TOP 100 SOCCER SITES
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| Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger wants to scrap throw-ins Arsenal manager's proposal to scrap throw-ins in favour of kick-ins unlikely to carry favour - particularly at Britannia Stadium. telegraph.co.uk |
Socceroo Spiranovic moves to Japan J-League side Urawa Reds have signed Australia defender Matthew Spiranovic on loan from German Bundesliga club Nuremberg. foxsports.com.au |
Allsopp could be heading home Melbourne Victory are leading the charge to re-sign Danny Allsopp as speculation mounts he will be released by his Middle East club just five months after his transfer. foxsports.com.au |
Portsmouth 2-1 Sunderland | FA Cup match report Portsmouth's dismal campaign has descended into open mutiny. Protests in the streets outside this stadium, with livid calls for the removal of the latest owners and the long-standing chief executive Peter Storrie, spilled into the arena with this contest played out amid a mutinous mood. Given that backdrop, Pompey's progress into the fifth round was as unlikely as it was impressive.The revenues generated by this FA Cup run will be a drop in the ocean of debt that this club has accumulated, not least in winning this competition in 2008, but a threadbare squad is enjoying a distraction from league toils. John Utaka's brace earned them a fine success over sloppy and sluggish opponents – Sunderland have won only once in 10 games, and that against Barrow – though the respite from off-field matters will be brief.The crowd had been sparse at a little over 10,000, reflecting the doom and gloom in these parts, though proceedings were interrupted by two supporters leaping over the advertising hoardings to march towards the centre-circle gesticulating up towards the directors' box. As pitch invasions go it was relatively tame, Aaron Mokoena and Hermann Hreidarsson eventually talking them from the turf, but it added to the sense of anarchy.Fans had openly turned against Storrie in the pre-match protest, chanting "Where's all our money gone?" and "Peter Storrie is a liar" as the chief executive emerged from the main reception in Frogmore Road to accept a petition demanding regime change. That set the tone for a frantic occasion, a collision of sides stripped of confidence and undermined by defensive indecision. The hosts caved in first, Michael Turner flicking on a throw-in for Darren Bent to volley in through Asmir Begovic's attempt to block, though Sunderland never suggested such a slender lead might prove enough.Portsmouth, all energy and enthusiasm, had already had a plausible penalty appeal turned down when Paulo da Silva floored Kevin-Prince Boateng when Marc Wilson's punt was flicked on by Utaka, holding off his marker, with the ball looping over a poorly positioned Craig Gordon to dribble in. The Scot was making his first appearance since the first week in November, though the concession betrayed the frailties of a side without an away win against top-flight opposition since the opening day of the campaign.The Wearsiders had conceded seven on their last trip, to Chelsea, and remain frail even with Turner restored to their rearguard. Utaka, so often a disappointment, revelled in out-pacing the centre-backs and duly burst on to Younes Kaboul's long-ball to calmly steer a second beyond Gordon and into the corner. That prompted a more celebratory pitch invasion by a few over-exuberant fans, their jubilation maintained by Begovic's fine save from Bent's free-kick and Boateng's goal-line clearance from Da Silva's header in the final minute. For once, the hosts had earned good fortune.FA CupPortsmouthSunderlandDominic Fifieldguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Is Blatter moving the goalposts? EXCLUSIVE: Fox Sports commentator Andy Harper suspects FIFA president Sepp Blatter wants to change the World Cup bidding process to ensure the 2018 finals are held in Europe. foxsports.com.au |