sport, score and goals

CR7 is not a Striker

AS the wings player, Cristiano Ronaldo very fertile. Strangely, when he was placed as striker, CR7 was precisely barren.

In two fights opposed Barcelona, CR7 indeed was placed in front with Carlos Tevez. In Nou Camp, Ronaldo become striker and changed places with Wayne Rooney. The results, Ronaldo failed to create the goal.

In Old Trafford, CR7 again become striker with Tevez. Rooney was not played, possibly because injured. The results, Ronaldo again failed to create the goal.

So according to me, the Fergie's strategy to installed Ronaldo as striker is wrong. CR7's the wings player. And not striker!!
photo: gettyimages

Hargreaves new position

THERE were strange formation from the Manchester United when opposing Barcelona, both away and home. The appearance of Owen Hargreaves as the right back.

According to me, this strange formation because of Sir Alec Ferguson did not want to gamble by playing Garry Neville. Indeed Neville has recovered from the injury. However if He being played against the Barcelona's player that was known very fast and high individual skill the tall, Neville will possibly be overwhelmed.

I considered Hargreaves was successful to occupy his new position. Indeed he rarely overlapp like that normally is carried out by Neville. Hargreaves was strong guarded defence. With Rio Ferdinand, Wes Brown and Patrick Evra, Hargreaves became the determining figure so Barcelona failed to break the goal.

The position as the right back also became the opportunity for Hargreaves as the starter. Because in the normal condition, he must compete with Michael Carrick that became the main Fergie choice.(*)
photo: gettyimage

Finally, English Club Win Champions League

FINALLY, what I'm waiting for it hapenned. The final of English Premiere League in Uefa Champions League. After last year failed (because AC Milan became the champion), currently Barcelona, the only club non England succeeded in being eliminated.

Manchester United, that eliminated Barcelona with the score 1-0, will be waiting for the winner between Chelsea vs Liverpool. For me is not the problem what club will oppose MU. Chelsea or Liverpool was just the same, both of them is EPL. However I thought if Manchester United opposed Chelsea, it's gonna be interseting, because the high competition between two clubs (remembered when both of them met in the English League).

The confirmed of the English club gained the Champion League also a sweet conpentation, after the national English team failed to Euro 2008.
So not problem the English failed to Euro 2008.The important is that the English club could reach Champions League trophy. Moreover, three clubs that advanced to this semi-final, MU, Chelsea and Liverpool were still being reinforced by several original English players.
photo: gettyimage

MU reached the UEFA Champions League final

MANCHESTER United FC reached the UEFA Champions League final for the first time since winning the competition nine years ago, as Paul Scholes spectacular early strike proved enough to pulsating board a semi-final against FC Barcelona.

Quite rightly, he was one of the survivors of this team 1998/99 in the starting lineup, Scholes - who missed the 2-1 final victory against FC Bayern Munich through suspension, and was guaranteed its place in this jewel of the season by Sir Alex Ferguson at United condition he - who scored the only goal of equality. The midfielder collected a pass from Gianluca Zambrotta lose and violently unleashed a swerving long-range shot in the upper corner.

Barcelona pressed for a return but struggling to create chances against a well-referenced United defence, discipline and commitment to ensure the first English final in European club champions Cup history, against Chelsea FC and Liverpool FC Moscow on May 21.

Manchester United ended up 1-0 at the break after a compelling first half which saw Barcelona start the strongest before a superb strike from Paul Scholes put the Red Devils blue in the face.

This was the signal for United to enjoy a period of domination but Barca fought to wrest control in midfield with an inventive and technically capable of football in which Samuel Eto'o, Lionel Messi and Deco all questions to move before the United States. Yet it is not enough.

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has again gauge his team when both Wayne Rooney and Nemanja Vidic was ruled out Rooney with a hip injury and Vidic after the injury he suffered on his face against Chelsea on Saturday. Ferguson has responded by making six changes to his side, top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo back in the starting line-at the same time that Carlos Tevez, Owen Hargreaves, Patrice Evra, Paul Scholes and Park Ji-Sung.

For Barcelona, ex-Arsenal striker Thierry Henry has been named among the substitutes by manager Frank Rijkaard.

