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Liverpool leave it late

10:03 PM | Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,



Dirk Kuyt earned Liverpool a narrow 1-0 win over Sparta Prague on Thursday, on that night when all three British clubs in action reached the last 16.Rangers, beaten finalists in 2008, needed an equaliser at the death to prevail at Sporting Lisbon, while Manchester City's expensively assembled squad eased past Greek representatives Aris.Liverpool enjoyed the lion's share of possession against the Czech side but, as in the first leg, they struggled to make their dominance count.Raul Meireles blazed over wastefully from an inviting Martin Kelly cross in the first half, while French striker David Ngog was one of several Liverpool players frustrated by Sparta goalkeeper Jaromir Blazek in the second.With extra-time beckoning, Liverpool won a corner on the left-hand side that Meireles curled into the box and Kuyt darted away from the goal-line to cushion an intelligent header into the bottom-right corner.Liverpool will now play Portugal's Sporting Braga, who overcame a 1-0 first-leg deficit with a 2-0 win at home to Lech Poznan of Poland.

A dramatic injury-time goal by American international midfielder Maurice Edu earned Rangers a 2-2 draw at Sporting Lisbon that sent the Scottish giants through on away goals.After former Rangers man Pedro Mendes had cancelled out El Hadji Diouf's opener for the visitors, an 83rd-minute header by Yannick Djalo looked to have given the Portuguese team victory.Rangers launched a desperate last attack in the 92nd minute, however, and when David Healy rolled in a low cross from the Rangers right, Edu tapped home to send the travelling fans berserk.The next stop for Walter Smith's side will be PSV Eindhoven, who won 3-1 at home to French league leaders Lille for a 5-3 aggregate success.Following a goalless first leg, City beat Aris 3-0 at the City of Manchester Stadium thanks to a first-half brace from January signing Edin Dzeko and a deflected Yaya Toure effort.Roberto Mancini's men must now tackle Dynamo Kiev, after the Ukrainian powerhouses thrashed Besiktas 4-0 to seal an embarrassingly one-sided 8-1 overall victory.

Elsewhere, Villarreal came from behind to defeat Napoli 2-1 in the tie of the round at El Madrigal.Marek Hamsik broke the deadlock in the tie in the 18th minute before quick-fire goals from strikers Nilmar and Giuseppe Rossi just before half-time saw the Spanish side through.Villarreal's last-16 adversaries are Bayer Leverkusen, for whom Michael Ballack scored his first goal since his return from injury in a 2-0 win at home to Metalist Kharkiv that completed a 6-0 aggregate victory.Two-time European champions Benfica advanced with a 2-0 aggregate defeat of Stuttgart and will now face Paris Saint-Germain, who went through on away goals following a 0-0 draw at home to BATE Borisov.In the day's early kick-off, 2008 champions Zenit Saint-Petersburg secured their place in the last 16 by coming from behind to defeat Swiss side Young Boys 3-1, thereby overturning a 2-1 deficit from the away leg.Porto, champions in 2003, progressed on away goals on Wednesday despite a 1-0 loss at home to Sevilla, while CSKA Moscow secured a 2-1 aggregate win over Greek outfit PAOK on Tuesday.

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Posted by sojib

Napoli face crucial test at AC Milan

9:36 PM | Labels: , , , , , , , , , ,


Italian club Napoli will find out if they are truly ready to challenge for the Serie-A crown this season when they travel to AC Milan in the crunch clash ties of the weekend.The game has been moved to Monday night to give the southerners an extra day’s rest following their Europa League exertions against Villarreal on Thursday.But the super-clash between the top two in the league will give Walter Mazzarri’s team the chance to show what they are made of.

In a season full of surprises that initially saw Lazio leading the table and champions Inter Milan struggling down in eighth place at the turn of the year, Napoli appear to have demonstrated that they have the staying power to go all the way.Still splitting the two Milan clubs with a mere 12 matches to play in the season, Napoli must genuinely be considered as very tide title contenders for the first time since the days of Diego Maradona.And although the club’s staff and players refuse to even pronounce the word title there is no denying that they are where they are on merit.

However, there has been one thing missing from their pursuit of glory this season and that has been the ability to cut the mustard against the very best.They may have done the double over Roma this season and thumped Juventus 3-0 at home in January but both sides are suffering from transitional campaigns and currently sit sixth and seventh respectively.When it mattered against the two big Milanese sides, Napoli came up short.

They lost 2-1 at home to Milan earlier on in the season despite enjoying a large part of the game and also proved frail defensively when they played away to Inter and lost 3-1.In two games against Liverpool in the Europa League group stage they also failed to secure a win.For them to go the whole way this season they are going to need to prove they can also come out on top in the biggest games where there is the most at stake.

They sit three points behind Milan and two ahead of Inter, meaning a win for Mazzarri’s team could result in the top three being separated by only two points when the weekend is up.If there is one thing in their favour it is that Milan have also proved susceptible to negative results in their biggest home games of the season.Not only did they lose 2-1 to Juventus and 1-0 to Roma but Tottenham came to the San Siro in the Champions League knock-out phase and also left with a crucial 1-0 success.

Milan also failed to beat fourth placed Lazio at home and needed a pair of controversial goals to sneak a 2-2 draw against Real Madrid in the Champions League group stages.A sign that Milan may be feeling the strain came from vice-president Adriano Galliano who was at pains to tell Radio Italia that the game would be no more important than any other.‘It,s keenly expected because it’s top against second but there,s still just three out of the 36 points left on offer’ he said.

