Sunday, October 7, 2012

An injury-time header from two-goal Jose Fonte earned Southampton a 2-2 draw with Fulham in a pulsating encounter at St Mary's on Sunday.


The Portuguese centre-back nodded home a 90th-minute leveller in a Premier League game in which he had broken the deadlock after just four minutes.
His defensive partner Jos Hooiveld scored an own goal in Southampton's 6-1 humbling at Arsenal and did so again on the south coast when he directed home a speculative John Arne Riise drive in the second half.
Hooiveld, who came on eight minutes into the clash after Frazer Richardson suffered a thigh injury, then saw Kieran Richardson's close-range strike brush off him on its way in two minutes from time, although the goal was credited to the Fulham man.
However, Fonte saved the Dutchman and his side late on to earn Southampton a fourth point of the campaign.

The hosts began brightly and the returning Morgan Schneiderlin fired a wayward warning shot, before Rickie Lambert headed into the side-netting after connecting with a Danny Fox corner from the right.
Southampton had their second corner by the fourth minute and made their early dominance count.
Adam Lallana floated the set-piece in from the left and Fonte's glanced header at the near post looped over goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer and into the far corner.
Richardson was forced off in the eighth minute for the hosts and his departure forced a defensive reshuffle, with replacement Hooiveld forcing Maya Yoshida out wide.
Fulham began to make headway, with Lambert blocking Aaron Hughes from a corner before the Northern Irishman headed over.
Saints, though, were still looking dangerous and came agonisingly close to doubling their advantage as Jay Rodriguez beat the offside trap and pulled back for Lambert, whose right-footed effort just went wide.
The home side continued to press and Jason Puncheon twice came close from 22nd-minute corners.
Puncheon was denied on the goal-line by Sascha Riether and then, from the following corner, the wide man was adjudged to have fouled Schwarzer prior to prodding home.
Lambert forced Schwarzer into action at his near post after collecting a fine pass from Puncheon, but Fulham stepped up the pressure as half-time approached and home goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga was required for the first time in stoppage time when Hughes headed goalwards.
The Cottagers again came close as Hooiveld failed to deal with a hopeful long ball and Hugo Rodallega poked wide under pressure from Gazzaniga.
That momentum continued into the second half but it was still Southampton enjoying the best opportunities, with Lambert volleying over a driven Schneiderlin cross from the right.
Schwarzer spilt a hopeful 25-yard effort from Rodriguez after a great surge forward but Fulham were looking a more dangerous opponent and twice came close in the 60th minute.
Gazzaniga did terrifically to push a close-range Rodallega header away moments after Steve Sidwell bundled the ball onto the post.
Fulham could have also been awarded a penalty after Yoshida appeared to handle in the midst of the action.
Both sides made changes in a bid to change the match but it was an earlier substitute whose impact was felt on the south coast.
Riise drilled a low shot from the left and centre-back Hooiveld could only direct it into his own goal, putting Fulham level in the 69th minute.
The goal had been coming and the Cottagers threatened to go ahead, with substitute Kieran Richardson putting a Riether cross over.
Rodriguez nodded wide for the hosts in stoppage time and Saints paid when Richardson fired home off Hooiveld's leg two minutes from time.
The substitute looked to have earned Fulham three points but he gave away a late free-kick from which Fonte headed home to earn Saints a point.

Barcelona drew 2-2 at home to Real Madrid in Sunday's El Clasico encounter, with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo sharing all the goals.



