..::Football II::..

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Menezes out as Brazil coach

Mano Menezes has left his post as Brazil coach, after a meeting with the Brazilian Football Federation (CBF) on Thursday.

The 50-year-old took charge of his nation in 2010 after a disappointing World Cup campaign led by Dunga, and led the Selecao at both the 2011 Copa America and the 2012 Olympics.

However, his side crashed out of the Argentina-hosted tournament, losing to Paraguay on penalties, before stumbling to a 3-2 loss against Mexico in London in the summer.

Santos boss Muricy Ramalho and Luiz Felipe Scolari, who masterminded Brazil's 2002 World Cup victory, have been installed as the early favourites to succeed him.

 

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Adebayor: I will leave if Tottenham wants me to

Emanuel Adebayor said he will leave Tottenham if the club does not hold him in its first-team plans, even though he is currently happy at White Hart Lane.

The Togolese striker was signed by Spurs on a 5 million pound deal at the start of this season after he spent last season on loan from Manchester City in North London. But with Adebayor competing with Jermain Defoe for the forward position in Andre Villas-Boas' side, he admits he will leave if the club wants him out.

"It's a good club," Adebayor told reporters. "I work hard to sign for the club, so I cannot see myself moving now, but if the club want me out, I don't have a choice. I'm here, I have just signed a new four-year deal. I'm happy, my family's happy in London, I'm happy playing for Tottenham."

Despite being happy at the club, the 28-year-old admits neither he nor his teammates are pleased with Tottenham's current form.

"We're all frustrated about the way things are going," Adebayor said. "I don't know what's not clicking. Hopefully it will start clicking as soon as possible otherwise, trust me, we will find ourselves in difficulty.

"My friends tell me to keep positive so I don't really want to think about how bad it could be. If we get worse than this, I think we'd be dead. At the moment things are looking bad, but we just have to find a way to get through this. We have to improve, because we're not playing the best game at the moment."

 

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Manchester United midfielder Carrick admits playing in defense is not ideal

Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick has admitted that playing as a defender is not ideal for him, but insists he has no issues with helping his side out at the back as long as it needs him.

The England international is at his best as a central midfielder and has been used there for the majority of his tenure at the Red Devils, but due to a host of injuries to Manchester United defenders, manager Sir Alex Ferguson has occasionally opted to start Carrick as a center back and the 31-year-old admits the situation is inconvenient but something that has to be done for the good of the team.

"Ideally, I would like to play midfield because that is my position but if I've got to play at the back, then so be it," Carrick told reporters. "I have played there three or four times this season. If there are injuries or whatever, part of playing for this club is to do what the manager wants.

"I don't have a problem with it."

Carrick was deployed in defense during Manchester United's 1-0 Champions League defeat to Galatasaray on Wednesday. However, the England international may not be needed as defensive cover for too much longer as Johnny Evans and Nemanja Vidic are expected to return from injury in the near future, with Chris Smalling and Phil Jones having recently made their comebacks.

 

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Newcastle boss Pardew reveals Ben Arfa injury 'not as bad as first feared'

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew has allayed fears over the fitness of winger Hatem Ben Arfa.

The 25-year-old was forced out of the 1-1 Europa League draw against Maritimo on Thursday at halftime with a hamstring problem.

Ben Arfa will miss the Premier League clash with Southampton at St Mary's Stadium on Sunday, but is expected to make a swift return, while injury doubts Papiss Cisse and James Perch are likely to be passed fit.

"It's not as bad as we feared, so I think a couple of weeks, but no more than that, hopefully," Pardew said at a press conference.

Pardew also suggested young striker Nile Ranger could be involved after an improvement in his attitude following a string of late appearances for training and disciplinary issues.

"Let's just say he's knuckled down," Pardew added. "I still think he owes us and I said that to him this morning, so I'm not saying anything that I haven't said to him personally.

"I think he owes us and now is the time to be humble, come in and play football and concentrate on football."

 

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West Brom manager Clarke hoping for Lukaku stay

West Brom boss Steve Clarke is hopeful that Romelu Lukaku will remain at the Hawthorns beyond January, after parent club Chelsea's decision to part company with Roberto Di Matteo and hire Rafa Benitez.

Roman Abramovich's decision to bring in the former Liverpool boss could potentially see the 19-year-old brought back to Stamford Bridge and, despite the forward claiming that he wishes to stay with the high-flying Baggies for the remainder of the season, Clarke is aware that such a move would be out of his control.

