Football

2011年7月3日星期日

Argentine giants River Plate relegated

在 ServiceModel 客户端配置部分中，找不到引用协定“TranslatorService.LanguageService”的默认终结点元素。这可能是因为未找到应用程序的配置文件，或者是因为客户端元素中找不到与此协定匹配的终结点元素。
在 ServiceModel 客户端配置部分中，找不到引用协定“TranslatorService.LanguageService”的默认终结点元素。这可能是因为未找到应用程序的配置文件，或者是因为客户端元素中找不到与此协定匹配的终结点元素。
Posted June 27, 2011 07:00:00

River Plate, the record 33 times Argentine league champions, suffered its biggest humiliation ever with relegation to the second division for the first time on Monday morning.

River drew 1-1 with Belgrano of the Nacional B division in the second leg of a relegation-promotion playoff at the Monumental after a 2-0 defeat in the first leg in Cordoba on Wednesday.

Fans in the 60,000 plus crowd at the Monumental went wild with rage, throwing objects on to the pitch and some tried to climb over perimeter fencing to storm on to the field.

Players of both sides had to leave the pitch under protection of stewards while police used high power hoses to try to subdue the rioting fans.

River raised their hopes soon after kickoff, going ahead in the sixth minute when striker Mariano Pavone controlled on the edge of the box, swivelled and shot low into the corner past diving keeper Juan Carlos Olave.

Midfielder Guillermo Farre stunned the 60,000 plus Monumental crowd when he equalised just past the hour, blasting the loose ball past stranded 'keeper Juan Pablo Carrizo after a blunder in the River defence.

River were awarded a penalty midway through the second half which Pavone shot to Olave's right but the goalkeeper saved, leaving River still needing two goals to save their top flight status. The referee did not add stoppage time as the rioting had already started.

A tie on aggregate would have saved River from relegation.

- Reuters

Tags: sport, football, football-south-america, argentina

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Germany, France open World Cup with wins

Hosts and defending champions Germany got its women's World Cup campaign off to a flying start as it beat Group A rivals Canada 2-1 at Berlin's Olympic Stadium on Monday morning.

Meanwhile, Marie-Laurie Delie struck the only goal for France to secure a 1-0 win against Nigeria.

Having won both the 2003 and 2007 editions, Germany is bidding to complete a hat-trick of titles on home soil and had few problems against the Canadians, who threatened the German goal on only rare occasions.

First-half goals by midfielders Kerstin Garefrekes and Celia Okoyino da Mbabi put the hosts in control before Canada captain Christine Sinclair, who broke her nose in the first half, slotted home a late free-kick for the guests.

"It was the first game so we were a bit nervous. There is room for improvements and we will improve," said goal-scorer Garefrekes, who also supplied the pass for the second goal.

The win puts the Germans top of Group A on goal difference above France.

"We got two goals in the first half and didn't play so well, then in the second half we were much better organised, but we couldn't score," said Germany coach Silvia Neid.

"Things got tight at the end and it could have been 2-2, so I am very happy we won the first game."

The hosts squandered a string of second-half chances, while Canada grew in confidence as the game wore on.

"The first game in a World Cup tournament is always tough and maybe were a bit intimidated at the start, but I think we did well," said Canada coach Carolina Morace, who paid tribute to her plucky captain Sinclair.

"Christine is a fantastic player and she took her chance well. The doctors have told me the nose was broken, but she insisted on playing on.

"She knows what she can do and it would have been hard to take her off with her experience."

Unstoppable Delie

France's 23-year-old forward Delie struck the winner against Nigeria to continue a torrid pace very few players - men or women - could match.

Delie has tallied 22 goals in just 21 caps, and if that was not good enough, her last six games have seen her tally 12 goals.

"I give it my best each time. The purpose of a striker is to score and voila," answered Delie, who scored three goals as the top goal scorer at the 2007 U19 FIFA's Women World Cup.

Delie's first cap for France's senior side came in a 7-0 routing of Croatia - in which she scored a goal on September 23, 2009. She also scored nine goals in France's qualifying for the 2011 World Cup.

"It just keeps going. She is really unbelievable. I cannot say it will be her World Cup. But it is her time," said French coach Bruno Bini.

- AFP

Tags: sport, football, canada, france, germany, nigeria

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Mexico beats USA to clinch Gold Cup

Mexico won the CONCACAF Gold Cup on Sunday evening with a 4-2 victory over the United States in a hugely entertaining final played in front of 93,000 fans.

The pulsating game was a fitting finale to a tournament boasting plenty of goals and attacking games in front of bumper attendances and Mexico, with their exciting young team, were deserved champions for a record sixth time.