Tito Vilanova's Barca headed into the Primera Division game at the Nou Camp eight points clear of their arch rivals and boasting a 100 per cent record from their first six matches, but found themselves trailing midway through the first half when Ronaldo netted for the sixth straight Clasico.
But Messi equalised with a scrappy goal soon after and then put the hosts ahead with a stunning free-kick on the hour, only for Ronaldo to capitalise on sloppy defending midway through the second half to ensure honours ended even.
Barca midfielder Andres Iniesta was handed his first start since the Supercopa aggregate defeat against Real in August, while Adriano partnered Javier Mascherano at centre-back with Gerard Pique (foot) and Carles Puyol (dislocated elbow) sidelined.
Madrid coach Jose Mourinho made three changes from the team that won 4-1 at Ajax in the Champions League on Wednesday, with Sami Khedira, Mesut Ozil and Angel Di Maria replacing Michael Essien, Kaka and Jose Callejon.
The visitors began brightly and created the better of the early chances.
Ronaldo - scorer of a midweek hat-trick in Amsterdam, and the winner in this corresponding fixture last term to virtually assure Madrid the title - crossed from the right for Karim Benzema, who miscued his volley horribly wide from 12 yards when left unmarked in the 13th minute.
Six minutes later, Ozil sent over a corner and Sergio Ramos leapt above the Barca defence only to direct his header inches wide of Victor Valdes' goal.
The warning signs had been there but Barca failed to heed them and the opener duly arrived midway through the first half. Benzema turned neatly on the edge of the box and fed Ronaldo, who lashed home a low left-footed finish which beat Valdes at his near post.
It could have been 2-0 moments later when Khedira burst down the right before feeding Benzema. The Frenchman spooned his effort against the post, though, and Di Maria sent the rebound wide with the goal at his mercy.
The home team suffered a further blow when Dani Alves' involvement ended in the game after 28 minutes, the Brazilian replaced by Martin Montoya.
However, two minutes later they were level. Madrid failed to clear their lines from Pedro Rodriguez's cross and, after bobbling around in the area the ball fell kindly to Messi in the six-yard box and he lashed past a helpless Iker Casillas and into the roof of the net.
Both sides had decent penalty shouts turned down at the start of the second half, Ozil going down after contact with Mascherano before Iniesta appeared to be clipped by Pepe.
Vilanova's team took the lead in spectacular style on the hour mark, Messi picking himself up after being fouled by Xabi Alonso and despatching a brilliant left-footed free-kick up over the wall and curling away from the diving Casillas.
Whatever Messi could do, though, Ronaldo could do too, and swiftly matched the Argentina forward's eight goals in La Liga this term six minutes later.
Ozil slotted a slick pass through to the Portuguese, who had been played onside by Adriano and coolly slotted past Valdes to get Madrid back on level terms.
The final quarter was end-to-end stuff, although Mourinho's men were seemingly the more content with the point.
Messi floated a shot high and wide from Jordi Alba's cut-back, with Iniesta's cross scrambled clear by Marcelo soon after.
Gonzalo Higuain, a 62nd-minute replacement for Benzema, saw his cross deflected to safety by Mascherano before the final few minutes were played out almost entirely in Madrid's defensive third.
Montoya was almost an unlikely match-winner on 88 minutes but his right-footed attempt from the edge of the box crashed back off the bar, before Pedro burst through in stoppage time and unleashed a left-footed shot which flew just wide.

