Atletico Madrid have been hit with a stadium ban for their next two home Champions League fixtures as UEFA handed out their heaviest punishment so far for racism.
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Atletico's Vicente Calderon Stadium
Due to the trouble that flared during last month's European match against Marseille the Spanish club, who were also fined €150,000, will have to play their group games against Liverpool and PSV Eindhoven at a venue at least 300 kilometres outside of Madrid.
European soccer's governing body said the punishment could be extended to a third match away from the Vicente Calderon stadium should there be repeat of crowd trouble or racist chanting within the next five years.
Atletico coach Javier Aguirre has also been banned for his club's home and away fixtures against Liverpool on October 22 and November 4 for insulting Marseille player Mathieu Valbuena
Last week England vice-captain Rio Ferdinand had publicly criticised UEFA and FIFA for their seemingly lenient stance against racism, saying the paltry fines handed out did nothing to stop the problem.
Speaking after the Croatian FA was only fined £15,000 for their fans' racist chanting during last month's 4-1 World Cup qualifying defeat to England in Zagreb, he said: "They make a lot of comments about what they are going to do but they never back up the words with actions. Croatia were fined a few thousand quid. What good is that going to do?"
UEFA spokesman William Gaillard explained the reasons for UEFA's stringent action against Atletico, which follows Monday's announcement that England will refuse to play in Madrid when they take on Spain in a friendly in February because of past racist incidents.
Gaillard said: "This shows our renewed determination to show zero tolerance towards racism. We had a great Euro (2008) with outstanding fan behaviour and we want our club games to be played in the same spirit.''
Gaillard also said he understood why England players may be reluctant to return to Madrid where they were targeted four years ago.
He added: "I understand the players' fears. That is exactly why we are acting with renewed strength - to make sure that in the future England players will not be threatened by this kind of behaviour."
In a statement on their website UEFA added that Atletico were charged with a lack of organisation during the Marseille match, which led to crowd incidents, and for the improper conduct of their supporters.
The Primera Liga club, who have until midday Friday to respond to the punishment, released a statement on their official website that said Atletico's lawyers were looking into the matter.
Meanwhile, Liverpool have complained that the relatively late decision to move their game from Madrid has caused "disruption" to their fans.
"To say the decision is a bit late in the day, is to put it mildly," said chief executive Rick Parry.
"We have 3,000 fans going to the game and we are extremely concerned for our supporters, the vast majority of whom have already made travel arrangements.
"If the match is played at least 300 kilometres from Madrid, it will cause major disruption, inconvenience and large additional expense for our fans.
"UEFA have to take their needs into account when making a final decision on the game."
UEFA sympathise with Liverpool and have pledged to minimise problems for the 3,000 fans who have already booked a trip; but have defended the stadium ban saying there was "no alternative''
Gaillard said: "We are in touch with Liverpool because we are concerned about the fans. We know they face hardship and disruption and we sympathise with that, but we needed to punish Atletico Madrid. We have no alternative.
"What would people have said if Liverpool went there and the players and fans suffered the same treatment?"
Gaillard said they were already talking to the club about moving charter flights and UEFA would help in any way they could.
"We are looking at the logistics and seeing what help we can provide,'' he added.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Atletico hit by stadium ban
Saturday, October 11, 2008
England 5 - 1 Kazakhstan
England vs Kazakhstan
Rio Ferdinand (52') Zhambyl Kukeyev (68')
Aleksandr Kuchma (65') Own Goal
Wayne Rooney (77')
Wayne Rooney (86')
Jermain Defoe (90')
Better late than never.
England ultimately ended up with more than an adequate margin of victory against Kazakhstan to maintain a 100% record in World Cup qualifying Group Six.
But the scoreline should deceive no-one.
England were at times dreadfully poor and manager Fabio Capello will be alarmed how quickly the spark which so electrified their 4-1 win in Croatia last month disappeared.
Still, a win is a win, so the professionals say. And when the final table is compiled in 12 months' time, three points and five goals at home will not look so bad.
Yet it took Wayne Rooney's late double and Jermain Defoe's injury-time effort to eventually kill off spirited opponents ranked 131st in the world after Kazakhstan had rallied from a breakthrough header by stand-in skipper Rio Ferdinand and an Alexandr Kuchma own goal.
The win in Zagreb had launched a wave of euphoria over the Three Lions which should be enough for them to ride into South Africa in two years' time, if not as one of the favourites to lift the trophy, then a decent outsider.
As ever with England, too much can be taken for granted sometimes and the fact Capello's plea for supporters to cut out the boos, which have become such a feature at Wembley in recent times, lasted until the half-time whistle sounded told its own story of the opening 45 minutes.
Kazakhstan could not be compared to Andorra. They did try to play and attack when they could, and showed plenty of enthusiasm if not much finesse, as half-chances came their way thanks to some lacklustre England defending.
But, rather like a cup tie featuring a team from the higher reaches of the Premier League against one from League Two, the gulf in ability was obvious from the outset and a capacity crowd sat back and waited for the slaughter.
It did not happen. In fact, Kazakhstan goalkeeper Alexandr Mokin did not have a shot to save in the first half, two brave punches to Frank Lampard free-kicks the most exertion he required.
Disappointments were easy to find. The defence, with Matthew Upson replacing injured skipper John Terry, lacked cohesion. Upson was not commanding enough and Ashley Cole's concentration was strangely lacking.
In front of them, a midfield designed to get the best of Lampard and Steven Gerrard showed promise. Both men drove towards the visitors' box after receiving smart lay-offs from Emile Heskey and Wayne Rooney respectively.
But on each occasion Kazakhstan's massed defence snuffed them out and any other moments of promise were overshadowed by sloppy passing.
Under the circumstances, and with his hat-trick so fresh in the mind, it was hardly surprising Walcott raised spirits - and the noise level - every time he touched the ball.
Aside from two fairly woeful first touches, the youngster lived up to his billing in all senses, apart from the goals.
His extreme pace and fearless desire to run at opponents threatened openings which, as it turned out, did not materialise for either Heskey or Rooney.
Capello's response was to introduce more direct running, in the form of Shaun Wright-Phillips, at the break, leaving Gerrard and Lampard to prove they could play together in central midfield as Barry made way.
The early signs were not good as Gerrard failed to cover Cole's overlapping burst, inviting Sabyrkhan Ibrayev to charge into the space left free.
Sergey Ostapenko probably should have converted the cross, Tanat Nuserbayev definitely should have finished off the downward header. Thankfully, neither did.
It was the let-off England required and, profiting from Mokin's poor goalkeeping, they duly scored.
Wright-Phillips' low drive was ruled to have taken a deflection as it whistled wide. Mokin tried to come through a crowd of bodies to reach Lampard's corner and got nowhere near.
It meant Ferdinand, lurking at the far post, had an empty net to nod his third international goal into.
Having vowed to "cherish the moment", England's stand-in captain enjoyed the celebration.
With 21-year-old Nuserbayev continuing to catch the eye of Premier League scouts, the hosts needed a second, which came courtesy of Kuchma, who turned Lampard's free-kick into his own net as he jumped with Rooney.
It should have been over. It certainly would have been in Italy, where Capello carved out most of an impressive coaching career.
So, to see Cole aimlessly loft a pass into the path of Zhambyl Kukeyev, who promptly drilled into the corner, just four minutes later, must have been fairly dispiriting.
Cole was booed by the England fans thereafter, although at least Rooney sent them home in happier mood as he headed home Wes Brown's teasing cross 13 minutes from time.
There was still time for a brief cameo from David Beckham, who would be a perfect special team player, if such a thing existed.
And it was Beckham's cross Rooney steered home to earn man-of-the-match accolades before being replaced by Defoe, who also got his name on the scoresheet in the final minute.
England 5 - 1 Kazakhstan Video
Capello tells Walcott: "Don't try too hard"
LONDON, October 11 (National Team) - Fabio Capello will have a quiet word with Theo Walcott before Saturday's World Cup qualifier with Kazakhstan - to stop England's boy wonder trying too hard.
Walcott announced his arrival on the international stage in Zagreb last month with a phenomenal hat-trick in the unexpected hammering of Croatia.
Now, in front of a sell-out 90,000 crowd, the teenager will make his Wembley debut, with England fans expecting big things.
Capello is in no doubt he has a special talent to work with. However, the Italian also knows Walcott cannot be expected to produce such astonishing performances every time he pulls on a white shirt.
Which is why he will whisper a sobering message in Walcott's ear to ensure he helps England's pursuit of a 100% record from their opening three games.
You have to try and play normally and not try to do too much,'' he said.
"I am sure he will take that on board.
