world cup Fairytale Fulham reach final

Fulham completed their fairytale run to the UEFA Europa League final as the unfashionable English club defeated Hamburg 2-1 in the semi-final second leg on Thursday.

Roy Hodgson's side looked on the verge of elimination when they trailed to Mladen Petric's first half free-kick with just 21 minutes left at Craven Cottage. But two goals in seven minutes from Simon Davies and Zoltan Gera sealed a dramatic 2-1 aggregate triumph and a place in the final against Atletico Madrid at Hamburg's own Nordbank Arena on 12 May.

"It's the most important goal I have ever scored so I'm very, very happy. It's amazing," Gera said after the final whistle went. "We did so well, every single player."

Hodgson's team began their European adventure against Lithuania's FK Vetra way back in July and had already exceeded all expectations in a magical run that included famous victories over holders Shakhtar Donetsk, Italian giants Juventus and German champions Wolfsburg.? The Cottagers had even survived the draining effects of their enforced 18-hour bus journey to Germany in the first leg in Hamburg last week.

It's the most important goal I have ever scored so I'm very, very happy. It's amazing.Fulham's Zoltan Gera

Fulham have never won a major honour at home or abroad, but they will play in a first European final after the most significant result in the club's 131-year history.? With so much at stake, 19-goal leading scorer Bobby Zamora agreed to have a painkilling injection so he could start after missing Sunday's defeat at Everton with an Achilles injury.

Zamora had a chance to impress watching England coach Fabio Capello, but the former Tottenham forward never looked fit and was unable to convert a golden opportunity in the second minute. Gera's flick sent Zamora through on goal yet, with just Frank Rost to beat, he shot straight at the Hamburg goalkeeper before his effort from the rebound was scrambled away for a corner.

It proved a costly miss as Ricardo Moniz's side gradually took control before going ahead in the 22nd minute.? After Ze Roberto was fouled by Danny Murphy 35 yards from goal, Croatia forward Petric stepped up and unleashed a ferocious free-kick that caught Australian goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer slightly flat-footed at it sped past him.

Now Fulham needed to score twice as a draw would eliminate them on away goals. Hodgson's side had recovered from a worse position to go through against Juventus, but the Germans, who had sacked boss Bruno Labbadia earlier in the week, were pushing for a killer second goal and Jonathan Pitropia was narrowly off-target with a powerful drive just before half-time.

Trouble for Zamora
Zamora began limping heavily as the match wore on and it was no surprise when he was replaced by American forward Clint Dempsey in the 57th minute. Dempsey added more verve to the previously subdued Fulham forward line and Damien Duff went close with a first-time shot from Paul Konchesky's low free-kick.

Fulham were leaving more gaps at the back as they searched for an equaliser and David Jarolim forced Schwarzer to tip over after a quick Hamburg counter-attack. There was no sign of Fulham throwing in the towel though and Davies brought the hosts right back into the tie 69th minute.

Murphy chipped a defence-splitting pass to Davies and the Welsh midfielder showed great skill to turn Guy Demel before firing past Rost.? Suddenly, Fulham could sense another remarkable European victory and they piled forward.

Their pressure was rewarded in the 76th minute when Davies's corner ran through to Hungary forward Gera, who kept his composure to control and shoot past Rost as the Craven Cottage faithful went wild.

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world cup Stage set for draw ceremony

The fate of the 16 qualifiers for the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Chile 2008 will be decided at 17.00 (local time) this Saturday when the Chilean capital hosts the draw for the group phase.

Vina Cousino Macul, a magnificent late-nineteenth century residence in the outskirts of Santiago, provides the fitting location for an event the host nation has been carefully planning for the last few months. And with just a day to go before the ceremony, the preparations are complete.

The destiny of the 16 qualifying nations (click on the link in the left-hand column for a detailed profile of each team) is in the hands of the four women who will be making the draw: Laura Albornoz, the Chilean Women's National Service Minister; Francisca Puertas, a 2006 roller hockey world championship winner; Marisol Villarroel, the South American figure skating champion; and Brazilian footballer Sissi, one of the greatest players in the history of the game and a FIFA Ambassador. Compering the event will be FIFA's Head of Competitions Jim Brown, with the well-known former Chilean international Elias Figueroa lending assistance.

