Category Archives: SPORTS

Manchester City 1-0 Paris (agg: 3-2)
Kevin De Bruyne’s fine 76th-minute shot took City into the semi-finals for the first time despite Sergio Agüero missing a first-half penalty.

Manchester City are into the UEFA Champions League semi-finals for the first time after Kevin De Bruyne’s fine curving shot ended the challenge of Paris in the last eight for the fourth year running.

City started as if keen to build on the away-goals edge given them by last week’s 2-2 draw in Paris, pressing back their visitors. Paris, however, held their nerve and from their first attack Edinson Cavani nearly got onto Ángel Di María’s through ball. Zlatan Ibrahimović then tested Joe Hart with a 30-metre free-kick, the City goalkeeper tipping over at full stretch.

On the half-hour, though, City passed up a golden opportunity to take a firm grip on the tie after Sergio Agüero was felled by Kevin Trapp. The Argentinian picked himself up to take the kick himself – only to put it a metre wide of the left-hand post.

With Paris struggling to muster much by way of attacking threat, City almost capitalised on some casual defending before the interval, Jesús Navas seizing on Serge Aurier’s loose pass but curling narrowly wide from the edge of the area.

The second half began in similar vein to the first, Hart diving to his right to keep out another stinging Ibrahimović free-kick before the goalkeeper clawed out Thiago Silva’s downward header from a corner.

Paris were largely struggling to create clear chances, however, and paid the price with 14 minutes remaining. City worked the ball from left to right and back again, and Fernando’s square pass gave De Bruyne the opportunity to sidestep into space and arc a perfect shot beyond Trapp from the edge of the box.

The visitors might have responded immediately as Cavani raced clear but Hart spread himself well and blocked the strike. And with that, Paris’s last hope had gone – and the City celebrations could start in earnest.

Analysis from Paul Saffer at the City of Manchester Stadium

City spirit trumps Paris tactics
Laurent Blanc deployed an ambitious 3-4-3 with goals a necessity, yet an attack usually so prolific found itself thwarted not so much by top-class defending as by a determination on City’s part not to allow their away-goals advantage to slip. As last week, Paris had the better of things in midfield despite Blaise Matuidi’s suspension and then Thiago Motta’s first-half injury, but as they say in England, every City player ‘put in a shift’ and it was perhaps after their most difficult spell that De Bruyne struck.

Can you play each other every week?
Though it might not have been the prettiest football, or the most accomplished, these clubs served up two thrilling ties, mistakes and all. With key defenders missing on both sides, the emphasis was on attack – and the accompanying high tempo was what forced the errors. Perhaps the extra pressure of the teams both wanting to prove their place among the European elite told, but that is not to say there were not cool heads like De Bruyne and Thiago Silva.

Key player: Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)
His recent injury lay-off may have cost City a run at the Premier League title; his return has helped take them into the UEFA Champions League semi-finals. Few attacks did not go through the Belgium playmaker and just like last week his magnificent finish broke the deadlock. This time, though, there was no time for Paris to recover.

source:uefa.com

SBS has secured the exclusive free-to-air broadcast rights for the next three seasons of the UEFA Champions League (UCL) in an agreement with beIN Sport.

SBS has been the proud broadcast partner of the UCL since its inception in 1992 and is pleased to have locked-in another agreement, which will allow SBS to continue bringing the best club football coverage in the world to Australian audiences.

“SBS is pleased to work with beIN Sport as their exclusive free-to-air partner for the UEFA Champions League,” SBS Director of Sport, Ken Shipp said.

“Football is becoming increasingly competitive in the Australian market – so we’re delighted that we’ve secured the rights for another three years,

“International sport is at the heart of SBS and reflects our unique Charter by connecting our diverse communities. SBS really loves Football, so we look forward to continuing our free-to-air coverage of the Champions League.”

The selection of the Live games is determined by the rights agreement and SBS will endeavor to broadcast relevant matches. The World Game online and social media sites will deliver highlights of all UCL matches.

