La Liga wrap: Madrid make Barcelona wait

Real Madrid have ensured Barcelona will wait at least another week to claim the La Liga title after romping to a 6-2 win at Sevilla.

Portuguese maestro Cristiano Ronaldo was the star of the show, with four goals in a virtuoso performance that would have delighted his manager Jose Mourinho.

Brazilian playmaker Kaka also got on the scoresheet for Real, as did defender Sergio Ramos, who powered Madrid into the lead after 21 minutes with a header, while Alvaro Negredo scored both goals for Sevilla.

The result means Real trail Barca by five points and have three matches remaining, although Barca have four games to play and take on Espanyol at the Nou Camp on Sunday.

Elsewhere on Saturday, Athletic Bilbao climbed into fifth place – which would guarantee them a place in next year’s Europa League – with a 3-2 win over Levante at home.

Goals from Gaizka Toquero, David Lopez and Fernando Llorente had Bilbao cruising at 3-0 just after the hour mark but late strikes from Christian Stuani and Victoriano Nano ensured some anxious moments for the hosts in the closing stages.

Atletico Madrid’s grip on sixth place looks tenuous after they were thrashed 3-0 at home by Malaga, who had goals from Rondon, Julio Baptista and Enzo Maresca to thank for their fourth successive league win.

On-loan Spurs midfielder Giovani dos Santos scored a brace to help Racing Santander take a big step towards La Liga survival with a 3-2 win at Hercules, who look certain to face the drop.

Almeria were not so fortunate, and their 2-0 loss at Getafe confirmed a relegation that has looked likely for much of the campaign.

Sporting Gijon had a late penalty from David Barral to earn them a 2-2 draw at home against Deportivo La Coruna, while Valencia moved six points clear of third-placed Villarreal – who play on Sunday – with a 3-0 home win over Real Sociedad.

Roberto Soldado scored twice for the hosts, and Brazilian striker Jonas scored the other.

Sun 8 May, 2011

MLS wrap: Galaxy, Red Bulls share points

Stars Thierry Henry and Landon Donovan both scored as the Los Angeles Galaxy drew 1-1 with the New York Red Bulls in Saturday’s MLS action.

In a match between the top sides from the Eastern and Western Conferences, New York drew first blood when Henry found the back of the net after five minutes.

The goal stunned the home fans at the Home Depot Center and was a typically stylish finish from Henry, but his side’s lead did not even last the half as LA responded five minutes before the break through Donovan.

There were no more goals in an exciting match that keeps both sides on top of the table in their respective conferences.

Struggling Toronto claimed a 2-1 home win against Houston Dynamo, with all three goals coming in the second half.

Joao Jimmy Plata’s 49th-minute penalty put the Canadians in front and substitute Maicon Santos looked to have wrapped up the points when he scored with nine minutes to play, just four minutes after coming off the bench.

But there was to be a late sub-plot as Jamaican Lovel Palmer pulled a goal back for Houston after 87 minutes, ensuring there was to be a nervy finale for the hosts.

In other matches, Emilio Renteria’s second-half penalty rescued a point for Columbus Crew in a 1-1 draw with the Seattle Sounders while the Chicago Fire and the Vancouver Whitecaps played out a goalless draw.

There were two other 0-0 draws on Saturday, with both the New England Revolution and the Colorado Rapids and DC United and Dallas failing to find the back of the net.

Real Salt Lake beat Chivas USA 1-0 with Will Johnson scoring three minutes from time.

Sun 8 May, 2011

La Liga wrap: Madrid make Barcelona wait

Real Madrid have ensured Barcelona will wait at least another week to claim the La Liga title after romping to a 6-2 win at Sevilla.

Portuguese maestro Cristiano Ronaldo was the star of the show, with four goals in a virtuoso performance that would have delighted his manager Jose Mourinho.

Brazilian playmaker Kaka also got on the scoresheet for Real, as did defender Sergio Ramos, who powered Madrid into the lead after 21 minutes with a header, while Alvaro Negredo scored both goals for Sevilla.

The result means Real trail Barca by five points and have three matches remaining, although Barca have four games to play and take on Espanyol at the Nou Camp on Sunday.

Elsewhere on Saturday, Athletic Bilbao climbed into fifth place – which would guarantee them a place in next year’s Europa League – with a 3-2 win over Levante at home.

Goals from Gaizka Toquero, David Lopez and Fernando Llorente had Bilbao cruising at 3-0 just after the hour mark but late strikes from Christian Stuani and Victoriano Nano ensured some anxious moments for the hosts in the closing stages.

Atletico Madrid’s grip on sixth place looks tenuous after they were thrashed 3-0 at home by Malaga, who had goals from Rondon, Julio Baptista and Enzo Maresca to thank for their fourth successive league win.

On-loan Spurs midfielder Giovani dos Santos scored a brace to help Racing Santander take a big step towards La Liga survival with a 3-2 win at Hercules, who look certain to face the drop.

