Giggs inspires Owen to play on

Michael Owen says he will not allow a new injury setback to make him think about retiring any time soon.

The striker hobbled off after 11 minutes during Manchester United’s 2-0 win over Otelul Galati with a thigh problem, and with his contract up at the end of the season, it has been suggested that he may retire.

But the Englishman says he is still in love with the game and has taken inspiration from team-mate Ryan Giggs who is still playing for United despite being 37-years-old.

“I’m 31, so I’d still like to think I’ve got a few years left in me when you look at players like Giggsy,” Owen said in an interview broadcast on Sky Sports News.

“And while they are playing in their mid to late-thirties, that is great for us all, really.”

“But I’d like to think I’ve got a few years left in me and I still love the game. How can’t you love it when you are playing for such a top club like Manchester United?”

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Lavezzi inspires Napoli to success

Napoli forward Ezequiel Lavezzi believes his side’s 3-1 away win at Parma on Sunday has showed their ambition.

The Naples-based club entered the match with one win from their last five and their bad form looked like continuing when Raffaele Palladino’s 29th-minute goal had the hosts 1-0 up at half-time.

But Lavezzi, in his first match back from a three-game ban, inspired the comeback with a terrific solo performance that saw Napoli claw within one point of second-placed Inter.

“There’s no point hiding it. Napoli are ambitious and want to fight for important targets this season,” Lavezzi said.

The Argentine was at his best in the second half, setting up Marek Hamsik’s 52nd minute equaliser before he scored himself just six minutes later, to notch his ninth goal in all competitions this season.

Lavezzi said credit belonged to the team and felt he owed his teammates after his ban robbed them of one of their most creative players at such a vital point in the season.

“The team was decisive, not me. I did miss the playing field, as I always want to play and I felt bad at leaving my teammates in this difficult time,” he said.

“After a poor first half, we stepped out on to the pitch in a different way and gave it our all to earn the victory.”

Mon 14 March, 2011

Lavezzi inspires Napoli to success

Napoli forward Ezequiel Lavezzi believes his side’s 3-1 away win at Parma on Sunday has showed their ambition.

The Naples-based club entered the match with one win from their last five and their bad form looked like continuing when Raffaele Palladino’s 29th-minute goal had the hosts 1-0 up at half-time.

But Lavezzi, in his first match back from a three-game ban, inspired the comeback with a terrific solo performance that saw Napoli claw within one point of second-placed Inter.

“There’s no point hiding it. Napoli are ambitious and want to fight for important targets this season,” Lavezzi said.

The Argentine was at his best in the second half, setting up Marek Hamsik’s 52nd minute equaliser before he scored himself just six minutes later, to notch his ninth goal in all competitions this season.

Lavezzi said credit belonged to the team and felt he owed his teammates after his ban robbed them of one of their most creative players at such a vital point in the season.

“The team was decisive, not me. I did miss the playing field, as I always want to play and I felt bad at leaving my teammates in this difficult time,” he said.

“After a poor first half, we stepped out on to the pitch in a different way and gave it our all to earn the victory.”

Mon 14 March, 2011

Championship wrap: Wickham inspires Ipswich, Cardiff stumble

A Connor Wickham hat-trick fired Ipswich to a 6-0 thumping of Doncaster, while Cardiff dropped points late in Tuesday’s Championship action.

Wickham, 17, bagged his first professional treble and showed why the likes of Tottenham are interested in his services as he put on a solo performance to remember at the Keepmoat Stadium.

Ipswich Town appear rejuvenated under new boss Paul Jewell and headed into the game unbeaten in four and keen to keep their charge up the Championship table alive.

Sam Hird’s 25th-minute own goal gave the visitors the lead and Colin Healy added a second just seven minutes later.

Wickham bagged his first just before half-time and notched his double on the hour-mark as Ipswich started to run riot.

Defender Gareth McAuley got in on the act with his 65th-minute strike before a late penalty presented Wickham with the chance to score his hat-trick and he duly delivered.

At the Cardiff City Stadium, Dave Jones’ side drew with Burnley 1-1 and will be disappointed they let a chance to get within three points of table-toppers QPR slip.

