Bundesliga : Augsburg 2 - 3 Borussia Dortmund

Sumber : Goaldotcom

Marco Reus looked back to his brilliant best as Borussia Dortmund kick-started their Bundesliga campaign with a 3-2 win at Augsburg.
 Reus on target as BvB bounce back
R.Bobadilla'82,T.Matavz'89 M.Reus'11,S.Papastathopoulos'14,A.Ramos'78

A week after the opening-day defeat to Bayer Leverkusen, Jurgen Klopp's men got off the mark thanks to their fit-again Germany attacker, Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Adrian Ramos

Borussia Dortmund kick-started their Bundesliga campaign with an ultimately nervy 3-2 win at Ausgburg on Friday night. Jurgen Klopp's men slipped to a disappointing 2-0 reverse at home to Bayer Leverkusen in their Bundesliga opener last Saturday.

Last season's runners-up were far more assured in Friday's clash at the SGL Arena, although a late rally from the hosts set up a nervy finish.

Marco Reus, who suffered the heartbreak of missing Germany's World Cup triumph last month with an ankle injury, was at his influential best throughout.

The forward combined well with Kevin Grosskreutz - who, alongside goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller, made his first competitive start since the World Cup - to score the opener, before providing the corner for Sokratis to make it 2-0 within 15 minutes.

Substitute Ramos grabbed his first Dortmund goal 12 minutes from time, and the strike ultimately proved crucial as Augsburg hit back with late replies from Raul Bobadilla and Tim Matavz.

Dortmund fired an early warning when Lukasz Piszczek's cross from the right narrowly avoided the outstretched foot of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

The opener duly arrived in the 11th minute when Reus collected the ball from deep and worked his way to the edge of the area. He then played a clever one-two with Grosskreutz before sliding a left-foot shot past Marwin Hitz.

Reus turned provider for Dortmund's second three minutes later. The forward's teasing outswinging corner from the right was met by Sokratis, who leapt superbly to head into the bottom-left corner.

Augsburg showed flashes of the form that took them to eighth in the table last season, Piszczek making a particularly fine challenge to rescue Dortmund when Nikola Djurdjic was bearing down on goal.

The visitors remained largely in control, though, and Aubameyang forced Hitz into a smart low save to his left.

Djurdjic should have halved the deficit nine minutes before the break, the Serbian side-footing wide when one-on-one with Weidenfeller.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan flashed a shot wide from the edge of the box on the stroke of half-time and Dortmund's pressure continued after the restart when Erik Durm tried his luck from distance but shot wide.

Sven Bender entered the fray in the 73rd minute and earned an immediate yellow card for a poor challenge on Halil Altintop, Bobadilla putting the resulting free-kick just wide.

The game then appeared to have been sewn up in the 78th minute. Mkhitaryan's shot from the edge of the box was saved and Ramos - a replacement for Grosskreutz - was on hand to stab home the rebound.

Bobadilla gave Augsburg a glimmer of hope when he provided a deft finish over Weidenfeller five minutes later following a fine cross from Abdul Rahman Baba.

Mkhitaryan then thought he should have had a penalty when he went to ground under a challenge in the area from Ragnar Klavan, before Matavz ensured a nervy ending when he registered his first Augsburg goal with a strong front-post header from Baba's left-wing cross in the 90th minute.

‘Liga taraf kampung’[kosmo]

PENYERTAAN skuad Harimau Muda A yang dikendalikan oleh Datuk Ong Kim Swee (kiri) di NPL Queensland dianggap tidak membawa kesan yang besar buat skuad remaja negara itu.

PENYERTAAN skuad Harimau Muda A beraksi di National Premier League (NPL) Queensland, Australia tidak memberi sebarang faedah terhadap pembangunan bola sepak negara.

Demikian pandangan peribadi Presiden Persatuan Bola Sepak Negeri Johor (PBNJ), Tunku Ismail Idris Sultan Ibrahim semalam.

Baginda berpendapat, langkah Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia (FAM) menghantar skuad muda negara beraksi di Queensland sebagai tidak berbaloi.

