LIGA ANTARABANGSA NEWS UPDATE!!

matsyeh

Premier League confirm goal-line technology delay

Chief executive Richard Scudamore has revealed that any new technologies will not be in place in the English top flight until after next season at the earliest.


Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore has confirmed that the introduction of goal-line technology will not take place until at least 2013.

Football's governing body Fifa are expected to make a decision on whether to introduce the technology this July and are currently trialing two different systems after initially appearing reluctant to implement changes.

Calls for the introduction of goal-line technology have grown ever louder this season, as English football continues to be plagued by a plethora of debatable goal-line calls.

Scudamore expressed delight that a decision is imminent and revealed his excitement at the prospect of goal-line technology finally being brought to the English game.

However, he did admit that it would be not be logistically plausible to introduce such a system in time for the 2012/13 Premier League campaign - with Fifa's decision coming just a month before the new season kicks off.

He told Sky Sports News: It's imminent and we'll look to put it in front of our clubs as soon as we practically can in terms of implementation.

"But it is unlikely to be for next season given the time scales involved with FIFA approving it and the start of our season, there's far too many logistical things that would need to happen so it's unlikely for next season. Perhaps the season after is within the time frame to do it properly."

sudugaru

Championship - Blackpool resist Birmingham recovery to reach final

Blackpool survived a spirited Birmingham recovery to win their Championship play-off semi-final with a 2-2 draw in the second leg at St Andrew's giving them a 3-2 aggregate victory.

Ian Holloway's side will face West Ham United in the play-off final at Wembley on May 19 - dubbed the richest game in football due to the prospect of reaching the moneyed Premier League's television millions - despite blowing a 2-0 lead as Birmingham threatened to force the match to extra-time.

On-loan Swansea forward Stephen Dobbie forced the ball home from eight yards out after Curtis Davies was forced to block an Alex Baptiste overhead kick as Birmingham goalkeeper Colin Doyle was caught out at his near post on the stroke of half-time.

The eager Matthew Phillips doubled their lead when he exposed some shoddy home defending to slip the ball beyond Doyle from close range via a post.

Chris Hughton's men netted their first of the night on 64 minutes when Nikola Zigic scored from Chris Burke's pass despite appearing to be offside.

Davies then made amends for his own goal in Friday's 1-0 defeat in the first leg in Blackpool when he rose to power home a header from Jordan Mutch's corner with 17 minutes left, but there was to be no third goal for a Birmingham side who were playing their 62nd game of the season.

Blackpool players partied with the visiting fans in the rain as the home supporters were left to contemplate another season in the Championship a year after they were relegated from the Premier League alongside Blackpool and West Ham.

Blackpool will start the final as underdogs having lost 4-0 and 4-1 to West Ham during the season, but will aim to replicate their 3-2 win over Cardiff City in the play-off final at Wembley two years ago.

The game began at a frantic pace with Doyle saving from Thomas Ince on four minutes before Ince seemed to be hauled back by David Murphy as Doyle again saved in the opening minutes.

It looked a penalty, but Birmingham survived that call as Burke drove an effort wide while Marlon King flicked a volley off the top of the bar and over at the other end.

Blackpool goalkeeper Matthew Gilks was also forced to make an instinctive stop from King after a terrific run and cross from substitute Nathan Redmond before Davies equalised on the night, but it was to prove immaterial as Blackpool came to their senses to see out the added five minutes in some comfort.

sudugaru

Crowd trouble spoils Rubin's Russian Cup final win

A late goal by Roman Eremenko gave Rubin Kazan a 1-0 win over Dynamo Moscow at Yekaterinburg on Wednesday in a Russian Cup final marred by crowd trouble after the final whistle.

Hundreds of fans from both teams ran on to the pitch at the end of the match.

The ugly scenes, broadcast live on television, will not do Yekaterinburg any favours as the Ural city is bidding to host matches at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

According to local media reports, there was also a scuffle between Dynamo's Australian midfielder Luke Wilkshire and two Rubin players, Finland midfielder Eremenko and Spanish defender Sezar Navas, in the tunnel after the game.

