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Friday, July 27, 2007

Guangzhou 0 - 3 Manchester United, Nani score in his 2nd match for Man Utd

Manchester United's pre-season tour of Asia ended with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Guangzhou Pharmaceutical in the Guangdong Olympic Stadium.

Strikes from Wayne Rooney, Nani and Lee Martin got the crowd on their feet in a match that sadly lacked the kind of sparkle the Reds provided elsewhere in the Far East.

Dong Fangzhuo fulfilled his dream of playing for United in his home country and was cheered throughout the match. But it was a frustrating run-out for the China international, who so desperately wanted to find the back of the net.

Elsewhere, injuries to Ryan Giggs, Edwin van der Sar, Owen Hargreaves and Cristiano Ronaldo meant Sir Alex was able to hand Lee Martin and Tomasz Kuszczak their first pre-season starts, while youngsters Phil Bardsley, Danny Simpson and Darron Gibson also gained berths from the opening whistle.

The game's first chance fell to Dong, when Lee Martin's low ball flashed across the goalmouth. Dong was unable to make a connection on that opportunity but did go closer on 15 minutes when he headed wide of the Guangzhou goal.

The home team showed little ambition going forward, content instead to try and soak up the pressure. It's always a risky tactic and the Reds made Guangzhou pay on 20 minutes when Michael Carrick was chopped down inside the penalty area.

Guangzhuo weren't happy with the referee's decision to award a penalty – he'd initially signalled for a free-kick just outside the box – but Wayne Rooney ignored the protests to blast home from 12 yards.

The Reds scored three in 15 minutes against FC Seoul and three in 11 minutes in Macau, but there was no goal rush this time. United struggled to penetrate Guangzhou's defensive line, although the home side's negative tactics didn't help matters.

The first real chance from open play arrived in the 41st minute when a Michael Carrick cross was touched onto the woodwork by a Guangzhou defender. It was a timely intervention since Wayne Rooney was lurking at the back post and would surely have buried the chance. As it was, the ball bounced back into play and Rooney was penalised for a foul in the ensuing scramble.

It was left to Nani to brighten what had been a sloppy first period. The Portugal international, who scored on his debut against Shenzhen FC, added to his goal tally with a glorious chip from the left side of the penalty area, which drifted over Guangzhou goalkeeper Shuai and in off the far post. It was the kind of sublime piece of skill and ingenuity United fans will hope to see more of during Nani's Old Trafford career.

Sir Alex made two changes at the start of the second half, with Darron Gibson making way for John O'Shea and Tom Heaton coming on for Kuszczak… eventually. The referee actually blew his whistle to get the second period underway without realising the Reds had nobody in goal. The game was quickly stopped, however, to allow Heaton time to take up his position between the sticks.

The error drew ironic cheers from the crowd, which soon turned to celebrations as Lee Martin fired United further into the lead with a brilliant swerving strike from 30 yards. Had it not been for Nani's spectacular first-half effort, Martin's goal would surely have grabbed all the headlines.

The game opened up somewhat as both teams made a string of substitutions. Alan Smith, Chris Eagles, Patrice Evra, Mikael Silvestre and Wes Brown all saw action, but it was the 76th-minute introduction of Cristiano Ronaldo that drew most attention.

Despite playing for only a quarter of an hour, Ronaldo still managed to pull out a number of flicks and tricks in what was a thrilling display of exhibition football. It was a lively end to a sub-standard match, although, on the whole, Sir Alex will be delighted with United's pre-season form.

Line-ups

United: Kuszczak (Heaton 46); Bardsley, Vidic (Silvestre 58), Ferdinand (Brown 58), Simpson; Martin (Evra 58), Carrick, Gibson (O'Shea 46), Nani (Eagles 58); Rooney (Ronaldo 76), Dong (Smith 62)

Unused subs: Evans, Fletcher

Guangzhou: Shuai; Zhihai (Xichang 74), Dechao (Suozhi 83), Yan, Wenpeng (Zhixing 56), Z Lin (Xianrong 69); Pengfeng (Yong 56), Zhijie (Zhiyi 69), Oliveira, L Lin (Deen 56); Batista (Junyan 56)

Unused subs: Xinhua, Ming, Alfredo, Wilberto, Xiaoming, Dazhong, Liang, Yuntao, Wenyao, Yaohui

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Sunderland sign defender McShane



Sunderland have signed defender Paul McShane from West Bromwich Albion in an initial £1.5million deal, according to the midlands club.

The fee could ultimately rise to £2.5million for the Republic of Ireland defender, 21, who joined the Baggies from Manchester United last summer and made 42 appearances, scoring three times.

Three quarters of that extra £1million is based on appearances plus a further £250,000 if the Black Cats retain their top-flight status this season or regain it during McShane's stay in the north-east.

West Brom manager Tony Mowbray said: 'I want to thank Paul for his contribution last season. He's a terrific lad with a terrific attitude to football.

'But Paul intimated to me in very strong terms that his ambitions lay away from this football club.

'I've said it many times before that I want players here who want to play for the shirt so that we can move the club forward together.

'We've now sold three players who made it clear they wanted to leave.

'We now have an opportunity to build a new team with players who are fully committed to taking the club forward.'

McShane is Sunderland boss Roy Keane's sixth signing of the summer after recruiting Greg Halford, Russell Anderson, Michael Chopra, Kieran Richardson and Dickson Etuhu, but he has missed out on several high-profile signings.

Keane withdrew his offer for Preston's highly-rated England Under-21 striker David Nugent after waiting in vain for an answer from the player, and Wigan full-back Leighton Baines has politely declined the offer of a big-money move to the Stadium of Light.

