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SPORTS: April 2012

Monday, April 30, 2012

Man City 1 Man Utd 0 (THE SUN Article)


Man City 1 Man Utd 0

CAPTAIN MARVEL ... Vincent Kompany runs away in delight after scoring for City
CAPTAIN MARVEL ... Vincent Kompany runs away in delight after scoring for City
Published: 2 minutes ago

VINCENT KOMPANY’S bullet first-half header moved Manchester City to within touching distance of a first Premier League crown.

The City skipper got away from Chris Smalling and on the end of David Silva’s corner to head home what could prove to be a title winning goal.
United were second best for much of the game and never seriously threatened Joe Hart's goal.
And it was Roberto Mancini's side who should have made it two with a host of chances late on.
But Kompany's goal proved enough and City go back to the top of the league on goal difference with just two games to go.
The result caps an astonishing turnaround in fortunes with Mancini having conceded the title to United after his team's defeat to Arsenal three weeks a go.
But City have been on fire since that Emirates defeat and with United losing at Wigan and drawing at home to Everton, the blue half of Manchester could be in dreamland come May 13.
CALM BEFORE THE STORM ... Alex Ferguson and Roberto Mancini before kick-off
CALM BEFORE THE STORM ... Alex Ferguson and Roberto Mancini before kick-off
Alex Ferguson gambled with his team selection for the mother of all derbies with Ji-Sung Park and Smalling making their first Premier League starts since January.
But his United side settled the quicker with Michael Carrick having an early goal-bound strike blocked by Kompany at close range.
Any fears that the champions had come to park the bus looked misguided and it was a frenetic start, albeit with a lack of clear-cut chances.
RETURNING MEN ... Paul Scholes and Carlos Tevez in action
RETURNING MEN ... Paul Scholes and Carlos Tevez in action
David Silva had a shot deflected wide as City began to get into their stride, while Nani got his head to a Wayne Rooney cross but his effort lacked both power and direction.
The same player then fired well over from 35 yards before Carlos Tevez got into a dangerous position at the other end but his cut-back was cleared by Phil Jones.
Kompany received an early booking after clattering into Rooney but it was City who were now dominant.
FAMILY GUY ... Diego Maradonna in the crowd to watch his son-in-law Sergio Aguero in action
FAMILY GUY ... Diego Maradonna in the crowd to watch his son-in-law Sergio Aguero in action
Sergio Aguero struck well wide after swivelling on Samir Nasri’s left-wing cross before Pablo Zabaleta got in the way of the Frenchman and ended up poking a tame strike at David De Gea.
Carlos Tevez then stormed through the United midfield to play in Yaya Toure and the Ivorian found Aguero but Smalling turned the Argentine’s cross wide.
It was all City as they camped on the edge of the United box in the final minutes of the opening half.
LEAP OF FAITH ... Vincent Kompany powers home City's opener
LEAP OF FAITH ... Vincent Kompany powers home City's opener
The Red Devils would have been desperate for the half-time whistle but from the second of successive late corners, Kompany completely left Smalling in the box to find room to power home Silva’s inswinging cross.
It was a hammer blow for United, but the least that City deserved and Kompany ran away in delight with the Etihad Stadium bouncing.
Joe Hart had to be alert to tip away an early Ryan Giggs corner after the break and it was turning into a set-piece parade at both ends with another Silva centre causing havoc in the United box.
DELIGHT ... Vincent Kompany runs away in celebration
DELIGHT ... Vincent Kompany runs away in celebration
The impressive Zabaleta forced another corner, again not dealt with by the Reds’ back four and this time Nasri curled a shot wide.
City still looked comfortable and Ferguson showed his hand early, bringing on Danny Welbeck for Park before the hour.
De Gea was tested again as the hosts worked a free-kick on the left and Toure ran past Rooney before thumping a low cross-shot which the United keeper kicked away.
Mancini then made his first change, deciding to bring on the midfield cover of Nigel De Jong for former United star Tevez who had played his part with an energetic display.
De Jong was immediately involved with a nasty challenge on Welbeck.
And while the Dutchman was booked, tempers flared on the touchline with a fuming Ferguson confronting Mancini.
Yaya Toure continued to run things in the middle of the park and he advanced to the edge of the box unchecked before shooting wide.
City came close again when Gael Clichy fired in a low strike which De Gea managed to parry away.
And Nasri should have put the game to bed when he cut inside, but elected took too long on the ball before getting his strike away.

