Wanderers grab another big scalp

Updated November 19, 2012 10:23:39

Western Sydney held on for a heroic victory over Perth on Sunday afternoon despite playing with 10 men for over half the game.

The Wanderers took the lead through a header from Italian defender Iacopo La Rocca who converted Aaron Mooy's precise cross.

The visitors at Perth Oval immediately found their lead under pressure from last year's grand finalists.

But their advantage was further threatened from the 38th minute onwards after Yousuff Hersi received a straight red card for kicking out at Scott Jamieson - following an uncompromising challenge from the Perth defender.

In the second half it was almost one-way traffic but the Wanderers in the mould of their coach, former Socceroos defender Tony Popovic, held out stubbornly.

Twice in the second half Perth striker Steven McGarry came within inches of equalising hitting the post in the 58th minute and then headed against the bar as the game moved into injury time.

In all Perth recorded 25 shots at goal but Western Sydney held out in stifling conditions, giving the A-League newcomer the remarkable achievement of recording away victories over both last year's grand-finalists.

The win lifts the Wanderers level on points with Perth on 10 points.

Earlier, Wellington Phoenix bounced back to form with a 3-0 victory over the Newcastle Jets at Hunter Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

The Phoenix came into the game on a three-match losing streak but Jeremy Brockie's brace and Paul Ifill's penalty were enough to beat the previously high-flying Jets.

Newcastle had most of the early pressure but little penetration and Ifill's cross found Brockie unmarked in the box, giving the forward ample time to stroke home.

There was little threat to the scoreline before Brockie headed the second eight minutes from time, again after work from Ifill down the right flank.

With the Jets then pushing forward they allowed substitute Benjamin Totori to run through on goal where he was brought down in the box by Josh Mitchell who was perhaps fortunate to only receive a yellow card.

Ifill then sent replacement goalkeeper Matthew Nash the wrong way from the spot.

The result lifts Wellington up five places from the foot of the table to sixth, with Sydney FC now propping up the ladder.

Newcastle remains third, but is now four points adrift of leaders Adelaide.

Western Sydney: 1 (I La Rocca 15')
Perth: 0

Wellington: 3 (J Brockie 44', 82', Ifill pen 87')
Newcastle 0

Tags: sport, soccer, a-league, parramatta-2150, sydney-2000, perth-6000, newcastle-2300, new-zealand

First posted November 18, 2012 19:15:17

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Liverpool sinks to another home defeat

Updated May 02, 2012 08:47:10

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish insists his team will still enter Saturday's FA Cup final against Chelsea in confident mood despite a dispiriting 1-0 home loss to Fulham in its last game before the Wembley showpiece.

An early own goal from Martin Skrtel condemned Liverpool to another home loss in a season which has seen it set records for futility in terms of its league form at Anfield.

With Dalglish opting to rest Pepe Reina, Daniel Agger, Luis Suarez and Steven Gerrard with Chelsea in mind, it was hardly ideal preparation for Liverpool's second domestic cup final of the season.

But the Scotsman insisted that the defeat would have no bearing on the outcome on Saturday as his team attempts to add the FA Cup to the League Cup they won earlier this year.

"If we had won this game 4-0 it wouldn't have made any difference for Saturday," said Dalglish.

"It won't affect the Cup Final but it's disappointing and doesn't mean to say it makes it right.

"The attitude and desire was not there. We can't play at that tempo, we have to play quicker than that.

"I have to take part of the blame because I wanted to give everyone an opportunity to get minutes on the pitch and a chance to push their case.

"But the performance and attitude were very poor and that's not like us. Our attitude and approach is where it went wrong."

In the night's other game, seventh-placed Everton drew 1-1 at Stoke City.

Everton went in front with a Peter Crouch own goal on the stroke of half-time but Stoke, sitting 13th, equalised through a terrific solo effort by Cameron Jerome midway through the second half.

At Anfield, one of the few players to emerge with any credit was forward Andy Carroll who improved his chances of starting at Wembley.

"It was good to see Andy back, he had a niggle at the weekend but he's back and fit and played the 90 minutes without any repercussion so that is good for us," said Dalglish.

But Carroll's performance was an isolated positive in a sea of negatives as Dalglish and Liverpool must face up to its worst home league season in history.

The Reds have one home league game remaining, coincidentally against Chelsea, and must win to avoid matching their worst ever home season in terms of league wins - the five recorded in 1948-49.

