David Beckham in Australia: His first appearance was during the Hyundai Club Challenge match between Sydney FC and LA Galaxy at Telstra Stadium Sydney in 2007. Photo: Robert Gray
One of the most recognisable names in world sport is set to play in Australia later this year with David Beckham leading an all-star cast for a football legends match in Sydney.
After failed bids to lure Beckham to the A-League three years ago and fans of the icon having to wait six years to see him, the former Manchester United, LA Galaxy and AC Milan star is set to finally play in Australia. Fairfax Media understands a deal for the former England captain to play in an exhibition match between former stars of Manchester United and Juventus is close to being sealed.
Beckham will be one of many high-profile former players to take part in the game between two of the most recognisable names in world football. It will be the first time since a friendly between LA Galaxy and Newcastle Jets in 2010 that Beckham has played in Australia. His first appearance – a friendly against Sydney FC in 2007 – attracted more than 80,000.
Beckham is set to play for Manchester United in the fixture in October or November and could be joined by Dwight Yorke, Phil Neville, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ryan Giggs and coached by Sir Alex Ferguson.
It’s understood one of Juventus’ greatest players, Alessandro Del Piero, will not take part in the Sydney game. Despite spending 19 years with the Bianconeri before moving to Australia to play two seasons with Sydney FC, Del Piero won’t play in a game that could hold some significance for him.
The former Juventus captain has not played in any of Juventus’ recent legends games since effectively retiring after leaving Indian Premier League club, Delhi Dynamos, in 2014. He famously played against Juventus when captaining the A-League All Stars in 2014.
French international David Trezeguet will almost certainly take part in the match as president of the Juventus’ Legends program. The Argentine-born French international was on the cusp of signing a guest player deal with Victorian Premier League club Hume City for their FFA Cup semi-final against Melbourne Victory last year.
While their team to play in Australia remains some way off being decided, recent Juventus legends games have included Czech star Pavel Nedved, Edgar Davids, Mauro Camoranesi, Paolo Montero, Angelo Peruzzi and Ciro Ferrara.
Despite being contested between players some years past their prime, the legends concept proved popular among football fans in Australia as more than 40,000 attended a match between former Liverpool players and past Socceroos internationals at ANZ Stadium last year.
Anfield greats Steven Gerrard, Ian Rush, Luis Garcia and John Arne-Riise proved impressive drawcards for that match. It’s likely an even greater crowd will flock to Olympic Park for a contest between former players of two of the most supported clubs in world football who dominated Europe and their respective leagues in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
PEP Guardiola avoided his future employers as Manchester City were on Friday drawn to play Real Madrid in the semi-finals of the Champions League while Atletico Madrid will face the Spaniard’s Bayern Munich.
Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool earned a Europa League semi-final against Villarreal from their heroic comeback against his former side Borussia Dortmund.
Defending champions Sevilla face Ukraine’s Shakhtar Donetsk in the second semi-final drawn Friday.
The first leg of the Champions League semi-finals will be played on April 26-27, with the second leg scheduled for May 3-4. The final will take place at Milan’s San Siro stadium on May 28.
For outgoing Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini, the semi-final will be a return to the club he managed in 2009-10.
City’s only games against Real, unbeaten in their last eight games against English clubs and in the semi-finals for a record sixth successive time, were in the 2012-13 group stage. They drew 1-1 at home and lost 3-2 away.
Atletico, the Diego Simeone-coached team that knocked out defending champions Barcelona in the quarter-finals, and Bayern have previously met once in European action, in the 1974 final, the Bundesliga side running out 4-0 winners in the replay following an initial 1-1 draw.
Liverpool, who hit back from 2-0 and 3-1 down to beat Borussia 4-3 and progress into the Europa League semis 5-4 on aggregate, have never played Villarreal before.
Sevilla ousted fellow Spaniards Athletic Bilbao on penalties in Thursday’s quarter-final in their bid to win a third consecutive Europa League.
The final is set for Basel, Switzerland, on May 18. The winners will get a place in next season’s Champions League group stages.
Liverpool are the only unbeaten side left in the competition, and goals from centre-backs Mamadou Sakho and Dejan Lovren completed one of the great Anfield comebacks against Dortmund.
