Category Archives: SPORTS

Manchester City returned to the top of the Barclays Premier League on goal difference after holding rivals Manchester United to a 0-0 draw in the Manchester derby.

The absence of David Silva and Sergio Aguero through injury impacted upon the creativity of the visitors, who had scored 11 goals in their previous two league wins, while Wayne Rooney was unable to supplement Anthony Martial’s ingenuity in the United attack.

Substitute Jesse Lingard was almost an unlikely derby hero for United, prodding a volley against the crossbar from Martial’s wonderful lofted ball five minutes from time and City goalkeeper Joe Hart saved brilliantly from Chris Smalling as the clock ticked down.

City edge on to 22 points, ahead of Arsenal at the top of the table on goal difference, while United are fourth and level on 20 with third-placed West Ham United.

City captain Vincent Kompany returned at centre-back to partner Nicolas Otamendi for the first time, while Manuel Pellegrini replaced Jesus Navas with Fernando to bolster his central midfield.

Louis van Gaal made a solitary change to the United side that drew 1-1 against CSKA Moscow in midweek, with Juan Mata replacing Lingard, and his settled line-up made the more assured start.

City’s first sight of goal came in the 12th minute, Raheem Sterling’s shot deflected wide after a one-two with Fernandinho – the Brazil midfielder who earned a fifth booking of the season and a suspension for fouling Martial a few moments later.

Yaya Toure enjoyed the best opening of the first-half, heading Kevin De Bruyne’s right-wing corner narrowly wide before lofting a searching pass from the same player off target.

Martial’s quick footwork offered United’s greatest source of encouragement before the break, Kompany booked for a foul on the France international, but Ander Herrera was the man to unnerve City after the restart.

Having seen a shot deflected wide, the midfielder collected a short corner and went down under a challenge from Sterling, who went unpunished but made way for Navas in the 53rd minute.

United almost found success with a more direct set-piece approach, Morgan Schneiderlin agonisingly close to a decisive touch as Smalling’s header skidded past Hart’s near post.

Otamendi made a vital clearance as Rooney lurked on the end of a low Bastian Schweinsteiger cross and Hart burst from his goal to deny Mata as the pressure on City grew.

Lingard and Smalling were denied by the woodwork and Hart respectively as the cross-Manchester tussle ended all-square for the first time in 13 meetings across all competitions.

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal: “I think it was a very tough game for both sides. We were unlucky and they were lucky. That’s what I can say about this match.

“It was one of our best matches – 90 minutes concentration and focus, 90 minutes control of the game against a side like Manchester City. I cannot complain as a manager but you want to win and we did not win. That’s the most important thing.”

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini: “I’m not disappointed because we did okay in a difficult stadium. We played better in the first half, but as a team we need to defend as well, it’s a tactical game. It’s easy to defend with 10 players in your box, for me it’s not the way to do it but we did well.

“I don’t know if we have played our best. I always read how teams going away and playing tactical are doing well – it’s all mind games, and although it’s not my way of playing we did it this time. We have returned to the top, which is important.”

Post-match stats
– This is only the third goalless Manchester derby in BPL history (also November 2004 and November 2010).
– Man City were involved in their first goalless PL draw in their last 61 games, last drawing 0-0 v Norwich in February 2014.
– Man Utd v Man City is only the second Barclays Premier League match this season not to have a shot on target in the first half, along with United v Liverpool.
– Man Utd did not have a single shot in the first half of a BPL match for the first time since 2003/04 (including blocked).
– It took 82 minutes for the first shot on target in this match, from Jesus Navas. United have their first attempt on target in the 88th minute.

source:premierleague.com

Νέα «σφαλιάρα» για την Τσέλσι, καθώς ηττήθηκε στην έδρα της -εκπληκτικής φέτος- Γουέστ Χαμ με 2-1 και απομακρύνθηκε ακόμη περισσότερο από την κορυφή, ενώ φουντώνει η γκρίνια για τον Ζοζέ Μουρίνιο.

Το ματς ήταν επεισοδιακό και όλα ξεκίνησαν στο 37ο λεπτό, όταν η κεφαλιά του Ζουμά δεν μέτρησε (σωστά) κυριολεκτικά για χιλιοστά, όπως απέδειξε και το «goal line technology.»

