..::Football III::..

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Southampton 3-0 Everton: Saints rout poor Toffees

Southampton ended their poor run of Premier League form by overcoming a lacklustre Everton side 3-0 at St Mary's Stadium on Saturday.

A Romelu Lukaku own-goal combined with second-half goals from Graziano Pelle and Maya Yoshida ensured that Ronald Koeman's men secured their first victory in five league outings.

Much had been made of Southampton's injury woes before kick-off, with a run of five consecutive defeats in all competitions culminating in the League Cup exit at League One side Sheffield United in midweek, but the hosts were clinical against Everton.

Everton were beaten 2-0 in the corresponding fixture last season thanks to two own-goals and that trend continued when Lukaku put through his own net in the 38th minute.

Pelle missed a gilt-edged chance to double the advantage soon after, but the out-of-sorts forward made amends 20 minutes into the second half when he prodded in his second goal in his last nine league appearances.

Roberto Martinez's men showed no real conviction as they attempted to pull one back and Yoshida's 82nd-minute header condemned Everton to their sixth Premier League loss of the campaign.

Southampton were without several key players, with Koeman employing a back three to compensate for the loss of Morgan Schneiderlin and Victor Wanyama in midfield.

Everton, who made two changes from the team that beat QPR on Monday, retained possession well in the early stages, but Southampton looked dangerous on the counter and were controversially denied a free-kick after Sylvain Distin felled Shane Long just outside the area.

The hosts missed a decent opportunity just a few minutes later when Nathaniel Clyne burst down the right and dinked in an inviting cross, but Pelle headed tamely over the crossbar.

Referee Jon Moss was at the centre of controversy once again when Long was brought down in mid-air by Phil Jagielka after the forward latched onto Steven Naismith's wayward touch, but the penalty claims were waved away.

A corner was awarded instead, despite the last touch coming off Long, but Southampton will feel that justice was done when James-Ward Prowse's cross resulted in Lukaku heading into his own net under pressure from Jose Fonte.

Southampton almost snatched a second two minutes later as Ryan Bertrand drove down the left before drilling in a low cross to Pelle, but the Italian could only fire into the side-netting from close-range.

Ross Barkley impressed in a deep-lying central role in Everton's win over QPR last time out, but the midfielder struggled to make an impact operating on the left flank as the visitors pushed for an equaliser.

Everton stepped up the intensity as the hour mark approached, but Southampton's back-line stayed strong, with the hosts content to play on the break.

And it was Southampton who increased their lead when Pelle latched onto Long's knock-down to poke through the legs of Tim Howard.

The American goalkeeper did manage to prevent Pelle grabbing a second immediately after, diving down low to his left to parry away the striker's header.

Fraser Forster was finally called into action at the other end after 73 minutes when he reacted well to parry away Lukaku's dipping long-range strike.

Matters were made worse for the visitors when Yoshida latched onto a cross to head past Howard and put the result beyond all doubt with just under 10 minutes remaining.

 

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Hull City 0-1 Swansea City: Deflected effort seals low-key clash

A stroke of fortune helped Swansea City win a Premier League away match for just the second time this season as they beat Hull City 1-0.

Swansea edged a relatively even contest at the KC Stadium on Saturday courtesy of a 15th-minute goal, with Jonjo Shelvey's strike taking a heavy deflection off Ki Sung-yueng to leave Hull goalkeeper Allan McGregor helpless.

Steve Bruce's men were perhaps unfortunate to go in behind at half-time having hit the crossbar through Andrew Robertson, although Shelvey was also denied by the post.

The second half proved lively, with Hull's Nikica Jelavic and Shelvey both being denied by excellent saves, but one goal proved enough for Swansea, who hit the woodwork again through Bafetimbi Gomis.

Swansea's triumph was their first away from the Liberty Stadium since they surprised Manchester United on the opening day of the season.

Garry Monk's side climb to eighth in the table, while Hull - who have now gone 10 games without a win - remain in the relegation zone.

Monk named a much-changed side to the one that lost 2-1 to Tottenham last weekend, with in-form striker Wilfried Bony surprisingly named among the substitutes as one of seven alterations.

Hull made three changes of their own to the side defeated by Chelsea, two of those enforced with centre-back Michael Dawson injured and Tom Huddlestone suspended.

