Saturday, February 22, 2014

DARREN FLETCHER TO SING NEW CONTRACT

Manchester United is planning to offer Darren
Fletcher a contract extension after the
midfielder returned to action following a
nightmare 18 months battling a chronic bowel
condition.
Club officials are hoping to sit down with the
30-year-old to discuss the option of a 12-
month rolling contract, with his current deal
set to expire at the end of the 2014-15
season.
Fletcher was diagnosed with a condition
known as ulcerative colitis in 2011 and his
appearances for the Old Trafford side were
limited throughout the following two seasons.
But the midfielder underwent successful
surgery in January 2013 and returned to
action as a second-half substitute against
Aston Villa in mid-December before going on
to feature in a further nine games under David
Moyes in all competitions.
Fletcher also earned a recall to the Scotland
squad for the upcoming friendly against
Poland on March 5 having not played for his
country since 2012.
United is pleased with Fletcher's recovery but
have been eager not to rush him back, with
Moyes of the belief that the Scot can continue
to contribute at the highest level in the
immediate future.
Fletcher currently earns around 60,000
pounds-a-week and the proposed new
contract, which would begin in 2015, would
see the midfielder pick up a similar figure

CHELSEA ARE ON FIRE

Premier League leaders Chelsea claimed a
priceless last-gasp win over Everton as an injury-
time goal from John Terry gave them a 1-0
victory.
In an entertaining encounter, which saw both
sides go close, a draw looked likely and
deserved for Roberto Martinez's side as Chelsea
looked set to drop points at Stamford Bridge for
only the third time this season.
However, two minutes into added time Frank
Lampard's free-kick was deflected into his own
net by Tim Howard after captain Terry got a
slight touch.
Everton had gone close themselves, with Petr
Cech saving well from Leon Osman in the first
half, and then the Czech was at full stretch to
deny the England midfielder on the hour.
Chelsea were also not without their chances and
Howard pulled of a fine double save, firstly
from Eden Hazard and then the rebound from
Branislav Ivanovic.
Both sides made changes looking for the win
with Fernando Torres and Andre Schurrle thrown
on by Jose Mourinho, while Martinez introduced
Ross Barkley and Aiden McGeady.
Another substitute Ramires - who came on at the
break for Oscar - almost won it when he flashed
a shot just wide in the 90th minute, but then
Chelsea did win it via Lampard's free-kick which
Terry claimed to get a touch to.
It was a timely intervention from the skipper,
who returned following a three-game absence
with a gluteal muscle problem.
Chelsea had won once in his absence, but they
now travel to Galatasaray for the UEFA
Champions League last-16 first leg with Didier
Drogba's side on Wednesday after a morale-
boosting victory.
Mourinho's unbeaten Premier League home
record extended to 74 games as luck was on
Chelsea's side.
With Romelu Lukaku prevented from facing his
parent club, Martinez had selected Lacina Traore
for his first Premier League start, only for the
giant Ivorian to withdraw after feeling his
hamstring in the warm-up - replaced by Steven
Naismith.
The visitors started well and would not allow
their hosts to settle, disrupting their rhythm
with Leon Osman, James McCarthy and Gareth
Barry breaking up play in midfield.
When Chelsea got beyond the Toffees trio, they
encountered another defensive wall in Sylvain
Distin and Phil Jagielka, who acrobatically
cleared a menacing Hazard cross.
When that rearguard was breached, Samuel Eto'o
wrong-footed Distin and shot left-footed, only
for Howard to save.
Kevin Mirallas miscued a shooting chance from
the edge of the area and Willian scuffed a shot
at Howard as the half closed with Everton the
better side.
Chelsea's playmakers struggled in the first half
and Oscar was sacrificed at half-time for
Ramires - but still Everton looked dangerous.
Osman's shot from the edge of the area clipped
Mirallas, and Cech scrambled the ball round the
post with a good save.
In an open game, Chelsea had three
opportunities in quick succession following a
corner.
First Hazard's shot was parried by Howard. Eto'o
tried to direct his headed follow-up across goal
and into the top corner, but served only to miss
the target completely and the goalkeeper then
denied Ivanovic.
Torres then replaced Willian and Eto'o pushed
wide right before later making way for Schurrle,
but still Chelsea were struggling to find the
incisive pass, while Everton were playing like
visitors, by having just scraps to feed off, unlike
in the first half when they were marginally on
top.
Chelsea continued to forge forward and Torres
blasted into Hazard and wide when the ball
would not quite sit for the Belgian and then the
Spain striker fired wildly wide.
Terry stood firm as Barkley ran at him in the
Chelsea penalty area and Ramires fired narrowly
wide at the other end.
Finally the deadlock was broken in added time
after Ramires and Jagielka collided and the
Chelsea man was awarded a free-kick. Lampard
whipped in the ball and Terry got the slightest of
touches as Howard failed to deal with it and saw
the ball deflect in off his arm.

WHAT A MASSIVE VICTORY FROM ARSENAL

Arsenal remain just a point behind leaders
Chelsea in the Premier League standings after
romping to a 4-1 win over Sunderland at the
Emirates.
The hosts were without Mesut Ozil due to a
bruised thigh but the German was not missed in
the slightest as the Gunners bounced back from
defeat to Bayern Munich and compounded
Sunderland's relegation problems.
The visitors began the day in the drop zone and
never looked like giving their survival hopes a
boost as Olivier Giroud (2) and Tomas Rosicky
swept Arsenal into a 3-0 half-time lead, Laurent
Koscielny adding the fourth after the break
before a late Sunderland consolation.
The Gunners took the lead in just the fifth
minute when Jack Wilshere surged into the box,
having initiated a delightful passing move, and,
although Sunderland's David Bardsley managed
to get a foot in, Giroud was on hand to calmly
stroke the loose ball into the net.
Santi Cazorla had an opportunity to double the
lead four minutes later but Vito Mannone got
down low to make the save.
Sunderland briefly threatened, Ki Sung-Yeung
powering forward before feeding Marcos Alonso,
whose low cross deflected off Koscielny and
almost wrong-footed Wojciech Szczeny in the
Arsenal goal.
But Arsenal were soon back on the front foot
and Mannone did well to tip Lukas Podolski's
well-struck long-range effort over the bar, Per
Mertesacker heading the subsequent corner over
the bar.
Rosicky tried his luck from 30 yards out and
Mannone was able to save easily but the hosts
then went 2-0 up after a terrible defensive
blunder.
Having received the ball in the right-back
position, Santiago Vergini turned and played a
careless pass in the direction of Mannone,
allowing Giroud (31) to nip in and sweep a first-
time shot through the goalkeeper's legs and into
the net.
And Sunderland conceded again just before the
break when Rosicky, Wilshere and Cazorla
produced some dazzling interplay on the edge of
the box before a neat touch from Giroud
allowed Rosicky (41) to dink the ball over
Mannone and score a sumptuous third.
Arsenal unveiled a statue of Dennis Bergkamp
outside the ground before the game and the
mood was unsurprisingly upbeat when the club
legend came onto the pitch to answer some
questions at half-time.
Meanwhile, Sunderland were forced to ring the
changes at the break after their limp first-half
display, Emanuele Giaccherini and Sebastian
Larsson coming on to replace Adam Johnson and
Jozy Altidore.
And they made a bright start to the second-half,
Fabio Borini drawing a decent save from
Sczcesny with a powerful shot from an
unpromising angle.
But their defence disappeared in the 57th
minute and Koscielny was left all alone in the
middle of the area to meet a Cazorla corner and
make it 4-0 with a straightforward downward
header.
With the points in the bag, Arsenal were able to
cruise through the final half-hour but there was
one moment of concern, Koscielny picking up a
knock and having to be replaced by Mathieu
Flamini.
Sunderland tried hard to give their travelling
fans something to cheer but Sczcesny remained
alert and kept out Ki's effort at his near post.
But the Black Cats got their reward nine minutes
from time when Sczcesny punched a free-kick
clear and, having taken a touch to control,
Giaccherini produced a superb finish, smashing
the ball low into the net from the edge of the
box.
Arsenal sub Serge Gnabry twice went close to
scoring their fifth but Mannone denied him on
both occasions.