‘Lets not forget that a victory over Napoli won't mean we’ve won the title, and vice versa.’The later start to the game means Inter can leapfrog Napoli on Sunday if they win away to Sampdoria.Juventus host Bologna on Saturday night and Roma entertain Parma on Sunday as the two traditional heavyweights look to drag themselves back into Champions League qualification contention.

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Lyon Drawn Against Real Madrid 1-1 At Champions League 1st Leg

9:53 PM | Labels: , , , , , , , ,



Bafetimbi Gomis struck a late equaliser as Lyon recovered from Karim Benzema's opener to draw with Real Madrid in the Champions League first leg.Gomis wasted a glorious chance to put the hosts ahead 1st hulf and Cristiano Ronaldo shot on the post with a free-kick just after the break. And after Sergio Ramos headed on to the bar post former Lyon striker Benzema slotted in, moments after coming off the bench. But there was still time for Gomis to level it with a close-range volley. It provided a dramatic finale to a tense encounter and makes for a hugely interesting 2nd leg at Bernabeu on 16 March. Real Madrid will be confident of reaching the semi-finals for the first time since 2004 but Lyon are still in contention to make the last four for the second season running. Ahead of the game, Real coach Jose Mourinho stressed that "history doesn't count for anything in this sort of match" and it was easy to see why. His club had not won any of their previous six match with Lyon and were beaten - failing to even score - on each of their three visits to Stade Gerland.

Real have been knocked out at this stage for the last six years and it was Lyon who sent them packing last season. So, even considering the Reals' stature and serene progress through the group stage, it was difficultly a surprise to see Lyon boss Claude Puel's side looking the more assured in the opening exchanges. The French outfit were missing star striker Lisandro Lopez because of a hamstring injury but lone frontman Gomis carried a original threat and was ably supported but Michel Bastos, Cesar Delgado and Yoann Gourcuff. The hosts immediately sought to got forward in numbers and served notice of their threat as Bastos and Gomis both got behind the visiting defence for early sights of goal. Centre-back Cris then fired narrowly wide with an overhead kick from the edge of the box and Kim Kallstrom drilled a shot off target.

Real eventually settled into some sort of rhythm but encountered two brilliantly organised banks of four and had to resort to attempts from distance. Angel di Maria created their first wonderful chance with a skidding effort that goalkeeper Hugo Lloris gathered at the second attempt before Ronaldo's 30-yard free-kick was palmed to safety after bouncing awkwardly in front of the Lyon keeper. Puel's players began adopting a more cautious approach and rather than encamping themselves in their opponents' half, focused instead on hitting the Real,s on the counter-attack. And they should have been rewarded when Real keeper Iker Casillas spilled a Bastos cross from the left at the feet of Gomis, only for the Frenchman to fire over the bar.

If Lyon finished the 1st half on top, it was the visitors who made by far the better start to the  2nd hulf. And they almost took the lead when Cristiano Ronaldo's free-kick, from a narrow angle on the left, bent over the wall and come back off the far upright. Moments later Real were again denied by the woodwork when Ramos rose highest to meet Mesut Ozil's corner, his glanced header going away off the bar. But it would be 3rd time opportunity after Mourinho  hoping to becoming the first manager to win European club football's most prestigious competition with three different clubs brought Benzema on for the ineffective Emmanuel Adebayor.  Benzema had been on the field only a matter of seconds when he won possession on the left and linked up with Ronaldo before linking his way past several defenders and beating Lloris with a low strike. Puel urged his side to push forward in search of an instant response but Real repelled everything thrown at them and seemed on course for a historic win. Lyon, however, had other ideas and with seven minutes of normal time remaining Cris nodded a free-kick into the path of an unmarked Gomis and he stayed calm to atone for his earlier miss.

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West Ham 5 - 1 Burnley

6:59 AM | Labels: , , , , , , , , ,


West Ham strolled into an FA Cup sixth-round tie at Stoke with a glorious win over Championship outfit Burnley.Thomas Hitzlsperger, making his long-awaited Hammers debut, opened the scoring with a trademark thunderbolt. Carlton Cole looked to be offside and to have handled the ball when he slotted home before his classy lob-shot over Clarets keeper Lee Grant made it 3-0. In between Winston Reid's header and Freddie Sears' perfect finish, Jay Rodriguez was gifted a consolation. While Burnley had chances to exploit the home side's shaky defence, the cups continue to liberate the East Londoners, who have recorded three more wins in knockout competitions than in the Premier League this season. But, despite the crushing scoreline, it was the visitors who made the more promising start and Rodriguez should have punished the hesitant Reid after only 13 minutes but the Clarets striker spurned the opportunity with a tame shot.

Moments later West Ham goalkeeper Robert Green spared his side's blushes when he parried Ross Wallace's fizzing shot from the edge of the penalty area, before making a brilliant reaction save as Rodriguez tried to steer in the rebound from close-range.After failing to take their opportunities, Burnley were on the back foot as the Hammers finally found some rhythm. The midfield trio of Scott Parker, Mark Noble and Hitzlsperger, who was making his first competitive start since being sidelined with a thigh injury in pre-season training, worked well as the visitors struggled to impose themselves. The hosts' superiority was rewarded in the 23rd minute in stunning fashion. Cutting in from the right, Hitzlsperger exploited a gap in front of the Burnley defence before unleashing a venomous dipping drive with his left foot from all of 25 yards. While Hitzlsperger's strike was a flash of brilliance, the kind of moment all too rare in West Ham's season, the Clarets paid the price for affording the German the time to align his shot - with Grant failing to at least get his fingertips to the ball. With the Upton Park faithfully finding its voice after the deadlock was broken, the visitors came under increasing pressure but managed to hold firm and even forced Green into action when Chris Eagles had a low shot after a neat flick from Rodriguez.