Tunku Ismail mendedahkan, langkah tersebut hanya memberi kepentingan kepentingan peribadi kepada pihak tertentu dan menganggapnya sebagai tidak membawa hasil terhadap aspek pembangunan.

Baginda menerusi laman sosial Facebook, JOHOR Southern Tigers bertitah, baginda sentiasa menyokong skuad kebangsaan beraksi di luar negara tetapi menganggap penyertaan beraksi di NPL adalah satu langkah yang kurang bijak.

“Bagi pandangan saya, pengacara Astro tidak profesional dan tidak tahu apa-apa berkenaan bola sepak. Begitu banyak komen yang berat sebelah dan tidak memberi maklumat yang berdasarkan fakta kepada penyokong-penyokong bola sepak tanah air.

“Berkenaan dengan pasukan Harimau Muda A yang berada di Australia. Pengulas terbabit mengatakan bahawa pemain bola sepak pasukan Harimau Muda A menerima pengalaman yang berguna di Australia dan mampu beraksi untuk pertandingan di peringkat Asean.

“Kami sentiasa menyokong pasukan kebangsaan namun bagi pendapat saya, kenyataan itu tidak benar. Ini kerana pasukan Harimau Muda A bermain dalam ‘liga kampung’ di Australia.

“Ia bukan liga gred A. Tetapi liga gred D atau E. Pasukan kita dihantar ke Australia oleh kerana ada beberapa individu yang ada kepentingan peribadi mereka dan bukan dengan niat untuk menambah baik lagi mutu pasukan kita,” titah baginda.

Pada Februari lalu, skuad Harimau Muda A mengambil keputusan untuk menyertai NPL Queenslands selepas FAM membuat keputusan untuk tidak melanjutkan penyertaan mereka di Liga Singapura (Liga S) pada tahun lalu.

Buat masa ini, skuad B-23 tahun menduduki tangga kelapan NPL Queenlands yang dibarisi 14 pasukan.

Dalam perkembangan lain, Tunku Ismail sekali lagi mengkritik mutu pengadilan Liga Malaysia (Liga M) yang dianggap mengecewakan sepanjang kempen Piala Malaysia musim ini.

“Kita mesti sedar bahawa kita mempunyai masalah dan kita tidak boleh sembunyikannya demi pembangunan bola sepak negara,” titah baginda.

JDT, Felda, Pahang, Kelantan ke suku akhir Piala Malaysia

Sumber Metro On9

Kuala Lumpur: Pasukan Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT), Felda United, Pahang dan Kelantan mengesahkan tiket ke saingan suku akhir Piala Malaysia 2014 selepas perlawanan kelima peringkat kumpulan, malam ini.

JDT mengungguli carta Kumpulan C dengan 13 mata selepas menutup peluang Angkatan Tentera Malaysia (ATM) ke suku akhir dengan kemenangan tipis 1-0 di Stadium Majlis Perbandaran Selayang.

Penyerang import dari Argentina Luciano Figueroa membantu melakarkan kemenangan keempat JDT menerusi hasil jaringan tunggal pada minit ke-18. 

ATM pula sekadar menduduki tangga ketiga kumpulan dengan lima mata manakala Pulau Pinang menghuni tangga tercorot dengan satu mata.

Dalam saingan Kumpulan A pula menyaksikan naib juara Piala FA 2014, Felda United mengalahkan Johor Darul Ta’zim II (JDT II) 3-1 di Stadium Majlis Perbandaran Pasir Gudang.

Dua gol pertama Felda United pada separuh masa pertama dijaringkan oleh pemain import, Zah Rahan Krangar dari Liberia pada minit kelima dan Ahmad Syamim Yahya pada minit ke-16. 
Bersambung babak kedua, Felda United menjaringkan ketiga melalui Mohd Raimi Mohd Nor (49’) manakala JDT II memperoleh gol tunggal menerusi pemain importnya, Nicholas Delmonte pada minit ke-86. 

