Local Sport
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Chilie beat Honduras in FIFA World Cp |
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Posted by Robert Davids
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Thursday, 17 June 2010 |
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Chile 1-0 Honduras
Chile kicked off its first World Cup campaign in 12 years with a comfortable 1-0 victory against unfancied Honduras on Wednesday, but needed a fortuitous first-half goal to triumph in South Africa.
The South Americans, who qualified second from their region behind Brazil, dominated the Group H opener in Nelspruit against a 38th-ranked team who scraped the final place in the CONCACAF zone.
But for all its silky skills and intricate passing, coach Marcelo Bielsa was left frustrated on the sidelines as Chile could not translate its possession into goals as Honduras -- playing at soccer's showpiece event for the first time since 1982 -- defended stubbornly.
The breakthrough came in the 34th minute when Jean Beausejour bundled the ball into the net after a low right-wing cross by Mauricio Isla.
The forward claimed just his second international goal in 28 appearances, though television replays suggested the ball went in illegally off his arm after deflecting off a sliding Honduras defender.
The Central Americans had another slice of poor luck in the first minute after halftime when Gary Medel was brought down by Edgard Alvarez on the edge of the penalty area -- but the referee ruled it was not a foul despite the Hondurans' appeals for a spot-kick.
Chile playmaker Alexis Sanchez should have made it 2-0 just after an hour, but screwed his shot wide after a superb burst through the defense had put him clear on goal.
Waldo Ponce then inexplicably stooped to head the ball straight at Honduras goalkeeper Noel Valladreas from close range when it seemed easier to score, having been set up by a well-worked free-kick.
Chile had the ball in the net again with 15 minutes to play, but Jorge Valdivia was ruled offside after teammate Sanchez clearly used his hand to set him up -- for which he should have been booked by referee Eddy Maillet of the Seychelles.
On Tuesday, Honduras became the first nation to select three brothers in a World Cup squad, with striker Jerry Palacios called up to replace the injured Julio Cesar de Leon.
He was an unused substitute against Chile along with the younger of the trio, Johnny, while midfielder Wilson started the game and was booked shortly before the only goal.
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World Cup shock.Spain beaten ! |
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Posted by Robert Davids
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Thursday, 17 June 2010 |
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Unfancied Switzerland inflicted the first big shock of the World Cup by consigning European champions Spain to a surprise 1-0 defeat in Durban.
It is a nightmare start for Spain, which arrived in South Africa ranked as the second best team in the world. It will surely now have to win its next two group games to avoid an embarrassing exit before the knockout stages.
Gelson Fernandes' 52nd minute strike for the Swiss came completely against the run of play, and will hardly be remembered as one of the tournament's finest, but despite pouring forward in the game's dying stages Spain could not salvage a point.
The Swiss now share top spot in the group with Chile, which produced an impressive display to beat Honduras 1-0 in Wednesday's early kickoff.
Jean Beausejour grabbed the only goal of the game, bundling home a cross from Mauricio Isla, but Chile could and should have scored more after squandering a host of chances.
Switzerland 1-0 Spain
A spirited rearguard action earned Switzerland one of its most famous victories at the World Cup as it held on for a 1-0 win over Spain.
Coach Vicente del Bosque will have plenty of soul searching to do after Spain dominated possession but struggled to create any clear cut chances.
In a labored opening half, it was Spain defender Gerard Pique who forced the first save of the match as he twisted free in the penalty area before having his shot smothered by Switzerland goalkeeper Diego Benaglio.
Barcelona striker David Villa was next to get a sight of goal as he drew Benaglio before curling a chip wide of the post but the Swiss negotiated their way to the break without conceding.
With the second half seven minutes old Switzerland shocked Spain by scoring with its first attack of note. Blaise N'Kufo released Eren Derdiyok who took a tumble over the onrushing Iker Casillas, but as the ball squirmed loose Gelson Fernandes prodded it into an empty net.
Spain responded by introducing Liverpool striker Fernando Torres but it was Villa who had the next chance, racing onto a through ball from Andres Iniesta only to be thwarted by Benaglio.
Then as Villa turned on the edge of the area the ball ran free to Iniesta, who struck the ball narrowly wide of the far post.
Torres then blazed wide from just inside the area before Real Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso crashed a venomous shot against the bar from 20 yards out.
As the Spanish launched numbers forward they left gaps at the back and Derdiyok nearly put the game beyond their reach as he wriggled past Carles Puyol in the box before prodding a shot against the foot of the post.
Torres blasted a volley over the bar in the closing stages but Switzerland duly held on to claim three points and register its first ever win over Spain.
Spain's defeat means it now has no margin for error in the next two games against Honduras and Chile.
After the game Del Bosque told AFP: "We tried to play. They played very far back and tried to counter-attack. They defended very well. We were playing to win and this victory has escaped us. We may not have shown our true personality as a team.
"It's not a good sign to start off in this way but we have an obligation to cope with that and face the next two games trying to win. That'll be our goal for the next two matches.
"Of course, you can lose in football, but I feel we'll try to get even. We must really give everything. It's pointless standing there with our heads hanging low. The next matches will be good."
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Slovakia Coach "a small sporting tragedy" |
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Posted by Robert Davids
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Wednesday, 16 June 2010 |
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New Zealand coach Ricki Herbert had words of praise for his side's attitude as they drew 1 -1 with a 92nd minute goal against Slovakia.
bert's side have never picked up a point at the World Cup with their only other appearance, in 1982, seeing them lose all three group games.
However, Winston Reid's historic header earned the All Whites a draw and Herbert now believes they have a chance to progress to the next phase of the tournament.
''I am very, very proud. Can it get any better? I think the nation will be in reasonably good spirits tonight,'' he said.
