Getafe get mighty Bayern in draw

FC Bayern München will face competition debutants Getafe CF in the UEFA Cup quarter-finals after the draw at UEFA HQ in Nyon threw up some intriguing ties.

German tests
The German giants will meet Getafe, Spain's sole hope of claiming a fourth UEFA Cup in five seasons, as they attempt to etch their name on the trophy for the second time following success in 1995/96. Bayern are one of three previous winners in contention, along with domestic rivals Bayer 04 Leverkusen, victors in 1987/88, and PSV Eindhoven. Leverkusen beat FC Barcelona in the last eight 20 years ago, and will have to overcome Russian champions FC Zenit St. Petersburg if they are to maintain their challenge.

Rangers reward
Rangers FC survived a stern examination from another Bundesliga side, Werder Bremen, to reach the last eight and their reward is a quarter-final against Sporting Clube de Portugal, losing finalists against PFC CSKA Moskva in 2004/05. The fourth fixture brings together the two teams that required penalty shoot-outs in the last 16, ACF Fiorentina and PSV Eindhoven – winners in 1978. The ties will be played on 3 and 10 April.

Final route
Today's proceedings at the House of European Football featured a straight draw involving all eight clubs without seedings or country protection. As well as the quarter-finals, the draw was also made for the semi-finals, meaning sides know who they will meet over two legs on 24 April and 1 May should they progress. If Bayern and Leverkusen advance, they could meet in an all-German semi-final.

Manchester final
The draw was conducted by UEFA General Secretary David Taylor and 1964 European Footballer of the Year Denis Law, who is the final ambassador. The final will be held at the City of Manchester Stadium on Wednesday 14 May with kick-off at 20.45CET (19.45 local time). Eleven thousand tickets are available for sale to fans worldwide via uefa.com until midnight CET on 16 March.

2007/08 UEFA Cup quarter-final
1st leg: 03 April
2nd leg: 10 April

1) Bayer 04 Leverkusen (GER) - FC Zenit St. Petersburg (RUS)
2) Rangers FC (SCO) - Sporting Clube de Portugal (POR)
3) FC Bayern München (GER) - Getafe CF (ESP)
4) ACF Fiorentina (ITA) - PSV Eindhoven (NED)

2007/08 UEFA Cup semi-finals
1st leg: 24 April
2nd leg: 1 May

1) Winner quarter-final 3 - Winner quarter-final 1
2) Winner quarter-final 2 - Winner quarter-final 4

2007/08 UEFA Cup final
City of Manchester Stadium, Manchester
Wednesday 14 May

Winner semi-final 1 - Winner semi-final 2


reference:"uefa.com"

Liverpool handed Arsenal assignment

Arsenal FC will take on Liverpool FC in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals after the draw was made in Nyon, Switzerland.

All-English affair
Arsenal, who eliminated holders AC Milan in the first knockout round and reached the 2006 final, also experienced an all-English quarter-final in 2003/04 when losing to Chelsea FC, while five-time European champions Liverpool, beaten by Milan in last year's final, have played Chelsea six times in the competition in the last three seasons. AS Roma, who knocked out Real Madrid CF in the last round, face another quarter-final against Manchester United FC, European Champion Clubs' Cup winners in 1968 and 1999, who defeated the Italian side 8-3 on aggregate at the same stage last term.

Schalke debut
FC Schalke 04, who got past FC Porto on penalties to make the last eight for the first time, will have home advantage for the first leg of their tie against FC Barcelona, winners of this tournament in 1992 and 2006. Chelsea, semi-finalists in three of the last four campaigns, will visit Fenerbahçe SK, competing in the last eight for the first time and conquerors of two-time UEFA Cup winners Sevilla FC, in their first leg. The ties will be played on 01/02 and 08/09 April.

Final route
Today's proceedings at the House of European Football featured a straight draw involving all eight clubs without seedings or country protection. As well as the quarter-finals, the draw was also made for the semi-finals, meaning teams know who they will meet over two legs on 22/23 and 29/30 April should they progress. If Chelsea advance, they will tackle either Arsenal or Liverpool in another all-Premier League tussle, while Schalke or Barcelona will encounter Roma or United in the last four.

Moscow final
The final will be held at the Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow, on Wednesday 21 May at 20.45CET (22.45 local time). The first batch of 10,500 tickets are available for sale to fans worldwide via uefa.com until 12.00CET on 19 March.