Michael Chopra’s goal on the stroke of half-time looked to have wrapped up the points for the hosts but former Bluebirds striker Steven Thompson had other ideas, grabbing an 83rd-minute equaliser to ensure both sides would be forced to share the spoils.

In other games, Preston North End threw away a chance to climb off the bottom of the table when Watford clawed back from 2-0 down to claim a 2-2 draw at Vicarage Road.

First-half goals to Sean St Ledger and Leon Clarke had given Phil Brown’s side a great chance of moving ahead of second-from-bottom Scunthorpe United, but Matt Whichelow and Adam Thompson hit goals in the last 25 minutes for the hosts.

Sheffield United remain in the relegation zone despite claiming a late point in a 1-1 draw with Reading at Bramall Lane.

Shane Long’s 81st-minute goal gave the visitors a late lead but the Republic of Ireland international turned from hero to villain, giving away a late penalty which was tucked away by substitute Daniel Bogdanovic.

Wed 16 February, 2011

Championship wrap: Wickham inspires Ipswich, Cardiff stumble

A Connor Wickham hat-trick fired Ipswich to a 6-0 thumping of Doncaster, while Cardiff dropped points late in Tuesday’s Championship action.

Wickham, 17, bagged his first professional treble and showed why the likes of Tottenham are interested in his services as he put on a solo performance to remember at the Keepmoat Stadium.

Ipswich Town appear rejuvenated under new boss Paul Jewell and headed into the game unbeaten in four and keen to keep their charge up the Championship table alive.

Sam Hird’s 25th-minute own goal gave the visitors the lead and Colin Healy added a second just seven minutes later.

Wickham bagged his first just before half-time and notched his double on the hour-mark as Ipswich started to run riot.

Defender Gareth McAuley got in on the act with his 65th-minute strike before a late penalty presented Wickham with the chance to score his hat-trick and he duly delivered.

At the Cardiff City Stadium, Dave Jones’ side drew with Burnley 1-1 and will be disappointed they let a chance to get within three points of table-toppers QPR slip.

Michael Chopra’s goal on the stroke of half-time looked to have wrapped up the points for the hosts but former Bluebirds striker Steven Thompson had other ideas, grabbing an 83rd-minute equaliser to ensure both sides would be forced to share the spoils.

In other games, Preston North End threw away a chance to climb off the bottom of the table when Watford clawed back from 2-0 down to claim a 2-2 draw at Vicarage Road.

First-half goals to Sean St Ledger and Leon Clarke had given Phil Brown’s side a great chance of moving ahead of second-from-bottom Scunthorpe United, but Matt Whichelow and Adam Thompson hit goals in the last 25 minutes for the hosts.

Sheffield United remain in the relegation zone despite claiming a late point in a 1-1 draw with Reading at Bramall Lane.

Shane Long’s 81st-minute goal gave the visitors a late lead but the Republic of Ireland international turned from hero to villain, giving away a late penalty which was tucked away by substitute Daniel Bogdanovic.

Wed 16 February, 2011

Comment on La Liga wrap: Messi hat-trick inspires record-breaking Barca by the_real_deal