The action gets underway with the play-off first leg LIVE on SBS ONE, SBS HD and online, Wednesday 19 August from 4.30am.

source:theworldgame.sbs.com.au

Divock Origi made a striking impact from the bench with two goals as a much-changed Liverpool side earned a 4-1 victory over Stoke City.

Jurgen Klopp opted to start Origi ahead of Daniel Sturridge in last Thursday’s UEFA Europa League quarter-final first leg, but the young Belgian rewarded his manager’s faith with a crucial away goal at Signal Iduna Park.

And Origi was at it again at Anfield on Sunday as he bagged a brace playing the second half in place of Sheyi Ojo, who also impressed on his first Barclays Premier League start.

Klopp made seven changes to his XI with Thursday’s second leg against his former club in mind, with the recalled Sturridge showing his quality with a close-range header that restored Liverpool’s lead before the break after Bojan Krkic had equalised Alberto Moreno’s early strike.

It took Origi just five minutes to get himself on the scoresheet with Liverpool’s third of the match as he nodded James Milner’s delivery past Jakob Haugaard, and the 20-year-old’s cross-cum-shot added gloss to the scoreline with 25 minutes remaining.

Klopp, who took the opportunity to rest Philippe Coutinho but was able to field Lucas Leiva from the bench after his thigh injury, sees his side climb above Stoke into eighth place in the table and can reflect on a job well done ahead of Thursday’s visit of Dortmund.

Liverpool enjoyed the better of the opening stages and took the lead in the eighth minute, when two of the four men to keep their places after the trip to Germany combined.

Milner fed Moreno with a quick free-kick after being fouled by Phil Bardsley, and the Spaniard fizzed a dipping long-range drive past Jack Butland’s deputy Haugaard for his first goal of the season.

But Stoke were level by the midway point of the half when Bojan was afforded the space to glance in Xherdan Shaqiri’s free-kick from the left.

The visitors thought they had turned the contest on its head soon after when Peter Crouch headed in a superb cross from Erik Pieters, only for the offside flag to deny the former Liverpool striker.

And Stoke’s frustration was compounded by a moment of brilliance from Liverpool youngster Ojo, who drifted left before dancing his way past Shaqiri and sending an inch-perfect delivery across the face of goal to give Sturridge the easy task of nodding Klopp’s team back in front.

Origi replaced teenager Ojo at half-time, and the Belgian made an immediate impact after being left all alone to power a close-range header past the helpless Haugaard.

It was one-way traffic after the interval and Origi put the icing on Liverpool’s cake when he cut inside Bardsley and angled a ball in towards Sturridge that ended up in Haugaard’s far corner.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp: “Today, I’m really proud. We made changes and it was a completely new formation,. I’m sure the players have never played together before in this line-up.

“Stoke played 70 to 80% long balls to Peter Crouch, and you have to be tuned into that. We were quickly tuned after a half-session on the training ground yesterday. It was a smart performance.”

Stoke City manager Mark Hughes: “It’s one of those days. When we needed to deal with things at source, we didn’t deal with that. That’s unlike us, we’re normally very resolute.

“Today’s result has hurt us obviously. We allowed Liverpool to go above us and teams around us are picking up points. But when we have a setback, we almost always bounce back, and we need to do that.”

source:premierleague.com

Three quickfire second-half goals helped Tottenham Hotspur maintain their pursuit of Barclays Premier League leaders Leicester City with a 3-0 win over Manchester United.

Kick-off was delayed by half an hour as the visitors’ team bus fell foul of London traffic and the match started slowly, as White Hart Lane endured a first half without a shot on target.

But 0-0 became 3-0 within six scintillating second-half minutes as Dele Alli, Toby Alderweireld and Erik Lamela struck to land blows to Man Utd’s hopes of a top-four finish.

Spurs’ outlook is comparatively more positive after they found an impressive response to Leicester’s earlier win at Sunderland to sit seven points behind the leaders with five matches remaining.

United lie fifth, four points shy of neighbours Manchester City, and contributed little as an attacking force against the dynamic north Londoners.

