El Manchester United demostró su buen momento de juego ante el Fulham londinense, que salió goleado de su estadio (0-5) ante la efectividad de un equipo que ya había solucionado el partido en los primeros minutos.
Así vivimos el Manchester United vs. Fulham
El portugués Luis Nani firmó el segundo gol de la tarde y dio el último pase tanto al inglés Danny Welbeck, en el minuto 5, como al galés Ryan Giggs, que firmó el tercero al filo del descanso.
El también inglés Wayne Rooney y el búlgaro Dimitar Berbatov marcaron por su parte los dos últimos tantos de la noche cuando casi se cumplía el minuto noventa.
Los de Alex Ferguson afrontaban el encuentro en el estadio de Craven Cottage dispuestos a aprovechar cualquier fallo de sus vecinos del Manchester City, que lideran la liga inglesa con dos puntos de diferencia sobre los "diablos rojos".
El United, que quedó eliminado de la Liga de Campeones en la fase de grupos, se mantiene a le expectativa de los resultados del equipo del argentino Sergio "Kun" Agüero ya que, si pierde, los tres puntos servirían a los de Ferguson para arrebatarles el liderato.
A pesar de la buena situación en la tabla, los "diablos rojos" están firmando una temporada más discreta que la anterior cuando, a estas alturas del año, lideraban la clasificación y se mantenían imbatidos.
Las lesiones no han permitido hasta ahora al mexicano Javier "Chicharito" Hernández brillar como lo hizo en la campaña anterior y esta tarde volvió a ver el choque desde el banquillo.
Ferguson depositó de nuevo su confianza en el trío atacante que le ha dado buenos resultados las últimas jornadas, los ingleses Wayne Rooney y Danny Welbeck, apoyados por el ecuatoriano Antonio Valencia.
El Fulham, que saltó al césped de su estadio con desconfianza, dispuesto a defenderse durante los noventa minutos de los embates de los "diablos rojos" más que a buscar una victoria, vio cómo los visitantes se hacían con el dominio del balón desde el inicio y cómo se adelantaban a los cinco minutos.
Welbeck recogió en el interior del área un pase cruzado que había lanzado el portugués Luis Nani para superar al guardameta del Fulham y demostrar la superioridad de los visitantes.
El Fulham no generaba demasiadas dificultades para los de Ferguson, que en las últimas semanas parecen haber reencontrado algo del excelente nivel de juego del que hicieron gala el año pasado y, antes de que se cumpliera la media hora de juego, el propio Nani estableció el segundo de la tarde.
La superioridad del United desquiciaba a los defensas locales, que no supieron evitar que, al filo del descanso, el inglés Ryan Giggs volviera a enviar el balón al fondo de la red.
Sin posibilidad de que el Fulham llegara a inquietarles, los de Ferguson dedicaron la segunda parte a mantener su dominio hasta que, dos minutos antes del final, Rooney no dejó pasar la oportunidad de añadir un tanto a la goleada, que completó Berbatov con el tiempo cumplido
jueves, 22 de diciembre de 2011
Newcastle 2 - 3 West Brom
And the question on every supporter’s mind is whether the club’s ready to buy its way out of a worrying slump.
Christmas came early for West Bromwich Albion, 3-2 winners at St James’s Park last night.
The club’s success this season has been built on defensive resilience, but a previously rock-solid defence has been rocking recent weeks.
And at least one defender is a must in next month’s transfer window, not to mention a striker.
Alan Pardew’s side were in an unusually charitable mood on an unseasonably mild night – and West Bromwich Albion were only too happy to unwrap their gifts.
It was a frustrating start for Newcastle, and they couldn’t fashion the kind of clear-cut early opportunities they had against Swansea four days earlier.
The influence of Yohan Cabaye, always capable of a telling pass and more than willing to put his foot in, was missed in a few scrappy exchanges, while Roy Hodgson’s side – and Peter Odemwingie in particular – were dangerous on the break.
