De Futebol

Atletico-MG fell behind 2-0 to Tijuana in the Mexicans house before rallying to square this puppy up at two. Galo heads back to their house square at two all but here is the big caveat Atletico-MG has two away goals.  This could be huge for Galo when they hook up with Tijuana next week for the second leg in the Copa Libertadores quarterfinals

Tijuana scored in the 32^nd minute off a close range strike by Duvier Riascos. The Mexican club made 2-0 in the 53^rd minute when Fidel Martinez Tenorio found the back of the net with a bomb from the top of the six-yard box.

Galo didn’t quit and scored in the 66^th minute when Diego Tardelli nailed the winner. Ronaldinho Gaucho set up this sucker.  It sure looked like Atletico-MG would lose but Luan nailed the equalizer in the 90^th minute plus one. Tardelli created this baby with a drive and pass into the box.

UOL- “Tratado como ídolo durante a estadia em Tijuana, Ronaldinho Gaúcho teve atuação razoável no empate com o Tijuana, em 2 a 2, nesta quinta-feira, no estádio Caliente, pelas quartas de final da Libertadores. O camisa 10 participou diretamente do primeiro gol do Atlético-MG, mas encontrou dificuldades com a marcação, o gramado sintético e uma bolada no olho esquerdo. “Jogou com um olho só, jogou com tênis e fez isso”, resumiu o técnico Cuca.

Ronaldinho Gaúcho levou uma bolada no olho esquerdo logo aos 7 minutos do primeiro tempo. O local ficou inchado e o incomodou durante toda a partida. “Pellerano o marcou muito bem, encurtou os espaços e Ronaldinho levou bolada no olho, que está roxo”, comentou Cuca. Bem marcado, o meia-atacante encontrou dificuldades para se movimentar no gramado sintético do estádio Caliente.

“Tijuana jogou muito bem, se encontrou no gramado, nos pressionou e fez o gol. Jogamos mais adiantados no segundo tempo, jogamos para buscar um gol e o empate. Nos adaptamos durante a partida ao gramado. Tivemos sorte e competência para empatar uma partida muito difícil. É uma equipe muito segura e estável taticamente”, explicou o técnico atleticano.

O camisa dez adotou calçado diferente de alguns companheiros e apostou no tênis para atuar. Porém, Ronaldinho não encontrou facilidades. Apesar de todas as dificuldades, o atleta cobrou escanteio para Tardelli marcar o primeiro gol e teve participação indireta no segundo, ao chamar atenção do marcador que deixou Luan livre.

Ronaldinho Gaúcho recebeu tratamento especial desde a chegada ao México, na terça-feira. O atleta juntamente com a delegação alvinegra foi recebido por dezenas de torcedores e moradores da cidade. No treinamento do período da noite, três mil pessoas foram ao campo para ver de perto o camisa dez alvinegro.

Eleito melhor do mundo duas vezes, o jogador arrastou multidões para a porta do hotel atleticano em Tijuana durante os dias de hospedagem do time. Ronaldinho foi o único atleta que não foi vaiado pelo torcedor do time mexicano antes do começo da partida de quinta-feira.

Cuca mostrou confiança que o camisa dez será novamente decisivo atuando no Independência, onde costuma ter atuações regulares e de destaque. “Creio que na quinta poderemos ver um Ronaldo que estamos acostumados a ser decisivo. Não vamos atribuir a ele uma má partida, mas ao gramado e a Pellerano, que marcou muito bem”, afirmou

http://esporte.uol.com.br/futebol/campeonatos/libertadores/ultimas-noticias/2013/05/24/com-um-olho-so-e-tenis-ronaldinho-e-importante-em-empate-atleticano.htm

Globo Esporte- Difícil lembrar, na história recente do Atlético-MG, um empate que tenha sido tão comemorado como os 2 a 2 contra o Tijuana, nessa quinta-feira, primeiro jogo das quartas de final da Taça Libertadores. Após sofrer dois gols, o Galo, em um ritmo alucinante no segundo tempo, chegou ao resultado que o coloca em vantagem para decidir a vaga nas semifinais da competição. Mas foi difícil, com luta até o último minuto. Literalmente. Luan, que entrou no lugar de Bernard, marcou o gol de empate aos 46. O técnico Cuca, aliviado com o resultado, disse que o jogador tem se tornado um talismã para o grupo.

Esse guri está virando um talismã, entrando e virando as histórias. Entrou no clássico, virou o pênalti. Ele está no caminho certo, porque este foi um resultadaço.

Cuca se refere também ao jogo do último domingo, que decidiu o título do Estadual diante do Cruzeiro. Quando a partida estava 2 a 0 para o adversário, e o Galo sob pressão, Luan sofreu pênalti, convertido por Ronaldinho Gaúcho, que deu segurança para o time alvinegro confirmar a conquista. Caso não houvesse a penalidade e a Raposa ainda chegasse ao terceiro gol, o caneco ficaria com o arquirrival.

Do medo à euforia

Cuca confessa: quando o Tijuana fez 2 a 0, ficou com medo de os mexicanos gostarem ainda mais da partida, o que tornaria a missão do jogo da volta, em Belo Horizonte, mais complicada.

- Eles se posicionam, torcida empurrando. O primeiro tempo nosso foi muito ruim. 1 a 0 ficou até de bom tamanho. Começa o segundo, e tem um anúncio do gol, e um minuto depois, tomou. Aí você fica com medo de tomar o 3 a 0, Se tomar, saí da competição. Nosso segundo tempo foi muito bom, foi até melhor que o deles.

Agora, Cuca já vislumbra como será o jogo da volta, no Independência, estádio no qual o Galo não sabe o que é perder desde a reinauguração, em abril de 2012.

- Estamos no caminho certo. Entramos para jogar 14 jogos nessa competição e ser campeão. Agora, faltam cinco. O caldeirão deles foi hoje, o nosso é semana que vem.

http://globoesporte.globo.com/futebol/times/atletico-mg/noticia/2013/05/cuca-vibra-com-resultadaco-e-destaca-atuacao-do-talisma-luan.html

This is it from Bobby Gee in The De Futebol Zone.

De Futebol

The Peruvian club Real Garcilaso has gone further than anyone has expected. Their magical run has almost come to a grinding halt. The Colombian side has had their way in Cuzco, Peru. Independiente de Santa Fe won going away 3-1. That’s three away goals and the second leg will be in Colombia. Real Garcilaso won’t score three away goals or more to force extra time or pull this puppy outta the fire. Not in this lifetime.

Goals by Francisco Meza Palma 19^th minute, Wilder Medina 22^nd minute, and Jefferson Cuero 53^rd minute was all Independiente de Santa Fe needed to head home with a 3-1 lead over the Peruvian club.

Fluminense and Olimpia tied nil-nil at Flu’s house. So this baby heads back to Paraguay. Olimpia now has the advantage for Fluminense couldn’t push the rock past the goal line in their house in Rio de Janeiro.

UOL-on the Po-de- arroz tie- O Fluminense dominou, pressionou, mas não conseguiu sair do empate sem gols contra o Olímpia, na noite desta quarta-feira, em São Januário, pelas quartas de final da Libertadores. Apesar de ter criado as melhores oportunidades, o time das Laranjeiras foi pouco eficaz no setor ofensivo e esbarrou em uma defesa sólida. Agora, decidirá a vaga no Paraguai precisando balançar as redes: vitória por qualquer placar ou empate com gols classificam o Tricolor. Em caso de novo 0 a 0, a vaga às semifinais será decidida nos pênaltis.

O placar, se não agradou totalmente aos torcedores que lotaram São Januário, deve ter deixado o técnico Abel Braga satisfeito. Durante a semana, o treinador disse que preferia empatar sem gols em casa a vencer por 2 a 1. Rhayner, que chegou a driblar o goleiro, mas chutou torto, e Wellington Nem, que invadiu a área sozinho nos acréscimos, mas mandou para fora, quase marcaram. O resultado faz com que o Fluminense tenha que partir para o ataque em Assunção.

O Tricolor começou a partida contra o Olímpia exatamente como Abel Braga havia pedido durante a semana. Comandando as ações, mas sem se atirar totalmente ao ataque. Tivesse caído em pés mais acostumados ao toque final, a primeira chance de perigo, aos 4min, poderia ter resultado em gol. Leandro Euzébio recebeu lançamento dentro da área, esperou o goleiro Silva sair, mas chutou no pé da trave direita, levantando a torcida que lotou São Januário.