Rubin won the trophy for the first time after Eremenko beat keeper Anton Shunin with a low shot from 30 metres.

"We really wanted to win this to complete our set of (domestic) trophies," coach Kurban Berdyev told Russian television.

Berdyev also guided Rubin to back-to-back league titles in 2008 and 2009.

mixed

Reply 10# mixed

Manchester City's ?30 million spending spree to turn club into Premier League title contenders

Exclusive: Manchester City have spent ?30.4 million turning themselves into Premier League title contenders, a special Telegraph Sport survey of English football finances has revealed.

Money man: Sheikh Mansour has opened his wallet wide to take City to the brink of the title Photo: GETTY IMAGES


The figure, which is based on the club three most recent annual accounts, lays bare the true cash cost of taking the previously mid-ranking club to the brink of their first league triumph in 44 years.


It also exposes the scale of the task facing them as they seek to comply with Uefa Financial Fair Play regulations, which took effect at the start of this season.


The full extent of City's outlay is one of the key findings of the Telegraph unique survey of the financial health of the Premier League, based on clubs?most recent accounts.


For the first time in a survey of this kind, the Telegraph can reveal exactly how much cash each club earned ?and, crucially, spent ?during a season.


The study has uncovered that in the 2010-11 season:

sudugaru

Sprint champ Usain Bolt still wants Man Utd chance

Jamaican sprint star Usain Bolt has again declared he wants the chance to trial for Manchester United.

In an interview with Diario, he revealed his dream is to take up football in 2017/2018.

"I really want to try football because I think I can be a good player," he said. "I think I am good enough to play at Manchester United. I usually play in midfield. I'm left footed and fast! I don't know who can be compared to me."

gila la..tp nk men midfield,confirm jadi AM..x terkejar la org..

mixed

PENYERANG kelab Vasco da Gama (Brazil), Alecsandro (atas) memanjat pagar keselamatan di tempat duduk penyokong bagi meraikan kejayaan layak ke suku akhir Copa Libertadores 2012 selepas menewaskan Lanus dari Argentina, 4-5 menerusi penentuan sepakan penalti di Buenos Aires, Argentina, hari ini. - Foto AFP
May 10, 2012 12:29 pm

mixed

Reply 26# mixed


    'Masa depan City bermula Ahad ini'


2012/05/11
Sergio Aguero (kanan).

MANCHESTER: Sergio Aguero yakin Ahad ini akan menjadi permulaan masa depan yang gemilang buat Manchester City kerana kemenangan ke atas Queen Park Rangers (QPR) akan membolehkan mereka menjulang mahkota kejuaraan Liga Perdana Inggeris (EPL) buat kali pertama dalam tempoh 44 tahun.

Penyerang berusia 23 tahun itu turut menegaskan sambutan meraikan kejayaan - andai City berjaya merampas kejuaraan daripada jiran mereka United, Ahad ini - tidak akan hanya terhad kepada bandaraya Manchester diwarnai dengan separuh biru.
Sebaliknya, dia yakin Argentina akan turut diwarnai dengan lautan biru kerana ramai peminat bola sepak di negara Amerika Selatan itu menjadikan City sebagai pasukan kedua mereka kerana Pablo Zabaleta dan Carlos Tevez juga beraksi dalam pasukan itu.
Dia berkata: 揚eminat Argentina suka dengan permainan bola sepak yang menarik - dan City sudah mempamerkan permainan menarik dan hebat musim ini. Mereka menyukainya dan ia membuatkan pasukan sangat popular di sana.

揔ami mempunyai tiga pemain Argentina dalam pasukan dan akan melahirkan lebih banyak lagi pemain. Perlawanan Liga Perdana juga disiarkan di televisyen dan ia menjadi ikutan dan rangsangan.

ahmad_fazill

Galatasaray crowned Turkish champions

Galatasaray were crowned Turkish champions as they held fierce rivals Fenerbahce to a goalless draw in the final round of the Super Final Championship Group.