The first leg will be played in Villareal on April 28, with The Yellow Submarine heading to Merseyside for the return leg on May 5.
The Spanish outfit, currently fourth in La Liga, are looking to reach their maiden major European final, after Europa League last-four defeats in 2004 and 2011 and a Champions League semi-final loss in 2006.
In stark contrast, Liverpool are attempting to win their ninth major continental trophy, and in the process, draw level with Sevilla as the competition’s record four-time winners.
Sevilla’s quartet of titles have all come in the last decade, with victory against Espanyol in 2007 making them just the second club after Real Madrid to win the competition in successive years.
They backed that performance up by repeating the feat 11 months ago against Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk, and now they have another Ukrainian outfit in Shakhtar standing in their way.
The first leg will be played in Seville, before 2009 champions Shakhtar host the second game in Lviv. The country’s civil war has forced them to play away from their home city.
Δύο πολύ μεγάλα ζευγάρια ανέδειξε, όπως αναμένονταν άλλωστε, η κληρωτίδα για την ημιτελική φάση του Champions League.
Μάντσεστερ Σίτι-Ρεάλ Μαδρίτης και Ατλέτικο Μαδρίτης-Μπάγερν Μονάχου θα διασταυρώσουν τα ξίφη τους για την πρόκριση στον τελικό του Μιλάνου που θα γίνει στις 28 Μαΐου.
Οι πρώτοι αγώνες θα διεξαχθούν 26/27 Απριλίου και οι επαναληπτικοί στις 3/4 Μαΐου.
Περισσότερα σε λίγο…
Στις 13.30 ξεκινά η κλήρωση του Europa League, όπου συμμετέχουν Λίβερπουλ, Σεβίλλη, Βιγιαρεάλ και Σαχτάρ Ντόνετσκ.
Επίσης δεν υπάρχουν περιορισμοί, ενώ θα καθοριστεί και ο γηπεδούχος του τελικού της Βασιλείας (18/5).
FIFA and its European branch UEFA have threatened Greece with the expulsion of all its clubs and the Greek national football team from all international competitions following violent episodes among fans in early March.
Last Tuesday Greece and FIFA reached an agreement to restart the Greek Cup, as announced by the president of the Cyprus Football Association (CFA), Costakis Koutsokoumnis. “We have reached an agreement, there is a commitment to begin the Greek Cup again,” he stated after his meeting with Greek Deputy Sports Minister Stavros Kontonis and Greek FA president Giorgos Girtzikis.
Kontonis had previously cancelled the Greek Cup, which had reached the semi-final stage, for fear of turmoil, despite the Greek FA’s opposition.
“The matches may be held outside Athens, perhaps without spectators or perhaps with only schoolchildren in the stands. This will be decided on by Friday between Mr Kontonis and the FA,” Koutsokoumnis added.
According to AFP reports, foreign referees may be called in for the two semi-final matches and the pending final.
The Socceroos coach also commented on the news, expressing his relief FIFA and the Greek FA had resolved their dispute, which could have kept Greece’s national team from the two friendlies in Australia in June.
“It would have been a disaster if we didn’t get those two games, vital to preparing for September’s qualifiers,” Ange Postecoglou told The Sydney Morning Herald.
“It would have left a massive hole in our calendar. Greece is rebuilding its side but has still got real quality in the team. I’m hoping to see massive crowds and to give our players a taste for what’s ahead. I always knew it would get sorted out, us Greeks always like to leave it late.”
The Socceroos coach also commented on the news expressing his relief FIFA and the Greek FA had resolved their dispute which could have kept Greece’s national team from the two friendlies in Australia in June.
“It would have been a disaster if we didn’t get those two games, vital to preparing for September’s qualifiers,” Ange Postecoglou told Smh.
“It would have left a massive hole in our calendar. Greece is rebuilding their side but has still got real quality in the team. I’m hoping to see massive crowds and to give our players a taste for what’s ahead. I always knew it would get sorted out, us Greeks always like to leave it late.”
Match of the Round Broadmeadow Magic FC v Lambton Jaffas FC Sunday, April 17, 2:30pm Magic Park
Round 2 of the PlayStation®4 National Premier League sees the league leaders Broadmeadow Magic welcome the Lambton Jaffas to Magic Park on Sunday afternoon.
Last week Broadmeadow showed why Magic Park is one of the toughest away days in the league, downing Adamstown with seven goals, three of which came from James Virgili down the wing.
Lambton took a loss in the first round of the competition, but with the defeat coming at the hands of the defending champions Edgeworth, the Jaffas cannot be faulted with dropping the points last weekend.
This match will be a vital three points for the travelling team however – two back to back losses to open the season could see confidence drop for the strong side and a win for Lambton against Magic, while difficult, will be crucial.
Bobby Naumov, dual coach of the home side, also knows that his side has to improve over the coming weeks, regardless of the dominant win that came in the first week.
“We managed to get a good win last week, but we played poorly in my opinion,” Naumov commented, speaking of the team’s 7-2 win over Adamstown.
“I think we have to keep an eye on what the squad can do, especially against Lambton. Conceding two goals late in the match last weekend cannot be something that becomes a regular habit, because there won’t be seven goals for us every week.”
“There aren’t any bolted on starters either. [James] Virgili and [Kale] Bradbery both got us some good goals, but we have to assess the squad in training every week and find the most passionate and the most prepared players to put on the field when it gets to the weekend.”
“With a lot of draws in the first round, another win can put us ahead on the ladder and I think anything but a win will be cause for concern in the squad, especially with another game at home.”
Both teams need the three points from the last match to be played in Round 2, but for Broadmeadow it’s to get a step forward and to be ahead on the ladder from the rest of the teams. However for Lambton it’s to get into the mix of the ladder early on in the season.
One thing is for sure in the Match of the Round – Magic Park saw nine goals last weekend, and Lambton lost to the defending champions only minutes before the final whistle. This game will be a highlight of the season for every fan, regardless of the final result.
Edgeworth FC v Weston Workers FC Jack McLaughlan Oval Friday, April 15, 9pm
Returning home after an away trip last weekend, defending champions Edgeworth will play late on Friday evening against the Weston Workers Bears, who are still looking for their first win in the 2016 season.
Two late goals from Ayden Brice and Keanu Moore saw Edgeworth take back the lead away from home last weekend and claim all three points in their first season outing and Damian Zane’s outfit will be eager for another win on the weekend to push their strong start further ahead.
Weston had a harder time of collecting points in their fixture however as they took part in a shoot-out with the Jets Youth in a six goal thriller that saw both teams leave the ground with a single point each.
Regardless of the three goals that were let in, Bears coach Trevor Morris was happy with his defence especially with their youngest player in the squad, Will Myers, whom turned 17 this week.
“After the effort that he put in against the Jets Youth, he absolutely deserves another start,” Bears coach Trevor Morris said of Myers’ name on the team sheet.
“He’ll be a starter for us again this weekend, no doubt and he’s showing that he’s hungry to learn and to grow.”
Edgeworth’s coach Zane also knows that the team sheet will be a focus of the match-up.
“Anyone who knows me, knows that I like to work on the team sheet week to week and I can tinker with it depending on who we’re facing,” he said.
“The team last week put in a great effort, but if there’s players who are more suited to taking on Weston then they’ll be in there over others. I don’t want to become complacent with choices and last season’s changing for opponents seems to have worked out okay in the long run.”
The obvious choice for Zane on the team sheet would be Keanu Moore, who scored the winner for Edgeworth last weekend, but the match against Lambton saw him start on the bench.
“Moore showed me that he deserves to be in contention and I think that we don’t have a starting eleven, we have seventeen or eighteen fantastic players and Keanu proved that with his goal.”
Will Myers will have much to prove against Zane’s champions this weekend, the battle in front of the away side’s goal could be a riveting affair.
Nothing is to be taken for granted this early in the season and Weston away from home is not to be underestimated – Friday evening will prove whether Edgeworth can continue their hot streak from the 2015 double.
Newcastle Jets Youth v Charlestown City Blues FC Saturday, April 16, 2:30pm, Lisle Carr Oval
The first game on Saturday afternoon is to be played at Lisle Carr Oval, where the Newcastle Jets Youth come up against the Charlestown City Blues.
With most teams in the competition coming off closely fought draws, both the Jets and the Blues now both look for a boost on the table in taking home three points.
The Jets Youth will be focusing on their scoring star from the first match, Cameron Joice, who showed great character for a young player when he wrong-footed the Bears’ keeper to open the scoring for the boys in red and blue.
Joice will have a tough time breaking down Nathan Archbold between the sticks for the Blues, however with Charlestown’s new signing, he will be keen for a clean sheet in his new club colours and everything to prove after his move away from Magic at the start of the season.
Charlestown and the Jets both need the win as a leg up in a season that could mean a place higher than mid-table for both sides and both coaches will be eyeing the victory as a way to keep their squad on the right track.
Lisle Carr Oval will be the host of an exciting game for all who attend. With the Jets boasting a dangerous attacking side and Charlestown keeping their squad on an upward trajectory, it will be a battle between both sides to secure their first win of the season.
Valentine FC v Maitland FC Saturday, April 16, 3pm Cahill Oval
An old table-topping battle from the NewFM 1st Division, Valentine now welcome Maitland to Cahill Oval in the top league in Northern NSW, with both teams looking for their first win of the season.
With both teams having recruited strongly in the off season to avoid the bottom of the table, each coach will be eyeing all three points to keep their objectives alive and make clear that their signings have been influential on their sides.
Maitland’s Steve Piggott believes that Maitland has to focus on their defensive shape in the league, but knows that after a goalless match to open the season his players will need to find the back of the net as soon as possible.
“We’re probably going to be keeping a defensive shape that relies on two holding midfielders and will be keeping an eye on our obvious defensive strengths, but against Valentine we also have to play a bit more freely.”
“I think a lot of people look at our defensive strengths and our abilities to keep the score down and the first thing that they think of is that we’re playing a ‘negative’ game, but keeping goals out of the back of the net is key to victories and long standing campaigns.”
“We may also shift shape for Valentine however – I know we’re away from home, but I want to see the fans celebrating some goals and because of the change in shape there may be a change in personnel. It will probably be two changes at most, possibly to add some goals to our tally,” Piggott concluded.
Valentine’s coach, Darren Sills, believes that missing players holds the key to his club’s chances for winning this weekend.
“At the different end of the field we have Reece Pettit and Josh Swaddling giving us a massive boost across the board and last week our lack of pace at the back kind of saw us get caught out by pacey players.”
“Pettit at the back means that our speed issues could go away, he’s fast and strong and he’s got a great ability to silence forwards that are troubling our defence. He’s back from his suspension and that means that he can fit right into the side.”
“Maitland’s forward Heffernan is a great player, but his game isn’t built around speed so it’ll be good to focus on the positioning of the backline instead of back pedalling on breakaways.”
Heffernan in attack and Pettit keeping him from making an impact will be the major battle of the match and if Heffernan can bring his former A-League talents to the duel then that may be the deciding factor for the travelling team.
Cahill Oval will be the staging ground for both teams, they will both be eager to get 3 points and their first win of the season.
Hamilton Olympic FC v Adamstown Rosebuds FC Saturday, April 16, 6pm Darling Street Oval
Fresh off the back of a goalless draw against Maitland, Hamilton Olympic will take on Adamstown Rosebuds at Darling Street Oval on Saturday evening.
The Rosebuds were on the other end of the spectrum in terms of goals in their game, with nine goals in their match against Broadmeadow and seven of them going against them.
The travelling side will be looking to set the record straight on the start of their season, but Olympic are not a team that they can easily claim a victory over, especially with their team back to full force.
After rehabilitating from an injury sustained over the summer, Kane Goodchild is set to make his first start after completing only three weeks of full training and coming on a half-time substitute in the game against Maitland.
Hamilton’s’ coach, Michael Bolch, will be eyeing Goodchild to make an impact up front for the side, with the dangerous striker having already scored 12 goals for the club since his 2015 move to Darling Street.
It’s expected that Bolch will focus on a formation that allows both Goodchild and Tom Spencer to play up top on the weekend, with star signing Leo Bertos moving out to the wing to accommodate the change.
The Rosebuds will be prepared for Hamilton’s attacking prowess, however they may look to play a defensive game considering they are away from home and looking to keep from leaking goals, a focus that will be key after Broadmeadow’s damaging assault last weekend.
