Six Minutes | SilverScorpio.Com

Pitch, ball under scrutiny as Slovenia win

June 14, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

South Africa (Reuters) – Slovenia chalked up their first ever World Cup win when a dreadful mistake by Algeria goalkeeper Faouzi Chaouchi handed them a 1-0 victory in their opening Group C match on Sunday.

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Both coaches said afterwards that their sides had struggled to adapt to the new high bouncing World Cup ball and the semi-synthetic pitch in Polokwane, and that that might have been a factor in Chaouchi’s blunder.

Time and again throughout the game, players overhit their passes or failed to tame the ball as it sprang off the surface.

A largely lackluster encounter took a twist in the 73rd minute when Abdelkader Ghezzal was sent off for handball having already been booked within seconds of coming on. The attacking midfielder was only on the pitch for 15 minutes.

Six minutes later Chaouchi fumbled Robert Koren’s harmless looking shot, allowing the ball to squirt through his arms into the bottom left hand corner of his net.

Asked about the playing surface, Koren said: “The turf itself is very fast and it resulted in some mistakes.”

Slovenia’s only previous appearance at a World Cup finals, in 2002, ended in three defeats but Sunday’s win has put them top of the group with three points, two ahead of England and the United States, who drew 1-1 in Rustenburg on Saturday.

“It’s going to be more difficult for us now,” said Algeria coach Rabah Saadane. “Our great opportunity was today against Slovenia and we missed that opportunity.”

Until the goal, the Algerians had been marginally the better side with the bleach-blonde Hassan Yebda bossing their midfield.

But they created few chances with their best opening coming as early as the third minute through a Nadir Belhadj free kick which Samir Handanovic tipped over the bar.

BOUNCING BALL

At the other end, Slovenia created little of note until just before the break when a rasping left foot strike from midfielder Valter Birsa forced an acrobatic save from Chaouchi.

Saadane defended Chaouchi and Ghezzal when asked about the mistakes that had cost his team a share of the points.

“Football is full of mistakes and I don’t want to blame the two players. I think it was perhaps the state of the turf. Both the ball and the turf were difficult for both goalies.”

“The speed and the impact, especially on crosses, was very difficult. The players had to place the balls very carefully.”

Asked if he would drop Chaouchi for the next match against the United States on Friday, Saadane replied: “He is the best goalkeeper we have at the moment. It’s out of the question.”

“He said sorry. He said sorry to the team. But that’s only normal and I don’t want to go back over the incident.”

Slovenia coach Matjaz Kek was also critical of the pitch, which is a mixture of grass and synthetic fibre. This was the first World Cup match ever to be played on it.

“I don’t agree with this turf,” Kek said. “We only got adjusted to it yesterday with 60 minutes of training. I’m not saying this as an excuse because it was the same for us and Algeria. But there are lots of artificial bits and that means it’s a different game.”

England’s draw with the U.S. in the group’s opening match also contained a goalkeeping error, with England’s Robert Green producing a howler to gift the Americans their equalizer.

That match was played on grass.

(Writing by Gideon Long; Additional reporting by Opheera McDoom, Editing by Nigel Hunt)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: algerians, Bleach Blonde, blunder, Bouncing Ball, Dreadful Mistake, Foot Strike, free kick, Game Players, Left Hand Corner, midfielder, Nadir Belhadj, Polokwane, Rabah, reuters, Robert Koren, Rustenburg, six minutes, Sunday Sports, Valter, world cup finals

Netherlands romp soured by Robben’s injury

June 6, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

London, June 6 (DPA) Arjen Robben suffered a thigh injury, overshadowing the Netherlands’ 6-1 victory over Hungary in a football World Cup warm-up match here Saturday.

Italy followed up their defeat to Mexico with a 1-1 draw against Switzerland in Geneva, while Serbia came out on top in a seven-goal thriller against Cameroon.

In Saturday’s other friendlies, the United States, South Africa, Ghana, Slovakia and Algeria all won.

Robben had scored twice after coming on as a second-half substitute in Amsterdam. But, with three minutes remaining, he felt a sharp pain in his thigh muscle.

The winger will have a scan Sunday.

Coach Bert van Marwijk said that, if necessary, he will wait until the day before the first World Cup match June 14 against Denmark for a final decision on whether to replace Robben.

‘We will wait with Robben as long as possible,’ said van Marwijk, calling the injury a catastrophe. ‘I would have rather lost the match.’

The Netherlands have been highly impressive in their warm-up games so far, beating Mexico and Ghana. But they were stunned after six minutes in Amsterdam as Balazs Dzsudzsak put Hungary ahead with a ferocious swerving drive.

