Victory, Roar battle to a stalemate

Updated December 15, 2012 23:09:12

A former hero at one A-League club thwarted his old side as Melbourne Victory drew 1-1 with Brisbane Roar - but it wasn't Ange Postecoglou.

Roar goalkeeper Michael Theo, a two-time championship winner at Melbourne Victory before joining Brisbane, stole the show at AAMI Park on Saturday night with several important saves.

Victory coach Postecoglou's hopes of securing a win over his former club were scuttled virtually single-handedly by Theo in a superb goalkeeping performance.

Two important stops from Marco Rojas shots in the first half were followed by a world-class save in the 74th minute to deny Gui Finkler - and what would have been a win for the Victory.

The Victory totally controlled the opening 20 minutes, with Rojas running amok and the Roar looking clueless.

But the Victory's wobbly defence - their problem all season - found a new and inventive way to leak a goal against the run of play after 24 minutes.

Full-back Diogo Ferreira's fresh air swing at a ball across goal gave Roar striker Ben Halloran a half-chance, and he punished the Victory with the superb finish they had been unable to find to that point.

The Roar controlled the remainder of the first half and maintained their 1-0 lead to half-time, before the home side equalised four minutes after the break.

Midfielder Mark Milligan's thunderous shot from the edge of the 18-yard-box from a Finkler pass levelled the scores and again changed the momentum of the game.

The Victory had the best chance to win it, but after Finkler brilliantly turned a defender in the box, he was denied by Theo's remarkable one-handed save from point-blank range.

Then Theo stood up again to block Archie Thompson's shot just minutes later, and ensure the Roar a share of the points as their defence held firm under a late match onslaught.

The Roar's night was soured with injuries to star striker Besart Berisha and midfielder Mitch Nichols - Berisha's shoulder looking particularly concerning.

The Albanian landed awkwardly in a second-half tangle with Victory centre-back Adrian Leijer, and Roar coach Rado Vidosic said the injury "doesn't look good".

Berisha is likely to have scans when the team arrive back in Queensland on Sunday.

Postecoglou said he wasn't dwelling on what were perhaps two points dropped, rather the quality of football his side played for most of the match.

"Our football was great. I thought in general terms it was a step forward for us, which was important," Postecoglou said.

"(The goal) was an individual mistake. It didn't come from structure, it was one of those things that can happen on the football field to anyone.

"The first half-hour was as good as we've played all year.

"The real goal for us is to continue to develop our football so that when it does all click and it gets to the business end of the year and we're amongst it, we're playing some good football."

Melbourne Victory: 1 (Milligan 49')

Brisbane Roar: 1 (Halloran 24')

AAP

Tags: sport, soccer, a-league, brisbane-4000, qld, melbourne-3000, vic, australia

First posted December 15, 2012 19:59:24

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Gunners fire blanks in Bolton stalemate

Updated February 02, 2012 11:29:53

Newcastle United closed in on the top four with a 2-0 victory at Blackburn Rovers while Arsenal slipped to seventh after a goalless draw at Bolton Wanderers stretched its winless run in the Premier League to four matches.

Scott Dann's own goal and a late effort by substitute Gabriel Obertan lifted Newcastle into fifth place, three points behind Chelsea, as Rovers remained stuck fast in the relegation zone.

Arsenal drew 0-0 at Bolton and remain five points adrift of a top-four place that has been a virtual guarantee for the past decade under manager Arsene Wenger, whose Dutch striker Robin van Persie was twice denied by the woodwork.

The Gunners fired 16 shots in total, all but one coming from outside the box, but only managed to put four on target in a wasteful display.

"When you create six or seven clear-cut chances, it is difficult not to win and we do have regrets but the positives have to be that we didn't concede," said Wenger.

"The belief is there, the desire is there and the confidence is there. We have come through a difficult period and we have of course a fight in front of us but we are ready for it," Wenger added when quizzed on his side's prospects of qualifying for next season's Champions League.

