STORY TO BE TOLD

Piala AFF Suzuki: Indonesia mara ke akhir lawan Malaysia
19/12/2010 10:25pm

JAKARTA, 19 Dis. - Indonesia berjaya menundukkan Filipina 1-0 dalam saingan separuh akhir kedua Piala AFF Suzuki yang tamat sebentar tadi di Stadium Gelora Bung Karno, Jakarta.

Jaringan Indonesia diperolehi melalui pemain C. Gonzales pada minit ke-43, kemenangan tersebut membolehkan Indonesia mara ke peringkat akhir dengan keputusan agregat 2-0.

Pada peringkat akhir pertama Indonesia bakal menentang Malaysia di Stadium Nasional Bukit Jalil pada 26 Disember ini. – Utusan

More news on: http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/

Credits to and source taken from: http://www.utusan.com.my/

Philippines 0 Indonesia 1 - Gonzales puts Indonesia on top

Click here to view the match summary

Jakarta: Cristian Gonzales capitalised on a defensive mix-up to give Indonesia a narrow advantage over the Philippines in the first leg of their AFF Suzuki Cup semi-final on Thursday.

The Uruguay-born striker headed the only goal of the game after goalkeeper Neil Etheridge and full-back Ray Jonsson had got in each other's way in the 32nd minute at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium.

It proved to be the only real lapse by the Filipino defence who defended heroically throughout the evening. But it was enough to give the Indonesians a precious lead to take into the return match at the same venue on Sunday.

The partisan home crowd of 70,000 created a deafening roar as the game kicked off but the Philippines showed few signs of nerves early on despite the intimidating atmosphere.

Gonzales put a weak shot wide in the opening minute but the first real Indonesian chance only arrived after 10 minutes when Oktovianus Maniani gave the ball to an overlapping Mohammad Nasuha, who cut the ball back from the left for Gonzales whose close range attempt went straight at Etheridge.

The Philippines were solid defensively in the early stages and created a few chances of their own. On 14 minutes, Phil Younghusband drilled a low shot from the edge of the Indonesian box that goalkeeper Markus Harison turned out for a corner.

Midway through the first half, Phil's elder brother James created a fine opening for himself. He turned brilliantly away from a challenge by Muhammad Ridwan on the left flank and ran unchallenged before unleashing a vicious low swerving shot from 25 metres that Harison did well to parry. Ian Araneta attempted to pounce on the rebound but was flagged for offside

The Philippines competed well for the first half-hour, allowing the Indonesians few real scoring opportunities. But having gone nearly four hours without conceding a goal in the tournament, their composure finally cracked after a fatal defensive mix-up.

There appeared to be little danger when Firman Utina swung in a deep cross from midfield to the right of the Filipino box. But Etheridge and Jonsson got in each other's way and the ball fell nicely for a lurking Gonzales, who placed his cushioned header into the unguarded net.

The goal ignited the Indonesian crowd and the home side turned up the pressure for the rest of the half.

The Filipino defence had recovered their poise though and Alexander Borromeo made a great defensive header to clear a dangerous cross by Muhammad Ridwan before it could reach Irfan Bachdim or Gonzales. Jonsson then made up for his earlier lapse with a good challenge to deny Irfan before he could fire a shot on target.

Eleven minutes into the second half, Robert Gier produced the tackle of the game with a sliding challenge to stop Gonzales as he bore down on the Philippines goal after being released by Irfan's through ball.

The Indonesians continued to plug away throughout the second half only to be turned away time after time by the Filipino defence, which put in some fine last-ditch tackles to deny the Indonesians a clear change against Etheridge.

The visitors themselves had few real chances but they nearly drew level after an Indonesian defensive mix-up in the 75th minute. Maman Abdurachman got in the way of Harison as the goalkeeper attempted to gather the ball on the edge of the box and the loose ball fell to James Younghusband who fired a bicycle kick towards goal. Fortunately for the Indonesians, Zulkifly Syukur was alert to the danger and heroically headed the ball off his goalline.

Bambang Pamungkas came on as a substitute and broke into the box in the 80th minute only to be forced wide by Etheridge. The striker was still able to put in a cross from the left but it flew just over the head of Gonzales.

More news on: http://www.affsuzukicup.com/

Credits to and source taken from: http://thestar.com.my/

Malaysia 2 Vietnam 0
Oleh Harris Rajahdin dan Syed Riduan Ahmad

2010/12/16

Safee ledak dua gol; Anak buah Rajagobal sebelah kaki di final

SAFEE Sali menjaringkan dua gol berharga untuk memberi bekalan selesa buat skuad negara bagi perlawanan kedua di Hanoi, Sabtu ini selepas membantu barisan didik K Rajagobal yang tampil memperagakan aksi garang menewaskan Vietnam 2-0 di Stadium Nasional, Bukit Jalil, malam tadi.