An end-to-end start to proceedings saw Jelavic fire well wide from a promising position to the left of the penalty area, before Wayne Routledge followed suit for Swansea at the other end.

The breakthrough came after quarter of an hour in fortuitous circumstances.

Shelvey played a one-two with Ki and chanced his arm with a 25-yard shot that cannoned off the South Korea international and beyond a wrong-footed McGregor.

It was a blow for Hull, who had started the game in a positive manner, and luck was against them once more when a wonderfully crafted move culminated in Robertson's fierce first-time shot grazing the crossbar.

The woodwork came to Hull's rescue on the half-hour, though, when Shelvey's low drive from distance rattled the inside of the right-hand post.

Hull sought a quick start to the second half and Swansea had Lukasz Fabianski - back in goal after a one-match ban - to thank for keeping out Jelavic's thumping header with a strong one-handed save.

McGregor proved equally important for Hull at the other end as Shelvey wasted a gilt-edged chance to make it 2-0 when his side-footed shot from eight yards was saved by the foot of the Scotland international.

The woodwork was once again responsible for the score remaining 1-0 in the 74th minute when Gomis' sliced volley rebounded off the right-hand post.

Aside from a tentative penalty claim from substitute Yannick Sagbo in injury time, a late Hull rally failed to materialise.

Bruce's goal-shy side have now drawn four blanks in their past five league matches, while Swansea can celebrate a first win over Hull since 2003 when they famously triumphed 4-2 to preserve their Football League status.

 

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Manchester City 3-0 Crystal Palace: Silva & Toure see off stubborn Eagles

David Silva scored twice as Manchester City beat Crystal Palace 3-0 to move level on points with Premier League leaders Chelsea.

The Spain midfielder struck twice in the second half on his 200th appearance for the club at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, as the champions stretched their winning run to eight games in all competitions.

City had been toothless in the first half, with James Milner employed in an unfamiliar advance role in the absence of all of the club's recognised strikers due to injury.

They raised their game after the break, though, and Silva delivered the end product they had previously been lacking with two goals in the space of 12 minutes, before Yaya Toure added a third goal to cap another impressive display.

Victory for Manuel Pellegrini's men - their sixth in succession in the top flight - ensures they join Chelsea on 39 points, with the latter facing a trip to Stoke City on Monday.

Palace were unfortunate to have a James McArthur goal disallowed for offside after Silva's second goal and Neil Warnock's team have now won just one of their last 11 games.

Pellegrini made six changes to the side that won at Leicester City last weekend, with Milner among the players to come in, while Fraizer Campbell replaced the injured Marouane Chamakh in the Palace starting line-up and Jason Puncheon was preferred to Wilfried Zaha.

Warnock said his Palace side had nothing to fear at the Etihad Stadium and they made a positive start as City struggled to get going.

Yannick Bolasie proved a real threat early on and Joe Hart did well to palm away the winger's cross as the onrushing McArthur was poised to finish from close range.

Mile Jedinak ought to have headed home an inviting corner, before Campbell spurned a great chance to open the scoring when Bolasie headed the ball on and the former Manchester United striker failed to hit the target with an acrobatic overhead kick.

City started to get into their stride with some slick passing and movement, but Silva was unable to make Julian Speroni work after Samir Nasri had burst into the penalty area and cut the ball back to the Spain midfielder.

Bolasie shot into the side-netting 10 minutes before the break as City continued to look vulnerable at the back.

Pablo Zabaleta then came agonisingly close to putting the home side in front when Toure picked him out with a sublime pass and the marauding defender scooped the ball over Speroni, but his effort was just wide.

It was a frustrating first half for the champions, but they were in front four minutes after the break courtesy of a strike from Silva.

Zabaleta was the architect, with the right-back again surging forward and unselfishly cutting the ball back for Silva, whose shot hit Scott Dann and looped into the far corner of the net.

Palace were struggling to live with City's passing and movement and Silva doubled their lead 61 minutes in, sweeping the ball home first time after Aleksandar Kolarov had picked him out with a fine cross.

The visitors had the ball in the back of the net after 66 minutes, but McArthur was wrongly adjudged to be offside after he headed home a fine cross from the impressive Bolasie.

