Saturday, December 19, 2009
Perry Pulang Urus Administrasi
BOJONEGORO - Perry Sah Kolie absen dalam beberapa latihan Persibo Bojonegoro. Padahal, hampir semua rekannya melahap menu latihan yang diberikan pelatih Sartono Anwar untuk menghadapi kompetisi Divisi Utama 2009-2010. Kemarin (13/10), dia tidak hadir di Stadion Letjen H Soedirman. Ke mana dia? ''Perry harus pulang dulu ke Liberia untuk mengurus administrasi,'' jelas Asisten Manajer Persibo Bidang Teknis Imam Sardjono. Sebelumnya, Perry membela Laskar Angling Dharma (julukan Persibo) di ajang Liga Jatim VIII. Sayang, tim asal Kota Ledre tersebut tersingkir pada babak penyisihan grup. Dalam latihan kemarin, pemain seleksi juga masih tampak. Mereka adalah Sonny Kurniawan (Persiba Balikpapan), Irham (Semen Padang), dan Bogi Santoso (PSAP Sigli). Kemampuan ketiganya masih akan dipantau. (ade/jpnn/diq)
Ellis Named Head Coach of U.S. Under-20s
U.S. Women's National Team head coach and technical director Greg Ryan has named Jillian Ellis as the new U.S. Under-20 Women's National Team head coach. Ellis will be charged with leading the team that will attempt to qualify for the 2008 FIFA Under-20 Women's World Cup in Chile.
With Ellis taking the helm for the U-20 team, Bill Irwin will take over as head coach of the Under-21 Women's National Team, which was led by Ellis in 2005 and 2006, as well as in 2000.
NU Soccer Coach Resigns
Jenny Haigh, the Northwestern women's head soccer coach who led the team to a winning season in 2004, resigned from her position Tuesday.
Although there was no official reason for the resignation, the announcement came 11 days after the conclusion of Northwestern's investigation into a hazing scandal involving the women's soccer team.
WPS schedule
Women's Professional Soccer plans to unveil its complete league schedule Thursday afternoon.
Hayden: I can give more after this
Friday, 4 July 2008He is uncertain about his future, Honda hasn't come to approach him and says.. why don't you sign this paper and let's get out of there to fight with the Ducatis?... No, the time maybe not right yet.
Hayden said that he once had felt that he has lost his faith over his team, himself and his bike. But his current pneumatic valve bike gives him a better confidence, where in Assen, if there is no stupid thing happened, out of fuel, then he might have climbed the podium for the f! irst time of the year. I pasted here his comment when Rider Magazine of Italy interviewed him:
I think I still have a lot to give, and that these are my best years. What I can say is that I am a pilot from'99 Honda, and have always been corrected. But it is my duty to make the right choice for my future. My contract is finished, so if the results are slow to arrive will be difficult to start a negotiation. At the same time I want to continue, try to do my best.
I love to hear this and hope he is doing his best to show that he can do better then Assen, he can win a race. That's for sure.
What about Melandri? latest rumors have gone wild and said that his wish to ride a Kawasaki to replace Hopper seemed failed, Suppo gave no permission, he asked him to try more, 2 more races. My bet, he will do it just to justify another bad result as his head has gone off, and no more confidence left, on top of that, he doe! sn't want to live in the den of the red anymore. Whatever will! be, I t hink Kawasaki will wait and Macio will sign there.
FC Cape Town prepare for Sundowns
FC Cape Town coach, Johnnie Ferreira, says they'll go on the attack when they face Sundowns in a Nedbank Cup quarterfinal at Athlone Stadium on Saturday night. The first division club has kept a clean sheet in the tournament so far, but have not been scoring many goals. Ferreira says they'll be looking to upset the Brazilians' passing rhythm early in the first half. He says his players are up for the match and motivated to go all the way.
The club is already guaranteed R 400 000 in prize money, even if they lose on Saturday. That wil! l more than double to a million rand if they go through to the semi-finals. Besides being a great achievement to reach this stage of the Cup competition, the success has also led to commercial exposure and Ferreira made a point of calling on corporates to consider getting on board and sponsoring the young club. He says the prize money will assist in developing young talent, which is the primary focus of the Bluedowns based club.
Wales to Fight Altitude Differently
While the Springboks are giving themselves as much time to acclimatise to altitude as possible, Saturday's opponents are approaching that aspect a little differently.
Sports scientists believe there are two schools of thought when it comes to best combating altitude. The first being to spend as MUCH time in those conditions as possible with the second being to spend as LITTLE time in those conditions as possible.
Wales have gone for the latter, choosing to prepare for Saturday's first test in the Mothercity as opposed to in Bloemfontein or Kimberley or Johannesburg for that matter.
Whether or not it's the right or wrong thing to do, we won't know just yet... But early indications are that it's a big error in judgement on their part.
Good start for Proteas
The Proteas have got their tour of England to a good start when they posted 455/3 on the opening day of a three day fixture. Jacques Kallis and Hashim Alma starred with the bat as both of them got centuries. However had a slow start it took him 19 balls to get his scoring going eventually going out on 172. Kallis ended on 160 as he suffered an injury to his elbow. South Africa will be hoping this partnership will remain dominant through out the tour.
Breakfast Headlines
Springbok coach Peter de Villiers has some work to do ahead of the Tri-Nations test against Australia in Durban on Saturday. He'll have to lift the spirits of his players after the crushing 19-0 defeat to the All Blacks. The Wallabies however say they're reading nothing into the result. De Villiers says his team couldn't get any good second phase ball at Newlands...
***
The Springboks could be missing Bryan Habana against Australia on Saturday after he hurt his hamstring at Newlands.
***
Die Amerikaanse swem sensasie, Michael Phelps, is die koning van die Beijing Olimpiese spele na 'n rekord agtste goue medalje. Phelps het Mark Spitz se rekord van sewe goues verbeter toe Amerika die 4 by een honderd meter aflos gewen het.
***
Jamaica's Usain Bolt, who claimed the 100 metres gold in world record fashion, cruised through to the second round of the men's 200 metres today. He's chasing the first Olympic sprint double since ! American Carl Lewis achieved the feat at the Los Angeles Games in 1984.
***
Another Jamaican, Shelly-Ann Fraser, won the women's 100 metres.
***
Rafael Nadal clinched gold in the men's tennis with a win over Fernando Gonzalez, while Elena Dementieva beat Dinara Safina as Russia claimed gold, silver and bronze.
***
A few South Africans are in finals today. Khotso Mokoena's in the men's long jump final between 13h10 and 15h00, Ruben Ramolefi's in the men's 3 000 metres steeple chase final starting at 15h15 and LJ van Zyl's in the Men's 400 metres hurdles Final getting underway at 16h00.
***
SAFA CEO Raymond Hack says there are no plans to bring back former Bafana Bafana coach Carlos Alberto Parreira as an advisor to Joel Santana, despite speculation in the papers yesterday.
***
Sundowns took a big step towards reaching the MTN 8 final when they beat SuperSport United 2-1 in their first leg match.
***
Chelsea manager ! Luiz Felipe Scolari refuses to believe the Premier League will! be a tw o-horse race this season. The bookies aren't giving anyone else other than the Blues and Manchester United a realistic shot of winning the title. But after a 4-0 opening win over Portsmouth, Scolari says they must regard everyone as a threat...
***
Man United manager Sir Alex Ferguson says Manchester United can do without Dimitar Berbatov. The Tottenham striker has been linked with a move to Old Trafford. After a disappointing 1-1 Premier League opener with Newcastle, the United boss said they'll be fine in attack if they can't bring in the Bulgarian...
***
England have some injury problems ahead of Wednesday's Twenty20 international against the Proteas. Ryan Sidebottom has been ruled out.
***
Valentino Rossi increased his lead in the Moto GP world championship to 50 points when he won the Czech MotoGP. World champion Casey Stoner crashed out early in the race.
3 for Natalie
Natalie Du Toit has done South Africa proud yet again.
The sensational swimmer added a third medal to her tally at the Paralympics earlier today. She finished first when she swam in time of 2 minutes 27.83 seconds and also broke the world record. She now has two more races ahead of her and hopes to win gold in both. Team SA won 15 gold medals at the 2004 Athens games and Du Toit says South Africa are more than capable of winning more medals.
Fielding Whizz Debuts for the Cobras
The exciting Sybrand Engelbrecht makes his Supersport Series debut for the Nashua Cape Cobras tomorrow. The Cobras face off against the Chevrolet Warriors in a four day match at Boland Park in Paarl this week.The 20 year old made headlines during the under 19 World Cup earlier this year. He's an outstanding fielder who has even been likened to the great Jonty Rhodes. The youngster is pure class in the field and a real asset to any team. Some of his catches at backward point were amazing and his presence should ! make the opposition think twice if anything goes in his direction.
Engelbrecht is also an off-spinner and a right-handed middle-order batsman, so his versatility will be very handy on a pitch that has been disappointing so far this season.
Friday, December 18, 2009
Proteas settled as Aussies panic
The build-up to the second test between South Africa and Australia has exposed the weaknesses of the world number one test nation.
The Australians have admitted to having an under-strength squad and their inexperienced players have not stepped up the way the Proteas' have.
Aussie fast bowler Peter Siddle could find himself in the dressing room after an uninspiring performance in his second test.
Ben Hilfenhaus has been called up to add healthy competition for the position.
Spinner Jason Kreyza did his career no favours by failing to pin down the South Africans, so he'll be replaced by Nathan Hauritz.
It's not only the relative newcomers under pressure after going 1-0 down in the series.
Opener Matthew Hayden has not been scoring freely and received a stern warning from selectors who made it clear that the plan was for him to continue until the Ashes.
Hayden says he'll assess his ! future after the series against the Proteas.
Brett Lee has under performed by his standards and as hard as it may be to believe, the selectors have warned him to find form or face the chop.
Key injuries are also plaguing the home side.
Andrew Symonds may be fit to bat, but he can't bowl due to a knee injury.
Shane Watson is the logical replacement, but he too is struggling with injury.
The Proteas have far less worries.
Ashwell Prince is on the mend and batted through a net session after missing the first test due to a cracked thumb.
The Proteas won't fret too much as JP Duminy has proven to be an able replacement.