ROONEY STRIKES IN UNITED WIN

Wayne Rooney celebrated his new deal with a
fine goal as Manchester United overcame a
spirited Crystal Palace side 2-0 at Selhurst Park.
All eyes were on the England striker a day after
he agreed a lucrative contract extension, but
Palace battled hard to keep United at bay and
Marouane Fellaini squandered the one clear-cut
chance of a cagey first half.
The breakthrough arrived just after the hour
mark when Patrice Evra was brought down by
Marouane Chamakh and Robin van Persie
stepped up to score from the penalty spot.
Rooney then showed expert technique to volley
wonderfully into the top corner from Evra's
left-wing cross on 68 minutes, as United sealed
a crucial victory in their bid to reel in the top
four.
Striker Glenn Murray made his first Palace start
in over nine months and almost had a dream
return but he could not turn home a deep cross
in the second minute as Chris Smalling applied
pressure at the back post.
The ever-lively Adnan Janujaz had the ball in the
back of the net on 17 minutes as he arrowed
home a Van Persie pass but the effort was
rightly struck off by referee Michael Oliver after
the teenager had controlled the ball with his
arm.
United were gradually starting to box Palace in
without really creating any clear-cut chances to
break the deadlock but it was Rooney who came
close to changing that.
The 28-year-old was held up taking a corner as
a Palace fan threw a coin in his direction but,
after the initial delivery found its way back to
his feet, Rooney clipped the ball towards goal
only to see Damien Delaney head off from under
his own crossbar, with Nemanja Vidic nodding
the follow-up over.
Moments later it was Palace who came close for
the first time as Jonathan Parr's header took a
deflection off Smalling and forced David De Gea
into his first save of the game.
Chamakh was the next to force De Gea into
action but the former Arsenal man could only
give the United goalkeeper a simple save after
heading Thomas Ince's cross into the ground.
Fellaini was then guilty of a poor miss, bending
a left-footed shot wide after originally linking
up well with Van Persie.
Rooney sent a free-kick wide in first-half
stoppage time but Moyes would have been left
frustrated once again at the interval as his side
showed a lack of cutting edge in the final third.
Palace started the second half with a string of
corners as they looked to make their visitors pay
for their lack of first-half spark.
A chance finally materialised for Ince but he
could only fire a difficult volley high over the
crossbar before Jason Puncheon shot straight at
De Gea moments later.
United were then given a simple way into a
largely undeserved lead as Chamakh was guilty
of a misjudged challenge on Evra just inside the
Palace box, with Oliver pointing to the spot and
Van Persie sending Speroni the wrong way from
the resulting penalty.
The goal seemed to rouse United from their
slumber as Rooney and Mata exchanged passes
before picking out Fellaini, whose low effort was
well held by Speroni.
De Gea was also called upon shortly afterwards
as Cameron Jerome, introduced moments before
in place of Murray, curled a great effort towards
goal which the Spaniard did well to push away.
United's second again came courtesy of Evra,
who skipped down the left flank before crossing
low to a free Rooney who drove a crashing shot
into the back of the net.
Palace seemed to lose their defensive rigidity
after conceding twice in six minutes and it
almost got worse as Janujaz rolled in Van Persie,
whose shot across Speroni came back off the
crossbar.
The Eagles fought to the last to grab a
consolation but slipped to just their second
home defeat since Tony Pulis was appointed in
November.

HATUMTAKI OZIL

MESUT Ozil, staa aliyesajiliwa kwa pesa nyingi
kwenye kikosi cha Arsenal, Jumatano iliyopita
alikosa penalti ya tatu wakati klabu yake
ilipomenyana na Bayern Munich katika mchezo
wa kwanza wa hatua ya mtoano ya Ligi ya
Mabingwa Ulaya uliochezwa uwanjani Emirates.
Kiungo huyo Mjerumani aliangushwa ndani ya
boksi na beki, Jerome Boateng, jambo
lililomfanya mwamuzi aamuru ipigwe penalti.
Lakini staa huyo aliyesajiliwa kwa Pauni 42.5
milioni, alipiga kizembe na  kuupeleka mpira
mikononi mwa kipa, Manuel Neuer,
aliyepangua mkwaju huo.
Neuer alikuwa rafiki wa Ozil walipokuwa shule,
inawezekana kipa huyo anamtambua vizuri
kuhusu upigaji penalti wake ukiweka kando
kwamba wawili hao wamo kwenye kikosi cha
timu ya taifa ya Ujerumani.
Mbovu wa penalti
Supastaa huyo aliyetua Arsenal mwaka jana
akitokea Real Madrid, si mchezaji makini
linapokuja suala la kupiga penalti.
Penalti ya Jumatano iliyopita ilikuwa ya tatu
kwake kukosa kwenye kikosi cha Arsenal katika
Ligi ya Mabingwa Ulaya. Alikosa pia wakati
timu hiyo ilipomenyana na Olympique
Marseille mwanzoni mwa msimu.
Kwenye kipindi cha miaka mitatu aliyodumu na
kikosi cha Real Madrid, Ozil hakuwahi kupewa
penalti apige. Mkwaju mwingine aliowahi
kuukosa ni ule wakati alipokuwa akiichezea
Werder Bremen kwenye mechi dhidi ya
Borussia Monchengladbach mwaka 2009.
Makali ya staa huyo yaliyoanza kwa kasi
mwanzoni mwa msimu,  yamepungua kiasi
kikubwa na hajafunga bao katika mechi 13
zilizopita. Katika mechi 15 ametengeneza nafasi
tatu tu za kufunga.
Mashabiki wamchoka
Ozil ameendelea kucheza kwa kiwango cha
chini dhidi ya klabu kubwa na Jumatano
iliyopita aliendelea kuboronga. Kukosa kwake
umakini ndani ya uwanja, kumeifanya timu
yake kuchapwa 2-0.
Baada ya matokeo hayo na kiwango chake
mchezoni, mtandao wa goal.com, uliibua
mjadala kama kiungo huyo anapaswa kuendelea
kupata namba kwenye kikosi cha kwanza cha
Arsenal au atupwe benchi.

BARCELONA 1-3 REAL SOCIEDAD

Barcelona lost ground in the La Liga title race
as they were shocked 3-1 by Real Sociedad on
Saturday evening.
An Alex Song own-goal 10 minutes from half-
time was quickly cancelled out by a Lionel
Messi goal that saw the Argentine surpass
Raul's tally for Real Madrid and become the
Spanish top flight's third top scorer in
history, but things took a turn for the worse
after the break for the Catalans.
Barca were undone by two strikes early in the
second half, Griezmann scoring in the 54th
minute after excellent work from Carlos Vela
and David Zurutuza adding a third five
minutes later.
Sociedad move up to fifth, while Barca, who
saw coach Gerardo Martino sent to the stands
at half-time, could drop to third if Atletico
Madrid avoid defeat against Osasuna on
Sunday.
It took 20 minutes for the first threatening
moment of the match to arrive as Barca
opened up La Real's defence through Andres
Iniesta and Pedro.
The duo exchanged a number of passes before
a chance opened up for Pedro, but he curled
his effort wide of goal without testing Claudio
Bravo.
Sociedad then made the breakthrough as
Gorka Elustondo forced an error from Song .
Sergio Canales delivered a pinpoint cross into
the penalty area where Elustondo, who had
got in front of the Cameroon international,
saw his header deflect off Song's chest and fly
past Victor Valdes.
Sociedad's lead only lasted four minutes as
Messi, anonymous in the opening half-hour,
levelled with a low drive from the edge of the
penalty area.
After flicking the ball out to Martin Montoya,
the Argentine met his return pass after Sergio
Busquets had let it run through his legs and
made no mistake with a clinical finish.
Both sides had chances to move ahead at the
start of the second half. but it was Sociedad
who got a second goal as Griezmann netted
his 15th of the season in the league.
Vela was released behind the Barca defence
and rolled the ball across the penalty area for
Griezmann, who fired first time beyond
Valdes.
Things soon got even better for the hosts as
they extended their advantage, with
Griezmann heavily involved again.
The Frenchman spotted the late run of
Zurutuza into the penalty area and the
midfielder flicked the ball past Valdes to leave
Barca with a mountain to climb.
Even the introduction of Cesc Fabregas and
Alexis Sanchez could not rouse Barca, who
were lucky not to concede a fourth goal as
Vela fired against the post in the final 10
minutes.

Friday, February 21, 2014

WAYNE SIGNS NEW CONTRACT AT MANCHESTER UNITED

You must be delighted to have signed a
new extended deal at Manchester United?
Yes I’m very happy to have signed a new long-
term contract with Manchester United. This is
one of the biggest clubs in the world and to
know that I will be playing here for the
majority of my career is something that I’m
looking forward to. I’m happy that everything
is now finalised and I can carry on
concentrating on my football.
This new contract will see you staying at
the club over 10 years, did you ever think
that when you first signed you would be
there so long?
I didn’t really know what was going to happen
and wasn’t something that I really thought
about at the time, I was just happy to have
joined a massive club like Manchester United.
The more I think about it 10 years is a long
time, but when you’re enjoying your football
at one of the biggest clubs in the world and
are comfortable there then that’s what
happens, we have seen this with the likes of
Paul Scholes, Gary Neville, Ryan Giggs and Rio
Ferdinand.
Some people will be surprised you signed a
new contract due to the possibility that the
club will not be in the Champions league
next season, was this a factor?
I know that’s what some of the press thought
but it’s not a massive concern for me. This is
because I know the direction that this club is
going in, and if we don’t make it this season
then we will come back stronger and claim a
Champions League spot next season. Let’s not
forget we still have a chance this year, some
of the other teams are playing well but we
have a strong squad here and if we have a
positive end to the season then who knows
what can happen.
You have signed for a further 5 and a half
years, does that mean you will stay at the
club for virtually your entire top-flight
career?
Yes, I’ve been here since I was 18 and this
contract will take me through to my thirties,
which is almost my entire professional career.
I’ve played most of my best football here and
am looking forward to hopefully playing even
better football in the next few years. I’ve had
a lot of special moments and hope there are
many more to come.
You are currently 4th on the all time
leading goal scoring record, this contract
gives you the chance to pass Sir Bobby
Charlton’s record of 249, was that
something that you focused on when
deciding to stay?
No it wasn’t a factor in my decision to stay,
but I do realize that this contract gives me the
opportunity to achieve it. This is definitely
something I would like to achieve and do think
about more, if I managed to do it it’d be
something I’d be very proud of. My aim is
always to score and create as many goals as
possible, so if I can continue to score
regularly and break the record then I would
be delighted.
Signing for Manchester United is a big
statement of intent from the club about
maintaining its status as one of world
footballs leading clubs, how do you see the
future for Manchester United?
The future is bright for Manchester United,
this is still one of the worlds leading clubs, we
have seen this with the signing of Juan Mata in
January. People have been saying that we may
have trouble attracting the world’s best
players but I think the fact Mata came here
shows this isn’t true. This is a new era for the
club, we have a new management team and a
great new manager in David Moyes, there has
to be some time for change. We have some
great players here and despite our recent form
everyone has stuck together and the team
spirit is still good, we will continue to work
hard and get Manchester United to the top
where it belongs.
Negotiations have obviously taken some
time to complete and there have been lots
of media speculation to what was going on,
how do you feel talks went?
Well if you believe everything you read in the
papers that’s because I have been demanding
to be captain and want an input into the
Club’s transfer policy (laughs) which is totally
laughable and of course untrue. The talks have
taken a while but that’s not unusual, it’s been
a difficult time for the club and there has
been a lot going on but the talks were positive
from the start. There was great belief in me
from David Moyes, Ed Woodward and the
board, and also the Glazers, this made my
decision a lot easier and I would like to thank
them for that. My teammates also played a big
part in my decision, I’d like to thank them for
their support and look forward to working
with them. Most importantly the fans have
always supported me since I joined the club,
through the good times and the bad times.
They continued this support whilst the talks
have been going on and I can’t thank them
enough.
Do you have any message for the fans?
I’d just like to thank them for all their support
since I joined the club and want to let them
know that I appreciate it, I’m very happy to
have signed a new contract and I’m looking
forward to sharing many more special
moments with them.

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Manuel Pellegrini slams referee after Manchester City lose to Barcelona in Champions League

Manuel Pellegrini faces a UEFA ban after
accusing referee Jonas Eriksson of deliberately
favouring Barcelona.
The angry Manchester City boss claimed
Eriksson awarded Barca a controversial penalty
in their 2-0 Champions League win at the
Etihad on Tuesday to make up for not awarding
the Spanish side two spot-kicks against Milan
two seasons ago.
Pellegrini said the Blues' Martin Demichelis’
challenge on Lionel Messi was outside the box
and he could not understand why Eriksson was
appointed to such a big game.
“There is more important football in Europe
than Sweden,” he fumed. “A big game with two
important teams, that kind of game needs a
referee with more experience.
“This referee whistled the Barcelona-Milan
game and he made an important error against
Barcelona. Today he rearranged it.”
Jose Mourinho had claimed pre-match that
Barca are weaker than they have been in years
and they struggled to create in the first half at
the Etihad against a City side that has been
described as the best on the planet.
But eight minutes after the break, Eriksson
dismissed Demichelis before Messi converted
the penalty in the game’s turning point.
Pellegrini said: “The referee decided the game.
Before the penalty, it was a foul on Navas
when he was three metres from the play so he
could see it.
“From the beginning I felt the ref was not
impartial to both teams. And after it was not a
penalty, it was outside the box, the contact is
outside the box.
“He did not have any control of the game. He
favoured Barcelona from the beginning to the
end. I think it was not a good idea to put a
referee from Sweden in charge and a referee
who made a mistake against Barcelona.”
Dani Alves added a second in the final minute
to deal a potentially fatal blow to City’s
Champions League hopes.
Pellegrini went with just Alvaro Negredo up
front and Aleksandar Kolarov on the left wing.
“I always set out to play in the way we played,
because it is important when you have two legs
against Barcelona not to concede a goal at
home,” he said. “That is why it was a very
close game, a very balanced game. Barcelona
did not have any chances until the penalty
against Demichelis.”
Barcelona boss Gerardo Martino insisted the
tie is not over, saying: “I am not taking
anything for granted. It is true we have done a
good game and we have to repeat this
performance.”

Mbeya City waanza mchakato wa ujenzi wa uwanja wao

TIMU ya Mbeya City ya Mbeya, ipo kwenye
mchakato wa ujenzi wa uwanja wao na
kushusha nchini kontena moja la jezi zao
kutoka nchini China.
Mbeya City iliyopanda daraja msimu huu, kama
ikifanikiwa kutimiza yote hayo basi
kimaendeleao itazizidi klabu kongwe za Simba
na Yanga ambazo hadi sasa hazina hata viwanja
vya maana vya mazoezi.
Akizungumza na Mwanaspoti, mwenyekiti wa
timu hiyo, Mussa Mapunda alisema kuwa tayari
wamenunua shamba la ekari 15 eneo la
Iwambi, Mbeya ambalo wamelitenga kwa ajili
ya kujenga uwanja mkubwa wa kisasa.
Alisema, tofauti na uwanja wamepanga kujenga
hosteli za kisasa watakazozitumia wachezaji wa
timu kubwa, pia kwa ajili ya timu zao za vijana
kuanzia umri chini ya miaka 14 hadi 20
watakaowatumia siku zijazo.
Pia watatenga eneo lingine kwenye uwanja huo
kwa ajili ya kituo cha michezo. Timu hiyo kwa
sasa inatumia Uwanja wa Sokoine unaomilikiwa
na CCM.
Akifafanua kuhusu kuingiza nchini kontena
moja la vifaa vya michezo kutoka China ambalo
litakuwa na jezi, suti za michezo, kofia, skafu,
bendera na soksi. Vitu hivyo vitauzwa nchini
kote pamoja na nchi za Malawi na Zambia.

Monday, February 17, 2014

RATIBA YA FA CUP ROBO FAINALI( Mechi zote zitapigwa tar8 machi)

18:00. Arsenal vs Everton
18:00. Brighton/Hull vs Sunderland
18:00. Manchester City vs Wigan Athletic
18:00. Sheffield United vs Sheffield Wednesday/Charlton.

Sunday, February 16, 2014

CAF Champions League first round draw:


Young Africans (TAN) v Al-Ahly (EGY, holders)
Berekum Chelsea (GHA) v Al-Ahly Benghazi
(LBA)
Gor Mahia (KEN) v Esperance (TUN)
Enyimba (NGR) v Real Bamako (MLI)
Astres Douala (CMR) v TP Mazembe (COD)
Barrack Young Controllers (LBR) v Sewe San
Pedro (CIV)
Dedebit (ETH) v CS Sfaxien (TUN)
Horoya (GUI) v Raja Casablanca (MAR)
Flambeau l'Est (BDI) v Coton Sport (CMR)
Entente Setif (ALG) v ASFA Yennenga (BUR)
Stade Malien (MLI) v Al-Hilal (SUD)
AC Leopards (CGO) v Primeiro Agosto (ANG)
Kaizer Chiefs (RSA) v Liga Muculmana (MOZ)
Dynamos (ZIM) v Vita (COD)
Zamalek (EGY) v Kabuscorp (ANG)
Nkana (ZAM) v KCCA (UGA)
First leg: Feb 28-Mar 2, second: Mar 7-9

Wayne Rooney is expected to sign a new five-and-a-half-year contract with Manchester United this week that will increase his wages to about £300,000 per week.

The 28-year-old England striker is close to
committing his future to the Old Trafford club
until June 2019, with an outline agreement
having been reached between club and player.
Rooney joined United from Everton in August
2004. His current deal runs until summer
2015 and is worth £250,000 a week.
The new deal would signal a turnaround in the
forward's future at Old Trafford after former
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson claimed that
Rooney had asked for a transfer towards the
end of last season - a claim the player denied.
He was linked with a move to Chelsea last
summer and the Blues had more than one bid
for the player rejected, as new boss David
Moyes insisted he wanted to keep his former
Everton charge at Old Trafford.
If he does commit to United, Rooney would
face the prospect of missing out on Champions
League football next season, with United
currently seventh in the Premier league and 11
points behind the final qualification place.
Rooney, who returned to first-team action at
the end of January after nearly a month out
with an injury, has made 28 club appearances
this season and scored 11 goals.

Arsenal 2-1 Liverpool: Oxlade-Chamberlain shines as Gunners hang on for quarterfinal

Arsenal held off a late surge from Liverpool to
book its place in the quarterfinals of the FA
Cup thanks to a 2-1 win at the Emirates
Stadium on Sunday.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain opened the scoring
after the hosts had weathered an early spell
of dominance from Liverpool, with the
England international collecting Yaya Sanogo's
blocked shot inside the box and firing it into
the back of the net.
The 20-year-old winger was influential in the
Gunners' second goal too, racing in behind
Daniel Agger just after the restart and cutting
the ball back to Lukas Podolski, who hit a
first-time effort beyond Brad Jones.
The German goalscorer quickly went from
hero to villan, though, as he clipped Luis
Suarez's ankles inside the penalty area.
Howard Webb pointed to the spot and skipper
Steven Gerrard buried the resulting spot kick,
though the Merseysiders could not find a
second goal to force a replay.

Jose Mourinho had no complaints about the outcome after seeing Chelsea dumped out of the FA Cup by Manchester City.

Less than a fortnight on from securing an
impressive 1-0 victory at the Etihad Stadium in
Premier League competition, Mourinho took his
side back to the North West on Saturday.
There was to be no repeat of those heroics,
though, as Chelsea succumbed to a 2-0 defeat.
The Blues offered little as an attacking threat
throughout the 90 minutes and Mourinho
concedes that the better side on the day were
able to book their place in the last eight.
He said: "City played much better than us and
deserved to win.
"Football is in peace when the best team wins.
Two weeks ago the best team won and today the
best team won.
"Give credit to my players because today proved
that to win twice against City and to win here is
very difficult to do. Credit for what my team did
two weeks ago. Today the situation was simple.
It's simple to analyse. They were the best team
and they won."
City's second saw David Silva waved through
when the flag could have gone up to square for
Samir Nasri to tap home, but Mourinho admits
that even if the effort had been chalked off, the
course of the tie would not have been altered.
He added: "Was the referee team very poor in
the second half? Yes. But even with a perfect
referee team would Chelsea win the game? No.
"The second goal was offside, but they would
have won 1-0 because we were never close to
scoring, or being dominant, or scaring City in
the game."
Chelsea will now focus their attention on the
pursuit of Premier League and UEFA Champions
League honours, with Mourinho refusing to read
too much into a cup setback.
He said: "We go game by game and we are what
we are.
"We always try to win the next game, it doesn't
matter the competition, so I don't think one or
two more games in the FA Cup would change
anything for us or anything for them with the
powerful squad they have.
"Today was also clear there was a different
freshness between the teams, one team played a
few days ago and another team played last week
and had one week without competitive football.
It was easy to see the difference."

Saturday, February 15, 2014

MATOKEO MECHI ZA JANA ZOTE (TAR 15/2/2014)


*English FA Cup
Sunderland 1-0 Southampton
Craig Gardner(49')
Cardiff City 1-2 Wigan Athletic
Chris McCann(18')
Fraizer Campbell(27')
Ben Watson(40')
Manchester City 2-0 Chelsea
Stevan Jovetic(16')
Samir Nasri(67')
*Spanish Primera División
Atletico Madrid 3-0 Real Valladolid
Raúl García(3')
Diego Costa(4')
Diego Godín(74')
Levante 1-0 Almeria
David Barral(62')
Barcelona 6-0 Rayo Vallecano
Adriano(2')
Lionel Messi(36')
Alexis Sánchez(53')
Pedro(56')
Lionel Messi(68')
Neymar(89')
Villarreal 0-2 Celta Vigo
Fabián Orellana(83')
Nolito(90')
*Italian Serie A
Fiorentina 1-2 Internazionale
Rodrigo Palacio(34')
Juan Guillermo Cuadrado(46')
Mauro Icardi(65')
*German Bundesliga
Bayern Munich 4-0 SC Freiburg
Dante(19')
Xherdan Shaqiri(34')
Xherdan Shaqiri(42')
Claudio Pizarro(88')
Borussia Dortmund 4-0 Eintracht Frankfurt
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang(10')
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang(20')
Robert Lewandowski(47') (Pen)
Milos Jojic(68')
TSG Hoffenheim 4-1 VfB Stuttgart
Sven Schipplock(12')
Kevin Volland(49')
Sven Schipplock(66')
Antonio Rüdiger(78')
Roberto Firmino(90') (Pen)
TSV Eintracht Braunschweig 4-2 Hamburg SV
Pierre-Michel Lasogga(23')
Dominick Kumbela(51')
Dominick Kumbela(61')
Ivo Ilicevic(76')
Dominick Kumbela(85')
Jan Hochscheidt(90')
Werder Bremen 1-1 Borussia Monchengladbach
Raffael Araújo(6')
Ludovic Obraniak(88')
Bayer Leverkusen 1-2 Schalke 04
Leon Goretzka(28')
Felipe Santana(66') (Own Goal)
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar(74')
*French Ligue 1
Bastia 0-2 AS Monaco
James Rodriguez(45')
James Rodriguez(76')
Lorient 1-3 Toulouse
Wesley Lautoa(41')
Ben Yedder(59')
Christopher Aurier(73')
Martin Braithwaite(80')
Nice 0-0 Nantes
Sochaux 1-0 Guingamp
Stophira Sunzu(84')
Stade de Reims 1-0 Bordeaux
Nicolas de Roussel de Preville(64')
Stade Rennes 2-2 Montpellier
Ola Toivonen(10')
Daniel Congre(54')
Ola Toivonen(65')
Souleymane Camara(90')

SABABU ZA MKE WA ROONEY KUMTAKA MUMEWE AENDELEE KUICHEZEA MANCHESTER UNITED NI HIZI HAPA

MREMBO Coleen Rooney anasubiri kwa hamu
kubwa mazungumzo ya mkataba mpya wa
mumewe, Wayne Rooney wa kuendelea kubaki
klabu Manchester United. Taarifa zinabainisha
kwamba mchezaji huyo anaandaliwa mshahara
wa pauni 300,000 kwa wiki.
Mrembo huyo anadaiwa kumtaka mumewe
asaini mkataba mwingine wa miaka mitano wa
kubaki Manchester ili kuwasubiri watoto wao;
Kai, 4, na Klay mwenye umri wa miezi minane
kuwa na umri mkubwa kabla ya kuhama.
Mkataba ambao Manchester United inataka
kumpa Rooney una thamani ya pauni 65
milioni na utamfanya straika huyo kuwa
mchezaji anayelipwa pesa nyingi zaidi England.
Kwa sasa analipwa kiwango sawa na mchezaji
mwenzake wa Manchester United, straika wa
Kidachi, Robin van Persie, pauni 250,000 kwa
wiki.
Rafiki wa mrembo Coleen, 27, anasema: “Kitu
kikubwa Coleen hataki wahame kutoka
Kaskazini Magharibi na jambo hilo ni muhimu
sana kwa Wayne. Hataki kuondoka eneo hilo na
kutokana na kupokea ofa nzuri ya pesa nyingi
anaamini hilo ni jambo muhimu akabaki klabu
hapo.”
Manchester United imeipiga marufuku Chelsea
kwamba isithubutu kumfuatilia straika wao
huyo kwa sababu hawawezi kumuuza kwa
wapinzani. Real Madrid pia inafukuzia saini ya
staa huyo wa Old Trafford.
Lakini, Coleen hayupo tayari kuona watoto
wake wakihamia London wangali wadogo hivyo,
ukiweka kando Hispania. Anachotaka yeye
waendelee kubaki Manchester hadi hapo
baadaye.
Familia hiyo inaishi Prestbury, Cheshire, na
wazazi wa Coleen, Colette na Tony wanaishi
umbali wa maili 50 huko Formby, Merseyside,
karibu na familia ya akina Rooney.
Coleen amesema Rooney, ambaye alijiunga na
Manchester United akitokea Everton mwaka
2004, atapata shida sana kutulia kama atacheza
bila ya sapoti ya familia zao.
Lakini, kuna mtazamo tofauti wakati kocha
David Moyes akihaha na kuafiki mshahara wa
pauni 300,000 kwa Rooney, wachambuzi wa
soka wanadhani Manchester United inapaswa
kulichukulia kwa hadhari suala la mchezaji
huyo.
Staa huyo tayari anaonekana kuiringia
Manchester United kwa kuweka kando suala la
kusaini mkataba mpya akisubiri hatima ya
klabu mwishoni mwa msimu kama itakuwa
ndani ya nne bora na kama klabu hiyo itafanya
usajili wa mastaa wapya.

SUPER SUB: Mabao 132 yamefungwa Ligi Kuu England na nyota walioanzia benchi

YANAPOTAJWA majina yao; David Fairclough,
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Tore Andre Flo na hawa
wa siku za hivi karibuni akina Edin Dzeko na
Javier Hernandez, kitu cha kwanza kinachokuja
akilini ni kwamba hao ni wakali wa kubadili
matokeo ya mchezo wa soka wanaoanzia
kwenye benchi.
Kwenye mchezo wa soka kuna lugha yake
inayowatambulisha watu hawa ‘Super Sub’.
Wachezaji wanaoanzishwa benchi kwenye
mechi kadhaa na kisha kila wanapoingizwa
husababisha matokeo ya mchezo kubadilika
kwa maana ya kufunga mabao au kutengeneza
mabao hayo, nyota hawa hutambulika kwa jina
la ‘Super Sub’.
Kwenye Ligi Kuu England, klabu za Manchester
City, Swansea na West Bromwich Albion,
zimewatumia sana wachezaji hao na kuvuna
mabao 12 ambayo yamewasaidia katika kupata
matokeo bora kwenye mechi zao.
Lakini, katika mikikimikiki ya ligi hiyo, kuna
timu ambayo imechemsha na kushindwa kupata
hata bao moja licha ya kufanya mabadiliko
mengi zaidi ya wachezaji kuliko klabu nyingine
zote kwenye Ligi Kuu England.
Norwich City ambayo kocha wake, Chris
Hughton, amebadilisha wachezaji mara 63,
lakini hakuna hata mmoja kati ya nyota wake
walioanzia benchi aliyeweza kufunga mabao au
kusababisha bao kufungwa.
Hadi kufikia sasa kwenye msimu huu, kwenye
matokeo ambayo timu yake imefungwa,
Hughton alifanya mabadiliko 63 ya wachezaji
akiwa na imani ya kubadili matokeo, lakini
hakufanikiwa.
Wachezaji walioanzishwa benchi na kisha
kuingizwa uwanjani ili wakabadili matokeo,
lakini wakashindwa kufanya hivyo ni pamoja na
Robert Snodgrass, Wes Hoolahan, Johan
Elmander, Jonny Howson, Anthony Pilkington,
Alexander Tettey, Ryan Bennett, Gary Hooper,
Nathan Redmond, Josh Murphy, Steven
Whittaker, Ricky van Wolfswinkel, Luciano
Becchio na Leroy Fer.
Kwenye Ligi Kuu England wakati kwa sasa
upinzani zaidi ukiwa umeongezeka kwenye
nafasi nne za juu, katikati na mkiani, kuna timu
zimefaidika na wachezaji wanaoanzia benchi
kutokana na kusababisha matokeo mazuri kila
wanapoingizwa.
Kwenye Top Four
Manchester City inashika nafasi ya tatu kwenye
msimamo wa Ligi Kuu England na pointi zake
54, tatu nyuma ya vinara Chelsea. Lakini kikosi
hicho kinachonolewa na Manuel Pellegrini,
kimevuna mabao mengi zaidi yaliyotokana na
wachezaji wake walioanzia benchi.

MAURINHO AIPA NAFASI LIVERPOOL KUTWAA UBINGWA

SIO sisi tu wala Arsenal au Manchester City,
lakini hata Liverpool wana nafasi kubwa ya
kuchukua ubingwa wa Ligi Kuu England msimu
huu. Hiyo ni kauli ya kocha wa Chelsea, Jose
Mourinho, akipima joto la ligi hiyo maarufu
duniani.
Ushindi wa mabao 3-2 wa Liverpool dhidi ya
Fulham wa Jumatano usiku, unaiacha klabu
hiyo ya Merseyside kuwa pointi nne tu nyuma
ya vinara Chelsea huku zikiwa zimesalia mechi
12 kabla ya ligi hiyo kumalizika.
Wakati Chelsea, Arsenal na Manchester City
zikiwa zinakabiliwa na mechi za Ligi ya
Mabingwa Ulaya pia, Liverpool imebakiwa na
michuano ya Kombe la FA tu na ukweli huo
unamfanya Mourinho aamini kuwa hii ni faida
kubwa kwa Liverpool.
“Wakati ninaposema sisi sio watarajiwa
wakubwa wa ubingwa, kila mtu hapa anaanza
kusema kuwa nimeanza tabia yangu ya
kuchezeana akili. Lakini hizo ni hisia zangu tu.
Ligi hii inashangaza sana. Ni ngumu kwa kila
mmoja wetu,” alisema Mourinho.
“Kuna ambazo zina nafasi kubwa kuliko
nyingine. Kwa mfano, kuna Liverpool ambayo
ina nafasi kubwa kwa sababu haichezi katika
Ligi ya Mabingwa. Kucheza katika Ligi ya
Mabingwa kunatumia nguvu nyingi na umakini
kwa timu zilizopo.
“Nadhani itachekesha sana. Tulipoteza pointi
mbili na kupata moja dhidi ya West Brom na
nadhani itakuwa kama hivi mpaka mwishoni
mwa msimu. Kila timu inahitaji pointi kwa
sababu mbalimbali. Wengine ili wasishuke
daraja, wengine kwa ajili ya kucheza Ligi ya
Mabingwa, kwa hiyo pointi zitakuwa ngumu.”
Katika mechi mbili zilizopita, Chelsea
imeambulia pointi nne, wakati Manchester City
na Arsenal zote zimeambulia pointi moja kila
moja na hivyo kufanya mpambano wa timu za
juu kuwa mkali.
Kiungo ambaye pia ni nahodha wa Liverpool,
Steven Gerrard, alikiri kwamba wao wamekuwa
wakiufukuzia ubingwa kimya kimya ingawa ni
mapema kusema lolote kuhusu taji hilo.
“Sisi tunaendelea kucheza na kujaribu kushinda
mechi nyingi kadiri tuwezavyo. Tuna faida kwa
sababu hatuchezi michuano ya Ulaya, tuna Ligi
tu na michuano ya FA ndio ambayo
tunaizingatia kwa umakini,” alisema Gerrard
ambaye penalti yake ya dakika za majeruhi
iliipatia Liverpool ushindi muhimu.

FA Cup Preview: Arsenal - Liverpool

Arsenal will be out to avenge last weekend's
5-1 hammering at Anfield when it hosts
Liverpool in the FA Cup fifth round on
Sunday.
Arsene Wenger's side was blown away in the
first half when the two sides last met, with the
Reds racing into a 4-0 lead inside 20 minutes
thanks to two goals from Martin Skrtel and
one each from Raheem Sterling and Daniel
Sturridge.
Sterling added a fifth after the break before
Mikel Arteta's late consolation penalty, which
could not hide what had been an
embarrassing afternoon for Arsenal. The
Gunners were knocked off the top of the
Premier League later that day courtesy of
Chelsea's 3-0 win over Newcastle United.
Both sides have since been in action during
midweek. Arsenal played out a turgid goalless
draw at home to Manchester United, while
Liverpool needed a last-gasp Steven Gerrard
penalty to overcome bottom-side Fulham 3-2
at Craven Cottage.
The clubs remain in contention for the
Premier League title, with Arsenal a point
behind leaders Chelsea and Liverpool three
further back in fourth spot, but their
attentions will switch to the FA Cup this
weekend.
Arsenal overcame north London rival
Tottenham 2-0 in the third round, before
beating League One outfit Coventry City 4-0 to
seal a place in round five.
Liverpool, meanwhile, has faced lower-league
opposition in both of its previous outings,
recording 2-0 wins over both Oldham Athletic
and Bournemouth.
Wenger will welcome back midfielder Mathieu
Flamini for the tie, the Frenchman having
served his three-match suspension for the red
card he picked up in the 2-2 draw at
Southampton, although Aaron Ramsey remains
out and Santi Cazorla is a doubt due to
illness.
Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers, however,
revealed that his squad was likely to be
similar to the one that travelled to Fulham,
though he is unsure whether fullback Glen
Johnson will be fit in time.
"He's working very well," he said. "I'm not
sure he'll be ready for the game this weekend
but if we can have a good week next week
he'll be very close.
"He looks fresher and fitter. That period that
he's had out has really helped him. He's in
good condition but there's still a bit to go
yet."

THE BLUES CALL IT A DAY TO FA

Manchester City booked a place in the quarter-
finals of the FA Cup with a 2-0 victory over
Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium.
Stevan Jovetic and Samir Nasri got the goals for
last season's beaten finalists, who will be hoping
to go one better in 2014 as part of an historic
quadruple.
A flowing move which started on City's left flank
delivered the opening goal of the game on 16
minutes, with Edin Dzeko threading the final
pass through for Jovetic to drill across Petr Cech
and in off the base of the post.
City doubled their advantage on 67 minutes,
with David Silva beating the offside trap to
square for Nasri, who had only been on the field
for six minutes, to tap into an empty net.

Former Preston and England winger Sir Tom Finney has died at the age of 91.

Finney made more than 400 league
appearances for Preston North End between
1946 and 1960 and won 76 caps for England.
He scored 30 goals for England, placing him
joint sixth on the all-time list with Alan
Shearer and Nat Lofthouse.
A Preston statement said: "Sir Tom was the
greatest player to ever play for Preston North
End and one of the all time greats for
England."
Preston are due to play Leyton Orient in
League One on Saturday at Deepdale.
The statement added: "Preston North End have
been informed of the extremely sad news of
the passing of Sir Tom Finney.
"The thoughts of everyone at the club, and
those connected with it, are with his family at
this time."
The Football Association tweeted: "The FA is
saddened to hear of the passing of Sir Tom
Finney, one of England's all-time greatest
players."
Manchester United manager David Moyes
knew Finney well during his time playing for,
and then managing Preston between 1993 and
2002, owning a framed picture of the former
England international at his home.
Speaking before Finney's death, Moyes said:
"Sir Tom was a great help in the early stages
of my management career.
"He had an incredible passion for the game
and someone I have great admiration for.
There is no doubt he is one of the greatest
players but to me he is also a great man."
BBC chief football correspondent Mike Ingham
told BBC Radio 5 live: "He was a slight figure
but incredibly brave. Former Preston team-
mate and Liverpool manager Bill Shankly
considered him to be the greatest player to
ever play the game.
"That's all you need to know."
Born in Preston, in the street next to the
club's Deepdale stadium, Finney was
nicknamed the Preston Plumber after
completing an apprenticeship with his family's
plumbing business.
He was linked with a move to Italian side
Palermo in 1952, but Preston chairman Nat
Buck quashed the deal, saying: "If tha' doesn't
play for us, tha' doesn't play for anybody."
He twice won the footballer of the year title,
in 1953-54 and 1956-57, and was twice a
runner-up in the league with North End, as
well as playing in the 1954 FA Cup final defeat
to West Brom.
In all, he scored 187 league goals for the club
but in 1961, a year after he retired, they were
relegated from the top flight and have not
returned since.
Finney maintained his links with Preston,
serving as the club's president. The stadium is
located on Sir Tom Finney Way, a statue stands
outside the ground, while inside, a stand was
renamed in his honour in 1995.
He was knighted in 1998.
Internationally, he played in the infamous 1-0
defeat by the United States at the 1950 World
Cup and went on to represent England at both
the 1954 and 1958 tournaments.
Former England and Blackpool defender
Jimmy Armfield told BBC Sport he was a
"great footballer and a great man. A fantastic
player. He had the ability to play right across
the forward line - left wing or right wing -
centre forward as well."
Fellow England legend Sir Stanley Matthews,
who died in 2000, once said of Finney: "To
dictate the pace and course of a game, a
player has to be blessed with awesome
qualities.
"Those who have accomplished it on a regular
basis can be counted on the fingers of one
hand - Pele, Maradona, Best, Di Stefano, and
Tom Finney."
Speaking in 2012, England's record goalscorer
Sir Bobby Charlton called Finney's
contribution to football "immeasurable".
Charlton told BBC Sport: "I used to look at
him and think, this is fantastic.
"Watching him, you knew full well that the
full-backs had had it. He was just too good for
them. Occasionally I had the pleasure to play
with him and it was the greatest pleasure
anyone could ever give me.
"He passed to me on my England debut and I
had never been so proud.
"I have so many happy memories of watching
him play. His contribution to football is
immeasurable."
Football League chairman Greg Clarke paid
tribute to Finney, saying: "He was quite
possibly the finest player to have ever played
in the Football League and was a true
gentleman.
"He was also the epitome of the one-club man
with few people ever having contributed as
much to a single team, their city or our
competition."

YANGA HATUA YAPILI ILEEEEEEEE...!!!

Wawakilishi wa Tanzania kwenye mashindano ya
Klabu Bingwa Barani Afrika timu ya Young
Africans leo imeweza kufuzu raundi ya pili ya
mashindano hayo kufuatia kuibuka na ushindi
wa mabao 5-2 dhidi ya wenyeji timu ya
Komorozine de Domoni katika mchezo
uliofanyika jioni ya leo katika dimba la Uwanja
wa Sheikh Said Ibrahim Mitsamihuli Comoro.

SIMBA NA MBEYA CITY HAKUNA MBABE

Bado mbeya city imeendelea kuwa ngumu kwa mnyama simba baada yakuwalazimisha wakongwe hawa kwenda nao suluhu ya goli 1-1.

Messi dismisses Cappa claims

The former Blaugrana assistant coach argued
the forward had "lost his passion for football"
but the Argentina international insists the
comments were without foundation.

Barcelona star Lionel Messi has hit back at
Angel Cappa's claims that he has fallen out of
love with the game.
The 67-year-old Argentine, who worked under
former Blaugrana boss Cesar Luis Menotti at
Camp Nou in the 1980s, suggested earlier this
month that his compatriot had "lost his
passion for football" after becoming bored of
his "15-year marriage" to the sport.
However, Messi, who only recently recovered
from a hamstring injury, insists he remains
"dedicated" to playing.
"I don't give any importance to Cappa's
comments. I don't know why he said that. I'm
thinking about getting back to my level," the
four-time Ballon d'Or winner told Radio La
Red. "I'm dedicated to playing. When I wasn't
scoring, I was happy with my performance. I
know what I give to, and how I feel about,
football.
"I took the injury calmly. It took a long time
to be ready, but now I'm not rushing things.
As matches go by, I'm feeling better. It's how
we planned."
Messi went on to praise coach Gerardo
Martino for the way he has grown
accustomed to life at the helm of the
Blaugrana.
"He's gradually learning the club, the media,
the fans, everything. Beyond what he knows
as a coach, Tata is a very intelligent person,
and he knows how to handle all this," he said.
It had been suggested Martino could
experiment with the Barca set up by
deploying Messi in a deeper or wider role in
attack, but the 26-year-old himself says his
position remains more or less the same as it
has been since former boss Pep Guardiola
first moved him to the center of the forward
line.
"I heard in various places it had been said I
would be playing further behind or in a
different position," Messi stated. "We keep
playing without a No.9, we still use a 'false
nine' as we used in Guardiola's era. The
position remains the same."

Sunderland 1-0 Southampton: Gardner thunderbolt blasts Black Cats into last eight The former Birmingham City midfielder provided the game's only moment of real quality when he crashed a thunderous shot beyond Kelvin Davis four minutes after the break

Craig Gardner's long-range screamer sent
Sunderland into the quarter-finals of the FA
Cup after a hard-fought victory over
Southampton at the Stadium of Light.
Gus Poyet's side continued their excellent
form in cup competitions as they reached the
last eight, but only after Rickie Lambert
somehow contrived to clear the crossbar
from two yards in the closing stages.
Gardner's stunning strike five minutes after
the break proved decisive, the midfielder
turning away from Victor Wanyama before
firing home from outside the penalty area.
Sunderland had several chances to make it
more comfortable but none as good as the
one presented to England man Lambert,
whose miss let the hosts off the hook.
Poyet, whose men remain embroiled in
relegation trouble, promised to ring the
changes ahead of a busy schedule for his side
and he duly obliged, making nine alterations
as forward Ignacio Scocco was handed his
debut.
Mauricio Pochettino has no such problems,
with his charges eighth in the table, but he
made six changes as both sides struggled to
find their rhythm in a frenetic opening.
The visitors had the first opportunity, Adam
Lallana finding Lambert with a cross before
the striker nodded down for James Ward-
Prowse, whose effort was well saved by Oscar
Ustari.
Poyet was angered by the officials' decision
not to award a penalty when Fabio Borini
went down under the challenge of defender
Luke Shaw after 12 minutes.
Emanuele Giaccherini then squandered a
promising opportunity when he failed to get a
shot away after dribbling his way into the
Southampton area.
Lambert was denied an excellent chance to
put his side ahead eight minutes before the
break when Santiago Vergini executed a well-
timed tackle in the box.
Gardner sparked the game into life with 50
minutes gone, putting his side ahead with a
long-range strike that crashed in off the
underside of Kelvin Davis' bar.
It was Gardner's third goal of the season and
the visitors struggled to mount a response,
with Pochettino opting to introduce Jay
Rodriguez and Morgan Schneiderlin just after
the hour mark.
Connor Wickham should have made it two 17
minutes from time but he failed to connect
with a pass when through on goal, while
Lallana could only put Nathaniel Clyne's cross
wide from close range.
Pochettino must have realised it was not to be
Southampton's day when Lambert spooned
Clyne's low cross over the bar with the goal at
his mercy as Sunderland sent the visitors
crashing out of a second cup competition this
season following their 2-1 Capital One Cup
win in November.

Friday, February 14, 2014

FA Cup Preview: Manchester City - Chelsea Manuel Pellegrini's men were beaten 1-0 by the Blues when they met at the Etihad Stadium on February 3 but come into their FA Cup rematch fresh after a midweek postponement.

Premier League title rivals Manchester City
and Chelsea will resume hostilities in the FA
Cup fifth round on Saturday.
The game marks the second meeting between
the two sides at the Etihad Stadium in the
space of 12 days, with the Blues having come
out on top in the previous clash. Fullback
Branislav Ivanovic scored the winner on Feb.
3 as City's 20-match unbeaten run across all
competitions came to an abrupt halt in a 1-0
win for Jose Mourinho's men.
As well as holding home advantage, however,
City heads into Saturday's encounter fresher
than its opponent after the Premier League
clash with Sunderland was postponed on
Wednesday due to adverse weather conditions.
However, the game denied City the
opportunity to return to winning ways after
Manuel Pellegrini's normally free-scoring
outfit drew blanks in the last two fixtures -
the loss to Chelsea followed by a 0-0 draw at
Norwich City.
Sergio Aguero (hamstring), midfielder
Fernandinho (groin) and center back Matija
Nastasic (knee) are all set to miss out.
Meanwhile, midfield pair Samir Nasri and Javi
Garcia have recently returned to training
following knee injuries but their involvement
looks doubtful.
Chelsea had been riding the crest of a wave as
the club followed its win at City with a 3-0
home triumph over Newcastle. Mourinho's
side suffered a slight setback on Tuesday,
however, when it was held to 1-1 draw at
West Brom, with Victor Anichebe canceling
out Ivanovic's opener.
The Blues remain at the top of the Premier
League table, though City now has a game in
hand and a far superior goal difference.
Chelsea has enjoyed a period of success in the
world's oldest cup competition in recent
times, lifting the trophy on four of the last
seven occasions with the last triumph coming
in 2012 thanks to a 2-1 win over Liverpool in
the final.
Captain John Terry could come back into
contention for Mourinho following a muscular
issue, while Gary Cahill is struggling with a
calf problem.

FA Cup Preview: Sunderland - Southampton Gus Poyet intends to give the likes of Emmanuele Giaccherini and Ignacio Scocco an opportunity on Saturday despite the extra rest afforded by a midweek postponement.

Sunderland manager Gus Poyet says that he
will rest a number of key players for
Saturday's FA Cup fifth-round clash with
Southampton.
The Black Cats' Premier League trip to
Manchester City on Wednesday was postponed
due to inclement weather, allowing Poyet's
star men an extra break ahead of the last-16
tie but, despite the unexpected rest, the
Uruguayan intends to stick to his original plan
and make several changes.
"I was looking forward to giving a few players
opportunities and that will not change," he
told The Sunderland Echo. "We have a few
players who need to play and deserve to play
but, for different reasons, they haven't been
able to.
"I'm talking about players like [Emanuele]
Giaccherini and [Ignacio] Scocco. They both
need minutes so we're going to use that game
for this but it will all be first-team players.
We will not be taking the game lightly. I hope
that we win it so we don't have to have a
replay."
Sunderland, which will be without the
suspended Wes Brown, has had a relatively
straightforward run to the fifth round, with
home victories over Carlisle United and
Kidderminster Harriers to date, and the team
has enjoyed even greater success in the
Capital One Cup, with Poyet's men due to take
on Manchester City in the final at Wembley on
March 2.
The Wearsiders remain in trouble in the
league, however, sitting 18th, albeit with a
game in hand over most of their rivals.
Southampton, on the other hand, is enjoying
a fine season and sits eighth in the Premier
League table. Mauricio Pochettino's men come
into the game on the back of an eight-match
unbeaten run in all competitions, including
wins over Championship outfits Burnley and
Yeovil Town in the third and fourth rounds of
the FA Cup.
The two sides met in the league in January,
with Sunderland coming from two goals down
to claim a 2-2 draw, and the Saints' assistant
manager, Jesus Perez, says that his side has
learned its lesson as the club looks to reach
the last eight of the competition for the first
time in nine years.
"We know Sunderland very well," he told
reporters. "This will be the fourth time we've
met them [since Pochettino took charge] but,
when you are playing a lot of competitions,
that's always a possibility.
"We are ready to face them. We have learned
from every game against them. We review and
analyze every game to determine how we have
to improve in case we have to repeat
situations."

Tom Marshall: Mixed feedback from Herrera’s Euro trip

Mexico coach Miguel Herrera and his
entourage headed back from their European
tour in the early hours of Thursday morning
and probably have mixed emotions at how it
went, despite the positive statements made on
arrival.
Naturally, the negative from Carlos Vela was a
stain on the trip and Javier Hernandez’s
situation and lack of playing time at
Manchester United is disconcerting, as
Herrera conceded.
“We asked him (Chicharito) and obviously he’s
frustrated at sometimes coming on, giving
everything and scoring or getting his team
goals and then not seeing minutes,” Herrera
told reporters in Mexico City’s main airport.
“He had possibilities to leave (Manchester
United in January), he told us, but they didn’t
let him.”
But the positive is that the Europe-based
players, aside from Vela, are all onboard and
willing to fight for their places in El Tri’s
squad ahead of Brazil 2014, although that, as
Herrera has assured, doesn’t mean to say it
will be easy or they have a guaranteed place.
Hernandez, for instance, needs to get more
regular minutes from somewhere to arrive at
the World Cup in rhythm and with Manchester
United only now involved in the Champions
League and Premier League and Robin Van
Persie and Wayne Rooney back fit, it looks
unlikely.
In Portugal, Diego Reyes is an ongoing
concern. The fact he is yet to debut can’t be
doing the player’s confidence much good and
while Herrera is likely to give his former
America player more chances, there remains
doubts about the 21-year-old’s World Cup
place, especially if other center backs in
Mexico start to find some form.
His teammate Hector Herrera’s chances of
more playing time improved significantly
when Lucho Gonzalez left Porto last month
and he could well be a starter in Brazil if he
can pick up some form and start impacting
games in Portugal.
Over in Germany, Andres Guardado’s debut
for Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday was tepid
at best, but the good news is he got playing
time and the fact he featured at left back
could be important for Herrera as he defines
who should play the left wing back role.
In France, Guillermo Ochoa continues to be
steady, even in a weak Ajaccio side fighting
for survival in Ligue 1.
Ochoa’s predisposition would’ve pleased
Herrera. There were rumors that the ‘keeper
had demanded a starting spot in Jose Manuel
de la Torre’s side last August, but it is clear
he wants to be with the squad at Brazil.
Spain-based trio Javier Aquino, Giovani Dos
Santos and Hector Moreno appear the most
consistent and set of all Mexico’s foreign
legion and are on course for that World Cup
call-up if they keep up their current form.
Meanwhile, the federation has been busy
nailing down the friendly schedule before the
World Cup, with a tie in Phoenix on April 2
against the United States the highlight.
The games are still to be confirmed shortly,
but director of national Hector Gonzalez
Inarritu teams told media in Mexico City that
friendlies against Turkey (May 28, Mexico
City), Ecuador (May 31, Dallas), Bosnia (June
3, Chichago) and Portugal (June 6, Boston) are
all likely.