..::Football III::..

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Barcelona agree €12 million Ter Stegen deal

Barcelona have reached an agreement with Borussia Monchengladbach over the transfer of Marc-Andre ter Stegen for a fee in the region of €9-12 million plus two friendly games, Goal can confirm.

The Blaugrana were in the market for a new goalkeeper due to the departure of Victor Valdes at the end of the 2013-14 campaign and they have now found their man in Ter Stegen.

The Germany international will sign a contract until the summer of 2019 with the Catalans.

Sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta has travelled to Germany a number of times in the past few months to see Ter Stegen live in action and the 21-year-old has done enough to convince the former shot stopper that he's the right man for Barca.

The reigning Spanish champions will announce the capture of Ter Stegen either once Valdes reveals his next destination or when La Liga is mathematically decided.

The young goalkeeper recently announced that he would not sign a contract extension to his current deal until 2015, prompting Monchengladbach to cash in on him this summer.

Ter Stegen is a product of the BMG youth academy and has made over 100 official appearances for the Bundesliga side since breaking into the first team in 2010-11.

 

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Moyes pens open letter to Manchester United fans

Manchester United manager David Moyes has penned an open letter to supporters in which he accepts that his first season in charge has gone worse than expected.

Praising the "magnificent" fans for their patience, the Scot, who was hand-picked to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson last summer by the man himself, admitted that their struggles have taken him by surprise but is adamant that things will get better.

"While I knew that this job would be a challenge when I took it on, the difficult season we have experienced was not something that I envisaged, which I am sure is the case as well for you supporters," wrote Moyes.

"My players, staff and I are desperate to compensate for that.

"You are accustomed to seeing a successful Manchester United and the backing you have given the players and me throughout the season has been incredible. Away from home the travelling fans have remained the best in the country while at Old Trafford your unwavering faith has been noticeable and hugely welcomed.

"Supporting your team when they are winning is easy but much harder when things are not going as well, and the loyalty you have shown us has been magnificent."

The Red Devils, who won the Premier League last season, sit seventh after 27 games. They are 12 points behind fourth-placed Manchester City, having played a game more, and stand on the brink of an exit from the Champions League after losing the first leg of their knockout tie with Olympiakos 2-0.

But Moyes vowed: "Everything we have been through will make us a better, stronger team and club in the future.

"Over the years you have seen great winning sides here and, in time, I have absolutely no doubt that we will see great winning sides here again."

 

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We trust you Moyes!

 

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Barclays Premier League 2014.03.08 Fixtures

Barclays Premier League 2014.03.08 Fixtures

WBA Vs Manchester United

Cardiff City Vs Fulham

Crystal Palace Vs Southampton

Norwich City Vs Stoke City

Chelsea Vs Tottenham

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La Liga 2014.03.08 Fixtures

La Liga 2014.03.08 Fixtures

Real Valladoid Vs Barcelona

Real Betis Vs Getafe

Celta Vigo Vs Atletico Madrid

Granada Vs Villareal​

 

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Serie A 2014.03.08 Fixtures

Serie A 2014.03.08 Fixtures

Udinese Vs Ac Milan

Catania Vs Cagliari​

 

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Half Time

WBA 0 Vs 1 Manchester United


​

 

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Udinese 1-0 AC Milan: Di Natale downs Rossoneri

Antonio Di Natale finished off a top team move to give Udinese a deserved 1-0 victory over AC Milan on Saturday.

The veteran striker, who looks set to call time on his playing career at the end of the season, produced the winner to help Francesco Guidolin's men to their first win in a month and second over the Rossoneri since Clarence Seedorf's appointment as coach in January.

After a goalless first half, Di Natale scored the opening goal of the game after 67 minutes when he handed Udinese a deserved lead.

The 36-year-old found the net for the ninth time in Serie A this season after a slick break involving Roberto Pereyra and Bruno Fernandes.

Despite the return of leading goalscorer Mario Balotelli from a shoulder injury, it was Di Natale to condemn Milan to back-to-back defeats ahead of Tuesday's Champions League clash with Atletico Madrid.