"He's a very good boy. He is young but he is still the same - nothing has changed since Croatia. That hasn't surprised me. Why would it?''
Walcott takes his place in an unchanged front line but elsewhere, Capello has selection issues to contend with.
Skipper John Terry is sidelined by a back problem, leaving Rio Ferdinand to take the captain's armband and Matthew Upson, Wes Brown and Joleon Lescott hoping for a start.
[ Capello tells Walcott: "Don't try too hard" on http://sportsoccerhighlights.blogspot.com ]
And, while it may new the start of a bright new dawn at Wembley - Capello's words - there is a familiar problem as Steven Gerrard returns to the same midfield as Frank Lampard.
At various stages under Capello's predecessors Sven-Goran Eriksson and Steve McClaren, either Lampard or Gerrard shone. But never both.
Currently it is Lampard's star in the ascendancy, Capello's decision to use Gerrard on the left in the August friendly against the Czech Republic drawing stinging criticism from Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp, who could see an immense talent being wasted.
Despite the euphoria of last month, which Gerrard missed after a minor groin operation, Capello must realise he does not have enough players of such extreme talent to disregard one.
Which is why he will continue to work at the conundrum until he unearths a solution.
"I hope I can make it work,'' he said.
"Fantastic players have to play together. I don't know why they haven't worked before. The past is not my problem. I just think about the future.
"This kind of thing has happened a lot in my career, although always with the forwards.
"But it's not a problem for me. I prefer to have players of this quality.''
It is only two months since England were booed out of Wembley after a wretched performance against the Czech Republic and four since Euro 2008 unfolded without English representation following the abysmal failure in qualification.
Yet, on the back of just one - albeit extraordinary - win, Capello's side are being talked of as live World Cup contenders, a tournament they will not even have reached the last four of in two decades by the time 32 finalists assemble in South Africa.
It is the kind of over-the-top reaction that makes coaching England seem like an impossible job to many. It is just as well that number does not include Capello.
"It is not an impossible job,'' he said.
"Being England manager is a fantastic experience.
"I agree, it is not easy. For me, it is different to being in charge of a club, when you work and train every day. Then you can change errors and rectify mistakes.
"For this reason alone you need a different mentality.
"But the pressure is the same in all countries. The only difference is somewhere like Milan you are talking about one city and one set of supporters.
"Here, the focus is different. It's one nation. It is the England team.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Charlton to be taken over by Dubai investors?
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The takeover will come as a pleasant surprise to Charlton fans and perhaps club manager Alan Pardew.
A statement from the Championship club has revealed they will receive significant investment as part of a takeover from the Middle East.
The statement on the Charlton website read: "The board of Charlton Athletic plc announced on Friday that it has received an indicative cash offer from Zabeel Investments, a Dubai-based diversified investment company.
The indicative offer is subject to a number of preconditions, including due diligence. However, it is at a level at which, should the offer be made formally to shareholders, the board would recommend shareholders to accept it."
"Despite being approached by various English football clubs, as well as a number of well-known clubs in Europe and South America, Zabeel Investments believes Charlton is the right club for them.
"The board will keep the shareholders, fans and employees updated with any further developments."
Last year Charlton were subject of interest from a group of businessmen from the Middle East and Europe, but takeover talks were later called off. The bid valued the club at around £50 million.
No figure has yet been quoted for the sale of the club to Zabeel Investments.
Derek Chappell, plc chairman, and Richard Murray, chairman of the football club, commented: "The board firmly believes that a successful outcome for this transaction would be beneficial to shareholders and employees of Charlton, all fans of the club and the local community as a whole."
Mohammed Al Hashimi, executive chairman of Zabeel Investments, added: "We feel now is the right time to make a strategic, long-term investment in Charlton and get Charlton back to the English Premier League where the club belongs.
"The passion of the fans at Charlton, the heritage of the club and the unique status it enjoys in the community make it an exciting proposition for us.
"For the purposes of the takeover code, this announcement has been made with the consent of Zabeel Investments."
The Newcastle Evening Chronicle reported in September that the North East club snubbed a £200 million takeover offer from Zabeel Investments, with owner Mike Ashley holding out for a higher bid.
Early reports suggested that Tony Jimenez, who quit his role as Newcastle vice president of player recruitment on Thursday, played a role in brokering the Charlton deal.
Charlton dropped out of the Premier League in 2007 and were forced to sell several players over the summer, with Chris Iwelumo, Marcus Bent, Madjid Bougherra and Amdy Faye all leaving the club. The Addicks currently lie 14th in the Championship with four wins from ten games.
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Thursday, October 9, 2008
Bentley: Spurs have become a laughing stock
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Tottenham midfielder David Bentley admits the Premier League's bottom club have become a laughing stock as they have claimed just two points from their first seven matches - their worst start to a season since 1912.
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The winger has been dropped by England.
Manager Juande Ramos, having been in the job for just under a year, is under increasing pressure while questions are being asked of sporting director Damien Comolli's activity in the transfer market, allowing experienced strikers Dimitar Berbatov, Robbie Keane and Jermain Defoe to all leave the club in the last 10 months without finding suitable replacements.
I know people are having a laugh at the fact we are bottom of the league at the moment but it's up to everyone at the club to stop the jokes,'' said Bentley.
''We're not happy with what has been happening. You cannot hide from the situation but what we need are a team of leaders who take responsibility. We have to grow as people.
''We have more than enough good players at Tottenham to get us out of this situation and I give my word that we will.''
Reports had suggested Bentley blamed Ramos for missing out on the current England squad for not playing him often enough and playing him out of position.
Although the winger, who moved to White Hart Lane from Blackburn in the summer for £15million, does not regret the switch to north London and is says he is backing Ramos to turn things around.
''I'm fully behind him, 100%,'' the 24-year-old told The Sun.
''I still love being at Spurs and I don't regret joining the club for one second.
''I know I haven't been at my best but I haven't become a bad player in a fortnight. The manager believes in me.
Newcastle announce departure of Jimenez
Newcastle have announced that Tony Jimenez has left the club, adding to the turmoil surrounding the Tyneside outfit.
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Jimenez (right) had been working under Dennis Wise.
The man appointed vice-president (player recruitment) by owner Mike Ashley when he installed his off-the-field team under executive director (football) Dennis Wise, has left St James' Park to ''pursue other interests''.
A club statement on the Newcastle website read: ''Newcastle United can today confirm that Tony Jimenez has left the club.
Tony, who was appointed vice-president (player recruitment) in January, has made the decision in order to pursue other interests.
''Newcastle United thanks Tony for all of his hard work and efforts and wishes him every success in the future.''
The Magpies have been a club in disarray ever since the departure of manager Kevin Keegan, who ironically cited his inability to work with Jimenez and director of football Dennis Wise as one of the reasons behind his decision to move on.
Wise, Jimenez and technical co-ordinator Jeff Vetere were put in place to oversee the club's recruitment policy, although their roles have proved controversial.
Keegan resigned last month after furious disagreements with managing director Derek Llambias over the club's transfer policy, which saw James Milner sold to Aston Villa and Fabricio Coloccini, Jonas Gutierrez, Danny Guthrie, Xisco and loan signing Ignacio Gonzalez drafted in.
Owner Mike Ashley has since put the club up for sale, and Jimenez flew out to Dubai with the other executives in the hope that his business contacts could help them push through a quick deal.
However, Ashley will now need to find a buyer without the help of Jimenez after the club confirmed his departure on Thursday.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Mourinho says he considered England job
Jose Mourinho says he was flattered by links with the vacant job as England coach but wanted continue his career in club football. He also turned down the Portugal job for similar reasons.
Jose Mourinho
NealSimpson/Empics
Jose Mourinho: One-time favourite for role with two national teams.
The Inter Milan boss was touted as a potential successor to Steve McClaren but revealed the lure of day-to-day involvement proved too great.
"In a certain moment I considered being England national manager," said Mourinho, who was out of work at the time of McClaren's departure in the face of exit from Euro 2008. Having left Chelsea in September last year, Mourinho was heavily backed at to take the job but chose to chase his ambitions of continental management, which he eventually realised with his summer appointment at San Siro.
First of all because I was in love with the football country and with England - I was also happy there - and secondly because if you have one country where the prestige of the national team manager is huge, it is England.
"But at the same time my passion for the day-by-day work, my passion to train every day, my desire to play every week and if possible more than one game a week, this is my life. That's the life I want to have."
Mourinho confirmed that he had been approached by his own country ahead of their appointment of Carlos Queiroz.
"I always had in my career project the Portuguese national team job as one of the last moments of my career but they tried to press me to do it early," Mourinho said in a video released by Ford.
"Sometimes you have to jump out of this road you built - but they understand that I cannot do it now.