Almeria were not so fortunate, and their 2-0 loss at Getafe confirmed a relegation that has looked likely for much of the campaign.

Sporting Gijon had a late penalty from David Barral to earn them a 2-2 draw at home against Deportivo La Coruna, while Valencia moved six points clear of third-placed Villarreal – who play on Sunday – with a 3-0 home win over Real Sociedad.

Roberto Soldado scored twice for the hosts, and Brazilian striker Jonas scored the other.

Sun 8 May, 2011

MLS wrap: Galaxy, Red Bulls share points

Stars Thierry Henry and Landon Donovan both scored as the Los Angeles Galaxy drew 1-1 with the New York Red Bulls in Saturday’s MLS action.

In a match between the top sides from the Eastern and Western Conferences, New York drew first blood when Henry found the back of the net after five minutes.

The goal stunned the home fans at the Home Depot Center and was a typically stylish finish from Henry, but his side’s lead did not even last the half as LA responded five minutes before the break through Donovan.

There were no more goals in an exciting match that keeps both sides on top of the table in their respective conferences.

Struggling Toronto claimed a 2-1 home win against Houston Dynamo, with all three goals coming in the second half.

Joao Jimmy Plata’s 49th-minute penalty put the Canadians in front and substitute Maicon Santos looked to have wrapped up the points when he scored with nine minutes to play, just four minutes after coming off the bench.

But there was to be a late sub-plot as Jamaican Lovel Palmer pulled a goal back for Houston after 87 minutes, ensuring there was to be a nervy finale for the hosts.

In other matches, Emilio Renteria’s second-half penalty rescued a point for Columbus Crew in a 1-1 draw with the Seattle Sounders while the Chicago Fire and the Vancouver Whitecaps played out a goalless draw.

There were two other 0-0 draws on Saturday, with both the New England Revolution and the Colorado Rapids and DC United and Dallas failing to find the back of the net.

Real Salt Lake beat Chivas USA 1-0 with Will Johnson scoring three minutes from time.

Sun 8 May, 2011

Bundesliga wrap: Do or die for duo

Borussia Monchengladbach and Eintracht Frankfurt will be fighting for their lives in the Bundesliga on Saturday, while St Pauli look doomed.

Monchengladbach have spent much of the season propping up the table.

But they beat Hannover 1-0 away last week and are now three points off safety with two matches remaining.

They host overachievers Freiburg this weekend, before a trip to Hamburg on the last day of the season.

Faced with a similar situation in the 1997/98 season, a Steffen Effenberg-inspired Gladbach won both of their last two matches to narrowly survive.

It remains to be seen if the 2011 edition can match those heroics.

Frankfurt fans also face a nerve-wracking conclusion to the season.

Third from bottom and just one point away from safety, they play host to Cologne, who are four points better off in 14th place and require just a draw to guarantee their survival.

Wolfsburg are the other team battling to avoid the drop.

They have won their last two matches – Felix Magath’s first victories since returning as coach in March – to climb out of the bottom three.

League champions as recently as 2008/09, they remain just one point clear of the relegation zone and are at home to Kaiserslautern on Saturday.

St Pauli looked destined to return to the second tier after just one season back in the top flight.

Six points from safety with a vastly inferior goal difference to the teams above them, they would need big wins in both matches to have any chance of a remarkable escape.

And with Champions League contenders Bayern Munich arriving at the Millerntor on Saturday, it would appear an impossible task.

Worse still for St Pauli, Bayern will not be lacking in motivation.

They finally moved into third place – the final European Cup qualification berth – after Hannover lost last week and will fiercely defend their two-point advantage in the last two matches.

Werder Bremen are still just four points clear of the drop and will be hoping newly crowned champions Borussia Dortmund arrive nursing a hangover from their title-winning celebrations.

Stuttgart, five points above the bottom three, must take points off third-placed Hannover as they seek to guarantee their survival.

Elsewhere, Hamburg travel to second-placed Bayer Leverkusen, while sixth plays eighth when Nuremburg host Hoffenheim.

Mainz can secure Europa League qualification with a win away to Schalke, who exited the Champions League at the hands of Manchester United on Wednesday.

Fri 6 May, 2011

Bundesliga wrap: Do or die for duo

Borussia Monchengladbach and Eintracht Frankfurt will be fighting for their lives in the Bundesliga on Saturday, while St Pauli look doomed.

Monchengladbach have spent much of the season propping up the table.

But they beat Hannover 1-0 away last week and are now three points off safety with two matches remaining.

They host overachievers Freiburg this weekend, before a trip to Hamburg on the last day of the season.

Faced with a similar situation in the 1997/98 season, a Steffen Effenberg-inspired Gladbach won both of their last two matches to narrowly survive.

It remains to be seen if the 2011 edition can match those heroics.

Frankfurt fans also face a nerve-wracking conclusion to the season.

Third from bottom and just one point away from safety, they play host to Cologne, who are four points better off in 14th place and require just a draw to guarantee their survival.

