..::Football II::..

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Man City 2-3 Norwich: Howson strike edges five-goal thriller

Norwich concluded its Premier League campaign in fine form with a pulsating 3-2 victory away to Manchester City.

The Canaries took the lead through Anthony Pilkington, although they weren’t ahead for long as Jack Rodwell equalized three minutes later for City.

Norwich went ahead again thanks to Grant Holt, and despite another Rodwell equalizer, the Canaries were not to be denied as Jonny Howson hit a superb winner.

Manchester City made five changes for this game, with Edin Dzeko leading the line up front as Sergio Aguero was only fit enough for the bench.

Meanwhile, Norwich replaced Sebastian Bassong with Steven Whittaker in what was the only change from the 4-0 victory over West Brom.

Both sides started brightly in the opening exchanges, with Grant Holt proving to be a challenge for the home defenders, turning and shooting wide after showing good strength.

City also started well, as Dzeko had a header well held by John Ruddy after a superb cross from Samir Nasri.

Norwich created the best chance of the half midway through. After a good corner from Snodgrass, Ryan Bennett saw a header cleared off the line by Joleon Lescott.

The Canaries took the lead minutes later. Some shambolic defending by the home side left a chance and Pilkington was on hand to sweep home a pass from Wes Hoolahan.

Manchester City was behind for just three minutes, however, as Dzeko laid off a Nasri pass into the path of Rodwell, who slotted the ball home well.

The home side exerted a good deal of pressure on Norwich’s goal but even the efforts of the workmanlike Carlos Tevez could not add another and the clubs went in level at halftime.

After Tevez was replaced to a standing ovation early in the second period, the Canaries continued to exert some pressure and had an appeal for a penalty turned down.

This pressure eventually told for the as Snodgrass played a delightful square ball into the area and Holt was on hand at the back post to finish with aplomb.

Once again, City found an equalizer within minutes. Rodwell accelerated away from Whittaker from inside his own half and finished low past Ruddy.

The Canaries bounced back again minutes later, as Howson rampaged forward from his own half and finished calmly under no pressure whatsoever to give his side the lead again.

It took City until the 79th minute to create another genuine chance, as James Milner played a low cross that Dzeko turned just wide at the near post, but the club could not find another equalizer, with Norwich taking a 3-2 win to finish the season in 11th place.

 

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Liverpool 1-0 QPR: Coutinho marks Carragher’s farewell with the winner

A first half stunning strike from Philippe Coutinho was enough to help Liverpool finish off the season with a 1-0 victory over bottom side QPR at Anfield.

The game, which was the last in a red jersey for Jamie Carragher was controlled by the Reds throughout, with Coutinho the tormentor-in-chief of the relegated London outfit.

The home side made a trio of changes, as Sebastian Coates, Andre Wisdom and Jonjo Shelvey dropped out, to be replaced by Martin Skrtel, Jose Enrique and 17-year-old Jordan Ibe who was making his debut for the Anfield side.

Harry Redknapp too, made three changes from the side that fell to defeat at home to Newcastle, with Michael Harriman, Shaun Derry and Park Ji-Sung all getting starting berths, with Jose Bosingwa, Jermaine Jenas and Junior Hoilett all missing out.

Liverpool thought it had taken an early lead, as with only two minutes gone in the game Coutinho headed a corner from Stewart Downing towards goal, but Robert Green managed to somehow clear before the ball crossed the line.

QPR was protesting for a penalty a couple of minutes later. Loic Remy went down inside the Liverpool penalty area under a challenge from Lucas, but referee Martin Atkinson waved away the claims for a spot kick.

Brendan Rodgers side controlled the pace of the game, with Coutinho once again coming close as he came in from the left side, but his effort towards goal took a deflection and ultimately went out for a corner.

The Brazilian did eventually get on the score sheet with 23 minutes gone. Ibe beat a couple of QPR defenders, before setting up Coutinho, who unleashed a strike from almost 25-yards out to beat Green.