"But I want to have the experience of coaching my country one day. I would like to make my family very proud, and I'm sure one day they will be very proud when I become Portuguese national manager.
"I [prefer] club [over country] because at this moment I'm a club manager and it's the kind of job I enjoy.
"The national team job is not the kind of job that motivates me - it's a completely different profile.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Chelsea warned off Lavezzi
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Napoli sporting director Pierpaolo Marino has warned Chelsea they would waste their time making an offer for their Argentinian striker Ezequiel Lavezzi.
Reports in England claim Chelsea are keen to lure the 23-year-old forward to Stamford Bridge as they look to bolster their attacking options.
Lavezzi has established himself as one of the top young strikers in Europe since arriving at the San Paolo from San Lorenzo last summer and Chelsea are thought to be willing to offer €13million to acquire his services.
When asked about Chelsea's reported interest on Lavezzi, Marino said: "I know nothing regarding that story.
"But I would not advise Chelsea to make any offer because we would turn it down immediately."
Lavezzi, who was a member of Argentina's gold medal team at the Beijing Olympics this summer, has scored one goal in three appearances for the Serie A outfit this campaign.
The South American sensation joined Napoli from San Lorenzo last summer and is under contract until the 2011-12 campaign.
Greedy Scolari wants more victories at home
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Chelsea boss Luiz Felipe Scolari has highlighted his side's form at Stamford Bridge as one of the keys to the Premier League title race, insisting they cannot afford to drop points.
Although they have not been beaten in their last 86 home league matches, seven draws on their own turf last season helped hand the title to Manchester United.
One of those draws came against Aston Villa. But Chelsea never looked like dropping points against them yesterday, Joe Cole and Nicolas Anelka grabbing the goals in a 2-0 win.
After sharing the points with Tottenham and United, it was Chelsea's first league win at home since the opening weekend of the season.
"We need to win more games at home,'' said Scolari. "We have played four games and won two of them; we need more, because we remember last season.
"I wasn't here but I know about this. There were many, many draws ... and the final result was being two points behind Manchester United.''
Cole opened the scoring when he lashed in at the near post but he then limped off with a foot injury and was left out of Fabio Capello's England squad.
John Terry and Ashley Cole, who both had back niggles, came through unscathed - while Deco and Alex could be available after the international break, and Didier Drogba and Ricardo Carvalho will be on the road to recovery.
Scolari was delighted with the prospect of being top of the table over the international break, his players returning - and also three days off to finally sight see in London with his family.
"I will spend three days with my family,'' he said. "I have only spent one day in London, so I will do something with my wife. I don't want to talk about football!
"I told that to the players - to win and give me three days of thinking about nothing.''
Scolari spoke of his admiration for Martin O'Neill before the match.
The Villa boss feels Scolari is putting his own stamp on the football at Stamford Bridge.
"He is a brilliant manager,'' said O'Neill. "He's proved it; he won the World Cup with a side whose expectations were incredibly high - and that is hard to do.
"He doesn't have to prove anything. He's enjoying himself. He's inherited a very good side and put his stamp on it - which is remarkable. They were brilliant, which is a credit to him and the players.''
Aside from the scoreline, O'Neill noticed significant differences from Chelsea's performances against Villa last season.
"Ashley Cole is back probably playing to his best again,'' he said. "He has licence to go forward, safe in the knowledge that when it is played square to midfield they will put him in.
"Bosingwa has given them a new dimension, which has helped. But the great stalwarts of the last few years are still brilliant.
Chelsea vs Aston Villa Highlights video
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Sunday, October 5, 2008
Live Score Sat, October 5
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- English Premier League -
Final Upton Park Expand +
West Ham 1 - 3 Bolton
30' 0 - 1 Goal Kevin Cyril Davies
34' 0 - 2 Goal Gary Cahill
68' Carlton Cole Goal 1 - 2
86' 1 - 3 Goal Matthew Taylor
Final Stamford Bridge Expand +
Chelsea 2 - 0 Aston Villa
21' Joe Cole Goal 1 - 0
43' Nicolas Anelka Goal 2 - 0
Chelsea vs Aston Villa Video
Final City of Manchester Stadium Expand +
Man City 2 - 3 Liverpool
19' Stephen Ireland Goal 1 - 0
41' Javier Garrido Goal 2 - 0
55' 2 - 1 Goal Fernando Torres
67' Pablo Zabaleta Red Card
73' 2 - 2 Goal Fernando Torres
90' 2 - 3 Goal Dirk Kuyt
Final Fratton Park Expand +
Portsmouth 2 - 1 Stoke
25' Peter Crouch Goal 1 - 0
48' 1 - 1 Goal Ricardo Fuller
51' Jermain Defoe Goal 2 - 1
Final White Hart Lane Expand +
Tottenham 0 - 1 Hull
9' 0 - 1 Goal Marcio Geovanni
Final Goodison Park Expand +
Everton 2 - 2 Newcastle
17' Mikel Arteta (pen) Goal 1 - 0
35' Marouane Fellaini Goal 2 - 0
45' 2 - 1 Goal Steven Taylor
46' 2 - 2 Goal Damien Duff
Luiz Felipe Scolari may have an injury crisis on his hands but Chelsea's title challenge continues apace, with Aston Villa the latest to be swept aside at Stamford Bridge.
First-half goals from Joe Cole and Nicolas Anelka kept Scolari's men at the top of the Barclays Premier League, and it could have been more but for the reflexes of Villa goalkeeper Brad Friedel.
• Scolari: My most satisfying win
The hosts, already without the services of Didier Drogba, Deco, Ricardo Carvalho and Michael Essien, were missing Alex from their starting line-up and then saw midfielder Cole limp off.
Anelka, struggling with muscle spasms before the match, was also taken off at the break meaning Franco di Santo was Scolari's frontline striker for 45 minutes.
It mattered little. Scolari had never met Martin O'Neill before and had spoken of his admiration for the teams the Villa boss has produced - but this crop simply had no chance as Chelsea gave them a first-half masterclass in passing and movement.
Villa had been billed as the team to put pressure on Chelsea's unbeaten home league record, with the pace of Gabriel Agbonlahor and Ashley Young enough to trouble most sides.
As it was, Branislav Ivanovic went untroubled on his league debut as most of the action was ahead of him.
John Terry, partnering the Serbian in central defence, said before the match that he wanted to play even if it was on one leg - and he probably could have done that in the first half, such was Chelsea's dominance.
Friedel's busy afternoon in goal for Villa started with two early saves.
The first effort was from Michael Ballack, who fizzed a drive from 25 yards, then Florent Malouda had a go from the left flank at a similar distance.
Frank Lampard had the first clear opening of the game, in the 18th minute, when Anelka found him with a cross, only for the England midfielder to head wide.
Lampard, however, set up the opener three minutes later after Curtis Davies' clearance fell to Malouda. Malouda slipped the ball inside to Lampard, who in turn helped it on to midfielder Cole.
Cole took one touch and lashed his finish past Friedel and inside the near post, his third of the season.
Anelka could have doubled the lead when he cracked a drive from 30 yards but his effort smashed against the crossbar - starting the onslaught on Friedel's goal.
The American goalkeeper parried a Lampard free-kick and also denied Malouda with another skidding drive.
He also made a double save in the 43rd minute, but could not prevent Anelka tapping in the rebound. Ashley Cole had crossed from the left, Ballack's drive and Anelka's follow up were saved - but the Frenchman made sure with his next effort.
It was Anelka's last contribution as he was taken off at the break for Di Santo, while Villa took off Davies and Luke Young, with James Milner and Carlos Cuellar coming on.
Stiliyan Petrov did have an effort saved by Petr Cech - but then there was more attacking from Chelsea.
Worryingly for England boss Fabio Capello, who was watching from the stands, was the sight of Terry dropping his shorts for treatment on his back.
Then midfielder Cole picked up his apparent foot injury and hobbled down the tunnel, with Salomon Kalou taking his place.
Wastefulness from Ballack at close range, then a brave block from Friedel to deny Kalou, kept the score down. Kalou also had an overhead strike disallowed for offside - and another goal would not have flattered the hosts.
# Scolari: My most satisfying win
Luiz Felipe Scolari declared victory against Aston Villa as his most satisfying result as Chelsea boss as his side head into the international break top of the Barclays Premier League.
"I am satisfied because we played very well,'' Scolari said. "For me it is the most important game this season because if we won we were in first position in the league and now we have 10 days to recuperate our players through the international break.
"After, when we start the league, all our players will be in good condition.''
John Terry dropped his shorts to receive treatment on his back, while Joe Cole limped off with a foot injury - but Scolari feels they will be ready to play for England against Kazakhstan and Belarus.