Skipper Graeme Smith will bat through the pain barrier, although his elbow injury has had little effect on his ability.
The Aussies are mixing a dangerous cocktail of poor form, injuries and inexperience.
Add a dash of media pressure, on Ponting in partic! ular, and the result could make the home side too tipsy to sto! p the Pr oteas, who are still intoxicated by their confidence inspiring run chase for victory.
Breakfast headlines
The Maties have been crowned FNB Varsity Cup champions for the second year running after an 11-6 victory over Pukke. Stellenbosch also won the award for playing 'Rugby that Rocks' and scrumhalf Donald Stevens won the 'Player that Rocks' award. Pukke's Willem van der Wal was named forward of the tournament and UCT's Therlow Pietersen was named back of the tournament.
In Super 14 news, the A and G Lions suffered another big blow in a tough season when 2003 SA player of the year, Ashwin Willemse, announced his immediate retirement. Meanwhile, there's speculation that Dylan des Fountain could start for the Vodacom Stormers against the Waratahs.
Springbok Sevens coach, Paul Treu, says their preparations for the Adelaide Sevens this weekend will be low-key after a narrow defeat to Fiji in the Hong Kong Sevens.
Bafana Bafana face Portugal and possibly the World player of the year in Christiano Ronaldo tonight. Kick-off in Switzer! land is at 20h45.
Fifa have ordered an investigation into a stadium crush in Abidjan in which at least 19 people were killed and a further 132 injured before a World Cup qualifier between Ivory Coast and Malawi.
Meanwhile the first phase of ticket sales for the 2010 FIFA World Cup closes today.
Cricket:
Proteas convenor of selectors, Mike Proctor, says they've not yet finalised the World T20 squad. Roelof van der Merwe and Yusuf Abdulla made good debuts against Australia and could find themselves in the squad heading to England in June. Proctor says the conditions will also be considered. He says they'll keep a close eye on the IPL ahead of selecting the squad.
WP vroue krieket kaptein Olivia Anderson het vanjaar bo die mans uitgeblink. Haar span het die WP vroue liga gedomineer. Sy is aangewys as die Bellville krieket speler van die jaar by 'n toekenings seremonie. Anderson says there's increased awareness of women's c! ricket.
There are some interesting discussions goin! g on wit hin English cricket. They're currently contemplating a test under lights at Lord's between England and Bangladesh in 2010. Players will apparently also wear so-called "pyjamas" as part of efforts to increase crowd attendance at test matches.
Singapore Grand Prix: Points of Interest
This weekend brings us the Singapore Grand Prix at the Marina Bay Circuit. It is the first grand prix in Singapore and the first ever Formula One race at night. Here are the things I will be looking at this weekend:
1. Sebastien Bourdais. Now that we have confirmed the pace of Toro Rosso, I will be looking to see if Sebastien Bourdais can translate the car's speed into actual results. He has been a victim of some bad luck and some reliability issues. Nevertheless, given his experience on street circuits during his time in Champcar, Bourdais should perform well. I expect a points finish.
2. Attrition. Given we are at a new street circuit and the night conditions will be very unfamiliar to many of the drivers and given that there is a chance for rain, it will be interesting to see how many cars finish the race. I think there will be several safety car periods.
3. Heikki Kovalainen. Kovalainen has made a respectable transition to the McLaren te! am but one of the areas that seems to have dogged him is his performance on street circuits. His best finish this year on street circuits is 4th, which ties his career best finish on street circuits (Canada). So, I will be interested to see if he can raise his game on street circuits. Given now it is later in the season, he is more experienced and his car is arguable the best on the grid, Kovalainen needs to step up and least get a podium finish.
Bring on Friday practice!
Agger Aiming For Return
Daniel Agger has set his sights on regaining a place in Liverpool's first-team after playing for the club's reserves as he continues his recovery from injury.
The classy Denmark defender has not featured in the current campaign, having undergone a back operation in pre-season.
But Agger played 68 minutes for Liverpool's reserves in the meeting with Manchester City on Tuesday as he edges closer to full fitness.
The 24-year-old, whose previous seasons have been disrupted by fitness problems, is now determined to regain a place in the first XI plans of Rafa Benitez.
Agger told Liverpool's official! website: "I will keep working hard and do everything I can to help the team and get back in the side as soon as possible."
He added: "It is good to be back and it felt good to be back on the pitch again.
"It is always frustrating when you are out injured and can't play football, so to get back out there again was great.
"I knew in pre-season that my back wasn't right so I had to get the problem sorted. I set myself the target to be back around this time and so I'm happy."
The classy Denmark defender has not featured in the current campaign, having undergone a back operation in pre-season.
But Agger played 68 minutes for Liverpool's reserves in the meeting with Manchester City on Tuesday as he edges closer to full fitness.
The 24-year-old, whose previous seasons have been disrupted by fitness problems, is now determined to regain a place in the first XI plans of Rafa Benitez.
Agger told Liverpool's official! website: "I will keep working hard and do everything I can to help the team and get back in the side as soon as possible."
He added: "It is good to be back and it felt good to be back on the pitch again.
"It is always frustrating when you are out injured and can't play football, so to get back out there again was great.
"I knew in pre-season that my back wasn't right so I had to get the problem sorted. I set myself the target to be back around this time and so I'm happy."
Rafael Benítez Escapes Sanction For Spectacles Gesture After Liverpool Defeat
The Liverpool manager, Rafael Benítez, has been cleared of two charges brought by the Football Association following comments he made regarding the referee Phil Dowd after Liverpool's 2-1 defeat to Tottenham on the opening day of the season.
Benítez had criticised Dowd for failing to give Liverpool a penalty after Andriy Voronin was levered off the ball in the Tottenham penalty area.
"I think everyone could see there was a penalty, especially to Voronin, it was so clear," said Benítez after the game. "[The penalty appeal] was s! o clear, it was unbelievable. Can you get two penalties at an away ground? No. With this referee [Phil Dowd], I knew that this was impossible."
The third charge relates to a gesture made in a post-match interview in which the Spaniard responded to a question about the incident by remaining tight-lipped, but took off his glasses theatrically as if presenting them for inspection.
This was deemed offensive by the FA and Benítez was warned about his future behaviour as a consequence.
Benítez had criticised Dowd for failing to give Liverpool a penalty after Andriy Voronin was levered off the ball in the Tottenham penalty area.
"I think everyone could see there was a penalty, especially to Voronin, it was so clear," said Benítez after the game. "[The penalty appeal] was s! o clear, it was unbelievable. Can you get two penalties at an away ground? No. With this referee [Phil Dowd], I knew that this was impossible."
The third charge relates to a gesture made in a post-match interview in which the Spaniard responded to a question about the incident by remaining tight-lipped, but took off his glasses theatrically as if presenting them for inspection.
This was deemed offensive by the FA and Benítez was warned about his future behaviour as a consequence.
Agger: I've Not A Clue Why Our Defence Is So Bad
Danish defender Daniel Agger admits he "does not have a clue'' what has gone wrong with Liverpool's defending this season.
Liverpool's leaky defence has been blamed for the club's worst run of form for 22 years, with six defeats already this term and 17 goals conceded in their first 13 matches. Last season Liverpool let in just nine in their first 13 games, and were second in the Premier League at this stage.
Now they are eighth and aware that if they lost at home to Manchester United on Sunday, it will be their fifth successive defeat and their worst run since 1953. Injuries to Agger and! Martin Skrtel, the departure of Sami Hyypia and a poor start to the season by Jamie Carragher has all contributed to the current crisis.
Agger said: "We must defend as a unit, it is not just about four men at the back. Conceding goals like we are is just not good enough. We are normally so strong and we don't concede goals like that. What is wrong? To be honest I haven't got a clue.
"I feel okay, but I am not 100% fit after my back problem. I need match fitness, but that will return slowly. Defeats do affect the team, but everyone just has to carry on, work hard, and things will be okay. We need to learn to play consistently through a game, that's simple really.
"We were at home against Lyon in the Champions League on Tuesday, we should have been able to finish the game off a long time before they scored. We were leading and missed good chances that could have wrapped things up. In the end it showed that we were not good enough. We have to ! address that. It is Manchester United next, so we have to rais! e oursel ves for that.
"It is all about hard work. If you are not playing well that is the way to improve. Everyone must be focused now.''
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez will wait until the last moment before deciding on his team, giving Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres and Glen Johnson - all groin injury victims - every chance of proving their fitness.
On his own position, after four defeats on the trot, Benitez said: "I am relaxed. I know how we are working every day, the players know too. In the past we have been very good and the situation and players has not changed too much. It is about confidence and winning that first game. If we want to change things we must focus on football and not what is going on off the pitch here.
"We have done extra training sessions, the attitude of the players has been good and you could see how focused and positive they are. They know the situation. They know what they must do, and they will try to do every! thing we are asking of them. The team is not as bad as people think. We have beaten United without Gerrard and Torres and we know that we can beat anyone. We have total confidence in that.''
Liverpool's leaky defence has been blamed for the club's worst run of form for 22 years, with six defeats already this term and 17 goals conceded in their first 13 matches. Last season Liverpool let in just nine in their first 13 games, and were second in the Premier League at this stage.
Now they are eighth and aware that if they lost at home to Manchester United on Sunday, it will be their fifth successive defeat and their worst run since 1953. Injuries to Agger and! Martin Skrtel, the departure of Sami Hyypia and a poor start to the season by Jamie Carragher has all contributed to the current crisis.
Agger said: "We must defend as a unit, it is not just about four men at the back. Conceding goals like we are is just not good enough. We are normally so strong and we don't concede goals like that. What is wrong? To be honest I haven't got a clue.
"I feel okay, but I am not 100% fit after my back problem. I need match fitness, but that will return slowly. Defeats do affect the team, but everyone just has to carry on, work hard, and things will be okay. We need to learn to play consistently through a game, that's simple really.
"We were at home against Lyon in the Champions League on Tuesday, we should have been able to finish the game off a long time before they scored. We were leading and missed good chances that could have wrapped things up. In the end it showed that we were not good enough. We have to ! address that. It is Manchester United next, so we have to rais! e oursel ves for that.
"It is all about hard work. If you are not playing well that is the way to improve. Everyone must be focused now.''
