Coach Sergio Markarian has called up Apostolos Giannou of Panionios to replace the Fulham-owned striker.
Injured Mitroglou to miss Greece’s game in Hungary.
Olympiakos needs just two wins in its six remaining games to clinch another Super League title mathematically, as it enjoyed another easy home win on Sunday while its rivals lost on the road again. This was the first round of games with only 16 teams, as on Saturday OFI became the second club after Niki Volou to withdraw from the Super League.
The Reds saw off Kerkyra 3-0 in Piraeus thanks to goals by Chori Dominguez, Alberto Botia and Franco Jara, but had striker Costas Mitroglou come off injured in the second half. His injury means he will miss Greece’s game in Hungary a week later and national coach Sergio Markarian has called up Apostolos Giannou of Panionios to replace the Fulham-owned striker.
Panathinaikos suffered its second away loss in the space of four days, as after going down at Atromitos on Wednesday it lost 1-0 at Veria on Sunday to a local side that was clearly superior on the night. Ben Mohamed scored the game’s only goal in the first half, to leave the Greens nine points behind Olympiakos that has a game in hand, too.
PAOK also lost away from home, going down 3-1 at Panthrakikos on Saturday to goals by Nicolas Diguini, Christos Tzanis and Igor de Souza. Dimitris Papadopoulos pulled one back for PAOK.
The battle for the fifth spot, behind Asteras Tripolis that downed relegation-destined Ergotelis 2-1, is really heating up, with four credible challengers for a play-off spot: They are PAS Giannina, Atromitos, Xanthi and Panetolikos, with five rounds of games left to play.
PAS Giannina gets three points from its fixture at OFI, Xanthi downed Atromitos 1-0 in the weekend’s most balanced game, and Panetolikos suffered a shock home loss to Levadiakos with a 1-0 score.
Greek club Panathinaikos has lost its appeal against a three-point deduction for fan violence at a match against Olympiakos.
The violence at the Feb. 22 game prompted a one-week suspension of the 18-team league, followed by a government decision to ban fans at all stadiums until security standards are improved.
Thursday’s decision by the Greek Football Association leaves Panathinaikos with 58 points, three behind leader Olympiakos, which has played fewer games.
Panathinaikos was also fined 100,000 euros ($108,000) and ordered to play two additional home games without fans. [AP]
Kimon Taliadoros says he wants to repair the relationship between the FFV and the grassroots clubs after the NPL lauch saga.
Former Socceroo Kimon Taliadoros is hoping to “unlock the impediments of football’s growth” in Victoria if he is elected president for the Football Federation of Victoria (FFV).
Taliadoros says he wants to see the federation take a more affirmative approach to dealing with the sport’s skyrocketing popularity.
“The game needs to be able to provide the facilities to service that demand,” he tells Neos Kosmos.
“For instance, football can’t get access to grounds after the cricket season and for vast periods of time the grounds remain vacant.
“It’s a major impediment.”
As a former board member of the federation during the turbulent National Premier League (NPL) launch that saw more than 50 local teams boycott the FFV’s proposed structure, Taliadoros knows that much more is needed to repair the federation’s damaged relationship with the clubs.
“The FFV in its process failed to discharge responsibility to arrive at a decision it made,” he says about the boycott.
“It disenfranchised a good part of the Victorian football stakeholders and resulted in division between clubs and amongst clubs which needs to be repaired.”
A collective of the clubs took the FFV to court over what they called an unworkable and financially risky NPL model, eventually winning the case after the Football Federation of Australia stepped in to mediate talks.
Mr Taliadoros admits that the current structure of the NPL still has its problems and knows much more needs to be done to make the league fairer to less financially able clubs.
“It’s a source of anxiety for the clubs participating and for those clubs wanting to create pathways to their local community,” he says.
“We have to still solve the NPL problem, and in so doing we hope that the relationship, the trust and mutual cooperation will be at the heart of doing that.”
Fellow Greek Australian Nicholas Tsiaras is also running for election at the FFV, this time for a director’s role.
Vice president of NPL1 club Box Hill United, Tsiaras brings with him a sound knowledge of finances, having been working as an accountant for more than 25 years.
If elected, Tsiaras says he will work towards ensuring transparency in the board and making the game more affordable to Victorian families.