However, the Dutch soon began to dominate and they levelled after 22 minutes, Dirk Kuyt laying in Robin van Persie to tuck a neat finish into the bottom corner.

Nine minutes after the break, the Netherlands took the lead, Wesley Sneijder finishing off Gio van Bronckhorst’s cross.

Robben soon added a brilliant third from another Van Bronckhorst cross, and Mark van Bommell drilled a fourth from outside the box with 20 minutes remaining.

Substitute Eljero Elia squeezed a shot past Martin Fulop to make it five, before Robben added his second.

Italy fell behind after 10 minutes against Switzerland, who lost to Costa Rica earlier in the week, in Geneva.

Gokhan Inler linked neatly with Blaise Nkufo before firing home, but Fabio Quagliarella headed Italy level four minutes later.

Serbia twice fell behind to Cameroon in the opening 20 minutes in Belgrade, both goals for the away team going to Achille Webo, but had hit back to lead 4-2 by half-time.

Milos Krasic got the first equaliser and Dejan Stankovic the second, before a Nenad Milijas penalty and a goal for Marko Pantelic in the space of two minutes gave the Serbians the advantage.

Eric Choupo-Moting pulled one back midway through the second half, but Serbia held on for a morale-boosting win.

In Roodepoort, two goals from Edson Buddle helped USA to a 3-1 victory over Australia.

Buddle capitalised on a mistake from Vince Grella and fired in his second international goal from just outside the box after five minutes. The US should have been two-up when Robbie Findley rounded Mark Schwarzer only to fire wide.

Tim Cahill escaped Clint Dempsey to level on 19 minutes, but Buddle added his second before half-time from a Steve Cherundolo cross.

Herculez Gomez added a late third.

Slovakia were also impressive winners, beating Costa Rica, who missed on the World Cup in a play-off, 3-0 in Bratislava.

Douglas Sequeria scored his second own-goal in a little over a week to gift Slovakia the lead, before Robert Vittek made the game safe with his 19th international goal.

Stanislav Sestak added a late penalty.

Hosts South Africa stretched their unbeaten run to 12 games as they beat Denmark 1-0 in Pretoria. Katlego Mphela got the only goal after 76 minutes.

Ghana were also 1-0 winners, Quincy Owusu-Abeyie finally getting the breakthrough after 88 minutes in a game they had dominated against Latvia in Milton Keynes, England.

On a good day for most of Africa’s World Cup qualifiers, Algeria beat the United Arab Emirates 1-0 thanks to Karim Ziani’s 51st-minute penalty.

Honduras suffered a set-back, as they went down 3-0 to Romania in St Weit, Austria, the goals coming from Daniel Niculae, Geroge Florescu and a Mirel Radoi penalty.

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: Arjen Robben, Balazs, Bert Van Marwijk, bottom corner, final decision, Football World Cup, Four Minutes, Friendlies, Fulop, Goal Thriller, Gokhan, Quagliarella, six minutes, thigh injury, Thigh Muscle, three minutes, Van Bronckhorst, warm up games, winger, World Cup Warm Up Match

45-year-old smashes record for continuous round of Scotland’s 283 mountains

June 6, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Edinburgh (Scotland), June 6(ANI): A 45-year-old Scottish fell-runner, Stephen Pyke, has beaten the record for the fastest continuous circuit of the country’s 283 Munros, or mountains over 3,000fts.

Pyke, also known as Spyke, beat the last record, set by Glasgow postman Charlie Campbell ten years ago, when he touched the trig pillar on Ben Hope in Sutherland on Thursday.

The 45-year-old managed to run up every one of Scotland’s 283 Munros in 39 days, nine hours and six minutes, beating Campbell’s record by nine days and two hours.

“This seemed like a good excuse to spend 40 days in the mountains, and I’m really pleased to have broken the record. I’ve enjoyed every day of the journey,” The Scotsman quoted Pyke, as saying.

Starting on 25 April with Ben More on Mull, Pyke finished his arduous journey on Thursday by climbing Scotland’s most northerly Munro, Ben Hope.

His journey involved the equivalent of a marathon and a 10,000ft climb every day for more than five weeks.

Meanwhile, talking about the achievement, John Hutchison, Chairman of the John Muir Trust, which owns and protects several Scottish mountain areas, including Ben Nevis, said: “Spyke’s achievement is an awe inspiring example of the kind of challenge wild land has to offer.”