Tyrone Mears almost found a way behind the Hammers defence, outpacing Wayne Bridge down the flank to collect Wallace's threaded pass, only for James Tomkins to thwart the attack with a timely interception of the cut-back to Rodriguez. Burnley proved themselves capable of playing attractive football throughout the contest, but it was West Ham who were the more efficient in possession, and it was a neat build-up that led to Cole's controversial strike which doubled the home side's lead barely three minutes after the restart
Cole, picked out by an exquisite pass from the outside of Mark Noble's right boot, miss-controlled the ball with his second touch but as Grant had appeared to have smothered the shot, the England striker persistence paid off as he picked himself up to scramble the ball home from close-range. However, on closer-inspection, the ball clearly struck the forward's arm as he adjusted his body to shoot. The visitors were enraged that the goal was allowed to stand, especially given that Cole also appeared to be offside as Noble played him in. With Burnley still rocking, Cole doubled his personal tally a minute later, but there was no doubt about this one. Picking up another defence-splitting pass from Noble, the Hammers striker this time took an excellent touch after exploiting the Burnley offside trap, before stroking the ball over Grant and into the roof of the net. As the Clarets went into damage-limitation mode, Reid made it 4-0 with a glancing header at the near post, having found space at Hitzlsperger's corner to score his first goal for.

Rodriguez missed the opportunity to restore some pride for the visitors, blazing over from 20 yards, but he was rewarded for a decent personal display moments later. Rather than clearing his lines, Wayne Bridge's ill-advised back pass to Green gave the England goalkeeper very little time to clear. As a result Green's clearance ricocheted off the back of the charging Mears and the ball popped up for Rodriguez to nod into an empty net. Burnley deserved something from the game, but West Ham manager Avram Grant will be disappointed that his side surrendered their clean sheet in such farcical circumstances. Freddie Sears then wrapped up the win in injury time, slotting home from 15 yards after the ball broke to him following Burnley's failure to clear.

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AC Milan 0 - 1 Tottenham Champions League First-leg

10:22 PM | Labels: , , , , , , , , , , ,


Tottenham earned a memorable first-leg win at AC Milan to give themselves the upper hand in their last-16 Champions League tie against the Serie A leaders.Peter Crouch stroked in the winner after 80 minutes from a pass by Aaron Lennon, who had led a blistering Spurs counter-attack. Tottenham keeper Heurelho Gomes had twice kept his side level with two superb saves from Mario Yepes headers. Zlatan Ibrahimovic had a late goal disallowed for Milan as Spurs held on. The match was marred by a touchline fracas when Milan's combative midfielder Gennaro Gattuso head butted Tottenham assistant manager Joe Jordan after the final whistle. Gattuso had already been in an altercation with Jordan, seemingly shoving him in the face close to the Spurs dug-out when they clashed during the game and the Italian continued his battle after the match.
The result would not have helped the combustible Italian's temper, in addition to the AC Milan captain picking up a yellow card which rules him out of the return leg, as his side were made to look second best for most of the game at a rain-soaked San Siro.

A touch of nerves from Spurs almost let Milan back into the game but, after Robinho's far-post shot had been diverted wide, Ibrahimovic was rightly punished for pushing Michael Dawson before guiding in a shot with his back to goal. The aim of Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp was to make sure his side were still in the tie going into the return leg at White Hart Lane but his players did so much more.Crouch, who had come on as a late substitute when his former club Liverpool lost to AC Milan in the 2007 Champions League final, had led the line tirelessly before being rewarded with his late goal. It marked a win which came from some of the attacking football Spurs are capable of but also the type of resolute display Redknapp had doubted his team could produce. Spurs' swashbuckling style has made them one of the entertainers of this season's competition but, despite Redknapp vowing to attack, he also had one eye on tempering his side's adventure with vigilance.

The memory of Tottenham being four goals and a man down after 35 minutes when they played Inter Milan at the San Siro in the group stages might have had an influence on his thinking. He preferred the more defensive-minded Steven Pienaar to Niko Kranjcar, who had grabbed two winners in the last two games, on the left of a midfield also including holding players Sandro and Wilson Palacios. However, there was still plenty of threat up front and the visitors were unlucky not to have a penalty when Rafael van der Vaart's cross appeared to be blocked by the arm of Milan centre-back Alessandro Nesta in the opening minutes.

The aerial threat of striker Crouch made life uncomfortable for the Italian league leaders and he almost scored when Vedran Corluka's incisive pass released Lennon, whose cross was intercepted by keeper Christian Abbiati. In diving to palm away Lennon's cross, Abbiati got a knock to the head and had to be replaced by Marco Amelia.Spurs had a degree of control and comfort, while Milan looked lethargic and laboured. A long range Van der Vaart left-foot strike was tipped over by Amelia before the Dutchman produced a sublime chip which went agonisingly wide as Spurs went close. Milan had brought on Alexandre Pato for the ineffectual Clarence Seedorf at the break and, as they began to to carry more of a threat, Spurs keeper Gomes was called into making a crucial save. From Gattuso's dinked cross AC Milan centre-back Yepes guided a header towards the top corner and it took a dive at full stretch for Gomes to palm his effort wide. The home side's increased appetite spilled over into overly aggressive play at times and ex-Arsenal midfielder Mathieu Flamini should have been sent off for a two-footed lunge on Corluka but he somehow escaped with a yellow card.

Jonathan Woodgate, who had not played since November 2009, came on for Corluka as some of Milan's antics started to ruffle Spurs' feathers. It took another crucial save from Gomes to keep his side level as he again kept out a Yepes header from close range. But the visitors stunned the San Siro crowd when Lennon left the AC Milan side in his wake as he stormed upfield and the winger had the composure to slide the ball across to Crouch to slot in for a greatest victory.