He also will work on implementing a new strategic plan the FFV will implement in 2016 if elected.
The FFV will announce who has been successful in the two roles on Monday March 30, 2015.
Brendan Rodgers looks at his pad with plenty to think about
There is never a desirable time to have the season interrupted by an international break, but it’s particularly unwanted after a 2-1 defeat to Manchester United.
Liverpool must now wait nearly a fortnight to put right the wrongs of their Anfield defeat as they send their players across the globe. They can only hope they all come back free of injury.
And Brendan Rodgers can only hope his Liverpool side can return fresh, ready to peg back the five-point defect to Manchester United in the final eight games to qualify for the Champions League.
Last week, Rodgers told of how he stayed awake into the early hours devising a way to turn around his side’s fortunes in the bleak mid-winter. Their situation is not as drastic now, granted, but after two difficult league games and a goalless draw at Blackburn, there would be little harm in re-assessing a few things.
Here is what the Reds boss must contemplate over the next two weeks.
HOW TO BEAT ARSENAL
The game at the Emirates is must-win for the Reds. They now sit six points behind the third-placed Gunners and, perhaps more importantly, five adrift of fourth-placed Manchester United. After setting his sights on second after beating Swansea, Liverpool could finish the Easter weekend in seventh.
And with Manchester United hosting Aston Villa, Liverpool could find themselves eight points off fourth, just weeks after being primed as favourites to take the final Champions League spot. Even a draw, a good result in isolation, leaves the Reds potentially seven points away.
For now, that is not for contemplation. A win over Arsenal puts them to within three points, and would put pressure on United. A pity, then, that Arsenal have won six consecutive league games, and just two in the past 15. Olivier Giroud is in great form in front of goal, while Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil and Santi Cazorla have contributed to some lovely attacking play. With 22 goals in their previous 10, murmurings of a late title charge – a la Liverpool last season – have surfaced.
But if Monaco can beat Arsenal, Liverpool will feel confident. They simply have to, or the optimism of early March will be washed away in April.
Philippe Coutinho celebrates his goal in the 2-2 draw against Arsenal
TO 3-4-2-1 OR NOT TO 3-4-2-1?
Talk of Rodgers’ formation change, rightfully, dominated the build-up to the game. It was the manager’s shift to the three-man defence, four-man midfield and attacking trident which has brought them back into top four contention.
But it has proved fallible in the past two league games. Swansea’s first half display, with a diamond playing up-tempo football, swamped the two central midfielders – and the game was only won with a change in the second half, bringing Steven Gerrard on.
That tactic didn’t work against Manchester United, of course – Gerrard’s 48-second stamp saw to that – but Louis van Gaal put on a clinic in the first half, nullifying every main danger in the side. Joe Allen wasn’t allowed time to move the side up the field; Emre Can and Mamadou Sakho were given time on the ball but with little options ahead; Raheem Sterling was forced into a right back position.
It would be wrong to say the 3-4-2-1 has been found out – the positive results before these two games should be enough to retain some faith – but both Garry Monk and van Gaal have worked out its weaknesses, and the worry is they will both serve as the blueprint for others.
Over the next two weeks, Rodgers must decide how to combat that – or whether it’s once more time for a tactical tweak on the training ground.
THE STERLING/STURRIDGE CONUNDRUM
The crowd’s treatment of Sterling continues to bemuse. A pass cannot be misplaced, or a shot misfired, without a grumble over his current contract situation. His current difficult run of form, it is hypothesised, is down to his desire for £150,000 a week.
Perhaps, instead, it is something to do with the 20-year-old playing in every position bar goalkeeper in recent weeks. He starts deeper, then moves further up the field; he begins on the right, then is moved to the left-hand side or down the middle. He has recently become a victim of his adaptability, the roundest peg fitting in wherever the team needs him.
It’s understandable from Rodgers, and admirable from Sterling. But the youngster is one of the club’s best players and the team, now more than ever, need his best. It is for the manager to figure out how – and where – that happens.
Of course, the continuing conundrum surrounding Daniel Sturridge complicates matters. He scored yet again on Sunday – his fourth since returning from injury – but has not recaptured his fluid best from last season. His pressing is not as sharp as Sterling’s and he is still figuring out both fitness and form. A partnership of Sterling and Sturridge could be the next logical step, getting Sterling higher up the pitch and pace alongside Sturridge.
