Messi sends Barca into semis

Updated April 04, 2012 10:46:06

Lionel Messi sent more records tumbling as Barcelona beat AC Milan 3-1 to reach the Champions League semi-finals on Wednesday morning (AEST).

In the night's other Champions League clash Bayern Munich beat Marseille 2-0 to go through to the last four 4-0 on aggregate.

Messi, 24, reached the 50-goal mark in Europe's premier club competition with an early penalty at Camp Nou that also saw him break the record he jointly held with Ruud van Nistelrooy for most goals in a Champions League season.

After Antonio Nocerino had equalised to put make it 1-1 and put Milan ahead on away goals, Messi claimed a second penalty to match former Milan striker Jose Altafini's 1962-63 record of 14 goals scored in one European Cup campaign.

A second-half goal from Andres Iniesta completed victory for Pep Guardiola's men, who became the first team to reach five consecutive semi-finals in the competition since the great Real Madrid side of the late 1950s.

Barca will bid to reach a third final in four seasons against either Chelsea or Benfica, who meet at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday with the English side leading 1-0 on aggregate.

Xavi and Cesc Fabregas both overcame injury doubts to start at Camp Nou, where Milan began the game needing just a score draw to progress following the 0-0 stalemate between the sides in the first leg at San Siro last week.

Messi had already threatened twice by the time he broke the deadlock in the tie in the 11th minute, placing a penalty into the bottom-left corner after he had been felled by Luca Antonini's sliding tackle.

The Blaugrana were dominant but Guardiola had predicted that Milan would score and the Italians did so in the 32nd minute, with Nocerino sliding home after Zlatan Ibrahimovic's reverse pass.

It took the host just nine minutes to restore its lead, however, with Messi sending penalty number two into the bottom-right corner after referee Bjorn Kuipers had bravely penalised Alessandro Nesta for holding Sergio Busquets' shirt.

Milan's hopes of a comeback receded sharply in the 53rd minute when Iniesta lifted Barca's third past visiting goalkeeper Christian Abbiati after Messi's shot was blocked to cement the Catalans' place in the last four.

Having seen his side win 2-0 at Stade Velodrome last week, Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes elected to start with Arjen Robben and top scorer Mario Gomez on the bench in Munich, which will host the final on May 19.

Gomez's replacement, Ivica Olic, took full advantage of the opportunity to shine, converting low crosses from Franck Ribery and David Alaba to put Bayern 2-0 up by the interval.

"We were very concentrated, despite the amount of games we are playing at the moment," said Heynckes, who is attempting to guide his side to a treble of trophies in the Champions League, Bundesliga and German Cup.

"Marseille weren't in the quarter-finals for nothing and they tried everything."

Suspended for the first leg, Marseille goalkeeper Steve Mandanda kept the scoreline respectable thereafter but OM -- ninth in Ligue 1 -- have now gone 10 games without a win in all competitions.

"We lost to a great team, but we did not give up," said striker Loic Remy.

"Hats off to Bayern, I hope they go all the way. We still have the League Cup final (against Lyon on April 14) to look forward to and we want to do well in the league."

Bayern will play either Real Madrid or Cypriot representatives APOEL in the last four, with Madrid carrying a 3-0 lead into Wednesday's second leg at the Bernabeu.

AFP

Tags: sport, soccer, champions-league, spain

First posted April 04, 2012 07:29:44

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Tinkler pulls the plug on Jets

Updated April 10, 2012 15:55:00

Billionaire mining magnate Nathan Tinkler has pulled the plug on his backing for A-League side Newcastle Jets, leaving the club in danger of not fielding a team for the 2012-13 A-League season.

Tinkler's Hunter Sports Group (HSG) said an "irrevocable breakdown in confidence of the current FFA management" to resolve a number of issues and $27 million in losses left it with no option but to return the club's licence to football's governing body.

HSG says those issues include the club's disputed $5 million acquisition fee, the Jason Culina insurance matter and a continued request to address what it calls the A-League's "unsustainable financial model".

