At halftime at Moscow, Manchester United and Chelsea are deadlocked at 1-1. Cristiano Ronaldo scored at 26 minutes to give the Red Devils a 1-0 lead. Frank Lampard equalized for the Blues right before the end of the 45th minute.
UPDATE:
Neither team scored in the second half. The championship match will go into two 15-minute overtime periods, played to their conclusion, with no sudden death or Golden Goal.
ANOTHER UPDATE:
The game is going into the penalty-kick shootout. I will be the first such final to reach this point since the AC Milan-Liverpool final in 2005 at Istanbul.
One Chelsea player who won't take part is Didier Drogba, who was tossed out of the game during the second overtime period after he slapped Nemanja Vidic on the face during a fracas.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Coach Canned In Dallas
And we ain't talkin' 'bout Avery Johnson here:
DALLAS, May 20 (Reuters) - Major League Soccer's FC Dallas have sacked their Northern Irish coach Steve Morrow after losing their last four games, the club said on Tuesday.
'We have set high standards, expectations, and goals for this team and organization,' said Dallas general manager Michael Hitchcock in a statement.
This is a team still awaiting their first appearance in the MLS Cup final.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Talk About Your Relegated Clubs
The end may be near for a club that was recently relegated from the Scottish Premier League:
The staff were summoned to an 11am meeting with administrator David Elliot of Wilson Field Ltd, where the news that money has run out was confirmed.
There remains a glimmer of hope for Gretna, who have been relegated from the Clydesdale Bank Premier League, with one potential buyer still looking at the club.
Director of football Mick Wadsworth, who loses his job, said: 'All the staff have been made redundant this morning.
'We're told there is still one interested party, but because there are no funds at the moment to carry on then everybody has been made redundant.
'So the assumption from that, for most of us, is that it's the end of the line regarding employment at Gretna.'
Gretna could still take their place in the Scottish Football League next season, if a quick sale can be achieved and the club can be revived.
I believe that this was the club that won three consecutive promotions to climb up to the top flight in Scottish soccer. Unfortunately, they certainly looked like they were in way over their heads.
The staff were summoned to an 11am meeting with administrator David Elliot of Wilson Field Ltd, where the news that money has run out was confirmed.
There remains a glimmer of hope for Gretna, who have been relegated from the Clydesdale Bank Premier League, with one potential buyer still looking at the club.
Director of football Mick Wadsworth, who loses his job, said: 'All the staff have been made redundant this morning.
'We're told there is still one interested party, but because there are no funds at the moment to carry on then everybody has been made redundant.
'So the assumption from that, for most of us, is that it's the end of the line regarding employment at Gretna.'
Gretna could still take their place in the Scottish Football League next season, if a quick sale can be achieved and the club can be revived.
I believe that this was the club that won three consecutive promotions to climb up to the top flight in Scottish soccer. Unfortunately, they certainly looked like they were in way over their heads.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
PSG Soap Opera: In The Top Flight For Another Year
At Sochaux, France:
Amara Diane's double (22', 83') enabled PSG to defeat hosts FC Sochaux 2-1 to secure another season in Ligue 1:
Amara Diane's double (22', 83') enabled PSG to defeat hosts FC Sochaux 2-1 to secure another season in Ligue 1:
Diane opened the scoring in the 22nd minute and a battling performance from the capital club kept Sochaux at bay until Guirane N'Daw headed home in the 73rd minute.
But Diane fired home his second to ensure PSG escaped the drop by the skin of their teeth for a second successive season.
Pedro Pauleta should have signed off from Ligue 1 in style as he came close to firing his side into the lead with a well worked free-kick, but his effort hit the wall.
The folks at PSG had better be sure not to get into still another relegation battle next season or it may come back and bite them in the posterior section. Congratulations.
Pompey Cop FA Cup
At London:
Nwankwo Kanu scored the only goal of the match Saturday (37') to lift Portsmouth to the FA Cup championship as the Premiership club defeated League Championship (2nd tier of English soccer) club Cardiff City 1-0 at Wembley Stadium:
Kanu was Portsmouth's hit-and-miss hero again as his first-half goal won the FA Cup for Harry Redknapp's team, who had just enough Premier League pedigree to see off Championship outsiders Cardiff 1-0.
