Sport football

Mariners snatch draw with Victory

2013-01-13T17:12:00.000+06:00

Updated January 12, 2013 20:06:51

Central Coast Mariners coach Graham Arnold was sensationally sent from the field but his team rallied without him to earn a 1-1 draw with Melbourne Victory at York Park.

Arnold received his marching orders just before half-time for what appeared to be comments directed at match officials.

Referee Jarred Gillett banished him to the stands after conferring with his linesman soon after his side had gone a goal down as the Victory dominated the first half.

The Victory could not convert a weight of chances into anything more than Marcos Flores' 42nd-minute goal.

But some subtle half-time tweaks and a much improved second half allowed the Mariners to get back on level terms with 13 minutes remaining thanks to a Daniel McBreen penalty.

Victory skipper Adrian Leijer's clumsy challenge, which bundled over Michael McGlinchey, earned the spot-kick after the Mariners had lifted markedly in the second half and pressed hard for an equaliser.

Elsewhere in a tense contest there was a missed Victory penalty - Marco Rojas shaving the post with a poor first half effort - and world-class saves from Mariners goalkeeper Mat Ryan and Victory's Nathan Coe.

But the Victory will rue not putting the league leaders to the scoreboard sword in the first half, playing superb football but missing several good chances.

After a week in which sundry Mariners' players have been linked with being sold abroad, the team spent the first half looking exactly like a shop window - full of mannequins as Victory pinned them deep in their territory for virtually the entire first 45 minutes.

Rojas' missed spot-kick and a horrible point-blank miss from Archie Thompson came back to bite them.

Much of the Victory's fluidity drained away in the second half as the Mariners found far more rhythm and were able to shake off Victory's hugely effective pressing game in midfield which had troubled them in the first.

Both goalkeepers made extraordinary saves midway through the second half, Coe first pulling off a magic reflex save to deny McGlinchey on 63 minutes.

Then two minutes later Ryan twice stopped Rojas, the second time twisting mid-air to turn over the New Zealander's audacious chip.

The Mariners now hold a two-point advantage atop the table, with the Victory remaining third.

Victory: 1 (Rojas 42')

Mariners: 1 (McBreen 77')

AAP

Tags: a-league, soccer, sport, launceston-7250, melbourne-3000, gosford-2250

First posted January 12, 2013 19:31:16

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Hoops shock Chelsea as Liverpool, Everton climb table

2013-01-13T16:41:00.000+06:00

Updated January 04, 2013 09:58:52

An under-strength Chelsea was punished by one of the team's former players as Shaun Wright-Phillips fired bottom-of-the-table QPR to a 1-0 win over the Blues at Stamford Bridge on Thursday (AEDT).

Chelsea interim manager Rafael Benitez opted to rest Juan Mata and Eden Hazard, but the move backfired as Wright-Phillips' 78th minute strike was enough to give the visitors only their second win of the season, with the home side missing the chance to move into third above Tottenham.

Elsewhere it was a good night for Merseyside clubs as Liverpool beat struggling Sunderland 3-0, while Everton defeated Newcastle 2-1.

Chelsea, with a game in hand on leaders Manchester United and third-placed Tottenham, have 38 points from 20 matches and trail the table-toppers by 14 points and Spurs by one.

The Blues dominated possession and nearly broke the deadlock midway through the second half when Frank Lampard had a goal disallowed for being off-side as he fired in a low shot.

Branislav Ivanovic grazed the crossbar with a header after half-time as Chelsea pushed for an opener, but QPR and defended doggedly and took the chance when it came.

Adel Taarabt always looked lively and it was a well-controlled lay off from the Moroccan with 12 minutes remaining which set up Wright-Phillips on the edge of the box to drive a fierce low effort beyond Ross Turnbull into the bottom left corner.

A Luis Suarez double for Liverpool helped the Uruguayan move one goal behind Premier League top scorer Robin van Persie in the scoring charts as Liverpool swept Sunderland aside 3-0 at home.

Young talent Raheem Sterling's second top-flight goal also helped lift Liverpool to eighth on 31 points from 21 games.

Sterling opened Liverpool's account with a deft lob after 19 minutes and Suarez bagged another shortly after before adding his 15th league goal of the campaign seven minutes into the second half to complete the easy win.

Liverpool threatened more goals but had two chalked off late on, both for off-side.

In the late match Everton climbed above Arsenal into fifth place on 36 points from 21 games with a 2-1 comeback win at Newcastle United, leaving the Magpies sitting two points above the relegation zone.

ABC / Reuters

Tags: sport, soccer, english-premier, united-kingdom, england

First posted January 03, 2013 10:25:53

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Bosnich slams Mariners over Ryan absence

2013-01-13T16:11:00.000+06:00

Updated January 07, 2013 07:51:25

Former Socceroos goalkeeper Mark Bosnich has slammed Central Coast Mariners for allowing Mat Ryan to miss a vital A-League match next weekend to train with fallen Scottish superpower Rangers.

Goalkeeper Ryan is bizarrely being allowed to spend 10 days with the Glasgow club and miss the Mariners' clash with third-placed Melbourne Victory in Launceston.

Rangers now play in the fourth tier of Scottish football - considered well below A-League standard - after financial troubles led to their demotion.

They are also currently under a transfer ban, so should Rangers eventually decide to sign him, they could not do so until some time next European season.

The Mariners say Ryan's move was brokered by the club's general manager of football Lawrie McKinna after a meeting with Rangers manager Ally McCoist last month.

But Bosnich says any possible move to Scotland would be wrong for the 20-year-old, already a Socceroos squad regular and potentially the nation's number one goalkeeper when Mark Schwarzer retires.

"Absolutely ridiculous," former English Premier League keeper Bosnich told Fox Sports of Ryan's move.

"He's going for a 10-day trial for the right to play against the likes of Elgin City, Montrose, Clyde and Stirling, and he's going to miss a top of the table clash with Melbourne Victory.

"This is one of Australia's best young talents and he's going to go down to the fourth tier of Scottish football.

"The Scottish Premier League isn't as good as the A-League.

"I don't know what he's thinking, I don't know what the club's thinking."

The Mariners trumpeted Ryan's link with Rangers on Sunday ahead of their 2-0 win over Western Sydney Wanderers which gives them a four-point lead atop the A-League.

"It is a credit to Mat and to our club that Ally (McCoist) was well aware of Mats' ability and potential and immediately offered for him to join Rangers for a training spell," McKinna, the former Mariners coach and present mayor of Gosford, said in a statement.

Ryan is off contract with the Mariners at the end of the A-League season.

Bosnich said Ryan should immediately seek independent advice from the players' union, the PFA, about whether he was making the right move.

The former Aston Villa, Manchester United and Chelsea keeper believes Ryan is capable of playing in a top European league, well above what Rangers could currently offer.

Ryan is scheduled to depart for Glasgow on Monday.

AAP

Tags: sport, soccer, a-league, gosford-2250, nsw, australia, united-kingdom, scotland

First posted January 06, 2013 22:21:29

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Goals galore for Arsenal, City

2013-01-13T15:38:00.000+06:00

Updated December 30, 2012 10:02:13

Goals rained down on the Premier League on Sunday (AEDT), with Arsenal beating Newcastle United 7-3 and champions Manchester City edging Norwich City 4-3 to keep pace with leaders Manchester United.

City's win prevented United from extending a seven-point lead at the summit, after overcoming West Bromwich Albion 2-0 to take the team's tally for the season to 50 goals.