Tidak dinafikan skuad muda negara harus diberikan segala pujian atas komitmen dan semangat tinggi ditonjolkan sepanjang saingan separuh akhir pertama Piala Suzuki AFF – intipati yang membutirkan kemenangan penting buat menyalakan impian layak ke final buat kali kedua sejak 1996. Lautan penyokong tempatan yang membanjiri stadium serta kelompok kecil penyokong Vietnam berpakaian serba kemerahan turut mengapikan semangat perjuangan pemain tuan rumah ketika berjaya menyajikan persembahan terpuji penuh dominasi di laman sendiri.

Setiap pemain bertindak seperti diarah dan ini punca kemenangan pasukan malam ini (malam tadi). Kami berjaya mengawal permainan dan seharusnya menjaringkan gol pada babak pertama. Tapi tugas masih belum selesai, pemain begitu gembira pada saat ini,” kata Rajagobal.

Safee yang hanya dimasukkan selepas senarai kecederaan yang bertambah serta diketepikan daripada Sukan Asia 2010, menanduk padu sepakan percuma kapten, Safiq Rahim pada minit ke-60 walaupun usahanya terkena tangan penjaga gol, Bui Tan Truong.

Penyerang Selangor itu kemudian memastikan Malaysia memiliki kelebihan selesa untuk dipertahankan dalam tempoh tiga hari lagi apabila pantas menyambar bola muntah Tan Truong yang gagal menangkap kemas rembatan deras Safiq, 10 minit sebelum tamat permainan.

Ia adalah habuan terbaik buat barisan K Rajagobal yang banyak menguasai perlawanan dengan gerakan pantas yang sering mengucar-kacirkan pertahanan lawan, manakala berjaya mengehadkan Vietnam kepada percubaan jarak jauh.

More news on: http://www.bharian.com.my/

Credits to and source taken from: http://www.bharian.com.my/

Hasil kerja sepasukan: Safee
Oleh Harris Rajahdin dan Syed Riduan Ahmad

2010/12/16


Tugas kami belum selesai, pemain begitu gembira: Rajagobal

“SAYA bersyukur dapat menjaringkan dua gol malam ini,” kata Safee Sali.

Penyerang Selangor harus dijulang selaku wira skuad bola sepak negara selepas menyumbang dua gol ketika membantu tuan rumah menewaskan Vietnam 2-0 dalam saingan separuh akhir pertama Piala Suzuki AFF di Stadium Nasional, Bukit Jalil, malam tadi.

Dia menambah: “Ia adalah hasil kerja berpasukan yang cukup mantap sebaik permainan bermula. Pada awalnya, Vietnam bermain dengan pantas, tetapi kami sabar menahan asakan sehingga muncul peluang kita untuk menjaringkan gol.

“Kemenangan ini adalah bekalan selesa untuk dibawa ke Hanoi nanti dan saya harap kita dapat mengekalkan kelebihan pada perlawanan separuh akhir kedua itu.”

Safee yang sebelum ini mencetus kebimbangan akibat kecederaan dikutipnya pada saingan peringkat kumpulan di Jakarta, kembali menemui sentuhan jaringan dengan menyempurnakan gol menerusi tandukan minit ke-60 dan tolakan mudah minit ke-80.

Mengenai perlawanan kedua di Hanoi, Sabtu ini, dia berkata: “Saya akan cuba mencari gol di tempat lawan pula supaya peluang kita melangkah ke final cerah.”

Sementara itu, jurulatih pasukan, K Rajagobal menyuarakan Vietnam adalah pasukan kuat tapi memberi pujian kepada anak didiknya atas usaha baik ini.
“Perbezaan malam ini, pemain begitu mahukannya. Kami akan memfokuskan terhadap perlawanan seterusnya. Tugas masih belum selesai ini, pemain begitu gembira dengan kemenangan ini,” katanya.

More news on: http://www.bharian.com.my/

Credits to and source taken from: http://www.bharian.com.my/

Pandelela: She targets to win at least a medal at next month’s Asian Games.

