Category Archives: SPORTS

Double header as Besart Berisha of the Victory and Benjamin Sigmund of the Phoenix contend for the ball. Photo: Getty Images

Records are meant to be broken, and one of the A-League’s seemingly immutable standards — Wellington Phoneix’s inability to win away against Melbourne Victory — was finally snapped at AAMI Park on Sunday afternoon when the Kiwis twice came from behind to triumph 3-2.

Phoenix had not won in 12 attempts away to Victory before this, and their win – their first in five matches – will put their season back on course.

Victory had the chance to go top of the A-League had they taken three points here, not to mention marking  Archie Thompson’s 200th game in  style. They are now second on goal difference, three points behind Perth Glory. Victory, Adelaide and Wellington all have 33 points, with Sydney one point behind.

Wellington have been transformed under former Victory boss Ernie Merrick, and in Michael McGlinchey, Nathan Burns and Roy Krishna they have one of the more inventive and incisive attacks in the competition, while Dutch midfielder Roly Bonevacia provides dead ball expertise and support from midfield.

The visitors made their intentions clear early by forcing two corners early but it was the hosts who came closest first through striker Besart Berisha, the Albanian drawing a fine save from ex Victory goalkeeper Glen Moss in the eighth minute.

Still, it couldn’t disguise the lively start being made by Merrick’s men. McGlinchey was all quick feet and darting little runs in dangerous areas and Burns, who has turned his career around since heading to Wellington, was a combination of pace, power and skill as he tried to work openings around the Victory penalty area.

Nevertheless it was Victory who should have taken the lead around the quarter of an hour mark. First Fahid Ben Khallfallah made a wonderful break through the centre, dribbled past Albert Riera and set up Kosta Barbarouses. The ex Phoenix winger’s shot was scrambled to safety by Alex Rodriguez, who had got back well to cover.

From the resultant corner Victory gained another  opportunity when Nix centre back Ben Sigmund brought down Mark Milligan. Referee Jarred Gillett pointed to the spot. Up stepped Berisha, but his  penalty slammed into the post and rebounded to safety.

Moss was again Wellington’s saviour when he came off his line  to dive at Barbarouses feet after the winger’s slightly heavy touch played Ben Khallfallah’s crossfield ball just far enough ahead to give the goalkeeper a chance.

Berisha  got himself booked for a foul on Rodriguez. Gui Finkler then skimmed the bar with a lofted shot after a sweeping move down the right begun by Milligan, and it looked as though Victory was getting on top.

Kevin Muscat’s side did get their noses in front in the 34th minute from fullback Scott Galloway. Phoenix only partially cleared his cross after he had galloped up the left, allowing him to then drive in a shot which beat Moss.

The visitors didn’t drop their heads, however, and kept coming. Rodriguez blasted wide from a Burns pass, and in the 40th minute they got the equaliser their enterprise deserved from a wonderful free kick by Bonevacia. Victory full back Jason Geria conceded a foul in a dangerous area when he upended Krishna, and Bonevacia stepped up outside the penalty area to curl a perfectly weighted free kick into the net.

Mucat’s men regained the initiative early in the second half through a well worked and smartly finished goal by Barbarouses. Geria fed the New Zealand international wide on the right and Barbarouses squared the ball to Carl Valeri and kept running. Valeri threaded a pass through which Barbarouses calmly finished off the outside of his boot into the far corner.

But Phoenix are never out of games these days, and in the 68th minute they drew level once more, and Bonevacia was again the architect. His free kick floated to the far side of the penalty area and defender Michael Boxall got clear to head past Coe to make it 2-2.

Thompson, celebrating a wonderful milestone entered the fray with some 20 minutes remaining, but it was Burns at the other end who had the biggest impact, putting his side in front with 13 minute to go after a surging run down the right by Michael Boxall.

Burns looked to be standing in an offside position while the move developed but was deemed to be “passive”. When the ball came to him he was not offside, and he finished just inside Nathan Coe’s post. This was clearly fated to be Merrick’s – and Wellington’s – day.

source:smh.com.au

Manuel Pellegrini gleefully revealed on Friday that he has not a single injury concern ahead of Manchester City‘s trip to Liverpool.