Udinese made the early running - Pereyra forcing Abbiati into a save down to his left after three minutes with none of his team-mates able to follow in on the rebound.

Giampaolo Pazzini, starting ahead of the fit-again Balotelli, then went close with two headers following deliveries from Mattia De Sciglio, though neither tested Simone Scuffet in the Udinese goal.

Without the likes of Kaka and Adel Taarabt, Milan struggled to create opportunities in the final third, with the duo of Keisuke Honda and Robinho playing behind Pazzini.

It was the hosts who went close next, with Di Natale's effort from range veering just wide of the Milan goal.

Cristian Zapata inexplicably headed well over from a corner shortly after the half-hour mark before Pazzini's volley was well saved by Scuffet as Milan began to crank up the pressure.

Their play failed to yield a breakthrough before the interval and the visitors were penned back in their half during the opening minutes of the second half.

Silvan Widmer caused problems down the Udinese right with Seedorf opting to introduce Balotelli just after the hour mark in an attempt to break the deadlock.

However, it was the hosts' front man who opened the scoring as Di Natale again proved a thorn in the side for the visitors - applying the finishing touch to a sweeping passing move to register his 12th league goal against Milan.

Milan failed to muster any late attempts on Scuffet's goal as Udinese moved further clear of the drop zone while Seedorf's side could slip further in Serie A when the majority of the league play on Sunday.

 

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Bastia 0-3 Paris Saint-Germain: Ibrahimovic & Lavezzi ease Parisiens to victory

Paris Saint-Germain coasted to a 3-0 victory over Bastia on Saturday to keep their Ligue 1 lead over second-placed Monaco looking healthy.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic produced yet another masterful display to guide Laurent Blanc's men to a routine victory that took their goal tally for the season past the 100-goal mark.

The striker headed the capital club into the lead after six minutes with a goal that brought up PSG's century and marked his 38th of the campaign.

And the former Barcelona and AC Milan man played a pivotal role in his side's second goal, on 19 minutes, setting up Ezequiel Lavezzi with an acrobatic assist to all but ensure victory for the defending champions.

PSG were able to relax thereafter but still managed to add a third through Lavezzi late on as they edged ever closer to a second successive league crown.

The visitors left captain Thiago Silva on the bench ahead of Wednesday's Champions League clash with Bayer Leverkusen, while Edinson Cavani was omitted from the squad after returning to Uruguay to deal with a personal matter.

PSG almost found the net inside the first 15 seconds, Bastia defender Francois Modesto atoning for an early defensive mistake by clearing Lucas Moura's effort off the line after Lavezzi had pulled the ball back.

It did not take much longer for PSG to break through the home defence. Ibrahimovic linked up well with Lucas before the latter sent a lofted cross to the far post that the Swede directed into the net with a looping header.

Ibrahimovic was heavily involved again as Blanc's men moved into a commanding position, playing a magnificent volleyed backheel throughball into the path of Lavezzi, who slotted under Bastia goalkeeper Jean-Louis Leca to double the lead.

PSG continued to dictate play without creating too many further opportunities, although teenage midfielder Adrien Rabiot did force Leca into a save with a curling effort from range.

Blanc's men looked to have added a third shortly after the interval when Alex headed in off the bar from Lucas' corner, only for the goal to be ruled out for Thiago Motta's push on Romaric.

Substitute Yohan Cabaye then went close with a dipping volley from the edge of the area midway through the second half.

Bastia did improve marginally in the closing stages, but never looked like mounting a comeback.

A fourth straight league game without a win for the Corsicans was confirmed in the 88th minute when Lavezzi latched on to a loose ball and rounded Leca before firing home.

 

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Crystal Palace 0-1 Southampton: Rodriguez the hero for Saints

Jay Rodriguez scored the only goal as Southampton surpassed their 2012-13 Premier League points tally with a 1-0 win at Crystal Palace.

Chances were few and far between for much of the opening period at Selhurst Park on Saturday, but it was a mistake by a former Southampton player that saw the deadlock broken.

