Category Archives: SPORTS

Melbourne City coach John van `t Schip expects marquee man Robert Koren will become even more dominant following his hat-trick in the club’s 5-2 victory over Newcastle Jets at Hunter Stadium.

The Slovenian international had previously played just 49 minutes in two A-League games for City due to injury.

He made up for lost time on Tuesday.

Koren scored in the ninth minute and then added another two goals mid-way through the second half to headline City’s fourth win of the season.

“He’s an important player, that’s why we got him in,” van `t Schip said.

“He’s a midfield player, who as you saw today, can also play higher.

“It’s not his favourite position – it’s playing from the midfield and making runs.”

Leading into the game City had failed to win in six trips to Newcastle, but City dominated the Jets from the early exchanges, Aaron Mooy scoring the opener from a penalty after just three minutes.

Damien Duff won the penalty after beating Jets stopper Allan Welsh down the right side, Welsh then bringing down the former Irish international from behind with a clumsy challenge.

Mooy turned provider in the ninth minute when he won the ball in midfield and released James Brown down the right flank.

Brown’s cross bounced off Jets defender Adrian Madaschi and Koren swooped with a clinical finish.

The Jets’ problems deepened in the 24th minute when they failed to clear a Patrick Kisnorbo header from a corner. The ball fell to Duff who slotted the goal past a diving Jets goalkeeper Ben Kennedy.

“We couldn’t match them and we were a yard off the pace the whole game,” Jets coach Phil Stubbins said.

“To concede the goals we did, and in the manner we did, in that opening 10 minutes is certainly not good enough.

“I don’t know if I put my hand up for that or if the players put their hands up for that, but we’re 3-0 down before we even start playing.”

After half-time Stubbins switched to a back four, but the goals kept flowing.

David Williams and Duff combined to lay on Koren’s second goal in the 63rd minute as City moved to 4-0, before the Jets gave their crowd of 9,935 something to cheer about when striker Edson Montano headed home his third goal for the campaign.

Despite the goal City powered on with Koren snaring the hat-trick after being teed up by Mate Dugandzic in the 74th minute.

Jeronimo scored a late consolation goal for the Jets in the 79th minute, but the game was long over for the struggling Novocastrians.

source:dailymail.co.uk

Σε μια ομάδα δύσκολα να χωρέσουν, αλλά σε ένα βίντεο όλοι οι καλοί χωράνε. Απολαύστε τα καλύτερα γκολ του 2014 έτσι όπως τα επέλεξε ένας χρήστης του youtube με τους Κριστιάνο Ρονάλντο, Μέσι, Φαν Πέρσι, Ρόμπεν, Χάμες Ροντρίγκες, Λαμέλα, Τέβες να έχουν τη δική τους ξεχωριστή θέση.

Πηγή: madata.gr

At 2-0 up at half-time through goals from David Silva and Fernandinho City were on course for a club-record 10th consecutive victory in all competitions that would have moved them to within a point of Barclays Premier League leaders Chelsea, who drew with Southampton earlier in the day. However, after George Boyd had pulled one back, Barnes completed a memorable comeback for Sean Dyche’s side at the Etihad Stadium.

Burnley had offered signs of promise in the opening exchanges but City’s dominance in possession came to fruition when Silva opened the scoring 23 minutes in. The Spaniard’s fifth goal in as many Barclays Premier League matches was soon followed by an impressive second from Fernandinho 10 minutes later as the home side appeared out of sight.

Burnley had a lifeline early in the second half as Boyd converted from close range and the fightback was complete when Barnes fired home from inside the area nine minutes from time. It could prove a vital point for Burnley, while City manager Manuel Pellegrini, who was again without Vincent Kompany following a hamstring injury, was left to rue a missed opportunity to keep the pressure on Chelsea.