Ο Μουρίνιο, όμως, έγινε έξαλλος και ο διαιτητής του έδειξε τον δρόμο για τα αποδυτήρια. Λίγο πριν το τέλος του ημιχρόνου τα προβλήματα των «μπλε» μεγάλωσαν, αφού έχασαν και τον Μάτιτς με δεύτερη κίτρινη κάρτα (44′).

Από τα υπόλοιπα ματς ξεχωρίζει η νέα νίκη της Λέστερ του Κλαούντιο Ρανιέρι με 1-0 απέναντι στην Κρίσταλ Πάλας, ενώ «ζορίζουν» επικίνδυνα τα πράγματα για τον Τιμ Σέργουντ στον πάγκο της Άστον Βίλα, καθώς οι «χωριάτες» ηττήθηκαν 2-1 στο Μπέρμιγχαμ από τη Σουόνσι.

Συνοπτικά σε αναμετρήσεις για την 10η αγωνιστική της Premier League, σημειώθηκαν τα εξής αποτελέσματα:

Αστον Βίλα-Σουόνσι 1-2
(62′ Τ. Αγιού – 68′ Σίγκουρσον, 87′ Α. Αγιού)

Λέστερ-Κρίσταλ Πάλας 1-0
(59′ Βαρντί)

Νόριτς-Γουέστ Μπρομ 0-1
(46′ Ροντόν)

Στόουκ Σίτι-Γουότφορντ 0-2
(43′ Ντινέι, 69′ Αμπντί)

Γουέστ Χαμ-Τσέλσι 2-1
(17′ Ζάρατε, 79′ Κάρολ – 56′ Κέιχιλ)

Αρσεναλ-Εβερτον 24/10

Σάντερλαντ-Νιούκαστλ 25/10
Μπόρνμουθ-Τότεναμ 25/10
Μάντσεστερ Γιουνάιτεντ-Μάντσεστερ Σίτι 25/10
Λίβερπουλ-Σαουθάμπτον 25/10

ΒΑΘΜΟΛΟΓΙΑ (σε 10 αγώνες)
Μάντσεστερ Σίτι 21 -9αγ.
Γουέστ Χαμ 20
Μάντσεστερ Γιουν. 19 -9αγ.
Άρσεναλ 19 -9αγ.
Λέστερ 19
Κρίσταλ Πάλας 15
Τότεναμ 14 -9αγ.
Γουέστ Μπρομ 14
Σαουθάμπτον 13 -9αγ.
Εβερτον 13 -9αγ.
Σουόνσι 13
Λίβερπουλ 13 -9αγ.
Γουότφορντ 13
Στόουκ Σίτι 12
Τσέλσι 11
Νόριτς 9
Μπόρνμουθ 8 -9αγ.
Νιούκαστλ 6 -9αγ.
Αστον Βίλα 4
Σάντερλαντ 3 -9αγ.

Πηγή:in.gr

Μειώνονται οι αποστάσεις από την κορυφή στην Football League, στα πλαίσια της 5ης αγωνιστικής, η οποία πραγματοποιήθηκε Σάββατο λόγω Κυπέλλου μέσα στην εβδομάδα.

Την αρχή έκαναν τα Τρίκαλα την Παρασκευή, όπου σταμάτησαν το σερί της Κέρκυρας και με νίκη 3-2 κατοχύρωσαν την 2η θέση της βαθμολογίας.

Στα ματς του Σαββάτου ξεχώρισε η νίκη του Ολυμπιακού Βόλου απέναντι στην Λαμία με 1-0, καθώς και η νίκη με ανατροπή του Εργοτέλη επί του Παναιγειάλειου.

Η Καλλιθέα έκανε διπλό στην Ζάκυνθο (2-1), όπως και η Παναχαϊκή στις Σέρρες (2-1).

Η πρωτοπόρος της βαθμολογίας ΑΕΛ, έμεινε στο 0-0 με τον Απόλλωνα Σμύρνης στη Ριζούπολη.