United manager Alex Ferguson was the focus of pre-match attention at Old Trafford for an outspoken attack on Newcastle United coach Alan Pardew, but his side got down to business quickly and went ahead inside nine minutes.

The scorer wore a blue and white shirt, however, with West Brom defender Gareth McAuley inadvertently shinning the ball into his own goal after Ashley Young drove a low cross across the face of goal.

The hosts were not able to breathe easily until substitute Robin van Persie curled a glorious shot into the top-left corner in the last minute, before unveiling a T-shirt that paid tribute to a personal friend who recently died.

"We're in a good position," Ferguson told the BBC.

"We're half-way there. We've a game on Tuesday away from home at Wigan and we've got a few players to freshen it up. We'll look forward to the next game and try and win it."

City lost Samir Nasri to a first-half red card at Norwich but edged an open-ended encounter thanks in no small part to Edin Dzeko, who scored twice and might have had a hat-trick.

The Bosnian, who has had to become accustomed to a role on the substitutes' bench this season, struck twice inside the opening four minutes to put City in control at Carrow Road.

But Norwich hit back through a deflected Anthony Pilkington free-kick, and the visitors were then dealt a blow when Nasri was sent off for aiming a head-butt at Sebastien Bassong.

Sergio Aguero's deft, lobbed finish made it 3-1, but City benefited from an own goal by Norwich goalkeeper Mark Bunn, who inadvertently deflected Dzeko's shot into his own net, after Russell Martin had twice hit back for the hosts.

"I don't know why (Nasri was sent off) as the linesman was there and I don't know what he saw," said City manager Roberto Mancini, whose side lost 1-0 at Sunderland on Wednesday.

"We saw the video -- both players touch heads. With 10 men it was difficult. The guys played very well."

A day bursting with goals - 35 in total - concluded in an extraordinary game in London in which Theo Walcott claimed a hat-trick as Arsenal overcame Newcastle 7-3 to climb to fifth.

Arsenal took the lead three times, through Walcott, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Lukas Podolski, only for Newcastle to hit back each time through Demba Ba, Sylvain Marveaux and Ba again.

Arsene Wenger's men finally killed the game off in the latter stages, with Walcott completing his treble and substitute Olivier Giroud claiming a quick-fire brace.

"I've been saying for the past few weeks that I want to play up front and I am showing the manager what I can do," said Walcott.

Wenger paid tribute to Walcott.

"He has done very well, it typifies what I think he can do. He can play through the middle, he will only get stronger," said the Arsenal manager.

Tottenham had earlier overturned a half-time deficit to win 2-1 at Sunderland and provisionally move into third place.

John O'Shea scored against the run of play to put the hosts ahead at a rain-sodden Stadium of Light, but a Carlos Cuellar own goal drew Spurs level before Aaron Lennon completed the comeback with a composed 51st-minute strike.

Andre Villas-Boas' side have taken 19 points from a possible 24 and Spurs now sit a point above third-place Chelsea.

Chelsea has games in hand on the leaders and will play Everton on Sunday.

Elsewhere, Aston Villa's recent miseries continued with a 3-0 home loss to Wigan Athletic.

Goals from Ivan Ramis, Emmerson Boyce and Arouna Kone put paid to Paul Lambert's young team.

Villa has now shipped 15 goals in three games after losing 8-0 to Chelsea and 4-0 to Tottenham Hotspur.

Villa would have slipped into the relegation zone had third-bottom Southampton not been denied victory in a 3-3 draw at Stoke City by a sensational 25-yard strike from Cameron Jerome.

Southampton had led 3-1, and played against 10 men following the 71st-minute dismissal of Steven N'Zonzi, but second-bottom Reading did a better job of defending a lead in a 1-0 home win over West Ham United.

Fulham's dismal form continued, meanwhile, losing 2-1 at home to Swansea City.

AFP

Tags: sport, soccer, english-premier, united-kingdom, england

First posted December 30, 2012 09:42:14

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Ward denies Wanderers late on

2013-01-13T15:06:00.000+06:00

Updated December 28, 2012 00:29:22

Perth Glory substitute Nick Ward scored an 87th-minute thunderbolt to secure a 1-1 draw against a second-string Western Sydney Wanderers outfit at Patersons Stadium on Thursday night.

The Wanderers appeared headed for their fourth straight win after Labinot Haliti's 38th-minute strike gave them the lead against the run of play.

But just as the game looked to be petering out, Ward met Ryo Nagai's beautiful cross with a powerful volley to ensure for a share of the spoils.

"I just sort of hung out at the back post and luckily enough it came to me," Ward said.

"It's good to get a point, but we're disappointed not to get a win."

Glory almost secured all three points at the death, only for Shane Smeltz's goalward-bound header to cannon off teammate Nagai.

Despite rescuing a point out of the match, Perth were dealt a major blow in the 77th minute when defender Michael Thwaite suffered what appeared to be a serious calf injury.

Ward's goal was heartbreaking for the Wanderers, who put on a brave showing for most of the night despite entering the match minus a host of stars.

The Wanderers made six changes to the starting line-up that walloped Adelaide 6-1 last week, with coach Tony Popovic eager to rest key players during a period in which the club will play three games in 11 days.

Japanese star Shinji Ono and Youssouf Hersi didn't play while in-form striker Mark Bridge and Dino Kresinger started on the bench.

The result was enough for the Wanderers to jump above Melbourne Victory into third spot on the ladder on goal difference, while Perth remain in fifth spot.

Fleet-footed Glory duo Chris Harold and Nagai caused the Wanderers problems early on, but the visitors drew first blood when Haliti cut inside Josh Risdon and unleashed a beautiful curling strike that bounced in off the upright.

With almost all of the 8,936 crowd pro-Glory, Haliti ran over to a group of 16 Wanderers supporters to celebrate the goal.

Despite dominating possession in a physical first half, Perth were unable to unlock the Wanderers' defence, with low drives from Shane Smeltz and Steven McGarry easily saved by goalkeeper Ante Covic.

With the temperature still hovering above 31 degrees at the 6.45pm kick-off, a drinks break was held midway through the opening half.

AAP

Tags: sport, soccer, a-league, perth-6000, sydney-2000

First posted December 28, 2012 00:29:22

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Reds easily account for Sky Blues

2013-01-13T14:35:00.000+06:00

Updated December 31, 2012 22:48:18

Adelaide United maestro Dario Vidosic scored twice to orchestrate a 3-0 drubbing of an off-key Sydney FC at Hindmarsh Stadium.

Vidosic's first-half brace and a tap-in by Iain Ramsay in the second half ensured the Reds keep snapping at the heels of ladder leaders Central Coast Mariners.

The second-placed Reds remain two points shy of the Mariners, who earlier on New Year's Eve downed Perth Glory 1-0.

Vidosic's double took his tally to eight goals in an influential season. He also hit the crossbar with an audacious curling 20-metre free kick, and struck a side post with another hat-trick attempt.

But more importantly for the 10,934-strong crowd Vidosic helped break the Reds' two-match losing sequence, opening his account with an 18th-minute header.

Creative Marcelo Carrusca delivered a nifty pass, which Ramsay wisely let run for team-mate Cassio, who was streaming down the left.

Cassio's cross found an air-borne Vidosic, whose header floated into the top right corner of the net.

Just 10 minutes later, Vidosic sliced through slack defence before passing to frontman Bruce Djite, who was felled by a tackle from behind by defender Sebastian Ryall.

Vidosic calmly slotted the penalty and the Sky Blues were on their way to a ninth loss in 14 matches.

Adelaide winger Ramsay rubbed salt into the Sky Blues' wounds in the 61st minute after Djite outmuscled Ryall, charged at goal, and aimed a low left-footer at goal.

The shot was well saved by diving goalkeeper Vedran Janjetkovic but the rebound fell kindly into Ramsay's path and he tapped in from two metres.

Reds coach John Kosmina says his side could have scored seven or eight goals, such was their weight of scoring chances.

"It was a really good, solid performance," he said.

The Sky Blues, without injured star Alessandro Del Piero, were hampered by the loss of midfielder Adam Griffiths who hobbled off in the 12th minute with a leg injury.

Frank Farina's troops have now conceded a whopping 30 goals this season and will return to the bottom of the ladder should Melbourne Heart defeat or draw with Newcastle on Tuesday.

Reds: 3 (Vidosic 18', 28' (pen), Ramsay 61')

Sky Blues: 0

AAP

Tags: a-league, soccer, sport, adelaide-5000, sydney-2000

First posted December 31, 2012 21:59:53

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Aloisi searches for answers after defeat

2013-01-13T14:01:00.000+06:00

Updated December 28, 2012 12:20:22

Melbourne Heart coach John Aloisi was brutal in his analysis of his team's failings after a disappointing 3-2 loss to Wellington Phoenix left the Heart mired at the bottom of the A-League table.

Leading 2-0 after 16 minutes, the Heart showed little appetite for a fightback and succumbed with a meek second-half performance after making all the early play on Thursday night.

Golgol Mebrahtu's curling free kick put them ahead after 14 minutes, with an own goal from Phoenix captain Andrew Durante doubling the lead two minutes later.

Teenage winger Louis Fenton pulled one back for the Phoenix in the 21st minute, then two Jeremy Brockie goals in the second spell secured the win for Wellington.

Aloisi said the manner of the loss was the most disappointing aspect, particularly the way Melbourne reacted after a mistake at the back let Fenton in for his second goal of the season.

"We switched off, we folded," Aloisi said.

"We made a bad mistake like that, then the players didn't look like they really wanted to be out there.

"I don't mean not running and chasing, I mean playing the way we want to play and know how to play."

It was the Heart's seventh loss of the season and the third on end after Melbourne fell 2-0 to the Mariners and 2-1 in a heart-breaking injury-time loss to cross-town rivals Victory last week.

"That was the beauty of last week against Victory - even when we went 1-0 down, we kept on trying to play our football right to the end," Aloisi said.

"It's upsetting, because anyone can make a mistake - a team can make a mistake, but you have to keep on going."

Aloisi's focus centres now on Heart's next match at home against Newcastle Jets on New Year's Day, when he will have central defenders Simon Colosimo and Patrick Gerhardt back from suspension, as well as Socceroos Richard Garcia and Aziz Behich who were rested for the Wellington trip.

"We have to fight back, we've got no choice."

AAP

Tags: sport, soccer, a-league, melbourne-3000, vic, australia, new-zealand

First posted December 28, 2012 12:17:49

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City fan gets three-year ban after Rio row

2013-01-13T13:31:00.000+06:00

Updated January 05, 2013 08:32:18

A Manchester City fan, who confronted Manchester United star Rio Ferdinand on the Eastlands pitch in an ugly incident following last month's Premier League clash, has been banned from attending matches for three years.

Matthew Stott, 21, had to be restrained by City goalkeeper Joe Hart as he tried to reach Ferdinand, who was already bleeding from a cut caused by a coin thrown from the stands.

Ferdinand had been celebrating Robin van Persie's late goal, which gave United a 3-2 win over their bitter rivals, when tempers boiled over.

Television footage of the incident was played at Manchester Magistrates Court showing Stott, who had been drinking heavily before kick-off, trying to get at the United defender.

Andy Holt, prosecuting, told the court after police caught Stott and cuffed him on the pitch he shouted a stream of abuse, even mocking the victims of the 1958 Munich disaster, which saw several United players killed in a plane crash.

Stott, a landscape gardener, pleaded guilty to encroaching on the field of play and using insulting words or behaviour during the incident on December 9.

Stott was told he came close to going to prison, but instead his 56-day jail term was suspended for 12 months.

As well as the football ban and suspended jail sentence, he was ordered to do 120 hours community service, pay costs and observe a home curfew for three months.

AFP

Tags: english-premier, soccer, sport, england, united-kingdom

First posted January 05, 2013 08:32:18

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Farina wants protection for Del Piero

2013-01-13T13:01:00.000+06:00

Updated December 30, 2012 14:55:07

Sydney FC coach Frank Farina has called for referees to give Alessandro Del Piero better protection after the Italian superstar was ruled out of his team's New Year's eve clash with Adelaide United.

Del Piero was deemed unfit to play Monday's game because of leg soreness after a torrid time in his team's 1-0 upset victory over league leaders Central Coast on Thursday.

"Alessandro has pulled up really sore in the achilles and calf after Thursday's match and he isn't fit to travel to Adelaide," Farina said.

"He got fouled eight or ten times during the match and with the short turn around he hasn't been able to train and he's not fit to play.

"It's a blow for us and a shame for the people of Adelaide but I think there needs to be better protection for him on the field.

"We play a physical game and Alessandro is a big boy who can handle himself but he is getting kicked repeatedly and if that continues he will miss games through injury.

"Hopefully he will be able to recover in time for the next away trip to Perth."

Del Piero joins a long list of injured Sydney FC players to miss the clash with Adelaide United including Ivan Necevski, Fabio, Pascal Bosschaart, Jason Culina, Joel Chianese, Mitch Mallia, Kruno Lovrek and Paul Reid.

AAP

Tags: sport, soccer, a-league, australia, sydney-2000

First posted December 30, 2012 14:55:07

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Glory and Sky Blues share spoils

2013-01-13T12:29:00.000+06:00

Updated January 06, 2013 01:36:24

Shane Smeltz twice put Perth Glory in front against Sydney FC but Frank Farina's side gamely fought back to earn a point at Perth Oval.

Smeltz gave the Glory the lead with a fine header six minutes before the break, from Josh Risdon's pinpoint cross.

This was was cancelled out by a headed equaliser from a less likely source, former Socceroo Jason Culina, just after the hour mark.

Brett Emerton's cross from the right flank found his former international team-mate unmarked in the box and he gave Danny Vukovic no chance with a diving header into the roof of the net.

Culina then had the chance to put the Glory in front but blazed over the bar from point-blank range.

Ten minutes from time, Smeltz powered the Glory back in front with a strike from outside the box but this time the lead lasted just two minutes.

Sebastian Ryall prodded home from close range after Vukovic dropped Alessandro Del Piero's free kick right at his feet to level the scores once more.

The draw means Sydney FC remains at the foot of the table, a point below the Melbourne Heart. Perth is still fifth.

Perth: 2 (Smeltz 39', 80')

Sydney FC: 2 (Culina 63', Ryall 82')

Tags: sport, soccer, a-league, perth-6000

First posted January 05, 2013 23:50:44

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Wanderers re-sign Polenz

2013-01-13T11:58:00.000+06:00

Updated January 05, 2013 11:40:02

Western Sydney Wanderers have maintained their re-signing blitz with German defender Jerome Polenz committing to the club for another season.

Flying high on the field in their inaugural campaign, the Wanderers are also thriving off it with Polenz becoming the sixth player to re-sign with the club over the past 10 days.

