Man City thrash Arsenal to win League Cup final

LONDON - Pep Guardiola claimed his maiden English silverware as Manchester City thrashed Arsenal 3-0 in the League Cup final with Sergio Aguero, Vincent Kompany and David Silva all on target in a disappointingly one-sided showpiece on Sunday.

The first meeting between the sides in a domestic final was no classic but Spaniard Guardiola will not care after his side's class eventually shone through at a freezing Wembley Stadium.

City, who will also win the Premier League title barring a monumental collapse, did not even have to hit top gear to lift the trophy for the third time in five years.

Aguero's 18th-minute goal gave City a halftime lead and Arsenal withered after the break as Kompany prodded in from close range after 58 minutes before Silva thumped home a left-footer seven minutes later.

Arsenal's fans left in droves in the final 20 minutes while City's fans decorated the stadium with sky blue.

After a trophy-less first season in charge of City, Guardiola's career major trophy haul as a manager stands at 19, having won 11 with Barcelona and seven at Bayern Munich.

"It's important. We're so happy, and a big congratulations to all of Manchester City, and our fans. This trophy is for Manchester City and not for me," Guardiola, whose side's bid for an unprecedented quadruple was wrecked by a shock FA Cup defeat by third-tier Wigan Athletic on Monday, said.

"The first half we were not good, there were a lot of mistakes, in the second half we played with a lot more courage and personality -- we were outstanding."

Arsenal have now lost a record six League Cup finals and it remains the only silverware manager Arsene Wenger has not won.

"We self-inflicted our punishment," he said. "We had an unbelievable chance at 0-0 and then gave them a goal."

Despite the 27 points separating the sides in the Premier League, Arsenal arrived at Wembley having won their last three domestic finals, all in the FA Cup.

LOST CAUSE 

Their pedigree in knockout play offered hope of some salvation for another disappointing league campaign, but from the moment Aguero opened the scoring it looked a lost cause.

For all City's dazzling football this season, the breakthrough came from an old-fashioned 70 metre hoof forward by City's keeper Claudio Bravo -- who had kept his place in favour of usual keeper Ederson.

Aguero got the better of Shkodran Mustafi all too easily and as the Arsenal defender stopped and appealed for a foul that never was, Aguero calmly advanced to dink a delicate finish over David Ospina as Laurent Koscielny tried to cover.

Video Assistant Referee (VAR) was in use for the first time in an English final and Wenger could have been excused for wanting to have a second look just to clarify how his side had been opened up in such schoolboy fashion.

Kevin de Bruyne volleyed into the side-netting before halftime but Arsenal barely conjured a chance apart from early on when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang somehow failed to beat Bravo from close range after Mesut Ozil's ball in.

City raised their level after the break and Arsenal lacked a chronic lack of belief that they could turn things around and win the trophy for the first time since 1993.

Kompany went close with a deflected effort and the next time the Belgian defender found himself in the Arsenal box, he poked out a leg to divert Ilkay Gundogan's low cross into the net.

When Silva buried a low shot past Ospina from Danilo's pass seven minutes later it threatened to get ugly for Arsenal.

They were spared further torment but the thousands of empty red seats behind Bravo's goal spoke volumes.

(Reporting by Martyn Herman, editing by Pritha Sarkar)

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Injuries mar Man City's history night

MANCHESTER, United Kingdom -- Injuries to center-backs Vincent Kompany and Nicolas Otamendi overshadowed proceedings as Manchester City reached the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time after drawing 0-0 with Dynamo Kiev on Tuesday.

Leading 3-1 from last month's away leg, Manuel Pellegrini's side completed the job in forgettable fashion, with Jesus Navas's shot against the post for City the nearest either side came to breaking the deadlock.

But first-half injuries to captain Kompany and Otamendi cast a pall over the evening at a hushed Etihad Stadium, leaving City vulnerable in defence ahead of Sunday's derby with Manchester United in the Premier League.

"It is a very important achievement for the club. This is a club that is growing and continuing to develop as a big club," said Pellegrini.

"Vincent unfortunately has another muscular injury in his calf, which he has had before. We'll know tomorrow (Wednesday) or after tomorrow how serious it is. Usually with muscular injuries, minimum a month.

"Otamendi has an important kick and can hopefully recover in the next couple of days."

While progress in the Champions League represents a historic achievement for Pellegrini, who will hand over to Pep Guardiola at the season's end, the injuries could have a costly impact on City's attempt to resurrect their domestic title challenge.

The League Cup winners have fallen 12 points below leaders Leicester City, although they retain a game in hand, and face challenges from both United and in-form West Ham United for their top-four place.

Pellegrini welcomed Yaya Toure back from the heel problem that had caused him to miss Saturday's frustrating 0-0 draw at Norwich City, but within seven minutes he was counting the cost of another injury.