Ανάλυση των αγώνων από το flnews.gr

Πανσεραϊκός – Παναχαϊκή 1-2
Ολυμπιακός Βόλου – Λαμία 1-0
Ζάκυνθος – Καλλιθέα 1-2
Κισσαμικός – Αχαρναϊκός 1-1
Πανελευσινιακός – Καρδίτσα 0-1
Εργοτέλης – Παναιγειάλειος 3-2
Απόλλων Σμύρνης – Λάρισα 0-0

Πηγή:in.gr

Σε περίπατο μετέτρεψε η ΑΕΚ τον αγώνα με τον Ηρακλή στο ΟΑΚΑ, αφού στο ντεμπούτο του Στέλιου Μανωλά και στον πρώτο μετά-Δέλλα αγώνα, επικράτησε εύκολα του Γηραιού με 5-1 (ΑΕΚ – Ηρακλής 5-1), στο πλαίσιο της 8ης αγωνιστικής της Σούπερ Λιγκ.

Η Καλλονή παρά την υπεροχή της δεν μπόρεσε να κάμψει την αντίσταση του Λεβαδεικού που έφυγε με τη λευκή ισοπαλία (Καλλονή – Λεβαδειακός 0-0) από τη Μυτιλήνη.

Σημαντική νίκη στην προσπάθεια του αν φύγει από τις τελευταίες θέσεις της βαθμολογίας έκανε ο Πλατανιάς, ο οποίος επικράτησε με του Πανσιτωλικού στο Αγρίνιο (Παναιτωλικός – Πλατανιάς 1-2).

Συνέχεια την Κυριακή

Την Κυριακή διεξάγεται το ντέρμπι της αγωνιστικής. Με σκοπό να παραμείνει σε απόσταση αναπνοής από τον Ολυμπιακό, ο Παναθηναϊκός θέλει το «διπλό» απέναντι στον ΠΑΟΚ, με τον «δικέφαλο» να αναζητάει και εκείνος τη νίκη μετά το νωθρό ξεκίνημα του στη φετινή σεζόν.

Ο πρωτοπόρος και αήττητος Ολυμπιακός φιλοξενείται από τον Ατρόμητο στο Περιστέρι και θέλει με τη νίκη να διατηρήσει για ακόμα μια αγωνιστική το «απόλυτο».

Με ενδιαφέρον αναμένονται οι αγώνες Πανιώνιος – Βέροια και ΠΑΣ Γιάννινα – Αστέρα Τρίπολης.

Πρόγραμμα:

Σάββατο:
Καλλονή-Λεβαδειακός 0-0

Παναιτωλικός – Πλατανιάς 1-2
49′ Κάπελ-30′ Μιλούνοβιτς, 83′ Κουλιμπαλί

ΑΕΚ – Ηρακλής 5-1
(31′, 60′ Βάργκας, 35′ Αραβίδης, 67′ Μπαρμπόσα, 89′ Μπουονανότε-64′ Βέλλιος)

Κυριακή:
15:00 Ατρομήτος – Ολυμπιακός
17:15 ΠΑΣ Γιάννινα – Αστέρας Τρίπολης
17:15 Πανιώνιος – Βέροια
17:15 Πανθρακικός – Ξάνθη
19:30 ΠΑΟΚ – Παναθηναϊκός

Βαθμολογία (σε 7 αγώνες)
1. Ολυμπιακός 21
2. Παναθηναϊκός 18
3. ΑΕΚ 16 -8αγ.
4. Πανιώνιος 13
5. ΠΑΟΚ 11
. Λεβαδειακός 11 -8αγ.
7. Ατρόμητος 9
. Αστέρας Τρίπολης 9
9. ΠΑΣ Γιάννινα 8
. Βέροια 8
. Παναιτωλικός 8 -8αγ.
. Πλατανιάς 8 -8αγ.
13. Ξάνθη 7
. Ηρακλής 7 -8αγ.
15. Καλλονή 6 -8αγ.
16. Πανθρακικός 2

Πηγή:in.gr

Milos Ninkovic has made himself an instant Sydney FC hero, scoring an 88th-minute winner as the Sky Blues prevailed 1-0 over Western Sydney Wanderers in a feisty derby on Saturday night.

A sensational crowd of 40,539 crammed into Allianz Stadium – the second biggest ever Sydney derby attendance – and they were treated to a pulsating clash with a thrilling finish.

Just as it looked like it would end goalless, Ninkovic pounced to score his first Sky Blues goal to give Sydney FC Harbour City bragging rights for the fourth time in their last five meeting.