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Arsenal beat Barcelona in Champions league

9:41 PM | Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , ,


Arsenal struck twice in five minutes late on as they staged a stirring comeback to beat Champions League favorites Barcelona on a night to savour at the Emirates.Barcelona looked on course to take a precious lead into the second leg of this last 16 clash at the Nou Camp as they protected the first-half advantage given to them by David Villa.The Catalans wasted chances to strengthen their position, with Lionel Messi an unlikely culprit, leaving the door open for the Gunners to keep their hopes of reaching the quarter-finals alive in spectacular fashion.Robin van Persie equalised 12 minutes from time with a shot that somehow eluded Barcelona keeper Victor Valdes at his near post before substitute Andrey Arshavin sent Arsenal's fans into ecstasy with a crisp finish that gives them a slender lead to take to Spain.
The Premier League outfit were attempting to follow in the footsteps of arch-rivals Tottenham after their magnificent win against AC Milan in the San Siro on Tuesday - and they were not to be outdone as they made it a memorable 24 hours for north London in Champions League combat.
Arsene Wenger's side were intent on proving a point after losing 6-3 to Barcelona over two legs at the quarter-final stage last season and they achieved their objective without sacrificing their long-held principles.
For all the talk of Arsenal attempting to make it a physical confrontation with the lavishly gifted Barca stars, the Gunners continued to play their trademark passing game and reaped a rich dividend in a frantic finale.
Barcelona, ironically, looked in control as the game entered its final phase, but once Van Persie leveled the mood inside the Emirates helped sweep Arsenal to victory.
Barca coach Pep Guardiola will still be confident his side can overturn a narrow deficit in the return, but the Gunners now have something to protect and will travel with the confidence this triumph will have given them.
Jack Wilshere was the symbol of Arsenal's development since the teams last met with a performance of composure that made a nonsense of his tender teenage years. Meanwhile Arsenal's resilience and dogged determination as Barcelona dominated possession for lengthy spells met with Wenger's approval.
Wenger described it as "a special night" - and Arsenal's manager must take great credit for a relentlessly positive attitude on and off the pitch, introducing Arshavin for Alex Song and Nicklas Bendtner for Theo Walcott even though his side were behind.The Gunners boss insisted the La Liga leaders remain favourites to progress but Arsenal will feel they have applied pressure to Barcelona as they carry a weight of expectation into the second leg.Arsenal were determined to guard against the type of chasing they suffered in the opening half at the Emirates when the sides met last season and this time around they more than held their own against the Catalan artists.Samir Nasri's availability after a hamstring injury provided a real bonus for the Gunners and they started with admirable attacking intent. A wonderful moment of invention from Cesc Fabregas, lifting the ball over the Barca defence, forged an early opening for Van Persie but keeper Valdes was alert and made a crucial block.Barcelona's response was the lacerating passage of play that has become their trademark. Villa sent Messi clear, but the little Argentine over-elaborated with a routine finish and not only guided his effort over Arsenal keeper Wojciech Szczesny but wide of the far post.
It was a moment that was met with an audible gasp of relief around the Emirates - but it was the clearest indication yet that Barcelona were finding their feet after the intensity of Arsenal's start.
Andres Iniesta almost put Villa in on goal before Messi was again wasteful with another chance, tamely chipping into the hands of Szczesny despite having the time and space he usually relishes.
As the game swung from end to end it needed a desperate headed clearance from Eric Abidal as Van Persie closed in on Fabregas' cross, but the Barca pressure was mounting and the reward came after 26 minutes.
Messi, inevitably, was the creator with a pass that cut Arsenal open, leaving the lethal Villa to stride forward and score with typical expertise.
As Wenger's side struggled to recover Szczesny did well to block Pedro at his near post before the Gunners broke the Barcelona stranglehold and Van Persie should have done better than to fire wildly off target when well placed.Messi had the ball in the net just before half-time but he was adjudged offside, and both sides traded blows again as the second period unfolded, Barcelona appealing in vain for a penalty as Villa collided with Laurent Koscielny and Van Persie again testing Valdes from the edge of the area. 
Messi had mixed brilliance with some uncharacteristic profligacy in front of goal. He should have extended Barca's lead when he was released inside the area after 67 minutes but shot into the side netting.
Arsenal stuck to their task, despite Barcelona enjoying prolonged periods of possession, and they drew level with 12 minutes left. Van Persie's low shot from an acute angle carried pace and power, but Valdes was desperately at fault as he stood motionless as the Netherlands striker's effort flew in at his near post.
Barcelona were suddenly rocking and Wenger's team turned the tie on its head and, roared on by feverish backing on a thunderous night, scored the winner when Arshavin arrived on the end of Nasri's right-flank cross to steer a precise finish past Valdes.Arshavin showed the other side of his game when a moment of defensive vulnerability almost let in Dani Alves in stoppage time - but Arsenal survived to keep their Champions League hopes alive.

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Lampard's lessons in football

1:24 AM | Labels: , , , ,



Chelsea and England midfielder Frank Lampard launched the FA Skills programme in July aiming to get more 5-11 year olds improving their technical ability. Sixty-six coaches will be going into schools to help players of all abilities and as Lampard explains, the methods he learned as a youngster have stayed with him throughout his career.At Chelsea I practise after training because I was given that advice when I was very young: train and work on your skills after everyone else has gone home, work on your weaknesses where you can. That lesson has become part of me.Instead of thinking 'I've had enough now', or 'I can't do it', or 'I can't hit it with my left foot', to try and do more on your own is a great thing to make you into a player. I do lots of shooting, passing and sometimes fitness work if we haven't played games. I'll basically work on anything I feel is relevant at the time. If something is letting me down I'll work hard on that and hopefully the improvement will show in the following weeks.

