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Messi voted best player in Europe

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Uefa has voted Barcelona’s Lionel Messi the best player in Europe for 2014-2015.

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Monaco - Lionel Messi was Thursday voted Uefa's best player in Europe for 2014-2015 with Germany's Celia Sasic winning the women's award.

The Argentina star, who won the Champions League, Spain's La Liga and Spanish Cup with Barcelona, claimed the award for the second time ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo and Luis Suarez.

“I am happy to win the award. I thank all my teammates because they deserve part of it. I depend a lot on the team like everyone else,” the 28-year-old said.

Messi also won in 2010-2011 and succeeds Real Madrid rival Ronaldo who won last year.

FFC Frankfurt's Sasic, 27, was voted the best women's player ahead of France's Amandine Henry and fellow German Dzsenifer Marozsan.

Sasic, who retired last month, was the top scorer in the Champions League which Frankfurt won, the Bundesliga and at the Women's World Cup in Canada where she won the Golden Boot award.

AFP

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Defensive worry for Arsenal, Wenger

Arsene Wenger says central defensive pairing Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny remain doubtful against Newcastle.

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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says first-choice central defensive pairing Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny remain doubtful for the Gunners' trip to Newcastle on Saturday.

Illness and a back injury prevented the pair from playing in Monday's 0-0 draw against Liverpool, with Calum Chambers and Gabriel Paulista filling in for the absent duo.

Wenger will be hoping his regular starters can soon return after their replacements were unconvincing in the first half as goalkeeper Petr Cech made two stunning saves with Liverpool playmaker Philippe Coutinho hitting the woodwork twice.

“Mertesacker is still ill and we will know more about Koscielny after he has a test,” Wenger said in his Thursday news conference.

“Koscielny will have a test today and we'll know more tomorrow,” he added.

In Monday's game, Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey had an eighth-minute strike ruled out for offside and the 24-year-old called for the use of technology for marginal decisions after replays indicated the goal should have stood.

Wenger echoed the comments made by the Welshman and is confident technology will eventually be introduced to assist in that aspect of the game.

“I'm convinced it will come in. It's the next step (on offside decisions),” the 65-year-old Frenchman said.

“The sooner the better, you would have my signature on it tomorrow morning.”

The Gunners have collected just four points form their opening three Premier League games and Wenger put the club's slow start down to a lack of match fitness.

“Some players are not completely there yet. It's normal after two or three games that you're not at 100 percent,” he added.

“We've not had the ideal start. We've played three games, we want to play 60 and we've lost a game we shouldn't have.

“I said we wanted to start strong because we had two derbies and Liverpool at home.”

Arsenal have won seven in a row against Newcastle United and Wenger is confident his side can overcome what he expects to be a tough match to improve the streak to eight.

“It's important that we prepare well. It's always very tight and very committed there because the crowd is behind them,” Wenger said.

“We have always done very well,” he added. – Reuters

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Busy period awaits Bafana

Bafana Bafana will play 8 games in a three-month period between September and November.

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Cape Town – Bafana Bafana enter a hectic period in which they will play almost two matches a month until the end of the year with the busiest phase being in October where Ephraim 'Shakes' Mashaba's charges will play four games.

In total, the South African Men's Senior National Team will play 8 games in a three-month period between September and November.

After a somewhat long break, South Africa will head to Mauritania for a CAF Orange Africa Cup of Nations 2017 clash against the home side.

That clash is scheduled for Saturday, 5 September. Three days later (Tuesday, 8 September) they will find themselves in Soweto for a date with a tough opponent (to be announced on Monday, 31 August) in the 2015 Nelson Mandela Challenge encounter.

That match will played at Lafarge Orlando Stadium and will kick off at 19h00.

A month later South Africa will be up against Costa Rica in Central America for an international friendly. That clash is pencilled for Thursday, 8 October in the Costa Rican town of Liberia.

Bafana Bafana will remain in Central America and travel to San Pedro, Sula to face Honduras on Tuesday, 13 October. The kick-off times and venues for the two international friendly matches are still to be confirmed.

Upon their return, South Africa will host Angola in the first of four back-to-back matches with their Cosafa counterparts.

The first clash will be a 2016 Chan first round qualifier scheduled for Saturday, 17 October at a venue to be confirmed.

The return leg will be played a fortnight later in Angola and will be at Estadio Nacional 11 de Novembro (11th November National Stadium) in Luanda.