"I re-signed because I am very happy to stay," the 26-year-old Polenz said.

"My wife and I are very happy living in Western Sydney and I love playing for this club.

"I really didn't have an option because it is so beautiful here and I really want to stay here."

Fellow defenders Michael Beauchamp, Adam D'Apuzzo, Shannon Cole along with goalkeeper Ante Covic and midfielder Mateo Poljak have all re-signed in recent days.

The third-placed Wanderers host ladder-leaders Central Coast Mariners at Parramatta Stadium on Sunday night.

AAP

Tags: a-league, soccer, sport, parramatta-2150

First posted January 05, 2013 11:40:02

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Flare strikes fan at Reds home game

2013-01-13T11:23:00.000+06:00

Updated January 02, 2013 13:24:59

Police are trying to find the person responsible for throwing a flare that struck a spectator in Hindmarsh Stadium during Adelaide United's three-nil win over Sydney FC on New Year's Eve.

The woman received a cut to her head and was treated at the scene.

The flare was thrown from outside the stadium in Manton Street.

Police say the male suspect was wearing a red hooded jumper.

Adelaide United supporters also ignited a flare inside the ground behind the northern goal during the game.

Tags: police, a-league, sa, adelaide-5000

First posted January 02, 2013 13:23:35

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Perth Glory rules out signing Michael Owen

2013-01-13T10:52:00.000+06:00

Updated January 07, 2013 17:04:58

Perth Glory says former Liverpool star Michael Owen will not be joining the club.

There was worldwide speculation Owen could join the Glory after the club spoke to his management to ask about his wage demands.

But coach Ian Ferguson says he has decided he would rather sign a younger player, and someone with more recent game time under his belt than Owen, who has been on the outer at English Premier League club Stoke.

Owen is one of the most successful strikers in recent years, having played for Liverpool 306 times, scoring 179 goals.

He also scored 40 times in 89 appearances for the English national team.

Perth Glory is looking to replace striker Billy Mehmet, who quit to join a Thailand-based club.

Tags: soccer, perth-6000

First posted January 07, 2013 17:04:58

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Sturridge scores as Liverpool edge through

2013-01-13T10:20:00.000+06:00

Updated January 07, 2013 09:01:07

Daniel Sturridge scored on his Liverpool debut and Luis Suarez caused controversy, as the seven-times winners beat Mansfield Town 2-1 to reach the FA Cup fourth round.

Swansea City and Arsenal had earlier drawn 2-2 in a dramatic match at the Liberty Stadium that featured a lightning strike from substitute Michu and a dramatic three-goal flurry in the final 10 minutes.

Sturridge, signed from European champions Chelsea, took just seven minutes to open his account on a rutted Mansfield pitch that looked more like a mud field in places.

Suarez, who replaced the England striker in the 55th minute, made it 2-0 after just four minutes on the pitch but the goal triggered accusations of cheating after television replays suggested he had used his hand.

Neutrals looking for an upset were given hope when Matt Green pulled one back for the Stags in the 79th minute and Liverpool faltered.

The match ended with Liverpool under pressure, Green having a shot turned away in stoppage time and Exodus Geohaghon rattling the visitors with his immense throw-ins.

Swansea's big Spaniard Michu made an instant impact 58 minutes into the match against Arsenal when he netted 73 seconds after coming off the bench to chants of "he scores when he wants to" from a spirited Welsh crowd.

Arsenal, without any silverware since 2005 and determined not to let its best remaining chance of the season slip through its fingers, equalised through substitute Lukas Podolski in the 81st minute.

Kieran Gibbs then put the visitors 2-1 up with a volley two minutes later.

The Arsenal fans' elation was short-lived, however, with Danny Graham grabbing an equaliser from close range in the 87th minute in a frenetic final few minutes during which either side could have produced a winner.

Arsenal's Theo Walcott had the ball in the net but was ruled offside, while team-mate Laurent Koscielny fired over the bar on the rebound from a Michel Vorm save.

The winners of the replay at the Emirates will face Championship giant killers Brighton and Hove Albion, who humbled Premier League Newcastle United on Sunday morning (AEDT), in the fourth round.

Holders and European champions Chelsea, who thrashed Southampton 5-1, face lower division opponents Southend United (IV) or Brentford (III) in the next round. Liverpool now plays Oldham Athletic (III).

Swansea's clash with Arsene Wenger's trophy-starved Arsenal was a slow-burner, two passing sides sparring tentatively for much of the first half before throwing caution to the wind.

Laudrup broke the deadlock by sending on Michu, who collected a header from Nathan Dyer and muscled through the defence by lifting the ball past Per Mertesacker before calmly slotting home.

It was his third goal against Arsenal this season, after scoring twice at the Emirates in the Premier League last month.

Arsenal, who won the FA Cup in 2005, was dumped out of the League Cup on penalties by fourth-tier Bradford City.

With the North Londoners sixth in the Premier League, 18 points behind leaders Manchester United, the FA Cup looks their best chance of taking something from a highly erratic season.

Arsenal is also in Champions League contention, although far from favourites with a match against Bayern Munich looming next month in the last 16.

Reuters

Tags: english-premier, soccer, sport, united-kingdom, england

First posted January 07, 2013 07:34:46

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Swansea stuns Chelsea in fresh League Cup shock

2013-01-13T09:47:00.000+06:00

Updated January 10, 2013 09:29:55

Michu's 16th goal of the season and an added time strike from Danny Graham ensured Swansea will take a convincing lead into the second leg of the League Cup semi-final after clinching a 2-0 win at Chelsea.

Both of Swansea's goals at Stamford Bridge on Thursday morning (AEDT) came following mistakes by Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic and this victory left the Welsh club in sight of a first appearance in a major cup final.

It was also the second shock semi-final result in as many days after fourth-tier Bradford City beat Premier League Aston Villa 3-1 on Wednesday (AEDT).

Michu's clinical finish in the 39th minute summed up the difference between the two sides, with Chelsea paying the price for failing to make the most of its dominance before Graham struck a potentially decisive second goal ahead of the second leg at the Liberty Stadium on January 23.

Now Swansea will look to seal the tie in the second leg with the prospect of an improbable final against Bradford in its sights.

"We've had some historic results already this season but to win here is very special," Swansea manager Michael Laudrup told Sky Sports.

"We had to defend a lot, they had a lot of possession but to be honest they only had three good chances all night.

"They gave us two goals but you have to score them. It was a marvellous fight, we are a team that always try to play but when you play the European champions away you have to change.

"There is still a mountain to climb, Chelsea have so much quality. We will have to play with the same intensity, they can still win and can score three or four goals against us."

A second straight home defeat for Chelsea ensured another uncomfortable night for interim manager Rafael Benitez, who was again jeered by Blues supporters.

There was little the manager could do, however, about Ivanovic's two mistakes or the succession of clear opportunities missed by his side during the game.

The continuing unrest at Stamford Bridge was evident when Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck was greeted with a chorus of boos and chants of 'Super Frank', a reminder many Chelsea fans are angered by the club's failure to offer Frank Lampard a new contract.

Lampard was again on the substitutes bench along with Demba Ba who made way for the returning Fernando Torres despite scoring twice on his debut in the emphatic 5-1 victory over Southampton in the FA Cup.

The opening period suggested Chelsea was ready to carry on where it had left of at St Mary's Stadium as it quickly found its stride with Oscar, Juan Mata and Eden Hazard combining well behind Torres.

