Premier League Round-Up Sat 1-11-08
Posted on November 3, 2008
Filed Under Premiership 08/09 | Leave a Comment
Tottenham come from behind to beat undefeated Liverpool,Chelsea take over the top after thrashing Sunderland, Man United survive a scare to just beat Hull, Everton get there first home win by beating Fulham, Stoke beat Arsenal to dent their title hopes, Wigan get a away win over Portsmouth, Middlesbrough draw with West Ham & West Brom & Blackburn do the same…
Tottenham gave Liverpool their first defeat of the season as they came from behind to win 2-1 at White Hart Lane. Everything looked rosey for Liverpool as they took the lead after only 3 minutes on the clock Dirk Kyut scored the goal from the edge of the area. Liverpool were dominate after that & they created so many chances but failed to convert any of them & Tottenham hung in & defended very well. The second half wasn’t any different until the 70th minute when David Bentley swung in a cross & Jamie Carragher could only head the ball into his own net. They comeback was complete in the 90th minute when Bentley had a shot which was turned away by Reina but the ball came loose to Darren Bent who got the ball back into the box & there was Pavlyuchenko to guide the ball into the net at the near post & hand Liverpool there first defeat..
Stoke used all they tactics especially the long ball as they defeated Arsenal which could already see them out of the title picture as Stoke won 2-1. It was the long ball they gave Stoke the lead after 11 minutes as Rory Delap sent in his trademark long throw & there was Ricardo Fuller to head home in the bottom corner. Arsenal tried to get back into the match but Stoke held firm & was at it again on 73 minutes when Delap sent in another long throw this time it was flicked on & Seyi Olofinjana bundled the ball into the net. Arsenal were very frustrated by now & it showed when Van Persie was sent off for a foul on the Stoke goal keeper Sorensen but Arsenal did get one goal back in the dying seconds as Gael Clichy has a shot that was deflected twice before it went into the goal but it was all to late…
Manchester United had to survive a scare as they had to hold on to beat Hull 4-3 at Old Trafford. It looked good for United who took the lead after only 3 minutes when Ronaldo & Berbatov combined with some neat football which left Ronaldo with a finish inside Boaz Myhill’s near post. Hull got back into the game though through Daniel Cousin when he got his head to the ball & guided a Andy Dawson free kick into the net past Van Der Sar. But United responded when Vidic brought the football out of the defence found Berbatov with a good pass who played in Carrick who got the edge of the area & slotted the ball past Myhill & into the net. Ronaldo then got United’s third when he headed in a Nani corner thanks to a deflection of Paul McShane. United went further ahead in the second half from another corner this time Vidic volley home a Wayne Rooney corner but Hull weren’t finished when Bernard Mendy got into the box & lobbed Van Der Sar & into the net. Then with 82 minutes gone Hull were awarded a penalty when Mendy was hauled down by Rio Ferdinand & up stepped Geovanni to score but it was in vain as United held on just..
Chelsea looked in awesome form as they thrashed a sorry looking Sunderland 5-0 at Stamford Bridge. Sunderland held there own until the 27th minute but after that it was all down hill Alex got Chelsea going when Joe Cole’s shot went inder Marton Fulop & Alex was there to bundle home. It was Lampard who created the second when he found Alex who prodded the ball towards goal & Anelka was on hand to get the final touch on the replay he did look off side & the Sunderland boss Roy Keane saw this & protested but got send to the stands for his trouble. Anelka then made it three when he slotted home a Florent Malouda cross from a Lampard pass. The second half started with yet another Chelsea goal this time it was lampard himself who scored the goal from a lovely Joe Cole cross then it was down to Anelka to get his hat trick & Chelsea’s fifth as he turned in a cross from Malouda which saw it hit Fulop looped up & still found it’s way into the net…
Portsmouth still can’t find a win under new manager Tony Adams as they went down 2-1 to Wigan. The weather was very bad at Fratton Park but it didn’t deter from the action Wigan were first to strike from a penalty Papa Bouba Dipo was adjudged to have brought down Titus Bramble in the box & Zaki stepped up to score right down the middle. It stayed like this right up to near the end . It was the 83rd minute when Portsmouth got level a great cross found Kranjcar at the far post & he drilled the ball into the net. But with Portsmouth pushing for the winner Wigan held on & had the last say When Emile Heskey collected the ball & burst into the box & slotted the ball past David James at his near post to give Wigan the win & end their 4 game losing streak..