On Friday, 13 November 2015 the two nations will lock horns again in the preliminary round of the Fifa 2018 Russia World Cup qualifiers at the Estadio Nacional de Ombaka (Ombaka National Stadium) in Benguela, Angola. The return fixture will take place on Tuesday, 17 November at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban. - African News Agency (ANA)

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Balotelli blames Rodgers’ tactics

Maverick striker Mario Balotelli blamed his poor Liverpool stint on manager Brendan Rodgers' tactics.

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Maverick striker Mario Balotelli blamed his poor Liverpool stint on manager Brendan Rodgers' tactics after completing his season-long loan move to AC Milan on Thursday.

The controversial player failed to make an impact at Anfield last season, scoring only one goal in 16 Premier League appearances as the club finished sixth in the table.

The 25-year-old Italian, who joined Liverpool last season for a reported fee of 16 million pounds ($24.78 million) from Milan, was also criticised for his poor work rate during his time in England.

“I take my responsibilities, but the system chosen by Rodgers wasn't suited to my characteristics,” Balotelli said on Milan's official website.

The Italy international said he cannot afford to waste anymore chances.

“I feel like someone who has put the first part of his career to one side. Played and lived like a boy,” Balotelli said.

“I haven't forgotten how to play football. I am no longer a kid. I've wasted too many chances,” he added.

Balotelli, who also played for Manchester City, had a relatively successful and uneventful spell in Milan, scoring 18 goals in 41 Serie A appearances in one-and-a-half seasons.

According to a media report, he will have a good behaviour clause inserted into his contract with Milan, banning extravagant haircuts and clothing and committing him to a healthy lifestyle. – Reuters

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Is this Balotelli’s last chance?

Liverpool misfit Mario Balotelli claims he is ready to knuckle down at AC Milan as he bids to fulfil his dying father's wish.

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Liverpool misfit Mario Balotelli claims he has left his childish ways behind and is ready to knuckle down at AC Milan as he bids to fulfil his dying father's wish of playing for Italy again.

Balotelli's return to the Rossoneri on a one-season loan deal has been met with derision in Italy, with pundits and most fans opposed to the striker's return to the club he left only a year ago.

Balotelli spectacularly underperformed at Anfield, instead embellishing his reputation as a “liability” – the view of former Reds legend Graeme Souness, among others.

Against his own expectations, the 25-year-old has been given a second chance by Milan. But he knows it could be his last with a top club.

Coach Sinisa Mihajlovic and Milan have instigated a special code of conduct for Balotelli, a player who in the past has riled fans and clubs with his off-field antics, outrageous hairstyles and outings to nightclubs where he has enjoyed the odd cigarette.

Balotelli has pledged to comply – and with good reason. His adoptive father Francesco, whose dying wish was to see Balotelli don the Italy shirt again, died last month. He is also close to his two-year-old daughter Pia, born to ex-girlfriend Raffaella Fico, who is based in Italy.

Like a neo-professional who has just signed his first contract, Balotelli has it all to prove again on and off the field.

But in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport he said: “I feel like a player who's just finished the first half of his career. I played and lived like a kid. It hasn't always gone well, I've wasted a lot of opportunities.

“But the game's not over, I still have a second half to play. Now, I'll play it like a man.”

A poll on the popular 'Processo del Lunedi' sports programme on Monday showed 62 percent of fans opposed his return. Last week, respected pundit and former Milan great Zvonimir Boban called Balotelli's intended move “absurd”.

“I know a lot of people don't believe in my comeback, it's up to me to prove them wrong,” added Balotelli.

“Milan have taken a gamble, but I've made a promise to myself, and all the people who support me... I'm starting from zero and know I can't mess this one up.

“I will follow every rule. I know I'll only be given my chance if I deserve it, but I haven't forgotten how to play football.”

Born to parents of Ghanaian origin, Balotelli was fostered by a white family, the Balotelli's, when he was three years old and eventually adopted.

When he scored the goals for Italy that sent the Azzurri to the final of Euro 2012, Balotelli rushed over to embrace his adoptive mother Silvia as she wept after the win.

But it is his father who is on Balotelli's mind.

“Seeing me back in the Azzurri shirt was one of his dreams before he died. I owe it to him,” said Balotelli.

Milan host Empoli in their first home game of the season this weekend, but fans hoping to see the Balotelli of old -- showing arrogance and reacting to the provocation of fans and rival players -- could be disappointed.