2007/08 UEFA Champions League quarter-finals
1st leg: 01/02 April
2nd leg: 08/09 April

1) Arsenal FC(Eng) - Liverpool FC(Eng)
2) AS Roma (ITA) - Manchester United FC (ENG)
3) FC Schalke 04 (GER) - FC Barcelona (ESP)
4) Fenerbahçe SK (TUR) - Chelsea FC (ENG)

007/08 UEFA Champions League semi-finals
1st leg: 22/23 April
2nd leg: 29/30 April

1) Winner quarter-final 1 - Winner quarter-final 4

2) Winner quarter-final 3 - Winner quarter-final 2


2007/08 UEFA Champions League final
Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow
Wednesday 21 May

Winner semi-final 2 - Winner semi-final 1



reference: "uefa.com"

Fenerbahçe win thriller at Sevilla

Volkan Demirel turned from villain to hero to send Fenerbahçe SK into the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals for the first time, saving three spot-kicks after hosts Sevilla FC had won 3-2 to take their first knockout round tie the distance.

Redemption
Two errors inside the first nine minutes from the visiting keeper had given Sevilla the perfect start, allowing Daniel Alves and Seydou Keita to score, but two Deivid goals either side of a Frédéric Kanouté effort forced extra time following Fenerbahçe's 3-2 first-leg victory in Istanbul. Sevilla keeper Andrés Palop denied Edu after no further goals were forthcoming, before Volkan Demirel grabbed the headlines with saves from Julien Escudé, Enzo Maresca and Alves.

Early drama
The local fans put on a captivating show before kick-off, full of colour and chanting, and their favourites soon gave them the goal they craved. Kanouté won a foul 20 metres out and, with five minutes on the clock, Alves curled in the free-kick via Volkan Demirel's misjudged attempt to save. That put Sevilla ahead on away goals and they quickly took advantage of the keeper's shattered confidence. The Fenerbahçe No1 was returning to action after being suspended at the weekend, and still looked rusty when Keita then thrashed a shot through his gloves from distance. Frustrated, Zico's men began collecting yellow cards, including one for Gökhan Gönül, who misses the next match.

Fenerbahçe revival
Volkan Demirel made some amends in the 22nd minute, keeping out Keita, and by that point Fenerbahçe had earned themselves a lifeline from a Mehmet Aurélio corner which found Deivid unmarked just inside the area. The Brazilian fired hard into the bottom left corner for his third goal of this season's competition, before his compatriot Alex and left-back Gökçek Vederson came close to putting Fenerbahçe back on top overall.

Kanouté volley
If that signalled a resurgence from the Turkish champions, Kanouté had other ideas and restored Sevilla's two-goal cushion four minutes before the break. The striker chested down Alves's pass and volleyed in courtesy of a deflection off Gökhan Gönül. The visitors refused to wilt, however, and it took a goalline clearance from Christian Poulsen to stop Edu providing an immediate reply in first-half stoppage time

Intelligent football
If Sevilla's early goals had made for a thrilling contest, the double UEFA Cup winners appeared more intent on defending their lead after the restart, no doubt with coach Manuel Jiménez's call for intelligent football ringing in their ears after a dressing-room reminder. That gave Fenerbahçe the breathing space to create chances, as Alex reminded everyone when he drove the ball just over from the left.

Attacking substitution
Sevilla were starting to betray nerves by this point, while Zico attempted to give his charges an edge by introducing Semih Şentürk for Selçuk Şahin. The substitute had come on to score the winner in Istanbul, yet after Keita and Alves had both gone close at the other end, it was Deivid who once again made the difference. With eleven minutes remaining he was picked out at the far post and took his moment to fire past the helpless Palop after his initial attempt had come back off the woodwork.

Late chances
Both sides had late chances to clinch victory but the game headed into extra time where, despite producing ten goals in the preceding 180 minutes, neither team could deliver the decisive punch. That meant penalties for the opportunity to make history and – for Volkan Demirel – the occasion to return home a redeemed hero.

reference:"uefa.com"

Fenerbahçe not afraid of Chelsea

Fenerbahçe SK have upset the odds to reach the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals for the first time and must do so again to overcome Chelsea FC – but winger Uğur Boral is staying optimistic.

First meeting
The Turkish champions and the London club have never met in European competition, though each team boasts a striker familiar to the opposition – Chelsea's former Fenerbahçe forward Nicolas Anelka and Mateja Kežman, who moved from Stamford Bridge in 2005 and ended up replacing the Frenchman in Istanbul. Fenerbahçe will hope to prolong their perfect home run in this season's tournament when Chelsea visit on Wednesday 2 April. FC Internazionale Milano, PSV Eindhoven and PFC CSKA Moskva all fell at the Sükrü Saraçoglu Stadium in the group stage before Sevilla FC lost 3-2 in the opening leg of the first knockout round. However, Chelsea have won three UEFA Champions League quarter-finals in the last five campaigns so will have plenty of confidence when Fenerbahçe come to Stamford Bridge on Tuesday 8 April.

Premonition
Still, Uğur Boral is sounding upbeat about the prospects of a side who qualified for the knockout stage for the first time in five attempts and are contesting only their second European quarter-final, following their last-eight appearance in the 1963/64 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup. The 25-year-old said: "Before the draw was made in Nyon, I had a feeling we were going to play Chelsea. I think the other English teams are stronger than Chelsea. We are going to do our utmost to beat Chelsea and qualify for the semi-finals. We are talented, strong and fit, so there is no reason for us to fail."

'Not easy'
Chelsea won on their last trip to Turkey, 5-0 at Galatasaray AS in 1999, and should they prevail an English finalist will be guaranteed as the winners of this tie will meet either Arsenal FC or Liverpool FC. Manager Avram Grant said: "No game in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals is easy. This team played well in the group stage – they beat Inter, they beat all the teams at home and they played very well away to Sevilla, where Arsenal had lost. Not an easy draw but our target is still the same – to succeed in the UEFA Champions League. We have never reached the final, we want to get there and this is our main target, to do it as soon as possible."

reference: "uefa.com"

Champagne bottles still corked for '72 Dolphins American football team

Champagne bottles still corked for '72 Dolphins American football team

MIAMI (AFP) - Players from the 1972 Miami Dolphins have gathered annually to drink a champagne toast to their undefeated National Football League season once the last undefeated team in a season has lost.

But those champagne bottles remain corked this time after the New England Patriots completed a perfect 16-0 run through the NFL season on Saturday by edging the New York Giants 38-35 for the first unbeaten season since 1972.

The Dolphins went 14-0 in the regular season in 1972, six years before the NFL added two games per team to the schedule, then won two playoff games and the Super Bowl to complete the only undefeated championship run in NFL history.

To match that feat, the Patriots will need to win two home playoff games and the Super Bowl on February 5.

"They've done a heck of a job thus far but now the exhibition season is over and the real season begins," 1972 Dolphins guard Bob Kuechenberg said.

"Obviously, if they can win their first playoff game, beat an even more dangerous Colts team, and then (Green Bay's) Brett Favre or the Dallas Cowboys in the Super Bowl, I will be the first to take my hat off to them."

The defending champion Indianapolis Colts went 14-2, losing a November showdown to the Patriots, and could face New England again in the American Conference final. Dallas or Green Bay could meet the Pats in the Super Bowl.

"If they can pull it off, they will have earned it, but my heart is set against it," Kuechenberg said. "The '72 team in uniquely immortal in American sports, and I don't want us to lose that special place."

No one knows wears that badge of honor with more pride than former Dolphins running back Mercury Morris.

"It doesn't matter to me whether or not they win them all because it doesn't affect anything we've done," Morris said. "It's not the number in the front that matters, it's the 0 that's behind it.

"When all the dust clears, the best they can do is to stand beside us and in the end, that's not a bad thing," Morris said. "I will welcome them to the mountain but first they have to join us on top of the mountain."

Kuchenberg figures that even with the greater number of games and teams in the NFL compared to 35 years ago, the Dolphins' feat will remain the milestone because it came first.

"We will forever be immortal and if they win every game in front of them, then they will join us among those ranks. They will have deserved it and I will congratulate them," Kuechenberg said.

"But something in my heart makes me feel that we accomplished something so special that it forever sets the standard of excellence in sports. Imperfect is mortal, perfect is immortal."

reference: "eurosport"

Premier League - City chess game ends in stalemate

Premier League - City chess game ends in stalemate

Manchester City and Liverpool played out a goalless draw at the City of Manchester Stadium that keeps them fifth and fourth in the league table respectively.