Everton got their first win of the season at home when they defeat Fulham 1-0 at Goodison Park. It was a scrappy first half with Everton having most of the chances but nothing concrete. The second half was much better as Everton went looking for the goal they needed but Fulham also came close as they hit the woodwork twice through Zoltan Gera who should have scored & Bobby Zomora. But it was up to substute Louis Saha who in the 87th minute found himself in the right place to head a powerful header past the Fulham Keeper to score from a Leon Osman Cross..
Blackburn had to come from behind withten men & managed to get a 2-2 draw with West Brom. Blackburn did take the lead after 13 minutes through a Benni McCarthy penalty as it was awarded when Ryan Donk was Penalised for holding Jason Robert’s shirt. But after that it got bad for Blackburn as Benni McCarthy was sent off to 2 bookable offences with the last booking looked very harsh. With Blackburn down to 10 men West Brom got back into the game & with the second half starting they were level Roman Bednar showed he had quick feet & slotted the ball past Paul Robinson from a Ishmael Miller pass. Miller then scored West Brom’s second when he did a neat turn on the edge of the penalty area & lashed a shot past Robinson who had no chance. But Blackburn got theirpoint when Keith Andrews got his first goal for Blackburn when he was allowed to control himself & smash the football past Scott Carson who had no chance of stopping it..
Middlesbrough fought for a point against west ham who ended their 4 game losing streak when it ended 1-1. It was West Ham who took the lead when a Luis Boa Morte cut back into the box was smashed home by Hayden Mullins on his second attempt. But Middlesbrough didn’t give up but couldn’t find a way through & it looked like West Ham could indeed hold on. But with the match ending & with only 7 minutes left on the clock Middlesbrough got the equaliser when Mido took a free kick & drilled it under Robert Green to give them a well deserved point..
Spanish La Liga Round Eight
Posted on November 2, 2008
Filed Under La Liga | Leave a Comment
Saturday 25th October
The two games on Saturday night resulted in a 5-0 victory for Barcelona against Almeria at the Nou Camp and a 2-0 away win for Betis at Osasuna. After just 24 minutes Samuel Eto’o had scored a hat-trick and Thierry Henry had scored also to make it 4-0. Almeria then had Alvaro Negredo dismissed for a badly timed tackle on Rafael Marquez. Barcelona made it 5-0 in the 36st minute through a brilliantly struck Daniel Alves free-kick. Although they had a numerical advantage, Barcelona couldn’t add to the five goals. Real Betis managed to climb out of the relegation zone, after their away win against Osasuna. Mehmet Aurelio scored Betis first goal with a brilliant free-kick in the 51st minute. Betis had to wait until the 86st minute to secure victory, through a Mariano Pavone close range effort.
Sunday 26th October 2008
Valencia returned to the top of the table despite only drawing 1-1 away at Recreativo. Recreativo took the lead on 47 minutes through Javier Camunas. Valencia equalised in the 62nd minute, through David Villa from close range. Sevilla suffered a surprise 1-0 home defeat to Malaga. The goal came after 16 minutes from Adrian, after Nacho put him through. It got worse for Sevilla in the second half, as they had Adriano sent off for violent conduct.
Numancia won 2-1 at home against Racing. Jose Javier Bakero struck after 26 minutes. It looked like that would enough for a Numancia win but then there was an incredible finish. Five minutes into injury time Mohamed Tchite scored from the spot to equalise for Racing. Even more incredibly Numancia snatched a winner a minute later through Cisma from close range. That was enough to take Numancia off the bottom of the table.