With Hamilton and Adamstown both having a long history of battles against each other, the fans will be looking for another exciting clash at Darling Street. The final match on Saturday afternoon will be a key game for both teams to kick start their campaigns in this year’s 2016 PlayStation 4 NPL Northern NSW season.
Όμορφα παιχνίδια και πολλά γκολ περιελάμβανε η βραδιά των προημιτελικών του Europa League, όλα όμως επισκιάστηκαν από τον «άθλο» της Λίβερπουλ, η οποία αν και βρέθηκε να χάνει με 0-2 και 1-3 στο 66ο λεπτό κέρδισε 4-3 και πήρε μια τεράστια πρόκριση αφήνοντας εκτός την Ντόρτμουντ. Εύκολη πρόκριση πανηγύρισε η Σαχτάρ που επικράτησε 4-0 της Μπράγκα, ενώ επίσης εύκολα, με 4-2, προκρίθηκε και η Βιγιαρεάλ. Τη διαδικασία των πέναλτι χρειάστηκε για να πάρει το τελευταίο εισιτήριο των ημιτελικών η Σεβίλη, αφήνοντας εκτός την Αθλέτικ Μπιλπμπάο. Ας δούμε αναλυτικά…
Λίβερπουλ – Ντόρτμουντ 4-3
«Έπος» έγραψε στο «Άνφιλντ» η Λίβερπουλ. Στο κορυφαίο παιχνίδι της χρονιάς στα κύπελλα Ευρώπης και ίσως σε ένα από τα καλύτερα όλων των εποχών, η ομάδα του Γιούργκεν Κλοπ που βρέθηκε να χάνει 0-2 και 1-3 από τη Ντόρτμουντ, κατάφερε να φτάσει στη νίκη με 4-3 στις καθυστερήσεις και να προκριθεί στους ημιτελικούς του Europa League με εμφάνιση ανάλογη με αυτή της Κωνσταντινούπολης το 2005 όταν και πανηγύρισε την κατάκτηση του Champions League στα πέναλτι ενώ έχανε με 0-3 από τη Μίλαν.
Σε παιχνίδι… διαφήμιση για το ποδόσφαιρο, τα δύο γρήγορα γκολ των Γερμανών (Μχιταριάν 5΄, Ομπαμεγιάνγκ 9΄) έφεραν την ομάδα του Τούνχελ σε «θέση οδηγού», μετά το 1-1 της περασμένης εβδομάδας στην Βεστφαλία, ωστόσο, οι «κόκκινοι» δεν είχαν πει την τελευταία τους κουβέντα. Στο 48΄ ο Οριγκί έδωσε ελπίδες στους γηπεδούχους, αλλά στο 57΄ το γκολ του Ρόις φάνηκε να «κλειδώνει» την υπόθεση πρόκριση για τους φιλοξενούμενους.
Ο Κουτίνιο στο 66΄ μείωσε σε 2-3 και στο 78΄ ο Σακό με κεφαλιά έφερε το ματς στα ίσια και στα τελευταία λεπτά το ματς έγινε… ροντέο. Οι γηπεδούχοι τα έδωσαν όλα και κατάφεραν στις καθυστερήσεις με την κεφαλιά του Λόβρεν ολοκλήρωσαν το θαύμα αφήνοντας 11 αγάλματα στον αγωνιστικό χώρο (σ.σ. οι παίκτες της Ντόρτμουντ).
Η Λίβερπουλ με το σημερινό 4-3 διατήρησε το αήττητο που έχει απέναντι στις γερμανικές ομάδες στα ευρωπαϊκά κύπελλα (13 νίκες, 4 ισοπαλίες) και θα βρεθεί για 17η φορά στους ημιτελικούς των ευρωπαϊκών κυπέλλων.
Συναρπαστική εξέλιξη είχαμε και στο «Σάντσεθ Πιθχουάν» όπου η Σεβίλη πήρε την πρόκριση στα πέναλτι επί της Αθλέτικ Μπιλμπάο, η οποία είχε καταφέρει να ισοφαρίσει το σκορ του πρώτου αγώνα επικρατώντας 2-1.