SoccerNews.comHomeSoccer StatsLive ScoresTransfer NewsEditorialBettingTicketsFootball ShirtsHomeArchivesAdvertiseWrite for UsAboutContactCommunityTop LeaguesEnglish Premier LeagueEnglish ChampionshipLa LigaSerie ABundesligaLigue 1EredivisieScottish Premier LeagueMLSWorld CupInternational CupsUEFA Champions LeagueUEFA Europa LeagueEuropean ChampionshipWorld Cup Select your teamArsenalAston VillaBirmingham CityBlackburn RoversBlackpoolBolton WanderersChelseaEvertonFulhamLiverpoolManchester CityManchester UnitedNewcastle UnitedStoke CitySunderlandTottenham HotspurWest Bromwich AlbionWest Ham UnitedWigan AthleticWolverhampton WanderersBarnsleyBristol CityBurnleyCardiff CityCoventry CityCrystal PalaceDerby CountyDoncaster RoversHull CityIpswich TownLeeds UnitedLeicester CityMiddlesbroughMillwallNorwich CityNottingham ForestPortsmouthPreston North EndQueens Park RangersReadingScunthorpe UnitedSheffield UnitedSwansea CityWatfordAlmeriaAthletic BilbaoAtletico MadridBarcelonaDeportivo La CorunaEspanyolGetafeHerculesLevanteMallorcaMalagaOsasunaRacing SantanderReal MadridReal SociedadReal ZaragozaSevillaSporting GijonValenciaVillarrealBariBolognaBresciaCagliariCataniaCesenaChievoFiorentinaGenoaInternazionaleJuventusLazioLecceMilanNapoliPalermoParmaRomaSampdoriaUdineseBayer LeverkusenBayern MunchenBorussia DortmundBorussia M'gladbachEintracht FrankfurtFreiburgHamburger SVHannover 96HoffenheimKaiserslauternKolnMainz 05NurnbergSchalke 04St. PauliStuttgartWerder BremenWolfsburgArlesAuxerreBordeauxBrestCaenLensLilleLorientMonacoMontpellierNancyNiceOlympique LyonOlympique MarseillePSGSaint-EtienneSochauxStade RennesToulouseValenciennesADO Den HaagAjaxAZDe GraafschapExcelsiorFeyenoordGroningenHeerenveenHeraclesNAC BredaNECPSVRoda JCTwenteUtrechtVitesseVVV VenloWillem IIAberdeenCelticDundee UnitedHamilton AcademicalsHeart of MidlothianHibernianInverness CTKilmarnockMotherwellRangersSt. JohnstoneSt. MirrenJoin usFollow usTuesday 8 February, 2011

La Liga wrap: Messi hat-trick inspires record-breaking Barca

A Lionel Messi hat-trick guided Barcelona to a 3-0 win over Atletico Madrid on Saturday, moving them 10 points clear on top of La Liga.

In the process, Barca notched up their 16th consecutive league win, breaking Real Madrid’s record of 15 – a mark that had stood for 50 years.

After being rested from Barca’s 3-0 Copa del Rey win over Almeria in midweek, Messi was simply unstoppable at the Nou Camp and the 23-year-old opened the scoring on 17 minutes with a low shot from the edge of the box before firing home a second from close range 11 minutes later.

He completed his hat-trick 10 minutes from full-time as Barca continued their march towards a third successive title.

Elsewhere on Saturday, Villarreal failed to make up any ground on second-placed Real Madrid when they slumped to a 1-0 defeat at home to relegation battlers Levante, with midfielder Valdo scoring the only goal of the game three minutes after half-time.

Villarreal remain third despite the defeat, three points behind Real Madrid who take on Real Sociedad on Sunday.

Almeria caused another surprise when they enjoyed a 3-2 home win over Espanyol, who fell to sixth.

The hosts raced to a 3-0 lead after just 18 minutes thanks to goals from Silva Marcelo Henrique, Kala Uche and Hernan Bernardello, but a 34th-minute goal from Verdu and another from Alvaro Vasquez four minutes after half-time put some spice back in the contest.

Athletic Bilbao climbed to fifth with a 3-0 home win over Sporting Gijon thanks to goals from David Lopez, Gaizka Toquero and Fernando Llorente, while Getafe moved to eighth after an Adrian Colunga brace helped them to a 4-1 win over Deportivo La Coruna.

Osasuna and Mallorca played out a 1-1 draw, as did Real Zaragoza and Racing Santander.

