Daily News Channel
Substitute Jermain Defoe scored two second half goals as England came from two down to draw 2-2 against the Netherlands in a friendly international on Wednesday. Sorry first half defending left Fabio Capello’s men facing defeat in the Amsterdam arena, but by the finish they were pushing for victory after an impressive comeback. The Dutch were the first team from Europe to qualify for the World Cup finals and showed their quality in the early exchanges as the visitors struggled to settle
Bordeaux clinched the French league title with a 1-0 win over Caen on a dramatic final day of the season. Laurent Blanc’s men were ending Lyon’s seven-year hold on the domestic championship and winning Bordeaux’s first title in 10 years
Samuel Eto’o missed a penalty as Barcelona’s title celebrations fell flat on Sunday when they slipped to a 2-1 defeat at Real Mallorca 24 hours after becoming Spanish champions. Real Madrid’s 3-2 reversal against Villarreal on Saturday night handed the Catalan side the Primera Liga crown for the first time since 2006 — and expectations were high of a showcase of Barca’s attacking skills.
Lionel Messi scored a 19th minute winner as Barcelona moved ever closer to regaining the Spanish title with a 1-0 victory at Getafe on Saturday night. Barcelona had not won in the Coliseum since 2005 and owed victory to the Argentine’s 20th goal of the season.
Cristiano Ronaldo has warned holders Manchester United that Champions League quarterfinal opponents Porto will be no pushovers, ahead of Tuesday’s first leg clash at Old Trafford. “Porto are a very good team,” said Portugal’s World Player of the Year. “They are top of the league back home, ahead of Sporting Lisbon and Benfica and we know how strong they can be.” But Ronaldo, who scored twice in the dramatic 3-2 win over Aston Villa that sent United back to the top of the Premier League, is confident enough to predict that United will reach the last four “The good thing is we have two games against them and I feel that will be enough to get us through,” he said.
Manchester United received a major boost in their quest for an unprecedented quintuple as injury doubts over central defender Rio Ferdinand lifted ahead of their Champions League last 16 return tie against Inter Milan on Wednesday. Ferdinand turned his ankle in the 4-0 thrashing of Fulham which put United into the semifinals of the FA Cup on Saturday and was rated a major doubt for the the second leg with the two teams tied 0-0 after their San Siro clash a fortnight ago. “Rio is a bit of a concern,” manager Alex Ferguson had told United’s television channel MUTV
Barcelona missed the chance to re-open a seven-point lead at the top of the Spanish Primera when they crashed to a shock 4-3 defeat at Atletico Madrid on Sunday. With Real Madrid winning 2-0 at Espanyol on Saturday, it leaves Barca just four points clear of their arch-rivals at the top, having led by 11 points after a long unbeaten run. But defeats at Espanyol and now Atletico, who move up to fifth with the victory, have undermined their title charge and given defending champions Real a glimmer of hope.
Barcelona continued their march towards the Spanish Primera Liga title as Samuel Eto’o scored twice in their 3-1 home victory over Sporting Gijon — a result that moves them once again 12 points clear of second-placed Real Madrid at the top of the table. Eto’o scored his opener in the 23rd minute when he tapped home Thierry Henry’s cross, after Andres Iniesta had carried the ball with pace from his own half.