punt was headed down by Nedum Onuoha and Elano's brilliant first-time pass sent Robinho racing down the left and he left Jagielka trailing before slotting his finish through Howard's legs.
Everton might have equalised just before half-time but Saha's header from Hibbert's inviting cross sailed over the bar.
The home side continued to press after the break only to be floored by a rapid counterattack from City nine minutes after the restart.
From wide on the left, Robinho picked out Ireland's run and the midfielder finished smoothly.
It took another good save from Howard to deny Robinho a second goal and Everton's afternoon took another turn for the worse when Jagielka was carried off on a stretcher with what appeared to be an injury to his left knee.
Seven minutes of injury time gave Gosling the time to claim his consolation effort but Moyes never looked like he would be able to enjoy his 46th birthday.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Kalou sends Chelsea to Barcelona on a high
LONDON (AFP) - Salomon Kalou ensured Chelsea will travel to Barcelona for next week's Champions League semi-final in buoyant mood after sealing their 1-0 win over West Ham on Saturday.
The Ivory Coast international made the most of a rare start under Guus Hiddink by plundering the only goal of a scrappy game early in the second half.
He turned in Frank Lampard's cross from close range, and victory was assured when Petr Cech saved Mark Noble's 70th-minute penalty.
Three points have little relevance to Chelsea on the domestic front, their English Premier League title ambitions having died against Everton last Wednesday, but it will pep their confidence ahead of the daunting encounter with Barca.Indeed, the Dutch interim manager might consider the fact his squad departed east London without any major injury scares as his most satisfying achievement, although he had done his best to minimise the risks.
As expected, Jose Bosingwa was deployed as a makeshift left-back to ready him for the Nou Camp, where first choice Ashley Cole will be suspended, although whether containing the limp Luis Boa Morte will prepare him for confronting Lionel Messi is another matter.
Hiddink will be just pleased that Michael Essien and Michael Ballack were only employed briefly as second-half substitutes, while Didier Drogba and Alex were not needed at all.
Chelsea's satisfaction was in stark contrast to West Ham, for whom defeat represented a grievous blow to their hopes of sealing the seventh-placed finish which should guarantee Europa League football next season. With Fulham and Tottenham, their major rivals, in ominous form, Gianfranco Zola's side must rebuild their confidence quickly.
Zola will have been dismayed at his team's paltry effort here against a Chelsea side which, perhaps inevitably given the changes, never threatened to reach top gear.
The first half was dismal and, aside from a long-range effort from Lampard and a low shot Nicolas Anelka pulled just wide of the left-hand post, West Ham goalkeeper Robert Green was largely reduced to sun-bathing duties.
The hosts, for their part, were inexplicably slack, although they still created the most inviting chances. In the 20th minute, a delightful turn from Diego Tristan allowed the Uruguayan to slide a perfectly weighted pass to Kieron Dyer between John Terry and Branislav Ivanovic.
Dyer, returning from the latest in a long line of injuries, had only Petr Cech to beat but never looked assured and his weak shot was little better than a back-pass.
Tristan had his own chance shortly before half-time, when Matthew Upson headed down Noble's corner. Tristan flicked towards goal from five yards but his limp effort was cleared off the line by John Mikel Obi.
West Ham were to rue those misses. Chelsea emerged after the break in a more purposeful mood and forged ahead in the 54th minute. Lampard drove to the by-line and, after Green failed to cut out his chipped cross, Kalou poked high into the net.
The goal punctured the hosts. Chelsea gradually took control, pinging passes around at their leisure and leaving West Ham grasping at thin air.
Two beautifully constructed moves deserved goals: the first, in the 67th minute, saw a rat-a-tat exchange end with Belletti setting Anelka clear, only for Green to save bravely at his feet; the second, moments later, had Malouda tee up Ashley Cole, on for Bosingwa. The England defender's angled, rising drive clipped the crossbar.
Chelsea were by now so completely in control that complacency became the biggest threat to their lead. That was the only explanation for Kalou's brainless challenge on Herita Ilunga, who had forged into the penalty area but well away from goal.
Mike Dean duly pointed to the spot but Cech spared Kalou some awkward questions by brilliantly saving Noble's penalty to his left. The game was as good as over.
The Ivory Coast international made the most of a rare start under Guus Hiddink by plundering the only goal of a scrappy game early in the second half.
He turned in Frank Lampard's cross from close range, and victory was assured when Petr Cech saved Mark Noble's 70th-minute penalty.
Three points have little relevance to Chelsea on the domestic front, their English Premier League title ambitions having died against Everton last Wednesday, but it will pep their confidence ahead of the daunting encounter with Barca.Indeed, the Dutch interim manager might consider the fact his squad departed east London without any major injury scares as his most satisfying achievement, although he had done his best to minimise the risks.
As expected, Jose Bosingwa was deployed as a makeshift left-back to ready him for the Nou Camp, where first choice Ashley Cole will be suspended, although whether containing the limp Luis Boa Morte will prepare him for confronting Lionel Messi is another matter.
Hiddink will be just pleased that Michael Essien and Michael Ballack were only employed briefly as second-half substitutes, while Didier Drogba and Alex were not needed at all.
Chelsea's satisfaction was in stark contrast to West Ham, for whom defeat represented a grievous blow to their hopes of sealing the seventh-placed finish which should guarantee Europa League football next season. With Fulham and Tottenham, their major rivals, in ominous form, Gianfranco Zola's side must rebuild their confidence quickly.
Zola will have been dismayed at his team's paltry effort here against a Chelsea side which, perhaps inevitably given the changes, never threatened to reach top gear.
The first half was dismal and, aside from a long-range effort from Lampard and a low shot Nicolas Anelka pulled just wide of the left-hand post, West Ham goalkeeper Robert Green was largely reduced to sun-bathing duties.
The hosts, for their part, were inexplicably slack, although they still created the most inviting chances. In the 20th minute, a delightful turn from Diego Tristan allowed the Uruguayan to slide a perfectly weighted pass to Kieron Dyer between John Terry and Branislav Ivanovic.
Dyer, returning from the latest in a long line of injuries, had only Petr Cech to beat but never looked assured and his weak shot was little better than a back-pass.
Tristan had his own chance shortly before half-time, when Matthew Upson headed down Noble's corner. Tristan flicked towards goal from five yards but his limp effort was cleared off the line by John Mikel Obi.
West Ham were to rue those misses. Chelsea emerged after the break in a more purposeful mood and forged ahead in the 54th minute. Lampard drove to the by-line and, after Green failed to cut out his chipped cross, Kalou poked high into the net.
The goal punctured the hosts. Chelsea gradually took control, pinging passes around at their leisure and leaving West Ham grasping at thin air.
Two beautifully constructed moves deserved goals: the first, in the 67th minute, saw a rat-a-tat exchange end with Belletti setting Anelka clear, only for Green to save bravely at his feet; the second, moments later, had Malouda tee up Ashley Cole, on for Bosingwa. The England defender's angled, rising drive clipped the crossbar.
Chelsea were by now so completely in control that complacency became the biggest threat to their lead. That was the only explanation for Kalou's brainless challenge on Herita Ilunga, who had forged into the penalty area but well away from goal.
Mike Dean duly pointed to the spot but Cech spared Kalou some awkward questions by brilliantly saving Noble's penalty to his left. The game was as good as over.
Alonso and Kuyt keep Reds rolling on
HULL, England (AFP) - Xabi Alonso and Dirk Kuyt inspired Liverpool to a crucial 3-1 victory at Hull to help Rafael Benitez's side maintain the pressure on Premier League leaders Manchester United.
Alonso struck in the 45th minute with a dipping volley to notch his fourth goal of the season before Kuyt helped himself to a second-half brace as Hull's relegation fears showed no signs of easing.
Geovanni pulled a goal back for the home side on 73 minutes but it was never going to be enough as Kuyt made it 3-1 in the final minute.
Hull's misery was complete when Caleb Folan was shown a straight red card on the hour mark for kicking out at Martin Skrtel and he will now face an automatic three match suspension.
Benitez had demanded a perfect end to the season from his side in order to keep their title hopes alive and they responded, despite struggling to to find their peak form for large spells against a Hull side which has now won just two of the last 25 league games.Home manager Phil Brown sprang a surprise before kick off by recalling Folan to his starting line-up.
Folan has struggled to make an impact this season but was handed just his second Premier League start of the campaign and the chance to solve Hull's chronic shortage of goals.
Benitez, meanwhile, was still without captain Steven Gerrard (groin) and left out Daniel Agger, Fabio Aurelio and Albert Riera from his starting line-up as Liverpool went in search of a much-needed win to maintain the pressure on leaders United.
Liverpool made a bright start in an attempt to dampen the home crowd.
Yossi Benayoun was at the heart of his side's main threats and could have opened the scoring inside seven minutes.
He was allowed to weave his way towards goal with a clever run only to see his shot blocked by Michael Turner. Fernando Torres reacted first to the loose ball but his blazing strike was superbly tipped over by Bo Myhill.
Benayoun curled a shot onto the roof of the net moments later and Hull looked in danger of being swamped.
But having ridden the early storm Brown's men began to grow in confidence and threaten themselves.
Jose Reina had to be alert to intercept a dangerous cross from Craig Fagan while Dean Marney shot tamely wide before Geovanni flashed a powerful 25-yard volley just off target.
Liverpool were struggling to break down Hull's stubborn defence, in which Michael Turner was outstanding. Benitez's frustration was beginning to show on the touchline as he became increasingly concerned at his side's lack of potency in attack and ability to build on their early promise.
Such frustrations disappeared on the stroke of half-time, however, when Liverpool finally broke the deadlock.
Alonso's first free-kick struck the Hull wall but the ball rebounded straight to him and he duly made the most of his second chance by burying a low volley past the stranded Myhill and into the bottom corner for only his third league goal of the season.
Folan's moment of madness on 60 minutes made life difficult for the home side but the challenge became almost impossible just three minutes later when Kuyt headed home Skrtel's deflected pass to leave Brown's team with no way back, despite Geovanni pulling a goal back with 17 minutes remaining to set up a frantic finish before Kuyt had the final say.
Alonso struck in the 45th minute with a dipping volley to notch his fourth goal of the season before Kuyt helped himself to a second-half brace as Hull's relegation fears showed no signs of easing.
Geovanni pulled a goal back for the home side on 73 minutes but it was never going to be enough as Kuyt made it 3-1 in the final minute.
Hull's misery was complete when Caleb Folan was shown a straight red card on the hour mark for kicking out at Martin Skrtel and he will now face an automatic three match suspension.
Benitez had demanded a perfect end to the season from his side in order to keep their title hopes alive and they responded, despite struggling to to find their peak form for large spells against a Hull side which has now won just two of the last 25 league games.Home manager Phil Brown sprang a surprise before kick off by recalling Folan to his starting line-up.
Folan has struggled to make an impact this season but was handed just his second Premier League start of the campaign and the chance to solve Hull's chronic shortage of goals.
Benitez, meanwhile, was still without captain Steven Gerrard (groin) and left out Daniel Agger, Fabio Aurelio and Albert Riera from his starting line-up as Liverpool went in search of a much-needed win to maintain the pressure on leaders United.
Liverpool made a bright start in an attempt to dampen the home crowd.
Yossi Benayoun was at the heart of his side's main threats and could have opened the scoring inside seven minutes.
He was allowed to weave his way towards goal with a clever run only to see his shot blocked by Michael Turner. Fernando Torres reacted first to the loose ball but his blazing strike was superbly tipped over by Bo Myhill.
Benayoun curled a shot onto the roof of the net moments later and Hull looked in danger of being swamped.
But having ridden the early storm Brown's men began to grow in confidence and threaten themselves.
Jose Reina had to be alert to intercept a dangerous cross from Craig Fagan while Dean Marney shot tamely wide before Geovanni flashed a powerful 25-yard volley just off target.
Liverpool were struggling to break down Hull's stubborn defence, in which Michael Turner was outstanding. Benitez's frustration was beginning to show on the touchline as he became increasingly concerned at his side's lack of potency in attack and ability to build on their early promise.
Such frustrations disappeared on the stroke of half-time, however, when Liverpool finally broke the deadlock.
Alonso's first free-kick struck the Hull wall but the ball rebounded straight to him and he duly made the most of his second chance by burying a low volley past the stranded Myhill and into the bottom corner for only his third league goal of the season.
Folan's moment of madness on 60 minutes made life difficult for the home side but the challenge became almost impossible just three minutes later when Kuyt headed home Skrtel's deflected pass to leave Brown's team with no way back, despite Geovanni pulling a goal back with 17 minutes remaining to set up a frantic finish before Kuyt had the final say.
United thrash Spurs to retain pole position
MANCHESTER, England (AFP) - Manchester United moved a step closer to the Premier League title after coming from two goals behind to beat Tottenham 5-2 in a superlative second-half performance at Old Trafford on Saturday.
Sir Alex Ferguson's side, having seen Liverpool move top of the table on goal difference with victory at Hull earlier in the day, put a lacklustre first-half display behind them in a stunning 15-minute spell that brought them their first four goals - two each for Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney.
But it was the half-time introduction of substitute Carlos Tevez, the Argentine international who was quoted this week in his homeland bemoaning his lack of first-team opportunities, which was the catalyst for the crucial victory.
And the win was not without its controversy, as referee Howard Webb seemed to err when he awarded United a 56th-minute penalty for a foul by gTen minutes later, former Spurs striker Berbatov started a move which ended with Tevez finding Rooney inexplicably unmarked at the far post, the England forward?s shot helped into the net by the palm of Gomes.
Tottenham, so disciplined in the first half, were in complete disarray and the 68th minute saw Rooney's cross converted by Ronaldo's diving header, the noise generated by 75,458 inside Old Trafford now reaching a crescendo.
The deluge was not over. Just three minutes on and United counter-attacked effectively, Berbatov springing Ronaldo clear for the winger to pick out Rooney whose strike was blocked by Jonathan Woodgate only for the officials to judge that it had crossed the line.
At 4-2, the contest was finished although United were not. In the 78th minute, Rooney's left-wing cross picked out the head of Berbatov with Gomes initially saving the attempt before the United striker forced the ball home to make it five goals in 22 minutes.
There had been little hint of the drama to come in the opening half hour as United seemed to take control of affairs.
But the game shifted unpredictably just before the half-hour mark when Darren Bent and Luka Modric both benefited from Aaron Lennon's dominance down the right wing.
First, Lennon's short pass opened up the angle for Vedran Corluka to cross into the area where Rio Ferdinand was slow to detect Bent's presence.
Having failed to connect with one header, Bent still had time to gather the loose ball and drive it past Edwin van der Sar.
Just three minutes later, Patrice Evra again failed miserably to deal with the threat of Lennon and the England winger's cross was missed by the entire United defence, allowing Modric the time and space to take a touch and finish emphatically.
Finally provoked into life, United responded with Gomes saving well from Rafael Da Silva's running shot and then the keeper producing a quite stunning, one-handed save to keep out a Ronaldo half-volley, attempted after the United man's initial free-kick had struck the Tottenham wall.
But Ferguson acknowledged the dire situation by bringing on Tevez as a half-time substitute for the ineffective Nani.
The switch paid off almost immediately with the Argentinian picking out Rooney in a crowded area, only for the former Everton star to try and place his shot into the far corner, succeeding only in putting the ball behind.
Tevez himself raced clear on goal and was denied by a brave Gomes save, but United's strong opening to the second half was a mere prelude to the devastating blitz that was to come.oalkeeper Heurelho Gomes on Michael Carrick, Ronaldo converting the kick impressively.
Sir Alex Ferguson's side, having seen Liverpool move top of the table on goal difference with victory at Hull earlier in the day, put a lacklustre first-half display behind them in a stunning 15-minute spell that brought them their first four goals - two each for Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney.
But it was the half-time introduction of substitute Carlos Tevez, the Argentine international who was quoted this week in his homeland bemoaning his lack of first-team opportunities, which was the catalyst for the crucial victory.
And the win was not without its controversy, as referee Howard Webb seemed to err when he awarded United a 56th-minute penalty for a foul by gTen minutes later, former Spurs striker Berbatov started a move which ended with Tevez finding Rooney inexplicably unmarked at the far post, the England forward?s shot helped into the net by the palm of Gomes.
Tottenham, so disciplined in the first half, were in complete disarray and the 68th minute saw Rooney's cross converted by Ronaldo's diving header, the noise generated by 75,458 inside Old Trafford now reaching a crescendo.
The deluge was not over. Just three minutes on and United counter-attacked effectively, Berbatov springing Ronaldo clear for the winger to pick out Rooney whose strike was blocked by Jonathan Woodgate only for the officials to judge that it had crossed the line.
At 4-2, the contest was finished although United were not. In the 78th minute, Rooney's left-wing cross picked out the head of Berbatov with Gomes initially saving the attempt before the United striker forced the ball home to make it five goals in 22 minutes.
There had been little hint of the drama to come in the opening half hour as United seemed to take control of affairs.
But the game shifted unpredictably just before the half-hour mark when Darren Bent and Luka Modric both benefited from Aaron Lennon's dominance down the right wing.
First, Lennon's short pass opened up the angle for Vedran Corluka to cross into the area where Rio Ferdinand was slow to detect Bent's presence.
Having failed to connect with one header, Bent still had time to gather the loose ball and drive it past Edwin van der Sar.
Just three minutes later, Patrice Evra again failed miserably to deal with the threat of Lennon and the England winger's cross was missed by the entire United defence, allowing Modric the time and space to take a touch and finish emphatically.
Finally provoked into life, United responded with Gomes saving well from Rafael Da Silva's running shot and then the keeper producing a quite stunning, one-handed save to keep out a Ronaldo half-volley, attempted after the United man's initial free-kick had struck the Tottenham wall.
But Ferguson acknowledged the dire situation by bringing on Tevez as a half-time substitute for the ineffective Nani.
The switch paid off almost immediately with the Argentinian picking out Rooney in a crowded area, only for the former Everton star to try and place his shot into the far corner, succeeding only in putting the ball behind.