Just before the halftime break Liverpool had another chance to double the advantage as Jose Enrique beat a couple of visiting defenders, but his effort at goal was poor.

QPR rarely threatened the Liverpool, but managed to work Pepe Reina just before the hour mark. Remy raced towards goal, but the Spanish keeper did well to deny him.

A couple of minutes later the home support almost got the moment they were hoping for. Carragher picked up the ball some 25-yards out and unleashed a stunning effort which smacked off of Green’s post.

The followup to that move saw both Downing and Daniel Sturridge attempt to smash crosses across the danger area, but on both occasions no players were available to finish the move off and double the lead.

As the game entered the last quarter of an hour, Liverpool continued to press, with the ball being lifted by Jordan Henderson towards Suso, but the young Spaniard couldn’t find the finish.

With five minutes left in the game Rodgers decided to bring off Carragher, who received a standing ovation for the Anfield faithful as the saw out a comfortable victory.

 

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Newcastle 0-1 Arsenal: Koscielny strike secures Champions League football for Gunners

Arsenal secured Champions League qualification for next season -- and a 16th in a row -- with a vital 1-0 win over Newcastle at St James' Park on the final day of the Premier League season, as Laurent Koscielny's second-half volley was enough to seal fourth place.

The Gunners' victory meant that regardless of how Tottenham got on against Sunderland at White Hart Lane, they would be the North Londoners appearing in the Champions League come September.

Newcastle marked Steve Harper's final game by handing him the captaincy for the day, as the goalkeper reached the end of a 20-year spell at the club. The 38-year-old was afforded a marvelous sendoff by Newcastle's supporters as they chanted his name for the duration of the 37th minute, to symobolize the goalkeeper's shirt number.

Newcastle barely touched the ball in the opening five minutes as Santi Cazorla and Aaron Ramsey dominated possession in midfield for the visitors, and that impressive spell was only broken by a thunderous challenge from Cheick Tiote on Tomas Rosicky.

The hosts fashioned the first chance of the game in the 10th minute when Papiss Cisse fired just over after strong play down the left-hand side from Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa.

Alan Pardew's side continued to threaten down the flanks, as Hatem Ben Arfa and Yoan Gouffran enjoyed themselves playing in an attacking three off Cisse.

Wenger's decision to start Mikel Arteta despite a calf injury he picked up against Wigan during the week backfired shortly before the half-hour mark, as the former Everton midfielder had to be replaced by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Arsenal appeared to click through a couple of gears at the start of the second half, as Theo Walcott and Cazorla began to run at Newcastle's defense, and in the 52nd minute the Gunners' pressure paid off when Koscielny gave them the lead. The Frenchman was on hand to smash a close-range volley past Harper after Theo Walcott's free kick sat up for him inside the Newcastle penalty area.

Just moments after going ahead the Gunners were fortunate not to concede a free kick in a very dangerous position, as the ball struck Ramsey's arm as he slid to dispossess Ben Arfa in full flight. Despite being just yards away from the action, referee Howard Webb waved play on.

Newcastle withdrew Yohan Cabaye shortly after, and that sapped the life from the hosts' play as Arsenal bookended its performance by dominating possession in a similar vein to how it started the game, finishing off the quest to return to the Champions League.

 

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Arsenal Champions League 1kata QualifedCongratzzzzzzzz​

 

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Wigan 2-2 Aston Villa: Points shared as Latics' eight-year stay in the Premier League comes to an end

Wigan and Aston Villa put long and hard seasons behind them with an entertaining 2-2 draw at the DW Stadium to send the supporters of both sides home happy.

Darren Bent, handed a rare start, opened the scoring with a low drive from the edge of the area but goals from Emmerson Boyce and a Nathan Baker own goal put the home side ahead at the break. Villa's second-half equalizer was the goal of the game as Ron Vlaar executed a perfect volley into the top corner of Ali Al Habsi's goal.

