..::Football II::..

[Wolverine GTR]

MLS All-Stars 3-2 Chelsea: Johnson's lucky late tally the winner for MLS

CHESTER, Pa. -- In Major League Soccer's annual midseason spectacle, neither the All-Stars or visiting European champion Chelsea left anything on the field in what turned out to be a very exciting match at PPL Park. It was MLS that edge the Blues in a 3-2 match thanks to a badly deflected goal by Seattle Sounders FC forward Eddie Johnson.

The game started slowly with the sides feeling each other out in the early stages. Chelsea saw more of the ball and had the first real chance as 19-year-old forward Romelu Lukaku latched on to a long ball from Marko Marin and had a good sight at goal. Flying in from his weak side was Vancouver Whitecaps center back Jay DeMerit, who put in the tackle of the game to deny the Belgian a shot on goal.

From there, Chelsea began to put more pressure on the All-Stars but it would be the home side that struck first after 21 minutes.

Working on the break, Landon Donovan sprinted through the center of the pitch and played a well-timed through ball to Thierry Henry on the left side of the 18-yard box. The French forward then played in a calculated cross that found Chris Wondolowski, who, after avoiding the challenge of John Terry, slotted home to give MLS the 1-0 lead.

Barely 10 minutes later, the Blues tied things up through two of the club's stalwarts in Frank Lampard and Terry. Playing in a bending corner, Lampard found the head of Terry, who powered his attempt by Jimmy Nielsen.

Things opened up a bit more in the second half as Lampard put the Blues in front on 59 minutes. A scramble in the box saw Ramires take the ball at the far post and chip to the near side where the cultured midfielder nestled it comfortably into the net to make the score 2-1.

The All-Stars wouldn't let up, though, and in the 73 minute got back on level terms. A deep ball from David Beckham found Dwayne De Rosario along the left flank. After slowing things down, he found D.C. United teammate Pontius rushing into the area, who placed his shot at the near post and by Ross Turnbull.

With seconds remaining on the clock, Johnson jumped on a pass from Kyle Beckerman. Rushing towards the net, Johnson shot the ball off of David Luiz and watched as the ball gracefully floated into the back of the net, giving the All-Stars the 3-2 lead that would serve as the match's final score.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Kompany signs long-term deal

Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany has signed a new six-year contract with the Premier League champions. The Belgium international defender helped guide the club to their first title in 44 years and has been rewarded with the longest deal in the club's recent history.

The 26-year-old was signed by Mark Hughes from Hamburg in August 2008 and has seen the transformation of City into one of the most high-profile clubs in European football.And Kompany sees no reason to end the adventure now.

"For me if you are good somewhere then there is no reason to look elsewhere," he told the club's official website.

Project

"Man City as a project is not just a project of the owners or the people employed by the club; it is also my project."I have been here since the beginning and I have seen everything at the club change inside and out."I have the feeling that I have contributed to it too. It is good to know that I can be at City for another six years. It is a compliment that the club feels so highly of me.

"Hopefully in the future I will have a bigger impact than I already have. I am good here. The fans have given me an incredible reception which is one of the main reasons that I signed this new deal.

"My family is happy and there are so many more trophies to win at this club that is why it makes it so special."I take it with great pride that I have been chosen to be captain and lead this team. Especially in England, more than other competitions, being the captain has got a lot more responsibility involved with it.

Responsibility

"I thrive on responsibility the more I get the more I perform. I am at the right club because I have built something here already."I have never denied that this can sometimes be the hardest team in the league of which to be captain, but like I said I am all about responsibility and challenge.

"This Man City project was probably one of the most difficult projects in Europe to be part of and so far we have all done a good job even though a lot of people said it wasn't going to happen so quickly."I like the kind of characters that we have in our team. I like the challenges we have ahead of us. Now is the time to build the culture of winning we are in the right time; we are in the right moment.

"We have laid the foundations and now we want to win more. If we do that then we can be one of the most successful clubs for a long time to come and that is the aim."I can't wait to get started again. I am really excited about the season ahead."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Mancini tight-lipped on RVP

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini is keeping quiet over the potential signing of Arsenal captain Robin van Persie ahead of Friday's pre-season friendly with the Gunners in China.

