The Malaysian Insider :: Sports
The Malaysian Insider :: Sports |
| Sturridge sees Liverpool past Villa to share top spot Posted: 24 Aug 2013 11:36 AM PDT Just as he did against Stoke City last Saturday, the England international scored the only goal of the game to make it eight strikes in his last seven league appearances. Whether victories over Villa and the Potters are sufficient evidence to suggest Brendan Rodgers's team can be Champions League contenders this term remains to be seen. Next weekend's meeting with Manchester United will provide a better benchmark, but all the signs point towards continuing improvement under the Northern Irishman. After their stunning opening-day win at Arsenal and unfortunate defeat at Chelsea on Wednesday, this appeared one game too many for a jaded-looking Villa, however, in what has been a taxing start to the campaign. Paul Lambert's side improved hugely after the interval and were left to rue missed opportunities late on. They have, though, still done enough this week to suggest they can avoid another relegation skirmish. Liverpool manager Rodgers named the same side that defeated Stoke last weekend, while there was a debut for Netherlands Under-21 midfielder Leandro Bacuna and a first start for Denmark defender Jores Okore as Lambert made two changes to the Villa side narrowly beaten 2-1 at Chelsea. Liverpool soon began to take charge with the sort of patient, possession passing that has become a hallmark of Rodgers's sides. In the 10th minute Antonio Luna did well to block a Sturridge shot after the forward neatly interchanged passes with Jordan Henderson. By the 21st minute he had made his mark, however, and in some style. Sturridge had Philippe Coutinho at least partially to thank after the Brazilian cleverly dummied Jose Enrique's low cross, yet he still had much to do, jinking around two defenders and Brad Guzan, the goalkeeper, before firing into the roof of the net. It was no more than the Reds deserved for their dominance and, given this was their opening home match of the season, there was a disappointing sluggishness about Villa, despite the mitigating circumstances of their mid-week exploits. Christian Benteke sparked into life four minutes before the interval when, 18 yards out with his back to goal, he turned sharply to buy himself half a yard before wrapping his right foot around a curling effort that was destined for the far corner until Simon Mignolet tipped it around the post. It was Villa who ended the half the stronger and they almost levelled seconds before the whistle when Andreas Weimann's drive took a wicked deflection off Daniel Agger only to fly just over the crossbar. Villa had skipper Ron Vlaar to thank when he cut out Sturridge's dangerous cross after Matt Lowton had been dispossessed inside the Liverpool half. Lambert did his best to rouse his team from the sidelines and there was a greater urgency about their play as the game wore on, with Ashley Westwood driving over after Lowton's cross was only half-cleared. They ended the game very much on the front foot. Gabriel Agbonlahor fired disappointingly wide when Kolo Toure's clearance fell invitingly on the edge of the area, while it took a stunning save from Mignolet to repel Benteke's vicious strike late on. - AFP, August 25, 2013. |
| Leicester share top spot, QPR back in the hunt Posted: 24 Aug 2013 10:47 AM PDT Leicester scored three times in the last 12 minutes to move joint top of the Championship with a dramatic 3-2 win against Birmingham yesterday. Nigel Pearson's team trailed to a 12th minute goal from Matt Green and Leicester had to wait until the 78th minute before equalising with a fine strike by Jamie Vardy. Andy King put the hosts in front in the 82nd minute and David Nugent netted a stoppage-time penalty before outplayed Birmingham grabbed a last-minute consolation from Chris Burke. Leicester's hard-fought win left them second on goal difference behind leaders Blackpool. A 75th-minute strike from substitute Tom Barkhuizen earned Blackpool a 1-0 home win over relegated Reading, who suffered their first loss since returning to the second tier. QPR, who came down alongside Reading, were 1-0 victors in the day's early game at Bolton thanks to a 54th-minute goal from former England striker Andrew Johnson. The three leaders are a point clear of Nottingham Forest, who will look to go back to the top and continue the division's only 100 per cent record when they go to promotion rivals Watford on Sunday. Leeds are on eight points after they recovered from an early deficit to defeat Ipswich 2-1. James Vaughan scored a hat-trick as Huddersfield cruised to a 5-1 home win over promoted Bournemouth. Blackburn romped to a 5-2 win over 10-man Barnsley at Ewood Park to secure their first three points of the campaign. Chris Dagnall put the visitors ahead in the 13th minute but they were reduced to 10 men in the 16th minute when Jean Yves Mvoto was sent off. Rovers scored through Tom Cairney, a Jordan Rhodes double, Joshua King and Todd Kane before Barnsley netted through Tomasz Cywka. Rock-bottom Barnsley remain on one point, the same as Millwall and Charlton. Millwall picked up their first point after Andy Keogh's late penalty rescued a 2-2 draw at Sheffield Wednesday. Millwall, who lined up in Wednesday's yellow away strip from last season in the first half after forgetting their kit, took a fifth-minute lead through Kamil Zayatte's own goal but they trailed at the break following goals from Jeremy Helan and Reda Johnson. The south London team, back in their own kit for the second half, ended a run of three successive defeats for new boss Steve Lomas when Republic of Ireland forward Keogh slotted home an 87th minute spot-kick. Charlton were trailing 3-1 at home to 10-man Doncaster at The Valley when the match was abandoned at halftime as heavy rain left the pitch unplayable. Newly-promoted Yeovil's struggles continued as they suffered their third successive loss as goals from Johnny Russell, Craig Bryson and Chris Martin earned Derby a 3-0 win at Huish Park. Brighton made it back-to-back wins with a 2-0 victory over 10-man Burnley. - AFP, August 25, 213. |
| You are subscribed to email updates from The Malaysian Insider : Sports To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
0 ulasan:
Catat Ulasan