“I will no longer respond to any provocation and will show respect to everyone, from opponents, referees and rival fans,” he said.

Even in the event of racist chanting?

“It's really up to the referees to intervene in these moments, and I will keep my mouth shut. But then in the press conference I will go crazy,” he added.

“You need respect. Fans who racially abuse me when I'm playing against their club are the same ones who shout for me to score when I'm playing for Italy.

“But the day I don't get whistled at is the day I have to start worrying: that's when you're no longer a threat.” – AFP

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Everton to reject Stones’ transfer request

Everton manager Roberto Martinez confirmed that defender John Stones had handed in a formal transfer request.

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Everton manager Roberto Martinez confirmed that defender John Stones had handed in a formal transfer request and added the club would reject it on Thursday.

Stones, who has four years left on his Everton contract, started during the 5-3 win at Barnsley in the second round of the League Cup on Wednesday, despite formally asking Martínez if he could leave the club.

The 21-year-old is a target for Premier League champions Chelsea, who see him as a long-term replacement for the ageing John Terry.

Chelsea, reportedly, have had three bids for the young England international rejected so far and could make a fourth before the transfer deadline expires on September 1.

Martinez reiterated his stance that Stones would not be sold, saying after the Barnsley game that “... in football as in life, money can't buy everything.”

“We have not rejected it (the transfer request) yet because today was a match day and that was our priority,” the manager said.

“We will reject it in the morning and get on with our business,” he added.

“I am not surprised by the request because he is a young man who is under massive pressure from people and outside influences.

“We want to build a winning team and so we want to keep our best performers. John is a big part of our future,” the 42-year-old Martinez said.

The manager also refused to criticise Stones for a perceived drop in form against Wednesday night's lower league opponents after his impressive showing in the Premier League since the start of the season.

“For a young man under massive pressure he was terrific,” the manager said. “John was just a real example of how to perform under massive, massive pressure and, for me, it was an exceptional display by him.

The Spaniard did, however, repeat his criticism of the transfer window being allowed to stay open past the start of the season, a sore point that has been brought up by several other managers, including West Bromwich Albion's Tony Pulis.

“I am repeating myself but it is wrong for the football authorities to allow the window to remain open when there are important games taking place,” Martinez said.

“When there is an opportunity to go to Wembley and to win silverware that should be respected and we shouldn't put our players under this massive pressure.” – Reuters

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Chelsea, City seek home wins

Chelsea and Manchester City, are keen to reverse the most striking statistic of the new Premier League season this weekend.

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London - Last season's top two, Chelsea and Manchester City, are keen to reverse the most striking statistic of the new Premier League season this weekend - and they are not the only ones.

Of the 30 matches played in the opening three rounds, only six have resulted in home wins, with more than twice as many going the way of the visitors, while the other 11 have been drawn.

Even at such an early stage of the campaign, leaders City are one of just three teams with a 100 per cent home record - Swansea City and Liverpool being the others - though each have played just one home match so far.

Having beaten champions Chelsea 3-0 in their only game at the Etihad Stadium, City will be confident of seeing off Watford for their fourth successive win of the campaign, although Quique Flores' promoted side are unbeaten in the league, having drawn all three matches.

Chelsea, undefeated at home in winning the title last season, suffered an opening-day setback at Stamford Bridge this time when goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was sent off and Swansea City held them to a 2-2 draw.

Last weekend captain John Terry was dismissed at West Bromwich Albion, so he will miss the London derby with fifth-placed Crystal Palace.

Swansea won their only home game to date, against Newcastle, but now face a tougher task with a visit on Sunday from Manchester United, who must hope there is no hangover from Wednesday's Champions League qualifying rout of Bruges.

Liverpool will be confident of beating West Ham, whose dreadful record at Anfield suggests their supporters should save the train fare - the Londoners have not won there since 1963, 42 games ago.

Arsenal's form exemplifies the unusual trend of home and away results. They go to Newcastle in the early Saturday match after failing to score in two games at the Emirates but having won their only game on the road.

Equally unexpected is the fact that Bournemouth and unbeaten Leicester City, both widely regarded as relegation material, have belied expectations ahead of their meeting on the south coast.

West Brom manager Tony Pulis returns to one of his old clubs, Stoke City, for a meeting of two teams that have yet to win.

Like West Ham at Liverpool, it is a trip that bottom-of-the-table Albion do not relish - a victory there in 2012 was their first for 30 years.