Mexico had to fight back from 2-0 down after 23 minutes but with Giovani dos Santos at his sparkling best, Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez a constant threat and Pablo Barrera causing havoc on the right wing, they ran out convincing winners.

"They're as dynamic as any (Mexico) team I've played against," US forward Landon Donovan told reporters.

"They have a few guys who can change the game in a heart beat. They have some special players and they're explosive and if you give them space they're going to make plays," he added.

A huge Mexican contingent in the crowd at the Rose Bowl brought a festive atmosphere to the ageing venue for the 1994 World Cup final but the pre-game 'Futbol Fiesta' came to a halt soon after kickoff.

The US took the lead in the eighth minute when midfielder Michael Bradley, son of coach Bob, nodded in a Freddy Adu corner with a sublime angled glancing header.

The hosts were forced into an early change, though, when full-back Steve Cherundolo sustained an ankle injury and was replaced by Jonathan Bornstein, a move that had a big impact on the game with the substitute struggling down the left.

The switch did not initially disrupt the attacking flow of Bradley's team who kept surging forward to exploit opponents who appeared rattled by the early assault.

The approach paid off handsomely in the 24th minute when Clint Dempsey fed Landon Donovan, the United States' all-time top scorer celebrating his return to the starting line-up with the coolest of left-foot finishes.

Determined comeback

The Mexicans soon woke up from their evening siesta and within five minutes Pablo Barrera had raced past Bornstein onto a long ball from Javier Hernandez and driven it past a stationary Tim Howard to reduce the deficit.

Suddenly bubbling with confidence, Mexico struck the equaliser in the 36th minute when Dos Santos cut in from the right-flank and hit a low shot into the area which hit defender Clarence Goodson.

Andres Guardado pounced on the deflection to squeeze a shot under the body of keeper Howard.

The US left the field looking shell-shocked at the break while Mexico's confident body language told the story of a determined comeback.

The hosts needed to get a quick grip on the game in midfield if they were to stem Mexico's attacking flow but their southern neighbours were in no mood to ease off.

Guardado fed Barrera inside the area and his low shot beat Howard and went in just inside the far post to make it 3-2.

The US came close to levelling when Clint Dempsey hit the bar with a fine strike from the edge of the area.

But the game was settled in style by Dos Santos, who was forced to dribble away from goal after failing to round Howard but produced an inch-perfect chip that evaded defender Eric Lichaj on the line and floated into the top corner.

"We are the best team in the Cup and that's all that matters at the moment," said a beaming Hernandez.

- Reuters

Tags: sport, football, mexico, united-states

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Spain beats Swiss to win Euro U21 final

Ander Herrera and Thiago Alcantara scored the goals as Spain beat Switzerland 2-0 on Sunday morning to win the European Under-21 championship.

Spain, dominant at senior level where they are world and European champions, sealed their third continental Under-21 title thanks to a first-half header from Herrera and an audacious free kick from Alcantara in the 81st minute.

Switzerland, who had been seeking their first trophy, managed to shackle the Spaniards well in the opening half hour in Aarhus and could have gone ahead when Xherdan Shaqiri half-volleyed a shot that goalkeeper David De Gea had to punch away.

Instead, the Swiss defence was breached for the first time in the tournament as Didac Vila's pinpoint cross found Herrera arriving at pace, and the midfielder planted his header firmly past keeper Yann Sommer at the near post in the 41st minute.

Innocent Emeghara had a great chance to put Switzerland back on level terms after 52 minutes but he scuffed his shot straight at De Gea.

Switzerland upped the tempo and went close on several occasions from set pieces with Timm Klose and Pajtim Kasami heading wide from promising positions.

As the Swiss tired of chasing possession, Thiago put the result beyond doubt with a free kick in the 81st minute.

Spotting Sommer off his line, the Barcelona midfielder floated the ball over his head from 40 metres out, triggering wild celebrations from the Spanish.

- Reuters

Tags: sport, football, spain, switzerland

First posted June 26, 2011 07:46:00

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Buckley keen on Kewell A-League lure

Harry Kewell's revenue-sharing lure to A-League clubs is a smart way of attracting quality players to the domestic competition, according to Football Federation Australia boss Ben Buckley.

Kewell is prepared to go without a basic wage to return to Australia, in exchange for a share of revenue of the extra crowds, members and sponsorship he attracts.

His manager Bernie Mandic confirmed during the week that Kewell, who is off contract at Turkish club Galatasaray, is interested in playing in the A-League under certain conditions.

Media reports have linked the former Liverpool and Leeds star with Melbourne Victory, Sydney FC and defending A-League champions Brisbane Roar.

"It would be a fantastic outcome for whichever club is good enough to secure his services. They'll be deeply rewarded both on the pitch and off the pitch," Buckley said.

