Soccer Update (March Part 1)

Chelsea - Valerenga Preview (March 17)

Clearing the pitch at the Valerenga and Norwegian National Stadium as Chelsea practice

LONDON (AP) -- Chelsea has a 3-0 edge on Norway's Valerenga and Lokomotiv Moscow is up 3-0 on Israel's Maccabi Haifa, commanding leads as they play away Thursday in second-leg quarterfinals of the Cup Winners Cup. And then there's Lazio. The Roman side takes a lopsided 4-0 advantage into its home leg with Panionios Athens, prompting coach Sven Goran Eriksson to rest as many as eight starters including strikers Marcelo Salas, Christian Vieri, playmaker Roberto Mancini and starting 'keeper Luca Marchegiani.
Chelsea goes to Norway without French defenders Marcel Desailly and Frank Leboeuf. Desailly has a hamstring injury and Leboeuf is nursing a sore thigh. "We have a big match on Sunday at Aston Villa and want to make sure we can get our best possible team out for that," said Chelsea player-coach Gianluca Vialli, whose club has slipped to third in England behind Manchester United and Arsenal.
Valerenga's top forward John Carew is nursing a knee injury but should play. Chelsea's Norwegian forward Tore Andre Flo said his English side would be looking to regroup after a disappointing home loss last weekend to West Ham. "We still have much to gain this season, and we need to find our winning shape again against Valerenga," he said. "A victory would give us a massive lift. The last two games [West Ham and Man United] we've had problems in both ends of the field. We have to get better defensively and stronger in our attacking game," Flo added.

Fulham Help Promotion Chances With Another Win (March 16)

Kevin Keegan's Fulham, strengthened their position at the top of the DivisonTwo table with a single goal victory at Stoke. A result which was purely thanks to a first half strike from Welsh international centre half, Kit Symons. It was Fulham's ninth win in their last 11 matches and leaves City looking for their first home victory since early January. It was Fulham who went in front after 19 minutes. A short corner was knocked across to Paul Trollope and his far past centre was headed home by the unmarked ex-Portsmouth and Manchester City defender.
The visitors dominated proceedings from that point on and Stoke struggled to cause Fulham any problems in the areas where it really mattered. Stoke rarely threatened Maik Taylor's goal, but in the 65th minute, the Fulham 'keeper had to be alert as he turned away a Jason Kavanagh effort that might have stolen a point for the home side. City 'keeper Gavin Ward saved brilliantly on 77 minutes - his outstretched hand pushing away Neil Smith's downward header to keep his side in the game, but by this stage, the home side had little to offer and did not really look like levelling the scores.
This was Fulham's 25th win in 36 league outings and leaves them 12 points clear of Preston North End in second place - with only ten games remaining Mohamed Al Fayed may at last be beginning to reap some reward for his investment in 'the beautiful game'. Stoke, meanwhile, are back in seventh place and they will need to produce better performances in the closing weeks of the season, if they are to at least figure in the promotion play-offs in May. England's part-time boss, Keegan now seems to have Division One football at Craven Cottage nailed on, and can now concentrate his thoughts and efforts on England's Euro 2000 qualifier against Poland and who will figure in his first squad. If he can take the spirit he has instilled in his Fulham side into the international arena, England should do well.

League Table

Chelsea and Wimbledon Lose Shockers; Fulham Win Again (March 13)

Chelsea's Tore Andre Flo holds off a West Ham defender

Fulham Wins At Waterlogged Bristol Rovers

Bristol Rovers 2 - Fulham 3
Fulham took another giant step toward fulfilling their dream of first division football after a hard fought 2-3 victory at a rain swept Memorial Ground on Friday evening. A Fulham side unchanged after that midweek victory at Luton soon lifted the supporters dampened spirits with a goal after just 9 minutes. A cross into the Rovers penalty area from Steve Finnan was headed clear but only to Steve Hayward. He slotted the ball out wide left to Paul Trollope and his low cross was met by Kit Symons to slide the ball home from close range.
Fulham went further ahead on 37 minutes with a superb move down the right hand side started after Barry Hayles had won a difficult looking challenge in midfield. He then gave the ball to Steve Finnan who immediately found Neil Smith. Smith crossed into the box and with the ball only half cleared by the Rovers defence, Geoff Horsfield snapped up his 9th goal in 6 league games with a left footed shot from just outside the six yard area. Steve Finnan should have made it 0-3 on 43 minutes. A cracking chance to open his Fulham account went begging after his low shot whizzed just wide of the post, and at this stage a rout looked on the cards. Rovers however had other ideas and, to their credit, they scored a good goal in first half injury time. A corner over on the far side was lashed in and was met by the head of the unmarked Andy Thompson who’s effort sneaked into the bottom left hand corner of Maik Taylor’s net.
Shortly after the break it was 2-2. A long through ball down the middle of the park found Jason Roberts, and he ran on to give Taylor no chance with a nicely placed shot into the bottom right hand corner. At this stage Rovers looked the most likely to add to the scoreline but as the weather conditions worsened Fulham’s resolve only grew stronger. On 56 minutes another great move down the right involving Horsfield and Finnan led to our third and winning goal. Finnan crossed left footed into the area and Paul Trollope’s splendid downward header found the net from 12 yards out. Three more vital points and another of those difficult looking away games out of the way.