"We have to hope that the fact we didn't lose gives us confidence."

Djibril Cisse needed less than 15 minutes to mark his return to the Premier League with a goal as he opened his account for Queen's Park Rangers in its 2-2 draw at Aston Villa.

The 30-year-old former Liverpool and Sunderland player, who signed on transfer deadline day from Lazio, celebrated with a somersault after smashing a shot past Villa keeper Shay Given.

QPR doubled its lead with a Stephen Warnock own goal but England striker Darren Bent halved the deficit on the stroke of half-time and Charles N'Zogbia volleyed a second-half equaliser, his first goal for the Midlands club.

"We're delighted that he has such an instant impact so early in his QPR career. You saw his quality tonight in tight areas, where he was able to use his pace and power and that will be effective for us in the course of the season," QPR manager Mark Hughes said of French striker Cisse.

Sunderland's form continued its upward curve since Martin O'Neill took over as manager with a 3-0 home victory over Norwich City that lifted it to eighth - Fraizer Campbell paving the way for the three points with a spectacular volleyed opener.

Former Fulham coach Roy Hodgson returned to Craven Cottage where his West Bromwich Albion side eked out a 1-1 draw thanks to a late equaliser by Somen Tchoyi.

Newcastle, the surprise package during the early months of the season, proved it is serious contenders for a European berth with a gritty win at Ewood Park.

After Ryan Taylor's shot deflected into the net off Dann after 12 minutes Newcastle was forced to defend for long periods as the hosts dominated.

Blackburn's David Dunn squandered the chance to equalise from the penalty spot and Rovers also struck the woodwork late on before Obertan's clincher.

"You have got to have resilience, a good keeper and a good captain and we have got that," Newcastle manager Alan Pardew said.

"Blackburn create chances all the time because everything comes in your box.

"We defended with passion and with our hearts, like we have done all season and that is why we have done so well."

Reuters

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

First posted February 02, 2012 09:24:50

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Socceroos play out Serbia stalemate

Updated June 7, 2011 22:46:00

Australia was put to the test by a second-string Serbian side but managed to play out a deserved and entertaining 0-0 draw at Docklands on Tuesday evening.

Serbia, missing a number of first team regulars but led by veteran midfielder Dejan Stankovic, arguably shaded the contest but were held accountable by the Socceroos who also had a handful of goalscoring chances.

Goalkeeper Adam Federici was outstanding between the posts, especially in the second half, as he looked to impress coach Holger Osieck and stake his claim for the no.2 spot behind the absent Mark Schwarzer.

Brett Holman was Australia's most dangerous up forward, but was unable to hit the target with a number of long range strikes as he tried to replicate his stunning goal in the Socceroos' 2-1 victory over Serbia at last year's World Cup.

Melbourne Victory striker Archie Thompson also enjoyed a bright start in his first international outing for 18 months in front of his adoring home fans.

James Troisi, who converted from the penalty spot in the 3-0 win over New Zealand on Sunday, had a 79th minute chance to steal victory for the Socceroos but his near post effort was well saved by Serbian keeper Damir Kahriman.

Serbia's best hope was fluffed badly by midfielder Adem Ljajic, who somehow shot over the bar on 40 minutes from five metres out.

"It was pretty level tonight, it could have gone both ways especially at the end there," Holman told Grandstand.

"Just a bit disappointing with the chances we did get, we didn't make the most of them."

Holman said Serbia were class opponents and provided a perfect challenge for a Socceroos side that is sounding out younger stars towards the 2014 World Cup.

"They are fantastic players, just look at their squad and where they play in Europe," Holman said of the visitors.

"They play in big clubs and you saw it tonight. They are good footballers and it was good for us tonight."

Holman said the squad continues to adopt Osieck's attacking style, no matter the opponent.

"You want to play in the way he wants us to play," he said.