Gala got the draw they needed to pip Fener to the title by a point in a match in which both teams had a player sent off, Issiar Dia seeing red for Fener in the 65th minute and Tomas Ujfalusi's given his marching orders nine minutes from time.

Galatasaray have now equalled Fenerbahce's total of 18 league titles, with manager Faith Terim claiming the fifth Super Lig crown of his career and first since 2000.

Fener's second place earned them a place in the Champions League qualifying round while in the Europa League Group, Bursaspor sealed top spot and qualification to Europe's second competition with a 4-0 win at Istanbul Buyuksehir BSK.

Pablo Batalla scored twice in the first half, while Sebastian Pinto and Turgay Bahadir were on target after the break, with Doka Madureira seeing red for the hosts.

Bursaspor's win meant Eskisehirspor's 3-1 success at Sivasspor was in vain. Safet Nadarevic put Eskisehirspor in front midway through the first half and a Batuhan Karadeniz double early in the second ended Sivasspor's hopes, although they did get a consolation through Michael Eneramo.

matsyeh

Dortmund claim cup in seven-goal thriller


Borussia Dortmund demolished Bayern Munich 5-2 on Saturday to complete their first league and cup double with victory in the DFB-Pokal final.

Robert Lewandowski scored a hat-trick for Jurgen Klopp's side, who underlined their superiority in German football this season with a convincing win over a Bayern side with a Champions League final against Chelsea to come next weekend.

Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery were on target for Bayern, whose performance suggested the players' minds may have been on other things.

Shinji Kagawa scored the opener on what could be his last game for the Westphalians - the Japan midfielder has been linked with a move to the Premier League - while former Bayern player Mats Hummels also scored.

Bayern were looking to end a four-game losing streak to Dortmund, but they suffered a setback after just three minutes.

Kagawa shot Dortmund in front with their first attack, Jakub Blaszczykowski's low, inviting cross giving his team-mate a simple tap-in.

Bayern levelled in the 25th minute when goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller brought Mario Gomez down inside the area, and Robben, who missed a penalty in the league match between the sides a month ago, stepped up to score low into the bottom corner.

Weidenfeller was replaced 10 minutes later when he had to come off, having taken a blow to the ribs earlier in the game.

But Dortmund took the lead with a penalty of their own in the 41st minute.
Jerome Boateng felled Blaszczykowski inside the area and Hummels beat Manuel Neuer from the spot.

Lewandowski scored his first goal of the evening in the first minute of stoppage time at the end of the first half as he beat Neuer from 15 yards to complete a clever counter-attack.
Lewandowski added a fourth in the 58th minute. Kagawa was again involved in the build-up, sending a pass through to Kevin Grosskreutz, who threaded the ball through the legs of Bastian Schweinsteiger into the path of the Polish striker, who made no mistake with the finish.

Bayern refused to throw in the towel, though, and Ribery pulled a goal back for the in the 75th minute with a fine individual effort, but Lewandowski had the final word, completing his hat-trick in the 81st minute after a mistake from Neuer gifted Lukasz Piszczek the ball.

Alf_Ramsey

Barton apologises to QPR fans after Manchester City red card


Joey Barton has apologised to QPR fans after being sent off for violent conduct during their final-day Premier League clash with Manchester City.

The former City man appeared to elbow Carlos Tevez on the edge of the Hoops' penalty area, with the assistant on the far side of the pitch spotting the incident immediately.

Following the brandishing of the red card, Barton kicked out at City striker Sergio Aguero and then appeared to attempt to headbutt Vincent Kompany, before confronting substitute Mario Balotelli.

"Can do nothing but apologise to the players and the fans," he said via his Twitter account. "Still don't think its a sending off. Tried to take 1 of their players with me....

"Still not my proudest moment but who gives a f*ck, we are safe..........and that is all that matters."

Barton denied he lost control following his dismissal, and indicated he remains unrepentant for his violent reaction to the decision.