But, while that news is undoubtedly a boost for the Chilean coach, it provides something of a selection headache.

With everybody fit, just who gets into the strongest possible starting XI?

David Lynch

Unless he was already thinking about this game, Pellegrini was wrong not to start Fernandinho against Barcelona on Tuesday. And even then he was still probably wrong.

The 29-year-old is far superior to his compatriot Fernando and does much more to get the Blues on the front foot with his ability to both break up play and drive forward effectively.

He should partner the returning Yaya Toure in a midfield two that has more than enough to deal with Liverpool’s fleet-footed runners in that area.

At the back, Eliaquim Mangala and Gael Clichy – despite his midweek involvement – are needed to counter the pace of Daniel Sturridge, Philippe Coutinho and Raheem Sterling, while the rest picks itself.

And surely it is time for Wilfried Bony to get a start ahead of Edin Dzeko, who was so wasteful against Barca. The 4-4-2 might not work in Europe, but the Premier League is a different kettle of fish.

Anthony Jepson

Manuel Pellegrini took a lot of flak from City fans over the tactics employed to deal with Barcelona on Tuesday.

And while it could be argued the security of a five-man midfield should be relied upon for the visit to Anfield, the manager’s desire to thrust Wilfried Bony into the Premier League fray should override that.

City need a win to close the gap on Chelsea and hamper Liverpool’s own ambitions.

The Ivorian got a brief taste of the action as City improved in the second half against the classy Catalans and he’ll be fired up to show what he can do alongside Sergio Aguero.

It means one less than many would like in midfield but James Milner’s energy and aggression should make him the man to partner Yaya Toure at the home of a club he has been heavily linked with.

That leaves Fernando and Fernandinho the odd men out.

While Fernando was laboured against Barca, Fernandinho could probably count himself unlucky to miss out after helping City step up after the break.

James Robson

This is a golden chance for City to close to apply pressure to Chelsea, with Jose Mourinho’s side playing Tottenham in the Capital One Cup.

They’ve got a bad record at Anfield, but Pellegrini cannot afford to be cautious.If he was willing to play two up front against Barcelona, then he won’t be afraid of doing likewise against Liverpool.

Yaya Toure will be thrown straight back in and he was missed again when serving a suspension against Barca.

Despite Edin Dzeko’s heroics against Newcastle, perhaps it is time to hand £25m striker Wilfried Bony his first start. I also expect Eliaquim Mangala to be restored alongside Vincent Kompany at the back.

source: manchestereveningnews.co.uk

The Reds won’t be too disappointed with collecting just a point in this fixture, even though it could mean that Spurs overtake them in the table if they’re able to beat QPR away from home.

Some people are arguing that Liverpool’s season might have reached its breaking point now as the side looked nothing like its recent self against Besiktas. Brendan Rodgers’ young side needs to prove these statements wrong and beating last season’s title winners will be just the right way to go about it. The fight for the top 4 places is very intense with Arsenal, Manchester United, Spurs and Southampton all there sniffing blood at any chance, and West Ham United also breathing heavily down their necks from not far below.

Here are three questions Liverpool need to answer against Manchester City.

Is Daniel Sturridge fit enough to start?

Liverpool’s talismanic striker’s return to action was the most awaited thing in Merseyside. After a gap of five months, the England international finally made his return, and scored as well. Brendan Rodgers is doing the right thing by easing him in and not making him start too many games. The Northern Irishman did start him against Besiktas and Sturridge didn’t look like he is ready to play 60-70 minutes, let alone 90 minutes. Against City, it will only be tougher and the pace of the game will naturally be more. If the 25 year old isn’t on his top game, it might cost Liverpool dearly.

Rodgers has two options in this case- either he starts Mario Balotelli as a lone striker against his former team, or use Raheem Sterling as a false nine. Balotelli has looked really good of late, but starting him alone might bring back the old problems. The Italian isn’t very mobile and Liverpool’s high intensity pressing game might be hindered with just him up front alone. In case Sturridge starts, Balotelli’s inclusion then makes sense. Otherwise, getting the player from the bench might be the best way Rodgers can use him in since the 24 year old has proved to be a great impact substitute lately. Raheem Sterling had a nightmare of a game against Besiktas and also played the full 120 minutes. He would understandably be tired. However, starting him as a false nine might be the way to go as the player fits all the bills needed from a Rodgers’ striker. Moreover, Sterling’s finishing has also improved lately and he might make the crucial blow in City’s title challenge.

