| Manchester City's Nigel de Jong faces Marseille action for tackle on Hatem Ben Arfa Nigel de Jong is facing possible legal action from Marseille following the tackle which left Hatem Ben Arfa with a broken leg. telegraph.co.uk |
Faroe Islands 1-1 Northern Ireland Northern Ireland were left to reflect on some wasteful finishing as they came unstuck against the Faroe Islands in their Euro 2012 qualifier. After the satisfaction of holding the former world champions Italy to a draw on Friday they had to settle for a point against one of football's lesser lights despite having the majority of possession.It could have been even worse as Christian Holst gave the home team the lead but Kyle Lafferty, who regained his place in the side at the expense of David Healy, salvaged some pride by scoring the equaliser.Northern Ireland carved out the first chance of the match in the fourth minute following a swift break and it carried on that way for most of the game. Lafferty got on the end of a cross from Gareth McAuley only to send a soft header into the arms of the goalkeeper Jakup Mikkelsen.They kept up the pace and Lafferty peeled away from his marker in the ninth minute but Mikkelsen was equal to his effort. Lafferty was finding plenty of space and sent a shot into the goalkeeper's body in the 16th minute with Warren Feeney playing a part in the move.The Faroe Islands were being pegged back but managed to break away following a mistake by Stephen Craigan. However, the goalkeeper Maik Taylor made a good block from Frodji Benjaminsen.It was brief respite for the home side with Jonny Evans cracking in a shot from distance that was deflected by Lafferty and went wide after 31 minutes. They maintained the momentum and Chris Baird released Lafferty down the left. He delivered the ball into the path of Niall McGinn but he miscued his effort.The Faroes then gave away a free-kick with Jonas Tor Naes booked after tripping Feeney as he tried to break clear. Baird's effort was taken cleanly by Mikkelsen. Northern Ireland should have taken the lead in the 50th minute when Steve Davis threaded the ball through the middle.McGinn was first to react but only succeeded in finding the side netting when it seemed he should have hit the target at least.Healy was quickly into the action after replacing Feeney and Mikkelsen had to make a smart save from him in the 53rd minute. Mikkelsen came to the Faroes' rescue five minutes later when he clawed away a towering header from Lafferty following Chris Brunt's cross from the left.Northern Ireland were made to pay in the 61st minute when the Faroes took the lead. Holst took advantage of some slack defensive work to steer a shot beyond Taylor and into the net.Northern Ireland hit back in search of the equaliser and Baird headed wide three minutes later following Brunt's corner. Then Craigan was off target with a header in front of the posts.Northern Ireland's pressure finally paid off in the 76th minute when Lafferty equalised. He linked up well with Brunt before steering his effort home via the post for his eighth goal in 28 international appearances.It was just the lift his side needed and Lafferty was sent clear by Brunt a minute later but failed to get a decent touch. But despite all their pressure they had to settle for a point and that is not what manager Nigel Worthington wanted going into a three-month break.Euro 2012Faroe IslandsNorthern Irelandguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
New GM is right under Toronto FC's nose Earl Cochrane is the antithesis of Mo Johnston, and that's why he should be Toronto FC's next general manager. cbc.ca |
Manchester United Advances to League Cup Quarterfinal Javier Hernandez scored a late winner to send Manchester United into the League Cup quarterfinals with a 3-2 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers. feeds.nytimes.com |
Javier Hernández acclaimed as Manchester United's new hero • Mexican striker scores winner against Wolves in Carling Cup• 'Boy is justifying all the praise,' says Sir Alex FergusonSir Alex Ferguson acclaimed Javier Hernández as the new hero of Manchester United after the Mexican's goal took the club into the fifth round of the Carling Cup, with a 3-2 defeat of Wolverhampton Wanderers. Hernández, an 81st-minute substitute, struck the winning goal in the final minute of normal time after the visitors had twice equalised. "We tend to build up heroes very quickly at this club," Ferguson said, "but the boy is justifying all the praise he's getting at the moment. He's very professional, first out on the training ground and the last one back in every day."The United manager, who saw the £7.4m summer signing Bebé score his first goal for the club, added of Hernández, who is nicknamed the Little Pea: "When he gets a chance you know he's going to take it. His touch, control of the ball and vision are improving and that's because the training is intense – we care about it and make sure the players do improve." The downside for United was the crowd of 46,083, their lowest for five years.Hernández had scored twice in United's 2-1 defeat of Stoke in the Premier League on Sunday.The United defender Wes Brown said: "He's got a great attitude to the game. He's a player who wants to learn and score goals and is good at it. He tries his hardest and deserved his goal at the end. He's a new cult hero and I'm sure he can keep it going."Ferguson said the fact that Hernández speaks excellent English has been "essential" for him settling in so quickly and suggested that is why Bebé may not have been so quick to do so.Bebé, the relatively unknown striker signed from Portuguese side Vitória de Guimarães, crowned a promising first start with the opening goal that owed much to fortune – and to assistant referee Darren Cann spotting that it had crossed the line – before George Elokobi equalised.Park Ji-sung made it 2-1 to the home side but Kevin Foley hauled Wolves level again until Hernández's excellent finish.The Wolves manager, Mick McCarthy, was delighted about his side's performance but distraught about the result. He picked out the 24-year-old winger Matt Jarvis for particular praise and tipped him as a future England prospect."He was terrific, he's a very important player for us," McCarthy said. "I sat next to Fabio Capello's assistant, Franco Baldini, at Stoke on Sunday and he spoke highly of him. We responded very well to their goals and came back twice and if we keep playing like that then I believe it will turn for us."Manchester UnitedCarling CupSir Alex FergusonMick McCarthyDaniel Taylorguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |