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Reina thwarts Balotelli in Napoli victory

Mario Balotelli lost a personal battle with Pepe Reina as Napoli beat AC Milan 2-1, their first win at San Siro in 27 years to go joint top of the Serie A.

AC Milan v SSC Napoli - Serie A

Diego Maradona was in the visiting team when Napoli last won this fixture in 1986 and South American pair Miguel Britos and Gonzalo Higuain scored the goals to stun Milan 2-1 on home turf on Sunday night.
An end-to-end game, which saw Napoli stay 100 per cent perfect with four wins from four games and join Roma in a share of first place, was most notable for the duel between the mercurial Balotelli and visiting keeper Reina.
The on-loan Liverpool man flicked Balotelli’s second-half penalty wide to put paid to the striker’s flawless record from the spot but, after being thwarted from open play time and time again, the irate Italian did sneak home a late consolation before seeing red after the final whistle.
The fact Napoli scored at San Siro after just six minutes would have been remarkable had the real story not been their failure to score twice beforehand.
There were 45 seconds on the clock when Marek Hamsik failed to feed Higuain for an easy tap-in and moments later Valon Behrami clipped over an open goal when put through by Federico Insigne.
Milan were at sixes and sevens and, with their defence standing like statues, Raul Albiol clipped a cross into Britos for a simple headed finish.
The restart allowed Milan the chance to regroup and Balotelli tested Reina with an angled drive off his left boot before whipping the ball past a post from a free-kick.
The hosts found some more bite in the middle of the park and Valter Birsa began to cut inside from the left wing to help Balotelli and Alessandro Matri.
Another premium opportunity fell to Balotelli on the half-hour mark, but his right-footed volley flew high into the stands.
There was concern for Milan boss Massimiliano Allegri before the break as Balotelli sat down hurt in the middle of the pitch.
He was able to play on but he might, however, have preferred to stay in the changing rooms and avoid the intense frustration that followed the interval.
The second half was eight minutes old when Higuain exploded forward to shoot straight at Christian Abbiati’s outstretched glove.
The light touch was not enough to keep the ball out of his goal, though, and the travelling fans roared again.
They jeered when Matri made a mess of finishing off Balotelli’s clever backhee,l but hush descended in the 62nd minute when Milan were awarded a penalty for Albiol’s pull on Balotelli.
The Italy striker had never before missed from the spot in 22 career attempts but saw his precious run end as Reina dived the right way to deny him.
Balotelli did not let his head drop and continued to carve out chances, forcing a solid parry from Reina before dancing on to Matri’s through-ball to clatter the bar.
The battle of wills between Reina and Balotelli continued into the dying stages and the Spaniard pushed a venomous shot behind for a corner before the striker appealed – unsuccessfully – for another penalty following a tussle with Giandomenico Mesto.
He could perhaps feel vindicated when his right-footed finish beat Reina in stoppage time but his evening would end with a needless red card for dissent as Napoli celebrated a famous victory.

According to Foxsports

End of Ho Chi Minh City League 2013: Thai Son Nam Dist.8 claims the champions title.

After more than 2 months, Ho Chi Minh City League 2013 has officially ended when the championships belonged to Thai Son Nam dist.8 club after defeating An Bien Toto 2-1.

Thái Sơn Nam vô địch

Thai Son Nam win championships

An Bien Toto surprisingly sped up in the last three rounds of this tournament by 3 consecutive wins. This result helped An Bien Toto passing Thai Son Nam and winning the No.1 position in the table. Therefore, in the finals game, Thai Son Nam dist.8 had to win 3 points against An Bien Toto to win the champion title.

Thái Sơn Nam Quận 8 Vô địch

Thai Son Nam dist.8 are cheerful their championships

Playing at home made Boss Tran Anh Tu’s team play confidently. Thai Son Nam totally overwhelmed An Bien in the first half. In 13th minute, from teamates’ creating chance, Tien Phat shot accurately and opened 1-0 for Thai Son Nam dist.8. The early goal made Thai Son Nam play more comfortably. Therefore, the second goal from Minh Tuan is understandable. Being leading 2-0 in 1st half, entering the second half, An Bien Toto raised squad highly to find equalizing. In 50th minute, the hosts’ defender touch hand in the penalty area, Tan Vuong took this chance to shorten the score to 1-2 for An Bien. This is also the final result of this game, gaining 3 points Thai Son Nam officially claimed the champion title of Ho Chi Minh City League 2013.

An Biên hạng nhì

An Bien ranks second

Thai Son Nam received 50 million VND from organizers, An Bien Toto and FC Chi Thanh respectively received 30 and 20 million VND. Nk HCMC is rewarded for playing style. In individual field, Nguyen Hoang Tan Vuong (9- An Bien) is the best player, the best goal keeper title belongs to Thai Son Nam’s goal keeper, Doan Nhat Nguyen received title of plex lagoon king.

Dinh Vien 

U-19 Viet Nam face with U-19 Indonesia in the final game

Beating Laos 1-0 by Cong Phuong’s goal, U-19 Viet Nam won ticket to the final game against the host U-19 Indonesia. 

Đội U19 Việt Nam

U-19 Viet Nam

Despite being higher examined than opponent, U-19 Viet Nam could not play as they wanted. Viet Nam showed more skillfully in copprating as well as controlling the ball. However, Laos’ close followed playing style caused Viet Nam meet difficulties in approaching opponents’ goal. Thanh Tung, Cong Phuong and Anh Tuan in turn missed many clear chances to take Viet Nam into the lead. Especially, in most time of the first half and the beginning of the second half, two core strikers of Viet Nam had been followed closely. Coach Grachen therefore decided to change a little in line-up, the game became total in control of Viet Nam. After missing many opportunities of Duc Huy, Lam Ti Phong, Dong Trieu. Finally, what will be will be, in 75th minute, from a pass of teamates. Cong Phuong broke through to pass 3 players and opened 1-0 for Viet Nam.

Công Phượng ăn mừng

Cong Phuong is cheerful his goal

Niềm vui của U19 Việt Nam

U-19 Viet Nam’s happiness

Though U-19 Laos had tried their best in the remained time of game, they couldn’t equalise the game. In contrast, U-19 Viet Nam had doubled, unluckily, Lam Ti Phong were offside. After1-0 win over Laos Coach Grachen will re-face U-19 Indonesia in the final game. Because in the remained semi final game, U-19 Timor Leste was beaten 2-0 by U-19 Indonesia.

Dinh Vien

Women’s AFF Cup 2013: Loses Japan, Viet Nam becomes the former king

Facing with girls from football developed country, Viet Nam entered the game with Japan’s women in the highest decision. 

Thầy trò HLV Trần Vân Phát chuẩn bị cho trận tranh hạng ba

Coach Tran Van Phat and players prepare the bronze competition

Viet Nam’s women surprisingly seemed to overwhelm in the first half. Moreover, the opponents were really surprised at powerful and clear playing style of Viet Nam. Viet Nam even leaded the game from a goal by Minh Nguyet in 35th minute.

However, after rearranged line up, Japanese girls imposed the game. Viet Nam’s defense still quite stable against opponents’ pressure. However, compared with Japan’s physical strength, Viet Nam’s is weaker, this is also the reason why Viet Nam lost 2 goal against consecutively in the end of game. In 89th minute of game, the equalizer 1-1 for Japan came. In 5 minutes of extra times, Japanese women scored the second goal to Kieu Trinh’s goal. Being beaten 2-1, Viet Nam became the former king of this tournament.

In the remained semis game, Austrailia won 2-1 over Myanmar. Thus the final game will be the confrontation between Japan and Austrailia at 20h00 on September 22nd. The third position competition between Viet Nam and Myanmar will be taken place at 16h00 on Septemcer 22nd.

Dinh Vien

ASEAN Women’s football championship 2013: Viet Nam Women’s football team to the semi finals.

By holding Australia excellently in the last game, Coach Tran Van Phat and players won the ticket to the semi finals of ASEAN Women’s football championship 2013. 

Tuyển nữ Việt Nam

Viet Nam women’s football team

Viet Nam started with the strongest squad in the last game of group A against Australia. By gaining only 1 point, Coach Tran Van Phat and Viet Nam girls will officially play at the semi finals. Our gold girls had finished this goal excellently when holding Australia 0-0 after 90 minutes. Fortunately against overwhelmed playing style of Australia, Viet Nam’s defence was quite tough and Kieu Trinh goal keeper successfully prevent opponent’s attacks. Besdie that, Australia’s Coach was disqualified to instruct the game because of his excessive interaction with referee.

Thus, after 4 rounds, Viet Nam are standing at the second position of group A with 8 points, 2 wins, 2 draws. The first position belongs to Australia with 10 points. Viet Nam will compete with Myanmar or Japan in the semi finals who win the game between them at 16h30 ( september 18th).