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez will wait until the last moment before deciding on his team, giving Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres and Glen Johnson - all groin injury victims - every chance of proving their fitness.
On his own position, after four defeats on the trot, Benitez said: "I am relaxed. I know how we are working every day, the players know too. In the past we have been very good and the situation and players has not changed too much. It is about confidence and winning that first game. If we want to change things we must focus on football and not what is going on off the pitch here.
"We have done extra training sessions, the attitude of the players has been good and you could see how focused and positive they are. They know the situation. They know what they must do, and they will try to do every! thing we are asking of them. The team is not as bad as people think. We have beaten United without Gerrard and Torres and we know that we can beat anyone. We have total confidence in that.''
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Western Yamaha team announced
By John Hopkins
CALGARY, AB -- Details of a three-rider, western Canadian based Yamaha road race team were announced at the Calgary Motorcycle Show last weekend.
Anchored by veteran Canadian racer Steve Dick of Vancouver, the squad will also include Calgary's Jessica Soodeen and Saskatoon native Brett McCormick.
A key element of the program will be the growing sport of Mini Road Racing. Soodeen and McCormick will ride TZ125s fitted with 85cc motors in the newly-created Western Canadian Championship and the Canadian Nationals in Quesnel, BC. In his first year of Mini Road Racing, McCormick, 13, won all three classes in the 2004 Nationals along with the Alberta series crown.
The team will also run in EMRA and WMRC regional road racing events.
According to Dick, the eight-round Western Canadian Championship will consist of two events each in Saskatoon, Edmonton's Stratotech Park, the kart racing facility at Race City Motorsport Park in Calgary and an undetermined location on BC's Lower Mainland.
New CMRC national schedule
From CMRC Racing
2006 CANADIAN MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIPS SCHEDULE
May 27-28 Ste-Julie, QC
June 3-4 Gopher Dunes, Courtland, ON
June 17-18 The Wastelands, Nanaimo, BC
June 24-25 Wild Rose MX Park, Calgary, AB
July 8-9 Moto Valley Raceway, Regina, SK
July 15-16 Shadow Valley Raceway, Morden, MB
Aug. 5-6 Riverglade MX Park, Moncton, NB
Aug. 12-13 Sand Del Lee, Richmond, ON
Aug. 19-20 The Trans Can, Walton, ON
Sunday, December 13, 2009
2009 Bengals Depth Chart- Wide Receivers
Wide Receivers
1. Chad Johnson
2. Laveranues Coles
3. Chris Henry
4. Andre Caldwell
5. Jerome Simpson
6. Antonio Chatman
7. Mario Urrutia
8. Maurice Purify
9. Freddie Brown
10. Quan Cosby
Key losses: T.J. Housmanzadeh
Key additions: Laveranues Coles
The Bengals lost last season's number one receiver in TJ Housmanzadeh in free agency to the Seattle Seahawks. TJ was Mr. automatic in receptions with his ability to get into seams in the middle of the field. With the addition of Coles, the Bengals may have found a viable replacement for Housh. The 32 year old Coles has spent the last four seasons with the New York Jets. Last year Coles had 70 receptions for 850 yards and 7 TD's. In comparison last season Housh had 90 Recs, 904 yards, and 4 TD's.
Meanwhile Chad Johnson is coming off of his least productive season since his rookie year in 2001. Chad only managed 53 recs, 540 yards,! and 4 TD's by far his lowest stat totals since '01. Chad was slowed a little by injury last year but still managed to start in 10 games for the men in stripes. We are all hoping that Chad has not lost his step and can pick his game up this year.
The number 3 receiver and below is where this get interesting. Talent wise, Chris Henry is definitely your #3, but the question remains can he stay out of trouble for long enough to put in a full season. Andre Caldwell proved last season that he can be a solid option for kick returns averaging 26 yards per return. But Caldwell has yet to show us his ability to run solid routes and be a strong option at the WR position.
Jerome Simpson has not progressed at all since his signing as a rookie which concerns me. Simpson will need a very strong preseason if he hopes to find the field with any regularity this year. Antonio Chatman has also showed value as a kick and punt returner but has not been very strong at WR.
The q! uestions remain on whether or not Mario Urrutia can make it at! this le vel. Urrutia was a major talent at Louisville and has the size to be an NFL receiver. I have heard that he will get the opportunity to become a part of the offense at training camp. I would also think that it would be unlikely that Cosby, Purify, and Brown can make it to this level just yet. Look for them to round out the practice squad or take a position on another team.
No more dancing in Ft. Wayne
In a shocking move from Scott Pioli and and Kansas City Chiefs they have released veteran safety Bernard Pollard. Perhaps you know of Pollard from his physical play on the field, from the hit that ended Tom Brady's 2008 season, or from his amazing dancing skills displayed two years ago on Hard Knocks.
This move really does surprise me though, Pollard has been a solid contributor to this defense for a few years. Perhaps Pioli still has hard feelings from the Brady injury.
I really think the Bengals should sign him. From what I have seen through hard knoc! ks we currently have not a single dancer from Ft. Wayne. Bernard can come into the locker room and "show us how they do it in Ft. Wayne."
UFC Rankings (1-30-08; Keefe)
Here is the first monthly UFC rankings. Tristan and I will both rank fighters 1-10 for the 5 divisions in the UFC. Perhaps we will combine the rankings one day and just have a "Sports Brief Rankings," but for now there will be two separate ones. Again these are only fighters in the UFC/ under contract. No Fedor, Paulo Filho, Matt Lindland, Gomi, Arona, etc. Also I have Dan Henderson in both LHW and MW as his last fight in the UFC was for the LHW belt and his next fight is for the MW belt.
Heavyweight:
1. Randy Couture
2. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira
3. Tim Sylvia
4. Andrei Arlovski
5. Fabricio Werdum
6. Cheick Kongo
7. Brandon Vera
8. Gabriel Gonzaga
9. Mirko Cro Cop
10. Frank Mir
Light Heavyweight:
1. Quinton Jackson
2. Dan Henderson
3. Maurcio 'Shogun' Rua
4. Chuck Liddell
5. Keith Jardine
6. Forrest Griffin
7. Lyoto Machida
8. Wand! erlei Silva
9. Tito Ortiz
10. Thiago Silva
Middleweight:
1. Anderson Silva
2. Dan Henderson
3. Rich Franklin
4. Nathan Marquardt
5. Yushin Okami
6. Travis Lutter
7. Patrick Cote
8. Jason MacDonald
9. Chris Leben
10. Nathan Quarry
Welterweight:
1. Georges St. Pierre
2. Matt Serra
3. Jon Fitch
4. Matt Hughes
5. Josh Koscheck
6. Karo Parisyan
7. Diego Sanchez
8. Marcus Davis
9. Mike Swick
10. Josh Burkman
Lightweight:
1. BJ Penn
2. Sean Sherk
3. Joe Stevenson
4. Kenny Florian
5. Roger Huerta
6. Frankie Edgar
7. Tyson Griffin
8. Din Thomas
9. Spencer Fisher
10. Clay Guida
The Sports Brief's Week 7 NFL picks
I'll admit, I (Besse) went to bed before the Red Sox dramatic comeback last night at Fenway Park. Then again, I know a lot of people that went to bed or left the park, as well. But they all did it when the score was 5-0, or if that wasn't enough, waited until Upton hooked one of the wall in left off Papelbon to make it 7-0. For me, I waited until Ortiz launched a Tiger Woods tee shot into the right field seats to make it 7-4 and a ballgame again. I couldn't do it. I was exhausted and sure the Rays would hold on. The last thing I wanted to do was stay up waiting for a dramatic comeback and not get it, or even worse, root for the Rays to hold and collapse. So instead, I slept soundly until I got a text from a buddy saying, "Wow. What a comeback." Mind you, I'm rooting for the Rays here for several reasons:
1) I just don't like Boston. Not when the team is led by Pedroia and Youkilis, two of the biggest shitheads in all of baseball.
2) Carlos Pena. We both playe! d at Northeastern, although I'd say he played a bit more and a bit better than I did. I also played with his brother Omar, who was a hell of a player himself.
3) Evan Longoria. What a player.
4) What a story. This team is so exciting to watch, and after 10 years of holding down the fort in the basement of the AL East all those first round picks are paying on.
5) I have a friendly lunch bet going with a co-worker who is also a season ticket holder at Fenway. I'm not exactly making bank right now, so any free lunch is certainly welcome when I can get it.
Nonetheless, at least the comeback makes the series exciting again, and will give the Rays the chance to clinch at home. But I said it after Game 4 and I'll say it again, Francona lined up his rotation for this exact situation. Down 3-1, he had a fighting chance with Dice-K, Beckett and Lester. Although the Sox dodged a bullet last night with Dice-K, they now send one of the greatest postseason pitch! ers of all time seeking redemption, and one of the best leftie! s in the game today coming off a rough start. The Sox are in great shape to make another run, but the Rays have been resilient all year. This should make for absolute tremendous threater. Too bad Chip Carey and company have the call. Where's Donny O. and Rem-Dawg when you need 'em?
Game six actually being necessary does pose a bit of a problem for us here at The Sports Brief, however. You see, UFC 89 takes place in England on Saturday and is being show, for free, on SpikeTV in a delayed telecast. Headlining the card is an exciting showdown between two promising middleweights. Chris "The Crippler" Leben, fresh of a 30-day stint in the slammer, takes on Michael "The Count" Bisping, who has looked very impressive in a pair of middleweight fights since dropping from 205. Keefe and I are both die-hard Leben fans. He's an exciting fighter who loves to brawl and has a chin of iron, granite, brick, whatever. The only guy to knock him out is Anderson Silva, and well, it's almost a! n honor at this point to be knocked out by Silva. Bisping, meanwhile, is relentless. He fights at a torrid pace, something you might expect out of Manny Pacquiao at 135 lbs. He doesn't throw bombs like Leben, and his chin, for the most part, is untested. But he's highly skilled, athletic and agile, and it should make for a terrific matchup.
On the undercard, Keith "The Dean of Mean" Jardine takes on Brandon "The Truth" Vera. Jardine is coming off that awful, brutal beatdown at the hands of The Axe Murderer. But he's taking on Vera, a fighter with a completely different style and approach, perhaps one that is tailored to Jardine's liking. Vera is in search of an impressive victory after a couple snoozers for wins, but Jardine is in the same boat.