Toure added to Palace's misery with nine minutes remaining when he fired a powerful left-footed shot past Speroni after receiving a fine pass from Milner following a swift break, as City marched on in ominous fashion.

 

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David Silva​

 

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Mancini: Inter can qualify for Champions League

Inter coach Roberto Mancini remains confident that his side can secure Champions League football for next season.

The Nerazzurri, who host Lazio on Sunday, have won just two out of six matches in all competitions since Mancini replaced Walter Mazzarri at the helm last month and currently sit 11th in Serie A, seven points behind third-placed Napoli.

However, the former Manchester City boss has not given up hope on Inter qualifying for the Champions League.

"There's still a long way to go in Serie A and I think we'll be in the mix for third place," the former Lazio boss told reporters on the eve of the Biancocelesti's visit to San Siro.

"But we mustn't look at the table for now; just keep on putting points on the board. All the sides above us are battling for third place.

"We need to put together a run of good results and a win [against Lazio] would be a boost for our self-esteem.

"The lads are looking good, too. We just have to make sure we keep improving. It's always better after a win.

"We've lost two games so far, so I can't be happy. But I'm pleased with the atmosphere around the team."

Mancini has also been buoyed by the fact that midfielder Hernanes is set to return to action against his former club, after recovering from a leg injury."He is better now and trained with the team all week," the Nerazzurri coach added. "He'll start on the bench and could play."

 

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Liverpool star Sterling wins 2014 Golden Boy award

Liverpool starlet Raheem Sterling has won Tuttosport's prestigious Golden Boy award for 2014, becoming the first English recipient since Wayne Rooney in 2004.

Sterling has been recognised for a stellar 2014 that saw him play a key role in Liverpool's surprise tilt at the Premier League title last season and establish himself as a regular starter for England.

The 20-year-old saw off competition from Manchester United youngster Adnan Januzaj and Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu, as well as Liverpool team-mates Lazar Markovic and Divock Origi.

"It's a great achievement to win such an award," Sterling told Liverpool's official website. "It's a really happy feeling for me and my family, of course.

"Something I've always wanted to do is to work hard playing football and try to be recognised. I'm really grateful that people have shown me this recognition.

"It's down to hard work. I'm really happy that people are recognising that I'm trying to work hard and do my best for this football club. I'm really grateful for this award."

Previous winners include Lionel Messi, Cesc Fabregas and Sergio Aguero, and Sterling insists he still has a long way to go in order to fulfil his potential.

"There's always room for improvement," he admitted. "At this moment in time, I should have a few more goals, but I've not taken some of my chances. But I'm young and learning all the time.

"This award just shows that hard work gets you where you want to be, and that I'm on the right track for where I want to be in my career. Hopefully I can just keep working hard and try to take my game to the next level."

 

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Congratulations Sterling!​

 

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Menez: Without football I’d be in jail

AC Milan forward Jeremy Menez says that if it were not for football, he could well be in jail.

The Frenchman has been a revelation for Milan this season, hitting 8 goals in 13 starts, relishing the freedom afforded to him by coach Filippo Inzaghi as his side continue on their quest for a return to Champions League football.

The one-time ‘new Zidane’ was raised in a tough suburb of Paris and admits that without football his life could have been very different.

"Perhaps if I had not had football I could have ended up in jail," he told Gazzetta dello Sport.

"After all, a lot of my friends are there. Theft, drugs, those sorts of things… there you want everything but money is short."

Menez returns to the capital to face former club Roma at the Stadio Olimpico this weekend as Milan look to close the three-point gap on third-placed Napoli.

And Giallorossi coach Rudi Garcia is well aware of the threat Menez poses to his side.

"He's a very talented player," Garcia said.

"He's part of the French national team and possesses amazing skills. We have to be focused when marking him, hoping that he doesn't score any goals against us."

 

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Rodgers: Missing out on Alexis a 'bitter disappointment' for Liverpool

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has described Alexis Sanchez's decision to snub the Anfield club over the summer as a "bitter disappointment" ahead of the visit of Arsenal on Sunday.

The Chile international will come up against his summer suitors for the first time since his €41 million move from Barcelona.

Alexis was identified as a ready-made replacement for Luis Suarez at Anfield, and his 14 goals for Arsenal this season have magnified Liverpool's attacking deficiencies thus far.