Haris Vuckic, making his full Premier League debut in the absence of Cabaye through suspension, is also capable of a decisive ball, and the teenager made one for Demba Ba in the 19th minute, but the striker was marginally offside.
The frustration deepened in the 20th minute when another break forward from West Brom led to Odemwingie opening the scoring, the striker latching on to a clever ball through the middle from Chris Brunt to beat Tim Krul with a neat left-footed finish.
Pardew will have been concerned that the visitors broke so quickly, and with such ease, through an area where his team have been so strong this season.
For all United’s possession, Ben Foster was largely untroubled in the West Brom goal, with Newcastle’s final ball letting them down time and again, though Ba was a danger whenever he was found by a team-mate.
At the other end, where Odemwingie and Shane Long were happy to play on the shoulder of Fabricio Coloccini and Perch, United looked vulnerable.
However, the equaliser wasn’t long in coming. A surging run forward from Gabriel Obertan was brought to an abrupt halt on the edge of the box by Jerome Thomas, and Ba stepped up to take the resulting free-kick.
Ba’s right-footed effort flew past a helpless Foster, the 34th-minute goal his 12th of the season. Dead-ball specialist Cabaye couldn’t have done better himself.
Match Report: Newcastle United 0 Swansea City 0
However, Ba was culpable, in part, for West Brom’s second goal late in the half, his needless foul on Youssuf Mulumbu leading to the Brunt free-kick which was eventually headed past Krul by Gareth McAuley.
Vuckic struck the post before the interval with a stunning shot, and Ba fizzed an effort narrowly wide of Foster’s goal early in the second half after Ryan Taylor, on for Davide Santon in an early change, found him.
Yet as Newcastle chased the game, they became even more vulnerable at the back, and Shane Long should have scored after Mulumbu was given the freedom of the pitch to find him in the 53th minute.
Pardew was understandably furious, and no wonder, while United’s fans were showing their frustration, and calling for the introduction of Hatem Ben Arfa.
That came just past the hour mark to a roar from all sides of St James’s Park, and he had a hand in Ba’s second goal, the forward playing in his team-mate, whose instinctive finish set up a grandstand finish.
Only the decisive conclusion came at the Leazes End, where 800 visiting fans joyously celebrated Paul Scharner’s winning goal five minutes from time when the midfielder prodded home after a swift counter-attack.
Referee Anthony Taylor’s whistle was followed by half-hearted boos in parts of the ground, and what is clear is that next month – on and off the pitch – will have a huge bearing on where Newcastle finish this season.
miles.starforth@northeast-press.co.uk
NEWCASTLE UNITED: Krul 6; Simpson 6, Perch 5, Coloccini 6, Santon 6 (R Taylor, 46, 6); Obertan 5 (Shola Ameobi, 72, 6), Tiote 6, Vuckic 7, Gutierrez 6; Best 5 (Ben Arfa, 61, 6), Ba 8. Subs not used: Elliot, Williamson, Abeid, Sammy Ameobi.
WEST BROMWICH ALBION: Foster; Reid (Jones 7), Scharner, Olsson, Shorey; Thomas (Dorrans, 68), Mulumbu (Thorne, 76), McAuley, Brunt; Odemwingie, Long. Subs not used: Fulop, Cox, Dawson, Fortune.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Demba Ba. United can ill-afford to lose him to the African Cup of Nations.
HIGHLIGHT: The bright full league debut enjoyed by Haris Vuckic.
LOWLIGHT: Newcastle’s defending was a far cry from that earlier in the season.
Goals: Odemwingie 20, Ba 34, 81, McAuley 44, Scharner 85
Bookings: Coloccini 90
Referee: Anthony Taylor (Manchester)
Attendance: 51,060 (800 West Brom)
Christmas came early for West Bromwich Albion, 3-2 winners at St James’s Park last night.
The club’s success this season has been built on defensive resilience, but a previously rock-solid defence has been rocking recent weeks.
And at least one defender is a must in next month’s transfer window, not to mention a striker.