Who starts in the midfield- Emre Can or Joe Allen?

Emre Can started in the midfield alongside Joe Allen against Besiktas. Even though the two played okay, they clearly don’t compliment each other’s game and the results for  Can being put in the midfield – to get the attacks going from the heart of the pitch – didn’t come Liverpool’s way. Against City, Jordan Henderson will come back so there will be space for only one alongside the likely captain on the day. Brendan Rodgers would have to make the call as to which player gets to play in the midfield on the day.

Allen has done well since coming in the side for the injured Lucas. He is not the most loved by the Liverpool fans, but has put performances that must surely have got the Kop faithful to reconsider their decision. Therefore, Allen has the form to play this big match. Moreover, his defensive presence will allow Henderson to weave the attack from the midfield. Alongside Can – who Henderson hasn’t partnered in the midfield much – he wouldn’t know if he is getting enough cover to play his natural game. Emre Can is a defensive midfielder but his positional sense makes him an ideal box to box player so he will be at his impactful best if he plays alongside another defensive midfielder. Therefore it would make more sense if Rodgers goes with the back-line that has got him a bevy of favorable results recently and uses Allen in the midfield. Let’s not forget, after Joe Allen’s wonderful performance against City where he “put Yaya Toure in his back pocket throughout the game” in February 2013, the Ivorian went on to admit it was the toughest game he has played in England.

Who should the front 5 comprise?

Brendan Rodgers needs to ensure that he gets his team selection absolutely spot on against the second placed side. Especially in terms of attack, since City pose a relatively vulnerable defence. On the left wing, undoubtedly Alberto Moreno should start the game. The Spaniard has put on some very underrated performances recently. He was brought on as a second half substitute against Southampton after Lazar Markovic had a torrid time on the left flank against Clyne and Filip Duričić. After his introduction, Clyne hardly got a whiff on the left wing and Moreno contained the threatening full-back extremely well. On the right flank, Brendan Rodgers has two options, Lazar Markovic or Jordan Ibe. Ibe has been Liverpool’s X factor recently, and his pace and ability to cut inside might be too much for the City defenders. But Markovic has got enough rest after missing the Besiktas clash and he will be fresh and ready for this game. Rodgers could start both the players by placing Ibe as the right wingback and Markovic slightly ahead behind the striker. Philippe Coutinho will be a sure starter for the Reds. After 19 straight start, the Brazilian was given rest and was left out of the squad against their Turkish opponents. Liverpool supporters will hope Coutinho, like in the corresponding fixture last season where Liverpool’s title dreams were firmly made (0nly to be shattered shortly after), can make a similar impact against Pellegrini’s side this season as well. Raheem Sterling will start alongside Coutinho in case Sturridge doesn’t place. In case the striker isn’t tarted, Sterling is likely to be used as the false nine, and one of Adam Lallana or Lazar Markovic will be started alongside the 20 year old.

source:thehardtackle.com

Όλο και πιο κοντά στον υποβιβασμό πλησιάζει η Αστον Βίλα. Οι «Χωριάτες» γνώρισαν την 7η διαδοχική τους ήττα στην Premier League, 1-0 από τη Νιούκαστλ, και παραμένουν στην προτελευταία θέση, ενώ κοντεύουν να συμπληρώσουν τρεις μήνες χωρίς νίκη!

Όσον αφορά τη Μάντσεστερ Γιουνάιτεντ, είδε… κι έπαθε να καταβάλει την αντίσταση της Σάντερλαντ, επικρατώντας 2-0 στο «Ολντ Τράφορντ» με δύο γκολ του Ρούνι που έφτασε τα 168 στην Premier League.

Aνέβηκε ;etsi προσωρινά στην τρίτη θέση και κατάφερε να αυξήσει τη διαφορά της από την 5η της κατάταξης, Σαουθάμπτον, που ηττήθηκε 1-0 από τη Γουέστ Μπρομ στο «Χόθορνς».

