₦airaland Forum

By the way, even after watching, Liverpool - Chelsea, that won't be enuff to affirm the better player, in fact not at all by who wins. gerrard for liverpool havent really been playing in the central midfield (if u've been watching liverpool's match) cos of the likes of mascherano, alonso, sissoko, or would i say because of benitez's options.

Gerrard is a better Midfield General

@ razorr

u r so obsessed dt u have to use expletives against people here. Remember this is a forum and not a riot.

After reading ope_emi's post, all u eventually have to say is Football is all about scoring goals. Football is only about scoring goals and winning if we are only talking abt a match. Tell me how many goals did cannavaro score to win the world's best?

If I begin to dig like u think u have dug, I'll also emerge with a plethora of Gerrard's achievement. Maybe the only differing factor might be the goal difference , like wut man u and chelsea might end up with, just kidding anyway.

But abeg, as central midfielders, which the thread is all about, Gerrard is conspicuously, blatantly, obviously, unarguably better.

Maybe anoda thread shld be posted as to who the better scorer is, then u can be happy that Lampard will win.

where d hell is the guy? He's refused to show up

Rafael Nadal was at his scintillating best as he completed a 6-2 6-3 victory over Philipp Kohlschreiber to make the semi-finals.

The man from Mallorca was barely troubled against the world number 59, though he needed five match points to wrap up a 74-minute win.

"At this level, there is no easy match," the Spaniard said in a courtside interview.

"I expect a lot from myself for tomorrow's semi-final."

Nadal, twice French Open champion, will play Czech Tomas Berdych, who fought back to knock out Swede Robin Soderling 5-7 6-3 6-0.

Former two-time winner Jean Carlos Ferrero outlasts Richard Gasquet to move into the semi-finals with a 5-7 7-5 6-2 victory.

Gasquet started brightly but ran out of gas by the end of the second set as Ferrero outplayed him with powerful groundstrokes from the baseline.

He clinched victory in two hours 26 minutes on his first match point and will now face Roger Federer in the semi-finals.

Ferrero won this tournament in 2002 and 2003.

Roger Federer won his 500th career match Friday, beating David Ferrer 6-4, 6-0 in the quarterfinals of the Monte Carlo Masters.

"I am very happy to have done it here,'' said Federer, who reached the final in Monte Carlo last year. "That is a lot of games. I'm glad they are victories.''

The 10-time Grand Slam champion has never lost a set to Ferrer in six matches.

"I am a bit surprised, because he is a very good player,'' Federer said. "To beat him 6-4, 6-0 is really phenomenal.''

The top-ranked Federer will play either 11th-seeded Richard Gasquet or two-time champion Juan Carlos Ferrero in Saturday's semifinals.

Also, Tomas Berdych won 12 straight games after trailing 3-0 in the second set to beat Robin Soderling of Sweden 5-7, 6-3, 6-0.

"The start wasn't so good today, but then things changed,'' Berdych said. "I'm really happy that I can sit here and try to prepare for tomorrow's semifinals.''

Berdych attacked Soderling's serve and outmaneuvered his taller opponent with accurate ground strokes to get a spot in the last four, where he will face either defending champion Rafael Nadal or qualifier Philipp Kohlschreiber.

Quarter Final Fixtures:

Roger Federer (SUI) vs. David Ferrer (ESP)
Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP) vs. Richard Gasquet (FRA)
Tomas Berdych (CZE) vs. Robin Soderling (SWE)
Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) vs. Rafael Nadal (ESP)

Third Round Results:

Federer - Lee 6-4, 6-3
Ferrer - Djokovic 7-5, 6-4
Ferrero - Andreev 6-3, 6-3
Gasquet - Ljubicic 6-3, 6-7, 7-5
Berdych - Robredo 1-6, 6-3, 6-2
Soderling - Mirnyi 7-6, 6-2
Kohlschreiber - Garcia-Lopez 5-7, 7-6, 7-6
Nadal - Vliegen 6-1, 6-1

Defending champion Rafael Nadal and world number one Roger Federer wasted no time in advancing to the quarter-finals of the Monte Carlo Masters Series.

