..::Football III::..

[Wolverine GTR]

Crystal Palace 0-0 Manchester United: Red Devils draw another blank

Manchester United failed to score for a third consecutive match as they drew 0-0 with Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

Louis van Gaal's men were beaten by Middlesbrough on penalties at Old Trafford in the League Cup on Wednesday, after playing out a goalless stalemate with Manchester City last weekend and they failed to find the net once again as Alan Pardew's side held firm on Saturday.

Palace welcomed former United winger Wilfried Zaha back into their starting line-up, but he was outshone by Yannick Bolasie on the opposite flank.The Democratic Republic of Congo international rattled the crossbar inside 10 minutes as Palace applied the early pressure.

United soon found their feet, but were bereft of ingenuity despite their dominance of possession - a Wayne Rooney free-kick that forced a routine save from Wayne Hennessey was their best effort of the first half.

Yohan Cabaye, recovering from a knock sustained in the 5-1 League Cup thrashing at City in midweek to retain his place in the starting line-up, Scott Dann and Dwight Gayle were all unable to take second-half chances, leaving Palace winless in 13 Premier League clashes with United.United made two changes in defence with Matteo Darmian replacing the injured Antonio Valencia and Daley Blind coming in for Phil Jones at centre-back.

But Van Gaal's side looked shaky at the back in the opening stages and would have fallen behind in the 10th minute had David de Gea not got the slightest of touches on Bolasie's effort to turn it onto the bar.

De Gea came to United's rescue once more two minutes later, leaping up to palm over a header from Dann following Cabaye's corner.The visitors eventually took control of possession, but struggled to build anything positive against a robust Palace team.

Hennessey was not tested until the 25th minute, when Rooney fired a 25-yard free-kick over the wall that the Palace goalkeeper was able to get across to and save.Hennessey thwarted Rooney again six minutes later, exposing the striker's lack of pace by rushing out to stop him from latching onto an incisive pass from Anthony Martial.

There were chances for Gayle and Ander Herrera before the interval, but neither player made strong enough contact with the ball to trouble the opposing goalkeeper.

Goalscoring opportunities remained at a premium for the two sides during a scrappy start to the second half, with De Gea and Hennessey acting as spectators.
Although Palace grew into the game and controlled the ball, it took them until the 71st minute to carve out a decent opening.

Joel Ward's delivery from the right found Cabaye unmarked 10 yards out, but he was unable to steer his volley on target. Dann looped a header wide before Gayle had a shot saved by De Gea in the 76th minute.

There were chances for both sides to steal all three points late on, but Damien Delaney got a crucial block on a Martial shot before Bolasie headed over from a corner in stoppage time.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Manchester United team performance nam anthimaimatches 3nakin goal 1kak score karala naha

Rooney genuth team 1ka wenna one de wenne nahane

anemanda mona welada kiyala team 1kata​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Watford 2-0 West Ham: Ighalo at the double to sink 10-man Hammers

West Ham's unexpected jockeying for position at the top of the Premier League took a blow on Saturday as two goals from Odion Ighalo secured a 2-0 win for Watford at Vicarage Road.

A moment of poor decision-making while defending a free kick by Andy Carroll saw the striker allow Nathan Ake to rob him of possession before crossing low for Ighalo to open the scoring shortly before half-time, deflecting it off Aaron Cresswell.

The Nigerian then doubled his side's advantage three minutes after the break, evading James Tomkins to pick up Ikechi Anya's cross and fire past Adrian from just inside the penalty area.

The Hammers had salt rubbed into their wounds in the closing minutes when James Collins was sent off for a dreadful challenge on Ighalo that left referee Keith Stroud with no option but to dismiss him.

A dominant Watford side were well worth the full three points and could have led as early as the eighth minute. Nathan Ake's header from Ben Watson's corner drew a fine point-blank save from Adrian and Stroud waved away penalty claims after Carroll nodded Troy Deeney's follow-up against his own arm.

The hosts had another claim for a penalty when Almen Abdi's flick appeared to hit Collins's hand, Ighalo played on and forced Adrian into another smart stop.

But the pressure finally told. Carroll - making his first Premier League start since February - dawdled in the area and Ake stole in before squaring across goal for Ighalo, who pressured Cresswell to force it into the net.

