Vietnam remained empty-handed at the ongoing 2016 Olympics Asian women’s football final qualification round in Japan, after their third game against rivals as strong as three-time Asian champions North Korea on Friday.

North Korean Ju Hyo Sim scored the only goal in the 90th minute to settle the game where both teams eyed a first win in their campaign in Osaka, sending the Vietnamese women to their third straight defeat.

Vietnam started the tourney with a 0-2 loss against China on Monday, and an emphatic 0-9 defeat against Australia two days later, whereas North Korea drew 1-1 with both China and South Korea.

The Vietnamese women, however, exhibited a stronger spirit and tougher play than in the match with the Matildas, and almost earned one point before the decisive goal in the last minute.

The Osaka tourney, running from February 29 to March 9, is the final round of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) qualifiers for the Rio 2016 women’s football category, according to FIFA.

Vietnam are the play-off qualifiers at the event that also includes Japan, Australia, China, South Korea and North Korea, challenging one another for only two tickets to Brazil this summer.

The 2016 Summer Olympics takes place from August 5 to 21 in Rio de Janeiro, with a 12-team tournament for women’s football.

The Vietnamese women and their coach, Mai Duc Chung, will play two more games, against hosts Japan on March 7 and South Korea on March 9.

Vietnam remain at the bottom of the table after three losses, whereas North Korea have risen to the second place behind leaders Australia.

Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick as Barcelona took another step towards the La Liga title and set a new Spanish football record of 35 games unbeaten in the process with a 5-1 win at nine-man Rayo Vallecano on Thursday (Mar 3).

Two goals in as many minutes midway through the first-half killed the game as a contest as Ivan Rakitic and Messi netted before Diego Llorente saw a straight red card for a high challenge on Rakitic.

Messi completed his hat-trick either side of Manucho’s consolation for Rayo. Luis Suarez also missed a penalty after Manuel Iturra was also sent-off for the hosts before Arda Turan rounded off the scoring with his first Barca goal.

Barca now lead Atletico Madrid by eight points with Real Madrid a further four points adrift in third with 11 games remaining.

“We played very well and when we are at this level in terms of attitude and intensity, it is very hard for the opponents,” said Barca boss Luis Enrique.

Rayo were unbeaten in their seven league games themselves and forced Barca ‘keeper Claudio Bravo into a smart early save as the Chilean international flew to his right to turn away Adrian Embarba’s drive.

However, Rayo’s high defensive line was offering plenty of encouragement to the European champions and it seemed only a matter of time before Barca took advantage as Carlos made a good save at his near post to deny Messi.

The opener arrived in unusual fashion for Barca, though, as an aimless ball punted into the box was dropped by Carlos and Rakitic was on hand to sweep into an empty net

The visitors’ second two minutes later was straight out of the Barca textbook, though, as a brilliant one-two between Neymar and Messi freed the Argentine to slot home from close range.

Llorente let Rayo’s frustration boil over three minutes before the break when he lunged in studs up on Rakitic and was rightly shown a straight red card.

Messi piled on further punishment for the hosts when he casually rolled the ball home after Suarez had smashed against the post soon after the restart.

Rayo showed some resistence as Manucho nodded home his fourth goal in three game from Bebe’s knockdown.

Yet, the hosts momentum was short-lived as they were reduced to nine men when Iturra chopped down Sergio Busquets inside the area after Neymar’s free-kick had come back off the crossbar.

Messi passed up the chance to seal his hat-trick to help Suarez in his battle with Cristiano Ronaldo to be La Liga’s top scorer.

However, Barca’s awful record from the spot this season continued as Carlos made amends for his earlier error with a fine save.

The five-time World Player of the Year had to wait just three minutes more to get his third of the night as Messi sauntered through on goal before slotting past the advancing Carlos.

And Turan rounded off a perfect evening for Luis Enrique’s men when he headed home from Mathieu’s cross five minutes from time.

Source AFP

Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick as Barcelona took another step towards the La Liga title and set a new Spanish football record of 35 games unbeaten in the process with a 5-1 win at nine-man Rayo Vallecano on Thursday (Mar 3).

Two goals in as many minutes midway through the first-half killed the game as a contest as Ivan Rakitic and Messi netted before Diego Llorente saw a straight red card for a high challenge on Rakitic.

Messi completed his hat-trick either side of Manucho’s consolation for Rayo. Luis Suarez also missed a penalty after Manuel Iturra was also sent-off for the hosts before Arda Turan rounded off the scoring with his first Barca goal.

Barca now lead Atletico Madrid by eight points with Real Madrid a further four points adrift in third with 11 games remaining.

“We played very well and when we are at this level in terms of attitude and intensity, it is very hard for the opponents,” said Barca boss Luis Enrique.

Rayo were unbeaten in their seven league games themselves and forced Barca ‘keeper Claudio Bravo into a smart early save as the Chilean international flew to his right to turn away Adrian Embarba’s drive.

However, Rayo’s high defensive line was offering plenty of encouragement to the European champions and it seemed only a matter of time before Barca took advantage as Carlos made a good save at his near post to deny Messi.