Όμως, η κάτοχος των τελευταίων δύο τροπαίων με παροιμιώδη ψυχραιμία στα πέναλτι (5 στα 5) πέρασε στους «4» και θα έχει την ευκαιρία να γίνει η πρώτη στην ιστορία του θεσμού με τρεις διαδοχικές κατακτήσεις.
Σαχτάρ – Μπράγκα 4-0
Μετά το «διπλό» στον πρώτο αγώνα, η Σαχτάρ είχε το πάνω χέρι και το επιβεβαίωσε αφού επικράτησε εύκολα με 4-0 και πήρε άνετα την πρόκριση στην επόμενη φάση.
Μάλιστα από τα 4 γκολ, η Σαχτάρ σκόραρε μόλις… δύο με τον Σρνα στο 25′ και τον Κοβαλένκο στο 50, ενώ τα υπόλοιπα δύο ήταν αυτογκόλ του Φερέιρα στο 43′ και το 74′.
Σπάρτα Πράγας – Βιγιαρεάλ 2-4
Η Βιγιαρεάλ είχε πάρει μια δύσκολη νίκη στην έδρα της στον πρώτο αγώνα και ήθελε να εξασφαλίσει την πρόκριση.
Έτσι και έγινε αφού μόλις στο 49ο λεπτό βρισκόταν μπροστά στο σκορ με 4-0 και ο αγώνας είναι πάρει διαδικαστικό χαρακτήρα.
Το μόνο που κατάφεραν οι γηπεδούχοι ήταν να μειώσουν και να αρκεστούν στον αποκλεισμό.
Την Παρασκευή η κλήρωση…
Δύο ισπανικές ομάδες (Βιγιαρεάλ, Σεβίλη), μία αγγλική (Λίβερπουλ) και μία από την Ουκρανία (Σαχτάρ Ντόνετσκ), θα μπουν το μεσημέρι της Παρασκευής στην κληρωτίδα της UEFA στη Νιόν για την τελευταία πρόκληση πριν από τον τελικό της 18ης Μαϊου στο «Ζανκτ Γιάκομπ» της Βασιλείας.
Αναλυτικά οι σκόρερ στις ρεβάνς των προημιτελικών:
The Reds secured a stunning comeback victory to secure safe passage into the semi-finals on a night to remember at Anfield.
Liverpool completed one of the most startling comebacks in UEFA Europa League history to defeat Borussia Dortmund and book their place in Friday’s semi-finals draw.
Jürgen Klopp’s side scored three second half goals to hand the German coach a 5-4 aggregate victory against his former club with Dejan Lovren crashing in a late header in front of the Kop on a famous night at Anfield.
Unperturbed by the heated atmosphere, Dortmund started brightly, showing they meant business from the off. After the hosts lost possession too high in the fifth minute, Henrikh Mkhitaryan started and finished an outstanding counterattack for the opening goal.
BVB were two goals to the good four minutes later, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang supplying an excellent finish to Marco Reus’s defence-splitting pass. With a mountain to climb, Liverpool slowly improved, and Adam Lallana could have cut the deficit had he not miscued.
Shortly after the interval Liverpool did pull a goal back, with Divock Origi latching onto Emre Can’s through-ball and finishing calmly.
Hope at Anfield was restored, but Reus’s fine finish from Mats Hummels’s pass sent the travelling fans into raptures once more. Undeterred, Liverpool continued to attack and again cut the deficit, Philippe Coutinho’s trademark strike from distance leaving Roman Weidenfeller no chance.
Mamadou Sakho found the net late on, setting up a climactic end to a unpredictable evening. Lovren then etched his name into Anfield folklore with a winner in added time to give Liverpool yet another famous comeback victory.
Liverpool almost made to pay for errors Twice Liverpool gave the ball away in the Dortmund half in the opening stages, and twice they were punished. Alberto Moreno lost possession to Mkhitaryan, who started and finished the move that led to the first goal, before Roberto Firmino was dispossessed soon afterwards, allowing Reus to pick out Aubameyang for the second. The Reds got out of jail but they they cannot afford to keep making so many lapses.
Liverpool’s rollercoaster Every time Dortmund scored, the hosts seemed down and out. But, to their immense credit, Liverpool hit back every time. Jürgen Klopp will take plenty of heart from his side’s brilliantly courageous second-half display, one which suggests they may go all the way.