This result, combined with Leicester’s 2-0 success at the Stadium of Light, means Claudio Ranieri’s men are now assured of UEFA Champions League qualification for next season.

Playing for the first time since suffering medial knee ligament damage in January, Jan Vertonghen made an important challenge to stop Anthony Martial’s mazy run as United started brightly despite their delayed arrival.

A rare handling error from United goalkeeper David De Gea forced Timothy Fosu-Mensah, preferred at right-back to Matteo Darmian, into a last-ditch challenge on Harry Kane with the goal gaping.

The visitors failed to fully clear the danger and Christian Eriksen’s right-wing cross to the recalled Lamela at the back post deserved better than a headed miss.

A lack of service meant Marcus Rashford was hardly the main culprit in United’s first-half struggles but the teenage striker was replaced by Ashley Young, who took up a central attacking role after almost three months out with a groin injury.

De Gea punched clear as Eriksen fired goalwards from the left wing before saving from Eric Dier and Kane.

Young’s introduction as an unlikely attacking spearhead had done little to increase United’s potency but Martial almost opened the scoring in the 62nd minute.

The France forward glided in from the left past a clutch of Spurs defenders but thumped his eventual shot too close to goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.

De Gea reacted well to clear Danny Rose’s deflected cross with his right boot, while a selfless display from Fosu-Mensah came to a close in the 68th minute as he limped off to be replaced by Darmian.

The opening goal arrived from the Italian’s flank shortly afterwards. Eriksen scampered forward following a scrappy passage of midfield play and his first-time cross was matched by an instant finish for Alli’s eighth league goal of the season.

United’s impressive discipline deserted them as Alderweireld met Lamela’s free-kick with a towering header.

Darmian was booked for a foul on Kane to bring about that opportunity and his difficult cameo continued as he watched Rose spear a low cross past him for Lamela to sweep in emphatically in the 76th minute.

De Gea tipped over Kane’s header as a rampant Spurs underlined their credentials, while United must regroup quickly for Wednesday’s FA Cup sixth-round replay at West Ham United.

Tottenham Hotspur head coach Mauricio Pochettino: “It was a perfect performance in the second half. I’m very pleased and full credit to the players, it was a fantastic job.

“Beating Man Utd 3-0 is a good reason to be happy. We believe that we can still fight. The motivation is massive.”

Manchester United manager Louis Van Gaal: “Until the first goal, we were at least equal with Spurs but we gave the goal away with miscommunication and then within five minutes we were out of the game.

“Every team can lose to anybody so we are still in the race for the top four, but when you lose a game you have to close the gap again and that’s difficult. Yes, 3-0 is a big negative result but the way we played until the first goal was good.”

source:premierleague.com

Ένα καθοριστικό βήμα για την κατάκτηση του τίτλου έκανε η Λέστερ, καθώς νίκησε με 2-0 μέσα στην έδρα της Σάντερλαντ, στο πλαίσιο της 33ης αγωνιστικής της Premier League στην Αγγλία.

Με τη νίκη τους αυτή οι «αλεπούδες» έχουν κατακτήσει το… μισό πρωτάθλημα και απομένουν δύο ακόμη νίκες στους επόμενους εντός έδρας αγώνες τους με τη Γουέστ Χαμ (το άλλο… μισό) και με τη Σουόνσι, για να κάνει τ’ όνειρο, πραγματικότητα.

Τα γκολ της αναμέτρησης σημείωσε (ποιος άλλος;) ο Τζέιμι Βάρντι πρώτα στο 66ο και μετά στις καθυστερήσεις του αγώνα και έριξε, ουσιαστικά, τη Σάντερλαντ στη β’ κατηγορία.

