J.League Review: Urawa Reds suffer, Kashima close on leaders

<p dir=ltr>Urawa Reds were unable to put pressure on<br> J.League leaders Sagan Tosu as they slumped to a 2-1 defeat at Kawasaki Frontale on Saturday.<br> Urawa had given up top spot in the previous<br> round and saw their winless run stretch to three matches on Saturday at the Kawasaki Todoroki Stadium.<br> Tsukasa Umesaki put the visitors in front with just two minutes on the clock, but Renatinho struck back almost immediately to restore parity.<br> The two sides remained level for more than an hour, but Frontale eventually moved ahead with 12 minutes to go, as Yoshito Okubo netted the winner to move Yahiro Kazama's men to within a point of the top two.<br> Urawa stay level on 37 points with Tosu, who are top on goal difference but surprisingly sacked coach Yoon Jung-hwan on Friday.<br> However, Tosu have a game in hand after their clash with Sanfrecce Hiroshima was postponed due to a typhoon.<br> Kashima Antlers remain within touching distance of the leading pack thanks to a late fightback at Nagoya Grampus.<br> Antlers went into the final 10 minutes 2-1 down, but goals from Davi and Yasushi Endo ultimately helped the visitors to claim victory and remain three points behind third-placed Frontale.<br> Gamba Osaka moved up to fifth courtesy of a 2-0 win at struggling Omiya Ardija, while Tokyo end the weekend in sixth after drawing 0-0 at Cerezo Osaka.<br> Rock-bottom Tokushima Vortis suffered a 14th defeat of the season, going down 1-0 at Shimizu S-Pulse, but Ventforet Kofu climbed up to 14th with a 0-0 home draw against Vegalta Sendai.<br> One of the day's more entertaining encounters saw Kashiwa Reysol come from two down to rescue a 2-2 draw at Yokohama F. Marinos, with Daisuke Suzuki and Tatsuya Masushima finding the net for the away side.<br> Vissel Kobe left it late to defeat Albirex Niigata 1-0, Hiroyuki Komoto scoring in the 90th minute.</p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-eTHLorTZTaY/U-ZDoiemtuI/AAAAAAAAACM/HU219ysYygQ/s1600/594191header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-eTHLorTZTaY/U-ZDoiemtuI/AAAAAAAAACM/HU219ysYygQ/s640/594191header.jpg"> </a> </div>

J.League Review Kashima Player Urawa Reds suffer J.League Review: Urawa Reds suffer, Kashima close on leaders

Urawa Reds were unable to put pressure on J.League leaders Sagan Tosu as they slumped to a 2-1 defeat at Kawasaki Frontale on Saturday. Ur...

Baca selengkapnya »

Pellegrini praises competition between Hart and Caballero

<p dir=ltr>Manuel Pellegrini is relishing the prospect of Joe Hart and Willy Caballero battling to be Manchester<br> City's number one this season.<br> Caballero was reunited with Pellegrini in July - the<br> 32-year-old goalkeeper previously played under<br> the Chilean at Malaga - as City prepare to launch<br> their Premier League title defence.<br> Hart has failed to start just seven league games<br> in the past four seasons, but was dropped last<br> season following a string of high-profile mistakes.<br> The 27-year-old, though, quickly established<br> himself as the team's first-choice stopper and<br> Pellegrini has praised the competition that<br> Caballero has added to his squad ahead of the<br> season curtain-raiser as City face Arsenal in<br> Sunday's Community Shield.<br> "I have two number one goalkeepers," said<br> Pellegrini.<br> "I am sure Willy will be very important for us but I<br> also continue thinking we have the best<br> goalkeeper in England in Joe Hart.<br> "Top teams need two players for each position<br> because we have to play so many games during<br> the year."</p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-15w5cPZGJlA/U-Y37GndKSI/AAAAAAAAAB8/s1600/593987header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-15w5cPZGJlA/U-Y37GndKSI/AAAAAAAAAB8/s640/593987header.jpg"> </a> </div>

England Football Joe Hart Manuel Pellegrini News Player Soccet Pellegrini praises competition between Hart and Caballero

Manuel Pellegrini is relishing the prospect of Joe Hart and Willy Caballero battling to be Manchester City's number one this season. C...