The other teams hoping to improve the overall ratio of home wins this term are Aston Villa against Sunderland, Tottenham Hostpur versus Everton and, on Sunday, Southampton against Norwich City. – Reuters

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City close to De Bruyne deal

Manchester City are close to the £58.5m signing of Wolfsburg's Kevin De Bruyne, taking their summer spending towards £157m.

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Manchester City are close to the €80m (£58.5m) signing of Wolfsburg's Kevin De Bruyne, which would make him the second most expensive player in British football history and take his club's summer spending towards £157m.

There were reports last night in Germany's Bild newspaper and the Kicker magazine that De Bruyne will have his medical in Manchester today with a view to being presented by the club later in the week. The club refused to comment on these reports last night but there was no denial that the deal was imminent, and City have pursued De Bruyne all summer.

The deal that has been suggested in Germany is a guaranteed fee of £55m to Wolfsburg, with additional payments according to what City achieve with De Bruyne in the team. The six-year contract offer with a salary of around £200,000 a week would make De Bruyne an early beneficiary of the new three-year £5.14bn television deal that begins from the start of the next Premier League season.

De Bruyne, 24, has also attracted interest from Bayern Munich who have emerged as a late contender to sign the attacking midfielder. With Uefa's financial fair play rules relaxed, City have been able to be more aggressive this summer in their signings with the £49m fee for Raheem Sterling currently a club record.

Chelsea sold De Bruyne in the January transfer window of 2014 after he failed to convince Jose Mourinho that he would be prepared to battle for a place in the first team. Initially he had impressed the Chelsea manager on the pre-season trip to south-east Asia in 2013, but he slipped further down the pecking order and came in for public criticism from Mourinho after a poor performance against Swindon Town in the Carling Cup in September 2013.

Since De Bruyne's return to Germany with Wolfsburg - he had previously been on loan at Werder Bremen - he has emerged as one of the best playmakers in Europe.

Mourinho says that he had no choice but to sell the player, who went for £13m in January last year, because De Bruyne said at the time that he needed to be guaranteed a start.

Speaking on Friday at Cobham on De Bruyne, Mourinho said that he had no regrets about letting the player go.

“If you have a player knocking on your door and crying every day he wants to leave, you have to make a decision. At that time, Chelsea did well. If De Bruyne stayed here, not happy and not motivated, and we'd sold him after a year, we'd have got less... less 50 per cent of what we sold him for.”

He added: “It was like a wall, a block. He was not ready to compete. He was an upset kid, training very bad. He always said he had trained well in his life, but he needs motivation to train well by playing every game.” – The Independent

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LVG lauds Rooney’s mentality

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal praised Wayne Rooney's “mentality” after the captain's hat-trick in a 4-0 win against Club Brugge.

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Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal praised Wayne Rooney's “mentality” after the captain's hat-trick in a 4-0 win against Club Brugge helped his side secure a Champions League place.

United will go into the hat in Thursday's group-stage draw after their victory in Bruges on Wednesday completed a 7-1 aggregate win in the competition's play-off round.

Rooney had previously gone 10 club games without scoring, prompting suggestions he was unsuited to the role of lone striker in Van Gaal's single-striker system, but the Dutchman said he never doubted that the England captain would rediscover the path to goal.

“I have given him always the confidence that a player needs, but I think Wayne has a very strong mentality and with his level he always shall come back,” Van Gaal said.

“And he proved that this evening (Wednesday). But still it's a long way for him and also for Manchester United it's not so easy. Of course I'm very happy for him.”

All three of Rooney's goals were pleasing on the eye, as he applied assured one-touch finishes to passes from Memphis Depay, Ander Herrera and Juan Mata.

Herrera stroked in United's fourth goal in the 63rd minute at Jan Breydel Stadium, having been moved forward into a number 10 role following the half-time introduction of Bastian Schweinsteiger.

Herrera had struggled in the game's early stages, misplacing passes and earning a booking for an untidy foul on Victor Vazquez, and Van Gaal admitted afterwards that he had contemplated taking him off.

“He started not so good. He had a lot of ball losses and also a yellow card, so at that moment I wanted to change him, but then I saw he was coming back,” said Van Gaal, who also saw substitute Javier Hernandez miss a late penalty.

“And after that moment he plays a good match on the 'double six' position, but later on (at) 10 he was better. So I'm very pleased also for him.”