But Kanu and Pompey's joy was despair for the Welsh club's Finnish goalkeeper Peter Enckelman, who palmed a low cross by John Utaka straight to the long-limbed striker, who half-volleyed it into the net from about three yards.
Kanu scored only his seventh goal of the season, and the first since his semi-final winner against West Brom last month, which was a similar close-range effort from a keeper's parry.
And although he squandered two other marvellous opportunities in a match that failed to produce any great exciting football, he was granted a standing ovation by the delirious Pompey fans when replaced by Milan Baros for the final few minutes.
It was Pompey's who 11th 1-0 win of the season, earning them a place in next season's UEFA Cup - their first European adventure to go with their first FA Cup triumph for 69 years.
Kanu was Portsmouth's hit-and-miss hero again as his first-half goal won the FA Cup for Harry Redknapp's team, who had just enough Premier League pedigree to see off Championship outsiders Cardiff 1-0.
But Kanu and Pompey's joy was despair for the Welsh club's Finnish goalkeeper Peter Enckelman, who palmed a low cross by John Utaka straight to the long-limbed striker, who half-volleyed it into the net from about three yards.
Kanu scored only his seventh goal of the season, and the first since his semi-final winner against West Brom last month, which was a similar close-range effort from a keeper's parry.
And although he squandered two other marvellous opportunities in a match that failed to produce any great exciting football, he was granted a standing ovation by the delirious Pompey fans when replaced by Milan Baros for the final few minutes.
It was Pompey's who 11th 1-0 win of the season, earning them a place in next season's UEFA Cup - their first European adventure to go with their first FA Cup triumph for 69 years.
Here we see Pompey manager Harry Redknapp holding the FA Cup in triumph following the game.
Tony Marshall photo/Empics
Here's one of Harry's charges joining in the fun. Jamie McDonald photo/Getty Images
Tony Marshall photo/Empics
Here's one of Harry's charges joining in the fun. Jamie McDonald photo/Getty Images
Thursday, May 15, 2008
From The PEOPLE ARE NO DAMNED GOOD Department
Heluva way to mess up a festive atmosphere.
Hundreds of Rangers fans went on the rampage when a big screen showing the match in the city's Piccadilly Gardens failed to work just before kick-off.
Fifteen officers were injured, as well as a police dog, and 42 arrests were made as hundreds of riot police and supporters fought running battles.
One fan of Rangers' Russian opponents, Zenit St Petersburg, was stabbed but his injuries were not life-threatening.
Stuff like this could jeopardize hopes of English (or British) cities hosting any more major international championship matches for the near future.
Here's a look at some of the rioting as captured on closed-circuit camera:
Hundreds of Rangers fans went on the rampage when a big screen showing the match in the city's Piccadilly Gardens failed to work just before kick-off.
Fifteen officers were injured, as well as a police dog, and 42 arrests were made as hundreds of riot police and supporters fought running battles.
One fan of Rangers' Russian opponents, Zenit St Petersburg, was stabbed but his injuries were not life-threatening.
Stuff like this could jeopardize hopes of English (or British) cities hosting any more major international championship matches for the near future.
Here's a look at some of the rioting as captured on closed-circuit camera:
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
ZENIT WIN UEFA CUP TITLE
At Manchester, England:
Goals from Igor Denisov (72') and Konstatin Zurianov (90'+4) enabled Zenit Saint Petersburg to capture their first international title, defeating Rangers 2-0 in the UEFA Cup final on Wednesday.
Dominant in possession throughout, a repeat of Zenit's 4-0 semi-final triumph against FC Bayern München never looked likely as coach Dick Advocaat's former side proved difficult to break down. The Glasgow outfit had chances of their own at the start of the second half but it merely fired Zenit into life and the cup was effectively theirs 18 minutes from time when Denisov met the ball with a powerful run in midfield, found Andrei Arshavin and then collected the return before coolly sliding it to Neil Alexander's left. Zyrianov doubled the margin with virtually the last kick of the game to spark wild Zenit celebrations.
