Monthly Archives: January 2015

Εντυπωσιακός στο πρώτο ημίχρονο, ο Αστέρας Τρίπολης επιβλήθηκε 3-0 του κακού ΠΑΟΚ στο γήπεδο «Θόδωρος Καλοκοτρώνης», για την εξ αναβολής 11η αγωνιστική της Σούπερ Λίγκας. Δύο γκολ πέτυχε ο Γιαννιώτας (9΄ και 45΄) κι ένα ο Σανκαρέ (30΄) για τους Αρκάδες, που έχασαν και πέναλτι με τον Μπαράλες στο 7ο λεπτό.

Η ομάδα του Στάικου Βεργέτη ανέβηκε -μέχρι αύριο τουλάχιστον- στην τρίτη θέση της κατάταξης, ενώ ο «Δικέφαλος του βορρά» κινδυνεύει να πέσει από την κορυφή, αν ο Ολυμπιακός νικήσει αύριο στην Ξάνθη.

Οι γηπεδούχοι μπήκαν πολύ δυνατά στο ματς και μόλις στο 3ο λεπτό, μετά από σέντρα του Μάσα, ο Μπαράλες με κεφαλιά έστειλε την μπάλα ελάχιστα έξω από την εστία. Στο 7΄ ο διατητής Χαράλαμπος Καλογερόπουλος καταλόγισε πέναλτι σε ανατροπή του Ζησόπουλου από τον Τζανδάρη (η οποία όμως έγινε εκτός περιοχής), αλλά ο Ιτάνζ απέκρουσε την -κακή- εκτέλεση του Μπαράλες και κράτησε το «μηδέν».

Δεν μπόρεσε όμως να κάνει το ίδιο δύο λεπτά αργότερα, όταν ο Μάσα με ωραία κάθετη πάσα βρήκε τον Γιαννιώτα κι αυτός έστειλε τη μπάλα στα δίχτυα, αφού όμως πρώτα χρησιμοποίησε… μανσέτα για να κοντρολάρει τη μπάλα, χωρίς η παράβαση να γίνει αντιληπτή από το διαιτητή ή το βοηθό.

Στη συνέχεια ο ΠΑΟΚ προσπάθησε να ισορροπήσει το ματς, καθώς οι Αρκάδες του έδωσαν χώρο, αλλά εμφάνισε πολλά προβλήματα στην οργάνωση του παιχνιδιού και δεν κατάφερε να φανεί ιδιαίτερα απειλητικός, με εξαίρεση ένα άστοχο σουτ του Φακούντο Περέιρα στο 23΄.

Αντίθετα, ο Αστέρας έφτασε σε δεύτερο γκολ στο 30΄, μετά από εκτέλεση φάουλ του Ρόλε και σύγχυση στην περιοχή των φιλοξενούμενων, με τον Σανκαρέ να στέλνει από κοντά τη μπάλα στα δίχτυα. Μετά το δεύτερο γκολ ο «Δικέφαλος»… κατέρρευσε και οι γηπεδούχοι έκαναν ό,τι ήθελαν στο γήπεδο.

Στο 34΄ ο Σανκαρέ βρέθηκε πάλι σε θέση βολής, αλλά ο Αθανασιάδης απέκρουσε με αυτοθυσία πάνω στη γραμμή, στο 44΄ ο Ιτάνζ έδιωξε με υπερένταση το πολύ όμορφο γυριστό του Μάσα και στο 45΄ ο Γιαννιώτας έφυγε «στην πλάτη» της άμυνας και με ψύχραιμο πλασέ «έγραψε» το 3-0.

Το δεύτερο ημίχρονο έγινε… για τους τύπους, με τον ΠΑΟΚ να μην έχει ψυχικές δυνάμεις για να αντιδράσει και τον Αστέρα να μην έχει την απαραίτητη αυτοσυγκέντρωση για να ολοκληρώσει τις επικίνδυνες αντεπιθέσεις του. Το 3-0 δεν άλλαξε ως το τέλος, με τους Αρκάδες να πανηγυρίζουν μία σπουδαία νίκη.

Διαιτητής: Καλογερόπουλος (Αθηνών)

Κίτρινες: Μπαράλες, Γιαννιώτας, Κουρμπέλης – Τζανδάρης, Σκόνδρας, Μαντούρο, Αθανασιάδης

ΑΣΤΕΡΑΣ ΤΡΙΠΟΛΗΣ (Στάικος Βεργέτης): Κοσίτσκι, Λούι, Τσοκάνης, Γκοϊάν, Σανκαρέ, Ζησόπουλος, Μουνάφο (89΄ Τιε Μπι), Γιαννιώτας (80΄ Παντελιάδης), Μπαράλες, Ρόλε (65΄ Κουρμπέλης), Μάσα

ΠΑΟΚ (Αγγελος Αναστασιάδης): Ιτάνζ, Σκόνδρας (59΄ Παπαδόπουλος), Ρατς, Βίτορ, Τζαβέλλας, Μαντούρο, Γκολάσα (40΄ Μακ), Τζανδάρης (69΄ Κίτσιου), Αθανασιάδης, Περέιρα, Σαλπιγγίδης.