Tevez himself raced clear on goal and was denied by a brave Gomes save, but United's strong opening to the second half was a mere prelude to the devastating blitz that was to come.oalkeeper Heurelho Gomes on Michael Carrick, Ronaldo converting the kick impressively.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Goal.com MLS Rankings: Chivas USA Consolidate
Chivas USA – Imagine the Goats when everyone gets healthy and Sacha Kljestan starts off his 2009 campaign. (1)
2. New England – Another well-earned point in D.C. reminds us once again Revs can churn out results on the road. It will be even more difficult in Salt Lake City next weekend. (2)
3. Chicago – This isn't the same lock-down defense that the Fire boasted last season. Can it return to that level of excellence once the personnel changes die down? (5)
4. Seattle – I wonder if Freddie Ljungberg threw off Seattle's equilibrium in the attacking third. (4)
5. Real Salt Lake – Better starts are required. Better finishing, too. (3)
6. Kansas City – Deserved one point less than they gathered at Toyota Park. (6)
7. D.C. United – Christian Gomez hasn't played that well over 60 minutes for quite some time. United will hope that hamstring tweak isn't serious. (8)
8. Colorado – Almost another point stolen on the road by Conor Casey and the Rapids. Another difficult team to break down away from home. (7)
9. Toronto FC – Rohan Ricketts is deep in John Carver's doghouse, it seems. This game cried out for his intervention and the inconsistent Englishman remain stapled to the bench. (9)
10. Houston – Stuart Holden deserves a decent run in the side to see if he can find his attacking midfield mojo. The clock has started ticking, however. (12)
11. San Jose – Get well soon, Jason Hernandez. (10)
12. New York – Important for the Red Bulls to kick on from here and piece together two or three results in a row. (15)
13. FC Dallas – Maybe it's time to experiment with David Ferreira in a deeper playmaking role. He could find even more of the ball if given some room to roam in midfield. (14)
14. Columbus – The Crew are one of two winless teams left in the league… (11)
15. Los Angeles – …but the Galaxy will keep them off the bottom, at least for this week. (13)
2. New England – Another well-earned point in D.C. reminds us once again Revs can churn out results on the road. It will be even more difficult in Salt Lake City next weekend. (2)
3. Chicago – This isn't the same lock-down defense that the Fire boasted last season. Can it return to that level of excellence once the personnel changes die down? (5)
4. Seattle – I wonder if Freddie Ljungberg threw off Seattle's equilibrium in the attacking third. (4)
5. Real Salt Lake – Better starts are required. Better finishing, too. (3)
6. Kansas City – Deserved one point less than they gathered at Toyota Park. (6)
7. D.C. United – Christian Gomez hasn't played that well over 60 minutes for quite some time. United will hope that hamstring tweak isn't serious. (8)
8. Colorado – Almost another point stolen on the road by Conor Casey and the Rapids. Another difficult team to break down away from home. (7)
9. Toronto FC – Rohan Ricketts is deep in John Carver's doghouse, it seems. This game cried out for his intervention and the inconsistent Englishman remain stapled to the bench. (9)
10. Houston – Stuart Holden deserves a decent run in the side to see if he can find his attacking midfield mojo. The clock has started ticking, however. (12)
11. San Jose – Get well soon, Jason Hernandez. (10)
12. New York – Important for the Red Bulls to kick on from here and piece together two or three results in a row. (15)
13. FC Dallas – Maybe it's time to experiment with David Ferreira in a deeper playmaking role. He could find even more of the ball if given some room to roam in midfield. (14)
14. Columbus – The Crew are one of two winless teams left in the league… (11)
15. Los Angeles – …but the Galaxy will keep them off the bottom, at least for this week. (13)
MLS Team Of The Week: Round 5
Goalkeeper:
Pat Onstad (Houston Dynamo): Despite being 41 and getting kicked in the face by Omar Cummings, Onstad saved a penalty on the way to a magnificent clean sheet over the Colorado Rapids to earn his side its first win of the season.
Defense:
Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA): Forced an own goal for Chivas USA's opener against Seattle Sounders FC. More performances like that and Bob Bradley will have to stop tinkering around with Health Pearce and DaMarcus Beasley on the national team.
Kevin Goldthwaite (New York Red Bulls): So often the joke of the New York backline, no Real Salt Lake fans were laughing as he helped his side keep a cAlfredo Pacheco (New York Red Bulls): Quite a lively debut. His distribution from the back promises to transform how New York play.
Midfield:
Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo): It has been Davies rather than Stuart Holden who has stepped up in the wake of Dwayne De Rosario's departure. A game-winning assist was the result of one of many dangerous crosses.
Shalrie Joseph (New England Revolution): Steve Nicol is counting on Joseph to increase his offensive production with a series of attackers out injured, and the midfielder did just that against D.C. United, scoring the opener.
Ben Olsen (D.C. United): United only got a point because of Olsen's tenacious display, willingness to get carded to inspire teammates, and, oh yeah, he scored the equalizer in injury time.
Josh Wolff (Kansas City Wizards): Pushed further up the pitch as Kansas chased the game, Wolff rolled back the years to score a poacher's brace and earn a point away against the Chicago Fire.
Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA): As his hair grows out, his performances improve. In an open midfield against the Sounders, Kljestan dominated, and played the telling through ball in the buildup to the first goal.
Attack:
Brian McBride (Chicago Fire): He's still got it. Two sublime finishes, one a long range one-time half-volley and the other a huge leap to head home a Cuauhtemoc Blanco free kick, rewarded Chicago with a two goal lead for a good early display.
Macoumba Kandji (New York Red Bulls): The Red Bull attack has been misfiring all season, but Kandji has continued to improve. His pace and power on the ball unnerve defenses, and against RSL he finally added a goal to this season's good displays.
OnstadBornstein - Goldthwaite - PachecoKljestan - Wolff - Olsen - Shalrie - DaviesMcbride - Kandjilean sheet against potent attackers.
Pat Onstad (Houston Dynamo): Despite being 41 and getting kicked in the face by Omar Cummings, Onstad saved a penalty on the way to a magnificent clean sheet over the Colorado Rapids to earn his side its first win of the season.
Defense:
Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA): Forced an own goal for Chivas USA's opener against Seattle Sounders FC. More performances like that and Bob Bradley will have to stop tinkering around with Health Pearce and DaMarcus Beasley on the national team.
Kevin Goldthwaite (New York Red Bulls): So often the joke of the New York backline, no Real Salt Lake fans were laughing as he helped his side keep a cAlfredo Pacheco (New York Red Bulls): Quite a lively debut. His distribution from the back promises to transform how New York play.
Midfield:
Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo): It has been Davies rather than Stuart Holden who has stepped up in the wake of Dwayne De Rosario's departure. A game-winning assist was the result of one of many dangerous crosses.
Shalrie Joseph (New England Revolution): Steve Nicol is counting on Joseph to increase his offensive production with a series of attackers out injured, and the midfielder did just that against D.C. United, scoring the opener.
Ben Olsen (D.C. United): United only got a point because of Olsen's tenacious display, willingness to get carded to inspire teammates, and, oh yeah, he scored the equalizer in injury time.
Josh Wolff (Kansas City Wizards): Pushed further up the pitch as Kansas chased the game, Wolff rolled back the years to score a poacher's brace and earn a point away against the Chicago Fire.
Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA): As his hair grows out, his performances improve. In an open midfield against the Sounders, Kljestan dominated, and played the telling through ball in the buildup to the first goal.
Attack:
Brian McBride (Chicago Fire): He's still got it. Two sublime finishes, one a long range one-time half-volley and the other a huge leap to head home a Cuauhtemoc Blanco free kick, rewarded Chicago with a two goal lead for a good early display.
Macoumba Kandji (New York Red Bulls): The Red Bull attack has been misfiring all season, but Kandji has continued to improve. His pace and power on the ball unnerve defenses, and against RSL he finally added a goal to this season's good displays.
OnstadBornstein - Goldthwaite - PachecoKljestan - Wolff - Olsen - Shalrie - DaviesMcbride - Kandjilean sheet against potent attackers.
Ranieri keen on signing Cannavaro
ROME (AFP) - Juventus boss Claudio Ranieri admitted on Tuesday that he is hoping to sign Real Madrid centre-back Fabio Cannavaro for next season.
Cannavaro has made it clear he wishes to leave Real at the end of the season and previously stated he wanted to return to Napoli, his first club.
But with Napoli ruling themselves out of the bidding, Juve have become frontrunners for the 36-year-old's signature with Cannavaro's agent admitting on Monday that talks had begun.
And despite his age, Ranieri is keen for Cannavaro to link up alongside Italian international team-mate Giorgio Chiellini in the centre of the Juve defence.
"We also asked questions about his age but we couldn't afford to miss out on the possibility of signing an international player who could reform the Italy partnership with Chiellini," said Ranieri.
"For that reason I gave it (the transfer) the ok."
No deal has been agreed yet but Juve president Giovanni Cobolli Gigli confirmed negotiations are taking place.
"It will possibly happen but we still have to see about some details," he said. "I'm happy to see that even Ranieri has expressed himself positively about Cannavaro."
Cannavaro has made it clear he wishes to leave Real at the end of the season and previously stated he wanted to return to Napoli, his first club.
But with Napoli ruling themselves out of the bidding, Juve have become frontrunners for the 36-year-old's signature with Cannavaro's agent admitting on Monday that talks had begun.
And despite his age, Ranieri is keen for Cannavaro to link up alongside Italian international team-mate Giorgio Chiellini in the centre of the Juve defence.
"We also asked questions about his age but we couldn't afford to miss out on the possibility of signing an international player who could reform the Italy partnership with Chiellini," said Ranieri.
"For that reason I gave it (the transfer) the ok."
No deal has been agreed yet but Juve president Giovanni Cobolli Gigli confirmed negotiations are taking place.
"It will possibly happen but we still have to see about some details," he said. "I'm happy to see that even Ranieri has expressed himself positively about Cannavaro."
Spanish Inquisition: The Central Role Of Madrid's Central Defenders
On Sunday, Madrid sports daily Marca broke the news that Fabio Cannavaro’s time at Real Madrid would be coming to an end—the 2006 Ballon D’or winner would be returning to Turin to once again anchor the Juventus back line after coming to terms with the Italian giants.
It is a bittersweet exit for the 35-year-old Italian who, upon arriving to the Bernabéu, was billed as the best defender in the world. Like many centre-backs who join Real Madrid, Cannavaro, despite being a seasoned veteran and the linchpin of the Italian national side, had a difficult time adapting to the attack-minded style dictated by the Madrid faithful.
He was brought on by then-coach Fabio Capello, to shore up a back line that had been porous since the departure of Fernando Hierro. But despite the impressive pedigree, Cannavaro never quite regained the form that earned him the highest honour a footballer can receive at the World Cup.That is not to say he was not immensely valuable in his time as a Merengue though. Capello emphasized a commitment to defence and it was this stalwart defending that eventually won Real Madrid La Liga that year. Although Cannavaro wasn’t flying around making the jaw-dropping tackles that won him such praise in Italy, he was a critical contributor to the organization of Madrid’s back line, bringing his savvy and discipline to a defence that was far too quick to give up chances before his arrival.
Cannavaro has by no means been the perfect player. In the last two years especially, the Italian has lost much of his pace and has begun to look less and less comfortable on the ball. But the centre-back has done a superb job of complementing fellow defender, Pepe who is much more of a risk-taker in the back line. While Pepe uses his long stride to snuff out counters or streaks forward in an impressive demonstration of offensive play, Cannavaro is back to cover, constantly communicating with Iker Casillas as to how far he should push up and from where the imminent threat is coming. Sure, the Italian has been caught with his pants down a few times—in the Champions League match against Liverpool at Anfield, Cannavaro was ridiculed time and again by Stephen Gerrard—but the Italian does bring value and calm to the back line with his leadership. So much so, that Madrid will have a difficult time replacing him.
Real Madrid have a habit of chewing up and spitting out central defenders, some with impressive pedigrees. In fact for a central defender, playing at Real Madrid can be an absolute nightmare for confidence and career. Madridistas will quickly remember how the disastrous Jonathan Woodgate was to become the new rock at the back only to show, when he wasn’t in the medical ward with serious injuries, that he might better be suited to tackling rocks. In fact, in July 2007, Woodgate was voted the worst signing of the 21st century by Marca readers. Ironically though, once departing from Real Madrid, after spending a good while piecing together his confidence, the Englishman would again find his form with Middlesbrough, be crowned North East Player of the Year by the Prince's Trust charity, and earn an international cap with the English national side.
Central defenders Iván Helguera, Alvaro Mejía, and Francisco Pavon would suffer similar failures with Los Blancos, being unable to stifle opposing offences and leaving Iker Casillas with it all to do. In fact, it is a testament as to just how talented a goalkeeper Casillas is that he has been able to win with the play of his back line in recent years. In some of those games, Casillas was single-handedly (pun somewhat intended) winning Madrid their matches.
Before the arrival of Juande Ramos, Christoph Metzelder—a fixture in the very impressive German national side’s defence—looked to be on the same path to anonymity and, although he has enjoyed something of a resurgence, in struggle to find form, he still has not been able to play assured defence consistently.
Playing at Real Madrid is pressure enough for many players. Every decision is scrutinized, every inaccurate pass is mercilessly whistled, and every goal against Los Blancos is attributed to bad defending rather than good offence.
But playing central defence at Madrid is a particularly tall task because of the style of football that Real Madrid are obligated to play. Football is not just a sport at a club like Real Madrid, it is a spectacle; the Bernabéu is where football fans come from all over the world to watch athletics take on an art form with smooth passing, delightful flicks, and a plethora of goals. And the entertainment of goals is only achieved through relentless attack.
At Real Madrid, the right-back and left-back positions are forced to push so high in support of the offence, that the central defenders are stretched thin, being forced to cover a larger area than would otherwise be comfortable. Much is asked of these men, but Cannavaro did a good job of not forgetting that his principle task was to defend and he took this task very seriously. In fact, when he is out of the line-up, Madrid tend to look a little less confident closing down opposing teams—much in the same way Barcelona seem a little more shaky when Puyol is not directing his back line. Players like Cannavaro and Puyol make the players around them better as Fabio has taught Marcelo the tenants of sound defending and Carles has Piqué playing like a seasoned veteran.
But it seems as if Cannavaro’s days at Madrid are numbered and Madrid will need to find a sure-minded substitute for the Italian. After spending another season at Racing Santander, Ezequiel Garay is set to come to the Bernabéu to try his hand at keeping the back line stable alongside Pepe. While regular football at Racing has done Garay a world of good in his development, it is tempting to say that he may have learned more valuable lessons playing alongside Cannavaro or Pepe this season so that he would have been able to slowly adapt to the style of defending at Madrid rather than just being thrown into the fray.
Garay is still young and should he have some growing pains, Madrid could be in a difficult spot. Sergio Ramos is superb in either the centre-back position or the right-back position and with Maicon being a possible summer signing, the Sevillan could potentially make the early switch to the centre—thus becoming Madrid’s Paolo Maldini. But Ramos still has many years left at the right-back spot and is a fixture at the position in the Spanish national side.
Thus, to take the place of Cannavaro, it might be best for Madrid to consider allowing another veteran defender to step in—one used to the pressures of playing with an attack-minded team, with the touch and dexterity to distribute the ball effectively, and able to shoulder the burden that comes along with the Madrid back line.
Porto’s Bruno Alves, Bayern’s Lucio, and Villarreal’s Godin are a few players that speculation brings to mind.
It is a bittersweet exit for the 35-year-old Italian who, upon arriving to the Bernabéu, was billed as the best defender in the world. Like many centre-backs who join Real Madrid, Cannavaro, despite being a seasoned veteran and the linchpin of the Italian national side, had a difficult time adapting to the attack-minded style dictated by the Madrid faithful.
He was brought on by then-coach Fabio Capello, to shore up a back line that had been porous since the departure of Fernando Hierro. But despite the impressive pedigree, Cannavaro never quite regained the form that earned him the highest honour a footballer can receive at the World Cup.That is not to say he was not immensely valuable in his time as a Merengue though. Capello emphasized a commitment to defence and it was this stalwart defending that eventually won Real Madrid La Liga that year. Although Cannavaro wasn’t flying around making the jaw-dropping tackles that won him such praise in Italy, he was a critical contributor to the organization of Madrid’s back line, bringing his savvy and discipline to a defence that was far too quick to give up chances before his arrival.
Cannavaro has by no means been the perfect player. In the last two years especially, the Italian has lost much of his pace and has begun to look less and less comfortable on the ball. But the centre-back has done a superb job of complementing fellow defender, Pepe who is much more of a risk-taker in the back line. While Pepe uses his long stride to snuff out counters or streaks forward in an impressive demonstration of offensive play, Cannavaro is back to cover, constantly communicating with Iker Casillas as to how far he should push up and from where the imminent threat is coming. Sure, the Italian has been caught with his pants down a few times—in the Champions League match against Liverpool at Anfield, Cannavaro was ridiculed time and again by Stephen Gerrard—but the Italian does bring value and calm to the back line with his leadership. So much so, that Madrid will have a difficult time replacing him.
Real Madrid have a habit of chewing up and spitting out central defenders, some with impressive pedigrees. In fact for a central defender, playing at Real Madrid can be an absolute nightmare for confidence and career. Madridistas will quickly remember how the disastrous Jonathan Woodgate was to become the new rock at the back only to show, when he wasn’t in the medical ward with serious injuries, that he might better be suited to tackling rocks. In fact, in July 2007, Woodgate was voted the worst signing of the 21st century by Marca readers. Ironically though, once departing from Real Madrid, after spending a good while piecing together his confidence, the Englishman would again find his form with Middlesbrough, be crowned North East Player of the Year by the Prince's Trust charity, and earn an international cap with the English national side.
Central defenders Iván Helguera, Alvaro Mejía, and Francisco Pavon would suffer similar failures with Los Blancos, being unable to stifle opposing offences and leaving Iker Casillas with it all to do. In fact, it is a testament as to just how talented a goalkeeper Casillas is that he has been able to win with the play of his back line in recent years. In some of those games, Casillas was single-handedly (pun somewhat intended) winning Madrid their matches.
Before the arrival of Juande Ramos, Christoph Metzelder—a fixture in the very impressive German national side’s defence—looked to be on the same path to anonymity and, although he has enjoyed something of a resurgence, in struggle to find form, he still has not been able to play assured defence consistently.
Playing at Real Madrid is pressure enough for many players. Every decision is scrutinized, every inaccurate pass is mercilessly whistled, and every goal against Los Blancos is attributed to bad defending rather than good offence.
But playing central defence at Madrid is a particularly tall task because of the style of football that Real Madrid are obligated to play. Football is not just a sport at a club like Real Madrid, it is a spectacle; the Bernabéu is where football fans come from all over the world to watch athletics take on an art form with smooth passing, delightful flicks, and a plethora of goals. And the entertainment of goals is only achieved through relentless attack.
At Real Madrid, the right-back and left-back positions are forced to push so high in support of the offence, that the central defenders are stretched thin, being forced to cover a larger area than would otherwise be comfortable. Much is asked of these men, but Cannavaro did a good job of not forgetting that his principle task was to defend and he took this task very seriously. In fact, when he is out of the line-up, Madrid tend to look a little less confident closing down opposing teams—much in the same way Barcelona seem a little more shaky when Puyol is not directing his back line. Players like Cannavaro and Puyol make the players around them better as Fabio has taught Marcelo the tenants of sound defending and Carles has Piqué playing like a seasoned veteran.
But it seems as if Cannavaro’s days at Madrid are numbered and Madrid will need to find a sure-minded substitute for the Italian. After spending another season at Racing Santander, Ezequiel Garay is set to come to the Bernabéu to try his hand at keeping the back line stable alongside Pepe. While regular football at Racing has done Garay a world of good in his development, it is tempting to say that he may have learned more valuable lessons playing alongside Cannavaro or Pepe this season so that he would have been able to slowly adapt to the style of defending at Madrid rather than just being thrown into the fray.
Garay is still young and should he have some growing pains, Madrid could be in a difficult spot. Sergio Ramos is superb in either the centre-back position or the right-back position and with Maicon being a possible summer signing, the Sevillan could potentially make the early switch to the centre—thus becoming Madrid’s Paolo Maldini. But Ramos still has many years left at the right-back spot and is a fixture at the position in the Spanish national side.
Thus, to take the place of Cannavaro, it might be best for Madrid to consider allowing another veteran defender to step in—one used to the pressures of playing with an attack-minded team, with the touch and dexterity to distribute the ball effectively, and able to shoulder the burden that comes along with the Madrid back line.