PREMIER LEAGUE: Manchester City 1-0 Manchester United


PREMIER LEAGUE: Manchester City 1-0 Manchester United

Manchester City 83, Manchester United 83, Arsenal 66, Tottenham 62, Newcastle 62, Chelsea 61

www.thefifaworldcups.com

Primer paso de San Antonio en los playoffs (EL CLARIN Article)



Le ganó a Utah 106-91, con 7 puntos de Ginóbili y puso la serie 1-0. El segundo se juega el miércoles, también en la casa de los Spurs. Mirá una de las buenas volcadas de Ginóbili.
Manu gana bien arriba y se queda con el rebote. (mysanantonio.com)

COMPARTIR

29/04/12 - 16:45
Sin llegar a redondear un partido espectacular, San Antonio cumplió su primer objetivo y le ganó a Utah por 106 a 91 en el primer juego de la serie por un lugar en las semifinales de la conferencia Oeste. En el local hubo una discreta actuación de Ginóbili, quien aportó 7 puntos (3/8 dobles, 0/2 triples y 1/2 libres) en los 25 minutos que estuvo en la cancha. Las grandes figuras de los Spurs fueron Tony Parker (28 puntos y 8 asistencias) y Tim Duncan 19 tantos y 11 rebotes)
Manu llegó al partido a los 5'30" del cuarto inicial, 11-8 abajo. La primera que agarró la mandó adentro con un tiro de tres metros, tras asistencia de Tony Parker, encimado por el otro número 20, Gordon Hayward. En el ataque siguiente hubo devolución de gentilezas: Manu asistió a Tony, quien definió con mano derecha. Con su trío de estrellas en la cancha, San Antonio empezó a tener otro funcionamiento y con una linda volcada de Manu se escapó 21-15 con 2'33" por jugar en el primer cuarto. Buen momento para darles descanso a Duncan y a Parker.
La rotación no resintió la estructura de los Spurs. Con Ginóbili en la base mantuvo el control del juego y otras dos volcadas importadas de Sudamérica, primero la segunda del bahiense en el partido y luego una de Splitter llevaron la ventaja a ocho (32-24). Entonces fue el turno de minutos de descanso para Manu. Rápidamente aprovechó Utah para meter un parcial de 6-0 y quedar a dos puntos (32-30), pero la aparición de Parker sirvió para recuperar algo de tranquilidad.
No fue tan buena la segunda entrada de Ginóbili al partido. Falló una volcada increíble, y otros cuatro lanzamientos que probó en esos últimos cuatro minutos antes del descanso largo, uno de ellos por un tapón de Millsap. Y después ya no fue lo mismo para el argentino. Ante el bajón de Ginóbili fueron Parker y Duncan los que dieron la cara por el equipo, bien acompañados por Stephen Jackson, quien arrimó 14 puntos llegando desde el banco.
El segundo capítulo de esta historia se escribirá el miércoles, otra vez en la casa de los Spurs.

NBA PLAYOFFS (NBA Article)

Cologne confirm Podolski to Arsenal (THE SUN Article)



GUNNER MOVE ... Lukas Podolski will head to Arsenal in the summer
GUNNER MOVE ... Lukas Podolski will head to Arsenal in the summer
Published: Today at 13:29

LUKAS PODOLSKI'S summer move to Arsenal has finally been confirmed.

