Spanish La Liga Round Sixteen
Posted on January 3, 2009
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Saturday 20th December 2008
Juande Ramos recorded his first victory as Real Madrid manager as his side beat rivals Valencia 1-0 at the Bernabeu. The winner came early on from Gonzalo Higuain after just three minutes. The Argentine finishing after Arjen Robben had went on a mazy run. It looked as though there would be more goals but none of the chances materialised, as Real moved within a point of Valencia.
The late kick brought more drama and goals. Atletico Madrid claimed a vital 3-2 away victory at Espanyol. Maxi Rodriguez opened the scoring against his old club after just seven minutes. Sergio Sanchez hit back for Espanyol in the 58th minute. Sergio ‘Kun’ Aguero fired Atletico back into the lead with nine minutes remaining. Maxi Rodriguez scored his second and Atleticos third in injury time to secure all three points. There was still time for Valmiro Valdo to score a consolation goal for Espanyol.
Sunday 21st December 2008
Barcelona went ten points clear at the top of La Liga, by beating Villarreal 2-1 at El Madrigal. Cani chipped the home side into the lead on 48 minutes. Seydou Keita scrambled home the equaliser in the 52nd minute for Barca. Thierry Henry volleyed home the winner in the 67th minute. Barca had Gerard Pique dismissed for two bookable offences with fifteen minutes remaining. Villarreal put Barca under heavy pressure but couldn’t find an equaliser.
Sevilla could only manage a 0-0 draw at Real Mallorca. The point was enough to take them into second place. Deportivo beat Recreativo Huelva 4-1 at La Riazor. Alberto Lopo gave Depor the lead after 10 minutes. Sergio Gonzales doubled Depor’s lead from the penalty spot after 20 minutes. Adrian Colunga scored from the spot for Recre after 24 minutes. Depor regained their two goal advantage after 44 minutes through a Rodolfo Bodipo header. Luis Felipe rounded off the scoring in the last minute to make it a comfortable victory for the home side.
Numancia came back from two goals down to beat Valladolid 4-3. Jose Barkero put the home side ahead in the 12th minute. Valladolid then took complete control with goals from Henok Goitom in the 34th minute, then a Rubio Alvaro goal in the 53rd minute. Goitom doubled his tally on 76 minutes. Numancia scored in the 85th minute through Javier Del Pino and Carlos Aranda scored an unlikely equaliser in the 88th minute. Gorka Brit scored a vital injury time winner.
Struggling Osasuna recorded a 5-2 home victory over Getafe. Jaroslav Plasil gave Osasuna the lead after 7 minutes. Juanfran doubled Osasunas lead after 30 minutes. Walter Pandiani made it 3-0 after 43 minutes. Javad Nekounam made it 4-0 on the stroke of halt-time. Roberto Soldado gave Getafe a consolation on 65 minutes. Hector Font made it 5-1 to Osasuna in the 81st minute. Soldado scored his second in the 90th minute to make it 5-2.
Racing Santander drew 1-1 with Malaga. Nabil Baha gave Malaga the lead just before half-time. Juan Valera equalised for Racing after 68 minutes. Sporting Gijon beat Almeria 1-0. Francisco Maldonado scored the only goal in the 27th minute. Athletic claimed a 1-0 win against Real Betis in Seville. Javi Martinez scored the only goal after 43 minutes.
Spanish La Liga Round Fifteen
Posted on December 20, 2008
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Saturday 13th December
Barcelona stepped closer to the La Liga crown as they beat bitter rivals Real Madrid 2-0 in El Clasico at the Camp Nou. Two late goals earned Barca the victory. Samuel Eto’o had a penalty kick saved by Iker Casillas but wasn’t to be denied as he struck Barcas first goal in the 83rd minute. Lionel Messi clinched the victory in the 90th minute. It was Former Tottenham manager Juande Ramos’s first game in charge and he has a mountain to climb if Real are going to win La Liga.
In the other Saturday game Valencia beat Espanyol 2-1 at the Mestalla. The visitors took the lead after Roman Martinez gave them a 29th minute lead. Espanyol were reduced to 10 men after 39 minutes, as former Los Ches midfielder Francisco Rufete was dismissed. Raul Albiol fired Valencia level after 58 minutes. Substitute Vicente then scored the winner in the 81st minute to keep Valencia right up there in the race for La Liga.