Sporting Gijon beat Deportivo 3-0, to earn an impressive away three points. David Barral started the scoring after 23 minutes with a penalty. Carmelo added a second goal for Sporting after 27 minutes, thanks to a Barrel assist. It got even worse for Deportivo when Diego Colotto was dismissed just before the break. Diego Castro finished the scoring in the 84th minute, to give Sporting three very important points.
Mallorca beat Espanyol 3-0 at home. Aritz Aduriz opened the scoring on 49 minutes with a header. Aduriz then scored another header in the 60th minute from a Juan Arango corner. Fernando Varela made it three in the 76st minute. Getafe beat Real Valladolid 1-0 at home. Daniel Diaz scored the only goal of the game in the 32nd minute from an Esteban Granero set piece.
In an amazing game Villarreal drew 4-4 with Atletico Madrid at El Madrigal. Atletico made a fantastic start, scoring after just a minute through a brilliant Simao effort. It got even better for Atletico after 22 minutes when Diego Forlan fired in a second goal. On 38 minutes came a big turning point as Ever Banega received a second Yellow and was dismissed.
Villarreal made a blistering start to the second half, scoring three goals in 10 minutes through Marcos Senna, Joseba Llorente and Gonzalo Rodriguez. Giuseppe Rossi made it 4-2 on 68 minutes. Atletico came back into the match in the 83rd minute thanks to Simao’s second goal of the night. Raul Garcia scored in the 85th minute to complete an amazing comeback and snatch Atletico a draw.
Real Madrid beat Atletico 3-2 at the Bernabeu. Real Madrid went two goals up. Wesley Sneijder scored with a drive after 13 minutes. Gonzalo Higuain scored a second after 29 minutes. It looked like it would be a straight forward victory for Madrid, until Joseba Exteberria got a goal back for Bilbao after 35 minutes. It got even better for Bilbao, as they equalised through a controversial Andoni Iraola penalty. Higuain scored his second goal of the match in the 59th minute. Bilbao continued to fight hard for an equaliser but was reduced to ten men in the 78th minute when Fernando Amorebieta was dismissed. After that Madrid looked the more dangerous and could have extended their lead. Madrid would have been relieved to get the win in the end against a battling Bilbao side.
Premier League Round-Up 29/30-10-08
Posted on October 31, 2008
Filed Under Premiership 08/09 | Leave a Comment
Tuesday October 28th
Newcastle got their first win under Joe Kinnear after they saw off West Brom with a 2-1 victory. The game started evenly but Newcastle took first blood when Shola Ameobi was brought down in the penalty area by Ryan Donk it was Mr controversial man Joey Barton who stepped up & took the penalty & sent Scott Carson the wrong way to score. Two chances followed one for each side as Robert Koren failed to just beat Shay Given & Habib Beye sent his shot sky high for Newcastle but just before half time Newcastle went two up as Obafemi Martins headed home a Beye cross. The second half was West Brom trying to get back into the game & they did in the 60th minute when Ishmael Miller moved onto a super through ball he rounded Shay Given to pass it into the net it meant that Newcastle had to try & hold West Brom for 30 minutes but in the end the defence held firm & they got their first win….