Apesar de alguns sustos na defesa e erros na saída de bola, o Fluminense dominava o time paraguaio, que não oferecia perigo. Contudo, a maior posse de bola tricolor poucas vezes terminava em lance de perigo. A dificuldade em entrar na área forçava chutes de fora. Aos 17min, Jean recebeu bom passe na entrada da área, soltou a bomba e Silva espalmou. O Olímpia ‘lotava’ o meio de campo e travava o jogo com faltas, algumas bem duras.

Bruno e Rhayner reclamaram de pênalti em duas jogadas, mas o árbitro nada marcou e ainda deu cartão amarelo para o lateral direito. Wellington Nem também levou uma bronca do auxiliar e do árbitro por supostamente simular uma agressão. Superior, mas finalizando pouco, o time das Laranjeiras foi para os vestiários com o apoio dos seus torcedores.

http://esporte.uol.com.br/futebol/campeonatos/libertadores/pos-jogo/2013/05/22/flu-esbarra-em-retranca-do-olimpia-fica-no-0-a-0-e-tera-que-marcar-fora.htm

This is it from Bobby Gee in The De Futebol Zone.

De Futebol

The Copa Libertadores enters into the quarterfinal stage. Wednesday night we’ll see Fluminense will take on Olimpia at Flu’s house.

UOL- A impressão geral de disparidade entre a qualidade de espetáculo da Liga dos Campeões e da Libertadores é confirmada pelos números das duas competições. O principal campeonato europeu é mais ofensivo e com melhor qualidade técnica do que seu similar sul-americano. A Libertadores ganha em violência do seu primo europeu. A conclusão é de comparação feita pelo UOL Esporte entre as estatísticas oficiais das duas competições.

Tanto a UEFA (Federação Europeia de Futebol) quanto a Conmebol (Confederação Sul-Americana de Futebol) mantêm acompanhamento detalhado dos itens técnicos de seus campeonatos. A reportagem comparou os números das 16 partidas eliminatórias da Libertadores e dos 12 da Liga dos Campeões, amostragem suficientemente grande para evitar distorções. Há ressalvas, claro, em relação a critérios de estatísticas relacionados aos passes dos atleta.

Mas os números são claros ao demonstrar a superioridade do campeonato europeu, que terá sua final entre Bayern Munique e Borussia Dortmund. no sábado. A média de gols daquele torneio atingiu 3,1 por jogo, praticamente um gol a mais do que a média sul-americana, com 2,124. Essa exuberância pôde ser vista nas semifinais em que Bayern de Munique, Borussia Dortmund, Barcelona e Real Madrid protagonizaram quatro confrontos eletrizantes com um total de 14 gols.

Não é à toa. Os times europeus finalizaram mais a gol e com mais qualidades do que os sul-americanos. Em média, foram 24,4 arremates a gol por jogo na Liga dos Campeões. Desse total, 56% das conclusões foram acertadas, ou seja, na direção do gol.

A média da Libertadores de tentativas de gol foi menor, com 20,4 por partida. Mas apenas 33,7% das conclusões foram na direção entre as traves. Ou seja, dois terços das bolas foram para fora ou bateram na trave. Isso significa que apenas sete vezes por jogo, em média, houve chance real de gol por ser o arremate certeiro. Esse número é aproximadamente o dobro na competição europeia.

A análise de acertos de passes é mais complicada porque claramente há critérios diferentes para a estatística de cada competição. A média de passes por jogo da Liga dos Campeões, por exemplo, foi de 1.111 por jogo considerados os dois times, mais do que o dobro da Libertadores com sua média de 463 passes. Isso porque a UEFA considera como passe qualquer movimento de bola, inclusive chutões de goleiros.

Mas é possível analisar ao menos os índices de acertos de passes. E novamente os europeus levam vantagem. Nas eliminatórias, a Liga dos Campeões teve índice de acerto de 71%, contra 64,7% da Libertadores, cujas quartas de final serão retomadas nesta quarta-feira.

http://esporte.uol.com.br/futebol/campeonatos/libertadores/ultimas-noticias/2013/05/21/liga-dos-campeoes-e-mais-ofensiva-e-menos-violenta-do-que-libertadores.htm

UOL- on the upcoming Flu and Olimpia battle in Rio De Janeiro Wednesday night.