But FFA chief executive Ben Buckley told Fox Sports that HSG cannot simply hand back its A-League licence.

"The Hunter Sports Group has a legally binding contract that goes through until June [30] 2020 to participate in the A-League and field a team in the A-League," he said.

"They do not have a right to hand the licence back and we expect them to fully commit and fully honour that contract.

"I would say to the Hunter Sports Group they need to renew that commitment, they need to honour their obligations and they need to make sure that the Newcastle fans are not let down."

Asked if the matter could end up in court, Buckley replied: "We have sought legal advice, we will be issuing a legal letter to Hunter Sports Group this afternoon.''

Buckley added he expected the Jets to continue to honour all player contracts.

The news comes just a week after the announcement of a new FFA-funded team to be based in western Sydney from next season.

It followed the official revoking of Clive Palmer's licence to the now defunct Gold Coast United.

"The FFA's financial track record is less than encouraging, with a variety of expansion clubs losing substantial money and closing, and the FFA recently confirming to fund a west Sydney team after club owners were strongly against the knee-jerk reaction," HSG chief executive Troy Palmer said.

FFA's plans for a 10-team league now appear to be thrown into chaos, with key broadcast rights negotiations in danger until a new owner can be found for the Newcastle club for the second time in less than two years.

Less than 18 months ago, Tinkler and HSG stepped in to rescue the ailing Jets and say they have pumped $12 million into the club.

HSG says the FFA's own report for the 2012 financial year cites losses in excess of $27 million, with similar losses forecast next financial year.

"As a keen Jets and football fan, this has been a tough decision and I am aware the impact this will have on members, players, coaches, fans and the entire football community," Palmer said.

"I am particularly saddened for members and supporters who have embraced our community model, which has been accepted in so many areas as a successful and unique way to engage the entire community and build the A-League brand.

"It is also frustrating to have invested so much time, energy and money to save the Jets for the community at short notice and then continually hit road blocks at the FFA."

Palmer said when HSG stepped in, the club was "insolvent, had only 500 members, diminishing crowds, minimal community engagement, no merchandise program and negligible corporate support".

"During the 2011-12 season, we believe we turned this around to be seen as leaders in all these areas," he said.

"Unfortunately, having lost confidence in the FFA management and its ability to find a resolution, it is clear we have no other option.

"It is about removing ourselves from an administration in which we have an untenable relationship."

Palmer confirmed in a press conference that the critical factor for the decision has been a lack of clear communication over the club's acquisition fee, despite HSG saying it attempted to organise numerous meetings on the issue.

"They declined our request to explain what other clubs paid in acquisition fees, why we were charged $5 million, why an FFA consultant was paid somewhere between $250,000 and $500,000 to secure our licence fee and where our payment was spent to the betterment of the A-League," he said.

"Having rejected our terms on every occasion, we had no confidence a consistent and rational explanation for the fee would be forthcoming, particularly after inflammatory media comments from the FFA," Palmer said.

Buckley said the FFA had met with HSG and had "countless'' meetings with Palmer.

"As recently as a few weeks ago we had a meeting scheduled, which was subsequently cancelled by the HSG and Troy Palmer. So I want to correct the record, because the constant assertions by Troy Palmer that we were not willing to meet is just nonsense."

Buckley also responded in a statement to the individual issue surrounding Culina and the A-League's private ownership model.

"The Jets know very well that the Jason Culina matter is subject to arbitration before an independent panel of arbitrators in accordance with the grievance procedure and that a hearing is scheduled," Buckley said.

"The issues surrounding the operating model of the league and its clubs were addressed just a fortnight ago when all clubs were shown a road map towards sustainability.

"In addition, the clubs will have a greater say through the Joint A-League Strategic Committee, which has equal FFA and club representation."

HSG said it would continue to pledge $1 million a year to a high-performance academy in the region to develop young players.

"This decision by the Hunter Sports Group is not about walking away from football and we will continue to meet and grow our local commitments," Palmer said.

"We will now invest in local junior talent and help reduce the burden on their families.

"We would rather proactively support youth and our local community at the expense of the huge wastage in the A-League."