Wigan made three changes from the defeat to Arsenal that confirmed the club's relegation. Al Habsi returned in goal, Roman Golobart in defense and Ben Watson came into midfield. Joel Robles, Antolin Alcaraz and Callum McManaman made way. For Villa there were two changes, with Christian Benteke serving a one-game suspension so Darren Bent was given a rare start with Matt Lowton returning in place of Eric Lichaj at right back.

The game began at frantic pace with both sides keen to end the season on a high but it was Villa who looked the more dangerous as Joe Bennett tested Al Habsi with an early free kick. Within six minutes the first goal arrived and it was forgotten man Bent who put the visiting side ahead.

Gabriel Agbonlahor spun away from two men in midfield and played a perfect pass in to Bent, the striker got the ball onto his favored right foot and fired a low shot in off the post from the edge of the area.

Wigan’s equalizer came in the 20th minute as the whole ground was applauding for Stilyan Petrov. Roger Espinoza was freed down the left wing and delivered a perfect cross to the back post where Boyce rose above Joe Bennett and powered his header beyond Guzan.

As the half came to a close the home side took the lead through an unfortunate own goal from Baker. A left wing corner brought a goal mouth scramble inside the penalty area, Watson saw a shot cleared off the line by Ashley Westwood only for the ball to hit Baker and roll into the net.

The home side began the second half the stronger as both McCarthy and Kone wasted good chances to extend the lead further.

The club was made to pay for the missed opportunities on the hour as Vlaar equalized with a stunning volley from 18 yards. Joe Bennett delivered a free kick into the penalty area, the central defender brought the ball down, swivelled and unleashed a unstoppable volley into the top corner giving Al Habsi no chance.

Both sides pushed for a late winner but neither goalkeeper was called into action as the finishing lacked quality, the only real chance came with 11 minutes remaining when James McArthur saw his controlled volley crash against Guzan's crossbar.

 

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Chelsea 2-1 Everton: Torres clinches third place

LONDON -- Rafael Benitez saw out his six-month interim spell in charge at Chelsea by presiding over an entertaining 2-1 Premier League win against Everton at Stamford Bridge.Though Juan Mata opened the scoring early on for the home side, Steven Naismith equalized shortly after, with both sides then having ample opportunity to snatch a winner before Fernando Torres volleyed home clinically at the near post to seal all three points.



Europa League champion Chelsea started the game having already secured Champions League football next term while, regardless of the score, Everton was guaranteed a sixth place Premier League finish, as the subplots of the end of both manager’s periods in charge at their clubs took center-stage in the buildup.
Benitez opted to start both Demba Ba and Torres, while Nathan Ake came in to make his first Premier League start for the Blues. A knee injury for Leon Osman meant that Naismith was drafted in for the visiting team.

A flurry of early activity saw Chelsea start in enterprising fashion and seize the initiative after Mata started and finished a fluid counterattack, tucking into an empty net after Tim Howard had spilled Ba’s shot straight into the Spaniard’s path
Chances for Everton came thick and fast in the aftermath, with Naismith skewing Seamus Coleman’s cut back wide of the target before making amends and drawing his side level with 14 minutes gone. David Luiz was the guilty party for the Blues, being caught in possession by the Scot, who then exchanged a neat one-two with Victor Anichebe before clipping over Petr Cech.Darron Gibson’s deflected effort came off Cech’s head via the post while Torres misdirected his free header as the game flew by breathlessly.

Torres made another poor connection with a free header before an Everton onslaught saw Chelsea lucky to enter the interval level. The visiting side thrice went close in the closing stages of the first half, as Gibson’s deflected effort rattled both the post and Cech’s head, then Kevin Mirallas scuffed at the far post before Steven Pienaar’s curling effort flew narrowly over the bar. In response, Frank Lampard wildly arrowed over when released by some clever Torres and Ba interchange.