Was RVP's strike against Chelsea the best volley of last season? View our shortlist of great goals and vote now to be in with a chance of winning the ultimate Sky Sports viewing experience.City have been linked with the Dutch striker for much of the summer, although there have been reports that Mancini was told he must sell before making additions to his squad.

Van Persie has made it clear he will not be extending his Arsenal contract past the end of this season, and City's rivals Manchester United, as well as Juventus, have been credited with interest in signing him.Mancini refused to be drawn when asked about Van Persie at a press conference in Beijing, saying: "It is difficult to say this at this moment because he is an Arsenal player and he is not our player.

"We know that Van Persie is a fantastic striker, but we have four strikers and with these strikers we won the Championship last year."But still, Van Persie is a top player. We can say different things about this - but he is an Arsenal player."

Not in charge

Reports have suggested City officials are blocking Mancini's attempts to sign the Arsenal skipper but the manager insists he is not in charge of transfers.

Asked whether he was disappointed with his lack of progress in the transfer market, the Italian said: "For this question, you need to talk to the man in charge. I am not in charge of these things.""We have a man that works for this and... I think that we are hoping that they can do a good job."

Premier League champions City will take on Arsenal in a friendly at the Beijing National Stadium on Friday.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Kaka in Milan talks

AC Milan are in talks with Kaka over a possible return to the San Siro, the player's representative in Italy has confirmed.

Kaka, 30, left Milan to join Real Madrid in 2009 for a fee of € 68.5 million, which was briefly a new world record transfer fee before the addition of Cristiano Ronaldo.

Negotiations, though, threaten to be long and drawn-out, with AC Milan aiming to pay well short of Real Madrid's €20 million valuation, or negotiate a one-year loan contract which would see no fee paid and just a 50% wage contribution from the Rossoneri."Yes, we are talking about him," Gaetano Paolillo told Sky Sport Italia. "But I can't add further information at the moment."

Rumours of the Brazilian's arrival stepped up a notch on Thursday morning, with the announcement that AC Milan had not named a No.22 for the coming season, meaning that the Brazilian's former shirt number has been kept available.

The potential arrival of Kaka was greeted positively by Milan fans, who have suffered the loss of Thiago Silva and Zlatan Ibrahimovic in recent weeks. Former striker Filippo Inzaghi, who this week returned to the club as a youth coach, summed up feelings in among supporters, saying: "As a Milanista, his possible return gives me goosebumps."

The arrival of Kaka at the San Siro could see the departure of Antonio Cassano, who has spoken of a possible exit from the club this summer.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

RVP won't come cheap

Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood admits he is mystified by Robin van Persie's determination to leave the club.
The Gunners have already rejected a bid from Manchester United as speculation regarding the striker's future continues to circulate after he turned down the offer of a new contract at Emirates Stadium.

But while Hill-Wood appeared resigned to losing the Gunners captain, whose future is set to be decided by August 18, he warned potential suitors that Arsenal would not let last season's PFA footballer of the year leave on the cheap."He is a world-class player and we don't want to give him away," Hill-Wood was quoted as saying in the Daily Star. "If he is determined to leave that is up to him, but giving him away is not on our agenda.

"To be honest I do not understand him at all. I understood Cesc Fabregas wanting to go home to Barcelona last summer. I had sympathy with that. But I thought Robin was happy at Arsenal, especially after the season he had with us."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Spain 0-1 Japan: Otsu winner stuns 10-man La Roja as Inigo Martinez sees red

Japan ran out shock a 1-0 winner over 10-man Spain in the Olympic Group D fixture at Hampden Park in Glasgow, courtesy of a goal in the 34th minute from Yuki Otsu following some questionable defending from Martin Montoya.

Kensuke Nagai and Hiroshi Kiyotake could have made it a more comfortable win for Takashi Sekizuka's side as both wasted good chances either side of halftime, but Spain struggled to trouble Shuichi Gonda in the Japan goal, particularly after Inigo Martinez's sending-off at the end of the first half.

Spain produced the first goalscoring opportunity of the game in the fourth minute when Juan Mata played in Rodrigo with a neat pass. The former Bolton striker shifted the ball onto his left foot before dragging a shot just wide 15 yards from goal.