Porto’s Bruno Alves, Bayern’s Lucio, and Villarreal’s Godin are a few players that speculation brings to mind.
Americans in the UK: FA Cup Glory
Everton were clearly not the favorites going into Sunday’s semifinal against league leaders Manchester United. However, Alex Ferguson opted to go with some of his younger and inexperienced players and the Toffees were able to weather the storm through injury and extra time until a penalty shootout became the final decider.
After Tim Cahill missed the opening kick for Everton by blasting his shot over the bar, Tim Howard came up huge by saving a weak shot from Dimitar Berbatov using only his legs. Leighton Baines then gave the Toffees a 1-0 advantage before Rio Ferdinand stepped up looking to even the score. However, the American stopper was well up to the task, blocking a strong shot from the world class defender. Phil Neville and James Vaughn added two more while Nemanja Vidic and Anderson tallied for United. It all came down to England International Phil Jagielka and the defender did not hesitate, blasting the winning strike past Ben Foster to send the Merseyside club into the FA Cup finals for the first time in 14 years.
Howard’s clutch saves cannot be touted enough. He thoroughly outplayed his counterpart and certainly stung Manchester United fans who remember him making key saves for them just four years ago. His outstanding performance gives him the opportunity to win another FA Cup winners medal. The 'keeper became the first American to accomplish such a feat when he started in goal for the 2004 Everton last won the FA Cup in 1995 when they toppled United 1-0. They’ll face Chelsea at Wembley next month.Premiership:
Tim Howard, Evertonvs. Manchester United (FA Cup), 0-0 (4-2 on Penalties) 90 minutes, 0 goals conceded in open play, 5 saves.
(See Above)Up Next: Wednesday, away to Chelsea and Saturday, home to Manchester City.
Brad Friedel, Aston Villa.vs. West Ham United, 1-1, 90 minutes, 1 goal conceded, 5 saves.
The Champions League hopes that looked so promising just two months ago now look bleak for Villa, who dropped two crucial points at home to West Ham on Saturday. After Emile Heskey gave the hosts an early lead, the Villains held strong, fighting off several attacks from the visitors. Friedel was sharp late when he made a great stop of a Luis Boa Morte shot but the breakthrough finally arrived in the 85th minute. With just five minutes remaining, Diego Tristan headed in the equalizing goal by steering in a Kieron Dyer shot that was always going wide of the net. Villa now sit seven points behind Arsenal for fourth place and don’t look like the European threat that everyone was buzzing about back around the New Year.Up next: Saturday, away to Bolton.Brad Guzan and Eric Lichaj, Aston Villa
Guzan backed up Friedel on Saturday while Lichaj remained idle as the Villa Reserves don’t resume play until later this month.Clint Dempsey, Fulhamvs. Middlesbrough, 0-0, 90 minutes.
On a day when the Fulham attack remained stagnate at times, 'keeper Mark Schwarzer came up huge, stopping key shots down the stretch to give the Cottagers a respectable draw on the road. Dempsey had a chance to steal a late victory but his 83rd minute effort went just wide.Up next: Saturday, home to Stoke.
Jonathan Spector, West Hamvs. Aston Villa, 1-1, DNP
Spector, still recovering from that scary concussion two weeks ago, did not suit up for the Hammers on Saturday. With five matches remaining and seven points back of sixth place Everton, the London club has a chance at Europe but they’ll need a major slip up from the Toffees in order to secure that spot.Up next: Saturday, home to Chelsea.Championship Round-Up:
Marcus Hahnemann, Reading
Reading continued their winless streak last week, grabbing two draws. First, on Monday, after staking a 0-2 lead over Blackpool, Hahnemann could not stop Keith Southern or Dudley Campbell as they fought back to split the points at home. Then, on Saturday, Hahnemann made eight stop but the Royals once again could not get on the score sheet as they drew 0-0 with Barnsley. The Royals have not won since March 17th when they defeated Doncaster Rovers 0-1. They are in danger of losing a playoff spot as they sit just three points ahead of seventh place Swansea City.Eddie Johnson, Cardiff
Johnson was a late substitute in both games last week, coming on for Jay Bothroyd in both contests. The Bluebirds won 3-1 on Monday when they hosted Burnley but were shockingly pummeled on Saturday, losing 6-0 at Preston North End. And the answer to “were there any red cards” is no. This was an old fashioned beat down. Johnson did not score or contribute too much in either contest.
Jay DeMerit, Watford
The Hornets dropped six points this week, losing both games to Norwich City and Birmingham. An early own goal paralyzed Watford on Monday as they lost all confidence and ultimately fell 2-0 at Norwich. On Saturday, it was Cameron Jerome who broke the Hornets hearts with a 73rd minute winner.
Frank Simek, Sheffield Wednesday
Simek was not dressed for Monday’s 3-2 loss at QPR but was on the bench for Saturday’s 2-0 win over Southampton. The defender did not come on and this season is surely one that Simek would like to forget as he has played is just six contests all year.Meanwhile Up In Scotland…
DaMarcus Beasley and Maurice Edu, Rangersvs. Hibernian, 2-3, Edu played 90 minutes, 1 goal. Beasley DNP.
A week after opening his Scottish scoring account for Rangers, Edu doubled his season total by putting away Hibernian on Sunday. The Glasgow outfit had staked a 1-2 lead in the second half but in the 73rd minute they sealed the victory when Edu pounced on Kenny Miller’s blocked effort and slotted home Rangers third strike of the day. John Rankin made it interesting when he halved the deficit six minutes from time but Rangers confidently held on for the win. With the Scottish Cup semifinals coming up this weekend it will be interesting to see whether the confident American continues to start on such a big stage.Up next: Saturday, home to St. Mirren (Scottish Cup)
Pub Talk:
** As many MLS fans must already know, Southampton defender Kyle Davies transferred to Real Salt Lake last week. The American wasn’t really given any first team action and his play on the Reserves squad had been limited lately as well.
** American winger Ryan Guy played well for St. Pat’s FC on Friday as his club defeated Drogheda United 2-1. St. Pat’s now sit in sixth place, five points back of Eircom League leaders Bohemians. St. Pat’s have finished second the last two years and aren’t off to the best start as it’s been feast or famine with four wins and four losses from their first eight.
** Glen Cove, New York native Mike Grella continues to play well off the bench for Leeds United. The League One club signed the striker in January. Grella has scored five goals for the Reserves including one hat-trick against Barnsley and provided a few assists as well. The 2008 All-American from Duke University, who has appeared in nine first team games this campaign, is signed with the club until the end of the next season.
** Millwall’s Zak Whitbread continues to impress. The League One outfit sits in fourth position and with automatic promotion virtually out of the question; they’ll be playing in the playoffs next month to move back up to the Championship. Whitbread has started 36 contests this campaign, scoring one goal while holding a huge presence in the back line. Millwall has allowed the fifth fewest goals in League One this year but rank just 10th in scoring, making Whitbread’s play that much more vital.
After Tim Cahill missed the opening kick for Everton by blasting his shot over the bar, Tim Howard came up huge by saving a weak shot from Dimitar Berbatov using only his legs. Leighton Baines then gave the Toffees a 1-0 advantage before Rio Ferdinand stepped up looking to even the score. However, the American stopper was well up to the task, blocking a strong shot from the world class defender. Phil Neville and James Vaughn added two more while Nemanja Vidic and Anderson tallied for United. It all came down to England International Phil Jagielka and the defender did not hesitate, blasting the winning strike past Ben Foster to send the Merseyside club into the FA Cup finals for the first time in 14 years.
Howard’s clutch saves cannot be touted enough. He thoroughly outplayed his counterpart and certainly stung Manchester United fans who remember him making key saves for them just four years ago. His outstanding performance gives him the opportunity to win another FA Cup winners medal. The 'keeper became the first American to accomplish such a feat when he started in goal for the 2004 Everton last won the FA Cup in 1995 when they toppled United 1-0. They’ll face Chelsea at Wembley next month.Premiership:
Tim Howard, Evertonvs. Manchester United (FA Cup), 0-0 (4-2 on Penalties) 90 minutes, 0 goals conceded in open play, 5 saves.
(See Above)Up Next: Wednesday, away to Chelsea and Saturday, home to Manchester City.
Brad Friedel, Aston Villa.vs. West Ham United, 1-1, 90 minutes, 1 goal conceded, 5 saves.
The Champions League hopes that looked so promising just two months ago now look bleak for Villa, who dropped two crucial points at home to West Ham on Saturday. After Emile Heskey gave the hosts an early lead, the Villains held strong, fighting off several attacks from the visitors. Friedel was sharp late when he made a great stop of a Luis Boa Morte shot but the breakthrough finally arrived in the 85th minute. With just five minutes remaining, Diego Tristan headed in the equalizing goal by steering in a Kieron Dyer shot that was always going wide of the net. Villa now sit seven points behind Arsenal for fourth place and don’t look like the European threat that everyone was buzzing about back around the New Year.Up next: Saturday, away to Bolton.Brad Guzan and Eric Lichaj, Aston Villa
Guzan backed up Friedel on Saturday while Lichaj remained idle as the Villa Reserves don’t resume play until later this month.Clint Dempsey, Fulhamvs. Middlesbrough, 0-0, 90 minutes.
On a day when the Fulham attack remained stagnate at times, 'keeper Mark Schwarzer came up huge, stopping key shots down the stretch to give the Cottagers a respectable draw on the road. Dempsey had a chance to steal a late victory but his 83rd minute effort went just wide.Up next: Saturday, home to Stoke.
Jonathan Spector, West Hamvs. Aston Villa, 1-1, DNP
Spector, still recovering from that scary concussion two weeks ago, did not suit up for the Hammers on Saturday. With five matches remaining and seven points back of sixth place Everton, the London club has a chance at Europe but they’ll need a major slip up from the Toffees in order to secure that spot.Up next: Saturday, home to Chelsea.Championship Round-Up:
Marcus Hahnemann, Reading
Reading continued their winless streak last week, grabbing two draws. First, on Monday, after staking a 0-2 lead over Blackpool, Hahnemann could not stop Keith Southern or Dudley Campbell as they fought back to split the points at home. Then, on Saturday, Hahnemann made eight stop but the Royals once again could not get on the score sheet as they drew 0-0 with Barnsley. The Royals have not won since March 17th when they defeated Doncaster Rovers 0-1. They are in danger of losing a playoff spot as they sit just three points ahead of seventh place Swansea City.Eddie Johnson, Cardiff
Johnson was a late substitute in both games last week, coming on for Jay Bothroyd in both contests. The Bluebirds won 3-1 on Monday when they hosted Burnley but were shockingly pummeled on Saturday, losing 6-0 at Preston North End. And the answer to “were there any red cards” is no. This was an old fashioned beat down. Johnson did not score or contribute too much in either contest.
Jay DeMerit, Watford
The Hornets dropped six points this week, losing both games to Norwich City and Birmingham. An early own goal paralyzed Watford on Monday as they lost all confidence and ultimately fell 2-0 at Norwich. On Saturday, it was Cameron Jerome who broke the Hornets hearts with a 73rd minute winner.
Frank Simek, Sheffield Wednesday
Simek was not dressed for Monday’s 3-2 loss at QPR but was on the bench for Saturday’s 2-0 win over Southampton. The defender did not come on and this season is surely one that Simek would like to forget as he has played is just six contests all year.Meanwhile Up In Scotland…
DaMarcus Beasley and Maurice Edu, Rangersvs. Hibernian, 2-3, Edu played 90 minutes, 1 goal. Beasley DNP.
A week after opening his Scottish scoring account for Rangers, Edu doubled his season total by putting away Hibernian on Sunday. The Glasgow outfit had staked a 1-2 lead in the second half but in the 73rd minute they sealed the victory when Edu pounced on Kenny Miller’s blocked effort and slotted home Rangers third strike of the day. John Rankin made it interesting when he halved the deficit six minutes from time but Rangers confidently held on for the win. With the Scottish Cup semifinals coming up this weekend it will be interesting to see whether the confident American continues to start on such a big stage.Up next: Saturday, home to St. Mirren (Scottish Cup)
Pub Talk:
** As many MLS fans must already know, Southampton defender Kyle Davies transferred to Real Salt Lake last week. The American wasn’t really given any first team action and his play on the Reserves squad had been limited lately as well.
** American winger Ryan Guy played well for St. Pat’s FC on Friday as his club defeated Drogheda United 2-1. St. Pat’s now sit in sixth place, five points back of Eircom League leaders Bohemians. St. Pat’s have finished second the last two years and aren’t off to the best start as it’s been feast or famine with four wins and four losses from their first eight.
** Glen Cove, New York native Mike Grella continues to play well off the bench for Leeds United. The League One club signed the striker in January. Grella has scored five goals for the Reserves including one hat-trick against Barnsley and provided a few assists as well. The 2008 All-American from Duke University, who has appeared in nine first team games this campaign, is signed with the club until the end of the next season.
** Millwall’s Zak Whitbread continues to impress. The League One outfit sits in fourth position and with automatic promotion virtually out of the question; they’ll be playing in the playoffs next month to move back up to the Championship. Whitbread has started 36 contests this campaign, scoring one goal while holding a huge presence in the back line. Millwall has allowed the fifth fewest goals in League One this year but rank just 10th in scoring, making Whitbread’s play that much more vital.
The No. 1 that got away?
Sir Alex Ferguson is not a man who second-guesses his decisions. To the winners go the spoils, and the Manchester United manager’s career is plated with the silverware of domestic and international success.
We will never know, but as he contemplated the end of his opportunity to win a historic five trophies this season, Ferguson might have wondered if he got it wrong with American goalkeeper Tim Howard.
Howard’s penalty-saving heroics earned Everton a shootout victory in Sunday’s FA Cup semifinal at Wembley Stadium and knocked at least one pot out of his former employer’s trophy cabinet.
When Ferguson gave up on Howard in 2006 and was happy to ship him off to Everton, first on loan and then permanently, it seemed like a sound decision. Howard was inconsistent during his spell at Old Trafford and United had just acquired a proven goalkeeping star in Edwin van der Sar.
But since his departure, Howard has blossomed into one of the finest keepers in the English Premier League. Now a goalie of world-class ability, he is arguably the best player on the U.S. national team, so when USA coach Bob Bradley tries to figure out how to compete with the best at the World Cup next year, between the posts is one area he need not be concerned with.
Howard’s improvement may be the result of added experience or sheer hard work, but the feeling within the Everton camp is that manager David Moyes has instilled in the New Jersey native a sense of confidence that Ferguson never could.Van der Sar has been a stellar performer for United, but the Dutchman is now 38 and nearing the end of his career. Howard is nine years younger, and his best days could be ahead of him. With a little more patience and a little more faith, Howard could still be helping United win trophies rather than snatching them from its grasp.
Weekend First XI
1. Get him an Advil
Referee Gonzalez Vazquez was surely left nursing a headache after officiating one of the season’s most ill-tempered matches, as Valencia beat Sevilla 3-1 in La Liga action on Sunday. Vazquez handed out 15 yellow cards and also sent off Sevilla defender Adriano as the contest degenerated into a farcical free-for-all.
2. Get him a beer
It takes a lot to match a visit by President Barack Obama for publicity, but Javier Aguirre managed it with his official unveiling as Mexico head coach last week. Aguirre is a wildly popular choice following the doomed reign of Sven-Goran Eriksson, but he has a huge task ahead of him to lift the spirits of a dejected and disorganized squad that has struggled in World Cup qualifying.
3. Get him some earplugs
The first thing any new Liverpool player learns is that the Hillsborough disaster, in which 96 of the club’s fans were crushed to death 20 years ago, is a tragedy that will never be forgotten and never lose its significance.
The ignorance of Liverpool backup goalkeeper Charles Itandje, who was last week seen nudging a teammate with an amused look on his face during a memorial service, is both sickening and astounding. Itandje’s days at the club are numbered and he would be wise not to show his face in the city between now and his impending departure.
4. Four corners
• Will Barcelona’s season be remembered as one where history was made, or of unfulfilled promise?
• Why couldn’t Marcelo Gallardo do more of this for D.C. United?
• Can the dominance of Marta help WPS gain a small foothold in the North American sports market?
• Just how slow must the defender have been who was “outpaced” by the still brilliant but not-so-speedy Ronaldo?
5. Catch a flight to …
Sweden. The European under-21 championships this summer will feature some of the most talented young players on the continent and is likely to produce plenty of impressive matchups. Keep an eye out for the teams from Finland and Belarus – not traditional soccer powers but currently blessed with an outstanding crop of emerging stars.
6. A round of applause for …
David Beckham. His wife Victoria was celebrating her birthday in Hollywood, but the England midfielder doesn’t seem to be pining for Tinseltown too much. Beckham is thoroughly enjoying life in Italy, and he set up two goals for Filippo Inzaghi as AC Milan moved into second place in Serie A with a 5-1 win over Torino. Los Angeles must seem like a world, or even a Galaxy, away.
7. Get them a Kleenex
Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger were both left complaining about the state of the Wembley Stadium pitch after their teams were dumped out of the FA Cup. Wenger’s Arsenal found Chelsea too strong, while Ferguson’s dreams of a five-trophy season collapsed as his under-strength side turned in a miserable performance in losing to Everton on penalty kicks. The complaints were not without foundation, as the field conditions were poor. But the comments were merely an attempt to deflect attention from a sub-standard effort by both Premiership powers.
8. Get ready to say hello to …
Kyle Davies. The United States under-20 defender will join Real Salt Lake after spending two years with English Championship side Southampton.
9. Get ready to say goodbye to …
Simon Eliott. The San Jose Earthquakes’ veteran midfielder is being targeted for a return to his native New Zealand by Wellington Phoenix, which plays in the Australian A-League.
10. Get excited about …
Grafite. He is 30 years old and has passed under the radar for most of his career, but the Brazilian striker is among the most in-form players in the world right now. His 22 goals this season have helped Wolfsburg to the top of the German Bundesliga and given the South American some long-awaited recognition across Europe.
11. Why it’s good to be a soccer player
Take a look at AC Milan midfielder Clarence Seedorf’s stunning wife Luviana.
We will never know, but as he contemplated the end of his opportunity to win a historic five trophies this season, Ferguson might have wondered if he got it wrong with American goalkeeper Tim Howard.
Howard’s penalty-saving heroics earned Everton a shootout victory in Sunday’s FA Cup semifinal at Wembley Stadium and knocked at least one pot out of his former employer’s trophy cabinet.
When Ferguson gave up on Howard in 2006 and was happy to ship him off to Everton, first on loan and then permanently, it seemed like a sound decision. Howard was inconsistent during his spell at Old Trafford and United had just acquired a proven goalkeeping star in Edwin van der Sar.
But since his departure, Howard has blossomed into one of the finest keepers in the English Premier League. Now a goalie of world-class ability, he is arguably the best player on the U.S. national team, so when USA coach Bob Bradley tries to figure out how to compete with the best at the World Cup next year, between the posts is one area he need not be concerned with.
Howard’s improvement may be the result of added experience or sheer hard work, but the feeling within the Everton camp is that manager David Moyes has instilled in the New Jersey native a sense of confidence that Ferguson never could.Van der Sar has been a stellar performer for United, but the Dutchman is now 38 and nearing the end of his career. Howard is nine years younger, and his best days could be ahead of him. With a little more patience and a little more faith, Howard could still be helping United win trophies rather than snatching them from its grasp.
