LADS 2009: GRAZIE ALL’ OTTIMO SUCCESSO RISCOSSO, IL LIBRO E’ DISPONIBILE, AL PREZZO DI EURO 25 PIU’ SPESE SPEDIZIONE,  SU:

WWW.LULU.COM

WWW.AMAZON.COM

E-BAY

oppure SCRIVENDO A: italianlads@gmail.com o CONTATTANDO  ItalianLads Italy SU “FACEBOOK”

 

Serata negativa per le squadre britanniche impegnate in “Champions’ League”. Il Liverpool cede al “Franchi” per due reti a zero alla Fiorentina mentre i Rangers, dopo un primo tempo chiuso a reti inviolate, cedono di schianto al favorito del girone, il Siviglia (1-4). L’ Arsenal, invece, si è imposto, non senza fatica, sui greci dell’ Olimpiakos all’ “Emirates”. Circa tremila tifosi ( foto ) hanno seguito i “Reds” in Toscana in un clima sereno dopo i contatti avvenuti nei giorni scorsi tra le due tifoserie.

 

Stevan Jovetic was Liverpool’s tormentor as he scored twice in Fiorentina’s surprise win over the Reds in their Champions League Group B tie.

Jovetic pierced Liverpool’s offside trap and slotted past keeper Pepe Reina to put his side deservedly ahead.He added a second when he diverted in a powerful Juan Vargas strike.Liverpool had chances to get back into the game but Lucas Leiva put a free header wide and Fernando Torres unusually skied a near post volley.Liverpool did not lose away from home in the Champions League last season but were undone by a poor first-half showing and an inspired La Viola at the Stadio Artemio Franchi.Fiorentina fielded 19-year-old Jovetic in attack because of striker Alberto Gilardino’s absence through suspension and the teenager was relished the stage of his first Champions League start.

A bustling and energetic presence in the hole behind fellow forward Adrian Mutu, Montenegro international Jovetic was a major influence as the Italian side took the game to Liverpool after weighing up their rivals.His reward came when he timed his run to perfection to beat the Liverpool offside trap and latched on to a Cristiano Zanetti pass before calmly slotting past Reina.The assured home defence were giving little away as their organisation and discipline created a barrier the Reds struggled to make any impression on.It gave Fiorentina the foundation to push forward with confidence and their work-rate and movement saw Liverpool struggling to keep them at bay.The Reds have looked vulnerable in defence so far this season and they conceded a 12th goal in 10 games when Jovetic diverted in a powerful angled Vargas shot at the near post.Liverpool had found space and time at a premium as Fiorentina constantly and quickly closed them down and robbed them of possession.The presence of combative midfielder Javier Mascherano, who is sidelined with a groin strain, was missing but the game changed after half-time.The visitors increased the tempo and urgency in their play, while Fiorentina sat back more, playing more on the counter-attack to hold on to their win.The Reds almost capitalised when Yossi Benayoun cut in from the left by-line and had a well-struck shot blocked by keeper Sebastien Frey.Lucas put a free six-yard header over from the resultant corner when he should have done better and Dirk Kuyt had a shot deflected wide as Liverpool searched for a way back into the game.Fiorentina were weathering the Liverpool pressure and Gerrard chested down the ball before having a shot blocked as the home side showed the resolute and stubborn defending Italian teams are famed for.Torres felt he should have had a penalty after a forceful Alessandro Gamberini tackle late on before he blazed a near post volley high from a Martin Skrtel cross as Fiorentina fans raucously celebrated a memorable victory.

( BBC Sport )

 

Pasta al ragù e Beatles, ecco il mix per i 3mila tifosi dei Reds

29/09/2009 Pasta al ragù e musica dei Beatles, questo è quanto attende i quasi 3mila tifosi (dovrebbero essere circa 2600, ndr) del Liverpool attesi oggi a Firenze per la sfida di Champions in programma al Franchi. Un esodo atteso dal popolo viola anche per il gemellaggio che verrà sancito prima del fischio d’inizio della gara. Intanto, per agevolare la Questura di Firenze e coloro che gestiscono gli spettatori dentro il Franchi, assieme ai supporter dei Reds sono arrivati anche 20 steward inglesi.

 

Arsenal needed late goals from Robin van Persie and Andrey Arshavin to see off Olympiakos despite dominating their Champions League Group H clash.

The Gunners wasted a series of chances, with Cesc Fabregas firing against the bar and Antonis Nikopolidis making a succession of saves for the Greek side.Van Persie finally broke the deadlock with 12 minutes left, slotting home Eduardo’s cross after a neat move.Arshavin made it 2-0 with a clever flick, despite appearing to be offside.The win continues Arsenal’s 100% start to their European campaign and they sit on top of their group after AZ Alkmaar drew with Standard Liege.At times, their approach play was breathtaking, with Arshavin in particular standing out as he mixed crisp one-touch passing with the ability to run at – and often straight through – the visitors’ defence.But the Gunners’ finishing was a different story and, although 38-year-old Nikopolidis made a string of stops, their failure to break the deadlock until the 78th minute was more down to poor finishing than any inspirational goalkeeping.