The win takes Graham Arnold’s side top of the Hyundai A-League, while the Wanderers are still searching for their first win of the new season.

GOALS

1-0 Ninkovic (88’) – The Wanderers looked to have cleared a Sydney FC attack only for Brandon O’Neill to play a clever chip over the top to Ninkovic. The Serbian’s first touch was sublime, taking it down and past Nikolai Topor-Stanley before burying his shot across Andrew Redmayne and into the far, bottom corner.

KEY MOMENT

A cagey opening 45 minutes looked to be finishing with the visitors on top and they thought they had a goal in first-half stoppage time.

The impressive Mitch Nichols played a cross in from the left and found the head of Jaushua Sotirio, who flicked his header brilliantly into the far corner.

But before he could wheel away to celebrate their joy was cut-short by an offside flag. Replays suggested it was line-ball and could have gone either way.

It was a blow for the visitors, who were then sunk at the death by Ninkovic’s winner.

OPTA DATA KEY STATS

Sydney FC has now extended their unbeaten derby run to five matches, winning four of those.

It’s also the first time they have kept the Wanderers scoreless in nine meetings, going back to the very first derby three years ago.

The Wanderers have now failed to keep a clean-sheet in 16 straight Hyundai A-League matches, the clubs worst-ever run.

Read more at http://www.a-league.com.au/matchcentre/Sydney-FC-v-Western-Sydney-Wanderers-FC/811621#HQ9atr2AbLFIFxzl.99
HIGHLIGHTS REEL

What a sight it was inside Allianz Stadium as more than 40,000 fans flocked in to see these two sides of Sydney go to battle.

While the action on the pitch failed to reach any great heights, the atmosphere and colour provided by both sets of supporters was first-class.

Neither let up for the whole 90 minutes, providing a cacophony of noise and another great advertisement for this derby and the Hyundai A-League.

TREATMENT TABLE

The Wanderers were forced into an early change as dangerous winger Romeo Castelen lasted less than eight minutes before he was forced off with a hamstring injury. The visitors also lost defender Scott Neville just after the break also with a leg problem.

BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD

Wanderers marquee man Federico Piovaccari came to the club with a lot of wraps but for the third game in a row he failed to deliver.

Whether it’s the quality of the service or his own performance, something just isn’t clicking for the big Italian. Sydney’s central defender Matt Jurman and Jacques Faty both got the better of Piovaccari over the 90 minutes.

How long does Popovic persist before maybe looking at another option in attack?

THE FINAL WORD

They left it late but Sydney FC finally managed to put their inconsistent home form behind them with the late winner. The Sky Blues are on the road next weekend and involved in a third NSW derby in as many weeks as they head up the F3 to take on Central Coast Mariners on Saturday afternoon.

Western Sydney’s wait for a first win goes on but they will feel they are still in pretty good nick despite having just one point from three matches. The Wanderers return to Pirtek Stadium to take on Westfield FFA Cup finalists Perth Glory on Sunday.

source:a-league.com.au

DAVID Carney, take a bow.

The reborn former Socceroo produced a wonder strike to snatch the Newcastle Jets a 1-0 win over A-League champions Melbourne Victory at Hunter Stadium on Friday night.

Two weeks after a man-of-the match effort in the 2-1 win over Wellington, Carney produced the goods again.

The winger won a free-kick in the 75th minute then produced the killer blow.

Leonardo pushed the ball in front of Carney, who hit a swerving drive past Danny Vukovic into the left corner.

It has been an amazing turnaround for the 31-year-old, who was exiled for the second half of last season after a fallout with former coach Phil Stubbins.

Until Carney’s heroics, Victory looked the most likely. They had 60 per cent of possession and led the shot count 20-8.

The win continued the Jets’ dominance of the defending champions.

Last season’s wooden spooners are now unbeaten in their past eight games, including trials, and they have the greatest winning percentage of any team over perennial powerhouse Victory.

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Ever competitive, Victory coach Kevin Muscat bristled and vowed to end the rot when it was suggested that the Jets were the Victory’s bogey team in the lead-up to the round-three clash.

Muscat’s frustration levels reached boiling point midway through the second half, and referee Strebre Delovski stopped play to tell the coach to calm down.

