Posts Tagged ‘Chelsea’
De Futebol
West Ham has booked their spot in the EPL for next season. In a wild and wooly match played at Wembley by the Hammers and Seasiders, West Ham came away with a crazy 2-1 win over Blackpool.
The Hammers scored first. Carlton Cole gave West Ham the early 1-0 lead in the 35th minute. Matty Taylor set up this sucker off the counter attack. Taylor raced up the pitch and laid off a great thread the needle pass to mate Cole.
The Seasiders responded in the 48th minute. Thomas Ince knocked home the winner from the left wing.
Blackpool had their chances in the second half but they couldn’t push the rock past the goal line.
West Ham scored the winner in the 87th minute. The Hammers put a ton of pressure on the Seasiders defenders in the box. A huge scramble ball resulted in a put back goal off a missed shot by Ricardo Vaz Te.
Vaz Te said this about the match winner, “It’s a great effort form the lads,” Vaz Te told Sky Sports. “It’s not about the goal – we showed great character. I think we deserved it. We’re a Premier League side and we deserved to go up.
”It’s terrific really. I feel like I have been blessed with a second chance in my career and it’s great to be here.”
Sam Allardyce West Brom headman had this to say, “Blackpool were easily as good as us today but it is about taking your chances and no more so that today,” he said. “We managed to swing it just at the death. It’s 49 games and it’s the first one we’ve won in the last few minutes this season. I’m sure (owners) David Sullivan and David Gold will be very happy.”
This is the second time Allardyce has led a club back to the Promised Land.
Chelsea has risen from the dead. The Blues were down 1-0 late in the match against Bayern Munich. Didier Drogba nailed a later header in the 88th minute to send this sucker into extra time. Drogba then committed a mortal sin in the first extra time. His foul on Franck Ribery set up the possible bone headed play of the match in the 93rd minute. Arjen Robben wore the choke collar very well. Robben’s choke city cost the DER FCB the Champions League. Neither side could score in extra time. Tied at one all the Blues and DER FCB went to the dreaded PK shootout. Bayern Munich missed two crucial PK shots to give Chelsea the chance to win it. Didier Drogba nailed the PK and this sent the Blues to the Promised Land. Chelsea wins in a wild one 4-3 in the PK shootout.
Futebol season is over in Europe but the regular season is heating up in South America.
Spurs fans are heart broken by Chelsea’s win. Tottenham is out of the Champions League.
Flamenguista for life.
One final note. Do I have ESPN, I mean ESP or what. I told you that Didier Drogba would be the key. He was. The hero.
De Futebol
The Champions League will be happening later today in Germany. Bayern Munich and Chelsea will duke it out to see who will wear the crown. No one expected the Blues and Der FCB to be in the finals. The idiot pundits said it would be Real Madrid and Barcelona. Both of these Spanish giants were sent packing by the dogs. You gotta love the dogs. Now the dogs will fight to see who will be the top dog.
This dogfight will be at Munich’s house. The Germans are expected to win but don’t count out Chelsea. I will be pulling for the Blues to win this sucker.
Watch out for Didier Drogba. He will be the key.
In the Copa Libertadores Boca Juniors got by Fluminense 1-0 at Los Xeneizes house. Pablo Mouche nailed the winner in the 51st minute. Velez Sarsfield defeated defending Copa champion Santos 1-0. Mauro Ivan Obolo scored in the 35th minute. Peixe lost in El Fortin house.
The return legs will be played in Brasil. Both Brasileiros sides just to need score and hold Boca and Velez Sarsfield scoreless and the trip to the semifinals is Peixe’s and Flu’s.
UOL wrote this about Fluminense 1-0 loss to Los Xeneizes. O primeiro lance de perigo da partida pertenceu ao Fluminense, numa boa trama do ataque, aos 11min. Rafael Moura fez boa jogada pela esquerda, cruzou para Wagner, que serviu Jean. O volante tricolor ganhou a jogada de Erbes e, por muito pouco, não abriu o placar. Dois minutos depois foi a vez de Rafael Sóbis escapar pela direita e cruzar para o xará Moura, que chegou atrasado e perdeu boa chance de marcar. O Boca só conseguiu responder aos 16min, num escanteio cobrado por Riquelme que Roncaglia escorou e obrigou Cavalieri a salvar com os pés.
A chance criada pelo Boca Juniors incendiou sua torcida e o time passou a ter controle do jogo. Aos 21min, Cvitanich recebeu cruzamento de Roncaglia e subiu sozinho no meio da defesa tricolor para cabecear com muito perigo, mas para fora, assustando o goleiro Diego Cavalieri. Aos 34min, o lateral Carlinhos tratou de complicar as coisas para o Fluminense ao colocar a mão na bola para impedir um contra-ataque argentino. O camisa 6 tricolor já havia recebido um cartão amarelo por falta infantil em Rivero e acabou expulso pelo árbitro colombiano José Buitrago.”
The difference in the match besides the goal was Carlinhos was given the heave-hoe and this act of stupidity cost Flu big time.
UOL has this to say about the Santos loss. “Neymar perdeu o duelo para o lateral direito improvisado, Peruzzi, que ameaçou o craque em tom de brincadeira antes da partida. O camisa 11 do Santos não conseguiu escapar da marcação quase individual do argentino, que ainda contava com o volante Cubero na sobra. Além de não render no ataque, o craque santista recebeu um cartão amarelo por simular uma falta.”
Flamenguista for life.
De Futebol
The hangovers hurt more than they used to. Man United is still reeling from getting their hearts ripped out by City’s last second win over QPR. Sir Alex fired another salvo at City.
“They can go on as much as they like – that’s what you would expect – but the history of our club stands us aside,” Ferguson said. “We don’t need to worry about that. I think we have a rich history, better than anyone and it’ll take them a century to get to our level of history.”
“We accept challenges. We are good at that,” said Ferguson. “At the start of the season, if I remember correctly, I said 82 points would probably win the league this season and we are seven points ahead of that. But look, it doesn’t matter, we’ve lost the league.
“It is a cruel way to have the title ripped away, but I’ve had a lot of ups and downs in my 25 years here. There will be times when we can sit back and say we did this wrong, we did that wrong, but 89 points would have won the league most seasons.”
Roberto Mancini said this-”We deserved it,” he said. “We played the best football. We scored the most goals, we conceded the fewest. We beat United twice.
“I have never seen a final like this though. In the history of the club, a final like this does not exist. I am very proud of my players though. They wanted to win this title until the last second of the last game.”
River Plate jumped to first place in the Argentinos Nacional B. Los Millionaires won on Saturday against Atletico Tucuman 4-2. Rosario Central defeated Aldosivi 2-1.
River Plate and Los Canallas are tied on points with 65 points. Los Millionaires is a plus 36. Rosario Central is a plus 18. Instituto de Cordoba is third with 63 points. La Gloria is a plus 30.
The top two sides get a get outta jail free card.
Newell’s Old Boys is the main man with 28 points. Boca Juniors is second with 26. Los Xeneizes and Velez Sarsfield tied nil-nil. La Lepra defeated Union 3-1 to take sole possession of first place. Tigre is third with 25 points. Arsenal de Sarandi has 25 points também but sits in fourth place. Matador is a plus nine. El Viaducto is a plus seven.
Gunner and Flamenguista for life.
De Futebol
It was almost Man U’s title. The Citizens trailed 2-1 but two goals in extra time propelled City to their first title in 44 years. Goals by Edin Dzeko and Sergio Aguero saved their hide. Man City defeated Queens Park Rangers 3-2.
QPR’s loss coupled with Bolton’s two all tie with Stoke City cost the Wanderers big time. Bolton was sent packing and the Hoops escaped the drop zone.
Man U defeated Sunderland 1-0. Both City and the Red Devils had 86 points but the Citizens had a superior goal difference. The Citizens were a plus 64. Sir Alex and the boys had a plus 56.
My Gunners saved their season with a huge come from behind 3-2 win over West Brom. Laurent Koscielny booked our spot in the Champions league when he ripped the twines in the 55th minute.
Spurs finished fourth. Tottenham defeated Fulham 2-0. Goals by Emmanuel Adebayor and Jermain Defoe may have booked Spurs spot in the Champions League but this depends on if Chelsea wins the Champions League. The finals will be played Saturday May 19th.
