The Spanish international Fernando Torres scored his second successive Anfield hat-trick in less than a week time. The twenty three years old giant striker made his first hat trick when the Reds crushed Middlesbrough by 3-0 defeat then the first three in the 4-1 titanic victory over West Ham. In doing so Torres shared the sixty two years old record of making hat-trick in two consecutive home matches. It was in 1946 Jacky Balmer set the record. If Torres succeeds in making another hat-trick at home this weekend on the upcoming match with New Castle, he would set a new record for himself. Just in his very first season Fernando Torres is currently the third top scorer of the premier league by scoring eighteen goals.
Ethiopian Coffee in bad form, Mugher in hiccup, Electric revives
Unexpected 2-1 away defeat against Air Force FC followed by 1-1 home draw with lowly Shashemene Kenema FC, Mugher Cement appeared aside not strong enough to stay on top of the premier league table for long.
Abraham T/Haimnot seems to build such a strong squad that challenged the heavy weights properly. But the recently observed poor form meant once again the likes of Saint George, Awasa Kenema and Trans Ethiopia to dominate the season. On the other hand the two times champion Electric is on the rise after winning two successive matches in five days.
Back from 1-0 victory against Baherdar University, Electric defeated city rival Addis Ababa Police 2-0 on Wednesday. The match more of a training session than real fixture on both sides, Electric could have scored half a dozen goals considering its opposite side’s poor performance. Eyob and team skipper Lemi Etana scored early in both the first and second half.
With Abebaw Butako’s single goal hottest favorite of the millennium cup, St.George grabbed all three points on Wednesday evening. Though the match against old time rival Defense Force was expected to be full of drama, it ended up to be dull. The game ended with a single winning goal St. George scored. It is surprising why Saint George, with all the talents it has, fails to manage an easy win against any side in the league.
Ethiopian Coffee appeared to recover after kicking out Kifle Boltena, (the first coach to get sacked in the Millennium Cup tournament), by two wins during the time of the care taker coach Asrat Adugna. How ever its journey to Debre Zeit in mid week turned sour after 1-0 defeat by lowly Air Force Fc. Coffee’s current squad so far with no regular players may not return in to good form for long. The club supporters need to take time for a real change in the structuring of the club than half hearted solution.
Arsenal makes history crushing Ac Milan at Sansiro
AS Roma kicked out Real Madrid
Featuring one of the best performances since the departure of Thiery Henry, Arsenal became the first English side to beat seven times European champions Ac Milan at Sansiro while As Roma stunned European nine times champions Real Madrid in front of a sell out crowed in Bernabu.
From a thirty meters low drive that bounced in front of the goal keeper, Cesk Fabregas gave in total control Arsenal the lead six minutes before the normal time. How ever strong the defense and man marking, flat footed Ac Milan in front of a record 81000 home crowed failed to stop Wenger's young brats . Caca, Nesta, Pirlo and Gatuso all were there but more of a spectator than contenders. Emmanuel Adebayor sealed the score line in injury time tapping a splendid square pass from Walcott. With 2-0 aggregate victory, Arsenal booked its place in the quarter final phase.
Thanks to Cristiano Ronaldo's amazing body swerve that sent the ball find the back of the net that saw United cruising to the quarter final with 2-1 aggregate score line. Barcelona's 1-0 home victory simply made the aggregate score line stood at 4-1. Xavi Hernandez scored the winning goal with a flick from Ronaldinho's perfect cross. The sad story of the return leg is that of Lionel Messi's 38th minute serious injury that may force him weeks before a return to the field. Messi tore a left thigh muscle and left the field ten minutes before half time.
Featuring a physical play that saw 38 fouls Fenerbache made it to the last eight for the first time ever. How ever man of the match Du Souza snatched the important goal make the score line stand at 3-2. Fenerbache goalie Volkan Demiriel saved three to help his side book the historical quarter final berth.
On Wednesday evening Real Madrid home Santiego Bernabeu was full to the throat to watch the elimination of As Roma that made life terrible to their beloved side at the first leg encounter. How ever, the Romans just like the old time came to Madrid to conquer and they did so hammering the home side 2-1 to go on the next phase after 4-2 aggregate result. Once Pepe sent out for a red card the visitors took the lead through Rodrigo Taddei at the seventy- third minute only to be cancelled out two minutes later for Raul Gonzalez's equalizer. Then Mirco Vucinic came from the bench to seal the score line 2-1 and the elimination of the nine times champions.