Wolfsburg are the other team battling to avoid the drop.

They have won their last two matches – Felix Magath’s first victories since returning as coach in March – to climb out of the bottom three.

League champions as recently as 2008/09, they remain just one point clear of the relegation zone and are at home to Kaiserslautern on Saturday.

St Pauli looked destined to return to the second tier after just one season back in the top flight.

Six points from safety with a vastly inferior goal difference to the teams above them, they would need big wins in both matches to have any chance of a remarkable escape.

And with Champions League contenders Bayern Munich arriving at the Millerntor on Saturday, it would appear an impossible task.

Worse still for St Pauli, Bayern will not be lacking in motivation.

They finally moved into third place – the final European Cup qualification berth – after Hannover lost last week and will fiercely defend their two-point advantage in the last two matches.

Werder Bremen are still just four points clear of the drop and will be hoping newly crowned champions Borussia Dortmund arrive nursing a hangover from their title-winning celebrations.

Stuttgart, five points above the bottom three, must take points off third-placed Hannover as they seek to guarantee their survival.

Elsewhere, Hamburg travel to second-placed Bayer Leverkusen, while sixth plays eighth when Nuremburg host Hoffenheim.

Mainz can secure Europa League qualification with a win away to Schalke, who exited the Champions League at the hands of Manchester United on Wednesday.

Fri 6 May, 2011

Ligue 1 wrap: Lost points for Marseille, Lyon

Marseille squandered a chance to go top of Ligue 1 after being forced to settle for a 1-1 draw at home to Auxerre on Sunday.

The hosts had taken the lead early in the second half but were pegged back 13 minutes before the end, leaving Lille one point clear at the top with five games remaining.

Midfielder Mathieu Valbuena struck in the 56th minute to give Marseille the lead, but just as it looked as though victory was theirs, South Korean striker Jung Jo-Gook found the back of the net.

The draw moved Auxerre into 14th, just one point clear of 18th-placed Nancy in a congested bottom half.

Lyon missed their chance to maintain the pressure on the top two after suffering a surprise 2-0 loss at Toulouse.

Claude Puel’s side finished the encounter with nine men, but conceding a goal in each half left their third-place under pressure from Paris Saint-Germain.

Toulouse defender Mauro Cetto opened the scoring in the 28th minute, but Lyon were not without hope at the break.

That changed when Brazilian Michel Bastos was given his marching orders after picking up two yellow cards.

Full-back Aly Cissokho put the ball in his own net on 68 minutes to make the possibility of a positive result almost impossible for the 10-man Lyon.

It proved just that and Cissokho was given a straight red card four minutes from time as his team remain ahead of PSG on goal difference.

Toulouse move into 11th after the win saw them break a five-game winless run.

Caen moved out of the relegation zone with a resounding 4-0 thrashing of Nice.

First-half goals from Romain Hamouma and Yohan Mollo put Caen on the front foot and when Nice’s Argentine defender Renato Civelli was sent off on the stroke of half time, the game was all but over.

It took until the 89th minute to seal the points as Hamouma completed his brace and Youssef El-Arabi also got in on the act in stoppage time.

Caen move into 15th while Nice slip to 16th, but both remain just one point clear of the relegation zone.

In the day’s other game, Montpellier and Brest played out a scoreless draw at the Stade de la Mosson.

More to come…

Sun 1 May, 2011

Ligue 1 wrap: Lost points for Marseille, Lyon

Marseille squandered a chance to go top of Ligue 1 after being forced to settle for a 1-1 draw at home to Auxerre on Sunday.

The hosts had taken the lead early in the second half but were pegged back 13 minutes before the end, leaving Lille one point clear at the top with five games remaining.

Midfielder Mathieu Valbuena struck in the 56th minute to give Marseille the lead, but just as it looked as though victory was theirs, South Korean striker Jung Jo-Gook found the back of the net.

The draw moved Auxerre into 14th, just one point clear of 18th-placed Nancy in a congested bottom half.

Lyon missed their chance to maintain the pressure on the top two after suffering a surprise 2-0 loss at Toulouse.

Claude Puel’s side finished the encounter with nine men, but conceding a goal in each half left their third-place under pressure from Paris Saint-Germain.

Toulouse defender Mauro Cetto opened the scoring in the 28th minute, but Lyon were not without hope at the break.

That changed when Brazilian Michel Bastos was given his marching orders after picking up two yellow cards.

Full-back Aly Cissokho put the ball in his own net on 68 minutes to make the possibility of a positive result almost impossible for the 10-man Lyon.

It proved just that and Cissokho was given a straight red card four minutes from time as his team remain ahead of PSG on goal difference.

Toulouse move into 11th after the win saw them break a five-game winless run.

Caen moved out of the relegation zone with a resounding 4-0 thrashing of Nice.

First-half goals from Romain Hamouma and Yohan Mollo put Caen on the front foot and when Nice’s Argentine defender Renato Civelli was sent off on the stroke of half time, the game was all but over.