Midway through the first half, Mata came close to breaking the deadlock with a swirling effort from distance, after cutting in from the right side on to his favored left foot, which Gonda did well to palm away to safety.

Despite Spain's dominance of possession in the first 25 minutes, Japan looked dangerous on the break and grew in confidence as the half wore on, with lone front-man Kensuke Nagai in particular proving a handful for the La Roja defense.

Japan took a surprise lead in the 34th minute through Otsu after he ghosted in at the back post to divert Takahiro Ogihara's in-swinging corner from the left past a stranded David de Gea in the Spain goal. Right back Martin Montoya's failure to pick the scorer up had gifted the chance to his opponent.

Sekizuka's side nearly increased its lead just minutes later when a terrible attempted back-pass from Alvaro Dominguez to De Gea went straight to Hiroshi Kiyotake inside the Spain penalty area. Kiyotake did well to move past the Spain goalkeeper, but in doing so took the ball far too wide for a clear shot on goal, and his eventual effort drifted harmlessly wide.

The first booking of the game came in the 40th minute as Jordi Alba was adjudged to have led with his elbow while challenging for the ball on the halfway line with Hiroshi Kiyotake.

Less than two minutes after the first booking, Spain was reduced to 10 men when Inigo Martinez was shown a straight red card by the referee Mark Geiger for obstructing a clear goalscoring opportunity for Nagai as the Japan striker broke towards the Spain penalty area.

Japan started the second half at a canter, with Keigo Higashi prompting a brilliant save from De Gea after curling a right-foot shot towards the top right corner from 20 yards out.

The Spanish defense was exposed once again shortly after that change with Nagai coming within inches of making it 2-0 after latching on to a decent through-ball from Hotaru Yamaguchi on the right and slotting a right-footed effort just wide of De Gea's left post. Kiyotake then shot wide from a similar position minutes later.

Those two Japan chances appeared to spark Spain into life, and the team began to move the ball forward with a far greater urgency, with Montoya providing some much-needed width down the right, and Mata beginning to dictate play from the center of the pitch.

Despite the quality of passing improving, Spain failed to create any clear-cut chances in the second half, with a firm Jordi Alba effort from an acute angle that Gonda deflected away the closest the team came to drawing level as Japan eased to victory.

Japan nearly added a second in the dying moments of the game as the outstanding Nagai raced through and sent a left-foot shot goalwards that De Gea did superbly to keep out.

Both sides' next Group D fixture is on Sunday at St James' Park, as Japan plays Morocco while Spain takes on Honduras.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Spain kala neh!Ohomanam baha Spain Common!

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Mexico 0-0 South Korea: Honors even in tight Group B opener

Mexico and South Korea got their quest for an Olympic medal up and running in the basking Newcastle sunshine this afternoon, as they were forced to settle for a share of the spoils in what was in truth, a disappointing Group B opener for Mexico.

The Koreans were the more dominant of the two sides, but with the exception of skipper Koo Jacheol's glancing header, they were restricted to long-range efforts by Tena Luis Fernando's side in a game that never threatened to spring into life.

Mexico came close to snatching all three points in the dying seconds, as second-half substitutes Giovanni dos Santos and Raul Jimenez both spurned glorious opportunities.

The women's competition began yesterday amid sweltering heat, but conditions had cooled down somewhat in the north east today and both sides started tentatively with neither able to assert their superiority in the opening 10 minutes.

It was South Korea, however, which began to on the front foot and had the first attempt on goal through the lively Park Chuyoung after 16 minutes when the Arsenal man's free kick cannoned off the wall and out for a throw.

Lekhwiya SC midfielder Nam Teahee found himself in space soon after, but his long-range effort drifted harmlessly over the bar before half-hearted Korean penalty shouts were waved away when Park Jongwoo was felled in the box.

The Busan Ipark midfielder then blazed an effort over after a Korean corner was only half cleared, before captain Jacheol saw his goal-bound effort blocked by the elbow of Diego Reyes.

Mexico appeared content to defend deep inside its own half, but had restricted Hong Myung Bo's side to only a smattering of corners in a fairly drab opening 45 minutes. The Mexicans finally ventured forward when Miguel Ponce's drive flew narrowly wide four minutes before the break.