Alan Pardew’s side were in an unusually charitable mood on an unseasonably mild night – and West Bromwich Albion were only too happy to unwrap their gifts.
It was a frustrating start for Newcastle, and they couldn’t fashion the kind of clear-cut early opportunities they had against Swansea four days earlier.
The influence of Yohan Cabaye, always capable of a telling pass and more than willing to put his foot in, was missed in a few scrappy exchanges, while Roy Hodgson’s side – and Peter Odemwingie in particular – were dangerous on the break.
Haris Vuckic, making his full Premier League debut in the absence of Cabaye through suspension, is also capable of a decisive ball, and the teenager made one for Demba Ba in the 19th minute, but the striker was marginally offside.
The frustration deepened in the 20th minute when another break forward from West Brom led to Odemwingie opening the scoring, the striker latching on to a clever ball through the middle from Chris Brunt to beat Tim Krul with a neat left-footed finish.
Pardew will have been concerned that the visitors broke so quickly, and with such ease, through an area where his team have been so strong this season.
For all United’s possession, Ben Foster was largely untroubled in the West Brom goal, with Newcastle’s final ball letting them down time and again, though Ba was a danger whenever he was found by a team-mate.
At the other end, where Odemwingie and Shane Long were happy to play on the shoulder of Fabricio Coloccini and Perch, United looked vulnerable.
However, the equaliser wasn’t long in coming. A surging run forward from Gabriel Obertan was brought to an abrupt halt on the edge of the box by Jerome Thomas, and Ba stepped up to take the resulting free-kick.
Ba’s right-footed effort flew past a helpless Foster, the 34th-minute goal his 12th of the season. Dead-ball specialist Cabaye couldn’t have done better himself.
Match Report: Newcastle United 0 Swansea City 0
However, Ba was culpable, in part, for West Brom’s second goal late in the half, his needless foul on Youssuf Mulumbu leading to the Brunt free-kick which was eventually headed past Krul by Gareth McAuley.
Vuckic struck the post before the interval with a stunning shot, and Ba fizzed an effort narrowly wide of Foster’s goal early in the second half after Ryan Taylor, on for Davide Santon in an early change, found him.
Yet as Newcastle chased the game, they became even more vulnerable at the back, and Shane Long should have scored after Mulumbu was given the freedom of the pitch to find him in the 53th minute.
Pardew was understandably furious, and no wonder, while United’s fans were showing their frustration, and calling for the introduction of Hatem Ben Arfa.
That came just past the hour mark to a roar from all sides of St James’s Park, and he had a hand in Ba’s second goal, the forward playing in his team-mate, whose instinctive finish set up a grandstand finish.
Only the decisive conclusion came at the Leazes End, where 800 visiting fans joyously celebrated Paul Scharner’s winning goal five minutes from time when the midfielder prodded home after a swift counter-attack.
Referee Anthony Taylor’s whistle was followed by half-hearted boos in parts of the ground, and what is clear is that next month – on and off the pitch – will have a huge bearing on where Newcastle finish this season.
miles.starforth@northeast-press.co.uk
NEWCASTLE UNITED: Krul 6; Simpson 6, Perch 5, Coloccini 6, Santon 6 (R Taylor, 46, 6); Obertan 5 (Shola Ameobi, 72, 6), Tiote 6, Vuckic 7, Gutierrez 6; Best 5 (Ben Arfa, 61, 6), Ba 8. Subs not used: Elliot, Williamson, Abeid, Sammy Ameobi.
WEST BROMWICH ALBION: Foster; Reid (Jones 7), Scharner, Olsson, Shorey; Thomas (Dorrans, 68), Mulumbu (Thorne, 76), McAuley, Brunt; Odemwingie, Long. Subs not used: Fulop, Cox, Dawson, Fortune.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Demba Ba. United can ill-afford to lose him to the African Cup of Nations.
HIGHLIGHT: The bright full league debut enjoyed by Haris Vuckic.
LOWLIGHT: Newcastle’s defending was a far cry from that earlier in the season.