Teams:

Manchester United: Van der Sar, Hargreaves, Ferdinand, Brown, Evra, Park, Scholes, Carrick, Nani, Ronaldo, Tevez.
Subs: Kuszczak, Anderson, Giggs, O'Shea, Fletcher, Silvestre, Welbeck

Barcelona: Valdes, Zambrotta, Puyol, Milito, Abidal, Toure Yaya, Messi, Xavi, Deco, Iniesta, Eto'o.
Subs: Pinto, Gudjohnsen, Henry, Edmilson, Sylvinho, Thuram, Bojan

Referee: Herbert Fandel (Germany)

photo: gettyimage

De Rossi Apologized

Roma icon and captain Daniele De Rossi apologized to the fans and his teammates penalty miss against Manchester United. AS Roma midfielder has admitted his first-half penalty miss was the key moment in the Italian club to the UEFA Champions League 1-0 in the quarter-finals at the defeat of Manchester United FC.

However, with the score at 0-0, De Rossi has had the opportunity to put forward its side of the penalty spot, even though Amantino Mancini has dropped alarmingly with ease to win the spot-kick following Wes Brown's well - timed ball-winning challenge. But De Rossi, who had scored the Giallorossi, the winner of the same spot on the penalty CFC Genoa last weekend, sent the ball high over the crossbar.

"It was not a penalty to make it 2-0 at the last minute, but I think the game would have changed if I had scored," said the Italian international. "I am very disappointed and I think it hurts twice as much because I am from Rome, and a supporter of Roma. We arrived in Manchester confident and ready to fight. The first goal was there, eleven metres from me, but we all know what happened. It would have been a different game if we had taken the lead in the first half.

"I wanted to take the trouble as I did on Sunday against Genoa," said De Rossi, who scored one of the spot-kicks Italy in the 2006 FIFA World Cup final. "It was a very busy time and I was probably too much time to think before taking it. Sanctions I referenced in important games like finals of the World Cup in my career, but tonight; I have been less fortunate. I am deeply sorry. that I hoped it would not come to me, especially tonight in a match like this. "

Although Roma finally succumbed to a 70th minute Carlos Tévez head - which specifies a third defeat at Old Trafford in the last 12 months - De Rossi remained optimistic about their outlook for the remainder of the campaign. Roma sit four points behind Serie A leaders FC Internationale Milan with six rounds remaining and are also through to the last four of the Italian Cup. De Rossi said: "Now we will try to win the Scudetto. I think tonight, we confirmed that we are a great team and we want to win trophies this season." (*)

source: scorequ

photo: Getty Images

Tevez Header Conquest Roma

Manchester United FC can start to prepare for a fascinating-looking UEFA Champions League semi-final meeting with FC Barcelona after Carlos Tévez the second half header completed the conquest of AS Roma. Manchester United duly claimed their Champions League semi-final instead of three English teams in the last four of this year's competition again.

Carlos Tevez broke Roma on the strength of 70 minutes, helped by the excellent Owen Hargreaves in a game which sank and mitigated but rarely looked like getting away from the Champions League, which has set a new record of 11 consecutive wins at home.

However, there had never been any risk that the Roma were trounced 7-1 again, as they have been for this reason, a year ago. And the outcome of a game, if not the tie, might have been different Daniele de Rossi had not lost a first half penalty.

An entertaining, high tempo in the first half saw a changed greatly Old Trafford Manchester United started brightly and patron of the opening 25 minutes without adding to their cumulative score, with Roma in order Doni actively effective. But then Roma won a penalty out of nowhere when Mancini was judged - somewhat
controversial - have been reduced in the area of Wes Brown's address to the land. Daniele De Rossi, but he blazed over the bar passage and what would have been a goal against the run of play was averted.

Spalletti's men continued to probe, but, lacking injured Francesco Totti, struggling to fashion any clear openings, and the game was up on 70 minutes when Tévez vaulted to meet Hargreaves around the cross and post-headed the ball beyond Doni. (*)

source: scorequ
photo: Getty Images

Wenger: Penalty, it's a bad decision

Arsene Wenger was furious with referee Peter Frojdfeldt Ryan Babel after a penalty-shot won the match against Liverpool on his side.