Spaniard Nadal, who extended his record winning streak on clay to 64 matches, took 62 minutes to demolish Belgian Kristof Vliegen 6-1 6-1 while Federer eased past South Korean Lee Huyng-taik 6-4 6-3 in 64 minutes.

"I was feeling very good today and I'm really happy to be in the last eight," said Nadal, who lost his serve in the first game of the second set before winning 21 points in a row.

How come no one has said anything abt Messi's maradona-like goal against Getafe?

It's no news that arsenal's going end this season trophyless. So I'll like to ask, if you were to choose between Chelsea's quadruple or Man Utd's treble, which will you prefer?

This question goes to the gunners only and maybe other fans apart from chelsea's and manchester united's

ACCRA, April 18 (Reuters) - Triple African Footballer of the Year Abedi Pele said he would appeal against a one-year suspension handed to him last week in a match fixing case.

The former European Cup winner was among officials and players from four clubs banned after two high scoring matches in the race for promotion to Ghana's premier league last month.

Abedi Pele's club FC Nania won 31-0 over Okwawu United while rivals Great Mariners were 28-0 winners over Mighty Jets in results deemed by the Ghana Football Association to have been fixed.

FC Nania, set up by the former Olympique Marseille player less than a decade ago, were seeking to reach the top flight of Ghana football for the first time.

Abedi Pele, who is a member of FIFA standings committees and an ambassador for South Africa's hosting of the 2010 World Cup finals, said he would seek to clear his name.

'My contention is that while the score line may raise eyebrows, it does not provide irrefutable proof that the match was fixed,' he told the BBC in an interview.

The association last week demoted all four clubs to Ghana's third division and fined them $20,000 each.

A total of 46 players from the four clubs were also suspended from playing for the rest of the season and the next campaign, the Ghana Football Association said.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=422737&cc=5739

31-0?     

Was there no goalkeeper? Even female soccer has never produced such a wide scoreline.

Blackburn  3 - 1  Watford (Ewood Park)
7' C Samba
10' J Roberts
                       21' D Rinaldi
32' B McCarthy

West Ham  1 - 4  Chelsea (Upton Park)
                       31' S Wright-Phillips
35' C Tevez
                       36' S Wright-Phillips
                       52' S Kalou
                       62' D Drogba

Liverpool  2 - 0  Middlesbrough (Anfield)
58' S Gerrard
65' S Gerrard (pen)

Third Round Fixtures:

Roger Federer (SUI) vs. Hyung-taik Lee (KOR)
David Ferrer (ESP) vs. Novak Djokovic (SRB)
Igor Andreev (RUS) vs. Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP)
Richard Gasquet (FRA) vs. Ivan Ljubicic (CRO)
Tommy Robredo (ESP) vs. Tomas Berdych (CZE)
Max Mirnyi (BLR) vs. Robin Soderling (SWE)
Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (ESP) vs. Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER)
Kristof Vliegen (BEL) vs. Rafael Nadal (ESP)

Second Round Results:

Federer - Seppi 7-6, 7-6
Lee - Youzhny 6-4, 6-3
Ferrer - Benneteau 6-1, 7-5
Djokovic - Gaudio 6-1, 3-6, 6-1
Andreev - Gonzalez 6-2, 2-6, 6-3
Ferrero - Massu 6-2, 6-0
Gasquet - Hrbaty 6-3, 6-2
Ljubicic - Stepanek 7-6, 7-6
Robredo - Clément 6-3, 6-2
Berdych - Becker 6-1, 6-2
Mirnyi - Roitman 7-5, 6-4
Soderling - Davydenko 6-4, 6-7, 6-3
Garcia-Lopez - Gicquel 6-4, 1-6, 6-3
Kohlschreiber - Nalbandian 7-5, 4-1
Vliegen - Safin 0-6, 7-6, 6-4
Nadal - Chela 6-3, 6-1

Which is better?  

