Monday, 10 February 2014

Thriller in the 2010 Winter Olympic Ice Hockey Final : Canada vs USA

Canada's favourite son Sidney Crosby enabled the ice hockey team to put the crowning finish on the host nation's Winter Olympic campaign with the sudden death overtime winning goal that secured a 3-2 victory over the USA.

It was their 14th gold medal of the Games and makes them the most successful host nation in history.

After a final weekend of action in Vancouver and Whistler had brought gold in the men's curling, three in short track speed skating and another in snowboarding, Canada also got to salute the one victory that meant most to the hockey-mad hosts and fittingly the winner came from Crosby.

Just a few hours before the closing ceremony at nearby BC Place, Canada Hockey Place had erupted into noisy celebration as goals from Jonathan Toews in the first period and Corey Perry in the second put the home side in front in a tight encounter against the American underdogs.

Champion feeling: Canada celebrate their dramatic overtime defeat of the USA in the men's ice hockey final

Ice cool: Canada's goalkeeper Roberto Luongo milks the applause of a jubilant home crowd

Then came the fightback as USA's Ryan Kesler scored late in the second to bring the score to 2-1 and set up a nailbiting third and final period that saw Canada forced to defend for long spells as the Americans went in search of an equaliser.

They got it with 24 seconds left, through Zach Parise to send the game into sudden-death overtime, only for Crosby to grab the glory seven-and-a-half minutes in.

The USA had been chasing its first men's ice hockey gold medal since the 'Miracle' team of 1980 defeated the Soviet Union en route to a gold-medal victory over Finland at Lake Placid, while the Canadians were looking to repeat their victory over USA in the 2002 final in Salt Lake City.

In their preliminary round encounter, Canada had been put on the back foot early by an American goal after just 40 seconds but the first clear-cut shot of the game came into the fifth minute, Canadian forward Jonathan Toews flashing the puck across the USA goal.

Canada goalkeeper Roberto Luongo was next to come under pressure as Ryan Malone had a chance blocked at the other end but the first goal came at the other end after 12 minutes and 50 seconds when USA keeper Ryan Miller blocked a shot from Mike Richards only for the puck to fall in front of Toews who blasted home from the rebound.

Some US frustration surfaced quickly as Bobby Ryan was sent to the penalty box for two minutes for tripping after up-ending Deny Heatley but the Canadians could not take advantage of the power play and the Americans went in at the end of the first period trailing 1-0.

There was some desperate US defending at start of second after Malone went to the penalty box for high sticking but again Miller and his defencemen held firm during the power play.

Match winner: Sidney Crosby's overtime goal brings home fans to their feet but opposition goalkeepr Ryan Miller (right) to his knees

Eric Staal was the first Canadian to go in soon after, for interference, and this time the Americans could not make their numerical advantage tell. Canada went back to full strength to huge cheers and the home side went straight onto the offensive, Ryan Getzlaf going close.

The momentum stayed with Canada and Getzlaf forced the issue, cutting back from the left for Corey Perry to shoot high into the net past Miller for a 2-0 lead seven minutes into the period.

The stadium scoreboard asked the fans inside Canada Hockey Place to 'Make Some Noise' but there was really no need as they celebrated Perry's fourth goal of the tournament.

Canada continued to pressure their rivals and when Miller, the American hero in the 5-3 preliminary round win, spilled another shot play was halted as they bore down on his goal pushing the net off its anchors.

Crosby hit the winning goal

Carnage: United States were forced to defend desperately at times as Canada heaped presure on the underdogs

The Hero : Sidney Crosby

The break in play seemed to suit the Americans and soon after, the USA got a goal back as Patrick Kane centred to Ryan Kesler whose shot came off Vancouver team-mate Luongo's body and hit the net.

For the rest of the period it was all Canada as Rick Nash brought a save out of Miller from long-range and then passed to Staal from behind the goal line for another blocked shot to give the USA plenty to think about ahead of the final period.

Inevitably, it was the USA forwards that upped the tempo in the last 20 minutes but Canada defended successfully in numbers and when their defensive line was breached, Luongo made two key saves.

The more the USA pushed, the more the game opened up and Canada's star man Crosby had a chance to finish the game when he broke away with the puck on the red line only to lose his one-on-one duel with Miller.