Sarawak lass heads for the Asian Games in Guangzhou next month
Story and photo by KERNI PUAH
sarawakstar@thestar.com.my

AFTER her superb performance at the just-concluded New Delhi Commonwealth Games, diver Pandelela Rinong Pamg, who has been dubbed Lulu Dolphine by her supporters, is setting her eyes on at least one medal at the Asian Games in Guangzhou, China, next month.

It will be her first appearance at the Asian Games after participating in the Beijing Olympic Games and New Delhi Commonwealth Games.

“As it will be my first time in the Asian Games, I want to win medals to add to my collection. The colour does not matter but I need to win,” said the 17-year-old Bidayuh from Kampung Jugan in Bau.

However, it will not be a walk in the park for her as she will have to compete against Chinese Olympic gold medallist Liu Jaio.

Liu also took the gold at the Youth Olympic Games in Singapore in August in the 10m platform event.

“I’m aware that it will be tougher in the Asian Games as I will compete with divers from China, Japan and South Korea, and all of them are good divers.

“However, I will do my best and hope to spring some surprises,” said Pandelela in a telephone interview from her school in Bukit Jalil.

Prior to the Asian Games in Guangzhou, Pandelela will fly to Yunan in China on Oct 22 for an intensive training under coach Huang Qiang.

At the Youth Olympic Games, Pandelela bagged silver medals in the 3m springboard and 10m platform.

She received a reward of RM20,000 from the National Sports Council for her feat.

She also won a gold and a silver at the Commonwealth Games.

At the Asian Games, besides her pet individual and synchronised 10m platform events, Pandelela will compete in the 3m springboard discipline as well.

More on: http://thestar.com.my/

Credits to and source taken from: http://thestar.com.my/

Chong Wei is a major contributor to athletes’ welfare fund

KUALA LUMPUR: World number one shuttler Lee Chong Wei has contributed more than RM300,000 to the National Athletes Welfare Foundation (YAKEB) in the past two years.

Chong Wei said he reserved 50% of incentives received from the government and corporate sponsors and channelled it to YAKEB.

“This year I won seven big tournaments. Including the win at the New Delhi Commonwealth Games, it will be eight and I will not forget to contribute towards YAKEB.

“If we can afford it, we should not forget the sacrifices of our former athletes because when we retire maybe there will be others who will help us when we are in need,” he told reporters at the 1Malaysia gathering of former and current athletes, organised by YAKEB at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil here yesterday.

Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, who is the Prime Minister’s wife as well as the patron of YAKEB, urged former athletes to register with the foundation.

“By registering themselves with YAKEB, they can be assured that their welfare will be taken care of,” said Rosmah, adding that RM2.5mil was collected from yesterday’s gathering.

“I also urge corporate bodies and individuals to come forward and contribute generously as the athletes have toiled to make the country proud. Athletes themselves must also come forward and contribute their efforts and not just be bystanders,” she said. — Bernama

More on: http://thestar.com.my/sports/

Credits to and source taken from: http://thestar.com.my/sports/

Casey Stoner of Australia (centre) lifts the winner's trophy, flanked by second-placed Jorge Lorenzo of Spain and third-placed Valentino Rossi of Italy on the podium after the MotoGP Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix at Phillip Island, south of Melbourne, Australia, Sunday. -AP

Casey Stoner wins Australian Grand Prix

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) - Australia's Casey Stoner beat newly crowned world champion Jorge Lorenzo of Spain by almost nine seconds Sunday to claim his fourth straight Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix.

Stoner, who turned 25 on Saturday, started from pole position after dominating qualifying and rode his Ducati to an emphatic win over Yamaha's Lorenzo, while Italy's seven-time world champion Valentino Rossi, also on a Yamaha, finished third.

Stoner reached the first corner of the Phillip Island circuit in the lead and had opened a 1.5-second edge over Lorenzo by the end of the first lap.

He steadily stretched his advantage and by the race's halfway point held a 3.5-kilometer (2.2-mile) lead over the Yamaha rider who started from second on the grid.

Credits to and source taken from: http://thestar.com.my/sports/

Rossi, who started eighth, briefly slipped back a place but recovered to sixth by lap six. He then overtook Americans Nicky Hayden and Ben Spies to sit in third place by lap eight.

Hayden reclaimed third place on the second to last lap, but Rossi fought back to gain a place on the podium with a desperate late surge. Hayden finished fourth on a Ducati, 18.035 seconds behind Stoner, while Spies, Lorenzo's Yamaha teammate, was fifth.

Stoner made a slow start to the 2010 season but has now won three of the past four races, missing a clean sweep when he crashed at Malaysia last week.