Keefe and I will go on the record as saying that we like Leben and Jardine, both 'dawgs in Vegas, to come out as winners on Saturday. If you can parlay that ass, let us know. You should consider doing it too.
Onto the picks. I'm praying that Romo starts this we! ek. I ha ve him in four fantasy leagues and need him. I went to pick up Brad Johnson in those leagues as insurance, but in my ESPN league, "Turd Ferguson" (my girlfriend's brother) made a strategic move and claimed him on waivers ahead of me. Well played. I texted him and told him I hope Romo plays just to spite him. Some solid action ahead of us this weekend, including what could be a brutal Monday Night game between the Broncos and Pats. Keefe and I are heading to Gillette next week for the Rams game. Normally we'd be excited, but with Matt Cassel at the helm, that's certainly not the case these days.
For Random Rob this week, I utilized the little box of paper clips on my desk. I counted out seven red (Home team), seven blue (Away team), seven green (Favorite) and seven purple (Underdog). I gave it a hard shake or two, then drew a clip for each game, matching up the color with the respective team.
Keefe's picks:
Last week 7-7, overal! l 43-45
Chargers +0.5 over the Bills
In a basically pick em game I'll go with San Diego after what they did to the Pats last week. Bills are good, but get their 2nd loss.
Bears -3.5 over Vikings
Kyle Orton has provided some passing to the offense that's needed a boast. Matt Forte is solid, but they'll be better off passing this week in the battle of 3-3 teams in the NFC North.
Steelers -9.5 over Bengals
Is Carson Palmer healthy? I don't know.
Chiefs +7.5 over Titans
Undefeated Titans have a close call in a game they should dominate. Chris Johnson has good game coming off the bye week.
Saints +3.5 over Panthers
Carolina D looks sorry last week, think the Saints should put up some points.
Cowboys -6.5 over Rams
Roy Williams, in. Pacman Jones, out. Tony Romo, ? Either way America's team wins by at least a touchdown.
Ravens O is terribl! e. The D , is ok. Miami will continue to surprise with another W.
49ers +10.5 over Giants
Giants should bounce back with a win, but asking them to cover with that number, is too much.
Texans -8.5 over Lions
How many 1 win teams in week 7 of the NFL season have been 8.5 point favorites? I'll still take Schaub, Andre Johnson and the Texans.
Raiders +3.5 over Jets
If the Jets are going to be a playoff team this is one they need to have. I think they win it, but it's close.
Browns +7.5 over Redskins
Browns beat the Giants, and the Skins loss to the Rams, and Washington is understandably 7.5 point favorites this week. How about the NFL? Anderson and Edwards looked like the '07 Browns last week, keep an eye on them.
Packers +1.5 over Colts
Colts looked good last week, but how much does it matter? I'll take Aaron Rodgers and the points this week. No Addai for Indy.
Buccaneers -10.5 over Seahawks
Talk about a stinker on Sunday Night. Seattle is hurting, and quietly Tampa Bay is having a nice season. Can that city have playoff baseball and football this year?
Broncos +3.5 over Patriots
Patriots don't deserve to be the favorites after last weeks game. It's not just Matt Cassel hurting this team. The secondary was brutal. Malcolm Floyd and Vincent Jackson looked like All-Pros, what will Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal do on MNF? I'm afraid to watch.
Besse's picks:
Last week: 5-9, Overall: 48-40
Chargers +0.5 over Bills
San Diego looked impressive against the Patriots last week, and I still think the Bills are slightly overrated. Edwards suffered a concussion and it'll be interesting to see how he bounces back after the bye week. LT has a solid two score game.
Vikings +3.5 over Bears
Matt Ryan passed ! for 301 yards against that Bears secondary. Gus Frerotte is a ! solid ve teran who will find some open lanes through the air and create a little breathing room for AP. Bears may win by a FG, but don't cover.
Steelers -9.5 over Bengals
Carson Palmer is out. Willie Parker is also out. Bengals have a solid pass defense, and but Mewelde Moore has been a nice fill-in. He should rush for 100 yards and a score or two while Big Ben should just limit the mistakes. Solid win for the Steelers here.
Titans -7.5 over Chiefs
Larry Johnson has been suspended and the Chiefs already suck. Look for a virtual shutout in this one for the Titans defense.
Saints +3.5 over Panthers
This could be a fun game to watch two offenses go at it. Both quarterbacks have a lot of weapons, but Brees is one of the best in the game AND he gets Colston AND Shockey (potentially) back this week. I really like this Saints team.
Rame +6.5 over Cowboys
Cowboys win, but there have been a lot! of distractions this week. Pacman is a tough hit to that already porous secondary. Whether Romo plays or not, the offense should be sufficient. With him, it's explosive. But the Rams should have some openings to score points this week and at least keep pace for a while.
Dolphins -2.5 over Ravens
I was sorely disappointed by the Ravens defense last week. And that offense is just pathetic. This seems like a trap game to me in terms of betting, but the Dolphins are playing some solid football these days.
Giants -10.5 over 49ers
This could be the last time JT O'Sullivan quarterbacks an NFL team. He has completely wilted under pressure the last couple weeks, and the Giants defensive line will do just that. Solid bounce back performance for the Giants here.
Texans -8.5 over Lions
I think we have a new poll question. Worst current starting quarterback in football is a) Dan Orlovsky b) JT O'Sullivan c) Joe ! Flacco d) Seneca Wallace e) Matt Cassel
Jets -3! .5 over Raiders
This Jets team is looking better and better to me. Raiders are still a joke, and McFadden is coming down to earth a bit.
Browns +7.5 over Redskins
Good game here. Browns looked like they found themselves a bit last week. Jason Campbell needs to pull his head out of his ass and start looking for Santana Moss again. Redskins should bounce back with a win, but no way do they cover the spread.
Colts -1.5 over Packers
No Addai? No problem. Colts continue to roll over Rodgers and the Packers with Dominic Rhodes filling in. Pick him up in fantasy.
Buccaneers -10.5 over Seahawks
This spread could have been 80 and I would have taken the Bucs. Seahawks are the worst team in the NFL right now without Matt Hasselbeck.
Broncos +3.5 over Patriots
How are the Pats a favorite? I can't believe this. I feel like this is one of those "bet the house on this one" games. Even if t! he Pats find a way to win, it's only by a field goal. Broncos are just a much better team on paper.
Random Rob's picks:
Last week: 9-5, Overall: 53-35
Chargers
Vikings
Bengals
Chiefs
Panthers
Cowboys
Dolphins
Giants
Texans
Raiders
Browns
Colts
Bucs
Pats
-Bess
Hendo KO of Bisping - pic
Got this picture from Dan Henderson's twitter page. Unbelievable. He puts it perfectly...whoever did this photoshop job should get a medal...
You've gotta love the wig flying off. Great stuff.
-Bess
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Blackburn Rovers 2 Aston Villa 1
The Premier League match report between Blackburn Rovers and Aston Villa at Ewood Park on Saturday Sept 26, 2009.
Blackburn Rovers shrugged off an Aston Villa goal scored after just three minutes by Gabby Agbonlahor, and the fact that they were forced to play much of the second half with just ten men, to defeat Martin O'Neill's side 2-1, goals from Christopher Samba and David Dunn – a penalty two minutes from normal time – giving Sam Allardyce's side their second Premier League win of the season.
The Villa defence have been in ! good shape of late, with four successive clean sheets, but the warning signs were flickering within five minutes, when Stephen Warnock was called to block on a Franco Di Santo shot inside the area. But James Collins was displaying a disquieting tendency to allow his man to drift off him on set pieces and Carlos Cuellar, well, the less said about him, the better.
It was Richard Dunne, so sturdy in his first three games for Villa, who dropped the real clangers, though, first supplying Samba with the ball only yards out from the Villa goal, and then wafting an arm inside his own area in the 88th minute, asking for a penalty which Dunn happily converted.
What a waste, after Agbonlahor, following a headed flick on from John Carew, had cruised through the middle of Ryan Nelson and Christopher Samba and scored so soon. He hopelessly miss-hit his shot, but the forces of physics are on this one's side at the moment, and as Paul Rob! inson outstretched, the ball bumbled, misbehaved and someho! w spun i n off the post for the striker's fifth goal in five.
Blackburn responded with some punctuality. Nelson dispatched a looping ball into the Villa area, which Dunne left in favour of a muscle match with Samba. Worse was not only committing the cardinal sin of letting the ball bounce in the danger area, but actually nodding it into Samba's path just a few yards from goal.
By the half hour mark a match that Villa had begun undisputed favourites was an even-odds affair, and but for Friedel, Blackburn would have claimed the lead, when David Dunn attempted an overhead kick from five yards. Friedel, however, shot out an arm like a lizard's tongue and swished the ball over the bar: an exceptional save.
Increasingly this was a physical battle. Vince Grella clattered James Milner from behind, receiving his second yellow and his marching orders with it, more evidence that this was no game for the fainthearted. Then, as the mi! nutes drained, Dunne left a hand flailing in the area and conceded a penalty. Dunn, denied by Friedel once, would not be foiled again.
Unirea Urziceni 1-1 Stuttgart
Stuttgart will be left to rue two points that got away after they were held to a draw by Romanian champions Unirea Urziceni.
The Germans dominated the game for long stretches and had the lead through Serdar Tasci after just five minutes.
But they failed to convert any of a plethora of chances that followed, allowing Unirea to grab a point through Dacian Varga early in the second half.
Prior to the match, Stuttgart coach Markus Babbel had warned his side not ! to expect the Romanians to be a push over, but they could have been forgiven for thinking they might be in for an easy night as they dominated the early stages.
Roberto Hilbert had already lashed a powerful shot just wide when Tasci put them ahead after less than five minutes, firing in from point-blank range to leave Giedrius Arlauskis with no chance.
And the onslaught did not let up.
Just moments later Ciprian Marica sent a shot narrowly over the bar, and the hosts were lucky not to concede a second in the 13th minute when Arlauskis fumbled Sami Khedira's shot before collecting at the second attempt.
Tomas Hitzlsperger sent a trademark piledriver just wide of the net and Arthur Boka then saw his shot charged down by George Galamaz.