The striker, 26, who has 95 caps for Germany will switch to the Gunners for around £11million.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger said: "We are delighted to secure the deal for Lukas and see him as an important part of our future.
"He is a top-class player, a very good finisher and a proven performer at club and international level.
"He is a very strong player and will provide us with good attacking options.
"We are happy to have made this signing early and we are looking forward to watching Lukas contribute at the European Championships for Germany.
"He has a phenomenal record and just shows his quality as a player.”
Podolski started his career at Cologne before rejoining them in 2009 after an unhappy three-year spell at Bayern Munich.
He said: “The move to Arsenal provides a great opportunity for me to gain experience in international competitions at a top European club.
“I have made this decision not against Cologne but for this great opportunity and the good of my own individual development.
“This was not an easy decision for me at all, as Cologne, our fans and the city are something special for me.
"I will always carry Cologne in my heart. We need to pool our strengths now and have to be fully focused on our survival in the Bundesliga.”
The Polish-born forward had one year left on his contract with the Bundesliga strugglers.
He has scored 18 league goals for a side battling relegation so far this term — his best ever top-flight return.

Sir Alex fired up for Manchester decider (UEFA Article)



Published: Sunday 29 April 2012, 19.00CET
"Confirmed masochist" Sir Alex Ferguson has decreed Monday night's Manchester derby to be the Premier League title-decider, saying: "It really is all down to this game."
Sir Alex fired up for Manchester decider
Manchester United's Wayne Rooney (left) contests the ball with Edin Džeko during City's 6-1 win©Getty Images
The Manchester derby will take on additional significance on Monday night as England's top two go head to head in a duel that Manchester United FC manager Sir Alex Ferguson believes will decide the destination of the Premier League title.
With three rounds remaining, Manchester United are holding sway in the English top flight, but their three-point lead will disappear on Monday if they lose against arch-rivals, and their only remaining title challengers, Manchester City FC.
A home victory for Roberto Mancini's side would edge City ahead of United on goal difference with the finishing line in sight, lending extra piquancy to an encounter in which local passions run high. Even Sir Alex has recognised Monday night's meeting as the title-decider.
"I am a confirmed masochist," he told reporters on Thursday. "I joined about 26 years ago. I do not know if you thrive on it. I can't even say I can look forward to it but I am up for it, I am prepared for it and I think my players will be prepared for it.
"We have played three times this season in the Charity Shield, the FA Cup and the 6-1 defeat in the league at Old Trafford, but it doesn't matter what has happened before: the build-up to the game, who has dropped points and who hasn’t dropped points ‒ it really is all down to this game."
United's grip on the division has weakened in the last month after they garnered four points from their last three matches, losing against Wigan Athletic FC and conceding two late goals to draw 4-4 with Everton FC last weekend. In the same time-frame, City have rattled off three successive victories and scored 12 goals, with former United striker Carlos Tévez on target four times. But Sir Alex insists his side will rise to the occasion.
"We are in a better position than Manchester City. We can get two results; they can only get one. They have to win. We can draw or we can win, which is what we will be trying to do. There is enough experience there: [Patrice] Evra, [Rio] Ferdinand, even Wayne Rooney now has amassed a lot of football in his short time in the game and there's Michael Carrick."
Mancini has been low key about his side's title prospects, insisting that United are favourites to retain their crown ever since his early-season pacesetters ceded their league primacy. However, with his side having moved back into title contention in recent weeks, the former FC Internazionale Milano coach is even considering recalling Mario Balotelli, despite suggesting his season was over following his dismissal against Arsenal FC on Easter Sunday.
"All the players are available, but I will make my choice on Sunday," said Mancini. "Despite doing some silly things, Balotelli has also made some important contributions, like his two goals at Old Trafford in October [in City's 6-1 win]. He has many qualities. With him, anything is possible. He is young and still makes big errors that can put your team in trouble. But I still think he has great talent."
Sir Alex, who took his squad away on a short break in Wales last week, also has no new injury concerns ahead of the short trip across the city, and may be boosted by the return of striker Michael Owen from a long-standing thigh injury.