Premier League Round-Up Sat 15-11-08
Liverpool go top for a short while after beating Bolton, Arsenal fail again after getting beaten at home by Aston Villa, Sunderland get a good away win at Blackburn, Fulham win at home to give Tottenham there first defeat under Harry Redknapp, Man United show Stoke how to play football with a home win, Newcastle can only draw with Wigan, West Ham still can’t win when they drew with Portsmouth & Chelsea go back to the top with a away win at West Brom…
Arsenal looked to be out of the title race after they again lose at home this time to Aston Villa 2-0. Ashley young could have put Villa ahead early on as he was fouled by Theo Walcott for a penalty but it was very weak & Manuel Almunia saved it easily. But he did make amends in the 70th minute to put Villa ahead with a brilliant cross which was headed in by Gael Clichey for an own goal. With 10 minutes left Agbonlahor made it two as he raced onto a through ball from defence held of Gallas & fired his shot into the left hand corner past Almunia..
Chelsea looked to bounce back from there mid week defeat by beating West Brom 3-0. The match was all over by half time as Chelsea hit West Brom with 3 quick fire goals the first was scored by Jose Bosingwa as he took a shoot from the edge of the penalty area which took Scott Carson by surprise & went into the net. Then it was Nicolas Anelka’s turn with another two goals the first was a great touch from a Florent Malouda pass which beat the keeper at the near post & his second was another great touch again from Malouda at the far post & thats why he is the league’s top scorer…
Liverpool were top for a little while after beating Bolton 2-0 at the Reebok. Dirk Kuyt opened the scoring with a great header from a Fabio Aureilo cross but Bolton could have bin level as Gary Cahill had his goal ruled out just before half time as Kevin Nolan was adjudged to had blocked Jose Reina. But Liverpool extended their lead in the second half as Fernando Torres came off the bench to put in a superb cross for Steven Gerrard to head home to seal the win…
Man United showed that the Arsenal defeat didn’t effect them as they thrashed Stoke 5-0. Ronaldo opened the scoring as he fired home a 30 yard free kick which was his 100th league goal but in truth Sorensen should have done better. Ronaldo set up the second goal just before half time as he fed in Carrick who created some space for himself before firing the ball into the top corner. Berbatov then made it three after half time when he controlled Tevez’s pass & he made no mistake from six yards out. Then it was sub Danny Welbeck to show what he can do as he hit a fantastic long range shot into the goal to get United’s forth. Their fifth & last goal was scored by Ronaldo with one of his trade mark free kicks to put United in the hunt for the top two…
Fulham won the London derby after beating Tottenham 2-1 to give Harry Redknapp his first defeat as their manager. Fulham’s first goal was another Heurelho Gomez error to add to his collection as he misread a shot at goal from Simon Davis & it flicked Jonathan Woodgate on the way through & into the net. Spurs defence let them down in the second half as they failed to clear a corner & it allowed Andy Johnson to collect the ball turn & fire home from 5 yards out. Substitute Frazier Campbell came off the bench to grab a goal for Tottenham with a great little finish after a good move by Jermain Jenas & David Bentley but it was to late..
Newcastle could only draw with 10 men Wigan 2-2 at St James Park. It was Wigan who took the lead after only 3 minutes as Heskey played in Ryan Taylor & he hit a powerful shot that seem to move in the air & over Shay Given into the net. It stayed that way until the 54th minute of the second half as Emmerson Boyce was sent off for his second yellow card after a challenge on Ameobi & they paid the price as Michael Owen came off the bench to score from close range after Kris Kirkland failed to hold on to a Ameobi shot from outside the box. Obafemi Martins then gave Newcastle the lead as he lashed home a shot after being played in by N’Zogbia but with only a minute to go Wigan had a corner & it was floated in & old Newcastle boy Titus Bramble rose above everybody to head home to give Wigan a point…
Sunderland got their own back after the defeat to Blackburn in midweek by beating them as Ewood Park 2-1. The match didn’t start or look like a Sunderland victory as Blackburn looked the better side & took the lead just before half time when Christopher Samba rose the most to head home a Morten Gamst Pederson cross. But it was Sunderland who came out for the second half better as they equaliser straight off as Paul Robinson punched the ball out of his box very weak & it fell to Kenwyne Jones who vollied it straight back into the goal. With 20 minutes left they went ahead as Steed Malbranque’s header was ran on to by Djibril Cisse & he lifted the ball over Paul Robinson to give them the lead & they held on to win the match..
West ham’s poor form & no wins in 7 matches continued as they were held to a 0-0 draw by Portsmouth. There were no great chances in the match as both keepers were really only called upon in the whole match . Robert green was called into action when he had to deny Jermain Defoe at least three times while David James could only watch as a Craig Bellamy free kick crashed off the cross bar. But at Least West Ham kept a clean sheet there first for 25 games..