The teams will be drawn into four groups, with matches being played at the four tournament venues of Temuco, Coquimbo, Chillan and La Florida (Santiago) between 19 November and 7 December.

As well as the draw, the ceremony will also feature live entertainment and various high-ranking dignitaries will be in attendance, including the President of Chile, Michelle Bachelet, who is also the Honorary President of the Chile 2008 Local Organising Committee, and Chuck Blazer, a member of the FIFA Executive Committee and the President of the Organising Committee for the FIFA U-20 and U-17 Women's World Cups. Joining them will be leading officials from the Chilean FA, various secretaries of state and legislators, the mayors of the four host cities and over 400 guests, including delegations from the qualifying countries.

"The Official Draw is our window to the world," commented the Executive Director of the Local Organising Committee, Eduardo Rojas, who is eager to extend his guests the warmest of welcomes. "Although this is a sporting occasion, we want the event to have a typically Chilean feel. We want this World Cup to be a huge celebration for the country and we are looking forward greatly to welcoming the participating teams."

So make sure you log on to FIFA.com this Saturday and find out what the draw has in store for the 16 hopefuls. And while you wait to discover who plays who, why not head to the tournament home page and catch up on all the latest Chile 2008 news?

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world cup Unbeaten USA look to extend run

Trinidad and Tobago and USA, who each scored late goals on Saturday to remain undefeated in 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ qualifying, will meet in Colombus?on Wednesday in what is looming as a key match-up.

Frankie Hejduk's goal in the 88th minute lifted the United States into a 2-2 draw at El Salvador in a?CONCACAF qualifier for South Africa 2010. "In some ways we feel like we lost a couple points," US star Landon Donovan said. "If we win our home games and tie on the road that's plenty to get us through."

Ataullah Guerra's goal in the 89th minute gave Trinidad and Tobago a 1-1 home draw with Honduras, leaving the Caribbean side and the Salvadorans level in fourth on the table after two draws in as many matches. "It was with heart more than football that we were able to get one point," said Trinidad and Tobago coach Francisco Maturana.

It was with heart more than football that we were able to get one pointTrinidad and Tobago coach Francisco Maturana.

The US squad tops the six-team qualifying group with four points after the draw and an opening 2-0 home win over Mexico. The Mexicans beat Costa Rica 2-0 at home on Saturday to join their foes in?second.

Wednesday's other qualifiers will find Mexico at winless Honduras and the Salvadorans, who would have topped the table by beating the Americans, at Costa Rica. The top trio from the group will advance to South Africa 2010 while the fourth-place CONCACAF team will face the fifth-place team from South America to determine another FIFA World Cup qualifier.

Mexico or Costa Rica can seize the early table lead should the US stumble at home against the Soca Warriors in a matchup that will see both clubs boosted by the return of familiar faces. Chris Birchall and Clayton Ince will be back for Trinidad and Tobago after missing Saturday's match for accumulated yellow cards, but star Dwight Yorke remains suspended?for verbal abuse of a referee.

Sunderland striker Kenwyne Jones was bench for the Honduras match but could be fresh off the bench to face the Americans. Top US goalkeeper Tim Howard, also serving a yellow card suspension, will return and defender Oguchi Onyewu, who sprained a knee in practice, is likely to be back on the field after sitting out the El Salvador match.

The Americans added Chivas USA defender Jonathan Bornstein to the roster for Wednesday's match and sent goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann back to English side Reading with Howard's return. The Salvadorans had not scored against the US since 1997 and seized their first lead over the Americans in 16 years before headers by Jozy Altidore and Hejduk rescued a draw for the visitors.