Νέα πολύ μεγάλη νίκη για την Κρίσταλ Πάλας, που πέρασε με 3-1 από την έδρα της Γουέστ Χαμ και ξέφυγε ακόμα περισσότερο από τη ζώνη του υποβιβασμού.

Με τον Αλαν Πάρντιου στον πάγκο της από τις 2 Ιανουαρίου, η Πάλας βρίσκεται πλέον στην 12η θέση με 30 βαθμούς, έχοντας συγκεντρώσει 13 στους τελευταίους 7 αγώνες.

Αναλυτικά το πρόγραμμα της 27ης αγωνιστικής:

Γουέστ Χαμ-Κρίσταλ Πάλας 1-3
(76΄ Βαλένσια – 41΄,63΄ Μάρεϊ, 51΄ Νταν)

Μπέρνλι-Σουόνσι 0-1
(65΄αυτ. Τρίπιερ)

Μάντσεστερ Γ.-Σάντερλαντ 2-0
(66΄πεν., 85΄ Ρούνι)

Νιούκαστλ-Αστον Βίλα 1-0
(37΄ Σισέ)

Στόουκ Σίτι-Χαλ 1-0
(71΄ Κράουτς)

Γουέστ Μπρομ-Σαουθάμπτον 1-0
(2΄ Μπεραχίνο)

Κυριακή:
Λίβερπουλ-Μάντσεστερ Σίτι
Αρσεναλ-Εβερτον

ΒΑΘΜΟΛΟΓΙΑ (σε 27 αγώνες)
Τσέλσι 60 -26αγ.
Μάντσεστερ Σίτι 55 -26αγ.
Μάντσεστερ Γιουν. 50
Άρσεναλ 48 -26αγ.
Σαουθάμπτον 46
Λίβερπουλ 45 -26αγ.
Τότεναμ 44 -26αγ.
Σουόνσι 40
Γουέστ Χαμ 39
Στόουκ Σίτι 39
Νιούκαστλ 35
Κρίσταλ Πάλας 30
Γουέστ Μπρομ 30
Έβερτον 28 -26αγ.
Χαλ 26
Σάντερλαντ 25
ΚΠΡ 22 -26αγ.
Μπέρνλι 22
Άστον Βίλα 22
Λέστερ 18 -26αγ.

Πηγή:in.gr

Επιστροφή στις νίκες για τη Μπαρτσελόνα στο ισπανικό πρωτάθλημα, μετά την εντός έδρας ήττα-σοκ της περασμένης εβδομάδας από τη Μάλαγα.

Οι «μπλαουγκράνα» επικράτησαν 3-1 εκτός έδρας της Γρανάδα, στο πλαίσιο της 25ης αγωνιστικής, και προσωρινά πλησίασαν στον ένα βαθμό την πρωτοπόρο Ρεάλ, που υποδέχεται την Κυριακή τη Βιγιαρεάλ.

Τα αποτελέσματα και οι σκόρερ:

Εσπανιόλ-Κόρντομπα 1-0
(43΄ Γκονζάλεθ)

Γρανάδα-Μπαρτσελόνα 1-3
(52΄ Φραν Ρίκο – 25΄ Ράκιτιτς, 48΄ Σουάρες, 70΄ Μέσι)

Ράγιο Βαγεκάνο-Λεβάντε 28/2
Αλμερία-Λα Κορούνια 28/2
Μάλαγα-Χετάφε 28/2

Βαλένθια-Σοσιεδάδ 1/3
Εϊμπάρ-Αθλέτικ Μπιλμπάο 1/3
Σεβίλη-Ατλέτικο Μαδρίτης 1/3
Ρεάλ Μαδρίτης-Βιγιαρεάλ 1/3

Θέλτα-Ελτσε 2/3

ΒΑΘΜΟΛΟΓΙΑ (σε 24 αγώνες)
Ρεάλ Μαδρίτης 60
Μπαρτσελόνα 59 -25αγ.
Ατλέτικο Μαδρίτης 53
Βαλένθια 50
Σεβίλη 45
Βιγιαρεάλ 44
Μάλαγα 38
Εσπανιόλ 32 -25αγ.
Θέλτα 31
Σοσιεδάδ 27
Εϊμπάρ 27
Αθλέτικ Μπιλμπάο 27
Χετάφε 26
Ράγιο Βαγιεκάνο 26
Λα Κορούνια 24
Αλμερία 23
Έλτσε 23
Λεβάντε 22
Γρανάδα 19 -25αγ.
Κόρντομπα 18 -25αγ.