Arsenal leapfrogged West Ham United into fifth place with a 2-1 victory at Upton Park on Sunday. West Ham came into the fixture having won six of their last seven league matches on home soil, and threatened to continue that impressive form when Alex Song found the net after five minutes, though the former Arsenal man’s strike was chalked off for offside.

Sam Allardyce’s men continued to look the better team for large spells of the opening period but were undone shortly before the break. Santi Cazorla’s penalty after being felled by Winston Reid in the 41st minute came somewhat against the run of play, before Danny Welbeck doubled the visitors’ lead three minutes later. Cheikhou Kouyate’s headed goal nine minutes after the interval gave the home side hope of salvaging something from the tie but Arsenal held on for maximum points. The result lifts Arsenal to fifth, two points clear of West Ham, who sit sixth.

A Mame Biram Diouf brace helped Stoke City to earn back-to-back BPL wins for the first time this season as they beat West Bromwich Albion 2-0. Brown Ideye, Chris Brunt and Craig Gardner all went close for the visitors in a keenly contested first half, while the in-form Bojan Krkic showed flashes of his ability in attack for Stoke. The hosts appeared considerably more focused at the start of the second half and Diouf broke the deadlock six minutes after the break.

Gareth McAuley nearly drew West Brom level as he hit a post with 65 minutes on the clock and Stoke capitalised on that let-off, securing victory through a fortuitous Diouf goal shortly after, increasing the pressure on the visiting coach Alan Irvine.

Leicester City ended their three-month wait for a Barclays Premier League win as Riyad Mahrez fired them to a 1-0 victory over Hull City. Mahrez collected a pass 20 yards from goal just after the half-hour at the KC Stadium and netted his second league goal of the season past Allan McGregor.

Hull had started well but wasted the few openings they were able to create, and Mahrez punished them in a scrappy first half. Steve Bruce made three attacking changes in the second half to try to get his side back into the match but they were unable to turn possession into goals despite Paul Konchesky’s late red card.

Leicester, who were twice saved by a post, absorbed all Hull could throw at them, with the home side’s Stephen Quinn also given his marching orders for handball in stoppage time. Leicester’s first win since September’s memorable 5-3 victory over Manchester United, a run of 13 matches, and moves them to within three points of safety, with Hull one of three sides firmly in their sights.

Ten-man Aston Villa held on for a goalless draw against Sunderland after Fabian Delph had been sent off at Villa Park. Delph was shown a straight red card by referee Martin Atkinson for a late challenge on Jordi Gomez just four minutes into the second half. It was the third time in the last four BPL matches that Paul Lambert’s side had been reduced to 10 men, but Sunderland were unable to make the most of their numerical advantage.

Gus Poyet’s side had their chances after Delph’s dismissal, with Gomez striking the post late on, but Villa dug deep and showed plenty of character as they held on for a point. Villa’s lack of goals will be a concern for Lambert, as his side have only found the back of the net 11 times in 19 top-flight matches, while Sunderland have won only one of their last nine matches.

Caretaker manager Keith Millen watched his Crystal Palace side deny Queens Park Rangers a fourth consecutive Barclays Premier League triumph at Loftus Road with a goalless draw. A stubborn Palace defence kept Harry Redknapp’s side at bay as the London rivals claimed what could prove to be a valuable point apiece in their respective battles to avoid relegation.

Neither side were able to make an impact over the course of the first half, although the visitors almost took the lead through Jason Puncheon. QPR had the better of proceedings after half-time, with Leroy Fer going close with two audacious strikes, while Palace continued to provide a threat. James McArthur made a terrific goalline clearance from a Steven Caulker header, but both teams had to settle for a share of the spoils. The point lifts QPR above West Brom, while Palace remain in the bottom three.

Newcastle United ended 2014 on a high by coming from behind to earn a 3-2 win over Everton at St James’ Park to end a four-match losing streak. Papiss Cisse, Ayoze Perez and Jack Colback grabbed the goals to ensure Alan Pardew’s men are sitting in the top 10 heading into the new year.

Both teams entered the match desperate to recapture their best form, and Everton took the lead thanks to a well-taken Arouna Kone goal after five minutes. But Newcastle came back and headed into the break level as Cisse found the net. That preceded a dominant second-half showing from Newcastle, with Perez and Colback putting Pardew’s men into a 3-1 lead. Everton substitute Kevin Mirallas set up a thrilling finale with a goal six minutes from time, yet Newcastle hung on to claim three points.

source: premierleague.com

Some fine saves from Hugo Lloris and some wasteful finishing meant Manchester United’s attempts to keep in touch with the leaders of the Barclays Premier League were dented in a goalless draw at Tottenham Hotspur.

Spurs were indebted to goalkeeper Lloris in the first half in particular as United had the better of a frenetic match at White Hart Lane. Robin van Persie had chances to beat the Frenchman on at least one occasion as Louis van Gaal’s side extended their unbeaten run to nine matches, but had to settle for a second successive draw away from home. A point for United ensured they will head into 2015 in third place, with a trip to Stoke City to come on New Year’s Day.

Spurs, who are unbeaten in their last five matches against United, had won their previous four matches in all competitions, but failed to do enough to extend that run despite raising their game in the second half.

Andros Townsend made only his second Barclays Premier League start of the season as Mauricio Pochettino opted for four changes to the Spurs side who won at Leicester City. United, who named an unchanged line-up for a league match for the first time in more than two years, took charge after a frantic start and Radamel Falcao could have done better when Juan Mata played him in, but the Colombia striker got the ball stuck under his feet and his tame effort was comfortably saved by Lloris.

Mata’s deflected free-kick struck a post and some great defending from Vlad Chiriches denied van Persie the chance to tuck home the rebound after 21 minutes.

Lloris then got a fingertip to Phil Jones’ close-range header, but failed to divert the ball away from goal and Spurs were relieved to see the assistant referee’s flag up for offside when Jan Vertonghen was unable to prevent the ball from crossing the line with an acrobatic clearance.

United continued to cause Spurs problems and Lloris rescued the hosts when van Persie showed great technique to control Michael Carrick’s ball over the top, but the Netherlands striker took one touch too many and the Frenchman denied him.

The busy Lloris kept out a Wayne Rooney header and Ashley Young’s measured right-foot effort before half-time as United dominated, but were unable to edge in front.

Van Gaal made a substitution at the break, with Rafael Da Silva replacing Antonio Valencia, and van Persie had another great chance to put them in front nine minutes into the second half, but volleyed over the crossbar after Mata had picked him out.

A scrappy period of play ensued before Townsend picked up a loose ball and let fly with a vicious strike from long range that was well gathered by David De Gea.

United had further chances to break the deadlock but Mata blazed over the bar from 10 yards out after 67 minutes when Rafael cut the ball back to the Spain midfielder.

De Gea got down well to smother Federico Fazio’s left-footed shot following some uncertain United defending 18 minutes from time as the opening goal remained elusive. Spurs finished the match the stronger and De Gea palmed away Christian Eriksen’s free-kick then Ryan Mason blazed over the bar after great work from Harry Kane eight minutes from time, but the home side were unable to convert their late pressure into a winner.

Spurs head coach Mauricio Pochettino: “The second half was good and we were better than them but after 90 minutes it’s a fair result. We showed that we were solid. The most important thing is the feeling from today.

“It’s a good point. We produced a good performance.Our fitness levels are very good. We have a lot of games ahead and the next one [against Chelsea on Thursday] is another tough one.”

Man Utd manager Louis van Gaal: “We lost two points. We had the best performance of Manchester United’s season in the first half, we could have scored four or five goals, but we didn’t reward ourselves. In the second half, it was more of a struggle than football. In the first half we played very well, but when you do not score goals then you cannot win.

“We gave three possibilities or chances away but we could have also scored from three possibilities – Juan Mata, van Persie and Falcao could have scored. The first half was a fantastic half of ours, but then you have to finish the attacks and we were not so effective today.”