Συνοπτικά τα αποτελέσματα και οι σκόρερ:

Γουέστ Χαμ-Αρσεναλ 3-3
(44΄, 45΄, 52΄ Κάρολ-18΄ Οζίλ, 35΄ Σάντσες, 70΄ Κοσιελνί)

Αστον Βίλα-Μπόρνμουθ 1-2
(85΄ Αγιού – 45+2΄ Κουκ, 74΄ Κινγκ)

Κρίσταλ Πάλας-Νόριτς 1-0
(68΄ Πάντσεον)

Σαουθάμπτον-Νιούκαστλ 3-1
(4΄ Λονγκ, 39΄ Πελέ, 55΄ Γουανιάμα – 65΄ Τάουνσεντ)

Σουόνσι-Τσέλσι 1-0
(25΄ Σίγκουρντσον)

Γουότφορντ-Εβερτον 1-1
(45+3΄ Χολέμπας – 45+1΄ ΜακΚάρθι)

Μάντσεστερ Σίτι-Γουέστ Μπρομ 2-1
(19΄ πεν. Αγκουέρο, 66΄ Νασρί – 6΄ Σεσενιόν)

Σάντερλαντ-Λέστερ 0-2
(66′, 90’+ Βάρντι)

Λίβερπουλ-Στόουκ Σίτι 10/4
Τότεναμ-Μάντσεστερ Γ. 10/4

ΒΑΘΜΟΛΟΓΙΑ B. Aγ
Λέστερ 72 33
Τότεναμ 62 32
Άρσεναλ 59 32
Μάντσεστερ Σίτι 57 32
Μάντεστερ Γιουν. 53 31
Γουέστ Χαμ 52 32
Σαουθάμπτον 50 33
Στόουκ Σίτι 47 32
Λίβερπουλ 45 30
Τσέλσι 44 32
Μπόρνμουθ 41 32
Γουέστ Μπρομ 40 32
Σουόνσι 40 32
Έβερτον 39 31
Γουότφορντ 38 31
Κρίσταλ Πάλας 37 32
Νόριτς 31 33
Σάντερλαντ 27 32
Νιούκαστλ 25 32
Άστον Βίλα 16 33

Πηγή:in.gr

Defending champions Edgeworth began their title defence with victory over Lambton whilst Broadmeadow demolished Adamstown at Magic Park on a big first Round of PS4 NPL Football.

The Eagles had to come from behind to defeat the Jaffas. John Majurovski scored the first goal shortly after half time to put the home side ahead.

Just as it looked as if the points were staying at Edden Field, the final 10 minutes belonged to Edgeworth.

New signing Daniel McBreen opened his 2016 NPL account with a goal in the 82nd minute to lock it up at 1 all.

Four minutes later the Jaffas were broken when Keanu Moore scored the match winner to give Edgeworth a 2-1 win on the opening day.

At Magic Park, Broadmeadow set a cracking pace to put everyone on notice with a 7 goal display.

It took just over 20 minutes though for the first goal with Kale Bradbery scoring his first of two. Peter Haynes got on the score sheet just before half time to give the home side a 2 nil lead.

The second half was a goalfest, with James Virgilli scoring an amazing hat trick in 13 minutes. 5 nil to Broadmeadow, and the game was gone for the Rosebuds and there was still 30 minutes to play.

In the 63rd minute Bradbery had his second and it was a matter of how many the men in red could score.

Magic took their foot off the pedal but the final 20 minutes still produced three goals. Adamstown got on the scoreboard thanks to Alex Read and Paul Matthews.

The final blow came in injury time when Daniel Casciaroli added a seventh goal to finish off what was a miserable day for Adamstown.

At Weston, A Garry McDermott hat-trick wasn’t enough for the Bears to take maximum points. Cameron Joice put the Jets ahead after half an hour but two goals from McDermott put the Bears ahead 2-1 at the break.

The second half produced more goals with an own goal from the Bears to tie it up at 2 all. Shortly after followed McDermotts third with just over an hour gone.

Weston’s lead didn’t last long however, as Andrew Pawiak scored the equaliser for a 3 all final score.

In the other games, Valentine FC and Charlestown City shared the points at Lisle Carr Field whilst at Cook Square Park it was a nil all draw between Hamilton Olympic and Maitland.

