Arsenal draws at Wigan, Chelsea edges Bolton 1-0

LONDON (AP): Arsenal drew 2-2 at 10-man Wigan to miss the chance to draw level with joint Premier League leaders Manchester United and Manchester City, while Chelsea ended a run of six matches without a win by grinding out a 1-0 victory against Bolton on Wednesday.

France defender Sebastien Squillaci scored an own goal in the 81st minute to deny Arsenal all three points at DW Stadium. Ben Watson had put Wigan ahead from the penalty spot before the Gunners rallied through goals by Russia captain Andrey Arshavin and Denmark striker Nicklas Bendtner.

Florent Malouda scored Chelsea's winner in the 61st minute to lift his team above Tottenham into fourth place. The reigning champions are two points below Arsenal, which is another two off the pace.

In the other match, fallen giant Liverpool slumped to an embarrassing 1-0 home defeat to lowly Wolverhampton, which moved off the bottom of the standings. West Ham goes into 2011 as the division's last-place side.

Arsenal failed to back up its 3-1 win at home to Chelsea on Monday, lacking its usual fluency after manager Arsene Wenger made eight changes to his starting lineup.

Wenger will be upset that his team conceded the equalizer when it had a man extra, Wigan midfielder Charles N'Zogbia having been sent off for pushing his head into substitute Jack Wilshere's face after an exchange of words.

N'Zogbia was brought down by Laurent Koscielny's trailing leg just inside the box, allowing Watson to convert from 12 yards (metres) to put Wigan - which is now fifth from bottom and a point above the relegation zone - ahead in the 18th.

Arshavin brought Arsenal level in the 39th with a lovely scissor-kick that flew past the Wigan goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi and the winger then set up Bendtner, who brushed off a couple of weak challenges before driving his shot home in the 44th.

Squillaci, however, headed into his own net in the 81st as he tried to thwart Gary Caldwell to leave Arsenal still trailing the two Manchester clubs. Chelsea was booed off the pitch after a vapid first-half performance at Stamford Bridge but improved after the break, with Malouda tapping home from close range to score his eighth of the campaign.

The Blues' last victory had come on Nov. 10, since when they have blown a five-point lead as their confidence disappeared and their squad was hit by injuries to key players. But manager Carlo Ancelotti hopes the win will give his team more belief after its worst run in the league in 11 years.

"It was important to win and change the atmosphere, change the trend," Ancelotti said. "It was a very important step ... The league is open for us again. We are not in the best condition, confidence or atmosphere. We have to improve."

Chelsea couldn't even muster a shot on target in a dire first half but Drogba hit the post in the 50th before providing the assist for Malouda's winner. Liverpool's below-par season has seen it slip to a number of embarrassing defeats - notably at home to fourth-tier Northampton in the League Cup and promoted Blackpool in the league - and the loss to Wolves was a new low for under-pressure manager Roy Hodgson.

Wolves, which was bottom of the table when the game kicked off and was without an away league win all season, took the three points after striker Stephen Ward flicked the ball past Pepe Reina in the 56th. Even fit-again England midfielder Steven Gerrard, back after six weeks out injured, could not rescue the 18-time champions, who are 12th heading into the new year.
  

Leonardo introduced as new Inter Milan coach

MILAN (AP): Newly appointed Inter Milan coach Leonardo consulted Jose Mourinho, who won an unprecedented treble for the Italian team last season, after having agreed to replace Rafa Benitez at the struggling Serie A club.

Leonardo was introduced by Inter president Massimo Moratti on Wednesday, revealing he called Mourinho to discuss the club that the Portuguese coach led to Serie A, Italian Cup and Champions League titles - the first such treble for an Italian team.

"I'm not Mourinho, though. I've only coached one season," said Leonardo, who led Milan last season and spent much of his playing career at that club. Mourinho departed for Real Madrid at the end of last season and Inter hired Benitez from Liverpool.

While Benitez led Inter to the Club World Cup title last week, Inter has struggled in Serie A, languishing 13 points behind leader and city rival AC Milan in seventh place. Benitez had a falling out with Moratti, who stood by Leonardo during his presentation.

