Soccer Match News

[Red]

FA Cup: Holders Chelsea to meet United in quarters
February 28, 2013 09:25 IST

Second-half goals from Ramires and Victor Moses secured FA Cup holders Chelsea [ Images ] a 2-0 fifth round win at second tier Middlesbrough on Wednesday and set up a mouthwatering quarter-final away at Manchester United [ Images ].

Chelsea, taken to a replay by third tier Brentford in the previous round, improved after a scrappy first half but got a stroke of luck on 51 minutes when Brazilian Ramires let fly from 20 metres and his well-struck shot took a large deflection.

The Premier League side made the game safe 17 minutes from time after fine work from substitute Eden Hazard.

The Belgian exploited a tiring Middlesbrough defence with a strong run down the left, played a one-two with Oscar before squaring for Moses to double the lead.

 

[Red]

Messi failing Barcelona when they need him the most
Last updated on: February 28, 2013 09:29 IST

Lionel Messi has rarely been accused of failing to deliver in big games, having scored in two European Cup finals, but after subdued performances against AC Milan and Real Madrid, questions are being asked.

The four-times World Player of the Year and leading scorer in one of the greatest club teams of all time, was a shadow of his usual self at the San Siro in a Champions League last-16 first leg last week, when Barcelona slumped to a 2-0 defeat.

 

[Red]

King's Cup: Atletico set up final with Real Madrid
February 28, 2013 09:48 IST

Atletico Madrid set up a King's Cup final with city rivals Real after Diego Costa and Radamel Falcao scored in a 2-2 second leg draw at Sevilla on Wednesday, to progress 4-3 on aggregate.

Costa, who had scored both Atletico goals from the penalty spot in the first leg, put the visitors in charge after carving an opening for himself in the sixth minute and firing low into the far corner.

His seventh goal in the Cup made him the competition's leading scorer this season, one ahead of Real's Cristiano Ronaldo [ Images ] and Sevilla striker Alvaro Negredo.

The Brazilian striker then broke away down the left and crossed low for Colombia's Falcao, who darted in front of his marker to score in the 29th.

Roared on by a noisy home crowd, Sevilla's most dangerous player Jesus Navas breathed life back in to the tie with a curling shot that went in off the far post just before the break.

Sevilla, who beat Atletico 2-0 in the 2010 Cup final, pressed hard in the second half but did not find a way past Thibaut Courtois again until Ivan Rakitic scored in time added on.

By then, Sevilla had lost their cool with Gary Medel being sent off 14 minutes from time, and Geoffrey Kondogbia was red-carded at the end, both for fouls on Costa.

Nine-times Cup winners Atletico will meet their neighbours Real in the May 18 final after Jose Mourinho's men swept past holders Barcelona [ Images ] on Tuesday to secure a 4-2 aggregate victory.

The venue for the match has still to be decided.

“To reach a final is very important for Atletico,” Falcao told Spanish television.

“We went in search of a result from the beginning. We knew they would come at us and leave spaces. We made the most of it and took our chances.

On the incidents with Costa, Falcao added: “The end of the game was ugly. These things happen in games with a lot to play for, but we leave it out there on the pitch.”

THORN IN SIDE

Costa, 24, has muscled his way into Atletico's starting team this year with some outstanding performances in recent weeks.

He was a constant thorn in the side for Sevilla with his driving runs, his power in the air, and his ability to get under the skin of his opponents.

The fiery Medel saw red after picking up two yellow cards in the same incident, the second for appearing to kick Costa while he was on the ground.

Kondogbia received a straight red after he committed a foul on the Brazilian and then stamped on him between his legs.

“We know Costa is provocative but we fell for it,” Negredo told Spanish television.

Reaching the final shows the continued improvement of Atletico since Simeone took the helm just over a year ago.

The former Argentina captain, who helped the club win their last Cup as a player in 1996, guided the side to the Europa League [ Images ] final last season where they beat Athletic Bilbao 3-0.

They swept aside Champions League [ Images ] winners Chelsea [ Images ] 4-1 in the season-opening European Super Cup, and have surprised many by holding off Real Madrid [ Images ] to hang on to second place in La Liga [ Images ] behind leaders Barcelona for so long.

Atletico have not beaten Real in over a decade but Simeone was not prepared to discuss the final.

“It shows a lack of respect to Sevilla to talk about Real Madrid after this game against a great rival,” he said.

 

[Red]

Angry Benitez lashes out at Chelsea board, fans
February 28, 2013 09:57 IST

In a bitter outburst at the fans who have barracked him relentlessly and an angry swipe at the club's board for only appointing him 'interim' manager, Rafael Benitez said on Wednesday he will leave Chelsea [ Images ] at the end of the season.

The Spaniard, his cheeks puffed and flushed, hit out in his news conference following FA Cup holders Chelsea's 2-0 win at second tier Middlesbrough that secured a quarter-final clash with Manchester United [ Images ].