Νωρίτερα, Βέροια και Καλλονή μοιράστηκαν γκολ και βαθμούς (Βέροια – Καλλονή 1-1), ενώ μια πολύ σημαντική και εντυπωσιακή νίκη σημείωσε ο Πλατανιάς, ο οποίος επικράτησε εύκολα του Πανιωνίου (Πλατανιάς – Πανιώνιος 3-0) στα Χανιά.

Συνέχεια την Κυριακή…

Την Κυριακή, ο δεύτερος της βαθμολογίας, Ολυμπιακός, μάχεται στην Ξάνθη, έχοντας στον πάγκο του νέο προπονητή τον Βίτορ Περέιρα. Επίσης, ο Παναθηναϊκός υποδέχεται τον Εργοτέλη, ενώ και ο ΟΦΗ θα παίξει με την Κέρκυρα με νέο τεχνικό τον Νίκο Αναστόπουλο.

Χωρίς ξεκάθαρο φαβορί θα διεξαχθούν οι αγώνες Παναιτωλικός – ΠΑΣ Γιάννινα και Πανθρακικός – Ατρόμητος, ενώ η αναμέτρηση Νίκη Βόλου – Λεβαδειακός θα κατοχυρωθεί με 0-3 άνευ αγώνα, καθώς οι Βολιώτες έχουν αποχωρήσει από το πρωτάθλημα.

Το πρόγραμμα (σ.σ. όλοι οι αγώνες θα μεταδοθούν τηλεοπτικά από την NOVA):

Σάββατο 10/1
Βέροια – Καλλονή 1-1
Πλατανιάς – Πανιώνιος 17:15
Αστέρας Τρίπολης – ΠΑΟΚ 19:30

Κυριακή 11/1
Παναιτωλικός – ΠΑΣ Γιάννινα 15:00
ΟΦΗ – Κέρκυρα 17:15
Παναθηναϊκός – Εργοτέλης 17:15
Πανθρακικός – Ατρόμητος 17:15
Ξάνθη – Ολυμπιακός 19:30
Νίκη Βόλου – Λεβαδειακός ματαιώθηκε

Σε αγώνες για την 11η αγωνιστική του πρωταθλήματος της Σούπερ Λίγκας σημειώθηκαν τα εξής αποτελέσματα:

Βέροια-Καλλονή 1-1
(8΄ Καλτσάς – 16΄ Χουάνμα)

Πλατανιάς-Πανιώνιος 3-0
(55΄,70΄ Μιλούνοβιτς, 84΄ Τόρες)

Αστέρας Τρίπολης-ΠΑΟΚ 19:30

Παναιτωλικός-ΠΑΣ Γιάννινα 11/1
ΟΦΗ-Κέρκυρα 11/1
Παναθηναϊκός-Εργοτέλης 11/1
Πανθρακικός-Ατρόμητος 11/1
Ξάνθη-Ολυμπιακός 11/1
Νίκη Βόλου-Λεβαδειακός 0-3 α.α.

Η βαθμολογία (σε 16 αγώνες)
1. ΠΑΟΚ 37
2. Ολυμπιακός 36
3. Παναθηναϊκός 30
4. Αστέρας Τρίπολης 28
5. Παναιτωλικός 27
6. Βέροια 26 -17αγ.
7. Ξάνθη 25
8. Ατρόμητος 24
. ΠΑΣ Γιάννινα 24
10. Καλλονή 23 -17αγ.
11. Κέρκυρα 21
. Πλατανιάς Χανίων 21 -17αγ.
13. Λεβαδειακός 18 -17αγ.
14. ΟΦΗ 17
15. Πανιώνιος 15 -17αγ.
16. Πανθρακικός 13
17. Εργοτέλης 11
18. Νίκη Βόλου 7 -17αγ.

Πηγή:in.gr

Southampton manager Ronald Koeman is “full of confidence” as his side prepare to face Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Koeman’s side were unfortunate to go down 2-1 to the Red Devils in the reverse fixture at St Mary’s Stadium last month, as Robin van Persie scored with each of the visitors’ two shots on target.

That setback for Southampton came in the middle of a five-match losing run in all competitions, which saw the club slip down the Barclays Premier League table and exit the League Cup courtesy of a quarter-final defeat to League One side Sheffield United.