It is the second time that the trophy was won by a Russian club in the last four years (CSKA Moscow, 2005). Rangers were gunning for their first major European title since winning the UEFA Cup in 1972. Had they won, they would have been the first Scottish club to win a major competition since Aberdeen won the old Cup-Winners Cup in 1983. Getty Images Photo
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Repeat Title For Red Devils; Toffees Clinch UEFA Cup Berth; Cottagers Stay Up While Reading and Birmingham City Go Down (Alongside Feckless Rams)
Sunday marked the conclusion of the 2007-08 English Premier League season:
At Wigan:
Record-holder Ryan Giggs marked a lifetime's loyalty with the best present possible as he delivered another Premier League title to Manchester United as they beat Wigan 2-0.
At London:
The afternoon began in hope but ended in despair for Chelsea as Manchester United retained the Barclays Premier League title.
At Liverpool:
Record signing Ayegbeni Yakubu struck twice to help Everton to a 3-1 win against Newcastle and back into Europe for the third time in four seasons.
At Portsmouth:
Fulham fans danced with delight after Danny Murphy's header 14 minutes from time kept them in the Barclays Premier League with an amazing third away win in a row as they beat Portsmouth 1-0.
At Derby:
Reading were relegated from the Barclays Premier League despite a convincing 4-0 victory over Derby at Pride Park.
At Birmingham:
Birmingham fans turned on chairman David Gold and co-owner David Sullivan as their side's relegation from the Barclays Premier League was confirmed despite substitute Cameron Jerome's late double in a 4-1 win against Blackburn.
At Middlesbrough:
Sven-Goran Eriksson's anticipated final match in charge of Manchester City ended in humiliating fashion as his 10-man side lost 8-1 at Middlesbrough.
At Sunderland:
Theo Walcott handed Arsene Wenger a winning finish to the season with the only goal as they beat Sunderland 1-0.
At London:
Liverpool striker Fernando Torres wrapped up a 2-0 victory at Tottenham to set a record for goals scored by a foreigner in his first season in the Premier League.
At London:
Aston Villa's last-ditch push to secure a UEFA Cup place ended in failure as they concluded their season with a 2-2 draw at West Ham.
At Wigan:
Record-holder Ryan Giggs marked a lifetime's loyalty with the best present possible as he delivered another Premier League title to Manchester United as they beat Wigan 2-0.
United were in front but needing calming despite Cristiano Ronaldo's first-half penalty when Giggs kept his nerve to coolly slot home Wayne Rooney's through ball.
A quarter of an hour earlier, Giggs' had been introduced for his 758th United appearance, equalling a milestone left by Sir Bobby Charlton that will surely be eclipsed in Moscow on May 21.
At London:
The afternoon began in hope but ended in despair for Chelsea as Manchester United retained the Barclays Premier League title.
Substitute Andriy Shevchenko's second-half strike was cancelled out by Kevin Davies' added-time leveller in a 1-1 draw against Bolton but the Blues were also left reeling from the loss of captain John Terry with shoulder injury in the first half.
At Liverpool:
Record signing Ayegbeni Yakubu struck twice to help Everton to a 3-1 win against Newcastle and back into Europe for the third time in four seasons.
The £11million that boss David Moyes paid for Yakubu has clearly paid off, with fifth place now secured.
At Portsmouth:
Fulham fans danced with delight after Danny Murphy's header 14 minutes from time kept them in the Barclays Premier League with an amazing third away win in a row as they beat Portsmouth 1-0.
Midfielder Murphy was left virtually unchallenged to nod in a Jimmy Bullard free-kick of a largely dismal game at Fratton Park which left FA Cup Finalists Portsmouth nursing their fourth consecutive defeat before next week's Wembley final against Cardiff.
At Derby:
Reading were relegated from the Barclays Premier League despite a convincing 4-0 victory over Derby at Pride Park.
The Royals put in a performance to be proud of as they swept the Rams aside with relative ease. James Harper curled home to hand the Royals a deserved half-time lead before Dave Kitson, Kevin Doyle and Leroy Lita made it a second-half rout.
However, their efforts were to prove in vain as Fulham's victory at Portsmouth ensured Steve Coppell's men will join Derby and Birmingham in the second tier next season by virtue of goal difference.
At Birmingham:
Birmingham fans turned on chairman David Gold and co-owner David Sullivan as their side's relegation from the Barclays Premier League was confirmed despite substitute Cameron Jerome's late double in a 4-1 win against Blackburn.
