Fulham have dramatically advanced to the Europa League final after coming from a goal down in the second half to beat Hamburg 2-1 on the night and on aggregate.
Mladen Petric fired the visitors in front with a critical away goal in the 22nd minute when he curled in a phenomenal free kick beyond Fulham goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer from 30 yards.
Hamburg seemed totally in control until just before the hour mark, when hobbled Fulham striker Bobby Zamora was replaced by Clint Dempsey.
Eleven minutes later, Fulham pulled the score level when Simon Davies scored a fine goal on two touches - the first to elude Guy Demel and the second to slot past goalkeeper Frank Rost.
Then, in the 76th minute, Fulham completed the turnaround off a corner kick when Davies effort deflected out into the path of Zoltan Gera for a calm finish.
Ruud van Nistelrooy missed a late shot in stoppage time, but Hamburg had been completely deflated by the goals.
Fulham now advance to the Europa League final which is held this season, ironically, in Hamburg.
(source: Soccerway.com)
sexta-feira, 30 de abril de 2010
INTER KNOCKS DOWN THE GIANT
After taking a two-goal lead, Mourinho knew that it will be a tough task to face current Champions League champs, in their home stadium.
It was the perfect game to apply such a defensive strategy where Jose Mourinho as always exceled, at FC Porto and Chelsea, not allowing opponents to get close their goal area.
Everything was going fine for the first 30 minutes when, suddenly, Thiago Motta was sent-off. What seemed to be a major loss and a great advantage to Barça, turned to be the most appropriate stage for Inter to put into practice their defensive model. Not being ultra-destructive, the italian system was limited to give the ball to those led by Guardiola and cover all the spaces to reach its goal.
Like Mou has said, «This is the most beautifull lost game in my life!».
Now, the "oldies-but-goldies" players from Inter have their last chance to win Champions League, against Bayern.
It was the perfect game to apply such a defensive strategy where Jose Mourinho as always exceled, at FC Porto and Chelsea, not allowing opponents to get close their goal area.
Everything was going fine for the first 30 minutes when, suddenly, Thiago Motta was sent-off. What seemed to be a major loss and a great advantage to Barça, turned to be the most appropriate stage for Inter to put into practice their defensive model. Not being ultra-destructive, the italian system was limited to give the ball to those led by Guardiola and cover all the spaces to reach its goal.
Like Mou has said, «This is the most beautifull lost game in my life!».
Now, the "oldies-but-goldies" players from Inter have their last chance to win Champions League, against Bayern.
quarta-feira, 21 de abril de 2010
Dazzling Inter stun Barca to take semi-final lead
MILAN (AFP) - Inter Milan produced a stunning performance to beat holders Barcelona 3-1 in the Champions League semi-final, first leg at the San Siro.
Goals from Wesley Sneijder, Maicon and Diego Milito extinguished Pedro's opener for Barca and sent the nerazzuri faithful into raptures ahead of next week's second leg at the Camp Nou.
It was a tactical masterclass from Jose Mourinho as his team wiped out memories of the footballing lessons Barca gave them in the group stages back in September and November.
The Portuguese boss said even if his team don't reach the final in Madrid, he will be satisfied.
"It gives me great pride to say that we could go to Madrid to play the final or we will come home from Barcelona with our heads held high," he said on Tuesday.
"Obviously we'd be happy if we go to Madrid and if not we'd be disappointed but we know that we've done everything.
"When I arrived at Inter we had trouble just qualifying from the group stages, we didn't do well in this competition and had a fear of winning and people said we couldn't play in Europe.
"But now we've beaten the best team in the world and now Inter are a great Champions League team.
"If we don't win it this year, we'll win it next year or in two years time. We'll be in semi-finals and finals, we've changed."
Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola was magnanimous in defeat and refused to blame the team's 14-hour coach journey to get here for the loss.
"This can happen, especially when you're playing in the semi-final of the Champions League and against Inter Milan," he said.
"Of course it's not ideal losing like this but we can still do it.
"The result is not good, we gave away too many balls, we can do better. This wasn't our best game and Inter don't make it easy for you to play.
"I know they're tired but I'm not a medical expert and I can't say how much the journey affected them."
Mourinho picked an attacking line-up with three forwards plus playmaker Sneijder in midfield and from the off they demonstrated a willingness to take on the champions.
It was they who created the first clear-cut chance on 18 minutes as Samuel Eto'o curled a left-footer from outside the area that Victor Valdes failed to hold but Diego Milito fired the rebound straight across the face of goal.
Inter were looking relaxed and confident but a minute later they fell behind through some dreadful defending.