However, the south-coast outfit have since got back on track, with an impressive 2-0 victory over Arsenal on New Year’s Day cementing their place in the top four.

While acknowledging the improvement United have shown in an 11-match unbeaten streak, Koeman believes Southampton can claim a notable victory this weekend and leapfrog their third-placed opponents in the table.

“I think the victory against Arsenal was important and important was the one point as well against Chelsea [on December 28], because we didn’t have that kind of result [against a big team] before that game,” said Koeman. It’s a quality of theirs [United] that they don’t need a lot of shots on target to score two goals and to win games.

“And if you analyse them in the last few weeks, you can see that they [have] grown up, the players have more confidence in the system, they have less injuries than they had before.

“It will be a tough game but it’s a nice one because the pressure is on them and we have to show that we believe in a good result. I am full of confidence.”

Jack Cork is available again for Southampton following an ankle injury, while Koeman also expects England right-back Nathaniel Clyne (also ankle) to be fit.

The Dutchman could hand a debut to on-loan winger Eljero Elia, having revealed: “He will be part of the squad for this Sunday, for sure.”

However, Sadio Mane will miss out as a result of the calf problem that has resulted in his non-selection for Senegal at the Africa Cup of Nations.

United have seen their own fitness problems clear up in recent weeks and manager Louis van Gaal confirmed on Friday that Ashley Young (hamstring) is now the club’s only sidelined player.

Rafael may not be risked after undergoing surgery on the cheekbone he injured in Sunday’s FA Cup win at Yeovil Town, but Luke Shaw, another player withdrawn during that game, is available to face his former club and both Daley Blind and Marouane Fellaini are back in training.

United are set to have new signing Victor Valdes on the bench, the experienced former Barcelona goalkeeper having arrived at Old Trafford as back-up to David de Gea.

Van Gaal’s men were held to a 1-1 draw at Stoke City in their last league outing, but Chelsea’s defeat at Tottenham Hotspur later on New Year’s Day ensured United still made up ground on the leaders.

They are now nine points behind Chelsea and Manchester City.

Manchester United (from): Amos, De Gea, Johnstone, Lindegaard, Valdes, Blackett, Blind, Evans, Jones, McNair, Rafael, Rojo, Shaw, Smalling, Vermijl, Anderson, Carrick, Di Maria, Fellaini, Fletcher, Herrera, James, Januzaj, Lingard, Mata, Valencia, Falcao, W Keane, Rooney, Van Persie, Wilson.

Southampton (from): K Davis, Forster, Gazzaniga, Alderweireld, Bertrand, Clyne, Fonte, Gardos, Targett, Yoshida, Cork, S Davis, Isgrove, McQueen, Reed, Schneiderlin, Tadic, Wanyama, Ward-Prowse, Elia, Long, Pelle

source: premierleague.com

Lazar Markovic’s first Barclays Premier League goal earned Liverpool a 1-0 win over struggling Sunderland.

The Serbian winger opened his top-flight account to break the deadlock in the eighth minute at the Stadium of Light on Saturday with a determined off-the-ball run and finish.

Markovic was at the centre of Liverpool’s best play and also struck the woodwork with an acrobatic effort, while former Sunderland loanee Fabio Borini missed a shot from a tight angle after rounding Costel Pantilimon in a dominant first half for Brendan Rodgers’ side. Liam Bridcutt was sent off early in the second period to make Sunderland’s task harder and, although Adam Johnson struck the crossbar soon afterwards, there was no way back for the home side. Gus Poyet’s team have one win from their last 11 top-flight matches, while Liverpool are unbeaten in seven in all competitions.

Jordan Henderson and goalkeeper Simon Mignolet lined up against their former club, as did Borini, who took the place of the rested Raheem Sterling. The hosts were without Steven Fletcher with a groin injury, while his planned replacement, Jozy Altidore, was missing with a sickness bug, leaving Connor Wickham up front on his own.

Liverpool started brightly and had claims for a penalty turned down by referee Craig Pawson when Markovic fell under a challenge from Wes Brown after four minutes. Markovic, one of three Liverpool changes from the New Year’s Day draw against Leicester City, capped a swift break with the opening goal.

Having initially taken possession out on the right, Markovic played the ball inside and continued his run before being picked out by Borini’s toe-poked pass. The Serb took the ball in his stride and bundled through a challenge before steering a shot beneath Pantilimon.

Liverpool continued in the ascendancy and Steven Gerrard saw two efforts from outside the box tipped behind for corners by Pantilimon. The Sunderland goalkeeper was beaten by Markovic’s improvised 29th-minute volley, but the ball came back off the crossbar and went out for a corner via Pantilimon’s elbow.