I know first-hand that dealing with someone with a great technical ability can help you. Gianfranco Zola had probably the best technique I've seen in a footballer I've played with and he was always willing to help others. Zola was a massive influence on me because he arrived when he was 35 and I was amazed how someone at that age could still have that hunger to improve and to take me with him and say 'come on let's do it together'. He was the most talented player I played with. He used to work on shooting with his left foot so he was as comfortable with it as he was shooting with his right. These are basic things but it shows you that players at the top of the game are still doing them.

Football has always been the biggest thing in my life so at any moment after school or during my lunch break I would be training or just playing with my mates as much as I could.Undoubtedly there are more skilful players than me, players like Joe Cole, Wayne Rooney, Gianfranca Zola - they're the more technical players. I like to put myself somewhere in between - a bit of skill and a lot of hard work as well. But what is important is that you make the best out of yourself. There will be players who might not be technically fantastic, but they work as hard as they can at their game and they get themselves to a good level. You have to be very strong. A lot of football is about confidence and believing in yourself.

There is no player who plays at the top level for a long time who doesn't have a period where they come in for criticism or stick - it comes with the territory. So you have to believe in yourself in the bad times and try and come through it - that's a good lesson for anyone I think.

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Brazil legend Ronaldo retires from football

8:45 AM | Labels: , , , , , , , ,


Brazilian legend Ronaldo has confirmed his retirement from football.The 34-year-old had a glittering career, helping Brazil win two World Cups and being named Fifa World Player of the Year in 1996, 1997 and 2002. He had been expected to quit at the end of the season but the early elimination of his club, Corinthians, from the Copa Libertadores brought forward the date. "I wanted to continue, but I can't. I think of an action, but I can't do it the way I want to. It's time," he said. Ronaldo's career took him to some of Europe's top clubs, including Spanish rivals Barcelona and Real Madrid, as well as Italian neighbours AC Milan and Inter Milan.But it was on the world stage where he made the biggest impact, scoring a record total of 15 goals at three World Cups. He also went to the 1994 tournament in the United States as a member of the Brazilian squad that went on to win the trophy, but the 17-year-old did not get on the pitch. However, four years later he scored four goals to help Brazil reach the final against hosts France. Mystery surrounded the match as Ronaldo's name was left off the teamsheet when it was issued 72 minutes before kick-off, only for an amended version to appear in time for the start of the game amid rumours of panic attacks and a dispute within the Brazilian camp. Whatever happened prior to the game, Ronaldo was below par and his performance was eclipsed by Zinedine Zidane, the only other footballer to have won the World Player of the Year title on three occasions.The Frenchman scored twice as France won 3-0. At the 2002 World Cup Ronaldo was at his imperious best, scoring in every game in Japan and South Korea, bar the 2-1 quarter-final victory over England. He grabbed both of Brazil's goals in the 2-0 win over Germany in the final to take his tally for the tournament to eight. 

In 2006 he scored twice in a 4-1 victory over Japan to draw level with Germany's Gerd Muller as the top scorer in World Cup finals history on 14, before breaking that record with a goal against Ghana. He ended his international career having scored 62 goals in 97 appearances. On the domestic front, Ronaldo first moved to Europe in the 1994-95 season, joining Dutch side PSV Eindhoven from Cruzeiro, scoring 30 league goals in his first season and 12 in 13 games during an injury-hit second campaign. Ronaldo's strike rate alerted former England manager Sir Bobby Robson, who signed the Brazilian when he took over as Barcelona coach in 1996 and the striker continued his impressive record at the Nou Camp, scoring 47 times in 49 appearances. 1998 - Zidane leads France to titleIn 1996, at the age of 20, he became the youngest player to win Fifa's World Player of the Year title and picked up the award again 12 months later. By that time he had moved clubs once more, this time joining Inter for a then world-record fee of £19m. He hit 59 goals in 99 appearances during an injury-troubled four years with the Italian side. He damaged his knee in 1999 and then again during his comeback in February 2000, which kept him out of the game for another two years. His next move took him back to Spain, where he joined Real Madrid in the summer of 2002 for £20m. Injury stopped him making his debut until October, but he scored twice on his first appearance to endear himself to the fans and netted 21 more times that season to help win the La Liga title. He also scored a hat-trick against Manchester United in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. He also helped the Spanish side win another league title in 2006/07 but further injuries and a lack of fitness led to him being deemed surplus to requirements and he returned to Italy in 2007, joining AC Milan. Another knee injury cut short his playing career at the San Siro in May 2008 and he returned to Brazil in 2009 to sign for Corinthians.
 

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We would not fear Barcelona "Arsene Wenger"

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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said he was not concerned by the prospect of possibly facing Barcelona in the next round of the Champions League.The Gunners may also face Real Madrid, Bayern Munich or Schalke in the last 16 after finishing second in Group H. "Barcelona is a super favourite in this competition at the moment but we take what we get," said the Frenchman after a 3-1 win over Partizan Belgrade. "If it's Barcelona, it is Barcelona. We played them last year. We will see." Last season, Barcelona knocked Arsenal out of the competition at the quarter-final stage, and although the 2009 Champions League winners are seen as the team to avoid, Wenger knows his side will have to be in good shape whichever team they face.

