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The 2015 FA Cup final: Arsenal v Aston Villa – in pictures

Our photographer was at Wembley as Arsenal demolished Aston Villa 4-0 to win the FA Cup for a record 12th time

Fans make their way to the stadium from the tube station

Fans make their way to the stadium from the tube station

Though this Villa fan arrived via a more luxurious mode of transport. Wonder if it’s Prince William’s car?

Though this Villa fan arrived via a more luxurious mode of transport. Wonder if it’s Prince William’s car?

Villa fans with masks.

Villa fans with masks.

 Inside the ground the Villa fans are enjoying themselves before kick-off.


Inside the ground the Villa fans are enjoying themselves before kick-off.

The two teams line up.

The two teams line up.

 The band before they play the National Anthem, which was sung by Alfie Boe.


The band before they play the National Anthem, which was sung by Alfie Boe.

anti Cazorla is dispossessed by Ashley Westwood as Arsenal have the better of the early stages.

anti Cazorla is dispossessed by Ashley Westwood as Arsenal have the better of the early stages.

 Aston Villa keeper Shay Given flaps at an Arsenal cross.


Aston Villa keeper Shay Given flaps at an Arsenal cross.

Westwood controls the ball as Alexis Sánchez and Tom Cleverley look on.

Westwood controls the ball as Alexis Sánchez and Tom Cleverley look on.

Kieran Richardson attempts to block Héctor Bellerín’s cross.

Kieran Richardson attempts to block Héctor Bellerín’s cross.

Sánchez uses a bit of fancy control to wrong foot Cleverley.

Sánchez uses a bit of fancy control to wrong foot Cleverley.

 Five minutes before half-time Arsenal get the lead that their pressure deserved. Sánchez rises above Villa’s unconvincing centre-halves, heading back across for Theo Walcott, who enters the area from the left and thwacks a blistering volley into the net.


Five minutes before half-time Arsenal get the lead that their pressure deserved. Sánchez rises above Villa’s unconvincing centre-halves, heading back across for Theo Walcott, who enters the area from the left and thwacks a blistering volley into the net.

Five minutes after half-time Arsenal double their lead when Sánchez, 30 yards out down the inside-left channel, drops a shoulder to move inside, then unleashes a swerving, rising shot that deceives Given and whips into the roof of the net.

Five minutes after half-time Arsenal double their lead when Sánchez, 30 yards out down the inside-left channel, drops a shoulder to move inside, then unleashes a swerving, rising shot that deceives Given and whips into the roof of the net.

Sánchez wheels away ...

Sánchez wheels away …

Then a huge leap and a grin shows he’s rather pleased with that finish, and so he should be, it was rather fabulous.

Then a huge leap and a grin shows he’s rather pleased with that finish, and so he should be, it was rather fabulous.

 Being two goals to the good and with such a dominant performance the Arsenal fans are sure that the FA Cup will be staying at the Emirates.


Being two goals to the good and with such a dominant performance the Arsenal fans are sure that the FA Cup will be staying at the Emirates.

Make that three goals to the good, as just after the hour mark, a corner comes in, Per Mertesacker rises, and carefully plants a header into the net.

Make that three goals to the good, as just after the hour mark, a corner comes in, Per Mertesacker rises, and carefully plants a header into the net.

Mertesacker acknowledges the celebrating Gooners.

Mertesacker acknowledges the celebrating Gooners.

 That third goal was the signal for this Arsenal fan to adorn his carefully painted FA Cup trophy with the Arsenal ribbons.


That third goal was the signal for this Arsenal fan to adorn his carefully painted FA Cup trophy with the Arsenal ribbons.

Christian Benteke had a quiet game and wasn’t able to help Villa get back into the match.

Christian Benteke had a quiet game and wasn’t able to help Villa get back into the match.

 Jack Wilshere, Gabriel Agbonlahor and Francis Coquelin tussle for the ball


Jack Wilshere, Gabriel Agbonlahor and Francis Coquelin tussle for the ball

 The Villa fans wait for the final whistle to put them out of their misery. However their humiliation is complete during injury time when Olivier Giroud turns in Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s shot to make it Arsenal 4-0 Aston Villa.


The Villa fans wait for the final whistle to put them out of their misery. However their humiliation is complete during injury time when Olivier Giroud turns in Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s shot to make it Arsenal 4-0 Aston Villa.

 The final whistle goes and Arsenal have won the FA Cup for a record 12th time.


The final whistle goes and Arsenal have won the FA Cup for a record 12th time.