Fernando's side appeared to grow in confidence and went close again immediately after, as Hector Herrera unleashed a powerful volley, which was palmed away by Jung Sungryong as a largely uneventful opening 45 minutes came to a close.

It hadn't been the best advert for Olympic football so far, but both sets of fans were doing their best to make St James' Park a familiar cauldron of noise as both teams searched for that elusive opener in the second half.

Just four minutes after the restart, normal service resumed as Kim Bokyung's left-footed effort curled narrowly wide of the upright. Skipper Jaecheol was the next to spurn a great opportunity for the Koreans, as he latched onto Chuyoung's deft flick, but he could only angle his volley the wrong side of the crossbar.

Jose Corona had to be at full alert in the 55th minute, when Ki Sungyeung's fizzing drive stung the fingertips of the Cruz Azul stopper.

It was once again all one-way traffic, but for all of the toil and endeavor, the Koreans couldn't break the deadlock and they nearly paid for it three minutes later when Javier Aquino's powerful drive was beaten away for a corner.

The game was finally beginning to open up and Herrera was booked just shy of the hour mark after he clipped the galloping Bokyung when the Cerezo Osaka man burst through on the break. Mexico's goal was living a charmed life and Teahee was next to try his luck, when he cut inside in the 64th minute and sent a dipping right-footed effort agonizingly wide.

The longer the game went on, it looked as though just one goal would win it and predictably, it was Mexico which would twist first when Spurs forward Dos Santos was thrown on in place of the largely ineffective Oribe Peralta to try and snatch the victory.

Within just minutes of his introduction, the Korean defense were left back pedaling as the 23-year-old drove forward and his shot was deflected wide. From the ensuing corner, Mexico should have opened the scoring when Marco Fabian swung wildly at a loose ball from just seven yards.

It would have been hugely undeserved, but it was probably the best opportunity of the match so far until Korean skipper Jacheol glanced Bokyung's cross wide of the mark when he really should have tested Corona with just 10 minutes remaining.

Mexico had a chance to snatch it right at the death, but Dos Santos' flying volley skewed narrowly wide when he should have scored and then substitute Jimenez clipped the upright when he raced clean through.

Sunderland striker Ji Dongwon was introduced with just four minutes left, but it wasn't to be a fairytale on the ground of his club's fiercest rival as both sides were forced to be content with a goalless draw.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Honduras 2-2 Morocco: Delicious Labyad lob earns a point as 10-man Moroccans fight back in Olympics opener

Morocco came from behind to claim a 2-2 draw against Honduras in Thursday's men's Olympic Games Group D opener.

Pim Verbeek’s charges took the lead six minutes before halftime when Abdelaziz Barrada thundered in a superb volley, only to see their opponents draw level from close range 10 minutes after the break through Jerry Bengtson before sending his side into the lead from the penalty spot shortly afterwards.

However, the advantage lasted just two minutes when highly rated Zakaria Labyad dinked the ball over the advancing Jose Mendoza, only for Morocco to end the game a man down when left back Zakarya Bergdich was given his marching orders in the 71st minute for kicking out at Mario Martinez.

Morocco dominated the opening exchanges and should have taken the lead through forward Noureddine Amrabat early on, only for a last-ditch block from Wigan defender Maynor
Figueroa to keep the danger at bay.

Verbeek did not have to wait too long for the breakthrough, though, as a superb volley from Barrada put them 1-0 up.

And Honduras almost equalized immediately when Andy Najar found himself inside the box with the ball at his feet but he could only fire high and wide with the goal at his mercy.

Morocco carried its slender advantage into halftime but, shortly after the break, Honduras struck back with a 56th-minute tap-in from Bengtson. Figueroa picked up the assist.

And it got even better for Luis Fernando Suarez’s side six minutes later when Yassine Jebbour brought down Bengtson in the area to concede a penalty. Bengtson picked himself up and slotted home his second goal of the game to put Honduras in to a 2-1 lead.

However, the scores were level again almost immediately when Labyad found himself in space and lobbed Mendoza with an inch-perfect right-footed effort.

After getting back into the game, Morcocco was put on the back foot when Zakarya Bergdich
inexplicably kicked out at Mario Martinez and received a red card.