The hosts had to wait until the half-hour mark for their own first sight of goal, but Vasile Maftei sent his shot over the bar from close range.
However, the Romanian champions would make Stuttgart pay ! for their missed chances two minutes into the second half as V! arga cur led a shot into the far corner of the net from the edge of the area.
Stuttgart sought an immediate response, but Timo Gebhart's header was held by Arlauskis a minute later.
The goalkeeper's dodgy handling returned in the 54th minute as he failed to hold a Pavel Pogrebniak shot, but again Unirea escaped any damage.
Stuttgart had been awakened by the equaliser, and continued to press forward with Marica wasting a pair of chances, seeing his first shot blocked before then firing over the crossbar.
Raul Rusescu headed over for Unirea but it was a rare chance for the hosts as Stuttgart maintained the lion's share of possession.
They could do little to make it count however, as Gebhart saw his shot held by Arlauskis.
The hosts still posed a risk on the break, a fact that Sorin Frunza provided a reminder of as he flashed a shot just over the crossbar as the game moved into the final 10 minutes.
But it was Stuttgart who continued to c! reate the most chances, and Hilbert wasted another fine one when Hitzlsperger's cross found him just yards from goal but he blazed a shot over the crossbar.
Hitzlsperger followed suit with another high shot, and Stuttgart's chance of victory was gone.
Yankees take victory in ALCS opener
The New York Yankees took full advantage of some slack work by the Los Angeles Angels to ease to a 4-1 win in the opening game of the American League Championship Series.
The chilly conditions at Yankee Stadium seemed to work against the Angels who made three crucial errors to gift the hosts the upper hand in the best-of-seven series.
CC Sabathia frustrated the Angels to an even greater degree than the wintry conditions, the Yankees starter putting in a sterling ef! fort across eight innings that resulted in just four hits and a run.
The only blot on Sabathia copy book came in the fourth inning when Vladimir Guerrero hit a deep drive to left-centre field to make second base. Kendry Morales then connected for a two-out hit to score Guerrero.
New York wasted no time in jumping out to a 2-0 lead in the first.
Derek Jeter moved onto third base after Johnny Damon's single. A throwing error by left fielder Juan Rivera allowed Damon to advance before Alex Rodriguez's sacrifice fly scored Jeter.
Hideki Matsui's pop-up then inexplicably fell harmlessly between Angels' third baseman Chone Figgins and shortstop Erick Aybar, which allowed Damon to score.
Damon began the fifth with a double before coming home on Matsui's hit to left, while Jeter hit a run-scoring single in the sixth after more help from the Angels fielders, this time Torii Hunter allowing the ball to sneak past.
The ALCS stays in New York f! or Game Two on Saturday night.
Hantuchova beaten by Peer
Fourth seed Daniela Hantuchova was dumped out of the BGL Luxembourg Open by unseeded Israeli Shahar Peer.
The Slovakian succumbed in straight sets 6-2 7-6 (7/4) to Peer, who will now take on sixth seed Sabine Lisicki after the world number 28 from Germany put out Patty Schnyder of Switzerland 6-4 6-2.
Fifth seed Yanina Wickmayer will be the favourite in the other semi-final after booking her place with a 7-6 (7/1) 4-6 6-1 victory over fellow Belgian Kirsten Flipken! s.
Wickmayer will now take on Swiss Timea Bacsinszky who overcame Katerina Srebotnik of Slovenia 6-7 (3/7) 6-1 6-4.
Manchester City 5 Scunthorpe United 1
The Carling Cup game between Manchester City and Scunthorpe United at the City of Manchester Stadium on Wednesday Oct 28 2009.
They are becoming accustomed to winning at Manchester City and Mark Hughes's players now have the scent of silverware in their nostrils after breezing into the Carling Cup quarter-finals at the expense of Scunthorpe Un! ited.
Recent League Cup defeats at the hands of Doncaster, Chesterfield and Brighton only serve to emphasise the trouble Manchester City have had with cup football. Yet Scunthorpe were brushed aside as five different goalscorers: Stephen Ireland, Roque Santa Cruz, Joleon Lescott, Carlos Tevez and Michael Johnson confirmed City's progression to the last eight.
City might not have contested a semi-final for 28 years, but no matter who they land in the draw for the next round, the winning mentality instilled by Hughes ensures that they will expect to progress.
Having delivered the cross from which Mark Robins scored the goal that 'saved Alex Ferguson's job' during a 1-0 Manchester United victory at Nottingham Forest almost 20 years ago, City manager Mark Hughes knows from experience the value of putting that first piece of silverware in the trophy cabinet.
Ferguson, thanks to ! the efforts of Robins, Hughes and co. went on to win the 19! 90 FA Cu p for United after that narrow third round victory at the City Ground. Neither he nor United have ever looked back and, irritating as it doubtless will be to City followers, emulating that United success is precisely what Hughes is determined to do at Eastlands this season.
His first trophy as a manager and City's first of any kind since they last lifted the League Cup in 1976. The sooner it arrives, the better.
City haven't even played in a semi-final since 1981, so they have plenty of ground to make up, but they made the perfect start by taking the lead after just three minutes.
It was a goal of Premier League quality and Scunthorpe, lying 16th in the Championship, were cut in half by Shaun Wright-Phillips's pass to Ireland who, from the edge of the penalty area, guided a right-foot shot beyond the grasp of goalkeeper Joe Murphy.
Scunthorpe regrouped, however, and they busily harried City out of their st! ride before Jonathan Forte deservedly equalised for Nigel Adkins's team on 26 minutes.
Having dispossessed Nigel de Jong, Paul Hayes laid the ball off to Forte, who in turn released Marcus Williams on the left.
The left-back was then afforded time and space to cross to Forte, who ghosted in behind Joleon Lescott to score from three yards.
Moments later, Forte almost created a second goal for Hayes with a cross that resulted in a header from the midfielder which was well saved by Shay Given.
The new City are supposed to be over the frailties of their trophyless predecessors, but old habits clearly die hard.
It wasn't until Santa Cruz restored City's lead on 38 minutes with a header from Pablo Zabaleta's cross that the home side looked comfortable once again.
The £17m forward has already added a new dimension to City's forward line since overcoming a long-term knee injury last month. His prese! nce and awareness mark him out as a key cog in Hughes's pla! ns.
Considering that Scunthorpe's highest earner picks up a reported £3,000-a-week, a fraction of the salaries bankrolled by Sheikh Mansour at City, they certainly made their opponents earn their astronomical wage packets.
But the superior fitness and quality of Hughes's players inevitability came to the fore in the second-half and slick passing between Ireland and Carlos Tevez led to Cliff Byrne producing a crucial block to deny the Argentine on 52 minutes.
Tevez, seemingly relishing life in the blue half of Manchester following his summer move from Old Trafford, crossed for Ireland moment later, only for David Mirfin to head clear just as the City midfielder was primed to bundle the ball into the empty net.
Scunthorpe's resistance broke with the corner that followed, however. Wright-Phillips's delivery picked out Lescott on the penalty spot and the England defender powerfully headed in his second goal in two ! games.
Two goals clear, Hughes took the opportunity to freshen his squad by introducing youngsters Vladimir Weiss and Michael Johnson and Slovakian winger Weiss produced the cross for Tevez to score City's fourth goal, a close range tap-in on 70 minutes. Johnson then made his contribution with a deflected left-foot shot from 25 yards that made it 5-1 seven minutes later.
Match details
Manchester City (4-4-2): Given; Zabaleta, Kompany, Lescott, Sylvinho, Wright-Phillips, De Jong, Barry, Ireland; Tevez, Santa Cruz.
Subs: Taylor (g), Richards, Bridge, Johnson, Benjani, Bellamy, Weiss.
Scunthorpe United (4-1-4-1): Murphy; Byrne, Mirfin, Jones (Canavan h-t), Williams; J Wright; Hayes, O'Connor; McCann, Woolford; Forte.
Subs: Lillis (g) A Wright, Togwell, Sparrow, Hooper, Spence. Goals:
Booked: Sent Off:
Peer through to Bali quarters
Shahar Peer will play top seed Marion Bartoli for a place in the semi-finals of the Commonwealth Tournament of Champions in Bali.
This follows the Israeli players victory over Magdalena Rybarikova of Slovakia today.
The world number 32, who had initially faced concerns over whether she would be granted a visa to enter Indonesia, took 87 minutes to secure a 6-1 7-6 (7/4) Group A win over Rybarikova.
Peer will play Bartoli tomorrow after the Frenchwoman defeat! ed Rybarikova yesterday.
France's Aravane Rezai battled back from 5-2 down in the second set to secure her place in the semi-finals with a 6-3 7-5 Group D win over Melinda Czink of Hungary. Rezai had also defeated Sabine Lisicki of Germany yesterday.
Spain's Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez rallied for a 4-6 6-4 6-0 win over Agnes Szavay of Hungary in Group B and the Spaniard will play second seed Samantha Stosur of Australia tomorrow for a place in the last four.
In the day's final game, Japan's Kimiko Date Krumm claimed a 6-4 6-3 win over Anabel Medina Garrigues of Spain in Group C.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Score More Goals! Tips For Trainers
by Zdenka Tottova
Everyone knows that soccer games are won by scoring goals. Therefore it is one of the basics of soccer coaching to improve your team's chances of hitting the back of the net, get them to have more shots and be more accurate in shooting. The first step is to get your player to start taking shots and aim the ball at the areas the goalkeepers find most difficult to reach- this will pay dividends in time as your chances of success will improve. However, when coaching youngsters, it is common to find that players are scared of taking difficult shots, which is attributed to their fear of failure, consequently affecting their attitude. To overcome the fear factor...
* Boost their confidence by praising them when they take a shot- even if they miss
* Prevent other team mates from moaning if they miss- it will benefit team morale in general if they learn to support each other from an early age.
* Tell players it's better to shoo! t and miss than not to shoot at all.
Another reason why young players are afraid to shoot is lack of confidence in their technique.The only way to improve this is to practice! Fortunately, the techniques for shooting are identical to those in passing soccer drills, so as a player's ability to pass the ball - through use of the sidefoot, instep (laces) and even outside of the foot to swerve the ball - so will their shooting skills. Here are some basic features of good shooting that you should explain to your players and get them used to:
* Observing the goalkeeper's position - have they left a gap the attacker can exploit?