Weekend First XI
1. Get him an Advil
Referee Gonzalez Vazquez was surely left nursing a headache after officiating one of the season’s most ill-tempered matches, as Valencia beat Sevilla 3-1 in La Liga action on Sunday. Vazquez handed out 15 yellow cards and also sent off Sevilla defender Adriano as the contest degenerated into a farcical free-for-all.
2. Get him a beer
It takes a lot to match a visit by President Barack Obama for publicity, but Javier Aguirre managed it with his official unveiling as Mexico head coach last week. Aguirre is a wildly popular choice following the doomed reign of Sven-Goran Eriksson, but he has a huge task ahead of him to lift the spirits of a dejected and disorganized squad that has struggled in World Cup qualifying.
3. Get him some earplugs
The first thing any new Liverpool player learns is that the Hillsborough disaster, in which 96 of the club’s fans were crushed to death 20 years ago, is a tragedy that will never be forgotten and never lose its significance.
The ignorance of Liverpool backup goalkeeper Charles Itandje, who was last week seen nudging a teammate with an amused look on his face during a memorial service, is both sickening and astounding. Itandje’s days at the club are numbered and he would be wise not to show his face in the city between now and his impending departure.
4. Four corners
• Will Barcelona’s season be remembered as one where history was made, or of unfulfilled promise?
• Why couldn’t Marcelo Gallardo do more of this for D.C. United?
• Can the dominance of Marta help WPS gain a small foothold in the North American sports market?
• Just how slow must the defender have been who was “outpaced” by the still brilliant but not-so-speedy Ronaldo?
5. Catch a flight to …
Sweden. The European under-21 championships this summer will feature some of the most talented young players on the continent and is likely to produce plenty of impressive matchups. Keep an eye out for the teams from Finland and Belarus – not traditional soccer powers but currently blessed with an outstanding crop of emerging stars.
6. A round of applause for …
David Beckham. His wife Victoria was celebrating her birthday in Hollywood, but the England midfielder doesn’t seem to be pining for Tinseltown too much. Beckham is thoroughly enjoying life in Italy, and he set up two goals for Filippo Inzaghi as AC Milan moved into second place in Serie A with a 5-1 win over Torino. Los Angeles must seem like a world, or even a Galaxy, away.
7. Get them a Kleenex
Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger were both left complaining about the state of the Wembley Stadium pitch after their teams were dumped out of the FA Cup. Wenger’s Arsenal found Chelsea too strong, while Ferguson’s dreams of a five-trophy season collapsed as his under-strength side turned in a miserable performance in losing to Everton on penalty kicks. The complaints were not without foundation, as the field conditions were poor. But the comments were merely an attempt to deflect attention from a sub-standard effort by both Premiership powers.
8. Get ready to say hello to …
Kyle Davies. The United States under-20 defender will join Real Salt Lake after spending two years with English Championship side Southampton.
9. Get ready to say goodbye to …
Simon Eliott. The San Jose Earthquakes’ veteran midfielder is being targeted for a return to his native New Zealand by Wellington Phoenix, which plays in the Australian A-League.
10. Get excited about …
Grafite. He is 30 years old and has passed under the radar for most of his career, but the Brazilian striker is among the most in-form players in the world right now. His 22 goals this season have helped Wolfsburg to the top of the German Bundesliga and given the South American some long-awaited recognition across Europe.
11. Why it’s good to be a soccer player
Take a look at AC Milan midfielder Clarence Seedorf’s stunning wife Luviana.
Liverpool owners Gillett, Hicks together at match
LIVERPOOL, England (AP)—Liverpool’s bickering American co-owners sat together for the first time this season as their English football team hosted Arsenal in the Premier League.
Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr. have been at odds over the direction of the club for much of the last two seasons. The visit Tuesday came as a July deadline approaches to refinance the loan that funded their takeover of Liverpool two years ago.
Hicks and Gillett have been assessing their personal financial situations amid the global economic crisis.
Gillett has appointed financial advisers to explore a recapitalization of his assets, which could include the sale of the Montreal Canadiens. And Hicks’ company, which owns the Texas Rangers and Dallas Stars, has defaulted on about $525 million in loans.
Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr. have been at odds over the direction of the club for much of the last two seasons. The visit Tuesday came as a July deadline approaches to refinance the loan that funded their takeover of Liverpool two years ago.
Hicks and Gillett have been assessing their personal financial situations amid the global economic crisis.
Gillett has appointed financial advisers to explore a recapitalization of his assets, which could include the sale of the Montreal Canadiens. And Hicks’ company, which owns the Texas Rangers and Dallas Stars, has defaulted on about $525 million in loans.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Messi strikes to give Barcelona 1-0 win at Getafe
MADRID, April 18 (Reuters) - Lionel Messi gave Barcelona a 1-0 win at Getafe on Saturday to stretch their lead in the Primera Liga to nine points over second-placed Real Madrid.
Champions Real can trim the gap back to six points with seven matches remaining by winning at relegation-threatened Recreativo Huelva later on Saturday. They host Barca in the “Clasico” in two weeks’ time at the Bernabeu.
Messi got his 20th league goal this season after 19 minutes in a dominant Barca display at the Coliseum stadium to seal the Champions League semi-finalists’ sixth straight Liga win.
The Argentina forward picked up Xavi’s pass in the area, skipped around a group of defenders and struck a deflected shot that had enough power to beat goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic.
Atletico Madrid won 3-0 at home to struggling Numancia and moved up to fourth place, above Valencia on goal difference, thanks to second-half strikes from midfielder Ever Banega, striker Diego Forlan and winger Simao Sabrosa.
Atletico and Valencia have 49 points although Unai Emery’s side have a chance to cut the eight-point gap to third-placed Sevilla when they host the Andalucians on Sunday.
Malaga stay seventh on 47 after a 1-1 draw with visiting Real Mallorca. Villarreal, sixth on 48, visit Real Valladolid on Sunday.
(Reporting by Iain Rogers, editing by Ken Ferris; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
Champions Real can trim the gap back to six points with seven matches remaining by winning at relegation-threatened Recreativo Huelva later on Saturday. They host Barca in the “Clasico” in two weeks’ time at the Bernabeu.
Messi got his 20th league goal this season after 19 minutes in a dominant Barca display at the Coliseum stadium to seal the Champions League semi-finalists’ sixth straight Liga win.
The Argentina forward picked up Xavi’s pass in the area, skipped around a group of defenders and struck a deflected shot that had enough power to beat goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic.
Atletico Madrid won 3-0 at home to struggling Numancia and moved up to fourth place, above Valencia on goal difference, thanks to second-half strikes from midfielder Ever Banega, striker Diego Forlan and winger Simao Sabrosa.
Atletico and Valencia have 49 points although Unai Emery’s side have a chance to cut the eight-point gap to third-placed Sevilla when they host the Andalucians on Sunday.
Malaga stay seventh on 47 after a 1-1 draw with visiting Real Mallorca. Villarreal, sixth on 48, visit Real Valladolid on Sunday.
(Reporting by Iain Rogers, editing by Ken Ferris; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
Ferguson warns Manchester United about ‘hungry’ Everton
MANCHESTER, England, April 17 (Reuters) - Alex Ferguson’s quest for a sixth FA Cup success with Manchester United faces a stern test against a “hungry” Everton side on Sunday.
United face their Premier League rivals in the semi-final of the competition at Wembley and a win will ensure Ferguson’s team a place in the final for the fourth time in six years.
“My problem on Sunday is that we are facing a hungry team,” Ferguson told a news conference on Friday.
“They want to win a trophy but we have got to make sure we are on top of our game.”
Everton have not won a major trophy for 14 years, whereas United are course for five this season with the Premier League leaders having already won the League Cup and FIFA Club World Championship.
Holders United also face a two-leg semi-final date with Arsenal in the Champions League.
“I’m not getting into all that,” Ferguson said, playing down the prospect of finishing the season with five trophies
“All I’m thinking about is our next game which is Everton on Sunday. Then we play Portsmouth in the league next Wednesday.
“I’m not looking at anything further.”
Wes Brown returned to training on Friday after a lengthy knee injury although the tie comes too soon for the defender.
However, Ferguson will make changes to the side which defeated Porto in midweek to advance to the last four stage of the Champions League.
“Wednesday was a very high tempo game,” said Ferguson.
“There’s a loss of energy in parts of the team and I have to recognise that. I will be making changes.”
(Editing by Alison Wildey
To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
United face their Premier League rivals in the semi-final of the competition at Wembley and a win will ensure Ferguson’s team a place in the final for the fourth time in six years.
“My problem on Sunday is that we are facing a hungry team,” Ferguson told a news conference on Friday.
“They want to win a trophy but we have got to make sure we are on top of our game.”
Everton have not won a major trophy for 14 years, whereas United are course for five this season with the Premier League leaders having already won the League Cup and FIFA Club World Championship.
Holders United also face a two-leg semi-final date with Arsenal in the Champions League.
“I’m not getting into all that,” Ferguson said, playing down the prospect of finishing the season with five trophies
“All I’m thinking about is our next game which is Everton on Sunday. Then we play Portsmouth in the league next Wednesday.
“I’m not looking at anything further.”
Wes Brown returned to training on Friday after a lengthy knee injury although the tie comes too soon for the defender.
However, Ferguson will make changes to the side which defeated Porto in midweek to advance to the last four stage of the Champions League.
“Wednesday was a very high tempo game,” said Ferguson.
“There’s a loss of energy in parts of the team and I have to recognise that. I will be making changes.”
(Editing by Alison Wildey
To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
Late Drogba strike puts Chelsea in FA Cup final
* Drogba goal gives Chelsea 2-1 win over Arsenal
* First FA Cup success over their rivals since 1947
* Chelsea face Manchester United or Everton in final
(adds quotes, background)
By Martyn Herman
LONDON, April 18 (Reuters) - Chelsea’s Didier Drogba was a thorn in Arsenal’s side again on Saturday when he struck late to clinch a 2-1 victory in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.
The Ivory Coast striker pounced on Frank Lampard’s lofted pass with six minutes remaining to give Chelsea their first FA Cup success over Arsenal since 1947.They will face the winners of Sunday’s semi-final between Manchester United and Everton, which is also at Wembley.
Drogba has now scored eight goals against Arsenal since joining Chelsea from Olympique Marseille, including a late winner in the League Cup final in 2007.
Neither side were at their best following midweek triumphs in the Champions League and Chelsea had to dig deep after Theo Walcott volleyed Arsenal ahead in the 18th minute.
Chelsea’s equaliser came from the unlikely source of winger Florent Malouda before the break.
Arsenal had the better second-half chances before some hesitation by second-choice goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski let in Drogba who slotted home from a tight angle.
Interim manager Guus Hiddink can now sign off his short reign at Chelsea with an FA Cup final showdown on May 30.
“This is a huge step to be in the FA Cup final because it’s so respected worldwide,” said Hiddink.
The Dutchman’s only other appearance at the new Wembley ended in defeat when his Russia side lost 3-0 to England in a Euro 2008 qualifier. “I think we deserved it today. We adapted well after they scored and we started to control and dominate. The sloppy start was down to a tactical reason,” said Hiddink.
“I’m very proud of these players, they always deliver, they always react to a setback.”
Hiddink’s Chelsea side appeared to be suffering from the physical effects of their epic 4-4 draw with Liverpool on Tuesday as Arsenal began brightly on Wembley’s lush turf.
Apart from one moment early on when Drogba’s header was cleared off the line by Arsenal right back Kieran Gibbs, it was the north London side who looked brighter.
QUALITY MOVE
The first move of real quality put Arsenal in front. Gibbs, deputising at left back for the injured Gael Clichy, combined well with Emmanuel Adebayor and his cut back was met on the volley by Arsenal’s other young Englishman Walcott.
His strike was not convincing but a brush off the hand of Chelsea defender Ashley Cole meant it bounced awkwardly and evaded the diving Petr Cech.
Chelsea were level after 33 minutes with the hard-working Lampard, their best player, delivering an inch-perfect diagonal pass to the foot of Malouda.
The big-money signing from Olympique Lyon beat Emmanuel Eboue with embarrassing ease and sent a low shot skidding inside Fabianski’s right-hand post.
The goal fired up Chelsea and they dominated until the break with Nicolas Anelka launching one effort against the post.
Arsenal recovered their poise after halftime, with Adebayor having a couple of half chances and Robin Van Persie and Abou Diaby agonisingly close to converting Walcott crosses.
The match was drifting towards extra time when Lampard volleyed a high ball over the top and Fabianski opted to sprint out of his area to try and deal with the danger.
He was always struggling to reach it before Drogba, who nudged the ball around the stranded Pole before sliding it home in front of Chelsea’s delirious fans.
(Editing by Ken Ferris and Alison Wildey. To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
* First FA Cup success over their rivals since 1947
* Chelsea face Manchester United or Everton in final
(adds quotes, background)
By Martyn Herman
LONDON, April 18 (Reuters) - Chelsea’s Didier Drogba was a thorn in Arsenal’s side again on Saturday when he struck late to clinch a 2-1 victory in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.
The Ivory Coast striker pounced on Frank Lampard’s lofted pass with six minutes remaining to give Chelsea their first FA Cup success over Arsenal since 1947.They will face the winners of Sunday’s semi-final between Manchester United and Everton, which is also at Wembley.
Drogba has now scored eight goals against Arsenal since joining Chelsea from Olympique Marseille, including a late winner in the League Cup final in 2007.
Neither side were at their best following midweek triumphs in the Champions League and Chelsea had to dig deep after Theo Walcott volleyed Arsenal ahead in the 18th minute.
Chelsea’s equaliser came from the unlikely source of winger Florent Malouda before the break.
Arsenal had the better second-half chances before some hesitation by second-choice goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski let in Drogba who slotted home from a tight angle.
Interim manager Guus Hiddink can now sign off his short reign at Chelsea with an FA Cup final showdown on May 30.
“This is a huge step to be in the FA Cup final because it’s so respected worldwide,” said Hiddink.
The Dutchman’s only other appearance at the new Wembley ended in defeat when his Russia side lost 3-0 to England in a Euro 2008 qualifier. “I think we deserved it today. We adapted well after they scored and we started to control and dominate. The sloppy start was down to a tactical reason,” said Hiddink.
“I’m very proud of these players, they always deliver, they always react to a setback.”
Hiddink’s Chelsea side appeared to be suffering from the physical effects of their epic 4-4 draw with Liverpool on Tuesday as Arsenal began brightly on Wembley’s lush turf.
Apart from one moment early on when Drogba’s header was cleared off the line by Arsenal right back Kieran Gibbs, it was the north London side who looked brighter.
QUALITY MOVE
The first move of real quality put Arsenal in front. Gibbs, deputising at left back for the injured Gael Clichy, combined well with Emmanuel Adebayor and his cut back was met on the volley by Arsenal’s other young Englishman Walcott.
His strike was not convincing but a brush off the hand of Chelsea defender Ashley Cole meant it bounced awkwardly and evaded the diving Petr Cech.
Chelsea were level after 33 minutes with the hard-working Lampard, their best player, delivering an inch-perfect diagonal pass to the foot of Malouda.
The big-money signing from Olympique Lyon beat Emmanuel Eboue with embarrassing ease and sent a low shot skidding inside Fabianski’s right-hand post.
The goal fired up Chelsea and they dominated until the break with Nicolas Anelka launching one effort against the post.
Arsenal recovered their poise after halftime, with Adebayor having a couple of half chances and Robin Van Persie and Abou Diaby agonisingly close to converting Walcott crosses.
The match was drifting towards extra time when Lampard volleyed a high ball over the top and Fabianski opted to sprint out of his area to try and deal with the danger.
He was always struggling to reach it before Drogba, who nudged the ball around the stranded Pole before sliding it home in front of Chelsea’s delirious fans.
(Editing by Ken Ferris and Alison Wildey. To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Messi nets twice as Barcelona hammer Bayern 4-0
BARCELONA, March 8 (Reuters) - Barcelona produced a stunning display of attacking football to overwhelm Bayern Munich 4-0 in their Champions League quarter-final first leg at the Nou Camp on Wednesday.
Lionel Messi netted twice and Samuel Eto’o and Thierry Henry once each, with all the goals coming in the first half, as the Primera Liga leaders took firm control of the tie ahead of the second leg on Tuesday.
Bayern had no answer to Barca’s pace and slick passing and the Catalans took the lead in the ninth minute when Eto’o slipped the ball through to Messi and he clipped a precise, low shot past Hans Joerg Butt.
Messi released Eto’o on the right of the area four minutes later to fire between Butt’s legs and the Argentina international scored his second in the 38th minute before Henry side-footed home two minutes before the break. (Reporting by Iain Rogers, editing by Rex Gowar; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
Lionel Messi netted twice and Samuel Eto’o and Thierry Henry once each, with all the goals coming in the first half, as the Primera Liga leaders took firm control of the tie ahead of the second leg on Tuesday.
Bayern had no answer to Barca’s pace and slick passing and the Catalans took the lead in the ninth minute when Eto’o slipped the ball through to Messi and he clipped a precise, low shot past Hans Joerg Butt.
Messi released Eto’o on the right of the area four minutes later to fire between Butt’s legs and the Argentina international scored his second in the 38th minute before Henry side-footed home two minutes before the break. (Reporting by Iain Rogers, editing by Rex Gowar; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
Chelsea sweep aside Liverpool with Ivanovic double
LONDON, April 8 (Reuters) - Defender Branislav Ivanovic headed two goals from corners and Didier Droga added the third to give Chelsea a 3-1 away win over Liverpool in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final on Wednesday. Striker Fernando Torres opened the scoring at Anfield after six minutes, firing a right foot shot past Petr Cech after a low cross from full back Alvaro Arbeloa.
Chelsea’s deserved equaliser came when stand-in right back Ivanovic rose above Martin Skrtel to head home Florent Malouda’s corner six minutes before halftime.
Ivanovic headed in a Frank Lampard corner just past the hour to put Chelsea ahead and striker Drogba turned in Malouda’s left-wing cross in the 67th minute. (Editing by Justin Palmer;
To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
Chelsea’s deserved equaliser came when stand-in right back Ivanovic rose above Martin Skrtel to head home Florent Malouda’s corner six minutes before halftime.
Ivanovic headed in a Frank Lampard corner just past the hour to put Chelsea ahead and striker Drogba turned in Malouda’s left-wing cross in the 67th minute. (Editing by Justin Palmer;
To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Massa: Ferrari need new tactics
Ferrari's Felipe Massa paid the penalty for a massive error of judgement in qualifying which left the Brazilian trailing in 16th place on the Malaysian GMassa seized pole position at the Sepang circuit a year ago but any hopes of a repeat ahead of Sunday's race were dashed when the driver and his team set a time they felt was fast enough to keep them in the top 15 and advance to the second session of qualifying.
The complacency proved fatal and Massa was left to rue the mistake and look on from the pitlane as Brawn GP's Jenson Button went on to grab a second consecutive pole position of the season.
"I went out on a new set of soft tyres and after an improved second lap, the team and myself thought the time was quick enough to be in the top 15," said last year's world championship runner-up.