After a weekend full of fast-paced and high-scoring matches in the Premier League, this game was more of a fine exhibition of technique and tactics, and was very much a battle of wits between the two managers.

The tone was set by the cagey fashion in which the match started, with City and Liverpool both defending their respective exemplary home and away records.

Both bosses were forced to field unfamiliar defences, with full back Alvaro Arbeloa filling in at centre back in the absence of both Sami Hyypia and Daniel Agger for Liverpool, while Michael Ball and Nedum Onuoha had rare starts for City, with regular right back Vedran Corluka deployed in an advanced midfield role.

It was Rafael Benitez's side who were given the time to keep more of the ball, though Sven Goran-Eriksson's team were content to sit deep and try to hit on the break through the pace of Martin Petrov and find lone front man Darius Vassell.

It was difficult for either side to carve open a clear-cut opportunity, though there were plenty of shots blocked and timely interceptions.

Steven Gerrard and Petrov both found themselves set up with chances by team-mates, but neither opportunity fell to them on their favoured foot in good positions.

In addition, Dirk Kuyt's effort from Fernando Torres' knock down was thwarted by Micah Richards midway through the half, while Jamie Carragher did the same for an Elano shot a few minutes later.

Torres was starting his seventh consecutive match for Liverpool, a rarity bearing in mind Benitez's strict rotation policy.

The Spaniard was bereft of opportunities in the first half, but could have had two goals within the first five minutes following the restart.

First Harry Kewell pulled back a pass from the byline, only for the former Atletico Madrid striker to fire straight at goalkeeper Joe Hart from close range.

Barely a minute later, he found himself all alone to chase a ball over the top of the defence, but could only divert the ball wide of the target past a stranded Hart.

Yossi Benayoun also had a few good chances, including a solid half-volley from distance that Hart had to tip over the bar.

Captain Richard Dunne, who had been imperious throughout, came to City's rescue twice in the last few minutes, as first he hacked Dirk Kuyt's header off the line after it slipped through Hart's fingers, and then blocked Benayoun's close range effort after Gerrard squared the ball to him on the edge of the six-yard box.

reference: "eurosport"

Premier League - Bentley breaks Derby hearts

Premier League - Bentley breaks Derby hearts

Derby suffered their 15th defeat of the season as Blackburn Rovers came from a goal down to win 2-1 at Pride Park.

Rams captain Matt Oakley opened the scoring for the home side before Roque Santa Cruz's equaliser, a minute after Brad Friedel saved a Steve Howard penalty, and David Bentley's strike from distance gave Mark Hughes' side all three points.

The result leaves Paul Jewell and his team eight points adrift at the bottom of the table, while Rovers move above West ham into ninth.

Although Derby had to endure large spells of Blackburn possession and creativity, they were positive going forward themselves, and just before the half hour mark Lewis' diagonal ball was knocked on by Giles Barnes for captain Oakley to mark his 250th league appearance by firing the ball through the legs of goalkeeper Friedel.

The goal marked the consecutive game in which Blackburn had conceded the first goal, and it knocked the visitors out of their stride somewhat, and soon afterwards Ryan Nelsen fouled Kenny Miller in the area.

Referee Peter Walton had no hesitation in pointing to the spot, but resisted handing the Blackburn captain a second yellow card to go with the one he picked up just a few minutes previously.

In what proved to be the start of two minutes of heartbreak for Derby, Howard's spot-kick was saved by Friedel, who dived low to his right and kept hold of the ball.

Blackburn went straight up the other end and Lewis Price could only parry Benni McCarthy's shot into the path of Santa Cruz for a close range finish.

Things got worse for Derby three minutes later when the impressive Bentley made space for himself to shoot from 25 yards out and his low swerving shot had Price well beaten for what proved to be the winning goal.

It had looked as though Santa Cruz was destined not to add to his seven goals in his previous four matches when his header from a corner was cleared off the line by Tyrone Mears in the sixth minute.

He was denied again in the first half when Bentley turned Dean Leacock inside out on the left wing before sending in a perfect cross for the Paraguayan to head in, only for the goal to be ruled out because the cross had swung out of play before it reached the far post, before having another effort cleared off the line late on as Derby pushed for the equaliser that never came..

reference: "eurosport"