Tuesday, January 25, 2011

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25-01-2011 14:25 Japan - South Korea

Archrivals Japan and South Korea meet tonight in the Asian Cup semi finals with little to choose between the two sides.

Though the South Koreans have been the more consistent team throughout the tournament, Japan’s stirring 3-2 victory over Qatar will give them momentum and belief heading into this match.

Importantly for Italian manager Alberto Zaccheroni, Borussia Dortmund starlet Shinji Kagawa burst into life with two goals and a match-winning display after coming under scrutiny for his slow start to the campaign.

He brings an X-Factor that could inspire the Samurai Blue to win the tournament, though South Korea similarly have plenty of enthusiastic young talents to call upon.

Among them, Koo Ja-Cheol has been the most impressive with his haul of four goals, while Yoon Bit-Garam came off the bench against Iran to net a stunning winner in extra time.

His impact highlights the depth that Cho Kwang-Rae possesses in his squad, particularly in attack. Expect Yoon and Hamburg prodigy Song Heung-Min to be used as super-subs against the Japanese.

The former Gyeongnam manager had previously come under criticism from fans in the aftermath of Korea’s successful World Cup campaign, though has won them over with his team’s performances in Qatar.

He’ll be hoping Bolton Wanderers winger Lee Chung-Yong and captain Park Ji-Sung lead by example, with the latter set to make his 100th appearance for the national team.

There’s no questioning the pedigree of these two sides going forward but in defence they look far less assured.

Korea were unsettled by Australia’s more direct and physical approach during the group stages though Japan are unlikely to provide such a test; the absence of experienced centre-back Lee Jung-Soo gives Cho a selection headache, however.

Japan seem far more susceptible at the back, starting with goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima, who was at fault for both of Qatar’s goals during that thrilling semi final victory.

The reliable Maya Yoshida is meanwhile suspended after his questionable sending off and the versatile Masahiko Inoha should take his place, after filling in at right back for Atsuto Uchida against Qatar.

Also adding to the rivalry between these two sides is the presence of Italian manager Zaccheroni, who will no doubt be familiar with the colourful history between his native country and the Koreans on the football pitch.

These are two teams who were anointed pre-tournament favourites and whilst neither has hit top gear during the tournament, they have steadily improved and shown flashes of brilliance as teams and individuals.

TEAM NEWS

Japan

Yoshida’s suspension means Inoha will fill in at centre-back alongside Yasuyuki Konno while right-back Atsuto Uchida returns from suspension and will slot in at right-back.

Possible starting XI: Kawashima; Uchida, Konno, Inoha, Nagatomo; Endo, Hasebe; Okazaki, Honda, Kagawa; Maeda

South Korea

The suspension to Lee Jung-Soo means Cho Yong-Hyung will likely replace him. Defender Lee Young-Pyo and midfielder Lee Yong-Rae aren’t in the best physical shape after putting in hard shifts against Iran, though there’s no indication they’ll miss this match as a result.

Possible starting XI: Sung-Ryong; Du-Ri, Jae-Won, Yong-Hyung, Young-Pyo; Sung-Yeung, Yong-Rae; Chung-Yong, Ji-Sung, Ja-Cheol; Dong-Won

Prediction
This has penalties written all over it. There really isn't much to choose between these two teams and while Japan are slightly weaker at the back, the South Koreans have shown they aren't the type to test Kawashima from range. Though these two sides are capable of attractive football, this could be a cagey contest much like the one we saw in Seoul in October.

Japan 0-0 South Korea

Premier League Opta Facts - 25-26 January

Statistics and facts to help your football betting are available every week at Sta Sam Ti Reko courtesy of Opta Sportsdata, Europe's leading provider of sports performance statistics.