"When I got back to the pits I was fourth... stayed seventh for a while. Then when I started to drop it was impossible to go out again as there was no time to do another lap."
Massa said Ferrari must now change their tactics in qualifying since the field is far more competitive than in recent seasons, where an early fast time would have been enough to secure a safe passage into the next round.
"Maybe the past is still very much in our minds," he added. "Then it was easy to go out and set a fast time on the hard tyres and stay in the top 10. Now we need to use all our tyres in qualifying as its the only way to reach the next session."
The Brazilian also noted that the mistake acted as a wake-up call for the team in terms of understanding exactly where they stood in this year's pecking order.
"After the first race (neither Ferrari finished in Melbourne a week ago) and this qualifying we understand even more that we are not as competitive as we thought we were," he added.
"Other teams are a little bit ahead of us and we don't have the downforce to warm up the tyres very quickly. So we may have to change our strategy in the future.
"This morning, I thought my car was good enough for a top-five position but now I believe I would be lucky to be in the top seven."
Looking to Sunday's race, Massa is hoping for wet weather in order to improve his chances of earning points.
"The rain could be a lottery so maybe it is our best hope of getting into the points," he said.
"I just hope to have a good race. The car has good pace and if I drive well, we have an opportunity to pick up some points... that is my aim now."Reuters rand Prix grid.
The complacency proved fatal and Massa was left to rue the mistake and look on from the pitlane as Brawn GP's Jenson Button went on to grab a second consecutive pole position of the season.
"I went out on a new set of soft tyres and after an improved second lap, the team and myself thought the time was quick enough to be in the top 15," said last year's world championship runner-up.
"When I got back to the pits I was fourth... stayed seventh for a while. Then when I started to drop it was impossible to go out again as there was no time to do another lap."
Massa said Ferrari must now change their tactics in qualifying since the field is far more competitive than in recent seasons, where an early fast time would have been enough to secure a safe passage into the next round.
"Maybe the past is still very much in our minds," he added. "Then it was easy to go out and set a fast time on the hard tyres and stay in the top 10. Now we need to use all our tyres in qualifying as its the only way to reach the next session."
The Brazilian also noted that the mistake acted as a wake-up call for the team in terms of understanding exactly where they stood in this year's pecking order.
"After the first race (neither Ferrari finished in Melbourne a week ago) and this qualifying we understand even more that we are not as competitive as we thought we were," he added.
"Other teams are a little bit ahead of us and we don't have the downforce to warm up the tyres very quickly. So we may have to change our strategy in the future.
"This morning, I thought my car was good enough for a top-five position but now I believe I would be lucky to be in the top seven."
Looking to Sunday's race, Massa is hoping for wet weather in order to improve his chances of earning points.
"The rain could be a lottery so maybe it is our best hope of getting into the points," he said.
"I just hope to have a good race. The car has good pace and if I drive well, we have an opportunity to pick up some points... that is my aim now."Reuters rand Prix grid.
Malaysian GP - Drivers: Button ponders weather
Pole-sitter Jenson Button revealed that Brawn GP are yet to run their 2009 car in wet conditions, plus other rea1. Lewis Hamilton (McLaren): "We qualified about where we expected to. We don't yet have the pace to get into Q3 but the balance doesn't feel too bad - we're just unable to carry enough speed through the corners. We expect to see some improvements over the next two or three races. For tomorrow, I'm just going to race my heart out, do the best I can and try and score some points."
2. Heikki Kovalainen (McLaren): "We knew that getting into the top 10 would be tough, so my result was more or less what I expected. The gap to the cars in front is smaller than it was in Melbourne, so I'm confident that we're headed in the right direction, but we haven't yet found that extra bit of speed we need. The balance today wasn't completelyction following qualifying in Malaysia.to my liking, but I did my best and I'm looking forward to an enjoyable battle in the race tomorrow."
3. Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari): "Honestly, the main problem is that, at the moment, we are not quick enough to fight for the top places. The car is not lacking in any particular area, but we do not have enough grip to be as quick as those who finished ahead of us today. Tomorrow's race will be very tough. We will try to make the most of the start. In Australia, it was very good but there was nowhere to go, whereas here, the straight is long and the track is wide. Furthermore, as we saw yesterday, our pace is competitive."
4. Felipe Massa (Ferrari): "I am very disappointed. If I had ended up sixteenth because of a lack of performance, then I could have accepted the result, but like this it hurts even more. The track improved so much with each passing lap and my first run was not perfect and nor was it enough. We did not react in time and lost the chance to have another go. No one person is to blame: we are a team and we lose or win all together. We have to change our approach and tackle qualifying in a different way to the past. There is no room for error and we have to give it our all, right from the first session. Nevertheless, I am very motivated. It won't be the first time I will have to tackle a race starting way down the order and I know I can count on having a strong pace. We will have to try and exploit every opportunity to make up places."
5. Robert Kubica (BMW Sauber): "I'm satisfied with what I was able to achieve today. Although we didn't make any major changes after free practice the car was bottoming quite a lot, which made it unstable and therefore not easy to drive. I did what I could in the corners, but the straights are long here and give the drivers who are using a KERS a major advantage. I have to start on the dirty side of the track plus I have some cars with a KERS behind me, which will make the start very interesting."
6. Nick Heidfeld (BMW Sauber): "Of course I'm very disappointed. I looked fairly safe in Q2 when I was seventh, but on my second quick run I had traffic on the out lap. Two cars in front of me and one behind meant that I couldn't go at the pace needed to heat the tyres up, and then the important lap wasn't good enough. After we did the comparison yesterday I was using the KERS today and it helped, especially in sector one where I was the fastest car for most of the time."
7. Fernando Alonso (Renault): "I had no temperature this morning so I was in better condition to drive the car. Our result today is a bit disappointing because I expected to be fifth or sixth in qualifying, but overall the car is better than in Australia, although we're not fast enough and need to improve. We will also have to see what role KERS will play in the race tomorrow."
8. Nelson Piquet Jr (Renault): "This morning we knew that it might be a difficult qualifying session. However it could have worked out better for me this afternoon, but on my final lap I pushed a bit too hard at the end of the lap and lost three or four tenths, which proved costly. I'm obviously disappointed that I couldn't get the most from qualifying, but I have to put this behind me and think about the race tomorrow."
9. Jarno Trulli (Toyota): "The car is good but I didn't expect to be where I am. The team have done a great job and got everything spot on. It is more comfortable in the car with the later start but it is still a physically demanding circuit. I'm confident though Tomorrow is going to be a strange race probably because we are all expecting bad weather, and that can mix up a lot the results. We have a car to fight for the podium and then our aim eventually will be to win a race during the season. It doesn't matter if it is me or Timo."
16. Nico Rosberg (Williams): "Our general pace in the first two qualifying sessions wasn't quite where we wanted to be, but it gave us enough to work with... From that start position (fourth) as well as with a good car and a good strategy, we can be optimistic and say we have a good chance to aim for a podium. One consideration is of course the start and I will have to check who will be using KERS around me."
17. Kazuki Nakajima (Williams): "The car was good, I had a good feeling in the cockpit and everything went okay today, but I just needed to find another tenth to get into Q3. Despite this, I now have the freedom to fuel the car for the optimum strategy, and with this benefit and a good long run pace, a good finish is possible if I keep my head down during the race."
18. Jenson Button (Brawn GP): "It's not easy to get one pole and now I've got two so it's unbelievable. It shows that the car works in all conditions. On Saturday we struggled a bit with the balance of the car and it was difficult but we made changes overnight and it improved a lot. I feel very comfortable in the car and I'm excited about Sunday.... We've got a lot of thinking overnight to put a plan together if it is wet. We haven't run this car yet in the wet so it's going to be interesting."
19. Rubens Barrichello (Brawn GP): "It was a good qualifying session for the team today and well done to Jenson once again as he had the pace to put the car on pole. Unfortunately on my side of the garage, the car developed understeer in qualifying and we were not able to resolve the problem. However we know the performance of the car in race conditions is strong and I will be aiming to score as many points as possible tomorrow before I can start chasing for my own pole position and wins."
20. Adrian Sutil (Force India): "We did a good job today, we had no problems and this was our pace - we couldn't really have done better. We just need to find some downforce. For tomorrow, I want to have a good race and to get to the finish. We are very quick down the straights and there is some potential for overtaking so let's see - we had an exciting race in Melbourne and anything can happen. I am still positive."
21. Giancarlo Fisichella (Force India): "I had a problem with the throttle pedal on the first run so we changed it and I lost the chance to do three runs, which was very important. The lap I did was clean and the car is well balanced. Again the field is very mixed and with the chance of some rain we should look to keep up with the field and take any chance we can."Eurosport
2. Heikki Kovalainen (McLaren): "We knew that getting into the top 10 would be tough, so my result was more or less what I expected. The gap to the cars in front is smaller than it was in Melbourne, so I'm confident that we're headed in the right direction, but we haven't yet found that extra bit of speed we need. The balance today wasn't completelyction following qualifying in Malaysia.to my liking, but I did my best and I'm looking forward to an enjoyable battle in the race tomorrow."
3. Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari): "Honestly, the main problem is that, at the moment, we are not quick enough to fight for the top places. The car is not lacking in any particular area, but we do not have enough grip to be as quick as those who finished ahead of us today. Tomorrow's race will be very tough. We will try to make the most of the start. In Australia, it was very good but there was nowhere to go, whereas here, the straight is long and the track is wide. Furthermore, as we saw yesterday, our pace is competitive."
4. Felipe Massa (Ferrari): "I am very disappointed. If I had ended up sixteenth because of a lack of performance, then I could have accepted the result, but like this it hurts even more. The track improved so much with each passing lap and my first run was not perfect and nor was it enough. We did not react in time and lost the chance to have another go. No one person is to blame: we are a team and we lose or win all together. We have to change our approach and tackle qualifying in a different way to the past. There is no room for error and we have to give it our all, right from the first session. Nevertheless, I am very motivated. It won't be the first time I will have to tackle a race starting way down the order and I know I can count on having a strong pace. We will have to try and exploit every opportunity to make up places."
5. Robert Kubica (BMW Sauber): "I'm satisfied with what I was able to achieve today. Although we didn't make any major changes after free practice the car was bottoming quite a lot, which made it unstable and therefore not easy to drive. I did what I could in the corners, but the straights are long here and give the drivers who are using a KERS a major advantage. I have to start on the dirty side of the track plus I have some cars with a KERS behind me, which will make the start very interesting."
6. Nick Heidfeld (BMW Sauber): "Of course I'm very disappointed. I looked fairly safe in Q2 when I was seventh, but on my second quick run I had traffic on the out lap. Two cars in front of me and one behind meant that I couldn't go at the pace needed to heat the tyres up, and then the important lap wasn't good enough. After we did the comparison yesterday I was using the KERS today and it helped, especially in sector one where I was the fastest car for most of the time."
7. Fernando Alonso (Renault): "I had no temperature this morning so I was in better condition to drive the car. Our result today is a bit disappointing because I expected to be fifth or sixth in qualifying, but overall the car is better than in Australia, although we're not fast enough and need to improve. We will also have to see what role KERS will play in the race tomorrow."
8. Nelson Piquet Jr (Renault): "This morning we knew that it might be a difficult qualifying session. However it could have worked out better for me this afternoon, but on my final lap I pushed a bit too hard at the end of the lap and lost three or four tenths, which proved costly. I'm obviously disappointed that I couldn't get the most from qualifying, but I have to put this behind me and think about the race tomorrow."
9. Jarno Trulli (Toyota): "The car is good but I didn't expect to be where I am. The team have done a great job and got everything spot on. It is more comfortable in the car with the later start but it is still a physically demanding circuit. I'm confident though Tomorrow is going to be a strange race probably because we are all expecting bad weather, and that can mix up a lot the results. We have a car to fight for the podium and then our aim eventually will be to win a race during the season. It doesn't matter if it is me or Timo."
16. Nico Rosberg (Williams): "Our general pace in the first two qualifying sessions wasn't quite where we wanted to be, but it gave us enough to work with... From that start position (fourth) as well as with a good car and a good strategy, we can be optimistic and say we have a good chance to aim for a podium. One consideration is of course the start and I will have to check who will be using KERS around me."
17. Kazuki Nakajima (Williams): "The car was good, I had a good feeling in the cockpit and everything went okay today, but I just needed to find another tenth to get into Q3. Despite this, I now have the freedom to fuel the car for the optimum strategy, and with this benefit and a good long run pace, a good finish is possible if I keep my head down during the race."
18. Jenson Button (Brawn GP): "It's not easy to get one pole and now I've got two so it's unbelievable. It shows that the car works in all conditions. On Saturday we struggled a bit with the balance of the car and it was difficult but we made changes overnight and it improved a lot. I feel very comfortable in the car and I'm excited about Sunday.... We've got a lot of thinking overnight to put a plan together if it is wet. We haven't run this car yet in the wet so it's going to be interesting."
19. Rubens Barrichello (Brawn GP): "It was a good qualifying session for the team today and well done to Jenson once again as he had the pace to put the car on pole. Unfortunately on my side of the garage, the car developed understeer in qualifying and we were not able to resolve the problem. However we know the performance of the car in race conditions is strong and I will be aiming to score as many points as possible tomorrow before I can start chasing for my own pole position and wins."
20. Adrian Sutil (Force India): "We did a good job today, we had no problems and this was our pace - we couldn't really have done better. We just need to find some downforce. For tomorrow, I want to have a good race and to get to the finish. We are very quick down the straights and there is some potential for overtaking so let's see - we had an exciting race in Melbourne and anything can happen. I am still positive."
21. Giancarlo Fisichella (Force India): "I had a problem with the throttle pedal on the first run so we changed it and I lost the chance to do three runs, which was very important. The lap I did was clean and the car is well balanced. Again the field is very mixed and with the chance of some rain we should look to keep up with the field and take any chance we can."Eurosport
Djokovic needs no lessons in Murray’s improvement
By Simon Evans
MIAMI, April 3 (Reuters) - Britain’s Andy Murray takes on Novak Djokovic in the final of the Sony Ericsson Open on Sunday and the Serb is the perfect witness to how much Murray has improved in the past 12 months.
After losing his first four matches against Djokovic, Murray beat the world number three at Cincinnati and Toronto last year.
“I loved the last two times against Andy, they were close matches,” Djokovic told reporters.
“All our matches have been pretty close but he has drastically improved in the last year or so.
“I think many things have combined for him. Physically he’s much stronger and has a lot of endurance out on the court.
“Even though he doesn’t look like he’s all boosted up when he is playing, because he doesn’t have that body language, he’s strong and has bigger muscles and runs all over the court.
“I get the feeling he can run a lot,” said Djokovic after his win over Roger Federer in Friday’s semi-final.
What will be of more concern for Djokovic is how well Murray is mixing up his shots.
“He changes the pace of the ball a lot. He is a smart, smart player. He doesn’t have any huge weapons, but is very solid with all the strokes,” Djokovic said.
Murray showed all those qualities in his three set semi-final win over Argentine Juan Martin Del Potro and, in his own modest manner, he is clearly happy with his form.
“I think each time you get to the final of a big tournament you’re going to be feeling pretty good about your game,” he said.
“I think if both of us play well, it’ll be a great match. I’m sure he feels the same way. I know I’ll have to play well if I want to beat him.
“The last couple of times I played him I sort of figured out a way to play against him; whereas before I struggled a little bit.
“I feel confident, and I’ve had a really good run so far this year. I am not going to put any extra pressure on myself for the match on Sunday though.
“I’m feeling good and I’m hitting the ball well, and I’ll try and do the same thing in the final.”
(Editing by Greg Stutchbury; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
MIAMI, April 3 (Reuters) - Britain’s Andy Murray takes on Novak Djokovic in the final of the Sony Ericsson Open on Sunday and the Serb is the perfect witness to how much Murray has improved in the past 12 months.
After losing his first four matches against Djokovic, Murray beat the world number three at Cincinnati and Toronto last year.
“I loved the last two times against Andy, they were close matches,” Djokovic told reporters.
“All our matches have been pretty close but he has drastically improved in the last year or so.
“I think many things have combined for him. Physically he’s much stronger and has a lot of endurance out on the court.
“Even though he doesn’t look like he’s all boosted up when he is playing, because he doesn’t have that body language, he’s strong and has bigger muscles and runs all over the court.
“I get the feeling he can run a lot,” said Djokovic after his win over Roger Federer in Friday’s semi-final.
What will be of more concern for Djokovic is how well Murray is mixing up his shots.
“He changes the pace of the ball a lot. He is a smart, smart player. He doesn’t have any huge weapons, but is very solid with all the strokes,” Djokovic said.
Murray showed all those qualities in his three set semi-final win over Argentine Juan Martin Del Potro and, in his own modest manner, he is clearly happy with his form.
“I think each time you get to the final of a big tournament you’re going to be feeling pretty good about your game,” he said.
“I think if both of us play well, it’ll be a great match. I’m sure he feels the same way. I know I’ll have to play well if I want to beat him.
“The last couple of times I played him I sort of figured out a way to play against him; whereas before I struggled a little bit.
“I feel confident, and I’ve had a really good run so far this year. I am not going to put any extra pressure on myself for the match on Sunday though.
“I’m feeling good and I’m hitting the ball well, and I’ll try and do the same thing in the final.”
(Editing by Greg Stutchbury; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
Serena Williams upset in Key Biscayne final
KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. (AP)—Rising from her chair following the final changeover, Serena Williams glanced at her skirt and brushed away some lint, trying to look good in defeat.
It wasn’t easy. A sore leg and erratic strokes were too much to overcome, and the top-ranked Williams was upset 6-3, 6-1 Saturday by 19-year-old Victoria Azarenka in the final of the Sony Ericsson Open.
Williams said her left thigh began bothering her in the quarterfinals, and she also was bothered by a sprained ankle.
“It was a little difficult moving to the left and a little bit to the right,” she said.
With a chuckle, she added, “A little forward was also difficult.”
The loss ended Williams’ reign on Key Biscayne. She was bidding for a record sixth women’s title and her third in a row. Instead, she fell to 38-2 in the tournament since 2001, with the only other loss to her sister Venus.
“I’m not that bummed, because I feel like there’s next year,” Williams said. “And then there’s the year after and the year after.”The result heralded the emergence of Azarenka of Belarus, who trains in Scottsdale, Ariz., and will improve to a career-high No. 8 next week.
Novak Djokovic will bid for his second Key Biscayne men’s title Sunday against Andy Murray, the tournament’s first British finalist.
Williams played with her thigh taped, and even when she wasn’t on the move, her strokes lacked consistency. She served poorly and had trouble putting Azarenka’s 90 mph serves into play.
Williams limped at times and said she considered pulling out before the match.
“I don’t like to not play,” she said. “I gave the effort that I could give today. That’s all I could give.”
Azarenka quickly realized Williams wasn’t 100 percent and took advantage with pinpoint strokes to the corners.
“You could see the leg tape right away,” Azarenka said. “But I wasn’t really paying attention too much, because I had to play my game, and I had to keep her moving as much as I could.”
Williams led 3-2 before Azarenka won five consecutive games to take control. The teenager also won the final five games and closed out the biggest win of her career when Williams sailed a backhand long. Azarenka tossed away her racket, covered her face and hopped to the net.
Her voice shook during the trophy ceremony.
