Thursday 27 September 2012

Kaka picked for International Friendlie

Former World Player of the Year Kaka has been recalled to the Brazilian squad for next month's international friendlies. The Real Madrid player, plagued by injuries over the last few seasons, was included in the squad for the games against Iraq in Sweden on October 11 and against Japan in Poland five days later. 

He has not played for his country since the 2-1 defeat by the Netherlands at the 2010 World Cup quarter-final. 

It was the second time he has been called up under the leadership of coach Mano Menezes, who replaced Dunga following the tournament in South Africa. 

However, on the previous occasion last year, Kaka subsequently had to drop out with injury and missed the matches against Gabon and Egypt. 

The 30-year-old, who made his debut for Brazil in 2002, has won 82 caps and played at the last three World Cups. 

There was still no place in the squad for Lazio midfielder Hernanes, who is considered one of the most creative midfielders in Serie A. 

Menezes is rebuildlng the team for the 2014 World Cup, which Brazil will host, and is trying to move them away from their counter-attacking style which they developed under Dunga. 

Despite 12 wins in their last 14 matches, Menezes has been cricitised for Brazil's performances amid speculation that former coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, who led Brazil to World Cup victory in 2002, could be recalled closer to the tournament. 

John Terry banned for 4 matches by the FA

John Terry was banned for four matches and also fined 220,000 pounds (356,000 Dollars) for abusing Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand during a Premier League match in October 2011. 

Terry was found guilty of directing abuse at Ferdinand by the Football Association. He was cleared by a criminal court in July of a racially-aggravated public order offense. 

Before the four-day FA disciplinary hearing started, Terry announced his retirement from international football on Sunday after nine years with England. The case led to Fabio Capello quitting as England coach in February in protest at the FA's decision to strip Terry of the England captaincy before the trial. 

The full reasons for the FA's verdict are yet to be released, but the panel said Terry used "abusive and/or insulting words and/or behavior ... which included a reference to color and/or race." 

"Mr. Terry is disappointed that the FA Regulatory Commission has reached a different conclusion to the clear not guilty verdict of a court of law," Terry's management team said in a statement. "He has asked for the detailed written reasons of the decision and will consider them carefully before deciding whether to lodge an appeal." 

Chelsea said the club "respects" the verdict but it would be "inappropriate" to comment further before any appeal. 

In the criminal court case, Terry did not deny using an offensive term during the match at QPR but said all he did was sarcastically repeat the words he was accused of using. 

Ferdinand said he had been goading Terry about his alleged extramarital affair with the former girlfriend of ex-England teammate Wayne Bridge. 

The magistrate described Terry's defense as being "under the cold light of forensic examination, unlikely," but found there was not enough evidence to prove he was lying. 

The FA hearing, though, had a lower burden of proof. 

Terry is the second Premier League player in a year to be banned by the FA for racism. Liverpool striker Luis Suarez was banned for eight matches for abusing Manchester United defender Patrice Evra during another game last October. 

Arsenal, Spurs through to fourth round in Carling Cup


Arsenal thumped six goals past a hapless Coventry side in the ongoing Carling Cup. Latest buy-Olivier Giroud scored his first Arsenal goal as the Gunners enjoyed a comfortable win at Emirates Stadium. 

Giroud netted in the 38th minute to open the scoring, and he was joined by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain who scored from outside the box with a thunderous shot. Other scorers from the night included Andrey Arshavin, Theo Walcott (2) and Ignasi Miquel. 

Giroud missed a penalty but showed supreme composure to score his first goal for Arsenal as he slid the ball past the Coventry goalkeeper. 




What followed was a rampage as Oxlade-Chamberlain crashed home from 25 yards before Arshavin netted a rare goal. Theo Walcott pulled off a brace and Miguel added another one, rendering Callum Ball's goal for Coventry mere consolation. 

In another match, Tottenham won 3-0 at Carlisle with goals from Jan Verthonghen, Andros Townsend and Gylfi Sigurdsson. 

Tottenham now are unbeaten in the last six games at Brunton Park. 