Saturday, October 6, 2012

Arsenal hit back to sink Irons

Theo Walcott and Santi Cazorla scored late goals as Arsenal came from behind to beat West Ham 3-1 in the Premier League at Upton Park.
The Gunners had seen their unbeaten start to the new season ended by a 2-1 home defeat against leaders Chelsea last weekend.
However, Arsene Wenger's men, who beat Olympiacos in the Champions League on Wednesday night, showed great character to recover from conceding an early goal to Mohamed Diame.
France striker Olivier Giroud, a £12million summer signing from Montpellier, scored his first Premier League goal from close range just ahead of half-time, with substitute Walcott slotting home another on the break before the industrious Cazorla struck a superb 25-yard effort.
Arsenal left-back Kieran Gibbs, though, limped off in the second half, which could be a concern for England, although West Ham striker Andy Carroll did complete the full 90 minutes on his recovery from a hamstring problem.
Before kick-off, there was a well-observed minute's applause for former West Ham defender John Bond, who passed away recently.
Arsenal started brightly as the recalled Giroud sent in a low shot from 20 yards which forced Jussi Jaaskelainen into action, before Cazorla had a goalbound shot blocked.
West Ham looked to utilise Carroll's presence whenever possible, but needed all the help they could get in their own penalty area as Arsenal continued to press.
First, Carl Jenkinson's cross was hacked behind and then Carroll knocked Cazorla's fierce drive over his own crossbar.
West Ham, though, snatched the lead against the run of play in the 21st minute.
The ball was worked down the left channel and Diame cut inside Aaron Ramsey to fire an angled drive into the top corner.
The Senegal midfielder was shown a yellow card for celebrating his first Irons' goal by running into the crowd - and was fortunate not to have then seen red after clattering into Mikel Arteta, instead just getting a final warning from referee Phil Dowd.
West Ham were now on the front foot, with Carroll's close-range header straight at Vito Mannone.
Arsenal had a chance to equalise when Giroud just failed to connect with Per Mertesacker's flicked header through the six-yard box.
The French striker, though, did bag his Premier League goal four minutes before half-time.
After winning the ball in midfield, Giroud stabbed it out to Lukas Podolski on the left. The German darted to the byline before cutting the ball back across goal - where Giroud arrived at pace to slot home.
West Ham, though, could easily have gone back in front just before the break when Kevin Nolan knocked the ball wide from close range after a free-kick into the Arsenal penalty area.
The Irons were fired up following the restart, forcing a succession of corners.
Arsenal left-back Gibbs hobbled off in the 55th minute, replaced by Brazilian Andre Santos - an injury concern for England ahead of their World Cup qualifiers.
Ryan Jarvis' shot-on-the-turn flew over as the hosts pressed again.
As the hour mark passed, Ricardo Vaz Te had to be substituted, by Matthew Taylor, after falling awkwardly on his arm after racing to a 50/50 with the Arsenal keeper.
Wenger looked to inject some fresh life into the visitors' attack when he sent on Walcott for Gervinho.
Walcott almost helped set up a goal when Cazorla's shot hit Ramsey and bobble in West Ham penalty area, his clever backheel was cut into the sidenetting by Giroud from a very tight angle.
The Irons went close moments later as Carroll knocked a deep cross wide after getting above Mannone.
The game was wide open now as both sides created chances, Cazorla firing off target after a jinking run before Mertesacker's last-gap tackle denied Nolan.
At the other end, Podolski's low drive was spilled behind by Jaaskelainen.
Arsenal broke away to take the lead with 13 minutes remaining.
Giroud fed Walcott, who timed his run to beat the offside trap, dart into the penalty area and beat the keeper with a low shot into the near post.
West Ham quickly spurned a chance to draw level when Nolan blasted over from 10 yards.
With 11 minutes left, Diame was replaced by Carlton Cole.
However, it was game over when, in the 83rd minute, the excellent Cazorla finally got his goal - lashing a sublime left-foot effort into the top-right corner from 25 yards.


Wenger and Walcott hail Cazorla


Arsene Wenger and Theo Walcott were united in their praise of Santi Cazorla after Arsenal's 3-1 win at West Ham on Saturday evening.
Cazorla scored a stunning left-footed strike after strikes from Olivier Giroud and substitute Walcott had overhauled Mohamed Diame's opener.
And Walcott told ESPN: "He's come in to the Premier League and taken it by storm - he's our conductor.
"His goal was fantastic - I don't even know what-footed he is, to be honest!"
Wenger said: "It was an outstanding performance. If you love football, just watch him play - it's a delight to watch him."
Giroud was relieved to score his first goal since joining the Gunners from French champions Montpellier in the summer.
"I'm so happy to score my first goal and assist my friends in the team," the France striker told ESPN.
"Everyone was talking about this goal, saying 'don't worry, we trust you, keep going, concentrate'. I stayed confident."
Wenger said: "He scored at the right moment, Theo came on and scored and Santi scored a great goal.
"Theo has that in him. One or two years ago when he got in front of the keeper, he did not always finish the chance."
Reflecting on the result, which had looked in doubt after his side trailed to Diame's superb finish, Wenger said: "I am very happy.
"It was a game at a high tempo, with their first shot at goal they scored and they were dangerous in the box but in the second half we got our game going in a convincing way."
Walcott added: "It's always a tough battle here, West Ham are strong under Sam.
"It was a bit nervy in the first 15 minutes but in the second half we were much stronger.
"We know where we want to be this season, we want to be right up there at the end of the season. We showed, coming back today, that we can definitely have a good push."


