There were only 37 people in the stands when English amateur clubs Holker Old Boys clashed with Chadderton FC and nobody had a video camera. But eyewitnesses confirmed that Holker Old Boys’ captain Graham Capstick did indeed score with a header from 57 yards out. “I can honestly say that he scored with a header from inside his own half,” Holker right back David Robinson told the Evening Mail.
Tag: england
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Forza Milan!
AC Milan put on a display of attacking soccer reminiscent of the great Milan teams of the late 1980s and early 1990s and crushed Manchester United, 3-0, on Wednesday night to advance to the UEFA Champions League final. All but forgotten as a European contender after last season’s Calciopoli scandal left it reeling, Milan was far the better team over the two legs of its 5-3 aggregate victory over United, which had been the toast of Europe for its 7-1 demolition of Italian club Roma in the quarterfinals. Milan moved into the final against Liverpool on May 23 in Athens, which will be a rematch of the 2005 final in which Milan blew a 3-0 halftime lead and lost to Liverpool on penalty kicks.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Milan-Liverpool, championship ledger
AC Milan and Liverpool, who meet in the final of the UEFA Champions League on May 23 in Athens, have a long history of success in Europe. Before they met in the 2005 final, they had won a combined 11 European Cup titles in 14 appearances in the final. Milan’s six championships rank second behind only Real Madrid’s nine. Liverpool’s come-from-behind victory over Milan in Istanbul was the Reds’ fifth title in six appearances in the final.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
‘The biggest financial prize in world soccer’
A report by accountancy firm Deloitte & Touche says that the teams promoted this season from the English second tier to the English Premier League will be rewarded with up to $120 million, thanks to the EPL’s new TV deal. Birmingham City and Sunderland have already clinched promotion. Four other teams will play off for the remaining spot, which will be decided in a May 28 final at the new Wembley, a game the report called, “the biggest financial prize in world football.”
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Singing
“Wise, Wise, whatever have you done? You’ve taken Leeds to Division One. You won’t win a cup, you won’t win a shield, your biggest game will be Huddersfield.”
— A chant, to the tune of “Lord of the Dance,” from fans of English second-tier club Barnsley directed Leeds coach Dennis Wise. Leeds United, for which American Eddie Lewis plays in midfield, will be relegated to England’s third tier (Division One) unless it wins its last game of the season against Derby on Sunday by eight goals and Hull loses. (BBC)
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Liverpool again overcomes Chelsea to reach Champions League final
Liverpool defeated Chelsea, 4-1, Tuesday night on penalty kicks to reach the Champions League final for the second time in three seasons. Two years ago, the Reds beat Chelsea, 1-0, at home for a 1-0 aggregate victory en route to their fifth title in Europe’s most important competition, This time, both teams won, 1-0, at home, with the Reds’ 1-0 win on Tuesday setting the stage for the decisive shootout before a vocal Anfield crowd in rare form.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
Reds must attack in Champions League showdown
[TV PREVIEW] Liverpool will have to do something on Tuesday it didn’t have to do in the second legs of the previous two rounds of the UEFA Champions League: attack. The Reds’ chances of earning a place in the Champions League final will depend on its ability to take the initiative against depleted Chelsea in Tuesday’s second leg. Chelsea leads, 1-0, going into the second leg.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
OFF THE POST: Ref ejects giant lion from EPL match
Referee M.A. Riley ejected Reading’s mascot, Kingsley the Giant Lion, minutes before halftime of the Royals’ game against Newcastle United on Monday. Kingsley, who wears a Reading jersey over his fur, roared the team on from the sideline, which apparently confused Riley. “I can see where the referee was getting confused, you know he does look like so many of my players,” joked Reading coach Steve Coppell, whose team managed a 1-0 despite lacking their lion. Mascot expulsions in Britain are not without precedent.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
4. EUROPEAN RACES: United breaks into clear
Manchester United broke into the clear in the English Premier League race Saturday when it rallied from two goals down to beat Everton, 4-2, while second-place Chelsea could only tie Bolton Wanderers, 2-2, at home.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
4. EUROPEAN RACES: Dutch title on line Sunday
The Dutch Eredivisie will be decided Sunday with outsider AZ, which has not won the title since 1981, favored over defending champion PSV and Ajax because of its better goal difference. The teams go into the game tied with 72 points.