Sunday 14th December 2008
In the big game of Sunday, Sevilla beat Villarreal 1-0 to secure three vitals points. Renato scored the winning goal just before the half-time break. Any chance of Villarreal getting back into game disappeared in the 53rd minute as Joseba Llorente was dismissed. Atletico Madrid beat Real Betis 2-0 to go ahead of rivals Real into fifth spot. Atletico took the lead after 20 through a Maxi Rodriguez strike. Sergio Aguero confirmed the victory with a strike in the 80th minute.
Real Valladolid beat Deportivo 3-0. Valladolid took the lead after 15 minutes through Jonathan Sesma. Valladolid doubled their lead after 26 minutes courtesy of a Pedro Lopez strike. Pedro Leon completed the scoring with a goal on 56 minutes. Valladolid now hasn’t lost for five games. Recreativo Huelva scored a crucial 1-0 victory over fellow strugglers Osasuna. Adrian struck the winner in the 86st minute, to secure three vital points for Recre.
Getafe managed a 4-1 home victory over struggling Real Mallorca. Cosmin Contra gave the home side the lead after 13 minutes and Ikechukwu Uche doubled that lead after 31 minutes. The visitors hit back just a minute after the second goal through Aritz Aduriz. Getafe restored the two goal advantage through a goal from Manu del Mora in the 71st minute. Jaime Gavilan struck the fourth after 87 minutes to give Getafe a comprehensive win.
Athletic Bilbao recorded an easy 3-0 home win over Sporting Gijon. Fernando Llorente gave Bilbao the lead after just 6 minutes from the penalty spot. Andoni Iraola struck to make it 2-0 after 22 minutes and David Lopez completed the scoring after 32 minutes. Almeria drew 1-1 with Racing Santander. Ezequiel Garay gave the visitors the lead after 33 minutes. Almeria hit back in the 62 minute through Santiago Acasiete to end a losing run off three games. Malaga beat Numancia 2-0 but left it very late Antonio Apono scoring in the 85th minute and Nabil Baha adding a second in the 89th minute.
Premiership Football Results Round-Up
Posted on December 17, 2008
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Saturday 13-12-2008
Liverpool 2 Hull City 2
Liverpool had to come from a 2 goal deficit to draw at home for the third time against a plucky Hull side. No one thought Hull could be 2 up at Anfield but they did just that the first was a Paul McShane header from a Marlon King cross & the second was a own goal by defender Jamie Carragher as he turned a Bernard Mendy cross into his own net. But Liverpool came back almost straight away when Stephen Gerrard produced a cool finish after a Dirk Kuyt Cross. It was Stephen Gerrard that got Liverpool back on level terms when he finished from a Yossi Benayoun set up after Dirk Kuyt had headed down into the box. Both teams went after the match in the second half but Hull managed to hold on & secure the draw
Aston Villa 4 Bolton 2
Aston Villa are now in a Champions league spot after coming from behind to defeat Bolton at Villa Park. It was Bolton who started the better when Johan Elmander gave them the lead after 17 minutes from a Kevin Davis cross but Villa were level just before half time when Agbonlahor collected a long ball from Martin Larsen & fired his shot passed Jussi Jaaskelainen they then went in front from a Kevin Davies own goal header while under pressure from Gareth Barry that just beat the Bolton Goalie. Agbonlahor then got Villa’s third in the second half as he headed home a Ashley Young fantastic cross from the left & it was Young who got the fourth after Agbonlahor returned the complement by setting him up. But Kevin Davies then scored at the right end of the pitch when he fired past Friedel but it was to late for a Bolton come back..
Middlesbrough 1 Arsenal 1
Arsenal look like title contenders one week then look venerable the next as they could only secure a point at Boro thanks to a Arsenal old boy. It was Emmanuel Adebayor who put Arsenal in front when he headed a Cesc Frabregas corner in to the net but Boro where level just before the break when Tuncay Sanli’s put in a driven cross & it was fantastically guided into the net from Jeremie Aliadiere. Both teams tired in the second half but neither could break the deadlock..