Goals: Odemwingie 20, Ba 34, 81, McAuley 44, Scharner 85
Bookings: Coloccini 90
Referee: Anthony Taylor (Manchester)
Attendance: 51,060 (800 West Brom)
Everton 1 - 0 Swansea City
SWANSEA CITY ended 2011 without an away win in the top flight after falling to their sixth defeat on the road at Goodison Park.
Not since May 1982, when Swansea were in the old First Division under John Toshack, have they won in the top flight and despite another hard-fought display against Everton they were left with nothing to show away from home.
The Swans had never beaten Everton in 13 previous attempts in all competitions and Leon Osman’s 60th-minute header ensured that record would continue for another game at least.
After conceding four goals away on three occasions this season the Swans have been vastly improved in defence in recent games.
It looked as though they may earn their second point on their travels in four days after a resilient performance at Newcastle on Saturday.
But after Osman put the home side in front in the second half the writing was on the wall for Swansea, who have yet to gain a point from a losing position in the Premier League.
Both sides had only scored 16 goals in the league before last night so a high-scoring game was never going to be on the cards and that’s how it played out in a contest of plenty of endeavour but few real chances.
Everton had only taken four points from their last five games at Goodison so there was plenty of reason for Swansea to travel to Merseyside with a some expectation of securing their first away win of the season.
Swansea were unchanged from Saturday’s 0-0 draw at Newcastle but Spanish full-back Angel Rangel returned to the bench having not featured since injuring his ankle against Aston Villa at the end of November.
For Everton, midfielder Seamus Coleman started on the right after shaking off a thigh strain, but Manchester United target Jack Rodwell missed out last night with a hamstring problem.
The home side, obviously wary of Swansea’s passing game, pressed high up the pitch early on but with nowhere near as much venom as Newcastle had with great success four days earlier.
Their low-tempo closing down allowed Swansea plenty of time and space to get into their grove and they started the more confidently of the two sides.
A Mark Gower short corner to Wayne Routledge on nine minutes almost created their first chance of the game, but his pass to Scott Sinclair was just behind the winger and the opportunity went begging.
Swansea were keeping the ball well, but looked vulnerable at set-pieces with Everton’s giant midfielder Marouane Fellaini menacing and Louis Saha’s movement causing problems.
Saha dipped into midfield to create Everton’s first opening, threading the ball through to Leon Osman, but goalkeeper Michel Vorm was quickly off his line to clear.
Rodgers’ side were dominating possession, with 54% of the play compared to 38% after half an hour against Newcastle, but Everton looked dangerous on the counter-attack with Royston Drenthe lively down the left for the Toffees.
The on-loan Real Madrid man got the better of Jazz Richards midway through the half, but his ball across the six-yard box was hacked away by Leon Britton.
Drenthe switched wings and turned provider from the left on 34 minutes after Coleman was forced off with an injury and replaced by Magaye Gueye, but Saha’s glancing header from his cross went wide.
Substitute Gueye then had a great chance to put the home side in front from Leighton Baines’ cross, but his shot from eight yards out was brilliantly saved by Vorm.
Gueye’s close-range follow-up was blocked by the top of Ashley Williams’ arm, but, with the home supporters screaming for a penalty, referee Kevin Friend gave nothing.
Williams didn’t get the same luck a couple of minutes later when he charged down a Leon Osman shot from the edge of the box and was booked for handball.
Left-back Baines wasted the free-kick with a wild effort high over the bar and, like at Newcastle at the weekend, Swansea were glad to hear the half-time whistle with the scores still level.
Just like at St James’ Park, Rodgers reacted by taking off Mark Gower at half-time and replacing him with Dutchman Kemy Agustien.
Gower had been fortunate to keep his place after a poor showing at Newcastle, but there was little improvement here as he struggled to impose himself on the game.
Agustien looked bright straight away and almost set Scott Sinclair away with his first touch of the ball, but Hibbert was alert to the danger.
