Happy New Year 2013

May this New Year brings you
happiness and joy in everything
May the fireworks brings you
The sound of Victory in your ear
Wishing you happy New year

Merry Christmas

Happiness lies in forgiveness. May baby Jesus bring you happiness this Christmas and help you to forgive all those who have hurt you. Merry Christmas to you and your family!

Manchester City 1-0 Reading Barry Amazing Goal

Gareth Barry's late goal lifts Man City over Reading.

An Australian Soccer-Fan banned for two years for racial abuse

Dec 23 (Reuters) - Football Federation Australia (FFA) have banned a spectator alleged to have racially abused a Wellington Phoenix player from attending A-League matches for two years, the governing body said on Sunday.

Paul Ifill, an English-born Barbados international, said he was abused by a spectator last Sunday during Wellington's match at Adelaide United.

"The man was found to have breached the FFA spectator code of behaviour," the FFA said in a statement.

"Adelaide United Football Club has simultaneously cancelled the club membership held by this person.

"The FFA ban includes any match in Australia conducted as part of the ... A-League." (Reporting by Sudipto Ganguly in Mumbai; Editing by Ian Ransom)

Singapore (Soccer) edge through to Suzuki Cup final

SINGAPORE, Dec 12 (Reuters) - Three-times winners Singapore edged into the final of the Suzuki Cup on Wednesday after Khairul Amri's first-half strike was enough to see off the Philippines 1-0 on aggregate.

With the visitors arranging their backline, Amri collected a quick free kick in the 19th minute before unleashing a 20-metre low right-foot shot which bounced into the corner of the net for the only goal of 180 minutes of cagey football.

Singapore will now play the winners of the other semi-final of the Southeast Asian championships between Thailand and Malaysia with the duo locked at 1-1 ahead of the second leg in Bangkok on Thursday.

"Thailand and Malaysia are both very good teams, but we are a good team too," Singapore coach Raddy Avramovic told reporters.

The first leg had produced few chances in Manila on Saturday but Singapore went about changing that with a bright opening and one goal was the least they deserved on the artificial pitch at the Jalan Besar Stadium.

The Philippines, competing in only their second semi-final of the 10-team tournament, dominated possession in the second half and they pinned the home side back but struggled to create any clear cut chances as Singapore eased through to the two-legged final.

"The players gave their 100 percent. We had a very good first half and probably should have scored another goal," Avramovic added.

December 12, 2012 (12-12-12)

What will happen on December 12, 2012? I don't know we'll soon find out. I hope it brings me luck!

December 21, 2012 is the end of the Mayan calendar.  This will mark the end of the Piscean Age of secular materialism, and the true beginning of the Age of Aquarius, which will last for one thousand years. It is also prophesied in Revelation chapter 20 verses 1-3.

Union got former Drexel defender Parke

PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- The Philadelphia Union acquired Jeff Parke, a former Drexel defender. He was acquired for allocation money and a 2013 first-round pick in the supplemental draft.

The 30-year-old Parke has two goals and five assists in 210 games in eight MLS seasons with New York and Seattle.

Stanford Cardinal women's soccer team lost to North Carolina

The top-ranked Stanford Cardinal soccer team lost again to the Tar Heels, falling 1-0 on Friday night in the College Cup semifinals at Torero Stadium in San Diego.

Stanford (21-2-1) fell in the 105th minute on a golden goal by Kealia Ohai that hit the far left post and bounced into the net behind goalkeeper Emily Oliver.

The Cardinal is 0-9-3 against Carolina, losing in the 2009 NCAA championship in another tense match.

The Tar Heels (14-5-3) will play Penn State on Sunday for the championship.
North Carolina has won 20 of 30 titles but had missed the previous two College Cups.

Happy Thanksgiving! 2012

Keep your spirits alive. Spend time with family and friends. Happy Thanksgiving!

MLS Preview: Seattle Sounders FC - LA Galaxy

After winning its first-ever playoff matchup, Seattle faces a heavy three-goal deficit in the Western Conference final.