Home pressure quickly brought about a corner and an appeal for a penalty when David Luiz appeared to be pulled back by Swansea midfielder Ki Sung-Yeung.

Referee Anthony Taylor ignored the claim, but with Chelsea unpicking the visiting defence with ease it seemed only a matter of time before it made the breakthrough.

Yet as slick as the home side's passing was, it could not find a finish to match.

Swansea had shown little going forward during the first 20 minutes before Michu offered the first sign of his threat with a low drive Chelsea goalkeeper Ross Turnbull gathered at the second attempt.

However, the Spaniard's second effort was much more clinical.

The chance came about when Ivanovic lost concentration after receiving the ball from Turnbull on the edge of his own penalty area and was dispossessed by Jonathan de Guzman.

He in turn squared the ball for Michu, who curled the ball beyond Turnbull and inside the far post to give Swansea a 39th minute lead.

Ivanovic almost made amends for his glaring error with a curling shot that was beaten away by Swansea keeper Gerhard Tremmel two minutes before the break.

Chelsea had dominated the half in terms of possession but lacked a ruthless edge in front of goal.

And the pattern continued after the break when Luiz twice came close before the hour.

The centre back-turned-midfielder drilled a powerful free kick just wide of Tremmel's right hand post before seeing a low drive almost squirm under the keeper's body.

The chants for Ba and Lampard were growing louder and Lampard was finally introduced in 70th minute, with the striker following 11 minutes later.

Ba tested Tremmel with a header but was unable to conjure the goal that would ensure Chelsea started the second leg on level terms.

And the balance of the tie tilted significantly in Swansea's favour when Graham latched onto Ivanovic's back-pass to make it 2-0.

AFP

Tags: english-premier, soccer, sport, england, wales, united-kingdom

First posted January 10, 2013 08:49:32

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Lowly Bantams humble Villa

2013-01-13T09:12:00.000+06:00

Updated January 09, 2013 09:55:32

Aston Villa's poor season took another downturn on Wednesday morning (AEDT) when they were beaten 3-1 by fourth-tier Bradford City in the League Cup semi-final, first leg.

The Bantams, who disposed of Wigan Athletic and Arsenal en route to the last four, took the lead when Nahki Wells scored from close range in the first half before Rory McArdle doubled the advantage after the break.

Villa squandered several good chances with substitute Darren Bent guilty of arguably the worst miss of the night heading over an open goal in the second half before Andreas Weimann pulled a goal back late on for the visitors.

It proved to be a brief ray of light on a grim evening for Villa however as Carl McHugh added gloss to the scoreline with two minutes remaining to give Bradford, who lies in eighth spot in League Two, a significant advantage ahead of the return leg at Villa Park on Thursday January 23 (AEDT).

If Villa do not overcome the first-leg deficit further pressure will be heaped on manager Paul Lambert who saw his lose three straight games over the Christmas period, conceding 15 goals without scoring.

The Villans currently lie one point above the relegation zone in the Premier League.

Neither of Villa's two Australian players, Chris Herd and Brett Holman, were in action at Valley Parade.

Chelsea hosts Swansea in the first leg of the second semi-final tomorrow.

AFP/ABC

Tags: sport, soccer, england

First posted January 09, 2013 09:07:07

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Milan abandon friendly after racist chanting

2013-01-13T08:39:00.000+06:00

Updated January 04, 2013 08:52:02

AC Milan striker Kevin-Prince Boateng led his team off the pitch during a friendly at Italian lower division side Pro Patria in protest at racist chanting by the home fans.

The match was abandoned after less than 30 minutes.

Boateng was in possession near the penalty area when jeering was heard from fans nearby.

He stopped playing, collected the ball and kicked it towards the stands. He then took his shirt off and walked off the pitch, followed by his team-mates.

"I'm disappointed and saddened but I think that it was the right choice to not return to the pitch, out of respect to our players and all other coloured players in any other league," Milan manager Massimiliano Allegri said.

"We have to stop these uncivilised gestures. Italy has to become a little more civilised and a little more intelligent.

"It's unfortunate because of the families and children who had come here to enjoy the beautiful day of sport and sun.

"We hope we have given a signal that will be followed if such acts occur again in any league. We apologise but we hope that these uncivilised acts will not happen again."

Milan captain Massimo Ambrosini says the crowd's jeering had started before the walk-off.

"We were annoyed from the beginning," he said. "We gave a strong signal, although we regret it because a few have spoiled it for everyone else."

Based in the town of Busto Arsizio, Pro Patria play in the fourth tier of Italian football.

Reuters

Tags: soccer, sport, italy

First posted January 04, 2013 08:52:02

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Heart hang on to beat Roar

2013-01-13T08:07:00.000+06:00

Updated January 06, 2013 19:18:52

David Williams was both hero and villain, as the Melbourne Heart beat the Brisbane Roar 3-2 in a wild game at AAMI Park on Sunday afternoon.

Willliams scored and then was sent off as the Heart's three-goal lead was threatened by a Besart Berisha-inspired Roar comeback.

The Roar started strongly in attacking mode, but they fell behind against the run of play in the 13th minute.

A brilliant Richard Garcia through ball put Williams in on goal, and he made no mistake, slotting a low right-foot finish past Michael Theo.

The Heart grew in confidence, and the home side doubled their lead with 10 minutes to go before the break.

Another through ball saw Josip Tadic slip the ball past Theo, but replays showed he was clearly off-side when the ball was played.

Erik Paartalu had a good chance to get the Roar back in the game a minute or two later, but his shot was stopped by Andrew Redmayne as the Heart went into half-time two goals to the good.

Melbourne appeared headed for victory when Fred scored the third eight minutes into the second half, but then the whole game changed on 67 minutes.

Williams got a sliding challenge wrong on Ivan Franjic and when referee Alan Milliner gave the goal-scorer a straight red, it was game on.

The Roar were pressing hard, and when Fred tripped Ben Halloran in the area with a quarter of an hour left, Berisha stepped up and slotted the penalty to give the visitors some hope.

Two minutes later Berisha was in again, after some good lead-up play by Thomas Broich.

The Heart were rocked by the second goal and Brisbane sensed its chance, but the Roar could not find the vital finish for an equaliser.

Mitch Nichols had the last chance, when he nodded a brilliant cross from Broich just over the bar in added time.

Roar boss Mike Mulvey took the blame for the defeat saying a change of system did not work and got the team into a hole it could not get out of.

"I take responsibility for today, I changed the system before the game," Mulvey said.

"It's something we've been working on this week.

"We'll go back and work on things as I promised the fans of Brisbane. We will work on everything to get better and improve."

Melbourne Heart: 3 (Williams 13', Tadic 35', Fred 53')

Brisbane Roar: 2 (Berisha 74' pen, 76')

Tags: sport, soccer, a-league, melbourne-3000, vic, brisbane-4000, qld, australia

First posted January 06, 2013 18:39:44

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McBreen brace extends Mariners' lead at top

2013-01-13T07:33:00.000+06:00

Updated January 07, 2013 07:52:47

Star striker Daniel McBreen helped the Central Coast extend their lead at the top of the A-League table on Sunday, his brace ensuring a 2-0 win over 10-man Western Sydney at Parramatta Stadium.

McBreen emphasised his position at top spot on the goalscorers' list, netting in each half to make it a dozen for the season so far, two ahead of Melbourne Victory's Marco Rojas and Wellington's Jeremy Brockie.