Wednesday 29th October
New Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp worked his magic again as he brough them back from the dead to earn a 4-4 draw with Arsenal. David Bently opened the scoring with what looks like it will be the goal of the season in the 13th minute it was the control on his thigh & the 40 yard shot that dipped over the Arsenal keeper & into the net. Mikael Silvestre got his first goal for Arsenal & the equalizer when he got a glancing header from a Van Persie corner with the Tottenham keeper in no mans land. With it level at the break it only took 60 seconds for Arsenal to take the lead when William Gallas rose the highest to head home a Van Persie free kick. On the 64th minute Arsenal scored again when Emmanuel Adebayor made sure a shot from Samir Nasri found its way into the goal but Tottenahm responded straight away when Darren Bent slotted home after Almunia made a mess of Tom Huddlestones long range shot. The goals then came thick & fast Arsenal made it four when Alan Hutton made a right gaff which let Adebayor in & his pass found Van Persie & he made no mistake to smash it into the back of the net then it was Arsenal’s turn as Gael Clichy slipped to let in Jermain Jenas who curled a fantastic shot into the top corner of the net & they got their equalizer in the 4th minute of added time when Luka Modric’s shot had come off the post only for it to fall to Lennon who found the back of the net…
Liverpool stay top of the table with a 1-0 win over Portsmouth with new manager Tony Adams at the helm. Rafa Benitez changed the side after there win over Chelsea but it didn’t seem to do them any harm as they came close after 10 minutes when Dirk Kuyt hit the post. But Portsmouth kept them at bay until in the second half Ref Steve Tanner adjudged Papa Bouba Diop to have hand balled when challenging Sami Hyypia in the penalty box. Steven Gerrard stepped up & scored from the penalty spot after 76 minutes Portsmouth did try to get back in the game but Liverpool held firm for the victory..
Chelsea bounce back from there defeat to Liverpool with a comfortable win over high riding Hull 3-0. It didn’t take long for Chelsea to bring Hull back down to earth 3 minutes in fact as Ashley Cole’s cross fell to Frank Lampard who produced a fantastic chip over Boaz Myhill & into the top corner. It was the Hull keeper who was at fault for the second as he came out of his area to clear the ball but was in two minds & in came Nicolas Anelka to get to the ball first & roll it into a empty net. It got worse for Hull as Florent Malouda made it 3 with 15 minutes to go & a Chelsea Win..
Manchester United saw off West Ham with Ronaldo back to something of his best when they won 2-0. It took 14 minutes for Ronaldo to get on the score sheet when Nani got to the byline & sent in a cross & it found Ronaldo who finished into the bottom corner & past Robert Green. He was on the score sheet again after 32 minutes when Dimitar Berbatov also got to the by line & his showed off some skill that left the West Ham defence all over the place & placed the ball straight to Ronaldo who didn’t miss that was enough for Manchester United to secure the victory.
Aston Villa kept up their unbeaten home record but had to come from behind to secure all three points 3-2 against Blackburn. It was Blackburn who drew first blood when they took the lead after 30 minutes it was Stephen Warnock who played a one two with Benni McCarthy & put the ball into the net but on the stroke on half time Villa where level Luke Young bundled the ball into the net from a Nicky Shorey flick on. Villa then went ahead in the second half after 65 minutes when James Milner got to the byline & cut the ball back for Gareth Barry to slot home with only a few minutes left Villa went further ahead through a Gabriel Agbonlahor goal from a Ashley Young cross. Blackburn did get some hope right at the end when Brett Emerton scored a fantastic free kick but Villa held on..
Fulham had Andy Johnson to thank as the striker scored his first goals for the club & his 100th & 101st goal of his career as they beat a struggling Wigan side 2-0. His first goal came after 11 minutes when he was on hand to slot home from close range after a dangerous ball was put into the box by Paul Konchesky. His second was was on the hour mark as he capitalised on some very poor defending by Wigan that let him in to score & give Fulham a much needed win…
Stoke did their survival hopes a lot of good as they beat a Sunderland side who should have bin on top of the world after there derby win but went down 1-0. The football match was at deadlock most of the match but with 16 minutes remaining it was Stoke’s long throw weapon that did the trick. Rory Delap lunched a long throw into the box & there was Recardo Fuller to powerfully head the ball into the net. Sunderland couldn’t find a way past the Stoke defence who held on for the win..
