Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Chelsea vs Juventus Champions League

Chelsea vs Juventus Champions League

Nicolas Anelka has scored 21 goals for Chelsea this season but it is the form of fellow striker Didier Drogba which could have the bigger influence on their Champions League campaign.

The Premier League side take on Juventus in the first leg of their last-16 tie on Wednesday and the Ivorian striker who has missed large chunks of the campaign through injury looks set to play a vital role.

Internazionale 0 - 0 Manchester United Champions League

Internazionale 0 - 0 Manchester United Champions League

Sir Alex Ferguson will have to do something he has managed just once in 13 meetings and defeat Jose Mourinho after a masterful Manchester United display went unrewarded after a goalless draw in the San Siro.

Fergie disappointed not to score

Despite a succession of clear chances, including one in the last seconds that Cristiano Ronaldo cannoned into Julio Cesar's chest, a vital away goal would not come.

So while Sir Alex Ferguson's men will be confident of getting a goal in the second leg at Old Trafford, they remain vulnerable to Mourinho's guile.

It was expected a meeting between the undisputed kings of Italy and England would be a keenly-fought affair with little give on either side.

In fact the first half turned out to be a landslide in every respect but the scoreboard.

The sheer speed of United's movement caught Inter napping almost as much as Ferguson's decision to leave Wayne Rooney on the bench.

Their swift snappy passing, allied to movement off the ball gave Inter a problem they struggled to solve. Indeed, they would not have managed it without an outstanding individual performance from Julio Cesar.

Brazilian goalkeepers may have been derided down the years but no-one was complaining among a noisy and increasingly agitated home contingent as Cesar made a string of saves to keep United at bay.

Ryan Giggs was denied at one point but the main victim was Ronaldo, who took aim with a series of free-kicks and found the Brazilian in the way every time, sometimes theatrically but always effectively.

Ronaldo did beat him once with a point-blank header but it flashed wide.

The world player of the year was a conclusive winner of his head-to-head duel with Zlatan Ibrahimovic though.

Mourinho rates the Swede as number one on the planet right now but there was precious little evidence to back up such a lofty claim as United's defence, reinforced by John O'Shea and Jonny Evans - who both overcame fitness concerns to start - kept him at bay, with Adriano virtually non-existent.

The major worry, especially with a coach as wily as Mourinho in the opposing dug-out, must be United's failure to score.

It was not as though they lacked the opportunity. Lone striker Dimitar Berbatov surged clear in the box at one point, only to look up and see no-one in support as he prepared to cross.

Inter's frustrations were summed up just before the break when Cesar's deputy, Francesco Toldo, was booked for protesting on the touchline at another decision that had gone against his team.

Ferguson must have sensed Inter would finally flex their muscles after the break, and so it proved.

Adriano had already flashed one shot wide when he crashed to the turf under Ferdinand's challenge as Javier Zanetti crossed.

The Brazilian screamed for a penalty but TV replays suggested Spanish referee Luis Medina Cantalejo was right to say no.

But Inter tails were up and Stankovic was narrowly wide with another shot before attempting to release Ibrahimovic, who had strayed narrowly offside when otherwise he would have been clear.

United were not quite clinging on as their opponents had been earlier. However, they were being tested and it took them some time to regain their earlier composure.

Their goal threat had become sporadic with Zanetti's far-post clearance to prevent Giggs reaching Ronaldo's low cross the summit of United's danger until the veteran Welshman was allowed to gallop into the Inter box, where his shot was blocked by Ivan Cordoba and Carrick fired the rebound over.

After seeing Cordoba fail to make the most of a Mario Balotelli corner, Ferguson gave Rooney seven minutes to make a difference, and was no doubt not meaning for Rooney to pick up a booking for a foul on Stankovic.

However, it was a peripheral moment, with Ronaldo taking centre stage one last time to unleash another 20-yard thunderbolt. Cesar remained defiant and saved with his chest.

Arsenal 1 - 0 AS Roma Champions League Highlights

Arsenal 1 - 0 AS Roma Champions League Highlights

Arsenal gave themselves a slender 1-0 advantage to take to Rome after a first-half penalty from Robin van Persie in their Champions League clash at Emirates Stadium.

Scoring summary
Robin Van Persie (pen 37)

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Manchester United vs Blackburn Rovers Highlights

Manchester United vs Blackburn Rovers Highlights

Wayne Rooney will start for Manchester United as the Red Devils look to extend their lead at the Premier League summit to eight points by beating Blackburn at Old Trafford.

Watch highlights of the match after the match.

Wayne Rooney will start for Manchester United as the Red Devils look to extend their lead at the Premier League summit to eight points by beating Blackburn at Old Trafford. Watch highlights of the match after the match.