It took until the 89th minute to seal the points as Hamouma completed his brace and Youssef El-Arabi also got in on the act in stoppage time.

Caen move into 15th while Nice slip to 16th, but both remain just one point clear of the relegation zone.

In the day’s other game, Montpellier and Brest played out a scoreless draw at the Stade de la Mosson.

More to come…

Sun 1 May, 2011

SPL wrap: High five for Rangers, Hearts held

Rangers opened up a four-point gap in the race for the Scottish Premier League title with a 5-0 demolition of Motherwell on Saturday.

Kyle Lafferty nabbed the opener, Steven Davis and Nikica Jelavic doubled and tripled Rangers’ lead and Steven Naismith added a late brace in the rout.

It is the fourth time this season that Well have lost to Rangers by four or more goals, and their 30th straight winless result against the Gers.

Lafferty put the reigning champions ahead in the 18th minute, despite Steven Hammell’s attempt to clear from the line with goalkeeper Darren Randolph beaten.

It was a margin that would stand until the 51st minute, when Davis pounced on a rebound of Naismith’s blocked shot and picked out the far corner.

Jelavic, having already struck the bar and had an effort ruled out for offside, finally got on the scoresheet with a header to Sasa Papac’s cross in the 65th minute.

Eleven minutes later Naismith had his first, blasting a strike beyond Randolph from 22 yards out, and the Scotland international added a second in injury time with a fine shot from an acute angle.

Bitter rivals Celtic can close in on Rangers’ advantage when they host Dundee United on Sunday.

Elsewhere on Saturday, St Johnstone came from a goal down to edge Hibernian 2-1 on Kevin Moon’s last-gasp winner.

Akpo Sodje fired Hibs into the lead after 23 minutes, but Liam Craig levelled for the visitors 50 minutes later with a header from Danny Grainger’s corner.

Craig then turned provider in stoppage time, sliding back his pass for Moon to fire in the late winner.

Aberdeen ended an eight-game winless run with a 1-0 defeat of Inverness thanks to Peter Pawlett’s 75th-minute goal, and Hearts clung on for a 2-2 draw at Kilmarnock.

James Fowler’s deflected shot edged Kilmarnock ahead 10 minutes after the restart, but Rudolf Skacel’s 67th-minute strike and Manuel Pascali’s own goal nine minutes later handed Hearts the advantage.

Kieran Agard rescued a point for his side with an 86th-minute equaliser.

Sat 30 April, 2011

SPL wrap: High five for Rangers, Hearts held

Rangers opened up a four-point gap in the race for the Scottish Premier League title with a 5-0 demolition of Motherwell on Saturday.

Kyle Lafferty nabbed the opener, Steven Davis and Nikica Jelavic doubled and tripled Rangers’ lead and Steven Naismith added a late brace in the rout.

It is the fourth time this season that Well have lost to Rangers by four or more goals, and their 30th straight winless result against the Gers.

Lafferty put the reigning champions ahead in the 18th minute, despite Steven Hammell’s attempt to clear from the line with goalkeeper Darren Randolph beaten.

It was a margin that would stand until the 51st minute, when Davis pounced on a rebound of Naismith’s blocked shot and picked out the far corner.

Jelavic, having already struck the bar and had an effort ruled out for offside, finally got on the scoresheet with a header to Sasa Papac’s cross in the 65th minute.

Eleven minutes later Naismith had his first, blasting a strike beyond Randolph from 22 yards out, and the Scotland international added a second in injury time with a fine shot from an acute angle.

Bitter rivals Celtic can close in on Rangers’ advantage when they host Dundee United on Sunday.

Elsewhere on Saturday, St Johnstone came from a goal down to edge Hibernian 2-1 on Kevin Moon’s last-gasp winner.

Akpo Sodje fired Hibs into the lead after 23 minutes, but Liam Craig levelled for the visitors 50 minutes later with a header from Danny Grainger’s corner.

Craig then turned provider in stoppage time, sliding back his pass for Moon to fire in the late winner.

Aberdeen ended an eight-game winless run with a 1-0 defeat of Inverness thanks to Peter Pawlett’s 75th-minute goal, and Hearts clung on for a 2-2 draw at Kilmarnock.

James Fowler’s deflected shot edged Kilmarnock ahead 10 minutes after the restart, but Rudolf Skacel’s 67th-minute strike and Manuel Pascali’s own goal nine minutes later handed Hearts the advantage.

Kieran Agard rescued a point for his side with an 86th-minute equaliser.

Sat 30 April, 2011

Ligue 1 wrap: Marseille narrow gap on leaders Lille

Marseille closed to within a point of Ligue 1 leaders Lille with a 2-1 win at Montpellier on Sunday, while Lyon fell in the capital.

In a dress rehearsal for the Coupe de la Ligue final at the Stade de France on Saturday, OM came from a goal down to edge the hosts on Taye Taiwo’s late penalty.