"The head was never gone at any stage, once I'd been sent off, one of our players suggested I should try to take 1 of theirs with me......Never worked but god loves a trier. #reallynotbother #wearesafe," he added.

QPR lost the match 3-2 but retained their top-flight status, as City scored twice in injury time to claim their first ever Premier League title on goal difference on a day of incredible drama.

Barton incurs an automatic four-match ban for the straight red due to a previous dismissal against Norwich, but his violent reaction makes further punishment likely.

antagenaiz

De Graafschap relegated, Twente beaten

De Graafschap have been relegated from the Eredivisie after a 1-1 draw with Den Bosch, while Twente have missed out on the Europa League.

In the playoffs for the Dutch Europa League spots, Twente lost their second leg 1-0 to RKC Waalwijk on Sunday to miss out on European football for the first time in six seasons.

Furkan Alakmak scored in the 84th minute for Waalwijk to earn his side a 2-1 aggregate win.

Waalwijk will now face Vitesse Arnhem in a playoff for a Europa League spot.

Vitesse defeated NEC Nijmegen 2-0 on Sunday to win 4-3 on aggregate.

Nicky Hofs and Wilfried Bony both scored in the second half for Vitesse.

De Graafschap went into their relegation-promotion playoff second leg on Sunday knowing that a win would keep them alive in their quest to remain in the Dutch top flight next season.

But Den Bosch started the match better and took the lead in the 17th minute when Tom van Weert scored.

The home side managed to equalise 13 minutes later through Yuri Rose but De Graafschap failed to score again and Den Bosch held on to win the playoff on away goals.

Michael Uchebo scored an injury-time winner for VVV Venlo to triumph 4-3 over Cambuur on aggregate in their relegation playoff.

After a scoreless first leg, Cambuur looked like going through on away goals when Marco van der Heide tied the game at 3-3.

But VVV’s Nigerian striker Uchebo popped up in the second minute of second-half injury time to score the deciding goal and maintain his side’s chances of playing in the Eredivisie next season.

In the other relegation-promotion playoffs, Willem II won 3-2 on aggregate against Sparta Rotterdam after a 1-1 draw on Sunday, while Helmond Sport defeated Eindhoven 2-0 to win 3-0 on aggregate.

mixed

Man City mohon maaf kepada Ferguson


2012/05/15

MANCHESTER: Manchester City hari ini memohon maaf kepada Alex Ferguson berikutan tindakan Carlos Tevez mempamerkan kad yang mengejek pengurus Manchester United itu ketika perarakan trofi meraikan kemenangan mereka, Ahad lalu.

Tevez mengangkat tinggi kad yang tertera tulisan R.I.P. Fergie?dalam bas tidak berbumbung yang dinaiki pasukan berkenaan ketika melalui laluan yang disambut lebih 1000,000 penyokong City.

Tevez meninggalkan United untuk ke Manchester City pada 2009 selepas dikatakan tidak gembira dengan prestasinya di bawah bimbingan Ferguson.

City dalam satu kenyataan berkata, perkataan yang diberi itu satu rekaan berbentuk celaan yang tidak boleh diterima, Carlos melakukan kesilapan yang nyata.".

City menambah pihaknya ingin memohon maaf kepada Ferguson dan Kelab Bola Sepak Manchester United terhadap kesilapan itu serta kesan yang dihadapi.

***teves x kenang budi kalo tak AF amik ko dr west ham tu dh lama ko jd 'ham' kt sana

matsyeh

Cartoon of the Day: Goodbye Van Gol - Ruud decides to hang up his boots[/b]



Van Nistelrooy made 70 international appearances for Netherlands, scoring 35 goals in the process. He featured at Euro 2004, the 2006 World Cup and at Euro 2008. He scored 347 competitive goals in 588 official appearances in club football. He is currently the Champions League's second highest scorer with 56 strikes.

mixed

Reply 27# mixed


   

First Published: Wednesday 16 May 2012

Liverpool dismiss manager Dalglish
Boss has contract terminated after disappointing Barclays Premier League campaign


Reds legend Kenny Dalglish began his second spell as Liverpool manager in January 2011


Kenny Dalglish has been dismissed as Liverpool manager.