Abused and jeered from the moment he walked out at StamfordBridge for his first game in charge in November after replacing the popular Roberto Di Matteo, Benitez let his anger spill out in the unlikely settings of Middlesbrough's Riverside Stadium.

“I have been in charge in football for 26 years, won the Champions League [ Images ], the Club World Cup, the FA Cup, the Italian Super Cup, the Spanish league twice -- nine trophies -- all the trophies you can win at club level,” Benitez began.

Warming to his task, he added: “A group of fans, they are not making any favour to the team and they are singing and wasting time preparing banners.

“It's because someone made a mistake. They put my title interim manager and I will leave at the end of the season so they do not need to waste time with me, they have to concentrate on supporting the team.”

His comments are unlikely to be appreciated by Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich and with the Russian billionaire not known for his tolerance of dissent, it remains to be seen if Benitez - appointed until the end of the season -- will still be in charge when Chelsea play United in the Cup on March 10.

Benitez has dished up a mixed bag of results since Di Matteo paid the price for the Champions League holders' disappointing defence of their title -- bowing out at the group stage, the first holders to do so.

Many fans still chant Di Matteo's name at games and have made it quite clear that Benitez would never be accepted because of his time in charge of Liverpool and the enmity that stemmed from the run-ins he had with former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho.

“They are not doing any favours to their club, to the rest of the club and the players,” Benitez said.

“If we cannot achieve what we expect to achieve that is to be in the top four and be in the Champions League next season I will leave, they will stay in the Europa League [ Images ] and they will have to take responsibility.

“They do not create a good atmosphere at StamfordBridge. They have to realise they are making a big mistake.”

EIGHT CHANGES

Benitez in recent weeks has had to deny media reports of bust-ups with his players, the latest coming on Tuesday when he acknowledged that captain John Terry [ Images ] had shown his frustration after Sunday's 2-0 league defeat at Manchester City [ Images ].

On Wednesday, Benitez said: “I am the manager and I will be managing the team. I like to manage players and no names so I will pick my team and I will make decisions and at the end of the season I will leave anyway because I am interim.”

Benitez made eight changes from the side that lost at City as second-half goals from Ramires and Victor Moses earned a comfortable, if unconvincing, fifth round win at Middlesbrough.

Chelsea, taken to a replay by third tier Brentford in the previous round, improved after a scrappy first half but got a stroke of luck on 51 minutes when Brazilian Ramires let fly from 20 metres and his well-struck shot took a large deflection.

The Premier League side made the game safe 17 minutes from time after fine work from substitute Eden Hazard.

The Belgian exploited a tiring Middlesbrough defence with a strong run down the left, played a one-two with Oscar before squaring for Moses to double the lead.

Chelsea were rarely troubled by Boro, although Terry was forced to make one timely clearance late in the opening half when Petr Cech [ Images ] made a hash of saving Mustapha Carayol's dipping shot.

Premier League leaders United will host Chelsea in the last eight. Everton play Wigan Athletic in another top-flight clash at GoodisonPark in the first quarter-final a day earlier, followed by 2011 winners ManchesterCity at home to second tier Barnsley.

A Championship (second division) side is guaranteed a semi-final berth with Millwall welcoming Blackburn Rovers to the capital on Sunday.

 

[Red]

UEFA directs Lazio to play matches in empty stadium
February 28, 2013 10:11 IST

Lazio say they have been ordered to play their next two home games in European competition behind closed doors after their fans were again found guilty of racist behaviour by UEFA [ Images ].

"Two games behind closed doors, it's incredible," Lazio president Claudio Lotito told Italian broadcaster Rai.

UEFA have yet to make a statement.

 

[Red]

Two-game ban for Ibrahimovic, Schalke's Drogba protest dismissed
February 28, 2013 10:28 IST

Paris St Germain striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic [ Images ] was suspended for two games by UEFA [ Images ] on Wednesday for his sending off in the Champions League [ Images ] last 16 first leg match with Valencia, the governing body said.

The Swede was shown a straight red card in stoppage time after lunging at fullback Andres Guardado with his studs up in PSG's 2-1 victory in Spain on February 12.

Ibrahimovic will miss the return leg in Paris on March 6 and the first leg of the quarter-final should the French league leaders progress.

UEFA also rejected Schalke 04's protest that Galatasaray striker Didier Drogba [ Images ] was eligible to play in their first leg in Istanbul on February 20.

Ivorian striker Drogba joined the Turkish club in late January from Shanghai Shenhua. The Chinese club had initially tried to block the transfer saying he had violated the terms of his contract.

“Having examined all the documents of the case, the Control and Disciplinary Body decided to reject the protest lodged by Schalke,” UEFA said in a statement.

 

[Red]

Brazen Benitez risks losing Chelsea job this time
Last updated on: February 28, 2013 11:42 IST

Rafael Benitez is well-known for his 'Rafa rants' and his latest tirade against employers Chelsea could further damage his reputation and chances of finding another job.