Despite being reduced to 10 men, Verbeek's men went looking for a winning goal and came agonizingly close when a fine Jebbour run ended with the defender finding the side netting.
Morocco will now face Japan on Sunday, with Honduras facing the much-fancied Spain on the same day.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Fabio Capello named new Russia coach

Former England boss Fabio Capello has put pen to paper on a two-year deal to manage Russia.

The Sbornaya have been seeking a new head coach since Dick Advocaat stepped down from the role following a poor Euro 2012 campaign, in which the team won just one of its three group games to finish below Greece and Czech Republic and exit at the first hurdle.

The Russian FA had drawn up a shortlist that included former Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp and former Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola.

Capello, who boasted an impressive 67 percent win rate while in charge of England, resigned from his Three Lions role in February in protest of John Terry being stripped of the captaincy.

The role with Russia will be the Italian’s eighth managerial job after stints with European giants AC Milan, Real Madrid and Juventus and will see Capello earn a reported 10 million euros a year.

Russia will play its first World Cup 2014 qualifier on Sept. 7 when the team faces Northern Ireland.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Lavezzi: I knew it was time to leave Napoli in 2011

Ezequiel Lavezzi has admitted that he realised his time at Napoli was drawing to a close a year ago.

The Argentine left the Partenopei for Paris Saint-Germain earlier in July, much to the disappointment of the Serie A side's supporters. Lavezzi has intimated, though, that he could have left many years before.

"In recent transfer windows, it was not the right time to leave Napoli," the attacker explained in an interview with Le Parisien. "But in 2011 I realized that my cycle on the slopes of Vesuvius had concluded.

"I am 27 and if I had again [waited] to move, it would have been too late. For this reason, I decided that if an important offer arrived, I would accept."

Lavezzi had been repeatedly linked with the Premier League's finest over the past few seasons, but he revealed that he was drawn to the French capital by PSG's ambitious plan to establish the club as a major force in European football.

"I was seduced by this project and the opportunity to live in Paris," the Boca Juniors youth team product explained. "And then I ended my adventure at Napoli with a Coppa Italia triumph, so there was no better way to leave."

Lavezzi, who has been capped 18 times by his country, joined the Partenopei from San Lorenzo in 2007.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Liverpool midfielder Aquilani: I was 'pushed' out on loan in past seasons

Liverpool midfielder Alberto Aquilani claims that he was “pushed” out on loan by the club in recent years but that he is now ready to prove himself to new manager Brendan Rodgers.


The 28-year-old, who was bought by Rafael Benitez as a replacement for Xabi Alonso in Aug. 2009, has not featured for the Merseyside club in a competitive game since the former boss' departure two years ago.


Since then, Aquiliani has spent loan spells at Juventus and AC Milan, but is aiming to finally play regularly for his parent club in 2012-13.

"How can you pay 20 million pounds for a player and this player is never taken into consideration?" he wondered to BBC Sport.

"I never asked to leave but I was always pushed by the club. I am here and I would like to play for Liverpool but it doesn't depend only on me."

Having played 45 minutes of Liverpool's 2-1 friendly defeat by Roma on Wednesday, the Italy international is keen to put the frustrations of previous seasons behind him and start to pay back the large investment that had been put into him by the Anfield outfit.

"The situation changed after Benitez left," Aquliani continued. "In past years, I felt forced out. I never asked to go on loan but they made it clear it was better for me to go. I think Liverpool people have to know that I have never said I wanted to leave the city because my family and I were not happy here. This is not true.

"I cannot say I have unfinished business in English football because I really never played but, the little I did, I believe I was able to show to Liverpool fans that I have quality and that I could have helped the team."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Liverpool and Manchester City target Ramirez set for Premier League move

Bologna winger Gaston Ramirez is likely to move to the Premier League amid interest from Liverpool and Manchester City, according to his agent.

Goal.com revealed in May that City was leading the chase for the Uruguay international and his representative, Pablo Betancur, indicated he is in talks with an English top-flight club.

Speaking to calciomercato.com about Ramirez’s future, Betancur said: "I think it's always been more likely that Gaston says goodbye to Italy. So much so that now I'm in London to talk with a Premier League club.

"I think Ramirez will leave. He is one of the best players and so there are many offers and, again, I think it's unlikely he will remain in Italy."

