Saturday, February 28, 2009
Friday, February 27, 2009
Man City 2-1 Copenhagen (agg 4-3)
 Bellamy has now scored five goals for Manchester City |
A second-half brace from Craig Bellamy helped Manchester City set up a last-16 Uefa Cup encounter with Aalborg after an effortless win over FC Copenhagen.
A strong City line-up were frustrated in the first half, with Robinho and Bellamy hitting the woodwork.
Bellamy shrugged off one defender to finish from 15 yards for his first and good work by Robinho on the left then allowed Bellamy to score from 10 yards.
Martin Vingaard finished to Shay Given's right for a consolation strike.
City were largely untroubled by the Danish visitors and manager Mark Hughes's pre-match proclamation that his City squad was big enough and strong enough to progress was proven right.
Although, in truth, the home side did not really have to flex all their muscles in a rainy Manchester against a team who are still on their winter break.
Copenhagen may have succeeded in frustrating City for the majority of the match, but it only seemed a matter of time until the home side scored.
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And there was perhaps no-one more deserving of two goals than the hard-working Bellamy, who was full of running and linked up well with the equally impressive Robinho.
The first half belonged to City, with Shay Given largely unemployed in the home goal.
City's chief entertainer, Robinho, went close on two occasions and was perhaps unfortunate not to have won a penalty.
In the 19th minute, he headed Bellamy's deflected shot onto the underside the crossbar and then a minute later danced past two defenders, forcing a fine save from the onrushing Jesper Christiansen.
On reflection, it seemed as if Mathias Zanka Jorgensen, who was left prostrate by Robinho as he went through, seemed to handle the ball while on the floor, but the incident was missed by referee Selcuk Dereli.
In the final minute before half-time Robinho set Bellamy free but the Welshman's scuffed shot rebounded off the corner of the far post.
City's frustrations grew as the second half progressed and, at times, they lacked a little patience in their build-up play, with Bellamy in particular being caught off-side a number of times.
Yet City continued to threaten, with Shaun Wright-Phillips wasting a great chance in the 53rd minute.
Robinho fed his fellow midfielder in the inside-right channel but, instead of shooting, Wright-Phillips slid the ball across goal for the supporting Ireland, who could not manage to get to it in time.
The much-anticipated breakthrough finally came when Ireland found Bellamy and the striker got the better of Jorgensen to coolly finish from 15 yards for his fourth goal in a Sky Blue shirt.
The majority of the 26,000 fans at Eastlands breathed a sigh of relief and City seemed to relax.
Robinho somehow missed a chance from four yards, but Bellamy clinically doubled the advantage with 11 minutes remaining.
Copenhagen responded spiritedly and Ailton should have scored from a rebound before Vingaard struck in injury time for his second of the tie.
Manchester City manager Mark Hughes:
"We were a little bit off the pace in the first half but, in the end, we won it comfortably and created a lot of chances.
"We've got a group of players who understand the demands that are going to be placed on them now and in the future.
"The expectation levels have been way ahead of any Manchester City team probably in the history of the club and we're dealing with it.
"A lot of teams have gone out by all accounts so let's see how far we can go. Further progression in a top European competition can only be good for us."
Man City: Given, Zabaleta (Elano 82), Onuoha, Dunne, Richards, Wright-Phillips, Ireland, Kompany, Bridge, Robinho, Bellamy.
Subs Not Used: Hart, Garrido, Berti, Vassell, Caicedo, Evans.
Goals: Bellamy 73, 80.
FC Copenhagen: Christiansen, Pospech, Antonsson, Jorgensen, Wendt, Kvist, Kristensen (Sionko 46), Norregaard (Vingaard 76), Hutchinson, Almeida, Ndoye (Gronkjaer 59).
Subs Not Used: Coe, Niclas Jensen, Laursen, Nordstrand.
Booked: Kristensen, Wendt.
Goals: Vingaard 90.
Att: 26,018.
Ref: Selcuk Dereli (Turkey).
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Cafu Wallpapers
 | Full name | Marcos Evangelista de Moraes |
| Date of birth | June 7, 1970 (1970-06-07) (age 37) | |
| Place of birth | Sao Paulo, Brazil | |
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | |
| Playing position | Right Back / Right Wingback |
Cafu Wallpaper
Cafu with AC Milan
Cafu with Brazil Team
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Tottenham 0-0 Arsenal
 Eboue did his side no favours by getting himself sent off |
Robbie Keane drew a blank on his return to White Hart Lane as Arsenal survived the first-half dismissal of Emmanuel Eboue to earn a point against Tottenham in the north London derby.
