The Malaysian Insider :: Sports
The Malaysian Insider :: Sports |
| Leaders Bayern kick off year with Gladbach win Posted: 24 Jan 2014 02:28 PM PST Despite the absence of key players, including the injured Franck Ribery and Bastian Schweinsteiger, treble winners Bayern picked up where they left off in December to stretch their unbeaten run to 42 consecutive league games. "I am happy for my team," Bayern coach Pep Guardiola told reporters. His team had suffered a surprise 3-0 defeat away to Salzburg in a friendly game last week. "Salzburg was a good lesson for us. Tonight we worked hard and did it well," said the Spaniard. "We created many chances. Borussia are an incredibly intelligent side and I am very happy with our performance." After a nervous opening spell in which third-placed Gladbach's Max Kruse squandered a golden chance, Bayern, who have now won their last nine league games, settled and came close when Mario Goetze's shot scraped the post. Midfielder Goetze started in a lone striker role after Mario Mandzukic was dropped from the squad for not having trained well, according to sports director Matthias Sammer. Mandzukic, last season's first choice forward, has lost his regular starting spot under Guardiola, who will also have Poland striker Robert Lewandowski in his squad from next season. Goetze soon had better luck when Mueller raced down the right wing and cut the ball back for his Germany team mate to drill into the net for the lead after seven minutes. Gladbach were constantly on the backfoot against a Bayern side who never hit top speed but controlled possession, using defender Philip Lahm as a holding midfielder while Spaniard Thiago orchestrated the game. However, the hosts did come close twice on the stroke of halftime with Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer palming a Kruse shot on to the post and denying Juan Arango from close range. Mueller got on the scoresheet eight minutes after the restart, converting a penalty to condemn Gladbach to their first home defeat of the campaign before the hosts hit the woodwork again through Patrick Herrmann. Today, second-placed Bayer Leverkusen, on 37 points, are in action at lowly Freiburg while Borussia Dortmund, fourth with 32, host mid-table Augsburg. Gladbach are third on 33. - Reuters, January 25, 2014. |
| Podolski double helps Arsenal rout Coventry in FA Cup Posted: 24 Jan 2014 02:22 PM PST Podolski's goals were set up by fellow Germans Mezut Ozil and Per Mertesacker as the 10-times winners eased into the last 16 on a rainy night in north London. The Polish-born forward rifled home from inside the area after a pass from midfielder Ozil in the 15th minute and headed in a corner at the far post from defender Mertesacker's flick-on at the near post in the 27th. Podolski was replaced by Olivier Giroud in the 79th and within five minutes the Frenchman had scored Arsenal's third goal with a tap-in from left back Kieran Gibbs's cross. Fellow substitute Santi Cazorla completed the rout in the 89th from a rebound after keeper Joe Murphy had parried a shot. Three minutes after the opening goal Coventry, the 1987 FA Cup winners who now play in League One, almost hit back with Arsenal stopper Lukasz Fabianski making a diving save to keep out midfielder Carl Baker's fine shot from outside the area. Striker Leon Clarke also missed two good chances to get a more enterprising Coventry side back into the game early in the second half. Fabianski saved his first effort and the striker then hit the post from a central position inside the box after Franck Moussa's square pass with the second. "In the first half we did the job and took the game to them in a serious way and played the way we know we can," Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was quoted as saying by the BBC. "In the second half we dropped off and, give them credit, they gave it a go. Coventry should be pleased with their performance and we should be pleased with the result." Former European champions Nottingham Forest, now in the second tier Championship, were held 0-0 at home by League One side Preston North End in a clash of former FA Cup winners. The fourth round continues today with holders Wigan Athletic, who were relegated from the top flight three days after their dramatic late win over Manchester City in last season's final, at home to Premier League Crystal Palace. Cup favourites Manchester City host second-tier Watford, also today, while seven-times winners Chelsea face Stoke City in an all-top flight tie at Stamford Bridge tomorrow. - Reuters, January 25, 2014. |
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