"Leonardo demanded that I be here today," Moratti said. "It's the first time someone has asked me and it's very pleasing. ... Our relationship was born of reciprocal respect." Leonardo returned the praise.

"It didn't take long for me to accept president Moratti's proposal," Leonardo said. "But I never really thought it would happen. ... Being a coach is a very delicate job and when I stopped coaching Milan I reflected a lot, but the opportunity that was offered me by Inter made me realize that this is what I really wanted to do."

Leonardo's only head coaching experience came last season when he led Milan, but the term ended abruptly when the 41-year-old Brazilian clashed with club owner and Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi. Leonardo said he will never forget what he accomplished with Milan, but understands if fans of the club consider him a traitor.

"I respect the views of others, so if they think I'm a traitor, I realize that it's a view born of emotions," Leonardo said. "And it's OK if my former players have trouble forming an opinion of me."

Leonardo added that he had no plans to "revolutionize" Inter, meaning he'll likely use the same players as Benitez. However, Inter does intend to make some moves in the transfer market, and has reportedly already concluded a deal for Genoa defender Andrea Ranocchia.
  

Celtic beats Motherwell 1-0 to go top

GLASGOW, Scotland (AP): Celtic beat Motherwell 1-0 thanks to Paddy McCourt's superb individual goal to go provisionally top of the Scottish Premier League, above fierce Glasgow rival Rangers.

The winger received a short corner, dribbled round a defender and fired home into the bottom corner to put Celtic a point clear of Rangers, which has played two games less.

Celtic survived the final five minutes with 10 men after Scott Brown was sent off for a second bookable offense. Hearts beat St. Mirren 2-0 to consolidate third spot, five points behind Rangers but also having played two more matches.

At the other end of the table, Scott Vernon scored an own goal in second-half injury time to gift Aberdeen a 1-0 win at Hamilton to move six points clear of the bottom-place club.
  

Malaysia put up strong show to lift AFF title for the first time

MALAYSIA dished out yet another strong performance and were crowned champions of the Asean Football Federation (AFF) championship at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta last night.

They were beaten 1-2 by Indonesia in the second-leg final match but a 3-0 victory in the first-leg encounter at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil on Wednesday proved to be enough for them, claiming the Suzuki Cup 4-2 on aggregate.

It was the first time Malaysia won the AFF championship title since the biennial tournament was introduced in 1996.

Malaysia played against a desperate Indonesia last night in front of 95,000 spectators.

And they made it more difficult for Indonesia to save the tie with a specatacular goal by Mohd Safee Sali in the 53rd minute. Safee, who scored a brace in the first leg, took his tally five goals and won the Golden Boot.

Muhammad Nasuha equalised in the 71st minute and Malaysian centreback Mohd Muslim Ahmad nodded in an own goal to give Indonesia victory on the night.

The young Malaysian side kept their composure and showed great determination to emerge as the champions.

Indonesia were without their inspirational flanker Okto Maniani, who was out on suspension, while striker Yongky Ari Bowo was not in the starting list due to injury.

Their replacements were Arif Suyono and Irfan Bachdim.

As expected, Indonesia, who had beaten Malaysia 5-1 in the opening Group A match at the same venue, came charging from the first whistle. But the Malaysian defence, marshalled by Mohd Muslim Ahmad and Mohd Fadhli Shas, did well to keep a tight leash on the two Indonesian dangermen Christian Gonzales and Irfan Bachdim.

Indonesia won a penalty when Mohd Sabree Abu handled the ball in the 15th minute. But much to their disappointment, skipper Firman Utina’s tame shot was easily saved goalkeeper Khairul Fahmi Che Mat.

The Indonesians, desperate for an early goal, kept on pressing but Khairul stood out, warding off at least five attempts from them before the teams went for the break.

Malaysia looked dangerous on the counter attack. Against the run of play Mohd Ashaari Shamsuddin sent a long through ball for Safee to chase and the Selangor hitman finished off clinically put Malaysia in front in the 54th minute.

Indonesia now needed five goals to beat Malaysia and they had to take desperate measures and introduced their aging star, Bambang Pamungkas, for Irfan Bachdim at the hour mark.

Despite a goal down, Indonesia never gave up and their persistence paid off when defender Mohd Nasuha hit home the rebound off a save by goalkeeper Khairul in the 72nd minute.

Then with the clock ticking away, Mohd Muslim handed them a goal off a goalmouth melee in the 87th minute.

Fairy-tale ending for Malaysia

THEY came in as outsiders and went out with a fairy-tale ending.

Nobody gave Malaysia a chance to get past the group stage of the Asean Football Federation (AFF) championship, especially with a young and inexperience side.

Coach K. Rajagopal was a proud man after his boys were crowned as champions for the first time in the biennial tournament, which was introduced since 1996.

“This is a great achievement for a team made up of international senior rookies,” said Rajagopal, whose side were involved in a one-month battle in the championship.

He said that many wrote them off after the humiliating defeat by Indonesia (1-5) in the opening group match in Jakarta on Dec 1.

And few had faith in the young side’s ability to bounce back and surprise the more established and fancied sides like Vietnam and Thailand.

But Malaysia held three-time winners Thailand to a goalless draw in their second group match.

And then, they knocked out defending champions Vietnam 2-0 on aggregate in the semi-finals.

In their other group match, they thrashed Laos 5-1.

Last night, they beat favourites Indonesia 4-2 on aggregate to win the Suzuki Cup.

Rajagopal said that his boys held on well in the first half and were fortunate that Indonesian skipper Firman Utina failed to convert a penalty to give his side an early goal in the 15th minute.

“Of course, if he had scored the goal, it would have spurred his side to come for more,” said Rajagopal at the post-match conference.

Indonesian coach Alfred Riedl said that they were the better team but Malaysia won the title.

“It was unlucky ... we missed so many sitters,” said the Austrian.

Malaysain skipper Safiq Rahim said that it was like going to war.

“We came in armoured vehicles. It was a different atmosphere altogether but we prevailed and did not succumb to pressure like we did in the opening game,” he said.

“We should have won but they were pounding at us and we just could not hold on.”

Malaysia set sight on 2015 Asia Cup Finals

MALAYSIA have set sight on bigger goals – to qualify for the Finals of the Asia Cup tournament.

After having made heads turn in regional competitions with back-to-back victories in the SEA Games (Under-23) and Asean Football Federation (AFF) championship (senior international), they want to scale bigger heights.

Team manager Datuk Subahan Kamal said that the next target for Malaysia would be to qualify for the 2015 Asia Cup Finals.

“I feel that it is time for us to raise the bar to the Asian level,” he said.

Malaysian football has been on the rise since their Under-23 side under the charge of coach K. Rajagopal won the SEA Games gold medal in Laos last December.

It was the first time in 20 years that the team emerged as the champions in the biennial regional Games.

Last night, Malaysia won the AFF championship title for the first time since the biennial tournament was introduced in 1996.

Malaysia, featuring in only their second final since finishing as runners-up to Thailand in the inaugural tournament in Singapore 14 years ago, defeated Indonesia 4-2 on aggregate to lift the Suzuki Cup.

Subahan said that Malaysia would not rest on their laurel and would work hard to achieve their next goal in the Asia Cup after failing to get past the group stage early this year, losing to the United Arab Emirates (0-6 on aggregate) and Uzbekistan (2-6).

“We have to prepare this team by giving them more exposure and competitive matches,” said Subahan, who is also a vice-president of the FA of Malaysia (FAM).

“It is not sufficient for the players to feature for their respective teams at home. This group of players have to be kept together for maturity before the 2015 Asian Cup.”

Rajagopal has worked wth a young set of players with an average of 22 years in the present national team.

Centreback Mohd Fadhli Shas is 19 while goalkeeper Khairul Fahmi Che Mat, defenders Mohd Muslim Ahmad, Mahali Jasuli andMohd Faizal Mohd, midfielder K. Gurusamy and striker Izzaq Faris Ramlan are all 21-years-old.

Subahan said that continuity was also important for Malaysia to make waves at the next SEA Games and AFF tournament.

“We don’t want this to be a one off thing. We have to set a benchmark and will have to work on raising the bar for the players all the time. Nobody gave these boys a chance but we in the FAM worked hard for this success,” he said.

