Monthly Archives August 2013

August 29, 2013,  Football  No comments

Mauricio Sperduti scored the winning goal with a quarter of an hour to play, as Arsenal continued their impressive defensive record in the cup this year.

Arsenal midfielder Ivan Marcone went on a winding run that culminated in a foul just shy of the penalty area.

However, the ball flicked backwards out of the incident and the referee allowed the advantage, with Sperduti sneaking in to tuck away the winner much to the annoyance of the Godoy Cruz defence.

Arsenal have conceded just once in four cup matches this year, and that goal was a consolation away at Platense – with all three of their home ties producing clean sheets.

The Estadio del Bicentenario would have been the last place Godoy Cruz would have wanted to visit in their form, as they chalked up their fourth scoreless performance in...

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August 29, 2013,  Football  No comments

A double from Mexican forward Carlos Vela secured a 2-0 win and a 4-0 aggregate victory for Sociedad over Ligue 1 outfit Lyon, to see them qualify for the group stages of the illustrious continental competition.

It is the first time the San Sebastian based club have made it in to Europe’s premier club tournament since the 2003/04 season.

Arrasate – appointed to the Sociedad hot seat in June – said the upbeat feeling among his players at the resounding two-leg victory was uplifting.

“You just have to go into the dressing room to realise how happy we are,” Arrasate said.

“It was one of the main objectives in this season and we achieved it.

“We are pleased and we have to enjoy ourselves now, but tomorrow we will start to think about Atletico Madrid because unfortunately time is moving on and...

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August 29, 2013,  Football  No comments

Barca star Lionel Messi was fit for the clash despite missing their weekend battle with Malaga, although the usually clinical Argentine missed a penalty late on.

Nonetheless, the Catalan club held on for their 11th Supercopa in the club’s history, and their fourth in five years – claiming the silverware on away goals after the first leg in Madrid finished 1-1.

The game was void of clear-cut chances for much of the opening 45 minutes, with the best opportunity of the half falling Atletico’s way in the shadows of half-time.

Atletico left-back Filipe Luis burst down the wing and squared a ball for Turkish attacker Arda Turan, who turned Gerard Pique inside out, galloped into the box and lashed a blistering shot – only kept out by a brilliant reflex save from Barca custodian Victor Valdes.

Th...

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August 29, 2013,  Football  No comments

Reports emerging prior to Wednesday’s UEFA Champions League play-off round second-leg clash with PSV suggested that the Italian’s position was under threat should his side fail to progress.

But, after Milan cruised through to group stages courtesy of a 3-0 victory at San Siro, Allegri angrily revealed that he is considering resigning due to the building pressure.

“For a couple of years this has been going on, so maybe I’ll resign tomorrow morning. I’ll think it over tonight,” he is quoted by Sport Mediaset.

“I am a little annoyed tonight, as I read things that have been written and believe people need to be more objective. There is pontificating from the outside.

“I am satisfied with the performance, but very angry tonight...

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August 29, 2013,  Football  No comments

The Uruguayan has missed the start of the Premier League season as he serves the remainder of a 10-match ban for biting Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic during a 2-2 draw at Anfield in April.

Suarez has constantly been linked with a move away from Anfield during the transfer window, with fellow Premier League side Arsenal having two bids rejected.

But Liverpool rejected those overtures, and his punishment expires before the encounter with fierce rivals United at Old Trafford, and Brendan Rodgers may be tempted employ the 26-year-old.

Elsewhere, Newcastle United were handed a difficult tie as they will welcome Leeds United to St James’ Park.

Alan Pardew’s side left it late to overcome League Two side Morecambe 2-0 in round two, while Leeds ensured their progress with a 3-1 victory away to Donc...

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August 29, 2013,  Football  No comments

The Scottish side trailed 2-0 on aggregate to Kazakh outfit Shakhter Karagandy going into the sides’ second-leg encounter, but had brought things level by the 48th minute courtesy of goals from Kris Commons and Georgios Samaras.

However, the all-important third goal proved far harder to come by, and extra-time seemed inevitable prior to some brilliant Anthony Stokes dribbling ending in a cut-back which James Forrest gratefully slammed home.

The other more high-profile ties taking place on Wednesday provided decidedly less drama, as Real Sociedad and Milan enjoyed routine victories.

Sociedad led 2-0 ahead of their second-leg clash with Lyon at Anoeta, and won again by the same scoreline in Spain as Carlos Vela struck twice to help them through to the group stages.

Milan, meanwhile, built o...

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August 29, 2013,  Football  No comments

Everton were taken to extra time by League One’s Stevenage, with Marouane Fellaini grabbing a crucial strike in the additional period.

Luke Freeman put the League One team ahead in the 35th minute, much to the delight of the travelling fans at Goodison Park.

But they were pegged back on the stroke of half-time, thanks to a debut goal from close-season loan signing Gerard Deulofeu.

The home side missed a host of chances in the second half, with Arouna Kone particularly guilty, and Roberto Martinez’s team had to settle for extra time.

And with the match heading for a penalty shootout, Fellaini scored from close range to spare Everton’s blushes.

League Two side Morecambe were undone by two late goals, but will be proud of their performance in their 2-0 defeat to Newcastle.

With the game look...

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August 29, 2013,  Football  No comments

The 25-year-old, who only entered the game in the 95th minute, managed to prevent a nervy shoot-out for the hosts on Wednesday after they failed to put the game to bed in normal time, despite numerous opportunities.

The Premier League side saw their opponents, who have never played a League Cup tie away from home, go ahead through Luke Freeman but Barcelona loanee Gerard Deulofeu grabbed an equaliser just before the break.

But the wasted opportunities, many of which fell to Arouna Kone who made his first competitive start for the club, left the sides having to decide the encounter in extra time, when the Belgian struck.

Roberto Martinez showed attacking intent among eight Everton changes, handing debuts to Joel Robles and highly rated youngster Deulofeu, who started up front alongside Kon...

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August 29, 2013,  Football  No comments

The Mexico international struck twice in the second half at Anoeta to give the Liga side a 4-0 aggregate victory and send them into Europe’s premier club competition for the first time since 2003-04.

Jagoba Arrasate made two changes to the Sociedad side that won in France last week, as Daniel Estrada and Ion Ansotegi replacing Carlos Martinez and Liassine Cadamuro.

Meanwhile, his opposite number Remi Garde opted to select Samuel Umtiti ahead of Steed Malbranque, while Bakary Kone came in for the suspended Milan Bisevac, who was sent off in the game at the Stade de Gerland.

Lyon began the game brightly and dominated possession in search of an early goal to get themselves back in the tie.

However, they failed to test Claudio Bravo in the Sociedad goal and it was the home side who carved out...

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August 29, 2013,  Football  No comments

Yasuhiro Higuchi’s side top the table by three points having lost just once in their last eight league matches.

They visit the NACK5 Stadium Omiya to face Ardjja who are on an eight-game losing streak in the J.League.

That poor run of form has seen Tsutomu Ogura’s charges slip to sixth, and they will be desperate to arrest that alarming slide in front of their home supporters.

Urawa Reds will look to bounce back from their disappointing defeat, when they welcome Albirex Niigata to the Saitama Stadium 2002.

Had they beaten Marinos they could have gone top of the league, but they now sit four points adrift of the leaders.

Second-placed Sanfrecce Hiroshima are looking for their first maximum haul in four games when they go head-to-head with Tokyo at the EDION Stadium.

Sanfrecce were leapfrog...

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