Snak

Jeg sprang over kampene. Jeg kunne godt mærke ved midnatstid at jeg var færdig, så valgte at gå i seng.

Costa Rica vandt da 2-1 hjemme over Paraguay på mål af Joel Campbell og Alvario Saborío

International Friendly: Australia 3 Ecuador 4

http://www.youtube.com/w…_HgRep7EID0

Australia´s head coach Ange Postecoglou has plenty of work ahead of him after watching his side spurn a three-goal lead to lose 4-3 to Ecuador.

Mile Jedinak´s penalty and a brace from Tim Cahill, who, playing at his old Millwall stomping ground of The Den, broke Damian Mori´s record to become Australia´s all-time leading goal-scorer, appeared to put Postecoglou´s team into a comfortable position.

Ecuador, though, came out after the break looking more like the team that finished fourth in CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying, capitalising on Mitchell Langerak´s red card to register an unlikely comeback victory.

Goals from Fidel Martinez, Segundo Castillo and Enner Valencia hauled Ecuador level at 3-3 with 13 minutes remaining before substitute Edison Mendez claimed an injury-time winner.

Cahill opened the scoring with eight minutes played.

Mark Milligan headed Tommy Oar´s corner back into the danger zone and Cahill was on hand to nod it home and enter the record books.

Australia were awarded a penalty in the 16th minute when Cahill went down after grappling with Gabriel Achilier inside the area and Jedinak stepped up to slot home the resulting spot-kick with ease.

It was 3-0 after 32 minutes.

A quick break near the half-way line allowed Mathew Leckie to advance and swing in a cross, which Cahill dived to connect with and head past Adrian Bone in the Ecuador goal.

Seven minutes after the restart, Martinez prodded the ball home after being found in a dangerous area by Enner Valencia´s pass.

Ecuador had a second less than 60 seconds later and Australia found themselves down to 10 men.

Langerak rushed out to try and clear a ball into the area but Valencia got there first and the Borussia Dortmund goalkeeper was shown a straight red card after sending the Ecuador forward flying into the air.

Castillo made it 3-2 from the penalty spot and the sides were level when Antonio Valencia advanced into the area and cut the ball back for namesake Enner Valencia to guide past Brad Jones - Australia´s third goalkeeper of the match after Mat Ryan had played the first half.

With the clock ticking down it looked as if Australia would survive to claim a draw but an error from Alex Wilkinson, who was dispossessed in a dangerous area, allowed substitute Mendez to net in the 92nd minute.

Og Honduras slog Venezuela kan jeg se med samme cifre

øv, det har jeg ikke. Der er krise hvis jeg ikke får noget natmad inden Honduras kampen.

Tilgengæld var der ikke så meget krise over hverken Dine eller Dibbens drenge...apropos foder så burde man måske over at åbne et par restaurationer med mellemamerikansk mad, honduranerne laver god suppe :-)

International Friendly: Honduras 2 Venezuela 1

http://www.youtube.com/w…45isXmz60kE



An early goal in each half saw Honduras overcome Venezuela 2-1 in an international friendly on Wednesday.

Honduras notched their first victory since they secured qualification for Brazil 2014 last year, with goals to Jerry Bengtson and Jerry Palacios ensuring the home team triumphed at Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano in San Pedro Sula.

With just two more friendlies scheduled before Honduras´ World Cup opener against France on June 15, coach Luis Fernando Suarez would have been thrilled with how his team edged out Venezuela.

Bengtson opened the scoring for Honduras in just the seventh minute when Bonieck Garcia found the towering striker in the left channel with a neat reverse pass.

With his first touch, Bengtson lifted the ball over on-rushing Venezuelan goalkeeper Jose Morales.

An impressive free-kick from Romulo Otero dragged the visitors level after 20 minutes with the 21-year-old curling his right-foot effort over the wall and beating the outstretched hand of Honduras goalkeeper Noel Valladares.

Honduras regained the lead just five minutes after half-time with Palacios running onto a long pass over Venezuela´s defence, and placing his shot in the bottom corner of the net.

Since Suarez´s men secured a berth in Brazil, they had been thrashed by Brazil 5-0 and drawn 2-2 with Ecuador before bouncing back against Venezuela on Wednesday.