FIFA representative Costakis Koutsokoumnis announced Tuesday that the Greek Cup competition will resume avoiding the threat of the country’s suspension from European or international competition.
Koutsokoumnis, who is also Cyprus Football Association president, made the announcement after his meeting with Greek Deputy Sports Minister Stavros Kontonis and Greek FA president Giorgos Girtzikis.
“We have reached an agreement, there is a commitment to begin the Greek Cup again,” Koutsokoumnis said.
Kontonis last month cancelled the Greek Cup which had reached the semi-final stage for fear of violence, despite the disagreement of the Greek FA which blamed the government for meddling with their internal affairs.
FIFA and UEFA both warned Kontonis that the country would be suspended from European or international competition if the Greek Cup did not resume.
“The matches may be held outside Athens, perhaps without spectators or perhaps with only school children in the stands. This will be decided upon by Friday between Mr. Kontonis and the FA,” Koutsokoumnis said.
There is also talk that foreign referees may be called in for the two semi-final matches and the final which remain to be played.
Ο Κριστιάνο Ρονάλντο οδήγησε μόνος του τη Ρεάλ στην ανατροπή και στην πρόκριση στα ημιτελικά (Φωτογραφία: Reuters )
Μόνος του! Ο Κριστιάνο Ρονάλντο με χατ τρικ οδήγησε την Ρεάλ Μαδρίτης στην ανατροπή του εις βάρος της 2-0 από την Βόλφσμπουργκ και στην πρόκριση στα ημιτελικά του Champions League.
Η Ρεάλ επικράτησε με 3-0 των Γερμανών στη Μαδρίτη και πήρε πανηγυρικά το εισιτήριο για την 4άδα. Εκεί θα βρίσκεται και η Μάντσεστερ Σίτι, η οποία μετά το 2-2 στη Γαλλία, επικράτησε με 1-0 της Παρί Σεν Ζερμέν και την άφησε εκτός ημιτελικών.
Ρεάλ Μαδρίτης – Βόλφσμπουργκ 3-0
Ο βασιλιάς της Μαδρίτης, οδήγησε τη βασίλισσα στους «4» του Champions League. Με χατ-τρικ του σύγχρονου «Θεού» του παγκοσμίου ποδοσφαίρου, τού Κριστιάνο Ρονάλντο, η Ρεάλ νίκησε 3-0 τη Βόλφσμπουργκ, ανέτρεψε το εις βάρος της 2-0 και συνεχίζει την πορεία της στους ημιτελικούς.
Το πολύ σημαντικό προβάδισμα που είχε αποκτήσει η Βόλφσμπουργκ, εξανεμίστηκε πριν καν συμπληρωθεί το πρώτο 20λεπτο και μάλιστα με τρόπο εμφατικό. Μέσα σε 87 δευτερόλεπτα ο Κριστιάνο Ρονάλντο πέτυχε δύο γκολ, στο 15΄ με προβολή από παράλληλη μπαλιά του Καρβαχάλ και στο 17΄ με κεφαλιά από κόρνερ του Κρόος.
Η Ρεάλ είχε φέρει το παιχνίδι στα μέτρα της και μπορούσε να το διαχειριστεί με πολύ μικρότερο άγχος. Στο 66΄ στάθηκε άτυχη καθώς η κεφαλιά του Σέρχιο Ράμος βρήκε το δοκάρι και στη συνέχεια κύλησε πάνω στη γραμμή για να καταλήξει στα χέρια του Μπενάλιο.
Ενδεκα λεπτά αργότερα (77΄) ο Ρονάλντο με απευθείας φάουλ πέρασε τη μπάλα μέσα από το τείχος της Βόλφσμπουργκ και έγραψε το 3-0. Χατ-τρικ για τον Πορτογάλο σούπερ σταρ που έφτασε τα 93 γκολ στο Champions League και 16 φέτος, ένα λιγότερο από το ρεκόρ των περισσότερων σε μια σεζόν που κατέχει ο ίδιος από το 2014.