Jack Grealish’s posture says it all.

Jack Grealish’s posture says it all.

As does that of Villa’s manager Tim Sherwood.

As does that of Villa’s manager Tim Sherwood.

 As the Arsenal players celebrate just after the final whistle, Cazorla proves that he’s a better footballer than photographer when he grabs Tom Jenkins’ remote camera to take some selfies of himself and his team-mates.


As the Arsenal players celebrate just after the final whistle, Cazorla proves that he’s a better footballer than photographer when he grabs Tom Jenkins’ remote camera to take some selfies of himself and his team-mates.

Though his picture of the celebrating Arsenal fans is at least in focus.

Though his picture of the celebrating Arsenal fans is at least in focus.

Aaron Ramsey, left, shows Cazorla how it’s done when he has a go at a selfie.

Aaron Ramsey, left, shows Cazorla how it’s done when he has a go at a selfie.

Arsène Wenger is all smiles as the winners wait to go up the steps to the Royal Box

Arsène Wenger is all smiles as the winners wait to go up the steps to the Royal Box

Finally the time arrives and the Arsenal fans try to get near their heroes as they climb the stairs to the Royal Box to collect the trophy.

Finally the time arrives and the Arsenal fans try to get near their heroes as they climb the stairs to the Royal Box to collect the trophy.

 Aston Villa fan Prince William congratulates Mertesacker. The German is performing the captain’s duties while Mikel Arteta is out injured.


Aston Villa fan Prince William congratulates Mertesacker. The German is performing the captain’s duties while Mikel Arteta is out injured.

 Mertesacker and Arteta, who is doing a ‘John Terry’ by donning his kit during the trophy ceremony, hoist the FA Cup high amid the celebrating Arsenal players.


Mertesacker and Arteta, who is doing a ‘John Terry’ by donning his kit during the trophy ceremony, hoist the FA Cup high amid the celebrating Arsenal players.

 Now it’s Wenger’s turn to get his hands on the trophy.


Now it’s Wenger’s turn to get his hands on the trophy.

Once the players are back on the pitch the celebrations can begin in earnest.

Once the players are back on the pitch the celebrations can begin in earnest.

Source theduardian

Arsenal 4-0 Aston Villa: Walcott & Alexis shine to hand Gunners record 12th FA Cup

Both wingers scored before Per Mertesacker and Olivier Giroud sealed victory as Tim Sherwood’s first cup final as a manager ended in a chastening defeat
Arsenal retained the FA Cup as they proved to be far too strong for Aston Villa at Wembley.

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Theo Walcott opened the scoring with a powerful finish before Alexis Sanchez doubled the lead with a stunning strike from distance early in the second period.

Per Mertesacker made the game safe with a header soon after before substitute Olivier Giroud added a late fourth as the Gunners became the most successful side in the competition’s history with 12 wins.

Perhaps wary of repeating last season’s disastrous start against Hull City, which saw them go two goals behind, Arsene Wenger’s side began on the front foot in a frenetic opening 10 minutes and gradually cranked up the pressure on Shay Given’s goal with a series of corners and set-pieces.

The former Newcastle United goalkeeper – starting a second Cup final 17 years after his first, which also ended in defeat to Wenger’s side – was required to claw out Laurent Koscielny’s lofted header before Aaron Ramsey got across the returning Jores Okore to ripple the side-netting.

Ramsey scooped another effort over soon after, while Villa looked in vain to Christian Benteke as an outlet in a bid to relieve the pressure.

However, Given’s goal continued to lead a charmed life as Kieran Richardson blocked Walcott’s goalbound effort, only for the striker to open the scoring five minutes before the break.

Sanchez’s header dropped kindly in the box and Walcott made no mistake – ending Villa’s resistance with a powerful finish at the near post.

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Arsenal began the second half as they ended the first – dominating possession and linking neatly up front – with Sanchez doubling the advantage in spectacular fashion.

A dipping effort from 30 yards had a perplexed Given beaten all ends up as the Chilean effectively wrapped up the victory with his 25th goal of an impressive debut season with the club.

Despite the introduction of Gabriel Agbonlahor for Charles N’Zogbia, Villa never looked like repeating Arsenal’s heroics of last year.

Instead, Mertesacker shook off Benteke’s attentions to flick Santi Cazorla’s corner beyond Given shortly after the hour before Giroud compounded a disappointing day for Villa with a clipped finish at the near post from fellow substitute Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s cross.

