Μία είδηση που αν επαληθευτεί θα προκαλέσει μεγάλη αίσθηση αναπαράγει ο Τύπος της Ουγγαρίας, καθώς ο Τζενάρο Γκατούζο φέρεται να έχει επικοινωνήσει με τον Ντελ Πιέρο προκειμένου να συνεχίσει την καριέρα του στον ΟΦΗ.
Ο Αλεσάντρο Ντελ Πιέρο στα 39 του και μετά την πετυχημένη παρουσία του στη Σίδνεϊ FC δεν σκοπεύει να αποσυρθεί από την ενεργό δράση.
Ο άλλοτε σταρ της Γιουβέντους βρίσκεται σε προχωρημένες επαφές με την ουγγρική Χόνβεντ, η οποία αναζητεί χορηγούς για να καλυφθεί το ακριβό συμβόλαιο του, δίχως όμως ο Ντελ Πιέρο να έχει ενδώσει.Την ίδια στιγμή υπάρχει η εναλλακτική λύση της Ντιναμό Δελχί με τον “Μεγαλέξανδρο” του ιταλικού ποδοσφαίρου να μην έχει πεισθεί.
Οι Ούγγροι υποστηρίζουν πως στο παιχνίδι της απόκτησης του έχει μπει ο ΟΦΗ, με τον προσωπικό του φίλο Τζενάρο Γκατούζο να έχει αναλάβει το “ψηστήρι”.Ο Γκατούζο συνδέεται με φιλία τόσο με τον Αλεσάντρο Ντελ Πιέρο, όσο και με τον αδερφό του Στέφανο που εκτελεί χρέη μάνατζερ.
Spot on: Western Sydney’s Tomi Juric converts his penalty against Guangzhou Evergrande. Photo: Getty Images
Football isn’t a game to extract justice. Just ask Guangzhou Evergrande. The wealthiest club in Asia will cry poor and feel robbed but ultimately they were let down by themselves over the course of a tie where everything conspired against them.
They were the favourites and carried pressure applied just as much from within as from their expectant fans. They are the reigning Asian champions who are accustomed to winning and will likely lift their fourth consecutive league title in a matter of weeks, a run unmatched in the Chinese Super League. Yet here they stumbled against a team built on a fraction of their budget, a team that didn’t exist when this incredible run began.
Fans knocked on the Wanderers’ hotel doors at all hours throughout the night. The players hotel telephone rang until they unplugged them in the early hours of the morning. Western Sydney’s bus was rammed from behind on the way to the stadium while players were forced to battle laser pointers beamed into their eyes throughout the match. But they still prevailed, just.
Tomi Juric silenced the crowd with his penalty conversion. Photo: Getty Images
Beneath this sense of injustice, Guangzhou will lament the story of the Wanderers – monoliths in Australia and now giant killers in Asia. They faced the reigning champions who set to tear them apart with a sense of ferocity not seen in the competition thus far. There was no shying away from tackles, arms raised and little respect in the way they attacked the Wanderers. The official line is that a place in the semi-final was on offer, but it looked more as if Guangzhou was hell-bent on revenge.
They were presented with a chance for redemption after half an hour when Wanderers midfielder Iacopo La Rocca hauled down Guangzhou striker Elkeson inside the box. The brash challenged left La Rocca with a self loathing expression while Elkeson licked his lips. The prolific striker fired with the temperament that personified his team and none of the composure they needed. The result was another dagger in the hearts of the Guangzhou fans as Ante Covic became their latest hated player, saving from the spot.
The Wanderers were not overly structured or disciplined in defence but sat deep to absorb wave after wave of attacks. Some would say they parked the bus, that they did, but that also meant there was plenty of space at the other end for trademark counter attacks.
