Download - Kuwait Times

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2012
SAO PAULO: Uruguayan striker Sebastian “El
Loco” Abreu missed a penalty in the shootout
and former Liverpool goalkeeper Diego
Cavalieri made two saves as Fluminense
defeated Botafogo 4-3 on penalties to reach
the final of the Guanabara Cup. Fluminense
will play for the title of the first stage of the Rio
de Janeiro state championship against Vasco
da Gama, which on Wednesday came from
behind to defeat Flamengo 2-1. In the Sao
Paulo state championship, Palmeiras drew
Oeste 1-1 at home and relinquished the lead
to Corinthians, which beat Portuguesa 2-0 on
Wednesday.
The match in Rio went to a shootout after
the teams drew 1-1 at the Engenhao stadium.
Abreu missed the final penalty as Cavalieri
dived to his right to stop the Uruguayan’s low
shot. A reserve at Liverpool before returning
to Brazil last year to play for Fluminense,
Cavalieri had already saved Lucas’ shot from
the spot. “We kept our calm and that allowed
us to equalize at the end to send the match
into the shootout,” Cavalieri said. “I was happy
to make the saves that allowed us to reach the
final.” Jean missed Fluminense’s only penalty.
His shot was saved by Botafogo goalkeeper
Jefferson.
Midfielder Elkeson had put Botafogo ahead
in the 30th minute after a cross by Argentine
striker German Herrera, and defender Leandro
Euzebio equalized for Fluminense in the 80th
from inside the area after a badly executed offside
trap. The Guanabara Cup winner will play
for the Rio state title against the Rio Cup
champion later in the tournament. On
Wednesday, Vasco da Gama beat Ronaldinho’s
Flamengo at the Engenhao, ending an eight
match winless streak against the rival that dated
back to nearly three years. It was Vasco’s
eighth straight win to start the year. The team
won the Brazilian Cup and was runner-up to
Corinthians in the Brazilian league last season.
Vagner Love put Flamengo ahead just
three minutes into the match, dribbling past a
defender and firing a powerful shot from outside
the area. Vasco equalized through striker
Alecsandro in the 15th after Flamengo goalkeeper
Felipe failed to hold on to a free kick
taken by former Brazil midfielder Juninho.
Playmaker Diego Souza scored Vasco’s winner
with a header in the 78th. Flamengo striker
Deivid incredibly missed a simple opportunity
in the 36th, when the match was level. He
received a low cross inside the six-yard box,
with nobody near him and only the net in
front. The cross came slowly to his feet but he
sports
Fluminense reach Guanabara Cup final
Dalglish relishing
Wembley return
LONDON: Kenny Dalglish believes winning the League Cup may be a
staging post to bigger things as Liverpool return to Wembley for the
first time in 16 years to face Cardiff tomorrow. After little more than a
year since his emotional Anfield homecoming, Dalglish has overseen
a steady improvement in the club’s fortunes with a first piece of silverware
beckoning this weekend. It is six years since Liverpool last
won a major trophy-the 2006 FA Cup against West Ham at Cardiffand
the Merseysiders have not played in a final at Wembley since
1996.
Dalglish believes tomorrow’s clash with Championship side
Cardiff is reward for the unwavering support of the club’s fans during
a period which has seen Manchester United overhaul them as the
most successful team in English football. “It means a lot to myself but
more importantly it means a lot to a lot of people who have had to
endure a few years when we’ve not been there (to Wembley),”
Dalglish said. “For everyone who is connected with the club it is just
reward for the loyalty and support they have shown.”
Dalglish is satisfied with the steady progress Liverpool have made
since he assumed control last year following the arrival of new
American owners the Fenway Sports Group after a protracted
takeover battle. “We have moved on from where we were last year,
progressing in the FA Cup and the final of this cup and are four points
behind fourth in place - this time last year we were nowhere near
that,” he said. “There is progress being made. For the players it is an
indication of how well they have done so everyone is looking forward
to it. “We have a chance so we will do as well as we possibly can and
we will try to progress the club and move forward.”
Dalglish believes Liverpool’s place in the final is reflects the club’s
commitment to a competition which has lost its lustre over the past
two decades. “I don’t think it (the competition) has regained the credibility
from years gone by,” said Dalglish. “I think we have treated it
with respect but the teams that have treated it with respect are few
and far between. We have treated it very seriously.” Liverpool captain
Steven Gerrard meanwhile will be fulfilling a boyhood dream when
he finally leads his club out at a Wembley final. Although Gerrard has
produced memorable performances to win FA Cup and European
Cup finals, he has never skippered Liverpool at Wembley.