Raheem Sterling, Mario Balotelli and Daniel Sturridge
DOES BALOTELLI DESERVE ONE LAST CHANCE?
Balotelli has been drinking in the last chance saloon for so long that he sits there, slumped on a bar stool, wearing a pink cowboy hat on with kiss me quick on the front.
But still, despite his Anfield career being seemingly written off, he came on as a substitute as Liverpool sought a goal against United with 10 men. Rickie Lambert remained on the bench, and Fabio Borini’s whereabouts have been unknown for some time. Mario, it seems, is second-choice.
He did well enough when he came on. Purposeful with the ball, powerful without it. He didn’t have a direct impact for Sturridge’s goal on 69 minutes, but once again Sturridge profited from the presence of someone alongside him, creating space.
Had the Reds come back against United, the snapshot of him being held back by the front row of the Centenary Stand – as he was primed to give Chris Smalling an earful or worst – would have become iconic. As it was, and as it has been for his Anfield career so far, it was merely a nearly moment.
Balotelli still has worth, if only as a potential partner to Sturridge. That would force Rodgers to change shape or system, but it clearly helps the Reds’ no.15 to score. With eight league games to go, it could be worth giving the Italian a final chance to prove his worth in the squad.
HOW TO MAKE LOVREN LOOK £20M
News of Martin Skrtel’s FA charge, and a potential three-game ban if found guilty, leads to the imponderable question: Dejan Lovren or Kolo Toure?
Much of the success surrounding the 3-4-2-1 has come from the consistency of the three at the back. Can, Skrtel and Sakho have gained an understanding through playing together; it is a relationship set to be disrupted if Skrtel is suspended.
Lovren had stepped in for Sakho during his absence last month, and would be favourite to do so again ahead of the experienced Toure. His performances were good enough – or, more accurately, disaster-free – to be considered as Skrtel’s replacement.
He is currently an injury doubt having withdrawn from Croatia’s Euro 2016 qualifiers, but that will allow Rodgers and his staff to get him primed for the run-in. He still remains the outfield player to have committed the most defensive errors in Europe this season – despite his reduced playing time since the turn of the year.
Rodgers must help him eradicate that, because Liverpool will likely need him in the next month. He cost the club £20m, but a place in the Champions League could be worth around £50m next season. He could still become a gamble which pays off, but there is work still to be done.
Man in the middle: Tom Juric is in Europe with the Socceroos despite being injured. Photo: Getty Images
Western Sydney Wanderers coach Tony Popovic has expressed dismay after the Socceroos went against the wishes of his club’s medical staff and included Tomi Juric in their squad to travel to Europe for this week’s friendlies.
Despite being deemed unfit to play against Germany on Wednesday (Thursday morning AEDT) and only considered an outside chance to play against the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia on Monday night [Tuesday morning AEDT] in Skopje, Juric was still selected by Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou.
The decision angered Popovic, who has nine players on the injured list and is battling through a congested schedule.
The Wanderers coach says Juric was never a chance of playing against Brisbane Roar on Wednesday and was unlikely to be risked against Perth on Saturday. He is nonetheless disappointed the striker was made to travel to Europe.
Irrespective of his fitness, Juric will now likely miss the Wanderers match against Melbourne City on Friday April 3 as he is not scheduled to return until Thursday morning.
Speaking for the first time since Juric departed, Popovic informed Football Federation of Australia that Juric was battling a groin injury.
“He’s injured, he’s not fit for the Germany game unless he’s made a miraculous recovery overnight on the flight,” Popovic said.
“I’m disappointed that he’s gone because he’s travelled as an injured player, whether or not he’s fit for the Macedonia game is another question but he’s travelled injured. That’s disappointing from our point of view but that’s the decision they’ve made.”
The decision to select Juric will compound the frustration of the struggling club especially after Tim Cahill was allowed to withdraw from Australia’s friendlies to recover from a minor injury in China.
“They know that we preferred for him not to travel. There’s a chance he could be fit for that game [in Skopje], we can’t deny that but from our point of view, we can’t see him being 100 per cent in terms of playing a full 90 minutes.