Jason Puncheon applied a weak header to a long ball out of the visitors’ defence, with Rodriguez pouncing to get the better of Julian Speroni and poke the ball into an empty net.

The win takes ninth-placed Southampton to 42 points, one better off than at the end of last season, while Palace are now just two points clear of the relegation zone.

Tony Pulis rewarded Glenn Murray for his game-changing cameo at Swansea City last weekend by handing the striker just his second Premier League start, but it was a frustrating opening 10 minutes for the hosts as they fell foul of the offside flag on three occasions.

Southampton took control of the game by having the lion’s share of possession, but neither side were giving goalkeepers Speroni or Artur Boruc particular cause for concern.

Rodriguez got a sight of goal shortly before the half-hour mark, but Damien Delaney slid in well to ensure the Argentinian remained untested, before Southampton were forced into an early change when Jack Cork went down with an apparent ankle injury - Victor Wanyama his replacement.

The game finally sparked into life eight minutes before the break when Puncheon conceded possession with a weak defensive header, forcing Speroni to rush out of his area to challenge Rodriguez.

The England international came out on top and subsequently rolled the ball into an empty net with the game’s first shot on target, taking him level with Luis Suarez, Daniel Sturridge and Wayne Rooney on eight away goals for the season.

Another of the visitors’ World Cup hopefuls Rickie Lambert very nearly doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time, but prodded his effort against the right-hand post from just inside the 18-yard box, before Yannick Bolasie drilled a powerful strike straight at Boruc at the other end.

Palace came from a goal down at the break to earn a point at Swansea last Sunday, and Bolasie tried to force the issue early in the second period, but was brought down by Dejan Lovren 20 yards out as he surged goalwards, Mile Jedinak blazing the resulting free-kick well over.

The second 45 minutes followed much the same pattern as the first – Southampton enjoying the majority of possession, but failing to look especially dangerous.

Luke Shaw, who picked up his first England cap against Denmark on Wednesday, tried his luck from 20 yards out in the 73rd minute, but it was an easy save for Speroni.

Having started the half brightly, Palace never really looked like finding an equaliser, and Southampton were comfortable as they held on to the three points.

 

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West Brom 0-3 Manchester United: Jones, Rooney & Welbeck lift champions to sixth

Manchester United moved up to sixth in the Premier League after a convincing 3-0 win over West Brom at the Hawthorns.


A first-half goal from Phil Jones was followed up with strikes from Wayne Rooney and Danny Welbeck as David Moyes' side piled the pressure on their relegation-threatened hosts.

West Brom began the game on the front foot, but United showed menace on the counter-attack.

Their much-vaunted front four of Juan Mata, Adnan Januzaj, Rooney and Robin van Persie showed more cohesion than in previous games, but it was Chris Brunt who almost put United ahead after 16 minutes.The West Brom captain inadvertently diverted Marouane Fellaini's 16th-minute header goalwards before Youssouff Mulumbu came to his rescue by clearing off the line.

The hosts then had former United goalkeeper Ben Foster to thank for keeping them level just before the half-hour mark when he kept out Rafael's powerful back-post header.There was nothing Foster could do about the 33rd-minute opener, however, as Jones glanced Van Persie's free-kick past the keeper from eight yards for his first Premier League goal of the season.

West Brom should have drawn level five minutes later when Claudio Yacob nodded over from three yards, before Victor Anichebe outmuscled Jones with his back to goal only to drag wide from 12 yards.Foster appeared fortunate to escape punishment just before half-time as he seemed to handle outside his area, with referee Jonathan Moss waving play on despite vehement protests from Moyes.

Mel's side came began the second period as they started the first, and created a clear opening after 52 minutes only for Zoltan Gera to shoot tamely straight at David de Gea after a neat one-two with Anichebe.Moss was again in the spotlight shortly after, as he deemed Van Persie's second wild lunge in the space of five minutes unworthy of a second booking.

The referee cautioned the Dutchman for his first poor tackle on Morgan Amalfitano, and could easily have dismissed him when he went in late on Steven Reid shortly after, but opted instead for a stern warning.Moyes, perhaps mindful of his striker's fortune, substituted Van Persie for Welbeck just after the hour mark.