"He’s a world class player with outstanding quality and even bigger work rate. He would have been perfect for us," Rodgers told reporters.

"He made his decision. The best option for him.

"I think if you look at how I ask teams to play speed is critical. Not just with the ball, but the intensity with the pressing.

"When Daniel Sturridge was injured in August I think everyone who knows football should hopefully be able to see that our game has become much deeper because of personnel.

"Sanchez was identified for us as someone who would have been a key signing and really just a roll on to what we had with Luis Suarez.

"So to not get him was obviously bitterly disappointing, but once he was gone that was it. We just had to focus on what we had."

 

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Alexis is Arsenal's Suarez, claims Wenger

Arsenal have found their own Luis Suarez in the form of Alexis Sanchez, according to Arsene Wenger.

The Chile international has made a blistering start to life in English football since arriving in a €41 million deal from Barcelona in the summer, scoring 14 goals in 24 appearances in all competitions.

His physicality and tireless work-rate have also prompted comparison with Suarez, who last season led Liverpool to the brink of a first league title since 1990 with 31 goals before departing to join the Catalan giants.

And as Alexis prepares to face the team that tried to sign him to replace Suarez on Sunday when Arsenal take on Liverpool at Anfield, Wenger admits he can see many similarities between the two strikers.

"Sanchez, he looks like he is made for the English game," said the Frenchman.

"Sanchez has settled very quickly. But he has a kind of game that is instinctive and tough.

"[Sanchez and Suarez] have similarities. They are South Americans, they are provoking players, and they go with the ball.

"They are very determined as well, both of them. They have plenty of similar attitudes."

 

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Pellegrini: Silva filled Aguero void against Crystal Palace

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini hailed the performance of David Silva after the midfielder inspired the Premier League champions to a 3-0 victory over Crystal Palace on Sunday.

The Spain international scored twice in the second half to break the Eagles' resistance as City moved level on points with Chelsea at the top of the table.

And Pellegrini feels Silva did well to step up and fill the void left by the injured Sergio Aguero as the Etihad Stadium outfit started with no recognised strikers and just James Milner up front.

"This team always needs Sergio Aguero to play because he is a very important player," the Chilean told reporters.

"But this team is not just about Sergio Aguero. Silva is exactly the same. They are top players that make the difference.

"But, if for any reason they cannot play, we have a team that works a lot and knows how to do it.

"In this case, without Sergio, [Steven] Jovetic, [Edin] Dzeko or [Vincent] Kompany, the other players are having important moments like the way David did today."

A fourth goal would have carried Pellegrini's side ahead of Chelsea on goals scored ahead of their title rivals' trip to Stoke City on Monday.

Despite only sitting second, Pellegrini believes his side's run of eight straight victories has showcased exactly why they won the title back in May.

"I don’t know if Chelsea feel the pressure or not," the former Real Madrid boss added. "The important thing for our team is to get three more points.

"We have to continue the way we are playing so far and believe in every day that we can be involved in the title race.

"December is a key month. It’s not the month you win the title but it's a month where you play so many games, and if you want to be inviolved for the title you have to be near as you can be to the top of the table.

"We are in a good moment and maybe no one believed one or two months ago that we can continue in the Champions League and be involved for the title.

"We always trust in what we do and once again the squad is demonstrating why we won the title last year."

Palace manager Neil Warnock, meanwhile, bemoaned the performance of the officials after his side saw a goal wrongly ruled out for offside.

James McArthur headed in Yannick Bolasie's cross with the score 2-0, and though he was flagged offside, replays showed Fernandinho was playing him onside by the touchline.

And the former Sheffield United coach was left fuming as he felt a goal at that stage could have set the platform for his side to stage a comeback.

"We worked hard even after the second goal and, as you all know by now, we scored a cracking goal that would have put the whole stadium under a little bit of doubt," he said.

"With 20 minutes left it was a real opportunity for us to have a real go and try and come away with a point.

"It’s hard enough to score at the Etihad without it being chalked off unreasonably. It's days like today I wish I was still working in the media so I could say what I want without getting fined. It's disappointing to say the least.

“It’s two yards onside. He's in a bad position and it’s disgraceful decision. At this level you have to get decisions like that right."