Spanish La Liga Round Ten
8th November 2008
The big two in Spain, Barcelona and Real Madrid both won in contrasting style. Barcelona hammered Valladolid 6-0 at the Nou Camp. Samuel Eto’o was in devastating form as he hit four goals. Eto’o opened the scoring after 12 minutes from a Daniel Alves pass. His second came after 30 minutes he followed up Thierry Henrys saved shot and found the net. Eto’o completed his hat-trick after 42 minutes thanks to an assist from Lionel Messi. Eto’o then scored Barcas fourth just a minute later with Messi again playing his part in the move. Eidur Gudjohnsen made it 5-0 in the 70 minute with a chipped finish. Thierry Henry completed the rout in the 83rd minute with an assist from Alexander Hleb to complete Valladolid’s misery.
Real Madrid’s victory didn’t come so easy however as they beat Malaga 4-3. Gonzalo Higuain equalled Eto’os four goals as Real scrapped passed Malaga. Malaga took the lead in the 6st minute through Eliseu. Higuain levelled it up for Real just two minutes later after Marcelo’s shot had been parried. Nabil Baha put Malaga in the lead again on 18 minutes. Higuain however put Real back on level terms again in the 37th minute from the penalty spot. Sergio Ramos was dismissed before half time to make it more difficult for Real. Malaga took the lead for the third time on 70 minutes with Antonio Apono scoring from the spot. Higuain scored an amazing equaliser just a minute later. He then found the winner in the 80th minute after his penalty was saved he react first to find the net.
Sunday 9th November
Villarreal beat Almeria 2-1 to go into second place in La Liga and maintain the only unbeaten record in the league. Giuseppe Rossi scored the first for the Yellow submarines in the first minute. Joseba Llorente then added the second after 15 minutes. Argentina starlet Pablo Piatti scored the goal for Almeria in the 61st minute. It wasn’t enough though as Villarreal held on for all three points. The game between Atletico Madrid and Osasuna ended in a 0-0 draw. That left Osasuna still bottom of the table.
Real Mallorca and Athletic Bilbao drew 3-3 in a pulsating match. Cleber Santana opened the scoring on 11 minutes for Mallorca. Androni Iraola equalised for Bilbao from the penalty spot in the 43rd minute. Juan Arango then scored a brace his first in the 57th minute and 74 minute for Mallorca. That looked like that was going to be enough for a home victory but Bilbao had other ideas. Francisco Yeste gave Bilbao a way back into the game in the 79th minute. Fernando Llorente then completed a remarkable comeback, with a last gasp equaliser for Bilbao to claim a 3-3 draw and a valuable point.
Deportivo beat Espanyol 1-0 at home to move to sixth in La Liga. Mexico Andres Guardado scoring the goal after 37 minutes. Racing Santander claimed a 1-0 victory over Sporting Gijon. Mohamed Tchite scored the only goal on 58 minutes. Racing won despite having Jonathan Pereira Sent-off near the end. Numancia lost out 4-2 to Real Betis at home. Javier Del Pino gave Numancia a 27th minute lead, only for Achille Emana to equalise from the penalty spot six minutes later. Real Betis then raced ahead with two goals from Mehmet Aurelio and Juanito before half-time to make it 3-1. Jose Barkero scored in the 56st minute to get Numancia back into the game. Mehmet Aurelio scored in the 85th minute to confirm all three points and a 4-2 victory. Sevilla beat Recreativo 1-0 in Seville. Sevilla scrapped a victory thanks to a 63rd minute Freddie Kanoute header. Valencia beat Getafe 3-0 to go third in La Liga. Manuel Fernandes struck a fantastic long range strike in the 29th minute to give Los Ches the lead. Roberto Soldado was dismissed before half-time which made it even harder for Getafe to get back into the game. Joaquin struck an excellent volley in the 69th minute to make it 2-0 and Vicente added a third in the 81st minute to confirm the three points..
Carling Cup Round-Up Weds 12-11-08
Burnley produced the shock of the night when they beat Chelsea on penalties, Tottenham did it again by beating Liverpool & Blackburn found there way past sunderland to all make the quarter final stage..
Chelsea were shocked on the night when they knocked out by Burnley 5-4 on penalties after the match had ended 1-1 after extra time was played. It looked like it was going to go Chelsea’s way after 27 minutes when Didier Drogba powered past the Burnley defence & curled his shot past Brian Jensen & into the bottom right hand corner. Chelsea nearly made it two before the break when Branislav Ivanovic saw his header hit the crossbar & go out. Burnley came out for the second half & gave it a go & was rewarded when Ade Akinbiyi scored from the rebound after a Chris Eagles shot was parried by Carlo Cudicini even though Chelsea piled on the pressure Burnley held on for extra time. Not much happened in extra time apart from Alex missed a great Chance to put Chelsea ahead & Steven Caldwell got sent off after 117 minutes for a second bookable offence so penalties it was. It was going to the way you think until Wayne Bridge stepped up & had his penalty saved bt Jensen but Burnley’s Wade Elliott hit his penalty way off target. But Burnley went through on penalties when Michael Duff powerfully hit his penalty in & it was left to Jansen to make a superb save off John Obi Mikel to give them the win..