Both teams had earlier gone down to 10 men in the ill-tempered clash, with Montpellier defender Abdelhamid El Kaoutari and OM forward Loic Remy handed red cards for an ugly spat deep in the second half.

Their suspensions mean the pair will automatically miss Saturday’s cup final.

The game broke open following a staid and chanceless first half, with Montpellier seizing control through striker Olivier Giroud in the 64th minute.

The towering forward turned the ball into the net off his left boot after being fed by Joris Marveaux.

But their lead would last all of five minutes before Andre-Pierre Gignac conjured up a wonder goal, having sprung the offside trap on Benoit Cheyrou’s long, defence-splitting bomb.

The drama kicked up a gear in the 78th minute after El Kaoutari gave away a penalty for tugging on Remy’s shirt.

The France international remonstrated with his marker, blows were exchanged and the pair were given their marching orders.

Taiwo kept his cool as he awaited the all-clear to take his spot kick, and four minutes later he sent OM into the lead and secured a vital three points for the defending champions.

Elsewhere, Paris-Saint Germain climbed to fourth on the table with a 1-0 win over title hopefuls Lyon.

PSG defender Zoumana Camara edged the hosts into the lead with a 76th-minute goal, his first of the campaign.

Lyon, who suffered just their second league clean sheet since September, remain third on the table but fall five points behind Marseille and six points off leaders Lille.

Finally, Arles’ relegation to the second division became a mathematical certainty as the bottom-placed side fell 1-0 at home to Valenciennes.

The visitors, without a win in their past seven league games and hovering above the drop zone by virtue of their superior goal difference, had top-scorer Gregory Pujol to thank after the striker’s rich vein of form continued with a 68th-minute winner.

Valenciennes rise to 13th on the table, three points clear of the relegation places, with seven games left in the season.

Sun 17 April, 2011

MLS wrap: Galaxy win without Beckham

David Beckham was suspended but the Los Angeles Galaxy scored a valuable 2-1 away win at the Chicago Fire in Sunday’s MLS action.

Bruce Arena’s side were also without Landon Donovan, while Juan Pablo

Angel was left on the bench, leaving LA short of their usual star

firepower.

But the Galaxy dealt with the absence of their key men well, with Chad Barrett opening the scoring after 42 minutes.

LA looked to have sealed the points 18 minutes from time when Omar

Gonzalez added his name to the scoresheet but they did receive a late

scare, when substitute Dominic Oduro scored for the hosts with just a

minute remaining.

But it was just a false alarm as the Galaxy held on for a win that puts

them second on goal difference in the Western Conference behind Real

Salt Lake, while Chicago remain at the foot of the Eastern Conference.

The Portland Timbers held off a fast-finishing FC Dallas for a 3-2 victory at PGE Park.

The Timbers, who won 4-2 at home against the Chicago Fire on Thursday,

again started the match full of goals, with Jack Jewsbury’s 13th minute

opener delighting another passionate crowd in Portland.

Kenny Cooper added a second with 10 minutes in the first half remaining

and Rodney Wallace looked to have put the result beyond doubt with his

56th minute goal.

But Dallas refused to lie down, and an 83rd minute goal from David

Ferreira was followed by Brek Shea’s strike four minutes from time to

give the visitors the late momentum.

Portland did hold on for the win, however, which saw them rise to fourth in the Western Conference.

The other match of the day saw Houston Dynamo snatch a late 1-0 win

against New England, thanks to Hunter Freeman’s goal with just four

minutes remaining.

Mon 18 April, 2011

Ligue 1 wrap: Marseille narrow gap on leaders Lille

Marseille closed to within a point of Ligue 1 leaders Lille with a 2-1 win at Montpellier on Sunday, while Lyon fell in the capital.

In a dress rehearsal for the Coupe de la Ligue final at the Stade de France on Saturday, OM came from a goal down to edge the hosts on Taye Taiwo’s late penalty.

Both teams had earlier gone down to 10 men in the ill-tempered clash, with Montpellier defender Abdelhamid El Kaoutari and OM forward Loic Remy handed red cards for an ugly spat deep in the second half.

Their suspensions mean the pair will automatically miss Saturday’s cup final.

The game broke open following a staid and chanceless first half, with Montpellier seizing control through striker Olivier Giroud in the 64th minute.

The towering forward turned the ball into the net off his left boot after being fed by Joris Marveaux.

But their lead would last all of five minutes before Andre-Pierre Gignac conjured up a wonder goal, having sprung the offside trap on Benoit Cheyrou’s long, defence-splitting bomb.

The drama kicked up a gear in the 78th minute after El Kaoutari gave away a penalty for tugging on Remy’s shirt.

The France international remonstrated with his marker, blows were exchanged and the pair were given their marching orders.

Taiwo kept his cool as he awaited the all-clear to take his spot kick, and four minutes later he sent OM into the lead and secured a vital three points for the defending champions.