Everton defeated Newcastle 3-1. Toons wound up fifth.
Chelsea defeated Blackburn 2-1. The win secured sixth place for the Blues.
Wolves, Blackburn, and Bolton were given their walking papers.
Roberto Mancini said this about his guys comeback win. “It was incredible – they deserved this. To win it like this is incredible. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a finale like this.
“We didn’t deserve to lose, we had a lot of chances and we deserved to win the game and championship. It’s fantastic for the club and the supporters after 44 years. It’s been a crazy season and a crazy last minute.”
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/1069650/elated-mancini-hails-crazy-finish?cc=5901
On the other end of the spectrum is Sir Alex Ferguson. His side blew the title when the Red Devils blew a two-goal lead against Everton. The match ended in a four all draw and thus gave City new life. City ran the table and the rest is history.
“Nobody expected that,” Ferguson told BBC Sport. “Everybody expected City to win, but they did it against ten men for half an hour and with five extra minutes to help them. But I congratulate City on winning the league. Anybody who wins it deserves it, because it’s a long haul.
“At the end of our game our players didn’t actually know the results. Now, they’re really disappointed, I’m glad to say. There’s no other way they should be. They conducted themselves brilliantly today.”
All in all it was a great season full of surprises. No one expected City to win the title. Way to go garoto.
This was the first time since the 2001-02 season that none of the newly promoted sides were sent packing.
Gunner for life.
De Futebol
The mind games have began prior to today’s final league matches. All City has to is win and the title is theirs. A loss by the Citizens or a tie and all hell will break loose. Will this happen? Not in this life time but it is possible.
City battles Queens Park Rangers at the Citizens house. Man U travels to Sunderland.
Former City manager Mark Hughes is the main man at the Hoops.
My guys from Arsenal have a hung match at West Brom. Tottenham and Fulham tangle. Toons will hook up with Everton.
Arsenal has a one-point lead over Spurs and a two-point lead over Toons. My Gunners have 67, Tottenham 66 and Toons 65 so a loss by my guys could knock us all the way to fifth place and outta the Champions League. If this happens my guys can kiss Robin van Persie’s ass bye-bye.
The race for the last drop-dead zone is between Bolton, and QPR.
Villa is safe even though they have 38 points. Aston Villa’s is a minus 14 compared with the Wanderers minus 31 and Queens Park Rangers minus 22.
Sir Alex said this, “”We are certainly not going away, that’s for sure,” Ferguson said. “We know that there’s a challenge and we accept that. We have a lot of young players at the club who will benefit from this season, no matter what happens.
“The disappointment of losing the game [QPR] would be unbelievable,” he said. “It’s untold what effect it could have on them. A nervous situation could arise if, with 10 or 15 minutes to go, City weren’t winning. The crowd could get a bit uneasy.
Roberto Mancini said this, “I think in the end the team that wins deserves to win, always,” Mancini said. “We have played the better football, 100%, even if we don’t win, we played the better football.
“It is important we score enough goals to win the title. I think we played really well for six months, for me the best football in the Premier League.”
I think City will be crowned the champion. This is good for futebol. The Citizens will win their first crown since 1968.
My Gunners backs are against the wall. We have to win this sucker. If not the team will be broken apart seventy-five ways to Sunday.
I am sad the season is coming to a close.
Gunner for life.
De Futebol
Paybacks are bitch. Chelsea won The FA Cup but Liverpool stuck a fork in the Blues chances of finishing in the top four. The Reds tore apart Chelsea 4-1. Roberto Di Matteo knew his guys chances were slim and none to finish in the top four so he named the second team to do battle against Liverpool at Anfield.
The result was expected.
This sucker started off badly for Chelsea. An own goal in the 19th minute by Michael Essien sealed the Blues fate. In the 25th minute Jordan Henderson ripped the twines and three minutes later Daniel Agger found the back of the net in the 28th minute.
This sucker was over.
Chelsea’s Ramirez gave the Blues hope with tummy tickler in the 50th minute but the hopes of making a match of it faded when Jonjo Shelvey put a nail in the Blues coffin. This shut the lid tight and this puppy was over.
The Blues will wind up in sixth place. Chelsea’s only hope is to win the whole banana on May 19th to play in next years Champions League.