High flyers: Haliti Labinot launches a shot at the Guangzhou Evergrande goal. Photo: AFP
That’s just where they got their reward. Mark Bridge was played through on goal and chipped over the head of the onrushing goalkeeper only to be clumsily tripped late in the play. The result, another penalty. Tomi Juric may not have the scoring feat of Elkeson, the salary or the experience but the rising youngster instead showed he had the composure to finish the tie. The Socceroo calmly slotted the ball into the corner to send the Wanderers 2-0 ahead in the tie.
But just as they breathed a sigh of relief, they finally conceded in the tie. Star signing Alessandro Diamanti pounced inside the area to strike a fierce drive into the net to set up a tense finish.
Elkeson added a second with minutes remaining but the Wanderers showed their class to wind down what was left on the clock and clinch a place in the semi-final showdown against FC Seoul.
In truth, it was ugly. The Wanderers did their job only just and hardly in the fashion they’re accustomed to. They sat deep, absorbed pressure and played with honesty. They understood they would be outmatched by Evergrande, but they laboured through to the semi-final with a sense of humility that shocked a club with the slogan “Be the best forever.”
Guangzhou Evergrande 2 (Diamanti 61, Elkeson 90+1) Western Sydney Wanderers FC 1 (Juric 59 pen). Result: Tie ends 2-2, Western Sydney Wanderers FC advance on away goals.
FC Seoul 0 Pohang Steelers 0.Red card: Shin K H 116 – Pohang Steelers. Result: Tie ends 0-0, FC Seoul win penalty shootout 3-0.
Dons chairman Pete Winkelman controversially moved Wimbledon FC to Milton Keynes 11 years ago, with the team rebranded as MK Dons a year later.
Robinson said: “We get a lot criticism nationally for obvious reasons.
“But I don’t think anybody can talk about our birth or our existence in the Football League from now on. We’ve well and truly put ourselves on the map.”
The unprecedented manner in which the club were founded has been a constant source of controversy. MK were able to keep hold of the old Wimbledon’s Football League place after the Dons were moved 80 miles from south London to Buckinghamshire.
But the League Cup second round win against Louis van Gaal’s side is the biggest result of MK’s history and was played in front of a record 28,000 sell-out crowd at Stadium MK.
A Jonny Evans error gifted Will Grigg a first-half opener and the MK striker chested in a second after the hour mark.
Arsenal loanee Benik Afobe then hit his own double to compound United’s misery as the away side managed just two shots on target all match.
“The most emotional part was before kick-off. It took my breath away,” said Robinson, who is the Football League’s fifth longest-serving manager, having been in charge since 2010.
“When you’ve had over 200 games at one club, and you see that this evening, that’s the bit I’ll remember.
“I’m still only 33. For me to be that age and have this experience like we did tonight – but it’s not about Karl Robinson.
“They can tell their grandkids about this for forever and a day. I’m so proud of them.”
Winkelman is hopeful that the club can build on the result and increase their fanbase in a growing town.
“This is the kind of game that hopefully in a few years’ time people look back at and say ‘were you there?’. It’s history in the making and that could make a big difference to the club going forward,” he said.
“Quite a few thousand people were here for the first time.
“Does it have an affect on whether people think they can be associated with a team? I think it can make a massive difference.”
Western Sydney Wanderers must target Guangzhou Evergrande’s suspect defence if it is to reach the AFC Champions League semi-finals, says a man who faced the Chinese powerhouse four times in the last two years.
The Wanderers take on Evergrande in the second leg of the quarter-finals with the cushion of a 1-0 lead from the first leg in Parramatta.
Perth Glory midfielder Rostyn Griffiths knows all about Evergrande, having spent two seasons with its crosstown rival Guangzhou R&F from 2012.
Griffiths said the Wanderers are in for a tough match at Tianhe Stadium on Wednesday night but Guangzhou’s weakness in defence should give Tony Popovic’s side plenty of hope of progressing.
“Most teams in the Chinese league get a lot of scoring chances when they play Evergrande because they are very vulnerable in defence,” Griffiths said.
“They are a very attacking side but, having said that, they are weak in defence because they leave themselves quite open.