Of midfielder Cole's problem, Scolari said: "He got a little touch, it's nothing, a little problem on the foot. In two or three days with the national team he will be in the condition to play.
"John Terry is the same. He is a fantastic man, if he feels something he still wants to play.''
Ashley Cole came through 90 minutes following a slight knock during the week, although Anelka came off at the break and may miss the first part of France's schedule.
England boss Fabio Capello watched his players from the stands, with Frank Lampard putting in a box-to-box display in Chelsea's midfield.
"He played very, very well - I said it two times not once,'' said Scolari.
Villa boss Martin O'Neill agreed, adding: "He was absolutely outstanding. I think he is an outstanding player.''
Villa barely tested Petr Cech in Chelsea's goal but got the glimpse of a goal when Gabriel Agbonlahor almost took advantage of a Terry backpass.
O'Neill had no complaints with the result, adding: "Chelsea were brilliant. We would have had to have our best players at the top of their game to compete, never mind anything else. It is a harsh lesson.
"It's what you want to aspire to. We didn't help ourselves but it doesn't matter. We will have learned a lot from this.''
But for the reflexes of Brad Friedel, Chelsea could have added to their two goals in the second half.
"I was pleased he was in goal for us,'' O'Neill. "He was fantastic and we needed him or we would have been in a spot more bother.
- Italian Serie A -
Final Stadio Azzurri D`Italia Expand +
Atalanta 4 - 2 Sampdoria
7' 0 - 1 Goal Antonio Cassano
35' Sergio Floccari Goal 1 - 1
39' György Garics Goal 2 - 1
54' 2 - 2 Goal Antonio Cassano (pen)
71' Red Card Pietro Accardi
77' Sergio Floccari Goal 3 - 2
80' Red Card Daniele Dessena
83' Cristiano Doni Goal 4 - 2
Final Stadio Marc`Antonio Bentegodi Expand +
Chievo Verona 0 - 2 Fiorentina
32' 0 - 1 Goal Zdravko Kuzmanovic
38' Francesco Scardina Red Card
74' 0 - 2 Goal Alberto Gilardino
Final Comunale Luigi Ferraris Expand +
Genoa 3 - 2 Napoli
1' 0 - 1 Goal Ezequiel Lavezzi
44' Sokratis Papastrathopoulos Goal 1 - 1
52' Raffaele Palladino Goal 2 - 1
55' Marco Rossi Red Card
73' Alberto Diego Milito Goal 3 - 1
75' 3 - 2 Goal Germán Denis
90' Sokratis Papastrathopoulos Red Card
Final Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino Expand +
Juventus 1 - 2 Palermo
24' 0 - 1 Goal Fabrizio Miccoli
38' Alessandro Del Piero Goal 1 - 1
41' Mohamed Sissoko Red Card
81' 1 - 2 Goal Levan Mchedlidze
Final Stadio Oreste Granillo Expand +
Reggina 1 - 1 Catania Calcio
69' 0 - 1 Goal Michele Paolucci
72' Red Card Michele Paolucci
80' Andrea Costa Goal 1 - 1
Final Artemio Franchi Montepaschi Arena Expand +
Siena 1 - 0 Roma
45' Mario Frick Goal 1 - 0
66' Red Card Philippe Mexes
74' Red Card Christian Panucci
Final Stadio Friuli Expand +
Udinese 2 - 0 Torino
44' Fabio Quagliarella Goal 1 - 0
77' Fabio Quagliarella Goal 2 - 0
Final Stadio San Elia Expand +
Cagliari 0 - 0 AC Milan
Click Here to Read More..
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Live Score Sat, October 4
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- English Premier League -
Final Stadium of Light Expand +
Sunderland 1 - 1 Arsenal
86' Grant Leadbitter Goal 1 - 0
90' 1 - 1 Goal Cesc Fábregas
Final The Hawthorns Expand +
West Brom 1 - 0 Fulham
61' Roman Bednar Goal 1 - 0
Final JJB Stadium Expand +
Wigan 0 - 1 Middlesbrough
89' 0 - 1 Goal Jeremie Aliadiere
Final Ewood Park Expand +
Blackburn 0 - 2 Man Utd
30' 0 - 1 Goal Wes Brown
64' 0 - 2 Goal Wayne Rooney
- English League Championship -
Final Bloomfield Road Expand +
Blackpool 1 - 1 Cardiff
83' 0 - 1 Goal Paul Parry
90' Alan Gow Goal 1 - 1
Final St Andrews Stadium Expand +
Birmingham 1 - 0 QPR
45' Kevin Phillips Goal 1 - 0
Final Oakwell Stadium Expand +
Barnsley 4 - 1 Doncaster
11' 0 - 1 Goal Brian Stock (pen)
49' Darren Moore Red Card
54' Stephen Foster Goal 1 - 1
60' Jamal Campbell-Ryce Goal 2 - 1
73' Jonathan Macken Goal 3 - 1
87' Iain Hume Goal 4 - 1
Final The Valley Expand +
Charlton 2 - 1 Ipswich
6' Nick Bailey Goal 1 - 0
34' 1 - 1 Goal Martin Cranie (og)
60' Moritz Volz (og) Goal 2 - 1
Final Carrow Road Expand +
Norwich 1 - 2 Derby
26' 0 - 1 Goal Rob Hulse
50' Red Card Roy Carroll
51' Sammy Clingan Goal 1 - 1
85' 1 - 2 Goal Nathan Ellington
Final City Ground Expand +
Nottm Forest 0 - 2 Crystal Palace
4' 0 - 1 Goal Paul Ifill
81' 0 - 2 Goal Shefki Kuqi
Final Home Park Expand +
Plymouth 4 - 0 Sheff Wed
15' Mark Beevers (og) Goal 1 - 0
25' Paul Gallagher Goal 2 - 0
30' Jamie Mackie Goal 3 - 0
90' Marcel Seip Goal 4 - 0
Final Madejski Stadium Expand +
Reading 3 - 1 Burnley
4' Noel Hunt Goal 1 - 0
52' Stephen Hunt Goal 2 - 0
64' Shane Long Goal 3 - 0
89' 3 - 1 Goal Chris McCann
90' Red Card Stephen Jordan
Final Bramall Lane Expand +
Sheff Utd 3 - 0 Bristol City
45' James Beattie Goal 1 - 0
56' Liam Fontaine (og) Goal 2 - 0
69' James Beattie Goal 3 - 0
Final Liberty Stadium Expand +
Swansea 3 - 1 Wolverhampton
1' Garcia-Penche Jordi Gomez Goal 1 - 0
16' 1 - 1 Goal Andrew Keogh
41' Jason Scotland Goal 2 - 1
57' Jason Scotland Goal 3 - 1
Final Vicarage Road Stadium Expand +
Watford 2 - 1 Preston
5' 0 - 1 Goal Sean St. Ledger
12' Jon Harley Goal 1 - 1
21' Tommy Smith Goal 2 - 1
Final Ricoh Arena Expand +
Coventry 4 - 1 Southampton
19' Jay Tabb Goal 1 - 0
33' Leon McKenzie Goal 2 - 0
47' Leon Best Goal 3 - 0
63' 3 - 1 Goal Andrew Surman
87' Jay Tabb Goal 4 - 1
- English League One -
Final London Road Ground Expand +
Peterborough 2 - 0 Leeds
47' George Boyd Goal 1 - 0
90' Craig Mackail-Smith Goal 2 - 0
Final Withdean Stadium Expand +
Brighton 3 - 3 Cheltenham
1' Glenn Murray Goal 1 - 0
2' 1 - 1 Goal Scott Murray
7' Glenn Murray Goal 2 - 1
45' 2 - 2 Goal Scott Murray
47' Glenn Murray Goal 3 - 2
85' Red Card Josh Payne
90' 3 - 3 Goal Andy Gallinagh
Final Brunton Park Expand +
Carlisle 1 - 2 Tranmere
1' 0 - 1 Goal Ian Moore
80' 0 - 2 Goal Ryan Shotton
90' Danny Graham Goal 1 - 2
Final The Weston Homes Community Stadium Expand +
Colchester 0 - 1 Bristol Rovers
53' 0 - 1 Goal Richard Lambert
Final The Alexandra Stadium Expand +
Crewe 1 - 3 Northampton
45' 0 - 1 Goal Danny Jackman
55' Tom Pope Goal 1 - 1
64' 1 - 2 Goal Adebayo Akinfenwa (pen)
70' 1 - 3 Goal Abdul Osman
Final Edgar Street Expand +
Hereford 0 - 0 Walsall
Final The Galpharm Stadium Expand +
Huddersfield 2 - 3 Leicester
50' 0 - 1 Goal Matt Fryatt
65' 0 - 2 Goal Matt Fryatt (pen)
69' Gary Roberts Goal 1 - 2
77' Liam Dickinson Goal 2 - 2
90' 2 - 3 Goal Lloyd Dyer
Final Matchroom Stadium Expand +
Leyton Orient 2 - 2 Scunthorpe
26' 0 - 1 Goal Izzy Iriekpen
45' 0 - 2 Goal Paul Hayes
57' Red Card Joe Murphy
59' Adam Boyd Goal 1 - 2
67' Stephen Purches Goal 2 - 2
Final The New Den Expand +
Millwall 0 - 4 Milton Keynes Dons
9' 0 - 1 Goal Sean O'Hanlon
45' 0 - 2 Goal Sam Baldock
62' 0 - 3 Goal Paul Robinson (og)
90' 0 - 4 Goal Sam Baldock
Final Huish Park Expand +
Yeovil 1 - 2 Southend
24' 0 - 1 Goal Lee Barnard (pen)
86' 0 - 2 Goal Hal Robson-Kanu
88' Danny Schofield Goal 1 - 2
90' Danny Schofield Red Card
90' Gary Roberts Red Card
- Spanish Primera División -
Final Estadio El Madrigal Expand +
Villarreal 2 - 1 Real Betis
20' 0 - 1 Goal Damia
69' Gonzalo Goal 1 - 1
70' Joseba Llorente Goal 2 - 1
Final Estadio Camp Nou Expand +
Barcelona 6 - 1 Atlético Madrid
3' Rafael Márquez Goal 1 - 0
6' Samuel Eto'o (pen) Goal 2 - 0
8' Lionel Messi Goal 3 - 0
13' 3 - 1 Goal Maxi Rodríguez
18' Samuel Eto'o Goal 4 - 1
28' Eidur Gudjohnsen Goal 5 - 1
73' Thierry Henry Goal 6 - 1
- Italian Serie A -
Final Stadio Olimpico Expand +
Lazio 1 - 1 Lecce
26' 0 - 1 Goal Simone Tiribocchi
89' Simone Inzaghi Goal 1 - 1
Final Stadio Giuseppe Meazza Expand +
Inter Milan 2 - 1 Bologna
25' Zlatan Ibrahimovic Goal 1 - 0
50' Adriano (pen) Goal 2 - 0
56' 2 - 1 Goal Vaggelis Moras
Click Here to Read More..