1)  Trusting someone and find out later that the person isn't faithful/loyal

OR

2) Having doubts and later realising that the person had always been faithful.

Roger Federer was far from convincing on his first clay court appearance of the season but still managed to grind out a 7-6 7-6 victory over Andreas Seppi in the second round of the Monte Carlo Masters.

"I knew it was going to be very hard because I haven't played on clay in over 10 months," he told Sky Sports after the game.

"I'm just happy to go through because the conditions were very tough out there and there were so many bad bounces.

"For me moving to clay is a tough change because it is slippery and slidey."

Kristof Vliegen saved four matchpoints and came back from a set down to defeat Marat Safin, and set up a third round clash with Rafael Nadal.

Korea's Hyung-Taik Lee beats Mikhail Youzhny 6-4 6-3 in Monte Carlo Masters first round. Despite a first-serve percentage of 46% and no aces, Lee restricts the Russian to two breaks, while winning five breaks of his own on the way to victory in 94 minutes.

Lordy, thanks.

Arsenal  3 - 1  Man City (Emirates Stadium)
12' T Rosicky
                    41' D Beasley
73' F Fabregas
80' J Baptista

Man Utd  2 - 0  Sheff Utd (Old Trafford)
4' M Carrick
50' W Rooney

Second Round Fixtures:

Roger Federer (SUI) vs. Andreas Seppi (ITA)
Hyung-taik Lee (KOR) vs. Mikhail Youzhny (RUS)
David Ferrer (ESP) vs. Julien Benneteau (FRA)
Gaston Gaudio (ARG) vs. Novak Djokovic (SRB)
Fernando Gonzalez (CHL) vs. Igor Andreev (RUS)
Nicolas Massu (CHL) vs. Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP)
Richard Gasquet (FRA) vs. Dominik Hrbaty (SVK)
Radek Stepanek (CZE) vs. Ivan Ljubicic (CRO)
Tommy Robredo (ESP) vs. Arnaud Clement (FRA)
Benjamin Becker (GER) vs. Tomas Berdych (CZE)
Max Mirnyi (BLR) vs. Sergio Roitman (ARG)
Robin Soderling (SWE) vs. Nikolay Davydenko (RUS)
Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (ESP) vs. Marc Gicquel (FRA)
Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) vs. David Nalbandian (ARG)
Marat Safin (RUS) vs. Kristof Vliegen (BEL)
Juan Ignacio Chela (ARG) vs. Rafael Nadal (ESP)

First Round Results:

Seppi - Gabashvili 6-1, 6-3
Lee - Bjorkman 7-6, 6-1
Youzhny - Moyà 6-2, 3-1
Ferrer - Simon 6-3, 6-1
Benneteau - Balleret 7-5, 5-7, 6-2
Gaudio - Tursunov 5-7, 6-2, 6-2
Andreev - Acasuso 6-4, 6-1
Massu - Volandri 4-6, 7-5, 6-3
Ferrero - Henman 7-5, 6-2
Gasquet - Verdasco 7-5, 6-7, 7-6
Hrbaty - Portas 7-6, 7-5
Stepanek - Monfils 6-0, 2-0
Clément - Serra 6-4, 7-6
Becker - Johansson 7-6, 6-2
Berdych - Almagro 5-0
Mirnyi - Baghdatis 7-5, 6-4
Roitman - Melzer 3-6, 6-1, 6-4
Soderling - Rochus 6-4, 6-4
Gicquel - Mayer 7-5, 5-7, 7-5
Kohlschreiber - Pavel 6-2, 5-7, 6-4
Nalbandian - Luzzi 3-6, 6-2, 6-1
Safin - Nieminen 5-7, 6-3, 6-2
Vliegen - Mathieu 7-5, 6-3
Chela - Verkerk 7-5, 6-2

British number one Andy Murray has pulled out of the Monte Carlo Masters after injuring his back in a doubles match with brother Jamie.

Lucky loser Guillermo Garcia Lopez replaces the Briton in the draw and will face Gicquel in the second round.