“I should have been satisfied if we had won today because then we would have had 38 points out of 19 matches and that is two points a match on average, which is very good.”

source: premierleague.com

Το ενδιαφέρον του Ολυμπιακού για την απόκτηση του Τόμας Ροσίτσκι επιβεβαίωσε με δηλώσεις του στον βρετανικό και Τσεχικό Τύπο, ο μάνατζερ του παίκτη, Πάβελ Πάσκα.

Ο εκπρόσωπος του παίκτη έκανε λόγο για έντονο ενδιαφέρον των Ερυθρολεύκων για τον τσέχο μέσο, ενώ τα βρετανικά ΜΜΕ αναφέρουν ότι υπάρχει πρόταση 2,5 εκατ. ευρώ των Πειραιωτών.

«Μπορώ να επιβεβαιώσω ότι οι Έλληνες πραγματικά ενδιαφέρονται. Όμως δεν πρόκειται να γίνει τίποτα πριν το νέο έτος. Θα πρέπει να κριθεί το εάν η κατάσταση του Τόμας με την Άρσεναλ είναι τέτοια για να μπορεί να προχωρήσει κάτι» τόνισε ο Πάσκα στη «Sun».

Από εκεί και πέρα, το γεγονός ότι ο Ροσίτσκι έμεινε εκτός αποστολής του σημερινού (28/12) αγώνα με τη Γουέστ Χαμ, φούντωσαν τα σενάρια, αφού τα ρεπορτάζ ήθελαν τον Τσέχος να ξεκινάει βασικός.

Πηγή:in.gr

Η Σίτι «αυτοκτόνησε» και έχασε την ευκαιρία να πλησιάσει τον έναν βαθμό από την Τσέλσι και την κορυφή

«Αυτοκτονικές τάσεις» παρουσιάζει η Μάντσεστερ Σίτι. Μετά τη «γκέλα» της Τσέλσι στο «Σεντ Μέρις» (1-1), οι πρωταθλητές Αγγλίας δεν εκμεταλλεύτηκαν το «δώρο» της Σαουθάμπτον και παρά το γεγονός ότι προηγήθηκαν με 2-0 της Μπέρνλι στο «Ειτιχαντ», τελικά ισοφαρίστηκαν στο δεύτερο μέρος κι έχασαν την ευκαιρία να «πλησιάσουν» σε απόσταση… αναπνοής τους «μπλε».

Έτσι, το «στραβοπάτημα» της Τσέλσι με τους «Αγίους» (1-1) αποδείχθηκε ανώδυνο. Οι «Άγιοι» προηγήθηκαν στο ξεκίνημα του ματς, αλλά η ομάδα του Μουρίνιο ισοφάρισε στην εκπνοή του ημιχρόνου με το εξαιρετικό γκολ του Αζάρ. Για τους Λονδρέζους ήταν η 4η εκτός έδρας ισοπαλία σε 10 παιχνίδια μακριά από το «Στάμφορντ Μπριτζ».

Χωρίς νικητή και τέρματα έληξε η αναμέτρηση που «άνοιξε την αυλαία» της 19ης αγωνιστικής του αγγλικού πρωταθλήματος, καθώς Τότεναμ και Μάντσεστερ Γιουνάιτεντ αναδείχθηκαν ισόπαλες χωρίς τέρματα (0-0) στο «Γουάιτ Χαρτ Λέιν».

Τέλος, η Νιούκαστλ επικράτησε με 3-2 της Έβερτον, με τον Κέβιν Μιραλάς να σημειώνει το τελευταίο γκολ του αγώνα μειώνοντας για τους Εφοπλιστές.