Liverpool is also four goals short of matching its previous worst season in terms of home league goals, the 24 it scored in the 1903-04 campaign.

Liverpool is also in danger of finishing outside the top eight of English football since 1953-54, a season which ended in relegation.

AFP/Reuters

Tags: english-premier, soccer, sport, england, united-kingdom

First posted May 02, 2012 08:40:52

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Sigurdsson grabs another double for Swansea

Updated March 18, 2012 09:45:26

Iceland midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson produced his second two-goal blast in three games to inspire promoted Swansea City to an emphatic 3-0 win at Fulham in the Premier League on Sunday morning (AEDT).

Sigurdsson, signed by Swansea on loan in January from German club Hoffenheim, followed up his double against Wigan this month by scoring in the 36th and 66th minutes as Brendan Rodgers's team clinched a third successive victory.

Joe Allen was also on target in the 77th minute at Craven Cottage to lift Swansea to eighth in the table with 39 points from 29 matches. Fulham occupies 11th position on 36.

Sigurdsson glanced in a close-range header to open the scoring after a centre by Wayne Routledge was knocked back across goal by Scott Sinclair.

Swansea went 2-0 up when Sigurdsson side-footed the ball past keeper Mark Schwarzer and Allen made sure of maximum points with a curling right-foot shot following a mistake by Fulham defender Philippe Senderos.

"This was our biggest game of the season purely because it came on the back of last week's win over Manchester City," Rodgers said.

"We don't want our players just to raise their game against the big teams and I thought they were absolutely phenomenal today. It's a very proud day for us all, players, fans and management team," the Swansea manager added.

Dour draw

In the day's other league game, bottom club Wigan Athletic were held 1-1 at home by West Bromwich Albion.

Wigan's James McArthur gave the home team a 54th-minute advantage after good work on the wing by Victor Moses.

Wigan, however, was wasteful in front of goal throughout and its former midfielder Paul Scharner headed West Brom's equaliser midway through the second half.

Scharner's goal was the only effort on target all game from West Brom.

"In many ways we feel a sense of footballing injustice because we created chance after chance," Wigan manager Roberto Martinez said. "We could have won by three or four goals, that's how dominant we were.

"Unfortunately there have been too many times this season when our play has not been reflected in the scoreline. That's our big frustration."

Cup drama

In the FA Cup, Sunderland set up a home quarter-final replay later this month by holding Everton to a 1-1 draw in a pulsating tie at Goodison Park.

Scotland defender Phil Bardsley gave visiting Sunderland a 12th-minute lead with a fierce long-range drive that eluded a cluster of players in the goalmouth.

Australian Tim Cahill equalised for five-times FA Cup winners Everton 11 minutes later, showing lightning reactions to nod a header from Nikica Jelavic beyond goalkeeper Simon Mignolet.

The day's other fixture between Tottenham and Bolton was abandoned shortly before half-time after Bolton midfielder Fabrice Muamba collapsed from a suspected heart attack.

ABC/Reuters

Tags: sport, soccer, english-premier, england

First posted March 18, 2012 09:42:40

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Roar pull off another late miracle

Updated January 15, 2012 12:28:16

Two goals in the last minute of injury time gave Brisbane Roar an amazing A-League escape against Sydney FC at Lang Park on Saturday night.

In dramatic scenes reminiscent of last season's grand final, the Roar came from a goal down to take an unlikely three points with a bewildering 2-1 triumph.

The victory was set up by a brilliant Mohamed Adnan free kick in the 94th minute before Besart Berisha flicked home a header less than a minute later.

At the final whistle, Berisha raced off the field and invited Sydney defender Pascal Bosschart to join him in a tunnel altercation.

This led to ugly scenes as players and officials from both camps came together on the sidelines.

Brisbane coach Ange Postecoglou admitted the incident took the shine away from the win somewhat.

"We do a lot of things really well in our game but fighting isn't one of them - we should leave that to other sports," Postecoglou said.

"The vision I saw Bess shouldn't have gone over there (to Bosschart).

"There was enough going around but I don't think anything happened.

"Usually when there's incidents like that people run in from everywhere and you find for no real reason - it's not a great way to end things.

"If (Berisha) has crossed the line I'll address it with him, but at the moment I'll let things die down and get the information we need and go from there."

Veteran Roar midfielder Massimo Murdocca echoed his manager's sentiments.