Tottenham's goalkeeping worries refuse to die down as the manager once again overlooked Hugo Lloris, this time starting Carlo Cudicini in goal. 

The Italian had to see off some early pressure too, but Verthonghen broke the deadlock eight minutes before half-time through a glancing header. 

Townsend then doubled the advantage in the 53rd minute, and Sigurdsson killed things off after great work by Kyle Walker. 

Carling Cup 2012: Sahin leads Liverpool to Round of 16

Defending champions-Liverpool came from a goal down to beat West Bromwich Albion in the Carling Cup. 

Albion went ahead through Gabriel Tamas but on loan Real Madrid midfielder Sahin leveled before half-time and struck the winner with eight minutes remaining. 

Rodgers made 11 changes from the side beaten at home by Manchester United on Sunday but his side were worthy winners after an uncertain start. Oussama Assaidi caused all sorts of problems down the left flank for Billy Jones and then Craig Dawson and set up Sahin's late decider. 

West Brom came close to doubling their lead when Lukaku cut in from the left but his shot was deflected wide by Jamie Carragher. Another goalkeeping error, this time by Ben Foster, led to Liverpool equalising after 17 minutes through Sahin. 

Sahin let fly with a speculative low 30-yard drive and Foster allowed the ball to slip under his body and into the net. 

Ridgewell limped out of the action after 22 minutes and was replaced by Craig Dawson. 

Liverpool dominated the early exchanges of the second period and Yesil's low shot hit the leg of Foster and somehow bounced up over the bar. 

Jerome Sinclair became Liverpool's youngest ever player at 16 years and six days when he was introduced as an 81st minute substitute, beating the record of Jack Robinson (16 years and 250 days). 

Then a minute later Sahin won it for the visitors when he found space at the far post to convert Assaidi's low cross. 

Wednesday 26 September 2012

Carling Cup: Other Updates

At Stamford Bridge, Terry skippered Chelsea just hours after appearing at the second day of the FA disciplinary hearing into charges he racially abused QPR defender Anton Ferdinand last October. 


It took Chelsea just four minutes to welcome Terry back as his central defensive partner Gary Cahill headed home from Juan Mata's free-kick. 

Ryan Bertrand doubled Chelsea's lead with a close-range finish four minutes later and Mata increased the hosts' advantage when he slotted home in the 17th minute. 

Oriol Romeu bagged his first Chelsea goal with a penalty after Victor Moses was fouled by Wolves goalkeeper Dorus de Vries in the 53rd minute. 
A Fernando Torres header five minutes later piled on the misery for Wolves, who conceded for the sixth time when Victor Moses, a 9 million Pounds signing from Wigan last month, claimed his first goal for Chelsea in the 71st minute. 

"We wanted John to start," Chelsea assistant manager Eddie Newton said. "We had a phone call saying he was making his way back from the FA nice and early. 

"We'd covered all the bases, all the scenarios, and the best one happened."

Wigan recovered from a goal down to claim an impressive 4-1 win at West Ham. 

Modibo Maiga's powerful strike put West Ham ahead in the seventh minute, but Wigan striker Mauro Boselli equalised from close-range in the 14th minute. 

Ivan Ramis blasted his first goal for the Latics from long range in the 38th minute. 

Boselli struck again four minutes before the break and Jordi Gomez added an 84th minute penalty. 

Southampton eased to a 2-0 victory over Championship strugglers Sheffield Wednesday at St Mary's thanks to two goals from striker Jay Rodriguez. 

Sunderland saw off League One outfit Milton Keynes Dons 2-0 despite playing over half the match with 10 men following Lee Cattermole's red card. 
Craig Gardner and James McClean got the goals for the Black Cats. 

Swansea avoided an embarrassing exit at League One side Crawley as Michael Laudrup's team fought back to win 3-2. 

City, Everton out of Carling Cup

Manchester City suffered an early exit from the League Cup on Tuesday as Aston Villa clinched a 4-2 third round win at Eastlands. City manager Roberto Mancini made 11 changes from the side held to a 1-1 draw by Arsenal on Sunday and the Premier League champions weren't able to win with their stand-ins. 