West Ham Break Chelsea's League Home Undefeated Streak

LONDON -- Chelsea's championship hopes took a serious knock on Saturday as Paul Kitson gave West Ham United a 1-0 victory -- Chelsea's second home defeat in a week. Gianluca Vialli's side, unbeaten at Stamford Bridge until Wednesday's F.A. Cup defeat to Manchester United, now trail United by seven points after Andy Cole scored twice in the league leaders' come-from-behind 2-1 win at Newcastle United. It's been a bad week for Chelsea, which dominated Saturday's game, but as on Wednesday, failed to take its chances.
West Ham gave them a warning when Marc-Vivien Foe had the ball in the net only for it to be disallowed for a push. There was no debate about Kitson's 75th-minute winner, although Ed De Goey almost stopped it on the line. From then on, West Ham held out comfortably. "We are having a bad time and probably an unlucky time," said Vialli. But know we have to show how strong we are. The lads are really down, but on the other hand I expect a great response from them."

Wimbledon Lose to Nottingham Forest at Selhurst!

Nottingham Forest produced three counter-punches that may yet save them from relegation. Of course, they remain rooted to the foot of the table, down on points but, this win at Wimbledon gives them a reason to keep fighting. Ron Atkinson's side approached their bout at Selhurst Park like condemned men. For 20 minutes, the Dons toyed with their battered opponents. John Hartson and Robbie Earle went close in the opening minutes and Forest rarely ventured out of their half. So innocuous were Forest that Wimbledon did not see the knockout blows coming, the first after 20 minutes. Alan Rogers received the ball on the left wing but his hopeful cross fooled keeper Neil Sullivan and looped into the far corner. Rogers will doubtless claim his effort was a precision shot. His subsequent efforts when twice clean through in the second half lend weight to the mis-hit cross theory.
Dougie Freedman was the next to strike. Collecting the ball from Matthieu Louis-Jean 20 yards out, he executed a perfect chip to further embarrass Sullivan on the hour. Gayle countered with a solid strike when Forest failed to clear, but Neil Shipperley had the final word when he muscled his way past Ben Thatcher to beat Sullivan at the near post with six minutes remaining to ensure no-one can count out Forest just yet.

Chelsea Fall to Manchester United in FA Cup Replay (March 10)

Dwight Yorke (bottom left) and Manchester United were quite happy to be on their way to the FA Cup semis.

Two errors by Chelsea defenders gifted Premiership leaders Manchester United an FA Cup quarter-final replay victory at Stamford Bridge. The Blues had not even managed an attack on goal before a third-minute David Beckham free-kick was headed aimlessly up into the air by Frenchman Frank Leboeuf. The ball fell invitingly to Andy Cole inside the box, who flicked the ball on to strike-partner Dwight Yorke and his right-footed volley drifted beyond Ed de Goey's outstretched right hand and into the net.
Chelsea, who had been unbeaten in League and cups this season at Stamford Bridge, suddenly realised what was at stake - a semi-final encounter against London rivals Arsenal - and attacked relentlessly. However, The Blues found United 'keeper Peter Schmeichel in superb form. The Danish international, who is leaving Old Trafford at the end of the season, started his Man-of-the-Match performance five minutes after United had gone ahead, when he parried away a Jody Morris left-footed drive. A long forward run and an ultimately hopeless chip by England international Graeme Le Saux left Schmeichel laughing to himself on 14 minutes.
The Reds were now content to defend deep, allowing the Londoners possession and looking to counterattack themselves on the break. This left The Blues with the option of either trying to break down a resolute United defence or shooting from long range. Midfielder Di Matteo opted for the latter but on three occasions shot high, wide and handsome of Schmeichel's goal. Chelsea's defence of late has been excellent as they chase League and European cup glory, but their second error of the match cost them the tie on 58 minutes. Andy Cole beat Desailly to a loose ball and prodded a pass into the path of Yorke, which allowed the imperious Trinidad & Tobagan striker to pounce. United's 12 million pound man raced through and lofted a beautiful effort high and wide of the advancing de Goey from the edge of the penalty area with the outside of his right boot. Gianluca Vialli's men had their moments in attack and should have scored on several occasions. Gilt-edged chances fell first to Dennis Wise and then Morris before Le Saux's last-minute pile-driver was saved again by a jubilant Schmeichel.

Fulham Roll Over Luton (March 9)

Cries of "Horsfield for England" belted out from the Fulham fans once again as their star striker scored twice in a 4-0 win against ten-man Luton. Horsfield made it eight goals in his last six starts for Kevin Keegan's title certainties with two breathtaking strikes. Paul Trollope and Barry Hayles added the other goals in a game that became a procession for the Division Two leaders after Alan White was red-carded on 32 minutes for a professional foul on Barry Hayles.
Luton controlled the early stages with a fierce shot from Ray McKinnon flying just over, and Mitchell Thomas saw a low drive saved by visitors 'keeper Maik Taylor. However, White's dismissal changed the whole course of the game. The 22-year-old defender was dispossessed by Hayles on the halfway-line and the ex-Stevenage striker raced towards home 'keeper Kelvin Davis' goal. White caught up with Hayles in the penalty box but his outstretched leg felled the pacey forward and The Hatters centre-back was immediately dismissed. Yet Luton 'keeper Davis produced a tremendous save low to his left to keep out Steve Finnan's spot-kick, but three minutes later Fulham were ahead. Horsfield dazzled a home defence, still reeling from White's sending off, with a mazy dribble past three players before beating Davis at his near post. Fulham surprisingly refused to go for the jugular straight after the break, instead preferring a patient passing approach, aimed at wearing down Town's ten men, and it worked. Paul Trollope fired The Cottagers two ahead, burying his shot past Davis following Horsfield's flick-on. As a rampant Fulham upped the pace Davis made two further fine stops to deny Hayles and Finnan before Horsfield slammed home a third. The Londoners' forward swept the ball into Davis' top corner after Finnan's cross from the right. Hayles made it four on 85 minutes, showing electric pace to run from inside his own half straight through the middle of a square Hatters back-line before firing past a helpless Davis.

Chelsea Earn FA Cup Replay

Man United's Paul Scholes collides with Chelsea 'keeper Ed De Goey

LONDON (AP) -- Chelsea played a man down for the bulk of the second half Sunday but clung on for a 0-0 tie with Manchester United to force an FA Cup quarterfinal replay Wednesday at Stamford Bridge. United manager Alex Ferguson's decision to rest strikers Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole until the last 10 minutes backfired when the Red Devils failed to convert dozens of scoring chances into a winning goal at Old Trafford.
At Old Trafford, Manchester United had a one-man advantage for 40 minutes in the second period after Chelseamidfielder Robert Di Matteo was sent off in the last seconds of the first half for his second bookable offense. The game was reduced to 10-a-side for the last seven minutes when Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes was sent off under similar circumstances. Chelsea 'keeper Ed De Goey made a number of high-pressure saves but United's only genuine shot on goal was in the 37th minute when Gary Neville's diving header hit the post. "It was a great result for us," De Goey said. "The second half was difficult with 10 on 11 ... On Wednesday they have to come to us."
In Sunday's draw for FA Cup semifinal places, Newcastle was drawn to play the winner of the Tottenham-Barnsley quarterfinal, while defending titlist Arsenal will play the winner of Wednesday's Manchester United-Chelsea replay.

English Weekend Preview (March 5)

Chelsea-Manchester United FA Cup Preview

LONDON (AP) -- After beating Inter Milan in the Champions Cup, Manchester United faces another team brimming with Italians and World Cup stars. It's called Chelsea. The two teams, which lie first and second in the Premier League standings, meet in the quarterfinal of the FA Cup on the same Old Trafford ground where the Reds outplayed Inter and gained a 2-0 first leg victory Wednesday. Instead of Roberto Baggio, Youri Djorkaeff and Diego Simeone, United confronts Gianfranco Zola, Roberto Di Matteo and French World Cup winner Marcel Desailly. Another French World Cup star, Frank Leboeuf, is missing from the Chelsea lineup because of suspension. With Chelsea also in action in the Cup Winners Cup this week, both managers will be forgiven for resting some of their stars for the FA Cup game. Vialli, who is suspended, still has Uruguayan midfielder Gustavo Poyet and Italian striker Pierluigi Casiraghi sidelined with long-term injuries although he now has Norwegian World Cup striker Tore Andre Flo back to partner Zola in attack. But Nigerian wing-back Celestine Babayaro is another missing through suspension. United manager Alex Ferguson has Dutch defender Jaap Stam suspended but holds the edge in terms of choice. He can call on Norwegian forward Ole Gunner Solskjaer to team up with Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole in a strikeforce that has scored 58 goals this season. The United-Chelsea meeting is the most eye-catching game of the quarterfinal. The others are Newcastle vs. Everton, also on Sunday, defending champion Arsenal against Derby and division one Barnsley against Tottenham both on Saturday.

