August 28, 2013,  Football  No comments

The win confirms the London club’s progression to the group stages of the continental competition but manager Arsene Wenger said his side did not escape unscathed from the encounter.

Lukas Podolski sustained a hamstring injury that will keep him out for three weeks, while Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshere also wore knocks.

Wilshere’s injury – an ankle problem – was so severe that Wenger considered bringing him off the field despite having already used three substitutes.

“That’s a negative of tonight,” Wenger said.

“We paid a heavy price on the injury front because we lost Podolski.

“I don’t know how bad Ramsey is, I don’t know how Wilshere responds to his ankle problem, I don’t know, we have to check that tomorrow morning.”

Wenger even suggested his players were on the end of some unnecessar...

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August 28, 2013,  Football  No comments

As seven-time winners, Milan have become synonymous with Europe’s premier club competition.

But their qualification for this season’s group stages hangs firmly in the balance following their 1-1 draw in the first leg of their play-off against Dutch outfit PSV Eindhoven.

Milan welcome PSV to the San Siro for the return leg on Wednesday, and the Eredivisie club have never won at the stadium before.

The Italian giants will also be keen to atone for is their shock opening day Serie A defeat at the hands of Verona.

Milan struggled against a team who were playing their first top-flight game for 11 years – eventually falling to a 2-1 loss, and coach Massimiliano Allegri knows his side needs to lift.

“We know how important the game is,” Allegri said.

“We will be facing a team that plays good foot...

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August 28, 2013,  Football  No comments

The result means that Arsene Wenger’s side will play in Europe’s premier club competition for the 16th year running, with the win at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday securing a 5-0 aggregate victory.

Ramsey opened the scoring in the 25th minute when he swept into an empty net from close range after Gokhan Gonul had prevented Theo Walcott from shooting with a sliding challenge.

And the Welshman capped a fine individual performance with a wonderful side-footed volley from Kieran Gibbs’ cross in the second half.

Elsewhere, 10-man Schalke confirmed their place in the group stages with a 3-2 victory away to PAOK at the Stadio Toumbas, giving them a 4-3 win over the two legs.

The Bundesliga outfit took the lead in the first half through Adam Szalai, but they were pegged back shortly after the b...

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August 28, 2013,  Football  No comments

In-form striker Sturridge netted his second of the game in the 105th minute before Henderson sealed the Premier League outfit’s progress to round three five minutes later by making it 4-2 with a cool finish.

Those goals came after second-half strikes from Yoann Arquin and Adam Coombes had brought their spirited League One visitors level, following Raheem Sterling’s early opener and Sturridge’s first before the break.

Brendan Rodgers named a strong team despite the prospect of a Premier League fixture against Manchester United on Sunday, with captain Steven Gerrard and Sturridge both starting, along with the likes of Glen Johnson and Kolo Toure.

Meanwhile, Notts County boss Chris Kiwomya made two changes to the team that lost to Stevenage on Saturday, with Jamal Campbell-Ryce and Aston Vil...

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August 28, 2013,  Football  No comments

The 25-year-old forward, who scored eight times in 17 La Liga appearances while on loan with Real Betis last term, joins from Mexican side Monterrey after passing a medical.

A statement on the club’s official website confirmed: “Dorlan Pabon is a player of Valencia CF for the next four seasons after he passed a medical and signed his new contract on Tuesday afternoon.

“Dorlan Pabon will be presented on Wednesday August 28, at 19:30, at the Mestalla.”

The signing of the Colombian – who only joined Monterrey from Parma in January – will go some way to filling the void left by Roberto Soldado’s exit.

Boss Miroslav Djukic has been active in the transfer market in a bid to replace the Spain international, who joined Tottenham in a £26million deal earlier in the window.

Helder Postiga has alre...

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August 28, 2013,  Football  No comments

Aaron Ramsey stole the show at the Emirates Stadium by grabbing both goals, wrapping up a comfortable 5-0 aggregate triumph.

Arsenal dominated possession in the first half and Ramsey was on hand to tap home from six yards in the 25th minute.

Theo Walcott then hit the crossbar from a free-kick before Ramsey’s volley made it 2-0.

Boss Arsene Wenger made two changes to the side that beat Fulham 3-1 on Saturday with Jack Wilshere and Nacho Monreal replacing Tomas Rosicky and Kieran Gibbs.

Fenerbahce, meanwhile, included former Liverpool players Raul Meireles and Dirk Kuyt.

Arsenal dominated the early possession but they almost conceded a goal in unusual circumstances.

A scramble in the box led to Bacary Sagna clearing his effort straight against Meireles, with the ricochet drawing a smart s...

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August 28, 2013,  Football  No comments

Parish has been forced to deny the suggestions after media reports claimed that the pair’s relationship had irreparably deteriorated amid disagreements around the club’s recruitment policy.

Holloway has made new 10 new additions to his squad following promotion via the play-offs last May, either on permanent or loan deals, with Palace without a point after their opening two Premier League fixtures.

Former Palace boss Neil Warnock, who suggested prior to leaving his last job at Leeds United in April that it would be final managerial post, has been linked with a return to Selhurst Park, but Parish has laughed off the speculation.

“It’s such nonsense. There’s not one ounce of truth or credibility in the rumours,” he told talkSPORT.

Warnock has also admitted to talkSPORT there is no trut...

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August 28, 2013,  Football  No comments

Comments from coach Viktor Kumykov suggested Shakhter remained underdogs for the clash, however midfielder Roger Canas has since claimed Celtic were “70 per cent out” of the competition.

After their play-off first leg defeat in Kazakhstan, Celtic must overturn a two-goal deficit if they are to progress to the group stages of the competition for the eighth time.

Lennon remains positive ahead of the second leg, and he expects his side to come back into the tie in front of a home crowd.

“Their confidence is dangerous (but) this is a two match tie, and it is disrespectful to my team,” he said.

“I don’t need to motivate my players for tomorrow night, but if they (Shakhter) want to continue the way they are doing then that’s fine by me.

“Looking at the game in the cold light of day, we were the...

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August 28, 2013,  Cricket  No comments

James Anderson, man-of the-series Ian Bell, Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann have also been left out in order to recover ahead of the tour of Australia, which will see England’s players head down under in October.

However, Kevin Pietersen, Joe Root and Jonathan Trott, who each featured in all five Ashes Tests will play on in the shorter format.

Eoin Morgan will captain England in the absence of Cook as they face a warm-up game against Morgan’s native Ireland before a five-game series against the Aussies.

Batsmen Gary Ballance and Michael Carberry will be looking to make their ODI debuts for England, as well bowling trio Chris Jordan, Jamie Overton and Boyd Rankin.

National selector Geoff Miller said: “Following a very intense period of cricket this summer we have decided to rest a number of ...

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August 28, 2013,  MotorSports  No comments

A hugely disappointing campaign for McLaren has left them fifth in the constructors’ championship, just four points ahead of the improving Force India, with drivers Jenson Button and Sergio Perez failing to make it onto the podium at any race so far this season.

Whitmarsh lamented overzealous changes to the cars’ set-up as the main reason for their failures, which have seen them fall from title contenders to midfield runners in the space of one season.

Raikkonen has enjoyed a fruitful campaign with Lotus and had been Sebastian Vettel’s closest challenger in the drivers’ championship until his first retirement of the season at last weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix.

The Finn previously raced for McLaren between 2002-2006 and Whitmarsh has remained enamoured with the 33-year-old.

When asked if h...

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