Italian striker Mario Balotelli fired City ahead in the 27th minute, but Villa equalised in the 59th minute when their former midfielder Gareth Barry deflected the ball into his own net. 

City regained the lead when Aleksandar Kolarov clipped a free-kick past Shay Given in the 64th minute, but Gabriel Agbonlahor restored parity six minutes later. 

And in the sixth minute of extra-time, Agbonlahor fired in a shot that City goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon couldn't hold and Charles N'Zogbia was on hand to slot home before Agbonalahor completed the upset with seven minutes remaining. 

Leeds caused the biggest upset of the night as the Championship club defeated Everton 2-1 at Elland Road. 

Toffees boss David Moyes made six changes to the side that beat Swansea 3-0, but his reserves weren't up to the task. 

Aidan White rocked Everton in the fourth minute as the Republic of Ireland Under-21 international weaved his way past several challenges before curling a shot past Jan Mucha. 

Everton squandered several chances to equalise before Rodolph Austin poked home Danny Pugh's pass in the 70th minute and Sylvain Distin's 81st minute goal was too late to spark a comeback. 

"The atmosphere and the rain made it a real old fashioned cup tie," Leeds boss Neil Warnock said. "We deserved it and we should have scored two or three other goals." 

Monday 24 September 2012

Terry announces retirement from international football

John Terry announced his retirement from international football, less than 24 hours before a Football Association hearing over the alleged racial abuse of Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand. Terry, 31, who has 78 caps with England, took the shocking decision after being convinced that the FA are determined to find him guilty of the offence despite being cleared in a court of law. 

He said "I feel the FA, in pursuing charges against me where I have already been cleared in a court of law, have made my position with the national team untenable." 

"I am today announcing my retirement from international football." 

"I would like to thank the England managers who have selected me for my 78 caps. I have had great pleasure in sharing that honour with all the players that I've played with." 

"I would like to thank them, the fans and my family for their support and encouragement during my international career." 

"Representing and captaining my country is what I dreamed of as a boy and it has been a truly great honour. I have always given my all and it breaks my heart to make this decision," Terry said. 

"I want to wish Roy (Hodgson) and the team (England) every success for the future." 

However, Terry was cleared of any abuse by the court of law in July. Back in 2010, Terry was stripped of the England captaincy for having an affair with the girlfriend of former Chelsea and England team-mate Wayne Bridge. 

The 31-year-old lost the armband again in February after it was revealed he would stand trial for alleged abuse of QPR defender Ferdinand. 

Thursday 20 September 2012

Messi and Barca two good for Spartak


Lionel Messi struck twice to secure a 3-2 comeback win for Barcelona at home to Spartak Moscow in their Group G opener on Wednesday. 

Barca were facing their first home defeat in 17 European games when Spartak took a 2-1 lead in the 59th minute at the Nou Camp before Messi, top scorer in the competition the past four seasons, levelled 19 minutes from time. 

He was set up by Cristian Tello, scorer of the home side's 14th-minute opener, and then nodded in the winner in the 80th minute from a centre by substitute Alexis Sanchez. It was an impressive comeback from the La Liga side, bidding for a third European crown in five years, and ensured a winning debut in the competition for new coach Tito Vilanova. 

Spartak were level 15 minutes after Tello's opener without even having to shoot on goal when fullback Daniel Alves turned the ball into his own net. 

The visitors' ultra-defensive tactics frustrated Barca and they snatched a shock breakaway goal in the 59th minute when Brazilian midfielder Romulo shrugged off Adriano's challenge and finished low past Victor Valdes. 

However, Messi again made the difference and ensured Spartak's Spanish coach Unai Emery, a former boss at La Liga sides Almeria and Valencia, is still seeking his first win against Barca after 13th attempts. 

Barca's night was partly spoiled by an injury to centre back Gerard Pique. He was forced off in the 12th minute after bruising his left foot. 