Spain's Garcia Lopez will receive the prize money for his second-round appearance against Gicquel, but will not earn the ranking points unless he beats the Frenchman.

Monte Carlo Masters Draw

Roger Federer (SUI) vs. - Bye 01
Andreas Seppi (ITA) vs. Teimuraz Gabashvili (RUS)
Hyung-taik Lee (KOR) vs. Jonas Bjorkman (SWE)
Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) vs. Carlos Moya (ESP)
David Ferrer (ESP) vs. Gilles Simon (FRA)
Julien Benneteau (FRA) vs. B. Balleret (MCO)
Gaston Gaudio (ARG) vs. Dimitry Tursunov (RUS)
Novak Djokovic (SRB) vs. - Bye 02
Fernando Gonzalez (CHL) vs. - Bye 03
Igor Andreev (RUS) vs. Jose Acasuso (ARG)
Nicolas Massu (CHL) vs. Filippo Volandri (ITA)
Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP) vs. Tim Henman (GBR)
Richard Gasquet (FRA) vs. Fernando Verdasco (ESP)
Albert Portas (ESP) vs. Dominik Hrbaty (SVK)
Radek Stepanek (CZE) vs. Gaël Monfils (FRA)
Ivan Ljubicic (CRO) vs. - Bye 04
* * * * * * * * *
Tommy Robredo (ESP) vs. - Bye 05
Arnaud Clement (FRA) vs. Florent Serra (FRA)
Benjamin Becker (GER) vs. Thomas Johansson (SWE)
Nicolas Almagro (ESP) vs. Tomas Berdych (CZE)
Max Mirnyi (BLR) vs. Marcos Baghdatis (CYP)
Sergio Roitman (ARG) vs. Jurgen Melzer (AUT)
Robin Soderling (SWE) vs. Olivier Rochus (BEL)
Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) vs. Bye 06
Andrew Murray (GBR) vs. Bye 07
Marc Gicquel (FRA) vs. Florian Mayer (GER)
Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) vs. Andrei Pavel (ROU)
David Nalbandian (ARG) vs. Federico Luzzi (ITA)
Marat Safin (RUS) vs. Jarkko Nieminen (FIN)
Kristof Vliegen (BEL) vs. Paul-Henri Mathieu (FRA)
Juan Ignacio Chela (ARG) vs. Martin Verkerk (NLD)
Rafael Nadal (ESP) vs. - Bye 08

@ razorr

u've gone past a fan of chelsea, u'r now a fanatic

who's the writer? show him to me and let me tell u i can write too.

be real gurl

wherez d maga dat posted this maga thread?

ATP Houston: Final

     https://img249.imageshack.us/img249/7817/karlovicivorc1.jpg   https://img337.imageshack.us/img337/8731/karlovicliftstrophyox7.jpg

Unseeded Ivo Karlovic used his booming serve to stop qualifier Mariano Zabaleta of Argentina 6-4, 6-1 Sunday to win the U.S. Men's Clay Court Championships and capture his first ATP tour title.

The 6-foot-10 Croat closed out the win on his second match point, pounding in a 140-mph ace. He arched his back and clenched his fists before going over to shake hands with his coach, who was courtside.

The Croat earned $65,850 for his first tour title since beginning his professional career in 2000.

https://img251.imageshack.us/img251/3023/jankovicjelenapz2.jpg https://img384.imageshack.us/img384/5043/jankovickissestrophyzv7.jpg https://img384.imageshack.us/img384/8059/jankoviccs4.jpg

No. 2 seed Jelena Jankovic worked quickly in the Family Circle Cup final Sunday, dispatching fourth-seeded Dinara Safina in straight sets 6-2, 6-2 in Charleston, S.C.

Jankovic won a crystal cup and $196,900. It wasn't her biggest paycheck. She earned $258,462 for advancing to the semifinals of the U.S. Open last year, where she lost to Justine Henin.

"I'm so happy I won this title," Jankovic said. "I had an awesome week here, especially playing yesterday, beating Venus. Today in the final was a little bit different story because of the weather."