“The problem for visiting teams is that Evergrande usually score more goals than they concede.
“Evergrande are very good and positive when they play at home, usually in front of forty thousand fans.
“They have some foreign stars and some good Chinese players as well.
“Evergrande are under pressure, no doubt about that, and this is something they have not had to deal with too much in recent years.
“It will be interesting to see how they respond to the situation they are in.”
Griffiths said he expected the Wanderers to play their typical cautious game and rely on counter-attacks.
“It is going to be very hot and humid so the Wanderers should not try to play Evergrande at their own open game in my opinion because the home team could be too good for them,” he warned.
“They should keep their structure all night which I’m sure they will do and try to catch Evergrande on the break and pinch an away goal or two.
“That’s how the Wanderers play in the A-League, anyway.
“Central Coast Mariners did the same thing last year … they sat back and counter-attacked.
“They created chances but what they did not do was stick the ball in the back of the net.
“Which is why it is very important for the Wanderers to take the chances which they will get for sure.”
Football officials are also being investigated. Photo: AAP/Dean Lewins.
An Olympiakos Panionios match in question after phonetaps reveal players discussing fixing the match
Four soccer players from a Super League team colluded with others to affect the course of games so they could win thousands of euros from betting, according to a preliminary judicial investigation.
According to the probe’s results, a 24-year-old player repeatedly contacted a 28-year-old man regarding betting issues ahead of a game between Olympiakos and Panionios. The soccer player advised his contact to bet on there being more than 13 corners in the game. There were in fact 16 – 13 conceded by
Panionios and three by Olympiakos. This allegedly led to a post-tax betting win of 19,100 euros.
Wiretaps on the players’ phones suggest that the 24-year-old was to be paid 6,300 euros and the other three players lesser amounts.
The 24-year-old was also found to be in contact with a 48-year-old gas station owner to whom he allegedly owned 30,000 euros. In a text message, the player
appears to suggest he could help fix matches.
Also facing match fixing claims are eleven football officials who this week were given until September 15 before they have to face court. The group is being investigated over allegations that the draws to decide which match officials were appointed to referee games in Greece’s Super League were fixed.
Humiliation: Assistant manager Ryan Giggs has his head in his hands near the end of the game as Louis van Gaal fails to get off the winning mark at MK Dons
Di Maria is supposed to lift spirits as well as add quality to a squad which has struggled in the opening games of the season under Van Gaal, but morale was, to say the least, not helped by what happened here on Tuesday night.
With no European distractions, it might have been a competition in which he would field a strong team and attempt to iron out some of the problems which have blighted his opening games in the role.
They might have taken confidence against a side from League One, but with a few injuries to nurse, Van Gaal treated this partly as an experience for young fringe players and partly as a shop-window opportunity for those he wouldn’t mind selling to help the club offset the Di Maria fee.
Instead, the star names were rested with Burnley in mind. There were 10 changes from the team which drew at Sunderland, on Sunday, and those seeking to impress Van Gaal and potential buyers started with purpose.
But it did not last long for Shinji Kagawa, who tried to continue after taking an early bang in the face but was replaced after just 20 minutes by Adnan Januzaj.
Perhaps this was the first evidence of the new Barclays Premier League’s post-Lloris concussion rules starting to influence the touchline thought process of medics and coaches.
The return of Evans from injury was a more encouraging sign for United, who still lack options in defence.
At least it was until the 25th minute, when terrible carelessness by Evans in defence presented the ball to Reeves, who took David de Gea out of the equation with a cut-back to Grigg, who slid the ball into an open goal.
It was reward for the way MK Dons refused to be ruffled by an energetic United start, when the pace of Danny Welbeck and Javier Hernandez caused a few problems and Nick Powell, playing his first United game for 20 months, threatened around the edge of the penalty area.
Powell went close in the opening minutes, sweeping over with his left foot from 20 yards, and closer still nine minutes after his team had gone behind from a similar distance, but slowly the home team settled, enjoyed decent spells of possession and put United under occasional pressure.
