Campionato 2011 2012 Napoli Catiana

25 March 2012
Stadio San Paolo,
Napoli
Referee: A. Gervasoni
Attendance: 44000  

  Cet après-midi le Napoli recevait une équipe de Catania en bonne forme et assez proche de Napoli au classement. Dès le début du match l’équipe évoluant à domicile cherche à s’imposer et se créer des bonnes occasions mais la défense de Catania est solide. Les hommes de Montella se procurent également quelques occasions qui ne donneront rien non plus. La suite de la première mi-temps montrera un scénario plus ou moins similaire : les attaquants partenopei buteront sur un Carrizo en grande forme, tandis que les rossazzuri n’arriveront pas à convertir leurs quelques occasions et leur bonne possession du ballon. La première mi-temps se conclut donc sur un 0-0 grâce notamment à un excellent Carrizo.  (Suit sur Calciomio)

Goals : Dzemaili (61′), Cavani (67′), Spolli(75′), Lanzafame (85′)
Napoli (3-4-3) : De Sanctis, Campagnaro, Fernandez (66′ Cannavaro), Aronica; Zuniga, Gargano, Dzemaili, Dossena; Hamsik (58′ Pandev), Lavezzi (76′ Inler); Cavani. A disp.: Rosati, Fideleff, Amendola, Vargas. Entr.: Mazzarri.
Catania (3-5-2): Carrizo; Bellusci, Legrottaglie, Spolli ; Barrientos (79′ Ricchiuti), Izco, Lodi, Almiron, Marchese(72′ Llama); Gomez (Lanzafame 83′), Bergessio A disp. : Kosicky, Seymour, Catellani, Ebagua Entr. : Montella

Champions League 1997/1998 Dynamo Kyiv PSV Eindhoven

November 27, 1997

Olympic Stadium

(NSC Olympiysky)

Kyiv, Ukraine

80.000 spectators

Referee: P. Ceccarini (Italy)

Dynamo Kyiv: Olexandr Shovkovsky, Olexandr Holovko, Vladyslav Vashchuk, Yuri Dmytrulin, Oleg Luzhnyi (87` Mykola Volosianko), Aleksandr Khatskevich, Vitali Kosovsky, Yuri Kalitvintsev, Yuri Maksymov (83` Serhiy Bezhenar), Serhiy Rebrov, Andriy Shevchenko. Coach: Valery Lobanovsky.

PSV Eindhoven: Ronald Waterreus, Ernest Faber, Jaap Stam, Philip Cocu, Wim Jonk, Arthur Numan, Ovidiu Stinga, Vampeta, Tomasz Iwan (38`Stan Valckx), Gilles De Bilde (82`Marc Degryse), Luc Nilis. Coach: Dick Advocaat.

English Leagues the 70s: Ipswich Town Orient FA Cup 1978 1979

27 january 1979
Portman Road,
Ipswich

 It all happened so suddenly, so dramatically, so unexpectedly. In late June, Osvaldo Ardiles and Ricardo Villa were helping Argentina win the World Cup. By mid-July — by way of a cloak-and-dagger Transatlantic dash by enterprising young manager Keith ("007") Burkenshaw; plus around three-quarters of a million quid — we heard the dynamic duo would soon be gracing the English First Division in Tottenham shirts. That was the first big sensation of the season so far — and, ironically. Spurs were to figure largely in the second, too. And that was in some of the weird and wonderful early scorelines. Especially so in the League Cup in which, by the first week in September,  Spurs had become the eighth embarrassed First Division side to be unceremoniously dumped out of the competition by teams from the lower orders. 

It was team-to-watch Third Division Swansea — old Uncle Tommy Smith and all — who clobbered Spurs at home ... just four days after they'd been thumped 7-0 at Anfleld. Liverpool — even though they themselves experienced a shock hiccup by being K.O'd from the League Cup by Second Division Sheffield United — started their own season in devastating form. Not that fact in itself can be included In any catalogue of sensations! Even so, even by their own almost monotonous high-standards, they seemed to surpass themselves in the early days of 1978-79. Everything, really, was climaxed in that Tottenham demolition-Job — In which hardly a Liverpool pass went astray — that prompted even the normally taciturn Bob Paisley to comment afterwards: "We mustn't let go to our heads — but our football today was frightening." And to any future opponents of Liverpool watching the game — even by way of highlights on TV — it cortainlv was! Tottenham, nonetheless, kicked-off well, with a promising 1-1 draw on the ground of League Champions Forest — who didn't! In fact, after four League games, they still hadn't won — and that single goal remained their only one. True, they won 4-2 in a League Cup replay against Oldham — but only after being held away by the Second Divisioners. So... more Surprises coming ...?

TO UPDATE Manchester City Huddersfield Division Two 1986 1987

7 November 1987
Maine Road,
Manchester
Attendance 19,583
Referee: K. Breen. 

 Manager Mel Machin spent just over two years in charge at Maine Road but had the privilege to preside over two games that will linger long in the fans' memories. This one was City's biggest win of the century; the other was, of, course, the famous '5-1' victory over Manchester United in September 1989. Wearing a hideous black and yellow square kit (possibly the worst ever seen at Maine Road) Huddersfield, bottom of the table, arrived for the game with new manager Malcolm Macdonald just three weeks into the job. Despite their lowly league position, Huddersfield could have taken the lead twice in the opening ten minutes. City's Neil McNab, at his most influential that day, broke the deadlock in the 12th minute and well and truly opened the floodgates. 

 Paul Stewart doubled the score after 29 minutes and five minutes later Tony Adcock headed the third. When David White got his first - City's fourth - just before half time, City fans jokingly thought the Blues might get eight! The interval only prolonged the agony. In the 52nd minute Adcock hooked in his second and Stewart's header made it six a quarter of an hour later. Huddersfield had just restarted proceedings when Adcock broke through to make it 7-0 and complete his hat-trick. It took 17 minutes for the next goal, Stewart converting Andy Hinchcliffe's cross for his third and City's eighth. The last five minutes of the game produced three more goals. White's second was followed by the highlight of Huddersfield's miserable day as former Blue Andy May converted a consolation penalty. In the last minute of the game White dribbled round Cox for City's tenth. It was the first time in 25 years that three players from the same team had scored hat-tricks in a league game. In typical City style, the Blues lost 1-0 in the return game five months later.

TO UPDATE Division One 1978 1979 Leeds Manchester City

13 January 1979
Elland Road,
Leeds
Attendance 36,30

  This has been the season in which the First Division has been split into three distinct groups — the elite, the also-rans and the strugglers. Without naming them, the clubs in the middle bracket know who they are. The strugglers are Birmingham, Chelsea, Q.P.R.. Wolves, Middlesbrough and Botton, all liable to go down to the Second Division, at some stage of the season. This definitive split has come about because the Magnificent Six have been able to draw away from the pack and form virtually an exclusive club, Liverpool, Everton, West Bromwich Albion, Arsenal, Leeds United and Nottingham Forest unquestionably offer all that is best in British football. Liverpool, of course, have been almost permanent members of that group for the past 20 years; Everton have been trying to match them without quite succeeding; Albion have come of age this season; Arsenal's progress has been gathering pace over the past two years; and Forest wrote their own names in with brilliant style by almost sweeping the board on their return to the top. That leaves Leeds and their progress this season has been impressive. the extraordinary fact is Leeds could have been excused for losing their feet on a banana skin after the sort of upheavals they've suffered. The season began without a manager at Elland Road after the departure of Jimmy Armfield and only one of the first four matches was won. Then Jock Stein arrived and all appeared sweet and light — until that is Scotland found themselves looking for Ally MacLeod's successor and naturally enticed the Big Man.

At that stage Leeds could have felt the whole world was against them and been lulled into a careless sort of attitude. Interestingly the reverse happened. Things continued to tick over until the arrival of Jimmy Adamson, and since the quiet man left Sunderland for Elland Road there has been barely a dull moment. The only disappointment came with the League Cup Semi-Final defeat by Southampton, but in terms of the First Division there has been no more convincing side as the record for Adamson's first . 17 games proved: Won 10 Drawn 6 Lost 1 Goals (for) 33 (against) 15. One man in particular who appreciates what's going on at Elland Road is Scottish international goalkeeper David Harvey, one of the few survivors of the Don Revie era. "Only Eddie Gray, Peter Lorimer, Paul Madeley and myself of the current squad were here at the turn of the Seventies, and of the rest most have been bought within the last three seasons. "I can honestly say this is now the best team we have had since the super team of the Sixties .. . the days of Bremner and Giles, Hunter and Cooper, Clarke and Jones," he says. Harvey's own position has become clearer in recent weeks. With the sale of another Scottish international 'keeper David Stewart to West Brom he has now re-established himself as the number one at Leeds.

"David and I have been alternating over the past couple of seasons getting about 20 odd games apiece in the First Division. Sometimes one has been injured letting the other one in, occasionally we've both been dropped. "People talk of competition being good for you in terms of keeping you on your toes, but it doesn't always work that way. Providing a goalkeeper is playing well he should have peace of mind so far as his place is concerned, but when there's someone as good as Dave standing in the wings it can bring a touch of nervousness to your play. "i honestly believe I'm keeping goal as well as ever at the moment, and my one burning ambition is to get back into the Scotland side. My application hasn't always been what it might have been, but I'm enjoying my football now as much as at any time in my career. "Once you've kept goal in international football it's hard to accept someone else is in the position you think you should be occupying. Scotland have had a succession of goalkeepers since I last played, and I'm just hoping now that Jock Stein comes and has a look at me again. "He knows my capabilities having been at Elland Road even for such a short period, and I'm praying he doesn't forget me." Harvey, who has played over 300 times for Leeds, recalls with utter despair the League Cup Semi-Final defeat by Southampton. "We really fancied our chances in that one — and perhaps that was our undoing. We'd beaten Southampton 4-0 in the League only a few weeks before and we turned them over to such an extent that subconsciously we probably thought it was going to be easy.

"After going two up just after half-time in the first-leg we should have sewn it up but we didn't and we were punished with two bad goals and then defeat in the return. 'That's the third Semi-Final in a row we've lost. "I suppose you could say that's the difference between the current side and the one which brought us all those honours. "I'm sure this side will have learned a lesson. Lads like Paul Hart and Brian Flynn are learning all the time. Paul, In particular, had an awful start when he pmed us from Blackpool. "Brian also took time to settle in, but I've never seen anyone work so hard, and he's very skilful. He and Tony Currie must be one of the best midfietd combinations in the game. 'This season we've gone to Liverpool and Everton and led them both until the closing stages of the game before conceding a point, we've also won at West Brom in the League, drawn there twice in the F.A. Cup and League Cup, drawn at Arsenal and won at difficult grounds like Tottenham, Ipswich and Chelsea 'Team spirit is super and I reckon we've now got a squad that can only get better. "The way things are going right now we're a must for Europe next season and that means an awful lot to Eddie, Paul and myself who enjoyed some great moments in Europe and have hankered for another crack ever since the ban that was imposed after the European Cup final fiasco in Paris. 'The team we have now can win trophies I'm quite sure, and I'm looking forward to another successful period at Leeds," he says.

English Leagues the 70s: Sheffield Wednesday Arsenal FA Cup 1978 1979

06 January 1979
Hillsborough Stadium,
Sheffield

 The scene was now set for the highlight of the 20-year gap between the Championships of 1971 and 1989 - the hat-trick of Cup finals of 1978,1979 and 1980. The Gunners contrived to win the one they were expected to lose and to lose the two they were expected to win, but that is a typical example of what appearing at Wembley can do. The 1978 game was to be a 0-1 defeat by Ipswich, the 1979 game was to be the 'five-minute final' concluding in the 3-2 victory over Manchester United, and the 1980 final was to be the 0-1 defeat by Second Division West Ham. Arsenal became the first club to reach three successive Wembley FA Cup finals and only the third ever to achieve a hat-trick of finals. The 1978 FA Cup rounds were to see an impressive progression-five successive wins (Sheffield United, Wolves, Walsall, Wrexham and Orient) with 17 goals scored, seven from Macdonald who scored in every game except the final. That being said, it was not the toughest test a finalist has faced, and the Wembley confrontation was to be an unhappy experience. Brady was not fit and had to be substituted, Macdonald was to end with a third losers' medal and was never to have another chance - three days later he went into hospital for the first of many knee operations that ended his career at the age of 29. Roger Osborne scored the only goal for Ipswich to win the contest.

English Leagues the 70s: Manchester United West Bromwich Albion Division One 1978 1979

30 December 1978
Old Trafford,
Manchester
Attendance 45,091


  For Ron Atkinson, his team’s 5-3 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford 30 years ago this December is memorable for one of the most pointless half-time team talks he ever delivered. ‘I went in and told them that they didn’t deserve to be losing 3-2 and that there was no reason in the world why we should not grab an equaliser,’ recalled Atkinson. ‘They all just sat there and looked at me like I was mad. ‘Then Tony Brown said: “Boss, it’s 3-3. I have just equalised.” ‘Bomber had just run through and put the ball in at the Stretford End but I had heard a whistle blow. 'I thought it had been too late. I thought it was half-time already. ‘And there he is staring at me as if I had just lost my marbles. ‘So I just told them: “Fair enough. Then go and get me a winner then”.’

Wherever you choose to watch your football today of this famous game first. As United and West Bromwich prepare to meet at Old Trafford again, it is guaranteed to send you to your team’s match in better spirits. There is an undeniable feel-good factor about it, even if it is hard to pinpoint exactly why. It may be commentator/presenter (you had to do both jobs back then) Gerald Sinstadt’s ridiculous moustache. Or the excited yelp with which he greets the final goal, crashed in to the roof of the net by Cyrille Regis. Maybe it’s the way that Laurie Cunningham ignores the racist booing from the terraces to set up Albion’s first goal , or the hilariously crude manner in which Stewart Houston shamelessly tries to hack him down en route to scoring in the second half. It could even be the way that United manager Dave Sexton nominates Steve Coppell as man of the match. Coppell doesn’t even appear to be playing on the highlights reel. But, more than likely, it will be the uninhibited, expressive nature of the football that grabs you. Of the eight goals, at least five are as good as anything the Barclays Premier League has offered so far this season. Atkinson’s Albion had a young Bryan Robson in the centre of midfield and were graced by three black players, Cunningham, Regis and Brendon Batson. It was unique at the time for an English team to be so racially mixed.

 The trio were then nicknamed —quite unbelievably — ‘The Three Degrees’. 'We arrived at Old Trafford playing great football,’ said Atkinson, who went on to manage United. ‘I look at the way Arsenal play now and think that’s the way that we used to knock it about. 'So I wasn’t really surprised to see us playing like that on the day at Old Trafford. ‘We had a very powerful team and could be quite direct when we needed to be. 'Robbo was beginning to come into his own and Derek Statham was one of the best left-backs I have seen. ‘But players like Laurie and big Cyrille were superb. 'Laurie was so light and so delicate. He could have run on snow without leaving footprints. 'We were capable of some smashing stuff and it was certainly one of the most enjoyable spells of my time in the game. 'My only regret was that we should really have gone on to win the league that year and we didn’t.’ Hindered by an end-of-season fixture pile-up, Albion finished third in the old First Division — United ended ninth — and they reached the last eight of the UEFA Cup. Atkinson moved to United as Sexton’s successor two years later, taking the likes of Robson with him. ‘I didn’t rate Robbo at first,’ is now Atkinson’s frank admission. ‘All I could see was the permed hair that made him look like Kevin Keegan. ‘At the time I thought that was all they had in common. 'But I was wrong. I had to play him as centre half in an FA Cup replay early in 1978 — ironically against United — and he obliterated Joe Jordan. ‘He was 19 and was magnificent. A brain-rocking revelation. He never looked back after that.’

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FA Cup 2011 2012 Sunderland Middlesbrough

Round of 32
29 January 2012
Stadium of Light, Sunderland
Referee : Kevin Friend
Attendance : 33275

 The striker, whose last goal came over 500 days ago, came off the bench to rescue his side with a lovely finish from a Black Cats counter attack on the hour mark. Middlesbrough had taken the lead against the run of play after 16 minutes when Barry Robson volleyed home a spectacular strike after confusion in the Sunderland defence. Neither side could find the elusive winning goal though and with the draw Martin O'Neill maintained his unbeaten record at the Stadium of Light, whilst Boro fans will be delighted with their side's performance against Premier League opposition.

Martin O'Neill named a strong starting lineup for Sunderland with Stephane Sessegnon partnering youngster Connor Wickham in attack.  The visitors were missing Julio Arca and Kevin Thomson through suspensions, after their red cards against Coventry. The Black Cats largely dominated the first half but were always susceptible to a Boro counter attack, with the first goal of the game firm evidence of that. Faris Haroun managed to escape down the right, and after his cross wasn't dealt with by John O'Shea, the ball fell perfectly for Robson who struck a sumptuous volley across Simon Mignolet into the far corner. O'Neill's men did trouble the Boro defence every time they came forward though, with Sessegnon playing a prominent role in attack. The Benin international had already seen his cross headed wide by Sebastian Larsson before he teed up Craig Gardner for a crashing volley which dipped just over the bar. Boro keeper Danny Coyne then produced two fine saves to preserve his side's advantage when he made a double stop from James McClean.

The Northern Irish winger ran onto Wickham's flick-on before shooting low at Coyne, before heading straight at the keeper from David Vaughan's resulting cross. Then, the talking point of the first half came. Kieran Richardson's lofted ball into the box appeared to have been chested down by Gardner before his strike went in via the post. A halt was brought to the Black Cats' celebrations as the linesman deemed that Wickham, who was offside, had got a touch on  Gardner's strike before it hit the back of the net. Television replays showed that this wasn't the case but that Gardner had handled during the build-up to the finish.

It was a major let-off for Boro, but it was Tony Mowbray's men who would then give the Black Cats a let off themselves as they should have doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time. Faris Haroun advanced on the right flank again and released Lukas Jutkiewicz who forced Mignolet into a fine stop. The Belgian midfielder had carried on his run however and when it came back to him, his touch deflected back to the striker who could only volley wide first time, when he perhaps had more time than he thought.

The second half though, belonged to Campbell. The livewire striker stepped off the bench to replace Connor Wickham at half-time and his presence was well and truly felt on Wearside. Boro created several chances in the opening ten minutes of the second half but Marvin Emnes and Robson both wasted good openings.

Mowbray's side, and in particular Robson, would pay for their profligacy. It was Robson who went from hero to zero as he handed McClean possession on the halfway line. The winger released the onrushing Campbell, who slid home first-time past the previously unbeatable Coyne to the delight of the Mackems fans. The goal proved to be a slightly brighter note on the second half for Sunderland as they lost Wes Brown to a nasty-looking knee injury just minutes before that strike as he tussled with Emnes before falling heavily.

Chances from there on were few and far between as Middlesbrough appeared to settle for a draw but they did force Phil Bardsley into heading into the side netting before Emnes volleyed high and wide when well placed from the subsequent corner. Boro were forced into a change of their own as Coyne was replaced by youngster Connor Ripley, who made his FA Cup debut, but he was largely untroubled throughout his 10 minute stint between the sticks. Sunderland mustered one last foray forward, but after good interplay by Sessegnon, McClean fired his shot just past the post. It was the last meaningful action and it means that the two sides will do battle once again in nine days' time.

Cup Winners’ Cup 1992/1993 Semi-finals 2 Leg Royal Antwerp Spartak Mosсow

April 22, 1993

Antverpen,

Bosuilstadion

 11 128 Spectators

Referee:  J. E. Monteiro Coroado (Portugal)

Royal Antwerp: Stevan Stojanovic,Nico Broeckaert,Rudi Smidts,Patrick Van Veirdeghem (88`Noureddine Moukrim),Didier Segers,Rudi Taeymans,Rony Van Rethy,Germany Hans,Peter Lehnhoff,Alex Czerniatynski,Dragan Jakovljevic (83`Geert Emmerechts),Francis Severeyns. Coach: W. Meeuws.

Spartak Mosсow: Stanislav Cherchesov,Andrey Chernyshov,Andrei Ivanov,Dmitriy Khlestov,Victor Onopko,Valeriy Karpin,Igor Ledyakhov,Dmitriy Popov (42`Andrey Gashkin),Andrey Pyatnitskiy,Nikolay Pisarev, Dmitriy Radchenko (43` Vladimir Baksheev). Coach: O.Romantsev.

The path to the semi-finals of  the teams:
Round of 32:
Glenavon (Northern Ireland) - Royal Antwerp (Belgium) - 1:1, 1:1 (pen.1:3)
Avenir (Luxembourg) - Spartak Moscow (Russia) -  0:0, 1:5
Round of 16:
Admira Wacker (Vienna, Austria) - Royal Antwerp (Belgium) - 2:4, 4:3 (aet)
Spartak Moscow (Russia) - Liverpool (England) - 4:2, 2:0
Quarter-finals:
Royal Anwerp (Belgium) - Steaua (Bucharest, Romania) - 0:0, 1:1
Feyenoord (Netherlands) - Spartak Moscow (Russia) - 0:1, 1:3    
Semi-finals: ...

 

Matches of the Century: World Cup 1986 Argentina England

1/4 finale
22 juin 1986
Mexico, Azteca
Referee : M. Ben Naceur (Tunisie)
Attendance : 115 000

 L'équipe d'Argentine n'a pas rencontré celle d'Angleterre depuis la guerre des Malouines. Mais les sportifs de toutes disciplines, pilotes de Formule 1, golfeurs, tennismen ont déjà eu, à un moment ou à un autre, l'occasion de croiser leurs confrères. Il est cependant inévitable, quand s'annonce le choc entre les deux sélections de football, que les relents de ce stupide et meurtrier conflit de soixante-quatorze jours se manifestent. Huit sénateurs d'étiquette péroniste demandent, à Buenos-Aires, le retrait de l'équipe d'Argentine du Mundial, ce qui serait, affirment-ils « un acte démonstratif de nos droits sur les îles de l'Atlantique sud. » Un autre, député, demande qu'une minute de silence soit observée, avant le coup d'envoi, à la mémoire des victimes. Les footballeurs ne demandent rien et refusent la récupération politique ainsi que le précise Maradona : « Nous sommes des joueurs qui participons à une compétition sportive. Point final. » Luis Menotti, l'entraîneur des champions du monde 1978, prend encore plus nettement position : « Ce conflit des Malouines a été un conflit entre deux gouvernements et, d'aucune manière, il ne représentait le sentiment de deux peuples. »

Malgré ce désamorçage préalable, on craint un peu que les deux équipes ne se laissent tenter, à un moment ou un autre, par un voyage chez les vieux démons. Heureusement, c'est une fausse crainte. L'Angleterre de Hoddle-Steven-Reid-Hodge (pas de changement dans l'orchestre) ne songe qu'à jouer au football avec sa vaillance coutumière et ses atouts collectifs qui ne sont pas médiocres. L'équipe d'Argentine, montée en pression au fil du tournoi, de mieux en mieux organisée et huilée, a le même souci. Entre les deux, au milieu des deux, au-dessus du jeu, il y a Maradona. Le petit génie éclaire la Coupe du Monde à chaque match, chacun de ses gestes portant une étincelle, une touche de couleur, une fantaisie inégalables. Il est chat, cet homme, et encore plus joueur qu'un chat si cela est possible. Après que Pumpido ait glissé en prenant un appel de course - le terrain du Stade Aztèque est infect, manquant de stabilité dans sa surcouche et perdant ses poils - et bien failli encaisser un but de Beardsley (13e), le jeu s'est stabilisé. Solide des deux côtés. Un peu plus éclairé du côté du chat. On est à la 51e minute quand Valdano effectue une remise sur Maradona. Celui-ci, probablement hors-jeu, s'en va à la rencontre de Shilton sorti et, à sa barbe, lui fait sauter le ballon au-dessus de la tête, de la main pour la propulser dans la cage. 

 La plaisanterie est excellente, et digne d'un malicieux. Mais l'arbitre M. Bennaceur (et ta sœur ?), pourtant fort bien placé, les photos le prouvent, entérine la réussite dans l'instant où le ralenti de la télévision démontre de manière irréfutable la tricherie. A TF 1, l'ami Thierry Roland s'indigne, tempête et ose dire que l'on n'aurait jamais dû confier à un arbitre tunisien le soin de diriger cette importante rencontre. Il a raison, bien sûr, mais on le taxe de racisme. L'ambassadeur de Tunisie à Paris menace de faire un procès, veut des excuses, qu'on lui accorde. Il n'aura pas les nôtres. M. Bennaceur, qui eût pu être Auvergnat - nous avons tous un peu de sang auvergnat - n'est pas mauvais parce qu'il est tunisien (l'inverse non plus d'ailleurs) mais il n'est pas bon parce qu'il manque d'expérience. Et en plus, sûrement, il ne voit pas très clair. Ce n'est pas de sa faute. Il mange trop de sucre.  Maradona mériterait deux taloches à faire ainsi le guignol pour fêter son « exploit ». Et les joueurs anglais ont bien du mérite, beaucoup de dignité, à ne pas le faire dans le mouvement. Diego a sans doute senti cette tache sur son beau costume. Voulant la faire disparaître et reconquérir l'admiration des aficionados de France et d'ailleurs, il enchaîne, trois minutes plus tard (54e) sur un grandissime exploit qui laisse le stade debout : il part, balle au pied, du milieu du terrain, sème en cours de route Steven, Sansom, Fenwick, Butcher et s'en va ajuster Shilton sorti à sa rencontre. Maradona est grand et il n'est pas manchot. Toute autre que l'Angleterre laisserait là l'ouvrage et son train. Mais l'Angleterre fait entrer Waddle et Barnes, secoue le prunier, réduit le score par l'inévitable Lineker (80e, son sixième du Mundial), reçoit un tir de Tapia sur l'un de ses poteaux (82e) et manque d'un cheveu, du cheveu d'un cheveu, l'égalisation à 2-2 sur un centre de Barnes et une tête de Lineker (87e). Ensuite, après avoir tout tenté, elle peut pleurer. Et elle pleure. On interroge Maradona. Alors, cette main ? Ce but ? « C'était un peu la main de Dieu, et un peu la tête de Maradona » répond-il. Maradona n'est pas un saint. Il est un peu trop malin.

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Good Luck...

FA Cup 2011 2012 Everton Blackpool

Round of 16

18 February 2012

Goodison Park, Liverpool

Referee : Michael Oliver

Attendance : 38347

The magic of the FA Cup is alive and well on Merseyside as Everton steam-rollered their way through Blackpool with 2-0 victory at Goodison Park.  Royston Drenthe was the star man and he opened the scoring in the 49th second of the match following a neat move involving Leighton Baines, Magaye Gueye and Marouane Fellaini. Six minutes later the game was won as Drenthe turned provider for Denis Stracqualursi who poked home a corner from six yards. 

David Moyes made three changes to the side that beat Chelsea as Tim Cahill, Landon Donovan and Steven Pienaar all made way for Gueye, Drenthe and Tony Hibbert. Phil Neville moved back into the centre of midfield alongside Fellaini and Darron Gibson, with Drenthe and Gueye supporting  Stracqualursi up front. A bout of flu meant that Landon Donovan was not able to line-up for the Toffees in what would have been his final game before returning to LA Galaxy. Blackpool made seven changes from the side that beat Doncaster in their last league game but Ian Holloway still set up an attacking side with three forwards pressing the Everton defence. Veteran Kevin Phillips came back into the side and he was joined by Chris Basham, Angel Martinez, Thomas Ince, Danny Wilson, Craig Cathcart and Robert Harris.

The home side began the game at 100mph and got their reward inside 49 seconds as Drenthe finished off a lovely team move. Baines and Gueye combined down the left, the youngster’s cross was controlled by Fellaini who rolled the ball to Drenthe and he calmly curled the ball beyond Matt Gilks to give the Toffees the perfect start. Six minutes later Everton doubled their lead through the strong front man Stracqualursi. A right wing corner from Drenthe was flicked on by Sylvain Distin at the front post and fell to the striker in the six yard box. He miskicked his first effort but made no mistake with his second attempt which flew into the back of the net giving Gilks no chance. David Moyes’ side were in complete control of the game and most of what was good came through the impressive Drenthe. Midway through the half he wriggled away from Sylvestre in the Everton half and raced at the backtracking Blackpool defence, his cross-field pass on the edge of the area looked perfect for Gueye but Gibson took it off the youngster’s toe and he blasted wide.

Minutes later another flowing move from the home side saw Gueye released down the left, his low cross into the centre for the unmarked Stracqualursi was excellent but the Argentine couldn’t stretch enough to touch the ball home. With the half coming to a close the Toffees created a couple more chances but were unable to extend their lead further. Another run from Drenthe resulted in a low cross to Fellaini but with the goal at his mercy the ball ricocheted off Cathcart for a corner. From that set piece the ball fell to Gibson on the edge of the box but his powerful shot was saved by Gilks after coming through a crowd of players.  In first half injury time Blackpool had their best chance of the half as the lively Ince embarked on a mazy dribble inside from left wing. He found Sylvestre with a short pass but although his low shot looked destined for the bottom corner Howard tipped it round the post.

The second half saw the visitors come back into the game and they went close with three free kicks on the edge of the Everton penalty area. Ince took the first one from the right side of the area but it was easily saved by Howard, Kevin Phillips saw his chance from a similar possession go the same way but in the 67th minute he did beat Howard but the ball flicked off the top of the cross bar and flew over.  Despite Blackpool’s improvements Everton continued to control large parts of the game and had much more possession than the visitors. Chances continued to come for the home side with John Heitinga going close with a header and the impressive Stracqualursi giving Gilks plenty to deal with. From a Baines cross in the 75th minute the striker reached out a long leg and flicked a shot towards the top corner but Gilks showed good reactions and parried the ball away. With 10 minutes to play Everton came close to extending their lead when a cross from the right from Seamus Coleman found its way to an unmarked Fellaini at the back post, the Belgian controlled the ball on his chest and fired under Gilks but Harris made a last ditch clearance off the line to deny Everton a third goal. Blackpool were gifted a penalty in stoppage time after Heitinga was adjudged to have felled substitute Roman Bednar. Phillips stepped up but blasted his spot kick high, wide and not very handsomely into the Gladys Street stand.

Primera Division 2011 2012 Betis Sevilla Real Madrid

10 March 2012
Santiago Bernabeu,
Madrid 

Referee: Eduardo Iturralde Gonzalez

Attendance: 51300

 Le Real Madrid s’est imposé contre le Betis Seville (2-3) pour la 26e journée de Liga. Grâce à un doublé de l’inévitable Cristiano Ronaldo, les Madrilènes comptent 13 points d’avance sur le FC Barcelone. Le titre est presque dans l’escarcelle merengue même si le Barça ne rendra pas les armes dans cette course. Très vite, les joueurs madrilènes monopolisent le cuir et se créent des occasions. Ozil est le premier à s’illustrer mais le cadre se dérobe (3e). Dans la foulée, Cristiano Ronaldo tente sa chance du pied droit mais le portier adverse détourne le ballon au pied de son poteau. Sur sa première action incisive, le Betis Seville ouvre le score. Ruben Castro lance Molina dans la surface qui trompe Casillas d’un tir en pleine lucarne (1-0, 10e). Un peu déboussolé par ce but, les Madrilènes frisent la correctionnelle sur un exploit personnel de Ruben Castro. Le Sevillan ridiculise Sergio Ramos mais sa tentative n’inquiète pas Casillas (15e). 

Plus rien à signaler jusqu’à cette passe dans la profondeur de Khedira pour Gonzalo Higuain. L’Argentin trompe Agosto Ramirez d’une frappe en pleine lucarne (1-1, 25e). Salva sur un coup franc magnifiquement botté (42e) touche du bois. Ni les occasions de Kaka, de Ronaldo ou d’Higuain ne permettent au Real Madrid de prendre l’avantage. Le Real Madrid prend l’avantage à l’entrée de la seconde période avec Marcelo qui profite d’une bévue d’un défenseur sevillan pour chercher Ronaldo. Le Portugais bat Agosto Ramirez de près (1-2, 52e). Pas le temps de savourer cet avantage que les joueurs de Seville obtiennent un corner. Arbeloa repousse mollement le ballon. Molina fusille Casillas pour égaliser (2-2, 55e). Trois minutes plus tard, San Iker sauve les siens sur une double parade exceptionnelle. Vingt minutes plus tard, Cristiano Ronaldo profite d’un ballon repoussé par le portier pour redonner un avantage définitif aux hommes de Mourinho (2-3, 73e). Le Portugais n’est pas loin du triplé quelques minutes plus tard. Les joueurs du Betis peuvent pester contre deux penaltys qui auraient pu (dû) être sifflé. Grâce à un Ronaldo des grands soirs (auteur de 32 buts en 26 matches).

Ukraine Cup 1999 Final Dynamo Kyiv Karpaty

May 30, 1999

Kyiv, NSC Olympiysky

(Olympic Stadium)

71 000 spectators

Referee: V. Melnichuk (Simferopol,Ukraine)

Dynamo Kyiv: Shovkovsky, Luzhny, Khatskevich (81`Kormiltsev), Golovko, Vashchuk, Dmitrulin, Gerasimenko, Belkevich, Gusin, Shevchenko, Rebrov (79`Serebrennikov). Coach - V. Lobanovsky.

Karpaty Lviv: Strontsitsky, Yevtushok, Chizhevsky (24`Vilchynsky), Mizin, Benyo, Zakotyuk, Vovchuk (53`Lutsyshin), Nazarov (62`Kovalets), Palyanitsa, Getsko, Tolochko. Coach - S. Yurchyshin.

Goals: 1-0 Shevchenko (18), 2-0 Belkevich (19), 3-0 Shevchenko (67).

TO UPDATE European Cup 2011 2012 Benfica Zenith

6 march 2012
Estádio da Luz,
Lisboa 
Referee: H. Webb
 Attendance: 46000  

 Après la victoire du Zenit à l'aller (3-2), le Benfica devra redoubler d'efforts pour parvenir à se qualifier lors du 8e de finale retour de la Ligue des Champions ce mardi. Jorge Jesus, l'entraîneur du Benfica, prédit des buts pour la visite du FC Zenit St Petersburg dans la capitale portugaise, lors des 8es de finale retour de la Ligue des Champions. "Dans notre stade, avec une bonne pelouse et un temps normal, on peut se qualifier. 

 Nous savons que nous affrontons une bonne équipe, une équipe forte, avec cinq joueurs qui font partie de la sélection russe qui a battu le Danemark la semaine dernière. En plus de leurs individualités, c'est un collectif qui est au point tactiquement. Mais dans notre stade, avec nos supporters derrière nous, je pense que l'on peut gagner." De son côté,  Luciano Spalletti, l'entraîneur des Russes, compte sur le "caractère" de ses joueurs pour tenir lors du match "le plus important dans l'histoire du Zenit"."Je pense que ce sont mes joueurs qui vont décider du sort du match. On vise la qualification. J'ai toujours dirigé des équipes de caractère et je suis persuadé que ça va pencher dans la balance. Contre Porto, on n'a pas bien joué mais on est passés. Je suis sûr qu'on sera bien meilleurs contre Benfica. Le meilleur joueur portugais actuel fait partie de mon effectif, c'est mon N° 10 (Danny)".

Russian Сhampionship 1996 Gold Match Spartak Alania

November 16, 1996

St. Petersburg

Russia

Petrovsky Stadium

24.000 spectators

Referee: T. Bezubyak

Spartak Moscow: Filimonov, Ananko, Gorlukovich, Tsymbalar, Mamedov, Evseev (63`Lipko), Konovalov (55`Bezrodny), Alenichev, Titov, Dzhubanov (46`Meleshin), Tikhonov. Coach: G.Yartsev.

Alania Vladikavkaz: Kramarenko, Pagaev, Derkach, Shelia, I.Dzhioev, Tetradze, Tedeev, Yanovsky, Agayev (46`Datdeev), Kanishchev, Suleimanov. Coach: V.Gazzaev.

Gold match the Russian Football Championship 1996 was held November 16, 1996 at the Petrovsky Stadium  in St. Petersburg.
In this match together for two years past the champion of Russia - Spartak Moscow (1992, 1993, 1994) and Alania Vladikavkaz (1995). As a result of 34-ty rounds of the championship team they scored 72 points, divided among themselves first place in the standings. In this case, according to the regulations of the Russian football championship in 1996, other indicators of performance teams not included - called for the holding of additional gold match.

Club Spotlight : Cska Sofia Story , ПФК ЦСКА София

  Le CSKA Sofia a été fondé le 5 mai 1948 et a été plusieurs fois rebaptisé club omnisports, Il compte 34 sections, véritables viviers du sport olympique bulgare. La section football vante 25 titres de champion de Bulgarie (dont 9 consécutifs entre 1954et 1962, 12 victoires en Coupe de l'Armée soviétique et 5 en Coupe de Bulgarie. En Coupe d Europe, le CSKA a participé 19 fois à la Coupe des champions (demi-finaliste en 1967 et 1982), 5 fois à la Coupe des coupes (demi-finaliste en 1989) et plusieurs fois à la Coupe de l'UEFA. Le stade est le "Narodna Armia" (32.000 places) mais des rencontres nt aussi lieu au stade national Vassill-Levski. Les footballeurs du CSKA bénéficient de structures impressionnantes : le complexe NarodnaA rmia (stade, préparation et entraînements), la base de Pancerevo (entraînements et mises au vert) et le complexe « Drapeau Rouge», plus particulièrement réservé aux jeunes. Le CSKA finance une section football (sorte de sport-études) au lycée sportif Chavdar de Sofia.

 Depuis 1990 Sredets est redevenu le CSKA, quatre ans après un épisode trouble qui a fortement marqué la vie du club. Juin 1985: le CSKA, club de l'armée, et le Levski, équipe du Ministère de l'Intérieur, disputent la finale de la Coupe de Bulgarie. Le match est émaillé d'incidents, sur le terrain et dans les tribunes. On se bat comme de vulgaires hooligans, bafouant la morale sportive socialiste. L'occasion est trop belle pour les instances politiques de sanctionner ces clubs qui font abusivement la loi dans le football bulgare. Finis les privilèges. Le résultat du match (2-1, pour le CSKA) est invalidé, plusieurs joueurs sont suspendus ou radiés «à vie» et, surtout, les deux équipes sont « rebaptisées » : le CSKA devient le Sredets (l'un des anciens noms de Sofia) et le Levski prend le nom de Vitosha (le nom d'une montagne qui domine la capitale bulgare). Boris Stankov, redevenu président de la section football du CSKA (il avait lui aussi été sanctionné), se souvient: "Ce fut une punition terrible, changer le nom de l'équipe.C'etait comme changer le nom d'un etre humain"! le nom d'un être humain. Une grande injustice. 

 Mais face à un gouvernement autoritaire, nous avons dû nous plier et nous avons souffert de cette décision. » En 1985, il est décidé que l'équipe de football du CSKA ne fait plus partie de l'armée bulgare. Le Sredets perd ainsi son principal soutien financier. Les joueurs, que l'on attirait autrefois au club en leur assurant une carrière d'officier, sont désormais des civils. Plus tard, l'équipe a été réhabilitée, elle a retrouvé son nom et se trouve à nouveau placée sous la tutelle du Ministère de la Défense. « Mais nous n'avons plus rien à voir avec l'armée bulgare », dit Boris Stankov. En fait, les joueurs ne sont pas militaires et le Ministère de la Défense, s'il apporte une aide morale et économique, n'a plus le pouvoir total de décision. Le « président» de la section foot n'est que le garant, au sein du club, de l'accomplissement de la nouvelle politique sportive du gouvernement. Celle-ci, au niveau des clubs, consiste notamment à donner plus d'autonomie aux différentes sections. En ce nouveau Millenaire, le Cska est en grande difficulté financiere et les paticipations Européennes sont plus qu'anecdotiques...

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P.L. 2011 2012 Tottenham Manchester United

4 march 2012
White Hart Lane,
London
Arbitre: M. Atkinson
Affluence: 36034  

  Onze Cents. Tel est le nombre de managers de clubs professionnels qui ont perdu leur poste en Angleterredepuisquele futur sir Alex succeda a Ron Atkinson en novembre 1986. Leur esperancede vie, pourtant plus longue dans ce pays que dans quelque autre en Europe, n'est plus que d'un an et six mois en moyenne. Seul Fergie est reste present, un quart de siecle, autant dire une eternite. 

 Peut-etre parce que, pour lui, cette eternite est d'abord un eternel present qui ne laisse pas de temps aux regrets. Steve McClaren, qui etait alors son assistant, a raconte comment, retrouvant son boss a Manchester deux jours apres que MU avait remporte la Ligue des champions de 1999, Ferguson n'avait pas fait une seule fois allusion au titre remporte a Barcelona. Il n'avait ete question que de la saison a venir, des trophees qui restaient a gagner, pas de celui remporte face au Bayern, dont la conquete I'avait pourtant obsede. L'homme, encore jeune, qui debarqua d'Ecosse en 1986 arrivait a Old Trafford barde de litres improbables acquis avec Aberdeen, mais aussi d'une reputation qu'il n'a pas completement perdue. Inflexible, emporte, pour ne pas dire violent, il avait multiplie les bras d'honneur a l'establishment. C'est que le seul reseau dont il fit jamais partie est celui qu'il se crea lui-meme. Pendant quatre longues saisons, il ne fit que survivre, malgre les millions depenses en joueurs par ses presidents Michael Knighton et Martin Edwards. 

  Seule une victoire en Cup en 1990, remportee par miracle, lui valut de conserver son poste. Par miracle, et par I'intercession d'un joueur nomme Mark Robins. Le 7 Janvier 1990, MU, 15e du Championnat, etait oppose au Nottingham Forest de Brian Clough en 32es de finale de cette competition. Robins, se levant du bane, marqua le but decisif qui sauvait son entralneur d'un limogeage predit par une presse qui voulait la peau de l'Ecossais. Et c'est encore Robins qui fit la difference lors de la demi-finale centre Oldham. Le condamné avait gagne son sursis, rien de plus. Un an plus tard, lorsque MU s'effondra dans les ultimes journees du Championnat pour offrir le titre a Leeds, Ferguson etait encore decrit comme un loser. C'etait avant qu'il leur fauche Cantona, bien sur, et que le loser ne devienne un ogre. 

 N'oublions pourtant pas que les deux decennies de succes presque ininterrompus qui suivirent furent aussi celles d'un penible apprentissage de l'Europe, de multiples clashes avec ses stars (Keane, Stam, Beckham, Rooney), de I'OPA des Glazer, centre laquelle son ame de militant socialiste se revoltait, d'une fausse retraite annoncee en 2001, de la fameuse affaire du cheval Rock of Gibraltar, de conflits permanents avec le corps arbitral, les medias et ceux de ses confreres qui ne I'acceptaient pas pour maltre: Wenger, puis Benitez, entre autres. Autant dire de quoi briser bien plus d'une vie que la sienne. Mais sir Alex a survecu. Parfois, lorsqu'il arrive a Carrington, des 7 heures du matin, il s'enferme dans son bureau apres une demi-heure passee au gymnase, puis son traditionnel breakfast d'un bol de cereales. Une tasse de the fumant a la main, il «evacue», pour reprendre son expression. Personne n'ose le deranger, evidemment. Et c'est pendant ces moments passes seul avec lui-meme que Ferguson engage un dialogue interieur secret; le secret de sa jeunesse, sans doute. Quand on reflechit bien, sir Alex Ferguson n'a que vingt-cinq ans.