Friday, October 3, 2008
- English Premier League - Sat, October 4
- English Premier League -
15:00 UK Stadium of Light Expand +
Sunderland v Arsenal
15:00 UK Hawthorns Expand +
West Brom v Fulham
15:00 UK JJB Stadium Expand +
Wigan v Middlesbrough
17:30 UK Ewood Park Expand +
Blackburn v Man Utd
- English League Championship -
12:30 UK Bloomfield Road Expand +
Blackpool v Cardiff
12:45 UK St Andrews Stadium Expand +
Birmingham v QPR
15:00 UK Oakwell Stadium Expand +
Barnsley v Doncaster
15:00 UK The Valley Expand +
Charlton v Ipswich
15:00 UK Carrow Road Expand +
Norwich v Derby
15:00 UK City Ground Expand +
Nottm Forest v Crystal Palace
15:00 UK Home Park Expand +
Plymouth v Sheff Wed
15:00 UK Madejski Stadium Expand +
Reading v Burnley
15:00 UK Bramall Lane Expand +
Sheff Utd v Bristol City
15:00 UK Liberty Stadium Expand +
Swansea v Wolverhampton
15:00 UK Vicarage Road Stadium Expand +
Watford v Preston
17:20 UK Ricoh Arena Expand +
Coventry v Southampton
- English League One -
12:00 UK London Road Ground Expand +
Peterborough v Leeds
15:00 UK Withdean Stadium Expand +
Brighton v Cheltenham
15:00 UK Brunton Park Expand +
Carlisle v Tranmere
15:00 UK The Weston Homes Community Stadium Expand +
Colchester v Bristol Rovers
15:00 UK The Alexandra Stadium Expand +
Crewe v Northampton
15:00 UK Edgar Street Expand +
Hereford v Walsall
15:00 UK The Galpharm Stadium Expand +
Huddersfield v Leicester
15:00 UK Matchroom Stadium Expand +
Leyton Orient v Scunthorpe
15:00 UK The New Den Expand +
Millwall v Milton Keynes Dons
15:00 UK Huish Park Expand +
Yeovil v Southend
- Italian Serie A -
17:00 UK Stadio Olimpico Expand +
Lazio v Lecce
19:30 UK Stadio Giuseppe Meazza Expand +
Inter Milan v Bologna
- English Conference -
15:00 UK Moss Lane Expand +
Altrincham v Ebbsfleet United
15:00 UK Pirelli Stadium Expand +
Burton Albion v Crawley Town
15:00 UK The New Lawn Expand +
Forest Green v Wrexham
15:00 UK New Recreation Ground Expand +
Grays Athletic v Lewes
15:00 UK The Glassworld Stadium Expand +
Histon v Salisbury
15:00 UK A-Line Arena Expand +
Kettering v Northwich
15:00 UK Aggborough Stadium Expand +
Kidderminster v Barrow
15:00 UK Field Mill Ground Expand +
Mansfield v Woking
15:00 UK The Kassam Stadium Expand +
Oxford Utd v Rushden & D'monds
15:00 UK Plainmoor Ground Expand +
Torquay v Stevenage
15:00 UK Wessex Stadium Expand +
Weymouth v Eastbourne Borough
15:00 UK KitKat Crescent Expand +
York v Cambridge Utd
Ince relishing Fergie reunion
Blackburn Rovers boss Paul Ince can't wait to battle with the man he rates as the best manager in the history of the game when he faces Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United on Saturday.
Ince played under Ferguson at Old Trafford, before being sold to Inter, and is the latest of his alumni to join the ranks of Premier League management, joining Mark Hughes, Steve Bruce and Roy Keane as well as the likes of Steve McClaren and Brian Robson, who went on to coach in the top flight after working for the Scot.
Although Ince is delighted with his links to Ferguson the ex-England midfielder wants to forge his own identity as a manager and a good result in Saturday's evening kick-off against last season's double winners - a fixture that highlights Ince's remarkable rise from League Two side Macclesfield to the Premier League via MK Dons - could help do just that.
"I've only been in management 18 months to two years and it takes time to find your own identity as a manager," Ince said. "One thing Ferguson did teach me was to have high standards on and off the pitch which I try to implement in every job I do.
"It's never a good time to play the European champions and the Premier League champions. I'm under no illusions. It'll be a really, really hard game for us. We know that.
"But why not [win]? Look at Arsenal's result against Hull last week, it's got to be the yardstick for clubs like Blackburn."
"This is the exciting thing about coming to the Premier League. It's a chance to pit yourself against the best manager of all time, as far as I'm concerned.
"Fergie has such high standards. I played under a lot of managers but they don't come close. That is no disrespect to them because I don't think anybody does."
Former England captain Ince long hoped to have a future on the touchline and he predicted that Ferguson's days of meeting former players may continue for some time to come.
He expects the likes of Ryan Giggs and Rio Ferdinand to join the next generation of top British managers.
Ince said: "I spoke to Giggsy the other day. He's taking his coaching badges and he wants to get involved too.
"Once you get past 30 you do start to think, 'What am I going to do in three, four, five years?'
"It's the same with Robbie Fowler, he's doing his badges here with me because he's thinking that way and I'm sure the likes of Rio will think the same."
Ferguson's side could be without Paul Scholes, Wayne Rooney and Michael Carrick on Saturday but Ince insists the sheer depth of the Red Devils' squad means there is no such thing as a weak Manchester United.
"The injuries don't matter, they have a fantastic squad, not just 11 players. Anderson or Darren Fletcher could come in, Giggsy could start, so we're still talking about world-class players. Then there's (Dimitar) Berbatov and (Carlos) Tevez up front. No matter who they field it will be a huge, huge battle."
United boss Ferguson is also looking forward to the battle with his old midfielder and said: "I have been impressed with Paul. He was a player who was always determined and a stubborn lad.
"He was a fighter on the pitch and I think he's taken those qualities into management. They are good qualities to have, that determination to do well and I'm not surprised he's doing well.
Kinnear's four-letter tirade in press conference
Newcastle United's interim manager Joe Kinnear has launched an astonishing expletive-laden attack on his critics over the press coverage of his arrival on Tyneside.
GettyImages
Joe Kinnear: Turned the air blue at St James Park
Kinnear, the surprise choice to fill the void left by Kevin Keegan's departure, swore more than 50 times during his first official press conference as manager of the Magpies and bombarded a number of journalists with a verbal tirade.