"Last year we went out against Barcelona," said Wenger. "I felt we had some room to do better because we drew 2-2 at home and over there we led 1-0 but lost 4-1."It depends whether you will have your best players available and a good level of confidence. "It's very difficult to predict how far you can go but now in the last 16 it becomes a cup competition. You go into cup mode and that means for 180 minutes you have to be at your top." The draw for the Champions League knockout stages will take place on Friday 17 December and Wenger added: "We have a 50% chance to travel to Spain and 50% chance to go to Germany. "If you ask me where we would like to go, I don't know. For the media they would maybe prefer Spain, but for us not necessarily."

The victory over Partizan confirmed Arsenal's place in the last 16 for the 11th successive season, but the Gunners were not at their best and endured some nervous moments before two goals in the last 20 minutes secured their passage. They took the lead through a Robin van Persie penalty and, after conceding an equaliser when Cleo's shot was deflected past keeper Lukasz Fabianski, it took goals from Theo Walcott and Samir Nasri to ease their anxiety. Wenger is aware his players will have to improve on that performance but, based on their position in all competitions this season, he has faith that they will. "Overall, we are in a strong position in the league, have qualified for the next stage of the Champions League, are in the semi-final of the League Cup and start the FA Cup in January," he said. "We have plenty of exciting challenges in front of us but there is room for improvement and I'm confident we will."

Arsenal's progression was tempered by left-back Kieran Gibbs being forced off with an ankle injury after 23 minutes against the Serbian side and a scan on Thursday will determine the extent of the damage. "He has a twisted ankle, an ankle sprain," said Wenger. "I don't know how damaged his ankle is - he will have a scan on Thursday. He is unbelievably unlucky." Arsenal will be without Bacary Sagna for the first game of their last-16 tie in February after the right-back was sent off towards the end of the game at the Emirates.

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Rooney Magical Goal sinks Man City

11:19 PM | Labels: , , , , , , , , , ,


Wayne Rooney's spectacular late winner put Manchester United's Premier League title assault back on course and left Manchester City devastated at Old Trafford.David Silva's deflected equaliser put Roberto Mancini's side in sight of a point after Nani's first-half goal gave United a slender advantage in a tight and tense encounter. It was Rooney, however, who produced a moment of inspiration to score a stunning overhead kick that will live forever in the memory of United's fans and extended City's dismal sequence of only one league win in their last 27 visits to Old Trafford. Silva's fortunate leveller, unwittingly deflecting in substitute Edin Dzeko's shot via his back, had given City momentum but they were stopped in their tracks in the most dramatic fashion with only 12 minutes left.Nani's cross from the right flank was high and behind Rooney as he lurked near the penalty spot, but he elevated an indifferent personal display to the heights by readjusting his position and sending an acrobatic, unstoppable overhead kick high past startled City keeper Joe Hart.

The quality of the goal was worthy of winning any game and United boss Sir Alex Ferguson may even look back on it as a strike that won the title after they bounced back from their first Premier League defeat of the season at Wolves last Saturday. Rooney, superbly shackled by City defender Vincent Kompany for so long as Ferguson surprisingly left Dimitar Berbatov on the bench, had previously cut a forlorn and frustrated figure but his natural instincts continue to serve him and United so well.And if his love affair with Old Trafford was strained by the saga of his demand to leave earlier this season, the bond was rekindled as United claimed a vital victory.

It enabled them to extend their lead at the top of the table to seven points at the final whistle - and also inflicted a serious blow to City's own lingering hopes of mounting a challenge as they now stand eight points behind United having played a game more. City were left to regret failing to make the most of some early supremacy when Silva squandered the perfect opportunity to strike a crucial blow early on in the second minute. United boss Ferguson entrusted Rooney with a lone attacking role - and in the opening stages it was City who made all the running and should have taken the lead in the opening moments. Silva, a significant influence as City dominated, exchanged passes with Carlos Tevez inside the area and was left with only Edwin van der Sar to beat. The angle was acute but the gifted Spaniard was wasteful as he rolled a tame finish across the face of goal and inches wide.The hulking figure of Yaya Toure also cast a giant shadow over United's midfield as they struggled to assert any authority and he was frustrated when referee Andre Marriner ignored his penalty appeals when his cross struck Chris Smalling. As United finally started to pose a threat, Darren Fletcher headed straight at City keeper Hart from Ryan Giggs' cross - and the seemingly ageless Old Trafford veteran was instrumental when they took the lead four minutes before the interval.

Rooney challenged for Van der Sar's clearance and Giggs pounced to deliver an inviting pass for Nani, who escape the attentions of Pablo Zabaleta to slide a composed finish past Hart. City boss Mancini, who watched his team fail to capitalise on so much early possession, made a change early in the second half when he replaced Aleksandar Kolarov with Shaun Wright-Phillips.And in an attempt to actually call Van der Sar into serious action, something City had failed to do, he then introduced Dzeko for James Milner.
The impact was exactly what City required as both substitutes were involved when they drew level after 65 minutes. Wright-Phillips' cross fell to Dzeko and his effort took a vital touch of Silva's back to wrong-foot Van der Sar. Ferguson immediately introduced Berbatov for Anderson, but it was that moment of brilliance from Rooney that put them back in front and visibly deflated City. City were stunned at being struck by such a blow and their threat fizzled out as Old Trafford buzzed with excitement at what had unfolded. United survived in comfort to close out a crucial victory.