The news comes after the 61-year-old met with the club's Fenway Sports Group owners in Boston during the week.
The owners have been conducting a review of the season and they confirmed on Wednesday that Dalglish's contract had been terminated.

"The Club came to the decision that a change was appropriate," read a statement on the club's official website. "It is not a decision that was reached lightly or hastily."

Owner John W Henry paid tribute to Dalglish, who graced the club as a player in the 1970s and 1980s and who as a manager in his first spell in charge won three league titles and two FA Cups.

"He personifies everything that is good about Liverpool Football Club"
- John W Henry on Kenny Dalglish

"Kenny will always be more than a championship winning manager, more than a championship winning star player," said Henry.

"He is in many ways the heart and soul of the club. He personifies everything that is good about Liverpool Football Club. He has always put the Club and its supporters first. Kenny will always be a part of the family at Anfield.

"Our job now is to identify and recruit the right person to take this Club forward and build on the strong foundations put in place during the last 18 months."

Dalglish returned to the club for a second spell as manager in January 2011, initially on a caretaker basis after Roy Hodgson left the club following a poor start to the season.

He led Liverpool to a sixth-place finish and was rewarded with a three-year contract, which he signed in May last year.

This season, Liverpool won the Carling Cup after a penalty shoot-out victory over Cardiff City as well as reaching the FA Cup final but they struggled in the Barclays Premier League.
Honour

Liverpool won 14 matches this campaign and finished eighth, their worst league finish for 18 years, four points adrift of rivals Everton and 37 points behind title winners Manchester City.

"It has been an honour and a privilege to have had the chance to come back to Liverpool Football Club as Manager," said Dalglish.

"Of course I am disappointed with results in the league, but I would not have swapped the Carling Cup win for anything as I know how much it meant to our fans and the Club to be back winning trophies.

"We believe to build on the progress that has already been made, we need to make a change"
- Tom Werner

"Whilst I am obviously disappointed to be leaving, I can say that the matter has been handled by the owners and all concerned in an honourable, respectful and dignified way and reflects on the quality of the people involved and their continued desire to move the football club forward in the same way as when they arrived here.

"I would like to thank all of the staff for their effort and loyalty. I said when first approached about coming back as manager that I would always be of help if I can at any time and that offer remains the same.

"Finally, I want to put on record my heartfelt gratitude to Liverpool's fans, who have always given me and the Club their unwavering support. Without them neither the Club nor I would have achieved anything."
Gratitude

Liverpool chairman Tom Werner also thanked Dalglish for his work over the last 18 months but insisted the club "need to make a change".

"Kenny did more than anyone else to stabilise Liverpool over the past year-and-a-half and to get us once again looking forward," he said. "We owe him a great debt of gratitude.

"However, results in the Premier League have been disappointing and we believe to build on the progress that has already been made, we need to make a change.

"We are committed to delivering success for our supporters and our ambition remains resolute to return this great Club to the elite of England and Europe, where it belongs."

alesandra

tak tau thread maner nak tepek psl uncle neh.kat sini kot

Marcello Lippi to coach in China

GUANGZHOU, China -- Marcello Lippi has been hired to coach big-spending Chinese Super League team Guangzhou Evergrande and plans to bring an Italian style to the club immediately.

Evergrande released a statement Thursday saying it had hired the World Cup-winning Italian coach until November 2014. Lippi later appeared at a news conference broadcast live on Chinese television to discuss his appointment.

"My arrival should be a big deal and the most important thing in China today," Lippi said in comments translated from Italian. "I will start my work today, the same way I did in Juventus and Inter Milan. The most important thing is to bring the Italian football concepts to China."

The 64-year-old Lippi replaces South Korean manager Lee Jang-soo, who took Guangzhou to promotion and then the 2011 Chinese Super League title. Evergrande also is the only Chinese club through to the last 16 of the Asian Champions League.