Despite 1-0 away defeat the German side Schalke made it in to the last eight after a penalty shoot out. The home side Porto trailing 1-0 from the first leg failed to change the score line early to their advantage.
How come FIFA support an individual than Football
Hate soccer sharing the same bed with politics
Hearing FIFA, s ruling in support of the former EFF president Dr Asheber the first thing that came to my mind was the where about of the organization for the past nine months. I as an individual who love football can come up with dozens of good reasons why Dr Asheber should not stay as president of the nation’s football federation. How could he repeatedly claims that he is an honest man dedicated to the sport, there are lots of indications that he is not after all a man to be trusted.
He might argue it is long a go the sport dying and he is responsible for that. Sure it is, but let him try these: Why the public deserted the once popular Addis Ababa stadium? Why he went against his very promise of a league committee formation? Why he took too long to call the general national assembly and why he chooses Mekele the venue to that half baked general assembly? How to explain the resignation of eight of his eleven men EFF executive committee? What about 13 national team coaches in a one year? Why the EFF rubber stamp ended in your pocket while there is the general secretary? What legal ground he has to form a premier league fixture bringing in clubs out of no where etc.
With quiver full of arrows FIFA could have humbled Dr Asheber easily to go home in peace had it taken time to check what happened surrounding the country’s football. How ever the soccer governing body preferred to reinstate the former president together with the only remaining two of his loyal lieutenants. Does that mean a three men executive to spear head EFF? I heard a letter has been sent to FIFA so that they send a delegation to attend the general national assembly meeting. FIFA said yes we will attend but failed the promise. Rather the organization declared in Zurich no to the general national assembly that brought down the notorious Dr Asheber and two of the remaining committee members. The election of a new board of directors comprised of famous personalities, intellectuals and successful business tycoons to over look the EFF executive body should have made FIFA happier for the set up would help create a stable federation and a better future for Ethiopian football. The reaction from FIFA was simply go to hell with your national assembly or your new set up, I don’t care whether you have soccer for the past nine months or not, so what a fixture taking place in an empty stadium….etc, don’t ever try to cross me, I said just bring back Dr Asheber to the presidency.
I think FIFA’s only information sources are those persons nearest to it. Other wise why not call Dr Asheber to ask why the sport suspended for that long, why in the first place the league season suspended, how come a fourteen sides league season ? Why waiting until Dr Asheber cried foul? Does that mean FIFA doesn’t care as far as you don’t touch the executive committee? For all this and that I not mentioned FIFA should have send a fact finding mission to Ethiopia rather than call a brief meeting among very few people in Zurich, far from the place where the action is taking place. I hope FIFA would be back to its mind soon.
On the other hand there are some thongs that I hate at home. I hate this sovereignty interferences bla.bla.bla, for I hate more when sport and politics fall in the same bed. I don’t think Ato Teka; a lawyer by profession is the knowledgeable person to represent Ethiopia where smartness in soccer politics is the order of the day. “Let alone FIFA’s letter, FIFA’s …would hinder us from preserving Ethiopian interest” what a head line from EFF executive member at ‘Hat Trick sports’ weekly. I strongly oppose this sentence for it is not a term that makes sense in sport. We need people who talk sport and sport only when an issue arises concerning sport. Even I don’t agree with the demonstration to day at Addis Ababa Stadium. It may show the public opinion but more in a political way than diplomacy the ideal way of confronting FIFA.
The other thing I differ from others is that of going to an arbitrary hearing. What is the big deal of going there? I heard there are many occasions the arbitrary hearing made FIFA turn down its decision. I am sure the newly elected body has strong case to appeal thus appearing in the arbitrary hearing is nothing but procedural. There also is nothing to fear about secret ballot.
Awasa Kenema, Harar Brewery eliminated-
Zamalek & Enyimba go through
Ethiopian Premier League defending champion Awasa Kenema FC and Knock out Cup holders Harar Brewery, were both kicked out of the African champions' league and CAF Cup in the first round qualifications.
