Following the news that David Beckham is to hang up his boots at the end of the season, OTP explores some of the standout moments of the ex-England captain's career. 1. The free-kick against Greece Having already ran around like a man possessed to play Greece almost by himself for most of the match, Becks [.
Both Londoners, media darlings and wrapped in St George patriotism, Harry Redknapp and David Beckham are a super-bromance just waiting to happen.Despiteperceivedwisdom that the former England skipper would be out of his depth in the top tier of football, he has always been backed by a splurge of superlatives from good ol' Harry.
David Luiz scored a late winner with the last kick of the Europa League semi-final between Chelsea and Basel. The Brazilian fired a powerful sidefooted free-kick past goalkeeper Yann Sommer, who is likely to be pretty disappointed with his attempts to make a save. Julio Cesar will be pleased!
Sunderland midfielder Sebastian Larsson nearly scored the best own goal of all time during yesterday's victory over Everton. The Sweden international unleashed an overhit 45-yard backpass that very nearly lobbed goalkeeper Simon Mignolet. Mignolet was forced into emergency action and had to catch the ball before it sailed over his head and into the net.
Adel Taarabt is never usually too far away from controversy. QPR fans have to watch his fleeting moments of sheer brilliance sprinkled amid a lot of frustrating and baffling displays. But he can rarely have been quite as frustrating is in the closing stages of yesterday's 1-1 draw with relegation rivals Wigan.
Luis Suarez was instrumental in Liverpool's valiant attempts at a Europa League comeback against Zenit St Petersburg but again found the time to blot his copybook before the end of the match. The Uruguayan appeared to stamp on Tomas Hubocan's back in what looked like an entirely avoidable incident in the closing stages of [.
This will do nothing to quell those Gareth Bale to Real Madrid rumours. A day after Cristiano Ronaldo went close against Manchester United with a 40-yard free-kick, Bale went one better to show him how it's done. The Welshman opened the scoring in last night's 2-1 victory over Lyon in the Europa League.
You can guarantee that the Liverpool fans who'd braved the snow to travel up the M62 (and round the M60) for their FA Cup tie at Oldham were not expecting the highlight of their afternoon to be seeing a former Everton player fall over. Alas, that's the way it worked out. Jose Baxter was the [...]
England under-21s picked up a comfortable 4-0 win over nine-man Austria under-21s at Brighton's Amex Stadium last night. Liverpool midfielder Jonjo Shelvey opened the scoring with a low free-kick from the edge of the box. A penalty from Josh McEachran and goals from Marvin Sordell and Connor Wickham completed the scoring.
As part of his ambassadorial trip to China, David Beckham illustrated why he recommends taking free-kicks in football boots rather than formal shoes. The PSG player fell over as he attempted to demonstrate his legendary prowess with a dead ball.
Newcastle defender Steven Taylor can claim an 'assist' of sorts for Yohan Cabaye's free-kick against Stoke yesterday. Taylor had some fund trying to distract Begovic from his efforts to line-up the Potters' wall by stalking him across the goal-line blocking his view. And the plan worked as Cabaye curled in the equaliser in a 2-1 [.
A footballer is entitled to feel a little bit unlucky if they watch a free-kick hit the bar and rebound to safety. They can feel particularly aggrieved if their free-kick hits the bar twice. That's what happened to United Arab Emirates player Khamis Ismaeel during his side's match against Kuwait. His effort crashed against the [.
It's always nice when you see a new style of goal being scored... and we've never seen this one before. Falcao the futsal legend, not the Atletico Madrid striker gave you something to aspire to during your next five-a-side match by unleashing this unbelievable free-kick. Lobbing the keeper is impressive enough in indoor [.
SønderjyskE midfielder Conor O'Brien is not S-ing around, man. The winter freebie netted a long free kick to open a 4-0 DBU Pokalen victory at Hjørring. The hot transfer topic now has three goals and four assists in his last 15 outings across all competition - from holding midfield.Clip to come, not sure how soon.
Leo Messi continues his incandescent national form which can only be good for Argentina's World
Cup chances. The little maestro unleashed a free kick that swerved past the wall and lodged into
goal. The Albiceleste's Real Madrid contingent also contributed with Angel Di Maria opening his
country's account and Gonzalo Higuain adding to that tally.
Leo Messi continues his incandescent national form which can only be good for Argentina's World
Cup chances. The little maestro unleashed a free kick that swerved past the wall and lodged into
goal. The Albiceleste's Real Madrid contingent also contributed with Angel Di Maria opening his
country's account and Gonzalo Higuain adding to that tally.
Vincent Kompany's inch perfect header and Jan Vertonghen's sizzling free kick provided the
scoring highlights.
This might be the best Belgian side since the Enzo Scifo- Jan Cuelemans- Nico Claesen- Eric
Gerets era. The present squad can choose between the goalkeeping abilities of Simone Mignolet and
Thibaut Courtois.
Spain stuck five unanswered goals past Saudi Arabia, with Santi Cazorla prodding home a rebound
to open proceedings, Pedro dinking a brace over the 'keeper and substitute David Villa scoring a
penalty on his international comeback following his nasty shin knack though goal of the night
belonged to Xavi (just about, Pedro's first was also a bit special), with the Barcelona midfielder
curling in an exquisite free-kick for Spain's third.
The USA celebrated a historical win over Mexico beating them for the first time in Mexico about
three weeks ago. Today, it was the Reggae Boyz recording their first win ever against the USA in
nineteen meetings as they took advantage of a midfield without Michael Bradley and his potential
link up with the men on top.
It was a must win for the United States and win they did, defeating Jamaica in the two sides' second match in just five games. Doling out a healthy dose of calm, possession soccer with a generous helping of attacking sharpness, the United States brought their point total to 7 points in their group, which makes them even with Jamaica as well as Guatemala.
Despite some pre-match fear mongering in the press, Jurgen Klinsmann's confident declaration that the U.S. woudn't lose to Jamaica again proved well founded. Though the U.S. only beat Jamaica 1-0 in Ohio after losing 2-1 in Jamaica on Friday, the difference in the two performances was tremendous.
The United States road woes in CONCACAF 2014 World Cup Qualifying continued on Friday night as
they fell 2-1 in Jamaica.
Clint Dempsey put the U.S. in the lead just 36 seconds into the match, but Rodolph Austin
knotted the score directly off a free kick in the 23rd minute and then Luton Shelton scored the
winner for Jamaica on another set piece in the 62nd minute.
The United States needs a win in CONCACAF 2014 World Cup Qualifying as they host Jamaica on
September 11, 2012. The match will take place at Columbus Crew Stadium with kickoff scheduled for 8
PM USA EST.
USA manager Jurgen Klinsmann
"We gave away cheap free kicks and lost the game based on that.
Jamaica defeated the United States in CONCACAF 2014 World Cup Qualifying on September 7, 2012.
It's Jamaica's first win against the USA in 19 matches. Few expected the match to be easy or a
given for the United States as they were without key players Michael Bradley and Landon
Donovan.
Things couldn't have started out better for the USA as Clint Dempsey scored in the first
minute.
Jamaica, Honduras, Canada, Mexico, and Guatemala all won as El Salvador and Guyana played to a
draw in CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying on September 7, 2012.
Cuba 0-3 Honduras
Honduras won their first match in Group C with a convincing performance at the Estadio Pedro
Marrero.
31′ 0 1 Jerry Bengston 63′ 0 2 Victor Bernárdez 90′ +2′ 0 3 Marvin Chavez Canada 1-0
Panama
Canada moved on top of Group C with a crucial home win at BMO Field.
While Jamaica's win over the United States garnered much of the headlines on Friday, there were
plenty of other intriguing World Cup qualifying match-ups that took place in CONCACAF.
The most signifcant was Canada's win over Panama at BMO Field in Toronto.
SEATTLE, Wash. - They play the games for a reason, and for 88 minutes Saturday afternoon
swooning Chivas USA (7-12-7) looked like it might defy the odds and earn a draw with the Seattle
Sounders (13-6-8).
But this late in the season there are also reasons why some teams are fighting for the
Supporters' Shield while others watch their playoff hopes dwindle away.
The one thing missing from the Seattle Sounders' arsenal this year has been the ability to score
a come-from-behind victory. Thanks to a pair of goals from Eddie Johnson, that's no longer an
issue.
Johnson scored a brace, with the game-winner coming on a 89th minute header from a Fredy Montero
assist, as the Sounders beat Chivas USA 2-1 on Saturday.
Jonjo Shelvey scored one and set up another as England moved within touching distance of the UEFA
Under-21 Championship play-offs with a 2-0 victory in Azerbaijan.
Liverpool midfielder Shelvey's first goal for the Young Lions followed Steven Caulker's third to
send Stuart Pearce's men five points clear at the top of qualifying Group Eight with one match
remaining.
‘I would like to take free-kicks like Ronaldinho' – Messi, 2008
It is January, 2008. As Ronaldinho waits to be brought on in Barcelona's Copa del Rey
quarter-final at the Camp Nou, a penalty is awarded against Villarreal – they are, with Barcelona
already 1-0 up, going out of the competition.
1. The battle for fourth is hotting up after Tottenham's draw with Everton. It looks like that and one relegation place is what we'll all be talking about on the last day of the season. 2. Harry Redknapp has been saying for weeks that Bobby Zamora would kickstart QPR's relegation fight. We're not sure that's [.
Bournemouth midfielder Eunan O'Kane was responsible for conceding one of the strangest penalties you will ever see during his side's defeat at Walsall on Saturday. O'Kane thought his side had been awarded a free-kick outside the box, casually flicked the ball up inside the area and caught it. But the ref had not stopped play [.
A.J. Soares scored the game-winner on Saturday. (Photo: Joshua Pearson)
The New England Revolution had played all 33 games this season without scoring a goal off a free kick, yet on Saturday, in the team's season finale, it was a free kick that would lead the Revolution to victory over the Montreal Impact.
Given that there is no definitive 'top' and 'bottom' in space, as far as we can tell, Australia isn't really 'down under', is it? Of course, that doesn't stop the headline writers referring to the country as though it's clinging on to the underside of the Earth for dear life, or otherwise exists as a land mostly occupied by red dirt and kangaroos – and it is – and is altogether otherworldly.
Once again on the road Portland digs themselves a hole to climb out of with a goal giving up in the 14th minute on a free kick. Twenty minutes later on another free kick Portland gave up the second goal of the half. In the second half Portland showed some life but could only come up with a consolation goal and go down 2-1 on the road.
It's unsporting, it's poor form or, more likely, it was an innocent accident. Whatever Yohan Cabaye's motives, it was a stroke of genius and OTP can't believe it hasn't been done sooner. With Everton breaking forward during last night's pulsating 2-2 draw at Goodison Park, Cabaye tripped Fellaini near the halfway line causing him to [.
The new football season brings new hopes. I was hoping to cash in on the new found glory by
going for an away day at Old Trafford in what was a great time with Fulham riding high in the
league after the 5-0 demolition job of Norwich and United losing to Everton in the first round of
fixtures.
FALL RIVER, Mass. Dean Williams scored the lone goal to lead the Taunton Eagles to a 1-0 win
over Fall River Sports in the first leg of LUSA Cup competition at Billy Gonsalves Field on
Saturday.
Williams scored in the 44th minute while Eagles keeper Sean Gonsalves made five saves to give
the Eagles a crucial one-goal advantage going into Wednesday's second leg in Taunton.
England got their 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign off to a flier beating Moldova last night
5-0 with a brace from Frank Lampard, Jermaine Defoe grabbed the third with James Milner grabbing
his first competitive England goal to make it four and a Leighton Baines free-kick which deflected
off the wall and in made it 5-0 to the Group favourites.