Tottenham Hotspur 0 Manchester United 0
United missed the chance to close the gap on Chelsea & Liverpool by being held by Spurs. Not much really happened apart from the Spurs fans booing Dimitar Beratov every time he had the ball but the real hero was the Spurs Goalie Heurelho Gomez he produced a terrific one handed save from Ryan Giggs when his free kick looked in near the end of the match but it gave them the draw..
Wigan 3 Blackburn 0
Paul Ince had more pressure put on his head when he saw his struggling team go down at Wigan. He was hoping for a fast start but he got when he didn’t was as they were 2 down inside the first 12 minutes because of terrible defending. Emile Heskey got Wigan on there way with a great deft header from a Luis Antonio Valencia cross. It was Valencia who got the second as a poor clearance fell to him just outside the box the Blackburn defence stood off him & he fired his shot past Robinson. Lee Cattermole got the third as once again Valencia was given time & space down the flank to put in a superb cross for Cattermole to finish & Made it a miserable afternoon for Ince..
Sunderland 4 West Brom 0
Sunderland thrashed West Brom at the Stadium Of Light under caretaker manager Ricky Sbragia who did his chance no harm at all of getting it full time. It was Kenwyne Jones who got them on there way with 2 quick fire goals the first was a header from a Andy Reid cross & his second was a bundle over the line after Djibril Cisse had his shot saved from Scott Carson. Andy Reid then made it 3 just before half time when he got to the far post totally unmarked & headed home a Steed Malbranque deep cross. With West Brom in shock they didn’t do much better in the second half but they did coincide a 4th when Roman Bednar was adjudged to have handballed in the box & Cisse stepped up to fire the penalty home..
Manchester City 0 Everton 1
ManchesterCity with all there money & so called stars were yet again undone as Everton fully desersed there win as they dominated the match. It was Joe Hart thet kept them in the match as he made a series of good saves but Everton got what they deserved right at the death. It was a Leon Osman corner that was sent in & there was make shift striker Tim Cahill to rise above everyone in the box & to head home & give Everton the win..
Stoke 0 Fulham 0
Stoke & Fulham couldn’t break the deadlock in this boring encounter. Richard Cresswell had the best chance when he played a great one-two with Recardo Fuller but he sent his shot high & wide when he had the open goal just waiting. Fulhams best chance was when they should have had a penalty just before half time when Danny Higginbotham hand ball in the penalty area but the ref Stuart Atwell just waived play on & the match ended a draw..
Sunday 14-12-2008
Portsmouth 0 Newcastle 3
Newcastle got the first away win of the season after they beat a Portsmouth side who had the best of the play but rue the missed chances they had. It was deadlock after the first half as both teams didn’t really threaten the goal much but that changed in the second half. It was Michael Owen who got Newcastle on there way when he scored after 52 minutes he collected a Jonas Guitierrez pass on the egde of the area & even though he got a heavy touch he still managed to lift the ball over the advancing David James & into the net. Obafemi Martins got the second on 77 minutes when he raced onto a through ball from Jose Enrique & he coolly slotted past James & the match was rapped up on 90 minutes by Danny Guthrie when he scored with a great curling shot into the top corner from a Shola Ameobi cut back but again James should have done better..
Chelsea 1 West Ham 1
Chelsea couldn’t capitalise on Liverpool’s draw on saturday when they were held yet again at home by a West Ham side managed by once hero of Chelsea Gianfranco Zola. With Chelsea dominating the play it was West Ham that took the surprise lead on the 33 minute mark when Craig Bellamy scored a great goal. Chelsea made a substitution at half time & brought on Dider Droga to bring some presence up front & it seemed to pay off as Nicolas Anelka scored his 100thpremier league goal withonly 6 minutes of the second half. But Chelsea couldn’t find a way through West Ham & it could have got worse as Carlton Cole had the chance to earn West Ham all three point right at the death but missed the chance to do so & they settled for a point..