Back from a first leg three goals deficit against Tanzanian Simba two weeks ago, Awasa Kenema's second leg home match ended true to soccer fan expectations. Although it was a return leg match in front of the home crow, overcoming a three goal deficit against Simba, the six times East African clubs' champion was considered impossible until the start of the game. When Daniel Derebe stunned every one at the stadium with first minute goal followed by another strong effort, the modest home crow believed a second leg surprise come back was on the way. However, things could not go as expected for the home side lost the tempo. Forgetting it was a three goal lead, the home side switched to leisurely strolling in the field despite h the crowd's insistence for a speedy all out attack. Quarter of an hour in to the match, the visitor's scored the most important goal ever in the club's history thanks to a defensive blunder. Taking to his advantage the costly defensive error, Mohamed Bankara scored the equalizer to leave the crowed heart broken and in sheer frustration.
At the final whistle Simba qualified to the next round with an aggregate 4-1 victory to play against Sudan's strong side Al Meric. Awasa failed to progress further from first round for the second time in three seasons.
In the mean time, knock out cup holders Harar Brewery, first time in international fixture thrown away a first leg 2-0 home win to pack out of the first round qualification campaign. An all out attack supported with a strong team work, many including head coach Tsegaye Kidanemariam said the two goal home win was not worthy of the players effort. "We could have scored more goals considering the chances we made", Tsegaye told reporters. True to predictions the home side held to a goal less score line at the break and victory thought to be at hand. Back in to the second half home side Rwandan Ryon Sport FC came with a tactical change of all out attack that left the visitor's short of any reaction. Two goals in twenty minutes the score line read, even followed by the normal extra time, then a penalty shoot out from which Ryon scored all while Samson missed for Harar Brewery. The aggregate score line seven-six Ryon Sport, made it into the next round with Harar Brewery back home.
In other qualification matches former African champion Ghana 's Heart's of Oak were kicked out of the first round after 4-3 aggregate score line against little known FC 105 Libreville of Gabon. The Gabon side turned the 3-1 first leg score line in Ghana after a 3-0 home win that saw them go through after a 4-3 aggregate. Morocco 's popular side and former champion FAR Rabat also failed to go through the next round after a 5-4 aggregate defeat at the hands of minnow from Cape Verde Island 's champion Praia . Praia over came the three goal first leg deficit to make it 3-3 then a penalty shoot out. Two former champions Zamalek and Enyimba of Nigeria won their way to the second round crushing APR FC of Rwanda and Diables Noirs of Brazzaville.
Inter lost to Napoli, Barcelona Vs Villarreal to day
Roberto Mancini’s dream of defending the Italian Serie ‘A’ title with no defeat in the season failed after the unexpected defeat at the hands of 11th place Napoli . Six points away from second place Roma and hot favorite to win the title for successive three years Inter Milan lost 1-0 to Napoli just twelve weeks from the seasons closing. “Though the season is a race between two horses, we showed others that Inter is mortal” said Napoli manager after the sweet victory. Crushing Parma to 4-0 score line and a moral boosting champion’s league victory over Real Madrid, Roma the only title contender is six points away from Inter having 55 points. After a sad home defeat against Fiorentina, third place Juventus is now thirteen points away from the league leaders. Fiorentina is fourth with 47 points. Genoa’s Borielle is leading the top scorer spot with 16 goals followed by David Trezigert 15 and Inter’s Zlatan Ebrahimovich, Fiorentina’s Adrian Mutu each with 14 and Roma’s Toti with 12 goals. As Roma’s journey to giant killers Napoli is the biggest match to day at serie’A’, while Juventus visit Genoa. Out from European championship and 18 points far from league leaders and city rival Inter, in misery Ac Milan travels to Empoli.
Spain league leaders both have their own grievances over the week end. On top of the La Liga Real Madrid scratched out of the champions’ league quarter final spot after a humiliating 2-1 home defeat while Barcelona trounced 4-2 by Atletico Madrid on Sunday. Barcelona recovered in time to champions’ league victory over Celtic but sacrificed currently the most important player of the side Lionel Messi. Expected to stay away from field at least for three weeks, Barcelona’s dream of taking back the title from arch enemy Real Madrid seem a far cry.
Barcelona’s latest home clash to day is against third place Villarreal. Already five points far from league leaders Real Madrid with 54 points defeat at the hands of Villarreal meant a set back to manager Frank Rijkaard already under pressure from club supporters. Third place Villarreal is twelve places away from top spot yet the one and only side to rattle the heavy weight’s nest.
Seville’s Louis Fabiano is leading the top scorers table with 19 goals while Militco of Zaragoza second with 14 goals. Last year La Liga top scorer Val Nestlrooy share third place with team mate Raul Gonzalez, and Majorca’s Goiza and Valadolid’s Lorente each collecting 12 goals.
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