Honduras´ next fixture will be against Turkey in May before a final friendly with England, ahead of their World Cup campaign, where they will face France, Ecuador and Switzerland in Group E.

International Friendly: Costa Rica 2 Paraguay 1

http://www.youtube.com/w…uD--Wa5oODA

Costa Rica ended a three-game losing streak with a 2-1 victory over Paraguay in an international friendly on Wednesday.

Jorge Luis Pinto´s Costa Rica team had lost all three friendlies since their final World Cup qualifier in October last year but the Brazil-bound side produced a much-improved performance against Paraguay in San Jose.

With the likes of Bryan Ruiz and Alvaro Saborio available again, Pinto´s side were far more clinical in the final third than they had been in their losses to Australia, Chile and South Korea.

A brilliant chip from Joel Campbell put the home side in front just before half-time, while Saborio added a second after the break before Paraguay hit back through a late header from Gustavo Gomez.

In the 44th minute, Campbell received a quick free-kick from Marco Urena, turned away from his marker and then expertly chipped Paraguay goalkeeper Roberto Junior Fernandez from outside the box.

It was Campbell´s second stunning goal in the space of three games after his curving long-range strike helped Olympiacos to a 2-0 win over Manchester United in the UEFA Champions League last week.

Campbell was replaced by Saborio at half-time and the Real Salt Lake striker got on the scoresheet in the 73rd minute, getting on the end of a passing move involving Ruiz and Michael Barrantes before finishing through Fernandez´s legs.

Paraguay ensured a nervous finish to the match when Gomez got free at the back post in the 86th minute and powerfully headed Jorge Rojas´ corner into the net but Costa Rica held on for a confidence-boosting win.

Costa Rica have one more friendly scheduled before they begin their World Cup campaign with Pinto´s team set to face Japan on June 2 before taking on Uruguay, Italy and England in Group D in Brazil.

Nåh det var så i Atlanta....

International Friendly: Mexico 0 Nigeria 0

Mexico and Nigeria warmed up for their respective 2014 World Cup campaigns, with a 0-0 friendly draw in Atlanta.

It was a chance-filled affair at the Georgia Dome, with all three participating goalkeepers - Guillermo Ochoa (Mexico), Vincent Enyeama and Austin Ejide (Nigeria) - all producing strong saves to keep it goalless.

The first half was competitive, with both sides enjoying dominant periods, before the second half - as many friendlies do - turned into a substitute-fest, as coaches Miguel Herrera and Stephen Keshi gave some valuable game time to squad players ahead of their journey to Brazil in mid-year.

Nigeria were on top early, and created two great chances in the opening 15 minutes - only to be denied by Ochoa on both occasions.

Forward Emmanuel Emenike weaved through two Mexico defenders to get one-on-one with Ochoa, only for the on-rushing custodian to parry the strike from close range - much to the joy of the partisan Mexican crowd.

Moments later, Ochoa denied the African nation once more, as Ogenyi Onazi´s swerving, long-range strike was kept out by a great parry to the goalkeeper´s left.

Ochoa was busy again moments later, forced off his line to collect Michael Uchebo´s ball through targeted for Ahmed Musa - and the keeper earned a clip to the head for his efforts, as he collected the ball to clear the danger.

Mexico ground their way into the contest, and eventually had their first shot on goal when midfielder Luis Montes launched an effort over the crossbar.

However, their best chance of the half was a powerful header from captain Rafael Marquez, as the defender was denied only by a strong save from Nigeria goalkeeper and opposing skipper Enyeama.

Mexico forward Oribe Peralta had few chances to make a mark on the contest but almost produced a gem of a play on the half-hour mark.

Peralta won a header outside the penalty area and then lashed a strike on the volley, which only just went wide of Enyeama´s far post in what would have been a stunning opener.

Ochoa was again in the thick of the action, as he denied Musa with yet another close-range save - shutting down the midfielder on an acute angle in the 56th minute.

Nigeria´s substitute keeper Ejide then had his finest moment, diving low to his right to keep out a long-range strike to keep his sheet clean.

Mexico´s best chance of winning it, though, came eight minutes from time, when substitute Raul Jimenez was one-on-one with Ejide.

The Nigerian custodian was up to the task as he parried Jimenez´s on-target shot, with the save almost falling to another Mexico shirt.