Another West Ham error helped the Hornets three minutes after the interval. Tomkins made a hash of Ikechi Anya's low cross from the left, allowing Ighalo to take a touch out of his feet before hammering his shot into the left-hand corner.

Adrian was equal to Ighalo one-on-one as Watford turned the screw and Deeney miscued badly from the edge of the box after Etienne Capoue did well in midfield.

Carroll sliced a volley wide and Enner Valencia hit the post as Bilic's men tried to mount a late comeback but their momentum was checked as Collins was handed his marching for orders for going through the back of Ighalo in the 84th minute, helping Watford cruise to a first home win over West Ham in the league since 1985.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Swansea 0-3 Arsenal: Campbell on target in Gunners win

Arsenal kept pace with Manchester City at the top of the Premier League after beating Swansea City 3-0 at the Liberty Stadium thanks to goals from Olivier Giroud, Laurent Koscielny and Joel Campbell.

Without Theo Walcott, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Gabriel due to injuries sustained in a midweek League Cup defeat at Sheffield Wednesday, Arsene Wenger's men were sluggish in the first half but clicked after the break.

A Bafetimbi Gomis one-on-one and Per Mertesacker's apparent handball gave Arsenal scares, but Giroud glanced home a corner to register the 2,000th goal of Wenger's reign shortly after the interval.

And the visitors doubled their lead through Koscielny midway through the second half when former Arsenal goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski spilled a cross, before Campbell marked his maiden top-flight start with his first goal for the club.

Swansea had the better of the frenetic opening stages but Campbell curled an effort wide 15 minutes in before Gomis spurned Swansea's first chance shortly after, dawdling when through on goal following a wonderful Jonjo Shelvey pass, allowing Hector Bellerin to sprint back and clear the danger.

The lively Gomis threatened again with a header shortly before Giroud turned an effort over the crossbar in similar fashion to Campbell's earlier effort.

Despite both sides contributing to an entertaining first half, neither found an advantage before the break although the visitors were perhaps fortunate not to concede a penalty when Mertesacker appeared to handle Gylfi Sigurdsson's free-kick.

Giroud gave Wenger a scare late in the half when he suffered a knock during a tangle with Jefferson Montero, but the Frenchman recovered to open the scoring early in the second period.

Evading Ashley Williams, Giroud headed home Mesut Ozil's corner to mark his 150th Arsenal appearance with a well-taken effort.
Sigurdsson forced Petr Cech into a smart save to his left shortly after, while the dangerous Andre Ayew continued to pose problems of the visitors' back line.

Arsenal struggled to muster much attacking threat in the immediate aftermath of their opener, but doubled their lead eight minutes after the hour-mark when Koscielny prodded home after Fabianski was unable to take a catch.

Monk and his players were furious that Kevin Friend failed to award a foul following Bellerin's cross, but it mattered little when Ozil jinked into the area and crossed for Campbell, who made the most of a rare opportunity up front with the final goal.

Swansea remain winless at home in the league since late August while Arsenal warm up for their crucial trip to Munich with victory.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Manchester City 2-1 Norwich City: Toure penalty spares Hart's blushes

Yaya Toure scored a late penalty to spare Joe Hart's blushes and earn Manchester City a 2-1 victory over Norwich City.

The England goalkeeper inexplicably dropped a seemingly harmless Robbie Brady cross seven minutes from time, leaving Cameron Jerome to tap in a shock equaliser.

But Toure converted from the spot after Russell Martin had blocked Raheem Sterling's goal-bound shot with his arm, with the Canaries captain dismissed for the offence, and Aleksandar Kolarov missed another late penalty.

Despite scoring 16 times in their previous three domestic home matches Manuel Pellegrini's team struggled for their usual fluency until Nicolas Otamendi headed in his first goal for the club from a corner.

City top of the table on goal difference, with rivals Arsenal 3-0 victors at Swansea City, while Norwich are two points above the relegation zone in 16th after a fourth consecutive league loss.

Pellegrini named teenage forward Kelechi Iheanacho in his starting XI on the back of his sparking display in Wednesday's 5-1 League Cup victory over Crystal Palace, while Fernandinho returned to the midfield after serving a one-match suspension.

Youssouf Mulumbu made his league debut for Norwich, who began brightly at a ground where they endured a 7-0 defeat on their previous visit during the 2013-14 season.