Elsewhere, Paris-Saint Germain climbed to fourth on the table with a 1-0 win over title hopefuls Lyon.

PSG defender Zoumana Camara edged the hosts into the lead with a 76th-minute goal, his first of the campaign.

Lyon, who suffered just their second league clean sheet since September, remain third on the table but fall five points behind Marseille and six points off leaders Lille.

Finally, Arles’ relegation to the second division became a mathematical certainty as the bottom-placed side fell 1-0 at home to Valenciennes.

The visitors, without a win in their past seven league games and hovering above the drop zone by virtue of their superior goal difference, had top-scorer Gregory Pujol to thank after the striker’s rich vein of form continued with a 68th-minute winner.

Valenciennes rise to 13th on the table, three points clear of the relegation places, with seven games left in the season.

Sun 17 April, 2011

MLS wrap: Galaxy win without Beckham

David Beckham was suspended but the Los Angeles Galaxy scored a valuable 2-1 away win at the Chicago Fire in Sunday’s MLS action.

Bruce Arena’s side were also without Landon Donovan, while Juan Pablo

Angel was left on the bench, leaving LA short of their usual star

firepower.

But the Galaxy dealt with the absence of their key men well, with Chad Barrett opening the scoring after 42 minutes.

LA looked to have sealed the points 18 minutes from time when Omar

Gonzalez added his name to the scoresheet but they did receive a late

scare, when substitute Dominic Oduro scored for the hosts with just a

minute remaining.

But it was just a false alarm as the Galaxy held on for a win that puts

them second on goal difference in the Western Conference behind Real

Salt Lake, while Chicago remain at the foot of the Eastern Conference.

The Portland Timbers held off a fast-finishing FC Dallas for a 3-2 victory at PGE Park.

The Timbers, who won 4-2 at home against the Chicago Fire on Thursday,

again started the match full of goals, with Jack Jewsbury’s 13th minute

opener delighting another passionate crowd in Portland.

Kenny Cooper added a second with 10 minutes in the first half remaining

and Rodney Wallace looked to have put the result beyond doubt with his

56th minute goal.

But Dallas refused to lie down, and an 83rd minute goal from David

Ferreira was followed by Brek Shea’s strike four minutes from time to

give the visitors the late momentum.

Portland did hold on for the win, however, which saw them rise to fourth in the Western Conference.

The other match of the day saw Houston Dynamo snatch a late 1-0 win

against New England, thanks to Hunter Freeman’s goal with just four

minutes remaining.

Mon 18 April, 2011

Bundesliga wrap: Wins for Dortmund, Bayern

Bundesliga leaders Borussia Dortmund wrapped up a Champions League berth on Sunday, while Bayern Munich edged closer to one of their own.

Dortmund ensured a top-three finish is the minimum that awaits them at campaign’s end with a 3-0 win over visiting Freiburg, shortly after Bayern rode Mario Gomez’s hat-trick to a 5-1 thumping of second-placed Bayer Leverkusen.

Leverkusen’s heavy defeat allowed Dortmund to open up an eight-point lead at the top with four games remaining, while Bayern leapfrog Hannover into third place.

Dortmund imposed themselves on the contest early and took a deserved lead through Mario Gotze in the 23rd minute.

The Germany midfielder gleefully finished past Freiburg goalkeeper Oliver Baumann after Marcel Schmelzer played his way to the goal-line and pulled a pass back for his team-mate.

It only got more one-sided as Poland international Robert Lewandowski – who had earlier made a mess of two gilt-edged opportunities – pounced on Omer Toprak’s deflection, rounded Baumann and poked into the open net on 43 minutes.

Chances flew thick and fast in the second half as Freiburg searched for a goal, but it was Dortmund who would succeed once more as Kevin Grosskreutz made the most of a terrific squared ball by Gotze for a 3-0 result 12 minutes from time.

Elsewhere, Bayern gave Leverkusen manager Jupp Heynckes a good look at the talent that will be at his disposal next season with a classy 5-1 victory at the Allianz Arena.

Heynckes is set to take over from caretaker boss Andries Jonker at Bayern next term, but will see out the season in charge of Leverkusen.

And while Bayern’s win came at the expense of his current side, Heynckes will be gladdened that he will soon have the services of Gomez, who extended his goal tally to a league-leading 22 with a hat-trick inside 20 first-half minutes.

The early signs were ominous for Leverkusen when midfielder Simon Rolfes deflected Franck Ribery’s cross into his own net in the seventh minute to gift Bayern a 1-0 lead.

Frontman Gomez took over from there, knocking in Thomas Muller’s cross in the 28th minute and again in the 44th minute.

The Germany international then nabbed his hat-trick goal on a counter-attack in first-half injury time, blasting a low, angled strike that was simply too good for Leverkusen goalkeeper Rene Adler.

With four goals to their credit, Bayern had no need to press in the second half and seemed content to sit back until Leverkusen striker Eren Derdiyok smashed a cross into the roof of the net in the 62nd minute.