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world cup New look USA shine Europe begins to warm up

Europe’s various leagues are slowly building momentum again for the year with the arrival of warmer weather. Germany and Switzerland are underway following the?mid-season hiatus, while in Italy the frontrunners seem in unstoppable form. With only minimal club activity over recent days, FIFA.com also looks at some international action ahead of a busy week on the national team front,?including an impressive start?to?a new era for an unfamiliar looking USA.

Internationals: New look USA start brightly
Tom Sermanni’s reign as coach of Olympic champions and world No1 USA started in winning fashion as the Stars and Stripes eased past Scotland 4-1 on Saturday. The Americans' side?featured three debutants, one of whom – Christen Press - scored a first-half brace in Jacksonville, Florida. Shannon Boxx and Sydney Leroux scored in the second period, book-ending a goal from Scotland’s star?attacker, Kim Little.?In an odd twist, Sermanni’s first match was against the country of his birth who, in turn, are coached by a Swede, the country of birth of the USA’s previous coach, Pia Sundhage.?Meanwhile, the Netherlands kick-started their build-up to July's UEFA Women’s EURO with a morale-boosting 3-2 win over neighbours Belgium in Waregem, with debutant Priscilla de Vos firing home a superb extra-time winner. A host of international matches will be played in midweek, with Germany's visit to France among the highlights.

Germany: Slow burn in the cold
The low-key resumption following the mid-winter break in Germany continued over the weekend, with again just one Bundesliga match played. Caroline Abbe’s opener for Freiburg was cancelled out by a goal from Bayer Leverkusen’s Germany?FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup skipper Ramona Petzelberger, as the contest between two mid-table sides ended in parity. Second-placed Turbine Potsdam’s home encounter with struggling Sindelfingen was postponed. League leaders Wolfsburg, however, took the field and eased into the last four of the cup with a 3-0 win over Jena. Conny Pohlers hit a quickfire second-half double to set up a meeting with Freiburg, while Potsdam will meet holders Bayern Munich in next month’s semi-finals.

Italy: Top two march on
Leaders Torres continued their fine campaign with a comfortable 3-0 win at Grifo Perugia to maintain their four-point lead at the summit. Teenager?Eleonora Piacezzi scored a double for the UEFA Women’s Champions League quarter-finalists, who have now dropped just four points from a possible 60. Second-placed Tavagnacco continued their dogged pursuit of the champions with a 2-0 triumph over Riviera di Romagna. Brescia, however, fell further behind the leading pair after being held 1-1 on their visit south to a?Napoli team who also took points off high-flying Torres last month.
Top three: Torres (56 points), Tavagnacco (52), Brescia (46)

Switzerland: Return to action
Another European league building momentum for the second half of the campaign is Switzerland, with the season?recommencing with two matches ahead of a full schedule next weekend. Mid-table sides St Gallen and Staad resumed after the mid-season interval with victories over Grasshoppers and Thun respectively. Ambitious frontrunners FC Zurich visit Yverdon next weekend seeking to protect a 100 per cent record after 14 rounds.
Top three: FC Zurich (42), Young Boys (29), Kriens (23)

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world cup Rooneys rehab continues in the US

Manchester United are sending Wayne Rooney for a week's conditioning work in the United States in a bid to ensure he is fully fit for a first-team comeback.

Rooney is presently sidelined by an ankle injury and manager Sir Alex Ferguson does not expect his star striker to be back in action for another three weeks. However, rather than use the state-of-the-art facilities at their Carrington training base, United have opted to use Nike's centre in Oregon, as much in a bid to get Rooney away from the constant headlines, which have dogged him since first news of his unhappiness at Old Trafford was raised nearly three weeks ago.

"What we are intending to do with Wayne is send him to the USA for a week's conditioning training," confirmed United assistant-manager Mike Phelan. "We have decided, with Wayne, the medical team and the coaching staff that it would be the best thing for him. He is going on Saturday and will return the following Saturday. It is a week's intensive conditioning, under the supervision of our medical team and our sports' science department."

Phelan did raise the possibility that Rooney could be back for the home encounter with Wigan Athletic on 21 November , although there is little doubt United believe the chance of working away from the glare of publicity will aid Rooney's recovery programme. "We have the facilities," he conceded. "We just thought it might be in the interests of him and the club to have a change of scenery for a little while.

He needs the conditioning. We all agree with that. He can go there without the attention he would get around here.Mike Phelan on Wayne Rooney

"He has had a lot of attention lately and we want to give him the best opportunity that he possibly can to be in good shape when he returns. He needs the conditioning. We all agree with that. He can go there without the attention he would get around here. If that goes according to plan, he will be available when he returns."

Aside from Rooney, for once the weekly medical bulletin was led by information on the manager, Sir Alex Ferguson. United officials confirmed the Scot would be absent from his weekly press briefing earlier this morning.

It was left to Phelan to confirm Ferguson had been struck down by the same virus which prevented four members of his squad travelling to Turkey for the Champions League win over Bursaspor and keeps Darron Gibson out of tomorrow's Premier League encounter with Wolverhampton Wanderers.

"The manager has been ill since coming back from Turkey," said Phelan. "He came down with a virus yesterday. He felt a little bit like that on the flight coming back. Yesterday he felt worse, so we have kept him away from the club for a little while. It is related to the virus that has been going around. It is one of those things that gets hold of you and is hard to shake off but he will be at the game tomorrow."

Phelan confirmed that Ryan Giggs is edging towards full fitness after his recent hamstring problems, although it seems more likely the veteran Welshman will make his comeback against City at Eastlands than being rushed back for this weekend's fixture, particularly as Darren Fletcher is set to shake off an ankle problem.

"Darren Fletcher is showing positive signs that he could recover," said Phelan. "We will have a look at him again this morning and hopefully he will be available. Ryan has been back in training and has started his preparation for the matches. Whether he will be available for tomorrow we are not quite sure yet."

There are other virus sufferers who will need to be assessed, although in-form winger Nani will not be considered. The Portugal international limped out of Tuesday's win with a groin injury amid fears he could be sidelined for some considerable time. However, he reported an easing of the discomfort yesterday and now he is undergoing treatment it is hoped will have him ready to face City.

"There is a possibility he could play against Manchester City," said Phelan. "Having reported in yesterday with the injury from Tuesday night, he felt a lot better than we expected, so we are going to progress him as quickly as we can with a view to next week."

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world cup Sochaux in shock at Davies accident

Sochaux president Alexandre Lacombe says the club are "in shock" at the news striker Charlie Davies is seriously injured in hospital after he was involved in a fatal car crash yesterday.

The USA international is in a serious but stable condition after undergoing surgery following the crash in the early hours of yesterday morning which left a female passenger dead. Davies' season is over and he will almost certainly miss the FIFA World Cup?, but Lacombe has urged the 23-year-old to put all thoughts of football to the back of his mind and concentrate on making a full recovery.

"What's essential is that Charlie gets better quickly," he told France Football. "We are in shock. In life you have to know how to put things in perspective. Charlie was close to death and a young woman aged 22 lost her life. His season is over but what's most important is for him to be out of danger. We're all thinking about him."

His season is over but what's most important is for him to be out of danger. We're all thinking about him. Sochaux president Alexandre Lacombe

Lacombe added: "Charlie is still in intensive care. He has to remain there at least until the end of the week, then he will be confined to his bed for around a month and a half. The sporting problem is important but we'll worry about that. What's most important isn't the sporting matter but that Charlie recovers quickly and returns to us."

Davies was one of three people in the car, which was split in two by the force of the impact on the George Washington Parkway in Northern Virginia. US Park Police identified the dead woman as 22-year-old Ashley Roberta, of Phoenix, Maryland. Davies suffered a lacerated bladder and fractures to the tibia and femur bones in his right leg. He also suffered facial fractures and a left elbow fracture and is set to be sidelined for between six months to a year.

The former Hammarby striker has had a good start to his Sochaux career since joining the Ligue 1 club in the summer, and scored twice against champions Bordeaux after coming on as a second-half substitute for his second appearance of the season. Davies, who has scored four goals in 17 international appearances, started the USA's 3-2 win over Honduras on Saturday, which secured Bob Bradley's side a place at next summer's finals in South Africa.