Juventus surge back to hold Chelsea

Chelsea's latest recruit-Oscar scored two goals on his first start for the club but Juventus fought back in a thrilling game at Stamford Bridge as the Blues opened the defence of their Champions League title with a 2-2 draw in Group E. 

But the Italian champions showed great spirit to respond through goals from Arturo Vidal on 38 minutes and substitute Fabio Quagliarella with 10 minutes remaining, and could even have won the game when the latter struck the top of the bar with just minutes remaining. 

Chelsea - embarking on their 10th consecutive Champions League campaign - made one change from the 0-0 draw with QPR at the weekend as summer signing Oscar was brought into the starting line-up for the first time, replacing Ryan Bertrand. The Brazilian dropped in behind Fernando Torres, the dynamic Eden Hazard to his left and the industrious Ramires providing balance to his right as the Blues sought to extend their unbeaten run in home Champions League group games to 27. 

Oscar - who attached himself to Pirlo diligently when Juve had the ball - had supplied little in an attacking sense after half an hour but he quickly remedied that when putting Chelsea in front after 31 minutes. Hazard played the ball in square to the young Brazilian, who took a touch 20 yards from goal and saw his firm drive deflected over the diving Buffon by the outstretched leg of Bonucci. 

If there was something unsatisfying about his first goal, Oscar certainly redressed the balance with an absolutely brilliant second just two minutes later. Ashley Cole found him with his back to goal with a pass to the edge of the box and Oscar knocked the ball the other side of Pirlo with his first touch before spinning around the Italy star to meet the ball with his second touch and sending a beautiful, intuitive curling shot out of the reach of Buffon and into the top corner. 

Vidal soon pegged Chelsea back to a one-goal lead before half time. On 38 minutes the Chile midfielder received a square pass from Marchisio and took a touch to find space 20 yards from goal before sweeping a shot between the legs of John Terry and inside the far post. 

Chelsea continued in a positive vein in the second half and came close to a third just six minutes in. Ivanovic advanced menacingly down the right and unleashed a dipping drive that appeared destined for the far corner before Buffon threw out his right arm to tip the shot away. The keeper had to be alert two minutes later when punching away a Lampard free kick that curled viciously at him. 

As Juan Mata came off the bench to curl a shot into the side netting after combining beautifully with Hazard, Chelsea passed up another chance to extend their lead and make the game safe. They paid for it on 80 minutes when another substitute, Quagliarella, drew Juventus level. 

Mikel, who had been inattentive all evening, was guilty of a sloppy pass to gift Juve possession and as Terry made a lazy attempt to play offside, the forward was allowed to run onto a pass from Marchisio and calmly slot the ball through the legs of Cech. 

Wednesday 19 September 2012

Arsenal come from behind to beat Montpellier

Arsenal made a winning start to their Champions League campaign as they came from behind to win 2-1 against debutants Montpellier last night. 

Younes Belhanda stunned the visitors with a ninth-minute Panenka penalty but Arsenal hit back through quick-fire goals from Lukas Podolski and Gervinho to secure only their sixth win in their last 16 group-phase away games. 

Remy Cabella hit the bar for Montpellier, who gave Arsenal several uneasy moments, and despite the result, the hosts' display belied a difficult start to their Ligue 1 title defence that has seen them beaten three times already. 

Arsenal, meanwhile, have now recorded three straight wins after Premier League successes over Liverpool and Southampton, although Olivier Giroud is still without a goal after failing to score on his return to his former club. 

Montpellier coach Rene Girard had called on the club's fans to make Stade de la Mosson "hell" for the visitors but there was a nervousness in the hosts' ranks until Belhanda's penalty brought the stadium roaring to life. 

The penalty award appeared harsh but replays vindicated referee Carlos Velasco Carballo's decision to penalise Thomas Vermaelen for a robust challenge on Belhanda, who beat Vito Mannone with a nonchalant chipped spot-kick. 

It was a better start than Montpellier's fans could have hoped for on their team's first ever appearance in the competition, but within only nine minutes the French champions found themselves behind. 

Giroud had received a warm reception from the supporters of his former club but he created the equaliser in the 16th minute with a prodded through ball for fellow summer signing Podolski that the German guided past Geoffrey Jourdren. 

Montpellier barely had time to gather their senses before Arsenal struck again, as Gervinho ghosted into the six-yard area to convert Carl Jenkinson's low cross from the right. 

Thriller in Madrid

Cristiano Ronaldo scored the winner in the 90th minute as Real Madrid came back to earn a 3-2 win against Manchester City as the season Champions League opener turned into a goal fest over the last 25 minutes. 

City were pegged back for much of the first half but twice took the lead in a frantic back-and-forth finish. Eden Dzeko scored from a counterattack in the 68th minute before Marcelo's curling shot glanced off Javi Garcia into the net to make it 1-1 in the 76th. 

Aleksandar Kolarov looked to have handed the visitors the victory as he curled home a free kick in the 85th before Madrid won the duel between the champions of Spain and England. 

City goalkeeper Joe Hart let Ronaldo's dipping shot slip past him after Madrid striker Karim Benzema had equalized in the 87th minute at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium. 

Both Mourinho and Roberto Mancini sprung selection surprises, although the former made the more drastic changes following his team's poor start to their league campaign. World champion Sergio Ramos was dropped from the Madrid defence, with 19-year-old Raphael Varane stepping in, while City handed a debut to the similarly inexperienced Matija Nastasic, with Joleon Lescott restricted to a place among the substitutes. 

Toure, who had looked City's biggest threat all night long, broke out of the midfield again to create a two-on-one attack and this time successfully found his target with a simple through ball. Dzeko took the pass in his stride and beat Casillas with a composed, low left-footed finish. 

The Spanish champions immediately looked more dangerous in the final third following the changes, though, and Marcelo curled a right-footed shot into the top corner after shaking off Kompany just outside the penalty area. 

Kolarov then delivered a free-kick that found its way into the back of the net. 

Incredibly, though, there was more to come, and Mancini's celebrations on the sideline were short-lived. Benzema was next to strike after a mazy run from Di Maria. And City's hearts were broken when Ronaldo stepped inside Zabaleta and delivered a dipping shot to beat Joe Hart to make it 3-2. 

Friday 14 September 2012

WC Qualifiers: Mexico reign supreme in CONCACAF

Mexico having defeated Costa Rica twice in the last five days have sealed their spot. Perfect on twelve points from four outings, El Tri has clinched the first of six spots on offer for next year's hexagonal which is the final round of qualifiers. 

The other five spots in the region's final round remain up for grabs. Determining which nations will claim them is anyone's guess, with only Cuba mathematically eliminated among the twelve participating teams. 

For the rest, it will all come down to a pressure-packed week in mid-October, when matchdays 5 and 6 will see games take place in all twelve of the semifinalist nations. 

Mexico may have run away and hid from Group B, but that hasn't made the foursome any less interesting for the other nations involved. With El Tri through to the hexagonal, there's still one more spot available for the best among Costa Rica, El Salvador and Guyana. 

The Golden Jaguars, however, may well have seen off their best chance by failing to get points from an electric match at home on Tuesday. After a brilliant away draw to El Salvador on Friday, the host saw La Selecta snatch all three points in a dramatic, come-from-behind 3-2 win at Providence Stadium. 

That means only a highly unlikely series of events could put the Guyanese through, so the second spot from Group B will likely come down to regional rivals Costa Rica and El Salvador. 

After securing an important tie on the road against the Ticos on matchday 1, El Salvador, on five points, holds a narrow one-point lead over Costa Rica. 

But with a visit to the Azteca on the docket for the final semifinal round game, the Salvadorans will be anxious to sew up a hexagonal spot at home when Costa Rica visits on matchday 5. 

Anything less than a win on October 12 - in what's sure to be a rocking Estadio Cuscatlan - could prove fatal to El Salvador's ambitions of returning to the hexagonal 

Luiz Felipe Scolari asked to leave by Palmeiras

Palmeiras have sacked former Chelsea, Brazil and Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari. 