There could be no doubt Wenger’s men merited writing themselves into English football history as former Tottenham boss Tim Sherwood was denied a piece of silverware to end what has nonetheless been an impressive introduction to life at Villa Park.

Source Goal

End of 16th Futsal tournament for underprivileged children – Hoa Sen Tole Cup 2015: Gia Lai wins the title

Having excellently defeated Ha Noi 5-1 in the final game, Gia Lai has won the champion title of 16th Futsal tournament for underprivileged children – Hoa Sen Tole cup 2015.

Gia Lai đoạt Cúp vô địch

Gia Lai to win the championship

After 5 days of exciting competitions, the closing ceremony of this tournament has been taken place at Military zone 7 gymnasium ( Phu Nhuan district). This year, the tournament is very exciting and thrilling with highly faithful and fair played game. Audiences have had chances to watch teams in nation-while with dramatic performances.

Đại tá Trần Trọng Dũng - Tổng Biên Tập Báo CATP - Đồng trưởng BTC Giải cảm ơn các đơn vị đồng hành cùng giải và  tuyên bố bế mạc.

Colonel Tran Trong Dung – general editor of CATP news – the co-chief of management board

Ông Trần Ngọc Chu - Tổng Giám đốc Tập đoàn Hoa Sen phát biểu tại buổi lễ bế mạc

Mr Tran Ngoc Chu – General director of Hoa Sen group

Các đại biểu dự khan1 trận chung kết và lễ bế mạc giải

Delegates watch the final game and closing ceremony

Colonel Tran Trong Dung said that the special aspect of this tournament are faith and human culture. That’s the reason why management board has maintained this tournament for 16 years. This is also the special feeling of the whole society for underprivileged children.

Giai Lai đoạt Cúp vô địch

Hà Nội hạng nhì

Ha Noi team win the second runners-up

TPHCM hạng ba

Ho Chi Minh City get the third prize

Cà Mau hạng tư

Ca Mau won the fourth position

Ha Noi and Gia Lai have faced each other in final game. Both have had impressive performances in previous games. Therefore their confrontation attracted more than 1000 audiences in gymnasium. Ha Noi quickly opened for game, however they let Gia Lai players have chance to equalize. Gia Lai players know to tear apart their opponents’ defending positions. Then they won 5-1 over Ha Noi to win the first title.

In the other game, Ho Chi Minh City won 5-1 over Ca Mau to win the third title. Gia Lai is presented 30 million VND. Ha Noi received 25 million VND. Ho Chi Minh City and Ca Mau in turn received 20 million and 15 million VND.

TPHCM đoạt giải phong cách

Ho Chi Minh City won the best playing style prize

Lih (Gia Lai) đoat giải cầu thủ ghi nhiều bàn thắng

Lih ( Gia Lai) the best scorer

Dương Công Thành (TPHCM) thủ môn xuất sắc

Duong Cong Thanh ( HCMC) the best goalkeeper

Nguyễn Văn Quyết (Hà Nội) cầu thủ xuất sắc

Nguyen Van Quyet ( Ha Noi) the best player

Management board has chosen the best team to play in Thailand with 10 players: Blu ( Gia Lai), Nguyen Tuan Dat ( Ha Noi), Nguyen Hong Thai ( Ha Noi), Nguyen The Anh ( HCMC), Nguyen Van Anh Tuan ( HCMC), Dinh Nhut Hieu Nghia ( Ca Mau), Nguyen Xuan Khanh ( Hai Phong), Pham Van Ngoc Long ( Ben Tre), Le Minh Tam ( Khanh Hoa) and Truong Quoc Trung .

Trận chung kết diễn ra kịch tính và hấp dẫn

 

Le Tuan – Ngoc Uyen

Vietnam open SEA Games campaign with resounding win

Vietnam began their quest for the elusive gold medal in the men’s football competition at the Southeast Asian Games with an emphatic 6-0 victory over Brunei.

Công Phượng bị truy cản trong một pha tấn công

Le Thanh Binh, Mac Hong Quan, Tran Phi Son, Pham Manh Hung each scored one and Nguyen Cong Phuong got a brace when the four-time finalist routed their opponent.

It was one-sided game in the Group B opening match at Bishan Stadium on May 29.

During the first minutes, despite numerous clear-cut chances, Vietnamese side failed to put the ball into the net.

The breakthrough only came after 24 minutes when striker Le Thanh Binh capitalized on a cross from the right wing to shove the ball past Bruneian goalkeeper from a close range.

The score was kept unchanged until the break in spite of Vietnam’s complete domination both in possession and goal-scoring chances.