“We believe there’s an element of risk but we’re assured their medical staff will ensure he doesn’t come back injured,” Popovic said.
The Wanderers remain anchored to the bottom of the table as they prepare to face Brisbane Roar on Wednesday and are eager to avoid the embarrassment of a first wooden spoon.
In a sign of the lack of stability and the hefty toll of this season’s schedule, the Wanderers have used 34 players this season, more than any club in A-League history.
However, Popovic believes the club’s problems began much earlier, with their preparation during the last Asian Champions League knock-out stages.
“There are a whole range of issues, but the issues really start back when the season began. It’s not that the issues have arisen now, this is an accumulation,” Popovic said.
“We’ve been playing three games a week since the season began and now that has all caught up with us.”
Captain Nikolai Topor-Stanley described this season as the worst of his career and said there had been aspects of the team’s preparation and performance earlier this season that he would have changed.
“I’m sure a lot of things could’ve been done better,” he said.
“A lot of things have gone wrong and a lot of things haven’t gone our way either but we take responsibility. At the end of the day, we haven’t performed well enough but obviously there’s a lot of overriding factors that contribute to that.”
Αρνητικοί είναι οι οιωνοί για το νέο γήπεδο της ΑΕΚ, την «Αγιά Σοφιά», μετά την πρώτη συνάντηση που είχαν άνθρωποι της Ένωσης με το Υπουργείο Παραγωγικής Ανασυγκρότησης Περιβάλλοντος και Ενέργειας και συγκεκριμένα τον νομικό σύμβουλο του Αναπληρωτή Υπουργού Γιάννη Τσιρώνη.
Στη συνάντηση οι άνθρωποι της ΑΕΚ άκουσαν τον κ.Κώστα Διάκο να τους ξεκαθαρίζει ότι το γήπεδο μπορεί να κατασκευαστεί στα 26 στρέμματα που έχει η ΑΕΚ, με τον Δήμο της Νέας Φιλαδέλφειας να έχει οδηγηθεί σε αυτό το συμπέρασμα, μετά από μελέτη που έγινε από εταιρία της Αγγλίας και του Βελγίου.
Η τοποθέτηση αυτή, έκανε τους υπεύθυνους της Ένωσης να εκπλαγούν, καθώς μια τέτοια μελέτη για να γίνει χρειάζεται περίπου 200.000 με 300.000 ευρώ, χρήματα που ο Δήμος δεν θα μπορούσε να διαθέσει.
Οι υπεύθυνοι της Ένωσης αρχικά δεν πανικοβλήθηκαν, καθώς ήταν σίγουροι ότι η ΑΕΚ θα κέρδιζε στο ΣτΕ, ωστόσο τα στελέχη του Υπουργείου άφησαν να εννοηθεί ότι υπάρχει περίπτωση να καταργηθεί ο νόμος που δημιουργήθηκε και επέτρεπε στον Δικέφαλο να κατασκευάσει γήπεδο παίρνοντας κάποια λίγα στρέμματα από το άλσος της Νέας Φιλαδέλφειας.
Μάλιστα, λίγο αργότερα οι υπεύθυνοι της Ένωσης έμειναν ξανά άφωνοι, καθώς όπως ανέφεραν τα στελέχη του Υπουργείου, σε περίπτωση που η ΑΕΚ δεχθεί να κάνει γήπεδο στα 26 στρέμματα, δεν θα χρειαστεί να δαπανήσει χρήματα για τις νέες μελέτες, καθώς ο Δήμος είναι διατεθειμένος να αναλάβει τα έξοδα για τον διαγωνισμό ανάθεσης του έργου, καθώς και μέρος της χρηματοδότησης.
Όπως γίνεται φανερό οι δύο πλευρές δεν βρήκαν σήμερα κανένα σημείο επαφής και όρισαν νέα συνάντηση την ερχόμενη Δευτέρα, ώστε να αναλυθεί στους ανθρώπους της ΑΕΚ η μελέτη του Δήμου. Παράλληλα, γίνεται αντιληπτό, ότι ο Δήμος Νέας Φιλαδέλφειας και το ΥΠΕΚΑ δρούσαν τόσο καιρό σε συνεννόηση, προκειμένου να… στριμώξουν την Ένωση.