The opener arrived in unusual fashion for Barca, though, as an aimless ball punted into the box was dropped by Carlos and Rakitic was on hand to sweep into an empty net

The visitors’ second two minutes later was straight out of the Barca textbook, though, as a brilliant one-two between Neymar and Messi freed the Argentine to slot home from close range.

Llorente let Rayo’s frustration boil over three minutes before the break when he lunged in studs up on Rakitic and was rightly shown a straight red card.

Messi piled on further punishment for the hosts when he casually rolled the ball home after Suarez had smashed against the post soon after the restart.

Rayo showed some resistence as Manucho nodded home his fourth goal in three game from Bebe’s knockdown.

Yet, the hosts momentum was short-lived as they were reduced to nine men when Iturra chopped down Sergio Busquets inside the area after Neymar’s free-kick had come back off the crossbar.

Messi passed up the chance to seal his hat-trick to help Suarez in his battle with Cristiano Ronaldo to be La Liga’s top scorer.

However, Barca’s awful record from the spot this season continued as Carlos made amends for his earlier error with a fine save.

The five-time World Player of the Year had to wait just three minutes more to get his third of the night as Messi sauntered through on goal before slotting past the advancing Carlos.

And Turan rounded off a perfect evening for Luis Enrique’s men when he headed home from Mathieu’s cross five minutes from time.

Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick as Barcelona took another step towards the La Liga title and set a new Spanish football record of 35 games unbeaten in the process with a 5-1 win at nine-man Rayo Vallecano on Thursday (Mar 3).

Two goals in as many minutes midway through the first-half killed the game as a contest as Ivan Rakitic and Messi netted before Diego Llorente saw a straight red card for a high challenge on Rakitic.

Messi completed his hat-trick either side of Manucho’s consolation for Rayo. Luis Suarez also missed a penalty after Manuel Iturra was also sent-off for the hosts before Arda Turan rounded off the scoring with his first Barca goal.

Barca now lead Atletico Madrid by eight points with Real Madrid a further four points adrift in third with 11 games remaining.

“We played very well and when we are at this level in terms of attitude and intensity, it is very hard for the opponents,” said Barca boss Luis Enrique.

Rayo were unbeaten in their seven league games themselves and forced Barca ‘keeper Claudio Bravo into a smart early save as the Chilean international flew to his right to turn away Adrian Embarba’s drive.

However, Rayo’s high defensive line was offering plenty of encouragement to the European champions and it seemed only a matter of time before Barca took advantage as Carlos made a good save at his near post to deny Messi.

The opener arrived in unusual fashion for Barca, though, as an aimless ball punted into the box was dropped by Carlos and Rakitic was on hand to sweep into an empty net

The visitors’ second two minutes later was straight out of the Barca textbook, though, as a brilliant one-two between Neymar and Messi freed the Argentine to slot home from close range.

Llorente let Rayo’s frustration boil over three minutes before the break when he lunged in studs up on Rakitic and was rightly shown a straight red card.

Messi piled on further punishment for the hosts when he casually rolled the ball home after Suarez had smashed against the post soon after the restart.

Rayo showed some resistence as Manucho nodded home his fourth goal in three game from Bebe’s knockdown.

Yet, the hosts momentum was short-lived as they were reduced to nine men when Iturra chopped down Sergio Busquets inside the area after Neymar’s free-kick had come back off the crossbar.

Messi passed up the chance to seal his hat-trick to help Suarez in his battle with Cristiano Ronaldo to be La Liga’s top scorer.

However, Barca’s awful record from the spot this season continued as Carlos made amends for his earlier error with a fine save.

The five-time World Player of the Year had to wait just three minutes more to get his third of the night as Messi sauntered through on goal before slotting past the advancing Carlos.

And Turan rounded off a perfect evening for Luis Enrique’s men when he headed home from Mathieu’s cross five minutes from time.

Source AFP

Holders Juventus suffered an almighty scare on their way to a second successive Italian Cup final, dominating Inter Milan at a penalty shoot-out after Roberto Mancini’s men won 3-0 on the night to level their semi-final tie.

Juventus, who claimed their first league and Cup double in 20 years last May, will now meet AC Milan in the May 21 at Rome’s Olympic Stadium.

But in a rain-hit San Siro encounter that saw Inter dominate throughout, Juve coach Massimiliano Allegri was soon regretting his decision to deploy a second string side.

With a 3-0 cushion from the first leg, Allegri rested goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon and striker Mario Mandzukic, while Giorgio Chiellini, Claudio Marchisio and Martin Caceres were all injured.

But, under the cosh following a string of poor results, Mancini cracked the whip and the Nerazzurri responded in style to take a 2-0 lead by the 49th minute thanks to Marcelo Brozovic and Ivan Perisic.

When Brozovic hit his second from the spot eight minutes from time after a dubious penalty decision, the tie was forced to extra time.

After two thrilling but goalless periods, Rodrigo Palacio’s miss from the spot made the difference as Juve stayed on track for a second consecutive double.