Baca selengkapnya »

Pellegrini praises competition between Hart and Caballero

<p dir=ltr>Manuel Pellegrini is relishing the prospect of Joe Hart and Willy Caballero battling to be Manchester<br> City's number one this season.<br> Caballero was reunited with Pellegrini in July - the<br> 32-year-old goalkeeper previously played under<br> the Chilean at Malaga - as City prepare to launch<br> their Premier League title defence.<br> Hart has failed to start just seven league games<br> in the past four seasons, but was dropped last<br> season following a string of high-profile mistakes.<br> The 27-year-old, though, quickly established<br> himself as the team's first-choice stopper and<br> Pellegrini has praised the competition that<br> Caballero has added to his squad ahead of the<br> season curtain-raiser as City face Arsenal in<br> Sunday's Community Shield.<br> "I have two number one goalkeepers," said<br> Pellegrini.<br> "I am sure Willy will be very important for us but I<br> also continue thinking we have the best<br> goalkeeper in England in Joe Hart.<br> "Top teams need two players for each position<br> because we have to play so many games during<br> the year."</p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-15w5cPZGJlA/U-Y37GndKSI/AAAAAAAAAB8/s1600/593987header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-15w5cPZGJlA/U-Y37GndKSI/AAAAAAAAAB8/s640/593987header.jpg"> </a> </div>

England Football Joe Hart Manuel Pellegrini News Player Pellegrini praises competition between Hart and Caballero

Manuel Pellegrini is relishing the prospect of Joe Hart and Willy Caballero battling to be Manchester City's number one this season. C...

Baca selengkapnya »

Pellegrini praises competition between Hart and Caballero

<p dir=ltr>Manuel Pellegrini is relishing the prospect of Joe Hart and Willy Caballero battling to be Manchester<br> City's number one this season.<br> Caballero was reunited with Pellegrini in July - the<br> 32-year-old goalkeeper previously played under<br> the Chilean at Malaga - as City prepare to launch<br> their Premier League title defence.<br> Hart has failed to start just seven league games<br> in the past four seasons, but was dropped last<br> season following a string of high-profile mistakes.<br> The 27-year-old, though, quickly established<br> himself as the team's first-choice stopper and<br> Pellegrini has praised the competition that<br> Caballero has added to his squad ahead of the<br> season curtain-raiser as City face Arsenal in<br> Sunday's Community Shield.<br> "I have two number one goalkeepers," said<br> Pellegrini.<br> "I am sure Willy will be very important for us but I<br> also continue thinking we have the best<br> goalkeeper in England in Joe Hart.<br> "Top teams need two players for each position<br> because we have to play so many games during<br> the year."</p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-15w5cPZGJlA/U-Y37GndKSI/AAAAAAAAAB8/s1600/593987header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-15w5cPZGJlA/U-Y37GndKSI/AAAAAAAAAB8/s640/593987header.jpg"> </a> </div>

England Football Joe Hart Manuel Pellegrini News Player Pellegrini praises competition between Hart and Caballero

Manuel Pellegrini is relishing the prospect of Joe Hart and Willy Caballero battling to be Manchester City's number one this season. C...

Baca selengkapnya »

Tiote backs Newcastle for top five

<p dir=ltr>Midfielder Cheick Tiote has backed Newcastle<br> United to finish in the Premier League's top five<br> this season.<br> The St James' Park club made a strong start to<br> the 2013-14 campaign before falling away after<br> the turn of the year, ending up in 10th.<br> However, manager Alan Pardew has added the<br> likes of Remy Cabella, Emmanuel Riviere and Siem<br> de Jong to his squad in the close-season, and<br> Tiote is hopeful the trio can help Newcastle make<br> a more sustained challenge for European football<br> this time around.<br> "I know some of the new boys from when I've<br> watched the French league like Remy Cabella, Manu<br> Riviere and also Siem de Jong from Ajax," he is<br> quoted as saying by the Northern Echo.<br> "I've played against him before so I know what he<br> is capable of.<br> "They are good signings for the club and hopefully<br> they are going to do well for us this season.<br> "I think there could be more players, but at the<br> moment I think the squad looks better than last<br> season that's for sure.<br> "We have had the opportunity to bring in some new<br> players and we could bring in more, but I definitely<br> think we are stronger."<br> Newcastle last made the top five in the 2011-12<br> season and Tiote is confident of repeating that<br> feat.<br> "We will try to win every game and finish near the<br> top," he added.<br> "You never know with the Premier League. You<br> can't say we will finish third, fourth, fifth or<br> sixth, because it's really tough, but I think for us<br> it's important to be ready for the start of the<br> season and try to win every game like we did two<br> years ago when we finished fifth.<br> "The more games we win the better chance we will<br> have of finishing in the top five rather than the<br> top 10.<br> "I think it’s possible this squad can repeat the<br> fifth place from two years ago, because we've<br> got the players and have brought in some real<br> quality. We just have to work hard, because it's<br> not easy to finish there in the Premier League."<br> Newcastle kick off their Premier League campaign<br> against champions Manchester City next weekend.</p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-lpiUpHX7RD4/U-Y3LFcjkSI/AAAAAAAAAB0/Kuf_lxzSg7k/s1600/594013header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-lpiUpHX7RD4/U-Y3LFcjkSI/AAAAAAAAAB0/Kuf_lxzSg7k/s640/594013header.jpg"> </a> </div>