A diretoria do Fluminense viu a classificação do Olimpia-PAR, próximo adversário nas quartas de final da Copa Libertadores, de duas maneiras. A notícia boa ficou por conta da certeza de que poderá atuar em São Januário, já que o estádio vascaíno será entregue à Fifa apenas no dia 26 deste mês. A ruim é que, na avaliação do departamento de futebol, os paraguaios são mais fortes que o outro possível adversário, o Tigre-ARG, derrotado por 2 a 0 na última quinta-feira.

Durante a semana, a maioria dos jogadores tricolores deixou claro que preferia realizar o segundo jogo das quartas de final em casa. Para isso, o adversário teria que ser o Tigre, com pior campanha na primeira fase. Porém, como São Januário será entregue à Fifa para a Copa das Confederações, o time das Laranjeiras teria que encontrar novo local para mandar seu jogo, correndo o risco até de ter que atuar fora do Rio de Janeiro, longe de sua torcida.

Com o Olimpia pela frente, a questão do mando de campo fica solucionada. Porém, a equipe comandada pelo técnico Ever Almeida é vista como mais perigosa que os argentinos. O observador Fábio Moreno esteve no estádio Defensores del Chaco e enviou um relatório ao técnico Abel Braga destacando os principais pontos do tricampeão da Libertadores.

http://esporte.uol.com.br/futebol/campeonatos/libertadores/ultimas-noticias/2013/05/17/flu-ganha-sao-januario-mas-tera-nas-quartas-adversario-que-queria-evitar.htm

This is it from Bobby Gee in The De Futebol Zone.

De Futebol

River Plate had a chance to move into second place but Los Millionarios and Union de Santa Fe tied two all. San Lorenzo shut out All Boys 3-0. Independiente blew away San Martin de San Juan 3-1 in Sunday play of the Argentinos Clausura.

River Plate stays in third place with 26 points. Newell’s Old Boys keeps first place with 29 points. Lanus sits in second place with 28 points.

Boca Juniors climbed one stop to 18^th place with 13 points.

Diario la Union on the River Union de Santa Fe tie-  River Plate, después de asumir una desventaja de dos goles, empató hoy 2-2 como visitante ante Unión de Santa Fe, que está en zona de descenso, en partido válido por la 14ta. fecha del Final 2013 y dejó pasar la chance de acercarse al primer puesto del campeonato.

Los goles del equipo de Ramón Díaz fueron convertidos por Rogelio Funes Mori (PT 36m.) y Rodrigo Mora (ST 38m.).

El equipo santafesino se puso en ventaja en el primer tiempo por los goles de Andrés Franzoia (PT 25m.) y el volante Juan Cavallaro (PT 34m.).

El arquero de River, Marcelo Barovero, le contuvo un penal a Franzoia, a los 41m. del primer período, en el encuentro que fue arbitrado por Diego Ceballos, quien expulsó al defensor “millonario”, Leandro González Pirez, a los 49 minutos de la segunda etapa.

En el primer tiempo, River tomó la iniciativa cuando Manuel Lanzini asumió el rol de conductor como vía de conexión con los delanteros.

En ese arranque, a los 2 minutos, el árbitro Ceballos dejó pasar un golpe con el codo del defensor Britez sobre el mellizo Funes Mori.

River, sin Cristian Ledesma (suspendido) y Éder Balanta Álvarez (lesionado), tuvo dos ocasiones para abrir el marcador a los 14 y 15 minutos: Limia tapó el remate de Lanzini en el área y Bottinelli, de cabeza, no le dio la dirección correcta al balón, tras anticipo de González Pírez.

http://www.launion.com.ar/river-empato-en-santa-fe-y-desperdicio-la-chance-de-acercarse-a-lo-mas-alto/

La Razon- River Plate tie- Con el empate de Newell’s, River pisó la cancha de Unión de Santa Fe con la gran posibilidad de quedar a un puntos del líder del torneo. Sin embargo, el casi descendido Tatengue sorprendió al Millonario, que apenas se pudo reponer para conseguir un empate que lo dejó a la expectativa en el campeonato.