"I can't control the uncontrollable. If Chelsea choose to take him back in January then there's nothing I can do, but I'd be surprised," the Baggies boss told ESPN. "We have spoken about it [within the club] and we know exactly what we'll do if it happens. I have no plans to speak to Chelsea. "Mr Benitez will have to assess his players and see what he's got. He'll want to see what he wants to do with the squad and then I'm sure he'll make the phone call to us."

West Brom is in fourth position in the Premier League, a point behind Chelsea, as it travels to the Stadium of Light to face Sunderland on Saturday.

 

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Barclays Premier League 2012.11.24 Fixtures

Barclays Premier League 2012.11.24 Fixtures

Sunderland Vs WBA

Stroke City Vs Fulham

Manchester United Vs QPR

Everton Vs Norwich City

Wigan Vs Reading

Aston Villa Vs Arsenal

​

 

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La Liga 2012.11.24 Fixtures

La Liga 2012.11.24 Fixtures

Rayo Vallecano Vs Mallorca

Valladoid Vs Granada

Malaga Vs Valencia

Real Betis Vs Real Madrid​

 

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Serie A 2012.11.24 Fixtures

Serie A 2012.11.24 Fixtures

Palermo Vs Catania​

 

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Benitez: Lampard, Cole set to leave

Roberto Di Matteo claims he is doing "everything he can" to keep Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole at Chelsea.
Lampard and Cole have been mainstays of the Chelsea side since the title-winning days of Jose Mourinho, but both are in the final year of their contracts and are being linked with moves away.

England full-back Cole is a reported target for Paris Saint Germain, while midfielder Lampard has been linked with clubs in China and the United States.Chelsea's long-term future will not involve the pair, but Di Matteo clearly feels they have plenty still to offer.

"They know I'd like them to stay," Di Matteo is quoted as saying in The Sun. "They're fantastic players who have always performed to a high level for us. I'm doing everything I can to keep them here.

"There is always speculation about Frank. There were rumours about him going to the MLS as well. But I'm not aware of him having any dialogue with anyone. I hope we offer him a new contract. But ultimately that's between the player and the club to agree."I'm not aware how the discussions are going but if there's a willingness from both sides, Frank will remain with us. He has been great at Chelsea for over a decade, so it would be nice for him to finish his career here.

"As for Ashley, I'm not aware he speaks French, so I'm not too sure he'll move to Paris!"

 

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Aston Villa 0-0 Arsenal: Stalemate sees Gunners slip up in top four chase

Aston Villa dented Arsenal's hopes of a top-four finish with a resolute display at Villa Park which finished 0-0.

The hosts did well throughout, limiting their opponent to half chances with a strong defensive performance whilst working a number of openings of their own. However, Paul Lambert’s men showed no real penetration.​

The visitors often looked the more likely side to take the lead, but with chances spurned by the likes of Santi Cazorla and Aaron Ramsey, it soon became clear that it wasn’t going to be the Gunners’ day.​

Villains manager Lambert elected to stick with the team that lost to City last weekend, with the exception of Karim El-Ahmadi who came into midfield at the expense of Stephen Ireland. For the visitors, Jack Wilshere was rested and Theo Walcott failed to recover from a shoulder injury, whilst starts were handed to young fullbacks Kieran Gibbs and Carl Jenkinson.The first real chance of the match fell to the hosts, as a fantastic corner from Ashley Westwood found the head of the Christian Benteke, who jumped well but was unable to test Wojiech Szczesny in the Gunners’ goal.​

Arsenal then created a chance of its own, as Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain broke in behind the Villa defense before eventually finding Aaron Ramsey. The Welshman did well to work space for a shot from just inside the penalty area, but Brad Guzan managed to get his body behind the strike.​

Both sides almost broke the deadlock just before the break. First the Villains had the ball in the back of the net, as a Ciaran Clark strike from a well-worked free-kick was turned in by Andreas Weimann. To the Austrian’s disappointment, however, he was adjudged to have been offside.​

Moments later, Lukas Podolski drove a cross into the box and found Laurent Koscielny in acres of space. The Frenchman struggled to adjust his feet and could only manage to smash the ball high into the stands.The visitors raced out of the starting blocks for the second period, as some neat play between Santi Cazorla and Olivier Giroud led to a shooting opportunity for the former, but the Spaniard fired narrowly wide of Guzan’s top corner.​