That prompted a brief flurry of activity from the hosts, who earned their fifth and final goal through Ribery after the France international played himself into the area on a one-two with Daniel van Buyten and clinically finished past Adler.

Sun 17 April, 2011

Bundesliga wrap: Wins for Dortmund, Bayern

Bundesliga leaders Borussia Dortmund wrapped up a Champions League berth on Sunday, while Bayern Munich edged closer to one of their own.

Dortmund ensured a top-three finish is the minimum that awaits them at campaign’s end with a 3-0 win over visiting Freiburg, shortly after Bayern rode Mario Gomez’s hat-trick to a 5-1 thumping of second-placed Bayer Leverkusen.

Leverkusen’s heavy defeat allowed Dortmund to open up an eight-point lead at the top with four games remaining, while Bayern leapfrog Hannover into third place.

Dortmund imposed themselves on the contest early and took a deserved lead through Mario Gotze in the 23rd minute.

The Germany midfielder gleefully finished past Freiburg goalkeeper Oliver Baumann after Marcel Schmelzer played his way to the goal-line and pulled a pass back for his team-mate.

It only got more one-sided as Poland international Robert Lewandowski – who had earlier made a mess of two gilt-edged opportunities – pounced on Omer Toprak’s deflection, rounded Baumann and poked into the open net on 43 minutes.

Chances flew thick and fast in the second half as Freiburg searched for a goal, but it was Dortmund who would succeed once more as Kevin Grosskreutz made the most of a terrific squared ball by Gotze for a 3-0 result 12 minutes from time.

Elsewhere, Bayern gave Leverkusen manager Jupp Heynckes a good look at the talent that will be at his disposal next season with a classy 5-1 victory at the Allianz Arena.

Heynckes is set to take over from caretaker boss Andries Jonker at Bayern next term, but will see out the season in charge of Leverkusen.

And while Bayern’s win came at the expense of his current side, Heynckes will be gladdened that he will soon have the services of Gomez, who extended his goal tally to a league-leading 22 with a hat-trick inside 20 first-half minutes.

The early signs were ominous for Leverkusen when midfielder Simon Rolfes deflected Franck Ribery’s cross into his own net in the seventh minute to gift Bayern a 1-0 lead.

Frontman Gomez took over from there, knocking in Thomas Muller’s cross in the 28th minute and again in the 44th minute.

The Germany international then nabbed his hat-trick goal on a counter-attack in first-half injury time, blasting a low, angled strike that was simply too good for Leverkusen goalkeeper Rene Adler.

With four goals to their credit, Bayern had no need to press in the second half and seemed content to sit back until Leverkusen striker Eren Derdiyok smashed a cross into the roof of the net in the 62nd minute.

That prompted a brief flurry of activity from the hosts, who earned their fifth and final goal through Ribery after the France international played himself into the area on a one-two with Daniel van Buyten and clinically finished past Adler.

Sun 17 April, 2011

La Liga wrap: Penalties seal Clasico draw

Cristiano Ronaldo’s 81st minute penalty has given Real Madrid a point in a 1-1 draw with Barcelona in La Liga on Sunday.

The much-awaited El Clasico got off to a slow start at the Bernabeu, but picked up considerably in a dramatic second half, with Barca taking the lead after 53 minutes thanks to a Lionel Messi penalty after David Villa was brought down in the area.

Real Madrid’s Raul Albiol was sent off for the challenge but the hosts, down to 10 men, fought back and snatched a point with Ronaldo’s spot-kick eight minutes from time.

Angel Di Maria and Ronaldo had the best chances of the first half for the hosts, while Messi was proving a threat for the visitors and David Villa could have had a penalty when Real goalkeeper Iker Casillas appeared to bring him down in the area.

Ronaldo then hit the upright with a dipping free-kick, the match turned when when Albiol tackled Villa to the ground and conceded an obvious penalty.

Messi converted for his 30th La Liga goal this season, despite Casillas getting a hand on the ball, and the lead could have been doubled when Xavi’s ball from the right clipped the top of the crossbar nine minutes after the goal.

The red card did not deter Real who continued to push forward, and the hosts earned a penalty when Dani Alves fouled Marcelo with a lunging challenge to hand Ronaldo a spot kick, which he duly dispatched.

Alves received his second yellow card for the challenge, but neither side could find a winner in the remaining 10 minutes, leaving Barcelona eight points clear on top of the league.

The two sides will now meet in the Copa del Rey final on April 20, before a two-legged Champions League semi-final.

In other matches, Getafe snapped a horror run of form with a 1-0 triumph over fifth-placed Sevilla.

Getafe entered the match sitting just two places above the relegation zone and with just one win in their last 16 matches in all competitions.

But that all changed as the relegation-threatened side jumped to 12th thanks to Miku’s 76th minute strike, which dents Sevilla’s chances of catching Villarreal in fourth.