Blackpool v Manchester United
  • The last time Blackpool and Manchester United were both in the top flight the two encounters ended 1-1.
  • Manchester United have now gone 27 Premier League games unbeaten, just two fewer than their previous best (29 - between 26/12/1998 & 03/10/1999).
  • The Tangerines have won 38% (5/13) of their away games in the top-flight this season, but just three of their nine Premier League home games (33%).
  • Just two of Dimitar Berbatov's 17 Premier League goals this season have come away from Old Trafford.
  • Blackpool's last eight Premier League goals at Bloomfield Road have been scored by seven different players.
  • Manchester United have drawn eight of their 10 Premier League away matches this season.
  • Premier League matches at Bloomfield Road this season have averaged 3.4 goals a game.
Wigan Athletic v Aston Villa
  • Only one of the 10 Premier League games between Villa and Wigan has ended as a home win and none of the last eight.
  • Villa have won on their last three trips to the DW Stadium.
  • Only Blackpool (11) have won fewer points at home in the Premier League than Wigan (12) this season, but the Latics have had home advantage on three more occasions.
  • Wolves (4) are the only side to have won fewer points away from home than Aston Villa (6) in the Premier League this season.
  • Darren Bent has failed to score in his last six Premier League appearances against Wigan Athletic, and not been on the winning side on any of these occasions.
  • Aston Villa last won a Premier League game away from home in September 2010, failing to win their subsequent eight.
  • The Latics have failed to score in nine Premier League games this term; more than any other side.
  • Wigan have won fewer games (4) and scored fewer goals (19) than they have managed in any previous Premier League season.
Liverpool v Fulham
  • Liverpool had two players sent off when they visited Roy Hodgson's Fulham in October last season.
  • Fulham have failed to score in five of their last six Premier League games against Liverpool.
  • Liverpool have scored just 30 goals in their opening 23 games this season; never before have they scored fewer.
  • The Reds have lost just one of their last seven Premier League home games, winning five.
  • On the two previous occasions that Liverpool have won 3-0 in the Premier League this season, the Reds have gone on to lose the next match in the competition.
  • Fulham have lost just once in their last five league games, winning & keeping a clean sheet in three of these matches.
  • The Cottagers have won only one of their last 29 Premier League away matches.

Carling Cup Semi-Final Opta Facts - 25-26 January

Statistics and facts to help your football betting are available every week at Sta Sam Ti Reko courtesy of Opta Sportsdata, Europe's leading provider of sports performance statistics.


Arsenal v Ipswich Town
  • Arsenal have won 10 and lost none of their last 11 League Cup ties on home soil.
  • Ipswich are one of only four teams to win a League Cup match away from home against Arsenal in the Arsene Wenger era.
  • Arsenal are in the semi-finals of the Carling Cup for the fifth time in the last eight seasons, more often than any other side.
  • Arsenal have only ever lost two League Cup matches against a lower league side in the Arsene Wenger era; at Burnley in the 2009 competition and in the first leg of this tie against Ipswich.
  • Arsenal have won 11 of the last 16 matches in all competitions against Ipswich.
  • Ipswich and Arsenal have been drawn together twice before, with Arsenal winning on home soil after a replay in 1970-71 and Town winning at Highbury in 2000-01.
  • Ipswich have made the semi-final three times previously in the League Cup, but lost on each occasion (1981-82, 1984-85 and 2000-01.)
  • Five of Ipswich's six wins in the League Cup have been by a one-goal margin.
  • Nicklas Bendtner has scored five goals in his last six Carling Cup appearances.
  • Tamas Priskin has scored five goals in his last seven Carling Cup appearances.
  • New Ipswich manager Paul Jewell was manager of Wigan when they knocked Arsenal out in the League Cup semi-finals in 2005-06. After winning the home leg 1-0, they went through on away goals with a 1-2 defeat at Highbury.
Birmingham City v West Ham United
  • The Hammers and the Blues have been drawn together twice before in the League Cup and West Ham have progressed on both occasions courtesy of away wins.
  • In 1989-90 West Ham won at St Andrews before drawing the second leg at home to progress.
  • In 1999-2000, the Hammers came from behind twice to win 3-2 at St Andrews.
  • West Ham last reached the semi-final in 1989-90.
  • The Hammers have reached the semi-final seven times before this season, progressing to the final on only two occasions.
  • Birmingham have been in four League Cup semi finals, progressing to the final on two occasions.
  • Carlton Cole has scored four goals in his last six Carling Cup starts.
  • Liam Ridgewell has scored in both game against West Ham this season.
  • Birmingham have lost only one of their last eight Carling Cup matches at St Andrews.
  • Victory over Sunderland in Round 3 ended a run of six straight away defeats to Premier League opponents away from home for West Ham.

Championship Opta facts - January 25th

Statistics and facts to help your football betting are available every week at Sta Sam Ti Reko courtesy of Opta Sportsdata, Europe's leading provider of sports performance statistics.