Πηγή:in.gr

Australia will play a second match in Europe next month after the announcement of a fixture against FYR Macedonia.

The clash will take place in Skopje on 30 March, only five days after Australia plays world champion Germany.

It will be the second time the Socceroos have played against FYR Macedonia. The teams previously met in 1997, when current Socceroos assistant coach Aurelio Vidmar scored the only goal of the match in the 89th minute.

“We’re very pleased to secure a second match in Europe during the upcoming FIFA window,” said Socceroos head coach Ange Postecoglou.

“Two matches in five days against European opposition gives us a good opportunity to build on the platform we set in winning the Asian Cup.

“They are currently in the middle of qualifying for Euro 2016 so that gives us good opposition as we prepare for our next qualification campaign, which starts in June.”

source:theworldgame.com.au

Wayne Rooney fires home the penalty that gave Man Utd the lead against Sunderland

Sunderland had come away from Old Trafford with a 1-0 victory last season and early openings for Connor Wickham and Jermain Defoe suggested the hosts could have a similarly uncomfortable afternoon.

Ashley Young come close to giving United the lead when his first-half effort was diverted against the crossbar by John O’Shea. The Sunderland captain and Wes Brown were at the centre of the game’s decisive moment in the 64th minute. Radamel Falcao was fouled under pressure from the two centre-backs to concede a penalty, with Brown shown a red card by referee Roger East.

Rooney, who was starting up-front as Louis van Gaal made five changes to his starting XI, converted from the spot and added a second in the 84^th minute to ensure United bounced back from a 2-1 defeat to Swansea City last time out, keeping their bid for UEFA Champions League qualification on track.

The goal also ended an eight-match run in the Barclays Premier League for Rooney without a goal.

Peter Crouch needed just two minutes after coming off the bench to strike the decisive blow as Stoke City beat Hull City 1-0 and equal a Barclays Premier League record. The former England striker headed home with his second touch after coming on as a second-half substitute at the Britannia Stadium, ending Hull’s recent resurgence.

A lacklustre, scrappy first half ended without an effort on target but Charlie Adam’s introduction at the break gave Stoke a lift. The Scot’s two early efforts on Allan McGregor’s goal both went wide but he turned provider for Crouch in the 72nd minute, lifting an inch-perfect cross into the penalty area for the veteran striker to nod home in trademark fashion.

The goal marked Crouch’s 46^th with his head in the Barclays Premier League, equalling Alan Shearer’s record.

Swansea City earned a 1-0 win against Burnley as Kieran Trippier’s own goal gave Garry Monk’s side all three points at Turf Moor. A low-key affair was settled by a scrappy goal midway through the second half, as Swansea were able to build on last week’s 2-1 win over Manchester United.

Burnley goalkeeper Tom Heaton produced a superb save to keep out former Burnley loanee Jack Cork at the back post, but Cork’s rebound struck Trippier and was fumbled over the line by the shot-stopper. The win lifts Swansea to eighth, while defeat means Burnley remain in the bottom three, with QPR just above them on goal difference with a match in hand.

Newcastle United condemned Tim Sherwood to a second consecutive loss as Aston Villa manager as they ran out 1-0 winners at St James’ Park. John Carver’s side, boosted by the return of Jonas Gutierrez to the bench for the first time since the Argentinian overcame testicular cancer, took the lead against the run of play through Papiss Cisse’s 11th league goal of the campaign midway through the first half.

They were able to celebrate three points after soaking up second-half pressure, with Christian Benteke having a goal ruled out for offside, while the hosts also went close through Ryan Taylor and Ayoze Perez. The result lifts Newcastle on to 35 points, while Villa have lost seven consecutive league matches and remain in 19^th place.

Saido Berahino endured a day of mixed emotions as his superb early goal gave West Bromwich Albion a 1-0 win over Southampton before he was forced off injured in the second half.