Αξίζει να σημειωθεί ότι τα στελέχη του ΥΠΕΚΑ δεν ήθελαν τον κ. Ανδριόπουλο στο ραντεβού, ο οποίος τελικά έδωσε το παρών ως σύμβουλος της ΑΕΚ επί τεχνικών θεμάτων και όχι ως εκπρόσωπος της Δικέφαλος 1924.
Η Ελλάς Μελβούρνης γύρισε από την κόλαση στον παράδεισο αποσπώντας ισοπαλία 2-2 από το Μπέντλεϊ σε ένα ματς που οι γηπεδούχοι ήταν ελαφρώς καλύτεροι.
Σε ένα ματς που είχε όλα τα χαρακτηριστικά του ντέρμπι, Μπέντλεϊ Γκρινς και Σάουθ Μέλμπουρν μοιράστηκαν τους βαθμούς, έπειτα από ένα χορταστικό 2-2. Μεγάλοι πρωταγωνιστές για την ομάδα του Γιάννη Αναστασιάδη ήταν το επιθετικό δίδυμο που ήρθε από το Κουίνσλαντ, Θερτέλ και Λούκας, ενώ σπουδαίο παιχνίδι έκανε και ο Τάισον Χολμς. Από την άλλη πλευρά για το Σάουθ Μέλμπουρν ο Επιφάνο κινούσε τα νήματα στον δημιουργικό τομέα, ωστόσο η κίνηση του Κρις Τέιλορ να περάσει στο παιχνίδι τους Μάρτιντεϊλ και Μπρέναν, ήταν αυτή που άλλαξε την εικόνα του αγώνα.
Το Μπέντλεϊ επέβαλλε την υπεροχή του από το πρώτο λεπτό της αναμέτρησης μεταφέροντας το παιχνίδι στο μισό γήπεδο και με την Ελλάς να προσπαθεί να κλείσει τους διαδρόμους προς την εστία του Ρογκάνοβιτς. Στο 22′ της αναμέτρησης ο Λούκας πήρε ωραία την μπάλα έξω από την περιοχή και από δεξιά θέση, όμως το γύρισμα που έκανε για τον συμπαίκτη του Βίσεβιτς δεν είχε αποτέλεσμα αφού το σουτ του τελευταίου κόντραρε στα σώματα.
Τρία λεπτά αργότερα ήταν η σειρά του Θερτέλ να δεχθεί ωραία την μπάλα ύστερα από κάθετη πάσα του Χολμς, όμως το σουτ που επιχείρησε απέκρουσε εντυπωσιακά ο Ρογκάνοβιτς σε κόρνερ.
Με την συμπλήρωση μισής ώρας αγώνα το Μπέντλεϊ είδε την υπεροχή του να αποδίδει καρπούς όταν οι Ρούθβεν – Λούκας έκρυψαν την μπάλα, ο τελευταίος μεταβίβασε στον Θερτέλ και εκείνος μέσα από την μικρή περιοχή πλάσαρε τον Ρογκάνοβιτς για να γίνει το 1-0.
Στο 36′ ήταν η στιγμή του Κρις Λούκας. Ο νεαρός επιθετικός πήρε την μπάλα ύστερα από μαγική κάθετη πάσα του Χολμς, ο προσωπικός του αντίπαλος Όμπράντοβιτς ήταν πολύ αργός για να σταματήσει τον επιθετικό των πρασίνων και ο στράικερ από το Κουίνσλαντ εκτέλεσε για δεύτερη φορά τον Ρογκάνοβιτς κάνοντας το 2-0.
Η πρώτη και μοναδική ευκαιρία για το Σάουθ στο πρώτο ημίχρονο σημειώθηκε στο 44′ όταν ο Θίοντορ έκανε παράλληλη μπαλιά από τα αριστερά, ο Μίλος Λούσιτς έβαλε την προβολή από το ύψος της μικρής περιοχής, όμως η μπάλα κατέληξε στην αγκαλιά του Μπρέι.