Tags: a-league, soccer, sport, newcastle-2300, nsw, australia

First posted April 10, 2012 11:14:20

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Galekovic howler costs Reds dearly

Updated April 04, 2012 06:22:26

A disastrous error from Adelaide United goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic cost his side a 1-0 ACL defeat to Pohang Steelers in South Korea on Tuesday night.

Galekovic fumbled a free kick in the 68th minute, somehow palming the ball between his legs and Steelers full-back Kim Dae-Ho pounced and slotted a left footer from a tight angle.

Reds striker Bruce Djite's desperate defensive goal-line slide was officially debited an own goal as he made contact with the ball.

Adelaide also lost playmaker Dario Vidosic to injury in what proved a costly defeat for the Reds.

Vidosic limped off with a hamstring strain before a Galekovic's goalkeeping blunder gifted the Steelers their goal.

The Reds have two wins and the loss in their Asian campaign, with their marquee attacking weapon Vidosic lasting just 33 minutes at the Steelyard.

The Reds number 10 had been troubled by the hamstring leading into the fixture, which Pohang controlled offensively.

The Steelers dominated possession, and Ghanaian striker Derek Asamoah was a constant threat, but Adelaide skipper Galekovic was forced to make just one save in the scoreless first half.

Adelaide held out until stung by a free kick from Wang Jin-Sung, whose testing left-footer curled towards near post.

Galekovic palmed the ball down in a regulation save, but lost control and over-ran the ball to give Dae-Ho the scoring shot.

Adelaide attempted to lift its tempo but was shut down by the Steelers, with two late free kicks from Cassio into the box its most meaningful moments.

Pohang join Adelaide at the top of Group E with six points.

Adelaide's next two group games are at home, against Pohang on April 18 and Uzbekistan's Bunyodkor on May 2, before its last match, away against Japan's Gamba Osaka on May 16.

Pohang: 1 (B Djite og 68')

Adelaide: 0

ABC/AAP

Tags: sport, soccer, a-league, korea-republic-of, adelaide-5000, sa, australia

First posted April 03, 2012 22:56:21

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Roar keep premiership hopes alive

Updated March 17, 2012 23:07:28

Brisbane kept the race for the A-League Premier's Plate alive with a pulsating 2-1 victory over the Jets in Newcastle.

League-leader Central Coast defeated Adelaide 1-0 in Gosford, and the Roar held serve down the road after Mitch Nichols converted the match-winning penalty with nine minutes to go.

Brisbane can steal the minor premiership if it wins on the Gold Coast next week and the Mariners fail to take three points in their trip to Wellington.

The Jets' defeat leaves the door open for Sydney, which sits one point behind in seventh place, to snatch a finals berth.

"It was a big game for us today because we pretty much shore up second spot and we take it down to the last week which is what we wanted to do," Postecoglou said.

"Seven weeks ago, we were 11 points behind the Mariners and, in the last seven weeks, we've played every team in the top six away, bar the Heart, and we've won all of them.

"When I look back to then, I thought 'we're going to find it really tough to maybe even stay in the top four if we don't really hit some good form'.

"But to win all those games away from home has been a monumental effort from the players.

"I'm really glad it's gone down to the last week and we're still in with a shot."

Abbas had the first real chance of the match only eight minutes in when he found himself in an eternity of space to line up his shot but sent it wide, with Jeremy Brockie's shot minutes later saved at the near post by Roar gloveman Michael Theoklitos.

But Besart Berisha opened the scoring for the visitors in the 13th minute with a trademark poachers finish, levelling Shane Smelt'z record season haul of 19.

But the Roar were punished for missing a gluttony of chances thereafter.

Brazilian striker Henrique could have doubled the Roar's advantage but the ball hit the far post, ricocheted to hit the near post and somehow still did not cross the line with the 11,471 Newcastle faithful breathing a collective sigh of relief.

The football gods smiled on the Jets again only a minute later when Berisha was also denied by the woodwork from close range.