Jimenez made the most of his 20 minutes on the park, and almost headed home a late winner moments later, only for his effort to go just wide of the upright.

Mexico are next in action on April 2 against the United States in Glendale, while Nigeria´s next fixture sees them take on Scotland on May 28.

Liga MX Preview: Tigres keen to topple rampaging Cruz Azul

Cruz Azul will aim to continue their unbeaten Liga MX campaign, when they travel to Tigres UANL on Saturday.

Luis Fernando Tena´s men have eight wins and a draw through nine matches this term, to sit six points clear top of the league with Toluca (19 points) their closest challengers.

Cruz Azul have won eight straight - in fact, since a season-opening draw with Monterrey, they have a perfect record - although Tigres UANL also have an impressive unbeaten streak for a side sitting second-bottom in the table.

Ricardo Ferretti´s Tigres have not been beaten in eight in all competitions - including an 8-0 Copa Mexico win over top-flight side Puebla - while their run without a league loss has reached five matches.

The pleasing factor for Ferretti would be Tigres´ defence in that period, as they have shipped just one goal in 450 minutes and have not conceded in their past three road trips.

They are at their Estadio Universitario de Nuevo Leon on Saturday, though, and Tigres will be hoping to end Cruz Azul´s dominant run in front of their own fans.

Also on Saturday, fourth-placed America - who snapped a three-match losing streak last time out - will host Santos Laguna.

Pachuca, sixth, will welcome Monterrey, while Atlas and Chiapas do battle and on Sunday, Atlante will hope to inflict a fourth straight loss on Queretaro.

On Friday, Toluca - who have lost two of their past five to fall behind Cruz Azul - host 12th-placed Puebla.

Pumas UNAM sit third, four points behind Toluca, ahead of their visit to lowly Morelia, Leon - fifth after three straight wins - host cellar-dwellers Veracruz and Tijuana are at home to fellow mid-table side Guadalajara.

Jeg sprang over kampene. Jeg kunne godt mærke ved midnatstid at jeg var færdig, så valgte at gå i seng.

Costa Rica vandt da 2-1 hjemme over Paraguay på mål af Joel Campbell og Alvario Saborío

Dibben, jeg tror sgu Costa Rica sagtens kan lave en 90´er igen, England og Italien imponerer på ingen måder :-)

Mon ikke snart de skifter træner igen...

Merlo dijo: "Siento el respaldo de la gente todos los días en la calle"

BUENOS AIRES -- Reinaldo Merlo se mostró confiado y despejó todas las dudas sobre su continuidad como entrenador del Racing Club, más allá del nueve revés ante Lanús por 1-0.

"Siento el respaldo de la gente todos los días en la calle y el presidente viene siempre. De esto se sale trabajando, lo vamos a revertir", sostuvo Merlo en su contacto con los periodistas tras el cotejo realizado en ´La Fortaleza´.

Merlo reconoció que su equipo "jugó mal y perdió bien" ante Lanús. "Tuvimos una noche mala. Hoy jugamos mal y perdimos bien. Pero este presente de Racing se arregla trabajando. Tengo confianza para revertir esto", aseguró Merlo.

Es que ´La Academia´ empezó este 2014 con un verano favorable y en la primera fecha del Torneo Final se logró una goleada ante Colón de Santa Fe, pero desde entonces ya pasaron cinco capítulos sin victorias, con el agravante de que en cuatro de esos compromisos se soportaron derrotas.

"Vamos a revertirlo, de esto se sale trabajando", remarcó ió Merlo al retirarse del vestuario de la cancha de Lanús, y en referencia al delicado presente de Racing.

En la próxima fecha, Racing tendrá una prueba de carácter, ya que recibirá en su estadio a Boca Juniors. Sin embargo, para Mostaza, ningún adversario es fácil: "Estoy preocupado, todos los rivales son difíciles", insistió el conductor.

El DT argumentó que nunca puso a Racing como candidato, ni cuando consiguió la única victoria en lo que va del campeonato. "Yo dije que habíamos ganado y había mucho que corregir, no vendí otra cosa", se defendió.