“We are extremely proud to count Spyke as one of our members, and I am delighted that he chose to use this challenge to raise money and awareness for our work,” Hutchison added. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: arduous journey, Ben Nevis, Charlie Campbell, Continuous Circuit, edinburgh scotland, John Hutchison, John Muir, John Muir Trust, mountain areas, Munro, Munros, nine days, pillar, postman, Pyke, scotsman, Scottish Mountain, six minutes, Spyke, Trig

Raiders beat 1st-place Dragons in Australia’s NRL, RGL

May 24, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

SYDNEY (AP) Canberra scored three tries in six minutes as the Raiders beat first-place St. George Illawarra 22-14 in Australia’s National Rugby League.

Leading 8-6 just after halftime, the Dragons had tries from Joel Thompson (51st minute), Jarrod Croker (55th) and Josh Dugan (57th) to put the home side ahead. The loss to the 11th-place Raiders left the Dragons in first place with 16 points, level with the Gold Coast, which had a weekend bye.

Fullback Lance Hohaia celebrated his 150th appearance with the New Zealand Warriors, scoring a try in his team’s 26-24 win over South Sydney at Auckland. The Wests Tigers beat Newcastle 23-6 in torrential rain at Newcastle.

Benji Marshall kicked a field goal in the 70th minute and crossed for a try four minutes later to clinch the win for the Tigers. The Cronulla Sharks extended a seven-year winning streak at Parramatta Stadium, beating the Eels 22-18.

The Sharks, who have not lost in Parramatta since 2003, ended the Eels’ four-game winning streak. Parramatta came close to scoring on at least three occasions in the last 10 minutes, but the bounce of the ball which favored the Eels in the first half turned against them in the closing minutes.

“You do need the football gods to look down on you at times,” Cronulla coach Ricky Stuart said. Penrith played the Bulldogs on Monday in a shortened round due to the first State of Origin match Wednesday between Queensland and New South Wales at Sydney.

Queensland is seeking its fifth straight win in the best-of-three series, an annual rugby league highlight in Australia.

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: Benji Marshall, Croker, Cronulla Sharks, dugan, Field Goal, Football Gods, Fullback, game winning streak, Joel Thompson, Lance Hohaia, National Rugby League, New South Wales, New Zealand Warriors, NRL, Rgl, six minutes, South Sydney, St George Illawarra, State Of Origin, Wests Tigers

Waratahs cruise into Super semis

May 15, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

New South Wales Waratahs maintained their status as Australia’s best Super 14 side by booking a spot in the semi-finals with a solid 32-16 defeat of the Hurricanes at the Sydney Football Stadium on Friday night.

Victory would have extended the season for both sides but it was the Waratahs who progressed to their fourth finals appearance in the last six years by staying undefeated at their Sydney fortress in 2010.

The bonus-point win takes the Tahs into second but they are likely to slip back a place with the third-placed Stormers favourites to defeat an understrength Bulls side to steal the home semi-final.

The hosts endured a frustrating first half where they dominated possession but could not find the tryline until a piece of solo brilliance by Kurtley Beale handed the Tahs the five-pointer they so desperately needed after 16 minutes.

The trend continued for another 15 minutes before Drew Mitchell crossed to give NSW a 18-9 half-time lead.

Man-of-the-match Mitchell was on hand after the restart to put the game well in the Waratahs’ keeping when he crossed six minutes into the second half before Beale grabbed his second five minutes later with another chip and chase.

Lachlan Turner was sin-binned after the hour mark and David Smith picked up a try late for the Hurricanes, whose late tilt to the finals came to a disappointing end.

Waratahs captain Phil Waugh was happy with his side’s effort but was still a harsh marker of their second-half performance.

“We kept them try-less in the first half, it would have been nice to keep them from scoring at the death, but we did the hard work and the boys hung in well,” he said post-match.

“The last 20-25 minutes was reasonably disappointing, going into next week we need a lot of hard work.”

“The back three were exceptional, when you have those guys running around the way the do, Kurtley chiming in in the backline and making things happen.

“It’s good to be in a forward pack behind that.”

Fly half Berrick Barnes, going into his first Super finals series after moving from the Reds last season, in turn credited his determined forward pack for setting the platform for his team-mates in the backline.

“We’ve had a lot of injuries, especially of late, and blokes keep putting their hands up and getting us the ball we need and some of our outside backs at the moment are on fire,” he said.

“It’s exciting, we’ll gather tomorrow night and watch the game as a team and it’s exciting to know you’re still going to be around next week.”

Hurricanes skipper Rodney So’oliola admitted his side left their run too late and could not produce when it mattered.

“We’ve absorbed a lot of pressure the last few weeks, tonight the Waratahs really took it to us,” he said.

“It’s pretty hard to absorb that for 80 minutes and obviously we got exploited there.”