Lippi led Juventus to five Italian titles over the 1990s and 2000s and Italy to the 2006 World Cup title. He stood down from the Italian job after winning the World Cup but was reappointed in 2008 and guided Italy to another World Cup, quitting again after the Azzurri's shocking first-round exit.

Lippi said he'd been watching Evergrande's matches for several weeks, including the Chinese Super League and the Asian Champions League.

"I almost know all the players now," he said. "I am glad to accept the invitation from Evergrande."

Guangzhou owner Xu Jiayin's stated goal is to make Evergrande a continental powerhouse and Lippi is part of his grand scheme. The club also broke the Chinese transfer spending record to sign Argentine playmaker Dario Conca.

"We need everybody to be passionate and confident about it," Lippi said. "I promise to work with my utmost passion and professional knowledge."

Chinese soccer has long been mired in corruption and underachievement. Lippi's arrival is further evidence, however, of the drive to use the country's burgeoning financial strength to emerge from its lowly status at both club and international level, where it lags far behind neighbors South Korea and Japan.

Shanghai Shenhua made world headlines at the start of this year by signing ex-France international Nicolas Anelka, who has since been promoted into a major coaching role. Shanghai has also been linked with a move for Anelka's former Chelsea teammate Didier Drogba.

hangjebat78

yg ni bole masuk sini?
Initial Van Persie talks end in deadlock

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger failed to come to a resolution with striker Robin van Persie about his future after face-to-face talks on Wednesday, according to widespread reports in the English media.Van Persie's future at Emirates Stadium is currently the subject of much speculation, with the Dutchman's existing contract set to expire next summer.
The forward is yet to sign a new deal as he has delayed extension negotiations until the off-season, with Juventus, Barcelona and Manchester City all said to be among a number of clubs strongly interested in his signature.

Van Persie and Wenger finally met on Wednesday to discuss the forward's long-term future at the club, as the 37-goal striker revealed his concerns about the Gunners' inability to challenge for major trophies. The north London club finished third in the Premier League this season, 19 points off champions City.

Wenger reportedly told his striker that the recent signing of Lukas Podolski - along with further summer acquisitions - should put the club in a far better position to challenge for the Premier League and Champions League next season, but this seemingly could not convince the former Feyenoord man to commit his future to the club.

Money could ultimately be crucial to keeping Van Persie. The Arsenal captain has reportedly been offered around ￡130,000-a-week to stay at the club, but it remains to be seen if that is enough to persuade him not to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri and head for pastures new in search of trophies.

along3746

EPL: AirAsia penaja kit rasmi QPR musim depan


18 Mei 2012




AirAsia

KUALA LUMPUR - AirAsia Bhd, yang membayar RM12.393 juta untuk menaja jersi bagi perlawanan di tempat lawan Queens Park Rangers (QPR), telah memanjangkan ikatan itu bagi musim Barclay's Premier League (BPL) 2012/13.

Di bawah ikatan itu, AirAsia kini bersedia menjadi Penaja Kit Perlawanan Rasmi dan Rakan Kelab utama kelab bolasepak itu, dengan logo syarikat penerbangan itu diabadikan pada kesemua kit perlawanan QPR sepanjang tempoh musim BPL 2012/13, kata syarikat penerbangan itu dalam satu kenyataan hari ini.   

Sementara itu, dalam satu makluman kepada Bursa Malaysia semalam, Malaysia Airline System Bhd (MAS) membayar RM10.296 juta untuk menjadi Penaja Jersi Perlawanan di tempat sendiri QPR bagi satu musim dari 1 Sept, 2011 hingga 31 Mei, 2012.     -- Bernama

mixed

Reply 34# mixed


    The final

Bayern		1-1		Chelsea
Chelsea win  4-3  on penalties

• Date: 19/05/2012
• Stadium: Fußball Arena München
• Venue: Munich (GER)

mixed

Reply 34# mixed


    'I can't believe it; a dream broke down in seconds'
Published: Sunday 20 May 2012, 0.53CET


Ivica Olić and Jérôme Boateng acknowledged FC Bayern München had paid the price for failing to make the most of their opportunities as the UEFA Champions League slipped away.









