malaysia 2 - 0 vietnam

Safee Sali scored both goals for Malaysia in their AFF Suzuki Cup first-leg semifinal against defending champions Vietnam in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday evening, giving their opponents a difficult task in Saturday’s second leg.
At Bukit Jalil, Safee fired with a header in the 60th minute that became a goal due to Vietnam keeper Bui Tan Truong error. The ball slipped through his hands, just in front of his face, while he was standing firmly. The Safee header just found Truong’s position but half a second later, the ball was in the net. 


The goal made the Vietnamese side play higher than in the first half, during which they controlled the game better than the home side. However, about 12 minutes before the final whistle, Safee found the target again.
Safee doubled his side’s advantage after the Vietnam keeper managed to save a low shot by Malaysia captain Safiq Rahim. The ball bounded out and Safee finished from very close range.



Vietnam shaded in the first half but failed to score despites of their chances. Malaysia keeper Khairul Fahmi denied at least five times.


In the second leg in Hanoi Saturday, Vietnam need to win by three goals if they are to continue their defending campaign in the ASEAN championship.


Vietnam coach Henrique Calisto said after the Kuala Lumpur match he and his side had belief to do so. “We must believe,” he said.
“But it’s not easy,” added the Portuguese tactician.


In Kuala Lumpur, Vietnam did not have their key players – left defender Huynh Quang Thanh, right defender Doan Viet Cuong and midfielder Phan Van Tai Em, who were injured; and midfielder Nguyen Trong Hoang on suspension.
The key players are set to return for Saturday’s game in Hanoi.


In December last year, Malaysia coach Rajagobal and his Under-23 Malaysian team beat U23 Vietnam, also under Calisto, 1-0 in the Southeast Asian Games final in Laos to take the gold medal.


Calisto and his men returned to Hanoi Thursday to prepare for the second leg. If the home side win 2-0 after 90 minutes, this leads to two extra halves. If they win 3-0, they will go through to the finals against either Indonesia or the Philippines.

the pocket rocketman & josiah ng wins gold & silver

malaysian cycling ace azizulhasni awang wins gold at 16th asiad

Malaysia's Azizulhasni Awang won the gold medal in the keirin cycling event on Wednesday at the Asian Games here.

Teammate Josiah Ng bagged the silver.

Azizul's victory breaks a 40-year gold medal drought for Malaysia in the cycling event in the Asian Games.

The last time Malaysia won gold medals in Asian Games cycling was in the 1970 Bangkok Asiad, when Ng Joo Ngan won the individual road race event and the late Daud Ibrahim was victorious in the 1600m massed start.

this is what the underdog will tell you!

Wigan Athletic 0-4 Blackpool

Blackpool enjoyed a dream start to life in the Barclays Premier League with a convincing win at Wigan Athletic.

The Seasiders were dominant from the first whistle and striker Gary Taylor-Fletcher was left free to tuck home Marlon Harewood's 16th-minute cross.

After 37 minutes a mistake from Latics skipper Chris Kirkland gifted Harewood Blackpool's second before the burly striker added another two minutes before the break.

Alex Baptiste got a fourth 15 minutes from time to round off a fantastic day for Ian Holloway's men in their first top-flight match since 1971.

Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-1 Stoke City

Two goals in three minutes gave Wolverhampton Wanderers victory against Stoke City at Molineux.

David Jones brilliantly flicked up a free-kick to volley into the top corner on 36 minutes before Steven Fletcher bundled in a debut goal to double the advantage.

The Potters hauled themselves back into the match after 55 minutes when Matthew Etherington picked out Abdoulaye Faye from a corner and the Senegal defender powered a header past Marcus Hahnemann.

Stoke's misery was compounded by the loss of record signing Kenwyne Jones through injury after just 14 minutes.

Bolton Wanderers 0-0 Fulham

Bolton Wanderers and Fulham played out a goalless draw at the Reebok Stadium.

Fulham made a low-key start to life under Mark Hughes after holding on for a point at Bolton on the opening day of the Barclays Premier League season.

Wanderers dominated the contest and were unlucky not to secure all three points when Stuart Holden struck the post in the 78th minute.

Johan Elmander was also denied on several occasions by Cottagers goalkeeper David Stockdale, who had been selected by Hughes ahead of Arsenal target Mark Schwarzer.