PROBABLE LINEUPS

Seattle Sounders FC (4-4-2): Gspurning; Johansson, Parke, Hurtado, Scott; Rosales, Alonso, Evans, Tiffert; Montero, Johnson.     

INJURY REPORT

OUT: FW Babayele Sodade (R knee ACL surgery); DF Andrew Duran (L ACL surgery)

QUESTIONABLE: MF Mauro Rosales (R hamstring strain); DF Leo Gonzalez (R hamstring strain); DF Patrick Ianni (R calf strain)

LA Galaxy (4-4-2): Saunders; Franklin, Meyer, Gonzalez, Dunivant; Wilhelmsson, Beckham, Sarvas, Magee; Keane, Donovan.    

INJURY REPORT

OUT: DF A.J. DeLaGarza (L knee sprain); DF Leonardo (R knee inflammation); MF Kyle Nakazawa (back spasms)

QUESTIONABLE: FW Edson Buddle (L plantar inflammation); FW Landon Donovan (R hamstring tightness); MF Juninho (R Achilles inflammation)

Celtic's historic 2-1 win over Barcelona highlights

Celtic's historic and unexpected 2 - 1 win over Barcelona in their champions league group stage tie at Celtic Park, Parkhead.

Celtic beat Barcelona 2 - 1 with goals from Victor Wanyama (21) and Tony Watt (83) inflicting Barcelona's first group stage defeat in 3 years.

Lionel Messi scored a late consolation (91) to make the finish a nerve jangler.

Soccer-La Liga results and standings

Nov 9 (Infostrada Sports) - Results and standings from the La Liga matches on Friday

Friday, November 9

Real Betis 1 Granada CF 2

Standings P W D L F A Pts
1 Barcelona 10 9 1 0 32 12 28
2 Atletico Madrid 10 8 1 1 22 11 25
3 Real Madrid 10 6 2 2 25 7 20
-------------------------
4 Real Betis 11 6 1 4 18 17 19
-------------------------
5 Malaga 10 5 3 2 14 7 18
6 Levante 10 5 2 3 12 14 17
-------------------------
7 Sevilla 10 4 3 3 12 11 15
-------------------------
8 Real Valladolid 10 4 2 4 15 11 14
9 Valencia 10 4 2 4 13 12 14
10 Getafe 10 4 1 5 12 16 13
11 Rayo Vallecano 10 4 1 5 13 23 13
12 Real Zaragoza 10 4 0 6 9 15 12
13 Real Mallorca 10 3 2 5 10 15 11
14 Athletic Bilbao 10 3 2 5 14 20 11
15 Granada CF 11 3 2 6 11 18 11
16 Celta Vigo 10 3 1 6 11 14 10
17 Deportivo Coruna 10 2 4 4 15 20 10
-------------------------
18 Real Sociedad 10 3 1 6 10 15 10
19 Espanyol 10 2 3 5 12 15 9
20 Osasuna 10 1 2 7 8 15 5
1-3: Champions League / EC I
4: Champions League preliminary round
5-6: Europa League
7: Europa League depending on domestic cup
18-20: Relegation
Next Fixtures (GMT):
Saturday, November 10
Rayo Vallecano v Celta Vigo (1500)
Espanyol v Osasuna (1700)
Real Zaragoza v Deportivo Coruna (1900)
Malaga v Real Sociedad (2100)
Sunday, November 11
Real Valladolid v Valencia (1100)
Athletic Bilbao v Sevilla (1500)
Real Mallorca v Barcelona (1650)
Atletico Madrid v Getafe (1845)
Levante v Real Madrid (2030)

--------------------------

Next Fixtures (GMT):
Saturday, November 10

Rayo Vallecano v Celta Vigo (1500)
Espanyol v Osasuna (1700)
Real Zaragoza v Deportivo Coruna (1900)
Malaga v Real Sociedad (2100)
Sunday, November 11
Real Valladolid v Valencia (1100)
Athletic Bilbao v Sevilla (1500)
Real Mallorca v Barcelona (1650)
Atletico Madrid v Getafe (1845)
Levante v Real Madrid (2030)

Barack Obama re-elected as president of the United States

Barack Obama re-elected as president of the United States

Breaking News

Barack Obama will be re-elected as president of the United States defeating Mitt Romney, CNN projects.