Στην επανάληψη ο Κρις Τέϊλορ έκανε μια κίνηση που έμελλε να αλλάξει το ματς. Έβγαλε τον Μπόνελ Ομπράντοβιτς, ο οποίος έχανε συστηματικά από την επιτήρηση του τον Κρις Λούκας και πέρασε στην θέση του, τον Κόντι Μάρτιντεϊλ και αντικατέστησε τον Ντέιβιντ Στίρτον (που μπήκε και δεν ακούμπησε) με τον Άντι Μπρέναν. Η αριστερή πλευρά του Σάουθ απέκτησε ταχύτητα αλλά και αμυντική θωράκιση, δεδομένου ότι ο Λούκας περιορίστηκε αρκετά, όπως επίσης ενισχύθηκε και η επιθετική γραμμή με την είσοδο του Μπρέναν, αφού στο πρώτο μέρος ο Λούσιτς ήταν απελπιστικά μόνος του.
Οι γηπεδούχοι είχαν την πρώτη καλή στιγμή στο δεύτερο ημίχρονο, όταν στο 46′ ο Λούκας έκανε μια ωραία κίνηση έξω από την περιοχή, το σουτ όμως που επιχείρησε πέρασε λίγο άουτ από το αριστερό δοκάρι του Ρογκάνοβιτς.
Από αυτή την φάση και έπειτα η Σάουθ Μέλμπουρν έλεγξε τον αγώνα, χωρίς όμως να μπορέσει να κάνει την μεγάλη ευκαιρία μπροστά από την εστία των πρασίνων μέχρι το 52′ όταν ο Τζακ Γουέμπστερ ανέτρεψε τον Μίλος Λούσιτς μέσα στην περιοχή του Μπέντλεϊ και ο διαιτητής καταλόγισε την εσχάτη των ποινών υπέρ της Σάουθ. Ο Λούσιτς ήταν ο εκτελεστής του πέναλτι στέλνοντας την μπάλα στα δίχτυα του Μπρέι μειώνοντας σε 2-1 για την ομάδα του.
Οι φιλοξενούμενοι είχαν την κατοχή της μπάλας για το επόμενο διάστημα, χωρίς όμως και πάλι να καταφέρουν να απειλήσουν την εστία των «πρασίνων», το μόνο που κατάφερναν, απλά ήταν να σπάσουν τον ρυθμό των αντιπάλων και να επιβάλλουν μια ηρεμία στο παιχνίδι.
Στο 75′ το Μπέντλεϊ έχασε μεγάλη ευκαιρία να ανεβάσει τον δείκτη του σκορ στο 3-1, όταν ο Λούκας εκτέλεσε ένα κόρνερ από τα αριστερά, ο Γουάλας έπιασε την κεφαλιά μέσα στην μικρή περιοχή της Ελλάς, όμως ο εξαιρετικός Ρογκάνοβιτς έδιωξε την μπάλα σε κόρνερ.
Λίγα λεπτά αργότερα σημειώθηκε η ολική επαναφορά για την ομάδα του Κρις Τέϊλορ. Ο Μάθιους δεν έδιωξε καλά την μπάλα η οποία έφτασε στον Επιφάνο και εκείνος με ένα εκπληκτικό σόλο, μπήκε στην περιοχή από τα αριστερά, πέρασε την δύο αμυντικούς του Μπέντλεϊ και έστειλε την μπάλα στα δίχτυα για να ολοκληρώσει με τον καλύτερο τρόπο μια εκπληκτική προσπάθεια κάνοντας το 2-2.
Από το σημείο εκείνο και έπειτα οι παίκτες του Γιάννη Αναστασιάδη αφυπνίστηκαν προσπάθησαν να βγουν στην επίθεση όμως το μόνο που κατάφεραν ήταν να επιδοθούν σε ένα ρεσιτάλ χαμένων ευκαιριών πουν δεν είχε προηγούμενο. Στο 82′ ο Γουάλας με μια γλυκιά σέντρα βρήκε τον Χολμς στην καρδιά της άμυνας του Σάουθ, όμως η κεφαλιά που έκανε ο επιθετικός των «πράσινων» κατέληξε κατευθείαν στην αγκαλιά του Ρογκάνοβιτς.
Στο 84′ ο Θερτέλ βρέθηκε στο ύψος του πέναλτι έπειτα από μπαλιά που δέχθηκε από τον ΜακΓκόρμικ, αλλά το σουτ που έκανε πέρασε πάνω από το οριζόντιο δοκάρι.