ROUND 1 RESULTS

FIRST GRADE

EDGEWORTH 2 (D McBreen & K Moore) defeated LAMBTON 1 (J Majurovski)

BROADMEADOW 7 (J Virgilli 3,K Bardbery 2, P Haynes & D Casciaroli) defeated ADAMSTOWN 2 (A Read & P Matthews)

CHARLESTOWN CITY 2 (unknown) drew with VALENTINE FC 2 (B Olzomer & W Kam)

WESTON WORKERS 3 (G McDermott 3) drew with JETS YOUTH 3 (C Joice, A Pawiak & own goal)

MAITLAND 0 drew with HAMILTON 0

source:sportshunter.com.au

Barcelona’s Anoeta Stadium jinx struck again when they lost 1-0 at Real Sociedad on Saturday, their second successive defeat in La Liga.

Elsewhere, Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player to hit 30 La Liga goals in six consecutive seasons as he inspired Real Madrid to a 4-0 thrashing of Eibar while Fernando Torres was on target as Atlético Madrid won 3-1 at Espanyol.

The winger Mikel Oyarzabal headed the only goal for Sociedad in the fifth minute against Barça, who were without their top scorer Luis Suárez through suspension and fielded a much-changed side and managed only five shots on target.

Luis Enrique’s side have 76 points with six games to go, three ahead of Atlético and four in front of Real Madrid.

After going unbeaten in all competitions for six months, Barcelona followed last week’s 2-1 defeat by Real Madrid with another slip-up. The European champions are without a victory in three league games, their longest stretch since Luis Enrique took charge in 2014.

The coach made four changes to the team that lost to Real Madrid, bringing back the midfielder Rafinha after a six-month injury absence and starting without Andrés Iniesta, Jordi Alba and Ivan Rakitic.

Barça were handed their fifth defeat in six visits to Sociedad after the 18-year-old Oyarzabal nodded in a cross from Xabi Prieto.

The visitors struggled to get back in the game and the Sociedad goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli did well to save from Lionel Messi twice, substitute Iniesta and Arda Turan.

source:theguardian.com

EDGEWORTH’S Damian Zane knows all too well the impact a new coach can have on an established squad.

Zane took the Eagles to the Northern NSW National Premier League double in his first season as a senior coach last year. So when Edgeworth start their defence against Lambton Jaffas on Saturday at Edden Oval, Zane will be on guard.

The Jaffas, who were second last year and narrow losers to Hamilton in the semi-finals, enter round one with just two training sessions under new coach James Pascoe. The former Jets assistant took over this week after the resignation of David Tanchevski last month.

Asked if he would be taking Jaffas lightly because of the change, Zane said: “If anything, I’d be more worried because everyone is out to impress a new coach. Look at us last year. Pre-season started and everyone was super fit and ready because there was a new coach. If you hadn’t been getting a go, you were looking to make an impression.”

Jaffas striker John Majurovski, who represented the club at an NPL season launch at Fort Scratchley on Wednesday, had his fingers crossed that Zane was right.

“I’m hoping it does that,” Majurovski said. “I want to go out with a bang and win another grand final, that would be great.

“Hopefully it does have that impact, and it has shown at training this week. A lot of players are coming in fresh and on the same page.”

A grand final winner with Jaffas in 2014, Majurovski said Pascoe had already changed the way they train.

“It’s been a bit different, a bit more intense,” he said.

“No disrespect to Tanch, I enjoyed his sessions, but I’m enjoying something different now. It’s a breath of fresh air with Jimmy, coming from the Jets, it’s a bit more professional. But in saying that, look what we did in the last three years under Tanch. We made the grand twice and the semis last year.

“Time and results will tell with Jimmy and if his new approach is the way to go for the club and better than what we did with Tanch and a more relaxed approach.”

For Edgeworth, the challenge will be backing up their all-conquering 2015 against Jaffas, Hamilton and Broadmeadow line-ups who have all added to their depth.

“We’ve got a target on our back and I think whoever wins always does,” Zane said.

“It’s tough doing it again the next year and I think there’s even less between the top teams these days.”

The Eagles will be without defender Josh Evans (work), while the Jaffas have skipper Jobe Wheelhouse under an injury cloud.