The winger scored eight goals for Bologna in Serie A last season to help the club to a ninth-placed finish and had attracted interest from the likes of Inter and Wolfsburg but Betancur admits Bologna’s asking price is too high for them.

"Inter like the player but we are very far off from what Bologna are asking for him - nearly 25 million pounds," he said.

"The Wolfsburg interest? They were the first to move on Ramirez, but some of the figures are impossible for them too.”

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Werder Bremen in advanced talks with Chelsea over De Bruyne

Werder Bremen director Klaus Allofs has revealed that the Bundesliga side is in talks with Chelsea over the loan signing of Kevin De Bruyne.

The German outfit believes that the 21-year-old attacking midfielder will be able to add creativity to its team, and it is confident that a deal will be sealed when the Blues return from its preseason tour of the United States.

"We have already had a number of meetings with club and player in the past few months and we're in advanced talks," Allofs was quoted as saying by Kicker.

"Things are looking good, but it's not a done deal yet. We hope to wrap up the transfer next week when Chelsea are back from their preseason trip in the USA."

De Bruyne joined Chelsea from Genk in January 2012, and was immediately shipped out on loan back to the Belgian giants until the end of the season. He told Goal.com last week that he'd be open to another loan if he is not guaranteed playing time with the Blues.

"For me, I say it's important to play," De Bruyne told Goal.com. "If it's not at Chelsea, I will go to another club to play."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Manchester United puts New York stock flotation plans on hold

Manchester United has reportedly halted its plans to float the club on the New York stock exchange, according to The Guardian.

The Manchester club has been attempting to list the company's shares for some time, and has contemplated other markets in the past.

Initially the plans were to float the club in the Far East, on the Hong Kong and Singapore exchanges, but that idea was thrown out due to market volatility.

The plans were therefore moved to the United States, to what was thought to be a more stable market, but recent slumps in world markets have led United to temporarily hold the idea.

With the club's debt currently residing at 423 million pounds, it was thought that the flotation would raise funds to try and reduce this debt, which fans of the club have been critical of since the Glazer family took over in 2005.

The club is currently in China, as part of its preseason preparations, having kicked off the tour in South Africa.

United beat Shanghai Shenua 1-0 on Wednesday with new signing Shinji Kagawa scoring the only goal of the game.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

AC Milan wants Kaka on one-year loan deal

AC Milan is hoping to sign Kaka on a one-year loan deal to avoid paying Real Madrid a transfer fee, La Gazzetta dello Sport reports.

Rossoneri CEO Adriano Galliani hinted at a move for the Brazil international earlier this week, with Kaka's agent confirming on Wednesday that talks have already taken place.

Nevertheless, Milan can only afford the 30-year-old with Real Madrid's help as it is only willing to offer the attacking midfielder an annual salary of 5 million euros rather than the 10m euros he currently earns.

Reports from Spain suggest that Madrid have set a 25m euro asking price for Kaka, but the Serie A side have no intention to pay such a transfer fee due to their financial difficulties. Instead, Milan hope that the Liga champion will allow Kaka to leave on loan without compensation, while also paying 50 percent of his current wages.

Both clubs have yet to meet to discuss a potential transfer, but Galliani is expected to arrange a meeting with Madrid president Florentino Perez shortly to look into the possibility of re-signing the playmaker.

 

[charitha chandi]

MLS All-Stars 3-2 Chelsea: Johnson's lucky late tally the winner for MLS

Kala neh..!

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Team GB 1-1 Senegal: Late Konate effort cancels out first-half Bellamy strike to share the spoils

Team GB marked its return to competitive action with a 1-1 draw against Senegal in their 2012 Olympics clash, with a first half Craig Bellamy goal being cancelled out by a late Moussa Konate effort.

GB coach Stuart Pearce made two changes from the side that lost 2-0 to Brazil with Jack Butland replacing Jason Steele in goal and Steven Caulker coming in for James Tomkins, while Senegal included new West Ham signing Mohamed Diame.

Both sides failed to dominate the opening minutes of the game with Team GB narrowly edging possession.