"It's a strange one, I think Besart has got to try and control himself a little bit," Murdocca said.

"He's a fiery character but look we love him as a player and he's the sort of player we want up front - one who's fiery and want goals all the time and be passionate for the team."

Former Roar goalkeeper Liam Reddy was also involved in a push and shove with one-time team-mate Mitch Nichols, who helped set up the winning goal.

The Sky Blues were gutted by the defeat after looking certainties to snap their six-match victory drought.

Brisbane's win cut the Central Coast Mariners' lead to six points at the top of the competition.

It was the Mariners who were the victims of the Roar's last injury-time escape in Brisbane when they levelled the 2010-11 decider with two late goals.

Sydney had been set for its first win and clean sheet since its last victory - which ended the Roar's record 36-match unbeaten streak at Kogarah.

Veteran striker Mark Bridge made the most of his starting promotion to bag a rare first-half goal and the Sky Blues looked like easing the pressure on coach Vitezslav Lavicka with a disciplined defensive effort.

But Adnan's equaliser was a curling strike over the top of the Sydney wall which hit the top left corner to give Reddy little chance.

Berisha's match-winner was his 10th for the season but first in nine games, since his team ended their record 36-match unbeaten streak.

The 14,454-strong crowd began the night with a minute's applause for the one-year anniversary of the Queensland flood, which left Lang Park submerged, and ended it in hysterics.

Brisbane started the match with Berisha surprisingly in attack after the competition's leading goalscorer defied a calf problem.

His recovery meant both German playmaker Thomas Broich and Brazilian striker Henrique could be eased back from long-term injuries off the bench.

But it was Bridge who opened the scoring against the run of play after classy lead-up play by Michael Beauchamp and Nick Carle.

In his starting return, replacing Bruno Cazarine, Bridge should have had a second on the stroke of half-time but his header was wide of the target.

When Broich and Henrique were introduced Brisbane dominated possession but it looked like this would come to nought until the game's dramatic ending.

Brisbane: 2 (Adnan 90'+4, Berisha 90'+5)

Sydney: 1 (Bridge 39')

AAP

Tags: sport, a-league, soccer, brisbane-4000, qld, australia

First posted January 14, 2012 22:34:32

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Rooney treble leads another United rout

Updated September 11, 2011 06:04:50

Wayne Rooney scored his second successive hat-trick as rampant Manchester United stormed back to the top of the Premier League with a 5-0 win at Bolton just hours after Sergio Aguero's treble briefly lifted Manchester City into first place.

Rooney scored three times in United's 8-2 demolition of Arsenal before the international break and the England forward picked up where he left off to claim the seventh hat-trick of his career.

He converted two crosses from Phil Jones in the first half and then swept home a Ryan Giggs pass after the break to take his goal tally for the season to 10 for club and country.

United's blistering display, which also included two goals from Mexican forward Javier Hernandez, means the champions have now scored 18 goals in their first four matches, a new Premier League record for this stage of the season that keeps them ahead of title rivals City on goal difference.

"We got an early goal and kicked on from there and it could have been more," Rooney said.

"I had a long time to rest and get a good preseason under my belt. I've stayed free of injuries and it's helped me for the start of the season."

The only downbeat note for United boss Sir Alex Ferguson was an injury to Tom Cleverley, which forced the young midfielder to come off in the first half.

"We kept playing our football. That is what we are here to do. We withstood all the challenges and just got on with it," Ferguson said.

Earlier, Argentinian international Aguero starred as Roberto Mancini's City outclassed Wigan 3-0 at Eastlands with a mesmerising display of attacking football.

The victory maintained City's perfect start to the season and manager Mancini was purring with pleasure after the virtuoso display of Aguero, signed for a club-record 38 million pounds from Atletico Madrid this summer.

"They were fantastic strikes. He is an incredible player. He is young and scored three fantastic goals," Mancini said.

"He always scored in his career and I hope that can continue here."

Arsenal bounces back

In other results, Arsenal bounced back from its humiliating defeat against United in its last outing to record a badly needed 1-0 win over Swansea at the Emirates Stadium.

An Andrey Arshavin goal on 40 minutes secured Arsenal's first Premier League win this season, the Russian international punishing a dreadful blunder by Swans goalkeeper Michel Vorm to finish from a tight angle.

"When you get a big score against you, the confidence goes quickly and comes back slowly," Gunners boss Arsene Wenger said.

