Showing posts with label Football. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Football. Show all posts

Friday, 15 April 2011

Football: Schalke defeat holders Inter

Raul scored his 71st Champions League goal to help Schalke through to a semifinal clash with Manchester United.Raul scored his 71st Champions League goal to help Schalke through to a semifinal clash with Manchester United.Schalke defeat Inter Milan 2-1 to reach the semifinals of the Champions LeagueThe victory puts the Bundesliga side into the last four 7-3 on aggregateSpanish striker Raul Gonzalez scores his 71st Champions League goal on WednesdaySchalke will now face Manchester United for a place in the final next month

(CNN) -- Veteran striker Raul Gonzalez scored his 71st Champions League goal to help Schalke beat holders Inter Milan 2-1 on the night and 7-3 on aggregate to reach the semifinals of the competition on Wednesday.

Already in the driving seat after their stunning 5-2 first leg win at the San Siro, the German Bundesliga side never looked likely to relinquish their advantage and eased through to the last four, where they will now face Manchester United.

Raul opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time, controlling an inch-perfect pass from compatriot Jose Manuel Jurado, before rounding goalkeeper Julio Cesar to slip the ball home.

However, the Italian side levelled the scores just four minutes later when Thiago Motta was left unmarked from a corner to head home.

Benedikt Hoewedes then had a header ruled out for offside, but the Schalke defender was not to be denied and he hit the winner with nine minutes remaining, firing home after latching onto Raul's pass.

Schalke coach Ralf Rangnick told reporters: "We have produced two great performances against Inter.

"If you only allow the Champions League winners a couple of chances, you know you have played well.

"Each player worked hard for each other and that was the key to our success," he added.

Schalke will host United in Gelsenkirchen on April 26 in the first leg, with the return at Old Trafford on May 4.


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Football: Gomes error gives Real win

Heurelho Gomes tries in vain to prevent the ball crossing the line as Real Madrid secured their last four place.Heurelho Gomes tries in vain to prevent the ball crossing the line as Real Madrid secured their last four place.Real Madrid win 1-0 at Tottenham to reach semifinals of the Champions LeagueAn error from Brazilian goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes enough to give Real victoryBrazilian allows a Cristiano Ronaldo shot to trickle through his fingersReal will now face Barcelona in a mouth-watering semifinal showdown

(CNN) -- An error from Brazilian goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes saw Real Madrid win 1-0 at Tottenham on Wednesday to reach the semifinals of the Champions League 5-0 on aggregate.

Gomes allowed a second-half shot from Cristiano Ronaldo to slip through his fingers and crawl over the goalline to ensure the Spanish side secured a mouth- watering last four showdown with bitter rivals Barcelona.

Jose Mourinho's side held a comfortable lead from the first leg at the Bernabeu but, despite that advantage, the Real Madrid coach still decided to play his strongest side at White Hart Lane.

Messi sets record as Barca reach semifinals

And the visitors had to hold on in the first 45 minutes as Tottenham had two good penalty appeals turned down, while Gareth Bale had the ball in the Madrid net, but his goal was ruled out for offside.

However, just five minutes into the second half, the tie ended when Ronaldo attempted a strike from 25 yards out that Gomes should have dealt with comfortably, only for the keeper to fumble the shot into the net.

Ramon Pavlyuchenko nearly levelled for Spurs from Rafael Van der Vaart's cross and defender William Gallas hit the post from close range, but Real were never in danger of losing their advantage.

The result means that Barcelona and Real Madrid will now clash four times in just 18 days in what will be a monumental series of 'El Clasico' encounters.

First the teams meet this weekend at the Bernabeu in La Liga, before they face each other four days later in the Spanish Cup final in Valencia prior to their two Champions League showdowns.

Mourinho -- who is the first coach to ever lead four different teams to the Champions League semifinals -- told ITV Sport: "Anything can happen in a semifinal, but we have two other matches to come against Barcelona before then and must concentrate on those games first."


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