 

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Suarez: I'm not obsessed with scoring

Barcelona star Luis Suarez has insisted that his sole focus is the team's fortunes, not his goal tally for the season.

The Uruguayan scored his first Liga goal for his new side as they beat Cordoba 5-0 at Camp Nou on Saturday in his eighth Primera Division appearance.

The €94 million summer signing had previously netted twice in the Champions League but has stressed that he does not pay too much attention to statistics.

"I kissed my fingers for my wife and my two children who were at home," Suarez said of his goal celebration to reporters after the match.

"The draw against Getafe annoyed us. We should be fighting for the title. Scoring is always important but with everyone's support, we knew that the joy was coming.

"I am a striker and I have to score goals but I'm helping the team win. So I'm not obsessed with it. The team winning is most important and that's been achieved.

"You win by creating clear chances. On a personal level, I was hurt but I am also very happy to have come here and signed for Barca. We have to reverse the situation."

Barca now sit just one point behind Real Madrid but have played a game more than their arch rivals.

 

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Koeman hails Southampton win: We're back to our best

Southampton manager Ronald Koeman believes that his side are back to their best after the 3-0 win over Everton.

The south coast outfit had endured a run of four straight league defeats prior to kick-off, but an own goal from Romelu Lukaku and further striker from Graziano Pelle and Maya Yoshida kept the Saints just two points outside of the top four.

A League Cup defeat at Sheffield United on Tuesday night prompted Koeman into a change of formation, which he believes his side dealt with confidently, telling reporters: "We hope this gets our season back on track. We’re disappointed about Tuesday and the answer is always on the pitch.

"We had a great, unbelievable spirit today. We changed the system – I think it’s important for players to be comfortable in that system. We had two sessions to work in a different way and we had a good organisation. We deserved the win.

"We played well and looked sharp in the box. We didn’t create a lot but scored three times. It’s typical football, one day it’s black and the next day it’s white. I know that, I have had a long time in football. Always you have to prepare yourself for the next one.

"It says that we have a good spirit today but next Friday is another game and we have to prepare for that but the best medicine to play good football is winning games. We lost confidence in our way of playing in recent weeks but today it was a different game, a different system and we got the three points."

Meanwhile, Roberto Martinez pinpointed Everton's defending for the defeat at St Mary's, but also believes that his side were very unfortunate by the manner of the opening goal.

He said: "I'm most disappointed in the way we defended in the box. We were far too soft. Three balls came easily into the box and we didn’t deal with them. It could have been a penalty - and I’m open for debate on that - but it was not a corner.

"Jagielka didn’t see Long and had no intent to kick him. Long takes advantage and gets corner. For me, it was not a penalty and definitely not a corner. Then Lukaku gets impeded and it’s an own goal. The referee is not to blame for the defeat. We are. We didn’t deal with simple balls into the box and that’s why we lost the game.

"Second half, we understood the game really well. Southampton changed their shape with back three which should have given us easy momentum to get on the ball and in the second half, we started with good mentality. We had them where we wanted them, but they worked the counter-attack really well and were quite simplistic in how they scored."

Martinez continued, stating that his side need to find a good run of results, and believes the side need to cope better with demanding league and European commitments.

"It is a set-back – we had a good result on Monday and I don’t think we’ve been involved in a good run of results that we did last season", he added.

"Southampton have been in a bad run but now, from our point of view, we have to get ready for the game against Stoke. In the league, we never had three or four good results that can help. We get heavily punished and sometimes we make an error that affects the score line.

"It’s part of the learning curve – we want to be involved in Europe and it’s part of our learning process to be consistent in the league when we’ve got games in the midweek for other competitions."

 

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Luis Enrique: It's hard to stop resurgent Pedro

Barcelona coach Luis Enrique singled out Pedro for praise after the forward's display in Saturday's 5-0 win over Cordoba.

The Spain international got Barca off to a fine start as he steered Ivan Rakitic's lofted pass beyond the helpless Juan Carlos after just 72 seconds at Camp Nou.

Pedro then claimed an assist as Luis Suarez scored his first Liga goal just after the break, with Gerard Pique and a Lionel Messi double completing the rout.