Safina, of Russia, got $100,000 and a crystal bowl.

Safina, the fourth seed who improved to No. 10 by making the final, got to the championship without dropping a set in the tournament.

Wigan  3 - 3  Tottenham (The JJB Stadium)
2' E Heskey
                 4' D Berbatov
30' L Baines
                 35' R Keane (pen)
60' K Kilbane
                 68' R Keane

Everton  2 - 1  Charlton (Goodison Park)
81' J Lescott
                 89' D Bent
90' J McFadden

You all can listen to Radio Lagos online for the updates too.

ATP Valencia: Final

https://img485.imageshack.us/img485/4559/almagroval7rs4.jpg

Nicolas Almagro of Spain won his second straight Valencia Open title Sunday by beating Potito Starace of Italy 4-6, 6-2, 6-1.

The 21-year-old Spaniard rallied with eight aces and broke Starace four times over the final two sets for his second career ATP title.

Seeds: ¹Roger Federer (SUI), ²Rafael Nadal (ESP), ³Nikolay Davydenko (RUS), ⁴Fernando Gonzalez (CHL), ⁵Tommy Robredo (ESP), ⁶Novak Djokovic (SRB), ⁷Ivan Ljubicic (CRO), ⁸Andrew Murray (GBR), ⁹David Nalbandian (ARG), ¹⁰Tomas Berdych (CZE), ¹¹Richard Gasquet (FRA), ¹²David Ferrer (ESP), ¹³Mikhail Youzhny (RUS), ¹⁴Marcos Baghdatis (CYP), ¹⁵Jarkko Nieminen (FIN), ¹⁶Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP)

ATP Houston: Semi-Final Results

Argentina Mariano Zabaleta upset second seeded American James Blake 7-5 7-6 to advance to the final of the U.S. Men's Clay Court Championships against Croatia's Ivo Karlovic.

The world number 156 handled the windy conditions well, edging the ninth-ranked player 9-7 in the second set tiebreak to reach his first final since 2004.

Earlier, the big-serving Karlovic advanced to his second final of the season with a 7-6 6-2 victory over unseeded Spaniard Albert Montanes, seizing the momentum after winning the first-set tiebreaker 7-5.

Sunday's final will be the first meeting between the players.

Serbian second seed Jelena Jankovic outlasted unseeded American Venus Williams 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 to earn a meeting with fourth seeded Russian Dinara Safina in the WTA Charleston final.

The victory for Jankovic, ranked ninth in the world, came down to a line overrule by the chair umpire with Jankovic serving at 6-5 in the third-set tie-break.

A Jankovic backhand clipped the sideline tape but it took the chair umpire to check the clay-court mark and overrule the line judge's out call on a Jankovic appeal to end the two-hour and 31-minute match.

"I was about to die at the end," said Jankovic, whose three previous matches had lasted a total of only two hours and 18 minutes.

Safina had a much easier time for the second straight day as ninth seeded compatriot Vera Zvonareva retired with a wrist injury while trailing 6-3, 0-1. Safina also had received an easy passage on Friday when 10th seed Tatiana Golovin of France retired after one set with an ankle injury.

Two-time defending champion Rafael Nadal was shown no favor at Saturday’s main draw ceremony at the Masters Series Monte-Carlo presented by Rolex. The World No. 2 Spaniard could play his first match against in-form Argentine Juan Ignacio Chela (who is off to a flying 20-6 start on the year.

Beyond that, in the third round Nadal could face one of a quartet of threats – former World No. 1 Marat Safin, No. 16 seed Jarkko Nieminen, French wild card Paul-Henri Mathieu and Belgian Kristof Vliegen.

Top seed Roger Federer, who lost to Nadal in four sets in last year’s final, will play his first match against a qualifier. He would expect to face either former Roland Garros champion Carlos Moya or 13th seed Mikhail Youzhny in the third round, with a possible fourth-round showdown with newly-crowned Sony Ericsson Open champion Novak Djokovic.

http://montecarlo.masters-series.com/1/en/news/2007/draw.asp