Soccer Match News

[Red]

India face Chinese Taipei in AFC Challenge Qualifiers
Last updated on: March 1, 2013 16:09 IST

High on confidence but low on performance, India will look to put behind the recent reverses when they take on Chinese Taipei in their opening match of the AFC Challenge Cup qualifying tournament in Yangon on Saturday.

India lost to Palestine 2-4 in an international friendly at home on February 6, barely four months after their 0-2 away verdict against Singapore.

The scorers against Palestine, Syed Rahim Nabi and Clifford Miranda, will be turning out on Saturday as well, but it is again going to be skipper Sunil Chhetri who will have to shoulder the bulk of responsibility.

AFC Challenge has always been a good outing for Chhetri and despite the lack of playing time at Sporting Lisbon, the pint-sized striker will be expected to deliver the goods for Wim Koevermans' side.

Rankings don't separate the two teams by much but India can take heart from the fact that they had thrashed their opponents 3-0 the last time they met, in the qualifiers of the same tournament last year.

India are ranked 167th in the world, with their opponents placed four places behind at 171.

 

[Red]

Age-defying Giggs signs new one-year deal[/b]
March 01, 2013 17:04 IST

Manchester United's [ Images ] age-defying midfielder Ryan Giggs [ Images ] signed another one-year contract on Friday that will mean he is playing for the Premier League leaders when he turns 40.

The Welshman, who made his United debut in March 1991, has made a club record 931 appearances, scoring 168 goals. With his international appearances for Wales and Britain in the Olympics [ Images ] added, his tally is 999 and he could reach the 1,000-game milestone in United's Premier League game against Norwich City on Saturday.

"I am feeling good, enjoying my football more than ever and, most importantly, I feel I am making a contribution to the team," Giggs, who scored in last weekend's 2-0 win over Queens Park Rangers, said on the club's website (Official Manchester United Website).

"This is an exciting team to be part of, with great team spirit, and we are again pushing for trophies as we head towards the business end of the season."

The former Wales international, who will turn 40 in November, has won 12 Premier League titles, four FA Cups, three League Cups and two Champions League [ Images ] titles.

He looks set to add to that tally this season as United are 12 points clear at the top of the Premier League, while also still in the FA Cup and Champions League.

He is the only player to score in every season since the Premier League replaced the old first division in 1992 having also been on target in the two seasons he played in old first division

"What can I say about Ryan that hasn't already been said? He is a marvellous player and an exceptional human being," manager Alex Ferguson [ Images ] said in a statement.

"Ryan is an example to us all, the way in which he has, and continues to, look after himself."

Giggs has in the past said that practising yoga has kept him in the game so long, while Ferguson added that his enjoyment was also a key part.

"He has fantastic energy for the game and it is wonderful to see," the manager said.

"Ryan seems to reach a new milestone every week and to think that he now has 23 unbroken years of league goals behind him is truly amazing in the modern-day game.

"His form this year shows his ability and his enjoyment of the game are as strong as ever and I am absolutely delighted that he has signed a new contract."

 

[Red]

Has the EPL become a one-horse race?
Last updated on: March 1, 2013 17:42 IST

With three-quarters of the English Premier League season over, Pritesh Mistry sees Manchester United cantering to a record 20th crown.

With Manchester City's dramatic last day finish to the Premier league last year, I think most people had expected them to show the same kind of character of champions.

Last season, Manchester City displayed an unmatched desire to win the League for which they got rewarded as well. However, this season, they dropped points when no one really expected them to.

Roberto Mancini has had his fair share of problems on and off the pitch, and his team selection with players like Mario Balotelli, which has had an impact on their game.

City's strength is their defence, but their attack has relied too much on individual brilliance. Yaya Toure, Silva and Aguero are players who really have made a difference most times they have played and can easily be categorized as different class.

 

[Red]

Van Persie fit for action after hip injury
March 01, 2013 17:00 IST

Manchester United's [ Images ] top scorer Robin van Persie [ Images ] has shaken off a hip injury and will be fit for Saturday's Premier League game at home to NorwichCity, manager Alex Ferguson [ Images ] said on Friday.