The West Brom striker, who was passed fit to start the match at The Hawthorns despite carrying a knock, gave Southampton goalkeeper Fraser Forster no chance with an unstoppable half-volley after just two minutes. However, West Brom head coach Tony Pulis will be concerned by his attacking options after his top scorer was replaced shortly after the break, by Brown Ideye, who also apparently picked up an injury late on.

source:premierleague.com

The fixture that was promoted — incorrectly as it transpired — as a title decider when these two sides met at Anfield last April carries almost as much significance this time around. A resurgent Liverpool are presented with the chance to conclusively confirm they are ready to mix it up with the Premier League elite once again. After a truly shambolic start to the season, not even the most optimistic Anfield parishioner would have predicted that the visit of defending champions City on the first day of March could represent the occasion when Liverpool could clamber back into the top four of the Premier League standings.

However, that is the narrative heading into this game, as recent victories against top-four rivals Tottenham and Southampton have allowed Brendan Rodgers’ men to swallow up the gap that divided the sides pushing for Champions League qualification and last season’s Premier League runners-up.

So many pieces of Rodgers’ unconnected Liverpool jigsaw needed to fall into place for this scenario to come to pass. Goalkeeper Simon Mignolet had to rediscover his form; the Reds needed to uncover a method that would allow Rodgers’ side to offer a credible defensive plan; midfield creators Philippe Coutinho and Raheem Sterling needed to spring back into life; and striker Daniel Sturridge had to regain full fitness. It was a lengthy list of boxes that required ticking, but all appeared to have been inked.

Rodgers deserves credit for helping solve the first of those two problems, as his move to a defensive back three has eased Liverpool’s defensive woes and inspired a fresh surge of belief in first-choice shot-stopper Mignolet. Meanwhile, his tactical switch to deploy Sterling in an attacking position reignited the England youngster’s burners and also seemed to spark Coutinho into life. With Sturridge back on scoring form after his enduring stint in the treatment room, the free-scoring Liverpool of last season have returned and they may well be getting a crack at City at the perfect time.

The mental scars of another Champions League humbling at the hands of Barcelona on Tuesday will be fresh in the minds of Manuel Pellegirni’s players. On a day when they get a chance to cut Chelsea’s lead at the top of the Premier League to just two points, you wonder how they will react if they fall a goal behind.

A victory for Liverpool could turn out to be even more significant for this season than their 3-2 win against City turned out to be almost a year ago.

source:espnfc.com

In one of the season’s best matches, Western Sydney Wanderers came from three goals down to level the match before a late Terry Antonis goal proved heartbreaking for Tony Popovi…

Socceroo Terry Antonis scored a dramatic winner to save 10-man Sydney FC’s blushes after the Sky Blues  surrendered a 3-0 lead before winning 4-3 in an astonishing derby against Western Sydney Wanderers FC.

In one of the matches of the season, the Sky Blues looked on course for a huge win over their bitter neighbours as an Ante Covic own goal and Marc Janko brace had them three goals up inside 25 minutes.

But spurred on by almost 20,000 fans at Pirtek Stadium, the Wanderers produced a stunning fightback with Iacopo La Rocca and debutant Kerem Bulut getting them back in the contest before the break.

Bulut became an instant fan favourite when he equalised nine minutes after the break but Antonis had the final say, coming off the bench to pinch a winner and move Sydney FC into the top four.

Mickael Tavares was sent off seven minutes from the end to ensure a nervy visit of the Wanderers but when Vedran Janjetovic kept out Yusuke Tanaka’s volley in stoppage time, a memorable victory was theirs.

WHAT THEY SAID
“We can’t be happier to be honest, it was very important to get the three points. They (Wanderers) gave everything tonight, credit to them, but we were better.” – Sydney FC striker Marc Janko

“It’s very devastating, we worked hard. We started off slow, 3-0 down and to get back to 3-3 and lose, it’s a hard loss.”  – Wanderers striker Kerem Bulut

GOALS
0-1 Covic og (10’) – Milos Dimitrijevic curled in a corner from the left and aimed for a pack of players – including his striker Marc Janko – at the near post. As the players challenged for the ball, it struck the shoulder of Wanderers skipper Nikolai Topor-Stanley and went on to the crossbar, rebounding back out onto Covic and into the net.