Sun 6 February, 2011

Comment on La Liga wrap: Messi hat-trick inspires record-breaking Barca by ferrari

SoccerNews.comHomeSoccer StatsLive ScoresTransfer NewsEditorialBettingTicketsFootball ShirtsHomeArchivesAdvertiseWrite for UsAboutContactCommunityTop LeaguesEnglish Premier LeagueEnglish ChampionshipLa LigaSerie ABundesligaLigue 1EredivisieScottish Premier LeagueMLSWorld CupInternational CupsUEFA Champions LeagueUEFA Europa LeagueEuropean ChampionshipWorld Cup Select your teamArsenalAston VillaBirmingham CityBlackburn RoversBlackpoolBolton WanderersChelseaEvertonFulhamLiverpoolManchester CityManchester UnitedNewcastle UnitedStoke CitySunderlandTottenham HotspurWest Bromwich AlbionWest Ham UnitedWigan AthleticWolverhampton WanderersBarnsleyBristol CityBurnleyCardiff CityCoventry CityCrystal PalaceDerby CountyDoncaster RoversHull CityIpswich TownLeeds UnitedLeicester CityMiddlesbroughMillwallNorwich CityNottingham ForestPortsmouthPreston North EndQueens Park RangersReadingScunthorpe UnitedSheffield UnitedSwansea CityWatfordAlmeriaAthletic BilbaoAtletico MadridBarcelonaDeportivo La CorunaEspanyolGetafeHerculesLevanteMallorcaMalagaOsasunaRacing SantanderReal MadridReal SociedadReal ZaragozaSevillaSporting GijonValenciaVillarrealBariBolognaBresciaCagliariCataniaCesenaChievoFiorentinaGenoaInternazionaleJuventusLazioLecceMilanNapoliPalermoParmaRomaSampdoriaUdineseBayer LeverkusenBayern MunchenBorussia DortmundBorussia M'gladbachEintracht FrankfurtFreiburgHamburger SVHannover 96HoffenheimKaiserslauternKolnMainz 05NurnbergSchalke 04St. PauliStuttgartWerder BremenWolfsburgArlesAuxerreBordeauxBrestCaenLensLilleLorientMonacoMontpellierNancyNiceOlympique LyonOlympique MarseillePSGSaint-EtienneSochauxStade RennesToulouseValenciennesADO Den HaagAjaxAZDe GraafschapExcelsiorFeyenoordGroningenHeerenveenHeraclesNAC BredaNECPSVRoda JCTwenteUtrechtVitesseVVV VenloWillem IIAberdeenCelticDundee UnitedHamilton AcademicalsHeart of MidlothianHibernianInverness CTKilmarnockMotherwellRangersSt. JohnstoneSt. MirrenJoin usFollow usSunday 6 February, 2011

La Liga wrap: Messi hat-trick inspires record-breaking Barca

A Lionel Messi hat-trick guided Barcelona to a 3-0 win over Atletico Madrid on Saturday, moving them 10 points clear on top of La Liga.

In the process, Barca notched up their 16th consecutive league win, breaking Real Madrid’s record of 15 – a mark that had stood for 50 years.

After being rested from Barca’s 3-0 Copa del Rey win over Almeria in midweek, Messi was simply unstoppable at the Nou Camp and the 23-year-old opened the scoring on 17 minutes with a low shot from the edge of the box before firing home a second from close range 11 minutes later.

He completed his hat-trick 10 minutes from full-time as Barca continued their march towards a third successive title.

Elsewhere on Saturday, Villarreal failed to make up any ground on second-placed Real Madrid when they slumped to a 1-0 defeat at home to relegation battlers Levante, with midfielder Valdo scoring the only goal of the game three minutes after half-time.

Villarreal remain third despite the defeat, three points behind Real Madrid who take on Real Sociedad on Sunday.

Almeria caused another surprise when they enjoyed a 3-2 home win over Espanyol, who fell to sixth.

The hosts raced to a 3-0 lead after just 18 minutes thanks to goals from Silva Marcelo Henrique, Kala Uche and Hernan Bernardello, but a 34th-minute goal from Verdu and another from Alvaro Vasquez four minutes after half-time put some spice back in the contest.

Athletic Bilbao climbed to fifth with a 3-0 home win over Sporting Gijon thanks to goals from David Lopez, Gaizka Toquero and Fernando Llorente, while Getafe moved to eighth after an Adrian Colunga brace helped them to a 4-1 win over Deportivo La Coruna.

Osasuna and Mallorca played out a 1-1 draw, as did Real Zaragoza and Racing Santander.

Sun 6 February, 2011