At Middlesbrough:
Sven-Goran Eriksson's anticipated final match in charge of Manchester City ended in humiliating fashion as his 10-man side lost 8-1 at Middlesbrough.
The former England boss has guided the club to ninth in the Premier League and a likely place in the UEFA Cup via the Fair Play League but that does not appear enough to save his job.
At Sunderland:
Theo Walcott handed Arsene Wenger a winning finish to the season with the only goal as they beat Sunderland 1-0.
The England Under-21 international fired home from Gilberto's 24th-minute pass to claim the points as the Black Cats fought them all the way to the whistle.
At London:
Liverpool striker Fernando Torres wrapped up a 2-0 victory at Tottenham to set a record for goals scored by a foreigner in his first season in the Premier League.
Torres' goal was his 24th since arriving from Atletico Madrid, taking him past Ruud van Nistelrooy's total when he arrived at Manchester United.
At London:
Aston Villa's last-ditch push to secure a UEFA Cup place ended in failure as they concluded their season with a 2-2 draw at West Ham.
Skipper Gareth Barry appeared to have fired a second-half winner when he expertly finished a move he started but Hammers striker Dean Ashton struck a late equaliser to earn his side a point they scarcely deserved.
But ultimately Villa's efforts to secure European qualification were rendered meaningless by Everton's victory over Newcastle which took the matter out of their hands.
And here are the final standings for the EPL season:
| May 11, 2008 | GP | PT |
| Man Utd | 38 | 87 |
| Chelsea | 38 | 85 |
| Arsenal | 38 | 83 |
| Liverpool | 38 | 76 |
| Everton | 38 | 65 |
| Aston Villa | 38 | 60 |
| Blackburn | 38 | 58 |
| Portsmouth | 38 | 57 |
| Man City | 38 | 55 |
| West Ham | 38 | 49 |
| Tottenham | 38 | 46 |
| Newcastle | 38 | 43 |
| Middlesbrough | 38 | 42 |
| Wigan | 38 | 40 |
| Sunderland | 38 | 39 |
| Bolton | 38 | 37 |
| Fulham | 38 | 36 |
| Reading | 38 | 36 |
| Birmingham | 38 | 35 |
| Derby | 38 | 11 |
Manchster United and Chelsea have clinched berths in the group stage for the 2008-09 UEFA Champions League, Arsenal and Liverpool clinched berths in the third qualifying round for the Champions League, Everton has clinched a berth in the second qualifying round for the 2008-09 UEFA Cup. Liverpool can clinch a UEFA Cup berth by beating Cardiff in the May 17 FA Cup final. It appears likely that Manchester City will also be heading for UEFA Cup play. Reading, Birmingham City, and Derby County have been relegated to the League Championship.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
PSG Soap Opera: Out Of Relegation Zone
At Paris:
Johnny Clement's equalizer on 59 minutes lifted PSG to a 1-1 home draw with St. Etienne to climb to 16th place in Ligue 1 on Saturday:
Johnny Clement's equalizer on 59 minutes lifted PSG to a 1-1 home draw with St. Etienne to climb to 16th place in Ligue 1 on Saturday:
Clement's strike cancelled out Loic Perrin's opener for the visitors on the stroke of half-time.
With relegation rivals Lens and Toulouse both losing, PSG vault above them out of the bottom three and are now a point clear of the drop zone heading into their last game, against Sochaux next Saturday.
The result means St Etienne drop to sixth, a point behind Lille in the race for the final UEFA Cup place.
Should PSG drop down from the top flight, Paris would be left as the only major European capital city without a top-flight soccer club.
Thursday, May 08, 2008
Inter vs. Roma For Coppa Italia Crown
At Catania, Italy:
AS Roma, still with a shot at overtaking Inter Milan for the Serie A crown, held relegation-threatened Catania to a 1-1 home draw in game two of their semifinal-round set in the Italian Cup tournament, allowing them to take the series 2-1 on aggregate.
