WEEKEND WRAPUP: International Soccer Headliners
- by Paul Kennedy @pkedit, Oct 29, 2007
RACE/ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUEArsenal's 12-game winning streak in all competitions was snapped when it tied Liverpool, 1-1, on Sunday at Anfield, but the performance left Gunners manager Arsene Wenger convinced that his young team can achieve greatness in the Premier League this season.
"I have always been very confident of what we could achieve this season," the Frenchman said. "Now we have convinced a few more people. There is a long way to go, but we have the talent to fight right at the top for the championship."
Cesc Fabregas scored his 10th goal of the season with 10 minutes left to draw Arsenal even. The young Spaniard later had a chance to win the game but hit the post. The tie allowed defending champion Manchester United to pull even with Arsenal -- which has a game in hand -- for first place thanks to its 4-1 victory over Middlesbrough on Saturday.
MATCH/CLUB AMERICA-GUADALAJARA
Club America won Mexico's Superclasico with a 2-1 victory over Guadalajara on Sunday night that extended its lead in the 149-game series with 52 wins against 48 wins for Chivas and 49 ties.
Both teams have struggled to find their form in the Torneo Apertura and have changed coaches once this fall. But America emerged victorious thanks to two goals by Juan Carlos Silva at the beginning of the second half. Omar Bravo's goal a minute after Silva's second goal was the first America goalie Guillermo Ochoa had given up against Guadalajara in 418 minutes.
Club America remained in third place in Group B, 13 points behind leader Santos and six behind second-place Atlante, while San Luis overtook Guadalajara for the Group C lead thanks to its 3-2 win at UAG on Friday night.
COACH/QUIQUE SANCHEZ FLORES
Valencia doesn't mess around. It went into the weekend in second place in La Liga but fired Coach Quique Sanchez Flores after its 3-0 loss at Sevilla.
The firing was announced at 3 a.m. following an emergency meeting of the club's board in Valencia. The 3-0 loss to Sevilla, which dropped Valencia to a tie for third place with Villarreal four points behind Real Madrid, followed Valencia's 2-0 loss to Rosenborg in the UEFA Champions League.
Sanchez Flores was in his third season at the helm of Valencia but endured criticism for the team's uneven form. Oscar Fernandez, coach of Valencia's farm team, will take over as first-team coach.
PLAYER/ROGERIO CENI
Goalkeeper Rogerio Ceni did it all to help Sao Paulo win at Sport Recife, 2-1, and stretch its lead over Santos and Palmeiras to 15 points with five matches to play in the Campeonato Brasileiro, the Brazilian national championship.
Rogerio Ceni curled the ball around the wall to score one of his trademark free kicks in the 28th minute. The goal was the sixth of the competition and the 77th of his remarkable career.
He later missed a penalty but made two crucial saves to help Sao Paulo gain the win. It needs only one point in its last five games to clinch what would be a record fifth national title. Sao Paulo currently shares the record of four titles with Corinthians, Palmeiras and Flamengo.