Rodgers’ men still had time to spurn another presentable opportunity before the end of the half, as Borini went past Pantilimon, only to shoot into the side netting.

Gerrard did not return for the second period as Dejan Lovren came on, but Liverpool were boosted by Bridcutt’s dismissal in the 49th minute after he had hauled back Emre Can to earn a second yellow.

Sunderland’s best effort on goal arrived two minutes later, when Johnson’s swerving effort caught out Mignolet and hit the crossbar. Martin Skrtel had to be alert to clear the ball with Patrick van Aanholt closing in. Although John O’Shea went close to sliding in a late leveller from Sebastian Larsson’s corner, Liverpool looked comfortable in wrapping up three points.

Sunderland head coach Gus Poyet: “We were much better on the ball than the last three or four games, we’re just missing that cutting edge up front, the one who scores the goals and wins you the games.In the Barclays Premier League a point is difficult, three points is massive. We’ll keep working hard.”

“He [Borini] was the answer last year, but we couldn’t get him this year.” There are players who can make the difference on their own, but they’re expensive.

“We’ve got the plans at the moment luckily nobody knows, which is great so I don’t need to comment too much on that. I’m trying to concentrate on what we’ve got and then the recruitment people need to work to get what we need.”

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers: “It was an outstanding team performance. We had great control of the game, but I suppose the only disappointment is we did not have more goals. Our confidence is returning, this is a team that gets better and better as it goes on. It is a young group, but they are developing very well.

“January will be quiet for us, unless we think there is something that can really improve our team and then the owners will look to do that. We have a lot of exciting young talent here.”

source:premierleague.com

Brendan Rodgers has called on his Liverpool side to cut out the mistakes ahead of Saturday’s Barclays Premier League match at Sunderland.

Liverpool progressed to the fourth round of the FA Cup on Monday with a 2-1 win at AFC Wimbledon on Monday and have lost just one of their last 12 matches in all competitions. They made life difficult for themselves against the League Two side as Wimbledon equalised from a corner after Steven Gerrard had given Liverpool the lead.

Rodgers’ side have been guilty of switching off on several occasions in 2014-15 and the Northern Irishman knows they can ill-afford to keep making errors as they attempt to recover from a disappointing first half of the season.

“In any game of football, no matter how dominant you are, there’s always a period of pressure that you will come under,” he said. “It doesn’t matter if you have the ball a lot of the game, you still have to defend at some points in that game and, of course, you have to remain calm.

“For us, the single biggest thing has been mistakes. It’s not so much structurally, we have a tendency at times to make mistakes and that ultimately has cost us. That’s something that we work hard on and we look to eradicate from the game. From the Crystal Palace game [when Liverpool lost 3-1 in November], we needed to change. We needed to get back our model of work and from that, we’ve slowly got back to a decent level again.

“There’s still a lot of work to do. But part of that is ensuring that we don’t give away silly goals. That’s something that every coach or manager will tell you is continuous.”

Liverpool were held to a goalless draw by Sunderland when the two sides met at Anfield last month, but Rodgers expects Gus Poyet’s side to show more ambition at the Stadium of Light.

“They’re very difficult to break down, they get a lot of numbers behind the ball,” he said. “They close the space up and you have to work really hard and well to try to find the gaps to get in.

“It will be slightly different at home. They will be the home team and they will want to go on the offensive a little bit more. But they have good players and they have shown over the course of the season so far with a lot of draws that they are hard to break down, but that’s our job to go there and look to put in a performance that gets the three points.”

Gerrard, who got both goals against Wimbledon, has scored four in his last two matches and will be hoping to continue his rich vein of form if Rodgers opts to start the Liverpool who announced his intention to join the LA Galaxy in the summer.

Daniel Sturridge (thigh) is due to return from the United States before the weekend, while Joe Allen (knee) could be back in contention. Sunderland beat Leeds United 1-0 in the FA Cup last Sunday, but are without a win in three top-flight matches. Their defender, Sebastian Coates, is ineligible to face his parent club, while Poyet has injury concerns over Lee Cattermole (groin), Jack Rodwell (hamstring) and Anthony Reveillere (calf).

Sunderland (from): Mannone, Pantilimon, Brown, Jones, O’Shea, Reveillere, Van Aanholt, Vergini, Alvarez, Bridcutt, Buckley, Cabral, Cattermole, Giaccherini, Gomez, Johnson, Larsson, Mavrias, Rodwell, Altidore, Fletcher, Graham, Wickham.

Liverpool (from): Mignolet, Jose Enrique, Lovren, Manquillo, Moreno, Sakho, Skrtel, Toure, Allen, Can, Coutinho, Gerrard, Henderson, Lucas, Markovic, Suso, Balotelli, Borini, Lambert, Sterling.

source: premierleague.com