• To read an edited transcript of Kinnear's x-rated rant click here. WARNING: Contains expletives.
The 61-year-old, who was last involved in football management at Nottingham Forest four years ago, claimed the media had already attempted to undermine his influence at Newcastle and that his first press conference would also be the last for many of the journalists there.
The former Wimbledon and Luton Town boss came out fighting with an onslaught against those who he believed have ridiculed him, insisting they would not be welcome at further meetings and that in future he would only talk to two local papers that he would hand pick.
Although his press conference was littered with four-letter words Kinnear insisted that the pressure of the job had not got to him and that he was simply defending himself.
Edited, Kinnear said: "I will stand up and fight for myself in any corner. You're not going to frighten me in any manner.
"Whatever you do, or whatever headlines you run, you're not going to embarrass me.
"I'm not going to stand for it. I've come up here for a simple chance to prove myself. Get off my back and let me get on with my job. That's all I ask.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Man City 2 - 1 Omonia Nicosia
Marlon Harewood struck his first goal of the season as Aston Villa booked their place in the group stages of the UEFA Cup despite being held at home in the second leg by their Bulgarian opponents.
The former West Ham striker broke the deadlock after 27 minutes only for the visitors to level matters shortly after the break through a controversial penalty from Wilfred Niflore.
• O'Neill excited by Euro adventure
But Villa were always in command and are now guaranteed at least four more matches in the competition.
Villa boss Martin O'Neill had enough confidence in his squad to make six changes from what has become his established Barclays Premier league line-up, with Martin Laursen, Curtis Davies, Nigel Reo-Coker, Gareth Barry, John Carew and Gabriel Agbonlahor all rested.
Armed with a 3-1 lead from the first leg, it was an ideal scenario for the Villa chief ahead of Sunday's league meeting with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
But the former Celtic manager was still able to bring in the likes of James Milner and Carlos Cuellar who had been signed for a combined £20million during the summer, while Stiliyan Petrov was selected as captain for the first time.
Given the scoreline from the first leg, the game struggled to attain any great intensity, with Villa always having the insurance from events in Bulgaria a fortnight ago to fall back on.
Ashley Young was given a free role just behind Harewood in a 4-4-1-1 formation as Villa made a positive start in the driving rain.
The lively Harewood had the first effort on target - a low shot on the turn which was comfortably collected by Litex goalkeeper Todor Todorov.
Then Harewood cut in from the left and saw a curling attempt deflected just wide by fellow forward Young after he had stuck out a leg.
Harewood was seeing plenty of the ball in the early stages and he found himself in space behind the Litex defence from Young's pass but he took too long to steady himself and Alexandre Barthe was able to make the challenge.
Villa continued to look the more threatening and Moustapha Salifou flashed a 20-yard half-volley just wide after Cuellar had headed a corner from Nicky Shorey back into his path.
Litex captain Ivelin Popov became the first player to be yellow-carded after 21 minutes for a late challenge on Cuellar.
Young drilled a long-range effort over the bar before Harewood's first goal of the campaign arrived.
Brad Friedel's long clearance was flicked on by Young into the path of Harewood who needed no second invitation to show his pace and clinical finishing.
He shook off the challenge of Plamen Nikolov before hammering a fierce shot across Todorov and into the corner of the net to stretch Villa's aggregate lead to 4-1.
Harewood came close to adding another goal shortly afterwards when he cut in from the left and fizzed a low attempt inches wide of Todorov's goal.
Young was causing plenty of problems and the Litex defence backed off after he dribbled into the box but then spoilt his good work by sliding his eventual shot across the face of goal.
Litex coach Stanimir Stoilov made a half-time substitution, bringing on Momchil Tzvetanov for Plamen Nikolov.
And after 53 minutes the Bulgarians were back on level terms thanks to a controversial penalty.
Brazil-born midfielder Tom made a powerful run into the Villa box before going down after being challenged by Cuellar, but replays showed the former Rangers player had got a toe-end to the ball.
Up stepped Niflore to send Friedel the wrong way from the spot and level the match on the night.
Milner was having a quiet game by his standards although Todorov needed two attempts to block a shot from the England Under-21 international.
Wayne Routledge showed good skill to create a chance for himself following a Milner centre and his eventual shot was parried for a corner by Todorov.
Young almost clinched match victory for Villa when his shot thumped against the post following a Harewood flick-on but by then the hosts were home and dry.
# O'Neill excited by Euro adventure
Manager Martin O'Neill hailed Aston Villa's achievement in reaching the group stages of the UEFA Cup after his side disposed of Litex Lovech despite being held to a 1-1 draw in the second leg at Villa Park.
O'Neill said: "When we started out in the Intertoto Cup in July, we would have settled for being in this position and I am really pleased that we are through to the group stages.
"Villa Park has had some great European nights in the past and now we have got some more European evenings to look forward to, at least until Christmas.
"When I was at Nottingham Forest, you think European football will be there every season but then it goes away for four or five years.It is a while since Villa played in Europe but we have earned this chance and the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.
"This will be a great chance for the young players at the club to experience playing on this kind of stage. Harewood took his goal brilliantly. When he received the ball he still had miles to go to put it into the net and it was a great finish from him.
"I was amazed again at the crowd that turned up for this tie because we were in a good position going into the game.''
Litex coach Stanimir Stoilov believes his side paid the penalty for mistakes made in the first leg in Bulgaria. He said: "We paid dearly for making too many errors a fortnight ago and Villa took full advantage.
"We did not make the same sort of errors tonight and it was a good result for a very young team. We will now go away, analyse our performances and hopefully come back stronger.
Man City 2 - 1 Omonia Nicosia Preview : Video
- UEFA Cup (First Round) - Thu, October 2 ( Result )
Everton have been dumped out of the UEFA Cup before the competition reaches the group stages. Standard Liege beat them 2-1 on the night, and 4-3 on aggregate, as the Toffees suffered another ignominious Euro exit. Phil Jagielka's goal wasn't enough as Axel Witsel and a Milan Jovanovic penalty made the game safe. Earlier, Spurs scraped through after an unconvincing 1-1 draw with Wisla Krakow in Poland.
Final 2ND LEGWisla Stadium Expand +
Wisla Krakow 1 - 1 Tottenham
Final 2ND LEGGiulesti Stadium Expand +
Rapid Bucuresti 1 - 1 VfL Wolfsburg
Final 2ND LEGS.Darius & S.Girenas SC Expand +
FBK Kaunas 1 - 2 Sampdoria
Final 2ND LEGLuzhniki Stadium Expand +
Spartak Moscow 1 - 1 Banik Ostrava
Final 2ND LEGUnirea Valahorum Stadium Expand +
Unirea Urziceni 0 - 2 Hamburg SV
Final 2ND LEGStadion Miejski Expand +
Lech Poznan 4 - 2 Austria Vienna
Final 2ND LEGVeltins Arena Expand +
Schalke 04 1 - 1 Apoel Nicosia
Final 2ND LEGGottlieb-Daimler Stadion Expand +
VfB Stuttgart 2 - 2 Cherno More
Final 2ND LEGTapiolan Urheilupuisto Expand +
FC Honka 0 - 1 Racing Santander
Final 2ND LEGFredriksskans IP Expand +
Kalmar FF 1 - 2 Feyenoord Rotterdam
Final 2ND LEGGeorgi Asparuchov Stadium Expand +
Levski Sofia 0 - 1 MSK Zilina
Final 2ND LEGLerkendal Expand +
Rosenborg 3 - 2 Brøndby
Final 2ND LEGMetalist Stadium Expand +
FC Metalist Kharkiv 4 - 1 Besiktas
Final 2ND LEGAli Sami Yen Stadium Expand +
Galatasaray 2 - 1 Bellinzona
Final 2ND LEGFK Partizan Stadium Expand +
Partizan Belgrade 1 - 0 Politehnica Timisoara
Final 2ND LEGGeoffroy-Guichard Expand +
St Etienne 2 - 1 Hapoel Tel-Aviv
Final 2ND LEGDinamo Stadium Expand +
Dinamo Bucuresti 0 - 0 NEC Nijmegen
Final 2ND LEGMunicipal Expand +
FC Vaslui 1 - 1 Slavia Prague
Final 2ND LEGMaurice Dufrasne Stadium Expand +
Standard Liege 2 - 1 Everton
Final 2ND LEGAbe Lenstra Stadion Expand +
Heerenveen 5 - 2 Vitoria Setubal
Final 2ND LEGArke Stadion Expand +
Twente Enschede 1 - 0 Rennes
Final 2ND LEGPetrzalka Stadion Expand +
Artmedia Petrzalka 0 - 2 Braga
Final 2ND LEGLetzigrund Stadium Expand +
FC Zürich 0 - 1 AC Milan
Final 2ND LEGAXA Arena Expand +
Sparta Prague 3 - 3 Dinamo Zagreb
Final 2ND LEGAmsterdam ArenA Expand +
Ajax Amsterdam 2 - 0 Borac Cacak
Final 2ND LEGBullen-Arena Expand +
SV Salzburg 0 - 2 Sevilla FC
Final 2ND LEGJan Breydel Stadium Expand +
Club Brugge 2 - 0 Young Boys
Final 2ND LEGParken Expand +
FC Copenhagen 1 - 1 FC Moscow
Final 2ND LEGCity of Manchester Stadium Expand +
Man City 2 - 1 Omonia Nicosia
Final 2ND LEGFir Park Stadium Expand +
Motherwell 0 - 2 AS Nancy Lorraine
Final 2ND LEGKaraiskakis Stadium Expand +
Olympiacos 5 - 0 FC Nordsjælland
Final 2ND LEGStadio Friuli Expand +
Udinese 0 - 2 Borussia Dortmund
Final 2ND LEGVilla Park Expand +
Aston Villa 1 - 1 Liteks Lovetch
Final 2ND LEGRiazor Expand +
Deportivo La Coruña 2 - 0 SK Brann
Final 2ND LEGParc des Princes Expand +
PSG 0 - 0 Kayserispor
Final 2ND LEGEstadio da Luz Expand +
Benfica 2 - 0 Napoli
Final 2ND LEGMestalla Expand +
Valencia 2 - 1 Maritimo
Final 2ND LEGEstadio D. Afonso Henriques Expand +
Guimaraes 2 - 2 Portsmouth
Liverpool 3 - 1 PSV Eindhoven
Liverpool VS PSV Eindhoven
Dirk Kuyt (4') Danny Koevermans (78')
Robbie Keane (34')
Steven Gerrard (76')
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has warned of the danger of getting carried away with his team's impressive start to the season ahead of his 250th game in charge against PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League.