Arsene Wenger's side - who also lost Emmanuel Adebayor to a hamstring injury and left new signing Andrey Arshavin as an unused substitute - will be happier with the stalemate after a frenetic encounter short on quality.
In reality, however, the result did little to help Spurs' bid to escape the Premier League danger zone or the Gunners' attempts to force their way into the top four.
Eboue was sent off by referee Mike Dean after 37 minutes for lashing out at Luka Modric, after earlier being needlessly booked for dissent.
Keane had a busy debut, flashing a header just over and shooting narrowly wide in the second half, but Arsenal's rearguard action ensured Spurs must wait to end their sequence of failing to beat their arch-rivals in the Premier League since 1999.
The home side enjoyed superiority in terms of possession and territory, and it took a vital block from Arsenal keeper Manuel Almunia to deny Modric when he raced clear in injury time.
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Modric and Aaron Lennon also forced earlier saves from Almunia, while Roman Pavlyuchenko missed two good opportunities.
Arsenal rarely threatened at the other end, but when they did Alex Song wasted their best chance when he shot wide from eight yards following a corner.
Tottenham keeper Carlo Cudicini was relatively untroubled until he turned over a shot from Nicklas Bendtner late on.
Wenger will be satisfied with the resilience demonstrated by his 10 men, but he cut an animated and frustrated figure for much of the afternoon.
He insisted his side were never in serious trouble, despite playing with a man less, and was furious that Eboue was denied what he felt was a legitimate goal in the 14th minute when referee Dean ruled Spurs defender Jonathan Woodgate had been fouled.
The loss of two more points surely kills off any lingering suggestion that Arsenal might be involved in the Premier League title race, and increases the pressure in their attempt to break into the Champions League places.
Wenger hits out at 'unacceptable' decison
Spurs gave newly appointed captain Keane an instant debut after his return from a miserable spell at Liverpool - but Wenger decided to keep Arshavin on the bench.
The visitors' main danger in a fiercely contested first half came down the flanks, with Eboue an early threat after being played in by Robin van Persie.
But Harry Redknapp's side had moments of their own, with Lennon's low drive producing a save from Almunia and Pavlyuchenko shooting over from a promising position.
Modric has shown signs of flourishing under Redknapp's guidance after struggling, along with many others, under the stewardship of Juande Ramos.
The Croatian was at the heart of most of Spurs' best efforts, creating an opening for Lennon with an astute pass inside Gael Clichy and then forcing Almunia into action with an effort from 20 yards.
Spurs were almost the architects of their own downfall after 31 minutes when Vedran Corluka's clumsy attempts to shepherd the ball out of play saw him robbed by a combination of Samir Nasri and Clichy, but Arsenal wasted the opportunity.
Arsenal suffered a double blow as the interval approached, when first Adebayor was stretchered off with a hamstring injury and Eboue was sent off after 37 minutes.
Redknapp encouraged by Spurs display
Eboue had been booked by referee Dean earlier after a prolonged bout of dissent, and he saw red for kicking out at Modric following a clash that also saw the Spurs midfield man booked.
Spurs, with morale lifted by their numerical advantage, pressed after the break with Pavlyuchenko failing to hit the target with an angled effort and Keane glancing Lennon's cross on to the top of the net.
Redknapp clearly felt his side needed extra attacking impetus to break down what was becoming a rearguard action from Wenger's side, and he responded by sending on Darren Bent for Pavlyunchenko after 63 minutes.
But it was the Gunners who created the big opening six minutes later, only for Song to steer Van Persie's corner wide from eight yards.
Keane had only been given fleeting chances, but he almost fashioned an opening with a right-foot volley that flew just wide.
Bendtner then nearly provided a stunning finale with a volley that Cudicini did well to turn over - but there was still time for Modric to close in with only Almunia to beat, but the Arsenal keeper ensured the spoils were shared.
Tottenham: Cudicini, Corluka (Chimbonda 74), Dawson, Woodgate, Assou-Ekotto, Lennon (Taarabt 87), Jenas, Palacios, Modric, Pavlyuchenko (Bent 64), Keane.
Subs Not Used: Gomes, Bale, Zokora, Huddlestone.
Booked: Modric.