Soccer: Real Salt Lake and Sounders FC Scoreless

The Real Salt Lake goalkeeper Nick Rimando saves five, and Seattle Sounders' Michael Gspurning had four saves and the game ended in a scoreless draw in the first leg of their MLS Western Conference semifinal playoff series.

Rimando was injured on the play, but stayed in the match, the first of a two-match aggregate game, which finished with a score of 0-0.

Egypt protest traps Nigeria's Sunshine Soccer stars in hotel

Egyptian soccer players are protesting the suspension of their domestic league have
briefly prevented Nigerian side Sunshine Stars from leaving their Cairo hotel on Sunday for an African Champions League match against local side Al Ahli.

Domestic leagues were suspended after a Feb. 1 soccer stadium disaster in which 74 people were killed.

The Egyptian soccer players and their supporters marched to the Egyptian presidential palace to press their demand for a resumption of the league before heading to a nearby hotel where the visiting Nigerian team were staying.

They even clashed with Al Ahli fans who arrived at the scene in an effort to make sure the Nigerian players could get to the ground because they fear that Al Ahli would be automatically disqualified.

The protesters and fans scuffled and threw rocks before the clashes abated and the Nigerian side left for the match, the second leg of the African Champions League semi-final.

The hardcore Ahli fans, or "ultras", involved in Sunday's trouble are the same group that has been demanding the postponement of the domestic league until they see justice has been served over the February stadium disaster in Port Said.

Many of the dead were Ahli fans who had travelled to Port Said for the away match against Al Masry. The government was blamed for failing to send enough police to the game, many fans believing the trouble was sparked by hired thugs.

source Yahoo news

Football Fans Riot Senegal-Ivory Coast

After Didier Drogba scored his second goal from the penalty kick that put the Ivory Coast up in the second-leg match 2-0, and 6-2 on aggregate violence erupted as Senegal fans began lighting fires in the stands, causing a haze of smoke over the stadium.

Ivorian fans jumped to escape the violence, as Senegal fans tried attacking them and police fired tear gas into the stands.

The match was suspended in the 76th minute and abandoned 45 minutes later.

Ronaldinho in tears after a goal

Ronaldinho in tears after scoring the first goal in Atletico-MG's 6-0 win against Figueirense. The shot floated into the far top corner of the goal.

Ronaldinho, 32 knelt down and began to cry as his teammates crowded around him. People are used to his smiles but not this time, his stepfather died of a heart attack on Friday.

West Ham United's Winston Reid knocked out

 Winston Reid of West Ham United was knocked out during a heavy clash with QPR goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen in the first English Premier League match to feature two New Zealanders.

All Whites captain and Queens Park Rangers defender Ryan Nelsen and West Ham's Winston Reid both Kiwis started for their respective teams in the Hammers' 2-1 win at QPR's Loftus Road.

Reid was later sitting up and talking in the dressing room and wasn't concussed, as reported.

He confirmed he suffered no major injury via tweet "thx 4 everyones tweets all good great win for the team and great start to the season #COYI".

The win moves newly-promoted West Ham up to seventh on the table after six games, while QPR are yet to claim a win and sit at the bottom of the 20 team league.

source nzherald.co.nz

Football Player tosses explosive On Field Full Footage

It happend at the AFC Champions League match between Iranian Sepahan and Saudi Arabia's Al-Ahli at the Foolad Shahr Stadium on Sep 20, 2012.