Neither side could find a killer blow in a high-tempo first half.

Buoyed by their record against the Victory, the home side started the brighter and should have punished the visitors when Milos Trifunovic pounced on an errant pass from Broxham in the 18th minute.

But, with only Danny Vukovic to beat, the Serbian shot way too early and straight at the keeper. It was a sign of things to come.

Trifunovic had another chance three minutes later but again fell short, unable to get a toe to a Leonardo ball across the face of goal.

The two close calls stung the champions into action.

Jets goalkeeper Kennedy made good saves to deny Fahid Ben Khalfallah then Kosta Barbarouses.

Hired gun Besart Berisha beat the keeper but not the woodwork as the shot count rose to 7-1 in Victory’s favour after half an hour.

But it was anything but one-way traffic. The Jets hustled and bustled and pressed hard.

The game opened up the further it progressed.

Trifunovic should have broken the deadlock two minutes after the resumption after he outmuscled Broxham, but his shot flashed past the left post.

The Jets defended stoutly after Carney’s goal to give young coach Scott Miller his first win at home.

source:theherald.com.au

Belgian playmaker Kevin De Bruyne saw Manchester City home against Sevilla in dramatic style in the Champions League, as Paris Saint-Germain held 10-time titleholders Real Madrid to a goalless draw.

De Bruyne’s injury time contribution earned City a 2-1 home win against Spain’s Europa League champions to improve its chances of escaping from Group D and into the last 16.

An open affair at the Etihad Stadium was heading for a draw after Adil Rami’s own goal cancelled out Yevhen Konoplyanka’s 30th-minute opener for Sevilla, only for De Bruyne to gather a pass from Yaya Toure and slam home with his left foot seconds into stoppage time.

Manuel Pellegrini’s men moved up to second, one point behind Juventus, the Serie A giants held to a 0-0 stalemate by Borussia Moenchengladbach in Turin.

“We improved a little bit in the last 10 minutes and we had the character to try to win the game,” Pellegrini said.

“We tried to make some changes because we were not arriving to their box. That’s why we put Kevin up front with Yaya. Fortunately it led to the goal.”

Manchester United, who hosts City in the Premier League this weekend, drew 1-1 away to CSKA Moscow, its French starlet Anthony Martial firmly leaving his imprint on the encounter.

The 19-year-old was called for handball which led to CSKA taking the lead on 15 minutes, Seydou Doumbia slamming in the rebound after United goalkeeper David de Gea had parried Roman Eremenko’s penalty onto the post.

But the French teenager atoned for his mistake with a fine header after the hour for his first goal in the competition and fifth since his high profile move from Monaco in August.

On the attack … Manchester United’s Anthony Martial jumps over the defence of Pontus Wernbloom
Photo: On the attack … Manchester United’s Anthony Martial jumps over the defence of Pontus Wernbloom (AFP Photo: Yuri Kadobnov)

“I knew it would be a very difficult game,” United boss Louis van Gaal said.

“They had the present from Anthony Martial and then it is difficult when you are behind.

“We could not play at a high tempo, it was too slow in the first half. We could have won but a draw was deserved.”

Bundesliga side Wolfsburg top the pool on six points after defeating PSV Eindhoven 2-0, with United and CSKA on four and the Dutch champions bringing up the rear on three.

Ronaldo, the Brazilian 2002 World Cup winner, was in the stands at Parc des Princes to watch the headline tie between PSG and Real.

But despite both clubs deploying their all-time top scorers the game ended goalless, Real legend Cristiano Ronaldo coming as close as anyone to breaking the deadlock in the French capital with a second-half volley that whistled wide.

“Given the circumstances, the performance of the team was not good, it was exceptional,” Madrid manager Rafael Benitez said.

“We had chances to win the game, more than them, and decent control of the match against a team who are not easy to play against. As coach I am very satisfied.”

Both sides remain unbeaten this season and are yet to concede after three games as they sit locked together on seven points at the top of Group A.

Malmo won 1-0 at home to Shakhtar Donetsk but Paris and Madrid are each four points clear of the Swedes and will have an opportunity to clinch qualification for the last 16 when they meet again in Spain in a fortnight.