The Wanderers, who played the majority of the second half with 10 men after midfielder Jason Trifiro was sent off for his second yellow card, remain in fourth spot.

Intent on closing the gap, the Wanderers came out firing with Trifiro forcing the first save of the match just six minutes in.

McBreen fired back with a shot moments later with Zachary Anderson, Mile Sterjovski and Pedj Bojic also testing the Wanderers' defence.

Wanderers striker Mark Bridge and young gun Joe Gibbs created a handful of chances in the opening half.

Japanese star Shinji Ono showed his superior passing ability to set up Gibbs with a superb ball into the box with ten minutes to go in the half but Gibbs could not find the pace to get there.

It was McBreen who finally broke the deadlock when he got onto a ball from Adam Kwasnik and got through the Wanderers' backline - missing suspended skipper Michael Beauchamp - to put the visitors 1-0 up in the 41st minute.

The Wanderers had a chance to level early in the second stanza when Jerome Polenz played a ball to Ono who beat gloveman Matt Ryan but saw his effort cleared off the line by Bojic.

Just when it looked like the Wanderers had the momentum Trifiro, who earned his first yellow card in the opening half, was sent off in the 54th minute when a tackle on Kwasnik was adjudged a second bookable offence.

The Mariners looked like widening the gap when Joshua Rose played a ball to Bernie Ibini but the substitute sent it over the crossbar with ten minutes to go.

Sterjovski then forced a save from stopper Ante Covic with a long range effort.

Late substitute Labinot Haliti had a chance to level when he found himself one-on-one with the keeper in the dying minutes but misfired.

McBreen struck again in the 94th minute, curling the ball past Covic from a narrow angle on the right flank, outside the box to send the boisterous crowd of over 16,000 home disappointed.

Central Coast: 2 (McBreen 41', 90+6')

Western Sydney 0

AAP

Tags: sport, soccer, a-league, gosford-2250

First posted January 06, 2013 20:40:02

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Phoenix rise late to break Heart

2013-01-13T06:58:00.000+06:00

Updated December 27, 2012 19:54:34

Wellington battled back from a two-goal deficit to down Melbourne Heart 3-2 in their A-League match on Thursday.

Golgol Mebrahtu's free kick and an Andrew Durante own goal gave the Heart a 2-0 lead after 16 minutes, while Louis Fenton's 20th minute strike pulled one back for the home team.

But two second-half goals from the prolific Jeremy Brockie were enough for Wellington to secure their fourth win of the season and climb to sixth on the ladder.

If the Heart had been guilty of squandering chances in previous games, they made up for it with two goals in as many minutes early in the first half.

The first came just on 14 minutes after Phoenix captain Durante brought down Heart striker Jason Hoffman just outside the area and Mebrahtu curled the resulting free kick past stranded keeper Mark Paston into the top right corner.

Too slow to regroup, Wellington conceded a second soon after when David Williams' strike deflected off Durante and through Paston's legs to make it 2-0.

Teenage striker Fenton pulled one back for the Phoenix four minutes later as Wellington pressure in the attacking third forced the turnover and Vince Lia's through-ball found Fenton for a clinical finish.

The Heart's makeshift defence continued to struggle without central defenders Simon Colosimo and Patrick Gerhardt, both serving a one-match suspension after collecting five yellow cards.

Brockie scored his eighth goal of the season with a penalty on 65 minutes after Heart defender Michael Marrone was adjudged to have pushed Fenton as he rose to meet a Leo Bertos cross.

Five minutes later Brockie punched home number nine when playmaking midfielder Dani Sanchez's shot fell kindly after skewing off a defender.

Urged on by a 6,410-strong crowd, the Phoenix launched a wave of attacks in the closing 10 minutes as Melbourne continued a dreadful away record this season which has secured them only four points from a possible 21.

AAP

Tags: sport, soccer, a-league, new-zealand

First posted December 27, 2012 19:54:34

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Rojas leads Victory to thrilling win

2013-01-13T06:22:00.000+06:00

Updated December 29, 2012 09:14:24

Two extraordinary Marco Rojas goals saved Melbourne Victory from themselves as they beat a spirited Newcastle Jets 3-2 at AAMI Park to close in on the A-League top two.

The Victory squandered a two-goal lead and total first-half dominance as the Jets fought back to level at 2-2 with 17 minutes left.

But just 60 seconds after Emile Heskey's equaliser, New Zealander Rojas produced a goal of freakish skill, controlling a ball which rebounded towards him in the box, spinning and volleying for a winner befitting a pulsating match.

After league leader Central Coast and second-placed Adelaide United both lost this week, the Victory have now climbed to outright third - just two points adrift of the Reds.

The Victory looked in total control going into half-time, with a first 45 minutes oozing with magic and menace which would have made both the Mariners and Reds as uncomfortable as it did the Jets.

Rojas, who had been dangerous on the left, launched a stunning strike on 33 minutes for the opener.

His unstoppable 20-metre strike with the outside of his right foot bent away from Newcastle goalkeeper Mark Birighitti at warp speed to find the net.

Rojas then teamed with the excellent Billy Celeski to present Archie Thompson an easy finish for Victory's second right on half-time.

But Victory's first half of magic was followed by a second half of illusion.

The Jets kept working hard, and winger James Virgili forced Victory's makeshift centre-half Leigh Broxham - outstanding all night - to make a vital clearance off the line early in the second half.

Then skipper Ruben Zadkovich belted a 25-metre strike past Victory keeper Nathan Coe in the 64th minute to give the Jets a lift.

When Heskey took advantage of some dithering Victory defence on 73 minutes, the Jets were back in business, before Rojas donned his cape.

Newcastle had a great chance to equalise with just two minutes left, but Coe made a superb point-blank save from substitute Adam Taggart's shot.

Victory coach Ange Postecoglou was agitated that referee Kris Griffiths-Jones had not noticed his team trying to make a substitution in the breakdown of play prior to Newcastle's opening goal.

Midfielder Jonathan Bru, who failed to get across to cover Zadkovich, was struggling and was the player Postecoglou wanted to take off.

"I assume they spend a lot of money on miking officials up, unless they're listening to music with those things," Postecoglou said.

"I was pretty disappointed the message didn't get across."

But Postecoglou believes his side is steadily improving and developing, though he admitted he could do with less excitement in its games - following on from a last-gasp derby win over the Heart last weekend.

"Teams keep saying they want to make their home ground a fortress. Ours has become an amusement park - thrills every week," he quipped.

"But there's plenty to be positive about. We're becoming a really, really dangerous team going forward."

The Jets slid out of the top six for the first time this season with the loss, but coach Gary Van Egmond remained upbeat with the performance in defeat.

"We still held our own, and in the second half we thought if we scored first, we were definitely back in the contest," Van Egmond said.

"We did that. It's just little things we have to get better at."

Melbourne Victory: 3 (Rojas 34', 75', Thompson 45')

Newcastle Jets: 2 (Zadkovich 64', Heskey 73')

AAP

Tags: sport, soccer, a-league, melbourne-3000, newcastle-2300

First posted December 28, 2012 21:46:06

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United destroys Wigan to keep City at bay

2013-01-13T05:52:00.000+06:00

Updated January 02, 2013 16:33:12

Manchester United kept a firm grip on the Premier League title race by sweeping to a 4-0 win at Wigan Athletic on the first day of 2013 to maintain its seven-point lead.

Manchester City remains United's nearest rivals after a 3-0 success at home to Stoke City, while Tottenham Hotspur climbed to third by coming from behind to defeat second-bottom Reading 3-1 at White Hart Lane.