Van Gaal won the Champions League with an exciting young Ajax team in 1995 and took Bayern Munich to the final in 2010, but he has not led a team in the competition since 2011.

Asked how the tournament had changed during his absence, he replied: “I cannot judge because (for) three years I was not a participant.

“Of course I've seen the matches on television. I think it is the highest podium, and it was also 10 years ago and 20 years ago.

“It is the highest podium that you can show yourself or your team and it's fantastic to be a participant.”

The 2014-15 season was the first time United had not graced the Champions League in 19 years, the legacy of a disastrous seventh-place finish under Van Gaal's hapless predecessor David Moyes.

Holders Barcelona, Bayern, Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain are among the teams who could be drawn to face United, but Van Gaal said that he would not be watching the draw.

“I don't know the teams who are participating, but I think I cannot have any influence on the draw,” he said.

“There was also a lady who asked me what am I going to do tomorrow (Thursday) during the draw. I said I shall watch the second team against Ajax because that's more important for me.

“I cannot influence the draw, so it's better to hear afterwards.”

Club Brugge coach Michel Preud'homme had said before the game that his side required a “miracle” to qualify and he felt that the outcome of the tie was logical.

“This team has everything - technical quality, physical quality in power and endurance, and of course they have the mentality,” said the former Belgium goalkeeper, who was missing several key players through injury and suspension.

“It's a top team and they are top players. They have everything. We are there to learn something and I hope we can learn a lot from these two confrontations.” – AFP

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Chiefs draw, Pirates lose

Defending champions Kaizer Chiefs were held and fellow 'big three' clubs Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns lost their Premiership midweek matches.

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Defending champions Kaizer Chiefs were held and fellow 'big three' clubs Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns lost their Premiership midweek matches.

As the giants of domestic football found the going tough on the road in the third round, traditional mid-table outfit Mpumalanga Black Aces set the pace with seven points.

Ajax Cape Town and Wits have six points each, Chiefs, Platinum Stars and SuperSport United five, and pointless Free State Stars prop up the table.

Zamuxolo Ngalo was the match-winner for Aces in north-east city Nelspruit, 65 kilometres from the world famous Kruger National Park.

His glancing near-post header off a corner flew across veteran Zambia goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene and into the net for a 1-0 victory at 2010 World Cup venue Mbombela Stadium.

Aces had goalkeeper Jackson Mabokgwane red-carded on the stroke of half-time for fouling Zimbabwean Cuthbert Malajila outside the box, but expensively assembled Sundowns failed to take advantage.

Chiefs have scored nine goals in two league and cup victories at home this season, but success has proved elusive in three away games.

Hosts Polokwane City fought back at another World Cup venue, Peter Mokaba Stadium, to force a deserved 1-1 draw against the winners of two league titles in the past three seasons.

Media critics of Polokwane, who say the City defence has more holes than a piece of Swiss cheese, would have felt justified after the manner in which Chiefs took a first-half lead.

Several attempts to clear a free-kick failed and Chiefs defender Eric Mathoho banged the loose ball into the net for one of the ugliest goals likely to be seen this season.

The mid-second half equaliser was a 'beauty', though, with Puleng Tlolane showing superb technique as he volleyed a rebound off the crossbar past goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune.

Bloemfontein Celtic made nine changes after a poor weekend league display and reaped the reward with a 1-0 home triumph against CAF Confederation Cup semi-finalists Pirates.

Most of the Super 15 rugby team Central Cheetahs were at the stadium where they also play to see Vuyani Ntanga win an exciting clash through a header off a pin-point cross 15 minutes from time.

Pirates, consistently excellent in Africa this year, have made a stuttering start to the Premiership with two losses.

Ajax came from behind for the second successive league match to win, edging visiting Free State 2-1 with goals from Mosa Lebusa and in-form Prince Nxumalo.

Australian Kris Bright scored the first goal and created the second on debut as Wits defeated Maritzburg United 2-0 in Johannesburg.

Platinum beat promoted Golden Arrows 2-0, Chippa United trounced Pretoria University 4-0 and Jomo Cosmos played a third consecutive 0-0 draw, this time against SuperSport, in other matches. – AFP

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Van Gaal hails Rooney as United sail on

Wayne Rooney scored three of Manchester United’s four goals in their Champions League qualifier against Club Bruges.

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London - Manchester United cantered through their Champions League qualifier against Club Bruges to book a place in Europe's top club competition after a painful year out of it.