After John Ruddy had made a sharp 10th-minute save from Wilfried Bony, Alex Neil's side enjoyed a spell of pressure and Alex Tettey saw a rasping shot blocked before Sebastien Bassong failed to connect with Matt Jarvis' searching cross.

Bony crashed an effort wide from inside the area following promising line-up play with Iheanacho and the Ivory Coast striker was off target again when teed up by De Bruyne in the 27th minute.

Hart kept out a rising Jarvis drive before Ruddy did well to claw Toure's free-kick out of the top corner.

Jarvis made way for Nathan Redmond due to injury at half-time and Bony was also in discomfort after a crunching Bassong tackle denied him a shot in the 53rd minute, with De Bruyne wildly slicing the loose ball wide.
Pellegrini's men had little to show for all their patient build-up in open play but finally broke the deadlock midway through the second half from a dead ball.

De Bruyne provided an outswinging corner from the right and Otamendi rose highest to brilliantly head past Ruddy from 12 yards.

Bony's fruitless quest to get on the scoresheet continued when he headed wide under pressure from Bassong, with De Bruyne once again the provider.

The former Swansea star then saw an 80th-minute attempt deflected wide with Ruddy rooted to the spot before Norwich struck in extraordinary style, with Jerome pouncing on Hart's error.

He was bailed out after a poor piece of play from counterpart Ruddy sparked confusion in the Norwich box and Sterling – who had replaced Iheanacho – saw his shot illegally blocked by Martin.

Ruddy guessed correctly but Toure planted his spot kick low and hard into the goalkeeper's bottom-right corner.

Hart partially atoned for his error in stoppage time by pushing Martin Olsson's deflected strike to safety before Kolarov shot wide from the spot after Sterling had been tripped.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Arsenal Vs Manchester City thamai meh sare EPL title 1kata fight 1ka yanne​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Juventus 2-1 Torino: Cuadrado grabs last-minute winner

Juan Cuadrado settled a pulsating Turin derby with a 93rd-minute winner as Juventus defeated Torino 2-1 on Saturday.

Substitute Cuadrado, on loan from Chelsea, slid in to convert Alex Sandro's cross deep into stoppage time after Cesare Bovo looked to have earned the visitors a share of the spoils when he cancelled out Paul Pogba's stunning opener.

Pogba fired Juve into a 19th-minute lead to celebrate his 100th Serie A appearance in some style with a glorious half-volley. Six minutes after the break, Bovo's free-kick hit his own man, but the rebound fell nicely and the defender thumped it beyond Gianluigi Buffon.

Fabio Quagliarella missed two good chances for Torino against his old club and Leonardo Bonucci was denied by the crossbar in the 90th minute. Buffon also made a string of late saves in a frantic finale before Cuadrado popped up to open his Juve account.

The only downside for Massimiliano Allegri's men, who bounced back from last weekend's 1-0 defeat at Sassuolo to claim a victory that leaves them 10th, came when they lost Germany midfielder Sami Khedira to a calf injury early on.

Cuadrado replaced Khedira and Allegri switched from 4-3-1-2 to 4-3-3.

The first action came after 17 minutes when Pogba had an effort from 25 yards, but Daniele Padelli made a comfortable save.

Quagliarella then hit the side netting with a volley, but the champions took the lead on the break seconds later.

Paulo Dybala and Cuadrado combined and the ball sat up ideally for Pogba. The France international let fly from distance again and this time his connection on the half-volley was perfect, the ball fizzing in off the bar with Padelli given no chance.

Pogba was rampant and Bovo and Afriyie Acquah were both booked for trying to stop the same driving run by the powerful midfielder.

Quagliarella went close again on the half hour, but the 32-year-old shot wide of Buffon's left-hand post from a good position under pressure from Bonucci.

A deep cross caused chaos in the Juve box three minutes before half-time, but the hosts survived with Maxi Lopez seeing two shots blocked.

Torino, now winless in five matches, equalised six minutes into the second half. Bovo's free-kick was blocked in the wall by a team-mate, but he hammered the loose ball into the top corner.

The visitors were on top and Buffon brilliantly tipped over Kamil Glik's bullet header after 57 minutes.

After a period of Juve possession, Dybala's shot deflected just wide following a flowing team move, before a corner bounced off Pogba and went just beyond the far post.

Buffon then had to be alert to keep out a firm drive from long range by Giuseppe Vives before reacting well to stop a deflected strike from Davide Zappacosta and saving again from Kamil Glik, holding the Poland defender's header right on the line.

The woodwork denied Juve as Bonucci almost clinched the win with a header, Padelli saving from Claudio Marchisio in the resulting melee.

Juve threw men forward and were rewarded when Sandro found room on the left, his low cross beat Padelli and left Cuadrado with a tap-in from a yard out.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Van Gaal on misfiring Man Utd: We created nothing… I can't complain

Louis van Gaal bemoaned Manchester United's lack of creativity against Crystal Palace after watching his side get held to their third goalless draw in a row at Selhurst Park.

The draw sees the Red Devils lose ground to Manchester City and Arsenal at the top of the table, leaving fans frustrated after watching their side fail to threaten.

The visitors managed just one shot on target in the whole 90 minutes - a free kick from Wayne Rooney - compared to Palace's five, and Van Gaal admitted he was concerned by his side's current lack of goals.

"Of course, but today when you are not creating so many chances you cannot complain," he told reporters.

"Against Middlesbrough I thought we had chances to finish, so that is of more concern. But today we had no chances to win it.

“Today I think it was obvious that Crystal Palace started very well in this game, they won every second and third ball and we didn't touch the ball.

"Then after 15 minutes we came into the match, had positional shape and made chances, like Ander Herrera in the last minute of the first half.

"In the second half Crystal Palace had more strength than in the first. When you play like Crystal Palace did with the long ball the pressure is always on our goal.

"Still, I think we could have scored in the second half but we were not the better team today and that's a concern."

Van Gaal's side will now prepare for a crucial Champions League tie when they welcome CSKA Moscow to Old Trafford on Tuesday, but denied their goal drought had become a mental issue.

"I don't think so. When I see the characters, I don't think they have doubt about their quality. They need one match, and I hope that's against CSKA Moscow because we need the victory," he added.

"I'm very experienced, and I know we have to recover, recover, recover. I can only speak in meetings and in private meetings. We hope we can score against Moscow because we need to win."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

"We created nothing" thamaiCSKA match 1keth mona karaganida manda​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Wenger relieved as 'edgy' Arsenal bounce back at Swansea

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was delighted to see his side recover from a nervy start to end their recent hoodoo against Swansea City with a 3-0 victory at the Liberty Stadium.

The visitors gained a first win over Swansea in four attempts courtesy of second-half goals from Olivier Giroud, Laurent Koscielny and Joel Campbell.

Having bounced back from their midweek League Cup exit at Sheffield Wednesday, which saw Gabriel, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Theo Walcott limp off injured, Wenger felt his side merited three points, dismissing suggestions of a foul in the build-up to Koscielny's goal.

"I didn't see a foul but maybe I missed something and I have to watch it again, there's always a diverse opinion from managers on [issues like] that," the Frenchman told reporters, after seeing Arsenal pass 2,000 goals in his reign.

"It is always a difficult game [at Swansea], last season Swansea took six points off us so we came here a bit edgy.

"They showed quality again today, they are going through a spell with less confidence but they are a good side and our first half was difficult.

"In the second half we upped our tempo and the purpose in our passing, with added pace in our combinations, and once we scored the first goal we were the dominant team and won the game normally.

"I rested eight players at Wednesday and gave them a breather and it took us a while to get into the tempo today.

"I am proud of scoring goals because people come to see people who try to play but the most important was the three points."

With five Premier League wins in a row, Wenger's side appear primed to mount a sustained title challenge - keeping pace with Manchester City on Saturday while moving 14 points clear of struggling champions Chelsea.

Wenger has a fractious relationship with Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho and the Arsenal boss added: "I think it's better I don't talk too much about that [gap to Chelsea].

"Let's focus on our game, we have made a little difference with some teams but let's keep a good balance between hunger, humility and confidence and not look too much at other teams."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Pellegrini backs Hart after howler

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini defended Joe Hart after an error from the England goalkeeper almost cost the Premier League leaders in their 2-1 win over Norwich City.