The Dutchman, who has 19 league goals to his name for the leaders this season, was substituted in the first half of last weekend's 2-0 win at Queens Park Rangers after tumbling into a TV camera dugout.

"Robin van Persie has trained this week -- he's available for tomorrow. His hip was very tender but he's OK now," manager Alex Ferguson said.

Defender Phil Jones will not be available for Saturday's league game because of an ankle injury but could return for Tuesday's mouth-watering Champions League [ Images ] last 16 second leg at home to Real Madrid [ Images ].

The European tie is evenly balanced at 1-1 after last month's first leg.

Ferguson was mindful of not getting distracted by the Real game as his side seek to extend their Premier League lead. They could stretch to 15 points ahead of ManchesterCity on Saturday as the champions do not play Aston Villa [ Images ] until Monday.

"Tomorrow is an important one because Tuesday will look after itself," he said. "It's an occasion on Tuesday whereas tomorrow is the mundane practical situation in that we need to win."

United have 68 points from 27 matches, with City on 56 and third-placed Tottenham Hotspur [ Images ] on 51.

 

[Red]

Fourth goal-line technology system approved by FIFA
March 01, 2013 20:31 IST

A fourth system of goal-line technology has been approved and granted a licence, soccer's governing body FIFA [ Images ] said on Friday.

FIFA said that the German-produced GoalControl 4D used 14 high-speed cameras placed around the pitch and directed at both goals to determine whether the ball had entered the goal.

"The position of the ball is continually and automatically captured in three dimensions as soon as it approaches the goal-line," said FIFA in a statement.

"When the ball has completely crossed the line, the central analysis unit sends an encrypted signal to the referee's watch in less than a second. GoalControl 4D can be used with both standard goalposts and balls."

On Monday, the German-manufactured Cairos system, which uses magnetic fields around the goals, was also granted a license.

The systems previously approved are Hawk-Eye, which is used in tennis and cricket and like GoalControl is optical-based, and GoalRef, which uses magnetic fields.

FIFA approved the use of goal-line technology last year following a number of controversial incidents where teams had legitimate goals disallowed because officials wrongly judged that the ball had not crossed the line.

European soccer's governing body UEFA [ Images ] has yet to adopt goal-line technology, preferring to employ an extra linesman behind each goal.

The four systems will all participate in a tender to provide goal-line technology at this year's Confederations Cup and the 2014 World Cup in Brazil [ Images ].

FIFA used both GoalRef and Hawkeye at last year's World Club Cup in Japan [ Images ], when goal-line technology was used for the first time in professional matches. However, only one system is likely to be chosen for the World Cup.

 

[Red]

Spurs driven by last season's stumble, says Villas-Boas
March 02, 2013 08:12 IST

One year after his axing by Chelsea [ Images ] left a dent in his ego Andre Villas-Boas finds his reputation soaring again as high-flying Tottenham Hotspur [ Images ] prepare to host north London [ Images ] rivals Arsenal [ Images ] in a match of huge significance.

Win it and Tottenham would move seven points clear of their arch-rivals and close to within two points of second-placed ManchesterCity with 10 games of the Premier League season left.

Defeat, however, would re-open old wounds and cast doubt on Tottenham's ability to finally emerge from the shadow of Arsenal who they have failed to finish above since the advent of the Premier League in 1992.

Portuguese Villas-Boas is well aware of the rivalry between the two sets of fans but refrained from over-hyping Sunday's clash at White Hart Lane -- instead hinting at a steely determination among the squad born of last season's pain.

Then, with Villas-Boas kicking his heels after his short reign at Chelsea was truncated, Harry Redknapp's [ Images ] Tottenham blew a 10-point lead over the Gunners to finish fourth, a position that in normal seasons would have resulted in Champions League [ Images ] qualification but which was denied them by Chelsea's extraordinary run to European glory.

Villas-Boas said a nagging sense of injustice would help Tottenham in their quest to stay above Arsenal and Chelsea.

"They suffered in the past and want to achieve (Champions League qualification," Villas-Boas, voted the Premier League's February manager of the month after three consecutive wins, told reporters on Friday at the club's impressive new training complex.

