De Futebol
December 10th, 2009 | 
Author: There is lots of fun stuff to talk about today. Where to begin is the hard part. Arsenal and Liverpool had little incentive to play today. The Gunners played their junior team while Liverpool just played out the string. Arsenal is moving on in Champions League play while Liverpool is going home for good.
The youngsters of Arsenal lost to Olympiacos 1-0. Aaron Ramsey and Theo Walcott proved they have lots of promise. Ramsey almost found the equalizer in the dying moments of the match but a great sweep save by the Greek keeper Nikopolidis kept the 18-year-old Ramsey off the scoreboard.
Theo Walcott is totally back from his hamstring injury. Walcott took it to the rack. He just missed on a high-powered riser shot that was tipped over the cross bar by the keeper Nikopolidis.
Vela and Wilshere each had some great shots on goal but they couldn’t quite find the back of the net.
Olympiacos started their first team against the young studs. Arsenal’s young studs took it to the more experienced Greek side. The Gunners almost pulled off the win. This is a very good sign for Arsenal.
Olympiacos moves on to the knockout stage.
Liverpool on the other hand sleepwalked their way through their final Champions League match at Anfield.
The Reds gave up two late goals and lost to Fiorentina 2-1.
Liverpool found the back of the net first. Yossi Benayoun header tickled the twines in the 43rd minute to give Liverpool a 1-0 lead.
The Italian side was playing for the top spot in Group E. Fiorentina attacked and attacked until they cracked the Reds “D” in the 63rd minute. Martin Jorgensen zinged the winner past Reds keeper Diego to tie this baby up at one all.
Fiorentina scored the match winner in the 90th minute. Alberto Gilardino struck twelve to lift the Italian side to a 2-1 win.
There is a ray of hope in the clouds of doom that hovered over Anfield. Reds super star Fernando Torres played the final quarter of the match. It looks like he’ll be ready to play in the Reds Gunners clash this Sunday December 13th at Anfield.
In Group D, Internazionale, Barcelona, and Rubin Kazan were duking it out for the final two-playoff spots.
Inter defeated Rubin Kazan 2-0.
Barcelona fell behind early to Dynamo Kiev before rallying for a 2-1 victory. Kiev scored first. Artem Milevskiy ripped the twines in the 9th minute to give the Russian side the 1-0 lead.
Barcelona began to squeeze the Russian side back into Kiev side of the pitch. Xavi knocked home a close range marker in the 33rd minute to tie this baby up at one all.
Messi scored the match winner in the 86th minute. His free kick ripped the twines to seal the deal for the defending Champs Barcelona.
Both Inter and Barca are on to the next round.
Next up for Barca is the FIFA World Club Cup Championship.
In play in game for the FIFA World Club Cup New Zealand’s Auckland City took it to the hosts Al Ahli 2-0.
The Kiwis recorded the opening salvo. Adam Dickinson ripped a winner in the 44th minute to give Auckland City a 1-0 lead.
Chad Coombes put the final nail in the hosts Al Ahli coffin in the 66th minute. Coombes smashed the twines to give Auckland City the 2-0 win.
Next up for the Kiwis is the Mexican side Atlante.
The 2009 addition of the FIFA World Cup should be a wild and crazy affair. If it all goes according to plan Barca and Argentina side Estudiantes should meet in the finals in the United Arab Emirates on Saturday December 19th.
Posted in De Futebol, Futebol, Soccer, Sports/Futebol | 
Tags: 2009 FIFA World Club Championship, Arsenal, Auckland City, Barcelona, Champions League, De Futebol, De Futebol Brasil, Futebol, Liverpool, Soccer
Ramsey has a lot of talent but he needs to break into the side. Arsenal have so much creative talent in midfield it makes it hard to bring through new talents. I wouldn’t get too carried away with Arsenal just yet. Okay losing only 1-0 away to Olympiakios is not bad for their second team but add it to the 3-0 at Chelsea and another 3-0 loss at City, they are in big trouble. It looks like Arshavin has the skill to play up front on his own but the club looks like a makeshift title contender. Players like Iaquinta and Mexes are needed at Arsenal. If they don’t spend they won’t win.
Owen netted his first United hat-trick, may be time to play him more often up with Rooney to establish that partnership they had when playing in an England shirt, while Liverpool were already doomed before the last game so they can focus on trying to win the Europa League and get a decent position in the premier league as well
bobby gee
Preparation , preparation and more preparation. That’s how these teams have to have that mindset when it comes to the Champions League. Anything less , then why the hell pack your bags and go to play ?
Obviously in the case of Liverpool , Rafa’s team was ill prepared. I don’t know that he’ll be around for next season with the ‘Scousers’
Alan Parkins
Another loss for Liverpool and another embarassment. To lose concentration in the dying seconds of the match to lose 2-1 to Fiorentina was poor of the Reds. There wasn’t any incentive to win of course but the win would have given them confidence before their match against Arsenal at Anfield this weekend and of course some dignity after failing to qualify for the last 16 of the Champions League.
They have indeed got some encouragement though what with the return of Fernando Torres and Alberto Aquilani starting mid-week which will make a big impact on their form. Hopefully we will see this in the Arsenal clash this weekend.