TOP 100 SOCCER SITES
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| Sunderland's Turner banned 4 games Sunderland defender Michael Turner has been suspended for four matches by the Football Association following his sendoff against Manchester City. cbc.ca |
Cristiano Ronaldo dreaming of all-Spanish Champions League final • 'I hope to meet Barcelona in this final and beat them'• Ronaldo firing goals again having returned from injuryCristiano Ronaldo wants an all-Spanish Champions League final with his own Real Madrid team taking on last year's winners Barcelona.The clubs, who are tussling it out at the top of La Liga, are in the last 16 of the Champions League and Ronaldo would love nothing more than to dethrone Madrid's bitter rivals on his own turf."It would be a spectacle to be able to play the final in the Santiago Bernabéu," the Portugal international said. "As much for the players as for the fans. I hope to meet Barcelona in this final and beat them."Ronaldo spent around two months on the sidelines after suffering an ankle injury during a Champions League clash at Marseille in September. Since his return he has scored four goals in as many games and the 24-year-old hopes he has put his injury woes firmly behind him."I hope I don't have more injuries and so can help Real Madrid win all the competitions they are in this season," added Ronaldo. "And not just for next year but also for the future."Ronaldo was part of the Manchester United team that lost in the final of the Champions League to Barcelona this year.Cristiano RonaldoReal MadridBarcelonaChampions Leagueguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Hamilton Academicals 3-3 Rangers Hamilton Academical proved obdurate opponents here today as they turned a 2–0 deficit into a 3-2 lead against the Cup holders before a Kenny Miller penalty kept Rangers in the competition.Walter Smith's team had seemed set for a comfortable victory before shambolic defending allowed Hamilton back into the match. The upshot is an extra fixture Rangers could have done without, with the teams scheduled for a replay at Ibrox on Tuesday week.Of about as much concern to Smith as defensive generosity would have been the first-half injury collected by the prolific striker Kris Boyd, who limped off with a groin problem which the Rangers assistant manager, Ally McCoist, said has been bothering him for a number of weeks."We'll know the full extent of the injury in the next 48 hours," said McCoist. "The cold probably played a part it but hopefully we got him off in time."Smith had already lost Steven Davis to a dead leg by that point. Rangers, who have suddenly been beset by a string of personnel troubles, do not have the finance to bring in January back-up.Steven Whittaker's third-minute volley proved the first of six goals. The midfielder capitalised on a Richard Hastings error to fire home a shot via the hosts' crossbar. When Miller curled a fine second beyond Tomas Cerny, the script seemed straightforward.Hamilton, though, hit back in an amazing six-minute spell. Kirk Broadfoot's barge on Mark McLaughlin led to a penalty which Simon Mensing scored and Marco Paixao promptly bundled over the line for an equaliser, Smith left bemused at the concession of what appeared a definitive advantage.Worse was to come for the Rangers manager. David Weir's slip allowed Mickaël Antoine-Curier a clean run on goal, the striker supplying a low finish to send Hamilton in front before the break.Unsurprisingly, the visitors displayed the necessary energy in the second period. Yet their salvation was to arrive from 12 yards after Stuart Elliot used a hand to halt a one-two between Broadfoot and Sasa Papac. Miller despatched, but Rangers' subsequent pressure could not muster a winner.Hamilton, for whom James McArthur displayed exactly why he is attracting admiring glances from England's Premier League, lost their full-back Richard Hastings to a second yellow card 10 minutes from time.Man of the match James McArthur (Hamilton)Scottish CupHamiltonRangersEwan Murrayguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Allardyce denies Blackburn job is at stake • Rovers manager under growing pressure from fans• Injury problems mount ahead of Villa semi-finalSam Allardyce has denied tomorrow's Carling Cup semi-final against Aston Villa will influence his future as Blackburn Rovers manager as he attempts to arrest an alarming run of form.Blackburn have not won since beating Chelsea in the Carling Cup quarter-finals on penalties last month, a sequence of eight matches in all competitions, and their current league record stands at nine games without a victory.Monday's anaemic display at Manchester City, which resulted in a 4-1 defeat, prompted an angry exchange at Eastlands between Allardyce and senior players and there has been growing unrest among supporters at the tactics the manager has employed since his return from heart surgery.Blackburn have so far sold only around 11,500 tickets for the rearranged semi-final at Ewood Park although, with more than 5,000 Villa fans expected, the club are hopeful of a crowd in excess of 20,000 for the first leg. But Allardyce is adamant his position is not under threat only 13 months after he replaced Paul Ince, before ensuring Rovers' Premier League survival."You are always going to get rumours in the Premier League. Never a day goes by without a positive or a negative story," he said. "You are bound to get some negative scenarios going around when you have not won in a while. You just get on with your job and that is what I will do. I have no great concerns at all."The Blackburn manager has to contend with several injury problems for the semi-final. Jason Roberts and Vince Grella have been ruled out with knee and thigh injuries respectively, and Benni McCarthy and Gaël Givet are doubtful. El Hadji Diouf is suspended following the red card he collected in the FA Cup third-round loss to Villa on 2 January.Lars Jacobsen, the Rovers defender, has confirmed a heated inquest took place in the dressing room at City and admits the players have to react in the semi-final and Sunday's home league game against Fulham. "There were some things to be said after the game but we keep that in the dressing room," the Denmark international said. "It stays between us but of course we weren't happy with the performance," said the Denmark international."The semi-final is a big game for us. Any game we go into and get a result will get us going again. We have been good at home this season, we won the last time [against Villa] at Ewood, so we have to get a win there and get back on track. Then we have a home game against Fulham in the league on Sunday. We need to get a good result in the semi-final and then get some points in the Premier League. It's a massive two games."Blackburn's chairman, John Williams, meanwhile, has revealed his confidence that David Dunn will sign a contract extension. The influential midfielder – a boyhood Rovers fan – is out of contract at the end of this season but Williams said: "It has all been very positive. Both parties want the deal to happen and negotiations are still ongoing."For Villa tonight's tie represents a welcome return to action after their last two games, initially the first leg that was due to be played last Tuesday and Saturday's league game at Wigan, O'Neill's players are itching to be in action.Having played on Monday, albeit enduring a 4-1 defeat at Manchester City, Blackburn at least have that competitive edge, whereas Villa are potentially well rested.Assessing the situation, O'Neill said: "Overall, it's been a bit frustrating for us."The frustration stems from the fact we've travelled overnight to our last two games, and both have been called off the next day."However, that's the nature of things, and you just get on with it."Because of our postponements, and with Blackburn having played a game, they will have a bit of an advantage because they've been up and running."Injuries aside, that has given them an outing before tomorrow."But I wouldn't worry too much at this stage about advantages and disadvantages. Who knows until you get out there?"O'Neill has no fresh injury concerns to contend with and is likely to name a full-strength side, albeit with goalkeeper Brad Guzan to continue his cup duties ahead of regular number one Brad Friedel.TV Sky Sports 1, kick-off 8pmBlackburn RoversSam AllardyceAston VillaCarling CupAndy Hunterguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks secures £310m deal to sell Texas Rangers Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks has agreed a deal to sell his controlling interest in the Texas Rangers for around £310 million. telegraph.co.uk |