El equipo de Ramón Díaz cometió una gran cantidad de errores en el primer tiempo. Las falencias defensivas lo llevaron a estar 0-2 en el marcador. Primero a los 25 minutos Juan Cavallaro puso un pase profundo para Andrés Franzoia y justo el ex Boca esquivó al arquero Barovero y remató a la red sobre el cierre de Vangioni que no pudo evitar la apertura del marcador. Diez minutos después Cavallaro dejó en el camino a dos jugadores rival y definió al gol con un preciso zurdazo que se metió junto al palo derecho de Barovero.

Cuando parecía que la noche pintaba satisfactoria para Facundo Sava, River encontró a los 37’ el descuento tras un centro desde la derecha que cabeceó Funes Mori, y la pelota se le escapó a Limia por debajo del cuerpo.

Antes del cierre de la primera etapa hubo una jugada decisiva. Vangioni agarró de la cara a Brahian Aleman dentro del área y Diego Ceballos cobró la infracción. Franzoia se hizo cargo del penal pero Barovero atajó el remate tras arrojarse sobre su palo derecho.

En el arranque del complemento, el “Pelado” Díaz hizo ingresar a Carlos Luna por un apático Sánchez, y mandó al equipo más adelante. Cuando parecía que la historia se cerraba con el triunfo de Unión, Mercado envió un centro desde la derecha, y el ingresado Mora metió un preciso cabezazo que envió el balón al fondo de la red.

http://www.larazon.com.ar/deportes/River-pasar-chance-descontarle-Newells_0_461100069.html

This is it from Bobby Gee in The De Futebol Zone.

De Futebol

Yeovil Town defeated Brentford 2-1 to win the final promotion spot to the English Championship. The Glovers scored first when Patrick Madden let it rip. The rocket found the back of the net in the sixth minute. Yeovil Town scored again in the 42^nd minute. Daniel Burn’s close ranger header gave the Glovers the 2-0 lead.

The Bees cut the cap to 2-1 when Harlee Dean nailed the header in the 51^st minute. This was all Brentford could do and thus the guys I root for Yeovil Town made it to the English Championship.

It took the Glovers 108 years before they were promoted to the Futebol League. Now Yeovil Town has made it to the English Championship. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yeovil_Town_F.C.

The Guardian wrote-The likes of Leeds United, Nottingham Forest and Queens Park Rangers will be among the visitors to Somerset next season. Sixteen years after making it out of the Isthmian League, Yeovil Town have reached the Championship for the first time in their history after surviving a spirited comeback from Brentford to win the League One play-off final. That achievement only becomes more remarkable when it is taken into account that the wage bill for their playing staff is less than £1m and they average crowds of 4,000 at Huish Park.

Gary Johnson, the man who took Yeovil into the Football League in 2003, has worked wonders with the tiny club and this victory was particularly sweet for him given the pain he endured when his Bristol City side were beaten in the Championship play-off final by Hull City five years ago. Now, thanks to a performance of great maturity and dogged resistance, he has success at Wembley to savour.

“It’s a fantastic achievement for our football club and at times like these you do think of the people who have helped you along the way,” Johnson said. “That is a great achievement for little old Yeovil. But we’re going to need a whip-round for the Championship. We’ll be going round with a bucket later. This is like our Premiership.”

As for Brentford, they only have themselves to blame. Uwe Rösler’s side fell short of automatic promotion when Marcello Trotta missed a last-minute penalty against Doncaster Rovers on the final day and although they fought gamely in the second half, they were left to rue their inexplicable inertia in the opening period. Rösler’s task now is to keep this team together, although the German was cheered by the words of encouragement the club’s owner, Matthew Benham, offered in the dressing room after the final whistle.

Yeovil, who had twice beaten Brentford in the league this season, were the more composed side in the early exchanges and it was not a surprise when they took the lead after six minutes with a goal that would have graced any previous Wembley final. A loose ball fell to Paddy Madden, a £15,000 signing from Carlisle, just outside the area and, demonstrating outstanding technique and imagination, he stabbed an instinctive shot into Simon Moore’s top-right corner with the outside of his right foot. It was the Irish striker’s 23rd goal of the season. “He’s had this vision for a while now that he was going to score at Wembley,” Johnson said. “It was a sublime piece of ingenuity.”