Tottenham continue to be unbeatable under Harry Redknapp as they beat Liverpool 4-2 at White Hart Lane. The match was a great game of football & it was Spurs who opened the scoring after 37 minutes when Fraizer Campbell pulled the ball back from the left touch line & there was Pavlyuchenko unmarked in the box the drill it home. it only took 5 minutes it make it two when Campbell controlled a Jamie O’Hara pass into the box & slotted home after Cavalieri & Dossena got mixed up. Just before half time it was three again Campbell got past Dossena to head home a Aaron Lennon cross beyond Cavalieri but straight after half time Liverpool had some hope a Corner came in from Ryan Babel & the Spurs goalie Gomez dithered & allowed Damien Plessis to head home. But it didn’t take Spurs long to restore their cushion when Didier Zokora ran into the penalty box with pace & smashed a shot towards goal but it got deflected to Pavlyuchenko & he tapped it into the net. But again Gomes was at fault & let Liverpool back into the game when he flapped at another Babel corner & this time it was Sami Hypia who headed into the net. Gomes did have a bad moment when he was subbed later on with a head injurie & was replaced by Cesar but they held on for the win..
Blackburn booked there place in the quarter finals with a 2-1 win over Sunderland at the stadium of light. Sunderland should have bin ahead by half time when they missed two great chances one from Danny Collins which saw Paul Robinson tip it over the crossbar & then Kenwyne Jones had a shot hit the crossbar & out. But the match changed in the second half when Roque Santa Cruz came on as sub after 65 minutes & he made a immediate impact when he headed home from close range to put Blackburn ahead. Just five minutes later it was two when Marton Fulop pushed out a hard shot only to see it rebound of Sundrland defender Phil Bardsley & into the net. But they had a life line 2 minutes later when Kenwyne Jones smashed the ball home from 20 yards & into the goal to set up a great finish but as much as Sunderland tried to get back into the game Blackburn held on to progress..
Carling Cup Round-Up Tues 11-11-08
Round four of the Carling Cup saw Arsenal youngsters overcome Wigan. Derby got Victory over Leeds, Man United scrape past Qpr, Stoke ease past Rotherham & Manageless Watford see off Swansea for them all to make the quarter finals..
Arsenal put the youngsters out & they impressed yet again in the Carling Cup as they beat a strong Wigan Side 3-0. It wasn’t until just before half time that Arsenal took the lead Jay Simpson broke clear of the Wigan defence after a Jack Wilshere through ball to score a great goal. Half way through the second half Simpson made it two when Carlos Vela made a quick break & pass the ball to Simpson who couldn’t miss the goal if he wanted to. It didn’t take long for number three when Johan Djourou make a great pass to Vela who scored a goal from a wonderful chip over Chris Kirkland..
Man United made a load of changes for this match but could only scrape a 1-0 victory over Qpr. They game was deadlocked for most of the match but it took a Carlos Tevez penalty 14 minutes from time after Peter Ramage was adjudged to bring down Danny Welbeck to settle the tie. Qpr had thought they had equalised from Samuel Di Carmine just before the end but the assistant ref had flagged for off-side…
Stoke were to strong for league two side Rotherham even after a host of changes to win 2-0. Stoke went ahead after 21 minutes with a great free kick from Glenn Whelan when he beat goal keeper Andy Warrington from the edge of the penalty area. It was two just after the hour mark when Danny Pugh broke through the Rotherham defence & unleashed a shot that beat Warrington & there was no coming back from there..
Derby were made to hold on for some time but managed to with 2-1 over Leeds. It only took Derby 6 minutes to take the lead when Emanuel Villa was left in loads of space to finish of a good move. It wasn’t long before it was two Kris Commons went down the left put in a great cross for Nathan Ellington to finish. It stayed like that right up to half time & then Leeds got back into the match from Luciano Becchio’s Header into the goal from a Frazer Richardson cross. The second half was Leeds attacking Derby to get the equaliser & Derby trying to extend the lead & both had chances to do so but Derby held on to progress..
Swansea & Watford played a awful looking match with lots of commitment but it was lacking quality but one moment of quality got Watford the win 1-0. It was up to Lee Williamson to produce that one moment after 21 minutes as he collected the football & managed to wave his way in & out of the Swansea defence & smash a shot beyond Dimi Konstantopoulos to give Watford the match..