Nicolas Otamendi broke the deadlock after 67 minutes at the Etihad Stadium, powering home Kevin De Bruyne's corner for his first goal for the club, but Norwich were level seven minutes from time when Hart spilt a routine catch on Robbie Brady's cross to leave Cameron Jerome with a tap-in.

The mistake ultimately did not prove costly, as Yaya Toure converted an 89th-minute penalty to keep Pellegrini's team ahead of Arsenal at the summit on goal difference.

It was a result that could have been more comfortable had Aleksandar Kolarov not missed from 12 yards minutes later, after Raheem Sterling won his second penalty of the afternoon deep into stoppage time.

Hart, one of City's most consistent performers this season, partially redeemed himself with a vital save from Martin Olsson when the score was 2-1, and he retained his manager's backing after the match.

Pellegrini told reporters: "It was unfortunate. Sometimes, these things happen. Joe is human and he can make mistakes."Apart from that error, there were only two shots at him in the game that he saved because he is a very good goalkeeper."

Following the blow of conceding an equaliser and the prospect of being dislodged from top spot, Pellegrini was delighted with the character shown by his players in securing a win He said: "Norwich played very well. They defended the whole game with 100 per-cent concentration and the chances that we created, we missed.

"After we scored the goal from Nicolas Otamendi it opened up the game but, unfortunately, Joe allowed them to draw.

"The last 10 minutes was the most important 10 minutes from my team. We had the character, the personality and the trust to go again for the game."We were not finished in the last minutes because we always felt that we could score another goal.

"It is a relief because it is important not to drop points here at home."The Etihad outfit are next in action against Sevilla in a vital Champions League Group D clash on Tuesday.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Benitez: I want Madrid right at the top

Rafael Benitez is delighted with the displays Real Madrid have put in to go top of La Liga, but insists they must strive to do even better as the season goes on.

The Santiago Bernabeu outfit opened up a three-point lead over Barcelona at the summit following Saturday's 3-1 win over Las Palmas, while they are also on course to reach the second round of the Champions League.

Speaking after the match, Benitez was delighted with the progress his side have shown in his first season in charge, though he also warned they cannot afford to get complacent.

"We played well in the first half, with a sensational start through Isco's goal in four minutes - this advantage helps you relax a little," he told reporters.

"We took control and everything good we did in the first half, we then did in the second.

"As for position in the table, I have Madrid where I want them. We must continue to grow because the competition is growing too."

"We lacked a bit of tension at times, which is a shame because we could have ended the first half without conceding a goal."

Benitez highlighted impressive performances from Jese Rodriguez and Casemiro in the wake of victory, with the Brazilian midfielder setting up Isco for the opener early on before the latter netted Madrid's third goal of the game shortly before the break.

"Jese has been working very well. He put in a good performance and I am very happy with him," he continued."Casemiro is a player who gives us balance in midfield."

The trainer then turned his attention to the upcoming Champions League tie against Paris Saint-Germain, which he sees as a completely different test.

"To win and play well as we did in the first half is a positive. The PSG game is different," Benitez concluded.

"We need motivation and we wish to maintain the level we reached in the first half throughout the match."

The Liga and Ligue 1 leaders are level in Group A on seven points apiece heading into Tuesday's game at the Bernabeu.

 

[rcccc]

Klopp: Liverpool title contenders? Oh, please...

Klopp Liverpool aith hadala gani.eye match eke attacking patta.

 

[rcccc]

West Brom 2-3 Leicester City: Mahrez and Vardy lead Foxes comeback

.

Vardy & Mahrez patta

 

[rcccc]

Werder Bremen 1-3 Borussia Dortmund: Reus shines as Tuchel's men close in on Bayern

Reus

 

[rcccc]

Meka Mourinho ge end 1ka weida manda​

sack kaloth nm aparade
mama hithanne thma top 6 enna puluwan Chelsea lata.

 

[rcccc]

Swansea 0-3 Arsenal: Campbell on target in Gunners win

.

Arsenal Vs Manchester City thamai meh sare EPL title 1kata fight 1ka yanne​

godak welawata M City thamai.M City lage squad eka patta.
danatama arsenal first team players la 8k injured(Walcott, Ox, Ramsey,Wilshere,Welbeck,Ospina......)
hadissyewath ozil,sanchez,coquelin injured unoth season 1kama ewarai

 

[rcccc]

 

[rcccc]

Neymar & Suarez

 

[rcccc]