“I’m sorry. I think I forget my English right now,” she told the crowd. “It was such an honor for me to play Serena. She’s the greatest player for me. I was so happy to be able to play her and win.”
For Azarenka, it was a big improvement on their match in the fourth round at the Australian Open in January, when she became sick to her stomach beforehand and lost.
Azarenka said she battled nerves Saturday, but they betrayed her only with an occasional double-fault. She was so poised serving in the final game that when she challenged a call and was advised the replay system had malfunctioned, she smiled and won the next point.
“She has really, really improved,” Williams said. “I actually look forward to playing her again so I can play a little better, and obviously do better. She’s going to be a really good player.”Azarenka was the steadier player in rallies, often punctuating her shots with a two-tone shriek worthy of Maria Sharapova. A subdued Williams remained impassive throughout, even as the match slipped away, in contrast with Roger Federer’s racket-breaking outburst that stunned the stadium Friday.
Williams dropped serve five times and committed unforced errors on 34 of the 64 points she lost. Despite reaching the final, she was erratic throughout the tournament: She lost five games in a row a staggering five times.
Despite the defeat, she’ll retain the No. 1 ranking for a 10th consecutive week.
Azarenka, who won her first tour title three months ago at Brisbane, improved to 23-2 this year. She grew up in Minsk and befriended NHL goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin, who invited her to the United States to train. She moved to Scottsdale and has lived there with Khabibulin and his wife since 2005.
Azarenka said her title would be big news in Belarus, where the most famous tennis player has been men’s doubles specialist Max Mirnyi, who teamed with Andy Ram to win the doubles title Saturday. She was expecting a congratulatory phone call from President Alexander Lukashenko, whom she met when she was in grade school.
“He came to one of the tennis tournaments, and I was presenting flowers to him,” she said.
Azarenka won $700,000, more than the men’s first prize of $605,500. The two tours offer the same total prize money but distribute it differently.
“I can spend it in one day,” Azarenka said. “I’m not allowed to drink in the States yet, but I’ll definitely go celebrate somewhere.”
It wasn’t easy. A sore leg and erratic strokes were too much to overcome, and the top-ranked Williams was upset 6-3, 6-1 Saturday by 19-year-old Victoria Azarenka in the final of the Sony Ericsson Open.
Williams said her left thigh began bothering her in the quarterfinals, and she also was bothered by a sprained ankle.
“It was a little difficult moving to the left and a little bit to the right,” she said.
With a chuckle, she added, “A little forward was also difficult.”
The loss ended Williams’ reign on Key Biscayne. She was bidding for a record sixth women’s title and her third in a row. Instead, she fell to 38-2 in the tournament since 2001, with the only other loss to her sister Venus.
“I’m not that bummed, because I feel like there’s next year,” Williams said. “And then there’s the year after and the year after.”The result heralded the emergence of Azarenka of Belarus, who trains in Scottsdale, Ariz., and will improve to a career-high No. 8 next week.
Novak Djokovic will bid for his second Key Biscayne men’s title Sunday against Andy Murray, the tournament’s first British finalist.
Williams played with her thigh taped, and even when she wasn’t on the move, her strokes lacked consistency. She served poorly and had trouble putting Azarenka’s 90 mph serves into play.
Williams limped at times and said she considered pulling out before the match.
“I don’t like to not play,” she said. “I gave the effort that I could give today. That’s all I could give.”
Azarenka quickly realized Williams wasn’t 100 percent and took advantage with pinpoint strokes to the corners.
“You could see the leg tape right away,” Azarenka said. “But I wasn’t really paying attention too much, because I had to play my game, and I had to keep her moving as much as I could.”
Williams led 3-2 before Azarenka won five consecutive games to take control. The teenager also won the final five games and closed out the biggest win of her career when Williams sailed a backhand long. Azarenka tossed away her racket, covered her face and hopped to the net.
Her voice shook during the trophy ceremony.
“I’m sorry. I think I forget my English right now,” she told the crowd. “It was such an honor for me to play Serena. She’s the greatest player for me. I was so happy to be able to play her and win.”
For Azarenka, it was a big improvement on their match in the fourth round at the Australian Open in January, when she became sick to her stomach beforehand and lost.
Azarenka said she battled nerves Saturday, but they betrayed her only with an occasional double-fault. She was so poised serving in the final game that when she challenged a call and was advised the replay system had malfunctioned, she smiled and won the next point.
“She has really, really improved,” Williams said. “I actually look forward to playing her again so I can play a little better, and obviously do better. She’s going to be a really good player.”Azarenka was the steadier player in rallies, often punctuating her shots with a two-tone shriek worthy of Maria Sharapova. A subdued Williams remained impassive throughout, even as the match slipped away, in contrast with Roger Federer’s racket-breaking outburst that stunned the stadium Friday.
Williams dropped serve five times and committed unforced errors on 34 of the 64 points she lost. Despite reaching the final, she was erratic throughout the tournament: She lost five games in a row a staggering five times.
Despite the defeat, she’ll retain the No. 1 ranking for a 10th consecutive week.
Azarenka, who won her first tour title three months ago at Brisbane, improved to 23-2 this year. She grew up in Minsk and befriended NHL goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin, who invited her to the United States to train. She moved to Scottsdale and has lived there with Khabibulin and his wife since 2005.
Azarenka said her title would be big news in Belarus, where the most famous tennis player has been men’s doubles specialist Max Mirnyi, who teamed with Andy Ram to win the doubles title Saturday. She was expecting a congratulatory phone call from President Alexander Lukashenko, whom she met when she was in grade school.
“He came to one of the tennis tournaments, and I was presenting flowers to him,” she said.
Azarenka won $700,000, more than the men’s first prize of $605,500. The two tours offer the same total prize money but distribute it differently.
“I can spend it in one day,” Azarenka said. “I’m not allowed to drink in the States yet, but I’ll definitely go celebrate somewhere.”
Tennis: Serena slumps to new queen Victoria
MIAMI (AFP) - Belarussian teenager Victoria Azarenka clinched the first major title of her career on Saturday by beating top seed and world number one Serena Williams 6-3, 6-1 in the Miami WTA hardcourt final.
Williams, bidding to claim a record sixth title and third in a row, was badly affected by a left thigh injury which got worse as the match progressed.
Despite the defeat, the American was already assured of hanging on to her world number ranking for the 71st week of her career.
It was a poor quality final. The players reached 3-3 in the first set before Serena, who had defeated sister Venus in the semi-finals, began to feel her thigh which was heavily-bandaged and which was also supporting her knee.
From that point on, the reigning US and Australian Open champion managed to win just one more game.
Williams said she had been battling injury since her quarter-final victory over China's Li Na.
"It was a little difficult moving to the left, and a little bit to the right. A little forward was also difficult," she said.
The American said she almost would have preferred to lose to her sister Venus in the semi-finals, except that then she would not have kept her world number one ranking.
"So that was the only upside to it," she said. "It was what it was. I gave the effort that I could give today. That's all I could give."
And she had praise for her young opponent, who had retired ill against Williams after taking a set off the American in the Australian Open fourth round in January.
"I think she has really, really improved," Williams said. "I actually look forward to playing her again so I can play a little better and obviously do better.
"But I think she obviously has potential and she's going to be a really good player."
Williams was under-powered on the court with five double faults, a poor 54-percent of first serves successful and an ugly 34 unforced errors.
Azarenka tensed up as she served for the title. She double-faulted on her second match point before wrapping up the trophy on her third.
"I was racked with fear," admitted the teenager.
At 19, Azarenka claimed her first major title and third of her career which have all been won in 2009 with the previous two coming in Brisbane and Memphis.
Her win here will elevate her to number eight in the world when the new rankings are released on Monday.
"It was a great honour to meet Serena in the final and even greater to win against her," said Azarenka. "It's only this season that I have started to believe in myself and to believe that I can win tournaments."
Williams, bidding to claim a record sixth title and third in a row, was badly affected by a left thigh injury which got worse as the match progressed.
Despite the defeat, the American was already assured of hanging on to her world number ranking for the 71st week of her career.
It was a poor quality final. The players reached 3-3 in the first set before Serena, who had defeated sister Venus in the semi-finals, began to feel her thigh which was heavily-bandaged and which was also supporting her knee.
From that point on, the reigning US and Australian Open champion managed to win just one more game.
Williams said she had been battling injury since her quarter-final victory over China's Li Na.
"It was a little difficult moving to the left, and a little bit to the right. A little forward was also difficult," she said.
The American said she almost would have preferred to lose to her sister Venus in the semi-finals, except that then she would not have kept her world number one ranking.
"So that was the only upside to it," she said. "It was what it was. I gave the effort that I could give today. That's all I could give."
And she had praise for her young opponent, who had retired ill against Williams after taking a set off the American in the Australian Open fourth round in January.
"I think she has really, really improved," Williams said. "I actually look forward to playing her again so I can play a little better and obviously do better.
"But I think she obviously has potential and she's going to be a really good player."
Williams was under-powered on the court with five double faults, a poor 54-percent of first serves successful and an ugly 34 unforced errors.
Azarenka tensed up as she served for the title. She double-faulted on her second match point before wrapping up the trophy on her third.
"I was racked with fear," admitted the teenager.
At 19, Azarenka claimed her first major title and third of her career which have all been won in 2009 with the previous two coming in Brisbane and Memphis.
Her win here will elevate her to number eight in the world when the new rankings are released on Monday.
"It was a great honour to meet Serena in the final and even greater to win against her," said Azarenka. "It's only this season that I have started to believe in myself and to believe that I can win tournaments."
Soccer in Bolivia can be a breathless experience
Diego Maradona was a good sport, saying his team was simply outplayed. But the Argentine manager’s star player, Lionel Messi, was perhaps more honest.
Heavyweight Argentina’s historic 6-1 defeat this week to soccer flyweight Bolivia in the rarefied air of the Andes reopens a politically charged debate about whether teams can reasonably be expected to play in such extreme conditions.
Messi’s description of struggling through 90 breathless minutes at nearly 12,000 feet above sea level in La Paz, the world’s highest capital city, needed no translation.
“Es imposible,” said the usually swift attacker who finished with head bowed, clutching his thighs.
“Some of us had a terrible headache, though we don’t want to use that as an excuse,” added Argentine defender Javier Zanetti, who plays his club soccer in Milan, Italy—not even a mere 400 feet up.The Bolivians, of course, would beg to differ with Messi’s suggestion that the low-oxygen conditions of their capital make it unsuitable for fair soccer.
And the irony of the worst Argentine defeat in World Cup qualifying— eclipsing a 5-0 loss to Colombia in 1993—was that Maradona has helped campaign for such matches.
A year ago, as soccer’s governing body was trying to outlaw high-altitude international games, Maradona played an hourlong charity match in La Paz’s Hernando Siles Stadium with Bolivia’s soccer-mad president, Evo Morales, to prove it wasn’t impossible.
“I speak for all of Argentina when I say that we do not fear the altitude,” Maradona said then. “All of us have to play where were we were born.”
This week, Maradona again insisted that altitude was not an issue in the 6-1 thrashing.
“Every Bolivian goal was a dagger in my heart,” he said, but “basically they were the better team.”
The truth probably lies somewhere between Messi and Maradona’s stances. And the headache is for FIFA because it will have to draw the line.
The problem with banning La Paz and other such venues is that altitude is just one of many factors that influence the outcomes of games. Pushed to extremes, there’s almost no limit to such arguments.
Should Hong Kong or Bangkok be banned as too humid, hot and polluted? Is it reasonable to play in chilly Norway? Is it fair that smaller, impoverished nations be thrown to the richer, larger lions of soccer? While La Paz offers Bolivia an altitude advantage, the country of just 10 million people doesn’t have a giant pool of soccer talent like Brazil or the financial leg-up that European giants enjoy.
FIFA has temporarily suspended the altitude ban, bowing to pressure from Morales and others in South America, while it considers a possible package of laws to regulate the playing of international and domestic club matches under a variety of “extreme” environmental conditions.
FIFA medical committee chairman Michel D’Hooghe expects to present findings in coming months. He won’t reveal whether the ban on venues such as La Paz will be reinstated but says playing at such heights clearly offers home teams an “artificial advantage,” even if it doesn’t endanger health.
“It is not a matter of life or death,” D’Hooghe said in a phone interview. “It is just a difference in performance level.”
Scientific and historical data suggest the disadvantages can be huge when low-altitude visitors don’t have time to acclimatize, as the Argentines didn’t. They arrived just two hours before kickoff in the hope of limiting headaches and nausea.
The thin air doesn’t just mess with visitors’ bodies, it also affects how balls play. With reduced air resistance, they fly further and curve less— perhaps helping to explain why the Argentines lost their deft touch.
Oxford University mathematician Patrick McSharry, in findings published in the British Medical Journal, calculated that as altitude climbs, home teams score more and concede less, with each additional 3,280 feet increasing the goal difference by almost half a goal. McSharry studied 1,460 international matches played in South America by 10 teams from 1900-2004.
Peruvian high-altitude researcher Gustavo Gonzales calculated that visiting teams lost or drew in 15 games played on the same day they arrived in La Paz or the Bolivian city of Oruro from 1950-93. Oruro is so high that revelers at its annual carnival wear masks with bulging eyes to represent how slave miners there in bygone times struggled to breathe.
So Messi’s complaints about La Paz may not be far off the mark. But the problem is that they also go to the heart of soccer’s’s identity as a universal game, meant to be playable anywhere by any 22 people with a ball.
La Paz is a tough venue, but attempting to level soccer’s playing field by banning it would be tough on Bolivia, too.
Ultimately, this boils down not only to deciding where to draw the line, but whether such lines should be drawn at all.
John Leicester is an international sports columnist for The Associated Press. Write to him at jleicester@ap.org.
Heavyweight Argentina’s historic 6-1 defeat this week to soccer flyweight Bolivia in the rarefied air of the Andes reopens a politically charged debate about whether teams can reasonably be expected to play in such extreme conditions.
Messi’s description of struggling through 90 breathless minutes at nearly 12,000 feet above sea level in La Paz, the world’s highest capital city, needed no translation.
“Es imposible,” said the usually swift attacker who finished with head bowed, clutching his thighs.
“Some of us had a terrible headache, though we don’t want to use that as an excuse,” added Argentine defender Javier Zanetti, who plays his club soccer in Milan, Italy—not even a mere 400 feet up.The Bolivians, of course, would beg to differ with Messi’s suggestion that the low-oxygen conditions of their capital make it unsuitable for fair soccer.
And the irony of the worst Argentine defeat in World Cup qualifying— eclipsing a 5-0 loss to Colombia in 1993—was that Maradona has helped campaign for such matches.
A year ago, as soccer’s governing body was trying to outlaw high-altitude international games, Maradona played an hourlong charity match in La Paz’s Hernando Siles Stadium with Bolivia’s soccer-mad president, Evo Morales, to prove it wasn’t impossible.
“I speak for all of Argentina when I say that we do not fear the altitude,” Maradona said then. “All of us have to play where were we were born.”
This week, Maradona again insisted that altitude was not an issue in the 6-1 thrashing.
“Every Bolivian goal was a dagger in my heart,” he said, but “basically they were the better team.”
The truth probably lies somewhere between Messi and Maradona’s stances. And the headache is for FIFA because it will have to draw the line.
The problem with banning La Paz and other such venues is that altitude is just one of many factors that influence the outcomes of games. Pushed to extremes, there’s almost no limit to such arguments.
Should Hong Kong or Bangkok be banned as too humid, hot and polluted? Is it reasonable to play in chilly Norway? Is it fair that smaller, impoverished nations be thrown to the richer, larger lions of soccer? While La Paz offers Bolivia an altitude advantage, the country of just 10 million people doesn’t have a giant pool of soccer talent like Brazil or the financial leg-up that European giants enjoy.
FIFA has temporarily suspended the altitude ban, bowing to pressure from Morales and others in South America, while it considers a possible package of laws to regulate the playing of international and domestic club matches under a variety of “extreme” environmental conditions.
FIFA medical committee chairman Michel D’Hooghe expects to present findings in coming months. He won’t reveal whether the ban on venues such as La Paz will be reinstated but says playing at such heights clearly offers home teams an “artificial advantage,” even if it doesn’t endanger health.
“It is not a matter of life or death,” D’Hooghe said in a phone interview. “It is just a difference in performance level.”
Scientific and historical data suggest the disadvantages can be huge when low-altitude visitors don’t have time to acclimatize, as the Argentines didn’t. They arrived just two hours before kickoff in the hope of limiting headaches and nausea.
The thin air doesn’t just mess with visitors’ bodies, it also affects how balls play. With reduced air resistance, they fly further and curve less— perhaps helping to explain why the Argentines lost their deft touch.
Oxford University mathematician Patrick McSharry, in findings published in the British Medical Journal, calculated that as altitude climbs, home teams score more and concede less, with each additional 3,280 feet increasing the goal difference by almost half a goal. McSharry studied 1,460 international matches played in South America by 10 teams from 1900-2004.
Peruvian high-altitude researcher Gustavo Gonzales calculated that visiting teams lost or drew in 15 games played on the same day they arrived in La Paz or the Bolivian city of Oruro from 1950-93. Oruro is so high that revelers at its annual carnival wear masks with bulging eyes to represent how slave miners there in bygone times struggled to breathe.
So Messi’s complaints about La Paz may not be far off the mark. But the problem is that they also go to the heart of soccer’s’s identity as a universal game, meant to be playable anywhere by any 22 people with a ball.
La Paz is a tough venue, but attempting to level soccer’s playing field by banning it would be tough on Bolivia, too.
Ultimately, this boils down not only to deciding where to draw the line, but whether such lines should be drawn at all.
John Leicester is an international sports columnist for The Associated Press. Write to him at jleicester@ap.org.
Liverpool, Chelsea to keep pressure on Man United
LONDON (AP)—Substitute Yossi Benayoun scored during injury time Saturday, leading Liverpool to a 1-0 victory at Fulham and tightening the pressure on defending champion Manchester United in the title race.
Liverpool moved two points ahead in the Premier League, but United has two games in hand and hosts Aston Villa on Sunday. Liverpool routed United and Villa before the two-week international break.
Liverpool hit the goal frame four times in the first half, then scored in the second minute of stoppage time. Fulham defender Brede Hangeland challenged Steven Gerrard for the ball at the top of the penalty area, and the ball fell to an open Benayoun.
“It’s a massive three points—we knew a defeat or a draw was no good for us,” Gerrard said. “We had to let United know they are in for a title fight until the end.”Chelsea is also still in that fight, puling within a point of United with a 2-0 victory at Newcastle as former Magpies captain Alan Shearer began his eight-match term as manager.
Second-half goals from Frank Lampard and Florent Malouda allowed Chelsea to dampen the homecoming of Shearer, Newcastle’s all-time leading scorer. Newcastle stayed third from last place, two points behind Sunderland, which lost 2-0 at West Ham.
Stoke’s bid to avoid relegation was helped by winning 2-0 at West Bromwich Albion. Middlesbrough was routed 4-1 at Bolton. West Brom and Middlesbrough occupy the bottom two places.
Blackburn moved four points clear of the relegation zone, stunning 10-man Tottenham with two late goals for a 2-1 win. Hull and Portsmouth drew 0-0.