Waratahs: 32 (K Beale 2, D Mitchell 2 tries; B Barnes 3 conversions, 2 penalties)

Hurricanes: 16 (D Smith try; P Weepu converion, 3 penalties)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: Backline, Bonus Point, david smith, drew mitchell, Fly Half, Forward Pack, half-time, Kurtley Beale, Lachlan, Lead Man, New South Wales, New South Wales Waratahs, Night Victory, Phil Waugh, semi finals, semis, six minutes, Sydney Football Stadium, Tahs, those guys

MJ burns victim lookalike sparks rumours he”s alive

May 11, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

London, May 11 (ANI): A website has claimed that Michael Jackson is alive and masquerading as a burns victim, astonishing users all over the world.

Internet rumours on YouTube and Facebook also claim the King of Pop is appearing on TV talk shows as Dave Dave, 33, a man who suffered severe facial disfigurement after his father set him on fire.

Dave was born David Rothenberg, in Brooklyn, New York. At the age of six, his father set him on fire over a twisted revenge concerning the child”s custody.

The little boy suffered 90 percent injuries, and was scarred badly, but survived.

His mother, Marie wrote a book on his ordeal, which was then made into a movie. A trip to Jackson”s Neverland ranch was organized for the boy, where the pop star took the boy under his wing.

Dave, now a law student living in Utah, changed his surname to break all ties with his father.

“He befriended me. He took me into his life, which is very rare for Michael to do.

“But he opened up his arms to me and accepted me as a very good friend of his. And throughout the years, he never let me go,” The Sun quoted the boy as saying.

Now Dave, who appeared on the Larry King show to talk about his memories of Jackson on the day of the star”s memorial service last year, is rumoured to be the pop star himself.

The website called michaeljacksonhoaxforum.com, is owned by a 28-year-old and her friend, Mo, who call themselves Michael Jackson Death Hoax Investigators.

“At first we started investigating Michael”s death as it was a gut feeling we both had.

“The media told us two different stories. TMZ.com reported he died six minutes before the doctor pronounced him dead, and CNN kept telling us he was in a coma. What really happened still remains a mystery,” said the website owner.

Lawyer Brian Oxman, who acts as Dave”s spokesman, rubbished the rumours saying that Jackson would be the last man wanting to study law.

“He was so remarkable that people find it difficult to believe he is no longer with us. They long for him to remain a part of our lives.

“Dave Dave is an extraordinary young man. Michael Jackson took care of Dave for many years and asked nothing in return,” he added.

Jackson died aged 50 in June last year. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: brian oxman, brooklyn new york, Burns Victim, cnn, David Rothenberg, Facial Disfigurement, Friend Mo, king of pop, Larry King, last man, lookalike, mother marie, neverland ranch, ordeal, pop star, six minutes, Tv Talk, Website Owner, World Internet, YouTube

Chelsea party hard as the landmarks tumble

May 10, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Like many parties it started a little nervously but eight goals later, the tension relieved with a rout of Wigan and the Premier League title sewn up in emphatic style, Chelsea’s fans could finally let loose.

As the goals rained in and the landmarks fell, Chelsea’s fans bounced themselves into a frenzy of celebration that, after their championship-clinching 8-0 victory, was certain to last long into the west London night.

Nicolas Anelka’s opener after six minutes had eased most of the nerves and it was a lively atmosphere as Chelsea sought the victory they needed for their first title in four years.

But with Wigan catching the eye in every sense with their luminous orange shirts and their probing midfield passing the home fans could be forgiven for starting to get edgy again.

They need not have worried, however, as long as Frank Lampard was on the pitch.

The remarkable midfielder had set up the opener and when he was brought down in the box by Gary Caldwell – penalty converted and Caldwell sent off – it was game and title over, even if Didier Drogba threatened to sour the mood with a show of petulance at not being allowed the honour of the spot-kick.

At Old Trafford, Manchester United had also slipped into a 2-0 lead en route to a 4-0 win over Stoke City but it barely registered among the Stamford Bridge faithful.

Salomon Kalou tucked in the third and Anelka volleyed an excellent fourth to take Chelsea’s tally to 99 league goals.

It was a Premier League record but the crowd wanted the 100. No team had managed it since Tottenham Hotspur scored 111 in 1962/63 and that was from four more games.

UNPRECEDENTED SUCCESS

They got their wish and then some. Drogba almost managed it with an overhead kick but he was not to be denied and seized on the loose ball to head in the fifth.

It took him to the 27 he wanted and brought the ton up for Chelsea but there was more to come and this time Drogba was allowed the spot-kick duties to smash in his 28th.

Four goals had come in 15 minutes of mayhem but it was not over as Drogba completed a memorable hat-trick and make it seven for Chelsea for the fourth time this season.