United were struggling to contain Anichebe's physicality, and the former Everton man almost created the equaliser when he fired across goal after once again shrugging off the attentions of Jones, but Rafael was on hand to clear before Brunt could tap in to an open goal.Despite West Brom's promising start after the interval, they were undone by a moment of real quality from the visitors as Rooney doubled their advantage after 65 minutes.

Slick interplay between Rooney, Mata and Rafael ended with the Brazil defender finding the unmarked England striker with a pinpoint cross, and he made no mistake with a simple back-post header.

Welbeck then made sure seven minutes from time when he latched on to Rooney's perfectly weighted throughball and produced a smart finish.

 

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Congratulations Manchester United!

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Chelsea 4-0 Tottenham: Blues cruise past Spurs as Mourinho's men go seven points clear

Chelsea have moved seven points clear at the top of the Premier League after second-half goals from Samuel Eto’o, Eden Hazard and Demba Ba sealed a 4-0 victory over Tottenham.

After a goalless first half, the Cameroon striker capitalised on a mistake from Jan Vertonghen to put Jose Mourinho’s men in front in the 56th minute before Younes Kaboul brought down the forward inside Spurs’ box to concede a penalty.

The French defender was given a straight red card for his challenge, while Hazard converted the spot kick to register his 13th Premier League goal of the season before two late goals from Ba sealed the win in some style.

Eto'o was immediately at the heart of the action following his late call-up. Hazard released the striker inside the first 30 seconds and Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris tore out of his area to bring Eto'o down. An offside flag, which appeared to be incorrectly raised, possibly saved the France international from an incredibly early red card.

Lloris' haphazard start continued in the fifth minute when Eto'o returned the favour to Hazard and the playmaker negotiated a rash lunge from the visiting keeper but shot wide when off balance.

Tottenham could have moved ahead in the 14th minute as Nabil Bentaleb collected Emmanuel Adebayor's flick on, only to drag past the post with frustrated team-mates queuing up in the box.

Petr Cech got down superbly to beat away a rasping volley from Sandro, while Eto'o drilled beyond the near post after being forced wide by Kaboul - one of four players recalled by Tottenham boss Tim Sherwood.

Mourinho sent on Oscar for the yellow-carded Frank Lampard at the break and there were soon chances at both ends - Kaboul rising highest to head a corner into Cech's arms before Andre Schurrle missed his kick having linked nicely with Eto'o.

Vertonghen also tried his luck with an audacious 30-yard chip but a dreadful error from Tottenham's left-back allowed Chelsea to open the scoring.

The Belgium international lost his footing and saw his subsequent pass intercepted by Eto'o, who bore down on goal and finished incisively.

Kaboul then bundled Eto'o over as the latter looked to meet Hazard's low cross. Referee Michael Oliver, adjudging the defender to have prevented a clear goalscoring opportunity, produced a red card and Hazard nonchalantly stroked home the spot kick, sending Lloris the wrong way.

Sherwood finished the game without both starting centre-backs after Michael Dawson departed with a hamstring injury, and his team ended the contest in disarray.

Sandro fell when trying to retrieve Oscar's right-wing cross, allowing Ba to finish in the 88th minute and the same player capitalised once more when an inexplicable back header from Kyle Walker sold Lloris short.

 

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Valladolid 1-0 Barcelona: Catalans slip up in La Liga race

Barcelona missed the chance to go top of La Liga and slipped up in the title race by losing 1-0 at Valladolid on Saturday.

The champions were sluggish throughout at Estadio Jose Zorrilla and Fausto Rossi's early goal ensured the initiative at the top is now with Atletico Madrid, who visit Celta Vigo later on Saturday, and Real Madrid, who host Levante on Sunday.

Gerardo Martino's men had very little to shout about in the first half, as Valladolid goalkeeper Diego Marino kept them at bay with several important stops, with Rossi firing the relegation-threatened home side into a 17th-minute lead.