Kemenangan ketiga Felda United itu membolehkan mereka menduduki tangga teratas dengan 10 mata dengan baki satu perlawanan. 

Meskipun Pahang tewas 2-1 kepada pasukan kelab dari Singapura Lions XII di Stadium Darul Makmur, Kuantan namun mereka tetap mengesahkan slot kedua kumpulan ke peringkat suku akhir dengan sembilan mata. 

Lions XII hanya mengumpul lima mata manakala JDT II ketinggalan satu mata di tangga tercorot kumpulan. 

Skuad Tok Gajah bermula cemerlang dengan jaringan pembukaan pada separuh masa pertama oleh pemain import dari Nigeria, Dickson Nwakaeme pada minit ke-13 namun Lions XII bangkit dengan dua gol melalui jaringan Sufian Anuar (52’) dan tandukan Madhu Mohana (84’). 

Sementara itu, Kelantan berada di tangga kedua dalam Kumpulan C dengan sembilan mata selepas mencatat kemenangan 3-1 ke atas Pulau Pinang di Stadium Bandaraya, Pulau Pinang. 

'The Red Warriors' meraih gol pertama menerusi Wan Zaharulnizam Zakaria pada minit ke-35 diikuti Mohd Khairul Izuan Rosli (60') dan Francis Forkey Doe pada minit ke-83. 

Gol tunggal Pulau Pinang dijaringkan oleh pemain import dari Brazil, Luiz Ricardo Lino Dos Santos pada minit ke-48. - Bernama

Arsenal 1-0 Besiktas

Arsenal 1-0 Besiktas PLAYER RATINGS: Alexis Sanchez impresses but Gunners need more firepower

-Alexis Sanchez's first goal for Arsenal was precious
-Injury Olivier Giroud leaves Gunners short of options
-Mathieu Debuchy's dismissal could have been costly 

Arsenal scraped into the group stage of the Champions League on a night of high anxiety at the Emirates Stadium that saw Alexis Sanchez open his Gunners account.

Arsene Wenger's team missed a succession of chances to put the qualifier beyond the reach of Besiktas following a goalless draw in the first leg in Istanbul, with a 1-0 win putting Arsenal through.

Sanchez, Santi Cazorla and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain failed to score when it was harder to miss amid the mayhem of a roller-coaster second half in which Mathieu Debuchy was sent off for collecting a second yellow card.

Here, Matt Barlow gives his verdict on the performance of the players. 

ARSENAL

WOJCIECH SZCZESNY: Rarely extended but his hands were tidy and he patrolled his penalty box with authority, which he doesn’t always do. Booked for time-wasting. 6.5.

MATHIEU DEBUCHY: Fluent as ever in attack and unreliable in defence. Good interception to deny Ba. Booked for a needless shoulder barge and sent off for halting a Besiktas counter-attack. 5.5.

PER MERTESACKER: His presence and experience brings composure to the Arsenal back-four. They played deeper with him in control but Ba was not the threat he was in Istanbul. 6.5.

LAURENT KOSCIELNY: Generally adds mobility and extra snap in the tackle. Aggressive and spirited and good chemistry with Mertesacker. 7.

NACHO MONREAL: A concern for Arsenal in the absence of Kieran Gibbs but very solid in defence. Offered little protection by Ozil. 6.

MATHIEU FLAMINI: Aggressive and committed but without the assurance of Arteta. Prone to conceding free-kicks in dangerous areas. Slip almost lets in Ba in the second half. 6.

ALEX OXLADE CHAMBERLAIN: Adds energy and urgency to Arsenal. Most effective early on. Missed good chance to make it 2-0. 6.5.

SANTI CAZORLA: Quiet by his standards playing in a more central role. Rarely on the ball in the most dangerous areas and enjoyed best spell after Arsenal went to down 10. 6.

JACK WILSHERE: Influential if erratic. Slid a good chance wide early on and escaped a penalty for a challenge on Motta. Key role in the goal and the one who offered drive from midfield. 7.