And if not enough had already gone the Jets' way, Abbas stepped up to take a perfectly-placed free kick with only five minutes remaining in the opening stanza and made no mistake, curling it in to equalise 1-1 for the hosts.

Berisha spurned a great opportunity only minutes into the second half to put the Roar in front when he found himself one-on-one with Jets 'keeper Ben Kennedy but his header sailed over the crossbar.

The Roar were gifted another chance in the 53rd minute when they were awarded a penalty after Calvano Tiago brought the impressive Jack Hingert down in the box.

Henrique stepped up to the spot but his weak effort was saved by Kennedy.

With half an hour remaining Theoklitos came to the Roar's rescue with two superb consecutive saves, blocking Ryan Griffiths and Francis Jeffers' shots.

Tiago gifted the Roar another penalty in the dying minutes with his tackle on Erik Paartalu, this time Nichols making no mistake from the spot to score the 81st-minute winner.

"We had a couple of really good opportunities early on and, if you don't take take them, it comes back to bite you and it definitely did tonight," a dejected Jets coach Gary van Egmond said.

"Once you give a team like Brisbane a chance to get some rhythm and play at their tempo ... it's always going to be difficult.

"So now it will all come down to next week, so we just have to regroup and get ready for it."

Roar: 2 (B Berisha 13', M Nichols 82' pen)

Jets: 1 (A Abbas 40')

ABC/AAP

Tags: a-league, soccer, sport, newcastle-2300, nsw, australia, brisbane-4000, qld

First posted March 17, 2012 19:43:24

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Muamba discharged from hospital

Updated April 17, 2012 07:24:12

Bolton Wanderers midfielder Fabrice Muamba was discharged from the London Chest Hospital on Monday and said he would be forever in debt to the doctors who saved his life.

Muamba has made a miraculous recovery after being described by his club doctor as "in effect dead" for 78 minutes following a cardiac arrest during his side's FA Cup quarter-final against Tottenham Hotspur last month.

The 24-year-old needed 15 defibrillator shocks to restart his heart after collapsing on the White Hart Lane pitch on March 17.

"I am naturally very pleased to be discharged from hospital and would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to every single member of staff at The London Chest Hospital who have played a part in my care," he said in a statement.

"Their dedication, professionalism and expertise is simply amazing and I will forever be in their debt. I also wish to say thank you to all the many well-wishers who have sent thousands of messages of support.

"Now I am out of hospital, I am looking forward to continuing my recovery and spending precious time with my family."

Muamba's hospital exit comes days after Livorno's Piermario Morosini died after suffering a cardiac arrest during an Italian second division game at Pescara on Saturday.

The 25-year-old former Italy Under-21 international collapsed in the 31st minute and was pronounced dead after his arrival at hospital.

Former England striker Trevor Francis was also discharged from hospital on Monday after he suffered a suspected heart attack last week.

The 57-year-old, who was the first player in English football to cost 1 million pounds ($1.53m) when he joined Brian Clough's Nottingham Forest in 1979, was admitted to a hospital on Friday and had surgery to fit an arterial stent.

A spokesman for Birmingham Heartlands Hospital said he was discharged on Monday afternoon.

Francis began his professional career at Birmingham City in 1971 and went on to score the winning goal in the 1979 European Cup final against Malmo for Forest, as well as winning 52 caps for his country.

Reuters/AFP

Tags: sport, soccer, english-premier, england

First posted April 17, 2012 06:19:11

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Roar playing for A-League history

Updated March 19, 2012 13:30:12

Watching the coveted Premiers' Plate leave Brisbane headquarters bound for the Central Coast to possibly be lifted by A-League rivals the Mariners was all Roar coach Ange Postecoglou needed to try to ensure it was returned.

The Mariners could have claimed the premiership after their 1-0 win over Adelaide at Bluetongue Stadium on Saturday, had the Roar lost to Newcastle in a simultaneous match being played further up the F3.

But the Roar's 2-1 victory over the Jets at Hunter Stadium means Brisbane - sitting just two points adrift of the league leaders - is still in contention to become the first team in A-League history to win back-to-back premierships.

And it is all to be decided in the mouth-watering final round.

The Roar will have to beat bottom-placed Gold Coast in their last match on Sunday and rely on Wellington to keep the Mariners winless to snatch top spot.

"It's funny what little things motivate you," Postecoglou said.

"Yesterday, the FFA told us we had to pack up the Premiers' Plate and send it off to Gosford and I wasn't really happy when I saw it leave the offices. It just didn't feel right.

"I was pretty determined to send the FFA to great expense to pack it up again to make sure it's available next week."

Before their final matches, both teams will have midweek Asian Champions League games to contest, with the Roar having flown to China on Sunday for their clash with Beijing Guoan on Tuesday while the Mariners take on Japanese heavyweights Nagoya Grampus at home on Wednesday.

And while the Roar have the tougher preparation leading into the crucial final game, having to contend with long flights and below-zero temperatures in Beijing, Postecoglou is certain there's still enough left in the tank.

"It's going to be a tough week for sure," Postecoglou said.

"But I'd much rather that than to be planning our end-of-season holidays next week.

"We worked really hard last season to finish first and no team's ever finished first two years in a row. It's difficult to do and we've had a really tough year this year.

"But the fact that it's gone down to the last week shows that we won't give up things too easily and that we're prepared to fight for everything.

"So it will be an exciting last week. There'll be spots up for grabs in the top six as well and I think that's good for the competition ... it's designed to be tight and it certainly will be."

Making the final round even more tantalising is the battle for sixth place.

The Jets' defeat means they'll have to face off with Sydney for a finals spot in their do-or-die clash at Sydney Football Stadium on Sunday.

The seventh-placed Sky Blues, who came from 2-0 down to level 2-2 with Melbourne Heart at AAMI Park on Saturday, have brought themselves level on 35 points with the Jets but, with Newcastle's superior goal difference, nothing less than a win will ensure Sydney a finals berth.

Wellington's 3-0 loss to Melbourne Victory on Friday meanwhile has left them equal on points with Perth after the Glory also suffered a shock 3-0 loss to bottom-placed Gold Coast on Sunday night, with both teams left to fight for a top-three finish in their final games.

AAP

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

First posted March 19, 2012 13:30:12

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Roar focused on Ulsan, not Perth

Updated April 16, 2012 16:34:43

Roar coach Ange Postecoglou says his team is fully focused on its Asian Champions League clash with Ulsan Hyundai on Tuesday night and not the upcoming A-League grand final against Perth Glory.

Brisbane is aiming to win its second straight domestic title at Lang Park on Sunday afternoon but Postecoglou says his team is not troubled by the hectic fixture list.

"That's the nature of the sport we're involved in," Postecoglou told reporters ahead of the meeting with South Korean side Ulsan.

"There's an international aspect and we certainly value it very highly. For us, we certainly want to do well tomorrow night."

Postecoglou denied the Champions League clash was a hindrance ahead of his team's A-League title decider and said the competition was a valuable learning experience for his players.

"We've really enjoyed the ACL," he said.

"We got a slow start in it, to be fair, when we played FC Tokyo here. We weren't great that night.

"But since then the two games away from home (against Beijing Guoan and Ulsan) have been really good."

Defeat to FC Tokyo and two subsequent draws leaves the Roar desperate for three points against Ulsan to keep their flickering Champions League hopes alive.

But Postecoglou believes his team is in the right frame of mind to secure maximum points.

"I think (the ACL) is a great experience for the players. I think it just keeps helping them to develop and we've certainly gathered more belief as we've gone on," he said.

"Tomorrow night a win's pretty important to us so we're really focused on that and then we'll have a look at the grand final after."

Postecoglou's sentiments were echoed by captain Matt Smith, who said playing a midweek fixture was a positive factor for his team.

"I think over the course of the year we've had numerous amounts of games, whether they've been midweek or at the weekend, and we've always basically taken one game at a time," Smith said.

"At the moment we're not focusing too much on the grand final on Sunday. It's all about trying to get three points against Ulsan."

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

First posted April 16, 2012 16:30:21

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