"Last season they thought they had qualified for the Champions League in fourth spot and saw it taken away from them because of the rules. It was difficult for them but everybody learns from experience.

"One thing I see in the players is the passion and desire to achieve things."

Despite his Chelsea experience and the subsequent upheaval at StamfordBridge, Villas-Boas steered clear of joining the debate over Rafael Benitez, although his demeanour is clearly that of man enjoying in the calmer surrounds of Tottenham.

Judging by the way the players celebrated Gareth Bale's late winner with Villas-Boas at West Ham on Monday, he clearly appears to have harnessed a togetherness he never achieved at Chelsea.

"I don't see it like that," the former Porto coach said when asked if finishing above Chelsea was a target. "It would be good because it would mean we would qualify (for the Champions League) and that fact we achieve that means much more."

At Chelsea there were suggestions that Villas-Boas had bitten off more than he could chew -- struggling to impose his personality on the club's senior players.

He said he has learned from that experience.

"You always learned from mistakes," he said. "Be it man management, preparation for the games, for training sessions, whatever, everything serves as experience.

"It's the way you adapt to the culture of the club."

While Villas-Boas prepares for his second north London derby following a 5-2 hammering at the Emirates earlier this season, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger [ Images ] is preparing for his 40th.

The wily Frenchman has tasted defeat in only five of his 39 previous north London derbies, seeing off a succession of Tottenham managers in the process, but knows the gap between the clubs has closed drastically.

"The game on Sunday will have an important psychological importance for the rest of the season of course," Wenger told reporters. "So I believe that the way we will play on Sunday will have a big impact on the rest of the season."

 

[Pugazhbalaji]

india beat chinese taipaei 2-1 in AFC cup

 

[Karthik]

Realmadrid beat barcelona 2-1 in la liga.

 

[Red]

Man United's Jones ruled out of Real match
March 05, 2013 08:17 IST

Manchester United [ Images ]’s Phil Jones will miss the Champions League [ Images ] last 16 second leg at home to Real Madrid [ Images ] after failing to recover from an ankle injury, manager Alex Ferguson [ Images ] said on the eve of Tuesday’s match.

The versatile defender or midfielder suffered the injury during last month’s FA Cup fifth round victory over Reading.

“He’s not fit,” Ferguson said on Monday.

Jones put in a top-class performance in the first leg of the European tie last month, man-marking Real forward Cristiano Ronaldo [ Images ] during the 1-1 draw.

Ronaldo scored with a towering header but Jones was not to blame.

“His performance over there was absolutely excellent,” Ferguson said.
“It’s a miss but we can’t deem it as something we can’t manage, we’ve got options.”

Ferguson added that United’s main task against Real would be to put in a strong defensive performance to keep a lid on any breaks by the Spanish visitors.

“It probably will be the key to the game,” he said. “I believe they are one of the best counter-attacking clubs in Europe ... we’ve got to find a way of coping with that but also having our own threat in an attacking sense also.”

One of those attacking threats could come from midfielder Ryan Giggs [ Images ], who will make his 1,000th professional appearance in Tuesday’s match at Old Trafford.

“Tomorrow he will be involved at some point, whether it’s starting or on the bench I haven’t made my mind up but he will be involved and of course his experience of these occasions will be vital to us,” Ferguson said.

 

[Red]

PHOTOS: Tevez earns Manchester City victory at Aston Villa
Last updated on: March 5, 2013 08:44 IST

Manchester City trimmed Manchester United's Premier League lead to 12 points after Carlos Tevez pounced to earn the champions a 1-0 victory at struggling Aston Villa on Monday.

-Bale and Lennon lift Spurs to win over Arsenal

The Argentine produced a cool finish to punish a defensive mistake just before halftime and though not playing at full throttle City were rarely troubled as they claimed a victory that left Villa in the bottom three.

United, who face Real Madrid in the Champions League last 16 second leg on Tuesday, still look unstoppable in pursuit of a 20th English title with 71 points. With 10 games left to play City have 59 points and Tottenham Hotspur are third on 54.


Image: Manchester City's Carlos Tevez (right) goes past Aston Villa goalkeeper Brad Guzan (centre) to score