My guys from Arsenal, Tottenham, and Newcastle are in a death race to see who will get third and fourth place. But a real possibility lurks that if Chelsea wins the Champions League on May 19th that my Gunners, Spurs or Toons could be the odd man out.
Oh what a fun day it will be on Sunday when the EPL wraps of up the season.
The Citizens have the inside rack to win the title for the first time since 1968.
Wolves and Blackburn have their reservations booked for the bye-bye zone.
In the Clausura Boca Juniors stubbed their when Los Xeneizes and Atletico Rafaela tied two all. Newell’s Old Boys defeated Olimpo 2-1. La Lepra and Boca are level on points at 25 however Los Xeneizes is plus ten compared with Newell’s plus eight. Hanging out in their place is Tigre with 24. Fourth place belongs to Velez Sarsfield with 23.
Gunner for life.
De Futebol
West Ham is on the verge of making it to the big boys league. The Hammers destroyed Cardiff City 3-0 and won on aggregate 5-0. Goals by Kevin Nolan, Ricardo Vaz Te, and Nicky Maynard sent the Bluebirds home.
The Hammers were sent down last year and they will meet the winner of the Birmingham-Blackpool match at Wembley on May 19th. This is West Ham’s first trip to Wembley in thirty-one years.
Birmingham and Blackpool will play on Wednesday.
River Plate defeated Gimnasia y Esgrima de Jujuy 1-0 on Saturday. This win coupled with Instituto’s nil-nil draw with Guillermo Brown cut the lead to a point. La Gloria has 63 points. River Plate is at 62 and Rosario Central has 62 também. Los Canallas killed Huracan 3-0.
The top two clubs will get outta free card.
Los Millionaires has a superior goal difference. River Plate is a plus 34. Instituto de Cordoba is a plus 30 and Los Canallas a plus 17.
Nacional B season ends June 23rd.
Blackburn was given their marching orders. The Rovers lost to the Wig guys 1-0 and thus are bounced out of the EPL. Antolin Alcaraz nailed the match winner in the 87th minute to send the Latics to safety. Wigan jumped to 15th place with 40 points.
The race for the final drop zone place is between Bolton and QPR. Queens Park Rangers will be fighting for their lives against City. The Citizens have the title in their sights so this will be an all out war at City’s house.
The Wanderers have a hot date at the Potters house.
Wolves and Blackburn are history.
Gunner for life.
De Futebol
You can stick a fork in Man U’s title hopes. This sucker is over. Yaya Toure scored two second half goals to lead City to the Promised Land. The Citizens shut out Newcastle 2-0. The EPL is Man City’s. This is their first title since 1968.
Way to go garoto.
This loss by Toons gave my Gunners some hope. Arsenal is hanging on to third place.
It really doesn’t matter what happens in the Man U match unless the Red Devils score a boatload of goals. Sir Alex and the Boys need to score at least eleven goals to take the lead in goal difference.
Man U didn’t score a boatload of goals against Swansea City. The mighty boys from Old Trafford won 2-0. Paul Scholes and Ashley Young first half goals sealed the deal for the Red Devils.
Man U and City are level on points with 86 but the Citizens have a huge goal advantage. City leads Man U in goal difference by eight.
The only way for Man U to win the tile is to have the Citizens lose at home against QPR at City’s house. Queens Park Rangers are just above the bye-bye zone and are still in danger of getting booted out.
Not in this lifetime.
With the City locking up title this is a good for the EPL. The last time a side outside the big three won a title was Blackburn in 1994. From 1994 on, either Arsenal, Chelsea, and Man U have won the crown.
The dogs rule this year.
Spurs and Aston Villa tied one all.
This tie has cost Tottenham a shot at over taking my guys for third.
As it stands right now Arsenal is hanging on to third by the slimmest of margins over Spurs. My Gunners have 67 points while Tottenham has 66. Toons are fifth with 65. Chelsea is sixth with 61 but the Blues will play their game in hand on Tuesday against Liverpool. This is a must win for Chelsea if they want to overtake Spurs for fourth place in the table and the final Champions League spot.
If the Blues win the Champions League title on May 19th they will eliminate Spurs from a spot in next years competition.