MESUT OZIL: Nice touches, as always, including a role in the goal, but infuriating at times. Playing wide exposes his deficiencies in defence. Weak in the tackle. 5.5.

ALEXIS SANCHEZ: His first Arsenal goal was precious. Worked hard. Quick and strong. But he does not look like the answer at centre-forward in Giroud’s absence. 7.5.

SUBS: Chambers for Ozil (76mins) booked for coming on in the wrong fashion as Wenger restructured after going to 10 men.

UNUSED: MARTINEZ, COQUELIN, ROSICKY, PODOLSKI, SANOGO, CAMPBELL.

MANAGER: ARSENE WENGER: Not vintage Arsenal by any means but without captain Arteta and the main sources of goals, Ramsey and Giroud, his team got the job done, which was the main thing. 6.5. 

REF: PEDRO PROENCA: It was an unruly affair with lots of robust midfield challenges simmering tension. He booked six Besiktas players and perfectly entitled to send off Debuchy but he made mistakes, including two strong penalty calls by the visitors. 5. 

Sumber : dailymail

Instant payback! £32m man Sanchez

Instant payback! £32m man Sanchez sees 10-man Arsenal safely through to Champions League after tense battle against Besiktas

ARSENAL 1-0 BESIKTAS (Arsenal win 1-0 on aggregate) - MARTIN SAMUEL AT THE EMIRATES STADIUM: They will be there, in pot A, business as usual on Thursday afternoon. But it was tight. Tighter than it has been for many year. Too tight for comfort, by the end. Down to ten men with 15 minutes to go, Arsenal were a goal away from departing the Champions League before the serious stuff gets underway for the first time since the last century. Tony Blair was in his first term as Prime Minister when Arsenal were last absent from the league stage of the competition, and this was as close as it has been for them since.

Arsenal 1-0 Besiktas (1-0 agg): Champions League spot secured on a nervy night for 10-man Gunners

Sumber : Dailymirror


Wenger's side are in the group-stage draw thanks to a first goal from £32m summer signing Sanchez but were made to sweat after Debuchy's dismissal Nervous as hell. A white-knuckle ride far too early in the season for Arsene Wenger’s comfort.

But 17 straight Champions League seasons for the Gunners, just, thanks to Alexis Sanchez’s first repayment on his £32million transfer fee.

Despite an evening that suggested more investment is required – the Chilean far from a natural line-leader – Arsenal did enough to ensure their name is in the hat in Monaco on Thursday afternoon.

Wenger, though, will know how easily this could have gone the other way, with Jack Wilshere lucky not to concede a first-half penalty, even before Mathieu Debuchy’s red card saw the shutters go up.

 Mathieu Debuchy of Arsenal is shown a red card

Arsenal need more, far more, from Sanchez and Mesut Ozil, and desperately missed Aaron Ramsey and the crocked Olivier Giroud.

But Wenger will be the one who takes on the cream of Europe not Slaven Bilic, left frustrated and stranded in the stands by his ban.

Arsenal have been here before of course. Six times before, all of them won with reasonable comfort.

Indeed, before last week’s goalless draw in Istanbul, Wenger’s men had a 100 per cent record from their 12 games against the likes of Udinese, FC Twente, Celtic and ­Fenerbahce.

Here though, the pressure was on. One mistake and it could be curtains.

Initially there were few signs of nerves.

Wilshere set the tone with a subtle turn and ball out to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain inside 30 seconds and Arsenal could have taken an iron grip within 10 minutes of the start.

The first chance came when Wilshere picked up a loose ball, waltzed into the box but dragged wide.

Then, a poor clearance from Besiktas keeper Tolga Zengin found only Santi Cazorla, whose floated shot from 30 yards drifted off target.

The Turkish side grew in confidence, their movement a concern, Demba Ba and Olcay Sahan stretching the Arsenal back line.

Wilshere’s radar was going on the blink, Ozil struggling to make any impact, Sanchez, too, off the pace.

Had Debuchy not got a toe in to rob Mustafa Pektemek after Ba forced an error from Per ­Mertesacker, it really would have started looking hairy for the hosts.

Cazorla aside, Arsenal were far from slick or fluent. This was stodgy, unimpressive stuff, the anxiety levels creeping slowly but perceptibly upwards.

They would have gone through the roof had ­Portuguese referee Pedro Proenca given a penalty when Wilshere slid in wildly and Ramon Motta tumbled. Wilshere looked sheepish, the official decided there was no contact.

Then came relief.

Debuchy’s run and cross looked to have fizzled out but Wilshere’s persistence was rewarded as a one-two with Ozil fell for Sanchez to score.

 Alexis Sanchez shoots and scores past Tolga Zengin

Bolstered, with a chance to regroup at the break, Arsenal looked to put it to bed.

Cazorla, picked out by Oxlade-­Chamberlain, dragged wide, before the England winger created another opening.­ Skipping into space, his cross was half-cleared to Wilshere, whose delicious angled ball should have been buried by Sanchez. Instead, his effort was deflected wide.

Not over yet, although it would have been had Debuchy, untenanted at the back post and a yard out, hit the target.

This was edgy stuff, Arsenal walking a defensive tightrope, Ba hitting the side-netting after Flamini’s blocked clearance fell to him inside the box.

And when Debuchy’s pull on Mustafa Pektemek brought his second yellow card, it was emergency time.

Off went Ozil, on came Calum Chambers – instantly booked for taking his place too early for the referee’s liking – with Arsenal under the hammer.

In the moment of need, though, they gritted their teeth, dug in, got themselves over the line.

Not pretty. But, by a hair’s breadth, enough.

Manchester United's MK Dons humiliation may have doomed string of familiar faces to the axe

Sumber : DailyMirror

Display short of heart and technical quality against League One side could be the last Reds first-team appearance for Welbeck, Kagawa, Anderson and even Evans

My bad! Evans' error sparked MK Dons defeat and he could now lose his place to Rojo

Manchester United’s players did not just exit the League Cup on Tuesday - they may have kissed goodbye to their Old Trafford careers.

The likes of Jonny Evans, Danny Welbeck, Anderson, Shinji Kagawa and Nick Powell could pay a heavy price for being humiliated 4-0 by League One side MK Dons.

With United not involved in FA Cup action until January, it could be the last time Welbeck, Anderson and Powell are seen in the first team.

Van Gaal already wanted Welbeck out before Tuesday night, Kagawa is a target for Borussia Dortmund and the Dutch boss is also seeking takers for Powell and Anderson.

Even Evans’ future at the Reds is uncertain and the Northern Ireland defender, who captained this debacle, is under serious threat for his place from £16million new boy Marcos Rojo.

Evans witnessed a similar post-League Cup defeat cull seven years ago when Sir Alex Ferguson took his axe to the flops embarrassed 2-0 at Old Trafford by Coventry.

The Northern Irishman, then 19, made his debut that night and Fergie dumped the likes of Dong Fangzhuo, Phil Bardsley, Danny Simpson, Lee Martin and Chris Eagles from that side into the wilderness.

Despite blooding several youngsters against the Dons, Van Gaal fielded an experienced spine to his side - only to be let down completely.

 Benik Afobe makes it 3-0 to the home side

United proved to have as much backbone as a jellyfish as they completely collapsed at stadium:mk.

They demonstrated no passion or fight and their passing, normally the hallmark of every Old Trafford side, was atrocious.

Evans, 26, had a nightmare and he admits his awful pass, which led to the night’s first goal, triggered the rout.

“There were some sloppy mistakes, including my pass for their first goal and from that point we made it quite difficult for ourselves,” he said. “It was just sloppy mistakes which cost us in the end.”

What was particularly damning was Evans’ admission that Karl Robinson’s third-tier side were fitter than them.

“Once we had to start chasing the game, their superior fitness levels showed because most of our team hadn’t played in a while,” said the centre-half.

“I think the most important thing is to pick yourself up, learn from it and don’t dwell on it too much.”