"We're certainly delighted that Harry is looking very closely at coming back and delighted that the clubs look like they're making some progress.

"It's up to each individual club how they want to structure a potential agreement.

"But I think it's actually a smart thing to do. To attract players of Harry's quality is not inexpensive.

"I think Harry is demonstrating that he's prepared to come back and play for a base fee and that's not going to put him out of reach of the A-League clubs."

Buckley believes the club who secured Kewell's services would not be the only benefactors of snaring the attacking midfielder.

"The club and the competition would share in the upside as crowds build," he said.

"I think the clubs and Harry should be commended for the way they're approaching it.

"I think we're very cognisant that players like Harry can bring an enormous amount of benefits to the competition."

The A-League received a boost on Thursday with Buckley announcing a deal believed to be worth around $10 million with Optus which will create, manage and market the FFA's websites and mobile phone applications.

The digital channels will connect fans with the Socceroos and all teams which fall under the banner of Australian football, with A-League club websites fully stocked with video, highlight packages and unique content.

- AAP

Tags: sport, football, aleague, australia

First posted June 30, 2011 15:36:00

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Freak goal hands Mexicans draw

A freak long-range goal from Mexico forward Monica Ocampo saw the central Americans hold England to a 1-1 draw in their opening Group B match of the women's World Cup in Germany.

The Atlanta Beat forward was well outside the England penalty area when she hit a long-range first-half effort which curled up before dropping into the top left hand-corner of the England net in their match in Wolfsburg.

In Group B's other game in Bochum, Japan got its campaign off to a winning start with a 2-1 victory over New Zealand.

But Mexican Ocampo's effort in the 33rd minute was the day's highlight and it was enough to share the points after England midfielder Fara Williams had earlier put the Three Lions ahead.

"It's not something that I trained to do, it just came from the flow of the game. Thank God it went in and it put us back in the game," said woman-of-the-match Ocampo.

"It is special because it is a World Cup goal, I am really proud to have scored it."

England coach Hope Powell added: "No excuses, we have played better and we will have to play better if we want to stay in this tournament.

"The goal flew in, didn't it, we would have expected the goalkeeper to save that, she is bitterly disappointed, we dominated up until that point, so we gave away a point."

Leonardo Cuellar's Mexico next faces Japan in Leverkusen on Saturday (AEST) while England takes on New Zealand in Dresden the same day.

Powell's England side had got off to a fine start when Williams' looping header opened the scoring after just 21 minutes.

An accurate cross from Birmingham City forward Karen Carney eluded the Mexican defence, but found Williams on the edge of the penalty box, who headed home.

But the Mexicans drew level thanks to Ocampo's stunning effort after her shot appeared to be flying high over the England goal.

English goalkeeper Karen Bardsley was tracking the shot, but was caught out as it dipped down behind her and into the net to put the Mexicans level at the break.

Japan tops Group B

Despite their win, the Japanese Nadeshiko were pushed hard by the New Zealand Ferns who had been looking to score their first point in their third appearance in a World Cup.

Yuki Nagasato and Aya Miyama scored for Japan with Amber Hearn heading in for New Zealand.

It was the second major international tournament where the two sides had met in the opening match after the 2008 Olympics where New Zealand held Japan 2-2.

The more experienced Japanese got off to a confident start with Nagasato opening the scoring after just six minutes when she lobbed a Shinobu Ohno cross past Jenny Bindon in the New Zealand goal.

It was the 32nd goal in 64 international matches for the 23-year-old Nagasato who plays club football in the German league for Turbine Potsdam.

But New Zealand kept pace with Hearn grabbing the equaliser after 12 minutes when she latched onto a Ria Percival corner to head past Ayumi Kaihori to the delight of the crowd at the Ruhrstadion in Bochum.

Japan finally broke through again when Miyama stepped up to take a free kick following a yellow card handed out to New Zealand captain Rebecca Smith after 68 minutes.

- AFP

Tags: sport, football, germany, japan, mexico, new-zealand, england

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Joeys reach U17 World Cup knockouts

Australia reached the knockout stage of the FIFA Under 17s World Cup in Mexico after a 1-1 draw with Denmark in their rescheduled Group F match.

An 89th minute goal to Luke Remington ensured a ten-man Joeys finished third in the group and progressed to a last-16 clash with Uzbekistan on Thursday (AEST).

Rochester Sorensen had earlier put the Danes ahead with a 35th minute strike in the match that was replayed after being called off after 25 minutes a day earlier due to heavy rain and lightning.

Australia had Yianni Perkatis shown a red card for a reckless tackle just a minute after conceding the goal.

Brazil topped Group F from Ivory Coast, while Denmark finished bottom of the group to be knocked out of the tournament.

- AAP

Tags: sport, football, australia, denmark, mexico

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