With the heat waning entering the second half, Vietnamese players even pushed the Bruneian team to their own half and it was just a matter of time for Vietnam to add more goal to the score sheet.

Just two minutes after the break, Tran Phi Son rose high to head home Vietnam’s second goal and the score could have been 3-0 if Nguyen Cong Phuong had been successful with his penalty in the 63th minute.

After many opportunities missed, on the 75th minute, Mac Hong Quan extended the score to 3-0 with a shot right on the edge of the box.

With Bruneian players seeming to be physically drained, Vietnam easily scored three more goals through Pham Dung Huy, Phuong and Pham Manh Hung to complete the rout.

FIFA suspends Indonesia over long-running row

FIFA on Saturday suspended Indonesia after the government in Jakarta sought to oust the country’s football association, the latest crisis to hit the sport in Indonesia.

a.espncdn.com

The decision means Indonesian sides will no longer be able to take part in world football, and comes less than two weeks before the country was due to begin qualifying matches for the 2018 World Cup.

The national Under-23 team will, however, still be able to participate in the football tournament at the Southeast Asian Games, which is just getting under way.

FIFA’s decision “resulted from the effective ‘take over’ of the activities of PSSI (the Indonesian football association) by the Indonesian authorities,” a spokesman for the world governing body said.

“All Indonesian national teams (national or club) are prohibited from having international sporting contact which includes participating in FIFA and AFC competitions.”

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) is one of six regional federations that make up FIFA, and the ban means Indonesia will no longer be able to participate in the AFC Cup, the region’s premier football tournament.

PSSI also loses its FIFA membership rights and its members and officials will not benefit from any FIFA and AFC development programmes or training, the spokesman said.

The decision was made at a meeting of the FIFA’s Executive Committee in Zurich on Saturday.

The row erupted in April when the PSSI halted the country’s top-flight league due to a disagreement with the sports ministry over the participation of two clubs.

The ministry then froze all activities of the PSSI, and said it was setting up a transitional body to replace the association.

FIFA, which takes a dim view of governments interfering in domestic associations, backed the PSSI and gave Jakarta until May 29 to allow the association to resume activities, or face a ban from world football.

A series of last-ditch efforts this week to resolve the row, including an attempt by Indonesia’s vice president Jusuf Kalla to persuade the sports ministry to back down, came to nothing.

Sports Minister Imam Nahrawi has refused to change course and in recent days expressed hope that the crisis engulfing FIFA would delay the sanction.

Top FIFA officials were arrested this week after being accused by US authorities of taking huge bribes, while Swiss police are investigating the awarding of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

President Joko Widodo has supported Nahrawi, saying urgent reform is needed in Indonesian football.

“It doesn’t matter if we are absent from international competitions for a while as long as we can win big in the future,” he was cited as saying in the Jakarta Post newspaper on Saturday, before the suspension was announced.

“I’m confident when the reforms are made, we will be moving forward.”

The suspension is just the latest crisis for Indonesian football, which was only just recovering from a feud between the PSSI and a breakaway association, which led to the creation of two separate leagues.

FIFA also threatened to ban Indonesia over that row but the two sides eventually came back together, avoiding a sanction.

Source AseanFootball

U.S. official ‘fairly confident’ of more FIFA indictments: NYT

A senior U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) official said on Friday he is “fairly confident” there will be another round of indictments in the criminal investigation into alleged corruption within soccer’s governing body, FIFA, the New York Times reported.

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Several senior FIFA figures have been indicted in bribery and kickback schemes, although no charges were brought against FIFA President Sepp Blatter, who was re-elected on Friday.

“I’m fairly confident that we will have another round of indictments,” Richard Weber, the chief of the IRS unit in charge of criminal investigations, was quoted as saying by the Times.

The newspaper reported that Weber would not identify the remaining targets of the U.S. investigation or say whether Blatter was among them.

“We strongly believe there are other people and entities involved in criminal acts,” Weber was quoted as saying by the Times.

U.S. authorities said on Wednesday that nine officials and five sports media and promotions executives were charged in cases involving more than $150 million in bribes over a period of 24 years. They said their investigation exposed complex money laundering schemes, millions of dollars in untaxed incomes and tens of millions in offshore accounts held by FIFA officials.

The IRS did not immediately respond to a request for comment

Rio Ferdinand announces his retirement from football

Former England and Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has announced his retirement from professional football.

rio-ferdinand-queens-park-rangers-substitute_3307184

The 36-year-old has decided to bring an end to his career following a season in which he struggled to hold down a regular place in a QPR side that was relegated from the Premier League.