Στο 85′ σημειώθηκε η φάση για την οποία διαμαρτύρονται οι άνθρωποι του Μπέντλεϊ. Ο Λούκας εκτέλεσε το κόρνερ από τα αριστερά, η μπάλα έφτασε με περιπετειώδη τρόπο στον Γουέμπστερ που βρισκόταν στο δεύτερο δοκάρι, ο τελευταίος έκανε την προβολή προς το τέρμα, όμως η μπάλα απομακρύνθηκε από τους αμυντικούς του Σάουθ και κατέληξε σε κόρνερ. Οι παίκτες του Γιάννη Αναστασιάδη έπεσαν επάνω σε διαιτητή και επόπτη διαμαρτυρόμενοι ότι η μπάλα πέρασε την γραμμή όμως φυσικά η απόφαση των διαιτητών δεν άλλαξε.
Η τελευταία φάση του αγώνα σημειώθηκε στο τελευταίο λεπτό των καθυστερήσεων όταν η μπάλα έφτασε απροσδόκητα στον Λούσιτς ο οποίος βρέθηκε τετ α τετ με τον Μπρέι, όμως ο επιθετικός της Σάουθ κλότσησε «αέρα» και η μπάλα κατέληξε άουτ. Έτσι, παρέμεινε το τελικό 2-2 το οποίο ισοδυναμεί με νίκη για την ομάδα του Κρις Τέϊλορ αφού κατάφερε και έφυγε με τον βαθμό από ένα παιχνίδι που μέχρι το πρώτο ημίχρονο ήταν χαμένο. Ωστόσο, οι παίκτες της Σάουθ απέδειξαν για άλλη μια φορά αυτό που έχουμε τονίσει αρκετές φορές. Ότι δηλαδή όταν δεν βρίσκονται στην καλή τους ημέρα, ακόμα και τότε έχουν τον τρόπο να μην φεύγουν με άδεια χέρια από το γήπεδο. Παρόλα αυτά και το Μπέντλεϊ έδειξε αρκετά καλά στοιχεία και όπως και στο ντέρμπι παίζει αρκετά ελκυστικό ποδόσφαιρο, το μόνο που απομένει είναι να ξορκιστεί η κατάρα των χαμένων ευκαιριών.
Ο Χοσέ Χολέμπας δεν θα ενισχύσει τελικά την Εθνική ομάδα στον αγώνα της προσεχούς Κυριακής (29/3) εναντίον της Ουγγαρίας στη Βουδαπέστη, για την προκριματική φάση του Euro 2016, καθώς το πρόβλημα που αποκόμισε ο διεθνής ακραίος αμυντικός από τη αναμέτρηση της Ρόμα με την Τσεζένα την Κυριακή ήταν πιο σοβαρό από ό,τι αρχικά εκτιμήθηκε.
Ουσιαστικό θέμα, πάντως, για το αριστερό άκρο της άμυνας δεν υφίσταται, αφού «ενεργοποιήθηκε» ο Λουκάς Βύντρα που αρχικά κλήθηκε προληπτικά, ενώ στην ίδια πλευρά μπορεί να παίξει ο συμπαίκτης του Χολέμπας στους «τζαλορόσι», Βασίλης Τοροσίδης, αλλά και ο Κώστας Σταφυλίδης.
Olympiakos needs just two wins in its six remaining games to clinch another Super League title mathematically, as it enjoyed another easy home win on Sunday while its rivals lost on the road again. This was the first round of games with only 16 teams, as on Saturday OFI became the second club after Niki Volou to withdraw from the Super League.
The Reds saw off Kerkyra 3-0 in Piraeus thanks to goals by Chori Dominguez, Alberto Botia and Franco Jara, but had striker Costas Mitroglou come off injured in the second half. His injury means he will miss Greece’s game in Hungary a week later and national coach Sergio Markarian has called up Apostolos Giannou of Panionios to replace the Fulham-owned striker.
Panathinaikos suffered its second away loss in the space of four days, as after going down at Atromitos on Wednesday it lost 1-0 at Veria on Sunday to a local side that was clearly superior on the night. Ben Mohamed scored the game’s only goal in the first half, to leave the Greens nine points behind Olympiakos that has a game in hand, too.