After misjudging a bounce on the City right, Kompany slipped as he tried to recover the situation and immediately realised that he had done himself damage, passing the ball out of play and signalling to the bench before limping off with a look of disgust etched on his face.

The Belgium international, who has suffered 14 calf injuries since 2008, was soon joined in the home changing room by Otamendi, who came off second-best in a collision with Vitaliy Buyalskiy.

- Aguero miscues -

The Argentine attempted to play on, before admitting defeat, leaving City with reserve centre-backs Eliaquim Mangala and Martin Demichelis in the heart of their defence.

It was not a combination that will have inspired great confidence among the home support and there were early nerves as Mangala's missed kick from Demichelis's pass almost let Lukasz Teodorczyk in on goal.

With the atmosphere affected by the double injury blow, City struggled to get going and when Navas managed to pick Sergio Aguero out with a right-wing cut-back, the Argentine miscued.

Visiting goalkeeper Olexandr Shovkovskiy was not tested until early in the second half, when he showed a neat touch to control the ball on his thigh after a defender had inadvertently prodded it towards his own goal.

City began to show signs of life, Toure curling a free-kick over the bar and Aguero dragging a shot wide, before Navas collected a pass from Toure and drilled a low shot against the left-hand upright.

Moments later, City goalkeeper Joe Hart made his first save of the night, comfortably fielding an effort from Andriy Yarmolenko after the Ukraine winger robbed Gael Clichy.

Toure continued to drive the home team forward and he threatened to make the breakthrough from Navas's cut-back, only for Shovkovskiy to save.

There were two late scares in the hosts' box when first Buyalskiy and then substitute Olexandr Yakovenko took aim, but Hart blocked alertly on both occasions, giving City a clean sheet for only the second time in their 18 Champions League home games.

"We had chances to score and Manchester had chances to score," said Dynamo coach Sergiy Rebrov.

"The guys showed they deserved to be in the Champions League. This game was a good experience."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

FOOTBALL: PSV frustrate Atletico, Man City close on last eight

Ten-man PSV hold on to frustrate Atletico

Reuters

PSV Eindhoven played for more than 20 minutes with 10 men but held on for a goalless draw at home to Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on Wednesday.

The Spanish club have earned a well-founded reputation for iron-clad defence this season but it was the Dutch champions who had to produce a stout rearguard action to avoid being beaten and leave the tie balanced ahead of the return leg on March 15.

PSV, making their first appearance in the knockout phase of the competition since 2007, were forced to play the closing stages deep in their own half after 20-year-old striker Gaston Pereiro was sent off for a second booking in the 68th minute.

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Man City close on last eight after 3-1 win at Dynamo

Reuters

Manchester City moved within touching distance of a first appearance in the Champions League quarter-finals after a dynamic first-half display at Dynamo Kiev helped them secure a 3-1 last-16 first-leg win on Wednesday.

City were irrepressible in the opening 45 minutes, slicing through their opponents almost at will and taking a 2-0 lead with goals from Sergio Aguero and David Silva.

The hosts, however, improved dramatically after the restart and Vitaliy Buyalskiy's deflected effort reduced the arrears to fire up the home crowd and spur on the Dynamo players.

The English side, who reverted to a full-strength team after resting a host of players in a humiliating 5-1 FA Cup defeat by Chelsea, began with real intent, dominating possession and pressing their opponents into near submission in a classy first-half display.

The hosts, returning from their winter break, looked very much a side who had not played an official match in two and a half months.

The English side, who reverted to a full-strength team after resting a host of players in a humiliating 5-1 FA Cup defeat by Chelsea, began with real intent, dominating possession and pressing their opponents into near submission in a classy first-half display.

The hosts, returning from their winter break, looked very much a side who had not played an official match in two and a half months.

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Passion play as Van Gaal tells United to be 'horny'

Agence France-Presse

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal reduced a press conference to chuckles on Wednesday when he told his players to be "horny" when they face FC Midtjylland in the Europa League.

United trail the Danish champions 2-1 from the first leg of their last-32 tie and when he set out what he expected from his team in Thursday's game at Old Trafford, the Dutchman provided a bizarre response.

"Desire and hunger. A lot of times I use the word horny to my players," said 64-year-old Van Gaal.

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Sturridge keen for long-term stay with Liverpool

Reuters

Liverpool's Daniel Sturridge has pledged his future to the club despite manager Juergen Klopp having publicly criticised the striker's attitude towards his injury problems.

The England international has spent a lot of time on the sidelines with hip, knee, foot and hamstring injuries since making the switch to Anfield from Chelsea in 2013.

His injuries meant Sturridge made his first Premier League start under Klopp in the 6-0 win over Aston Villa earlier this month and only his sixth league appearance of the campaign.

"I am looking forward to the future at Liverpool. I am happy here," Sturridge told reporters ahead of Thursday's Europa League last 32 clash at home to Bundesliga side FC Augsburg.