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Italy U21s 1-0 England U21s

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Manchester United striker Federico Macheda scored a late penalty as England's injury-hit Under-21 side suffered a friendly defeat by Italy.Italy started well, Gianvito Misuraca forcing Frank Fielding into a low save. Josh McEachran's fine pass set up Scott Sinclair for England's best chance but he shot at the keeper when one-on-one. With two minutes to go Ben Mee was sent off for tripping Niccolo Giannetti and Macheda, on loan at Sampdoria, coolly slotted his penalty into the corner. The friendly in Empoli was an early opportunity for manager Stuart Pearce to cast his eye over players ahead of the Under-21 European Championships in Denmark this summer. However, the former Manchester City manager's options were severely limited with nine withdrawals from his squad, including five injured defenders in Martin Kelly, Kieran Gibbs, Micah Richards, Chris Smalling and James Tomkins, while Kyle Walker was promoted to the senior squad.

Sunderland midfielder Jordan Henderson, Bolton Wanderers' on-loan striker Daniel Sturridge and Aston Villa midfielder Fabian Delph had also previously withdrawn from the group. The missing players gave Chelsea midfielder Josh McEachran, who has played 14 times for the Stamford Bridge outfit this season, the opportunity to feature for the Under-21 side for the second time. And the 17-year-old impressed with a neat passing game which was at the heart of England's most promising moves. Middleborough full-back Joe Bennett also came into the side for his Under-21 debut and he too showed quick feet and enthusiasm as England battled against a defensive and at times route one, Italian side.With little between the two teams in the opening 10 minutes, Pearce's options were further reduced when Everton's Jack Rodwell limped off and was replaced by Chelsea's Jack Cork at centre-back. The substitution almost led to the first goal for Italy when Vicenza striker Misuraca capitalized on confusion in the England backline and beat the offside trap before driving his effort low from the edge of the box, but a fine reflex save from Blackburn keeper Fielding kept the score level.

England, who were runners-up to Germany in Euro 2009, currently lead the European rankings and had hoped to put in a more convincing performance against a side who have not qualified for this summer's European Championships. Pearce sent on a trio of debutants in the second half in an attempt to liven up the game with Southampton's Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who is considered one of the hottest prospects in English football and has been linked with Arsenal and Manchester United, coming into the fray, along with Burnley's Jay Rodriguez and Leeds midfielder Jonathan Howson. The changes had the desired effect with Oxlade-Chamberlain showing a great turn of pace to create one of England's better chances as he breezed past his full-back and hit the byline, but no England player could tap in the cross from six yards. A delightful diagonal ball from McEachran teed up Oxlade-Chamberlain on the edge of the box as England looked to hit Italy on the counter attack but the 17-year-old side-footed a tame effort straight into the arms of Carlo Pinsoglio. England continued to dominate possession and with eight minutes to go finally made the Italian goalkeeper work.

A wonderful 40-yard pass by McEachran split the Italy centre-backs and put substitute Sinclair through one-on-one with Carlo Pinsoglio but the Swansea winger fired his effort straight at the goalkeeper. Sinclair almost made amends seconds later but his powerful effort from 18-yards was tipped around the post by Pinsoglio. Despite their dominance, England were hit by a sucker punch two minutes from time when Mee tripped Juventus striker Giannetti and Macheda nonchalantly slipped his penalty into the corner, handing Pearce only his sixth defeat in 44 matches in charge of the Under-21 side.

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Pep Guardiola agrees to extend Barcelona contract

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Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola has agreed to extend his contract with the club until the end of next season.Guardiola's current deal was due to expire at the end of this campaign, and the Catalan giants have moved to prolong his thus-far successful reign. "The signing will take place in the next few days," the club said. The 40-year-old has won eight trophies, including successive La Liga titles and the 2009 Champions League, since replacing Frank Rijkaard in 2008.

Barca are currently seven points clear at the top of the table, and on Sunday, they became the first to win 16 La Liga games in a row with a 3-0 victory over Atletico Madrid. Guardiola will resume his push to win European football's top prize for a second time as a coach when his free-flowing side face Arsenal in the first leg of their last-16 Champions League clash at the Emirates on 16 February. Having impressed as Barcelona's B team coach, Guardiola was appointed first-team boss at the Nou Camp at the end of a trophy-less 2007-2008 season. The former Spanish international midfielder had emerged from Barca's youth system to win six league titles and one European Cup as a player with the Catalans. He resumed that trophy-haul in his first season in charge, steering his side to the Primera Division, Copa del Rey and Champions League. He added the Uefa Super Cup, Fifa Club World Cup and the Spanish Super Cup to the trophy cabinet before the end of 2009. And last year Barcelona successfully defended their domestic league - with a record-breaking 99 points - and Super Cup titles. Fierce rivals Real Madrid, with former Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho at the helm, trail Barcelona by seven points with the same number of games played. Sunday's historic triumph, when World Footballer of the Year Lionel Messi netted all three goals, surpassed Real's 50-year-old record of 15 league wins in succession. Speaking after that game, Guardiola said: "We wouldn't be what we are without Messi. Without him we would be a good team, but he makes the difference." Meanwhile, Barcelona will drop the UNICEF logo that appears on the front of their shirts from July and replace it with the name of their new Qatari sponsor. Barca are one of the few clubs in the world not to have a corporate logo on their jerseys, instead displaying the name of the United Nations Children's Fund, for which they pay the organisation 1.5 million euros (£1.27m) a year. However, they last month agreed a record five-year sponsorship deal with Qatar Sports Investment worth 30m euros (£26m) a season. "It has been decided that the Qatar Foundation logo will go on the front of the shirt, on the breast," Barca vice president Javier Faus revealed. "UNICEF will go on the back underneath the player's name." Faus, though, said it was not clear whether the UNICEF logo would be allowed to appear on shirts worn in the Champions League.

"What we can guarantee is that every FC Barcelona shirt that is sold around the world will have the UNICEF logo on the back," he added.