Fulham - Lincoln City

Fulham entertain a Lincoln City side depleted through injuries and suspensions at the weekend. The Imps will be without their influential midfielder and skipper Terry Fleming as well as striker Gavin Gordon who are both suspended. Meanwhile there are injury worries over wing back Lee Thorpe and ever present midfield general John Finnigan.
Simon Morgan hopes to keep his place in the Fulham starting eleven after making a successful comeback in mid-week at Bournemouth. But there’s no news on the availability of Geoff Horsfield and Philippe Albert who both missed the clash at Dean Court after picking up injuries last weekend in our 0-3 win at York City.

Wimbledon to Europe? (March 4)

Sheffield Wednesday 1 - Wimbledon 2

The night began in true dramatic fashion with Joe Kinnear admitted to hospital just 30mintues before kick-off. The Dons boss is comfortable tonight after being admitted suffering from chest pains. No doubt his side's courageous 2-1 win on a drab Yorkshire evening will have cheered him to no end. Wimbledon got off to a flyer with Efan Ekoku opening the scoring after eight minutes. The Nigerian international latched onto a ball knocked down on the edge of the area and unleashed a fierce right foot volley beyond Srnicek.
Carbone and Rudi were the architects of Wednesday's best play, but the home side were hit with a sucker punch when, from a corner, the ball broke for Kenny Cunningham whose perfect centre was rifled home by Marcus Gayle. Emerson Thome put Wednesday back in the game just after the hour mark, but this Dons side were determined to upset the odds again. The Owls had been on fire prior to this contest, but it was the Dons who left Hillsborough with the points and a tonic for Joe Kinnear. With the win, Wimbledon moves into the top 6 in the premier league table, a position if kept, would qualify them for European UEFA Cup play.

Premier League Table

Chelsea Dominate Valerenga in Cup Winners' Cup (March 4)

Chelsea's Marcel Desailly controls the ball in front of Joachim Waltin, left

Of all the Viking invaders Chelsea have had to repel, the Norwegian part-timers of Valerenga were the least well-equipped to threaten their bid to become the first club to win the Cup-winners' Cup in successive seasons. Helsingborg of Sweden and the Danes of Copenhagen were beaten in earlier rounds. But the fact that Valerenga are managed by Egil Olsen suggested last night's opposition would be made of sterner stuff. Instead, Chelsea played them off their slick, green, velvety pitch with such authority that they can confidently advance in search of yet more silverware to stack in the Stamford Bridge trophy room.
Chelsea, bidding to become the first -- and last -- team in the 39-year history of the Cup Winners' Cup to retain the trophy -- was far too strong for Valerenga, which had not played a competitive match since November because of the Norwegian winter shutdown. With the Cup Winners Cup ending this season as part of the reorganization of European club soccer, Chelsea is desperate to retain the trophy when the final is staged at Villa Park in Birmingham on May 19. The English side ripped aside some flimsy Valerenga defending when Nigerian Celestine Babayaro scored with a near-post shot after only nine minutes and virtually secured the tie with a second from Gianfranco Zola after 30 minutes. Dennis Wise all but steered them into the last four with a third in the closing minutes.

Fulham Draw 1-1 Away at Bournemouth (March 3)

Kevin Keegan's Second Division leaders had to be content with a draw in front of a near capacity crowd of 9,928 at Bournemouth's Dean Court. Fulham remained firmly in control at the top of the table, but Bournemouth retained their proud unbeaten home record with a deserved equaliser 18 minutes from time.
Bournemouth had plenty of possession but created little to worry Fulham 'keeper Maik Taylor and it was no surprise that Fulham took the lead on 61 minutes. Trollope swung in a centre from the left and as Ovendale hesitated, Fulham defender Kit Symons took full advantage to stab home a shot from six yards. Bournemouth's 18-match unbeaten record, stretching back a year, was in danger of being broken until a surprise leveller 11 minutes later. Full-back Jamie Vincent took a free-kick 35 yards out which was missed by every player in the area except Fulham defender Trollope, unfortunatley for him, he glanced a header past his own goalkeeper with Vincent claiming the goal.
Cherries midfielder, Christer Warren, was booked for a clumsy first-half challenge on the luckless Lehmann and there were some strong challenges for referee Mike Fletcher to deal with. Fletcher was at the centre of a pre-match controversy by allowing the game to kick-off 15 minutes late after an afternoon of heavy rain. The West Midlands official came close to calling the match off an hour before the scheduled start, but the rain ceased and the game was able to go ahead, much to the relief of some some 2,000 travelling Fulham fans.