Football Midfielder News Newscastle Premier League's Tiote Tiote backs Newcastle for top five

Midfielder Cheick Tiote has backed Newcastle United to finish in the Premier League's top five this season. The St James' Park cl...

Baca selengkapnya »

Diego Lopez on verge of Milan switch

<p dir=ltr>Milan are close to completing the signing of Real Madrid goalkeeper Diego Lopez, chief executive Adriano Galliani has revealed.<br> Lopez established himself ahead of Iker Casillas as Real's first-choice keeper in La Liga over the last two seasons.<br> However, the UEFA Champions League winners have signed Keylor Navas this close-season - with the Costa Rica's World Cup star expected to be coach Carlo Ancelotti's number one moving forward.<br> And Lopez now appears to be heading for the Santiago Bernabeu exit door, with Milan supremo Galliani saying the Spaniard is on his way to San Siro.<br> "The deal is 99 per cent done," Galliani is quoted by Gazzetta dell Sport as saying on Saturday.<br> Lopez has made 42 Liga appearances for Real since joining from Sevilla in January 2013.</p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-hRIPOJFQlok/U-Y2bF8s-3I/AAAAAAAAABs/-I0h9akvh0E/s1600/594029header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-hRIPOJFQlok/U-Y2bF8s-3I/AAAAAAAAABs/-I0h9akvh0E/s640/594029header.jpg"> </a> </div>

Champions League Diego Lopez Goalkeeper Milan Player Real Madrid UEFA Diego Lopez on verge of Milan switch

Milan are close to completing the signing of Real Madrid goalkeeper Diego Lopez, chief executive Adriano Galliani has revealed. Lopez estab...

Baca selengkapnya »

Buffon relishing Del Piero reunion

<p dir=ltr>Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon is looking forward to coming up against former team-mate Alessandro Del Piero on Sunday.<br> The two will renew acquaintances when the Serie A champions take on the A-League All Stars at the ANZ Stadium in Sydney.<br> Although not currently attached to an Australian side, Del Piero, who spent 19 years as a Juve player, has been on Sydney FC's books for the past two seasons.<br> And Buffon concedes it will be strange to see Del Piero on the opposing team.<br> ''For me this is something absolutely<br> unprecedented, but this is true especially for Alex [Del Piero] considering that he was at Juve way before I arrived," he said.<br> "Under many points of view I think the fact that Alex will be facing Juventus is something really nice.<br> "That's why I really hope that this game will give us some interesting cues, that would make this close encounter even more romantic than what it already is.<br> "Obviously I hope that one of those cues is not Alex scoring past me.<br> "Basically, I really hope that he will play well and perform some of his old tricks as usual, but I hope he doesn't come to score against me.''</p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-EEeTITrcJUM/U-Yy6d6DJ0I/AAAAAAAAABg/ZRHI8P1HY7w/s1600/594027header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-EEeTITrcJUM/U-Yy6d6DJ0I/AAAAAAAAABg/ZRHI8P1HY7w/s640/594027header.jpg"> </a> </div>

Buffon Del piero Football Juventus News Player Buffon relishing Del Piero reunion

Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon is looking forward to coming up against former team-mate Alessandro Del Piero on Sunday. The two will ...

Baca selengkapnya »