Bolton suffer another home defeat this time in the hands of Everton1-0. The match was a very scrappy affair as both teams fought each other & hardly any chances of note took place apart from a great save from Tim Howard. But as time ran out in the 90th minute we had a goal the ball was played out to Stephen Pienaar who crossed into the box & there was Marouane Fellaini unmarked inside the box to head the ball off one post & on to the other & into the goal to leave the Bolton keeper wondering what just happened…
Middlesbrough got back to winning when they beat a Man City side who seem to win spectacular one week but can get a win for money the next as they lost 2-0. The game was going nowhere until the 53rd minute when as it was adjudged David Wheater was brought down by City striker Daniel Sturridge inside the box for a penalty. Up stepped Alfonso Alves to send the City keeper Joe Hart the wrong way. Man City then pushed for the equaliser but came undone in the 90th minute when Gary O’Neil finished off a move for Middlesbrough’s second & the match…
Premier League Round-Up Sun 26-10-08
Posted on October 30, 2008
Filed Under Premiership 08/09 | Leave a Comment
Liverpool look serious contender for the premiership as they beat Chelsea, Man City beat Stoke with a hat trick, Portsmouth battle out a draw with Fulham, Tottenham under new management beat Bolton, Arsenal win away at West Ham & Aston Villa destroy Wigan..
Liverpool are the team at the moment as they ended Chelsea’s 86 match unbeaten run at Stamford Bridge with a hard fought 1-0 victory. The goal came in the first half & only 10 minutes in by Xabi Alonso who nearly left in the summer had a shot which got deflected off Jose Bosingwa & wrong footed Petr Cech & went into the goal. The rest of the football match was all about Liverpool keeping Chelsea at arms length which they done very successfully. They nearly had a second when Alonso hit the post with a free kick & Chelsea’s best chance in the whole match fell to Ashley Cole but he scuffed his shot & it could only go wide…
Tottenham under the new management of Harry Redknapp got there first win of the season beating a struggling Bolton side 2-0. It just took 17 minutes for Tottenham to score & it was Pavlyuchenko with a beautiful headed goal from a Bentley cross for his first goal of the season. Bolton tried to get back into the match in the second half but it was delt a blow when Gavin McCann was sent off for a bad foul on Tom Huddlestone after 58 minutes. It was all over in the 78th minute when the Bolton Goal keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen fouled Daren Bent inside the penalty area & he stepped up to score from the penalty spot..
Arsenal travelled to Upton Park to face West Ham in a london derby & came away with a 2-0 victory but had there sub to thank. The first half was a hard fought affair & it was no surprise that it was deadlocked at half time. It was the same in the second half until the vital time in the 67th minute when Arsenal decided to make a substitution & bring on Emmanuel Adebayor & what a impact he made. It only took him 8 minutes to make his mark when he collected the ball & turned & took a a shot that deflected off Julien Faubert & into the net. He added a second in injury time when he was sent clear from a Nicklas Bendtner pass & rounded Robert Green to score in a empty net. There was still time for ref Phil Dowd to send off Carlton Cole after a foul on Alexandre Song..
Portsmouth could only manage to start life without Harry Redknapp with a draw at home as they were held 1-1 by Fulham. Not much happened in the first half as both teams cancelled each other out the team talk Tony Adams & Joe Jordan gave then at the half time break got Portsmouth into action. The two front men combined when Jermaine Defoe set up Peter Crouch for him to finish. But as time ran out & with2 minutes left Portsmouth let Fulham equilize when Clint Dempsey scored from close range after a great cross from Erik Nevland & the game ended all square..
Manchester City saw off Stoke 3-0 thanks to a Robinho hat trick. The record signing didn’t take long to score his first goal when he put Man City ahead after 14 minutes he received a clever pass from Chad Evans & he saw his shot creep into the near post beating Thomas Sorensen. Chad had to be replaced just before half time when he had to come off with a injury but his replacement Daniel Sturridge Played a part also. It was his run & cross in the 49th minute that teed up Robinho to score his second of the match. It was Sturridge again who set up Robinho in the 73rd minute as he played him in for Robinho to slot the ball home past Sorensen from the edge of the box & seal the football match for City..
