Eurosport
Arsene Wenger insists there is “nothing” in reports that key midfielder Alexander Hleb is set to follow Mathieu Flamini out of the club.
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The Belarus international’s agent Nikolai Shpilevski was quoted on Friday morning claiming the 27-year-old “is leaving” Emirates Stadium this summer, with Internazionale most strongly linked as a possible destination.
Arsenal boss Wenger has previously reacted angrily to rumoured interest from the Italians, even claiming he might report them for ‘tapping up’ the former Stuttgart player.
But he has insisted that there was no reason to suspect that Hleb would not be playing for the London club next season.
Asked if there had been any developments, Wenger told Arsenal TV: “Frankly, no.
“You cannot stop people talking but at the moment there is nothing [to discuss].
“I believe that usually all the players want to stay, and I expect this team to say ‘let’s make a pact together, come back next year and win’.
“That’s what I expect them to do and my priority is to keep the team together, add what I think can help us to even be better and then see from there.”
Wenger also insisted there was nothing more the club could have done to keep hold of out-of-contract Flamini, who signed a four-year deal with Milan this week.
But the Gunners manager sees no reason to hold a grudge against his countryman.
Asked if everything possible had been done to keep the Frenchman, Wenger said: “Yes. I believe that even Mathieu would concede that.
“We put him in the bracket of where we could go [financially, with a contract offer], and we made him that offer, but unfortunately it wasn’t enough.
“We have to accept that because Mathieu was a good servant of the club for four years and he came without costing any transfer fee and left without costing any transfer fee, so he was free to go.”
Wenger does not believe that Flamini’s exit means a central midfielder must be brought in this summer, citing Denilson, Abou Diaby and Alex Song as possible replacements.
He is also hopeful that Brazilian Gilberto may still be at the club next term.
“I personally would like him to stay but he has to make a decision on that - I want him to feel comfortable,” said Wenger.
“I like Gilberto and since he has been playing again he has shown how good he is as a player, but we will see.”
Wenger has, meanwhile, tipped Manchester United to claim the Premier League title on Sunday by winning at Wigan.
If they do so, whatever Chelsea achieve against Bolton at Stamford is likely to be an irrelevance, given the Red Devils’ superior goal difference.
Asked for his title tip, Wenger said: “You would say Man United because Wigan do not have a lot to go for and a team who has only 90 minutes to play, of that quality, doesn’t give it away.
“But there is always an uncertainty about the game because you can have a player sent off in the first minute and a penalty against you and then struggle.
“But logically it should be Man United.”
Sporting Life / Eurosport
Share This Article ]]>Ufunuo huo uliwekwa bayana juzi usiku wakati Waziri wa Habari, Utamaduni na Michezo, George Mkuchika alipozungumza katika hafla ya chakula cha jioni kwa ajili ya kuwapongeza wachezaji wa Taifa Stars kwa kuishindi Uganda kwa mabao 2-0 iliyofanyika kwenye hoteli ya New Africa.
“Tena nimekuja kuwaambieni Rais Kikwete hataki timu ishindwe nyumbani,” alisema Mkuchika kabla ya kukabidhi Dola 100 za Kimarekani kwa kila mchezaji kama pongezi kwa ushindi huo.
Mkuchika hakufafanua zaidi kauli hiyo, lakini akasema kuwa walikuwa wakisubiri kwa hamu kuona hilo linatekelezwa wakati wakati Stars ilipoikaribisha Uganda kwenye Uwanja wa CCM Kirumba Jumamosi iliyopita.
“Kazi bado,” alisema Mkuchika, ambaye ni kepteni mstaafu wa jeshi.
“Wakati mkiongoza kwa mabao 2-0, tulikuwa tunaomba bao la tatu lije ili kazi iwe ngumu kwa Waganda nyumbani kwao. Lakini haikuwezekana, hivyo mnapoenda kwao, msiende kujihami. Ongezeni goli, halafu mengine yafuate.”
Rais Kikwete alikuwepo katika mechi ya kwanza ya michuano ya kuwania tiketi ya kucheza fainali zilizopita za Mataifa ya Afrika wakati Taifa Stars ilipoikaribisha Burkina Faso kwenye Uwanja wa Taifa.
Katika mechi hiyo, Stars ilishinda kwa mabao 2-1, lakini akakosa mechi ya mwisho baina ya Stars na Msumbiji kwenye Uwanja Mkuu wa Taifa, wakati wageni waliposhinda kwa bao 1-0. Alikosa mechi hiyo kwa kuwa alikuwa na shughuli za kikazi mkoani Arusha, lakini aliongea na wachezaji siku moja kabla ya mchezo huo.
Stars haikuweza kufuzu baada ya kushindwa kulinda uongozi wake wa bao 1-0 dhidi ya Senegal mjini Mwanza na baadaye kuruhusu kipigo hicho cha nyumbani. Katika mechi nyingine za michuano hiyo, Stars ilitandikwa mabao 4-0 na Senegal jijini Dakar, ikatoka suluhu na Msumbiji jijini Maputo na kushinda kwa bao 1-0 dhidi ya Burkina Faso jijini Ouagadougou.
Share This Article ]]>AT last the long awaited Taifa Cup competition is back thanks to the Tanzania Breweries Limited’s sponsorship through its Safari brand.
Taifa competitions are probably the oldest competitions which involve combined soccer teams from all over the Mainland part of this country. During its earlier days back in the 60s of the last century, the competition was known as the Sunlight Cup, a name derived from then sponsors of the regional competitions - Sunlight Soap Industry.
In the past, Taifa Cup was regarded as the most significant competition in the country and it served a number of roles, including facilitating the selection of the national squad. It was during these competitions when the national soccer coaches spotted and picked players from all over the country.
Unlike the present practice which has made a big number of the national team players to come from Dar es Salaam, the national players of the old days came from different regions and they kept going back to their regions to play for their clubs in the region after playing matches involving the national team.
To be precise, Taifa Cup competitions of the past brought together the best players from all over the country to play in one venue in a knock-out basis whose final saw the best teams fighting for the title. In fact, players who represented their regions enjoyed a lot of respect and esteem from the public and they were seriously dedicated to effectively represent their regions.
Regional combined teams were picked through district competitions which involved the best players from all corners of the regions. By so doing, a good number of talented players from the villages found their way to the national team through their participation in the Taifa Cup competitions.
Players like Yunge Mwanasali, Mohamed Chuma, John Lyimo, Saleh Zimbwe and Athman Mambosasa are just some of the few prominent ex-national players who were spotted and picked during Taifa Cup competitions.
Arguably, matters of affairs have changed so far. The present national team is full of Dar-es Salaam-based players who play for Simba and Yanga. Of course there is a clear justification for this, since Simba and Yanga seize all the best players from all over the country. There has been a long lasting myth that no matter how good a player is, it is hard for him to find his way to the national team unless he plays for Yanga or Simba.
This misconception has led most players to believe that the only way for them to be accepted as equally good players who can be picked to play for the national team was to be Yanga or Simba players. This practice led to a paralysis of a good number of upcountry clubs whose players were hijacked by the two Dar es Salaam-based clubs, Simba and Yanga. Tukuyu for instance, lost all its best players to Yanga and Simba after becoming the Mainland champions in 1986.
The loss of players such as Godwin Aswile, Salum Kabunda, Mbwana Makata, John Alex, Justin Nicodemus Mtekere and thereafter Steven Musa who joined Yanga as well as Michael Kidilu, Aston Pardon and Selemani Mathew who joined Simba left Tukuyu Star with only two strikers; Peter Mwakibibi and Richard Lumumba from its first eleven starters.
The two Tanga-based teams - African Sports and Coastal Union - also suffered the same blow after losing a number of players to the two Dar-es-salaam based clubs.
The present Taifa Cup does not have the same goals of the 1960s which aimed at selecting the best players to form the national team. Taifa Cup competition should be used as a window through which young talented players from all over the country display their expertise in soccer.
It is very sad that the Tanzania Football Federation has not restricted an age limit to the Taifa Cup competitors. The ongoing games would have been more useful to the country’s soccer if youth players were encouraged to take part in.
It is very much unfortunate that most teams will feature the very same players that we have seen in the just ended premier league, an aspect which will not alleviate the ailing state of Tanzania’s soccer standard.
The better future of any nation’s sports excellence depends on how well the youth are prepared at a tender age including inculcating into them competitive experience. Allowing premier league players to feature in the Taifa Cup denies the young upcoming players to display their skills.
Hopefully the future will see some changes for the good future and glory of the country.
syllersaid.mziray@out.ac.tz
Eurosport -
Newly crowned La Liga champions Real Madrid piled the misery on arch rivals Barcelona with an embarrassingly comfortable 4-1 victory at the Bernabeu.
Barca were forced to form a guard of honour for Bernd Schuster’s men prior to kick-off, and they were a goal down inside a quarter of an hour thanks to a typically clinical finish from Raul.
Arjen Robben made it two shortly afterwards when he headed home from Guti’s free-kick, before substitutes Gonzalo Higuain and Ruud van Nistelrooy completed the visitors’ misery in the second half.
Thierry Henry netted a late consolation, but it was not enough to soften the blow of being consigned to Champions League pre-qualifying next season by second-placed Villarreal’s earlier win at Recreativo.
The visitors saw a lot of the ball in the game’s opening stages, but with 12 minutes gone Real took the lead when Raul curled an inch-perfect shot around Victor Valdes from the edge of the box after Guti’s trip on Rafael Marquez went unnoticed.
Less than 10 minutes later it was 2-0 as Robben followed up his header in the title-clinching 2-1 win at Osasuna at the weekend with another headed effort after Guti’s right-wing free-kick caught the Barca defence napping.
Real’s passing displayed a fluency that has typified some of their best performances this season, and Guti and Robben both drew saves from Valdes before the break.
Los Merengues continued to dominate in the second period, and after Sylvinho brilliantly blocked Robben’s cross from the left, Xavi was forced to hack Mahamadou Diarra’s prodded effort off the line.
Diarra was quickly back on the attack though, and with just under half an hour to play his pass from the right allowed Higuain - who had been on the pitch less than an minute - to calmly lift the ball over Valdes.
Carles Puyol then conceded a penalty when he used his arms to block Robinho’s shot from the left-hand edge of the area, enabling Van Nistelrooy to tuck the ball past Valdes from 12 yards with his first touch after coming on for Raul.
Henry coolly tucked the ball home from Lionel Messi’s through-ball to claim a late consolation, before Xavi’s injury-time sending off for a second bookable offence sealed a dismal night and a wretched season for the Catalan giants.
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RECREATIVO HUELVA 0 VILLARREAL 2
Goals from Nihat Kahveci and Guillermo Franco allowed Villarreal to stretch their lead over third-placed Barcelona to seven points with a 2-0 win at relegation-threatened Recreativo.
The game at the Nuevo Colombino got off to a scrappy start enlightened by the departure of Recre midfielder Rafael Barber with an injury sustained while slyly attempting to trip Nihat.
Recre, who went into the game just outside the relegation zone, then began to force the issue, and after the busy Florent Sinama-Pongolle cracked a shot against the crossbar from the edge of the area, visiting goalkeeper Diego Lopez produced an excellent point-blank save to deny Ruben.
But the visitors emerged from half-time with fresh purpose, and after five minutes of the second period they went ahead when Nihat curled a free-kick into the bottom-left corner from 25 yards.
Javier Camunas and Ruben forced Lopez into saves as Recre hunted an equaliser, but they were undone by a well-constructed counter-attack with 10 minutes remaining that saw substitute Franco tuck home Santi Cazorla’s low centre from the left.
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DEPORTIVO CORUNA 1 LEVANTE 0
Striker Riki grabbed the win for Deportivo against their relegated opponents with a clever improvised finish three minutes from time.
The Levante players staged a protest after the kickoff at the club’s failure to pay them by standing still in the centre circle while a Deportivo player ran the length of the pitch and hoofed the ball out of play for a goal kick.
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GETAFE 4 ALMERIA 2
A first victory in eight games for Getafe but they did it the hard way, battling their way back after Albert Crusat and an own goal from defender Daniel Cata Diaz had put Almeria 2-0 up after a little over 10 minutes.
Striker Juan Albin began the fightback when he snapped in after the Almeria defence failed to clear a free kick and Manu del Moral equalised with a stunning solo effort just after the hour.
Del Moral struck again to put Getafe 3-2 up when he drilled in a first-time shot midway through the second half and midfielder Esteban Ganero wrapped up from the penalty spot after a handball from former Getafe player Ruben Pulido.
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RACING SANTANDER 0 SEVILLA 3
Sevilla stayed in the hunt for a Champions League place with this impressive win in torrential rain.
Racing spurned the chance to take the lead when Argentine midfielder Aldo Duscher smashed a penalty against the bar and were made to pay by Sevilla defender Federico Fazio who scored either side of the break to put the visitors 2-0 up.
Racing had defender Ayoze sent off nine minutes from time and Renato added a third when his shot took a deflection off defender Jose Moraton and ended up in the back of the net.
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REAL MALLORCA 2 OSASUNA 1
Osasuna remain in the relegation zone after this costly defeat against the in-form islanders.
Mallorca striker Dani Guiza took his tally for the season to 25 when he fired past keeper Ricardo with a pin-point first time shot in the first half but Javier Portillo looked to have earned his side a point when equalised 16 minutes from time.
The former Real Madrid striker blotted his copy book when he was sent off seven minutes later for a reckless challenge on Fernando Navarro and Oscar Trejo snatched the win for Mallorca in the final minute.
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REAL BETIS 1 VALLADOLID 1
Honours even between two sides battling for survival in the top flight.
Winger Mark Gonzalez put Betis in front from the penalty spot early in the second half, striker Victor drilled in the equaliser and Valladolid managed to hang on for a point despite having Daniel Cifuentes sent off 10 minutes from time.
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REAL MURCIA 1 ATHLETIC BILBAO 2
Bilbao fell behind to an early goal from Uruguayan striker Ivan Alonso but hit back for a win thanks to a goal from towering centre forward Fernando Llorente and a late effort from midfielder Igor Gabilondo.
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VALENCIA 1 REAL ZARAGOZA 0
Victory for Valencia in a classic relegation six-pointer thanks to a neatly worked goal from David Silva on 21 minutes.
The Spain international took the gloss of the win, however, when he was sent off late in the game after picking up two quick-fire bookings, the second for dissent.
Tom Williams / Eurosport / Reuters
Share This Article ]]>The Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda ordered ministries, regional and district commissioners to have sports budgets.
Pinda gave the directive when he was launching the Taifa Cup soccer tournament at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam yesterday.
“We must have sports budgets because this it one of the ways to advertise our country, it also makes the country respected if we perform well,“ the premier said.
He congratulated Tanzania Breweries Limited (TBL) on sponsoring the event. The PM urged other firms to follow suit.
He appealed to the 23 competing teams to apply fair play and be ready to accept defeat.
In the opening match, Iringa beat Manyara 4-1.
The winners used only five minutes to score the first goal through Yusuf Keita before the scorer added the second goal in the 16th minute.
Jeremiah Juma scored the other two goals in the 60th and 88th minutes respectively, while Sunday Mushi scored the lone goal for Manyara in the 23rd minute.
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Akizungumza na Mwananchi jana, Katibu Mkuu wa Kamati ya Olimpiki Tanzania, TOC, Filbert Bayi alisema mchezo wa kuogelea umeongezwa katika mashindano ya Olimpiki kutokana na wanamichezo wake kufanya vizuri michezo ya dunia huko Manchester, Uingereza.
”Wanamichezo wetu walikwenda Manchester na wamefanya vizuri na sasa wanakwenda Beijing kwenye Michezo ya Olimpiki,” alisema Bayi.
Alisema: ”Hayo ni mashindano makubwa sana na ya kimataifa ambayo yalishirikisha nchi mbalimbali zaidi ya 60 zinashiriki hivyo ni nafasi ya kipekee kwa Tanzania kuweza kujifunza mengi na mapya katika michezo hiyo,” alisema.
Bayi alisema kwa sasa vyama hivyo vipo katika maandalizi mazuri na wanaendelea kuwasiliana na vyama hivyo ili kuandaa washiriki waweze kujiandaa vizuri na mapema ikiwa ni moja ya kuendeleza michezo nchini na kuitangaza Tanzania ndani na nje ya nchi.
Tanzania ilikuwa iwakilishwe na ngumi na riadha pekee kwenye michezo hiyo iliyopangwa kuwanza Agosti 8 hadi 24.
Share This Article ]]>Tenga aliwaambia waandishi wa habari jana kuwa shirikisho lake limesikitishwa na taarifa za kutaka kubadilisha matumizi ya uwanja huo wakati jiji wa Mwanza bado likiwa linahitaji viwanja nane kwa ajili soka.
Alisema iwapo uwanja huo utabakia na kukabidhiwa mikononi mwake chini ya chama cha soka mkoa, uwanja huo wataukarabati ikiwa ni pamoja na kuuwekea nyasi bandia ili uwe ukitumuka katika michuano mbalimbali ikiwemo ya watoto wa sekondari na ligi ngazi za mkoa.
Kulingana na ukubwa wa jiji la Mwanza viwanja vya mipira ambavyo vinapaswa kuwepo ni zaidi nane na kufafanua kuwa kuwa kuwepo kwa Uwanja wa CCM Kirumba ambao una uwezo wa kukaliwa na watazamaji 25,000 hautoshi, alisema.
Akieleza kuhusiana na Nyamagana, Tenga aliwaasa wale wanaotoa hoja kuwa uwanja huo ni mdogo wanapaswa kuitambua kuwa katika mchezo wa soka kuna viwanja vya aina mbili na kutoa mfano wa Uwanja wa Emirates wa klabu ya soka ya Arsenal kuwa ndio uwanja pekee wa mpira wa miguu.
Katika soka kwa sasa kuna viwanja vya soka aina mbili, kuna uwanja ambao unakuwa ukijumuisha sehemu ya michezo mingine kama riadha lakini viwanja vya sasa ambavyo ni maalumu kwa ajili ya soka vinakuwa na sehemu ya kuchezea na sehemu za kukaa mashabiki, alieleza.
Alisema katika aina hiyo ya pili ya uwanja mashabiki kwa sasa wamekuwa wakikaa karibu kabisa na uwanja kiasi cha umbali wa mita tano hii ni kutokana na kutaka kuwasogeza mashabiki karibu na wachezaji ili kuongeza mzuka wa soka.
Tenga alisema kama suala ni biashara bado anaamini kuwa uwanja wa soka unawezwa kuwepo na soka likaendela kuchezwa huku uwanja huo ukiwa umezungukwa na maduka na kutoa mfano wa uwanja Zamelek ambao licha ya kutumika kwa soka pia umezungukwa na maduka.
Share This Article ]]>Eurosport
Good news for tens of El-Hadji Diouf fans, while there’s a distinctly Royal flavour to this week’s flops.
HOW IT WORKS
We tot up the marks out of 10 awarded in five national newspapers - The Sun, The Mirror, The Mail, The Times and The Guardian - to create a total out of 50. The top player in each position will be rewarded with a spot in the Team of the Week, while the worst scorers will be named and shamed in our Flops XI.
TEAM OF THE WEEK
Bolton’s lovable striker Diouf leads the line after an all-singing, all-dancing performance against Sunderland, which went a long way to saving Gary Megson’s entertaining outfit from the drop. He’ll be off in the summer by all accounts, presumably to further his pantomime villain status by spearheading an attack that benefits from rather better service - Barns Green reserves of West Sussex Division Five Central perhaps? Meanwhile, Joe Hart continues between the sticks after another solid showing against Liverpool, while champions-in-waiting Manchester United provide both full-backs, whirling dervish Carlos Tevez and the laughably good Cristiano Ronaldo. Wigan’s impressive two-goal hero Luis Valencia makes his debut, alongside team-mate Paul Scharner, who is thriving in his new role at the back. Michael Ballack joins Hart as the only players to retain their place from last week.
1. Joe Hart (Manchester City) - 39
2. Owen Hargreaves (Manchester United) - 35
3. Patrice Evra (Manchester United) - 35
4. John Terry (Chelsea) - 37
5. Paul Scharner (Wigan) - 40
6. Luis Valencia (Wigan) - 39
7. Michael Ballack (Chelsea) - 40
8. Jimmy Bullard (Fulham) - 36
9. Carlos Tevez (Manchester United) - 39
10. El-Hadji Diouf (Bolton) - 40
11. Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United) - 39
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FLOPS OF THE WEEK
Fancy an outing with our flops XI? If we’ve learned anything this season it’s that a ridiculous red card all but guarantees your berth. Manchester United’s Nani may have apologised for his feeble headbutt, but not before Sir Alex gave him the verbal equivalent of a Glasgow kiss in his post-match press conference. The Portuguese winger will probably spend this week cleaning youth team boots. The recipient of said headbutt, Lucas Neill, has also made the team to make for an interesting dressing room atmosphere. Elsewhere, Steve Coppell’s Reading provide an impressive five players following their 1-0 defeat at home to Tottenham, while Derby confound their critics with just one representative.
1. Robert Green (West Ham) - 25
2. Nyron Nosworthy (Sunderland) - 24
3. Nicky Shorey (Reading) - 20
4. Lucas Neill (West Ham) - 24
5. Ivar Ingimarsson (Reading) - 24
6. Tyrone Mears (Derby County) - 22
7. Liam Miller (Sunderland) - 23
8. James Harper (Reading) - 24
9. Dave Kitson (Reading) - 22
10. Leroy Lita (Reading) - 23
11. Nani (Manchester United) - 19
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TEAM OF THE SEASON (minimum 19 starts)
With one week to go it appears the ubiquitous Ronaldo is assured another gong as our player of the season, especially with Wayne Rooney struggling for fitness ahead of United’s final match at home to Wigan. Brad Friedel’s place is less secure, however, with Newcastle’s Steven Harper one game away from being eligible and currently ahead by 0.15 in the standings. Blackburn’s David “the next Beckham” Bentley has edged Ashley Young out at the penultimate hurdle, but with the pair just 0.05 apart there’s still everything to play for.
1. Brad Friedel (Blackburn) - 33.27 average
2. Nyron Nosworthy (Sunderland) - 31.81
3. Joleon Lescott (Everton) - 33.78
4. Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea) - 33.55
5. John Terry (Chelsea) - 33.5
6. Steven Gerrard (Liverpool) - 34.72
7. David Bentley (Blackburn) - 33.95
8. Frank Lampard (Chelsea) - 34.20
9. Fernando Torres (Liverpool) - 34.06
10. Wayne Rooney (Manchester United) - 35.5
11. Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United) - 35.67
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FLOPS OF THE SEASON (minimum 17 starts)
The fantastically exciting Jay McEveley revival gathers pace. Derby’s full-back needs to make up just 0.04 points on his team-mate Claude Davis to avoid the wooden spoon. He just might do it. One change from last week sees Michael Chopra replace Kenny Miller upfront. With Alan Smith and Robbie Savage in midfield, our flops XI are sure to prove the team everybody loves to play.
1. Paul Robinson (Tottenham Hotspur) - 29.55
2. Chris Baird (Fulham) - 27.74
3. Jay McEveley (Derby County) - 26.85
4. Claude Davis (Derby County) - 26.88
5. Younes Kaboul (Tottenham Hotspur) - 27.52
6. Robbie Savage (Derby County) - 28.36
7. Alan Smith (Newcastle) - 26.93
8. Craig Fagan (Derby County) - 28.12
9. Benni McCarthy (Blackburn Rovers) - 27.9
10. Michael Chopra (Sunderland) - 28.56
11. Eddie Lewis (Derby County) - 27.24
Will Tidey / Eurosport
Share This Article ]]>Arsenal Ladies have never lost an FA Cup Final. And they never looked like losing this one.
Vic Akers’ side outclassed Leeds at the City Ground on a bright Bank Holiday Monday and ran out comfortable winners courtesy of a brace from Kelly Smith and further goals from Jayne Ludlow and Lianne Sanderson. The only surprise was that the margin of victory was not greater.
Leeds have Carly Telford to thank for that. Their overworked keeper kept the champions at bay until the 53rd minute with a string of fine saves but finally succumbed to the pressure as Arsenal ran riot. Jess Clarke’s header gave Leeds brief hope but it was mere consolation.
This was the Ladies’ third successive FA Cup triumph, their ninth in total and their 29th major trophy in just 16 years. Most importantly, it completed another domestic ‘double’ and ensured that a less than vintage campaign ended on a real high note.
The showpiece occasion of the women’s game was blessed with fine weather and all the sights and sounds of Cup Final day were in place - flags, drums, klaxons, horns and the unmistakeable shriek of eager young supporters. They made up a sizeable contingent of a record Cup Final crowd.
History suggested Arsenal would have the edge. Akers’ side had contested eight FA Cup Finals before today and won them all. Indeed, they had not lost in the competition since a Semi-Final exit at the hands of Everton in March 2005.
Leeds, in stark contrast, had only one Cup Final experience to their names and a chastening one at that. The Yorkshire club were thumped 5-0 by Arsenal two years ago. Leeds, by their own admission, were daunted by the occasion back then. This time they weren’t cowed, but they were still outclassed.
It was pretty much one-way traffic from the off as Arsenal tore into their opponents. In the first 10 minutes alone the holders could have had four. Sophie Bradley cleared Alex Scott’s scuffed cross-shot off the line, Smith shot straight at Telford, Scott’s thumping drive deflected onto the underside of the bar and bounced away from danger, and Telford flew to her left to push away Sanderson’s effort.
The chances kept coming. Karen Carney’s corner caused consternation in the Leeds defence as Sanderson’s overhead kick was headed away. Telford spilt the loose ball but it was hacked off the goal-line with Faye White lurking.
Scott’s bursts from right-back were a constant menace and she squandered two glorious opportunities. On 23 minutes she was played in by Smith’s diagonal ball and forced a block from Telford. The Leeds keeper got up quickly to smother Scott’s follow-up. Five minutes later Smith picked out Scott again but she delayed her shot and the chance went begging.
Emma Byrne was virtually redundant between the posts as her opposite number took centre stage but the Arsenal keeper had to pick the ball out of the back of her net after 32 minutes. Fortunately for Byrne and her team-mates, Amanda Barr was flagged offside as she raced through to lob the Irish keeper.
Byrne was forced to push away Sue Smith’s corner from under her own bar as half-time approached but Telford was still much the busier of the two stoppers. Her next show of excellence was to deny Carney as the winger raced clear of the Leeds defence.
Incredibly, the deadlock remained unbroken at the break but that all changed eight minutes after the restart when Smith prodded the ball past Telford from close range after Yankey ran at the Leeds defence and timed her through-ball to perfection.
Two goals in a minute effectively ended the contest. With 58 on the clock Sanderson’s deep diagonal ball was guided past Telford by Ludlow. Then Sanderson herself advanced to the edge of the box and unleashed a shot which looped off Wright and found the corner.
It looked as though the floodgates had opened but, to their credit, Leeds managed a riposte with 21 minutes left. Smith floated a wonderful shot against the upright from 25 yards and Clarke rammed home a header from the rebound.
It was a brief respite for Leeds as Arsenal racked up the chances. Scott went close when well positioned, Ludlow’s header was nodded over the crossbar and substitute Julie Fleeting fired inches wide before the Scottish striker set up a second for Smith seven minutes from time. Fleeting raced through in the right channel and planted her shot against the post; Smith had a simple task to tap the rebound into the net.
It was no more than Arsenal deserved. Their European crown may have slipped this year but, on this evidence, the Ladies’ domestic dominance remains firmly intact.
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Flamini has been in impressive form for Arsenal this season
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AC Milan have completed the signing of Mathieu Flamini from Arsenal on a four-year deal.
The French international, whose deal at the Emirates ran out this summer, has passed a medical and agreed terms to stay at the San Siro until 2012.
The departure will come as a blow to Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who had offered the 24-year-old a new deal.
Flamini had been a key player this season, making 39 starts in midfield and scoring three times.
While Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani moved to play down fan fears that Flamini had been signed to replace Gennaro Gattuso, the player himself expressed his delight at the move.
Having spent three seasons drifting in and out of the Arsenal starting team, Flamini secured a place in central midfield alongside Cesc Fabregas, keeping Gilberto Silva out the team.
He also made his breakthrough at international level, winning his first cap in a friendly against Morocco last November.
But for all Flamini’s importance to Arsenal, highlighted by a superb performance as they won 2-0 in Milan in the Champions League, Wenger had been forced to concede that the player could be tempted elsewhere.
Flamini’s move to Milan will not be the first time he has left a manager disappointed.
He was a key player for Marseille, playing in the 2004 Uefa Cup final, but left for Arsenal without a transfer fee changing hands as he had yet to sign a professional contract.
At the time of his move to north London, Marseille coach Jose Anigo said: “He’s a traitor - this is a beautiful treason.”
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606: DEBATE
THERE’S ONLY ONE TONY ADAMS!
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While Flamini will battle with Kaka, Andrea Pirlo, Gattuso and Massimo Ambrosini for a place in the Rossoneri’s midfield, Wenger is left searching for a suitable replacement.
That search for midfield reinforcements could become even more pressing if Alexander Hleb follows Flamini to Italy, with Inter Milan being reportedly interested.
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