Monthly Archives: March 2011

Europa League, what a beautiful night!

on March 18, 2011 None comments

Manchester City FC 1-0 FC Dynamo Kiev (agg: 1-2)
Dynamo Kiev managed to qualify after a good game against one of the wealthiest club, Manchester City, a ten men crew this match, and just one goal scored.
After a reasonable 2-0 from the first leg for Kiev, City’s hopes sprung but the one goal scored was not enough.

Paris Saint-Germain FC 1-1 SL Benfica (agg: 2-3)
Another successful year for Benfica, no. 2 in a row, caught the qualification train after a good first leg, a well played game.

FC Zenit St Petersburg 2-0 FC Twente (agg: 2-3)
The Russians struggled giving everything they had, but, even with two goals scored it wasn’t enough for a ticket to the next stage.

FC Spartak Moskva 3-0 AFC Ajax (agg: 4-0)
Ajax was no match for Spartak offensive force, giving up three times before a final whistle. The Russians march in speed for the draws to the next stage.

Villarreal CF 2-1 Bayer 04 Leverkusen (agg: 5-3)
Leading 3-2 after last week’s first leg, and with some help from Santi Cazorla and Giuseppe Rossi lead the Yellow Submarine into the next stage of Europa League.

FC Porto 2-1 PFC CSKA Moskva (agg: 3-1)
Awesome start for the Dragons with a goal in the first minute, shattering all the hopes for Moskova. Qualification for Porto.

Rangers FC 0-1 PSV Eindhoven (agg: 0-1)
PSV managed a good game against the Rangers. The victory was well deserved and even with just one goal scored, the qualification was in their hands.

Liverpool FC 0-0 SC Braga (agg: 0-1)
Braga is the surprise in this stage, after two good games against Liverpool FC. They kept the one-goal advantage and with a more or less emotions they where the name in the extraction urn for the next stage.

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Chelsea, qualification achieved.

on March 17, 2011 None comments

Starting teams:

Chelsea – Cech, Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Terry, Cole, Ramires, Mikel, Lampard, Zhirkov, Anelka, Drogba

Copenhagen – Wiland, Wendt, Zanka, Antonsson, Bengtsson, Bolaños, Claudemir, Kvist, Vingaard, Gronkjaer, N’Doye

This match starts also with a moment of silence and the message display, ”With you Japan ”, kept by both teams.
Hoping for miracles on English soil and trying to recover from a 2-0 defeat in Copenhagen, the Danish players start in force. But Chelsea is not there to act like a spectator in their hometown!

Copenhagen is overwhelmed in blue, Chelsea players are everywhere, an avalanche of occasions but no ball in the net.

Chelsea succeeds to accomplish its mission, obtaining the qualification after a good first leg in Denmark.

An so, Chelsea is the 3rd English team after Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United in the quarterfinals.

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Real in UCL quarters after 7 years!

on March 17, 2011 None comments

Starting teams:
Real Madrid: Casillas, Carvalho, Pepe, Sergio Ramos, Cristiano Ronaldo, Benzema, Marcelo, Xabi Alonso, Di Maria, Ozil, Khedira
Substitutes: Adan, L. Diarra, Granero, Canales, Arbeloa, Albiol, Adebayor

Lyon: Lloris, Cris, Lovren, Kallstrom, Briand, Lisandro, Reveillere, Delgado, Cissokho, Toulalan, Gourcuff
Substitutes: Vercoutre, Diakhate, Pjanic, Kolodziejczak, Gomis, Gonalons, Pied

Before the first kick, players from both sides kept a moment of silence for the victims from Japan. The “With you Japan” message was put on display again during silence moment, an ocean of emotions embraced Bernabeu Stadium.

After finishing the first leg in a draw, Lyon’s players started the game with a lot of optimism and hope. If they could stick to that draw = qualification obtained.

Their dream shattered in 37th min. when Marcelo strikes deadly after a pass from C. Ronaldo and a phenomenal race through Lyon’s defense, 1-0(2-1) for Real.
For completion, Benzema in 66th min. and Di Maria in 77th min. put an end for Lyon’s trip in UEFA Champions League, for this season.

This game adds +1 to Murinho’s record of 150 games won at home.

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Inter Milano, What a show!

on March 16, 2011 None comments

A game with big stake, starting with Inter, second place in Serie A and Bayern, 4th place in Bundes Liga. Bayer starts with the advantage of a goal away and a Alianz Arena full of their fans.

The players start the game with a band to show support for the earthquake in Japan and a message:”Japan we’re with you”.
Without any more delays, and with the game at the fresh start, Eto’o shakes the net with a first goal for Inter, a goal scored from offside.

In return, with a few chances and with a spectacular Robben, Bayern takes it to a draw in min. 21, with help from Julio Cesar and kick of Mario Gomez, 1-1.

Pushing forward, the germans up the score to 2-1 for them trough Thomas Muller and again, pass from Robben
Starting the second half with more strength, Inter takes the score to 2-2, with Sneijder’s goal.
Minute 88 takes Inter to heaven! Pandev scores after a perfect pass from Eto’o. At this score Inter Milano is in quarters.
Bayern struggles but the scoreboard remains unchanged. Inter moves on!

Starting teams:

Bayern: Kraft – Lahm, van Buyten, Breno, Pranjic – Schweinsteiger, Gustavo – Robben, Müller, Ribery – Gomez
Inter Milano: Julio Cesar – Maicon, Lucio, Ranocchia, Chivu – Stankovic, Thiago Motta, Cambiasso – Sneijder – Eto’o, Pandev

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Manchester outruns Marseille

on March 16, 2011 None comments

Manchester United qualified in the quarters of UEFA Champions League after a crazy match and with a monumental end game, when the French were close to throw the bomb on Old Trafford.

The hoottest asset for United at this moment is Hernandez, “the most loved kid” who two times against Marseille and brought the qualification on the Queens land.

Game starts with a goal, produced very early, in 5th minute, perfect pass from Rooney, Hernandez scores, 1-0 United.
The second half takes the same speed play as the first, occasions on both sides, min. 76 came, pass from the right side from Giggs, Hernandez on the other end, 2-0 for the reds.

Heintze brings some smile and hope on Marseille fans with the goal scored against his ex-team.
The score remains 2-1 till the end, Manchester United is the second English team qualified in quarters this season.

Starting teams:

Manchester: Van der Sar; O’Shea, Smalling, Brown, Evra; Nani, Carrick, Scholes, Giggs, Rooney; Hernandez.
Marseille: Mandanda; Fanni, Diawara, Heinze, Taiwo; Mbia, Cheyrou, Gonzalez; Remy, Gignac, Ayew.

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