Chelsea pull clear, Toffees held

Chelsea moved four points clear at the top of the Premier League after beating Norwich 4-1, while Everton fought back to draw 2-2 at Wigan.
The Canaries took a surprise lead in the 11th minute when Wes Hoolahan's cross was nodded into the area by Leon Barnett and Grant Holt showed great technique to lash home first time.
The advantage lasted just four minutes, however, with Fernando Torres muscling his way beyond his marker to head Branislav Ivanovic's hanging cross into the far corner.
And with 22 minutes gone, Frank Lampard put Chelsea in front when he met a loose ball at the edge of the area and drilled past John Ruddy.
Eden Hazard made it 3-1 when he stroked home Juan Mata's perfect pass and Ivanovic closed the scoring when he struck a fierce volley with 15 minutes to play.
Defending champions Manchester City recovered some of their swagger as Aleksandar Kolarov, Sergio Aguero and James Milner fired them to a convincing 3-0 win over Sunderland in the day's early kick-off.
The scoreline barely reflected the hosts' dominance as they comfortably recorded their first clean sheet of the season in a one-sided contest at the Etihad Stadium.
There may have been some nerves with only Kolarov's fifth-minute free-kick to show for their first-half efforts, but the Black Cats were then overrun as they slipped to their first loss of the season.
Aguero came off the bench to add the second on the hour and Milner fired a free-kick through Simon Mignolet after 89 minutes.
QPR's winless run extended to seven matches at The Hawthorns, with a 3-2 win for hosts West Brom piling the pressure on R's boss Mark Hughes.
James Morrison headed the Baggies in front after six minutes and then set up Zoltan Gera for the second after 22 minutes.
The recalled Adel Taarabt put the R's back in contention when he collected Esteban Granero's pass on his chest before spinning and volleying home, but Youssuf Mulumbu made it 3-1 with five minutes left.
Granero grabbed an injury-time goal but there was no time to rescue a point.
Leighton Baines secured a 2-2 draw for Everton at former club Wigan, scoring an 87th-minute penalty.
Arouna Kone (10) and Nikica Jelavic (11) traded headed goals in a matter of seconds before Franco Di Santo converted Gary Caldwell's cross in the 22nd minute to put Latics in front.
It looked like that would be enough until Kevin Mirallas earned the spot-kick and Baines stepped up.
Reading gave up a two-goal lead as they drew 2-2 with Swansea at the Liberty Stadium.
Michel Vorm made a rare howler as he allowed Pavel Pogrebnyak's 31st-minute attempt to squirm through him and Noel Hunt's volley doubled the lead moments before half-time.
Michu responded with a diving header in the 71st minute, the Spaniard's sixth goal of the season, and Wayne Routledge levelled seven minutes later as he added the final touch to a wonderful passing move.

Sordell claims racist abuse

Marvin Sordell claims he and several of his team-mates were racially abused by Millwall fans during Bolton's 2-1 defeat at The Den on Saturday.
The 21-year-old said on Twitter that he had reported the incident and revealed that midfielders Lee Chung-yong and Darren Pratley, plus fellow forward Benik Afobe, had also been subjected to racist taunts by some home supporters.
Sordell said on Twitter: "Putting the match aside, its 2012 in england and people are still shouting racial abuse at a football game!? £Shocking."
He added: "Chungy, Pratts, Benik and i had all sorts of things said to us. The police were standing yards away and did nothing..."
Sordell also received abusive responses to his allegations on Twitter.
He added: "Funniest thing is if had come on and scored and gave them some back, i would be the one who got fined."
Millwall later released a statement, saying: "Millwall and Bolton Wanderers are investigating allegations made by Bolton player Marvin Sordell that he was subjected to racial abuse by an individual whilst warming up as a substitute during Saturday's Championship clash at The Den.
"The two clubs remain determined to do everything in their power to ensure that racist behaviour will not be tolerated.
"We will be speaking to the police and the match officials on this matter but no further comment will be made until this process has been completed and the investigations have been concluded."
The Football Association confirmed they would be investigating Sordell's claims.
Shortly after the FA's confirmation that they would investigate the incident, Bolton released a statement of their own.
It read: "Marvin Sordell has made Bolton Wanderers aware that he was subject to alleged racial abuse during the game against Millwall.
"We are now working with Millwall to investigate and the club have informed us that they will speak to the police and match officials.
"Both clubs remain determined that racist behaviour or language will not be tolerated."







Vaz Te faces spell on sidelines

West Ham forward Ricardo Vaz Te could be out for up to 12 weeks after suffering a dislocated shoulder in the 3-1 defeat to Arsenal.
Vaz Te had to be replaced by Matt Taylor just after the hour-mark after falling awkwardly following a challenge with Arsenal goalkeeper Vito Mannone.
Hammers boss Sam Allardyce confirmed after the match that the 26-year-old would not be fit to return until after the international break and could be out until the festive period.
"No he won't be right, it will be six to 12 weeks depending," he said.
"We can't get it back so he is going to have to go to hospital to have an anaesthetic put in it to slot the shoulder back into the socket.
"The specialist will determine how long it will take to sort that out so it is a bit of a shame, but we all suffer injuries and we just have to make sure we use the squad we have got."