Arsenal: Almunia, Sagna, Toure, Gallas, Clichy (Gibbs 87), Eboue, Song Billong, Denilson, Nasri, Adebayor (Bendtner 38), Van Persie.
Subs Not Used: Fabianski, Eduardo, Ramsey, Djourou, Arshavin.
Sent Off: Eboue (37).
Booked: Eboue, Clichy.
Att: 36,021
Ref: Mike Dean (Wirral).
Premier League Results On 7 Feb 09
1730 GMT KICK-OFF
FT Portsmouth 2-3 Liverpool
1500 GMT KICK-OFFS
FT Blackburn 0-2 Aston Villa
FT Chelsea 0-0 Hull
FT Everton 3-0 Bolton
FT Sunderland 2-0 Stoke
FT West Brom 2-3 Newcastle
FT Wigan 0-0 Fulham
1245 GMT KICK-OFF
FT Man City 1-0 Middlesbrough
Benitez stands by team selection
 Benitez's praised his squad for their efforts at Fratton Park |
Rafael Benitez defended his decision to rest key players despite his Liverpool side having to wait until the final minute to secure victory at Portsmouth.
The Reds boss started without key strikers Dirk Kuyt and Fernando Torres, with the pair coming on late to both score and help the side to a 3-2 win.
"Torres is part of the squad, but without the other players we would not be where we are," said Benitez.
"We saw the quality in the squad. We could have lost but deserved to win."
The Spaniard rested some his main stars after Liverpool went out of the FA Cup at Everton in midweek in a game which went to extra-time and one in which they had a player sent-off.
The selection issues for the Pompey game brought into doubt Benitez's decision to sell Robbie Keane to Tottenham in the recent transfer window.
The Reds were left with only two experienced strikers in the squad, Kuyt and Torres, while midfielder Steven Gerrard's absence with a hamstring injury also brought the decision into question.
But Benitez had insisted after kean'e exit that forwards like David Ngog, 19, and Dutchman Ryan Babel, offered him sufficient depth in his squad.
His theory was tested as he opted to give Ngog his first league start at Fratton Park with Babel also starting in a forward position.
But both struggled to make an impact and Babel was guilty of a horrendous miss just before David Nugent gave Portsmouth the lead.
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But goals in the final five minutes from substitutes Kuyt and then Torres completed an epic fightback to keep up the pressure on title rivals Manchester United.
The Spaniard added: "We saw a lot of resolve. We saw different players working hard on the pitch, trying to keep the ball, Fernando and Xabi Alonso did that well.
Benitez praises resilience of squad
"They all worked hard for the team and the fans.
"Every win is an important victory, especially now that we are close to the top. I'm really pleased that the lads showed they had character and played well. We need to keep working and keep our confidence high now."
Portsmouth manager Tony Adams remained upbeat and confident of keeping his position at Fratton Park despite the defeat which leaves his side without a win in the league since 30 November and one point above the relegation places.
When asked if he still was well supported at the club, the former England defender said: "One hundred percent yes. I have spoken to the chairman and so far so good."
Adams still has faith despite defeat
He added: "We just need to start picking up points. We have to fight all teams playing around us and we'll fight all the way.
"Performances don't lie and the crowd were fully supportive of the players, their work rate and performance. They have given it all for me but unfortunately they are making mistakes.
"They are great players here but it's been the same thing all season, right back to first game. I have faith in them still."Maxi Rodriguez Wallpapers
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Maxi Rodriguez Argentina Football Team
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Maxi Rodriguez Best PosterLouis Saha Wallpapers
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Louis Saha PosterJose Antonio Reyes Wallpapers
 | Full name | Jose Antonio Reyes Calderon |
| Date of birth | September 1, 1983 (1983-09-01) (age 23) | |
| Place of birth | Utrera, Spain | |
| Height | 1.76 m (5 ft 9.3 in) | |
| Playing position | Winger, Striker |
Jose Antonio Reyes Football Picture
Jose Antonio Reyes Poster
Jose Antonio Reyes Football Player
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Craig Bellamy Poster
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Craig Bellamy Football PictureRoque Santa Cruz Wallpapers
Roque Santa Cruz
| Squad Number: | 9 |
| Position: | Forward |
| Place of Birth: | Asuncion, Paraguay |
| Date Of Birth: | 16/ 08/ 1981 |
| Height: | 6'3 |
| Weight: | 12st 12lbs |
Roque Santa Cruz Poster
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Roque Santa Cruz Football Picture
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