In the chase for Champions League places, Arsenal strengthened its grip on fourth with Emmanuel Adebayor’s two goals providing a 2-0 victory over Manchester City. Cesc Fabregas, returning after three months out with a knee injury, set up both goals. Adebayor was playing in his first game for the Gunners after a two-month layoff.
PARIS (AP)—Karim Benzema scored twice to lead Lyon to a 3-1 victory over Le Mans and help the defending champion keep its title rivals at bay in the French league.
Lyon leads the league with 59 points from 30 games, followed by Bordeaux with 56 and Marseille with 55. Marseille can cut Lyon’s lead to a point with a victory over Saint-Etienne on Sunday.
Jean-Alain Boumsong scored off a corner kick from Juninho in the 16th minute to put Lyon ahead, before Benzema doubled the lead in the 44th with a diagonal shot inside the post.
The Lyon forward scored his 14th goal this season in the 57th, heading a ball into an empty net after goalkeeper Yohann Pele saved a shot from Sweden midfielder Kim Kallstrom. Anthony Le Tallec scored a consolation goal for Le Mans in the 77th.
FRANKFURT (AP)—Wolfsburg seized the Bundesliga lead after Edin Dzeko and Grafite each scored twice within 13 minutes to give the team a 5-1 win over Bayern Munich. Wolfsburg leapfrogged Hertha Berlin, which lost 3-1 to Borussia Dortmund.
Luca Toni had tied it for Bayern in the 45th minute to make it 1-1 at halftime, but Wolfsburg remained undefeated at home this season thanks to goals by Dzeko in the 64th and 66th minute. Grafite added two more insurance goals in 74th and 77th—the second after dancing through five defenders and scoring with a backheel.
Wolfsburg has 51 points from 26 rounds and leads on goal difference ahead of Hamburg, which defeated Hoffenheim 1-0 behind Jonathan Pitroipa’s 28th-minute goal, despite finishing with 10 men.
GLAGOW, Scotland (AP)—Celtic kept the pressure on Glasgow rival Rangers by routing Hamilton 4-0 to go four points ahead in the Scottish Premier League.
Georgios Samaras scored twice as the champions coasted to victory. Aiden McGeady and Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink also scored.
Rangers are at Falkirk on Sunday and in disarray after Barry Ferguson and Allan McGregor were suspended following a drinking episode while playing internationally for Scotland. Ferguson was stripped of the Rangers captaincy and the two were given lifetime international bans by the Scottish Football Association.
Also Saturday, substitute David Goodwillie scored a late goal to give Dundee United a 2-2 draw against Hibernian.
Striker Calum Elliot scored twice as Hearts came from behind to consolidate its position in third place with a 3-1 victory over Kilmarnock. Inverness rallied to beat St. Mirren 2-1 and Aberdeen drew 1-1 at Motherwell.
Liverpool moved two points ahead in the Premier League, but United has two games in hand and hosts Aston Villa on Sunday. Liverpool routed United and Villa before the two-week international break.
Liverpool hit the goal frame four times in the first half, then scored in the second minute of stoppage time. Fulham defender Brede Hangeland challenged Steven Gerrard for the ball at the top of the penalty area, and the ball fell to an open Benayoun.
“It’s a massive three points—we knew a defeat or a draw was no good for us,” Gerrard said. “We had to let United know they are in for a title fight until the end.”Chelsea is also still in that fight, puling within a point of United with a 2-0 victory at Newcastle as former Magpies captain Alan Shearer began his eight-match term as manager.
Second-half goals from Frank Lampard and Florent Malouda allowed Chelsea to dampen the homecoming of Shearer, Newcastle’s all-time leading scorer. Newcastle stayed third from last place, two points behind Sunderland, which lost 2-0 at West Ham.
Stoke’s bid to avoid relegation was helped by winning 2-0 at West Bromwich Albion. Middlesbrough was routed 4-1 at Bolton. West Brom and Middlesbrough occupy the bottom two places.
Blackburn moved four points clear of the relegation zone, stunning 10-man Tottenham with two late goals for a 2-1 win. Hull and Portsmouth drew 0-0.
In the chase for Champions League places, Arsenal strengthened its grip on fourth with Emmanuel Adebayor’s two goals providing a 2-0 victory over Manchester City. Cesc Fabregas, returning after three months out with a knee injury, set up both goals. Adebayor was playing in his first game for the Gunners after a two-month layoff.
PARIS (AP)—Karim Benzema scored twice to lead Lyon to a 3-1 victory over Le Mans and help the defending champion keep its title rivals at bay in the French league.
Lyon leads the league with 59 points from 30 games, followed by Bordeaux with 56 and Marseille with 55. Marseille can cut Lyon’s lead to a point with a victory over Saint-Etienne on Sunday.
Jean-Alain Boumsong scored off a corner kick from Juninho in the 16th minute to put Lyon ahead, before Benzema doubled the lead in the 44th with a diagonal shot inside the post.
The Lyon forward scored his 14th goal this season in the 57th, heading a ball into an empty net after goalkeeper Yohann Pele saved a shot from Sweden midfielder Kim Kallstrom. Anthony Le Tallec scored a consolation goal for Le Mans in the 77th.
FRANKFURT (AP)—Wolfsburg seized the Bundesliga lead after Edin Dzeko and Grafite each scored twice within 13 minutes to give the team a 5-1 win over Bayern Munich. Wolfsburg leapfrogged Hertha Berlin, which lost 3-1 to Borussia Dortmund.
Luca Toni had tied it for Bayern in the 45th minute to make it 1-1 at halftime, but Wolfsburg remained undefeated at home this season thanks to goals by Dzeko in the 64th and 66th minute. Grafite added two more insurance goals in 74th and 77th—the second after dancing through five defenders and scoring with a backheel.
Wolfsburg has 51 points from 26 rounds and leads on goal difference ahead of Hamburg, which defeated Hoffenheim 1-0 behind Jonathan Pitroipa’s 28th-minute goal, despite finishing with 10 men.
GLAGOW, Scotland (AP)—Celtic kept the pressure on Glasgow rival Rangers by routing Hamilton 4-0 to go four points ahead in the Scottish Premier League.
Georgios Samaras scored twice as the champions coasted to victory. Aiden McGeady and Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink also scored.
Rangers are at Falkirk on Sunday and in disarray after Barry Ferguson and Allan McGregor were suspended following a drinking episode while playing internationally for Scotland. Ferguson was stripped of the Rangers captaincy and the two were given lifetime international bans by the Scottish Football Association.
Also Saturday, substitute David Goodwillie scored a late goal to give Dundee United a 2-2 draw against Hibernian.
Striker Calum Elliot scored twice as Hearts came from behind to consolidate its position in third place with a 3-1 victory over Kilmarnock. Inverness rallied to beat St. Mirren 2-1 and Aberdeen drew 1-1 at Motherwell.
Adriano absence is not indiscipline, says Mourinho
MILAN, April 4 (Reuters) - Brazil forward Adriano’s decision to stay in South America after his country’s World Cup qualifiers is not a case of indiscipline, Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho said on Saturday.
Speaking at a news conference Mourinho expressed sympathy for Adriano, who has talked publicly about his drinking and personal problems, but refused to go into details on his failure to return to the Serie A leaders for Sunday’s game at Udinese (1700 GMT).
Adriano was an unused substitute in Brazil’s 3-0 win over Peru and a 1-1 draw with Ecuador during the week.
“Everyone has understood that this is not an easy situation,” Mourinho said.
“It’s not a player who has decided to return late and it’s not because he missed his flight. It is not a joke, it is not indiscipline…It’s something more than that.”
The 27-year-old was loaned to Sao Paolo last season by previous Inter coach Roberto Mancini following discipline problems. He had edged back into Mourinho’s good books after similar difficulties this season.
“I am neither angry nor critical. I am only sad and the best thing is to say nothing. We will see how things end up for him but at the moment I think about the person more than the player,” Mourinho said. (Reporting by Mark Meadows; Editing by John Mehaffey; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
Speaking at a news conference Mourinho expressed sympathy for Adriano, who has talked publicly about his drinking and personal problems, but refused to go into details on his failure to return to the Serie A leaders for Sunday’s game at Udinese (1700 GMT).
Adriano was an unused substitute in Brazil’s 3-0 win over Peru and a 1-1 draw with Ecuador during the week.
“Everyone has understood that this is not an easy situation,” Mourinho said.
“It’s not a player who has decided to return late and it’s not because he missed his flight. It is not a joke, it is not indiscipline…It’s something more than that.”
The 27-year-old was loaned to Sao Paolo last season by previous Inter coach Roberto Mancini following discipline problems. He had edged back into Mourinho’s good books after similar difficulties this season.
“I am neither angry nor critical. I am only sad and the best thing is to say nothing. We will see how things end up for him but at the moment I think about the person more than the player,” Mourinho said. (Reporting by Mark Meadows; Editing by John Mehaffey; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
Benzema twice on target for top dogs Lyon
PARIS (AFP) - Karim Benzema scored twice for seven-time reigning champions Lyon in a 3-1 victory at Le Mans on Saturday to boost their French title chances and ensure they finished the weekend at the top of the table.
Bordeaux, meanwhile, warned they were still up for a fight with a last-gasp 1-0 victory at home to Nancy to give them second spot thanks to Marouane Chamakh, three points behind the leaders.
Lille are also in the title hunt and their 2-0 win at Nantes left them fourth while Toulouse drew 0-0 at lowly Caen in the late match for fifth place.
Third-placed Marseille, who travel to St Etienne on Sunday without president Pape Diouf who had an emergency eye operation on Saturday, would tuck in a point behind Lyon in second spot should they win.
Benzema's 13th and 14th league goals for Lyon ended a mini-drought as he had not found the net since February 21 but hapless Le Mans keeper Pele, who will be leaving the club at the end of the season, hardly gave his future employers a good impression.
Lyon boss Claude Puel, who has endured huge criticism lately, admitted afterwards: "The result was flattering."
Former Glasgow Rangers striker Jean-Claude Darcheville scored after just 26 seconds in Valenciennes' 2-0 victory over Auxerre to register the fastest goal in the French championship this season.
It beat the previous fastest goal this season of 52 seconds, which was scored by Thomas Kahlenberg for Auxerre against Le Havre on February 21.
The fastest goal of all time in the French top flight was scored by Michel Rio after eight seconds playing for Caen against Cannes in February 1992.
Another striker who has been catching the eye lately is Lille's Michel Bastos, who scored his 13th goal of the season from the spot in their 2-0 win at Nantes.
On Sunday, apart from the St Etienne versus Marseille battle, attention will be drawn to the Parc des Princes where PSG, who have major absentees in defence, host Nice hoping to keep in touch with the leading teams.
Bordeaux, meanwhile, warned they were still up for a fight with a last-gasp 1-0 victory at home to Nancy to give them second spot thanks to Marouane Chamakh, three points behind the leaders.
Lille are also in the title hunt and their 2-0 win at Nantes left them fourth while Toulouse drew 0-0 at lowly Caen in the late match for fifth place.
Third-placed Marseille, who travel to St Etienne on Sunday without president Pape Diouf who had an emergency eye operation on Saturday, would tuck in a point behind Lyon in second spot should they win.
Benzema's 13th and 14th league goals for Lyon ended a mini-drought as he had not found the net since February 21 but hapless Le Mans keeper Pele, who will be leaving the club at the end of the season, hardly gave his future employers a good impression.
Lyon boss Claude Puel, who has endured huge criticism lately, admitted afterwards: "The result was flattering."
Former Glasgow Rangers striker Jean-Claude Darcheville scored after just 26 seconds in Valenciennes' 2-0 victory over Auxerre to register the fastest goal in the French championship this season.
It beat the previous fastest goal this season of 52 seconds, which was scored by Thomas Kahlenberg for Auxerre against Le Havre on February 21.
The fastest goal of all time in the French top flight was scored by Michel Rio after eight seconds playing for Caen against Cannes in February 1992.
Another striker who has been catching the eye lately is Lille's Michel Bastos, who scored his 13th goal of the season from the spot in their 2-0 win at Nantes.
On Sunday, apart from the St Etienne versus Marseille battle, attention will be drawn to the Parc des Princes where PSG, who have major absentees in defence, host Nice hoping to keep in touch with the leading teams.
Hot-shots Dzeko, Grafite humiliate mighty Bayern
BERLIN (AFP) - Wolfsburg strikers Edin Dzeko and Grafite both struck twice on Saturday to inflict a humiliating 5-1 defeat on defending champions Bayern Munich to put their side top of the Bundesliga.
Between them Brazilian Grafite and Bosnian Dzeko have now scored 35 goals in 41 games this season as Wolfsburg defended their unbeaten home record and went top after Hertha Berlin lost at home to Dortmund.
For Wolfsburg's ex-Bayern coach Felix Magath, it was a sweet revenge against the club which sacked him in February 2007 as his side went top of the table for the first time this season while Bayern drop to fourth.
"That was an unusual game for us, because it is not every day you get such a result against Bayern Munich," said Magath who has previously insisted his side are not good enough to win the Bundesliga.
"In the first half, Bayern were better, but we got a lot stronger after the break and played some heady football."But our goal remains to finish the season in the top five."
Every single Bayern player refused to be interviewed live on television after the game and coach Jurgen Klinsmann admitted the result was devastating, especially ahead of Wednesday's daunting Champions League trip to Barcelona.
"Nothing about the game was pleasing," said the glum ex-Germany boss.
"To fly back to Munich after such a result is not pleasant. We put in a good first-half, but deserve all the criticism we will get for the second half.
"This defeat hurts - especially before our Champions League quarter-final at Barcelona on Wednesday. Wolfsburg now stand where we want to be."
With the scores level at 1-1 after an hour, Dzeko struck twice in two minutes - showing top-class finishing for his second goal.
It started when Wolfsburg goalkeeper Diego Benaglio rolled a pass to play-maker Zvjezdan Misimovic which the Bosnia midfielder flicked on to compatriot Dzeko who placed his shot with pin-point accuracy.
Not to be outdone, Grafite underlined his place as the league's top scorer with 20 goals so far this season as he struck twice in three minutes to seal Bayern's humiliation.
For his second on 77 minutes, he beat three defenders and goalkeeper Michael Rensing before back-heeling into an empty net to leave Bayern red-faced.
Hertha are now third after they lost 3-1 to Dortmund at Berlin's Olympic Stadium.
After Swiss striker Alexander Frei put Dortmund ahead on 25 minutes, Berlin equalised early in the second half when Brazilian Raffael dribbled his way through the defence and curled his shot home for a superb individual effort.
But Dortmund reclaimed the lead when ex-Germany midfielder Sebastian Kehl headed home on 63 minutes before striker Nelson Valdez hit a late third.
Hamburg are second in the table only on goal difference after their 1-0 win over Hoffenheim, who drop to sixth.
With Hoffenheim fading from the title race, Hamburg claimed the winner when midfielder Jonathan Pitroipa tapped the ball into an empty net on 28 minutes.
Stuttgart are up to fifth in the table after their 2-1 win at Bochum and Energie Cottbus remain in the bottom three after their 2-1 defeat at mid-table Eintracht Frankfurt.
On Friday, troubled Schalke 04 moved up to seventh with a 2-0 win at Arminia Bielefeld.
On Sunday, there is a bottom-three clash when Karlsruhe host Borussia Moenchengladbach while Cologne host Bayer Leverkusen and Werder Bremen are home to Hanover in two mid-table clashes.
Between them Brazilian Grafite and Bosnian Dzeko have now scored 35 goals in 41 games this season as Wolfsburg defended their unbeaten home record and went top after Hertha Berlin lost at home to Dortmund.
For Wolfsburg's ex-Bayern coach Felix Magath, it was a sweet revenge against the club which sacked him in February 2007 as his side went top of the table for the first time this season while Bayern drop to fourth.
"That was an unusual game for us, because it is not every day you get such a result against Bayern Munich," said Magath who has previously insisted his side are not good enough to win the Bundesliga.
"In the first half, Bayern were better, but we got a lot stronger after the break and played some heady football."But our goal remains to finish the season in the top five."
Every single Bayern player refused to be interviewed live on television after the game and coach Jurgen Klinsmann admitted the result was devastating, especially ahead of Wednesday's daunting Champions League trip to Barcelona.
"Nothing about the game was pleasing," said the glum ex-Germany boss.
"To fly back to Munich after such a result is not pleasant. We put in a good first-half, but deserve all the criticism we will get for the second half.
"This defeat hurts - especially before our Champions League quarter-final at Barcelona on Wednesday. Wolfsburg now stand where we want to be."
With the scores level at 1-1 after an hour, Dzeko struck twice in two minutes - showing top-class finishing for his second goal.
It started when Wolfsburg goalkeeper Diego Benaglio rolled a pass to play-maker Zvjezdan Misimovic which the Bosnia midfielder flicked on to compatriot Dzeko who placed his shot with pin-point accuracy.
Not to be outdone, Grafite underlined his place as the league's top scorer with 20 goals so far this season as he struck twice in three minutes to seal Bayern's humiliation.
For his second on 77 minutes, he beat three defenders and goalkeeper Michael Rensing before back-heeling into an empty net to leave Bayern red-faced.
Hertha are now third after they lost 3-1 to Dortmund at Berlin's Olympic Stadium.
After Swiss striker Alexander Frei put Dortmund ahead on 25 minutes, Berlin equalised early in the second half when Brazilian Raffael dribbled his way through the defence and curled his shot home for a superb individual effort.
But Dortmund reclaimed the lead when ex-Germany midfielder Sebastian Kehl headed home on 63 minutes before striker Nelson Valdez hit a late third.
Hamburg are second in the table only on goal difference after their 1-0 win over Hoffenheim, who drop to sixth.
With Hoffenheim fading from the title race, Hamburg claimed the winner when midfielder Jonathan Pitroipa tapped the ball into an empty net on 28 minutes.
Stuttgart are up to fifth in the table after their 2-1 win at Bochum and Energie Cottbus remain in the bottom three after their 2-1 defeat at mid-table Eintracht Frankfurt.
On Friday, troubled Schalke 04 moved up to seventh with a 2-0 win at Arminia Bielefeld.
On Sunday, there is a bottom-three clash when Karlsruhe host Borussia Moenchengladbach while Cologne host Bayer Leverkusen and Werder Bremen are home to Hanover in two mid-table clashes.
Eto’o seals Barcelona win, Villarreal beaten in Almeria
MADRID, April 4 (Reuters) - Samuel Eto’o scored just before the break to give Barcelona a 1-0 win at Real Valladolid that put them nine points clear in the Primera Liga on Saturday.
The Cameroon international played a slick one-two with Xavi and lobbed the goalkeeper for his 26th goal of the season, and put the pressure on chasing Real Madrid who were playing at Malaga in the late game.
Barca have 72 points, Real 63, and Sevilla are third with 57 after a first-half penalty from Frederic Kanoute earned them a 1-0 win at Recreativo Huelva.
Fourth-placed Villarreal were unable to cope with Almeria striker Alvaro Negredo as he inspired his side to a 3-0 home win.
The former Real Madrid youth team player netted his 17th of the campaign after seven minutes and set up Pablo Piatti and Mane for two more before halftime.
He hit the post after the restart just before Villarreal were reduced to 10 men when Robert Pires collected his second yellow card.
At the foot of the standings, Numancia grabbed a last-minute equaliser from the penalty spot to draw 3-3 in a thriller at Real Betis, and King’s Cup finalists Athletic Bilbao ended a run of four successive defeats to beat Real Mallorca 2-1 at home. (Writing by Mark Elkington; Editing by Sonia Oxley; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
The Cameroon international played a slick one-two with Xavi and lobbed the goalkeeper for his 26th goal of the season, and put the pressure on chasing Real Madrid who were playing at Malaga in the late game.
Barca have 72 points, Real 63, and Sevilla are third with 57 after a first-half penalty from Frederic Kanoute earned them a 1-0 win at Recreativo Huelva.
Fourth-placed Villarreal were unable to cope with Almeria striker Alvaro Negredo as he inspired his side to a 3-0 home win.
The former Real Madrid youth team player netted his 17th of the campaign after seven minutes and set up Pablo Piatti and Mane for two more before halftime.
He hit the post after the restart just before Villarreal were reduced to 10 men when Robert Pires collected his second yellow card.
At the foot of the standings, Numancia grabbed a last-minute equaliser from the penalty spot to draw 3-3 in a thriller at Real Betis, and King’s Cup finalists Athletic Bilbao ended a run of four successive defeats to beat Real Mallorca 2-1 at home. (Writing by Mark Elkington; Editing by Sonia Oxley; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
Benayoun's late winner sends Liverpool top
LONDON (AFP) - Yossi Benayoun fired Liverpool to the top of the Premier League as the Israeli's stoppage time goal clinched a dramatic 1-0 win against Fulham on Saturday.
Rafael Benitez's side looked as though they had blown the chance to knock Manchester United off top spot after hitting the woodwork four times in the first half at Craven Cottage.
But Benayoun was brought on as a substitute for the final 14 minutes and, with time virtually up, he lashed a blistering strike past Mark Schwarzer to snatch a crucial victory.
It is the eighth time this season Liverpool have scored in injury time and it is that character that is pushing United all the way in this season's title race.
The Reds are now two points clear of United, although the champions have two games in hand, including Sunday's home clash against Aston Villa.Liverpool were on top from the start and Andrea Dossena's left footed effort was tipped over the crossbar by Australian goalkeeper Schwarzer.
Within 30 seconds Italian defender Dossena came close again, this time flicking a header onto the crossbar after Alvaro Arbeloa chipped the ball into the penalty area.
Fulham showed glimpses of attacking play, but were happy to try and frustrate their visitors.
Liverpool were inches from finding their breakthrough on 23 minutes, as only a brilliant double save from Schwarzer denied them.
Fernando Torres cleverly sidefooted towards the bottom corner after collecting a Steven Gerrard pass in the box, and as Schwarzer made a fingertip stop, he then scrambled across to push the ball away from the foot of Dirk Kuyt.
Liverpool were chasing a fourth consecutive win for the first time since October and refused to ease the pressure.
Aaron Hughes attempted to head away a Gerrard corner from the right on the half hour mark and Xabi Alonso met the loose ball with a drive from 25 yards that struck the top of the bar.
Then, on 35 minutes, the woodwork came to the rescue again. Brilliant interplay between Gerrard and Torres led to the latter stroking the ball past Schwarzer, only to bounce back off the inside of the post.
Incredibly it was only another two minutes until Liverpool were denied by the bar again.
Dossena's diving header bouncing back into play after a superb right sided cross from England midfielder Gerrard.
As half-time approached, Clint Dempsey fired a free kick off target. It caused little worry for Pepe Reina, but it was the first effort of note from the hosts.
During the half-time break Liverpool may have begun to wonder whether Craven Cottage held some sort of curse over Premier League's big four. Arsenal lost here in August, Chelsea only managed a draw in December, and United were put to the sword most recently.
Fulham put a little more emphasis on attack in the second half, but still it was Liverpool who created the first opening as Torres headed straight at Schwarzer.
The tempo of the game slowed drastically but Hodgson's side threatened when Paul Konchesky's free kick forced Reina into action.
A Liverpool counter attack almost led to substitute Ryan Babel forcing an opener, but John Pantsil was on hand to clear the danger. It signalled a new wave of pressure but Torres and Benayoun both failed to convert chances in the late stages.
Then as Babel moved forward one final time, Brede Hangeland tackled Gerrard on the edge on the area and the ball squirmed into the path of Benayoun.
He wasted little time before drilling across Schwarzer to spark wild celebrations on the Liverpool bench and among the club's 3,000 travelling fans.
Rafael Benitez's side looked as though they had blown the chance to knock Manchester United off top spot after hitting the woodwork four times in the first half at Craven Cottage.
But Benayoun was brought on as a substitute for the final 14 minutes and, with time virtually up, he lashed a blistering strike past Mark Schwarzer to snatch a crucial victory.
It is the eighth time this season Liverpool have scored in injury time and it is that character that is pushing United all the way in this season's title race.
The Reds are now two points clear of United, although the champions have two games in hand, including Sunday's home clash against Aston Villa.Liverpool were on top from the start and Andrea Dossena's left footed effort was tipped over the crossbar by Australian goalkeeper Schwarzer.
Within 30 seconds Italian defender Dossena came close again, this time flicking a header onto the crossbar after Alvaro Arbeloa chipped the ball into the penalty area.
Fulham showed glimpses of attacking play, but were happy to try and frustrate their visitors.
Liverpool were inches from finding their breakthrough on 23 minutes, as only a brilliant double save from Schwarzer denied them.
Fernando Torres cleverly sidefooted towards the bottom corner after collecting a Steven Gerrard pass in the box, and as Schwarzer made a fingertip stop, he then scrambled across to push the ball away from the foot of Dirk Kuyt.
Liverpool were chasing a fourth consecutive win for the first time since October and refused to ease the pressure.
Aaron Hughes attempted to head away a Gerrard corner from the right on the half hour mark and Xabi Alonso met the loose ball with a drive from 25 yards that struck the top of the bar.
Then, on 35 minutes, the woodwork came to the rescue again. Brilliant interplay between Gerrard and Torres led to the latter stroking the ball past Schwarzer, only to bounce back off the inside of the post.
Incredibly it was only another two minutes until Liverpool were denied by the bar again.
Dossena's diving header bouncing back into play after a superb right sided cross from England midfielder Gerrard.
As half-time approached, Clint Dempsey fired a free kick off target. It caused little worry for Pepe Reina, but it was the first effort of note from the hosts.
During the half-time break Liverpool may have begun to wonder whether Craven Cottage held some sort of curse over Premier League's big four. Arsenal lost here in August, Chelsea only managed a draw in December, and United were put to the sword most recently.
Fulham put a little more emphasis on attack in the second half, but still it was Liverpool who created the first opening as Torres headed straight at Schwarzer.
The tempo of the game slowed drastically but Hodgson's side threatened when Paul Konchesky's free kick forced Reina into action.
A Liverpool counter attack almost led to substitute Ryan Babel forcing an opener, but John Pantsil was on hand to clear the danger. It signalled a new wave of pressure but Torres and Benayoun both failed to convert chances in the late stages.
Then as Babel moved forward one final time, Brede Hangeland tackled Gerrard on the edge on the area and the ball squirmed into the path of Benayoun.
He wasted little time before drilling across Schwarzer to spark wild celebrations on the Liverpool bench and among the club's 3,000 travelling fans.
Fabregas and Adebayor keep Arsenal on track
LONDON (AFP) - Cesc Fabregas made a dream return for Arsenal by setting up Emmanuel Adebayor's double in Saturday's 2-0 win over Manchester City at the Emirates Stadium.
Spanish midfielder Fabregas has missed the last three months with a knee injury but he showed no signs of rustiness by laying on both Adebayor's goals as the Togo striker confirmed his own return to fitness.
With England winger Theo Walcott also impressing on his return to action, Arsenal look in ominous form as the season approaches its decisive final weeks.
This victory tightened the club's grip on fourth place in the Premier League and the scouts from Villarreal - Arsenal's opponents in the Champions League quarter-finals on Tuesday - will have departed for Spain sporting furrowed brows.City, meanwhile, seem no nearer banishing their reputation as English football's Jekyll and Hyde. Masterly at home, wretched away, Mark Hughes's side are still bewitching and infuriating their fans in equal measure.
Adebayor's goals may have been decisive, but there was only ever one player whose return was guaranteed to raise the roof at the Emirates - the mercurial Fabregas.
This has been the most trying season of the midfielder's career, marred by a loss of form, a serious injury and, of course, the notorious spitting spat with Hull assistant manager Brian Horton.
But none of that has diminished his status in the red half of north London.
Fabregas remains the team's talisman and he emphasised the point in his programme notes, where he vowed to shrug off the speculation over a possible move to Barcelona or Real Madrid.
"I'm very happy at Arsenal and have said it many times," he wrote. "I'm proud to be captain of this club and I see my future with Arsenal."
That provided Arsenal's fans with a welcome boost and they were singing their idol's name after just eight minutes when he set up Adebayor's opening goal.
After Robinho conceded a needless foul on Bacary Sagna five yards from the visitors' by-line, Fabregas chipped the resultant free-kick straight on to Adebayor's head and the Togolese's effort bounced past Shay Given.
For City, it was a nightmare start. A side with just one away league win to their name all season cannot afford to gift goal-starts to teams of Arsenal's quality and Hughes must have been beside himself with frustration.
His plans had already been shredded by Wayne Bridge hobbling off early on but, despite that, his team still made Arsenal wobble.
In the 27th minute, Shaun Wright-Phillips capped an exhilarating burst with a slide-rule pass for Micah Richards, whose shot brought a fine save from Manuel Almunia.
But the Spanish goalkeeper should have been picking the ball out of his net moments later when another slick move saw Wright-Phillips tee up substitute Gelson Fernandes. The Swiss had simply to pick his spot and fire City level, but his snatched effort merely clipped the outside of the post.
Arsenal could have made Fernandes pay for that miss in first-half stoppage time, when Andrei Arshavin and Alex Song exchanged passes, only for Given to produce a superb sprawling save from the Russian's low shot.
But City's reprieve was temporary. Four minutes into the second half, Fabregas again showcased his superb vision by picking out Adebayor with a lofted ball over Richard Dunne. The striker collected the pass, nonchalantly rounded Given and rolled the ball into the empty net.
With the game won, Arsenal eased up. Adebayor and Walcott were both withdrawn as Wenger turned one eye to Tuesday and all that was left was the standing ovation for Fabregas, which duly came when he made way for Aaron Ramsey in the closing stages.
Spanish midfielder Fabregas has missed the last three months with a knee injury but he showed no signs of rustiness by laying on both Adebayor's goals as the Togo striker confirmed his own return to fitness.
With England winger Theo Walcott also impressing on his return to action, Arsenal look in ominous form as the season approaches its decisive final weeks.
This victory tightened the club's grip on fourth place in the Premier League and the scouts from Villarreal - Arsenal's opponents in the Champions League quarter-finals on Tuesday - will have departed for Spain sporting furrowed brows.City, meanwhile, seem no nearer banishing their reputation as English football's Jekyll and Hyde. Masterly at home, wretched away, Mark Hughes's side are still bewitching and infuriating their fans in equal measure.
Adebayor's goals may have been decisive, but there was only ever one player whose return was guaranteed to raise the roof at the Emirates - the mercurial Fabregas.
This has been the most trying season of the midfielder's career, marred by a loss of form, a serious injury and, of course, the notorious spitting spat with Hull assistant manager Brian Horton.
But none of that has diminished his status in the red half of north London.
Fabregas remains the team's talisman and he emphasised the point in his programme notes, where he vowed to shrug off the speculation over a possible move to Barcelona or Real Madrid.
"I'm very happy at Arsenal and have said it many times," he wrote. "I'm proud to be captain of this club and I see my future with Arsenal."
That provided Arsenal's fans with a welcome boost and they were singing their idol's name after just eight minutes when he set up Adebayor's opening goal.
After Robinho conceded a needless foul on Bacary Sagna five yards from the visitors' by-line, Fabregas chipped the resultant free-kick straight on to Adebayor's head and the Togolese's effort bounced past Shay Given.
For City, it was a nightmare start. A side with just one away league win to their name all season cannot afford to gift goal-starts to teams of Arsenal's quality and Hughes must have been beside himself with frustration.
His plans had already been shredded by Wayne Bridge hobbling off early on but, despite that, his team still made Arsenal wobble.
In the 27th minute, Shaun Wright-Phillips capped an exhilarating burst with a slide-rule pass for Micah Richards, whose shot brought a fine save from Manuel Almunia.
But the Spanish goalkeeper should have been picking the ball out of his net moments later when another slick move saw Wright-Phillips tee up substitute Gelson Fernandes. The Swiss had simply to pick his spot and fire City level, but his snatched effort merely clipped the outside of the post.
Arsenal could have made Fernandes pay for that miss in first-half stoppage time, when Andrei Arshavin and Alex Song exchanged passes, only for Given to produce a superb sprawling save from the Russian's low shot.
But City's reprieve was temporary. Four minutes into the second half, Fabregas again showcased his superb vision by picking out Adebayor with a lofted ball over Richard Dunne. The striker collected the pass, nonchalantly rounded Given and rolled the ball into the empty net.
With the game won, Arsenal eased up. Adebayor and Walcott were both withdrawn as Wenger turned one eye to Tuesday and all that was left was the standing ovation for Fabregas, which duly came when he made way for Aaron Ramsey in the closing stages.
Shearer fails to work magic for Newcastle
NEWCASTLE, England (AFP) - Alan Shearer was unable to inspire Newcastle in his first game in charge as Chelsea emerged with a comfortable 2-0 victory to keep their Premier League title hopes alive.
New manager Shearer quickly discovered the magnitude of the task he faces to ensure his hometown club retain their top flight status as this latest defeat leaves them anchored in the bottom three with just seven matches of the season remaining.
Two goals in nine second-half minutes sealed a deserved win for the visitors, who closed the gap on Manchester United to a single point.
Frank Lampard broke Newcastle resistance in the 56th minute, the England midfielder heading the ball into an empty net after a mis-hit drive from Nicolas Anelka came back off the bar - as Chelsea kept up the pressure at the top of the table.Florent Malouda sealed the win after 65 minutes. Anelka flicked on a long clearance from goalkeeper Peter Cech to Lampard, whose ball released the midfielder to slide his shot past a stranded Steve Harper and leave Newcastle without a home victory for approaching four months.
Michael Owen had a deflected late effort cleared off the line by Ashley Cole - TV replays suggested the ball was in - but that was as close as Newcastle came to marking the start of Shearer's reign with a goal.
The new manager probably feared the worst when Blackburn's dramatic late come-from-behind victory over Tottenham in the lunch-time kick-off increased the pressure on his side as the gap to safety grew to three points before they had even kicked a ball in anger.
Almost three years to the day since injury brought a premature end to his playing career, in front of a rare St James' Park full house of 52,000 the new manager took his seat in the dug-out to a predictably rapturous reception.
With Owen the only unenforced change, Shearer handed a vote of confidence to a struggling side which went into the game with just one victory in its previous 14 games. Sadly for the Toon Army, it wasn't to be repaid.
In a predictably nervy opening almost 20 minutes had passed before either team carved out a clear opening, and it was Chelsea, improving after a slow start, who came close to breaking the deadlock.
England full-back Cole made strides down the Chelsea left before delivering an inviting cross for Salomon Kalou. The striker's deft header from 12 yards was heading for the bottom corner, until a fine low save from Harper deflected the ball to safety.
Newcastle hit back inside 60 with their best chance of a first-half lacking in clear-cut openings.
Obafemi Martins, arriving at the near post six yards from goal, came close to deflecting home a low centre from the left from full-back Jose Enrique.
Shearer's edgy defenders had clearly not learned their lesson as Chelsea began to show signs of life to stretch their hosts again on the half-hour.
Anelka looked certain to open the scoring as he sprinted clear but the speedy Frenchman was thwarted by a stunning last-ditch challenge from emergency centre-back Habib Beye.
The interval failed to stop Chelsea's flow. Five minutes after the restart, Malouda, taking a slick pass from John Mikel Obi, turned in a flash inside the box to fire a shot which bounced off Harper's chest and away to safety.
Anelka was then put clean through by Malouda's intelligent lofted pass into the area, only for the striker's first touch to let him down.
It wasn't long however before Lampard and Malouda showed the forward how it should be done in front of goal.
The busy Harper prevented Kalou claiming the third from close range in injury time, but it was still the toughest of baptisms for Shearer.
New manager Shearer quickly discovered the magnitude of the task he faces to ensure his hometown club retain their top flight status as this latest defeat leaves them anchored in the bottom three with just seven matches of the season remaining.
Two goals in nine second-half minutes sealed a deserved win for the visitors, who closed the gap on Manchester United to a single point.
Frank Lampard broke Newcastle resistance in the 56th minute, the England midfielder heading the ball into an empty net after a mis-hit drive from Nicolas Anelka came back off the bar - as Chelsea kept up the pressure at the top of the table.Florent Malouda sealed the win after 65 minutes. Anelka flicked on a long clearance from goalkeeper Peter Cech to Lampard, whose ball released the midfielder to slide his shot past a stranded Steve Harper and leave Newcastle without a home victory for approaching four months.
Michael Owen had a deflected late effort cleared off the line by Ashley Cole - TV replays suggested the ball was in - but that was as close as Newcastle came to marking the start of Shearer's reign with a goal.
The new manager probably feared the worst when Blackburn's dramatic late come-from-behind victory over Tottenham in the lunch-time kick-off increased the pressure on his side as the gap to safety grew to three points before they had even kicked a ball in anger.
Almost three years to the day since injury brought a premature end to his playing career, in front of a rare St James' Park full house of 52,000 the new manager took his seat in the dug-out to a predictably rapturous reception.
With Owen the only unenforced change, Shearer handed a vote of confidence to a struggling side which went into the game with just one victory in its previous 14 games. Sadly for the Toon Army, it wasn't to be repaid.
In a predictably nervy opening almost 20 minutes had passed before either team carved out a clear opening, and it was Chelsea, improving after a slow start, who came close to breaking the deadlock.
England full-back Cole made strides down the Chelsea left before delivering an inviting cross for Salomon Kalou. The striker's deft header from 12 yards was heading for the bottom corner, until a fine low save from Harper deflected the ball to safety.
Newcastle hit back inside 60 with their best chance of a first-half lacking in clear-cut openings.
Obafemi Martins, arriving at the near post six yards from goal, came close to deflecting home a low centre from the left from full-back Jose Enrique.
Shearer's edgy defenders had clearly not learned their lesson as Chelsea began to show signs of life to stretch their hosts again on the half-hour.
Anelka looked certain to open the scoring as he sprinted clear but the speedy Frenchman was thwarted by a stunning last-ditch challenge from emergency centre-back Habib Beye.
The interval failed to stop Chelsea's flow. Five minutes after the restart, Malouda, taking a slick pass from John Mikel Obi, turned in a flash inside the box to fire a shot which bounced off Harper's chest and away to safety.
Anelka was then put clean through by Malouda's intelligent lofted pass into the area, only for the striker's first touch to let him down.
It wasn't long however before Lampard and Malouda showed the forward how it should be done in front of goal.
The busy Harper prevented Kalou claiming the third from close range in injury time, but it was still the toughest of baptisms for Shearer.
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