Even coach Carlo Ancelotti, enjoying the crowning moment of his first season in charge, realised it was time to loosen the collar as he responded to the crowd’s promptings by delivering a wave and clenched-fist salute.

Ashley Cole had the final word, volleying-in a last-minute eighth to register Chelsea’s best-ever top flight victory.

The tannoy announcer played Madness’s One Step Beyond, a boot-stomping hit from three decades ago when Chelsea were in deep financial trouble and relegated after finishing a distant last in the old first division.

Anyone then suggesting they would be on the verge of a League and FA Cup Double after a decade of unprecedented success would have been marched off for medical treatment.

But they are now a major force in the domestic and European game and the fans who suffered for so long are still milking it.

The builders quickly erected the presentation stage as the blue and white ticker tape rained down.

The club’s past, in the form of the red-uniformed Chelsea Pensioners, and the future, shown by the Youth-Cup winners’ lap of honour, came together on the halfway line and then the players re-emerged to take centre stage.

Owner Roman Abramovic almost cracked a smile and Ancelotti took his coat off – no Jose Mourinho-style histrionics from the gruff Italian – as the club’s anthem “Blue is the Colour” reverberated around the ground and sent the fans home on a delerious high.

John Terry, the club captain whose season has been so tainted by tabloid coverage of his private life, was the last to receive his winners medal and joined by his team-mates he joyously held aloft the Premier League trophy.

“It’s been hurting for three years, seeing Man United win it season after season…now it’s their turn to watch us today,” he said amid the din of the popping champagne corks.

(Editing by Miles Evans; To comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: Drogba, Frank Lampard, Gary Caldwell, Home Fans, Hotspur, League Goals, Lively Atmosphere, London Night, loose ball, nicolas anelka, Old Trafford Manchester, orange shirts, Overhead Kick, petulance, salomon kalou, six minutes, stamford bridge, Unprecedented Success, west London, wigan

Litex Lovech win third Bulgarian league title

May 3, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Litex Lovech secured their third Bulgarian league title with a 3-0 win at relegation-threatened Lokomotiv Plovdiv on Sunday.

The win gave the Lovech-based side an unassailable seven-point lead over CSKA Sofia, who came from behind to demolish third-placed city rivals Lokomotiv 5-1, with two matches remaining.

Litex top the standings with 64 points, followed by CSKA on 57. Lokomotiv are third on 52.

CSKA and Levski Sofia, the two most popular clubs in the Balkan country, have won nine titles between them in the last decade and 52 in total since CSKA’s foundation in 1948.

Litex, champions in 1998 and 1999, became only the second team to upset the balance of power this century after Lokomotiv Plovdiv’s triumph in 2004.

Litex, who sealed a place in next season’s Champions League qualifying rounds, opened the scoring six minutes before the interval when French striker Wilfried Niflore headed in Brazilian winger Tom’s cross.

Doka Madureira doubled Litex’s lead early in the second half while Niflore put the game beyond doubt in the 81st minute with another firm header.

“We were the best team throughout the championship and we deserve the title,” said delighted Litex coach Angel Chervenkov after the win in Plovdiv.

A late goal by midfielder Vladimir Gadzhev gave outgoing champions Levski Sofia a 1-1 draw at Cherno More Varna to keep alive their chances of qualifying for next season’s Europa League.

(Reporting by Angel Krasimirov; Editing by Clare Fallon;

To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: balance of power, Balkan Country, Champions League, City Rivals, Coach Angel, Cska Sofia, Doka, Fallon, interval, last decade, Levski Sofia, Lokomotiv Plovdiv, Madureira, midfielder, Popular Clubs, second half, six minutes, triumph, vladimir, winger

Fulham bounce back to reach Europa League final

April 30, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

London, April 30 (DPA) Fulham came from behind Thursday to beat Hamburg 2-1 and set up a Europa League final date with Atletico Madrid.

After a goalless draw in the first leg, Mladen Petric’s first-half free-kick seemed to have put Hamburg in control.

But Simon Davies levelled midway through the second half, before the Hungarian forward Zoltan Gera forced in the winner with quarter of an hour to go.

‘It’s the most important goal I have ever scored so I’m very, very happy. It’s amazing,’ Gera told ITV4. ‘We did so well, every single player.’

For a modest club on the Thames, reaching a first European final, a first final of any sort since 1975, represents an extraordinary achievement, and the six minutes between the goals was probably the greatest six minutes in their 131-year history.

Most of all, though, this was a triumph for Roy Hodgson, Fulham’s experienced and affable manager.

‘This team has got an unbelievable amount of spirit and character to come back from a goal down,’ said goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer.