Former Inter left-back Maxwell ran far too easily down the left past three non-challenges, reaching the byline where he pulled the ball back and with Inter's defenders preoccupied by Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the centre, Pedro came in off the right flank to drill the ball home from 15 yards.
The hosts kept going about their task, though, and Sneijder slid a lovely pass to Milito in the inside left channel but again he dragged his shot just past the far post.
Yet on the half hour mark Inter got the equaliser they deserved as Maicon played Eto'o down the right, he pulled the ball back into the middle and Milito took it off Goran Pandev's foot but then fed it on to the unmarked Sneijder at the back post for a right-footed finish inside Valdes's near upright.
In that first half Barca had enjoyed almost 65 percent of the possession - but Inter were showing that their coach's assertion after the pair met in the group stages that you can play well without the ball, certainly rang true.
Mourinho had also said before kick-off that Barca were as good as they were back then but that Inter were much improved and their display bore that out.
Inter's first half had been impressive but they started the second at a canter with Pandev shedding off three players in midfield and then playing Milito behind the backline, the Argentine pulling the ball back for the charging Maicon to prod home his second goal in successive games, just three minutes in.
Messi finally woke up and got his first shot off on 53 minutes but Julio Cesar parried it and the Brazilian stopper had to be alert moments later to block a close-range Sergio Busquets header from a corner, although the Spaniard should have scored.
But Barca could not handle Inter's attacking flair and on 61 minutes Eto'o crossed from the right and Sneijder's poor header bounced up for Milito, arriving at the back post, to nod home.
Barca took total possession of the ball in the closing stages and Inter survived one scramble in the box as Lucio blocked Gerard Pique's prod from a tight angle on the line.
Source: www.soccerway.com
Goals from Wesley Sneijder, Maicon and Diego Milito extinguished Pedro's opener for Barca and sent the nerazzuri faithful into raptures ahead of next week's second leg at the Camp Nou.
It was a tactical masterclass from Jose Mourinho as his team wiped out memories of the footballing lessons Barca gave them in the group stages back in September and November.
The Portuguese boss said even if his team don't reach the final in Madrid, he will be satisfied.
"It gives me great pride to say that we could go to Madrid to play the final or we will come home from Barcelona with our heads held high," he said on Tuesday.
"Obviously we'd be happy if we go to Madrid and if not we'd be disappointed but we know that we've done everything.
"When I arrived at Inter we had trouble just qualifying from the group stages, we didn't do well in this competition and had a fear of winning and people said we couldn't play in Europe.
"But now we've beaten the best team in the world and now Inter are a great Champions League team.
"If we don't win it this year, we'll win it next year or in two years time. We'll be in semi-finals and finals, we've changed."
Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola was magnanimous in defeat and refused to blame the team's 14-hour coach journey to get here for the loss.
"This can happen, especially when you're playing in the semi-final of the Champions League and against Inter Milan," he said.
"Of course it's not ideal losing like this but we can still do it.
"The result is not good, we gave away too many balls, we can do better. This wasn't our best game and Inter don't make it easy for you to play.
"I know they're tired but I'm not a medical expert and I can't say how much the journey affected them."
Mourinho picked an attacking line-up with three forwards plus playmaker Sneijder in midfield and from the off they demonstrated a willingness to take on the champions.
It was they who created the first clear-cut chance on 18 minutes as Samuel Eto'o curled a left-footer from outside the area that Victor Valdes failed to hold but Diego Milito fired the rebound straight across the face of goal.
Inter were looking relaxed and confident but a minute later they fell behind through some dreadful defending.
Former Inter left-back Maxwell ran far too easily down the left past three non-challenges, reaching the byline where he pulled the ball back and with Inter's defenders preoccupied by Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the centre, Pedro came in off the right flank to drill the ball home from 15 yards.
The hosts kept going about their task, though, and Sneijder slid a lovely pass to Milito in the inside left channel but again he dragged his shot just past the far post.
Yet on the half hour mark Inter got the equaliser they deserved as Maicon played Eto'o down the right, he pulled the ball back into the middle and Milito took it off Goran Pandev's foot but then fed it on to the unmarked Sneijder at the back post for a right-footed finish inside Valdes's near upright.
In that first half Barca had enjoyed almost 65 percent of the possession - but Inter were showing that their coach's assertion after the pair met in the group stages that you can play well without the ball, certainly rang true.
Mourinho had also said before kick-off that Barca were as good as they were back then but that Inter were much improved and their display bore that out.
Inter's first half had been impressive but they started the second at a canter with Pandev shedding off three players in midfield and then playing Milito behind the backline, the Argentine pulling the ball back for the charging Maicon to prod home his second goal in successive games, just three minutes in.