Το πρόγραμμα της 19ης αγωνιστικής στην Πρέμιερ Λιγκ:

Τότεναμ-Μάντσεστερ Γ. 0-0

Σαουθάμπτον-Τσέλσι 1-1
(17΄ Μανέ – 45΄ Αζάρ)

Άστον Βίλα-Σάντερλαντ 0-0

Χαλ-Λέστερ 0-1
(32΄ Μαχρέζ)

Μάντσεστερ Σίτι-Μπέρνλι 2-2
(23΄ Νταβίντ Σίλβα, 33΄ Φερναντίνιο – 47΄ Μπόιντ, 81΄ Μπερνς)

ΚΠΡ-Κρίσταλ Πάλας 0-0

Στόουκ Σίτι-Γουέστ Μπρομ 2-0
(51΄,67΄ Ντιουφ)

Γουέστ Χαμ-Άρσεναλ 1-2
(54΄ Κουγιατέ – 41΄πεν. Καθόρλα, 44΄ Γουέλμπεκ)

Νιούκαστλ-Εβερτον 3-2
(34΄ Σισέ, 51΄ Αγιόζε, 68΄ Κόλμπακ – 5΄ Κονέ, 84΄ Μιραλάς)

Λίβερπουλ-Σουόνσι 29/12

ΒΑΘΜΟΛΟΓΙΑ (σε 19 αγώνες)
Τσέλσι 46
Μάντσεστερ Σίτι 43
Μάντσεστερ Γ. 36
Σαουθάμπτον 33
Άρσεναλ 33
Γουέστ Χαμ 31
Τότεναμ 31
Σουόνσι 28 -18αγ.
Νιουκάστλ 26
Λίβερπουλ 25 -18αγ.
Στόουκ Σίτι 25
Έβερτον 21
Άστον Βίλα 21
Σάντερλαντ 20
ΚΠΡ 18
Γουέστ Μπρομ 17
Χαλ 16
Κρίσταλ Πάλας 16
Μπέρνλι 16
Λέστερ 13

Πηγή:in.gr

The Wellington Phoenix are on a roll. Photo / Getty Images.

The Wellington Phoenix are on a roll.

Unbeaten in their past five contests with four wins and a draw, the Phoenix ground out another vital three points with a 1-0 win against the Western Sydney Wanderers at Westpac Stadium in the capital tonight.

The contest was more engaging than the scoreline suggested as both sides had their share of chances throughout the evening, although many of the players left their shooting boots at home.

Despite sitting at the bottom of the A-League ladder, the Wanderers are no pushovers as evidenced by their recent triumph in the Asian Champions League.

The busy schedule they endured abroad may have put too much strain on their ability to perform on a weekly basis as they have continued to struggle at domestic level this season. Their coach Tony Popovic has also been linked with a move to English Premier League club Crystal Palace.

Goalkeeper Glen Moss, who recently signed a two-year contract extension with the Phoenix, was busy throughout the game but held firm as Wellington kept their second clean sheet in as many weeks.

Skipper Andrew Durante was also immense.

The Phoenix were without midfielder Alex Rodriguez who missed the game due to a broken hand suffered at training yesterday and he was replaced by veteran Vince Lia.

The break in Rodriguez’s hand was only minor though and the Spaniard was expected to be available for Wednesday’s New Year’s Eve clash with Adelaide in South Australia.

The Phoenix registered the only goal of the game via the dangerous Roy Krishna who managed to bundle in a rebound in the 14th minute after his penalty attempt was saved by Wanderers custodian Ante Covic.

Krishna won the spot kick for the Phoenix after he was adjudged to have been fouled by Western Sydney defender Daniel Alessi, although it didn’t look as though there was an extensive amount of contact on the Fijian international.

That didn’t bother Krishna though as he made it five goals in his past six games and he has repaid the faith and time put in to him by coach Ernie Merrick.

The impending departure – and demise in form – of Jeremy Brockie opened a door for Krishna and the 27-year-old has cashed in.

Krishna was eventually substituted in the 52nd minute and left the field with a slight limp as he made a beeline for the changing sheds, although it was unclear if he had suffered any serious ailments.