Karl Robinson’s team have for some years been one of the better footballing teams in the lower leagues. The philosophy is engrained.
Confidence spread after Northern Ireland international Grigg had fired them ahead and the Milton Keynes crowd serenaded Van Gaal with: ‘You’re getting sacked in the morning’.
Dons teenager Dele Alli, strong and composed in central midfield, showed why many Premier League clubs are monitoring his progress. By the time the interval arrived, the home team were in control, United’s strikers had been neutralised and Van Gaal was deep in tense conversation with Ryan Giggs.
United flickered after the break but there was no great change. Welbeck fired wide from distance but at the other end, De Gea was required to save from sub Daniel Powell.
Then Grigg pounced for his second and Afobe sprinted clear to collect another pass from the excellent Reeves to slide the third past De Gea.
Afobe then added a fourth, finishing with his left foot after tearing through United’s defence past Vermijl, Evans and Pereira to score with five mins left.
It sparked celebrations in the stadium mk, where they will always live under the ignominy of their controversial creation.
Little more than a decade ago there was no team in Milton Keynes and many of the locals filled the void by supporting Manchester United.
On Tuesday night this largely unpopular club beat the world’s most popular and they deserved it.
Λιγοστές είναι οι πιθανότητες του Ολυμπιακού να αναρριχηθεί στο δεύτερο γκρουπ δυναμικότητας πριν από την κλήρωση για τους ομίλους του Champions League μετά τις προκρίσεις της Ζενίτ Αγίας Πετρούπολης (επί της Σταντάρ Λιέγης) και της Πόρτο (επί της Λιλ).
Προκειμένου οι πρωταθλητές Ελλάδας να πλασαριστούν στην πρώτη 16άδα της κορυφαίας διοργάνωσης θα πρέπει την Τετάρτη ν’ αποκλειστούν τόσο η Άρσεναλ από την Μπεσίκτας (0-0 στην Τουρκία) και η Λεβερκούζεν από την Κοπεγχάγη (νίκησε 3-2 στη Δανία).
Με τα τωρινά δεδομένα η ελληνική ομάδα δεν μπορεί να κληρωθεί με τη Λεβερκούζεν (αν προχωρήσει και δεν αποκλειστεί η Άρσεναλ), την ΤΣΣΚΑ Μόσχας, τον Άγιαξ, τη Λίβερπουλ, τη Σπόρτινγκ Λισαβόνας, τη Γαλατάσαραϊ και μία εκ των Νάπολι ή Μπιλμπαο (ανάλογα ποια θα προκριθεί μετά το 1-1 στο Σαν Πάολο).
Από την άλλη, ο αποκλεισμός της Σέλτικ έφερε απλώς τη Μάριμπορ στο τέταρτο γκρουπ δυναμικότητας χωρίς ν’ αλλάξει επί της ουσίας πολλά. Εκεί βρίσκεται και ο ΑΠΟΕΛ του Γιώργου Δώνη, κάτι που σημαίνει ότι είναι μία εκ των πιθανών αντιπάλων του Ολυμπιακού ανεξάρτητα με το τι θα συμβεί την Τετάρτη.
Θρίαμβος! Το ΑΠΟΕΛ έστησε ένα ονειρεμένο πάρτι στο ΓΣΠ με καλεσμένους 18 χιλιάδες φίλους του, διέσυρε με 4-0 την Άαλμποργκ και θα λάβει μέρος πανάξια για τρίτη φορά στην ιστορία του στους ομίλους του Champions League.
Βινίσιους στο 29′, Ντε Βινσέντι στο 44′, Αλωνεύτης στο 64′ και Σιέρινταν στο 75′ διαμόρφωσαν την σπουδαία νίκη. Δεν είναι και λίγο σε τέτοιο επίπεδο να ρίχνεις τεσσάρες.