Wayne Rooney scored a hat-trick to inspire a 4-0 win over the Belgian side in the second leg on Wednesday and seal an emphatic 7-1 aggregate victory for the three-times European champions.

“I think we were very organised. We played the ball a little bit more simple than before,” United manager Louis van Gaal told BT Sport. “You can create gaps and we scored so that is also good.”

Van Gaal was delighted that Rooney ended a 10-game goal drought.

“Every goal shall give confidence to every player, even Wayne. I'm very happy for him,” the Dutchman said.

“He has the best mentality that you can imagine. Such players with that level will always come back.”

United have scored only two goals in their first three Premier League games of the season but the clean sheet against Bruges was their fourth in four matches.

They travel to Swansea City on Sunday, a team who beat them twice in the league last season.

“It was a glorious night for Manchester United but Swansea City is the most important now,” Van Gaal said.

“Last season we lost six points against them so we have to improve that.”

REUTERS

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Ntanga header sinks Pirates

Bloemfontein Celtic picked up their first victory of the season when they beat Orlando Pirates 1-0 in an Absa Premiership match.

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Bloemfontein – Bloemfontein Celtic picked up their first victory of the season when they beat Orlando Pirates 1-0 in an Absa Premiership match on Wednesday night.

The winning goal came in the 75th minute when Vuyani Ntanga rose majestically to head home.

It was a gutsy performance from Clinton Larsen’s men who beat a Pirates team who were ultimately contained and outplayed by a Celtic side with many new faces.

Pirates almost grabbed a sensational early goal in the match after a cross from the right in the second minute, Ayanda Gcaba’s left-footed shot beat goalkeeper Bongani Mpandle only for defender Lantshene Phalane to clear desperately off the line.

Many Bucs players thought the ball had crossed the line but the assistant referee and the referee Zolike Mthetho waved play on.

Despite Pirates doing most of the attacking, Celtic, with nine changes to their team, had their moments in the first half with Lyle Lakay lively down the left flank and Geoffrey Massa often given too much space in the penalty area.

After some domination Pirates slowly came back into the match with Thabo Rakhale creating chances and also coming close to scoring.

Soon after the break Massa again had an excellent chance of putting Celtic ahead but he dithered in possession and his tame shot was blocked.

A good chance gone as were a couple minutes later as the Pirates’ fragility in defence was exposed as the home team mounted attack after attack.

At the other end Pirates finally broke out and Erasmus should have done better when a cross found his head with only the goalkeeper to beat but the ball went straight to Mpandle who saved with ease.

The goal the crowd was baying for finally came in the 75th minute when a beautiful cross from the left wing from Phalane, which travelled at least 25 metres, was met by a perfect header from Vuyani Ntanga which rocketed into the net to make it 1-0. It turned out to be the winner.

African News Agency

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Milner doesn’t regret Liverpool move

James Milner has no regrets over leaving Manchester City for Liverpool in search of more playing time.

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James Milner has no regrets over leaving Manchester City for Liverpool in search of more playing time in his favoured central midfield role, the Liverpool Echo reported.

The England international switched to Anfield from the Etihad Stadium on a free transfer during the close season despite City offering him a new contract.

“That is the decision I have made. I am delighted to have joined Liverpool and am enjoying every minute,” the paper quoted the 29-year-old as saying.

“It is a club used to winning and every time we step on to the field the fans expect to win - that is a nice pressure to have,” he added.

Asked if he regretted leaving City, who currently top the table with three wins out of three so far, Milner's answer was a short, “Not really.”

“I have watched them on the TV - I might have been watching them sitting on the bench if I had stayed at the club,” he said.

The Liverpool vice-captain, who was handed the skipper's armband for Monday's 0-0 draw against Arsenal after Jordan Henderson was ruled out with a foot injury, also backed his team to keep getting stronger.

“There are very promising signs. It will take time,” he added.

“We will get better and better the more we play together but to go away and play like that (against Arsenal) was pleasing.”

He also praised his new team's strength in depth.

“You look down the squad list and on the bench and it is a strong balance. You need a good squad to do anything and we will definitely have that,” Milner said.

“You want to be among good, experienced players and a blend of English talent and foreign players. Everything is there,” he added.

Liverpool are yet to lose a game in the league so far and currently trail City by two points. The Merseyside club take on West Ham United at Anfield on Saturday. – Reuters

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Ajax coach happy with Nxumalo

Ajax Cape Town coach Roger de Sa has been pleased by the performance of Prince Nxumalo in front of goal in the early stages of the new season.