The quarterfinal first leg was temporarily interrupted when the referee ran to one of the sidelines to inspect debris thrown on the field by fans. As you can see from 1:05 in the video above, Sepahan midfielder Adel Kolahkaj picked up a small, black object and tossed it away from the pitch. Turns out that object was some kind of mini grenade or firecracker, which exploded upon landing, causing the referee and his assistant to run like they were Forrest Gump and the small explosion was a bunch of rock-throwing bullies.

Amazing backheel save by Michael Agazzi of Cagliari

Watch the clip of Cagliari keeper Michael Agazzi makes a backheel save against Palermo. Cagliari scored in the 88th minute against Palermo to salvage a 1-1 draw, but goalkeeper Michael Agazzi's "dangerous" save early in the match was just as impressive as Marco Sau's late equalizer.

Japan could host 2019 Women's World Cup

TOKYO (AP) -- FIFA president Sepp Blatter stated last Friday that Japan would be a ''good candidate'' to host the 2019 Women's World Cup even though the country will stage the Rugby World Cup the same year.

The 2019 Rugby World Cup will be played in Japan from Sept. 6 to Oct. 20. Blatter said the country could hold the women's tournament beforehand.
Blatter said ''Japan would be a good candidate or contender. They are a little bit afraid because they have the Rugby World Cup in the same year but the sports are totally different.''

Japan won the 2011 Women's World Cup in Germany. Canada will host the 2015 tournament.

Blatter is in Tokyo for Saturday's final of the women's under-20 World Cup between the United States and Germany.

Highlights of Everton 1 - 0 Manchester United

Manchester United was defeated by troublesome Everton at Goodison Park, by 1-0, on Monday. Manchester United failed to contain key players of Everton.

The only goal was scored by Belgian Fellaini wheel at 12 minutes from time. In the final stage, was also promoted the debut of former Arsenal player, Robin Van Persie, who was just over 20 minutes and failed to score.

Mexico's Olympic victory proves advantage over the U.S.

Mexico's Men's soccer team proved superiority over the United States in soccer after winning the Olympic gold medal.

Last year, Mexico won the Under-17 World Cup and finished third in the Under-20 World Cup. The senior team won the Gold Cup, beating the United States in the final, 4-2, after falling behind by two goals. That came two years after Mexico thrashed the United States, 5-0, in the final of the 2009 Gold Cup.

United States men's soccer team did not qualify for the Olympics.

South Korea wins over Japan to get Olympic bronze

CARDIFF, Wales - (AP) South Korea beat Japan for the Olympic bronze medal in Men's soccer.

Park Chu-young scored a dazzling individual goal to lead South Korea to a 2-0 victory over Japan on Friday and a bronze medal in Olympic men's soccer.

It was South Korea's first medal in the competition, and also the first by any Asian team since the 1968 Mexico City Games, when Japan won the bronze.
Park scored in the 38th minute after picking up a deflected clearance just inside his own half. He ran past two retreating defenders and shot low past goalkeeper Shuichi Gonda.

Koo Ja-cheol got the second goal 10 minutes into the second half, latching onto a long goal kick and finishing on his second touch.
Japan's captain Maya Yoshida scored what appeared to be a goal on a header in the 86th minute, but it was disallowed for a foul by Yuki Otsu on the goalkeeper.

Brazil and Mexico play in the gold-medal match Saturday at Wembley Stadium in London.

Brazil will play Mexico for Olympic gold in soccer

LONDON (AP) -- Brazil and Mexico will battle for gold in Men's soccer.

Brazil hasn't been this close to the gold medal in men's soccer since Romario was a promising young star in the late 1980s.

There are a lot of great players that have tried and have failed after him, including Rivaldo, Roberto Carlos, Ronaldo and Ronaldinho.

Now it will be up to Neymar, the future of Brazilian soccer, to end decades of frustration and give the nation its first Olympic gold, the only trophy missing for the five-time World Cup champions.

Brazil is the favorite in Saturday's final at Wembley Stadium against Mexico, a team which will also be looking for its first Olympic gold.

