DORTMUND CRASHING!!!

Jurgen Klopp and Mats Hummels conceded the anger of Borussia Dortmund fans was justified, after another Bundesliga defeat.

Borussia Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp and captain Mats Hummels said the reaction of their fans to Wednesday's 1-0 loss to Augsburg was justified.

Top-two finishers in the past four seasons, Dortmund are rooted to the foot of the Bundesliga table through 19 matches this season - and sit two points from safety in the German top flight.

The home fans jeered Dortmund following the final whistle at Signal Iduna Park, as they made it five straight league matches without success.

With only four wins so far this term, Klopp said the criticism - which prompted Hummels and vice-captain Roman Weidenfeller to speak to the supporters post-match - was understandable.

"We can be accused of anything tonight and it is all justified," Klopp said.

"Battling also means having the courage to take the right decision. We were missing that tonight.

"It hurts, no doubt. We are doing everything wrong at the moment. We are not making anything of our chances."

Hummels headed behind a goal to talk to fans after the final whistle, with Weidenfeller climbing a fence to get his message across while Klopp and the remainder of the playing group watched on.

Skipper Hummels said his players needed to grasp that the reaction was justified before moving on, with their next league fixture a trip to Freiburg on Saturday.

"If one is in this position after 19 games then it would be unacceptable not to have understanding for the fans' reactions," Hummels said.

posted from Bloggeroid

EREDIVISIE REVIEW

Memphis Depay and Georginio Wijnaldum gave PSV a 2-0 win at NAC Breda while Go Ahead Eagles drew with Excelsior in Eredivisie on Tuesday.

Eredivisie leaders PSV continued their remarkable league winning streak with a convincing 2-0 victory over second-bottom NAC Breda.

PSV, though, were forced to do it the hard way at Rat Verlegh Stadion after full-back Jetro Willems received the fastest red card in Eredivisie history, sent off inside just 30 seconds for a dangerous tackle on Gill Swerts.

But 10-man PSV, who have won every game bar one since the end of September, still controlled proceedings away from home, scoring twice in the second half to move 12 points clear of Ajax at the summit.

Memphis Depay put the visitors ahead nine minutes after the restart when he was played in by fellow youngster Adam Maher for his 14th goal of the season.

PSV skipper Georginio Wijnaldum then rounded off a sweeping counter-attacking move with just over 15 minutes remaining to put the result beyond doubt.

In Tuesday's other match, Go Ahead Eagles bounced back from their loss to Groningen last time by playing out a goalless draw at home to Excelsior.

posted from Bloggeroid

BUNDESLIGA REVIEW

Wolfsburg failed to close the eight-point gap behind Bundesliga pacesetters Bayern Munich after the top two were both held to 1-1 draws.

Bayern Munich have dropped points in two successive Bundesliga matches for the first time since April 2014 as Schalke held them to a dramatic 1-1 draw, but Wolfsburg could not capitalise.

Bayern came into Tuesday's meeting at the Allianz Arena following a 4-1 thrashing by second-placed Wolfsburg last time out, and it looked as though they were facing another struggle when centre-back Jerome Boateng was sent off for a foul on Sidney Sam in the penalty box inside the first 20 minutes.

But Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, who has scored 10 goals in all competitions this season, saw his tame spot-kick denied by Manuel Neuer diving to his left.

It seemed the visitors would be left to rue that wasted chance when forward Arjen Robben headed in Xabi Alonso's corner midway through the second period, but captain Benedikt Howedes produced a similar finish from Sam's 72nd-minute delivery to earn his team a share of the spoils.

Despite dropping points for the second time in succession, Bayern maintain their eight-point advantage at the top of the Bundesliga thanks to Wolfsburg's 1-1 draw at Eintracht Frankfurt. 

Buoyed by their Bayern scalp and a run of form which included just one league defeat in 12 matches, Wolfsburg went to Frankfurt confident of beating their mid-table opposition, even with new signing Andre Schurrle absent.

But, with 58 minutes on the clock, things got uncomfortable for Dieter Hecking's men, as Stefan Aigner found the net following good work by Takashi Inui.

Frankfurt were denied a fine win two minutes from time, however, as Kevin De Bruyne turned in Marcel Schafer's cross to secure a last-gasp draw.

Third-placed Borussia Monchengladbach made the most of Wolfsburg's stalemate, though, closing to within five points of Hecking's side thanks to a 1-0 victory at home to struggling Freiburg.