PAOK also lost away from home, going down 3-1 at Panthrakikos on Saturday to goals by Nicolas Diguini, Christos Tzanis and Igor de Souza. Dimitris Papadopoulos pulled one back for PAOK.
The battle for the fifth spot, behind Asteras Tripolis that downed relegation-destined Ergotelis 2-1, is really heating up, with four credible challengers for a play-off spot: They are PAS Giannina, Atromitos, Xanthi and Panetolikos, with five rounds of games left to play.
PAS Giannina gets three points from its fixture at OFI, Xanthi downed Atromitos 1-0 in the weekend’s most balanced game, and Panetolikos suffered a shock home loss to Levadiakos with a 1-0 score.
Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and German Chancellor sought Monday to reboot an increasingly sour relationship, saying they are looking for ways to help Athens reach a deal with creditors that will keep it from falling out of the euro.
In his first visit to Germany since coming to power in January, Tsipras sounded a conciliatory note — though he stopped short of promising anything concrete on reforms that creditors like Germany want to see before they pay more money.
Greece urgently needs more funds as it faces a cash crunch within weeks.
Amid increased tensions between Greece and Germany in recent weeks over the bailout talks, Tsipras said Merkel had invited him in a phone call to come to Berlin, telling him «it is better to talk with one another than about one another.”
“I did not come here to ask for financial help,» Tsipras told reporters after meeting with Merkel behind closed doors for more than an hour. «I came for an exchange of our thoughts and opinions, to see where there is common ground and where there is disagreement.”
He characterized the talks as «positive,» saying that he found Merkel «listens and wants to be constructive in the exchange of opinons.”
Merkel was careful to point out Germany was only one of the eurozone nations that would be responsible for deciding whether Greeces reforms are sufficient, and said no decisions had been made in her talks with Tsipras.
“Today we can only talk about things,» she said, characterizing the meetings as being held in «a spirit of trust.”
The two were to continue their discussions over dinner following the press briefing.
Tsipras’ first weeks in office have been marked by tensions between the two governments’ contrasting approaches to Greeces debt crisis and over Athens’ revival of calls for World War II reparations from Berlin.
Tsipras’ left-wing Syriza party won after campaigning against the spending cuts favored by Germany in exchange for 240 billion euros ($260 billion) in international bailout money. His new government agreed a month ago to push through reforms in exchange for keeping European Union aid flowing, but has delayed submitting the measures for approval.
A full reform list should be presented «by early next week,» Greek government spokesman Gavriil Sakellaridis told private Mega television on Monday. He insisted that «the Greek government will not take any recessionary measures» that will weigh down the country’s troubled economy.
German officials have complained about their Greek counterparts making commitments and then publicly casting doubt on them, but also insist the debt spat isn’t a bilateral matter.
German Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel told ARD television he hopes for a «new beginning» in relations.
“The Greek government must clearly recognize that the rest of Europe, Germany too, wants to help. But that we cannot do that without something in return, without fair agreements on the necessary reforms,» he said — though he agreed that the «social hardship is huge» in Greece and must be addressed.
Merkel’s governing coalition insists talk of wartime reparations has no place in discussions of Greeces current debt troubles. Greece, however, believes it is due payments for its wrecked infrastructure, war crimes and a loan that occupied Greece was forced to make to the Nazis.
German officials say the matter has been resolved through previous payments and agreements.
The two countries’ foreign ministers met Sunday night and agreed to work on strengthening relations. German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said the debt crisis must not be allowed to «erode the strong foundations of German-Greek relations.”
Greek counterpart Nikos Kotzias, in an interview with German daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung, advocated creating a German-Greek panel of experts to examine the reparations issue — but Germany promptly made clear that it isn’t interested.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Martin Schaefer reiterated that «for us, the chapter of reparations is politically and legally concluded.”
Gabriel said «it makes no sense to make an attempt now to exert moral pressure on Germany along the lines of, ‘You must accommodate us more on the question of the euro and in the debt crisis.'”
“The two things have nothing to do with each other,» he added.
The parliamentary chief whip of Merkel’s conservatives, Michael Grosse-Broemer, was blunter.
“The reparations demands were another distraction from Greece to divert attention from their own failings,» Grosse-Broemer told Deutschlandfunk radio.
STUDIO 3 NEWCASTLE AUSTRALIA 