The opening goal of the game arrived in the 20th minute when the Senegalese defense failed to clear a wide free-kick whipped in from Ryan Giggs. Abdoulaye Ba’s weak header landed at the feet of Bellamy who steadied himself before hitting a calm finish into the back of the net.

The visitors were gifted a fantastic chance to equalize shortly after when Butland’s poor clearance could only pick out Sadio Mane. However the Metz midfielder fired narrowly wide with the Birmingham City stopper bearing down on him.

This seemed to spark Senegal in to action and Mane had another presentable opportunity to score just minutes later but saw his effort blocked by Micah Richards desperate lunge. This turned out to be the last real chance of the half and Pearce’s side went in holding onto their narrow lead.

Senegal started the second half the brighter and again came close to leveling the game. Ibrahima Balde done well to work some space before forcing Butland into a smart save.

Team GB continued to ride its luck and was again thankful to Butland who dived well to palm a fierce Saliou Cisse effort behind. From the resulting corner Danny Rose jumped high to head another Balde effort off the line.

The match heated up with twenty minutes remaining when Bellamy went down inside the area under a lunging tackle from Ciss. However the Liverpool man’s appeals for a spot-kick went unanswered to the dismay of his teammates.

With less than 10 minutes remaining Konate latched onto a superb through ball from out wide to chip the ball over the on rushing Butland and gives his side a deserved equaliser.

Team GB came close to regaining its lead late on when second-half substitute Aaron Ramsey picked out Marvin Sordell in the middle of the area but the Bolton man could only hit the bar.

Next up for Team GB is a match against the United Arab Emirates at Wembley Stadium, while Senegal face Uruguay.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Brazil 3-2 Egypt: Neymar and Rafael on target as Samba Boys edge five-goal thriller

Brazil opened their Olympic campaign with a 3-2 win over Egypt, despite a spirited second-half comeback from the Pharaohs.

Goals from Rafael da Silva, Leandro Damiao and Neymar saw the Selecao race into a three-goal lead at half-time. Mohamed Abo Trika and Mohamed Salah hit back in the second half but it was not enough.

Mano Menezes was forced to make a change from the team that beat Team GB in a friendly six days previously, Rafael Cabral having been ruled out of the Games through injury, so backup goalkeeper Neto was promoted to make his first international start.

Brazil forced their way into the game early as Hulk weaved between four men before slipping the ball back towards Neymar whose first-time shot just whistled past Ahmed El-Shenawy’s left-hand post.

The Pharaohs went close to scoring in fortunate circumstances soon after. Emad Moteab charged down Neto's attempted clearance but the ball ballooned over the bar.

It was not long after that Egyptian chance when Brazil opened the scoring after 16 minutes, somewhat against the run of the play.

Chelsea's new signing, Oscar, changed pace and feet before playing a through ball to Rafael. The full-back took one touch on his right foot and, without looking up, rifled home with his left for his first international goal.

The Selecao quickly doubled their lead as Oscar ran onto Hulk's flick-on, then rounding El-Shenawy and playing a pass past two Egyptian defenders to Damiao who buried it into an open goal.

Within half an hour's play, it was three. Neymar showed some fancy footwork to get to the touchline before picking out Hulk on the left-hand side. The winger played the ball into the area where the 20-year-old had continued his run and headed past a helpless El-Shenawy.

There was a good chance for the Pharaohs to pull one back before half-time but Abo Trika's free kick did not have enough curl on the ball and it sailed harmlessly wide of goal.

However, Egypt came out for the second half refreshed and got themselves a foothold in the game within the first five minutes of the period.

Motaeb hit the post and after a melee in the box, the ball fell to Abo Trika who poked the ball home to give the Pharaohs a glimmer of hope.

Salah should have made it 3-2 as he tried to capitalise on Marcelo's mistake but he was always off-balance and his shot was eventually blocked by the recovering full-back before Ahmed Fathi's long-range effort just whistled past the post as Egypt continued to press without scoring.

A second goal did come as Salah did manage to make it 3-2. He turned his man inside-out before producing a curling left-footed effort past Neto.

Marcelo and substitute Ganso went close late on for Brazil as the tournament favourites just held on for the three points.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Belarus 1-0 New Zealand: Baga punishes O'Keeffe error as Belarusians claim Olympics Group C victory

Dmitry Baga's first half header was enough to hand Belarus a 1-0 victory and a Group C advantage over New Zealand at the City of Coventry Stadium.