It took the visitors 50 minutes to record their first attempt at goal, a Routledge shot that was blocked by Hibbert, but it sparked Swansea into their best spell going forward.
Routledge and Agustien were combining well and the Swans were frustrating the home side with their quick movement of the ball.
If there’s one thing that’s cost Swansea on the road this season it’s their lack of concentration at times and they almost fell behind when Phil Neville caught them sleeping with a quick free-kick on 56 minutes, but Osman failed to make the most of the chance.
The diminutive midfielder didn’t make the same mistake four minutes later when the next opportunity, and a much harder one, came his way.
Another quality Drenthe delivery, this time a corner, was whipped into the heart of the Swansea area and 5ft 8in midfielder Osman somehow managed to out-jump 6ft 3in defender Steven Caulker and head the ball home.
After so much talk about working on the fine details in defence away from home, Swans boss Rodgers will be unhappy at the way his side let one of the smallest players on the pitch score a header from the middle of the area.
With the goal scored and Swansea creating very little going forward, Everton were happy to conserve their lead rather than push hard for a second.
Drenthe smashed a free-kick from the edge of the box well over on 70 minutes and the winger was denied by Vorm a couple of minutes later after Jazz Richard’s misplaced header backwards.
Rodgers put on Leroy Lita for the final 10 minutes in the hope of rescuing something for Swansea and there was a late flurry from the visitors, although nothing that threatened Everton’s goal.
Swansea will now look to home games against Queens Park Rangers and Tottenham Hotspur over the Christmas period to lift themselves closer to the 20-point mark manager Rodgers wants before the season’s halfway stage.
Not since May 1982, when Swansea were in the old First Division under John Toshack, have they won in the top flight and despite another hard-fought display against Everton they were left with nothing to show away from home.
The Swans had never beaten Everton in 13 previous attempts in all competitions and Leon Osman’s 60th-minute header ensured that record would continue for another game at least.
After conceding four goals away on three occasions this season the Swans have been vastly improved in defence in recent games.
It looked as though they may earn their second point on their travels in four days after a resilient performance at Newcastle on Saturday.
But after Osman put the home side in front in the second half the writing was on the wall for Swansea, who have yet to gain a point from a losing position in the Premier League.
Both sides had only scored 16 goals in the league before last night so a high-scoring game was never going to be on the cards and that’s how it played out in a contest of plenty of endeavour but few real chances.
Everton had only taken four points from their last five games at Goodison so there was plenty of reason for Swansea to travel to Merseyside with a some expectation of securing their first away win of the season.
Swansea were unchanged from Saturday’s 0-0 draw at Newcastle but Spanish full-back Angel Rangel returned to the bench having not featured since injuring his ankle against Aston Villa at the end of November.
For Everton, midfielder Seamus Coleman started on the right after shaking off a thigh strain, but Manchester United target Jack Rodwell missed out last night with a hamstring problem.
The home side, obviously wary of Swansea’s passing game, pressed high up the pitch early on but with nowhere near as much venom as Newcastle had with great success four days earlier.
Their low-tempo closing down allowed Swansea plenty of time and space to get into their grove and they started the more confidently of the two sides.
A Mark Gower short corner to Wayne Routledge on nine minutes almost created their first chance of the game, but his pass to Scott Sinclair was just behind the winger and the opportunity went begging.
Swansea were keeping the ball well, but looked vulnerable at set-pieces with Everton’s giant midfielder Marouane Fellaini menacing and Louis Saha’s movement causing problems.
Saha dipped into midfield to create Everton’s first opening, threading the ball through to Leon Osman, but goalkeeper Michel Vorm was quickly off his line to clear.
Rodgers’ side were dominating possession, with 54% of the play compared to 38% after half an hour against Newcastle, but Everton looked dangerous on the counter-attack with Royston Drenthe lively down the left for the Toffees.
The on-loan Real Madrid man got the better of Jazz Richards midway through the half, but his ball across the six-yard box was hacked away by Leon Britton.