Doncaster v Barnsley
  • The last three meetings between these sides have all been won 1-0 by the away side.
  • In fact, five of the last seven clashes between Rovers and the Tykes in all competitions have been won by the visiting team.
  • Rovers have only lost one of their last six home games in the league, a 0-3 defeat to Reading in their last outing at the Keepmoat Stadium.
  • Only Crystal Palace (5) have won fewer points away from home than Barnsley (9) in the Championship this term.
Nottingham Forest v Bristol City
  • Five of the last six clashes between the sides in all competitions have ended in draws.
  • Forest are unbeaten in 20 home clashes with Bristol City in all competitions, and were last defeated by the Robins at the City Ground in November 1955.
  • Forest have taken 23 points from their last 10 league games at the City Ground.
  • The Robins have drawn three of their last five league games, winning one and drawing the other.
  • Bristol City have now failed to score in two consecutive league games for the first time this season.
Portsmouth v Burnley
  • Pompey have won the last five meetings between these sides, including both fixtures in last season's Premier League.
  • Portsmouth are unbeaten in their last 11 against the Clarets in all competitions, winning eight and drawing three.
  • Pompey have not won any of their last six league games, losing three of them.
  • Portsmouth have now conceded two or more goals in each of their last five league outings.
  • Burnley have drawn two consecutive league games 0-0.

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25-01-2011 20:45 Wigan Athletic - Aston Villa

More Goals Needed

If Wigan are to secure a much-needed win they are going to have to cause more of a threat going forward. This season in the Premier League they have scored less goals than anyone else, having breached their opponents' defences just 19 times in 23 league games.

Their top scorer this season is Hugo Rodallega with six goals and he is the only striker to have scored any goals for Wigan this season. Charles N’Zogbia and the injured Tom Cleverley have both scored three goals each.

Roberto Martinez’s options are limited however as record summer signing Mauro Boselli moved to Genoa on loan until the end of the season and Franco Di Santo has scored just one goal in his Premier League career.

Looking For Improvement
Aston Villa are looking for their first back-to-back wins this season after beating title contenders Manchester City. Villa’s win on Saturday took them three points away from the drop zone but all the good work from Saturday could be for nothing if they lose to relegation rivals Wigan.

If Wigan beat them then the two teams will be level on points and Villa will again be perilously close to the drop zone. Villa have scored just nine goals this season but in Darren Bent they have a striker who has scored that many goals himself this season.

TEAM NEWS

Wigan Athletic

Wigan come into their home game on Tuesday without centre-back Gary Caldwell who is suspended for the next three games after being sent off in Saturday’s 3-0 defeat to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.

Emmerson Boyce is likely to partner Steven Caldwell at centre-back. James McCarthy could return to the starting line-up having been in the squad on Saturday for the first time since injuring his ankle in October.

He didn’t make it onto the pitch but with an extra couple of days training McCarthy could be ready to make a return.

Roberto Martinez may look to use Franco Di Santo in a two-man attack after scoring just two goals in their last four Premier League games.

Possible starting XI: Al Habsi; Stam, Boyce, S Caldwell, Gohouri; Watson, McCarthy, Diame, N’Zogbia; Di Santo, Rodallega.

Aston Villa

Jean Makoun looks set to make his debut for the club following his transfer from Olympique Lyonnais. He wasn’t registered in time to play in Saturday’s 1-0 win against Manchester City but he will start the game as Houllier looks to add extra beef to his midfield.

Makoun will likely take Marc Albrighton’s place in an otherwise unchanged team.

New signing Darren Bent will continue to partner Gabriel Agbonlahor up-front as they look to secure back-to-back victories for the first time in the Premier League this season.

Possible starting XI: Friedel; Cuellar, Collins, Dunne, Clark; Young, Makoun, Petrov, Downing; Agbonlahor, Bent.

Prediction

Wigan Athletic 2-2 Aston Villa 

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25-01-2011 20:30 Blackpool - Manchester United

Long Time No See

Hardly surprising, but the meetings between these two have few and far between in recent years. The last was back in 1974-75 when both sides were in the old Second Division and Ted Heath was in No.10. Tommy Docherty’s side won both games that year, 4-0 at Old Trafford and 3-0 in the return at Bloomfield Road.

The Seasiders have silenced the critics a number of times this season with memorable results such as the double over Liverpool and losing by an odd goal twice against Manchester City.

Blackpool have earned most of their points away from the Fylde coast with 17 away and only 11 at home. It must be noted however that they have played on the road more often. Overall, during the complete history between the two, Manchester United have triumphed more often than not.

United Still Unbeaten

Manchester United's unbeaten run has reached late January and their stubborn refusal to be beaten could propel them to a record 19th league title as they sit two points clear of Arsenal with games in hand.

Oddly, of the 10 league games away from Old Trafford, the Red Devils have only won two but that means that defeating them is an incredibly difficult task which so far no team has managed. There is hope for Blackpool as Birmingham did hold them to a point back in December, as did Tottenham in January.

With Dimitar Berbatov firing on all cylinders one would expect United to calmly deal with a Blackpool side with or without midfield general Charlie Adam.