The defensive midfielder capitalised on an error by goalkeeper Michael O'Keeffe to nod home a corner aimed at the back post on the stroke of half-time.

It was not the first time Belarus had threatened from a set-piece as the discipline and organisation of Georgy Kondratyev's side triumphed over the promising and inventive but, in the end, fruitless passing play of New Zealand.

Neil Emblen paired Shane Smeltz and Chris Wood in attack for the Oly Whites, with Kostas Barbarouses and Marco Rojas proving support from the flanks, while Ryan Nelsen anchored the defence.

Sergei Kornilenko, as expected, led the line for Belarus, with manager Kondratyev selecting five midfielders in a 4-2-3-1 formation.

Belarus broke forward immediately from the kick-off, with centre-back Tommy Smith guilty of tugging at the shirt of Kornilenko, an offence for which he received a yellow card, in the opening minute. The Krylia Sovetov striker failed to take advantage from 20 yards, pulling a low free-kick well wide.

New Zealand quickly settled, however, and resisted the temptation to launch passes at the 6' 3" target of Wood, building their attacks from the back and through midfield lynchpin Michael McGlinchey.

Left-back Ian Hogg had goalkeeper Aleksandr Gutor scrambling when his cross from deep looked like it might drop underneath the crossbar before defender Sergei Politevich was required to divert a dangerous low ball from Rojas behind for a corner.

Emblen's team did take advantage of Wood's aerial presence when McGlinchey curled a free-kick from the left on to the head of the 20-year-old striker, but his effort lacked power and was retrieved by Gutor, who made a good save low to his right.

Set-pieces looked to be Belarus' only route to goal as New Zealand remained in control, and both Kornilenko and Mikhail Gordeichuk came close to pouncing on one such opportunity from a corner kick. After a delivery from the right had ricocheted between two New Zealand players, the former's shot was superbly blocked by McGlinchey before O'Keeffe made an excellent save to deny the latter.

Gutor had reacted angrily when Wood challenged him from a high ball with some zeal and Smeltz took the opportunity to attempt to get under the goalkeeper's skin from a similar situation, drawing further choice words from the BATE Borisov player.

He was focused on the job at hand, at least when Rojas tore through the middle of the pitch before unleashing a left-footed shot that Gutor did well to tip over the bar.

New Zealand's play up to the edge of the opposition penalty area remained positive but Emblen's concern at their failure to carve out clear-cut chances will have grown as Belarus' counter-attacking threat became more potent. Gordeichuk sent a poor shot wide when running into all kinds of space on the right flank.

Eventually, with the last attack of the half, the Oly Whites were punished for their profligacy. The inexperienced O'Keeffe, who currently plays for Fairfield University in the United States, attempted to punch Renan Bressan's corner clear but missed the ball entirely, leaving Baga to stoop and head home at the far post.

In the second half, Belarus were content to protect their lead by any means necessary. Kornilenko was fortunate not to go into the referee's book when he missed Rojas with a wild hack and Politevich and Baga also got away with bundling the winger down higher up the pitch.

Smeltz was played through on goal by Wood shortly after but the Perth Glory striker's poor touch took him back into trouble as New Zealand struggled to conjure the quality needed to break down their opponents' defence.

Kornilenko, somewhat muted as an attacking force until this point, almost put the game to bed after 70 minutes when he spun on the edge of the box before firing a left-footed shot at O'Keeffe, but the goalkeeper made an excellent save.

Emblen introduced 17-year-old Cameron Howieson, of Burnley, for the impressive Rojas in an attempt to find the breakthrough but Belarus took control in the final 10 minutes.

O'Keeffe will be left disappointed to have made a crucial error in an otherwise fine display, as he kept his country in the game with two outstanding saves from substitute Andrei Voronkov in the final minutes.

After beating away the Neman Grodno player's shot from the edge of the box, the 21-year-old brilliantly tipped his header from the resulting corner over the bar.

Kornilenko then had time to slam a shot against the crossbar from a tight angle after turning Nelsen before Ilya Aleksievich was denied by O'Keeffe and Tim Payne hacked a rebound off the line.