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Johannesburg - Ajax Cape Town coach Roger de Sa has been pleased by the performance of Prince Nxumalo in front of goal in the early stages of the new season.

Nxumalo moved to Ajax in the offseason, after an unsuccessful spell with SuperSport United where he joined in 2012. A loan to FC Cape Town followed, then a move to Golden Arrows.

“I have always believed in Prince's style of play and ability,” said De Sa. “He will never give you goals from like 30 yards or far shot headers like Nathan Paulse's. He always keeps close to the box and is always precise with his angle and that's how he delivers. But these types of goals are the ones in the box like the one he scored.

“You know consistency is what I am always looking for and that's what he had worked on and showed it during the match - he impressed me immensely.” Nxumalo has been a fixture in De Sa's starting lineup this season, playing all four of their games and picking up two goals in Ajax's 3-1 win over Maritzburg United on the weekend. - African News Agency (ANA).

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Biggest game of LVG’s United tenure

Louis van Gaal says he faces the biggest game yet of his Old Trafford tenure in the Champions League play-off round second leg away to Club Brugge.

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Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal says he faces the biggest game yet of his Old Trafford tenure in Wednesday's Champions League play-off round second leg away to Club Brugge.

United lead 3-1 from last week's first leg, but having been hired specifically to restore the club to a place among the European elite, Van Gaal knows how damaging failure at the Jan Breydel Stadium would be.

Marouane Fellaini's added-time header at Old Trafford gives United a very welcome two-goal advantage, but with Club Brugge having already overturned a 2-1 deficit against Panathinaikos in the third qualifying round, the manager has warned his players to be on their mettle.

Asked if the game was the most important of his 13-month United reign, Van Gaal replied: “Yes, because it's our aim.

“It was last year our aim to participate in the Champions League and we're still not participating. It's the preliminary round, so it's very important.

“You have to play the game and at the end you have to have scored one more goal than the opponent.

“They have won also against Greek opponents with 3-0, so they are capable to do that and with the support of the fans, we have seen the fans in Manchester, so I think they shall support them a lot.”

While United have struggled for goals in the Premier League, scoring only two in their three games to date, they sparkled against Club Brugge, with Memphis Depay scoring his first two goals in the club's colours and setting up Fellaini's important late header.

However, Depay could not replicate that display in last weekend's 0-0 draw with Newcastle United, prompting Van Gaal to remark drily that his performance against Club Brugge may have given the 21-year-old “too much” confidence.

Depay is nonetheless expected to keep his place in the team, while Van Gaal must decide whether to keep faith with Bastian Schweinsteiger, who made his full debut against Newcastle but faded badly.

Club Brugge head coach Michel Preud'homme can only envy the selection dilemmas facing Van Gaal as he attempts to forge a team from a squad that has been ravaged by injury.

Experienced captain Timmy Simons will miss out after injuring his thigh at Old Trafford, joining Stefano Denswil, Bjorn Engels, Lior Refaelov, Felipe Gedoz, Bernie Ibini and Jose Izquierdo on the sidelines.

Centre-back Brandon Mechele is suspended after being sent off for two bookable offences in the first leg, but striker Tom De Sutter, who joins Bursaspor after the game, has declared himself fit despite sitting out the 2-0 loss to Zulte-Waregem at the weekend through illness.

Speaking ahead of the second leg, Preud'homme said it would require “a great miracle” for Club Brugge to reach the group phase for the first time since 2005.

Recent history favours his team, however, with Club Brugge unbeaten in their last 10 European home matches and United having lost their last two away games in the Champions League, against Olympiakos and Bayern Munich in 2014.

The turnaround against Panathinaikos, who were beaten 3-0 in Bruges after winning the first leg 2-1, should also give the 'Blauw-Zwart' (Blue-Black) heart, but Preud'homme played down the significance of that result in the context of Wednesday's match.

“With all due respect to Panathinaikos, the level of Manchester United is different to the level of Panathinaikos,” he told journalists at his pre-match media conference.

“Against Panathinaikos, 1-0 was enough here. Maybe you can tell me the last team to beat Manchester United from two goals down?”

Van Gaal, however, is refusing to entertain daydreams about who United might be drawn against in Thursday's group-stage draw.

“First we have to beat Brugge and that's difficult enough,” he said.

“So let's wait and see if we are continuing in this Champions League, because that is the most important thing.”– AFP

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