USA made one last rally for a leveller, taking Miller out of goal for a six-man assault on Luongo's goal with 1:27 left. The gamble worked as Joe Pavelski forced a parry out of Luongo, Kane firing the puck back into the crease from where captain Jamie Langenbrunner pushed it to Zach Parise for the equaliser with just 24 seconds to go.

With 20 minutes of sudden-death overtime ahead and a 15-minute interval, Canada regrouped and came out attacking with Jarome Iginla and Crosby both forcing saves from close range and Nash testing Miller from further out.

Pavelski went close at the other end but back came the Canucks and it was Crosby, fed by Iginla, who grabbed the winner to send Canada into raptures.

Celebration time : Canadians fans celebrates in the streets

Sunday, 9 February 2014

Gunning Down The Londoners Horrible Sods : Liverpool Vs Arsenal Match Report

Saturday February 8, 2014 Anfield

Liverpool 5

Skrtel 1′, 10′Sterling 16′, 52′Sturridge 20
′

Arsenal 1

Arteta 69′ (pen)

Team Formation

KEY MOMENTS

2' - GOAL: Liverpool score with barely a minute on the clock. Gerrard’s devilish free kick from the left is whipped in towards the far post where Skrtel is waiting to prod home from six yards. WHAT A START!!

11' - GOAL: Liverpool are 2-0 up very early on. It’s the same combination again as Gerrard’s corner is met by the head of Skrtel. The centre-half has to stoop down 10 yards from goal, but does tremendously well to flick the ball into the far corner.

12' - SHOULD SCORE: That would have been virtually game over. Liverpool are just too good for the visitors at the moment. Gerrard finds Suarez out wide on the right, and the Uruguayan’s first time ball sends Sturridge through on goal. The forward attempts to loft the ball over Szczesny but it drifts wide.

14' - WHAT A STRIKE FROM SUAREZ: MY OH MY! Liverpool win another corner, but Gerrard clips it to the edge of the penalty area towards Suarez. The No. 7 flicks the pass up into the air and sends a wicked volley through the crowd and past Szczesny, but it comes flying back off the post. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a ball hit like that.

17' - GOAL: IT’S THREE!!! Arsenal lose the ball in the Liverpool half and face s lightning-quick counter attack as the hosts throw men forward. Suarez is given the ball on the right-hand side of the penalty area, and he opts to send a first-time ball towards the back post where Sterling is on hand to tap home.

20' - GOAL: Can you believe it? Arsenal have been embarrassed and we don’t have 20 minutes on the clock. Coutinho’s incisive through ball splits the two Arsenal centre-halves and sends Sturridge through on goal. The forward takes one touch before finishing from the edge of the penalty area.

53' - GOAL: It’s five. FIVE!! Kolo Toure does brilliantly to find Sterling, who has pulled away from his marker. The youngster races through on goal and finishes from close range, though he requires to attempts to do so.

55' - SO CLOSE: Sterling almost has his hat-trick, but he should have been flagged offside. Gerrard’s whipped set-piece from the right evades everybody and finds the England U-21 winger at the far post, but he can’t quite steer it goalwards.

69' - CONSOLATION GOAL: Steven Gerrard brings down Oxlade-Chamberlain in the penalty area and concedes a penalty. Arteta steps up, sending the ball down the middle to grab a consolation goal for his side.

Are you crying Monsieur Wenger ???

Sterling celebrates

MAN OF THE MATCH

Raheem Sterling, Liverpool - Sterling had a number of chances to wrap up his hat-trick, and although he didn't take any of them, he is well worthy of the man of the match award. The England Under-21 winger caused the Arsenal full-backs no end of problems and took his two goals very well.

PLAYER RATINGS

Liverpool: Mignolet 6, Flanagan 6, Skrtel 8, Toure 6, Cissokho 6, Coutinho 8, Gerrard 7, Henderson 7, Suarez 8, Sterling 9, Sturridge 7 Subs: Aspas 5, Allen 5, Ibe 5

Arsenal: Szczesny 6, Sagna 6, Mertesacker 5, Koscielny 6, Monreal 5, Arteta 6, Wilshere 5, Oxlade-Chamberlain 7, Ozil 6, Cazorla 6, Giroud 6 Subs: Rosicky 5, Podolski 5, Gibbs 5

The scoreboard says it all

Players celebrates

Sunday, 2 February 2014

Luis Aragones Finest Hour : Led Spain To Victory In The Euro 2008

Luis Aragones With Euro 2008 Trophy

Luis Aragones who led Spain to euro 2008 victory has passed away in February 1st in Madrid,here we pay tribute to this man finest hour.

Euro 2008: Spain are fitting winners of a thrilling tournament

With Captain Casillas holding the 2008 euro trophy

For so long they've been the team you curse because you had a crafty flutter before they faltered, now Spain are finally champions. What's more, they did it their way. Their frustration at their successive failures never led them to lose faith in themselves, to abandon the way they want to play. They have always prized technical excellence and imaginative expression above all else, advocated fantasy above pragmatism. They always knew they were right. And now they may bask in beautiful vindication. Spain have shown that high-tempo virility is still a powerful force - but it's just the starting point, the real trick is to build on it with precise technique and inspired creativity. Xavi's wonderful pass to Fernando Torres, and Torres's clever, tenacious run and exquisite finish encapsulated everything that makes Spain worthy kings of the continent.

Spain are no machine, Xavi, Iniesta, Cesc Fábregas and Sergio Ramos no mere cogs. They are a vibrant organism, each element exuding adventure and intelligence. Their movement, speed and offensive intent make them devastating.

Their conviction did waver temporarily tonight as glory twinkled tantalisingly; Germany, ever defiant, cranked up the pressure in the last 30 minutes and Luis Aragonés withdrew Fábregas and David Silva for magically more conservative players. Yet still Ramos, Andrés Iniesta and Marcos Senna came closer to scoring in that period than Germany. And unlike Germany - and the other great performers at these championships, Turkey, Russia, Holland and Portugal - Spain defended immaculately.

Spain exemplified all that made this tournament delightful. In addition to the inventors already mentioned, they have a holding midfielder who does so much more than hold: the Makelele role is old hat, rendered obsolete by Marcos Senna.

Aragones lifted by spanish players after winning the euros 2008 final

The delightfulness of Euro 2008 has been capped by its profound justice. Adroit and artistic Spain have triumphed in a tournament where their squad had the depth of talent to outdo all others. Those who mused that Luis Aragonés's side might lack in forwards while the tournament's top scorer, David Villa, was injured received their answer. Liverpool's Fernando Torres took the only goal with a mixture of anticipation, pace and delicacy of finish.

Germany were as intrepid as is to be expected of a nation in pursuit of a seventh major prize. Nonetheless, Michael Ballack, who had recovered from a calf strain, was the key person in a line-up that had to depend on its doggedness. Strong-minded as Spain have also been in winning all six of their matches here, technical excellence is the true basis of their domination.

Aragonés carries some notoriety but he has taught Spain to count on their talent. The inability to win a trophy since taking this same competition in Madrid in 1964 has been all the more galling because footballers of lavish gifts have been among those who floundered. At Euro 2008, by contrast, Spain never permitted their opponents to assume the lead in any game.

Torres scoring the winning goal

In the 33rd minute Xavi eased a through-ball which Philipp Lahm was well placed to deal with, but the swift Torres first moved outside the left-back and then inside him to flip a finish meticulously over the advancing Jens Lehmann and into the far corner of the net. "Lahm was in a better position but for a moment he relaxed and I took advantage," said the scorer, who had hit the post with a header 10 minutes earlier.

That took Torres's tally for Euro 2008 to a modest two goals but this contribution was priceless. Aragonés had never lost sight of the challenge he poses to a back four and the liberty that opens up for team-mates accordingly.

The Spaniards were not close to finished with their celebration that was so long in the making. They marched to their rooting section, hoisting the cup and saluting their flag-waving, firecracker-exploding fans.

“We have won in a brilliant way,” Coach Luis Aragonés said. “We will be able to start saying we can win, a European championship as well as any other thing.”

In beating a team that makes a habit of appearing in championship finals, the Spaniards put to rest a reputation for underachieving. Always loaded with talented players, Spain has spent four decades falling short of expectations.

That all changed here, where the Spaniards swept their first-round games, eliminated the World Cup champion Italy in a penalty-kick shootout in the quarterfinals, then routed Russia, 3-0, in the semifinals.