Drenthe switched wings and turned provider from the left on 34 minutes after Coleman was forced off with an injury and replaced by Magaye Gueye, but Saha’s glancing header from his cross went wide.
Substitute Gueye then had a great chance to put the home side in front from Leighton Baines’ cross, but his shot from eight yards out was brilliantly saved by Vorm.
Gueye’s close-range follow-up was blocked by the top of Ashley Williams’ arm, but, with the home supporters screaming for a penalty, referee Kevin Friend gave nothing.
Williams didn’t get the same luck a couple of minutes later when he charged down a Leon Osman shot from the edge of the box and was booked for handball.
Left-back Baines wasted the free-kick with a wild effort high over the bar and, like at Newcastle at the weekend, Swansea were glad to hear the half-time whistle with the scores still level.
Just like at St James’ Park, Rodgers reacted by taking off Mark Gower at half-time and replacing him with Dutchman Kemy Agustien.
Gower had been fortunate to keep his place after a poor showing at Newcastle, but there was little improvement here as he struggled to impose himself on the game.
Agustien looked bright straight away and almost set Scott Sinclair away with his first touch of the ball, but Hibbert was alert to the danger.
It took the visitors 50 minutes to record their first attempt at goal, a Routledge shot that was blocked by Hibbert, but it sparked Swansea into their best spell going forward.
Routledge and Agustien were combining well and the Swans were frustrating the home side with their quick movement of the ball.
If there’s one thing that’s cost Swansea on the road this season it’s their lack of concentration at times and they almost fell behind when Phil Neville caught them sleeping with a quick free-kick on 56 minutes, but Osman failed to make the most of the chance.
The diminutive midfielder didn’t make the same mistake four minutes later when the next opportunity, and a much harder one, came his way.
Another quality Drenthe delivery, this time a corner, was whipped into the heart of the Swansea area and 5ft 8in midfielder Osman somehow managed to out-jump 6ft 3in defender Steven Caulker and head the ball home.
After so much talk about working on the fine details in defence away from home, Swans boss Rodgers will be unhappy at the way his side let one of the smallest players on the pitch score a header from the middle of the area.
With the goal scored and Swansea creating very little going forward, Everton were happy to conserve their lead rather than push hard for a second.
Drenthe smashed a free-kick from the edge of the box well over on 70 minutes and the winger was denied by Vorm a couple of minutes later after Jazz Richard’s misplaced header backwards.
Rodgers put on Leroy Lita for the final 10 minutes in the hope of rescuing something for Swansea and there was a late flurry from the visitors, although nothing that threatened Everton’s goal.
Swansea will now look to home games against Queens Park Rangers and Tottenham Hotspur over the Christmas period to lift themselves closer to the 20-point mark manager Rodgers wants before the season’s halfway stage.
Manchester City 3 - 0 Stoke City
l líder de la liga inglesa, el Manchester City, cumplió el miércoles con las expectativas y ganó con solvencia al Stoke (3-0) un encuentro en el que el argentino Sergio Kun Agüero fue, con dos goles, el jugador más determinante.
La victoria frente al octavo equipo de la tabla, que completó el inglés Adam Johnson con otro tanto, permite a los Citizens continuar primeros de la Premier League, dos puntos por delante de sus vecinos del Manchester United.
Los de Roberto Mancini no dejaron traslucir la presión que supone tener tan cerca en la tabla a los Diablos Rojos y saltaron al campo dispuestos a cumplir con el estilo de juego que dicta el técnico italiano.
Los Citizens se hicieron dueños del balón desde el primer minuto para acercarse al área rival sin impaciencia, a base de largas triangulaciones.
Esa estrategia servía a los locales tanto para crear las primeras ocasiones de peligro como para evitar sufrir sin el balón, ya que el Stoke esperaba en su campo dispuesto a lanzar contragolpes rápidos.
El deseo de controlar el partido hizo que el City basara su juego en las combinaciones horizontales y no encontró durante el primer tramo del choque la verticalidad necesaria para inquietar al guardameta danés Thomas Sorensen.