Group A table

Team P W D F GF GA GD PTS
U19 Australia 4 3 1 0 9 3 +6 10
Viet Nam 4 2 2 0 5 0 +5 8
ThaiLand 4 2 1 1 12 3 +9 7
Jordan 4 1 0 3 2 13 −11 3
Malaysia 4 0 0 4 0 9 −9 0

Dinh Vien

New HV-An Giang a patched up team to V-League

There is no support for the first time play at V-League as rumour , Coach Nhan Thien Nhan said that the expenditure for this team in next season is not much more than it for the first division, An Giang still plays in poor condition. 

Thưởng đội bóng lên hạng

Rewarding for promotion

As many season before, HV-An Giang do not have many expenditure, therefore they only sign with player per season. That’s the reson why after each season, Coach Nhan Thien Nhan always become ” proletarian” and he spent time to build up almost the whole team. HV-An Giang is promoted to V-League, there is only 6 contracts with players however those are unexperienced in V-League. Mr Nhan one more time have to rebuild squad again to play in V-League.

According to the supporting contract with Hung Vuong cooperation, team will receive 48% from provincial budget and 52% left from Hung Vuong. However, managing board said that, they only receive 15 billion VND from provincial budget àn 16 billion from Hung Vuong and 31 billion in total for a season. It’s far different from the number 40-45 billion as media news had posed.

With this amount of money, HV-An Giang will spend for changing nearly total squad and expenditure for the whole season, it will be difficult. Mr Nhan said ” the managers promised to give us more money, however we presently accept this amount.” K.Kien Giang in expected will be gathered on september 11th and continue choose players. ” Meeting difficulties in finance caused HV An Giang look K.Kien Giang to find cheap and good players who are thought to be experienced in V- League. At the present HV-An Giang has signed with striker Felix.

UBND tỉnh An Giang trao tặng bằng khen

People Committee An Giang Province rewarded certificates

About the rumour HV-An Giang’s unpaid wages, Coach Thien Nhan seemed quite angry with this: ” HV-An Giang may be not rich as others, however we always pay on time. After the last match and before saying goodbye, all players are paid. I can’t understand why there’s rumour that An Giang unpaid for many months. Besides that, the reward of 1 billion, we can’t not receive now because it;s has just end of season. Managing board has paid all wages and rewarded more 500 million VND for player in the ending ceremony. ”

Truc Phuong

U-19 Viet Nam face U19 Laos in the semi finals

After winning all 5 games in the qualifying of ASEAN football championships, U19 Viet Nam excellently won the highest position of group B. In consequently, Coach Guillaume and his men will face with U19 Laos in the semi finals.

U19 Việt Nam giành ngôi đầu bảng

U19 Viet Nam on top of group

In the last game of group B, U-19 Viet Nam face with the weakest opponent U-19 Brunei. Moreover, Viet Nam have hold the ticket to the semi finals already, manager board of U 19 Viet Nam decided to play a reserve squad. The pillars Van Toan, Dong Trieu, Cong Phuong take a break. However, when two halves ended U 19 Viet Nam also gain a big win with the score 6-1.

Overwhelming opponent in 7th minute, Van Thiet opens for U-19 Viet Nam by a goal from penalty spot. 13 minutes later, from a organized attack Pham Trum Tinh doubles for the reds. Before ending the first half, Minh Thai’s goal raise score to 3-0 for U 19 Viet Nam.

In spite of concentrating on defending in the second half, U-19 Brunei can’t prevent themselves from getting more goal against. Thanh Hau, Lam Pi Thong and Pham Trum Tinh score more for Viet Nam. However, Brunei’s efforts is rewarded with a goal  from the captain Bolikiah. The big win 6-1 over Brunei, Coach Guillaume and players are on top of group B and they will meet Laos in the semi finals ( September 20th).

U-19 Laos is known to have been trained at HAGL before the championship. In two friendship games, U-19 Laos failed with the score 3-1 and 5-0. This is also a good news for Viet Nam football fans because U-19 Viet Nam will have much chance to go to the finals.