The Black Cats boss has also revealed his pursuit of Hearts keeper Craig Gordon, who is valued by his club at up to £10million, is at an end.

However, he insists he respects the decisions of those players who have resisted his overtures having faced similar choices during his own illustrious career.

Keane said: 'You have to respect the players' decisions.

'With some players, you get vibes and you think, 'We know this is going to be a hard one to pull off'.

'It was like me last year. I left (Manchester) United and I was never going to go to another team but Celtic.

'I spoke to other clubs and other clubs offered me two, three times the money within half an hour of my house, and I took a lot less money to travel three hours.

'It doesn't matter what, some players will have their minds set on what they are going to do, and you have to respect the players for that.

'Maybe they might regret it, maybe they have made the right decision. Only time will tell.'

Keane, who dismissed speculation linking him with Kilmarnock striker Steven Naismith, former Manchester United team-mate Alan Smith and Middlesbrough keeper Mark Schwarzer, confirmed Baines' decision not to make the move to Wearside, which was announced by Wigan yesterday.

The 22-year-old is reportedly wanted by Everton, and Keane said: 'It's disappointing, of course, but you can't win them all. I spoke to Leighton last week and then he rang me the other night.

'He had his reasons and he rang me himself, he didn't get his agent to ring. I haven't got a problem with that, I have to say.

'He's a nice enough lad, not a problem, but he had his reasons for not coming to the club and we have got to respect that and wish him well.

'My job is to try to keep bringing players into the club that we think will improve us, and you are not going to win them all.

'We are disappointed, but life goes on. We wish Leighton well and we just kick on and continue to look to bring players into the club.'

And on Gordon, he added: 'It's been well-documented that we made a bid for the lad in Scotland that was turned down.

'That's the end of it. I have got two very good goalkeepers, Marton Fulop and Darren Ward, so that's it, as far as I'm concerned.'

Keane discussed his pursuit of McShane earlier, when he said: 'We are in talks with West Brom at the moment and we hope that will be concluded over the next few days - we hope.

'Paul is a player I know and I like. He's a good character. We need competition for places and Paul would bring that.

'I don't like talking about players who are under contract at other clubs, but we are hopeful a deal can be done. But we will have to wait and see.'

Source: Soccernet.com

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Barcelona 1 - 0 Dundee United, Henry score on debut

Thierry Henry scored the winner on his debut as Barcelona beat Dundee United in their friendly at Tannadice.

In the final minute of an entertaining encounter, United defender Darren Dods pulled down Giovani, allowing the former Arsenal player, on as a second-half substitute, the opportunity to score from the spot.

United's debutant keeper Grzegorz Szamotulski saved the first effort but Henry followed up to knock the ball into the net.

It could have been different if Barry Robson's 82nd-minute header had not been chalked off for a push on Barca defender Eric Abidal and if Lee Wilkie's last-minute header had not been headed off the line by Julian Belletti, but in the end the classier side won through.

United gave a debut to keeper Szamotulski, the former Sturm Graz player who signed on Wednesday, and he was kept busy in a relatively entertaining first half.

• Ronaldinho thanks Utd fans for 'special' night

The visitors quickly took control of the game and in the 14th minute Ezquerro casually swept a Xavi cross over the bar from eight yards out when more focus might have brought the opener.

Three minutes later, Dundee United midfielder Morgaro Gomis fouled Ronaldinho 25 yards from goal and the Brazilian flashed his right-footed free-kick off the outside of the post.

Despite playing in second gear at times, Barca continued to dictate the tempo and in the 28th minute Ezquerro drew a good save from Szamotulski with a drive from distance.

Samuel Eto'o made a hash of a great chance set up by Iniesta before driving straight at Szamotulski from close range after taking a clever Ronaldinho pass.

In between those two chances Xavi volleyed Ronaldinho's cross past the post from the edge of the box and Ezquerro fired wide with only the United keeper to beat.

Barca made seven changes at the break and just 25 seconds in to his debut, Henry, on for Eto'o, whipped a shot inches past the post from the edge of the box.

United's overly-enthusiastic defender Lee Wilkie was then booked for a foul from behind on Henry to the jeers of the Tannadice crowd.

The Catalan giants appeared to be trying to walk the ball into the net and in another attack that left United threadbare at the back, Henry curled his right-footed shot from just inside the box high and wide.

In the 80th minute Barcelona substitute Bojan went through on goal but hesitated with only Szamotulski to beat, allowing the Tannadice keeper to save at his feet.

In the 82nd minute United skipper Robson headed Steven Robb's cross in off the post but the cheers soon died down when the goal was chalked off for a push on Eric Abidal.

Then came the drama of Henry's debut goal and Wilkie's near miss.

After the match Barca coahc Frank Rijkaard said of Henry: 'We have seen he is an intelligent player and we have seen some good passes.

'We have to take into account he has not played for a long time and it was his decision to go and play. He played well.'

Source: Soccernet.com

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Fulham's August 2007 Fixture

Fixture Table for Fulham in August 2007













































12 AugustPremier LeagueArsenal VS Fulham12:00Away
15 AugustPremier LeagueFulham VS Bolton19:45Home
18 AugustPremier LeagueFulham VS MIddlesbrough15:00Home
25 AugustPremier LeagueAston Villa VS Fulham15:00Away

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Everton's August 2007 Fixture

Fixture Table for Everton in August 2007











































11 AugustPremier LeagueEverton VS Wigan15:00Home
14 AugustPremier LeagueTottenham VS Everton20:00Away
18 AugustPremier LeagueReading VS Everton15:00Away
25 AugustPremier LeagueEverton VS Blackburn17:15Home

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