Premier League Round-Up Sun 9-11-08
Chelsea go back to the top of the league with a win over Blackburn, Tottenham’s revival continues with a away win at Man City, Middlesbrough get a good win at Aston Villa & Fulham see off the challenge of Newcastle.
The Match started with the rain pouring down & making the pitch very wet with the ball & players splashing about everywhere. Blackburn must have hoped that it would play into their hands but it didn’t seem that way as Chelsea coped very well with the condition’s & ran out 2-0 winners. They almost took the lead in the first few minutes as a poor back pass by Keith Andrews was sized upon by Nicolas Anelka who try to round Paul Robinson but was brought down by the keeper by the ref just waived it away while replays showed it should have bin a penalty. But for all of Chelsea’s pressing they got awarded on 39 minutes when Jose Bosingwa took a long range shot & it deflected off Anelka’s knee & into the net passed Paul Robinson who had his hand up for hand ball but you could see it wasn’t. The second half was much the same with Chelsea pushing forward & Blackburn playing better but apart from one save by Cech not much threat. Chelsea did wrap the game up with 20 minutes to go when Anelka again found himself in the penalty box & he neatly chipped the ball over the advancing keeper & into the net to put Chelsea back on top of the table..
Middlesbrough got only there second away win of the season when they beat Aston Villa 2-1. The match started with Aston Villa trying to carry on from their Uefa Cup performances where Middlesbrough needed a result of any kind. But with the Villa defence not looking to good it was Middlesbrough who got the first goal. Stewart Downing got down the left & lofted the ball into the Villa box it went straight over Martin Laursen & Nicky Shorey’s heads & it left Tuncay & Alves fighting to put the ball into the net which Tuncay won. But it only took Villa 3 minutes to get back on terms it was a hard shot by Ashley Young that was well blocked which was Followed up by Gabriel Agbonlahor which was also blocked but the ball this time fell to James Milner who chipped the football into the far post for Steve Sidwellto nod home..The second half was just as good with Agbonlahor going close for Villa & Young hooking the ball off the line from a Riggott header even Alves looks like he has contender for miss of the season when he missed a open goal . But with 2 minutes left Middlesbrough got what they deserved when Sidwell made a terrible hash when he mis-controlled the ball which allowed Tuncay to steel in & fire home from 12 yards & give Middlesbrough all 3 points…
Tottenham came away from the Manchester Stadium with a 2-1 victory over Man City even though it was marred by the ref giving out cards on a whim. The game started very brightly indeed withboth teams seem to be going for it but it was City who struck first after 16 minutes. Robinho found Wright-Phillips on the right who turned the ball into the box to find Darius Vassell his shot was parried by the goal keeper Gomes but the ball fell to the oncoming Robinho who slotted the ball home from 7 yards out. The first of 3 red cards came in the 26th minute when Gelson Fernandea was given his second yellow card for tripping David Bently only moments after tripping Luca Modric for his first card. Tottenham then responded to get the equaliser when Darren Bent sized on Richard Dunne’s error to fire the ball under Joe Hart . City had to hang on with only 10 men & they put up some resistance but could only manage until the 65th minute when it was Darren Bent again getting the goal. Jermaine Jenas laid the ball off for Bent who smashed in a shot to see it deflect of Joe Hart’s legs & into the goal to give Tottenham the lead, City were 2 men down after 82 minutes when Richard Dunne was sent off for bring down DarrenBent when he was through on goal looking for his hat trick. With the game coming to a close with City no way back with 9 men the ref then had time to send off Assou-Ekotto for Tottenham for his second bookable offence the sendings off & the card happy ref really spoilt what could have bin a great football match..
Fulham moved to the top half of the table with a good 2-1 victory over Newcastle. The match started well & Fulham were looking to force the play & get the early goal which they nearly did but Gera’s header was headed off the line but they did take the lead after 23 minutes when Claudio Cacapa tried to clear a ball into the box for it only to bounce off Fabricio Coloccini into the path of Andy Johnson who made no mistake & put it through Shay Givens legs. It stayed that way untill the second half & Newcastle coming out & playing much better & putting Fulham under pressure & it didn’t take long for them to equalise a cross came into the box & Fulham failed to clear & it fell to Ameobi & he fired it home from close range. Nicky Butt then came close with a 25 yard effort just past the post but 10 minutes later Fulham were once again ahead the ref had adjudged Coloccini has brought down Johnson in the penalty area so up stepped Danny Murphy to score & that would be his 100th goal. Newcastle did try & get back into the game & brought on Michael Owen as their last resort & he nearly made a impact where he had a chance to equalise in the last minute but couldn’t make it so Fulham hung on for the win…
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