The rest of the round will be played Sunday. Maitland host Hamilton at Cooks Square Park, Charlestown play Valentine at Lisle Carr Oval, Broadmeadow welcome Adamstown at Magic Park and Weston face the Jets Youth at Weston Park.

Zane, meanwhile, believed the Jaffas remained one of the most dangerous sides in the competition with the likes of Wheelhouse, Luke Remington, Peter McPherson and Majurovski in their squad.

“For me, the Jaffas are the team you’ve got to watch,” he said.

“Everyone seems to forget they came second last year, maybe because they started slow, and they almost won their semi-final.”

The Eagles have lost skipper and grand final man of the match Luke Walker, who has moved to Melbourne, but still have Keanu Moore in midfield.

Moore, who represented the Edgeworth at the season launch, trialled with Sydney clubs and the Mariners but has returned to the Eagles.

“He’s still not sure whether there may be something down the track for him and it may be during the year,” Zane said of Moore leaving.

“At the moment, we’re happy to have him back. He adds another midfielder to our depth and we have great depth there. He’s quality and can win you a game anytime. We’re not complaining.”

As for the Jaffas, Majurovski said the result on Saturday would have little to do with the late change of coach and he was excited about the addition of Rhys Tippett, Joel Wood, Callan Lewis and Ben Hay to the squad.

“It’s sad that Tanch left, and he had his reasons, but he left us in good condition,” he said. “We’ve built a good squad and we’ve got a few senior heads there, so I don’t think the change in coach will have much to do with if we win or lose tomorrow.

”They are a disciplined side Edgy, so hopefully Jimmy brings in a bit of discipline for us and we can match it with them.

“We’ve definitely got the talent and we’ve got a bit more depth this year with Tippo, Woodsy, Callan and Benny Hay coming in. We haven’t had that in other years.”

source:theherald.com

Mats Hummels cancelled out Divock Origi’s opener but Dortmund were unable to prevent Liverpool taking home an away goal advantage.

Liverpool will take a precious away goal back to Anfield after an entertaining 1-1 draw with Borussia Dortmund on Jürgen Klopp’s return to his former club in the first leg of the sides’ UEFA Europa League quarter-final.

For a match that started at a furious pace, goalmouth action was at an early premium. Mamadou Sakho blocked from the impressive Henrikh Mkhitaryan in the 16th minute, but otherwise opportunities were limited during the opening half-hour.

That changed, however, when Liverpool took the lead against the run of play. Immediately after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had drawn a good save from Simon Mignolet, James Milner nodded the ball forward at the other end for Divock Origi, who calmly slotted past Roman Weidenfeller.

Dortmund responded strongly, with Mignolet called into action on several occasions, and continued in the same fashion after the interval. Indeed, three minutes into the second period Dortmund were deservedly level, Mats Hummels rising highest to plant a powerful header past Mignolet.

The visitors, however, stayed in the game, with Philippe Coutinho eliciting an outstanding stop from Weidenfeller before the hour. Dortmund finished in the ascendancy, though ultimately both sides were content to take the tie, perfectly poised, to Anfield.

Wall of noise
The BVB Stadion Dortmund was perhaps as loud as it has been all season, yet if Klopp knew exactly what to expect from the famous ‘Yellow Wall’, it took his players a while to get going. With Dortmund clearly relishing the occasion, Liverpool were off the pace in the first half-hour before coming alive when Origi struck in the 36th minute.

Captain fantastic
Hummels has been in superb form since the turn of the year and crowned another imposing performance with a fantastic equaliser. Climbing to meet Mkhitaryan’s cross from the right, the Dortmund captain’s header left Mignolet with no chance. At the back, the German international marshalled Origi well for the most part.

Klopp-cam
Klopp’s Dortmund homecoming was undeniably the pre-match talking point, although once proceedings got under way the quality of football on show overshadowed anything else. The game was played at a furious pace throughout, with no shortage of attacking quality on show either. Dortmund were probably the better side on the night, but Liverpool’s rugged defensive display also deserved plaudits.

source:uefa.com