Merlo, por último, recordó que cuando su equipo goleó a Colón de Santa Fe (3-0), por la primera fecha, y todos lo daban como candidato al título él sostuvo que "había cosas por mejorar. Por eso no me sorprende este presente. Pero vamos a salir adelante", finalizó Merlo, quien el domingo ante Boca cumplirá 100 partidos como DT de Racing (en sus tres ciclos).

Bianchi: "Para pelear el campeonato tenemos que ganar de visitante"

BUENOS AIRES -- El entrenador de Boca Juniors, Carlos Bianchi, sostuvo esta noche que para pelear por el título en el Torneo Final deben "ganar de visitante".

"Para pelear el campeonato tenemos que ganar de visitante", admitió Bianchi en la conferencia de prensa que ofreció tras la victoria sobre Olimpo por 2-0 en La Bombonera, en el ámbito de la sexta fecha de la competencia doméstica.

El Virrey consideró clave doblegar al próximo adversario, Racing Club en el Cilindro de Avellaneda, dado que "sería muy importante" lograr dos triunfos seguidos, justamente porque necesitan regularidad para perseguir objetivos trascendentes.

Por supuesto que en la reunión Bianchi ponderó a su futbolista más mimado, el ídolo de la parcialidad xeneize, Juan Román Riquelme, de quien elogió "el orgullo" que exhibe en el campo de juego, para compensar la mejor condición física que le anteponen los contrincantes.

"Con respecto al partido de hoy, lo de Román es porque tiene mucho orgullo", subrayó el director técnico boquense, acerca del armador que reapareció como titular y salió cuando faltaban apenas cincc minutos, inmediatamente después de definir de penal el encuentro al poner el 2-0.

Bianchi se quejó de los golpes que recibe el juvenil Luciano Acosta, argumentó que los árbitros no lo protegen, y aprovechó para deslizar que en cambio fueron más rigurosos con el mediocampista Pablo Ledesma y lo amonestaron, por lo que el cordobés se perderá el cotejo del fin de semana ante la Academia.

"Está golpeado, tiene golpes en las piernas, ustedes no se dan cuenta, pero rengueaba", dijo el conductor al referirse al maltrato que le destinan los rivales al diminuto mediocampista surgido de la cantera xeneize.

Y además de defender a Ledesma porque lo amonestaron y se perderá el próximo encuentro, también lo hizo al precisar las razones por las que lo mantiene como titular, más allá de las críticas ajenas: "No sé, o le cuentan las costillas a Pablo..., pero para mí es el que mejor está para jugar de cinco. Para mí es el que mejor se adapta a lo que pretendo, por eso juega".

"¿De qué jugó (Fernando) Gago hoy?", le preguntó Bianchi en su juego con los periodistas en alusión a que tampoco en el seleccionado argentino al ex volante del Real Madrid, la Roma, el Valencia y Vélez Sarsfield en la actualidad lo ubican como mediocampista central, sino que Alejandro Sabella lo pone a la derecha de Javier Mascherano.

"No nos podemos quedar con la victoria de Estudiantes, la victoria de Olimpo", insistió Bianchi para tratar de ponerle freno a mensajes triunfalistas, consciente de que Boca precisará mucho más si quiere pelear hasta el desenlace por el título. "Ganar en nuestra cancha es un deber y el fútbol es un confirmar y confirmar", sentenció Bianchi.

En tanto, el estratega de Boca, Juan Román Riquelme, resaltó el "buen trabajo" que junto con sus compañeros realizaron para vencer a Olimpo 2-0 por la sexta fecha del Torneo Final en La Bombonera.

"Sacando una chance que tuvieron ellos de cabeza a lo último, creo que el equipo ha hecho un buen trabajo", resaltó el capitán xeneize, que jugó por primera vez como titular en el torneo.

Riquelme se mostró "contento" por la victoria de su equipo y advirtió que se siente "bien" físicamente, tras sufrir una lesión que sufrió en noviembre. "Yo estoy contento, estoy bien. He vuelto más rápido de los que muchos pensaban, por más que me contaron los días que estuve sin jugar", subrayó el enlace.

Con respecto al clásico de la próxima fecha ante Racing en Avellaneda, Riquelme tiró flores para los simpatizantes académicos: "Vamos a enfrentar a una de las mejores hinchadas del fútbol argentino y esperamos jugar bien".