Wenger, clearly emotional in the wake of his side the Champions League elimination, could not understand why Liverpool's Ryan Babel received a penalty.

"It's a bad decision, I think, the referee, but there was still a lack of concentration in the immediate aftermath, he went 2-2. They found in the box of Babel straight from kickoff, and that's where the concentration dropped a little.

"The punishment decisions made the difference, I do not know - I think we have to live with that, and for seven, eight weeks in football, we have to swallow sometimes, which is not swallowed, but and this is how we must live with Who at the moment.

"It is very difficult for me to understand, but we must also accept that and accept that in a game like that in which we had so much control, we were too naive, and we lacked a little maturity defensive."

But midfielder Ryan Babel saying after the game, is it a penalty.

"I think so, yes. It kept me a little and tried to take the chance of me. At the end, I did not have the opportunity to reach the ball. If they take that away from me, I think it was a penalty. "

Photo: GettyImages source: soccermanguni

Again, Chelsea Meet Liverpool

Chelsea FC secured their fourth UEFA Champions League semi-final berth in five seasons, thanks to goals from Michael Ballack and then Frank Lampard's with three minutes remaining against Fenerbahçe SK.

This is the third time in four years, Chelsea and Liverpool have achieved English for the past four of the competition, but it is increasingly belief in Stamford Bridge that could ultimately prove to be the year of Chelsea.

Chelsea's desire to eradicate their goal of a disadvantage was evident from the outset, and they had a huge lift in the fourth minute when Ballack put them at the aggregate level. A free kick from Lampard found the Fenerbahce dreaming and defense Germany captain glanced a fine header into the far corner of the net.

But in the 25th minute, Chelsea's Kazakhstan crisis plunged to new depths when Cudicini reported to the bench that he could not continue, and came on Hilario. Fenerbahce took the opportunity to try to unnerve the Portuguese four minutes later when Semih Senturk sent to 20 yards wide only to drive his right hand upright.

But Chelsea wrapped the tie-up with three minutes of normal time remaining when Michael Essien cross of the house has been transformed by Lampard from close range. However, some of the gloss was taken off their victory when Essien has shown a yellow
card - a crime that it rules out of the first leg against Liverpool in the semi-finals.

Chelsea struck the icon of the house for nearly you to death after Michael Ballack gave the Blues the lead from the outset, heading home a free kick which was flighted by Lampard himself.

The Blues have a good value for their win on two legs, but has received a lot of criticism following their loss of Turkey and their inability to produce screens quite as dominants that are expected by the fans and the media.

Lampard has brought honour to their quarterfinal opponents, but he insisted there is more to come from his side, as they now face Liverpool, surprisingly, for the third time in four years in Champions League semi-finals.

"It was difficult, credit to Fenerbahce they made it very difficult for us and has a chance," admitted Lampard.(*)

photo: GettyImages source: soccermanguni

Chelsea force to seek their fortress

The stunned looks on the faces of players Chelsea at the end of the time on Wednesday night all said, 'how the hell did we lose that one? "The Blues became the latest big name to suffer a defeat off-day at the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium, but in truth, this was a game that they dominated for more than an hour.

The objective (Deivid turning point in his own net) was fortunate, but Chelsea should have converted most of their opportunities before the end of the capitulation. Yet all is not lost. Conviction seems to remain in the camp at Stamford Bridge and the Blues showed no ill effects of their European setback on Saturday night, thoroughly outplaying Manchester City to win 2-0 in the east.

Thanks to the United dropped points, the gap nationally is now only three points: Chelsea are convinced they still have two trophies to play for this season. In Europe lost 2-1 away from home may not be ideal, but it is far from being a disaster. A simple 1-0 victory will suffice and the Blues are more likely to chew victories like that.

Fenerbahçe will attack in search of a goal away, but in spite of setbacks last week the Blues have one of the toughest defenses around. Stamford Bridge is a veritable fortress and Chelsea found the net in 12 of their last 13 home games. Doing everything again with a clean sheet and they will reach their fourth Champions League semi-final in five years.(*)

Can Fenerbahçe keep the dream alive?

After a spectacular first leg in Istanbul and a lot of talk of the playground, there will be a few tens of resolve on Tuesday as Fenerbahçe travel to London to face Chelsea.