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2013/may/19/yeovil-brentford-league-one-play-off-final

BBC- Brentford defender Harlee Dean hopes the squad will be able to bounce back from defeat in the play-off final.

The Bees will remain in League One after losing 2-1 to Yeovil on Sunday.

He said: “We have had some massive setbacks this season, with the Doncaster game and now this. This will hold us in good stead for next season.

“We are a young team and it is all about gaining experience. I am sure people wouldn’t have experienced what we have this season in their careers.”

Brentford defender Harlee Dean hopes the squad will be able to bounce back from defeat in the play-off final.

The Bees will remain in League One after losing 2-1 to Yeovil on Sunday.

He said: “We have had some massive setbacks this season, with the Doncaster game and now this. This will hold us in good stead for next season.

“We are a young team and it is all about gaining experience. I am sure people wouldn’t have experienced what we have this season in their careers.”

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22595493

Yeovil secured a first ever season in the Championship as they beat Brentford in a tense League One play-off final.

Paddy Madden gave the Glovers an early lead when he fired past keeper Simon Moore from outside the box.

Dan Burn’s header from Jamie McAllister’s corner made it 2-0 before half-time but Harlee Dean nodded home to reduce the deficit after the break.

The Glovers withstood heavy pressure to seal promotion in their 10th year as a Football League club.

In his second spell as manager, Gary Johnson has now won promotion with the Somerset side for the third time, having overseen their promotion to the Football League in 2003.

Even before their Wembley triumph, this season had already brought them their highest ever league position, as they finished the regular League One term one place below Brentford in fourth.

The Bees, who succumbed to an injury-time goal against Doncaster on the last day to miss out on automatic promotion, will again feel extremely unfortunate after wasting a number of chances to get back on level terms with the Glovers.

It is becoming a familiar feeling too – this was their seventh failure out of seven in the play-offs.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22499110

This is it from Bobby Gee in The De Futebol Zone.

De Futebol

Let’s talk about heart attack city. The day was filled with, hope, disgust, cheer, and finally victory as my Gunners pulled a rabbit outta their hat to beat Newcastle at Toons house 1-0.  The lone goal came via the header route off a great dribble drive into the box by Walcott. Laurent Koscielny tickled the twines in the 52^nd minute to save our day.

Walcott had some great runs but he missed it by that much. One of those was tantalizingly close one on one with the keeper. Buda Bing buda boom off the post.

These gaffs could have bit us in the butt but we kept up the press and didn’t let Toons score.  This coupled with Chelsea’s 2-1 win over Everton and Spurs 1-0 win over Sunderland gave us fourth place.

This season was very frustrating for any Gunner fan. These guys took us to many highs as well as too many lows. For the first time since 2003 Arsenal has won five straight road matches.

The Telegraph- A rare goal from Laurent Koscielny saw Arsenal clinch a fourth-place Premier League finish, and with it a 16th consecutive qualification for the Champions League.

Koscielny found the net in the league for the first time since September early in the second-half to secure the victory required by Arsene Wenger’s side to see off the challenge of their neighbours Tottenham Hotspur for the final place available to English clubs in Europe’s premier competition.

They were pushed all the way in an absorbing contest by Newcastle, who nevertheless recorded a third straight home game without a goal for the first time in six years to round off a season of frustration in familiar style.

Arsenal ended the campaign with eight wins from 10 games, and five back-to-back away victories, their best showing on the road for nine years, as Koscielny goal in front of the Gallo gate End, his fourth of the season, proved decisive.

Theo Walcott’s lighted 52nd-minute free-kick from the right was knocked down by Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker for Koscielny, who was played onside by Newcastle skipper Fabrício Coloccini despite home protests, to beat Steve Harper with a deft close-range volley.

In a game of few clear-cut chances, Arsene Wenger’s gamble to field injured skipper Mikel Arteta lasted just less than half an hour before the Spaniard was forced off in a first-half where Newcastle top scorer Papiss Cisse fired over left-footed from a Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa cross, before Koscielny gave warning of what was to come by sending a glancing header narrowly wide from a Santi Cazorla corner.