But Lambert’s men continued to push for a goal of their own and were almost gifted one as Weimann managed to find Agbonlahor just yards from the Arsenal goal. The striker was under pressure from the Gunners’ defence, however, and struck straight at Szczesny.​

The Poland international then pulled of a magnificent save to keep the scores level, as Holman unleashed a powerful 25-yard drive towards goal which the keeper tipped on to the crossbar with his fingertips.​

Despite a flurry of late bursts from the visitors, Villa's defense continued to hold strong, earning the home side a vital Premier League point.​

 

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Paris Saint-Germain 4-0 Troyes: Ibrahimovic inspires perfunctory Parisiens to three easy points

Zlatan Ibrahimovic underlined his importance to Paris Saint-Germain by returning from suspension to lead his side to a comprehensive 4-0 win over Troyes at Parc des Princes.

The home side rode out a tricky period before the break to emerge comfortable victors and the talismanic Swedish forward stole the show by setting up the first two goals before collecting two of his own to pass a career landmark of 200 league goals.

The former AC Milan man announced his return in fine style by setting up the opening goal. Ibrahimovic danced round the challenge of Rincon, after being played down the channel by Gregory van der Wiel, and his cut-back was deflected into the path of Maxwell, who slid home from just outside the six-yard box.

Troyes heads didn’t drop, however, and the visitors began to suppress PSG’s dominance. Their first chance fell to captain Mourir Obbadi, who let fly from 25-yards out but the midfielder dragged his shot wide of Sirigu’s right-hand post.

PSG should have doubled their lead on 32 minutes but neither Lavezzi nor Ibrahimovic could capitalize on good opportunities. The Argentine was first to try his luck, but his header from Sylvain Armand’s inviting cross was straight at Thuram-Ulien and his teammate could only back-heel the rebound wide.

The home side wasn't helping its own cause and Matuidi was caught in possession on the edge of his own area. The former Saint-Etienne man was given a reprieve, however, as Jean-Christophe Bahebeck could only scuff his effort into the ground, creating a simple stop for the PSG goalkeeper.

The Parc des Princes booed off their team at halftime and Troyes continued to be the more threatening side after the break.

The visitors were made to pay for their profligacy as Paris Saint-Germain broke down the field to double the lead, once again laid on by its superstar striker.

This time Ibrahimovic surged forward down the left flank and threaded through Matuidi, who struck the ball first-time beyond Thuram-Ulien and into the Troyes goal via the right-hand post.

Zlatan wasn’t finished either and he grabbed his 200th career league goal after 70 minutes. Nene, on as a substitute for Javier Pastore at the break, fed through PSG’s talisman who smashed home a ferocious effort which crashed home off the underside of the crossbar.

There was still time for the home side to add a fourth, Ibrahimovic tapping home from Lavezzi's cross in the 89th minute to compound the visitors' misery.

The win sends Paris Saint-Germain to the top of Ligue 1 after 14 matches and sees the team end its domestic winless streak after two defeats and a draw. Meanwhile, Troyes still sits in 19th position, six points adrift of safety.

 

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Ibra Pattama form 1kaka inne

 

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Everton 1-1 Norwich: Bassong strikes at the death to deny Toffees

Sebastien Bassong rescued a point for Norwich as his late goal gave the visitors a 1-1 draw against Everton following Steven Naismith's early opener at Goodison Park.

The Toffees struck after 11 minutes following good work from Bryan Oviedo on the left wing, with the Canaries' right back Steven Whittaker unable to track the Costa Rican as he fed the Scotland midfielder for a simple finish.

However, the visitors kept pushing for an equalizer in the second half, and were rewarded as Bassong powered in a header off the bar with a minute to go following a controversial free kick.

The Toffees were looking to bounce back from a disappointing 2-1 defeat away to Reading, and while Hughton's men were riding high on confidence after going six games unbeaten, it was Everton which started the stronger of the two.

Leon Osman nearly opened the scoring after 70 seconds, sending a lovely left-footed curling effort just wide of John Ruddy's right-hand post.

Oviedo was handed a start on the left and he rewarded Moyes' faith by setting up Naismith for the opener. A high through-ball saw Whittaker badly caught out, and the Costa Rica winger pulled the ball back for the Scotland international to slam home past Paul Ruddy from seven yards.