As is usually the case when clubs from three leagues face on one side besides, it tends to be a lot of understatement, certainly in the media.

But just as they shot Inter, CSKA Moscow, PSV Eindhoven and Seville at home this season in Champions League, in order to Zico Fenerbahçe been right Avram Grant's Chelsea last Wednesday evening. In the midst of one of the greatest atmospheres you will find anywhere in the European football, yellow Canaries overcome the failure of a first own goal to win the game thanks to strikes by Colin Kazim-Richards and Deivid .

Having been outplayed for much of the encounter, it was a tremendous result for the Turkish side, who once again proved their tenacity and ability to find the net through all kinds of channels. With a 2-1 advantage in this second category, the link is now Fenerbahçe's to lose.

A victory or draw will see them through to the semi-finals in style, while even a high score single goal defeat would ensure the victory through the rule of the gap goals. Anyway, Fenerbahçe know that their chances of progression increase significantly if they can find the bottom of the net - there is little chance to play for a 0-0 draw.

Away form in Europe has not been fantastic, but a large domestic form means confidence remains high. Yellow Canary fans certainly take a repeat of the 3-2 defeat in Seville far in the previous cycle - it is not necessary at this time penalty dramas. (*)

Mikel Warned Manchester United

John Obi Mikel has warned that Manchester United, Chelsea will benefit from any dropped points champions in the race for the first division title.

United were held to a draw at Middlesbrough 2-2 on Sunday to leave them only three points ahead of Chelsea, with five games remaining.

The Blues face United Stamford Bridge later in April and accepts that Mikel is likely to be an encounter defensive.

But the Nigerian midfielder does not believe United will win all their other games and he urged his teammates to keep up the pressure.

"Towards the end of the championship, we play United at Stamford Bridge," said Mikel.

"I think we are going to be the deciding game, so we have to take today as we wait for the big one."

Following the defeat last week to Fenerbahce in the Champions League, the former Chelsea player Mateja Kezman claimed that Blues "team spirit was not as strong as Avram Grant as she had been at Jose Mourinho was in charge. (*)

Peter Crouch leaving Liverpool ?

Peter Crouch accepts it is likely to consider leaving Liverpool in the summer to get regular first team football.

The England striker scored an impressive goal in the opening 1-1 Premier League draw with Arsenal Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

However, Crouch feels he is likely to be back on the bench Tuesday night Anfield for the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final with the Gunners when leading scorer Fernando Torres expected to lead the attack again.

Liverpool have offered the 27-year-old, who arrived from Southampton in £ 7million deal in 2005 of a new contract.

Yet Crouch, England, who has 25 caps, has left its future may well lay elsewhere if it can not hold a first team place.

"I would have liked to stay, it is a fantastic club and I like everything about him, but I learned to be realistic," said Crouch, who has only seven Premier League starts this season.

"If I want to have any aspirations to play for England, or the pursuit of my career, then I have to read - and this does not seem to be the case at this time.

"I will have to watch - but it is certainly something that I do now, I will do that at the end of the season."

Crouch, however, insists on its present course of Liverpool on aid to progress in Europe.

"At the moment, I am concentrating on something Liverpool to win and play a role in the end of the season," he said.

"We have a Champions League run-in now and it's exciting for us, and all my efforts are concentrated on that." (*)

source: sportlinglife.com

City Want Ronaldinho

Manchester City are understood to have joined the battle to sign the Brazilian superstar Ronaldinho. City are believed to have maintained Roberto Assis - brother and agent of the player - in the east, on Saturday as they lost to Chelsea.

Assis was in the process of compiling a loss of options for his brother, as expected should it leave Barcelona this summer.

Italian giants AC Milan, at this stage, to try to land him favourites after their owner Silvio Berlusconi has confirmed his interest in signing the former PSG player this weekend.

AC Milan can also boast a rich Brazilian contingent to their club because they already have Dida, Cafu, Digao, Serginho, Emerson, Kaka, Ronaldo and Alexandre Pato in their ranks.

Inter Milan are also interested in the 28 years, while Chelsea have a long-standing interest in Ronaldinho and are likely to be on maintaining the situation closely.