Για πρώτη φορά στην ιστορία της η Μάντσεστερ Σίτι εξασφάλισε το «εισιτήριο» για τους ημιτελικούς του Champions League. Η ομάδα του Μανουέλ Πελεγκρίνι μετά το 2-2 στο Παρίσι, επικράτησε 1-0 της Παρί Σεν Ζερμέν στην αποψινή ρεβάνς των προημιτελικών στο «Ετιχαντ» και πήρε πανηγυρική πρόκριση για την τετράδα της διοργάνωσης.
Το «χρυσό» γκολ των γηπεδούχων πέτυχε ο Κέβιν ντε Μπράιν στο 76΄ από μπαλιά του Φερνάντο. Νωρίτερα στο πρώτο μέρος οι «πολίτες» έχασαν τη μεγάλη ευκαιρία για να κάνουν πιο απλά τα πράγματα.
Στο 29΄ ο Αγουέρο ανατράπηκε στην περιοχή από τον Τραπ και ο Καρμπάγιο υπέδειξε αμέσως την «ασπρη βούλα». Ο Αργεντινός, όμως, ήταν άστοχος, αλλά ευτυχώς για τον ίδιο και την ομάδα του η φάση αυτή δεν αποδείχθηκε καθοριστική στην εξέλιξη της αναμέτρησης.
Real Madrid 3-0 Wolfsburg (agg: 3-2) Cristiano Ronaldo wiped out the first-leg deficit with two goals in the space of 86 seconds before sealing it with a late free-kick.
Cristiano Ronaldo was at his destructive best as a sensational hat-trick left Wolfsburg’s dreams in tatters.
Real Madrid needed a minor miracle to reach the UEFA Champions League semi-finals for the sixth season running, and Ronaldo was just the man to perform it. The 31-year-old wiped out the deficit with two goals inside 90 seconds early on, and then sealed victory with a free-kick that found a gap in a poorly formed wall and, from there, the back of the net.
Zinédine Zidane said on the eve of the game that his side “weren’t going to win it inside ten or 15 minutes”, but it did not take them much longer to at least cancel out their first-leg arrears. Sergio Ramos had already looped a header onto the bar when Dani Carvajal got into space down the right and his deflected cross was swept in by Ronaldo.
It was a big blow to Wolfsburg but nothing to compare with the one that followed less than 90 seconds later as Ronaldo rose and glanced in Toni Kroos’s corner. Madrid, playing with an urgency conspicuous by its absence six days ago, were suddenly level on aggregate.
It got worse before it got better for Wolfsburg as Julian Draxler limped off, yet there were signs of promise before the break and Bruno Henrique could easily have grabbed a killer away goal. Teed up with only Keylor Navas to beat, the Brazilian fatefully took a touch rather than going for goal, allowing Marcelo and Ramos to get bodies in the way.
The Madrid onslaught continued after the interval and Ramos thought he had scored midway through the second period with a header from a set piece that hit the upright and rolled to Diego Benaglio. Extra time loomed until Ronaldo sent in a free-kick that slipped through the wall and just beyond Benaglio. Like so often in this competition, it was just his night.
Key player: Cristiano Ronaldo
Cometh the hour, cometh the man. The competition’s record scorer is ever the man for a big occasion. He did it against Schalke last season and his impressive record against German sides was prolonged tonight. He twice popped up in the right place at the right time to even things up and then buried the free-kick that won it. The Portuguese is just one off his competition record of 17 in a campaign and still has at least two more games to break it.
Zidane learning on the job
Still wet behind the ears in managerial terms, Zidane is showing signs that as each game passes he is improving his understanding of the job. After admitting he did not get things quite right in the first leg he changed tactics and made an alteration in personnel as Carvajal replaced Danilo at right-back. It paid immediate dividends as the Spaniard gobbled up the turf before firing in the cross that led to Ronaldo’s opener.
Boisterous Bernabéu
Ever since their 2-0 defeat in Germany, Madrid fans had set the agenda for a famous European ‘remontada’ (fightback). From hours out they lined the streets around the ground and unfurled just before kick-off a huge banner recalling their 1985 UEFA Cup semi-final comeback against Inter Milan. The noise went up several decibels with Ronaldo’s goals in the first half and the metaphorical roof was completely blown off as he capped a stunning comeback on 77 minutes.
STUDIO 3 NEWCASTLE AUSTRALIA 