The frantic tempo of the game showed little sign of abating in the second half with Howard immediately called into action to beat out Gary Cahill’s effort while Marounane Fellaini nearly caught Cech unaware at the other end.

Branislav Ivanovic blazed wastefully over when the ball dropped to him after a corner before Ba squandered his own fine chance, curling wide after picking up Phil Jagielka’s loose pass across his own area.Ivanovic then hammered wide of the upright from range while the introduction of Nikica Jelavic almost paid instantaneous dividends though the Croat could only send his diving header straight into Cech’s arms.

Jelavic then missed an even more guilt-edged chance, sliding into Leighton Baines’ cross only to see the ball go the wrong side of the upright and was made to pay immediately, when Torres smashed home Victor Moses’ nod-down at the near post to secure both the win and a third-place Premier League finish.

 

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Heynckes thanks fans in emotional Bundesliga farewell

The Bavarians' coach struggled to hold back tears after his side's final Bundesliga game of the season, which Bayern Munich won 4-3 in dramatic style.Bayern Munich boss Jupp Heynckes thanked fans in an emotional Bundesliga farewell following a 4-3 win over Borussia Monchengladbach in the final game of the campaign and the final league match of his tenure as the club's coach.

Three goals in the first 10 minutes gave the hosts a head of steam, but the Bavarians fought back with a goal from Javi Martinez, two from Franck Ribery and a winner from Arjen Robben to finish their record-breaking league season in dramatic style.

The win ensured that they top the Bundesliga by a massive 25 points ahead of second-placed Borussia Dortmund, and Heynckes thanked both Die Roten and Gladbach supporters for their sendoff on Saturday.

"My thanks go to the fans for this wonderful farewell, which shows me ..." Heynckes began, before needing a moment to compose himself. "It shows me that this is my home.

"This is an emotional moment for me. I started my playing career and coaching career at Gladbach. It would certainly have been more emotional if it had been at the Bokelberg [Gladbach's old stadium].

"I associate many triumphs, bitter defeats and some curiosities with it. I would like to heartily thank the Borussia fans for the wonderful farewell."

Bayern will now prepare for its Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund on May 25 at Wembley. A week later Heynckes will serve his final game as Bayern head coach, the DFB Pokal final against Stuttgart in which he could go out by winning a treble.

 

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Diego confirms 'concrete offer' from Atletico Madrid

The playmaker has revealed that there has been contact with los Rojiblancos, raising the possibility of him once again leaving to join Diego Simeone's team.
Diego looks set to leave Wolfsburg in the summer after confirming he has received a "concrete offer" from Atletico Madrid.

The Brazilian spent the 2011-12 season on loan to Los Colchoneros, scoring six times in 43 games and winning the Europa League in the process. Speaking to journalists after Die Wolfe's 2-2 draw with Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday, Diego suggested that an exit from the Bundesliga is a very realistic prospect during the upcoming transfer window.

"Atletico wants me and I have been given a concrete offer," the 28-year-old midfielder was quoted by Wolfsburger Allgemeine. "We must now speak with Wolfsburg about what is best for me and the club.

"I have always been satisfied in Wolfsburg and respect that I still have a year left on my contract.

"But that is precisely the situation that we need to talk about."

Wolfsburg boss Dieter Hecking is far from convinced that an offer will come in that will tempt the club to sell the former Juventus man, who scored his side's second goal in the final game of the season at Frankfurt.

"If his desire to go is really so great, then we need to talk with Diego," Hecking said. "We have to find arguments to persuade him to stay. However, I cannot imagine that there is a club that will pay enough money for him.

"If you saw him play against Frankfurt, it is clear that clubs come and make offers. We will listen to everything and talk to him, but I do not think we will do business unless an offer comes in that is so good that we cannot refuse it."

 

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Chelsea loanee Courtois confirms desire to stay at Atletico Madrid

The Belgian shot-stopper would prefer to remain in La Liga for another season than return to West London as Petr Cech's understudy, with the 2014 World Cup on the horizon.Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has spoken of his preference to stay on loan at Atletico Madrid for another season rather than return to parent-club Chelsea.