Town interests should be apparently with the permission of the owner of Thailand Thaksin Shinawatra - who knows already that the player, who has two years left on his deal at Camp Nou, could cost in excess of £ 20milllion and command salaries of more £ 100000 per week.

But City are apparently shaken by the figures - about the commercial benefits of signing one of the biggest names in world football to withdraw.

Sven Goran Eriksson would obviously expected to play a huge role in trying to lure Ronaldinho to Manchester - a feat of Sir Alex Ferguson have not done in 2003 when the player avoided Man United for Barcelona.

Eriksson and seems open to the idea of trying to seduce the club Ronaldinho.

"I hope it's true", the Swedish equipped when asked about the interest of the city Barca ace. (*)

source: sportinglife.com

Fenerbahce upsets Chelsea

Deivid de Souza scored a late goal Wednesday to give Fenerbahce a 2-1 upset over Chelsea, and Liverpool got a crucial away goal in its 1-1 draw at Arsenal in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals.

Deivid gave Chelsea the lead with an own-goal in the 13th minute, but he then scored with a dramatic shot from distance in the 81st to give the Turkish team a win in its first appearance in the quarterfinals of Europe's top club competition.

Chelsea took the lead at Sukru Saracoglu stadium when Deivid deflected a cross from Florent Malouda into his own net. But Kazim Kazim equalized in the 65th by beating the offside trap and beating Chelsea goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini.(*)

source: iht

Wenger frustrated by ruffled Arsenal

Arsenal FC manager Arsène Wenger said his side did not get the result their performance merited and lamented the "lost composure" among his players following Liverpool FC's equaliser. The 1-1 draw in London has, according to Wenger's opposite number Rafael Benítez, left this UEFA Champions League quarter-final wide open – with the Merseysiders in a particularly "good situation" going into the second leg.

Wenger says, "I feel we were not well rewarded for what we produced tonight. To finish a game like that at 1-1 is very disappointing, but we delivered the performance we wanted and overall we had chances to win. Liverpool created very little and the whole second half was played in their half. I cannot fault the players and we were unlucky in a few circumstances – I don't know how the ball didn't go in when it hit Nicklas Bendtner. It's difficult because Liverpool defended very deep so it was hard to find space. In a game like that you do not make 20 chances, you create four or five and we were punished on the one they had. " (*)

source: uefa.com

Kuyt strike gives Liverpool advantage

Liverpool FC will take a slender advantage back to Anfield for the second leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final after the first of three meetings with Arsenal FC inside seven days ended 1-1 in London.

In an absorbing contest, Emmanuel Adebayor put Arsenal in front on 23 minutes only for Dirk Kuyt to restore parity with a crucial away goal three minutes later. The two sides renew hostilities in the Premier League on Saturday before resuming a finely-balanced tie at Anfield next Tuesday.

The opportunity lifted the home supporters, whose hopes for the season have ebbed during Arsenal's recent dip in form. The sight of Kolo Touré dispossessing Steven Gerrard, then Mathieu Flamini clattering into Fernando Torres, further raised morale and Arsenal almost capitalised on their momentum on 21 minutes. Flamini's beautifully flighted pass dissected the Liverpool defence and was met on the volley by Robin van Persie, who could not keep his shot down.

Moments later the Dutch striker came close again. His low shot was tipped behind by a full-stretch Reina and from the resulting corner Arsenal scored, Adebayor rising to head in.

Liverpool were reeling yet quickly regrouped and as so often, inspired by Gerrard, they hit back with their first chance of the game. The visiting captain picked up a loose ball and darted past Emmanuel Eboué and Touré before crossing low for Kuyt to bundle the ball in. Belief restored, the Merseysiders were suddenly the sharper. Ryan Babel tested Manuel Almunia with a low drive before Sami Hyypiä's header almost caught out a surprisingly sluggish Arsenal back line as Liverpool went for the kill. (*)

source: uefa.com

Olympic athletes struggle with protest on Darfur

Whether speaking to a group of young softball players or plying her teammates with literature, Jessica Mendoza, a 27-year-old outfielder on the United States Olympic softball team, does not hesitate to speak her mind about the killings in Darfur.