The final nail in the coffin for the coach was Wednesday night's 3-1 defeat to Vasco da Gama, the club's ninth defeat in their last 13 league matches and one that leaves them second-bottom of the Brazilian Campeonato with 20 points from 24 games. 

"We're all very sad and worried about the situation," Club's director-Sampaio told reporters after the game. 

Scolari, usually known as Felipao (Big Phil) said he had not contemplated losing his job after the match. 

"The idea of quitting has not crossed my mind," he said. "We have to sit down, chew it over and see what we can do differently." 

Luan headed in Tiago's cross to give Palmeiras the lead in 23rd minute, only for Carlos Tenorio to pull Vasco level with a close-range effort six minutes later. 

The first-half ended with jeers from a sparse Vasco crowd who also protested against club president Roberto Dinamite. 

Vasco, under interim coach Gaucho after Cristovao Borges was sacked earlier this week, went ahead six minutes after the break with a Nilson header. 
Former Olympique Lyon and Brazil midfielder Juninho Permanbucano added the third. 

Palmeiras dropped to 19th in the 20-team table with 20 points from 24 games, seven behind 16th-place Flamengo. The bottom four go down. 

A statement on the club's website read: 'After a meeting on Thursday afternoon between the president, director of football and technical committee of Palmeiras, it was mutually decided to terminate the contract between the coach Luiz Felipe Scolari and the club. Along with Scolari, assistant coach Flavio Murtosa also leaves the club.' 

The 63-year-old Scolari, who won the 2002 World Cup with Brazil, returned for his second stint at Palmeiras in 2010. 

Wednesday 12 September 2012

Spain scrape past Georgia

Spain took the first step to defending their World Cup title in 2014 with a 23rd consecutive win in qualifying. 

Georgia goalkeeper Giorgi Loria kept Spain from converting their overwhelming possession into a goal until he was forced off with a leg injury. 

Substitute Cesc Fabregas then found Roberto Soldado to slot his pass home just four minutes from time to silence the packed Boris Paichadze Stadium. 

"It was a hard-fought win against a rival that gave us the ball but pulled back into its area," said Soldado, who was left off Spain's European Championship squad this summer. 

"It was bewildering. It doesn't matter that you have the ball if you can't move." 

The victory gave Spain three points, level in Group I with Georgia. 

Spain deployed the same lineup that routed Italy in the final of this summer's Euro 2012 except for Soldado starting in place of Fabregas. 

Not surprisingly, Spain owned the ball from the start with Andres Iniesta combining well with David Silva against the world's 86th-ranked team. 

Georgia limited the visitors to Sergio Ramos' header into Loria's arms 10 minutes in and Silva's long strike that came off the upright in the 28th. 

Spain came close to breaking through just before halftime through Xavi Hernandez. The midfielder drew a one-handed save from Loria with a long shot before setting up Soldado, only to see the Georgia goalkeeper better the striker one-on-one. 

"It was a very tough game," Spain coach Vicente del Bosque said. "They closed up at the back and we weren't arriving well to their area. 

"These are three very important points. If we had drawn it would have been a step backward." 

Seeing his team struggle, Del Bosque quickly sent on forward Pedro Rodriguez and playmaker Santi Cazorla to try to recover the initiative. 

Loria had to leave the pitch in the 73rd after suffering an apparent knee injury. He was replaced by Roin Kvaskhvadze in goal. 

As Spain pressed for the elusive winner, Del Bosque brought in Fabregas for defender Alvaro Arbeloa 10 minutes from time. That move clearly worked as Fabregas was instrumental in the goal. 

Peru hold Argentina in World Cup Qualifiers

Gonzalo Higuain scored in the 37th minute to help Argentina level with Peru and stay on top of the standings in South American World Cup qualifying after Carlos Zamorano scored in the 22nd minute for Peru, which could have had at least one more goal, but Argentina keeper Sergio Romero stopped Claudio Pizarro's penalty in the 3rd minute. Peru also hit a post and was always more threatening against Argentina's frail defense. 