Scoring Summary

Wayne Rooney (23)
Roque Santa Cruz (32)
Cristiano Ronaldo (60)

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Manchester United 3-0 Fulham Highlights

Manchester United 3-0 Fulham Highlights

Another fine display from Manchester United saw them move five points clear at the Premier League summit as they beat Fulham 3-0. United never looked like losing once Mark Schwarzer had let Paul Scholes' early piledriver squirm past him. Dimitar Berbatov and Wayne Rooney added the gloss, while Edwin van der Sar kept a 14th consecutive clean sheet at the other end.

Scoring Summary

Paul Scholes (12)
Dimitar Berbatov (30)
Wayne Rooney (63)

Monday, February 16, 2009

Arsenal vs Cardiff City FA Cup

Arsenal vs Cardiff City FA Cup

Arsene Wenger feels Arsenal's attacking options remain ''open'' as the Gunners look to rediscover their magic touch in front of goal.

Arsenal head into tonight's FA Cup fourth-round replay against Cardiff having found the net just once in 360 minutes of action.

It is something of an alien concept for the traditionally free-flowing Gunners.

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Derby County 1 - 4 Manchester United

Derby County 1 - 4 Manchester United

Ryan Giggs turned in a scintillating performance as Manchester United eased into the FA Cup quarter-finals with a 4-1 victory over Derby at Pride Park.

Giggs did not get his name on the scoresheet as Nani, Darron Gibson, Cristiano Ronaldo and Danny Welbeck took the honours.

But he was at the centre of all the good work United produced on an eventful afternoon which leaves him just three wins away from becoming the first player since the 19th century to collect five winners' medals in this most historic of competitions.

Six weeks ago, United came to the same ground and were humbled as Derby basked in the glory of Nigel Clough's appointment.

The Red Devils reversed that result to book a Carling Cup final place, since when they have enhanced an unlikely quintuple bid by taking a stranglehold in the Barclays Premier League title race.

Keen to ensure there was no repeat east midlands horror show, Ferguson sent his team - showing seven changes from the one that defeated West Ham last weekend - out with a sense of determination.

Stephen Bywater was twice called upon to keep the visitors out, first denying Nani with a low save, then pulling off an amazing reaction effort to repel Park Ji-Sung.

But it was already pretty obvious Derby needed an unexpected turn of events to emerge victorious and once referee Alan Wiley had rejected Rob Hulse's claims for a penalty when he went down under Rio Ferdinand's challenge, it was always unlikely to come.

Nani seems to have lost his way a little in his second season at Old Trafford, yet he remains capable of those moments of genius for which compatriot Ronaldo is so famed.

And, when he collected Ryan Giggs' square pass and raced across the penalty area, the fierce 20-yard shot that followed was nothing out of character as it left Bywater with no chance.

One Kris Commons free-kick that tested Ben Foster was about all Derby could manage in response before a bizarre period followed in which United were denied a goal that should have been allowed, and given one that should have been ruled out.

Ronaldo's celebrations were cut short by a very late flag after he raced clear and slotted the ball past Bywater. The officials needed to confer before acknowledging Giggs had flicked Ben Foster's long throw through to the Portuguese superstar.

Ferguson was not happy, making his feelings known to fourth official Rob Styles in no uncertain manner.

Fortunately, United's grumbles did not last too long, although how Rafael was not ruled to be offside as he ran straight in front of Bywater as Gibson volleyed in was a mystery.

Any lingering doubt over who would be in the last eight was removed within three minutes of the restart.

Giggs was again the provider, this time in routine fashion with a near-post corner which Ronaldo powered home, his elaborate celebration suggesting his 15th goal of the campaign should have come earlier.

To all intents and purposes, it was game over, even if Miles Addison guided home a header to pull one back for Derby almost immediately.

Ronaldo spurned a couple of chances to add to his tally, with Darren Fletcher failing to profit from a rebound.

Enthusiastically Derby pressed forward in reply, Gary Teale bringing an excellent save out of Foster, handed a rare start ahead of record-breaking Edwin van der Sar.

But United were too good, with Giggs in particular truly majestic.

At 35, with a barrow-load of trophies already, it could be argued the former Wales skipper is playing more consistently well than at any stage of his career.

It still rankles with Ferguson that in the 1999 treble-winning season, Giggs, along with the remainder of United's squad, was overlooked for all the major individual prizes in favour of David Ginola.

He further enhanced his credentials for this season's player prizes by playing a role in Danny Welbeck's late effort.



Match Highlights


Scoring Summary
Nani (29)


Darron Gibson (44)


Cristiano Ronaldo (48)


Miles Addison (56)


Danny Welbeck (81)

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