Spanish La Liga Round Fourteen
Posted on December 11, 2008
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Saturday 6th December 2008
Barcelona beat Valencia 4-0, in the big game of La Liga this weekend. Thierry Henry gave Barca the lead after 20 minutes, he then added his second after 28 minutes. Daniel Alves struck to me make it 3-0 just after half-time. Thierry Henry completed his hat-trick in the 79th minute, to make it a convincing victory.
Getafe raced into a three goals lead at Villarreal. Esteban Granero gave the visitors the lead after 10 minutes. Jaime Gavilan doubled Getafe’s lead after 18 minutes. Getafe were then in dreamland, as Francisco Casquero gave them a three goal lead after 29 minutes. Villarreal rallied in the second half and made an amazing comeback. Robert Pires scored in the 55th minute to get Villarreal back into the game. Sebastien Eguren scored a second in the 83rd minute and Giuseppe completed the fantastic comeback with an 86st minute equaliser.
Atletico Madrid won 5-2 at Sporting Gijon. Mate Bilic gave the Sporting the lead after only 3 minutes. Sergio ‘Kun’ Aguero gave Atletico an equaliser on 6 minutes. Aguero scored his second in the 44th minute. Diego Forlan extended the visitors lead in the 54th minute. David Barral scored to put the home side back in the game on 63 minutes. Atletico however managed to score to more goals. Maxi Rodriguez scored in the 73rd minute to make it 4-2 and Diego Forlan scored the fifth in the 80th minute.
Sunday 7th December 2008
Deportivo continued their fine form as they beat Malaga 2-0. The home side opened the scoring in the 65th minute through Angel Lafita. Omar Bravo sealed the points for Depor in the 69th minute. Recreativo Huelva recorded a 3-2 home victory over Real Mallorca. Recreativo took the lead after 16 minutes. Mallorca hit back through Marco Ruben after 25 minutes. Mallorca took the lead on 36 minutes through Jose Manuel Jurado. Perez Adrian Colunga then equalised for Recreativo in the 43rd minute. Recre claim three vital points in the 53rd minute through a Martinez Javi Fuego strike.
Numancia also claim a valuable home victory, beating Almeria 2-1. Esteban Solari gave the visitors the lead after 12 minute from the penalty spot. Javier Del Pino levelled the score on 20 minutes. Asier Goiria gave Numancia the lead after 52 minutes. That goal proved the winner, it wasn’t all good for the home side however as Jose Barkero was dismissed in the 69th minute. Racing could only manage a 1-1 home draw against Athletic Bilbao. Francisco Yeste gave Bilbao the lead after 49 minutes. Bilbao was reduced to 10 men in the 77th minute as Pablo Orbaiz was dismissed. Bilbao couldn’t hold on as Gonzalo Colsa equalised for Racing in the 83rd minute.
Osasuna drew 3-3 with Valladolid. Dady scored in the 18th minute to give Osasuna the lead. Javad Nekounam doubled Osasunas lead after 43 minutes. Dady scored his second in the 57th minute to give Osasuna a 3-0 lead. It looked enough for all three points but Valladolid had other ideas. Henok Goitom scored after 60 minutes to give them hope. In the 65th minute Miguel Flano found his own net to make it 3-2. Valladolid completed their remarkable comeback in the 86st minute, with a goal from Bartholomew Ogbeche.
Real Betis and Espanyol drew 1-1 in Seville. Real Betis had the better of the game and missed some great chances. Achille Emana did finally give them the lead after 57 minutes, atoning for two bad misses. Espanyol never looked like getting back into the game, until Ferron ‘Coro’ Corominas scored in the 71st minute. Both teams pushed for a winner but neither could find the net.
In a fantastic game at the Bernabeu, Sevilla defeated Real Madrid 4-3. Adriano gave Sevilla the lead after three minutes. Raul headed home after 19 minutes to equalise for Real. Romaric headed Sevilla back into the lead after 22 minutes. Freddie Kanoute extended Sevilla’s lead on 38 minutes. Real made a terrific comeback in the second half. Gonzalo Higuain made it 3-2 after 67 minutes, before Fernando Gago equalised on 69 minutes. It all went wrong for Real in the 77th minute as Arjen Robben was dismissed for two bookable offences. Renato snatched the victory for Sevilla with a strike in the 85th minute.
Premier League Round-Up Sat 6-12-08
Posted on December 8, 2008
Filed Under Premiership 08/09 | 1 Comment
Blackburn 1 Liverpool 3
Liverpool were held by long periods by Blackburn & were getting frustruated like they were in the last 2 games but managed to overcome them in the end. There was really nothing much to talk about in the first half apart from a Morten Gamst Pedersen strike that could have given Blackburn the lead but all the action was in the second half. It took until the 69th minute for the deadlock to be broken when Xabi Alonso received the ball on the edge of the penalty area & calmly slotted the ball past Paul Robinson. Yossi Benayoun then added a second when he got into the penalty area & fired past Robinson at a angle, RoqueSanta Cruz then pulled one back witha diving header with4 minutes to go but Stephen Gerrard popped up to seal it for Liverpool with a neat finish for the third…
Bolton 0 Chelsea 2
Chelsea got there 8th victory away from home & 11 going back to last season to set a new premiership record to keep the pressure on Liverpool. It didn’t take long for them to score in fact only 9 minutes had passed when Jose Bosingwa put in a great cross for Nicolas Anelka to head home for his 13thgoal of the season. With 24 minutes on the clock Deco made it 2 as he produced a low volley into the bottom corner but the Bolton defence made so many mistakes to give him that chance. Bolton did all the pressing & should have had a penalty when John Terry hand balled but it was waved away & Chelsea hung on for the win..
Manchaster United 1 Sunderland 0
Sunderland now without a manager after Roy Keane left during the week managed to hold on & keep Man United at bay for all the 90 minutes showing they could defend. It looked good for Sunderland when Ronaldo had to go off near the end what looks like a injury but it all went wrong after then as Michael Carrick hit a strong shot which got a deflection & hit the the post but the rebound fell to Nemanja Vidic who in turn put the ball in the net to give them all 3 points & ruin all Sunderlands hard work..
Arsenal 1 Wigan 0
Arsenal had to battle hard for this win as Wigan were on a 5 game unbeaten streak it started off good for Arsenal as they took the lead after 16 minutes through a Emmanuel Adebayor neat finish after bad defending from Titus Bramble. The match continued with Arsenal creating chances but couldn’t finish them they were denied twice by the woodwork & ended up having to hang on to there one goal lead as Wigan searched for the equaliser but it wasn’t to be..
Hull City 2 Middlesbrough 1
Hull yet again came away with the win after there was late drama at the Kc Stadium. It was Hull who made the better chances in the first half but couldn’t find the net & should have gone into the break ahead. The second half was much the same until there was just 11 minutes left when Middlesbrough took the lead when Tuncay Sanli flicked home a Justin Hoyte cross.But it only took Hull 3 minutes to get level when Bernard Mandy crashed a shot against the post that flew back into Ross Turnbull & rebounded into the net. But it was a penalty that settled the match when David Wheater was adjudged to have fouled Geovanni & was sent off so it was left to Marlon King to step up & fire the penalty home to give Hull all 3 points..
Newcastle 2 Stoke 2
Newcastle have bin making some steady progress of later & there have bin times when they should have won football matches but ended up drawing & this match was no different. It started off well for Newcastle as Michael Owen slotted home from a great pass from Jonas Gutierrez in side the penalty area It was soon 2 for Newcastle as Owen again lost his marker & stabbed the ball into the back of the net from a Obafemi Martins cross. But it all went wrong in the second half as Mamby Sidibe poked home after a Ricardo Fuller cross on the hour mark & with Newcastle holding on Stoke got level well into stoppage time when Adboulaye Faye struck to earn the draw..
Fulham 1 Manchester City 1
In the early live game we saw a entertaining draw between two sides who needed the win. All the action was in the first half & it was Man City who took the lead after just 6 minutes it was a full flowing move that ended up with Pablo Zabaleta putting in a great cross for Benjani Mwaruwari to score. But Fulham came back & after 28 minutes they were level when Bobby Zomora made a clever pass which found Jimmy Bullard in space to fire a powerful shot past the keeper & into the net & it stayed that way until half time.The second half saw both teams going for it & it made a great match but neither side could get the winning goal…
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