Serie A leaders Inter and second-placed Roma are assured of a Champions League place next season so Italy's third UEFA Cup spot will now go to the seventh-placed team in the league. AC Milan, Fiorentina, Udinese and Sampdoria, one of whom will go into the Champions League qualifiers, are therefore guaranteed a UEFA Cup spot because eighth-placed Genoa cannot overhaul them with two games left. Midfielder Alberto Aquilani converted a penalty on 27 minutes after Mirko Vucinic was fouled to put Roma in full command of the semi-final, second leg following their 1-0 win in last month's first leg. Cristian Silvestri headed in a free kick unmarked for the hosts two minutes later and the Sicilians could have had a penalty when Roma goalkeeper Gianluca Curci pushed Marco Biagianti, but generally the visitors controlled the game.
Roma will play Inter in the Cup final in Rome on May 24.
AS Roma, still with a shot at overtaking Inter Milan for the Serie A crown, held relegation-threatened Catania to a 1-1 home draw in game two of their semifinal-round set in the Italian Cup tournament, allowing them to take the series 2-1 on aggregate.
Serie A leaders Inter and second-placed Roma are assured of a Champions League place next season so Italy's third UEFA Cup spot will now go to the seventh-placed team in the league. AC Milan, Fiorentina, Udinese and Sampdoria, one of whom will go into the Champions League qualifiers, are therefore guaranteed a UEFA Cup spot because eighth-placed Genoa cannot overhaul them with two games left. Midfielder Alberto Aquilani converted a penalty on 27 minutes after Mirko Vucinic was fouled to put Roma in full command of the semi-final, second leg following their 1-0 win in last month's first leg. Cristian Silvestri headed in a free kick unmarked for the hosts two minutes later and the Sicilians could have had a penalty when Roma goalkeeper Gianluca Curci pushed Marco Biagianti, but generally the visitors controlled the game.
Roma will play Inter in the Cup final in Rome on May 24.
Rijkaard Era Ending At Barcelona
FC Barcelona prez Joan Laporta announced Thursday that Frank Rijkaard is leaving as Barca coach at the end of the season.
Former Netherlands international Rijkaard took charge of Barcelona in 2003 and led them to back-to-back league titles and victory over Arsenal in the Champions League final in Paris in 2006. However, his side have failed to win any silverware for the past two seasons and suffered a humiliating 4-1 defeat by arch-rivals Real Madrid on Wednesday.
Former captain Pep Guardiola will succeed Frank as Barca coach.
Former Netherlands international Rijkaard took charge of Barcelona in 2003 and led them to back-to-back league titles and victory over Arsenal in the Champions League final in Paris in 2006. However, his side have failed to win any silverware for the past two seasons and suffered a humiliating 4-1 defeat by arch-rivals Real Madrid on Wednesday.
Former captain Pep Guardiola will succeed Frank as Barca coach.
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
2008-09 UEFA Champions League
Here's a list of the clubs that have so far clinched berths in the Group Stage of next season's UEFA Champions League:
England:
Manchester United
Chelsea
Spain:
Real Madrid
Villarreal
Italy:
Inter Milan
AS Roma
Germany:
Bayern Munich
France:
Lyon
Bordeaux
Netherlands:
PSV Eindhoven
Portugal:
FC Porto
Romania:
CFR Cluj
Russia:
Zenit Saint Petersburg
England:
Manchester United
Chelsea
Spain:
Real Madrid
Villarreal
Italy:
Inter Milan
AS Roma
Germany:
Bayern Munich
France:
Lyon
Bordeaux
Netherlands:
PSV Eindhoven
Portugal:
FC Porto
Romania:
CFR Cluj
Russia:
Zenit Saint Petersburg
New Look To DC United Uniforms
It was announced to Tuesday that Volkswagen has reached a five-year agreement with DC United.
The deal coincides with a partnership announced today between Major League Soccer and Volkswagen that makes the car company the league's official automotive sponsor, providing the carmaker with MLS and collective team marks, logos and marketing assets at events including the Pepsi MLS All-Star Game and the MLS Cup, the league's championship game."With Volkswagen's roots already embedded in the sport, this is a partnership that makes sense at both the club and league levels," Doug Quinn, president, Soccer United Marketing, said in a statement.Under the automaker's partnership with D.C. United, the team will debut new uniforms featuring the Volkswagen logo, the first corporate insignia to adorn team jerseys, during a nationally televised game with the Chicago Fire on Thursday night, the automaker said.