Play Soccer on Google

I love this latest doodles on Google. You play as a goal keeper and you have to block every shot to get 3 stars.

https://www.google.com/doodles/soccer-2012

Olympics: Britain sinks Uruguay to reach last soccer eight

Title favorites Brazil and Japan were joined by hosts Britain, surprise qualifiers Egypt, Mexico, Senegal, South Korea and Honduras in the quarterfinals of the Olympic soccer tournament on Wednesday.

Britain defeated Uruguay 1-0 in Cardiff to make it through to the last eight for the first time since 1956 and will battle South Korea in the last eight in the Welsh capital when all four games are played on Saturday.

Brazil will meet Honduras at St James' Park in Newcastle, Japan, who qualified after their second match, will face Egypt at Old Trafford, Manchester and Mexico will meet Senegal at Wembley.

Egypt, who endured a torrid start to the competition when they trailed 3-0 to Brazil in their opener, completed a remarkable recovery by reaching the quarterfinals with a 3-1 win over Belarus.

Brazil completed their perfect run of three straight wins when they beat New Zealand 3-0 at St James' Park, Newcastle to seal first place in Group C ahead of Egypt.

Four matches played in the afternoon produced only one goal when Mexico beat Switzerland 1-0 in Cardiff to win Group B.

The other games between South Korea and Gabon in Group B and Japan and Honduras and Spain and Morocco in Group D finished goalless with only South Korea and Japan advancing.

Spain, among the favorites before the tournament started, went out without scoring a goal, the only team not to score.

Japan coach admits telling players not to win against South Africa

NEWCASTLE, England – Japanese coach Norio Sasaki instructed his players not to score, just tie the game for a draw. FIFA said Wednesday that the team will not be given any discipline.

The game happened Tuesday in Cardiff, Wales, as the Japanese women faced an overmatched South African team. If Japan were to beat South Africa, they would have won their group and tripped to Glasgow for the quarterfinal. If they were to tie, they would stay in Cardiff for the Friday quarterfinal.

"It was a different way of playing compared to the usual game, but the players were on the same page as me," Sasaki said Tuesday. "I feel sorry we couldn't show a respectable game, but it's my responsibility, not the players, why the game was like that. It was important for us not to move to Glasgow."

That decision produced a 0-0 tie, and relieved the Japanese of the stress of travel, and essentially gives them home field advantage in the first game of the knockout stage, vs. Brazil.

Sundhage, the former Swedish pro and fourth-year American coach, knows the merits of consecutive games without travel. So would she tell a team to hold back in that situation?

"Absolutely not. Never ever crossed my mind," she said at the team's hotel here Wednesday, near where the Americans will play their quarterfinal vs. New Zealand. "I think, you respect the game, respect this wonderful tournament and respect the team.

"We want to win. You gain confidence by winning. As a player I would be pissed if my coach said that I shouldn't score. It doesn't exist in my world."

Japan's admission comes as eight female badminton players were disqualified from the Games for trying to lose matches to receive a favorable draw. The Badminton World Federation found the players guilty of "not using one's best efforts to win a match," a description which sums up Japan's efforts on Tuesday.

Yet FIFA said on Wednesday that Sasaki won't be disciplined for telling his players to avoid winning. It's disciplinary committee determined "there are no sufficient elements to start disciplinary proceedings" for corruption.

The Japanese defeated the Americans in the 2011 World Cup Final in Germany, and many U.S. players have cited that loss as motivation in these Games. Two players available for comment Wednesday say they've never received instructions not to score, and wouldn't know how to respond.

"Our mentality is to go into every game with the mentality to win," says Amy Rodriguez.

Teammate Kelley O'Hara said she could understand the reason for tying, but doesn't know how she would respond. In a 1-0 win vs. North Korea Tuesday in Manchester, the Americans were instructed to rest their legs with a 1-0 lead in the second half.

"The coach is the coach," she says. "They give you instruction. It would be a very weird situation to be in. Hopefully it will never happen."