The draw means Argentina are on 14 points after seven of 14 matches, followed by Ecuador and Colombia with 13, Chile and Uruguay with 12 and Peru on 7. 

"We knew it was going to be like this," Argentina midfielder Javier Mascherano said. "This is a tough place to play and the pitch wasn't that good. Everyone wants to beat Argentina." 

Zamorano gave Peru the lead, chipping in from 8 meters after a cross from Luis Advincula. 

Higuain equalized for Argentina in the 37th, set up by a perfect pass from the right wing by Ezequiel Lavezzi. 

Peru matched Argentina in the first half, with the attacking of Jefferson Farfan and Advincula troubling Argentina's nervous defense. Lionel Messi was held in check and Peru was more aggressive, getting away with several rough tackles. 

Argentina knew they were in for a high-intensity match ever since Monday when the bus carrying the players from practice was pelted with thrown objects, breaking several windows. 

Peru had the better chances early in the second half with Paulo Cruzado hitting the post in the 54th. Three minutes later Argentina midfielder Fernando Gago was taken off the field on a stretcher with a head injury. 

Peru's Pizarro and Argentina's Higuain and Marcos Rojo had chances to score late in the match, although a late goal by Argentina would have been an injustice. 

Messi had nine goals in his previous five games for Argentina, but he couldn't add to his tally here. 

Thursday 6 September 2012

Del Piero inks deal with Sydney FC

Juventus and Italy legend Alessandro Del Piero will play for Sydney FC next season. The 37-year-old was released at the end of last season after 19 years at Turin and had been linked with moves to various clubs, including English Premier League side Southampton and Scotland's Celtic. 
"There's no better choice for me than Sydney," Del Piero told reporters in Turin, Italy, adding that he had received offers from teams on several continents. 

"I'll do this with enthusiasm of someone who is doing something new and who wants to do it well," said Del Piero, who added that he would "live fully" his time in Australia and not "as a long vacation" from Italy. 

Del Piero, who won six Serie A titles and the Champions League with Juventus, has signed a contract Australian media have reported is worth A 2 million Dollars - making him the best paid player in any football code in the country. 

Del Piero will play with the same Number 10 he donned at Juventus, Tony Pignata, Sydney's general manager, said in Turin. 

"This signing is a major coup for Sydney FC and marks a historic day for football in this country," club chairman Scott Barlow said in a statement. "This is for all Australian football fans". 

Soccer's popularity in Australia trails behind the rival football codes of rugby league and Australian Rules in the congested domestic market place. 

With most of Australia's best players plying their trade abroad, the top flight A-League has suffered from lack of star quality since it was launched for the 2005-6 season. 

Former Manchester United striker Dwight Yorke, England striker Robbie Fowler and Socceroos John Aloisi, Harry Kewell and Brett Emerton were among the best known players to have graced the league before Del Piero's signing. 

Two time champions Sydney FC will take on Wellington Phoenix in their A League opener on October 6. 

U-20 Women's World Cup: USA beat Nigeria to reach final

USA beat Nigeria 2-0 to advance to the final of the women's under-20 World Cup, where it will face defending champion Germany. 

Morgan Brian scored in the first half and Kealia Ohai added another after the break as the U.S. advanced to the final for the third time, having won the tournament in 2002 and 2008. 

"It was a difficult match physically," U.S. coach Steve Swanson said. "Nigeria gave us all we could handle and a little more. Getting that first goal was key for us." 

Brian opened the scoring with a header in the 22nd minute and Ohai doubled the lead in the 70th, taking a through ball from Samantha Mewis and beating Nigeria's goalkeeper Ibubeleye Whyte with a right-foot shot from 12 meters (yards). 

Nigeria pressed forward after the second goal but the Americans denied them a chance to get back in the game. 

"I thought our back four did a very good job of keeping possession and allowing us to get out of our end," Swanson said. 

Germany, looking to become the first team to win consecutive titles, scored three goals in the opening 20 minutes in beating host Japan 3-0. 