TEAM NEWS

Blackpool

The scavengers are circling over Bloomfield Road as the immediate future of Charlie Adam remains very much on the lips of Tangerines fans everywhere. The Scot spent an unusually long time on the field after the loss to Sunderland on Saturday applauding the home fans which maybe the sign that his departure is imminent. Manager Ian Holloway has been vocal in the last few days about the situation and his belief that no suitable offer has been received.

Elsewhere, Marlon Harewood continued his return from a hamstring injury with his appearance from the bench against the Black Cats, his first since November.

Richard Kingson is a doubt after he suffered a cut to the head following a challenge from Bolo Zenden. If he doesn’t make the team Paul Rachubka would step in.

Possible starting XI: Kingson; Eardley, Cathcart, Evatt, Crainey; Phillips, Adam, Vaughan; Taylor-Fletcher, Campbell, Varney.

Manchester United

Sir Alex Ferguson has Rafael available after the full-back was spared a further suspension following his red card against Tottenham. Dimitar Berbatov, fresh from his third hat-trick of the season, will be raring to go and no doubt Wayne Rooney, who has only three goals to Berbatov’s 18, will be itching to catch up.

Ferguson has few injury worries but he may rotate his side to keep everyone match sharp. Some of those who played in the 5-0 drubbing of Birmingham City this past Saturday could be on the bench for this encounter.

Possible starting XI: Van der Sar; Smalling, Ferdinand, Vidic, O'Shea; Nani, Carrick, Scholes, Giggs; Berbatov, Rooney.

Prediction
United remain unbeaten in the Premier League and with the return of Wayne Rooney et al. this can only continue. Blackpool's expansive play should leave too many holes to be exploited.

Blackpool 1-5 Man Utd.

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25-01-2011 17:25 Uzbekistan - Australia

Uzbekistan and Australia will both appear in the Asian Cup semi finals for the first time ever this evening in Doha.

The Uzbeks have competed in five Asian Cups since becoming an independent nation from the Soviet Union, while the Socceroos are only in their second edition of the tournament after making the move from Oceania to the Asian Football Confederation.

Australia’s contingent of English Premier League stars makes them the recognizable favourites for this match but Uzbekistan are the form team of the tournament.

Under relatively unknown manager Vadim Abramov they’ve shown a tactical adaptability that has seen them fail to keep the same line-up in all four of their matches.

Against Jordan in their quarter final, the Central Asians made five changes to the team that drew with China in its final group game, Abramov switching to a five-man backline and utilizing wingbacks; it remains to be seen whether he persists with the shape that was so effective against Jordan or reverts back to packing his midfield.

Australia manager Holger Osieck has a clearly defined system and has largely kept his starting XI untouched throughout the campaign, changing personnel only when forced to do so by injury or suspension.

His team produced their finest performance against Iraq in what was a fiery quarter final, gaining a measure of revenge for their embarrassing 3-1 defeat at the hands of the West Asians four years ago.

Harry Kewell scored the winning goal deep into extra time, though Tim Cahill’s contrasting lack of impact at this tournament has been conspicuous.

The Uzbeks will be wary of the threat posed by the Everton man nonetheless and Abramov will surely make plans for he and strike partner Kewell.

This will be an interesting clash of coaching and playing styles, with the Uzbeks preferring a possession-based game and the Australians showing against Iraq that they aren’t afraid to put teams under pressure by undertaking a more direct route to goal.

TEAM NEWS

Australia

Brett Emerton’s return from suspension means Matt McKay will likely make way for him to return to the starting line-up despite his man-of-the-match display against Iraq. Tim Cahill and Brett Holman have been under injury clouds but should start.

Probable starting XI: Schwarzer; Carney, Neill, Ognenovski, Wilkshire; Holman, Valeri, Jedinak, Emerton; Cahill, Kewell

Uzbekistan

The Uzbeks have kept injury and suspension-free throughout the tournament though it’s hard to tell with Abramov what the starting XI and system will be at times. I get the feeling he’ll go with the same shape that he did against Jordan.


Probable starting XI: Nesterov; Tursunov, Mullajanov, Ahmedov, S. Juraev, Hasanov; Kapadze, Haydarov, Djeparov; Bakaev, Geynrikh

Prediction
I just get the sense that Australia gained a great deal of momentum given the manner of their victory against Iraq. Uzbekistan might well pinch this but Australia have the quality up-front to punish the Central Asians for their defensive lapses and weakness defending set-pieces, something the Jordanians were unable to do. Cahill and Kewell to fire Australia into the final.

Uzbekistan 0-2 Australia