Leighton Baines provided a constant threat down the left for the hosts, and Steven Pienaar teed up the left back for a low drive which brought a fine one-handed stop from Ruddy, with Osman only able to volley the rebound over.

Controversy followed soon after as Naismith went down in the Norwich penalty area under a challenge from Alex Tettey. Referee Mike Jones waved play-on, and replays showed the midfielder won the ball cleanly.

Norwich could however have been level after 24 minutes - Grant Holt surged past three challenges, but the English forward could only shank his left-footed effort wide of Tim Howard's right-hand post with the goal at his mercy.

Sebastien Bassong wasted a great chance to level after 40 minutes, heading an in-swinging corner wide from six yards - but the fact Howard was left without a save to make in the half revealed the lack of invention from the visitors.

Norwich started the second half confidently, and Anthony Pilkington tested Howard for the first time with a curling 25-yard free kick forcing the American into a scrambling block.

John Heitinga denied Snodgrass an equalizer by brilliantly clearing the winger's goal-bound finish off the line after 68 minutes.

Baines continued his exceptional form by driving forward and bringing another good stop from Ruddy from 20 yards, and the goalkeeper was forced off with an injury with Mark Bunn playing the last 10 minutes.

Pilkington brought a fine stop from Howard with six minutes remaining, but Bassong snatched a point for Norwich by forcing a header home after 89 minutes - although Moyes will surely dispute the nature of the free kick which led to the late leveller.

 

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Wigan 3-2 Reading: Gomez completes hat trick to secure dramatic late win for Latics

Jordi Gomez scored a second-half hat trick as Wigan secured its fourth win of the season, beating Reading 3-2 at the DW Stadium.

The Royals took the lead 35th minute as Sean Morrison rose highest in the penalty area above several Latics’ defenders to head the ball into the top corner.

Roberto Martinez’s men levelled when Gomez tapped in from close range. He doubled his tally for the day when he headed Jean Beausejour’s cross home to give the Latics the lead.

Just as the hosts thought they had the lead secure, keeper Ali Al-Habsi put the ball into his own net as he attempted to push Hal Robson-Kanu’s shot over the bar.

The drama didn’t end there as Gomez scored his hat trick in injury time as he lifted the ball into the top corner to give Wigan all three points.

The Latics were enjoying the majority of possession in the early stages and should have taken the lead in the 12th minute as Beausejour found space down the left and hit a sublime cross into the box for Arouna Kone, who somehow missed a free header from six yards.

The Latics were made to pay for their lack of clinical finishing in front of goal as McDermott’s side took the lead through Morrison, who rose highest in the area to head Shorey’s pinpoint free-kick into the top corner of the net.

The home side finally got the goal it deserved all game when Gomez fired in an equalizer after a great attacking move down the left as Beausejour and Di Santo combined to set up the midfielder. His first effort was saved by Federici but he showed awareness to knock in the rebound.

Reading almost regained the advantage immediately and Wigan was indebted to Al-Habsi, who made a great save to deny Le Fondre as his header looked certain to hit the back of the net.

This time the Latics made the visitors pay for their missed opportunity as Gomez scored his and Wigan’s second of the day as he headed Beausejour’s deep cross past Federici at the back-post into the top corner.

In an end-to-end game the Royals were gifted an equalizer by a bizarre moment from Al-Habsi, as he knocked the ball into his own net as he attempted to clear the Robson-Kanu’s blocked effort over the bar.

However, in the dying seconds Gomez picked up the ball in midfield and drove down the pitch. He fed Kone who returned the pass and the Spaniard fired his shot into the top corner to seal his treble and the win.

 

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Stoke 1-0 Fulham: Adam goal the difference to leave Cottagers winless in five

Charlie Adam proved the match-winner again as Stoke City earned a well-deserved 1-0 win over an ineffectual Fulham side at the Britannia Stadium, leaving the Cottagers winless in five Premier League games.

Fulham struggled to cope with Stoke's aerial threat for the entire game and it was a Peter Crouch knock-down that provided decisive, which Adam converted with ease to provide the Potters with the three points.

With Brede Hangeland suspended following his dismissal in last Sunday's defeat against Sunderland, Phillipe Senderos made a rare start at center back, while Ashkan Dejagah, Chris Baird and Mladen Petric also came into the starting eleven.

