Via SoccerbyIves.net: Lionel Messi returned to action on Sunday and not only did he show no ill effects of the knee injury suffered in Wednesday's Champions League match against Benfica, he scored two impressive goals to mark his place in soccer history.
Messi scored his 85th and 86th goals of the calendar year on Sunday, helping Barcelona post a 2-1 victory against Real Betis, and helping him break Gerd Muller's record for official goals in a calendar year (combined official club matches and national team matches).
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.
A moving tribute by the Toffees to remember the 96 fallen before the Newcastle game. To the Everton fans who made this day about fans no matter where and what stripe they support. And David Moyes showing that he's not just a manager but a class act through and through:
"I applaud the families who continued to fight for the ones they loved.
Piotr Trochowski's majestically swept in half volley following a corner in the 2nd minute was the game winner. "Sad" Ronaldo did not do much. It was a bad tempered match and after losing Real are in 10th position. Not exactly keeping up with Barca are they? Mourinho was quite blunt:
Peter Crouch must have committed about five handballs before scoring but the referee failed to spot even a single one. There was nothing dodgy however about Asimir Begovic's goalkeeping. He brought off at least three spectacular saves. However, he could not keep out Javi Garcia, who made his City debut as did Maicon and Scott Sinclair.
Not exactly Chelsea's best match. There was no Juan Mata but there was plenty of Frank Lampard which does not make for pretty viewing. There were two close penalty calls, the first when John Terry seemed to be gang tackled by Ryan Nelsen and then Eden Hazard was brought down by Shaun Wright- Phillips.
He won in court and now he wants his handshake too? Anton Ferdinand snubbed John Terry and a bit later Ashley Cole, his co-conspirator declining to shake their hands. Lip reading Terry, he appears to say, "My handshake is better than yours, damn right!"
Danny Welbeck is a diver. His acting abilities earned Utd an penalty. So it was justice served when Chicharito Hernandez's soft spot kick was saved. Sir Alex Ferguson started Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes who was making his 700th appearance. The most intriguing change was 23 year old Alexander Buttner's appearance in place of Patrice Evra.
Being: Liverpool is a FSC documentary with the first episode to be aired this Sunday, the 16th. There are enough examples to show Brendan Rodgers channels David Brent in his interviews. He also has a self portrait hanging on a wall in his living room. So without further ado, above a clip of Brent on football management.
Arsene Wenger has opted for caution following Abou Diaby's niggling hip injury sustained against Finland last Friday. He most likely will not feature in Arsenal's home game this Saturday against the Saints as a precautionary measure. Which given Diaby's extensive history of being crocked is probably a wise thing to do.
The Bars of Aragon, part of the Catalonian flag will feature in the 2013-14 kit
Two days ago, a million and a half Catalonians demonstrated in Barcelona in an unmistakably fervent call for independence from Spain. The president of Barcelona, Sandro Rosell attended that demonstration with his family as a private citizen, not representing the club.
The Hillsborough Panel's report exposing a systematic and pernicious police cover up has in its aftermath generated a growing list of personalities apologizing for their part in blaming fans for causing Britain's most horrific peacetime tragedy. As many have put it, this was the mother of all cover ups.
There are many ways one can define success, especially in this football era which clearly divides the haves from the have nots. That is what one gets after reading Ivan Gazidis's Telegraph interview.
Gazidis is the CEO of Arsenal, and a marketing and PR man by profession who was hired to develop the commercial interests of the club.
The editor of The Sun, Dominic Mohan says, "we're deeply ashamed and profoundly sorry". At the background you can read a banner with the self anointed, "THE GREATEST PAPER IN THE WORLD." You can't get more alternate reality.
The panel finds that a total of 41 people out of 96 "had the potential to be saved" beyond the 1515 time determined by the original inquest.
This was the most chilling part of the whole report. There were many who had reversible signs and symptoms of asphyxia and their lives could have been saved if the coroner had conducted a thorough inquest and not stuck to an arbitrary cut off.
Kelvin Mackenzie, the editor of The Sun whose infamous "The Truth" laid blame on the fans
Twenty three years later, the Hillsborough tragedy was revealed as resulting from a "failure in police control" and "multiple failures" within other organizations that compromised crowd safety.
Mexico at the Azteca Stadium beat Costa Rica through a Javier Hernandez header in the 60th minute. With a flawless record, a full nine points from three matches, El Tri coast to the hexagonal part of the CONCACAF qualifying round.
Five other countries will join them in this last round to decide the first three World Cup spots with a fourth that could be added potentially if they beat the top team of the Oceania Football Confederation which in this case is most likely to be New Zealand.
The giddy highs of Andy Murray winning yesterday at the US Open gave way to the more familiar struggle of Scotland trying to qualify for a World Cup now going on its 14th year.
This time against an enterprising Macedonian side which was fortunate to get on the scoreboard through what looked like an offside goal scored by Nikolche Noveski.
The first half was a virtual lockdown of Jamaica in their own half as the USA created a blistering barrage of scoring chances that met either structural failure (upright, crossbar), Dwayne Millers's spectacular saves, or Nyron Nosworthy's blocks. In all, the USA could have easily gone up at least three up and made this a no contest.
Yevhen Konoplianka at 22 years of age is a marked man. Marked by bigger clubs who sat up and took note of the winger who had his way with Glen Johnson at will and scored Ukraine's goal with a beautifully curling shot from 20 yards out. A little bit of yevhen.
He was a notch above his better known team mate Andriy Yarmalenko whose biggest contribution was two bits of play acting that resulted in Jermain Defoe's goal being annulled as well inadvertently creating the break away that resulted in Konoplianka's strike.
The USA sit behind Jamaica in Group A, tied for second with Guatemala. The Americans meet Jamaica today, for the second time in four days after their first match resulted in a historic victory for the Reggae Boyz. The Guatemalans travel to Antigua and Barbuda where they hope Carlos Ruiz and Dwight Pezzarossi, their in form strikers will continue to find their goalscoring touch.
Kealia Ohai scores the game winner in the 44th minute following great work down the right flank
by full back Crystal Dunn and then celebrates a la Megan Rapinoe.
Congratulations, girls, that was a sweet victory against a formidable opponent who had beaten
the USA, 3-0 in the group stage.
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.
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.
Frank Lampard collects a brace from a spot kick and a header. Jermain Defoe combines with Alex
Oxlade - Chamberlain in an Arsenal- Spurs hook up to score a third. James Milner collects a fourth
after a clever interchange involving Tom Cleverley and Theo Walcott. And Leighton Baines finishes
off hapless Moldova with a deflected free kick.
More proof that Alex Song's departure was not because he was a disruptive locker room presence
but governed by an economic imperative. And it comes from Bacary Sagna, probably one of the calmest
presences in the Arsenal locker room and not given to hyperbole. In an interview with L'Equipe:
" Everyone was expecting Robin van Persie to leave, but Alex Song, that was a
surprise.
Caught in the midst of angst and anxiety of Arsenal getting on board with scoring, comes the
news of Pia Sundhage's stepping down as US Women's national team coach over the weekend. She joined
in 2007 in one the lowest points in team history, the 4-0 loss to Brazil in the World Cup
semi-finals following a huge conflagration between Greg Ryan and Hope Solo which resulted in the US
goalie's dismissal.
" Then I remember - I drank a few bevvies while I was away. I'm stocky. I'm not like Ryan
Giggs, all bone and lean muscle."
So writes Wayne Rooney in his new book, My Decade in the Premier League. He now has problems
walking for at least a half hour the morning after a game.
When is a deal between two clubs not a straight deal? When it involves a third party.
Spurs found out Joao Moutinho's economic interests were not just owned by Porto but a third
party investor who wanted to be paid his share of the transfer fee. It's all quite complex and the
Guardian has the goods.
"You'll never stop loving me, will you, oh beautiful reflection?"
'Tis not about the money. Cristiano Ronaldo feels unloved by his club, his manager, his locker
room, and his fans.
" In regard to the Santiago Bernabéu faithful, he still lays the blame on the fans for not
unanimously defending him on the day he was booed and for not worshiping him every time he scores a
goal.
Beautiful goal by Adriano Correia who was panned just last week for that mindless challenge on
Cristiano Ronaldo earning him a red card. Ten man Barca went on to lose the Spanish Super Cup on
Real's away goal advantage.
But the story is the plummeting form and minutes of Cesc Fabregas under Tito Vilanova.
This was a muted Cristiano Ronaldo. No extravagant fist pumping, sliding on the pitch, he did
not even look at the monitor to check out his goals as his wont. He scored his 150th and 151st goal
for the club before being taken off after picking up an injury. Gonzalo Higuain scored the third
and final goal.
No one would be caught dead with Irina Shayk. Putting up with her is just sad.
The Spanish media is all atwitter about Cristiano Ronaldo not celebrating his goals against
Granada. Reports say he is "sad" at Real Madrid. There is talk he feels unloved in the locker
room.
Have you ever noticed how Ronaldo can't tear his eyes away from the monitor when he scores goals
as he barely acknowledges team mates jumping on his back, hugging him, pinching his cheeks in
celebration?
Damn Yankees: Gillett and Hicks followed by Henry and Werner
It's not been two months since Brendan Rodgers came on board and already fans are slating him
for Liverpool's worst start since 1968. Is he responsible for Martin Skrtel's bone headed giveaway
to City? Or Steven Gerrard's ill advised pass?
Whoo! Hat tip to a wonderful collective effort by Arsenal on their trip to Anfield. Santi
Cazorla and Lukas Podolski delivered the attacking goods while Abou Diaby was simply outstanding in
centre midfield pushing up. The defense orchestrated by Thomas Vermaelen fell back in numbers
keeping their shape as Liverpool recycled the ball repeatedly to try and crack them open.
The Guardian has an article detailing how a cash strapped Liverpool could only offer a feeble
£5m for the American. Now, to be fair, the article's emphasis is on the club's criminal waste of
money on transfers made under Kenny Dalglish and Damien Comolli. But herein lies the rub.
FSG offered up £20m as a transfer budget plus whatever player sales they could generate which
went in acquiring Joe Allen, Fabio Borini, Oussama Assaidi, Samed Yesil, and Nuri Sahin (£3m in
loan fees) which added up to £30m.
Since the dawn of religion, worshippers have venerated sacred places and objects in honour of a greater faith.
For football lovers, touring a city's stadium is akin to visiting its cathedral, and in the case of such hallowed grounds like the Bombonera, Camp Nou, Azteca or Maracana, who can disagree there is something transcendental about the arenas where unforgettable rites of football have taken place every week for years.
Antonio Cassano scored his debut goal for Inter but it was not enough to keep Zdenek Zeman's
Roma team plundering three in return. Check out Marquinho's goal from the tightest of angles. A
sliver of daylight and that is all that was needed.
Michael Bradley is out with a quadriceps injury and will not feature in the US national side's
upcoming World Cup qualifier against Jamaica.