UEFA.com features   

Heynckes puts Bayern odds at 50-50

Jupp Heynckes believes FC Bayern München have a "little advantage" as UEFA Champions League final hosts but is equally aware of the threat of a "dangerous" Chelsea FC side.


Ivica Olić and Jérôme Boateng agreed the UEFA Champions League had slipped from FC Bayern München's grasp as the German side succumbed to a penalty shoot-out defeat by Chelsea FC.

The Munich club looked on course for a fifth title when Thomas Müller finally broke the English club's resistance seven minutes from the end, but Didier Drogba's equaliser forced extra time. Bayern soon had the chance to regain the lead when Franck Ribéry won a spot kick but Arjen Robben was denied by Petr Čech, and the final moved inexorably to a penalty shoot-out. Even there Bayern gained the upper hand when Manuel Neuer saved Chelsea's first effort from Juan Mata, but Čech kept out Olić and then Bastian Schweinsteiger, leaving Drogba to seal their fate.

"Of course it's a terrible feeling, but on balance we controlled it," Olić said after his last game for the club before his summer move to VfL Wolfsburg. "We had chances and should have won before penalties; but that's football. A penalty shoot-out is always about luck. Tonight we didn't have our full concentration and Chelsea won it in the end. It doesn't matter if they deserved it or not. They did it, and I have to congratulate them."

Bayern are no strangers to final disappointments having gone down to FC Internazionale Milano in the 2010 showpiece in Madrid, although this proved considerably harder to bear. "Then we lost but we were not the better team," Olić added. "Tonight we had many more chances, a lot more control of the game and we were playing at home. That hurts more than two years ago."

Much was made of Chelsea's spirit in recovering from going behind late on, and Olić acknowledged the new champions' remarkable desire. "They fought hard, at 1-0 down they threw everything up front and got a goal from a corner – a pity really," he explained. "We only had two minutes left and Chelsea hadn't had any opportunities until then – then a corner and a goal. We were very unlucky today, but we have to congratulate Chelsea."

Bayern were moments away from becoming the first team to lift the UEFA Champions League in their own ground, and Boateng admitted having that snatched away was a bitter pill to swallow. "We are all very disappointed, down in the dumps. What can I say? We lost, but were clearly the better team. I just can't believe it. A dream broke down within seconds. We always had the advantage, we were leading 1-0, had a penalty and were leading in the penalty shoot-out. But that's how football can be."

mixed

Reply 39# mixed

Chelsea etch new name on trophy

Published: Saturday 19 May 2012, 23.41CET


There is new name on the UEFA Champions League trophy after Chelsea FC's victory over FC Bayern München made them the first maiden winners since Borussia Dortmund in 1997.


Chelsea celebrate at full time in Munich ©Getty Images



UEFA.com features   



There is a brand-new name on the UEFA Champions League trophy after Chelsea FC's victory against FC Bayern München made them the first maiden winners since Borussia Dortmund's triumph 15 years ago.

Chelsea are the tenth club to have won the trophy once and the 22nd overall in the pantheon of European Cup winners. In beating Bayern the Londoners became the first new winners of the trophy since the 1990s when, coincidentally, Munich provided the stage for the triumphs of Olympique de Marseille (1993) and Dortmund (1997) – albeit at the Olympiastadion, Bayern's former home.

The 1980s were a particularly fruitful decade for teams to claim their sole European Cup success with Aston Villa FC (1982), Hamburger SV (1983), FC Steaua Bucureşti (1986) and PSV Eindhoven (1988) all triumphant. FK Crvena zvezda followed suit in 1991.

Celtic FC got their hands on the trophy back in 1967 and reached the final again three years later, but lost out to Feyenoord who therefore secured their only success.