The Reds are unbeaten in the Barclays Premier League and are only behind leaders Chelsea on goal difference having followed up a notable victory over Manchester United at Anfield with a 2-0 win over Everton in the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park on Saturday.
After initially scraping past a resilient and impressive Standard Liege side in a difficult qualification tie, Liverpool began their Group D campaign with victory in Marseille.
Now they face PSV at Anfield knowing that another three points will put them well on the way to qualification for the knock-out stages.
It is a major change from their position at this point last season when Liverpool were seemingly doing all they could to be knocked out of the tournament with some dreadful, sloppy performances.
But with just two defeats in their last 29 games in all competitions - and one in their last 12 - the Reds are beginning to show signs that they could be serious contenders on several fronts and Benitez admitted that is a situation which slightly concerns him.
"When you are playing well and winning games, with everyone talking about how good you are, it is important to calm down and get people talking only about the next game,'' he said.
"It is a dangerous when you hear people talking well about your team, then we have to make sure we do not listen to what is being said but just concentrate on the future.
"But it is better to manage expectations, like we are, than be bottom of the table and trying to motivate players.''
Benitez will have key midfielder Javier Mascherano back from a calf injury to face the Eredivisie champions and has no other worries as he attempts to score another European victory, which would be the first time they have ever won their opening two group fixtures.
The problem now for the Spaniard is the rampant expectation that leads many to assume they will beat sides like PSV at home.
It does not help the Anfield coach's call for calm and concentration when Liverpool have such a good record against Eindhoven.
In 2006/07, on the way to the Athens final against AC Milan, Liverpool met the Dutch club four times in the competition.
The sides played out a goalless draw in Holland in the group stages with Liverpool winning the return 2-0, and they met again in the quarter-final with the Reds winning 3-0 away and by a one-goal margin at Anfield.
"PSV are a different side with a different manager and many players since the last time we played them in Europe,'' Benitez explained.
"Yes, we have beaten them at Anfield twice, but that is when things can be dangerous. People expect things to happen.
"The fact that PSV lost their opening group match to Atletico Madrid is also a problem for us.
"They have to get something here now and they will sit and defend and try to catch us on the counter-attack.
"Technically they are very good and they are equally impressive using such tactics. We must be very careful.
"Now when we are in a good situation, people are really happy, and everybody is expecting to see the team playing well and scoring goals. But I think it's more important to be concentrated to be focused and keep on winning.''
Benitez continued: "We had plenty of critics earlier in the season who said we were winning but not playing well. That is true, and we have plenty of room for improvement still.
"We are still suffering from players who have come back to us after a hard summer playing in the Euro 2008 finals.
"If we can continue to improve physically, I would be happier. Tactically the team is well organised and the players understand what they are doing.
"We just have to keep going this way and make sure that we do not experience what happened last season when we started out group matches badly.
"If we can win this one and then next in Madrid, we will be almost there. But you are always almost there until you finally achieve it, nobody can relax.
Preview Liverpool VS PSV Eindhoven Videos
Zenit deny UEFA Cup semi-final fixing claim
Zenit St Petersburg manager Dick Advocaat has joined his club in expressing his dismay at allegations that the Russian club won the UEFA Cup by virtue of match-fixing.
GettyImages
Zenit celebrated UEFA Cup final success with a final win over Rangers in Manchester.
Spanish newspaper El Pais claimed a judge had forwarded information to German prosecutors which claimed a gang with links to the Russian mafia had given money to Bayern Munich before their semi-final earlier this year.
Zenit beat the Bundesliga outfit 4-0 in the second leg of their semi-final, before getting past Rangers in the final to lift the UEFA Cup.
With Bayern also denying the allegations, the Russian club have threatened legal action. In a statement on their official website, they said last: "In a selection of the media, news has popped up which refers to different Spanish sources, and directly affects FC Zenit's reputation.
"The quality of play shown by FC Zenit in the games against Rangers FC and Bayern Munich is the best proof that the victories were earned by Zenit in honest and non-compromising challenges."
"Allegations of deals mentioned in the media are offensive to all parties mentioned.
Advocaat was appalled by the allegations. "This is incredible," he told the Daily Record. "All I can say is let them play the tapes so we can hear what has been said. Then everyone will know what a big lie it is.
"Everyone knows the simple truth - we had a better team than Rangers. That's why we won the UEFA Cup.
"Rangers played very well, but we were the better side. There was no mystery. I don't know why anybody would say something like this.
"There is a lot of jealousy about what we have achieved with Zenit in such a short space of time. People don't like the fact that we have been so successful so quickly.
"But that has nothing to do with bribes or dirty money. It has everything to do with the quality of the players and coaching staff. That's why we have achieved so much."
Advocaat also dismissed suggestions either Rangers or Bayern could be bought to throw a match and also insisted Zenit's mega-rich owners Gazprom would never indulge in such tactics.