Here is reigning Major League Soccer MVP Luciano Emilio showing off his new duds. DC United Photo
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Lyon Gets Crack At PSG In French Cup Final
At Lyon, France:
Juninho Permanbucano scored the game's only goal to lift Ligue 1 leading (and seven-time league champs) Lyon to a 1-0 home win over Ligue 2 club Sedan in semifinal action in the Coupe de France tournament.
Twenty-four hours after PSG overcame Amiens SC, Lyon also found the going tough against Ligue 2 opposition. Sedan were by no means overawed against their top-flight hosts and fashioned some promising opportunities of their own, while Lyon found Sedan goalkeeper Patrick Régnault in inspired form until Juninho's set-piece rendered him helpless. Lyon's final appearance on 24 May at the Stade de France will be their first in this competition since a 2-0 loss to Olympique de Marseille in 1975/76, while Les Gones have not lifted the trophy since 1973.
Lyon will play against PSG for the title on May 24 in Paris. The relegation-threatened club from the capital city already won the League Cup and thus qualified for a shot at next season's UEFA Cup tournament.
Juninho Permanbucano scored the game's only goal to lift Ligue 1 leading (and seven-time league champs) Lyon to a 1-0 home win over Ligue 2 club Sedan in semifinal action in the Coupe de France tournament.
Twenty-four hours after PSG overcame Amiens SC, Lyon also found the going tough against Ligue 2 opposition. Sedan were by no means overawed against their top-flight hosts and fashioned some promising opportunities of their own, while Lyon found Sedan goalkeeper Patrick Régnault in inspired form until Juninho's set-piece rendered him helpless. Lyon's final appearance on 24 May at the Stade de France will be their first in this competition since a 2-0 loss to Olympique de Marseille in 1975/76, while Les Gones have not lifted the trophy since 1973.
Lyon will play against PSG for the title on May 24 in Paris. The relegation-threatened club from the capital city already won the League Cup and thus qualified for a shot at next season's UEFA Cup tournament.
Kayserispor Wins Marathon Match For Turkish Cup
At Bursa, Turkey:
It took a super-long penalty kick shootout for Kayserispor to win the Turkish Cup on Wednesday, defeating Gencerbirligi following a scoreless 120 minutes.
Aydin Toscali scored Kayserispor's final penalty before Mehmet Cakir missed the 28th spot kick in the shootout at the Ataturk stadium in the northwest Turkish city of Bursa.
It was the first time in 20 years that the final did not feature one of the four big teams -- Istanbul's Fenerbahce, Galatasaray and Besiktas or Trabzonspor on the Black Sea.
This means Kayserispor will move on to the second qualifying round of next season's UEFA Cup.
It took a super-long penalty kick shootout for Kayserispor to win the Turkish Cup on Wednesday, defeating Gencerbirligi following a scoreless 120 minutes.
Aydin Toscali scored Kayserispor's final penalty before Mehmet Cakir missed the 28th spot kick in the shootout at the Ataturk stadium in the northwest Turkish city of Bursa.
It was the first time in 20 years that the final did not feature one of the four big teams -- Istanbul's Fenerbahce, Galatasaray and Besiktas or Trabzonspor on the Black Sea.
This means Kayserispor will move on to the second qualifying round of next season's UEFA Cup.
Partizan Cops Domestic Cup Crown-----In Serbia
At Belgrade, Serbia:
Lamine Diarra's hat trick paced Partizan Belgrade to their 10th domestic cup championship:
Diarra struck after 12, 41 and 90 minutes in Belgrade, to follow up his semi-final heroics when his two goals helped defeat city rivals FK Crvena Zvezda 3-2. The cup triumph has secured the first installment of a potential domestic double as Partizan also lead the Serbian Superliga by three points from Crvena Zvezda with four matches to play.
Partizan is also leading their league by three points over archrival Red Star Belgrade with four games remaining.
Lamine Diarra's hat trick paced Partizan Belgrade to their 10th domestic cup championship:
Diarra struck after 12, 41 and 90 minutes in Belgrade, to follow up his semi-final heroics when his two goals helped defeat city rivals FK Crvena Zvezda 3-2. The cup triumph has secured the first installment of a potential domestic double as Partizan also lead the Serbian Superliga by three points from Crvena Zvezda with four matches to play.