“Every time I played for Liverpool at Cardiff and led the team out
there, there was a bit of me thinking ‘if only this was Wembley’,”
Gerrard said. “Don’t get me wrong, we had some great days in Cardiff
and I’ve got some fantastic memories of playing at the Millennium
Stadium, but I’d have preferred to have won those trophies at
Wembley. “To finally get the chance to achieve that with Liverpool
will be amazing. I’ve experienced both the old and the new
Wembley and I can tell you it’s a very special place.” Meanwhile
tomorrow’s final gives Cardiff, desperate to win promotion to the
Premier League this season, the opportunity of seeing how they
measure up against top-flight opposition.
Manager Malky Mackay believes the Wembley appearance
reflects the transformation he has set about since taking over last
summer from Dave Jones. “It’s been hard work for a lot of people,
getting key people into good positions and being allowed to do
that,” Mackay said. “Everyone’s parked their ego at the door and
when you get that from a group of players, with a character and a
determination, things go in the right direction. “We’re going to the
final to go and be competitive and make sure we do the best we can
do for Cardiff City. “It’s terrific for everyone at the football club and
everyone should embrace it - be it a fan, a director, a staff member or
footballer.”—AFP
MEXICO CITY: Guadalajara hasn’t won in 13
matches, and the spiral of poor results has
prompted one of Mexico’s most famous football
brands to call for outside assistance in the
shape of former Dutch great Johan Cruyff.
Chivas was humiliated 3-0 by Velez Sarsfield of
Argentina on Wednesday in the Copa
Libertadores, meaning the club has failed to
win a match in four months and forcing new
coach Ignacio Ambriz to simply say that “faith is
needed.” Chivas said Thursday it would be taking
several key steps to stop the rot.
Foremost, it announced that former
Barcelona coach Cruyff was joining the club as
an advisor. He will be formally introduced
today. “Welcome Johan Cruyff to the Chivas
family,” the club said on its website. Cruyff, 64,
is regarded as one of the game’s greatest player.
He retired in 1984 and went on to coach
Ajax and Barcelona. He led Barcelona in 1992 to
its first Champions League title. Sporting director
Rafe ael Ortega says new players may have
to be signed in the offseason, a change of
course for a club that has tried for several seasons
to win with young, unproven talent. “The
team is down from what is expected, but I still
have faith,” said Ambriz, who replaced
Fernando Quirarte as coach several weeks ago.
“Although they are young players, they know
what it means to wear the Chivas shirt and I
have faith we are going to move forward.” It
will not be easy for the most successful club in
Mexico football history. In the Clausura tournament
- the second half of Mexico’s split season -
Chivas has only two points from seven matches.
Ten league games remain and they are all
likely to be difficult. Chivas must play Santos
and defending champions UANL Tigres, which
mis-hit the ball from less than 3 yards away
and it ended striking the post.
In the Sao Paulo tournament, Luiz Felipe
Scolari’s Palmeiras played poorly in front of its
fans and was held 1-1 by minnow Oeste. The
result kept the team unbeaten after nine
matches, but it dropped to third in the 20team
standings, one point behind Guarani and
two behind Corinthians. On Wednesday,
Corinthians defeated Portuguesa 2-0 with a
goal by Peruvian midfielder Luis Ramirez. Sao
Paulo drew Bragantino 3-3 in Braganca
Paulista, while defending champion Santos
beat Comercial 2-0 with a great performance
by Brazil striker Neymar. The Brazilian football
season begins with regional championships in
the 26 states in the first few months, with the
nationwide league running from May until
December. —AP
BUENOS AIRES: Omar Arellano of Mexico’s Chivas (right) fights for the ball with Sebastian Dominguez
of Argentina’s Velez Sarsfield during a Copa Libertadores soccer match in Buenos Aires. —AP
Chivas’ winless
run reaches 13
share the league lead this season. There is also
a showdown with archrival America and a derby
match against city rival Atlas. “Our finishing
has not been good,” Ambriz said. “We have created
some chances, but we have not followed
through in attack. We can’t do anything but
keep working.” Club owner Jorge Vergara and
his wife Angelica Fuentes, who serves as executive
president, have been criticized for failing to
spend money on talented players. Vergara
owns the Omnilife company, which sells health
supplements throughout the Americas and in
Spain. A large void was left when Javier
(Chichartio) Hernandez moved to Manchester
United almost two years ago. Ortega, the sporting
director, says that problem will be
addressed. “There will have to be a few
changes made,” Ortega said. “One could say it’s
a necessity.” —AP