‘They really did rock us and it took us a while to get going again.

‘(Hodgson) has been fantastic since day one when I arrived at the club, and every player can vouch for that.’

Centre-forward Bobby Zamora, who had been a doubt with an Achilles injury, was fit enough to start and, although he seemed to be moving a little gingerly, he caused Hamburg problems from the off.

Two minutes in, he collected a pass from Gera, stepped inside a defender, and was denied only by the outstretched left hand of Frank Rost.

Hamburg, though, were far from overawed, and welcomed back Petric after injury.

As in the first leg, their greatest threat came from the Burkina Faso winger Jonathan Pitroipa, whose pace troubled John Pantsil.

It was Petric, though, who opened the scoring in the 22nd minute. Danny Murphy tripped Ze Roberto, and the Croatia international smashed a dipping, swerving free-kick into the top corner.

Schwarzer was perhaps a little slow to get across to it, perhaps deceived by the ferocity of the strike.

Fulham immediately began to dominate possession, but it was Pitroipa on the break, drilling a drive just wide from 20 metres, who had the next real chance.

The home side looked neat enough in possession, but after the early Zamora chance, they created little but corners in the first half.

With Zamora battling gamely but clearly still struggling, Fulham lacked fluidity, and he was withdrawn 12 minutes into the second half for Clint Dempsey.

Gradually, as Hamburg dropped deeper, Fulham began to take control.

Damien Duff flashed a shot-cum-cross across the face of goal, before the equalizer arrived with 21 minutes to go.

Murphy chipped a ball over the top for Davies, who controlled it with the back of his heel, turned back past Guy Demel, and prodded a finish past Rost.

Seven minutes later came the second. Davies won a corner on the right, and as Murphy’s delivery bobbled around the box, Gera turned smartly to slam in the winner.

Hamburg seemed shattered by that, and their threat was fairly comfortably contained in the final minutes.

A minute into injury-time, though, a loose ball fell in the box to Ruud van Nistelrooy, who scored ten goals in nine games against Fulham as a Manchester United player, but he scuffed badly wide.

‘It just keeps getting better,’ said captain Murphy.

‘When we went a goal behind it would have been easy to think this was the end of the journey, but I thought the spirit we showed in the second half was tremendous.’

Fulham face Atletico Madrid in the final in Hamburg May 12 after an extra-time strike from Diego Forlan helped the Spanish side progress on the away goals rule after the tie finished 2-1 on the night to Liverpool but 2-2 on aggregate.

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: Achilles Injury, atletico madrid, Bobby Zamora, burkina faso, danny murphy, DPA, Frank Rost, free kick, fulham, Hamburg 2, john pantsil, Mark Schwarzer, Petric, roy hodgson, Simon Davies, Single Player, six minutes, winger, Ze Roberto, Zoltan

Mourinho celebrates ‘most beautiful defeat’

April 30, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Barcelona, April 29 (DPA) Defensively strong Inter Milan battled their way into the final of the Champions League Wednesday by losing only 1-0 away to defending champions Barcelona.

Inter go into the final – in which they will face Bayern Munich in Madrid on May 22 – on a 3-2 aggregate after beating the Catalans 3-1 in San Siro last Tuesday.

It will be Inter’s first final since 1972, they have not won the European crown since 1965.

Defender Gerard Pique scored the only goal just six minutes from time, but Inter managed to avoid a second goal in a frenetic finale.

Inter coach Jose Mourinho, as provocative and theatrical as always, provoked the jeers of the Camp Nou with his wild celebrations at the end.

He then raised eyebrows by saying that ‘it is impossible that I become coach of Barcelona one day, because here they hate me.’ Mourinho was translator and then assistant coach at Barca from 1996 to 1998 – under present Bayern Munich coach Louis van Gaal – and is now clearly enjoying the role of anti-hero.

The Portuguese coach added that ‘it has been the most beautiful defeat of my life…Without organization we would have been eliminated. It is always difficult to play 10 against 11, but against Bar it is almost impossible.’

Inter captain Javier Zanetti said that ‘we really deserve to be in the final. We have worked very hard indeed in both matches. This is the proof that we are a good team. The important thing is that we are in the final.’

Inter striker Samuel Eto’o, who was the idol of the Barca fans from 2004 to 2009, said that ‘I thought the game was never going to end, it was interminable.’

He added, rather surprisingly, that ‘Barca are still the best team in the world and we have needed all of our qualities, in two matches, to eliminate them.’

For his part, Barca president Joan Laporta said that ”we just could not score the second goal that would have taken us to the final.’

Laporta added that ‘we now concentrate on winning the league, that is what our people deserve.’

Barca are just one point ahead of Real Madrid with four matches left.