Lionel Messi saw numerous chances saved by Marino, while Neymar spurned a huge opportunity from close-range to level matters in the second half.

Barca piled on the pressure in the latter stages, but their inability to salvage a draw leaves Real Madrid a point clear at the top ahead of their clash with Levante, while Atletico will go second if they win in Vigo.

Valladolid, meanwhile, move out of the relegation zone, overtaking Almeria on goal difference.

The build-up to the game was dominated by the news that Barca captain Carles Puyol will end his 19-year association with the club at the end of the season, and he was left out in favour of the returning Gerard Pique.

Valladolid put the champions under pressure early on as they won several set pieces in the final third, but their dreadful deliveries played into Barca's hands as they looked particularly dangerous on the counterattack.

Messi broke forward after an over-hit Valladolid corner and he eventually got a shot away on the edge of the hosts' area only for Marino to tip it over the crossbar.

Despite Barca's increasing control of the game, Valladolid broke the deadlock in the 17th minute as Rossi pounced on a ricochet inside the area before confidently slotting past Victor Valdes.

Unsurprisingly, the visitors' best opportunity to draw level came through Messi, as the Argentine cut across the edge of the area and drilled a left-footed shot at goal eight minutes before half-time, but once again Marino was equal to it.

The wasteful visitors appeared to have a renewed determination at the start of the second period as Messi raced past Marc Valiente before bursting into the box, but he still could not beat Marino, who saved with his knee.

As the hour mark approached, Valladolid were finding it increasingly difficult to get out of their own half and Neymar should have pulled Barca level in the 58th minute when he blazed over from 10 yards out.

The hosts continued to sit back, challenging Barca to break them down, and almost added a second with six minutes to go as Oscar Gonzalez fired over from Valdet Roma's cutback.

Despite all their late pressure, the Catalans could not find a way through and slipped to their fourth league defeat of the season - a result that sees their grip on their title loosen further.

 

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Arsenal 4-1 Everton: Late Giroud double books semi-final spot

A flurry of late goals boosted Arsenal's hopes of ending their trophy drought as they beat Everton 4-1 in Saturday's FA Cup quarter-final.

Arsene Wenger's men scored three times in the last 22 minutes to move into the final four a competition they last won in 2005.

The under-fire Mesut Ozil answered some of his critics early on when he put the home side ahead with his first goal of the year.

His last came in December’s 1-1 Premier League draw with Everton, but the Germany international showed no signs of rustiness as he finished with aplomb inside the area.

Despite the hosts enjoying much of the play from then on, Everton levelled just after the half-hour mark following a rapid breakaway.

Romelu Lukaku profited after good work from Ross Barkley and Kevin Mirallas - prodding home from close range to continue his goalscoring form since returning from injury.

Mikel Arteta restored the lead from the penalty spot, at the second attempt after 68 minutes, following Gareth Barry's clumsy trip on Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain before Olivier Giroud struck twice late on to kill the tie off.

It ended Roberto Martinez's hopes of becoming the first manager to win back-to-back FA Cups with different clubs as Everton's winless run at Arsenal in all competitions was extended to 20 matches.

Amid frantic opening exchanges, Ozil opened the scoring after just six minutes - keeping his cool to sidefoot Santi Cazorla's slipped pass into the far corner of Joel's net.

That knocked the wind out of Everton's sails somewhat, but the visitors almost equalised shortly after when Bacary Sagna blocked off Steven Piennar inside the area.

A nervous-looking Joel then tipped Sagna's centre onto his crossbar as the Spaniard struggled to settle after a lively opening.

Going forward, Everton looked dangerous to a point but, more often than not, failed to find the killer final ball on the break.

However, they eventually got their counter-attack strategy spot on as the lively Barkley scampered down the right and crossed for Mirallas at the far post.

The Belgian cut the ball back for countryman Lukaku, who had time to control before tapping home.

Barkley had the first chance of the second half, curling an effort over the crossbar after Thomas Vermaelen gave possession away cheaply to Lukaku.