Niềm vui chiến thắng của BHL U19

Managing board are cheerful the win

 

Group B table

Team

P

W

D

L

GF

GA

GD

PTS

 U19 Viet Nam

5

5

0

0

15

5

+10

15

 U19 Indonesia

5

3

1

1

12

5

+7

10

 U19 Malaysia

5

2

2

1

9

4

+5

8

 U19Myanmar

5

1

2

2

13

10

+3

5

 U19 Thailand

5

1

1

3

16

12

+4

4

 U19 Brunei

5

0

0

5

1

30

−29

0

 

Dinh Vien

Marseille 1-2 Arsenal: Walcott & Ramsey gets Gunners off to perfect start

Jordan Ayew netted a late penalty to set up a nervous final few minutes, but the Premier League side will fly home happy after a confident performance in Europe.

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Arsene Wenger’s men earned a win in their last visit to the Stade Velodrome back in 2011, and they replicated they feat on Wednesday, Walcott finding the net with a close-range volley before Ramsey wrapped things up with a fine individual effort after the break.

Jordan Ayew grabbed a late consolation from the penalty spot for the hosts, but Arsenal held on to claim all three points.

Elie Baup made just one change to the Marseille side that drew 1-1 with Toulouse on Saturday, Andre Ayew replacing Florian Thauvin on the left-hand side of midfield.

Arsenal’s only alteration came in defence, with manager Arsene Wenger – who has seen his side win five of their last six competitive outings – opting to select the experienced Per Mertesacker in favour of Carl Jenkinson.

Marseille made a bright start to proceedings with Andre-Pierre Gignac and Mathieu Valbuena both testing Wojciech Szczesny in the early going.

Arsenal responded quickly however, Theo Walcott forcing Steve Mandanda into a save with a close-range effort after beating left-back Jeremy Morel for pace.

Still, it was the hosts that continued to dictate play. Valbuena volleyed over before Andre Ayew headed narrowly wide after an excellent right-wing cross from Dimitri Payet.

The visitors struggled to gain a foothold in the midfield, with Valbuena and 21-year-old Giannelli Imbula particularly impressive for Baup’s men.

And Marseille almost got their reward for a positive display shortly before the break, Gignac heading just over the bar at the near post after powering onto a Payet corner.

Baup’s side continued in the ascendancy straight after the break, Rod Fanni volleying inches wide of the post after good work down the right from Alaixys Romao.

Arsenal remained an attacking threat, though, and they almost took the lead in superb fashion, Kieran Gibbs denied by a fantastic reaction save from Mandanda after latching on to a deft backheel from Mesut Ozil.

The game quickly became stretched, with both sides crafting regular goalscoring opportunities, Payet keeping Szczesny busy with a fierce drive, before Jack Wilshere drew a near-post stop from Mandanda at the other end.

Arsenal never looked settled at the back, and they had Gibbs to thank for keeping them level as he showed great awareness to head a Payet cross off the line after miscommunication between Mertesacker and Szczesny.

But Marseille were finally made to pay for their profligacy 19 minutes into the second half, Walcott firing a magnificent volley into the top corner after Morel had failed to deal with Gibbs’ far-post cross.

Payet and Valbeuna both then went close as the Ligue 1 club searched for an equaliser, but it was Arsenal who proved the more clinical of the two sides, Ramsey securing the points as he jinked through the home defence before sending a precise low shot beyond the grasp of Mandanda.

Marseille did get one back in injury time, though, Jordan Ayew scoring from 12 yards after Laurent Koscielny had felled Andre Ayew in the box.

According to Goal

Napoli 2-1 Borussia Dortmund: BVB see red in Naples defeat

BVB saw goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller and coach Jurgen Klopp sent off as Rafa Benitez’s side secured a narrow win.

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Napoli kicked off their Champions League campaign with a 2-1 win over last season’s runners-up Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday.

The Italians opened the scoring early on as Gonzalo Higuain nodded home and the hosts’ task was made infinitely easier just before half-time as Mats Hummels left the field injured and Roman Weidenfeller inexplicably handled outside the box to earn himself a red card.

Dortmund’s threat was significantly blunted by those blows – allied to Jurgen Klopp’s dismissal to the stands – and they were helpless to prevent a fantastic long-rang free kick from Lorenzo Insigne doubling Napoli’s lead.

But there was still time for the 10-man Germans to grab a late consolation when Juan Camilo Zuniga flicked a cross into his own net with five minutes of normal time remaining.

With no injury worries of note among his squad, Rafael Benitez named a strong, attacking line-up including the likes of Marek Hamsik, Lorenzo Insigne and Jose Callejon. The visitors, meanwhile, named a patched-up starting XI due to the absences of Ilkay Gundogan, Lukasz Piszczek and Sebastian Kehl.