Melanie Leupolz opened the scoring in the first minute when she took a pass from Dzsenifer Marozsan and beat Japan goalkeeper Sakiko Ikeda with an angled right-foot shot. 

Marozsan doubled the lead in the 13th with a lob over the head of Ikeda and Lena Lotzen made it 3-0 with a header in the 19th for her sixth goal of the tournament. 

Nigeria will face Japan for the third place on Saturday before the U.S. meets Germany in the final.

Monday 3 September 2012

Arsenal two good for Liverpool

Lukas Podolski and Santi Cazorla both scored their first goals for Arsenal in a comfortable 2-0 win at Anfield yesterday. 

After two 0-0 draws following the sale of Robin van Persie to Manchester United, there were raised questions over Arsenal's firepower but Podolski answered them with an emphatic finish before halftime to put the visitors in charge. 

Spaniard Cazorla sealed the points after 67 minutes to leave Liverpool's new manager Brendan Rodgers reflecting on the club's worst start to a league season for 50 years. 

Arsenal, who are yet to concede a goal this season, moved up to seventh in the fledgling Premier League table with five points while Liverpool languish fourth from bottom after two defeats and a draw. 

Arsene Wenger's latest incarnation showed encouraging signs at Anfield as the Gunners swept to their first victory of the season with plenty to spare. 

"The sharpness gets better from game to game but overall we looked solid and scored two goals," Wenger said. "We missed opportunities on the counter-attack at the start of the game but we had a convincing team performance," he added. 

Both sides struggled to find any rhythm early on. Liverpool enjoyed plenty of possession but lacked any goal threat with Luis Suarez and Fabio Borini running around to little effect. 

Arsenal were content to bide their time and wait for a mistake and it arrived after 31 minutes when Steven Gerrard's stray pass allowed the visitors to launch a devastating counter-attack that ended with Cazorla picking out Germany striker Podolski to finish with an angled drive across Pepe Reina. 

Liverpool responded with Raheem Sterling firing a shot against the outside of the post from a narrow angle although Arsenal should have doubled their lead when Podolski's strike partner Olivier Giroud, another new signing, skewed a shot wide. 

The pattern continued after the break with Arsenal looking comfortable at the back and incisive up front. Rodgers replaced the ineffective Fabio Borini with Stewart Downing, meaning Liverpool were chasing an equaliser with only one recognised striker on the pitch - hardly a ringing endorsement of the club's transfer window dealings. 

The home side's fate was sealed with just over 20 minutes remaining when the impressive Cazorla put it past a clueless Pepe Reina. 

Cometh the hour, Cometh the man!

Robin van Persie made up for a penalty miss by scoring his first hat trick for the Red Devils with two late goals in Manchester United's dramatic 3-2 win at Southampton on Sunday, earning them a second straight win in the Premier League. 

In a fitting way to mark United manager Alex Ferguson's 1,000th league game in charge, Van Persie equalized in the 87th minute before heading home a corner in the second minute of injury time for his fourth goal since joining from Arsenal for 38 million Dollars in the off season. 

Van Persie's late show, which took him to 100 Premier League goals in 197 games, will have come as a mighty relief for the Netherlands striker, after his impudent chipped penalty was clawed away by goalkeeper Kelvin Davis in the 68th minute. 

The score was 2-1 to Southampton at the time and United looked headed for a second loss in three games before Van Persie's goals. 

"I don't know what I was thinking with the penalty. I was going to hit it hard but at the last second I changed my mind," Van Persie said. "I'm quite disappointed about it. I ask certain standards from my game and at 2-1 down you cannot take a penalty like that." 

Ferguson, famous for what the British media calls the "hairdryer treatment" in the dressing room when his team or player underperforms, was all smiles after the match despite Van Persie's error of judgment. 

"I was surprised because every time I've seen him take a penalty he usually rattles it into the corners, so I was confident," Ferguson said. "But he made up for it." 

Having started the season with a 1-0 loss at Everton, this win lifted United up to fifth place on six points, one behind neighbor and reigning champion Manchester City and three behind early leader Chelsea.