Asked if it was their finest hour, he added: ''It would have to be. We've never won a point in a World Cup before. We've thrown some really good punches today and I thought it was an extremely well deserved result.
''We'll keep on dreaming because we are here. We have a chance like anyone else but we still have two heavyweights to go and it will be tough. We are competitive and the brand of football we now play is more conducive to high-level results and performances.''
Goalscorer Reid, who was booked for stripping off his shirt following his late goal amid wild celebrations, said: ''It was awesome. First thing I did was look at the linesman to see if I was offside and after that it was great. We had just decided to stay up there and hope for the best.
''Look at the smiles of the players and staff and that tells you everything. We're at the biggest stage of football and it's great to be here.''
Slovakia manager Vladimir Weiss, meanwhile, described his team's setback as ''a small sporting tragedy''.
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Cristiano Ronaldo denied by the woodwork |
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Posted by Robert Davids
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Wednesday, 16 June 2010 |
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Cristiano Ronaldo was denied by the woodwork as Portugal and Ivory Coast had to make do with a point apiece in Port Elizabeth. Ronaldo, who has not scored an international goal in 16 months, rattled a post with a blistering early strike, but that was as close as his side came to snatching victory on a frustrating afternoon at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. Even Didier Drogba's arrival as a second-half substitute, to the delight of a crowd of 37,034, could not separate the sides as each attempted to gain the upper hand in Group G ahead of their respective encounters with Brazil. Ivory Coast boss Sven-Goran Eriksson was boosted ahead of kick-off when he was able to name captain Drogba among his substitutes just 10 days after he had broken a bone in his arm. The Swede could not have failed to be satisfied too by the time he welcomed his players back to the dressing room at half-time with an opening 45 minutes in which they had more than matched their opponents. However, for all that, they could have been behind after Ronaldo saw his spectacular 30-yard strike come back off the upright with keeper Boubacar Barry beaten just 11 minutes in. In a frustrating first half for the European side, Ronaldo was booked along with defender Guy Demel as they went nose to nose after the winger had gone to ground all too easily, with Demel and Didier Zokora, who had himself earlier been cautioned for unceremoniously upending the Real Madrid star, leaving him in little doubt as to their thoughts on the matter. But where he was Portugal's only real outlet with Danny and Liedson largely anonymous in a three-man frontline, Ivory Coast showed real enterprise before the break. Gervinho, leading the line in Drogba's absence, proved a real handful, and with Aruna Dindane and Salomon Kalou similarly progressive, the Portuguese were repeatedly stretched. That said, keeper Eduardo did not have a single save of any note to make in the opening 45 minutes with speculative efforts from Siaka Tiene and Ismael Tiote requiring only a watching brief. Eduardo finally had to get his hands dirty two minutes after the restart when Gervinho blasted a shot across him, and Paulo Ferreira did just enough to prevent Kalou from reaching Dindane's cross seconds later. The Braga keeper was called upon once again with 54 minutes gone when Yaya Toure cut inside at pace and fed Kalou, although the Chelsea man side-footed straight at Eduardo from the edge of the box. Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz immediately replaced Danny with winger Simao, but it was Deco who provided the 58th-minute cross for Liedson's looping header, which was plucked out of the air by Barry. Drogba's World Cup began in earnest when he replaced Kalou with 66 minutes gone, but with heavy rain falling, it was Portugal who finished the stronger, although crucially, without coming close to making the breakthrough. |
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Another team self destructs in World cup |
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Posted by Malcolm Ballantine
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Tuesday, 15 June 2010 |
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The Netherlands made a winning start to their World Cup campaign as a moment of defensive madness cost Denmark dearly in Johannesburg, while Japan defeated a disappointing Cameroon 1-0 in Monday's other Group E match.
The Dutch failed to live up to their pre-tournament billing as one of the favorites, needing an own-goal from Simon Poulsen less than a minute into the second half to settle their nerves and pave the way for an eventually comfortable 2-0 victory.
Dirk Kuyt sealed the win with five minutes left, then defender Poulsen made a spectacular clearance from under his own crossbar to prevent an even more damaging defeat.
Keisuke Honda was the hero for Japan in Bloemfontein as his first half goal proved enough to beat 1990 quarterfinalists Cameroon and give the Asian side their first World Cup win on foreign soil.
The Netherlands started the match in at Soccer City with star forward Arjen Robben on the substitutes' bench still resting his injured hamstring, but still boasted attacking potency in Robin Van Persie and Kuyt plus the midfield presence of Mark van Bommel and Rafael van der Vaart.
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Central Pulse beaten in Napier |
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Posted by Robert Davids
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Sunday, 13 June 2010 |
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Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic beat Central Pulse in a trans-Tasman netball league match in Napier Saturday.
Magic 58 (Irene van Dyk 43/44, Tanya Lund 4/8, Jodi Brown 11/13) Pulse 52 (Paula Griffin 31/38, Jamilah Gupwell 21/25). Halftime: 26-24.
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Celebrate NZ Leadership Week in Hawke'’s Bay |
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Posted by Max Patmoy
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Wednesday, 09 June 2010 |
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Leadership Week highlights the strategic relevance and value that great leadership provides for New Zealand and showcases the work being done to develop our nation’s leadership capability. Organisations, businesses and schools around the country take part in a range of activities designed to inspire, develop and celebrate great Kiwi leadership. |
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Hawke's Bay No water, no milk, no environment, no economy |
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Posted by Max Patmoy
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Sunday, 06 June 2010 |
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For your rainy day and leisurely Queen’s Birthday reading, I’ve attached a copy of the speech delivered today by Green co-leader Russel Norman to the Green Party AGM. I’m not a Green Party member, but I’d be hard-pressed to find any significant disagreement with Russel’s message. For the full story see Bay Buzz here: |
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