Despite the makeshift nature of Klopp’s team, Dortmund undoubtedly made the better start in Naples. But the hosts responded in kind, with a five-minute spell of pressure leading to Insigne driving narrowly wide before Higuain was denied one-on-one by a brilliant Hummels tackle.

The topsy-turvy nature of the first half did not let up, with Lewandowski the recipient of the next clear opportunity. The Poland striker latched onto a fabulous throughball to sneak into the box but could not beat the sprawling Pepe Reina in the Napoli goal.

And, perhaps unsurprisingly, last year’s Champions League runners-up were punished for that miss in the very next attack. Zuniga picked the ball up on the left-hand side before swinging in an inch-perfect cross that Higuain nonchalantly headed into the far corner of the goal to send the home crowd into raptures.

On the touchline, Dortmund coach Klopp remonstrated angrily with the fourth official over his failure to allow Neven Subotic back onto the pitch following a head injury, but his rant only served to bring him a red card.

Dortmund responded in bullish fashion when they received a further blow just before half-time, replacing injured centre-back Hummels with forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

But things went from bad to worse seconds later as goalkeeper Weidenfeller rushed out of his box to meet the ball but could only handle to prevent Higuain breaking through and deservedly saw red.

Jakub Blaszczykowski subsequently made way for substitute shot-stopper Mitchell Langerak before the break.
Dortmund began the second half understandably deeper in an attempt to nullify their opponents’ numerical advantage but were lucky to avoid conceding again on the hour mark, as a rifled Insigne cross bounced off the knee of Hamsik six yards out.

However, it mattered little in the end, as Insigne ensured the Italians would take a two-goal lead in fabulous fashion. The 22-year-old produced an unstoppable free-kick from 30 yards out that rattled the crossbar on the way past a helpless Langerak.

Aubameyang upped the stakes in terms of audacious efforts in the immediate aftermath as he struck the bar from distance before Dries Mertens also got involved as his clever free kick to the near post almost snuck in.

Dortmund were given hope in the dying moments as Zuniga needlessly swung at a cross into the box, to leave Reina no chance of stopping the ball bouncing over the line off the post.

But the visitors could not launch a late comeback to avoid defeat as the home side hung on to lay down a marker in the group.

According to Goal

AC Milan 2-0 Celtic: Late own goal and Muntari strike break Bhoys’ resolve

Neil Lennon’s men spurned more than their fair share of chances and were eventually punished when the hosts rallied in the final minutes of their Champions League opener.

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Emilio Izaguirre’s own goal and a Sulley Muntari effort gave AC Milan a 2-0 Champions League win over Celtic at San Siro on Wednesday.

Cristian Zapata’s strike deflected off the Bhoys defender to put the hosts ahead after 82 minutes and, with the visitors pushing for a way back into the game, the Ghanaian doubled the Italian side’s lead three minutes later to get the Rossoneri off to a winning start in Group H.

The well-documented Milan injury list meant that Massimiliano Allegri was forced into a number of changes, with Stephan El Shaarawy, Kaka, Giampaolo Pazzini, Riccardo Montolivo and Ignazio Abate among the absentees.

Slovenia international Valter Birsa made his debut for the club while Antonio Nocerino partnered Nigel de Jong in midfield for the clash.

Celtic had injuries of their own to contend with and were unable to name James Forrest or Joe Ledley in their matchday squad, although Adam Matthews shook off an ankle problem to start.

Mario Balotelli was quickly among the action, volleying an effort at Fraser Forster after three minutes, but the Celtic goalkeeper was equal to the task as he palmed the strike away.

Celtic’s first chance came from a indirect free kick inside the area following a backpass but Charlie Mulgrew saw his shot deflected over the crossbar.

Alessandro Matri’s header then forced another good save from Forster before Nocerino fired narrowly over just after the half-hour mark.

Balotelli again threatened a minute from the break when his low, swerving effort almost deflected into the far corner of Forster’s goal.

Giorgos Samaras had the first opportunity of the second half for Celtic, with the Greek firing just past Christian Abbiati’s post while Muntari headed just over for the hosts a minute after the hour mark.

After a lengthy period of Milan pressure, Anthony Stokes crashed a free kick against the crossbar for the visitors 10 minutes from time with Abbiati beaten.

However, two minutes later, Milan had their lead courtesy of a Zapata effort from outside the area that deflected off Izaguirre and in.

Muntari was then on hand three minutes later to make it two, bundling home from close-range after Balotelli’s free kick had come back off the post to ensure that Milan came away with the three points.

According to Goal