The 27-year-old has only made eight starts in the league so far this term, but after scoring a Copa del Rey hat-trick against Huesca and then netting in the Cordoba triumph, Luis Enrique believes Pedro is finding his feet again.

"He's a top performer," Luis Enrique told reporters.

"He was finding it hard to get goals early on in the season, but the Pedro we've got now is very hard to stop."

Luis Enrique was also happy to see Suarez score an "important" first league goal for the club, though he was keen to remind people that the Uruguayan offers a lot more to the team than just goals.

He added: "Obviously strikers have always a direct relationship with goal as they've got the responsibility of scoring.

"While they can score, it is better because their confident rises, so this first goal is important.

"But, it is not decisive. Suarez delivers more thing than goals and he is helping us a lot in other aspects of the game."

 

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Van Gaal: Results like Aston Villa draw could cost Manchester United the title

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal says he is "very frustrated" and believes his team's 1-1 draw at Aston Villa is the kind of result which can cost a club the Premier League title.

Radamel Falcao's second-half header cancelled out Christian Benteke's fine opener, but United could not get a winner despite Gabby Agbonlahor's red card for a foul on Ashley Young with 25 minutes remaining.

And Van Gaal was clearly disappointed that his side could not emulate rivals Manchester City earlier in the day by finding a way past stubborn opposition.

"When you want to be a part of the title race you have to win these games," he told reporters.

Asked if this result could cost his side the title, he replied: "Yes, that's what I mean. I've seen Manchester City in the first half against Crystal Palace. They struggle till half-time but at the end it is 3-0 – that's the difference. We have to win these matches but there is still a long time to go."

"I am very frustrated and I think the players [are] also because we were the better team and we don't win, you have to win when you are the better team," he also told Sky Sports. "We were not aggressive enough in the first half, in the second it was better but I have to say that Aston Villa are very well organised and it's always difficult to score, but when you allow them to score you know it will be very difficult.

"We did it in the second half better, we were more aggressive, we pressed more in front and that's why we scored, but you have to score two times and we could not do it. It was very frustrating because it could've been seven [wins] in a row."

Van Gaal also said Villa were perhaps a more difficult proposition after going down to 10 men.

"Yeah because they make the space more narrow, with long balls of course," he added. "Benteke is very strong and we couldn't manage that."

But the Dutchman, who admitted he had not seen enough of Falcao in recent weeks due to his injuries, says he was pleased that the Colombian found the target on his first start since October 5.

"I'm very happy for him because he needs it, and I'm very happy when a striker scores."

 

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Aston Villa match draw karagattha 1kanam lokuma paduwak

anith 1ka thamai ara 3-5-2 magulanam hari yanne naha​

 

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Klopp: Dortmund are a bunch of idiots

Jurgen Klopp says he and his Borussia Dortmund players have been left looking like "a bunch of idiots" after ending 2014 with a dismal 2-1 defeat at Werder Bremen.

Teenage forward Davie Selke gave the hosts an early lead, which was doubled just after the hour mark by strike partner Fin Bartels.

Mats Hummels pulled one back for Dortmund but Viktor Skrypnyk's side held on to claim a victory that moved them off the bottom of the Bundesliga and dropped BVB down to 17th place.

Unsurprisingly, Klopp is now praying that upcoming winter break will re-energise his struggling side.

"The best news today is that football is over for 2014," the Dortmund boss told Sky.

"Any criticism that we receive now is justified. We are standing here like complete idiots and it's completely our own fault.

"We now have three weeks of preparation ahead of us. Then we will repair what we've done."

Dortmund resume Bundesliga action after the winter hiatus with a tricky trip to Bayer Leverkusen on January 31.

 

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Cruz Azul 1-1 Auckland City (pens 2-4): Kiwis claim third place

Auckland City claimed third place at the Fifa Club World Cup by beating Cruz Azul 4-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in normal time.

Sanni Issa was the hero as he secured victory for the part-timers, who became the first club from Oceania to win a medal in the global tournament.

Ryan De Vries put Auckland ahead just before the break, only for Joao Rojas to restore parity in the second half, with the Mexican side improving immeasurably after half-time.

But Cruz Azul were unable to make the most of their superiority and Auckland held on to force a shootout, with Jacob Spoonley saving Ismael Veladez's kick to set Issa up for the winner.