Cazorla then forced Joel into a smart save to his left before Oxlade-Chamberlain went down under the challenge of Barry soon after the hour mark following some tricky footwork from the 20-year-old.

Former Everton man Arteta then put Arsenal back in front from the spot after seeing his first effort cancelled out due to encroachment from substitute Giroud.

It was Giroud himself who got on the scoresheet seven minutes from time to settle any nerves before he finished off a quick break to move Arsenal within one game of the final.

 

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Wolfsburg 1-6 Bayern Munich: Bavarians tear apart hosts with late salvo

Bayern Munich tore apart Wolfsburg with five goals in the final 30 minutes to win 6-1 after going a goal behind early in Saturday's game.The hosts had surprisingly moved ahead when Naldo met Kevin De Bruyne's teasing cross, yet the visitors levelled when a goalmouth scramble fell to Xherdan Shaqiri, whose shot just crossed the line.


Bayern stepped up a gear with five second-half goals, the first coming when Thiago Alcantara's sublime pass was collected by Thomas Muller who tapped home after rounding the goalkeeper.


Mario Mandzukic then notched against his former side for his 50th Bundesliga
goal, before Franck Ribery – making his first Bayern appearance since February 2 - and Muller's second helped Bayern make it 49 league matches without defeat.
Croatia international Mandzukic grabbed a second of his own to complete the rout as Bayern prepared for Tuesday's Champions League visit of Arsenal in fine style.

Bayern dominated possession in the early stages, and a swift counterattack on 15 minutes saw Toni Kroos slip Shaqiri through on goal, but the Switzerland international could only hit tamely at Diego Benaglio as he struggled to keep his
balance.


Wolfsburg had been largely untroubled, however, and the hosts moved ahead on 17 minutes. De Bruyne's out-swinging cross from the left was side-footed home by the stretching Naldo at the back post.However, the hosts' lead would last just nine minutes as Bayern equalised in uncharacteristically scrappy fashion.


A corner from the left was not dealt with at all by the home defence, with Dante and Rafinha having shots cleared off the line before Benaglio was finally beaten as Shaqiri's effort sneaked in.Shortly before the half-hour mark Benaglio had to be alert to parry Shaqiri's fierce half-volley as Bayern cranked up the pressure, while Robben flashed wide from the edge of the box.


Yet it was Wolfsburg who should have gone into the break ahead as De Bruyne side-footed weakly at Manuel Neuer when in a great position in the box.Bayern once more stepped up a notch after the break, and a smart, dinked free kick from Thiago led to Robben lashing a volley over the crossbar.


Wolfsburg almost caught Bayern off guard on the hour mark, when Ivan Perisic dragged wide from the edge of the box.That miss would prove costly just three minutes later. Thiago's intricate slide-rule through-ball was collected by Muller who calmly rounded the goalkeeper and turned home.And the game was put to bed on 66 minutes as Mandzukic - who had replaced Kroos – swept in Rafinha's cross from the right.Ribery then got in on the act, smashing home Robben's pass after the Dutchman appeared to take the initial effort too far.


Bayern's second-half dominance continued in the 78th minute, Robben's pin-point cross was hammered home by the head of Muller and the Germany attacker played a part in the sixth, sliding into the path of Mandzukic who could not miss from six yards out.


Despite conceding six goals for a second-consecutive week, Wolfsburg remain in fifth place, while Bayern went 23 points clear at the top ahead of second-place Borussia Dortmund's game on Sunday.

 

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Cardiff City 3-1 Fulham: Magath's men dealt survival blow

Cardiff City gave their hopes of Premier League survival a massive boost and dealt Fulham a huge blow with a 3-1 home victory.

Steven Caulker opened the scoring from close range just before half time, but Felix Magath made two changes and saw Lewis Holtby equalise after the break.

But Caulker scored again in the second half, before the hosts wrapped up the points as Sascha Riether bundled the ball into his own net after a Maarten Stekelenburg save.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's Cardiff are now only below fourth-bottom West Brom on goal difference, while Fulham remain bottom with 16 losses from their last 21 league outings.