Partizan is also leading their league by three points over archrival Red Star Belgrade with four games remaining.
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
PSG Soap Opera: A Spot In The Coupe de France---And Teargas
At Amiens, France:
Relegation-threatened PSG needed a late goal on the road advance on Tuesday to the French Cup final.
And that's not all that happened:
he match was interrupted after just over 30 minutes when teargas was sprayed from a section of the stands filled with PSG fans. It resumed after a 10-minute break.
PSG, which is currently going through a tough relegation battle again this season will play the winner of Wednesday semifinal between defending Ligue 1 champs Lyon and Ligue 2 club Sedan.
The final will be played in Paris on May 24.
Relegation-threatened PSG needed a late goal on the road advance on Tuesday to the French Cup final.
And that's not all that happened:
he match was interrupted after just over 30 minutes when teargas was sprayed from a section of the stands filled with PSG fans. It resumed after a 10-minute break.
PSG, which is currently going through a tough relegation battle again this season will play the winner of Wednesday semifinal between defending Ligue 1 champs Lyon and Ligue 2 club Sedan.
The final will be played in Paris on May 24.
Monday, May 05, 2008
West Brom, Stoke City In Premiership
By clinching top-two finishes in the League Championship this season, West Bromwich Albion (who last played in the top flight in the 2005-06 season) and Stoke City (after a 23-year absence) won automatic promotion to the Barcley's Premiere League.
The next four finshers in order, Hull, Bristol City, Crystal Palace, and Watford, qualified for the playoffs to determine the third and final promoted club.
The bottom three clubs, Leicester, Scunthorpe, and Colchester, were relegated to League 1.
The next four finshers in order, Hull, Bristol City, Crystal Palace, and Watford, qualified for the playoffs to determine the third and final promoted club.
The bottom three clubs, Leicester, Scunthorpe, and Colchester, were relegated to League 1.
Speaking of League 1:
Swansea and former two-time European champions Nottingham Forest won automatic promotion to the League Championship, with Doncaster, Carlisle, Leeds United, and Southend (the latter two having played at the second level last season) qualifying for the playoffs for the thrid and final promotion berth. The bottom four---Bournemouth, Gillingham, Port Vale, and Luton Town--were sent packing down to League 2
Speaking of League 2:
The top three finishers--Milton Keynes Dons, Peterborough, and Hereford--won automatic promotion to League 1. The next four clubs--Stockport, Rochdale, Darlington, and Wycombe--qualified for the promotion playofs. The bottom two clubs--Mansfield and Wrexam--were relegated from the Football League and are heading down to what is still referred to as the Conference National.
Thursday, May 01, 2008
UEFA Cup: 'Jers and Zenit Are Manchester Bound
Semifinal round action in the UEFA Cup concluded Thursday:
At Saint Petersburg, Russia:
Pavel Pogrebnyak's double (4', 73') helped power Zenit Saint Petersburg to a 4-0 home frontier-styled fistbeating of Bayern Munich in the second game of the two clubs' series, with the Blue-White-Sky Blues taking the series 5-1 on aggregate.
At Florence, Italy:
In stark contrast to the Bayern-Zenit semifinal, no goals were scored in regulation time of either of the two matches between Rangers and Fiorentina. After 30 minutes of overtime failed to settle the issue, it came down to the penalty kick shootout. The visitors' Nacho Novo scored the game winner, enabling Rangers to win the shootout 4-2.
Rangers and Zenit will play for the UEFA Cup title on May 14 at City Stadium in Manchester, England.
At Saint Petersburg, Russia:
Pavel Pogrebnyak's double (4', 73') helped power Zenit Saint Petersburg to a 4-0 home frontier-styled fistbeating of Bayern Munich in the second game of the two clubs' series, with the Blue-White-Sky Blues taking the series 5-1 on aggregate.
At Florence, Italy:
In stark contrast to the Bayern-Zenit semifinal, no goals were scored in regulation time of either of the two matches between Rangers and Fiorentina. After 30 minutes of overtime failed to settle the issue, it came down to the penalty kick shootout. The visitors' Nacho Novo scored the game winner, enabling Rangers to win the shootout 4-2.
Rangers and Zenit will play for the UEFA Cup title on May 14 at City Stadium in Manchester, England.
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