Blackburn Rovers 1-0 Everton

Blackburn Rovers ran out narrow winners against Everton at Ewood Park.

Blackburn striker Nikola Kalinic grabbed the winner to stun Everton.

The industrious front man took advantage of a mistake from goalkeeper Tim Howard in the 14th minute and that was enough to give his side victory.

Sunderland 2-2 Birmingham City

Birmingham City came back from two goals down to salvage a point against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.

Birmingham scored two goals in the final 12 minutes to secure a draw against 10-man Sunderland in their Barclays Premier League opener.

Darren Bent gave the hosts the lead from the penalty spot in the 24th minute after Stephen Carr fouled Fraizer Campbell, and the veteran full-back headed the ball over his own keeper 11 minutes after half-time to put Sunderland two up

By that point the hosts were already a man down following two yellow cards for new captain Lee Cattermole in the first half and the visitors eventually took full advantage, with Scott Dann heading in a soft first and Liam Ridgewell grabbing the equaliser two minutes from time.

Aston Villa 3-0 West Ham United

Managerless Aston Villa got off to a winning start with a big victory over West Ham United.

Kevin MacDonald was left to take charge after Martin O'Neill left as manager earlier in the week but Villa put all that disruption behind them with a commanding performance.

Ashley Young and Marc Albrighton ripped the hapless Hammers to shreds, goalscorer Stewart Downing was named man of the match and Villa were unfortunate not to have won by double the scoreline. James Milner and Stiliyan Petrov were also on target.

Chelsea 6-0 West Bromwich Albion

Champions Chelsea started this season the same way they finished the last, with a resounding home win.

Didier Drogba's hat-trick sent double winners Chelsea straight to the top of the Barclays Premier League after thrashing new boys West Brom 6-0 at Stamford Bridge.

Florent Malouda set Chelsea on their way after only six minutes, with Drogba's free-kick making it 2-0 on the stroke of half-time.

It was more one-way traffic after the restart as the Ivory Coast striker netted from close range with Frank Lampard then making it four. Drogba's deflected effort and a last-minute strike from Malouda sealed an emphatic win for the champions.

Tottenham Hotspur 0-0 Manchester City

Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City fought out a thrilling draw in the Barclays Premier League opener.

The home side dominated the first half and City needed some superb saves from England goalkeeper Joe Hart who was given the nod over Shay Given.

Hart produced a succession of world-class stops to deny Jermain Defoe, Tom Huddlestone and Benoit Assou-Ekotto, while Gareth Bale also hit the post.

City improved after the break with Shaun Wright-Phillips having their best chance in an entertaining opener to the new campaign.

Fixtures English Premier League

Saturday 14th August 2010

Tottenham Hotspur	v	Manchester City	12:45	White Hart Lane
Aston Villa	v	West Ham United	15:00	Villa Park
Blackburn Rovers	v	Everton	15:00	Ewood Park
Bolton Wanderers	v	Fulham	15:00	Reebok Stadium
Sunderland	v	Birmingham City	15:00	Stadium of Light
Wigan Athletic	v	Blackpool	15:00	DW Stadium
Wolverhampton Wanderers	v	Stoke City	15:00	Molineux
Chelsea	v	West Bromwich Albion	17:30	Stamford Bridge

FA Community Shield 2010 Winner MADchester United

FA Community Shield 2010 Winner MADchester United. MADchester United have now won the FA Community Shield for the 14th time and thats a record in itself. They begin their Premier League campaign next week against Newcastle United.

It couldn’t have been a better start to the new season for MADchester United as they lifted the 2010 FA Community Shield. Antonia Valencia, new boy Chicharito and Berbatov scored the goals for United and made it four defeats in a row for Chelsea.

Last year, United had lost to Chelsea in this charity shield due to some bizarre refereeing by Chris Foy. But not this time as the Red Devils always looked the better side and determined to get back the Premier League title.

The game started off really well for United as they were led by Vidic. Paul Scholes was extremely lucky to avoid booking during the early minutes of the game. His tackle looked really harsh and for some time I thought he may be show the way, but luckily he wasn’t even booked.

Antonio Valencia gave United the lead after a great pass from Scholes and some brilliant run from Wayne Rooney. The combination was brilliant and the initial pass from Scholes was sheer genius.Rooney too looked sharp. I was surprised to see Carrick after Sir Alex had hinted that he may miss the initial weeks of the season.