He can still finish second behind Lorenzo on the world standings with two races to go. With his 25 points from Sunday's win, he lies 22 points behind Honda's Dani Pedrosa who has missed the last three races with injury.

Pedrosa took part in qualifying in Australia, but pulled out of Sunday's race because of continued problems with his recovery from a broken collarbone. Suzuki's Loris Capirossi also withdrew because of injuries suffered in a high speed crash in Saturday's qualifying.

The MotoGP season concludes with races in Portugal in two weeks and in Valencia, Spain.

Stoner was having what may be his last ride on a Ducati in his home country before joining Honda for the 2011 season.

Spain's Marc Marquez stretched his championship lead when he won his ninth race of the season in the 125cc class, beating compatriots compatriot Pol Espargaro with Nicolas Terol.

San Marino rider Alex DeAngelis won the Moto2 Grand Prix, beating Briton Scott Redding and Italian Andrea Iannone, but Toni Elias of Spain had already sealed the world title.

Lee Chong Wei has won the men's singles gold in badminton at the Commonwealth Games to defend his title. Lee defeated Rajiv Ouseph of England 21-10, 21-8 in less than 30 minutes Thursday.

World No. 1 Lee wins men's singles gold

NEW DELHI (AP) - Malaysia's Lee Chong Wei won the men's singles gold in badminton at the Commonwealth Games, defeating England's Rajiv Ousep 21-10, 21-8 Thursday to defend the title he won at the last games in Melbourne.

In a controversy marred women's doubles final, India's Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Machimanda beat Sari Shinta Mulia and Yao Lei of Singapore 21-16, 21-19. Yao responded to the loss by smashing her racket on the ground and kicking the mangled remains out of the court.

Ouseph, ranked 16th in the world, was no match for Lee, who wrapped up the match in less than a half hour. He is the first player in the history of Commonwealth Games to win back-to-back men's singles titles.

"There was no competition," said Lee, who is still undergoing treatment for a back injury suffered at the world championships.

"Although I am No. 1 in the world, I couldn't have missed the games because the country needed the medal," added Lee, who will take a two day break before starting preparations for the Asian Games in November.

Lee's victory was cheered by the Indian spectators who did not want England to win any more medals so that India could finish second in the medals tally at the games.

England and India were about level on the last day in terms of gold medals. India's aim ahead of the games was to finish second in the standings, replacing the English.

The controversy in the women's doubles match occurred in the second game when Gutta served with scores level on 18-18.

The Singaporeans claimed that Sari, who was the receiver had held up her hand to signal that she was not ready.

But Gutta went ahead and served an arched lob that fell behind Sari. Chair umpire Ian Spear awarded the point to India despite vociferous protests by the Singaporeans.

The Singaporeans leveled the scores again to 19-19 but the Indians won two straight points to take match.

Gutta claimed Sari had lowered her hand just before she served.

"The umpire was pretty fair. I saw her (Sari's) hand going down and that's why I served," she said. After winning, Gutta broke down in tears.

She said the winning strategy was simple - Machinda, one of the hardest smashers of the shuttle cock in women's badminton would attack and Gutta would play at the net.

The returns from the Singaporeans were "coming right at me and I could finish it easily," she said. "It is unbelievable.

It (the gold medal) was long pending for me. It is rarely that I cry. I am very lucky to have Ashwini as my partner," she said.

The two players are friends off the court and share a passion for shopping and movies, she said.

Malaysia won the mixed doubles gold with Koo Kien Keat and Chin Ee Hui defeating Nathan Robertson and Jenny Wallwork of England 22-20, 21-12, much to the delight of the Indian crowd.

England lost another chance to win a gold when the Malaysian men's doubles pair of Koo and Tan Boon Heong defeated Andrew Clark and Robertson 21-19, 21-14.

The victory gave Malaysia a record 11 golds, beating its previous best games performance of 10 golds when it hosted the 1998 edition at Kuala Lumpur.

Credits to & source taken from: http://thestar.com.my/

Argentina vs. Germany – Octopus Prediction

The octopus that is prediction the World Cup games for Germany has become something of a worldwide celebrity. Apparently he was right in 80% of the games in the 2006 World Cup and so far he has picked the right winner in all of Germany’s matches in the 2010 World Cup.

In the quarter final between Argentina and Germany the octopus predicted that Germany will go through. I wouldn’t put too much confidence in this octopus being able to tell the future though and if you are looking for a “real” preview with predictions for this game we have written one that is posted here (human predictions and opinions only in this post).

If you are looking to do some World Cup betting on this match I would recommend ignoring the octopus prediction and trying to make up your own opinion.

