Dossena lauds Napoli fighting spirit

Napoli defender Andrea Dossena has praised his side’s ability to fight out games after they claimed a 4-3 home win over Lazio on Sunday.

The Naples-based club came from 2-0 and 3-2 down to record the win which keeps them within three points of league-leaders AC Milan.

Dossena, who scored Napoli’s opening goal, put the victory down to the team’s ability to perform in the second half as they produced a famous victory.

“The table has proved we have better endurance compared to other teams and therefore we could produce a better performance in the second half,” Dossena said.

“It’s pretty much been that way all season, in the second half we play better whereas other teams start to tire and have problems.”

Dossena’s goal breathed life into his side and kickstarted the comeback, with the former Liverpool defender declaring the Serie A title race still alive.

“With the opportunity of three points per match, it’s never over,” he said. “We are determined and the team has the willingness to fight for a result, as we proved today.”

While Dossena was pleased, Lazio sports director Igli Tare was very disappointed with the result but praised Napoli for their terrific season.

“To play as we did today and not pick up any points is very frustrating,” Tare said.

“Napoli are now second, and are having a great season. They haven’t put a foot wrong, and haven’t run into any real difficulties this season. They deserve to be where they are in the table.”

“As for us, we have seven games left until the end of the season and we’ll do all we can to pick up as many points as possible.”

Lazio now sit fifth, 11 points behind Massimiliano Allegri’s Milan.

Mon 4 April, 2011

Dossena lauds Napoli fighting spirit

Napoli defender Andrea Dossena has praised his side’s ability to fight out games after they claimed a 4-3 home win over Lazio on Sunday.

The Naples-based club came from 2-0 and 3-2 down to record the win which keeps them within three points of league-leaders AC Milan.

Dossena, who scored Napoli’s opening goal, put the victory down to the team’s ability to perform in the second half as they produced a famous victory.

“The table has proved we have better endurance compared to other teams and therefore we could produce a better performance in the second half,” Dossena said.

“It’s pretty much been that way all season, in the second half we play better whereas other teams start to tire and have problems.”

Dossena’s goal breathed life into his side and kickstarted the comeback, with the former Liverpool defender declaring the Serie A title race still alive.

“With the opportunity of three points per match, it’s never over,” he said. “We are determined and the team has the willingness to fight for a result, as we proved today.”

While Dossena was pleased, Lazio sports director Igli Tare was very disappointed with the result but praised Napoli for their terrific season.

“To play as we did today and not pick up any points is very frustrating,” Tare said.

“Napoli are now second, and are having a great season. They haven’t put a foot wrong, and haven’t run into any real difficulties this season. They deserve to be where they are in the table.”

“As for us, we have seven games left until the end of the season and we’ll do all we can to pick up as many points as possible.”

Lazio now sit fifth, 11 points behind Massimiliano Allegri’s Milan.

Mon 4 April, 2011

Paulista wrap: Fighting draw sends Mirassol top

Mirassol came from behind to secure a 2-2 draw at home to Noroeste and move top of the Campeonato Paulista on Friday.

Two goals in the space of three first-half minutes from defender Matheus and forward Diego gave struggling Noroeste a surprise lead at Estadio Jose Maria de Campos Maia.

But defender Gustavo Bastos pulled one back for Mirassol two minutes into the second half, before striker Serginho levelled on 52 minutes.

Neither side was able to produce a winner, but the draw takes Mirassol one point above Corinthians and into top spot.

Noroeste remain 16th, but are now one point clear of the relegation zone.

Elsewhere, Mogi Mirim twice came from behind to beat Sao Bernardo 4-2.

Forward Elionar put hosts Sao Bernardo ahead within six minutes of kick-off at Estadio Municipal Primeiro de Maio.

Striker Denilson equalised four minutes later for visitors Mogi Mirim, before midfielder Dirceu restored Sao Bernardo’s lead from the penalty spot on 23 minutes.

They remained in front at half-time and it took until the 66th minute for Ytalo to level again for Mogi Mirim.

This time the visitors seized the initiative – Denilson struck again to claim a brace and make it 3-2, before Geovane weighed in with a goal on 74 minutes to make it 4-2 to Mogi Mirim and complete the transformation.

The win takes Mogi Mirim up to ninth in the table, while Sao Bernando are fourth from bottom with just nine points from 11 matches played.

Eraldo’s 75th-minute strike gave Gremio Prudente a much-needed 1-0 win at home to Ituano.

Three points sees Gremio Prudente climb off the foot of the table and into 18th place, two points off safety.

Ituano are three points better off in 14th place.

Sat 5 March, 2011

Everton players finally show old fighting spirit

I make no apology for being a diehard Everton fan and never will.

They might not be the easiest team to support at times but every so often the team produces a performance and a result which brings grown men to tears.

Yesterday’s penalty victory at Chelsea in the FA Cup fourth round was one of those moments.

Spirit

Under boss David Moyes Everton has been all about team spirit and the dressing room togetherness has been there for all to see. Even when times are bad the players have stuck together. When Phil Neville scored the winning penalty against Chelsea yesterday you could see by the celebrations what the victory meant to everybody at the club.

It wasn’t so much the fact that we were in the next round of the FA Cup or the fact that we had knocked the holders out on their own patch. It was the sheer effort and fight the players had put in against Chelsea that made Everton fans so proud.

This season has been a very poor one by recent Everton standards but the victory at Chelsea could just be a turning point. This result could prove a vital boost to confidence of the players.

Turnaround

Everton have had a very contrary season. We have taken four points from Liverpool and Tottenham drew at Chelsea and won at Manchester City, not to mention drawing at home to Manchester United after scoring two injury-time goals.

Yet against the lesser sides in the Premier League we have been awful at times. Last weekend’s performance at Bolton’s Reebok Stadium was described by David Moyes as

Everton players finally show old fighting spirit

I make no apology for being a diehard Everton fan and never will.

They might not be the easiest team to support at times but every so often the team produces a performance and a result which brings grown men to tears.

Yesterday’s penalty victory at Chelsea in the FA Cup fourth round was one of those moments.

Spirit

Under boss David Moyes Everton has been all about team spirit and the dressing room togetherness has been there for all to see. Even when times are bad the players have stuck together. When Phil Neville scored the winning penalty against Chelsea yesterday you could see by the celebrations what the victory meant to everybody at the club.

It wasn’t so much the fact that we were in the next round of the FA Cup or the fact that we had knocked the holders out on their own patch. It was the sheer effort and fight the players had put in against Chelsea that made Everton fans so proud.

This season has been a very poor one by recent Everton standards but the victory at Chelsea could just be a turning point. This result could prove a vital boost to confidence of the players.

Turnaround

Everton have had a very contrary season. We have taken four points from Liverpool and Tottenham drew at Chelsea and won at Manchester City, not to mention drawing at home to Manchester United after scoring two injury-time goals.

Yet against the lesser sides in the Premier League we have been awful at times. Last weekend’s performance at Bolton’s Reebok Stadium was described by David Moyes as