Category: World Soccer

Raith Rovers 0 Greenock Morton 1 – Duffy’s side ensure they go into …

Raith Rovers 0 Greenock Morton 1 – Duffy’s side ensure they go into Rangers cup tie with wind in their sails THIS rearranged fixture may have been something of an inconvenience ahead of the more appealing Scottish Cup tie with Rangers this weekend, but Morton dealt with it in a professional fashion as they ensured they will head to Ibrox buoyed by a victory. Lee Kilday played a captain’s role in securing the three points that sees the Greenock outfit leapfrog back over Falkirk into third in the table.

Defeat But Plenty Of Positives For Swansea City

Swansea City suffered an agonising defeat at Manchester City this afternoon but there was still plenty of promising signs and reason for optimism for Paul Clement and his side. The first half was a rather forgetful one for the Swans, at one point – Guardiola`s side had 82% possession, while we were camped in our own half for the vast majority of the opening 45 minutes.

Pep Guardiola: Swansea one of the toughest games left for Manchester City

Swansea have climbed out of the Premier League’s bottom three with three wins from four games since former Real Madrid and Bayern Munich assistant manager Clement took charge last month. One of the those victories came away against title-chasing Liverpool, and Manchester City boss Guardiola is expecting a difficult afternoon as the Swans visit the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

On loan from Leverkusen, Papadopoulos scores for Hamburg win

Hamburg’s Mergim Mavraj, right, and Leverkusen’s goalkeeper Bernd Leno battle for the ball during the Bundesliga soccer match between Hamburger SV and Bayer Leverkusen at the Volksparkstadion in Hamburg, Germany, Friday Feb. 3, 2017. Hamburg’s Filip Kostic, right, and Leverkusen’s Benjamin Henrichs battle for the ball during the Bundesliga soccer match between Hamburger SV and Bayer Leverkusen at the Volksparkstadion in Hamburg, Germany, Friday Feb. 3, 2017.

Alfie Mawson celebrates his first half opener at the Liberty Stadium last night. PICTURE: PA Wire.

Goals from Alfie Mawson and Gylfi Sigurdsson secured back to back Premier League wins for Swansea City for the first time this season – and continued the club’s recent revival under new manager Paul Clement. And fittingly, the goals came from the home side’s two best players on the night, with the outstanding Mawson heading in a Sigurdsson corner to give his side a half time lead, and after Shane Long levelled in the second half for the visitors, it was the Icelander who proved the match-winner as he volleyed home debutant Luciano Narsingh’s cross.

Video Pick: Robben’s left foot part of Bundesliga golazos

Arjen Robben ‘s golden left foot features in the Top 5 Bundesliga goals of the week, as does a fantastic Hoffenheim passing sequence finished by Nadiem Amiri , a David Alaba free kick for Bayern Munich following Thomas Mueller ‘s distraction, a rocket from Ingolstadt’s Pascal Gross , and a 35-yard blast from Hamburg SV’s Gotoku Sakai.

Newport County 3 Hartlepool United 1

NEWPORT County AFC earned a first win since November 19 with a superb display to brush Hartlepool United aside at Rodney Parade. A debut goal from new striker Ryan Bird got the ball rolling in the first period and second half strikes from Aaron Williams and Dan Butler sealed a vital three points for Graham Westley’s men.

Newport County 3 Hartlepool Utd 1

NEWPORT County AFC earned a first win since November 19 with a superb display to brush Hartlepool United aside at Rodney Parade. A debut goal from new striker Ryan Bird got the ball rolling in the first period and second half strikes from Aaron Williams and Dan Butler sealed a vital three points for Graham Westley’s men.

Pep Guardiola adamant Manchester City chairman still a fan

Manchester, United Kingdom: Pep Guardiola insists chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak is happy with Manchester City’s season — as he promised Sam Allardyce a hug. City go to Crystal Palace in the FA Cup fourth round on Saturday, with Guardiola aiming to keep his hopes for a first trophy in England alive on two fronts.

Manchester United: Mourinho sets Martial Wigan challenge

London: Anthony Martial can play his way into Manchester United’s starting XI with a convincing performance against Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup on Sunday, manager Jose Mourinho has said. Martial was left out of the squad for last weekend’s 1-1 Premier League draw at Stoke City and Thursday’s League Cup game at Hull City, which saw United reach the final despite a 2-1 defeat.

Frankfurt beat Schalke 1-0 in German Bundesliga

Alexander Meier’s goal helped Eintracht Frankfurt to edge struggling Schalke 1-0 at the opener of the 18th round in Bundesliga on Friday. Eintracht Frankfurt reaped their ninth win of the season as veteran striker Alexander Meier provided the only goal of the clash to keep Schalke in the bottom half of the standings.

French midfielder asked Rangers cult hero for advice before agreeing to join Hearts

MALAURY MARTIN may have made his Hearts debut in the modest surroundings of Kirkcaldy, but the conversation which sparked his desire to embark on a Scottish adventure could barely have been more glamorous. The 28-year-old has revealed how his appetite to experience the SPFL was whetted over a lunch in the hills of Monte Carlo, the affluent millionaire’s paradise, as he picked the brains of former Rangers players Julien Rodriguez and Dado Prso.

What is Wayne Rooney’s best Manchester United goal?

Eight points clear and homing in on the title… so, can any of the chasing pack really stop Chelsea winning the Premier League? Cahill and Terry visit ‘stable’ Mason in hospital as Hull and Chelsea medical teams are praised for treatment of player’s fractured skull Have Arsenal rediscovered their nasty streak? Xhaka dismissal was reminder of bad old days under Wenger 10 THINGS WE LEARNED: Lanzini could be the man to replace Payet and Smalling is out of sorts at United PALACE CRISIS Q&A: What’s going wrong at Selhurst Park and is Allardyce the man to help them dodge relegation? Arsenal’s dog’s dinner, United’s post-Fergie error and Villa’s banned display… Premier League’s most cringeworthy banners Horror at Chelsea as Mason breaks his skull after sickening clash of heads with Cahill that leaves Hull star ‘stable’ in hospital Meyler baffled by Silva’s instructions… and why did Niasse … (more)

Plea says Bastia fans racially abused teammate Balotelli

In this Thursday, Nov. 3, 2016 file photo, Nice’s forward Mario Balotelli, of Italy, reacts during the Europa League group I soccer match between OGC Nice and FC Salzburg, in Nice stadium, southeastern France. Nice striker Mario Balotelli’s teammate Alassane Pleas has confirmed he heard Bastia supporters racially abusing Balotelli with monkey chants during the league match on Friday, Jan. 20, 2017.

‘We don’t need them kicking us when we are down’ – Ramos tells booing Madrid fans to support players

Los Blancos won their La Liga tie on Saturday but they were still booed by their own fans, much to the annoyance of the Spaniard Real Madrid defeated Malaga on Saturday but they were still booed by their own fans, much to the annoyance of Sergio Ramos. The Real Madrid captain called on the fans to be more supportive of the La Liga leaders following his match-winning brace.

Brazil’s tragic Chapecoense draws in first match since plane crash

Chapecoense, the up and coming Brazilian football club decimated by a plane crash, proudly strode back on the field Saturday in a new line-up for their first match since the tragedy. Brazilian Chapecoense goalkeeper Jackson Follmann , a survivor of the LaMia airplane crash in Colombia, receives the Copa Sudamericana trophy at the Arena Conda stadium in Chapeco, Santa Catarina state, in southern Brazil on January 21, 2017, before a friendly match against Palmeiras – Brazilian Champion 2016.

The Red’s golden boy Steven Gerrard will return to Liverpool

Steven Gerrard of Liverpool walks out to the pitch for warming up prior to the Barclays Premier League match between Stoke City and Liverpool at Britannia Stadium on May 24, 2015 in Stoke on Trent, England. Liverpool’s former captain and talisman Steven Gerrard will return to his roots as part of the Academy’s coaching set-up, the Premier League club announced on Friday.

Robinho in Brazil squad for Chape fundraiser versus Colombia

Veteran forward Robinho has been called back into Brazil’s national team for Wednesday’s friendly against Colombia – a match that will raise funds for the families of the victims of the Chapecoense team air crash. The former Real Madrid, Manchester City and AC Milan player has not played for Brazil since the 2015 Copa America.

Lazio coach Simone Inzaghi stepping out of brother’s shadow

Lazio coach Simone Inzaghi follows the Italian Cup, Round of 16 soccer match between Lazio and Genoa at the Rome Olympic stadium Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017. Lazio’s Ciro Immobile, top, celebrates after scoring during the Italian Cup, Round of 16 soccer match between Lazio and Genoa at the Rome Olympic stadium Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017.

Chelsea interest will disappear if Traore loses focus – Karanka

Adama Traore has been warned not to risk losing his place in the Middlesbrough team by getting carried away with Premier League leaders Chelsea’s pursuit of him. The Blues are understood to have registered an interest in the 20-year-old Spanish winger, who only joined Boro from Aston Villa in August, after a series of high-octane individual displays in the top flight.

LUFC Leeds Pull Out Of Proposed Friendly

The proposed friendly between Derby County and Leeds United during the March international break will not be going ahead according to reports. The Yorkshire Evening Post have reported that Leeds have turned down the opportunity to feature in the game at the Ipro Stadium against one of their promotion rivals.

Bayern sign Hoffenheim duo Rudy, Suele for next season

Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich have bolstered their defensive options by signing Hoffenheim team mates Sebastian Rudy and Niklas Suele for next season, the German champions said on Sunday. With captain Philipp Lahm and Spaniard Xabi Alonso nearing the end of their careers, Rudy, 26, will provide another option in defensive midfield, while 21-year-old Suele will be charged with plugging holes in Bayern’s central defence.

Bending it like Faiz

Would Manuel Neuer, arguably the best goalkeeper on the planet, have saved Faiz Subri’s freekick goal that won him the Puskas Award? That was a question that Bayern Munich social media team asked their fans in a tweet. The tweet was accompanied by a selfie of Neuer and Faiz, taken by the former.

Sean Dyche insists Burnley will continue to be run prudently

Sean Dyche stressed Burnley will continue to be run prudently after a financial study from UEFA showed they had a greater operating profit than the likes of Bayern Munich in 2015. UEFA released their eighth annual club licensing benchmark report on Thursday, offering an insight into European teams’ financial status up until the end of 2015, and alongside the usual continental powerhouses at the top of the profit lists were Dyche’s Clarets.

Loy vows to help keep St Mirren in the Championship

New St Mirren striker Rory Loy admits he has unfinished business at the club after struggling to make an impact in his first spell seven years ago. The 28-year-old returned to the Paisley outfit yesterday on a loan deal from Dundee until the end of the season and has vowed to play his part in keeping the Saints in the Championship.

Horgan has ‘potential to excite’ Preston fans, says Grayson

The Irish winger came on for the final minutes against Arsenal and showed glimpses of his ability to entertain the crowd, according to his manager Preston North End manager Simon Grayson says that Daryl Horgan is a player with “the potential to excite” after the midfielder made his debut for the club. Horgan, who joined the Championship club from League of Ireland champions Dundalk in December, made his first appearance in the FA Cup third round defeat to Arsenal on January 7. The 24-year-old came on as a substitute with 10 minutes remaining and, though his side eventually succumbed to a late Olivier Giroud goal, Grayson was pleased with Horgan’s contribution.

Torquay United: Councillor Richard Haddock ‘amazed’ at all… 1

THE CURRENT climate of rumour and speculation about the future of Torquay United’s Plainmoor ground is not helping the club, landlords Torbay Council or any of the stakeholders, says one of the leading councillors who will decide the future of the site. “Nobody has come to us with any plan, and there is definitely no deal,” insisted Cllr Richard Haddock, the Council’s executive lead for business and chairman of the key Policy, Development & Decision Group.