Magath handed a first Premier League start to Kostas Mitroglou but the most eye-catching selection came alongside Fulham's record signing in attack, with 19-year-old Cauley Woodrow given a surprise debut.

John Heitinga's quick free-kick caught the Cardiff defence napping early on, but Ashkan Dejagah fired wastefully into the side-netting from a tight angle with Mitroglou well-placed centrally.

Visiting goalkeeper Stekelenburg punched to safety in the 16th minute after Fraizer Campbell shimmied past a pair of challenges to unleash a venomous strike.

Kenwyne Jones headed into Stekelenburg's arms from a Jordon Mutch cross and the duo combined again in the 44th minute to offer the former Ajax 'keeper some far more taxing work - a stunning reflex save thwarting Jones from close quarters.

Unfortunately for Fulham, they failed to effectively clear from the corners that followed and when Craig Noone's low cross was deflected across the six-yard box Caulker was left with a tap-in.

Magath brought on Alex Kacaniklic for for John Arne Riise at half time and Giorgos Karagounis for Dejagah shortly after.

And the resulting pressure told in the 59th minute when an inswinging corner from Karagounis was flicked on by Heitinga at the near post for Holtby to convert.

The set-piece defending from both teams showed scant sign of improving and Stekelenburg was forced into another fine stop as Kim Bo-Kyung fired through a crowded penalty area.

Stekelenburg should have completed an arguably easier save from another corner but he could not keep the ball out when Caulker rose unmarked to head his second.

Cardiff sealed the points in scrappy fashion as another excellent Noone cross was bundled goalwards by Campbell. Stekelenburg's point-blank stop was impressive but the loose ball cannoned into Riether and trickled over the line.

Mitroglou forced an excellent save out of Marshall in the 77th minute, while Steve Sidwell saw a late header ruled out for offside as Cardiff moved up the table.

 

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Norwich City 1-1 Stoke City: Walters penalty denies Canaries win

Norwich City were denied a valuable win in their fight against relegation after conceding from the penalty spot against Stoke at Carrow Road.

The hosts had taken the lead through Bradley Johnson before Sebastien Bassong brought down John Guidetti in the area to concede a penalty which Jon Walters duly converted on the 73rd minute.

The former Ipswich Town man's afternoon then soon turned sour though, when he was given his marching orders by referee Andre Marriner for a dangerous challenge on Tettey which left the midfielder writhing in agony on the turf.

JasonThe result did little to help either side's fight to avoid relegation, although having fallen behind and then holding out for the final 12 minutes a man light, Mark Hughes' side will be happier with the draw.


The visitors were without Charlie Adam, the influential midfielder beginning a three-match for a stamp on Arsenal's Olivier Giroud, but made light of his absence early on, and should have been in front after creating three presentable chances in the opening 15 minutes.

Former Norwich loanee Peter Crouch wasted by far the best of these in the eighth minute, sending in a weak effort that was comfortable for John Ruddy after a ricochet in midfield had sent the striker clear on goal.

Stoke midfielder Marko Arnautovic then fired over when in space inside the penalty area, before Walters curled in an effort that was easily dealt with by Ruddy.

After a sluggish start the hosts began to assert themselves, with Asmir Begovic tipping Snodgrass' angled drive away in the 28th minute before the Scotland international sent in a corner that was headed across the face of goal by Ricky Van Wolfswinkel five minutes later.

Begovic almost made a costly error eight minutes after the break, scrambling back to claw the ball away from the goalline after parrying Wes Hoolahan's initial effort up into the air.Three minutes later Norwich were in front, Johnson rising highest to meet Snodgrass' right-wing free-kick and thump home a header from six yards.

Nathan Redmond almost doubled the home side's advantage on the hour-mark, sending in a rasping drive from 25 yards which Begovic saved with a strong hand.
Walters then took centre stage, cooly converting the spot-kick after Bassong's foul on Guidetti, before tarnishing his efforts with a clumsy knee-high challenge on Tettey that earned him his dismissal.

Although they pushed hard in the final stages, the hosts could not force a winner and were forced to settle for a point.