"He wants us to be composed and compact at the back and try and play forward, create chances and that's exactly what we did today."

Positives over negatives

Osieck admitted to some disappointment at the looseness of the Socceroos' passing at times.

But overall he was pleased with the depth uncovered in this game and the New Zealand friendly ahead of the World Cup qualifiers expected to start in September.

"Basically, I got a lot more positives than negatives," Osieck said.

"We are not at the end of the road (of finding more depth).

"We are enlarging our squad. We have definitely already a couple more players who can really play for the Socceroos and that is really very positive."

Serbia coach Vladimir Petrovic was also impressed with what the Socceroos had to offer.

"I am very surprised with the level Australian football is on and they are certainly a very strong team, and they showed this," he said.

The result against the world No.16 Serbia takes Osieck's record with the Socceroos to eight wins, four draw and two losses from his 14 matches in charge.

Australia is still unbeaten at home in its last 10 matches.

-ABC/AAP

Tags: sport, football, socceroos, australia, vic, melbourne-3000, serbia

First posted June 7, 2011 21:38:00

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United stalemate keeps title race alive

Updated April 20, 2011 07:47:00

Manchester United's title charge was slowed after a 0-0 draw at a determined Newcastle United on Wednesday morning, missing the chance to move nine points clear at the top of the Premier League standings.

United, back in action after being sent tumbling out of the FA Cup by rivals Manchester City in the semi-finals on Saturday, could not break down a resolute Newcastle backline.

The home side dominated possession for large parts of the match at St James Park with Peter Lovenkrands squandering their best opening with a header in the first half.

United, which showed some signs of a cup hangover, had chances to break the deadlock with Javier Hernandez going close and Wayne Rooney and Ryan Giggs guilty of bad misses.

The game ended in controversy as the visitors appealed for a penalty when Hernandez fell under the challenge of Danny Simpson but referee Lee Probert gave the Mexico striker a yellow card for a dive.

"It was a clear penalty," Ferguson told Sky Sports.

"It is an insult because he has booked him. The referee has had a good game tonight, but he lets himself down by booking the player. There is definite contact, there is no doubt about that."

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew disagreed with his counterpart, saying Lovenkrands' penalty appeals carried much more weight.

"Danny sticks a leg out, which is dangerous, but he didn't touch the guy, he definitely dived and was looking for it," Pardew said.

"I'd like to praise the referee, he was very brave there. United are pushing at the end, looking for a late goal and history, so there's pressure there.

"The Lovenkrands one was a sitter. It was a story of two penalties: one that definitely was for us, and one that wasn't for them."

United now has 70 points from 33 games, seven points above second-placed Arsenal and nine ahead of Chelsea although the London sides both have a game in hand.

Arsenal visit fifth-placed rivals Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday morning when Chelsea host struggling Birmingham City.

"We are in a better position than we were in on Saturday. We have one game less and we are in the same position with Arsenal and five games left," Ferguson added.

Manchester United, which has now won only five of its 17 away games in the league this season, could have taken the lead in under two minutes when Hernandez latched onto a low cross from Rooney but his close-range effort was smothered by goalkeeper Tim Krul.

Newcastle's hopes of getting a first home win against United since 2001, showed early promise with Jonas Gutierrez, Joey Barton and Shola Ameobi all failing to take their chances.

The best opportunity of the half, however, fell to Rooney - restored to the side after serving a two-match ban for swearing into a TV Camera - when he burst through the middle but lifted his shot over the bar with just the keeper to beat.

Lovenkrands wasted Newcastle's best chance when he headed a Barton cross wide from 10 metres.

Newcastle had appeals for a penalty turned down after the break when Lovenkrands was tripped by Anderson on the edge of the area before Giggs somehow miscued from eight metres with the goal gaping midway through the second half.

The result moves Newcastle above Aston Villa to ninth on goal difference with 40 points from 33 games.

-Reuters

First posted April 20, 2011 07:27:00

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