Fulham and Chelsea Win Again; Wimbledon Draws Again (March 1)

Chelsea's Frank Leboeuf strikes the game winning penalty kick

Fulham Stays Top With Fine Win

Fulham’s march toward division one continued at a sunny Bootham Crescent this afternoon with a magnificent 0-3 win. As the players made their way onto the pitch, Fulham fans unfurled a banner proclaiming ”Horsfield for England” The reverse was then revealed and read: ”Keegan for Fulham” Yes, Fulham were in Town.
Fulham certainly started the brighter of the two teams as they attempted to continue the pace and perfection displayed at the Cottage in mid-week. Barry Hayles shot wide after just two minutes and six minutes later many of the 1,500 travelling whites fan thought Chris Coleman had given us the lead. A corner kick from Steve Hayward was met by the head of Captain Cookie, but his effort sailed inches wide of the far post. On 10 minutes a neat interchange nearly led to the opener. Geoff Horsfield received the ball out wide from Paul Trollope, Horse returned the compliment but Trollope’s shot was aimed straight at the keeper.
A break down the right hand side saw Steve Finnan whip in a lovely cross toward Geoff Horsfield. He was being tightly marked but ‘super Geoff’ managed to get himself in front of his man to head the ball into the top left hand corner of the net. Five minutes later it was 0-2. Another corner from the excellent Hayward found Chris Coleman. His shot came back from the keeper only to find the busy Barry Hayles who poked home from 6 yards. Geoff Horsfield was replaced by Paul Peschisolido at the break and the Fulham fans on three side of the ground didn’t have to wait too long before our little Canadian was on the score sheet. On 47 minutes Steve Finnan went on another of his probing runs although his cross come shot evaded Hayles and Pesh by inches. But the lively looking Peschisolido wasn’t going to be denied and on 51 he put the game beyond doubt with his 9th goal of the season. A superb ball from Hayles set Peschisolido free, he ran in toward goal and with the keeper advancing, he placed the ball and stood watching as it dribbled across the line.
Kevin Betsy then replaced many fans MoM Barry Hayles, and the youngster immediately took our breath away with a super back heel that put Pesh into a one-on-one situation. This time however, Paul was unable to round former Spurs Keeper’ Bobby Mimms after he saved at Pesh’s feet. On 89 minutes Maik Taylor made a fine double save and Steve Hayward headed off the line to complete a first class defensive display. Talking to BBC RadioYork Manager Alan Little said afterwards that Fulham had thoroughly deserved the win and wished us every success in the future. He added: “That’s a Premiership class outfit we’ve seen today”

Chelsea Beats Liverpool and Keeps Pace With Man U.

While United, with one eye on their Champions League quarterfinal against Inter Milan on Wednesday, turned in a workman-like display to beat struggling Southampton, Chelsea was at its effervescent best for much of its game against Liverpool. Gianluca Vialli's side, itself in European action next week in the last eight of the Cup Winners' Cup, went after Liverpool from the start, creating a flurry of early chances. "I have to say my players gave a great performance," Vialli said. "We're now back on track and playing really well."
Tore Andre Flo, back in the starting lineup, caused a patched-up Liverpool defense constant trouble and it was his persistence that led to the opening goal on seven minutes. Flo, fighting for a high ball into the area, hustled Phil Babb, who needlessly brushed the ball away with his hand. Frank Leboeuf thumped home the ensuing penalty. Liverpool was at sixes and sevens for the remainder of the first half and fell behind 2-0 on 38 minutes after another glaring defensive mix up. A drifting cross from the right found Bjarne Goldbaek in space on the right and the Dane cheerfully lashed home.
Liverpool had a couple of chances, but Michael Owen and Robbie Fowler both shot weakly when well placed, and Chelsea should have made it three by halftime as Petrescu smacked a shot against the post. Owen's goal, taken smartly after Fowler had poked the ball through, gave Liverpool a glimmer of hope, but they failed to create further clear chances.

Wimbledon Draws Again (Everton 1 Wimbledon 1)

Efan Ekoku gave the visitor a 14th-minute goal after Everton defender Dave Watson has misjudged a long-range pass from Robbie Earle. Francis Jeffers, an 18-year-old striker considered a future star, earned Everton a point with a 57th-minute header from a cross by Danny Cadamarteri.