Arshavin was the first to test the former Greek international, firing in a first-time shot after a sublime pass by Fabregas was followed by some equally deft skill by Gael Clichy.Nikopolidis was beaten soon afterwards when Fabregas sent his shot crashing against the crossbar, but he recovered to acrobatically keep out Tomas Rosicky’s follow-up.The chances continued to flow for Arsene Wenger’s men, with Arshavin’s low effort tipped wide after a mazy dribble into the box before Fabregas was denied again following another neat build-up.It took Olympiakos 34 minutes to manage an meaningful attack of their own, with Vassilis Torosidis heading straight at Vito Mannone from Dudu’s deep cross.But Arsenal were soon back on the attack and ended the half in the same way they began it, with Van Persie firing over before Vassiriki Diaby headed wastefully wide when unmarked in front of goal.The Greek champions did fashion the first opening of the second half, with Mannone doing well to scoop away Olof Mellberg’s header on his goalline as Vassilis Torosidis prepared to pounce.But they spent the remainder of the game on the back-foot, desperately trying to contain wave after wave of attacks.Nikopolidis made further stops from Van Persie and Diaby but the home side remained patient and eventually got their reward.Fabregas slid subsitute Eduardo clear down the left and he squared the ball for Van Persie to slam the ball home from close range.Olympiakos tried to respond but only succeeded in leaving gaps at the back and they were punished further with four minutes to go.Arshavin appeared a yard offside when he skilfully turned in a low Fabregas cross but he deserved his goal after an impressive individualperformance.

( BBC Sport )

 

Naismith was pulled down by Konko in the early stages at Ibrox

Rangers suffered a battering from a slick Sevilla, but the result will be overshadowed by the decision to deny the Glasgow side a clear early penalty.

Swedish referee Jonas Eriksson waved play on after Steven Naismith was tripped by Abdoulay Konko.

Rangers had the better of the first half but were hit by a Konko header and an Adriano curler after the break.Luis Fabiano headed in and Fredi Kanoute slotted the fourth before Nacho Novo’s powerful reply for Rangers.Naismith was given the job of spearheading the Rangers attack with Kenny Miller nursing a slight injury and dropping to the bench.The visitors, meanwhile, could call on the services of world famous duo Kanoute and Fabiano up front after the latter was rested for Saturday’s 4-0 win over Bilbao.

But, despite Rangers largely playing on the break early on, the home side created the first two chances.A Naismith head flick flew over from 12 yards and then a Pedro Mendes drive flew wide after a neat move involving Madjid Bougherra and Kevin Thomson.However, Rangers had Allan McGregor to thank for keeping out Sevilla after 14 minutes when Sasa Papac, passed fit along with Steven Davis, gave too much space to Jesus Navas.The winger found Kanoute with a low ball and the goalkeeper parried clear the ball that had been driven in from 16 yards.That just appeared to spur Rangers into greater effort and Lee McCulloch, who was supposed to be the holding midfielder, twice threatened.First, he fired a volley a few feet over from 18 yards and then another drive on the turn drifted wide of the far postBy now it was more than seven hours since Sevilla conceded a goal and Rangers ought to have been given a golden opportunity to end that run after 36 minutes at Ibrox.Konko miss-kicked an attempted clearance and, as Naismith picked up the ball and advanced towards the six-yard box, the defender clearly pulled the striker down.To the astonishment of all at Ibrox, the referee, who had been standing a mere 10 yards away, waved play on.

Sevilla were the ones celebrating at the end at Ibrox

Rangers almost paid for that shortly before half-time when Bougherra dallied on the ball and was dispossessed by Adriano.

McGregor did well to parry the Sevilla man’s powerful drive from 16 yards and Jesus Navas turned the rebound over from a difficult angle.Rangers were further angered when the Swedish referee denied them a clear corner and then awarded Sevilla a soft free-kick against McCulloch from which the Spaniards took the lead.The ball was played out wide to Jesus Navas and Konko rose unchallenged to head home the resulting cross from 10 yards.

Thomson forced a save from Palop from long range and a cross flashed across the face of the Sevilla goal but evaded Papac at the far post.Rangers fell further behind to a sucker punch after 64 minutes, but it was a beautiful move from the visitors that virtually killed the tie.

 

Fabiano played a nice one-two with Kanoute before picking out Adriano for a neat curling finish into the far corner from 16 yards.Kanoute combined with his strike partner again after 71 minutes, Fabiano rising above Whittaker’s poor challenge at the back post to power his header home from the cross to the back post.It was Fabiano to Kanoute two minutes later as the dangerous pair broke clear.Kris Boyd forced Palop into a save after breaking clear and fellow substitute Novo missed a good chance before redeeming himself with a superb finish from 22 yards.

(BBC Sport )

Tag:arsenal, calcio, champions league, fiorentina, ibrox, inghilterra, liverpool, rangers, scozia, tifosi