The young Belgian has been impressive in his two seasons on loan at Estadio Vicente Calderon since he completed his move from Genk to Chelsea in the summer of 2011, and he helped the Spanish side to victories in last season's Europa League, as well as this year's European Super Cup and, most recently, the Copa Del Rey.

However, with Petr Cech looking as secure as ever in his place between the posts in West London, the 21-year-old Courtois told reporters after the Copa victory over city rival Real Madrid that with the World Cup on the horizon, he would rather spend another year in Spain as a first-team regular than take his place on the Chelsea bench.

"I want to stay," Courtois said. "I’d rather play in La Liga than be a substitute in the Premier League.

"There’s a World Cup and I want to go. Here I will be able to play in the Champions League and there’s no better place to play than here. At Atletico I have progressed a lot."

At this stage it is unclear whether Chelsea would be willing to sanction such a move, particularly with speculation still rife over who the club's future manager may be after the departure of interim boss Rafael Benitez.

 

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Villas-Boas: Tottenham will 'raise the bar' next season


The Spurs boss is confident Europa League football will be enough to keep Gareth Bale as he prepares to bolster his squad this summer for a renewed pursuit of the top four.

Tottenham boss Andre Villas-Boas says the club will "raise the bar" this summer and come back stronger after missing out on Champions League qualification this season.

Arsenal's 1-0 win over Newcastle on the final day prevented Spurs' Gareth Bale-inspired victory against Sunderland from making a difference as they finished fifth behind their great rival.

The Portuguese's plans have not changed, however, as he insisted to reporters after the game.

"I said before this game that, whether we made it into the Champions League or not, we would have to raise the bar again because our competitors will do the same," he remarked.

"We got ever so close but they will do their job in [the transfer] window and we will do ours the Tottenham way, scouting properly and looking for good grabs in summer window to make it a stronger squad."

Villas-Boas is adamant Tottenham will be able to hold onto star man Bale this summer even with only Europa League football to offer rather than the top table.

"It will be very, very difficult to lure a player of this dimension away," he warned of the Welshman. "You have to hold onto your best assets. The Europa League is a wonderful competition won by Chelsea, the European champions.

"Getting 72 points and not making it means that next season to compete at this level we have to make probably more than that [next season]," the 35-year-old added. "The other teams have great squads and will continue to add quality. Next year we'll have to be extremely competitive.

"We have given it a good run in the end - the difference between teams is very, very short. We will make that a lesson to take into the future.

"It's difficult for me. Obviously we would ideally have achieved that fourth spot. We certainly did enough to deserve it but we didn't in the end and, moving forward, it is where we want to be so we will try next season."

 

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Robben desperate to end final curse

The winger has lost a number of big games in the past few seasons, but told Goal that he is confident that things will end better for him this time around.Arjen Robben is desperate to guide Bayern Munich to victory in the Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund and end his final hoodoo.

The Netherlands international tasted defeat in the final of Europe's elite competition in both 2010 and 2012, as well as losing in a World Cup and DFB-Pokal final.

Nevertheless, the 29-year-old is optimistic about ending his curse against BVB on Saturday.

"Things will have to come good for me at some point in a big final... I have a good feeling about this one," Robben told Goal. "We have to keep up our good form. We are brimming with confidence ahead of the trip to England and I am really looking forward to the game.

"Everybody realizes that this is our chance to win the treble. We will have to win 'the cup with the big ears' first, though."

"Our win over Monchengladbach at the weekend counts for nothing and Dortmund's loss against Hoffenheim does not say anything either. Finals are always special games, different to any other match."

The Champions League final kicks off at Wembley this Saturday.

 

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Moyes at Carrington to begin Manchester United reign

The Scot is at the home of the champions and will meet staff and be given a tour of the facilities as he prepares to take over from Sir Alex Ferguson.David Moyes has arrived at Manchester United’s training ground as he prepares to officially take over from Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford.