* Selecting the best technique - side-foot for greater accuracy, or instep (laces) and good "follow through" for power?
* Non-kicking foot alongside the ball
* Head down, eyes on the ball when striking
* Body over the ball
* Contact with the middle to top half of the ball
* Shoot wide rather than high - there's always the chance of getting a deflection that might wrong-foot the goalkeeper.
* Shoot low - it's harder for a keeper to reach shots along the ground because it's further for them to travel to get to the ground.
* Shoot across the keeper - it's tougher for them to hold these shots, and means they could divert the ball back into the path of another attacker.
Here are some basic tips for conducting shooting sessions:
* Use appropriate portable goals (or corner flags the correct width apart) and introduce defenders.
* Vary the service - players should strike balls coming towards, away and across them, plus volleys (bouncing balls), first time etc.
* Make sure you have plenty of balls and keep changing ball-boys!
About the Author
more information on http://www.bettersoccercoaching.com/
Biabiany si ferma: Zaccardo vuole l'Italia
di Giorgio MosconiL'attaccante francese ha riportato un infortunio muscolare in Nazionale, mentre il difensore conferma di non aver ancora abbandonato l'idea di poter partecipare al secondo Mondiale consecutivo
Fonte: eurosport.yahoo.com
BRUTTE NOTIZIE IN CASA PARMA: SI FERMA BIABIANY -L'ex attaccante del Modena si è procurato una lesione al flessore della coscia destra durante una partita disputata co! n la Nazionale Under 21 della Francia, e che vedeva opposti i piccoli Galletti ai pari età di Malta.
Il laterale offensivo del Parma, autore di un grande inizio di stagione con la maglia gialloblù dopo un campionato di B vissuto da protagonista con il Modena, questa mattina - accompagnato dal medico sociale dei Ducali, Raffaele Ballini - si è sottoposto a una ecografia presso la clinica Val Parma di Langhirano. Solo nei prossimi giorni verranno valutati i tempi di recupero dall'infortunio.
ZACCARDO: "ORA STO BENE"-Ormai alle spalle la parentesi vissuta in Germania con la maglia del Wolfsburg, l'ex difensore del Palermo ha trovato la giusta dimensione con il Parma del suo mentore Guidolin.
"Al mio arrivo qui - dice Zaccardo parlando del momento che attraversa il Parma - sapevo di trovare una squadra competitiva, ma onestamente non credevo saremmo riusciti a intenderci subito così bene".
Tutta Catania... per Messina
di Giorgio Mosconi
Il Calcio Catania S.p.A. comunica che, a partire da oggi pomeriggio, presso la ricevitoria di Via Fava n'69, sarà possibile acquistare i tagliandi validi per l'amichevole di Messina, in programma domani alle 20.30 presso lo stadio San Filippo. Ricordiamo che l'intero ricavato della partita sarà devoluto a favore delle popolazioni colpite dall' alluvione che nei giorni scorsi ha sconvolto il territorio messinese.
Certi che, anche in questa occasione, i sostenitori rossazzurri mostreranno la ! sensibilità di sempre e la volontà di aiutare coloro i quali in questa tragedia hanno perso parenti, amici e le loro case, comunichiamo che i tagliandi hanno un prezzo unico, simbolico, di € 10,00.
Marilungo è l'uomo in più
di Filippo Capurso
Fonte: Gazzetta dello sport
Dall'altra sera è tornato in Salento con una credenziale in più: convocazione nella nazionale Under 21 e primo gol in azzurro.Davvero una bella soddisfazione, anche se, per gli addetti ai lavori non è stata una sorpresa l'exploit di Guido Marilungo. Per lui, invece, una gioia a metà, considerato che la sua impresa non è bastata a fruttare la vittoria degli Azzurrini sulla Bosnia Erzegovina e che il relativo pareggio complica non poco la strada verso la qualificazione per gli Europei. «È stata una! bellissima emozione quel gol - sostiene l'attaccante del Lecce - già ero contento per la mia prima convocazione nella Nazionale, poi è arrivato anche il gol nella mia prima partita da titolare. Non potevo sperare di meglio. Purtroppo, però, la festa non è stata totale. Se avessimo vinto si sarebbe messa molto meglio per l'Italia». Ed ora, dopo il grande palcoscenico azzurro, Marilungo è pronto a ricalarsi nella infuocata realtà della serie b, ripartendo da quello che non è certo un buon ricordo per la squadra e neanche per lui, la sconfitta di Cittadella. «È stata una bruttissima partita e anche io ero molto nervoso in campo - ricorda Marilungo - ho avuto un'occasione subito per fare gol ed ho sbagliato, poi ci sono state alcune occasioni per parte, quindi loro hanno sbloccato il risultato su un errore clamoroso dell'arbitro. Che quel gol fosse da annullare me ne sono accorto io che ero a centrocampo. E allora ho perso un po' la testa. Alla fine, dopo la sostituzione non s! ono rimasto neanche in panchina perchè ero talmente arrabbiato! che ris chiavo di farmi espellere dall'arbitro». E domani si presenta l'occasione per riscattarsi subito contro l'ultima della classifica, la Salernitana.«Qualunque fosse stato l'avversario la voglia di riscattarsi non sarebbe mancata. Incontriamo la Salernitana che ha solo due punti in classifica. Sicuramente verrà qui per fare risultato ed uscire da quella brutta situazione in cui si trova, ma noi non possiamo fare sconti a nessuno. Dobbiamo uscire dal campo con i tre punti». Quella di domani sera con la Salernitana sarà la prima di quattro partite in casa. Una fase cruciale che può dare una svolta al campionato del Lecce. «Sia che vadano bene che in caso contrario non saranno determinanti - spiega l'attaccante giallorosso - il campionato è ancora lunghissimo e il nostro ruolo andrà definito strada facendo. Siamo a tre punti dai play out e a tre dai play off. Ed il primo posto è ad appena sette punti. Insomma, in classifica siamo tutti lì. Certo, che se queste quattro partite anda! ssero bene, avremmo una grossa spinta an che dal punto di vista morale. Andremmo in alto in classifica e questo ci servirebbe molto per affrontare i successivi impegni». Tuttavia, non ci sarebbe una equazione fra equilibrio e mediocrità, in un campionato che ancora non ha espresso i suoi battistrada, secondo quanto sostiene lo stesso Marilungo. «Che il campionato non sia mediocre - dice - lo dimostra proprio il fatto che squadre come il Torino, come la Reggina e come noi stessi stiano incontrando delle difficoltà. Questo significa che sono le altre ad essere cresciute, e che il campionato è salito di livello e di difficoltà». Capitolo punte e disposizione tattica in avanti. Con quattro attaccanti ed un modulo tattico che, a volte ne prevede uno solo avanzato, ci potrebbe essere la necessità di qualche sacrificio. «Ci possiamo adattare in diversi ruoli, quindi giocare ad una, due o tre punte non cambia molto». Nessuna lamentela sui possibili turn over. «Ho giocato quasi semp! re a parte la partita con la Triestina, non posso che essere s! oddisfat to».
Reggina-Ancona: probabili formazioni
di Filippo Capurso
Fonte: strill.it
Dopo aver sfruttato la sosta per recuperare importanti uomini infortunati, Reggina ed Ancona si sfidano al Granillo questo pomeriggio.
In casa amaranto le idee sulla sembrano piuttosto chiare. Novellino punta forte sul lavoro che il gruppo effettua in settimana, anche per questo rinuncerà ai nazionali, tornati in riva allo Stretto da poche ore. Perciò Carmona va in panchina, largo a Volpi al fianco di Morosini a centrocampo. Confermata la linea difensiva a quattro composta da Buscè a destra, Santos e! Valdez centrali e Rizzato a sinistra (Costa non è pronto per giocare i novanta minuti). Cassano, per il momento, mantiene il posto da titolare.
Il lavoro di supporto ai due attaccanti Bonazzoli e Cacia, con Brienza pronto a subentrare nella ripresa -a meno che che Novellino non decida di provarlo dal primo minuto – è invece compito degli esterni alti: Missiroli a destra e Pagano a sinistra.
L'Ancona potrà schierare la migliore formazione possibile, avendo recuperato Colacone in attacco. In porta spazio a Da Costa, mentre a guidare la difesa c'è Ciccio Cosenza, reggino di Locri, cresciuto nel settore giovanile amaranto e in comproprietà tra le due società. Accanto a lui, a completare il pacchetto dei due difensori centrali c'è l'ex messinese Cristante, a segno in un derby proprio al Granillo qualche stagione fa.
Quello di Salvioni è un 4-4-2 classico in cui sulle corsie esterne difensive è prevista la presenza di Milani a destra e di Zavagno a sinistra. Ad ag! ire da veri e propri mastini di centrocampo ci sono Catinali e! De Falc o, mentre le sortite offensive sugli esterni di centrocampo sono affidate a Surraco a destra e Miramontes a sinistra.
Davanti il temibilissimo Mastronunzio e , come detto, il recuperato Colacone. Solo panchina per l'altro prodotto giovanile del settore giovanile amarano, l'inglese Thackray, e forse anche per il fenomeno dell'under 20 Mustacchio, di proprietà della Samp e da poco tornato nelle Marche dopo l'esperienza al mondiali giovanili in Egitto.
Queste le probabili formazioni:
REGGINA (4-4-2): Cassano; Buscè, Valdez, Santos, Rizzato; Missiroli, Volpi, Morosini, Pagano; Bonazzoli, Cacia. All. Novellino
ANCONA (4-4-2): Da Costa, Milani, Cristante, Cosenza, Zavagno; Surraco, De Falco, Catinali, Miramontes, Mastronunzio, Colacone. All. Salvioni.
In casa amaranto le idee sulla sembrano piuttosto chiare. Novellino punta forte sul lavoro che il gruppo effettua in settimana, anche per questo rinuncerà ai nazionali, tornati in riva allo Stretto da poche ore. Perciò Carmona va in panchina, largo a Volpi al fianco di Morosini a centrocampo. Confermata la linea difensiva a quattro composta da Buscè a destra, Santos e! Valdez centrali e Rizzato a sinistra (Costa non è pronto per giocare i novanta minuti). Cassano, per il momento, mantiene il posto da titolare.