Ferdinand was absent for the closing stages of the Premier League campaign and his wife, Rebecca Ellison, died after a battle with cancer on May 1.

Ferdinand hailed the “genius” of Sir Alex Ferguson, under whom he won six Premier League titles at Manchester United, as the key factor in his career.

In a statement, he said: “After 18 years as a professional footballer, I now feel it’s the right time for me to retire from the game that I love.

“As a 12-year-old boy, kicking around a football on the Friary Estate in Peckham, I never dreamt that I would play for my boyhood club West Ham, captain Leeds United, win the Champions League with Manchester United, or re-join my
first manager Harry Redknapp at Queens Park Rangers.

“I will always regard the 81 times that I played for England, with immense pride. These are all treasured memories that will last a lifetime.

“Starting a career, every young man needs mentors. I found mine in Dave Goodwin, the district manager at Blackheath, and Tony Carr, the youth team manager at West Ham. They installed in me personality traits that lasted throughout my career. I will always be grateful to them.

“I’d like to thank Chris Ramsey, Harry Redknapp, David O’Leary and David Moyes who managed me at various times in my career, all the backroom staff who looked after me over the years, and the players that I played with. I would also like to thank the team who managed me off the pitch, Jamie Moralee and everybody at New Era.

“Winning trophies over my 13 years at Manchester United allowed me to achieve everything that I desired in football. From a young child to today, that was all I cared about.

“None of that would have been possible, without the genius of one man, Sir Alex Ferguson. His greatest accomplishment in my eyes will always be how he developed us as men, not just as footballers. He will in my opinion, always be the greatest manager in British football history.

“I’d also like to thank and pay tribute to my wife Rebecca and my family, including my mother and father, for their sacrifices, their encouragement and their advice throughout my career.

“And finally, I’d like to thank all the fans from all the clubs – for without them professional football would not exist. I will miss each and every one of you on my Saturday afternoons.”

manchester-united-rio-ferdinand-champions-league-final-moscow_3310123The former England captain added: “This season I really found out that it was time to hang the boots up and get back in the house and watch other people play the game.”

QPR wished Ferdinand all the best on Twitter saying: “All the best to @rioferdy5 following his retirement from football.”

Gary Neville, who played with Ferdinand for England and the Red Devils many hundreds of times, said: “Congratulations to @rioferdy5 on his great career. Best I played with and best pairings I’ve seen with Vida/JT. Covered me very well too!”

West Ham tweeted: “West Ham United’s thoughts remain with Academy graduate and @englandgreat @rioferdy5 on his retirement #WHUFC”

Ferdinand, who started his career at West Ham in 1995, became the most expensive English player when he joined United from Leeds for £29.1m in 2002 and won 81 caps for his country.

Source Skysports

 

Indonesia can play in SEA Games

Indonesia will still be able to compete in the football competition of the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Singapore despite the nation being suspended by FIFA on Saturday

U-23 Indonesia (phải) tham dự SEA Games 28 vào phút chót

The world governing body sanctioned the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) on the grounds of government interference in the country’s football affairs.

The ban, which comes into effect immediately, means Indonesia will not be eligible to compete in the next round of qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup and 2019 AFC Asian Cup, starting in less than two weeks.

However, FIFA allowed Indonesia’s U23 team to play in the SEA Games because the football tournament has already started.

FIFA took action against Indonesia following a row between the country’s government and the football association which has resulted in the cancellation of the 2015 Indonesian Super League (ISL) season.

“The Executive decided to suspend the Indonesia Football Association (PSSI) with immediate effect and until the PSSI would be able to comply with its obligations under arts. 13 and 17 of the FIFA Statutes,” the FIFA statement said.

“This decision resulted from the effective ‘take over’ of the activities of PSSI by the Indonesian authorities.

“However, and as an exceptional measure, the national team would be allowed to continue their current participation in the 2015 Southeast Asian Games.”

Indonesia’s first match in the SEA Games is against Myanmar on Tuesday at the Jalan Besar Stadium. They play host nation Singapore in their final Group A game on June 11 at the same venue.

The Indonesians were in Group F of the 2018 World Cup qualifiers along with Southeast Asian neighbours Thailand and Vietnam. 2007 Asian Cup winners Iraq and Chinese Taipei are the other teams in the group. Indonesia’s first game was scheduled for June 11 against Chinese Taipei, with former Holland international Pieter Huistra recently appointed Merah Putih’s interim head coach.