Barca midfielder Yaya Toure commented that ‘I have never seen a team so defensive as this Inter.’

He also complained that the ‘goal’ of Bojan disallowed right at the end because of a supposed handball by himself ‘was not handball at all.’

Winger Pedro said that ‘this is a pity…We knew that they were going to defend in strength, but to go out like this makes you angry.’

Mourinho’s team had a surprisingly comfortable time in the Camp Nou, especially given that midfielder Thiago Motta was sent off after just 28 minutes.

This meant that Inter had to play out more than an hour with ten men, but they did so with calm efficiency and with surprisingly few scares. They were faultless in defence and managed to break up Barca’s rhythm with countless fouls and interruptions.

Barca were even slower, ponderous and predictable than in the first leg. Playmaker Xavi was well controlled, Lionel Messi turned in another dull display – and Zlatan Ibrahimovic looked unfit and out of sorts.

Mourinho had planned to employ the same 4-3-3 formation as in the first leg but striker Goran Pandev pulled a muscle in the pre-match warm-up and Christian Chivu was brought in to make a 5-3-2 lineup.

Inter moved even further back into their defensive shell when Motta was shown a straight red card, for a hand in the face of Sergio Busquets.

Mourinho pulled forwards Diego Milito and Samuel Eto’o back to play as effective full-backs, meaning that Barca enjoyed 75 per cent possession – but without taking advantage of it.

All that the hosts had to show for their possession in the second half was two wide shots from winger Pedro and a low drive from Messi which Inter keeper Julio Cesar did well to get down to.

Pep Guardiola brought on Maxwell, Bojan and Jeffren but still lacked the craft, speed and imagination to open up a packed defence.

Inter were content to soak up the pressure and shamelessly waste time, waiting for the clock to run down on Barca’s reign as European champions.

Barca’s frustration led to a series of hopeful long shots, none of which troubled Julio Cesar.

There was nothing that the Brazilian could do, however, when Pique scored in the 84th minute. Xavi played the tall defender through, in a marginally offside position. Pique skipped past Ivan Cordoba and calmly made it 1-0.

But time was about to run out for Barca, who failed to score the necessary second goal in a desperate finale.

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: aggregate, April 29, assistant coach, barca, bayern munich, Camp Nou, Champions League, eyebrows, Gerard Pique, Inter Milan, Javier Zanetti, Jeers, Joan Laporta, jose mourinho, last tuesday, Louis Van Gaal, Samuel Eto O, san siro, six minutes, striker

Ten-man Inter manage to make Champions League final

April 30, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Barcelona, April 29 (DPA) Defensively strong Inter Milan battled their way into the final of the Champions League Wednesday by losing only 1-0 away to defending champions Barcelona.

Inter go into the final – in which they will face Bayern Munich in Madrid May 22 – on a 3-2 aggregate after beating the Catalans 3-1 in San Siro last Tuesday.

It will be Inter’s first final since 1972, they have not won the European crown since 1965.

Defender Gerard Pique scored the only goal just six minutes minutes from time, but Inter managed to avoid a second goal in a frenetic finale.

Inter striker Samuel Eto’o, who was the idol of the Barca fans from 2004 to 2009, said that ‘I thought the game was never going to end, it was interminable.’

He added, rather surprisingly, that ‘Barca are still the best team in the world and we have needed all of our qualities, in two matches, to eliminate them.’

For his part, Barca president Joan Laporta said that ”we just could not score the second goal that would have taken us to the final.’

Laporta added that ‘we now concentrate on winning the league, that is what our people deserve.’

Barca are just one point ahead of Real Madrid with four matches left.

Jose Mourinho’s team had a surprisingly comfortable time in the Camp Nou, especially given that midfielder Thiago Motta was sent off after just 28 minutes.

Inter moved even further back into their defensive shell when Motta was shown a straight red card, for a hand in the face of Sergio Busquets.

Mourinho pulled forwards Diego Milito and Samuel Eto’o back to play as effective full-backs, meaning that Barca enjoyed 75 per cent possession – but without taking advantage of it.

All that the hosts had to show for their possession in the second half was two wide shots from winger Pedro and a low drive from Messi which Inter keeper Julio Cesar did well to get down to.

Barca coach Pep Guardiola brought on Maxwell, Bojan and Jeffren but still lacked the craft, speed and imagination to open up a packed defence.

Inter were content to soak up the pressure and shamelessly waste time, waiting for the clock to run down on Barca’s reign as European champions.

Barca’s frustration led to a series of hopeful long shots, none of which troubled Julio Cesar.

Bojan then had a second goal correctly disallowed for handball by Yaya Toure.