Ορεξάτο ξεκίνημα Με διάθεση μπήκαν οι δύο ομάδες στο παιχνίδι. Στο δεκάλεπτο το ΑΠΟΕΛ κατάφερε να κρατήσει περισσότερο μπάλα και προσπάθησε να βρει διαδρόμους προς την εστία του Λάρσεν.
Πρώτη απειλή με Γκόμες
Η πρώτη μεγάλη φάση ήρθε ακριβώς με τη συμπλήρωση του πρώτου τετάρτου. Ο Μαντούκα βρήκε ωραία τον Γκόμες που από πολύ καλή θέση έπιασε την καρφωτή κεφαλιά με τον Λάρσεν να λέει το πρώτο μεγάλο όχι.
Ανέβηκαν οι Δανοί
Σιγά σιγά οι φιλοξενούμενοι βρήκαν τα πατήματα τους και προσπάθησαν να ανησυχήσουν χωρίς όμως ιδιαίτερο αποτέλεσμα τον Πάρντο. Εξαίρεση μια επικίνδυνη παράλληλη μπαλιά στο 23′ που απομακρύνθηκε από την άμυνα.
Χτύπησε ο Βινίσιους Παρά το ανέβασμα των Δανών το ΑΠΟΕΛ έδειχνε να ελέγχει το ματς και στο 29′ χτύπησε με τον Βινίσιους. Ο μαχητικός Γκόμες έκλεψε την μπάλα λίγο έξω από την περιοχή, έδωσε στον Ντε Βινσέντι και ο Αργεντίνος από πλάγια θέση τροφοδότησε όμορφα τον Βινίσιους που από το ύψος του πέναλτι νίκησε με όμορφο πλασέ τον Λάρσεν. Θυμίζουμε ότι ο Βινίσιους πέτυχε και το γκολ της ισοφάρισης στη Δανία.
Φοβερό όχι από Πάρντο
Δύο μακρινά σουτ του Μαντούκα στη συνέχεια δεν ανησύχησαν τον Λάρσεν. Στο 36′ ήρθε η μεγαλύτερη φάση για την Άαλμποργκ με τον Πάρντο να λέει όχι με φοβερή απόκρουση σε κοντινή κεφαλιά του Ενεβόλντσεν.
Ντέβι και 2-0
Στην εκπνοή του ημιχρόνου ο Ντε Βινσέντι από κοντά έκανε το 2-0 μετά από κόρνερ του Γκόμες, έδωσε τεράστιο προβάδισμα στην ομάδα του και έστειλε παράλληλα το σύνθημα στην πορτοκαλί εξέδρα για να αρχίσει το γλέντι…
Έψαξε το τρίτο
Η Άαλμποργκ ήθελε γκολ επείγον, το ΑΠΟΕΛ ήταν αυτό που μπήκε δυνατά και στην επανάληψη και έψαξε το τρίτο γκολ για να καθαρίσει μια ώρα γρηγορότερα την πρόκριση.
Και το πέτυχε
Και αφού απείλησε σε 1-2 περιπτώσεις, τελικά ήρθε το τρίτο γκολ στο 64′ από τον Στάθη Αλωνεύτη στο 64′. Ο Κύπριος μεσοεπιθετικός τρία μόλις λεπτά μετά την είσοδο του στο παιχνίδι πήρε μια μαγική μακρινή μπαλιά από τον Σέρτζιο, βρέθηκε πίσω από την άμυνα της Άαλμποργκ και σιγά μην το έχανε. Έκανε το 3-0 και το γαλαζοκίτρινο πάρτι πρόκρισης είχε ήδη αρχίσει.
Ζήλεψε και ο Σιέρινταν!
Το κοντέρ συνέχισε να γράφει αφού ο Κίλιαν Σιέρινταν ζήλεψε, νίκησε με ωραίο σουτ τον Λάρσεν και ανέβασε τον δείκτη του σκορ στο 4-0.