And in the day's only other fixture, Mainz claimed a 1-1 draw away to Hannover.

posted from Bloggeroid

FA CUP REPLAY: MAN U 3-0 CAMBRIDGE

Manchester United will go all out to win the FA Cup this season as Louis van Gaal declares it the "best chance" to win a trophy.

Louis van Gaal retiterated that the FA Cup provides Manchester United's best chance of winning a trophy this season after they beat Cambridge United on Tuesday.

After a goalless draw last month, the Premier League side made no mistake in their fourth-round replay as goals from Juan Mata, Marcos Rojo and James Wilson booked a meeting with Preston North End.

Manchester United controlled proceedings at Old Trafford and could have won by a greater margin had their finishing been more clinical.

Van Gaal felt his side could have disposed of the League Two side with greater comfort, but was pleased to progress in a competition that he has given top priority to for the second half of the season.

"We have done what we had to," he told BBC Sport.  "Every club in the FA Cup wants to win, we also.

"We have to beat Preston and that will not be easy, they won away against a cup fighter like Sheffield United, so it will be difficult for us to win in Preston North End.

"For the club, the fans and the coach and my staff, we want to win a title this year. The biggest chance is the FA Cup, but we still have to win four games to do that.

"Tonight, I don't think we played a very good match. But it is always difficult against a defensive team. We could have done better but I am pleased with the result."

Cambridge boss Richard Money left Manchester in positive mood after his side produced two encouraging performances, albeit while lacking the decisive touch to pull off a remarkable upset.

Things could have been much different had Tom Elliott's effort for Cambridge not struck the post in the opening minute, but Money was nevertheless proud with the effort from his side.

"I thought it [Elliott's shot] was in," he told BT Sport. "It probably wouldn't have made any difference, but he has done everything right. 

"It was a good chance, not sure how much more he could have done.

"I think 3-0 is par for the course. We walked off the pitch with our pride intact. 

"In the second half we have done ourselves proud. We gave everything we wanted to give, we have got to use it to keep going as a team and football club."

posted from Bloggeroid

DEADLINE DAY SIGNINGS

Chelsea sign Juan Cuadrado from Fiorentina in £27million transfer




Darren Fletcher completes West Bromwich Albion move on three-and-a-half year deal



Zaha returns to Crystal Palace after Eagles seal £6m permanent transfer of Manchester United winger

posted from Bloggeroid

SERIE A WRAPUP

Napoli were the big winners at the top of Serie A this weekend as they beat Chievo 2-1 to close the gap on Roma and Juventus.

Napoli maintained their pursuit of Serie A's top two on Sunday as Manolo Gabbiadini helped Rafael Benitez's side to a 2-1 victory over Chievo at Stadio Marc'Antonio Bentegodi.

Roma's mid-season struggles continued on Saturday as Rudi Garcia's men were held at home by Empoli and, with leaders Juventus also held a day later by Udinese, Napoli were able to move closer to the leading pair.

Bostjan Cesar's own-goal gave Napoli a headstart in Verona but the hosts were level at the break when Miguel Britos got in on the act with an error of his own.

However, Gabbiadini proved the hero as the recent signing from Sampdoria opened his account for Napoli with a smart finish from inside the area 28 minutes from time.

The win leaves Napoli just four points off Roma in second but five clear of Lazio in fourth after Stefano Pioli's men suffered a surprise defeat to lowly Cesena.

Having beaten bottom side Parma last time out, Gregoire Defrel's opener and a Danilo Cataldi own-goal ensured an upset at Stadio Dino Manuzzi with Milan ending their winless Serie A run against Parma.

Filippo Inzaghi's men went in search of their first league success since mid-December and gained it thanks largely to a Jeremy Menez brace either side of Antonio Nocerino's leveller.

Experienced defender Cristia Zaccardo made sure of the points with a third 14 minutes from time to move Milan up to eighth and compound Parma's troubles at the bottom of the table.

Inter endured a bad day at the office as players clashed with fans following their 3-1 defeat at Sassuolo - Simone Zaza, Nicola Sansone and Domenico Berardi on target for the hosts.

Mancini's side turned in a tepid showing and saw Inter fans hurl back their players' shirts from the crowd following a defeat in which both sides ended with 10 men.

Samuel Eto'o's Sampdoria's debut was one to forget for the Cameroonian as Torino ran out 5-1 winners at Stadio Olimpico di Torino while Atalanta and Palermo were 2-1 winners over Cagliari and Hellas Verona respectively.

posted from Bloggeroid

LA LIGA WRAPUP

Barcelona and Sevilla prevailed in five-goal thrillers against Villarreal and Espanyol respectively in La Liga on Sunday.