A pesar de la falta de profundidad y de goles, el encuentro era un monólogo de los locales, ante un Stoke que parecía resignado a luchar por el empate ante un conjunto que ha demostrado su autoridad en la Premier League desde el principio de la temporada.
No fue hasta la media hora de juego cuando el Kun logró que el marcador reflejara el dominio de los locales sobre el césped.
El español David Silva se escurrió entre los defensas del Stoke para dejarle el balón al marfileño Touré Yaya, que forzó al portero del Stoke a despejar con una mano un centro envenenado.
Agüero, ubicado en el lugar preciso del área pequeña, solo tuvo que empujar el esférico al fondo de la red para sumar el decimotercer gol en su cuenta personal desde que llegó al City este verano.
Con el marcador inaugurado, los nervios afloraron en el equipo visitante, mientras que los de Mancini supieron mantener un férreo control sobre el duelo.
Antes de concluir el primer tiempo, un error de la defensa del Stoke dejó el balón a los pies del inglés Adam Johnson, quien, al borde del área, no dudó en colocar un potente disparo al borde del palo izquierdo que Sorensen no pudo alcanzar.
Con la tranquilidad asentada en el césped el Etihad, Agüero selló el tercero a los diez minutos del segundo tiempo, cuando el francés Samir Nasri cruzó un balón raso, horizontal, por el interior del área del Stoke y habilitó al internacional argentino, de quien se habían olvidado los defensas, para rematar a placer.
La victoria frente al octavo equipo de la tabla, que completó el inglés Adam Johnson con otro tanto, permite a los Citizens continuar primeros de la Premier League, dos puntos por delante de sus vecinos del Manchester United.
Los de Roberto Mancini no dejaron traslucir la presión que supone tener tan cerca en la tabla a los Diablos Rojos y saltaron al campo dispuestos a cumplir con el estilo de juego que dicta el técnico italiano.
Los Citizens se hicieron dueños del balón desde el primer minuto para acercarse al área rival sin impaciencia, a base de largas triangulaciones.
Esa estrategia servía a los locales tanto para crear las primeras ocasiones de peligro como para evitar sufrir sin el balón, ya que el Stoke esperaba en su campo dispuesto a lanzar contragolpes rápidos.
El deseo de controlar el partido hizo que el City basara su juego en las combinaciones horizontales y no encontró durante el primer tramo del choque la verticalidad necesaria para inquietar al guardameta danés Thomas Sorensen.
A pesar de la falta de profundidad y de goles, el encuentro era un monólogo de los locales, ante un Stoke que parecía resignado a luchar por el empate ante un conjunto que ha demostrado su autoridad en la Premier League desde el principio de la temporada.
No fue hasta la media hora de juego cuando el Kun logró que el marcador reflejara el dominio de los locales sobre el césped.
El español David Silva se escurrió entre los defensas del Stoke para dejarle el balón al marfileño Touré Yaya, que forzó al portero del Stoke a despejar con una mano un centro envenenado.
Agüero, ubicado en el lugar preciso del área pequeña, solo tuvo que empujar el esférico al fondo de la red para sumar el decimotercer gol en su cuenta personal desde que llegó al City este verano.
Con el marcador inaugurado, los nervios afloraron en el equipo visitante, mientras que los de Mancini supieron mantener un férreo control sobre el duelo.
Antes de concluir el primer tiempo, un error de la defensa del Stoke dejó el balón a los pies del inglés Adam Johnson, quien, al borde del área, no dudó en colocar un potente disparo al borde del palo izquierdo que Sorensen no pudo alcanzar.
Con la tranquilidad asentada en el césped el Etihad, Agüero selló el tercero a los diez minutos del segundo tiempo, cuando el francés Samir Nasri cruzó un balón raso, horizontal, por el interior del área del Stoke y habilitó al internacional argentino, de quien se habían olvidado los defensas, para rematar a placer.