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Fernando Torres's Chelsea debut brings back memories of Chris Sutton

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After sealing a British-record €57.5m transfer from Liverpool FC to Chelsea FC on Monday, Fernando Torres said he was determined to win the UEFA Champions League with his new side.Having won just about all the trophies you can at international level with Spain, Fernando Torres is now hoping to lift European club football's greatest prize − the UEFA Champions League − with Chelsea FC after joining the Blues in a British-record €57.5m transfer on Monday.

In his first interview as a Chelsea player, the 26-year-old forward – who scored the winner in the UEFA EURO 2008 final and raised the FIFA World Cup aloft last summer – stated his desire to help his new side become European champions. Torres said their regular presence in the latter stages of the competition, among others, was what convinced him to leave Anfield after three and a half seasons as Liverpool's frontline striker.

"The Champions League is a big ambition and all the footballers want to play in it, it is a very important competition," explained Torres, who is eligible for the London outfit's round of 16 tie with FC København which kicks on 22 February in Denmark. "Chelsea have the chance every season to win all the trophies they play for, so when you have the chance to play in a team like this you cannot say no."

Torres came close to reaching the showpiece in his first campaign in England, 2007/08, when he scored in the semi-final second leg at Stamford Bridge as Liverpool lost out to the Blues for a place in Moscow. That goal is one of seven the former Club Atlético de Madrid player managed in eight matches against his new employers. So often the scourge of the west Londoners, Torres − who struck 65 times in 102 league games for Liverpool − will now be cheered on by the supporters who once feared his presence on the Reds' team-sheet.

"I have good memories and bad memories of games against Chelsea," added Torres, who was one of two arrivals at Stamford Bridge on deadline day along with SL Benfica centre-back David Luiz for €25m. "All the goals are good memories because all of them are special. I have a very bad memory of the semi-final of the Champions League in my first season in England when they beat us and they played the final and not us. It was a frustrating day for me but hopefully now I am here we can go through to the final together and win."

By a strange quirk of fate, Torres could make his debut against Liverpool on Sunday at Stamford Bridge, having hit both goals in Liverpool's 2-0 win in the reverse fixture in November. "It is like destiny," he said. "I will never say anything bad about Liverpool, I have been very happy there, but now the history is different and I am playing for Chelsea. If I have the chance to play I will do my best for Chelsea and hopefully I can score."

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Inter momentum

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 Inter Milan’s show of strength crushed Roma in Week 24 and confirmed they’ve got the momentum more than Milan, says Susy Campanale
Max Allegri may claim Milan “are not under pressure,” but the huge lead has been eradicated to just three points and, as Inter have a game in hand against Fiorentina, that could in reality be only two. With Antonio Cassano not on great form and even Zlatan Ibrahimovic struggling to find the net, the atomic attack is looking a little timid lately. Admittedly, the numerous injuries make it inevitable the Rossoneri will dip a little, but two consecutive stalemates against Lazio and now Genoa ring alarm bells.

If there’s a side with momentum right now, then that’s Inter. Leonardo is breathing down the necks of his former players and bringing the entertainment factor back to the reigning champions. It’s rarely comfortable and they have kept only one clean sheet under the new Coach, but the Nerazzurri’s 5-3 victory over Roma was a show of strength. The return of Wesley Sneijder could be just the boost they need on top of Giampaolo Pazzini, Andrea Ranocchia, Yuto Nagatomo and Houssine Kharja as January additions. It will be very tough for the Giallorossi to get back into the title race after this bitter blow and Nicolas Burdisso’s third red card of the campaign.

Napoli wasted the opportunity to close in midweek, but got right back on track by seeing off Cesena and the gap now stands at just three points. It would’ve been a 3-0 victory, but Christian Maggio’s ‘phantom goal’ was cleared after it had crossed the line, unseen by the officials.

Lazio’s early title hopes have all but evaporated as they slowly get back to their expected status of challenging for European qualification. Chievo held them to a second straight draw by making the most of the only real scoring opportunity.

It was a case of homecoming joy for Alessandro Matri, who clearly enjoyed the Sardinian air a week after he left Cagliari. It’s surely no coincidence the former Rossoblu striker bagged his first brace in a Juventus jersey against his former teammates. He opted not to celebrate as a sign of respect for the fans, who responded with jeers.

Fabrizio Miccoli took the tradition of muted celebrations a bit far. The Lecce native has never played for his hometown club, but was absolutely distraught at scoring against them. In fact, the Palermo captain was so upset that he didn’t come back out for the second half, avoiding the sight of his beloved Salentini throwing away a lead twice to fall 4-2.

There was nothing to dampen Antonio Di Natale’s celebrations, as he ended a two-week drought to net his 100th Serie A goal in an Udinese jersey. The Friulani have amassed 17 points from an available 21 and confirmed just how crucial Alexis Sanchez has become to this side. He was sorely missed in the midweek draw against Bologna, but returned to score one and set up another against a dismal Sampdoria.

It was a new start at the Tardini, as Amauri got his first Serie A goal in a year, breaking the drought with a spectacular overhead kick. Sending a message to his old club Juve, the Brazilian also hit the crossbar for Parma. Fiorentina welcomed back Adrian Mutu after he stormed out in a contract dispute and hope he’ll give them some more options.

It was home sweet home for Beppe Iachini, who in two games back on the Brescia bench has picked up four points. The Rigamonti result has probably doomed Bari to the drop, as it’ll be a miracle for them to avoid relegation once nine points adrift of the safety zone. Catania haven’t had much luck since bringing in Diego Simeone, as the slip-up at Bologna with Pablo Alvarez sent off just 22 minutes in has seen them plummet to fourth-from-bottom.

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