His blast after Wednesday's FA Cup fifth round win at second tier Middlesbrough has already led to media speculation that he will be asked to leave earlier than the end of the season when his short-term deal runs out.

It was the very fact that he was installed as 'interim' manager when he replaced sacked Champions League-winning boss Roberto Di Matteo in November that riled the Spaniard and led him to criticise the board after being undermined by fans.

'They gave me the title of interim manager which is a massive mistake,' he openly told a news conference.

 

[Red]

PSG's Beckham proves he is not just a marketing tool
Last updated on: February 28, 2013 12:06 IST

Paris St Germain lashed out at David Beckham's critics after he cleared all doubts about his conditioning and performance level with an excellent showing for his first start with his new side on Wednesday.

The former England captain, who made a cameo debut of 15 minutes for PSG in Sunday's home league victory over Olympique Marseille, featured for 86 minutes in the French Cup last 16 victory over the same opponent.

Sports director Leonardo took the opportunity to hit out at all those who have questioned the real motives of Beckham's signing on a five-month deal and suggested it was only a marketing coup.

"You said it -- we signed him only to take pictures, to set news conference and sell shirts," he said.

"It's up to you to judge. You, the experts, who know soccer."

Beckham looked rejuvenated to his coach Carlo Ancelotti, who praised his new player's excellent performance with a softer tone than Leonardo.

"He made a very good game. He showed that he can play. I think that he did not look like he was 37 tonight," the Italian told the post-match news conference with a rare smile.

 

[Red]

Europol rules out France involvement in soccer fixing scandal
February 28, 2013 12:37 IST

Europol’s investigation into a global soccer match-fixing scandal has not revealed any suspicious games in French competitions, the European anti-crime agency said.

The French league (LFP) on Wednesday released Europol’s written response to LFP president Frederic Thiriez, who had asked if any of the roughly 680 suspicious games identified by the European inquiry had taken place in France [ Images ].

“I am pleased to tell you that France is not one of the host countries of matches suspected to have been fixed,” Michael Rauschenbach, head of Serious and Organised Crime at Europol, said in his letter published on the League website.

“I am also happy to reassure you that should intelligence of this nature indicate suspicions of match-fixing in France in the future, then Europol will seek to engage with the relevant law enforcement authorities in France as a matter of urgency.”

A joint inquiry by Europol and national prosecutors have identified several hundred suspicious soccer matches, including qualifying games for the World Cup and the European Championship, and for Europe’s Champions League [ Images ].

Singapore is believed to be the source of the global betting scam, according to the European authorities.

 

[Red]

Decoding Chelsea's big-mouth gaffer Benitez
February 28, 2013 13:22 IST

Factbox on Chelsea [ Images ] interim manager Rafael Benitez, who confirmed on Wednesday he was leaving the club at the end of the season. He said he was unhappy with the actions of the board and the fans.

- Angry Benitez lashes out at Chelsea fans

- Brazen Benitez risks losing Chelsea job

* Born in Madrid, April 16, 1960.

* After a knee injury forced him into premature retirement ending a modest playing career, Spaniard Benitez began coaching in the Real Madrid [ Images ] youth section.

* From 1993 to 2001 he coached Real Madrid B, Valladolid, Osasuna, Extremadura and Tenerife.

* 2001/02 -- led Valencia to their first league title in 31 years in his first season in charge. The club won La Liga [ Images ] again in 2004 and beat Olympique Marseille [ Images ] 2-0 in the UEFA [ Images ] Cup final to win their first domestic and European double.

LIVERPOOL

* 2004, June 16 -- Liverpool confirmed Benitez appointment.

* 2004/05 -- His first season ended in triumph with the unforgettable Champions League [ Images ] final victory over AC Milan [ Images ] in Istanbul when his side overturned a 3-0 halftime deficit to draw 3-3 and win on penalties.

* 2005-06 -- Liverpool beat West Ham in the FA Cup final.

* 2006-07 -- Liverpool reached the Champions League final again in Athens, but ended up losing to AC Milan.

* 2009-10 -- A poor season ended with Liverpool seventh in the Premier League and they also failed to negotiate the group stage of the Champions League.

* 2010, June 3 -- Benitez left Liverpool by mutual consent and a week later joined European champions Inter Milan [ Images ].

INTER MILAN

* Inter stuck with the same treble-winning squad but injuries began to bite and form soon dipped with a derby defeat by AC Milan -- one of their worst performances for years.

* Benitez left after six months in charge despite winning the World Club Cup after a row with president Massimo Moratti.

CHELSEA

* Appointed as interim boss of the European champions in November after Roberto Di Matteo was sacked following a 3-0 defeat at Juventus [ Images ] which contributed to their Champions League group stage elimination.

Benitez was never popular with fans and results did not especially improve, leading to a trademark "Rafa rant" where he slammed the club for making him "interim" boss and lambasted the supporters after an FA Cup fifth round win at Middlesbrough.

The outburst followed media reports of tensions between him and the team.