0-2 Janko (18’) – Alex Brosque surged through the middle before sending Bernie Ibini clear into space down the right. Ibini’s shot from the top of the box was deflected into the path of Chris Naumoff, who in turn found Janko and the big Austrian showed all his strikers instincts, poking the ball towards goal in traffic with it hitting the post and trickling in.

0-3 Janko (24’) – A hopeful long-ball forward by Sebastian Ryall isolated Janko with Wanderers centre-back Brendan Hamill on the edge of the home side’s box. Reacting quickest, Janko swooped on the loose ball and coolly side-footed it past Covic into the corner.

1-3 La Rocca (33’) – Yojiro Takahagi’s looping free-kick made its way to the far post, with Hamill jumping over the top of Ryall to nod the ball back across the face of goal. It was the perfectly placed with La Rocca on hand to volley it in from close range.

2-3 Bulut (42’) – Takahagi was involved again, splitting the Sydney defence with a classy through-ball with Nikita Rukavytsya timing his run to perfection to spring the offside trap. The pacy winger‘s cross was just out of reach of Vedran Janjetovic, putting in on a plate for Bulut to tap in.

3-3 Bulut (53’) – After a poor defensive header by Matt Jurman, Romeo Castelen and Mark Bridge combined to release Bulut and he buried his shot into the corner from 25yards out.

3-4 Antonis (75’) – Hamill was again at fault as he failed to deal a cross from the left, scuffing the ball straight to Antonis on the edge of the box. The midfielder took it past Hamill and from a tough angle shot across Covic into the far, bottom corner with his weaker left foot.

KEY MOMENT
The Sky Blues were cruising and looked like going 4-0 up when Alex Brosque was one-on-one with Covic but laid  the ball off for Chris Naumoff, who somehow missed the target with the goal gaping. It shouldn’t have mattered but proved a turning point as the Wanderers pulled a goal back just five minutes later to turn the momentum and kick-start an incredible comeback. Unfortunately for the home side it wasn’t enough.

OPTA DATA KEY STATS
This was the 169th time in A-League history that a side had trailed 3-0 in a match, with the Wanderers going within a whisker of becoming just the third side to snatch a result after being behind from that scoreline. Janko’s brace means he has now scored eight goals in his last five matches to move to the top of the goal-scorers charts with 12 for the season. The Sky Blues have scored 19 goals in five matches since returning from the Asian Cup break. Incredibly before Saturday night the Wanderers had only conceded five goals all season in front of their home fans.

HIGHLIGHTS REEL
Impossible to pick one moment in what was a simply astonishing 90 minutes. The whole occasion was everything you want in a derby match. Seven goals, six yellow cards, one red card, plenty of colour, passion, noise and excitement, it was a stunning advertisement for the A-League. It’s a shame we probably have to wait until next season for another one.

COACH KILLER
Having already fumbled a simple cross from Brosque just minutes earlier, it was an unhappy start for Covic to concede the first goal. With Dimitrijevic’s corner coming down inside the six-yard box, the experienced gloveman probably should have come out to punch away, instead staying on his line and paying the price. The ball ricocheting off players shoulders, heads, the cross bar, onto Covic and into the net for a goal which wouldn’t have pleased the ‘keeper or his coach Tony Popovic.

THE FINAL WORD
Having failed to halt the momentum of their fierce rivals, the Wanderers turn their attention back to the ACL with Guangzhou Evergrande coming to Parramatta on Wednesday night before a trip to Brisbane to play Roar on Sunday afternoon. Sydney FC will be chasing a fifth win in six matches and another chance to close the gap on the league-leaders when they travel up to Newcastle to face the struggling Jets on Friday night.