Il lavoro di supporto ai due attaccanti Bonazzoli e Cacia, con Brienza pronto a subentrare nella ripresa -a meno che che Novellino non decida di provarlo dal primo minuto – è invece compito degli esterni alti: Missiroli a destra e Pagano a sinistra.
L'Ancona potrà schierare la migliore formazione possibile, avendo recuperato Colacone in attacco. In porta spazio a Da Costa, mentre a guidare la difesa c'è Ciccio Cosenza, reggino di Locri, cresciuto nel settore giovanile amaranto e in comproprietà tra le due società. Accanto a lui, a completare il pacchetto dei due difensori centrali c'è l'ex messinese Cristante, a segno in un derby proprio al Granillo qualche stagione fa.
Quello di Salvioni è un 4-4-2 classico in cui sulle corsie esterne difensive è prevista la presenza di Milani a destra e di Zavagno a sinistra. Ad ag! ire da veri e propri mastini di centrocampo ci sono Catinali e! De Falc o, mentre le sortite offensive sugli esterni di centrocampo sono affidate a Surraco a destra e Miramontes a sinistra.
Davanti il temibilissimo Mastronunzio e , come detto, il recuperato Colacone. Solo panchina per l'altro prodotto giovanile del settore giovanile amarano, l'inglese Thackray, e forse anche per il fenomeno dell'under 20 Mustacchio, di proprietà della Samp e da poco tornato nelle Marche dopo l'esperienza al mondiali giovanili in Egitto.
Queste le probabili formazioni:
REGGINA (4-4-2): Cassano; Buscè, Valdez, Santos, Rizzato; Missiroli, Volpi, Morosini, Pagano; Bonazzoli, Cacia. All. Novellino
ANCONA (4-4-2): Da Costa, Milani, Cristante, Cosenza, Zavagno; Surraco, De Falco, Catinali, Miramontes, Mastronunzio, Colacone. All. Salvioni.
Pulvirenti: «Catania, fischi incomprensibili»
DI DAVIDE PAMPANIN
FONTE: CORRIERE DELLO SPORT.IT 18/10/09 ORE 19.00
CATANIA, 18 ottobre - Nel giorno delle prime volte in casa Catania, Gianluca Atzori festeggia il primo successo in A della sua carriera. Una vittoria che consente agli etnei di sbloccarsi allontanando contestazione e venti di crisi. Il presidente Nino Pulvirenti è chiaro: «Abbiamo vinto una partita difficilissima contro una squadra molto chiusa, il nostro portiere non ha dovuto effettuare ! neppure una parata, abbiamo subito un gol solo a causa di una prodezza di un avversario, eppure a dieci minuti dalla fine c'era chi, invece di sostenerci, ci fischiava. Un atteggiamento simile è incomprensibile. Se si continua così, siamo all'inizio della fine». «Certe cose - aggiunge Pulvirenti - sono successe a Messina nell'anno della retrocessione. Bisogna stare uniti perchè altrimenti non si va da nessuna parte. Questa squadra merita molto di più di quanto non dica la classifica, eppure c'è qualcuno che, in malafede, fa finta di non accorgersene».
ATZORI - Atzori evita di soffermarsi sui fischi: «Preferisco godermi questo risultato e dedicarlo ai genitori di Brian Filipi, mio ex giocatore a Ravenna, scomparso qualche settimana fa, ai miei collaboratori e alla società. Vincere in queste condizioni, quando sai di non poter sbagliare, non era facile, eppure i ragazzi hanno fornito una grande risposta caratteriale». «Il Cagliari - continua Atzori - ci ha fatto gol! solo grazie a una giocata straordinaria di Dessena, per il re! sto non abbiamo rischiato nulla. Non è stata una gara straordinaria sul piano della qualità, ma di assoluta intensità. Adesso che ci siamo sbloccati, potremo giocare con maggiore serenità».RICCHIUTI - Anche per Adrian Ricchiuti è una giornata senza precedenti. L'ex riminese, a 31 anni, può festeggiare, la prima rete in A. «Sono felice per il gol - dice l'argentino - frutto di uno schema eseguito alla perfezione, ma la mia gioia è dovuta soprattutto al fatto che finalmente abbiamo ottenuto la vittoria. Dopo una lunga carriera nelle categorie inferiori, celebrare una rete in Serie A è una soddisfazione non da poco. La cosa più importante, però, è esserci sbloccati. Questo successo ci darà tranquillità. La sostituzione? Ho rimediato una lieve contrattura al flessore, ha fatto bene il tecnico a rimpiazzarmi».ALLEGRI - Il Massimino non porta bene al Cagliari, sempre sconfitto a Catania nelle ultime tre stagioni. L'allenatore Massimiliano Allegri non nasconde il rammarico: «Abbiamo disput! ato una buona partita, ma abbiamo pagato a caro prezzo alcuni errori. Sul piano della prestazione non ho molto da rimproverare ai ragazzi. Serve, però, un minimo di attenzione in più». «Non è la prima volta - aggiunge l'allenatore dei sardi - che la squadra viene penalizzata da alcune disattenzioni evitabili. Il Catania si è avvicinato alla nostra area solo sporadicamente, ma è stato bravo a trovare il guizzo giusto. Noniostante la partita si fossse incanalata su binari che non ci erano sfavorevoli, non siamo riusciti a finalizzare un paio di offensive propizie e alla fine siamo stati castigati. La lotta per la salvezza? È molto aperta, credo che quest'anno non basteranno 40 punti per mettersi al sicuro».
DESSENA - Elogi unanimi per Daniele Dessena, autore di una prodezza in rovesciata applaudita anche dal pubblico catanese: «Mi hanno detto - commenta il centrocampista - che qui era successo solo con Zico e Zola. Sono onorato di essere in così nobile compagnia, ma! devo volare basso. Una rete da centravanti? Non so, diciamo c! he se pr ovi una giocata così devi crederci sino in fondo e avere la convinzione giusta per azzardarla. È quel che ho fatto io. La reazione di Potenza dopo la mia esultanza? Non volevo offendere nessuno, il mio non era un gesto irrispettoso, ma solo un modo per dire 'mamma mia cosa ho fattò. Se qualcuno si è risentito, mi scuso».
IL PALERMO VERSO LA ZONA CHAMPIONS
25 Ottobre 2009
Calcio Serie A - Il Palermo vola, Udinese ko
di DAVIDE PAMPANIN
Palermo: Sirigu, Goian, Bovo, Migliaccio, Cassani, Bresciano, Simplicio, Balzaretti (dal 5' pt Blasi), Pastore (dal 14' st Budan), Cavani, Miccoli. (83 Rubinho, 9 Nocerino, 14 Bertolo, 19 Succi, 21 Melinte). All.: Zenga.
Udinese: Handanovic, Basta, Coda, Zapata, Pasquale, Inler, D'Agostino, Asamoah (dal 43' st Corrad), Pepe (dal 31' st Floro Flores), Sanchez, Di Natale. (6 Belardi, 14 Sammarco, 19 Felipe, 24 Lukovic, 84 Lodi). All: Marino.
Arbitro: De Marco di Chiavari.
Reti: nel st al 42' Bovo.
Note: Ammoniti: Bovo, Basta e Migliaccio per gioco falloso, Sanchez per comportamento non regolamentare. Recupero: 1 e 4. Angoli: 10 a 5 per l'Udinese. Spettatori: 21.034 per un incasso di 270.602 euro.
PALERMO - Il Palermo continua la sua striscia positiva in campionato: terza vittoria consecutiva consumatasi questo pomeriggio al Barbera a discapito dell'Udinese.
L'unico goal di Bovo, arrivato per giunta a fine partita, sta a dimostrare che la gara è stata del tutto equilibrata; l'Udinese infatti non ha sfigurato.
Zenga perde dopo un solo minuti Balzaretti a causa di uno stiramento, al suo posto viene chiamato in causa Blasi. Al 6' Asamoah ci prova da fuori area ma trova un attento Sirigu che gli dice di no. Al 11' si vede Cavani, il quale, partendo dalla destra, scarta due uomini e va al tiro da posizione defilata: palla non lontana dai pali.
Pochi minuti dopo il Palermo, in un momento di confusion! e in area friulana, segna con Miccoli, goal però annullato per! fuorigi oco. Al 35' grande azione di Di Natale: tiro che però Sirigu respinge, dopodiché lo stesso capitano irrompe ancora sulla palla, scarta il portiere rosanero e calcia in porta: è miracoloso il salvataggio di Migliaccio in scivolata. Così si conclude il primo tempo: 0-0.
Nella ripresa ci pensa Sanchez ad impensierire dalla distanza Sirigu, senza ottenere alcun risultato. Questo è il momento dell'Udinese: cavalcata di Asamoah e tiro di sinistro dal limite dell'area: Sirigu blocca. Al 68' si rivede il Palermo con Miccoli: punizione dal limite dove Handdanovic deve distendersi per poter parare. Al 72' Di Natale ancora prota! gonista, il bianconero tira in maniera violentissima ma il portiere palermitano respinge con grande sicurezza.
Soli 5 minuti dopo Budan ha l'occasione d'oro di segnare, ma il suo colpo di testa finisce sul fondo. All'84' parata capolavoro di Sirigu, il quale para su un colpo di testa di Floro Flores che sembrava ormai destinato ad entrare in rete. Ed ecco la dura regola del calcio che si applica: goal non segnato, goal subito. Infatti pochi minuti dopo il Palermo va in goal con Bovo: un grande tiro da fuori area che si infila nel sette.
La partita termina con una vittoria importante per il Palermo che si piazza in zona Champions League. Udinese poco cinica pur avendo avuto tante occasioni per segnare.
Toto-Cronista
Causa problemi tecnici, nello scorso fine settimana il Toto-Cronista non si è giocato.
Torniamo fra sette giorni con il gioco di TiCB
La RAI è ufficialmente interessata ai diritti dal 2010
La Lega Nazionale Professionisti rende noto che al termine delle ore 24.00 del giorno 05.08.2009 sono pervenute da parte degli Operatori della Comunicazione le seguenti manifestazioni di interesse alla Trattativa Privata relativa ai Diritti audiovisivi e radiofonici dal 2010 compresi nell'invito ad offrire pubblicato in data 10 luglio 2009. Vi riportiamo quelli che sono i pacchetti riguardanti le trasmissioni radio.
PACCHETTO E – PLATINUM HILITES
Manifestazione di interesse inviata da
RAI – Radiotelevisione Italiana
PACCHETTO F – RADIO LIVE
Manifestazione di interesse inviata da
RAI – Radiotelevisione Italiana
RTL 102,500 Hit Radio S.r.l.
Highlights 6^ giornata di Serie B
La sesta giornata della Serie B ci regala un nuovo cambio in vetta alla classifica, dove tornano a guidare Brescia e Frosinone. Ben 6 però le squadre in tre punti nelle prime posizioni. In coda primo punto per la Salernitana e primo successo per Gallipoli e Albinoleffe. Le reti di questo turno sono state 23, con sole 6 reti nel primo tempo e ben 17 nella ripresa. Il totale delle marcature stagionali arriva così a quota 153. Si registrano 5 vittorie interne, 3 pareggi ed altrettante vittorie esterne (Albinoleffe, Padova e Lecce). Ecco le partite in dettaglio:Ascoli – Cesena 1-1: Partita che le due squadre giocano per vincere, ma alla fine il risultato di parità è giusto, visto come nascono le due reti. L'equilibrio in campo dura per tutti i 90 minuti. Nella prima frazioni poche le azioni di rilievo. Nella ripresa al 57° vantaggio fortunoso per il Cesena, grazie all'autogol di Portin. Il pareggio degli ascolani avviene all'84° grazie ad un rigore concesso molto generosamente dal direttore di gara. Bernacci dal dischetto trasforma il penalty. L'Ascoli si porta a 12 punti in classifica, il Cesena invece va a quota 11, per i cesenati secondo pareggio di fila in trasferta.
Brescia – Sassuolo 3-1: Bella gara a Brescia, dove le due sqadre si affrontano senza timori reverenziali. Partono meglio gli ospiti che già al 5° sbloccano il parziale con il solito Zampagna. A questo punto il Brescia si scuote e! reagisce al vantaggio ospite. Dal 25° inizia un vero e propri! o assedi o alla porta del Sassuolo. Il pareggio bresciano arriva al 35° su rigore per atterramento di Flachi. Dal dischetto Caracciolo non fallisce. Nella ripresa si vede molto Brescia. Al 60° ancora Caracciolo segna, portando in vantaggio i suoi. Al 67° infine Possanzini chiude i conti e permette ai compagni di controllare la partita fino al fischio finale. Per il Brescia il successo vuol dire primato in claasifica con 13 punti. Il Sassuolo invece perde l'imbattibilità.
Cittadella – Vicenza 2-1: Bel derby al Tombolato. Il primo tempo offre una partita con ritmi bassi da ambo le parti e di conseguenza poche emozioni. Nella ripresa però le due squadre scendono in campo più cariche, è il Vicenza a partire meglio e a sbloccare il risultato con Botta al 48°. Il Cittadella però non si da per vinto, spinto anche dai propri tifosi, e pareggia al 64° con Iunco. La partita sembra di nuovo scemare di ritmo, ma! all'89° Ardemagni regala al Cittadella la gioia del successo con il 2-1 finale. Per il Cittadella secondo successo casalingo stagionale. Il Vicenza perdendo la prima gara in trasferta perde di conseguenza la propria imbattibilità.
Crotone – Grosseto 0-0: Il bruttissimo terreno di gioco all'Ezio Scida condiziona la partita che non regala praticamente emozioni di rilievo. Il terreno reso pesante e fangoso dalla pioggia caduta copiosa nelle ore del pomeriggio falsa il ritmo gara. Partita spezzettata e con un gioco che ristagna nelle due metà campo. Le occasioni sono pochissime. Il Crotone si fa preferire ma il pareggio finale è sostanzialmente giusto. Per i calabresi terzo pareggio di fila in casa, il Grosseto invece è al suo secondo pareggio di fila in trasferta.
Frosinone – Reggina 2-0: Al Matusa il Frosin! one getta in crisi la Reggina. Gli uomini di Novellino, candid! ati alla promozione, non vincono dalla prima giornata. La partita registra un sostanziale equilibrio nella prima mezz'ora di gara, le occasioni infatti sono pressochè nulle. Il Frosinone però si lascia preferire per una manovra più intraprendente. Nella ripresa è sempre il Frosinone a condurre il gioco, anche se la Reggina prova ad affacciarsi in area frosinate in diverse occasioni. Sono i padroni di casa però a passare in vantaggio con Troianello al 57°. La Reggina prova a reagire, ma l'espulsione di Lanzaro al 62° complica i piani dei calabresi che all'81° subiscono il gol del ko da parte di Basha. Partita chiusa e Frosinone che torna primo in classifica insieme al Brescia.
Gallipoli – Ancona 1-0: Dopo aver subito ben quattro rimonte nelle prime cinque giornate, il Gallipoli trova il primo successo stagionale, il primo in assoluto in Serie B della sua storia. I pugliesi si rendono pericolosi già n! el primo tempo con Ginestra che in tre diverse occasioni sfiora il vantaggio. Il gol partita arriva al 56° grazie ad Abbate. L'Ancona a questo punto prova a raggiungere il pari affidandosi troppo e solamente a Mastronunzio che però oggi non trova la rete. Il risultato finale premia un buon Gallipoli, che finalmente può far festa per i primi tre punti stagionali. Per l'Ancona invece terza sconfitta esterna, la seconda consecutiva.
Mantova – Albinoleffe 1-2: Ed ora Serena rischia sicuramente la panchina. L'Albinoleffe infatti mette nei guai il tecnico dei virgiliani espugnado il Martelli. Il Mantova inizia con un buon ritmo, ma l'Albinoleffe colpisce di rimessa ed al 18° passa in vantaggio con Ruopolo. Il Mantova prova a scuotersi ma gli attacchi sono inoffensivi ed l'Albinoleffe va alla pausa in vantaggio. Nella ripresa è sempre il Mantova a cercare il pari, ma al 55° Previtali raddoppia ind! irizzando il match dalla parte ospite. Al 78° Nassi prova a ri! aprire i l match, ma l'Albinoleffe riesce a controllare e a portare a casa la prima vittoria della stagione dopo quattro sconfitte consecutive. Il Mantova incassa di contro il primo ko interno, in totale il terzo del campionato.
Modena – Empoli 2-0: Una doppietta di Catellani, al 20° ed al 66°, permette ai gialloblù di conquistare la prima vittoria della stagione fra le mura amiche. L'Empoli invece incassa il terzo ko esterno consecutivo, continuando ad alternare così vittorie interne e sconfitte esterne. Il Modena gioca meglio, mentre l'Empoli si sveglia solo nel finale quando gli avversari in doppio vantaggio riescono a controllare facilmente l'incontro. Nel primo tempo equilibrio fino al vantaggio dei padroni di casa, poi è l'Empoli a cercare il gol del pari invano. Nella ripresa dopo il raddoppio modenese la partita non ha più storia con il Modena a difesa della vittoria.
Piacenza – Salernitana 0-0: Al Garilli finisce in parità un match che stenta a decollare e che regala poche emozioni, tutte di marca piacentina. La Salernitana ad inizio gara prova a pungere in avanti ma con scarsi esiti. Il Piacenza dal canto suo prova a far sua la partita ma le conclusioni in porta sono poche e per lo più imprecise. Nella ripresa il copione non cambia, è sempre il Piacenza che prova a vincere il match, mentre la Salernitana alla fine si accontenta del prezioso primo punto stagionale dopo il cambio di allenatore. Per i padroni di casa primo pareggio interno stagionale.
Torino – Padova 0-1: La prestazione del Padova a Torino non può essere considerata una vera e propria sorpresa visto come i patavini hanno cominciato la stagione. Il risultato certo resta clamoroso anche perché il Torino voleva provare una piccola ! fuga. A rovinare la festa ai granata ci pensa Di Nardo al 50° ! che infi la Sereni ed insacca. A complicare poi la rimonta dei torinesi ci si aggiunge l'inferiorità numerica, infatti al 71° Di Michele simula in area di rigore e viene ammonito per la seconda volta nel corso del match, quindi espulsione. Il Toro prova comunque a raggiungere il pari ma il Padova resiste anzi sfiora il raddoppio e porta a casa la prima vittoria esterna stagionale. Per il Torino invece secondo ko in campionato, il primo interno.
Triestina – Lecce 1-4: Difesa triestina da rivedere. Gli alabardati infatti hanno subito con questa partita otto gol nelle ultime due gare. Il Lecce inizia bene l'incontro e già al 3° passa in vantaggio con Defendi. La Triestina prova a reagire ma al 23° Gissi si fa espellere lasciando i compagni in inferiorità numerica. Il raddoppio di Giacomazzi al 37° chiude già il match. I pugliesi infatti sono troppo superiori. Nella ripresa i salentini dilagano con Fabi! ano al 74° e Corvia all'88°. La rete della bandiera dei triestini è segnata da Godeas all'84° su rigore. Il Lecce torna al successo, questo mancava dalla prima giornata. Per la Triestina secondo ko consecutivo.
Classifica dopo la 6^ giornata: Frosinone e Brescia 13; Torino, Ascoli e Padova 12; Cesena 11; Sassuolo, Ancona ed Empoli 9; Lecce, Cittadella e Piacenza 8; Vicenza, Gallipoli, Modena e Triestina 7; Grosseto e Reggina 6; Albinoleffe e Crotone 4; Mantova 3; Salernitana 1.
Prossimo turno, 7^ giornata 26/9/09 ore 15.30: Albinoleffe – Crotone, Ancona – Modena (28/9 ore 19.00), Empoli – Cittadella, Frosinone – Torino, Grosseto – Brescia, Lecce – Mantova, Padova – Gallipoli, Reggina – Piacenza (28/9 ore 21.00), Salernitana – Ascoli, Sassuolo – Cesena, Vicenza – Triestina.
Per que! sto primo turno infrasettimanale di B è tutto. La rubrica high! lights d edicata alla Serie B vi da appuntamento a martedì prossimo (29 Settembre) per la 7a giornata. Buon calcio a tutti.........
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)