Saturday, January 19, 2008

Manchester United At Top!!!

Manchester United remain at the top of the Premier League after second-half strikes from Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo gave them a two-goal victory over Reading at the Madejski Stadium.
Sir Alex Ferguson's side had been frustrated for large periods of the game but eventually got the breakthrough in the 77th minute through Rooney.
A clever dinked ball from Carlos Tevez was met by Rooney inside the penalty area and he was able to direct the ball past goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann into the bottom right corner of the net.
Ronaldo added a second in the third minute of injury time after United broke with a swift counter-attack and the Portugal winger calmly slotted home.

Arsenal remain behind United on goal difference after striker Emmanuel Adebayor struck twice to help his side a 3-0 victory over Fulham at Craven Cottage.
The visitors had applied the early pressure and it paid off in the 19th minute when they took the lead through the Togo international.
Neat interplay allowed Gael Clichy to break clear down the left flank and his cross picked out Adebayor who powerfully headed the ball past a static Antti Niemi and into the bottom right corner of the net.
Adebayor collected his 15th Premier League goal of the season in the 38th minute when he headed an Alexander Hleb cross past Niemi.
Midfielder Tomas Rosicky capped a fine performance and scored Arsenal's third with a volleyed finish in the 81st minute.
Chelsea kept up the pressure on the top two after they claimed a 1-0 win over a battling Birmingham side at St Andrews.
Striker Claudio Pizarro headed home a Juliano Belletti corner in the 79th minute to give Avram Grant's side victory.
Benjani Mwaruwari grabbed a hat-trick as Portsmouth ended their a six-match goal drought at Fratton Park with a 3-1 win over Derby.
Defender Lewin Nyatanga had given the visitors the lead in the fourth minute with a close-range header but Harry Redknapp's side responded positively,
Benjani equalised in the 38th minute after he latched on to pass Pedro Mendes and turned to smash the ball into the top right corner.
The Pompey striker added a second four minutes later after he headed a cross from Hermann Hreidarsson past Derby goalkeeper Lewis Price.
Mwaruwari added his 12th Premier League goal of the season 10 minutes after the half-time break following a swift counter-attack.
The Zimbabwe international was put clean through by Mendes before he calmly stroked the ball past the despairing dive of Price and into the bottom right corner.
Tottenham claimed a 2-0 win over Sunderland at White Hart Lane thanks to goals from Aaron Lennon and Robbie Keane.
Spurs took the lead the second minute, with Lennon netting on his 100th appearance for the club.
Jamie O'Hara's perseverance created the chance after he stole the ball off Sunderland defender Paul McShane and crossed the ball from the left flank.
O'Hara's cross squirmed past Dimitar Berbatov and Danny Collins but Lennon was able to stab the ball past Sunderland goalkeeper Craig Gordon.
Keane latched on to a long ball from goalkeeper Radek Cerny before he unleashed an 18-yard strike in the second minute of added time.
Blackburn missed out on the chance to push themselves into the UEFA Cup places after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Middlesbrough.
Gareth Southgate's side opened the scoring at Ewood Park in the 13th minute from a set-piece that caught the home side napping.
David Wheater raced in on the blindside to get his head on the end of Stewart Downing's free-kick and Brad Friedel managed to get a hand to the ball but was unable to prevent it going into the net.
But Mark Hughes' side equalised in the 75th minute through Matt Derbyshire who tapped home Jason Roberts' knockdown inside the six-yard box.
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History of Football

Football is one of the popular sports of sports world. It has such an impact on the sports world that sports world will lose its charm if football/soccer is removed. Football games history is replete with fascinating football matches and other facts. For example, Pele's name in football games history will always find mention for scoring 1000 goals; while Brazil's name is there in football games history for winning FIFA World Cups maximum number of times. Football is game played between two teams with 11 members in each team. In this game every member of team try to kick inflated round shaped ball into the opposite team's goal line without using his hands. Only goalkeeper can use arms and hands, when he is positioned within penalty area in front of goal line.Football is one of the popular sports of sports world. It has such an impact on the sports world that sports world will lose its charm if football/soccer is removed. Football games history is replete with fascinating football matches and other facts. For example, Pele's name in football games history will always find mention for scoring 1000 goals; while Brazil's name is there in football games history for winning FIFA World Cups maximum number of times. Football is game played between two teams with 11 members in each team. In this game every member of team try to kick inflated round shaped ball into the opposite team's goal line without using his hands. Only goalkeeper can use arms and hands, when he is positioned within penalty area in front of goal line.


The main objective of game is to score points by placing ball across goal line of the opponent's team. The various forms of football game played today are American football, Association football, Soccer, Canadian football, Australian football, Gaelic football, Rugby football.In the United States, the word football refers to the American game (whose rules are different than that of this game) in other parts of the world sports it usually means soccer. The first set of rules for football were placed in 1863, then England's Football Association was created.The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) was founded in 1904 with an objective to act as governing body for association of football. It has hosted FIFA World cup footnall every four years since 1930.Football has been included in Olympic Games since 1908. It is the most popular game of world sports now a days.


Origin of Football

Origin of Football is from age of Greeks where it was played with name harpaston and Romans used to played a similar game harpastum. In ancient times in Italy a form of football was played with name as calcio. In Polynesia also it was played with a football made of bamboo fibers, and the Inuit played a form of football with a leather ball filled with moss.


Football Rule


Field

Field of football court is rectangular in shape with dimensions 50-100yd wide and 100-130yd long. At both ends there is goal area enclosed with in penalty area. Goal line, posts and crossbar of the goals must be of equal width.Goal lines and touch lines are part of playing area.

Officials

Referee controls game and is supported by two linesman. Referee keeps track of time and maintains records of the game and take appropriate action at the time of injuries to players,or break in game due to interference by spectators etc.

The ball

It is made up of leather generally. At the beginning of game ball weight should be 14-16 oz and inflated pressure must be of 15lb per square inch. If there is any need for change in ball during the game that can be done only with referee's permission.

Dress

Goalkeeper need to wear dress of color different from other players of team so that he can be distinguished from other players. Other players of team need to wear dress with particular dress color fixed for particular team. Different teams have different dress colour codes unique for every team.Shoes can be freckled with leather bars and rubber across the soles. Studs must be of solid leather or rubber or plastic or aluminum, or any similar material, but must be rounded and more than ½ in diameter and ¾ in length. Studs that need to be molded with sole must be of soft material with at least 10 studs on each sole, the diameter of each stud must be at least 3/8 in. Gloves are worn by goalkeepers. Dresses of players have numbers written on back. Players can not wear anything that could abuse other players.
Team size is of 11 players including one goalkeeper

Substitutes

Two substitutes are allowed in a match. Substituted player can not return to the game back. The substitution is done only with permission on referee. In the event of an injury to the goalkeeper, an outfield player can be the goal keeper but with referee’s permission.

Current Status

The 2006 FIFA World Cup was won by Italy with France runner up and Brazil defeated Germany for the third spot.

The 2010 FIFA World Cup will be hosted by South Africa.