The Scot drove into Carrington just at before 9am on Monday to meet the club's staff and medical team. He will also receive a tour of the training center and get briefed on its facilities.

Moyes does not officially take charge of United until July 1 but is taking the reins already following his final game as manager of Everton on Sunday, which ended in a 2-1 defeat at Chelsea.

Ferguson officially retired after United’s sensational 5-5 draw with West Brom and has now stepped aside to allow Moyes control, with the former Preston boss arriving on a six-year contract.

Moyes’ contract with Everton expires on June 30 but the Toffees are understood to have given the 50-year-old permission to begin the transition into his new role.

Moyes, who was confirmed as Ferguson’s successor earlier this month, said after Sunday’s match that he will also spend time at Everton’s training ground this week to ensure everything is in place for the new Merseyside club’s manager.

"I will go into Finch Farm some of the days next week and make sure things are in place for whoever the incoming manager is,” said Moyes.

"I would like to be remembered for doing a hard working honest job because that is what the football club stands for."

 

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Carragher admits to 'emotional' Liverpool sendoff


The 35-year-old was sad to realize that Sunday's 1-0 victory over QPR will be the last time that he plays competitively at Anfield as he officially retires from football.
Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher admits that he got "emotional" during his 737th and last game for the club.

The 35-year-old was substituted to a rousing reception after 85 minutes of Sunday's 1-0 victory over relegated QPR, in which Philippe Coutinho scored the only goal.

"I'm not the type to get too emotional but it is emotional," Carragher told the club's official website after the match. "I've got friends and family in the stand. I just wanted to concentrate on the game, we got the win that we wanted and I'll go and enjoy myself now.

"I've been playing here a long time and it's sad to think that I'll never be playing here again in a competitive game but it has to come to an end at some stage and I've got some great memories."

Manager Brendan Rodgers was glowing in his praise for the defender, enthusing: "He's been incredible, every word since the day he said he was going to retire that's been said about him, what we wanted to make sure is that we finished him off with a win because he's a winner.He's a colossus player for this club and he nearly got a goal which is incredible, so it's a good day all round.

"We finish the season with seven wins, four draws and a defeat, so hopefully we can continue with that consistency next season. It's been a difficult season for the supporters. There's been some disappointments but a lot of delight on the way as well. But today we got the win and this was a day about Carra and we wanted to send him off with a win, so we're absolutely delighted."

 

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Allegri: Milan will decide my future


The 45-year-old was unable to make a long-term commitment to the Rossoneri as rumors linking him with a move to Roma continue to circulate Massimiliano Allegri has admitted that he remains in the dark over his future at AC Milan following Sunday's 2-1 victory over Siena.

The Rossoneri coach faces an uncertain summer despite guiding the club to Serie A's third and final Champions League berth ahead of Fiorentina, as rumors of a possible switch to Roma gather pace.Speaking after the clash in Tuscany, the former Cagliari boss conceded that Milan is in control of his own destiny as he hailed the team for the progress it has made during his three-year term.

“I have a contract, so when a season ends you talk to the club in order to find out what's next. The club might want to replace me, I don’t know,” he told Sky Sport Italia.“I certainly can’t walk away, as I have a contract, so it is their decision, but right now talking about the future is too early. The season has just ended so let me enjoy this victory.

“In three years the president has put his faith in me and could so easily have fired me this season after the first eight games. We have introduced many new young faces to the mix and helped the older guard too, so Milan have solid foundations.Milan was trailing Siena and seemed to be heading for the Europa League until the latter stages of the second half when it was awarded a controversial penalty, but Allegri claimed that the decision balanced out previous calls against his side.

“During a season, you get some penalties that are dubious and others that are stonewall but not given. We were two points ahead going into the weekend, our destiny was in our hands, so we got the victory,” he said.