Inter threatened from the outset, Perisic drilling just wide of Norberto Neto’s upright but the hosts were rewarded for their efforts on 17 minutes when Slovenian midfielder Brozovic fired past Neto after Gary Medel had bundled Hernanes off the ball.

Juve looked out of sorts and another error, this time from Daniele Rugani, allowed Adem Ljajic to unleash a curling shot that bounced off the top of the bar.

Leonardo Bonucci was cautioned for impeding Inter striker Eder, meaning he will be suspended for the final.

Ljajic, meanwhile, fired inches wide of the near post to give Juve plenty of reason for reflection at the interval.

Inter resumed in similar fashion and after just four minutes Eder burst down the right to fire a perfect delivery for Perisic, who tapped the ball past Neto at the back post.

The threat now looked real and Juve upped their game, striker Simone Zaza powering through the middle and rounding Inter ‘keeper Juan Carrizo only to hit the upright.

From the corner, Inter launched a counter that saw Ljajic’s angled drive shave the far post.

An increasingly worried Allegri switched to a three-man defence when he replaced Stephan Lichsteiner with Andrea Barzagli, but the referee pointed to the spot after Rugani was ruled to have fouled Perisic in the area, despite first making contact with the ball.

Neto was unlucky as Brozovic’s spot-kick squirmed under him to level the tie 3-3 on aggregate, but the ‘keeper then produced a great reflex save in the final minute of regulation time to parry Perisic’s first-timer from close-range.

Moments later Perisic earned a yellow card after he got up from a rash tackle on Juan Cuadrado to take the Colombian by the throat.

Both sides created chances in extra time, Neto palming Perisic’s free header over the bar and Zaza firing an angled drive inches past the far post.

In the dying seconds, Carrizo produced two quickfire saves on Alvaro Morata, including a superb one-handed effort from the Spaniard’s right-footed curler, to force the tie to penalties.

Source AFP

Bayern Munich suffered a shock 2-1 defeat to Mainz on Wednesday (Mar 2), losing their 100 percent home record this season, as their lead in the Bundesliga was trimmed to five points.

Colombia striker Jhon Cordoba sealed only Mainz’s second win in Munich with the winner on 86 minutes.

Mainz took a shock lead at the Allianz Arena when Spanish winger Jairo fired home in the first-half with the Bayern defence well beaten. Arjen Robben pulled a goal back for the Bavarians on 64 minutes.

Despite Mainz managing only 22 per cent of possession, Cordoba grabbed the winner just before the final whistle and was mobbed by his team-mates.

The result shakes up the Bundesliga ahead of Saturday’s crunch clash when Pep Guardiola’s Bayern play at second-placed Borussia Dortmund.

Dortmund’s 2-0 win at Darmstadt on Wednesday cut Bayern’s lead from eight points as another Colombia striker, Adrian Ramos, and defender Erik Durm netted.

Hertha Berlin cemented third place, but remain 15 points adrift of Dortmund, with a 2-0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt in the capital.

Ivory Coast striker Salomon Kalou and Mitchell Weiser grabbed Berlin’s goals to keep Hertha on course for a first return to the Champions League since 2000.

At the other end of the table, Werder Bremen climbed out of the relegation places with a shock 4-1 win at Bayer Leverkusen as veteran Claudio Pizarro claimed a hat-trick.

The 37-year-old Peru international showed why he is the Bundesliga’s top scoring foreigner by needing just under half an hour to wrap up his hat-trick which included a penalty.

Having knocked Leverkusen out of the German Cup in the quarter-finals last month, Bremen again humbled Bayer.

Roger Schmidt’s Leverkusen has now lost four of their last five games in all competitions and drop to seventh in the league.

Elsewhere Schalke climbed to sixth with a 3-2 comeback win at home to Hamburg while Borussia Moenchengladbach remain fourth after their 4-0 thrashing at home to Stuttgart.

Second-from-bottom Hoffenheim boosted their survival chances with a 2-1 win over Augsburg.

On Tuesday, Germany winger Andre Schuerrle claimed the first Bundesliga hat-trick of his career as Wolfsburg routed bottom side Hanover 96 4-0 away.

March 1 is a lucky day for Schuerrle who also scored a hat-trick for ex-club Chelsea against Fulham in the Premier League exactly two years ago.

His performance will boost his standing at Wolfsburg and in this one game he has scored more goals than in his previous 33 matches for the Champions League side.

He needed just 26 minutes to score three goals before Germany team-mate Julian Draxler added Wolfsburg’s fourth at Hanover’s HDI Arena.

The win leaves Wolfsburg eighth while Hanover are bottom, four points from their nearest rival and seven points from safety.

The German FA (DFB) is expected to fine both clubs after one of the flares fired from the away fan block hit the Hanover bench before kick-off, but no-one was hurt.

Elsewhere, French striker Anthony Modeste rescued a point for Cologne in their 1-1 draw at Ingolstadt after forward Lukas Hinterseer had given the hosts the lead.

Source AFP