Javier Hernandez had already had a goal ruled out for offside at the DW Stadium when he put United 1-0 up against Wigan by tapping in after Ali Al-Habsi saved from Patrice Evra in the 35th minute.

Robin van Persie got off the mark for the New Year eight minutes later, collecting a pass from Hernandez and sending Ivan Ramis to the turf with a dummy before curling the ball inside the right-hand post.

Hernandez added a third in the 63rd minute, swivelling to dispatch a half-volley when a van Persie free-kick arrived at his feet, before the Dutchman completed a brace of his own in the 88th minute with his 16th league goal of the campaign.

"Javier Hernandez is a goal-scorer, a real penalty-box player," said United manager Alex Ferguson, who turned 71 on New Year's Eve.

"Van Persie's first goal was magnificent. We expected him to be a major player and add something to us, and that's exactly what he's done."

City dominated the early stages at home to Stoke, who had gone into the game looking to protect a 10-match unbeaten run.

Pablo Zabeleta broke the deadlock two minutes before half-time, rolling the ball into an empty net after visiting goalkeeper Asmir Begovic touched away James Milner's low cross with his foot.

Sergio Aguero was the creator of City's second in the 56th minute with a low drive that was parried by Begovic, only for Edin Dzeko to turn the loose ball home.

Aguero scored a 74th-minute penalty after Steven Nzonzi was adjudged to have tripped David Silva, but the Argentine had to leave the fray moments later after appearing to sustain a hamstring injury.

City assistant coach David Platt said that Aguero would "certainly" miss Saturday's FA Cup third-round tie with Watford and was "doubtful" for the following weekend's trip to Arsenal in the league.

Tottenham fell behind in the fourth minute against Reading when Pavel Pogrebnyak headed the visitors in front, but Michael Dawson's header meant the hosts were level within five minutes.

Spurs were dominant from then on, Emmanuel Adebayor putting them in front with a powerful 51st-minute header before Clint Dempsey's fortuitous deflected strike made it 3-1.

Victory took Spurs a point clear of Chelsea, which has two games in hand and hosts bottom club Queens Park Rangers on Thursday morning (AEDT).

"We did well to close out the festive period with 10 points from four games and hopefully we will continue this form to put ourselves in the position we want to be," said Spurs coach Andre Villas-Boas.

Arsenal was prevented from making ground on the top four after its four-game winning run came to an end in a 1-1 draw at Southampton that left Arsene Wenger's side four points below Chelsea in fifth place.

Gaston Ramirez exploited some calamitous Arsenal defending to put Southampton ahead in the 34th minute, but a Guly do Prado own goal meant the visitors were level before half-time.

The point was nonetheless enough to take Nigel Adkins' side out of the bottom three at Wigan's expense.

Aston Villa put an end to a run of three straight defeats with a 2-2 draw at Swansea City, but was denied victory by a 95th-minute goal from Danny Graham.

Christian Benteke had put Villa ahead with an 84th-minute penalty, after Wayne Routledge's ninth-minute opener for the hosts had been cancelled out by Andreas Weimann.

West Ham United was also on the up, beating Norwich City 2-1 through goals from Mark Noble and Joey O'Brien to climb to 11th.

Earlier, Fulham shook off its slumbers from 2012 to win 2-1 at West Bromwich Albion and record only its second win in 13 matches.

Fulham striker Dimitar Berbatov had the honour of scoring the first goal of 2013 at the Hawthorns, with Alex Kacaniklic netting a 58th-minute winner after Romelu Lukaku equalised early in the second half.

AFP

Tags: english-premier, soccer, sport, england

First posted January 02, 2013 06:49:06

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Messi wins record fourth Ballon d'Or

2013-01-13T05:22:00.000+06:00

Updated January 08, 2013 09:39:24

Lionel Messi added yet another record to his stellar list of achievements over the past 12 months on Monday when he won an unprecedented fourth consecutive Ballon d'Or at a FIFA gala in Zurich.

The accolade seals Messi's status as the greatest player of his generation after he saw off Real Madrid rival Cristiano Ronaldo and Barcelona teammate Andres Iniesta for the prize.

Messi received a vote share of 41.60 per cent, Ronaldo took 23.68 and Iniesta 10.91.

Messi and former French star, UEFA president Michel Platini, had prior to Monday been the only players to win three straight Ballon d'Or awards while Dutch greats Johan Cruyff and Marco Van Basten both won the accolade on three occasions.

Spain's Vicente del Bosque was named coach of the year for 2012, seeing off competition from Real Madrid's Jose Mourinho and former Barcelona coach Josep Guardiola.

Messi's success crowned another landmark year for the Argentine who is already the top scorer in La Liga for the ongoing season with 25 goals, having also broken Gerd Muller's 40-year record for the most goals in a calendar year.

He finished 2012 with an astonishing 91 goals in all competitions.

But Messi has insisted his scoring records will mean nothing if Barcelona do not go on to take the La Liga title off Real or fail to win the Champions League.

"It is incredible to receive this prize once again and it's impressive it makes it four in a row. I would like to share this with my Barca teammates - particularly with Andres, who is here with me," said the ever unassuming Messi.

"I am proud to be able to train alongside him every day.

"I am also thinking of my teammates in the Argentina squad.

"Thank you to all those who voted for me, skippers, coaches and national coaches.

"Thank you too to my family, my friends and of course my wife and son, who is the best thing that ever happened to me," said the 25-year-old from Rosario, who in November became a father to son Thiago.

Beforehand he had said winning for Barcelona outweighed any personal glory.

"It's nice to beat records but the win for the team is what is important. My goals are to win titles with the team, the Spanish league, Spanish Cup or Champions League is more important than any personal records."

Barca coach Tito Vilanova had already eulogised his player in advance of Messi's win.

"Leo's great quality is that he plays as if he is still a child," Vilanova opined.

"He was always good as a youngster and you didn't need to be a coach to say that. It was a joy to see him play as a 15-year-old and that continues now."

Portugal captain Ronaldo at least has the consolation of having won in 2008 before Messi's hegemony began while Iniesta can for his part bask in the knowledge that he has won a World Cup and two Euros - including Euro 2012 - whereas Messi still has to replicate such achievements at international level.

Until he can lift top honours with Argentina, some observers will insist he cannot be classed as the greatest player ever, moving ahead of Pele and Diego Maradona - who were never eligible for this award.

Already, at just 25, Messi's club achievements stack up very comparably with these two legends of the game.

Over the last four seasons he has been the top scorer in the Champions League.

Pele, for all his achievements, only once topped the scoring charts in South America's premier club competition, the Copa Libertadores, which he won with Santos twice.

Messi and Iniesta were joined by three of their Barcelona team-mates in the Team of the Year which all came from Spain's la Liga.

Five Real Madrid players made the XI, with goalkeeper Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Marcelo and Xabi Alonso joining Ronaldo in the side.

Colombian striker Radamel Falcao, from Real's cross-town rivals Atletico, rounded out the chosen 11.

EPL Player of the Year Robin van Persie, who moved from Arsenal to Manchester United in August, may count himself a little unfortunate to miss out, but competition for attacking berths was exceptionally strong, with Neymar of Santos and Paris St-Germain's Zlatan Ibrahimovic not making the side despite hitting over 50 goals in the calendar year.

Van Persie managed 37, while Napoli's Uruguayan striker Edinson Cavani netted 42 goals in Serie A.