Merrick will be hoping for a positive injury report on Krishna given the Phoenix will be without Nathan Burns for the next two games as the striker will join the Australian national side for their Asian Cup preparations.

After the Phoenix meet Adelaide on Wednesday, they return home for an outing against the Brisbane Roar at Westpac Stadium on Sunday.

It’s a busy holiday schedule for the fourth-placed Phoenix but if they can avoid defeat they will continue to cement their place near the top of the A-League.

Wellington Phoenix 1 (Roy Krishna 14) Western Sydney Wanderers 0 halftime: 1-0

source: nzherald.co.nz

Triumphant: Wild Oats XI won the line honours title for a record eighth time. Photo: Getty Images

She may be 10 years old, but Wild Oats XI reaffirmed her status as Australia’s supreme ocean racing yacht by fending off a late charge by the brand-new American raider Comanche to win a record eighth line honours titles on Sunday afternoon.

The Bob Oatley-owned supermaxi that won a first title in 2005 may have had to chase to take the lead from Comanche late on Saturday morning, but once she was in front she continued on supremely to the finish at Constitution Dock in Hobart.

Wild Oats XI crossed the finish line at 3.03pm with an unofficial winning time of 2 days, 2 hours and 3 minutes – outside her 2012 race record of 1 day, 18 hours, 23 minutes and 12 seconds.

But shortly after the finish, Oatley declared: “It’s a miracle – an absolute miracle. It’s just about (the sweetest victory), but they’re all sweet.”

Oatley said Wild Oats would be back next year and he’d like to push for 10 line honours victories and beyond with the same, much-modified, boat.

“I wouldn’t dream of it (replacing her),” he said.

Oatley paid tribute to Richards, a “great man” and sportsman with the right outlook on life.

Comanche still had 10 nautical miles to go when Wild Oats XI crossed the line on Sunday, but Wild Oats still had to sail smartly and well to fend off a mighty challenge from Ken Read’s Comanche before heading up the Derwent River.

After being more than 40 nautical miles down early on Sunday morning, Comanche – owned by Texan billionaire Jim Clark and his Australian wife Kristy Hinze – whittled down the margin to under 10 miles by the time they were close to Storm Bay.

As Wild Oats XI celebrated, Clark, who did not race on Comanche, had nothing but praise for the Australian supermaxi and Richards.

“Wild Oats and Mark Richards ran one hell of a race and it’s a really excellent boat,” Clark said.

“Disappointed we got stuck in that high pressure system but they managed to sneak through it. And you’ve got to give them credit – that’s the nature of that boat, they’ve got the balance.

“We’ll see if we’re back next year, not sure. We have a lot of big plans and I just don’t know whether we’ll make it back or not, we’ll have talk to the crew and see what they think.”

The race was on tenterhooks with no room for the slightest errors by either boat; but in the end Wild Oats XI showed her true class in the downwind south-easterly breeze that blew up the Derwent River.

The joy of the winning crew was evident as they raised their arms in delight and hugged each other while cheers erupted from those on board boats in the massive spectator fleet that followed and from onshore.

source: smh.com.au

Atromitos announced on Friday the most impressive transfer of this winter’s window, the signing of former Greece skipper Costas Katsouranis.

The defensive midfielder has signed a six-month contract with an option for Atromitos to extend it by another 12 months.

“I will give it all for Atromitos,” stated Katsouranis, who in the first half of the season plied his trade in India, with remarkable success in that up and coming mini-league that lasts only a few months.

The 35-year-old has made no secret of his aspiration to return to the national team, too, as former Greece manager Claudio Ranieri had not called him up for any of the five matches Greece played after the 2014 World Cup.

Katsouranis has also played for Panachaiki, AEK Athens, Benfica, Panathinaikos and PAOK, and this fall he was one of the best players and top scorers of Pune City in India.

source: ekathimerini.com