Απλά να τελειώσει
Μετά το γκολ του Σιέρινταν όλοι πλέον στο γήπεδο περίμεναν το τελικό σφύριγμα του διαιτητή. Οι οπαδοί των γαλαζοκιτρίνων έστησαν το δικό τους πάρτι, ο Δώνης έδωσε το δικαίωμα στον Τζιμπούρ να ντεμπουτάρει ενώ οι Δανοί προσπαθούσαν να πετύχουν το γκολ της τιμής. Ναι αυτό που κάποτε προσπαθούσαν να πετύχουν οι ομάδες μας… Τα πράγματα όμως άλλαξαν άρδην και άμα λάχει ρίχνουμε και τεσσέρες.
Το πολυπόθητο σφύριγμα ήρθε, οι του ΑΠΟΕΛ περιμένουν πλέον την κλήρωση της Πέμπτης για να αρχίσουν να προγραμματίσουν τα ταξίδια του φθινοπώρου. Και αυτά σίγουρα θα είναι όμορφα.
Η Μάντσεστερ Γιουνάιτεντ ανακοίνωσε επίσημα την απόκτηση του Άνχελ ντι Μαρία από την Ρεάλ Μαδρίτης. Κόστισε 75.000.000 ευρώ ο Αργεντινός.
“Κόκκινος διάβολος” είναι πλέον και επίσημα ο Άνχελ ντι Μαρία, καθώς η Μάντσεστερ Γιουνάιτεντ ανακοίνωσε την απόκτηση του Αργεντινού από την Ρεάλ Μαδρίτης.
Ανακοινώθηκε μάλιστα και το κόστος, το οποίο είναι 59.700.000 λίρες, δηλαδή 75.000.000 ευρώ, ποσό που αποτελεί φυσικά ρεκόρ για την Αγγλία και γενικά κάθε άλλη χώρα πέραν της Ισπανίας.
Nick Kyrgios is coming off a quarterfinal appearance at Wimbledon, and big things are expected.
Even before 11 on Monday morning the aficionados had practically filled the 2,800-seat jewel of a showcourt, No. 17.
At three minutes past the hour, Nick Kyrgios, the Australian teenager, sauntered out, wearing fluorescent pinkish headphones — to match his shirt and shoelaces.
It was shrewd planning by those astute fans, for on a hot day at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, Kyrgios proved to be even hotter — for better and for worse. Three hours and three minutes later, he knocked the first seeded man out of the tournament, No. 21 Mikhail Youzhny, 7-5, 7-6 (4), 2-6, 7-6 (1).
Kyrgios, who was overly emotional at times, was called for three code violations, one shy of default.
“I have to know I’m still young and it’s a long journey,” Kyrgios said later. “I have to just be patient. I think it’s good to have high expectations as well.”
Kyrios, of course, took out then-No. 1 seed Rafael Nadal in the fourth round at Wimbledon. The 19-year-old won the Challenger at Nottingham, accepted a wild card from the All England Club and then announced himself with that ridiculously nonchalant between-the-legs shot that left Rafa looking stunned.
It was not a textbook “clean” match, with Kyrgios hitting 26 aces and 68 winners — leavened by 57 unforced errors. Youzhny, who looked all of his 32 years afterward, actually won one more point, 157 to 156.
Kyrgios, who withdrew from Cincinnati with a left arm injury, said he’s going to have to learn to push through the pain. And to think last year he qualified his way into the main draw here.
“Yeah, it’s all happened so fast,” he said. “It sort of hasn’t sunk in. It sunk in a little bit, but I’m still pretty amazed how fast it all happened.”
He’s one of only five teenagers in the men’s main draw and he’s so young that, when asked for his favorite US Open memory growing up, said he didn’t have one.
“I watched Federer-Hewitt [the 2004 final] this morning,” Kyrgios said. “That’s probably the only one I can remember right now.”
Tomi Juric silenced the crowd with his penalty conversion. Photo: Getty Images
High flyers: Haliti Labinot launches a shot at the Guangzhou Evergrande goal. Photo: AFP
STUDIO 3 NEWCASTLE AUSTRALIA 