Harper, in his 199th and final Newcastle appearance after almost 20 years at the club, saved well from Walcott’s angled drive immediately after the restart. The veteran goalkeeper was afforded little protection as Koscielny pounced for what turned out to be the winner soon after.

As Arsenal’s defence lived up to its reputation as the meanest in the league on its travels, it saved Mike Ashley, the Newcastle owner, from having to deliver on his promise to pay out a £1m bonus to the club’s non-playing staff had Alan Pardew’s side secured only a second win in 12 attempts against the Gunners in the league.

News of a late Tottenham winner led to a tense finish, as Arsenal would have been edged out of the top four had Newcastle equalised, but it was the visitors who came closest to a late goal, Walcott hitting the post after a typically speedy surge left three defenders in his wake.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/premier-league/10065978/Newcastle-United-0-Arsenal-1-match-report.html

The Guardian- For prolonged periods of an overcast Tyneside afternoon Arsène Wenger wore the dissatisfied expression of a man forced to travel to Europe by cramped budget charter flight rather than first-class private jet.

Rarely threatening from open play his rather jaded-looking Arsenal players did not exactly arrive in the Champions League in style but the important thing is that, for a 16th successive season, they got there.

As the final whistle blew Wenger, suddenly wreathed in smiles, hugged his staff, players and even Alan Pardew, a man with whom he has not always enjoyed the most coridal of managerial relations.

The early signs had not been that promising for the visitors. The moment when Fabricio Coloccini knocked Theo Walcott off the ball as the forward attempted to get behind Newcastle’s defence and the ease with which Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa dodged Per Mertesacker before the home left-back unleashed a dangerous cross did not bode well for Wenger’s peace of mind.

If they were mighty relieved to see Papiss Cissé shooting fractionally over the bar after connecting with that cross, Wenger’s players had already realised that they were up against a very different Newcastle side from the sorry ensemble which had conceded nine goals in their previous two games here against Sunderland and Liverpool.

Wenger’s Champions League mission was hardly aided by Pardew’s decision to configure his team in the flexible 4-3-3 formation which invariably seems to add much needed fluency to Newcastle’s game.

A mild afternoon had begun to turn a little chilly but, perhaps feeling the heat created by potentially missing out on the Champions League after 15 years of continous involvement in Europe’s showpiece competition, Wenger removed his jacket. The not so subliminal message was that Arsenal needed to roll their collective sleeves up.

They might have taken a step nearer to Wednesday night fixtures against Barcelona and Bayern Munich when Walcott saw a free-kick deflect off Coloccini and sail fractionally wide of a post. Steve Harper, Newcastle’s 38-year-old third-choice goalkeeper playing his final game for the club after 20 years at St James’ Park, looked suitably relieved.

Later Harper would be spotted wiping away a tear, as the ground’s electronic clocks clicked on to 37 – the goalkeeper’s shirt number – and St James’ offered him a wonderful, spontaneous, ovation. “Only one Steve Harper,” they sang. Suddenly all those seasons spent sitting on the bench understudying Shay Given and, more recently, Tim Krul, must have seemed worth it after all.

By then Wenger’s frown lines had deepened in the wake of some heavy limping on Mikel Arteta’s part. With the gamble on the influential Spanish midfielder’s fitness evidently having failed, Arteta was replaced by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2013/may/19/newcastle-united-arsenal-premier-league-match-report

The Daily Mail- Laurent Koscielny ensured Arsenal of a place in the Champions League qualifiers with the only goal in a tight encounter at Newcastle.

The central defender prodded home from close range seven minutes after the break to ensure that the Gunners could not be overhauled by north London rivals Tottenham in the fight for fourth place in the Barclays Premier League.

But the result was in doubt until the final kick of the game, with Tottenham’s home win over Sunderland meaning a late equaliser for Alan Pardew’s men would have meant Spurs and not the Gunners getting a shot at Europe’s premier club competition.

Newcastle had motivation of their own, after owner Mike Ashley’s offer of £1million to be shared between the club’s non-footballing staff if they ended a difficult campaign with a victory.