Pulis was also been forced into a defensive switch as Ryan Shotton came in at left back for the injured Andy Wilkinson; the rest of the team remained unchanged from the 1-1 draw with West Ham on Monday.

After a fairly even, albeit scrappy, opening fifteen minutes, Stoke began to dominate and, predictably, it was a set-piece that led to the first chance with Huth heading just wide from an Etherington corner.

Stoke's pressure continued to tell and it was a typical Stoke goal that eventually provided the breakthrough. Shotton got forward down the right and provided an excellent cross to the back post, aimed at Peter Crouch. Crouch got above Senderos with ease and nodded down for the lurking Charlie Adam, who duly took a touch and turned it home for six yards out to provide Stoke with the lead.

Fulham continued to struggle with Stoke aerially and it was from another corner that another great chance went begging for the home side, Shawcross heading onto the underside of the bar from another excellent Etherington corner.

Fulham failed to assert itself on the game and that pattern looked set to continue in the second half as, just after the break, Whelan fired over from the edge of the area after Schwarzer flapped at yet another Etherington delivery.

Stoke's pressure was relentless and the next chances came with twenty-five minutes remaining, Huth and Shawcross failing to capitalize from free headers following successive corners.

It was 73 minutes in before Asmir Begovic was finally forced into a save as Fulham pushed forward, Berbatov firing straight at Begovic following a nice move.

Fulham began to come into the game more as itthey pushed men forward in the latter stages, but there were few chances as it was ultimately unable to break down a typically resolute Stoke defense.

With minutes remaining, a linesman's flag was all that denied Kenwyne Jones a first Premier League goal of the season but the three points were already safe for the Potters.

 

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Sunderland 2-4 West Brom: Buoyant Baggies up to third with fourth straight win

West Brom moved up to third in the Premier League thanks to a 4-2 win over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light as strikes from Zoltan Gera, Shane Long, Romelu Lukaku and Marc- Antoine Fortune sealed the three points.

The Baggies took the lead with a spectacular strike from the Hungarian as he fired a belting shot into the top corner from 25 yards out. They doubled their advantage thanks to an error from Simon Mignolet as he spilled the ball straight into the path of the Irishman who tapped the ball home.

Craig Gardner gave the Black Cats hope of a revival when he scored from a long range free kick but these hopes were dashed when Liam Ridgewell was fouled in the area by Adam Johnson.

The on-loan forward smashed the ball home the penalty which despite a late goal from Stephane Sessegnon was enough for the win as Fortune sealed the points with a fourth goal.

The Black Cats had the first real chance of the game as Stephane Sessegnon met Sebastian Larsson’s cross and Myhill had to get down low quickly to make a good stop while McAuley hacked away the danger from the rebound.

Clarke’s side showed why it is going so well this season when it took the lead out of nothing thanks to a wonder strike from Gera who let fly with a left-footed shot from just outside the penalty area which sailed into the top corner of Mignolet’s net.

The Baggies doubled their lead in bizarre fashion when Brunt played a through ball to Long which Mignolet spilled right at Long's feet, and the striker took full advantage by rolling the ball into the net.

It could have gotten better for West Brom minutes into the second half as Long was put clear by a good ball from Yacob but this time Mignolet came out and made an excellent save to block the striker’s goalbound shot.

O’Neill’s side had lot of possession as it pressed to get a goal back but was unable to conjure any moment of magic until Gardner fired a free kick past Myhill into the top corner with the aid of a deflection.

West Brom continued to put in a solid away performance and almost put the game to bed when Ridgewell was fouled by Johnson in the box and referee Dean pointed to the penalty spot, from which Lukaku hammered home.

Sunderland, however, came back again as Sessegnon fired in from close range after Myhill had parried the ball to his feet but the Black Cats couldn’t force an equalizer as the Baggies scored a fourth through Fortune to seal the win.

 

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meh Season 1ke WBA hodai

 

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Manchester United 3-1 QPR: Hosts move top with trademark second-half comeback

MANCHESTER -- Manchester United posted yet another come from behind victory as it beat QPR 3-1 at Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon.

Jamie Mackie gave the Hoops a shock lead with his second-half tap-in but headers from Jonny Evans and Darren Fletcher turned the game on its head before Chicharito completed the scoring.

Sir Alex Ferguson restored several first-team heavyweights to his starting XI, after a young United slipped to defeat against Galatasaray on Tuesday evening. Fletcher was handed his first Premier League start since November 5 2011, while Wayne Rooney proved fit enough to earn a place in midfield.