Elsewhere, second-half goals to Roberto Soldado, Marius Stankevicius and Jordi Alba saw Valencia win 3-0 at bottom-side Almeria, while a Julio Baptista double helped Malaga to a 3-0 home win against Mallorca.

The win sees Malaga just goal difference away from exiting the relegation zone.

Sun 17 April, 2011

La Liga wrap: Penalties seal Clasico draw

Cristiano Ronaldo’s 81st minute penalty has given Real Madrid a point in a 1-1 draw with Barcelona in La Liga on Sunday.

The much-awaited El Clasico got off to a slow start at the Bernabeu, but picked up considerably in a dramatic second half, with Barca taking the lead after 53 minutes thanks to a Lionel Messi penalty after David Villa was brought down in the area.

Real Madrid’s Raul Albiol was sent off for the challenge but the hosts, down to 10 men, fought back and snatched a point with Ronaldo’s spot-kick eight minutes from time.

Angel Di Maria and Ronaldo had the best chances of the first half for the hosts, while Messi was proving a threat for the visitors and David Villa could have had a penalty when Real goalkeeper Iker Casillas appeared to bring him down in the area.

Ronaldo then hit the upright with a dipping free-kick, the match turned when when Albiol tackled Villa to the ground and conceded an obvious penalty.

Messi converted for his 30th La Liga goal this season, despite Casillas getting a hand on the ball, and the lead could have been doubled when Xavi’s ball from the right clipped the top of the crossbar nine minutes after the goal.

The red card did not deter Real who continued to push forward, and the hosts earned a penalty when Dani Alves fouled Marcelo with a lunging challenge to hand Ronaldo a spot kick, which he duly dispatched.

Alves received his second yellow card for the challenge, but neither side could find a winner in the remaining 10 minutes, leaving Barcelona eight points clear on top of the league.

The two sides will now meet in the Copa del Rey final on April 20, before a two-legged Champions League semi-final.

In other matches, Getafe snapped a horror run of form with a 1-0 triumph over fifth-placed Sevilla.

Getafe entered the match sitting just two places above the relegation zone and with just one win in their last 16 matches in all competitions.

But that all changed as the relegation-threatened side jumped to 12th thanks to Miku’s 76th minute strike, which dents Sevilla’s chances of catching Villarreal in fourth.

Elsewhere, second-half goals to Roberto Soldado, Marius Stankevicius and Jordi Alba saw Valencia win 3-0 at bottom-side Almeria, while a Julio Baptista double helped Malaga to a 3-0 home win against Mallorca.

The win sees Malaga just goal difference away from exiting the relegation zone.

Sun 17 April, 2011

SPL wrap: Rangers move top

Rangers temporarily moved to the top of the Scottish Premier League ahead of Celtic after a 2-1 victory over St Mirren at Ibrox on Saturday.

Rangers’ left-sided defender Sasa Papac opened the scoring in the 33rd minute when he turned in a rebound after St Mirren goalkeeper Paul Gallacher did well to deny a Nikica Jelavic effort.

St Mirren took only five minutes to draw level, and did so in spectacular fashion as Darren McGregor volleyed home from Aaron Mooy’s cross.

But Rangers restored their lead in the 52nd minute as Steven Whittaker converted a penalty after Jelavic was tripped by defender John Potter.

Jelavic then missed two chances to put the game beyond doubt while Saints unsuccessfully went in search of an equaliser.

In the day’s other league match, Inverness and Hearts drew 1-1.

Aaron Doran’s volley put the home side a goal up in the sixth minute but his strike was cancelled out by Stephen Elliott, who placed a low shot beyond Inverness goalkeeper Ryan Esson in the second hald.

Inverness defender Ross Tokely was sent off after receiving a second yellow card for a reckless challenge on winger David Templeton.

Sat 16 April, 2011

SPL wrap: Rangers move top

Rangers temporarily moved to the top of the Scottish Premier League ahead of Celtic after a 2-1 victory over St Mirren at Ibrox on Saturday.

Rangers’ left-sided defender Sasa Papac opened the scoring in the 33rd minute when he turned in a rebound after St Mirren goalkeeper Paul Gallacher did well to deny a Nikica Jelavic effort.

St Mirren took only five minutes to draw level, and did so in spectacular fashion as Darren McGregor volleyed home from Aaron Mooy’s cross.

But Rangers restored their lead in the 52nd minute as Steven Whittaker converted a penalty after Jelavic was tripped by defender John Potter.

Jelavic then missed two chances to put the game beyond doubt while Saints unsuccessfully went in search of an equaliser.

In the day’s other league match, Inverness and Hearts drew 1-1.

Aaron Doran’s volley put the home side a goal up in the sixth minute but his strike was cancelled out by Stephen Elliott, who placed a low shot beyond Inverness goalkeeper Ryan Esson in the second hald.

Inverness defender Ross Tokely was sent off after receiving a second yellow card for a reckless challenge on winger David Templeton.

Sat 16 April, 2011