Spurs edge Swansea to relaunch top-four challenge

Updated December 17, 2012 07:28:21

Tottenham Hotspur rekindled its push for Champions League qualification by overcoming Swansea City 1-0 on Monday morning (AEDT) to return to the Premier League's top four.

Jan Vertonghen claimed the game's only goal with 15 minutes remaining at White Hart Lane, crisply dispatching a free-kick from Kyle Walker to register his first goal in the English top flight.

Walker had come closest to breaking the deadlock in the first half, only for his rasping 25-yard drive to be parried by visiting goalkeeper Gerhard Tremmel.

Tremmel also denied Jermain Defoe in the closing stages, while injury time saw England midfielder Scott Parker make his first Spurs appearance of the season after a spell on the sidelines with an Achilles problem.

Spurs had slipped out of the top four after shipping two late goals in a 2-1 loss at Everton last weekend, and Vertonghen said he was relieved that his side had held firm in the closing stages on this occasion.

"(The goal) was at the perfect time," the Belgian centre-back said.

"Swansea play good football, but I think we made lots of chances today. We were strong to the end, because we know what's happened in six or seven other games."

There were worrying scenes for Swansea in stoppage time when top scorer Michu was pole-axed in a collision with Spurs goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.

The Spaniard was able to return to the fray, but visiting coach Michael Laudrup criticised referee Mike Dean for not bringing play to a halt.

"I was very angry and it wasn't because I wanted a free-kick or a red card for Lloris, or a penalty, or whatever, but there is a debate - should we kick the ball out?" he said.

"I watched it afterwards on the television and when it happened, when Michu is going down to the ground, the referee is watching them, the linesman is watching them, and still they let the game go on.

"It is such a poor decision, and dangerous as well."

West Bromwich Albion remains in sixth place, two points below Spurs, after a 0-0 draw at home to West Ham United extended the Baggies' run of matches without victory to four.

West Brom midfielder James Morrison twice hit the woodwork in the second period for the hosts, while Winston Reid, Gary O'Neil and Joey O'Brien all narrowly failed to find the target for the visitors.

"We created half-chances, but they didn't fall for us," Morrison said.

"West Ham deserve some credit as they frustrated us and we struggled to break them down."

Injuries meant that West Ham manager Sam Allardyce was only able to name six substitutes at The Hawthorns, and the draw prevented his side from climbing into the top half of the table.

Yesterday, leaders Manchester United preserved its six-point lead at the top, seeing off Sunderland 3-1 at Old Trafford after second-place Manchester City had won by the same scoreline at Newcastle United.

Tuesday's match sees Arsenal travel to Reading, in a repeat of the League Cup encounter between the sides that finished 7-5 to the London club in October.

Victory for the visitors would take Arsene Wenger's side up to fifth.

AFP

Tags: english-premier, soccer, sport, england

First posted December 17, 2012 06:50:36

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Corinthians stun Chelsea to win Club World Cup

Updated December 17, 2012 12:49:49

Paolo Guerrero poached a 69th-minute winner as South American champions Corinthians ambushed Chelsea to win the Club World Cup 1-0 on Sunday, triggering wild celebrations in Yokohama.

Chelsea, who had been under pressure to win the tournament after becoming the first holders to exit the Champions League at the group stage, missed a string of chances.

"It doesn't matter how skilful the opposition is, our players have the work-rate, energy and teamwork to overcome," Corinthians coach Tite said, having guided the Sao Paulo club to the Brazilian title in 2011 and the Libertadores Cup earlier this year.

The smash-and-grab over Chelsea completed a remarkable turnaround after Corinthians were relegated at the end of 2007.

"With this tournament and the Libertadores Cup we've now gone 16 games and conceded only four goals," said Tite.

"The way we managed the game was excellent."

Gary Cahill - sent off in the last minute - Fernando Torres and Victor Moses were denied by brilliant saves from goalkeeper Cassio in a game the English side largely dominated.

Corinthians, who won the first Club World Cup in 2000, caught Chelsea cold when Peru striker Guerrero headed home from close range after Danilo's shot looped up off Cahill's boot.

"I'm delighted to have scored two goals," said Guerrero, scorer of his side's winner in its 1-0 semi-final victory over Egypt's Al-Ahly.

"But it's more important for Corinthians to be world champions.

"We knew that it would be extremely tough to beat the champions of Europe but we gave 100 per cent and more. I think we deserved to win the cup."

Torres had a late effort superbly blocked by tournament MVP Cassio and a stoppage-time header ruled out for offside.

The Corinthians players celebrated by dancing and hugging each other as fireworks exploded and some 15,000 travelling fans among the crowd of 68,000 began a fiesta set to go on all night.

Chelsea's interim manager Rafael Benitez refused to make excuses after his second loss in three appearances with three different clubs at the FIFA tournament.

"They had one chance and scored," said the Spaniard.

"We didn't take our chances. We had four clear chances and we didn't take them. That was the difference."

Cahill's red card, for kicking striker Emerson in retaliation for an elbow in the face, had no bearing on the result, said Benitez.

"He lost his temper but it didn't make a difference to the result," said Benitez, who will be without Cahill for Chelsea's League Cup quarter-final at Leeds United on Wednesday.

Cahill expressed regret but blamed Emerson's theatrical tumble for convincing the referee to send him off.

"I've tackled the guy, we tangled legs and he lashed out with his arm and hit me in the face," said Cahill.

"I'm angry about it, but also at my reaction. I touched him in the shin - it probably wouldn't have knocked over my one-year-old daughter yet he's rolling around five or six times."

Frank Lampard, captain in the absence of John Terry who was receiving treatment for injury back in London, failed to mask his frustration.

"It's a big disappointment to come all this way and not to win," he said after making his first start since returning from a calf injury.

"We knew it would be a tough game. The game's about scoring goals and unfortunately we didn't take our chances. They were very organised and set up well to stop us playing.

"Now we have to go back and win a run of games to keep ourselves in the title race and push on in every competition."

European sides had won the last five Club World Cups, Benitez winning it with Inter Milan in 2010 and losing in the 2005 final as manager of Liverpool.

The Spaniard, an unpopular appointment among Chelsea fans after the sacking of Roberto Di Matteo last month, could face a hostile return after the team's failure in Japan.

"We can take away positives from this," said Benitez, whose decision to start Moses in place of Oscar surprised even his opposite number Tite.

"You can see we're improving. We have to play at Leeds and then we have Aston Villa. We have to be mentally strong."

Oscar denied Brazilian media reports that he had called Benitez "crazy" to leave him out.

"I respect the coach's decision," he said.

"I'm just disappointed that when I came on we were 1-0 down and I couldn't do anything to help the team."

Reuters

Tags: sport, soccer, japan

First posted December 17, 2012 00:09:36

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Mariners march on with win over Heart

Updated December 15, 2012 00:38:59

A Pedj Bojic brace has secured the Central Coast a 2-0 win over Melbourne Heart to extend the Mariners' unbeaten run to eight games and consolidate their place at the A-League's summit.

It was a case of history repeating with Bojic, who scored the winner in the Mariners 1-0 win over the Heart in their last meeting, sinking the visitors with two second-half goals in Gosford on Friday.

Heart's veteran gloveman Clint Bolton will want to forget his sloppy keeping gifting Bojic his first goal and he should have done better to save his second.

The loss leaves the Heart in seventh place, while Perth Glory move up into fourth.

Melbourne had a defensive game plan from the outset not attempting one shot on goal in the opening half, while the table-topping Mariners ran riot in the front third.

Bojic looked like netting four minutes in, curling a free-kick from about 25 metres out to force a spectacular save from Bolton.

The Mariners had another chance just before the half-hour mark when Joshua Rose beat the Heart defence with a through-ball to Berni Ibini, who instead of passing the ball to the waiting Daniel McBreen, went for glory himself with Bolton saving the effort.

The Mariners had a flurry of chances late in the opening half but the stoic Heart defence of Simon Colosimo and Patrick Gerhardt managed to keep them scoreless.

Bojic finally opened the scoring in the 49th minute with what looked like an innocuous long range strike but Bolton made a meal of saving the effort letting it slip through his hands and into the back of the net.

McBreen, currently the league's top scorer, looked like adding to his tally of nine goals this season keeping Bolton busy with a long range shot.

Socceroo tyro Tomas Rogic, who was kept relatively quiet, set McBreen up for another but the veteran striker sent it sailing over the crossbar.

Bojic continued to be Bolton's nightmare when the keeper was unable to save his dipping free-kick in the 69th minute putting the Mariners 2-0 up.

McBreen outpaced Gerhardt and could have put the game beyond doubt with 10 minutes remaining but didn't get a clean connection.

"It was a strong win, a good performance," said upbeat Mariners coach Graham Arnold.

"I thought the football we played was very, very good. We opened them up quite easily.

"The only negative was in front of goal, I thought we didn't take our chances. If we did it would have been five or six goals.

"But I wouldn't say it was easy. It took two goals from a fullback to win the game."

Heart coach John Aloisi was dejected after the loss, blaming himself for playing exhausted returning Socceroos Richard Garcia, Michael Marrone and Aziz Behich in the match.

"We just looked flat from the very beginning tonight," he said.

"And that was probably my fault because the boys that came back from the national team weren't right, they shouldn't have played.

"When you've got two or three boys looking flat and not looking with it, it rubs off on the rest of the boys.

"But tonight we were clearly outplayed."

Central Coast Mariners: 2 (Bojic 49', 69')

Melbourne Heart: 0

AAP

Tags: sport, soccer, a-league, gosford-2250, nsw, melbourne-3000, vic, australia

First posted December 14, 2012 21:53:31

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Anti-racism body slams 'weak' Premier League

Updated December 12, 2012 07:21:21

The chairman of an anti-racism group has accused England's Football Association and the top-flight Premier League of lacking morality and leadership over their handling of recent racism cases.

Herman Ouseley, who heads the Kick It Out organisation, also rebuked Chelsea and Liverpool over the racism incidents involving their players John Terry and Luis Suarez, saying they failed to take a stand against unacceptable behaviour.

"There is very little morality in football among the top clubs," Ouseley, a lawmaker in Britain's upper chamber of parliament, said in an interview with The Guardian newspaper published on Tuesday.

"Leadership is so important; you have to send a powerful message that racism is completely unacceptable. But there is a moral vacuum.

"The big clubs look after their players as assets. There was no bold attitude from them, to say that they would not put up with it."

Terry served a four-game ban earlier this season after being found guilty of racially abusing Queens Park Rangers' Anton Ferdinand by the FA, while Suarez was hit with an eight-match suspension for a similar offence last season.

Despite the punishments dealt out to the two players, Ouseley said the football authorities should have been more outspoken in their criticism.

"The condemnations have been mealy-mouthed," the former head of the Commission for Racial Equality said.

"We want all players and fans to feel confident about reporting abuse. But the FA did not say anything about the lies and distortions which came out in John Terry's and Ashley Cole's evidence. Instead the players are protected.

"The Premier League could have set the tone; they and the FA do a good job in community work. But on this, I have not heard anything from the Premier League."

Ouseley also chastised the former Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish and ex-Chelsea coach Andre Villas-Boas for giving too much support to Suarez and Terry during their respective cases.

"We were observing the process but the managers were speaking out and sticking up for Luis Suarez and John Terry," Ouseley added.

"The FA should have asserted themselves, said they would not put up with people disrespecting the process, but the FA were very slack and weak."

Responding to Ouseley's criticism, Heather Rabbatts, the FA's independent director, admitted the game's authorities must show greater determination to completely stamp out the evil of racism.

Rabbatts, appointed as an independent board member earlier this year and a potential candidate to be the next FA chairman, believes Ouseley has raised important issues that must not be swept under the carpet.

"The issues that Herman Ouseley is raising are hugely important issues for the whole game and it has to respond to these challenges," she said.

"There are a number of members from different parts of the game being consulted and we all have to rise to the current challenge.

"Despite the huge progress that has been made in tackling discrimination there is a need for renewed energy."

English football has been hit by a spate of incidents of racial abuse this year, with a succession of players allegedly targeted by fans both at grounds and on Twitter.

Chelsea also had a claim of racial abuse against referee Mark Clattenburg dismissed by the FA over a lack of evidence.

Meanwhile, the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) has announced plans for players and coaches to receive "cultural lessons" to improve awareness of the rules regarding discrimination.

"Up until now we have had cultural awareness courses for our apprentices and the plan now is to extend these to senior players and coaches, including those coming from overseas," said PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor.

"We want to make sure there there is no misunderstanding with regards to the rules and regulations on discrimination."

AFP

Tags: english-premier, soccer, sport, england

First posted December 12, 2012 07:13:47

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ATO pushes to wind up Knights, Jets

Updated December 13, 2012 20:50:56

Senior figures at Newcastle's NRL and A-League teams say Nathan Tinkler is working quickly to pay a multi-million-dollar tax office debt to avoid the clubs being wound up.

The ATO has filed documents with the Federal Court to wind up Mr Tinkler's Hunter Sports Group, the Newcastle Knights and the Jets due to debts of $2.7 million.

The documents show the Knights have debts of $1.4 million, the Jets owe just over $1 million and HSG has debts of $184,000.

The two clubs and their parent company were given notice of the debts in September but failed to pay within the 21-day deadline.

A hearing has been set down for February 20.

In a video message to fans, Knights chief executive Matt Gidley says it is business as usual for the club.

"I've been advised that the outstanding payment to the ATO will be paid shortly and the issue will be resolved," he said.

"Our number one priority at the moment is to support our football team and not let this affect the great work our coaching staff and players are doing currently.

"For now, it's business as usual for us at the Knights."

Jets chief executive Robbie Middleby says the club remains focused on the current season.

"Our main concern at the Newcastle Jets at the moment is that the players and the staff over in Perth have got their mind on the jobs."

Football Federation Australia and the NRL says they have been assured the teams' operations will not be affected.

The news comes just weeks after another two of Mr Tinkler's companies were placed in liquidation and his private jet was seized.

The ATO has declined to comment further on the action.

An NRL spokesman says the league has been told the club's "issues" are under control.

The Jets are in Perth for tomorrow night's game with the Glory, and forward Adam Taggart says the news has not unsettled the team.

"It's something we can't really do anything about, so at the end of the day it doesn't really affect us," he said.

"We're going to go out there as a team and feeling the same as every week, so I don't think it really affects us too much to be honest."

Midfielder Ruben Zadkovich said a similar thing at a pre-match media conference in Perth.

"We don't know much about it. It's just business as usual for us, we're just focused on the football, and leave all the off-field stuff to them," he said.

Hunter Sports Group has issued a statement saying it was unaware of the ATO's action until being alerted by the media.

A spokeswoman says it is business as usual for both Newcastle clubs.

"We advise that any outstanding sum will be paid as soon as possible, well before the reported hearing date on the matter next February," the statement says.

Former Knights chairman Rob Tew, who brokered the deal to sell the club to Mr Tinkler, says it does not spell the end of the club.

"There's a course of action that's clearly identified within the sale of contract which includes accessing the bank guarantee and the club returning to a membership-owned entity."

The president of Jets supporter group the Squadron, Tim Verscheldon, says it is another hurdle for the club, which was on the brink of financial collapse when Mr Tinkler took over in 2010.

"I personally will never knock Nathan for what he's done for this town, this region, both sporting clubs," he said.

"He came in and saved us from the brink and put us on a new path, everything is just a stepping stone to something bigger."

Professor Ian Ramsey is the director of the Centre for Corporate Law and Securities Regulation at the University of Melbourne.

He says the matter may not get to court, if the debts are repaid before then.

"If this amount is disputed by the companies concerned, the critical job for the court is to work out what amount, if any, is owed," he told PM.

"But of course there is a major threat over the companies, which is that unless they pay this amount the court finds that it's owing, the court can wind up the companies.

"And effectively that means the appointment of a liquidator, a company's assets are sold, and that's the end of the company. That's the end of their businesses."

Tags: tax, a-league, nrl, newcastle-2300, nsw, australia, muswellbrook-2333

First posted December 13, 2012 11:51:25

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Rodallega ends goal drought to down Newcastle

Updated December 11, 2012 09:25:35

Hugo Rodallega fired Fulham to its first win in eight matches as the Colombian ended his goal drought to seal a 2-1 victory over Newcastle at Craven Cottage on Tuesday morning (AEDT).

Rodallega had failed to hit the back of the net since September, but the striker finally notched only his second goal since his preseason move from Wigan with a second-half header to kill off the Magpies.

It was sweet relief for both Rodallega and Fulham boss Martin Jol, whose struggling side had blown the first-half lead given to it by Steve Sidwell.

Although Hatem Ben Arfa equalised for Newcastle early in the second half, Alan Pardew's team was unable to avoid a fifth defeat in its last six Premier League matches.

Newcastle remains only four points above the relegation zone after a 14th successive away match without a win.

For Pardew, celebrating two years in charge of Newcastle, it was a miserable anniversary as Fulham took control on a freezing night on the banks of the River Thames.

Rodallega had the first sight of goal for the Cottagers with a bicycle kick, although his acrobatic effort failed to test Newcastle goalkeeper Tim Krul.

Newcastle's defence was far too open and the hosts were able to exploit those gaps to take the lead and end a five-hour goal drought in the 19th minute.

Damien Duff was the provider as he released Sidwell into the penalty area and the former Chelsea midfielder's strike looped past Krul via a deflection off Mike Williamson.

Dimitar Berbatov should have doubled Fulham's advantage moments later when he surged through on goal but, with just Krul to beat, the former Manchester United forward shot too close to the Newcastle goalkeeper.

Berbatov threatened again after Krul could only palm Sascha Riether's cross to the Bulgarian, but once more he was unable to convert the chance as the Newcastle keeper recovered to save.

Pardew's team had more menace about it in the second half and French forward Ben Arfa, back from four matches out with an injury, produced a moment of inspiration to equalise in the 54th minute.

Fulham's Socceroos goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer must have felt relatively comfortable when Ben Arfa took possession just outside the right edge of the penalty area.

But the Australian was left flat-footed as Ben Arfa rifled a fine strike into the roof of the net via a deflection off John Arne Riise.

Krul was quickly off his line to block when Sidwell went charging through soon after, yet Fulham did not have to wait long to take the lead.

In the 63rd minute, Duff whipped a teasing cross into the six-yard box, where Rodallega got in front of Fabricio Coloccini to head powerfully past Krul.

Desperate to make amends for that mistake, Coloccini went forward and smashed a shot against the bar from the edge of the area, but that was as close as the visitors came to an equaliser.

AFP

Tags: english-premier, soccer, sport, england

First posted December 11, 2012 09:18:58

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Evergreen McBreen in stunning form

Updated December 10, 2012 20:12:05

Daniel McBreen does not just head into an A-League match hoping he will find the back of the net, he believes it.

"Every time I go into a game now I just feel like I'm going to score a goal," the evergreen Central Coast striker said.

The 35-year-old's confidence is unsurprisingly high given he leads the league's goal-scoring charts with nine goals in 10 games.

His form has been vital in the Mariners' ascent to the top of the A-League ladder and McBreen believes he has benefited from being part of Graham Arnold's well-oiled machine.

"It helps with the team being so drilled and we keep our structure well and we all know our job and do it well," McBreen said.

"That helps me get into more scoring opportunities."

His double in Saturday's 2-0 win over Newcastle put him on the cusp of a new contract, with Arnold promising before the season to open talks on a new deal if his goal tally reached double figures.

McBreen hopes to accomplish that against Melbourne Heart in Gosford on Friday and believes he has got plenty to offer for another season and beyond.

"When I was a lot younger I used to always say I'd play 'til I was 35 and I'd be happy then," McBreen said.

"Obviously now I'm 35 I want to play till I'm 45 so I hope it keeps going the way it's going.

"I'm probably in the best shape of my career fitness-wise and getting older you tend to look after your body a little bit more.

"I've still got a few years left in me the way I'm feeling."

While McBreen insists both he and the Mariners are not getting carried away with their form, he admits the thought of going on to claim the league's golden boot award excites him.

However former North Queensland Fury teammate Jeremy Brockie, now with Wellington Phoenix, has other ideas.

"He's a couple behind me and he's been texting me all year saying he's catching me and catching me," McBreen said.

"There's a bit of banter there and as a striker it's something you'd like to achieve but you can't get ahead of yourself."

AAP

Tags: sport, soccer, a-league, gosford-2250, nsw, australia

First posted December 10, 2012 20:12:05

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