The Malaysian Insider :: Sports
The Malaysian Insider :: Sports |
| West Brom stun Liverpool 2-0 after Gerrard misses penalty Posted: 11 Feb 2013 03:13 PM PST  Liverpool's Gerrard reacts after a missed opportunity. — Reuters pic Gareth McAuley headed home in the 80th minute, with what was only the Baggies' second attempt on goal in a lop-sided game, to break the deadlock and substitute Romelu Lukaku doubled the tally 10 minutes later. The victory marked a dream return to Anfield for Steve Clarke, the former Liverpool assistant coach under Kenny Dalglish, after his side had beaten the Reds 3-0 in the opening game of the season played at home. "We played well. It's a terrific win for us," the West Brom manager told Sky Sports television on a night that ended a run of six games without a victory with the club's first win of a difficult 2013. It was their first league double over Liverpool since 1966/67 and also West Brom's first back-to-back win at Anfield — they also won there last season — since 1936/37 and 1937/38. "Since the turn of the year things haven't gone our way. To come here and play a Liverpool team, probably playing as well as they have all season, I'm absolutely delighted for the players," said Clarke. The visitors leapfrogged Liverpool to take eighth place on 37 points, behind Swansea City on goal difference. Liverpool have 36. Goalkeeper Ben Foster was the hero of the evening, saving Gerrard's 76th minute spot kick after Luis Suarez went down under a challenge from Jonas Olsson.  West Bromwich Albion's Gareth McAuley (right) heads to score against Liverpool. — Reuters pic "You get the luck but it's not luck because Ben Foster is a great goalkeeper... the penalty save was crucial and I think it gave us a little bit of positive momentum to go on and do what we did in the last 15 minutes." Foster also denied Gerrard in the 50th, when he smothered a close-range effort by the captain, and 20 minutes later when he kept the ball out of the net with a superb one-handed reflex save. The visitors had never threatened in a muted first half while Liverpool had Jonjo Shelvey clearly offside after he had the ball in the net in the eighth minute and Luis Suarez refused a penalty claim. "I thought we were always on the front foot, looking to get the goal," said Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers. "Their keeper's made some outstanding saves and obviously we then conceded at the other end... bitterly disappointing." Liverpool missed the pace of the injured Daniel Sturridge up front while West Brom managed well enough without Peter Odemwingie. The West Brom striker was an isolated figure, seen texting in the stands after failing to make the bench following his much-derided attempt to join Queens Park Rangers in the January transfer window. — Reuters |
| Chelsea fans prefer to hail Dave, not Cesar Posted: 11 Feb 2013 07:37 AM PST  Chelsea's Cesar Azpilicueta (L) challenges Southampton's Luke Shaw during their English Premier League soccer match at Stamford Bridge in London January 16, 2013. — Reuters pic Azpilicueta, who joined the club from Olympique Marseille for a fee of seven million pounds (RM34 million) in August, produced his best display for the European champions as they brushed aside Wigan Athletic 4-1 in the Premier League on Saturday. On a day of perfect symmetry in west London, the supporters welcomed back old favourite Frank Leboeuf when the former World Cup winner was paraded at halftime. The Frenchman won a host of medals in his five years at Chelsea before leaving for Marseille in 2001 and was so popular with the fans that he had his own song, 'He's here, he's there, he's everywhere, Frank Le-boeuf, Frank Le-boeuf'. Azpilicueta was similarly industrious against Wigan, popping up with last-ditch interventions in his own penalty box, launching attacks with his speed down the right and delivering inch-perfect crosses. His name may be a bit of a tongue twister for the Chelsea supporters, hence the choice of nickname, but the 23-year-old is showing a growing authority in every game he plays at right back. The fast-raiding Azpilicueta laid on two of the goals on Saturday, the second for Eden Hazard and the final one in stoppage time by Germany midfielder Marko Marin. "It was the first time I was involved in so many goals and it was a very good week for me," the Spaniard told the club website (http://www.chelseafc.com) today. "The last few results have been disappointing so it was very good we won. Tottenham had won before our game and we wanted to keep our league position and we did," added Azpilicueta who made his Spain debut in last Wednesday's 3-1 friendly win over Uruguay in Qatar. Tottenham, Chelsea's chief rivals for third spot, put the pressure on their fellow Londoners by defeating Newcastle United 2-1 in Saturday's early kickoff. Rafa Benitez's team responded in style, though, moving back up to third with their first victory in five games in all competitions. Chelsea's attention now turns to the Europa League last-32 first leg at Sparta Prague on Thursday. "The Europa League is not the same as the Champions League because that is the top but the Europa League is... an important competition," said Azpilicueta whose nickname is an oblique reference to a character from the TV show 'Only Fools and Horses'. "Never in the history of Chelsea have we won this cup and we are going to try to do it." — Reuters |
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