Messi finally woke up and got his first shot off on 53 minutes but Julio Cesar parried it and the Brazilian stopper had to be alert moments later to block a close-range Sergio Busquets header from a corner, although the Spaniard should have scored.
But Barca could not handle Inter's attacking flair and on 61 minutes Eto'o crossed from the right and Sneijder's poor header bounced up for Milito, arriving at the back post, to nod home.
Barca took total possession of the ball in the closing stages and Inter survived one scramble in the box as Lucio blocked Gerard Pique's prod from a tight angle on the line.
Source: www.soccerway.com
segunda-feira, 19 de abril de 2010
LAUSANNE: SWISS CUP FINAL WITH A GIANT-KILLER
Lausanne, the world capital of Olympic movement, is pushing for city's flag club, FC Lausanne Sports, in their quest for national glory at Swiss Cup final.
At opponent's home field, St. Jakob Park, in Basel, LS will try to close a fantastic season in the cup, having beaten same tier Stade Nyonnais and Lugano (both 2-1, away), and two Super League teams, Young Boys (crashed 4-1, at home) and St. Gallen (2-1, away).
Regular season in the Challenge League has been average, with a modest 10th place, but the pursuit for a Europa League place makes the squad believe they can win the 10th Cup trophy to the club. It will be the 4th final game clash between Lausanne-Sports and Basel, and they are willing to repeat their 1944 victory.
At opponent's home field, St. Jakob Park, in Basel, LS will try to close a fantastic season in the cup, having beaten same tier Stade Nyonnais and Lugano (both 2-1, away), and two Super League teams, Young Boys (crashed 4-1, at home) and St. Gallen (2-1, away).
Regular season in the Challenge League has been average, with a modest 10th place, but the pursuit for a Europa League place makes the squad believe they can win the 10th Cup trophy to the club. It will be the 4th final game clash between Lausanne-Sports and Basel, and they are willing to repeat their 1944 victory.
sábado, 17 de abril de 2010
ROSS COUNTY FC: THE SCOTTISH GIANT-KILLERS
Next May 15, at Hampden Park, Glasgow, will take place the Active Nation Scottish Cup Final, between Dundee United, 3rd in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League, and Ross County FC, 5th in the First Division and the new Scottish Giant-Killers of the season.
Last weekend, a last-minute goal by Scott, against Celtic at the very same venue where they will be next month, confirmed not only a surprising presence at cup final, but an entirely deserved one.
Before having beaten Celtic, Ross County has put Hiberian, another Premier League team, out of sight, with a replay win at home, after getting an away draw.
HIGHLIGHTS AT YOUTUBE:
Last weekend, a last-minute goal by Scott, against Celtic at the very same venue where they will be next month, confirmed not only a surprising presence at cup final, but an entirely deserved one.
Before having beaten Celtic, Ross County has put Hiberian, another Premier League team, out of sight, with a replay win at home, after getting an away draw.
HIGHLIGHTS AT YOUTUBE:
quinta-feira, 15 de abril de 2010
QUEVILLY, THE FRENCH GIANT-KILLERS
A fantastic cup-season by Quevilly, small club of french 4th division, has finished before Paris Saint-Germain. At home, lost by minimal margin 1-0, with a goal by Erding, early in 2nd period.
After surpassing above-tier clubs like Pacy Vallée-d'Eure, of National (3rd Div), and Angers (Ligue 2), this amateur team has exceeded all expectations, defeating two Ligue 1 teams, Rennes (1-0) and Boulogne(3-1), in eighth and quarter-finals.
Here's a message of congratulations to this modest club of northeast France, who deservelly gains the title of french Giant-Killers.
After surpassing above-tier clubs like Pacy Vallée-d'Eure, of National (3rd Div), and Angers (Ligue 2), this amateur team has exceeded all expectations, defeating two Ligue 1 teams, Rennes (1-0) and Boulogne(3-1), in eighth and quarter-finals.
Here's a message of congratulations to this modest club of northeast France, who deservelly gains the title of french Giant-Killers.
quarta-feira, 14 de abril de 2010
CHAVES, REAL PORTUGUESE GIANT-KILLERS
I did not want to miss this day without devoting a special message to Chaves.
It is the first message of this blog, and all the credit for a club that represents a region, Tras-os-Montes.
After eliminating Paços de Ferreira, went to Figueira da Foz overthrow another Division 1 club, Naval, it's a wonderful achievement.
Congratulations to Chaves, the players, and their fans!
It is the first message of this blog, and all the credit for a club that represents a region, Tras-os-Montes.
After eliminating Paços de Ferreira, went to Figueira da Foz overthrow another Division 1 club, Naval, it's a wonderful achievement.
Congratulations to Chaves, the players, and their fans!
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