In Group C, Diego Simeone’s 2014 runners-up Atletico Madrid eased past Astana 4-0 to get its European campaign back on track after a shock defeat to Benfica last time out.

Saul Niguez opened the scoring before Jackson Martinez scored his first goal at the Vicente Calderon for Atletico. Substitute Oliver Torres added a third after the break before Denis Dedchenko’s late own goal rounded off the scoring.

Galatasaray’s 2-1 win over Benfica in the other match in the group means Atletico draw levels with Benfica at the top on six points, two points clear of the Turkish champions.

source:abc.net.au

Australia and Mexico have played out a 0-0 draw in their second FIFA under 17 World Cup match in Chillan, Chile.

The Joeys were good value for a point and were only denied victory after some brilliant goalkeeping from Romero.

Tony Vidmar’s team were beaten 4-1 by Germany in their opening Group C match and needed to avoid defeat against the Mexicans, who downed Argentina 2-0 in their first encounter, to stand any chance of qualifying for the next round.

source:abc.net.au

Cristiano Ronaldo was linked with a move to Manchester United during the summer transfer window

Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain have both been put on notice in their bids to sign Cristiano Ronaldo, with former Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon saying that whatever they spend to tempt the player away from Spain will by paid back to them in the marketing revenue he generates. However, Calderon admitted he wanted the Portuguese star to stay at the Santiago Bernabeu as he is “priceless” and only Lionel Messi is at his level.

Calderon resigned as president of Spanish giants in January 2009. However, speaking with IBTimes UK earlier this year, he claimed he was the one who ironed out the £80m ($123m) agreement that saw Ronaldo move from Old Trafford to the Bernabeu.

Ronaldo has since been significant not just Los Blancos’ trophies, including the 2013/14 Champions League, but also for the sponsors. Some would suggest that a big-money move for a player the wrong side of 30 would be an error.

But during an interview with Le Parisien, Calderon said that paying €100m for the star would actually be a bargain.

“Cristiano Ronaldo is priceless,” he said. “Because what he gives to the team, in terms of goals and mentality, he has no equivalent except Messi. If PSG or Manchester United sign Ronaldo, they will have no problem recovering the purchase price, however high, thanks to marketing benefits. If the Real sells him for €100m, they will without a doubt be richer, but they will never be able to buy a player like him again.”

Ronaldo has been linked with both PSG and United in recent months despite the player himself suggesting that his future lies at the Bernabeu. Calderon wants to see him hanging his boots with Los Blancos too, but admits his departure in the summer is a possibility.

“I have heard rumours that there’s strong PSG interest [in Ronaldo],” he said. “As the former president of Real Madrid, I hope that it never happens. But as someone who knows football, I think it could be possible.

“For now, Cristiano hasn’t expressed [a desire to leave]. I think he will take a decision at the end of the season, depending on the titles won and the feelings he has. In the meantime, the mystery will continue.”

source:ibtimes.co.uk

Olympiakos boosted their hopes of reaching the Champions League knockout stages after aBrown Ideye goal helped them to a 1-0 Group F win at Dinamo Zagreb on Tuesday.

The result left Olympiakos level with Bayern Munich at the top of the section with six points from three games after the German side suffered a 2-0 setback at Arsenal. Dinamo and Arsenal have three points each.

Nigerian Ideye scored the 79th-minute winner with a superb finish from a tight angle, redeeming himself for an astonishing miss earlier in the second half.

Dinamo had the upper hand in the opening period but the best chance fell to the visitors when a viciously dipping shot by defender Arthur Masuaku forced a good save from the home team’s goalkeeper Eduardo.

Dinamo pounded a series of fizzing crosses into the penalty area but to no great effect as a packed Olympiakos defence held their own.

Both sides missed a sitter each in the space of a minute shortly after the break when Dinamo’s Domagoj Antolic hit the post from close range before Ideye skewed his shot wide from three yards with the goal at his mercy.

Marko Rog’s trickling shot shaved the Olympiakos woodwork before Ideye raced clear of his marker on the left flank and buried the ball past Eduardo with a crisp finish.

The substitute Ángelo Henríquez missed Dinamo’s last chance to salvage a point, heading inches wide of the far post after a good cross from the right by full-back Alexandru Mățel.

Source:theguardian.com