TEAMS:
Western Sydney Wanderers FC: Covic, Tanaka, Hamill, Topor-Stanley, Golec (Gallaway 75’), La Rocca, Takahagi (Haliti 83’), Bridge, Castelen, Bulut (Juric 58’), Rukavytsya

Sydney FC: Janjetovic, Ryall (Grant 67’), Jurman, Petkovic, Gersbach, Tavares, Dimitrijevic, Ibini, Brosque, Naumoff (Antonis 69’), Janko (Smeltz 65’)

Scorers: Covic (og) 10’, Janko 18’, Janko 24’, La Rocca 33’, Bulut 42’, Bulut 53’, Antonis 75’
Red cards: Tavares 83’
Yellow cards: Ryall 19’, Tavares 32’, Tanaka 40’, Bulut 54’, Gersbach 60’, Tavares 83’
Conditions: 27C, Dry
Attendance:  19,484 @ Pirtek Stadium

source:goal.com

Chelsea’s £40million-a-year club record shirt sponsorship deal with The Yokohama Rubber Company, announced on Thursday evening, will help to guarantee that the Premier League’s shirt deals are collectively worth twice as much as those in the next most lucrative league, Germany’s Bundesliga.

Chelsea have signed a five-year deal worth £200m with the Japanese tyre giants, meaning they now have the second highest shirt sponsorship deal in England, indeed in the world, after Manchester United.

United’s deal with Chevrolet was agreed and signed in 2012 on terms of $559m (£332.6m) over seven years, starting with this season, 2014-15. At the exchange rates applicable at the time of the deal, that makes United’s deal worth £47m-a-year. 

Chelsea’s deal with Yokohama is even more massive than the deals currently in place at Europe’s biggest, richest and most financially savvy clubs – Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich. That trio have current agreements respectively with Emirates, Qatar Airways and Deutsche Telekom each worth around €30 million per year, or about £25m a year at the exchange rates in place at the time.

The upshot of the Chelsea deal is that the 20 current Premier League clubs have shirt sponsorship deals in place or upcoming collectively worth a staggering £216.35m, according to exclusive analysis by Sportsmail.

That means the average deal is worth more than £10m a year, or £10.8m per club to be precise. Of course within the division there are huge variations. After United and Chelsea, Arsenal make £30m a year from Emirates, Liverpool make £20m a year from Standard Chartered and Manchester City make £20m a year from Etihad. At the other end of the scale, Crystal Palace’s deal with Neteller is worth not quite £1m and Southampton, Burnley and Leicester have deals worth £1m a year – although those will grow if in the Premier League next season.

According a new authoritative study published this week by industry analysts Repucom, the 18 clubs of the Bundesliga have shirt deals worth £101m collectively – or less than half the Premier League levels when Chelsea’s new deal is factored in. That works out at £5.6m per Bundesliga club per season.

Repucom’s European Football Jersey Report looks at shirt deals across Europe’s major leagues and shows that the La Liga clubs in Spain collectively have deals worth £82m, with more than half that sum at Barca and Real Madrid alone, and the equivalent sums elsewhere are £70m in France’s Ligue 1, £60m in Italy’s Serie A and £31m in the top flight in the Netherlands.

Chelsea’s new deal shows the staggering earning potential for ‘super clubs’ with genuine global followings, and highlights the global nature of the Premier League as so many foreign companies seek to use English football to sell their wares to an international audience.

This season 14 shirts feature overseas-based companies, compared to 10 last season. Companies from the United Arab Emirates, South Korea (Samsung, to be replaced by Yokohama), the US, the Philippines, South Africa, Thailand and China are represented.

Despite a football-wide ban on betting, gambling companies continue to feature prominently in the Premier League. This season five shirts feature gambling companies: those at Aston Villa (Dafabet.com), Stoke (Bet365), Hull (12Bet), Burnley (Fun88) and West Ham (Betway) – compared to three last season.

The total value of the Premier League’s shirt deals have doubled in five seasons. In 2010-11 they were worth £100.45m.

This season 14 shirts feature overseas-based companies, compared to 10 last season. Companies from the United Arab Emirates, South Korea (Samsung, to be replaced by Yokohama), the US, the Philippines, South Africa, Thailand and China are represented.

Despite a football-wide ban on betting, gambling companies continue to feature prominently in the Premier League. This season five shirts feature gambling companies: those at Aston Villa (Dafabet.com), Stoke (Bet365), Hull (12Bet), Burnley (Fun88) and West Ham (Betway) – compared to three last season.

The total value of the Premier League’s shirt deals have doubled in five seasons. In 2010-11 they were worth £100.45m.

source:daily.co.uk