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world cup USA take title Ticas through in thriller

Over the past 11 days, the Cayman Islands have seen the best and brightest young talent from around the CONCACAF zone challenging for?three spots at the?FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Canada 2014.

USA and Mexico claimed the first two berths on Friday and were joined last night by Costa Rica,?who triumphed?7-3 over Trinidad and Tobago in?a?thrilling third-place play-off. The US, meanwhile, retained the continental title by beating Mexico 4-0 in the final.

FIFA.com reviews the action.

USA, Mexico dominate group phase
Costa Rica, Guatemala, Jamaica and USA?contested Group A, and the tone was set?on matchday?one?when the Stars and Stripes put six past Las Ticas?to?take an early lead in the section. Costa Rica were the next side to display their offensive prowess with a 5-1 win over Guatemala, though USA kept pace with a 3-0 victory over Jamaica, securing a spot in the semi-finals with one group stage match to spare.

Costa Rica, Guatemala and Jamaica were all in the hunt for the second semi-final berth on the last day of group play and suspense was high after Jamaica and Costa Rica battled to a 1-1 draw, meaning Guatemala had a chance to sneak through on goal difference?- albeit by causing an upset against?USA. The Americans were too strong, though, and?claimed top spot with a?10-0 win, with?Costa Rica scraping home in second with four points.

Group B was more straightforward as Mexico and Trinidad and Tobago dominated a section that also included Honduras and tournament hosts Cayman Islands.

El Tri scored 16 goals in their first two matches, winning 6-0 against Cayman Islands and 10-1 against Honduras, while Trinidad and Tobago saw off Honduras 2-0 and the hosts 4-0, leaving the two undefeated sides to play off for top spot.?T&T held firm for the first 30 minutes but Mexico pulled ahead in the 33rd minute and never looked back en route to a 3-0 win.

Qualifying spots decided
With a spot at Canada 2014 up for grabs for the winner of each semi-final, all four teams came out fighting but it was USA and Mexico, the two traditional?powerhouses, who again prevailed.

Costa Rica opened the scoring against?in the 17th minute against Mexico?through Jazmin Villalobos, but parity was restored?15 minutes later. Fabiola Ibarra’s second-half free kick then?put El Tri ahead?before Jessica Valadez sealed a 3-1 victory.?

USA, for their part,?scored early and often in their 6-0 rout of Trinidad and Tobago to reach the final. McKenzie Meehan and Stephanie Amack both scored twice as the Americans continued their impressive unbeaten run through the tournament.

With the first two berths at Canada 2014 now decided, a third-place match between Costa Rica and Trinidad and Tobago was needed to determine the third. And what a game it was.

Trinidad and Tobago went ahead 2-0 early on and looked to be in control, but Costa Rica managed to pull one back through Daphe Monge in the 34th minute. Indeed, while T&T re-established their two-goal lead just before the break through Khadisha Debesette,?Las Ticas continually fought back and found?another two goals to level the match at 3-3?and force extra time.

By this point, momentum had swung decisively in the favour of the Central Americans, who fired in four goals over the ensuing 30 minutes to win 7-3 and secure the final qualifying spot.

USA remain unbeaten
In the final, Andi Sullivan put USA ahead?as early as?the ninth minute,?giving every indication that the Americans would again be scoring at will. However, Mexico held strong and kept the game close for nearly an hour until the US doubled their lead through Savannah Jordan.

The?holders scored again in the 68th minute and Mexico conceded an unfortunate own-goal three minutes into second-half stoppage time to seal a 4-0 victory. The victory?secured?a third consecutive and fourth overall CONCACAF U-20 Women’s championship for USA. Having gone unbeaten throughout the entire competition –?not to mention?the previous two editions – the Stars and Stripes are now undefeated in 15 qualifying matches.

USA, Mexico, Costa Rica and hosts Canada will now begin stepping up their preparations?for the FIFA U-20?Women's World Cup, which takes place?between?5 and 24 August.

 

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