And the Nigerian obliged, beating Jose Jesus Corona from 12 yards to clinch a famous win and secure third place in the competition.

Both sides struggled to take control of the contest during the early proceedings, with neither looking particularly threatening going forward.

But Auckland did find themselves presented with a fine chance in the 27th minute, as Emiliano Tade skipped around Gerardo Flores in the Cruz Azul area, before firing at Corona from a tight angle.

Tade went close for a second time five minutes before the break, but his tame effort from the edge of the area went narrowly wide of the left-hand post.

And the Argentine was at the centre of things again in first-half stoppage time as the part-timers took the lead, firing an excellent lofted pass over the Mexican defence for De Vries, who ran through on goal and coolly slotted past Corona.

Cruz Azul began the second half with renewed focus and almost drew level in the 50th minute, as Rojas nodded just wide of the target, before Mauro Formica saw a headed effort of his own disallowed for offside.

Luis Fernando Tena's men were not to be denied in the 57th minute, though, as Rojas pounced on hesitancy in the Auckland defence and slammed into the top-left corner from close range.

The Liga MX side continued to force the issue and saw chances through Formica and Christian Gimenez go begging, sending the game to penalties.

And, after both Formica and Veladez failed to convert their spot-kicks, Issa stepped up and slotted past Corona, sparking scenes of jubilation among the Auckland staff.

 

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FIFA Club World Cup Champions 2014!!!

Real Madrid

 

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Real Madrid 2-0 San Lorenzo: Ramos and Bale seal world title in Morocco

Real Madrid have won the Club World Cup after a 2-0 victory over San Lorenzo in Marrakech on Saturday.

Carlo Ancelotti's side have enjoyed a stellar last 12 months that has also seen them lift the Champions League, Copa del Rey and Uefa Super Cup.

Victory on Saturday extended Real's remarkable winning run to 22 matches in all competitions as the Spanish giants continue to sweep all before them on all fronts.

Sergio Ramos - who had been a doubt for the game after picking up a knock in the 4-0 semi-final win over Cruz Azul - headed in Real's first goal from Toni Kroos' corner in the 37th minute.

Gareth Bale benefited from a mistake by San Lorenzo goalkeeper Sebastian Torrico shortly after half-time as the Welshman continued his fine record in finals, having also netted in the Champions League and Copa showpieces this year.

Argentine Primera Division outfit San Lorenzo rarely threatened Iker Casillas' goal, as Real were able to comfortably see out the win and earn themselves a fourth trophy in eight months.

Real showed one alteration from their semi-final as James Rodriguez came back in for Asier Illarramendi after he recovered from a calf problem, while San Lorenzo were unchanged from their 2-1 extra-time win over Auckland City.

Ancelotti's men made a bright start and came close to opening the scoring in the first minute when Karim Benzema just failed to get a touch on Cristiano Ronaldo's low ball across the box.

The opening exchanges were scrappy, with San Lorenzo continually breaking up play with a series of fouls designed to upset the European champions' rhythm.

Guatemalan referee Walter Lopez struggled to curb fraying tempers, dishing out two yellow cards to each side in the opening half an hour.

After two Ronaldo free kicks passed without alarm for San Lorenzo, Benzema brought a comfortable save out of Torrico with a low shot that lacked power.

Torrico saved at his near post from Bale soon afterwards, but San Lorenzo's respite was short-lived as, from the resulting corner, Ramos got up highest to nod in Kroos' delivery.

As the half drew to a close, there was one moment of concern for Real as left-back Marcelo had to be withdrawn following a knock, with Fabio Coentrao coming on in his place.

Six minutes after the interval, the Spanish giants took a firm grip on proceedings when Isco played in Bale, whose weak shot squeezed under the body of Torrico and trickled over the line.

Bale almost added a third in the 64th minute, but his attempted cross from the right clipped the crossbar and bounced behind to safety.

Ancelotti's side continued to dominate and Benzema sent a close-range volley wide of the upright after getting on the end of Bale's delightful centre with the outside of his left boot.

Enzo Kalinski and Juan Mercier did bring smart stops out of Casillas in the final 10 minutes, but Real's lead never looked in any serious danger as they finished 2014 on another high note, ahead of a two-week break before their return to La Liga action on January 4.