Aug
28
Gerrard to miss England WC qualifiers
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Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard is set to miss four matches, including the first two World Cup qualifiers, because he needs a groin operation.
Gerrard, 28, will undergo the operation on Thursday and will be out for “10-15 days”, according to boss Rafa Benitez. Gerrard played through the pain barrier on Wednesday to help Liverpool into the Champions League group stage.
England travel to Barcelona to play Andorra on Saturday 6 September and face Croatia away four days later. In the Premier League he is set to miss the matches involving Aston Villa on Sunday and Manchester United on 13 September
Aug
28
Chelsea almost have Robinho
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Chelsea are close to signing Real Madrid forward Robinho, according to Blues chief executive Peter Kenyon.
“Everybody expected negotiations to go close to the wire and that’s what it will do but we’re confident it will happen,” he said. “There are no hitches, it’s just a lengthy process.”
Reports have suggested that the 24-year-old Brazil international, who is contracted to Real until 2010, could cost the Blues about £30m. His agent Wagner Ribeiro said that the deal could be completed in the next two days which may mean Robinho would be available for Chelsea’s match against Lonodn rivals Tottenham on Sunday.
Kenyon added that AC Milan forward Kaka, who the Blues have also been linked with, would not be joining his compatriot at Stamford Bridge.
Aug
28
Liverpool manage to scrape through
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Liverpool scraped into the group stages of the Champions League courtesy of a 118th minute goal from Dirk Kuyt against a valiant Standard Liege. Kuyt sidefooted home at the far post to end a tortuous night for the Reds.
They survived two early scares when keeper Pepe Reina produced superb saves in palming away strikes from Dieudonne Mbokani and Marouane Fellaini. Liverpool were denied a penalty in extra-time when Oguchi Onyewu brought down Nabil El Zhar before Kuyt’s goal.
The result and timing of the goal was harsh on the Belgian champions, who had proved stubborn opponents for Liverpool. The Reds had been fortunate to leave Liege with a goalless draw in the first leg and were expected to show an improvement on home territory.
Aug
28
Arsenal cruise to group stage
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Arsenal cruised past Steve McClaren’s FC Twente to reach the lucrative Champions League group stage.
Theo Walcott was in outstanding form and he set up Samir Nasri for a composed finish after 27 minutes. William Gallas added a second in the 52nd minute, scrambling in after Nicklas Bendtner’s shot was saved.
Walcott then slid home a solo effort after 66 minutes and Bendtner took advantage of a flick from Denilson to score from close range in the dying seconds.
It was a miserable return to London for former England coach McClaren, who saw his side outclassed by Arsenal as they made amends for their poor performance in the defeat at Fulham on Saturday.
Aug
28
Smith might miss 3rd match
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South Africa captain Graham Smith is a serious doubt for the third one-day match against England on Friday as he continues to suffer from tennis elbow. The 27-year-old has played through the pain in the last two one-day encounters and is in need of resting the injury.
Jacques Kallis is expected to deputise at The Oval where the tourists must win to keep the five-game series alive. The all-rounder quit the vice-captaincy last year after he was axed from the Proteas’ Twenty20 squad. Kallis has captained his country in the past, filling in for Smith on two separate occasions in 2006 and 2007 and taking charge of seven one-day internationals.
South Africa have lost the opening two matches of the series, the latest a humiliating 10-wicket defeat at Trent Bridge after the tourists could only score 83.
Aug
28
Keothavong reaches 3rd round at US Open
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Anne Keothavong claimed a 6-2 3-6 6-4 win over Francesca Schiavone to become the first British woman to reach the third round of the US Open since 1991.
Keothavong, 24, broke the 25th seed in the first game and went on to win the first set before the Italian improved to take the second. Schiavone moved 4-2 up in the decider but Keothavong responded superbly with four straight games to seal the win.
She plays fifth seed Elena Dementieva for a place in the last 16.
Aug
27
England thump South Africa in 2nd ODI
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Stuart Broad returned a career-best five for 23 to help England thrash South Africa by 10 wickets in the second ODI at Nottingham on Tuesday.
The visitors thus went 2-0 down in the five-match series after collapsing to 83 all out in 23 overs, their second lowest total in a One-dayer. South Africa had won the toss and chose to bat on a good Trent Bridge pitch for batting that also offered some sideways movement for the seam bowlers.
Broad snapped up the first four wickets, with Andrew Flintoff (3-29) and Steve Harmison (2-4 in one over) providing excellent support.
Wicketkeeper Matt Prior picked up six catches to equal the world record for a One-Day International innings held by Australian Adam Gilchrist, England’s Alec Stewart and Mark Boucher of South Africa. The home team then raced to victory in 14.1 overs, Prior hitting 45 not out and Ian Bell an unbeaten 28.
Aug
26
Man Utd 1 Portsmouth 0
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Darren Fletcher’s first-half strike was enough for Manchester United to secure a 1-0 victory at Portsmouth on Monday night. The Scotland international beat Sol Campbell at the near post and Sylvain Distan could not prevent the ball from going over the line despite his best efforts.
United controlled the game from then on with Portsmouth offering little threat to Edwin van der Sar’s goal. Only Papa Bouba Diop came closest with a couple of long range efforts, but a United second was always more likely. Wayne Rooney came closest to extending their lead, firing a sweet effort just wide at the end of the first half.
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson hailed a “bonus” win for his side after the game. “We played some excellent football,” he said. “It’s a difficult place to come. Last year we drew here, the year before we lost - so it’s a bonus.”
Aug
26
Shevchenko returns to AC Milan
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Ukraine international Andriy Shevchenko has completed his move to AC Milan from Chelsea after passing a medical. The 31-year-old spent two seasons in west London after signing from Milan for about £30m in 2006, but has failed to make an impact at Stamford Bridge.
“I’m so very happy to be here,” he told the Italian club’s official website. “At this special moment, I want to send a message to the Chelsea fans who have always made me feel their support. A heartfelt thank you for that.”
Shevchenko, AC Milan’s second-most prolific goalscorer of all-time, with 127 goals from 208 games, was unable to hold down a regular spot at Chelsea, scoring only nine goals in 47 appearances, but is held in high regard by Milan’s fans and staff.
Aug
26
Sidebottom out of series
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Fast bowler Ryan Sidebottom has been ruled out of the remaining four matches in England’s one-day series against South Africa because of a groin injury.
Sidebottom missed two matches in the recent Test series and was also unavailable for the first one-day international last Friday. He has suffered a combination of hip and groin problems since the drawn first Test against South Africa in early July.
England had already called up Steve Harmison to replace him, so are unlikely to call up a fresh recruit.
England lead the series 1-0 with the second match starting on Tuesday.