But Mendoza stops short of publicly condemning China, which has close ties to the government of Sudan, because she says it is impolite to criticize her Olympic hosts and because one of her sponsors, Nike, has a major marketing presence in China.

With growing protests in Tibet and pressure mounting on Olympic sponsors to denounce China for its policy on Darfur, socially conscious athletes said they were struggling to figure out how to honor their beliefs while also respecting the purpose of the Olympic Games — the celebration of athletic excellence.

"I feel like there's no one out there who would think that it's a controversial issue to talk about 400,000 people being killed in Darfur right now," said Mendoza, who helped the American team win a gold medal in Athens in 2004. "But I'm not about to go into China and tell their government what to do."

This week, Mendoza said she would let her Nike representatives know about her participation in Team Darfur, a coalition of more than 200 athletes seeking to raise awareness about what Congress and President George W. Bush consider genocide in Darfur. "I want them to know what my role is," she said. When she is not in uniform competing, Mendoza plans to wear her Team Darfur wristbands around Beijing, and she hopes to visit the Darfur region after the Olympics. (*)

source: iht.com

Play Better Billiards

BILLIARDS has always been a collection of games that are played on a table using a cue stick. If you’re looking to play better billiards or pool then all you have to do is practice. It's a good idea for you to get a feel for holding the cue stick, and just how you will brace it with your other hand.

Once you have found a comfortable position that works fairly consistently for yourself then the next step would be the striking of the cue ball. Once you have a consistent strike that hit's the back of the ball correctly your well on your way to playing better pool.

Now that you are able to hold and strike the cue ball with the cue stick you will be able to choose from a wide selection of games. When playing eight ball games and straight pool, 16 balls are used, 15 of the balls are colored with one white colored ball. The object balls are numbered one through seven and are solid colored, the balls nine through 15 are white and have a colored stripe that matches a corresponding solid ball. The eight ball is always black.

The balls are to be racked using a triangle of a specific dimension. The Lag is used to determine which player gets to play the opening shot. Cue balls or solid colored balls are shot by both players at the same time, one from the right and other from the left of the head spot, to the foot cushion and back to the head end of the table. The player’s ball that is nearest to the head cushion is considered the winner.

The shots that qualify as legal are only those where the cue ball is struck with the cue tip. A game is considered open as soon as the balls are positioned and the cue ball struck with the cue stick across the head string. An opponent gets to strike when the player fails to pocket a ball during his turn at play. (*)

source: articlecity.com

Serena Williams beats Justine Henin

Serena Williams made the world's top-ranked player look like a beginner Tuesday, beating nemesis Justine Henin 6-2, 6-0 in the quarterfinals of the Sony Ericsson Open.

Williams won the final 10 games by playing nearly flawless tennis, while Henin unraveled after she double-faulted three times to fall behind 4-2.

As a result, there was none of the drama usually generated by the rivalry. Williams had lost their past three meetings, all in 2007, at the French Open, Wimbledon and the U.S. Open. But Williams beat Henin in the Key Biscayne final a year ago, overcoming two championship points.

Williams, seeking her fifth Key Biscayne title, committed 60 unforced errors in her opening match but had only 15 against Henin. And Williams showed she can win with more than mere power, passing Henin on both sides, lobbing to stay in rallies, chasing down a drop shot to hit a winner and even playing serve and volley.

Henin, meanwhile, struggled even with her signature backhand, and her serve went haywire. She won only five of 20 points on her second serve and double-faulted for the fifth time to end the match.

source: iht.com

O'Shea applause

Although United lost defender Nemanja Vidić to an apparent knee injury following an awkward fall in the first half, John O'Shea took his place and, like Rooney, he too was full of praise for his fellow defenders.

"When the back four are playing so well and Edwin [van der Sar] is playing so well, it is easy to
slot in because of the experience and the confidence they have."

O'Shea added that United's counterattacking threat was key to their success, saying: "We know that defensively we are very sound and can keep clean sheets, and the pace we have on the
counterattack is frightening and that has made the difference. We can feel unfortunate not to have scored a few more goals especially towards the end of the game when they were pushing on to get something back. We can feel very proud of ourselves for our performance because Roma are a good team."

Source: uefa.com

Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)