Meanwhile, QPR caretaker manager Mark Bowen made five changes to the QPR side which lost to Southampton, with Esteban Granero and Junior Hoilett among the high-profile casualties.

The hosts spent much of the first ten minutes sizing up the opposition, with Adel Taarabt’s mazy runs the only highlight of an opening short of quality. But, predictably, it was United who carved out the first opportunity of note, as Robin van Persie’s deflected effort put Paul Scholes through on goal, though the Englishman could not divert the ball past a mass of defenders from six yards.

The visitors had a rare sight of goal in the opening 30 minutes, but Mackie failed to get his shot off in time after robbing Scholes at the edge of the box. With eight minutes of the half remaining the Scot would actually have the ball in the net, only to be denied by the linesman’s flag. He met a pinpoint Cisse cross from the right to nod beyond Anders Lindegaard but saw his hopes immediately dashed by the assistant referee’s entirely correct call. It would be the last chance of note before halftime.

The Red Devils looked no more switched on when play resumed but were made to pay for their lackadaisical approach as the visitors took a shock lead almost immediately. A well-worked corner allowed Kieron Dyer in at the back post and, after Lindegaard failed to get a strong hand to the cross, Mackie found himself with a tap-in from two yards.

That goal prompted Sir Alex Ferguson to replace Ashley Young and Paul Scholes with Chicharito and Anderson respectively and the Scot was rewarded as his side equalized not long after. A corner from the left-hand side was nodded back across goal by Welbeck and Evans was on hand to head home with the QPR defense all at sea.

The tide visibly turned as a result of that strike, and United did not need long to complete the comeback. Another corner from the left-hand side was QPR’s undoing again and this time it was Fletcher who rose highest to head home and mark his return to league football with a goal.

And substitute Chicharito, who has been in lethal form of late, was not to be denied a goal of his own and passed the ball in after a brilliant through ball from Anderson soon after.

 

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Congratulations Manchester United!!!

Congratulations Manchester United!

Another Comeback!​

 

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Mainz 1-2 Borussia Dortmund: Lewandowski completes Coface comeback

Borussia Dortmund maintained its impressive run of form by coming back from a goal behind to beat Mainz 2-1 on Saturday afternoon.

Marco Caligiuri opened the scoring with less than five minutes on the clock, propelling a terrific half-volley into the top corner from outside the area.

But less than 10 minutes later Marco Reus equalized when his cross made its way into the bottom corner of the net, before Robert Lewandowski lobbed the visitors into the lead just before halftime.

A third away league victory in a row for the reigning Bundesliga champion ensures it keeps in touch with leader Bayern Munich.

Jurgen Klopp made just one change to the side that swept Ajax aside 4-1 on Wednesday night, with Jakob Blaszczykowski replacing Kevin Grosskreutz.

It was the hosts who started the brighter of the two sides and they stunned Dortmund when Caligiuri lashed home a half-volley from 20 yards out to take the lead.

But the visitors soon began their fightback.

On 11 minutes, Reus found space on the edge of the area and, as Nikolce Noveski dragged Lewandowski away from the ball inside the box, the 20-year-old’s cross sailed into the far corner of the net.

The traveling Dortmund contingent inside the Coface Arena roared back into life, and the visitors started to see more of the ball in the aftermath of the equalizer.

That said, Andreas Ivanschitz then had two wonderful chances to put Mainz ahead for a second time - the first fired straight at the feet of Roman Weidenfeller, and the second bouncing over the crossbar.

With just five minutes of the half remaining Ivanschitz once again failed to finish a gilt-edged chance, when he stabbed a shot wide inside the area.

Those missed opportunities proved costly as Lewandowski lobbed Christian Wetklo to put Dortmund ahead on the stroke of halftime.

The second period continued in a similar vein to the first, with the Poland striker denied a second following Julian Baumgartlinger’s error.

That effort was followed by a lull in play with both sides struggling to create further chances of note and Klopp's side understandably happy with a goal lead.

The home side enjoyed plenty of possession in the latter stages of the half but only had Nikita Rukavytsya's header - with two minutes left - to show for their efforts.

The result leaves Dortmund nine points adrift of leader Bayern, though the reigning champion does move into second spot at least temporarily, with Schalke taking on Hamburg on Tuesday.