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: aggregate, April 29, bayern munich, Champions League Final, Fouls, Gerard Pique, Inter Milan, interruptions, Javier Zanetti, Joan Laporta, jose mourinho, last tuesday, lionel messi, real madrid, Samuel Eto O, san siro, Scares, six minutes, striker, Thiago Motta

Mourinho hails “sweetest 1-0 defeat of my life”

April 30, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Jose Mourinho is by his own admission a bad loser but after Wednesday’s reverse at Barcelona put Inter Milan in the Champions League final he described it as “the sweetest 1-0 defeat of my life”.

The Serie A champions survived for more than an hour with 10 men, following defender Thiago Motta’s red card, and only conceded a goal by Gerard Pique six minutes from time as they went through to next month’s final in Madrid 3-2 on aggregate.

“It was incredibly tense today, against a team such as Barcelona, with 10 men, it was something historical, mythical,” a strangely subdued Mourinho told a news conference.

“It was the sweetest 1-0 defeat of my life but the players out there didn’t deserve to lose. We were perfect tactically and defensively.

“We showed great discipline,” he added. “We worked very hard to deny them space.”

Inter reaching their first European Cup final since 1972 had the Portuguese showman’s fingerprints all over it.

From the pre-match news conferences to the jubilant celebrations at the final whistle, Mourinho’s presence was all pervading in Barcelona.

He was forced to make a last-minute change before kickoff when Goran Pandev withdrew through injury and Cristian Chivu came in.

“The game started badly. Bringing Chivu on made us more defensive but the game went as we thought,” said Mourinho.

“It was much harder with 10 men because Barcelona are the best team in the world at circulating the ball but we kept them away from our goal.”

Mourinho wound up the home fans before the first whistle, casually strolling out into the centre of the pitch, hands in pockets, looking every inch a man enjoying an amble in the countryside before the teams came out to warm up.

The cacophony of whistles appeared to egg him on, his histrionics on the touchline constantly catching the attention of the cameras.

Motta’s sending off after 28 minutes had him laughing ironically, rolling his eyes, arms outstretched.

He dashed out of his technical area to give an instruction to one of his players in the second half, bringing the game to a stop as the referee issued the coach a warning.

TUSSLE ON PITCH

Near the end Mourinho was pointing and gesticulating at the Barca bench, having a heated exchange of opinion.

At the final whistle he sprinted not towards his players but across to where the Inter fans were massed in the top tiers of the stand on the far side of the pitch, waving his arms.

Mourinho ended up having a tussle with Barca goalkeeper Victor Valdes, with security guards parting the pair.

“I think a team who win everything don’t know how to lose. They are bad losers and so am I,” Mourinho said.

“Valdes thought I was provoking the home fans. I was going to celebrate with my fans. It’s my right.”

Asked if he would ever go back to Barcelona, where he once worked as an assistant to Bobby Robson and Louis van Gaal, he said: “A coach would be stupid to say no to Barcelona.

“But it’s difficult to turn hate into love,” he added referring to the treatment he received from the home fans.

With a final next month against a Bayern Munich team managed by his former mentor Van Gaal, Mourinho was full of respect.

“Bayern are a great team with a great coach,” he said. “They are an example for many clubs. They stood by Van Gaal when they had a bad start and now they are in a final.”

(Editing by Tony Jimenez. To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: bad loser, cacophony, Cristian Chivu, fingerprints, histrionics, Home Fans, Inter Milan, jose mourinho, Kickoff, Match News, Motta, news conference, news conferences, Pandev, showman, six minutes, Space Inter, touchline, whistle, whistles

Rare victory for World Cup hosts South Africa

April 30, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

World Cup hosts South Africa recorded a rare win on Wednesday, beating Jamaica 2-0 in a friendly.

It was only the third victory in 16 games for the South Africans, whose team of locally-based players have been on a three-week training camp in Germany.

Surprise Moriri and Siyabonga Nomvete, both recalled to the squad in the last month, scored second-half goals against a Jamaica side who arrived on the morning of the match.

Moriri struck after an hour and Nomvete added the second goal with six minutes left.

South Africa, who have dropped to 90th in the world rankings, return home at the weekend and have three more warm-up matches before the opening World Cup game against Mexico in Johannesburg on June 11.

(Editing by Tony Jimenez. To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: Africa Cup, Africa South, Africa World, Germany, Jamaica 2, Johannesburg, match, Mexico, Rare Victory, six minutes, Siyabonga Nomvete, South Africa, south africans, surprise, Tony Jimenez, training camp, Victory Games, World Cup Game, World Game

Mourinho hails “sweetest 1-0 defeat of my life”

April 29, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment