Saturday 6 February 2010

Vidic back in contention

Manchester United v Portsmouth

Nemanja Vidic is back in contention as Manchester United look to reclaim the Premier League's top spot by beating crisis-club Portsmouth at Old Trafford.

Vidic has been missing since suffering pain from a nerve in his leg prior to the encounter with Wigan at the end of December but has trained this week and could be involved - if not this weekend, then the crucial trip to Aston Villa on Wednesday.

Rio Ferdinand serves the second match of a four-game ban although United have appealed against the additional match imposed for a "frivolous'' appeal against the first one.

Edwin Van der Sar believes Manchester United have the awareness that separates them from the rest.

The Dutch goalkeeper is confident they can kick on and lift an unprecedented fourth successive title.

Van der Sar, 39, knows what it is like to have that winning mentality.

"Experience definitely helps,'' he told www.manutd.com. "You've been there before - through narrow escapes and must-win games. You know how to handle them. The more you go through these situations the better you are at dealing with them.

"There's a moment in your career where it clicks and you think `I`ve been in this situation before, I know what to do, I know what to expect'. That comes in handy sometimes."

Nigeria striker Kanu is expected to be back in the Portsmouth squad.

Nadir Belhadj, Hassan Yebda and Aruna Dindane all played in the 1-0 defeat at Fulham after their international duty ended.

On-loan defender Ricardo Rocha could make his debut having been on the bench at Craven Cottage.

Avram Grant has challenged his Portsmouth players to believe in themselves and give everything for the cause as the Barclays Premier League's bottom club look to pull of a shock at United.

Pompey remain cast adrift following the Fulham defeat. However, a battling display deserved a better result, with Grant's team more cohesive following the return of African Nations Cup trio Nadir Belhadj, Hassan Yebda and Aruna Dindane.

The off-field saga at Fratton Park continues, as Hong Kong-based businessman Balram Chainrai took control in a fourth change of ownership before he then declared "zero interest'' in completing a full-blown buy-out.

Pompey also face a winding-up order from HMRC over a £7.5million VAT bill, for which a High Court hearing is due next Wednesday. However Grant maintains his squad deserve great credit for producing consistent performances on the pitch, if not always getting their just rewards.

"We have shown over the past couple of months that when people thought we were down, we recovered and gave everything,'' said Grant. "I have no doubt the players will give everything again against Manchester United.

"When you see the fact that they keep coming onto the pitch, again and again, giving everything that is good. I always believe - and I do not want to see anyone in my team who does not believe. This is football - anything can happen.''

Copyright ©2010 ESPN Internet Ventures.

Wednesday 3 February 2010

watch live football : SHB Đà Nẵng - Xi Măng Hải Phòng ( trực tiếp )

0 nhận xét
Nhãn: V-League

xem trực tiếp SHB Đà Nẵng - Xi Măng Hải Phòng

Địa điểm : Sân Chi Lăng

Thời gian: 15h30 GMT+7

Petro Vietnam Gas V-League 2010

Click xem trực tiếp trên VTV3
http://360-football.blogspot.com/2009/12/watch-live-football-online-with-vtv3-tv.html

Chelsea fluff lines at Hull

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Nhãn: Premier League

Didier Drogba celebrated his return from African Nations Cup duty by notching his 20th goal of the season to spare Chelsea's blushes in a 1-1 draw against lowly Hull.
All eyes were, inevitably, on John Terry in his second match since allegations over his private life were made public but it was Hull centre-back Steven Mouyokolo who grabbed the limelight by heading the Barclays Premier League strugglers in front.
Drogba, in his first Blues match for a month, snared a point for the table-toppers when he drilled home a contested free-kick just before the interval.
Hull started confidently, winning corners on the left and right inside two minutes.
Chelsea repelled them safely but Stephen Hunt's delivery looked dangerous and the home side were assured in the opening minutes.
Terry started solidly and did not appear outwardly affected by the expected round of boos and chants.
In the ninth minute Frank Lampard had the first chance of the match, capping a nice passing move with a swerving shot at goal. Boaz Myhill could only parry it to Nicolas Anelka 10 yards out but the Frenchman fluffed his finish.
Drogba was also off-target as he blazed wide soon after.
Hunt was looking dangerous down the left for Hull and Branislav Ivanovic appeared unsettled by the bustling Irishman.
Chelsea should have taken the lead 25 minutes in when Deco's crossfield ball set Ivanovic free on the right and he arrowed a cross into the Hull area. Michael Ballack timed his run perfectly but headed tamely and straight at Myhill from close range.
Hull continued to give as good as they got, though, with crosses from Hunt and George Boateng both causing problems.
It was, then, no great surprise when Mouyokolo outjumped a number of Chelsea defenders, Terry included, to head home Hunt's 29th-minute corner.
Anelka and Deco failed to beat Myhill with low drives as Chelsea fought back and Anthony Gardner made good ground to dispossess Drogba as he shaped to shoot.
With three minutes to go before the break the Ivorian striker lashed home the equaliser with a disputed free-kick from just outside the penalty area.
Gardner missed a glorious chance to restore the lead before the break when he headed Tom Cairney's flighted free-kick over from just a couple of yards.
Terry was booked a minute after the restart for an ungainly leap with Jozy Altidore and it was almost a costly foul.
Hunt again sent in the cross and Altidore was left free in the box six yards out. He stooped to head goalwards but it looped up softly off the back of his head.
Ivanovic forced another parried save from Myhill in the 50th minute but when the loose ball was cut back across goal Lampard skied his shot.
Hull were furious when Mark Clattenburg deemed Ricardo Carvalho's risky challenge on Altidore legal, but there was more to worry about at the other end as the hour-mark approached. First Drogba and then Terry drew Myhill into action with strong headed efforts as the hosts failed to clear a corner.
Five minutes later Amr Zaki came off the bench for his second Tigers appearance and immediately had some joy as he got the better of Yury Zhirkov to reach the byline.
Ancelotti introduced a fresh playmaker of his own with 19 minutes to play, Joe Cole replacing the off-colour Ballack.
Chelsea's defending at set-pieces continued to falter as Hunt and Mouyokolo combined again with a near-post corner, though this time the defender headed wide.
Drogba was also off-target in the 77th minute, heading over Ivanovic's curling delivery as last man Myhill charged off his line.

Drogba was booked late on for a frustrated flick at Paul McShane and Myhill ensured the Tigers held on to a valuable point as he stretched to save Daniel Sturridge's late strike.