Right now Wolves will be sent packing. Blackburn needs to beat Wigan later today to have a chance to avoid being eighty sixth.
Gunner for life.
De Futebol
Do you wanna talk about craziness? My guys battled Norwich at my Gunners house. The guys fell behind 2-1 only to score two goals by Robin van Persie in the second half to take a 3-2. The Canaries stuck a fork in our season when Steve Morison flat out beat the Arsenal “D”. Morison had a walk in shot to level this puppy at three all in the 85th minute.
A wild and frantic finish was in full bloom for the remainder of the match but my Gunners couldn’t push the rock past the goal line.
This tie may have killed our shot finishing in the top four.
Norwich keeper John Ruddy made several death defying saves in injury time. One of those was a point blank shot by RVP. Ruddy’s kick save sent Gunner nation into a mass depression.
Arsenal has 67 points with one match left. Toons and Tottenham each have 65 points. All Newcastle and Spurs have to do is won both remaining matches and they will over take my Gunners. And this will send us scurrying out of the Champions League.
Newcastle is at home against Man City. Spurs are on the road against Aston Villa.
The other biggie is Man U and Swansea City.
The Canaries are safe.
Chelsea defeated Liverpool 2-1 to win the FA Cup.
Gunner for life.
De Futebol
My guys from Arsenal have a hot date with Norwich City later today. My Gunners are locked in a death fight with Spurs and Toons for third and fourth place in the EPL.
This is one of those must win situations for the guys.
One match is left after today.
Both Tottenham and Newcastle have 65 points. Arsenal has 66.
Wenger said our destiny is in our hands. “”Our dream was to be in the situation we are in now three months ago. It is now down to us to get over the line.
“That looks quite difficult at the moment because we had a few opportunities we didn’t take and so we have another opportunity tomorrow which we want to take.
“The team is focused and ready to do the job, it’s now for us to get over the line.”
The big question is this. Will Robin Van Persie be with the club next year?
Wenger said this. “Who would want to lose his best player? My desire and my wish is to find an agreement with Robin van Persie, extend the contract and stay with us for a longer time. Hopefully we can reach that,” said Wenger, whose side host Norwich on Saturday aiming to strengthen their grip on third place in the Barclays Premier League.
“If that wouldn’t happen, we will still want him to stay, but I am more focused on the first situation.
“I think what is important for us is that we find an agreement with him to be happy and to stay and finish his career here.”
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/preview/_/id/317989?cc=5901
The Canaries are having a great season. Norwich City was just promoted to the big boys league at the start of the season. The Canaries are in 14th place with 43 points. Norwich City is in the safe zone.
This their first return trip to the big guys in six years. Manager Paul Lambert said this about Norwich City.
“It has been brilliant. The lads have been absolutely terrific for us and they have earned the right to go again.
“I can’t fault them for what they have done and the way they have played in games. I’m proud of them.”
Lambert has been the headman of the Canaries since 2009. He lifted them from League One to the EPL in two seasons. Way to go garoto.
Lambert added, “”If you are talking fairytale football this is the story that has happened over the past three years, to go from the bottom of League One to sustaining it in the Premier League.
“They have got 43 points, hopefully we can get a few more, but in the cold light of day it has been incredible.
“I never really think about myself. I have always said the most important people at the club are the players and the people who come and watch.
“I get great satisfaction from that and for the backroom staff.”
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/preview/_/id/317989?cc=5901
Wenger heaped some high praise on Norwich City. All quotes taken from www.arsenal.com
“When you look at Norwich, the squad is not as small as people think it is,” said the Frenchman.
“I agree that they did come into this league with relatively unknown players but what is fantastic in this job is that it is not about names, it is about performances. They have done remarkably well.”
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/wenger-norwich-prove-it-s-not-about-names
The FA Cup Finals will be played later when Liverpool and Chelsea tangle. This will be an all out war for both the Reds and the Blues.
Man U and Man City will play on Sunday.
Man City will travel to Toons house. The Red Devils are at home against Swansea City.
Blackpool defeated Birmingham 1-0 in their first leg of English Championship playoff. The return leg will be played at Blues house on Wednesday. The winner will advance to the Championship game to battle the winner of the Cardiff City- West Ham.
This will earn a berth in the big boys league next season.
Gunner for life.