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Boateng turns back on German clubs

Agence France-Presse

Berlin-born Ghana international Kevin-Prince Boateng says he will never play for a German club again after his turbulent two years at Schalke 04.

The 28-year-old has a contract with AC Milan until the end of the season after being told he had no future at Schalke following a disagreement with club captain Benedikt Hoewedes.

"I have closed the door on Germany," the central midfielder told SID, an AFP subsidiary. "I am not sad about it, just disappointed that everything went so haywire in Schalke in the second year."

Boateng has played for Hertha Berlin, Borussia Dortmund, Tottenham Hotspur, Portsmouth and Genoa in his career.

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Slick City hungry for success, says Kompany

Reuters

Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany said they played like a team "hungry for success" as they put a poor recent run behind them to move to the verge of the Champions League quarter-finals with a 3-1 win at Dynamo Kiev on Wednesday.

City had lost their previous three matches, denting their Premier League hopes with back-to-back defeats by Leicester City and Tottenham Hotspur and exiting the FA Cup with a humiliating 5-1 loss at Chelsea.

They put in a barn-storming first-half display in Ukraine, however, and held off a Kiev fightback after the break to edge closer to a maiden appearance in the last eight of the Champions League.

"The performance was good, with a lot of high pressing, 3-1 is a good result and we are happy with it," Kompany told BT Sport.

"We are going into the second leg with a fairly good chance to go through, which has not been the case before. We looked like a team that was hungry for success tonight."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

FOOTBALL: City and United draw, Liverpool held

Man City top after bore draw, Klopp still awaits win

Steve Tongue, Reuters

Manchester City returned to the top of the Premier League after a 0-0 draw with Manchester United on Sunday but the much-hyped meeting proved far less eventful than the day's other derby.

Man City have 22 points from 10 games, the same as Arsenal, while United are in fourth place with 20 points.

United manager Louis van Gaal claimed his team had "controlled the game" at Old Trafford but it was only in the last few minutes of a dismal game that they looked like scoring.

Jesse Lingard hit the bar from a clever chip by Anthony Martial and Chris Smalling forced Joe Hart into his one significant save.

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Suarez treble gives Barca comeback win over Eibar

Reuters

Barcelona needed Luis Suarez to be at his clinical best with a hat-trick in a 3-1 comeback win at home to modest Eibar on Sunday which put the champions level on 21 points with arch-rivals Real Madrid at the top of La Liga.

Atletico Madrid, the only other team apart from Spain's Big Two to win the league in more than a decade, stayed firmly in the hunt when Yannick Carrasco scored the pick of the goals in a 2-1 victory at home to Valencia.

Real, who host Barca in the first of the season's two La Liga 'Clasicos' on Nov. 21, lead on goal difference with nine matches played after they secured a nervy 3-1 win at 10-man Celta Vigo on Saturday.

Atletico, the 2014 champions, are third on 19 points, one ahead of fourth-placed Celta, who are a point clear of Villarreal in fifth after they drew 0-0 at promoted Las Palmas on Sunday.

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Klopp denied first win, says Liverpool lack belief

Reuters

Juergen Klopp said his Liverpool side lacked self-belief after they were held 1-1 at home by Southampton in the Premier League on Sunday, leaving the German coach still without a win from his three games in charge.

Christian Benteke's majestic 77th-minute header looked like giving Liverpool the win, but Sadio Mane equalised for the visitors to frustrate the Anfield crowd.

Klopp's arrival, following the sacking of Brendan Rodgers, was greeted with great expectation but three consecutive draws have served as a reality check.

"There was still 10 minutes to go when Southampton equalised," Klopp told reporters. "We didn't give up physically, it's not that we stopped our game physically, but we didn't believe any more that we could turn the game around."

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Olympiakos equal club record with eighth win in a row

Graham Wood, Reuters

Spanish defender Alberto Botia was twice on target as Olympiakos Piraeus equalled a 39-year-old club record by chalking up their eighth league win in a row with a 2-1 success at Atromitos on Sunday.

Marco Silva's Greek league leaders have been in unstoppable form since the start of the season, and their 100 percent record was maintained courtesy of Botia's double.

After heading home a 59th-minute corner, Botia escaped the hosts' defenders again four minutes later to head a second.

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PSG march past St Etienne, Marseille end winless streak

Reuters

Paris St Germain extended their lead at the top of Ligue 1 after a routine 4-1 win over St Etienne on Sunday, while Marseille ended a seven-game winless streak with a 2-1 triumph at Lille.

Monaco won 1-0 away at Reims and Olympique Lyonnais overcame Toulouse 3-0 at home on Friday.

With second-placed Angers only managing a 0-0 home draw against Guingamp on Saturday, reigning champions PSG went seven points clear at the top of the table.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com