He said: "Do you honestly think clubs like Bayern Munich or Rangers would get involved in taking money to lose football matches? That is just ridiculous.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
- UEFA Cup (First Round) - Thu, October 2
14:40 UK 2ND LEG Wisla Stadium Expand +
Wisla Krakow v Tottenham
15:00 UK 2ND LEG Giulesti Stadium Expand +
Rapid Bucuresti v VfL Wolfsburg
17:00 UK 2ND LEG Luzhniki Stadium Expand +
Spartak Moscow v Banik Ostrava
17:15 UK 2ND LEG Stadion Miejski Expand +
Lech Poznan v Austria Vienna
17:15 UK 2ND LEG Veltins Arena Expand +
Schalke 04 v Apoel Nicosia
17:15 UK 2ND LEG Gottlieb-Daimler Stadion Expand +
VfB Stuttgart v Cherno More
17:30 UK 2ND LEG Tapiolan Urheilupuisto Expand +
FC Honka v Racing Santander
17:30 UK 2ND LEG Fredriksskans IP Expand +
Kalmar FF v Feyenoord Rotterdam
17:30 UK 2ND LEG Georgi Asparuchov Stadium Expand +
Levski Sofia v MSK Zilina
17:45 UK 2ND LEG Lerkendal Expand +
Rosenborg v Brøndby
18:00 UK 2ND LEG Metalist Stadium Expand +
FC Metalist Kharkiv v Besiktas
18:00 UK 2ND LEG Ali Sami Yen Stadium Expand +
Galatasaray v Bellinzona
18:00 UK 2ND LEG FK Partizan Stadium Expand +
Partizan Belgrade v Politehnica Timisoara
18:00 UK 2ND LEG Geoffroy-Guichard Expand +
St Etienne v Hapoel Tel-Aviv
18:15 UK 2ND LEG Dinamo Stadium Expand +
Dinamo Bucuresti v NEC Nijmegen
18:30 UK 2ND LEG Municipal Expand +
FC Vaslui v Slavia Prague
18:40 UK 2ND LEG Maurice Dufrasne Stadium Expand +
Standard Liege v Everton
19:00 UK 2ND LEG Abe Lenstra Stadion Expand +
Heerenveen v Vitoria Setubal
19:00 UK 2ND LEG Arke Stadion Expand +
Twente Enschede v Rennes
19:15 UK 2ND LEG Petrzalka Stadion Expand +
Artmedia Petrzalka v Braga
19:15 UK 2ND LEG Letzigrund Stadium Expand +
FC Zürich v AC Milan
19:15 UK 2ND LEG AXA Arena Expand +
Sparta Prague v Dinamo Zagreb
19:30 UK 2ND LEG Amsterdam ArenA Expand +
Ajax Amsterdam v Borac Cacak
19:30 UK 2ND LEG Bullen-Arena Expand +
SV Salzburg v Sevilla FC
19:45 UK 2ND LEG Jan Breydel Stadium Expand +
Club Brugge v Young Boys
19:45 UK 2ND LEG Parken Expand +
FC Copenhagen v FC Moscow
19:45 UK 2ND LEG City of Manchester Stadium Expand +
Man City v Omonia Nicosia
19:45 UK 2ND LEG Fir Park Stadium Expand +
Motherwell v AS Nancy Lorraine
19:45 UK 2ND LEG Karaiskakis Stadium Expand +
Olympiacos v FC Nordsjælland
19:45 UK 2ND LEG Stadio Friuli Expand +
Udinese v Borussia Dortmund
20:00 UK 2ND LEG Villa Park Expand +
Aston Villa v Liteks Lovetch
20:00 UK 2ND LEG Riazor Expand +
Deportivo La Coruña v SK Brann
20:00 UK 2ND LEG Parc des Princes Expand +
PSG v Kayserispor
20:15 UK 2ND LEG Estadio da Luz Expand +
Benfica v Napoli
21:00 UK 2ND LEG Mestalla Expand +
Valencia v Maritimo
21:35 UK 2ND LEG Estadio D. Afonso Henriques Expand +
Guimaraes v Portsmouth
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Toure says he was 'scared' to play Hull
Arsenal defender Kolo Toure has revealed he was 'scared' about playing Hull City before the Gunners' defeat to the Premier League newcomers at the weekend.
The centre-back claimed that matches against the lesser lights of the league are harder matches simply because the expection is there to win and to win well. And for that reason he believes players at the top clubs go into the games with trepidation.
The Tigers pulled off one of the shocks of the season by coming back from behind to win 2-1 at the Emirates Stadium, a result which boss Arsene Wenger said made him 'feel sick'.
Now Arsenal must look to bounce back from that disappointment tonight when they entertain FC Porto in the Champions League.
"I was scared to play the game," said the Ivory Coast international.
"Sometimes people, not the players, play the game before it's started and that's a problem because there are no small teams in the Premiership.
"Against Man United everybody thinks it's going to be a tight game but when you play against Hull it's harder because you are expected to win and score in the first minute.
"But it doesn't happen like that. I was scared against Hull because there are no easy games.
"We are professional players and when we go out we want to play well and win.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Robinho fails to fire at the JJB
And so the 21st century Steve Daley came to Wigan. If there was an inevitability in a man from Sao Paulo finding Lancashire a culture shock, Robinho certainly did. Returning from a midweek trip to Brazil, Manchester City's taste of life with the jet set was an unpleasant one. Wigan's rather earthier virtues of effort and endeavour prevailed, and deservedly so.
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The Brazilian failed to find his feet at the JJB.
Two goals in two games suggested Robinho had acclimatised rapidly to the Premier League. The import to make the greatest impact, however, was not the £32.5million man, but an on-loan Egyptian, Wigan's Amr Zaki, as Athletic emulated Brighton in suggesting money is no guarantee of progress. This was the world's richest club against arguably the Premier League's smallest. Wigan won, and it was a triumph for astute recruitment as well as the underdog.
Robinho cost more than the entire Wigan team. His arrival provided a barometer of the feelings of the City support. The initial chants were for Shaun Wright-Phillips, albeit shortly followed by a chorus of ''We've got Robinho''. City's past and their present, celebrated in that order.
So what do you get for £160,000 a week? Not two games in five days, after his visit to Brazil ruled out a day out in Brighton. And not a great deal at Wigan today either. Robinho had an immediate opportunity to equalise Antonio Valencia's stunning opening goal but his shot, the culmination of a slick move, was drilled just past the post.
Intensive English lessons apparently await, though his language skills seemed sufficient to incur a caution for dissent. This was a lecture in Premier League football - fast, physical and abrasive. Robinho's languid style meant he stood out, but for the wrong reasons. If he wasn't jetlagged, he looked it.
Nominally the left winger, his flicks and tricks were evident, but without harming Wigan. He has the capacity to amuse himself but this was an afternoon when Robinho failed to balance the flair player's twin aims, style and substance. Indeed, he was at his most effective in the final half-hour when his running was more direct and his acceleration more marked.
The suggestion is his self-indulgence may endear him more to supporters than team-mates but City have often been a club with an entertainer. In adversity, such virtuosos as Georgi Kinkladze have contributed to City's complex identity. With the expectancy their new status as favourites provides, City require more than cult heroes now.
Robinho did, at least, earn the praise of his manager. Mark Hughes said: ''He always wanted to get on the ball and that showed he has bravery in and out of possession.'' Yet the City fans who came to see the boy from Brazil witnessed a goal from a bloke from Belgium. Vincent Kompany turned in Elano's free kick and it was telling that he, rather than a costlier Brazilian, was charged with set-pieces.
That was bookended by coruscating and controversial goals from Wigan. Valencia scored the first, an unstoppable rising shot that was timed at 63mph. Zaki savoured the second, a penalty awarded when Javier Garrido challenged Wilson Palacios.
It drew differing opinions from former team-mates Hughes and Steve Bruce. The City manager said: ''The penalty was extremely harsh because the lad's blatantly looked to gain an advantage and dived theatrically.'' Bruce argued: ''There's contact made.''
Zaki was a second subject of disagreement. The Wigan boss said: ''He reminds me of Mark, certainly his physique and the way he approaches the game.'' Hughes claimed: ''I didn't used to fall down quite as easily as that.''
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The Egyptian was in fine form again.
Consensus was achieved on the Egyptian's excellence. Marauding with menace and no little skill, he tormented City throughout. Bruce explained: ''He's a bit different, something you probably haven't seen before. He's already enhanced the Premier League. He is that old-fashioned English centre-forward. He's got awesome power and pace and he wants to score a goal.''
If Zaki was the standout performer, Valencia and Palacios ran him close. The Ecuadorian provided a blend of industry and inspiration on the right flank while the Honduran, in the sort of optical illusion that could bemuse an assistant referee, appeared to be everywhere.
''Physically, we've got some unbelievable specimens,'' Bruce added. ''They're big, strong, athletic and young. We had energy in the middle of the park and they didn't like that. From these not-so-wealthy countries like Honduras and Egypt and Ecuador, they've got an unbelievable appetite for the game.''
And on a day when Robinho provided little inspiration, their perspiration was decisive.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Amr Zaki - It is no fluke that he is the Premier League's top scorer. Wigan's concern must be that his terrific form will have alerted other clubs to his availability. With Zaki only on loan and Emile Heskey's contract expiring next summer. Wigan's hugely effective strike duo could both depart.
WIGAN VERDICT: They were in a false position, just above the relegation zone. Mid-table is a fairer reflection of their abilities. It is a testament to their energy levels that Bruce's men kept up their pressing game for the full 90 minutes, and with a solitary substitution. There can be few fitter teams.
MANCHESTER CITY VERDICT: Hughes is correct to argue that it does take time for a team to gel. Yet the 4-1-4-1 that appeared a freeform attacking ensemble against Portsmouth looked disjointed today, especially as the anchor midfielder - Kompany - is better known as a defender. The addition of either a second striker or another orthodox midfielder, when Michael Johnson is available may bring greater balance.
TIME FOR TEA (TOWEL): The 1970s attitudes to race relations, however well-meaning, persist. This has been a great month to sell tea towels in Manchester, even if the most exotic headgear at the JJB Stadium may have been a lone fez among the home support.
But while City's billionaires take them into uncharted territory, the rare chorus of an owner's name came from the Wigan fans. ''There's only one Dave Whelan,'' they sang, and there are few other benefactors or businessmen on the boards who inspire such affection.