Bundesliga player of the year Marco Reus had a decent claim to a midfield spot, but Xavi and Iniesta again hold their usual positions in the side, alongside their fellow European champion with Spain, Xabi Alonso.

Champions League winner Chelsea is not represented in the side. Juan Mata could not force out his Spanish team-mates in midfield and

Petr Cech and Ashley Cole perhaps suffer from having a less impressive second half of the calendar year.

The award of best coach went to Spain's Vicente del Bosque, who beat off competition from Real Madrid's Jose Mourinho, the 2010 winner, and former Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola.

"It is an honour for me to receive this award," said Del Bosque, who led Spain to Euro 2012 glory - having also landed the World Cup two years earlier.

"It is an honour to represent Spanish football and the Spanish national side. I thank all the players - they make us (the coaches) better.

"This prize can be extended to all coaches, to people who dedicate themselves to football," added the ever humble coach.

One award that did not go to a Spanish resident, was the goal of the year award, won by Miroslav Stoch for his fantastic volley against Genclerbirligi in the Turkish Super Lig.

It is perhaps worth noting that Ibrahimovic's incredible overhead kick for Sweden against England was not in contention for this award as it came after the cut-off point in the year.

AFP/ABC

Tags: sport, soccer, switzerland, argentina, spain

First posted January 08, 2013 06:50:36

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Roar finally win on the road

2013-01-13T04:51:00.000+06:00

Updated December 27, 2012 11:07:38

Brazilian forward Henrique breathed life into Brisbane's flagging A-League season with the match winner in a 1-0 away triumph against Adelaide United on Thursday night.

Henrique's 65th minute goal at Hindmarsh Stadium delivered Brisbane a fourth win of the season as second-placed Adelaide lost consecutive games.

The defending champions Roar's first away win of the season saw them rise from ninth to seventh on the ladder ahead of the remaining matches in the round.

Henrique broke the deadlock after an opening half marred by sloppy skills and a series of rolling physical battles as referee Adam Kersey struggled to maintain control.

Roar striker Besart Berisha and Adelaide defender Nigel Boogard waged their own personal war and Kersey yellow-carded five players in the scoreless first half, including Adelaide attacker Jeronimo Neumann for diving.

Brisbane goalkeeper Michael Theo also received a yellow card before the second half started in a fixture attended by 11,035 spectators.

Adelaide, after mustering just one shot on target in an off-key first half, began the second stanza with a series of promising attacks but it was Henrique who broke the scoring stalemate.

The Brazilian scored after team-mate Mitch Nichols sliced through Adelaide's defence with a run from outside the box to within touching distance of Reds goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic, who met the advancing Roar player just outside his near post.

Nichols shrewdly cut back a pass to Henrique, who slotted a right-footer into the vacant goal from five metres out.

The Roar would have been ahead earlier if not for Adelaide's Galekovic, who produced two top-draw saves in the first half.

Berisha was denied in the ninth minute when he powered a close-range header but Galekovic dived to his left to parry spectacularly.

Also in the 40th minute, Galekovic instinctively stopped a Ben Halloran shot from inside the six-yard box.

Brisbane: 1 (Henrique 65')

Adelaide: 0

AAP

Tags: sport, soccer, a-league, adelaide-5000, brisbane-4000

First posted December 26, 2012 21:51:11

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United win seven-goal thriller while City lose

2013-01-13T04:18:00.000+06:00

Updated December 27, 2012 09:54:45

Manchester United trailed three times before a last-gasp goal from Javier Hernandez earned a rip-roaring 4-3 win over Newcastle United that opened a seven-point lead at the top of the Premier League on Thursday (AEDT).

Elsewhere, champions Manchester City's former winger Adam Johnson scored the only goal of the game in a 1-0 victory for Sunderland.

City is still second in the table, four points ahead of Chelsea who won 1-0 at Norwich City thanks to a 20-metre strike from Juan Mata.

Tottenham Hotspur moved up to fourth after Gareth Bale grabbed a hat-trick in a 4-0 rout at Aston Villa. The thumping follows Villa's 8-0 thrashing at Chelsea on Sunday.

Manchester United fell behind early on, James Perch delighting the Newcastle fans with a fourth-minute opener at Old Trafford.

Jonny Evans levelled in the 25th minute before the defender put through his own net four minutes later as the visitors went back in front in controversial fashion.

Patrice Evra equalised for the home team but Papiss Cisse then gave Newcastle a 3-2 lead. Robin van Persie hit back for Manchester United before Mexico striker Hernandez, in for the injured Wayne Rooney, popped up with the last minute winner.

Manchester United's 19 league matches this season have yielded a total of 76 goals and the team's mantra appears to be 'however many you score, we will score more'.

Had United not steamed back to win a thrilling Boxing Day fixture, arguments over Evans's own goal would have raged.

Referee Mike Dean initially disallowed it, ruling that Newcastle striker Cisse was off-side, but he changed his mind after a lengthy delay during which he consulted his assistant.

"I thought it was a bad decision for the own goal," said Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson who vented his fury at Dean at half-time.

"Cisse was offside and he also grabbed Evans on the arm. If that's not interference, what is interference?", Ferguson told the BBC.

Championship performance

"December is always a big month. We dropped two points at Swansea (on Sunday) but made up for it today. It was a real championship performance."

United had to do without Wayne Rooney after he was hurt in training.

"Rooney has injured a ligament at the back of his knee and will be out for two or three weeks," Ferguson said. "We are running out of ammunition."

Before his part in the controversy Evans had equalised for Manchester United but the defensive frailties that have plagued the team this season meant United needed to play catch-up twice more.

Newcastle's third goal by Cisse raised hopes of a first league win at Old Trafford since 1972.

Van Persie equalised for the home team with his 13th league goal of the season before Hernandez produced his grandstand finish to give United an eighth victory this season in a game where it had gone behind.

Manchester City's defeat at Sunderland was the team's second in a row at the Stadium of Light.

"It's the same story for us at Sunderland every year, we are not going to come here next season," said manager Roberto Mancini with his tongue firmly in his cheek.

"It's important that our strikers start scoring more goals, sometimes we take one touch too many."

With the season at the half-way point Manchester United - already with 48 goals on the board to compensate for some unusually leaky defending - has 46 points with Manchester City on 39.

Third-placed Chelsea, which has a game in hand, sits on 35. In the race for fourth place Everton briefly nudged ahead on 33 points with a 2-1 win over struggling Wigan Athletic at Goodison Park where home defender Phil Neville made his 500th league appearance.

Tottenham replied in a later kickoff, piling on the Christmas gloom for Villa.

Sixth-placed West Bromwich Albion joined Everton and Tottenham on 33 points with a 2-1 victory at Queens Park Rangers in a match delayed after the bus carrying the visiting team arrived late.

Harry Redknapp's QPR dropped back to the bottom of the table with only 10 points, and Reading jumped above them on goal difference with a 0-0 draw at home to Swansea City.

Fulham drew 1-1 with Southampton, as the Saints remain just above the bottom three.

The Boxing Day program was completed with Stoke City beating Liverpool 3-1 to go eighth on the table.

Chelsea followed up the win over Villa with victory at Norwich.

"(Norwich) have won against Manchester United and Arsenal this season. It was tough but I was really pleased with the performance of the players," said Chelsea manager Rafa Benitez.

"The team are showing character. I am really pleased with the workrate and the style of play."

Reuters

Tags: sport, soccer, english-premier, united-kingdom, england

First posted December 27, 2012 08:17:57

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