Uruguay sale en defensa de Luis Suárez
El Gobierno y los medios uruguayos expresaron ayer su apoyo al delantero del Liverpool inglés Luis Suárez, suspendido por presuntos insultos racistas, pero surgieron voces pidiendo que se luche contra la discriminación en un país donde apodos y calificativos sobre aspecto físico es moneda corriente.
Suárez fue suspendido por 8 partidos por la Federación inglesa (FA) basándose en el testimonio de Patrice Evra, del United, quien denunció el insulto.
"Hay una cierta indignación por el cariz que ha tomado este hecho", dijo el director nacional de Deportes de Uruguay, Ernesto Irureta, que estimó que el fallo es "desproporcionado" y que no hubo las garantías del debido proceso.
"Injusticia británica", tituló Ultimas Noticias, que calificó el fallo de "irracional".
Miguel Angel Pereira, de la organización no gubernamental Mundo Afro sostuvo que "en Uruguay existe racismo" y que se manifiesta de varias formas.
El ‘9’ está afectado
El delantero uruguayo Luis Suárez, del Liverpool inglés, suspendido ocho partidos por la federación de ese país (FA) por insultos considerados racistas, está dolido por la sanción pero "va a defender su inocencia hasta las últimas consecuencias", dijo en Montevideo su representante legal.
"Esto lo tiene muy afectado pero nos ha comunicado que va a redoblar los esfuerzos para seguir jugando de la mejor manera posible no solo con el club inglés sino con la selección uruguaya", expresó en conferencia.
Suárez fue suspendido por 8 partidos por la Federación inglesa (FA) basándose en el testimonio de Patrice Evra, del United, quien denunció el insulto.
"Hay una cierta indignación por el cariz que ha tomado este hecho", dijo el director nacional de Deportes de Uruguay, Ernesto Irureta, que estimó que el fallo es "desproporcionado" y que no hubo las garantías del debido proceso.
"Injusticia británica", tituló Ultimas Noticias, que calificó el fallo de "irracional".
Miguel Angel Pereira, de la organización no gubernamental Mundo Afro sostuvo que "en Uruguay existe racismo" y que se manifiesta de varias formas.
El ‘9’ está afectado
El delantero uruguayo Luis Suárez, del Liverpool inglés, suspendido ocho partidos por la federación de ese país (FA) por insultos considerados racistas, está dolido por la sanción pero "va a defender su inocencia hasta las últimas consecuencias", dijo en Montevideo su representante legal.
"Esto lo tiene muy afectado pero nos ha comunicado que va a redoblar los esfuerzos para seguir jugando de la mejor manera posible no solo con el club inglés sino con la selección uruguaya", expresó en conferencia.
Aston Villa 1 - 2 Arsenal
Yossi Benayoun salió de la banca a la cabeza de un ganadora finales de la siguiente par, Arsenal venció a Aston Villa.
Villa tuvo ocasiones para abrir el marcador antes de que Robin van Persie anotó su gol 34 de 2011, desde el punto de penalti tras una falta sobre Theo Walcott.
Marc Albrighton aprovechó un error defensivo a la ranura en el gol número 20.000 en la historia de la Premier League.
Villa tuvo ocasiones para abrir el marcador antes de que Robin van Persie anotó su gol 34 de 2011, desde el punto de penalti tras una falta sobre Theo Walcott.
Marc Albrighton aprovechó un error defensivo a la ranura en el gol número 20.000 en la historia de la Premier League.
Terry, acusado de racista
La Fiscalía británica anunció ayer que presentará cargos contra el capitán del Chelsea y de Inglaterra, John Terry, por proferir un insulto racista contra el jugador del Queens Park Rangers Anton Ferdinand en un partido el pasado octubre.
En un comunicado, el fiscal general del Estado, Alison Saunders, confirmó que se ha pedido a la Policía que impute a
Terry de “un delito de alteración del orden”.
En un comunicado, el fiscal general del Estado, Alison Saunders, confirmó que se ha pedido a la Policía que impute a
Terry de “un delito de alteración del orden”.
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