Do read more on: http://www.worldcup2010.mymytag.com/

Credits to: & source taken from: http://www.worldcup2010.mymytag.com/

A two year-old octopus "Paul", the so-called "octopus oracle" predicts Germany's victory in their World Cup last 16 clash against England by choosing a mussel, from a glass box with the German flag instead of a glass box with the England flag, at the Sea Life Aquarium in the western German city of Oberhausen.
Photograph by: WOLFGANG RATTAY
Credit: Reuters

Credits to: http://www.timeslive.co.za/

Psychic octopus picks Germany over Argentina
Jun 29, 2010 2:15 PM | By Sapa-dpa

German football fans have another reason to hope ahead of their team's World Cup quarter-final showdown with Argentina as Paul the octopus has tipped Germany to win.

"Extremely tight - but luckily a win for Germany in the end," said those in charge of the octopus tank at Aquarium Sea Life in Oberhausen.

The handlers of the psychic octopus baited glass cubes with mussels marked with both Germany and Argentina. The mussel Paul first chooses is viewed by the handlers as its prediction for the up-coming game.

Paul headed directly to the German side but waited a long before finally grabbing at it - more than an hour later.

For those sceptical of Paul's accuracy, he has been right four out of four times so far, picking Germany to beat Australia, Ghana and England as well as Germany's loss to Serbia.

source taken from: http://www.timeslive.co.za/

Rooney crowned PFA player of the year
Monday, April 26, 2010, 15:56 [IST]

London, Apr 26: World famous English striker Wayne Rooney was on Sunday, Apr 25 crowned the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) player of the year.

24-year-old Rooney was forced to miss a couple of games in the recent past due to his groin injury.

"I'm disappointed to miss a couple of games. Hopefully I will play before the season finishes," he told guests at the PFA dinner.

When asked if he would be physically ready for the World Cup, he declared, "No problems for the World Cup."

He, however, dismissed the beliefs that he is key to England's victory in World Cup 2010, scheduled to kick start in Jun 2010 in South Africa.

"We've got a lot of great players. If I get injured, so be it," he said.

OneIndia News

source taken from: http://news.oneindia.in/

F1 supremo Ecclestone backs Schumacher to win again
Thursday, April 22, 2010,7:17 [IST]

London, Apr 22 (ANI): Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone has hit back at critics of ace driver Michael Schumacher, and tipped the seven time champion, who is on a comeback trail, to win a race soon.

Ecclestone said critics of Schumacher, who claim he is passing his time, would soon be choking on their words."Anybody who criticises Michael is wrong. He deserves better. Michael would have never returned had he not been convinced that he can do the job, The Daily Express quoted him, as syaing."He is not a tourist in the paddock - he's here to win. And he will win again. Nico is very talented and Michael was on holiday for three years. Ask me the same question after another two races. Don't underestimate Michael," Ecclestone said."Give him time to adapt to the new car and the new tyres. At the moment he's something of a newbie, who has to get accustomed to the trade again," he said.Schumacher's boss, Mercedes motorsport vice-president Norbert Haug, has no doubt about his expensive investment and no regret about luring the seven-time champion from Ferrari."Michael stimulates everybody, including Nico. To work together with him and to profit from his experience can only be positive," said Haug."We all know that Michael would be his first and foremost critic if he realised that this job is not for him any more. But that's not the case. Within the team, Michael is extremely constructive." (ANI)

source taken from: http://news.oneindia.in/

Cricket ball throw killed 72-year-old Welsh umpire, Swansea inquest hears
Thursday, April 22, 2010,8:07 [IST]

London, Apr 22(ANI): A 72-year-old Welsh cricket umpire died after an "unfortunate accident" in Swansea, UK, when he stepped into the path of a ball thrown at the stumps and was hit on the head, a Swansea inquest heard.


The inquest heard that Alcwyn Jenkins was umpiring a match between Swansea and Llangennech on the afternoon of July 4, 2009.Jenkins was concentrating so hard on a potential run-out that he did not appear to hear warning shouts and was hit on the head.The 72-year-old was flown by air ambulance to Swansea's Morriston Hospital where he was later pronounced dead.PC Michael Chislett, who investigated the death, told the inquest that Jenkins had his back to the fielder as he moved into position to determine if there was a run out."It could have been that he was so professional he would not take his eyes off the stumps," The Sun quoted Chislett, as saying.Chislett added that a number of players shouted a warning, but the ball struck Jenkins on the right side of his head. (ANI)

source taken from: http://news.oneindia.in/