Aston Villa followed up there success in Europe with a 4-0 thumping of Wigan at the JJB. The match started of brightly & it was midway through the first half that Villa took the lead through a Gareth Barry Penalty after Titus Bramble had brought down Gabriel Agbonlahor. Their second goal after 58 minute had lucky written all over it as John Carew rose to head towards the goal & the ball flicked of Agbonlahor & somehow found the net the roles where revered for the 3rd goal as it was Agbonlahor who broke down the right & crossed for Carew to score with his head this time. There was enough time for Steve Sidwell to come on as a sub for his Villa debut & it didn’t take long for him to make his mark as he smashed a shot into the top corner for Villa’s fourth…
Premier League Round-Up Sat 25-10-08
Posted on October 30, 2008
Filed Under Premiership 08/09 | Leave a Comment
Everton managed to salvage a deserved point of Man United, Sunderland win the derby & have bragging writes over Newcastle, Hull continue to impress with a away win over West Brom & Blackburn could only draw against Middlesbrough..
In the live game that kick off at noon Everton faced Man United at Goodison Park where they haven’t won a game this season where Man United were after there 7th successive win in all competitions. Everton didn’t start the first half very well as Man United dominated & went a goal ahead when Giggs found Darren Fletcher which clever little pass & he finished to give United a deserved lead. In fact they should have had the game all done & dusted by half time but Tim Howard was in inspired form as he kept out Vidic, Giggs & Ronaldo. The second half was completely different as Everton got into the faces of Man United players & it seemed to rattle them & it was the 64th minute when the equaliser came as Fellaini rose above everyone n the United defence to head home a Phil Neville cross. As Everton got more possession they could have won it but Yakubu hit the post after a Rio Ferdinand error & a Van Der Sar save but it ended 1-1
Sunderland now have the bragging writes in the Tyne & Ware derby after winning for the first time in 28 years at home 2-1 over Newcastle. It was even to start off with but the deadlock was broken after 20 minutes Steed Malbranque took a shot that Shay Given saved but as it came out it was Djibril Cisse’s outstretched leg that poked it into the net. But it only took Newcastle 12 minuted to get back into the game from a Geremi free-kick that has headed into the net by Ameobi who has now scored in successive games. The game looked to be heading for a draw but it took a spectacular winner to seal the bragging writes it came from Kiran Richardson who scored with a stunning goal from a free kick there was no way back for Newcastle & it gave Sunderland the win but the game was marred by the crowed trouble that appeared after the final whistle..
Hull continued to defy the odds as they came away from the Hawthorns 3-0 winners against West Brom. They have a lot to thank there goal keeper Boaz Myhill though as he made some out standing saves from West Brom Player’s Robert Koren, Borja Valero & James Morrison & Jonas Olsson went & hit the crossbar with a close range header in the first half which West Brom Dominated but couldn’t score. It was the second half that Hull took advantage of West Broms problems at the back Hull’s first goal was a defensive error their second was good interplay between Marlon King & Geovanni which saw the Brazilian score with a diving header. Their third was a breakaway goal which saw West Brom commit many men forward & on the brake & Marlon King had a perfect first touch to slot the ball past Scott Carson..
There was late drama at Ewood Park as Blackburn & Middlesbrough fought out a 0-0 draw. Blackburn had most of the possession in the game but Middlesbrough was always there or there abouts. Both teams managed big efforts to take the lead in the first half as they hit the crossbar it also saw Tuncay Sanli flagged for off-side when clearly he wasn’t. The second half was just has close & Middlesbrough snatched the lead whit not long left through Afonso Alyes who smashed the ball from out side the penalty box. But 4 minutes into injury time the game looked won for Middlesbrough but up popped Benni McCarthy unmarked in the box to head home & give Blackburn a share of the points..
-
Sponsors