Barcelona kept pace with Real Madrid at the top of La Liga thanks to an entertaining 3-2 win over Villarreal at Camp Nou on Sunday.

Having seen Real extend their lead to four points with a 4-1 win over Real Sociedad on Saturday, Barca fell behind to Denis Cheryshev's goal in the 30th minute.

Neymar equalised on the stroke of half-time, but Luciano Vietto restored the visitors' lead six minutes into the second period.

However, quickfire goals from Rafinha and Lionel Messi put Barca in the lead for the first time, and they held on to extend their winning run in all competitions to eight matches and end Villarreal's 18-game undefeated streak.

For the third time in 11 days, Sevilla met Espanyol and it proved to be an entertaining affair as Unai Emery's men triumphed 3-2 thanks to Iago Aspas' strike a minute from time.

Espanyol won 3-2 on aggregate in their recent Copa del Rey quarter-final, but this time it was Sevilla's turn to enjoy success as they moved back up to fourth in the table.

Christian Stuani put Espanyol ahead from the penalty spot in the 15th minute before a freak goal brought Sevilla level.

Diogo Figueiras went in for a 50-50 challenge with an opponent but as he lashed the ball away it sailed over the head of Kiko Casilla and into the net from 50 yards.

Vitolo put Sevilla ahead 10 minutes prior to the interval and five minutes later Casilla raced from his goal, inexplicably handled Aspas' lobbed effort and was shown a straight red card.

Victor Sanchez brought Espanyol level with 13 minutes to go, but in the 89th minute Aspas had the final say with a smart finish to send the home fans into raptures.

Elsewhere, Athletic Bilbao won 2-0 at Levante thanks to a brace from Aritz Aduriz, while Edgar Mendez's strike earned Almeria a 1-0 win over Getafe.

Both sides finished with 10 men, as Getafe saw Sergio Escudero dismissed for a second booking before Almeria had Tomer Hemed sent off, also for picking up two cautions.

posted from Bloggeroid

LIGUE 1 WRAPUP

Just two points separate Ligue 1's top three after Lyon could only muster a goalless draw against Monaco on Sunday.

Lyon were unable to restore their four-point lead at the top of Ligue 1 on Sunday as Hubert Fournier's men were held to a 0-0 draw at Monaco.

Fournier's side saw title rivals Paris Saint-Germain and Marseille pick up wins on Friday and Saturday respectively.

However, Sunday's clash proved a relatively low-key affair - in keeping with the lack of goals across the weekend in the French top flight with just 10 scored in as many games - as the main talking point proved to be a stamp from Monaco defender Wallace on Lyon's Samuel Umtiti.

The second-half incident could earn the Brazilian retrospective punishment - having not been booked - while Lyon look ahead to next Sunday's visit of defending champions PSG.

Elsewhere, Caen's upturn in form continued with a 1-0 win over Saint-Etienne at Stade Michel d'Ornano with Julien Feret on target for the hosts just before the interval.

The points moved Patrice Garande's men out of the relegation zone, courtesy of a solo run and strike from Feret - the midfielder scoring for the third time in as many games this year.

"We have just won three games in a row. It's not that it does not please me but I will take a little step back from it all. We know that things can quickly change," Garande told his post-match news conference.

"I am, above all, happy with the game and the state of mind my players showed."

With Saint-Etienne suffering a surprise reversal, fellow European hopefuls Bordeaux failed to collect maximum points as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Guingamp.

Maxime Poundje cancelled out Claudio Beauvue's first-half opener after the interval and Bordeaux would perhaps have fancied their chances to seal the win had Jaroslav Plasil not been dismissed 11 minutes from time.

posted from Bloggeroid

GHANA 3-0 GAMBIA

Ghana comfortably reached their fifth consecutive Africa Cup of Nations semi-final with a straightforward 3-0 win over Guinea.

Christian Atsu scored a goal-of-the-tournament contender as his brace helped Ghana stroll past Guinea 3-0 to reach the Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals.

The winger let fly with an unstoppable left-foot effort just after the hour in Sunday's quarter-final tie in Malabo to put the icing on the cake for Avram Grant's men, who had already seized control of the contest.

Guinea's spot in the last eight was confirmed via the drawing of lots at the expense of Mali, but their luck ran out as early as the fourth minute when Atsu scored his first from Andre Ayew's superb assist.