But ultimately, a third successive defeat at St James’ Park, albeit despite a much-improved display, saw the staff go empty-handed and 38-year-old goalkeeper Steve Harper denied the perfect finish to his long career on Tyneside in front of a crowd of 52,354.

The Gunners enjoyed plenty of possession with Santi Cazorla the fulcrum, but with Newcastle defending competently, they found chances few and far between.

Theo Walcott, who was largely effectively contained by makeshift full-back Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa before the break, whistled a sixth-minute shot over Harper’s crossbar and Koscielny glanced a header harmlessly wide from Cazorla’s 12th-minute corner.

But in the meantime, Magpies striker Papiss Cisse had gone significantly closer, whipping a first-time left-foot effort just over after a fine run and cross by Yanga-Mbiwa.

For all Arsenal were able to retain possession for long periods, they were unable to penetrate with Cheick Tiote harrying in the middle of the park and Yoan Gouffran closing down space further upfield.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2326961/Newcastle-0-Arsenal-1–match-report-Champions-League-place-secured-Laurent-Koscielny-winner.html

Gunner for life.

This is it from Bobby Gee in The De Futebol Zone.

De Futebol

The guys have to beat Newcastle at Toons house later today but our history is not that good at St. James Park. My Gunners have  history of stinking out the joint. This is a must win situation for us  In the EPL era we have only one time at St. James Park in  our last eight visits. Last year we drew nil-nil and the year before the guys blew a four-goal lead and this resulted in a four all draw. History is against us at St. James Park but here is a huge caveat. My Gunners have won four straight away games. We can make it five and seal the deal.

The last time we won five straight away matches was 2004- See http://www.arsenal.com/news/features/newcastle-united-v-arsenal for facts and numbers.

So it all comes down this one match for the guys this season. Win and we’re in. Lose and we are cooked. I have this sense the guys are going to win big. Sure, Toons will not lay down for us on the other hand dogs always love to ruin another clubs season with a victory.   Many think Sunderland, Newcastle and the like have nothing to play. Wrong bucko- it is called pride. Professionals will not lay down and die when they can stick a fork in a team that is fighting for a playoff spot. Even thought Toons and Sunderland are buried near the butt end of the table they can take pride in knocking out either Spurs or my Gunners out of the Champions League picture. These babies will be all out wars. And you can take that to the bank.

Wenger told www.arsenal.com “What is at stake is a desire to stay at the top and to play top-level European football.”

Wenger went on to say, “There is a difference between the Champions League and Europa League. Why? The Champions League plays with the best teams in Europe and that is what we want to do.

“Yes the financial consequences are big but that is not the most important thing for me.”

Wenger added, “I would like to say that, no matter what happens on Sunday, I will keep a fantastic memory of this team because they have been focused,” he said. “They have gone through some difficult periods but they have always remained united and focused, with a great desire to do well. On that front it was a fantastic experience to work with this team.

“When we were under severe pressure, they didn’t talk and worked very hard together in a united way and that’s why I really want them to be rewarded.”

http://www.arsenal.com/match/report/1213/pre/first-team/newcastle-united-v-arsenal

Giroud said- I am ready for a dramatic final.”  He stated further, “We are confident,” Giroud told Arsenal Player. “We won the last game 4-1 after the comeback of Wigan at 1-1. We were under pressure with the score. We needed the win. I could feel the pressure on our shoulders and I think the team had a good reaction and we succeeded to score the second goal with Theo. It was a relief for us.

“Last year was amazing for me because we needed a win to win the championship in a game away at Auxerre. PSG won their game in Lorient so we really needed the win. It was a very special game. It was stopped two or three times by the Auxerre fans because their team went down.

“For Newcastle, it will maybe be a little bit different because Newcastle will play in the Premier League next season. I think it’s a good thing for us.

“Now we have to do the job and keep focused on our qualities and our game. Never mind if they are a little bit relieved, they will maybe play without pressure. I’m not sure but I think it’s better for us.”

http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/giroud-i-m-ready-for-a-dramatic-finale

It all comes down to win and you’re in like Flynn. Lose and it’s voce vai to the Europa League.

Gunner for life.

This is it from Bobby Gee in The De Futebol Zone.