"You could see that because we had a nervous second half when we didn't score the second goal. We started well and slowly the nerves took over."

Chelsea moved up to second place after recording its third win in a row with a 2-1 win over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.

Blues skipper John Terry drove a deflected shot into the net to put Chelsea ahead on 18 minutes after Sunderland failed to clear.

Chelsea doubled its lead on 51 minutes when striker Daniel Sturridge latched onto a ball over the top from new signing Raul Meireles to score.

Sunderland's South Korean international Ji Dong-Won gave the Black Cats hope with a goal in stoppage time.

Liverpool's recent revival ground to a halt as it crashed to an unexpected 1-0 defeat at Stoke.

Stoke edged ahead against the run of play on 21 minutes after Jamie Carragher was adjudged to have hauled down City striker Jon Walters, who stepped up to convert the penalty himself.

Tottenham recovered from its 5-1 home mauling by Manchester City with a 2-0 victory over Wolves at Molineux.

Emmanuel Adebayor, who joined Spurs on loan from Manchester City last month, struck on 67 minutes to put Tottenham ahead after being played in by fellow debutant Scott Parker.

Jermain Defoe then made the game safe for Spurs on 80 minutes.

Everton and Aston Villa shared the points in a 2-2 draw at Goodison Park.

Leon Osman gave Everton the lead but Stilian Petrov levelled for Villa on 63 minutes.

Everton's Leighton Baines rifled home from the penalty spot six minutes later, only for Gabriel Agbonlahor to equalise seven minutes from time.

AFP

Tags: english-premier, soccer, sport, england, united-kingdom

First posted September 11, 2011 06:04:50

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Claims of another FIFA cover up

TONY EASTLEY: When Sepp Blatter was controversially re-elected as boss of FIFA, soccer's world governing body promised it would make serious reforms.

Now the organisation is once again being accused of making dodgy deals and covering up rather than exposing corruption.

Overnight FIFA's vice-president, Jack Warner resigned after 28 years of wielding power in the world game.

And as Simon Santow reports FIFA has controversially decided to drop its investigation into Mr Warner's conduct.

SIMON SANTOW: It was done by statement.

After nearly three decades near the summit of world football, controversial official Jack Warner called it quits.

He says to spare FIFA from further acrimony and divisiveness.

FIFA for its part thanked the Trinidadian sports powerbroker and dropped the investigations into corruption surrounding him.

MEL BRENNAN: Whatever was going to happen to Jack and all of his political connections as a result of the investigation that was emerging was probably worse than giving up the position.

I mean it's a lesson for us that, I think that's the way to proceed with not only Warner but with Chuck Blazer and the other copycat malfeasances as well as Sepp Blatter and anyone else who is about inappropriate behaviour with the world game and the world's resources.

SIMON SANTOW: Mel Brennan worked closely alongside Jack Warner at CONCACAF (Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football) and was a FIFA delegate from North America for the 2002 World Cup.

MEL BRENNAN: These guys are at the top of the world football, a perfectly political organisation, because they are perfectly political creatures. That's who they are.

They're the best at this political game. So this was a political calculus no doubt. But FIFA certainly took advantage of it with some of the statements that they've made and abandoning the investigation.

There's been outcry across the mediascape today with regard to the fact that just because Warner resigned doesn't mean that the investigation shouldn't go forth. But that in and of itself is a political move from Blatter and from FIFA.

SIMON SANTOW: Given the climate of Sepp Blatter's re-election and the hostility, can he get away with effectively closing down an investigation just because the target has decided to quit rather than face the music?

MEL BRENNAN: In the short term he can't. In the short term he can't. In the long term the same type of oversight, the same type of unending spotlight that had Warner go away will unearth the information required to have this whole system changed.

SIMON SANTOW: When Sepp Blatter received another term as FIFA boss three weeks ago, Australia's sports minister warned reform would have to be real.

Mark Arbib was unavailable to speak to AM this morning but his Opposition counterpart, Luke Hartsuyker says the latest developments are concerning.

LUKE HARTSUYKER: This type of action I think does nothing to improve FIFA's credibility. It smacks of sweeping an issue under the carpet, it smacks of a response of convenience. It really is a situation that FIFA is somewhat of an elephant hiding behind a fig leaf it appears.

TONY EASTLEY: The federal shadow sports minister, Luke Hartsuyker ending Simon Santow's report.

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