Ghana were two goals to the good on the stroke of half-time as Kwesi Appiah showed his predatory instincts to capitalise on a horrendous error from Guinea's Baissama Sankoh for his first international goal.

The second half produced little in terms of goalmouth action aside from Atsu's moment of brilliance and Guinea's misery was compounded in injury time when Naby-Moussa Yattara was sent off for rash challenge on Asamoah Gyan - the goalkeeper having earlier been lucky to escape a red card.

Ghana, who won the last of their four Africa Cup of Nations titles in 1982, can now look forward to a fifth straight semi-final, where hosts Equatorial Guinea await.

Atsu's starring role in the quarter-final tie started in just the fourth minute.

Ayew collected Appiah's pass from the left in the penalty area and the Marseille man showed good strength before his exquisite backheel picked out the run of Atsu, who coolly converted from close range.

With his side struggling for a foothold, Yattara was lucky not to see red as he inexplicably shoved Atsu to the ground.

Aside from the goal, Ghana struggled for clear-cut chances, although Gyan should have done better with a tame shot from the edge of the area.

Guinea proved the architect of their own downfall a minute before the break, though, as Sankoh's bizarre miscued clearance under no pressure fell into the path of Appiah and the Crystal Palace striker clinically side-footed home.

The tempo dropped in the second half with Ghana happy to play possession football, while Guinea appeared shorn of confidence after the first half's late sucker-punch.

Ibrahima Traore wasted a promising set-piece on the hour when he went for goal from a difficult angle with several Guinea players waiting in the area.

Their wastefulness was punished in stunning style just a minute later.

Atsu picked up a short throw-in from the right before cutting inside and unleashing an unstoppable drive over Yattara and into the far corner from an unlikely angle.

Guinea goalkeeper Yatarra's tempestuous game was ended early in stoppage time as he was shown a straight red card for a studs-up challenge on Gyan when one-on-one.

The star striker was left limping by the tackle, potentially giving Grant a headache as Ghana edge ever closer to ending their 33-year wait for glory at the continental showpiece.

posted from Bloggeroid

ALGERIA 1-3 IVORY COAST

The Ivory Coast are into the semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations after a 3-1 victory over Algeria on Sunday.

Wilfried Bony's brace helped the Ivory Coast into the semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations as Herve Renard's men beat Algeria 3-1 in Malabo on Sunday.

The Manchester City man scored either side of El Arabi Hillel Soudani's equaliser and Gervinho added a late third to send the 1992 African champions into the final four, where they will meet DR Congo.

Bony gave the Ivory Coast the lead midway through the first half with a well-taken header - the striker's second goal against Algeria in as many games - but Renard's side started the second half slowly and were made to pay when Soudani levelled in the 51st minute.

However, Bony again demonstrated his quality by powering a header past Rais M'Bolhi with 23 minutes remaining to knock the wind out of Algeria's sails.

And Gervinho steered home a third from 15 yards after Algeria had thrown men forward in search of an equaliser.

It was a deserved victory for the Ivory Coast over another of the pre-tournament favourites and Renard's side remain on course for a third final appearance in six editions of the tournament.

Yacine Brahimi and Soudani went close early on for Algeria, while Gervinho - returning after a suspension - failed to find a team-mate at the other end from a promising position down the right.

The Ivory Coast then began to apply pressure, Serge Aurier heading against the post before Bony opened the scoring shortly before the half-hour mark.

The former Swansea City man opened his account for this year’s competition as he got on the end of Max Gradel's delivery to nod home.

With Islam Slimani on the bench due to a knee injury, Christian Gourcuff’s men struggled to gain a foothold in the game before the break. 

However, Soudani restored parity early in the second half as he made the most of sloppy Ivorian defending - heading on Sofiane Feghouli's long ball to Riyad Mahrez before finishing the move following a cross from the Leicester City man.

Brahimi - who shook off a back problem to feature - was denied by Sylvain Gbohouo at close range before Bony restored the Ivory Coast's lead with another fine finish.

Bony outmuscled Carl Medjani to meet club team-mate Yaya Toure's free-kick from the right with a powerful header that M'Bolhi was unable to keep out.

Algeria pressed in an attempt to level - with Gourcuff throwing on Slimani in an attempt to keep their hopes alive.

Slimani twice went close late on, but Gervinho scored in the final minute of stoppage time as the Ivory Coast saw out an impressive win that suggested they may finally live up to expectations at the continental showpiece.

posted from Bloggeroid