“Hopefully, our national team ranking improves and this will give us better recognition among the Asian giants to come and play with us. Nobody wants to play with a low ranked team. That is why we can’t get matches for our boys.

“Perhaps, this would make the others take notice and they should be looking at us on a different perspective from now.”

Malaysia last played in the Asia Cup Finals in 2007 by virtue of being one of the four South-East Asian hosts for the group stage of the tournament together with Vietnam, Indonesia and Thailand. Only Vietnam made it to the quarter-finals.

For the record, Malaysia’s big moments in football were when they won the bronze at the Asian Games in 1962 (Jakarta) and 1974 (Teheran).

Malaysia played in the 1972 Munich Olympics and also qualified for the 1980 edition but did not compete as the country joined a boycott of the Moscow Games.

Sevilla’s Sanchez cleared to play

SEVILLE: Sevilla say a doctor has cleared defender Sergio Sanchez to play again after a heart condition sidelined him nearly a year ago.

The 24-year-old Sanchez was diagnosed with the condition in January, requiring him to stop all physical activity. He then underwent an operation.

The club said on Tuesday that a doctor cleared Sanchez after a recent series of tests. Sanchez will resume training but the doctor wants him to be checked again at the end of the season.

Sanchez says his first reaction at the news was to “cry and hug my family.”

Sanchez was among a string of similar Spanish football cases following the deaths of Sevilla’s Antonio Puerta and Espanyol’s Daniel Jarque from heart-related problems. 
   

Maradona’s siblings escape unhurt

BUENOS AIRES: A brother of Diego Maradona says he and two other siblings escaped without injury in a robbery attempt while travelling in a car after visiting their mother in a Buenos Aires hospital.

Raul “Lalo” Maradona says he and two sisters were briefly taken hostage late on Monday after their car was intercepted in northern Buenos Aires.

Raul Maradona told reporters on Tuesday he managed to escape and alert police.

His sisters were released just moments later.

Police confirmed the incident, but did not offer further details.

Raul Maradona said the three were forced to hand over unspecified personal belongings.

He said the thieves did not appear to know the three were siblings of the famous football icon and former Argentina national team coach.

Malaga sign two Atletico players

MADRID: Spanish First Division strugglers Malaga signed two players from rivals Atletico Madrid on Tuesday highly-rated Spanish Under-21 international defensive midfielder Ignacio Camacho and goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo.

Camacho, 20, signed a four year contract while Asenjo has gone on loan till the end of the season.

“Atletico Madrid and Malaga have agreed in principle for the sale of Ignacio Camacho and the loan till the end of the season of Sergio Asenjo,” Atletico announced on its website.

According to Spanish press reports Camacho has an option written into his contract that he can leave Malaga after two seasons.

Asenjo, 21 and a member of the Spain side that won the 2007 European Under-19 title, joined Atletico last year on a four year contract for €5.5mil from Real Valladolid but has recently lost his place in the team to David de Gea.

Much-travelled Bellion joins former club Nice

NICE (France): Much-travelled French striker David Bellion (pic) returned to one of his former clubs Nice on loan for the rest of the season on Tuesday from French rivals Bordeaux.

The 28-year-old – who previously played for Nice from 2006-07 before moving to Bordeaux – was an integral component of the Bordeaux team that won the 2009 title under present France coach Laurent Blanc.

However, the former Sunderland, Manchester United and West Ham forward has failed to find favour with Blanc’s replacement as coach Jean Tigana and he has seen action just twice this term – both times as a substitute.

Bellion, who is under contract with Bordeaux till 2014, scored 12 times in 45 appearances for Nice in his previous spell and should boost an attack that has scored only 14 goals in 19 matches this term.

They are also hovering over the relegation zone, five points ahead of third from bottom Caen.

Bellion’s arrival coincides with the departure of Benin international striker Mickael Pote, the 26-year-old having been loaned to promotion-chasing Second Division outfit Le Mans.
  

Hat-trick hero Balotelli not going anywhere, says Mancini

MANCHESTER: Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has insisted Mario Balotelli’s long-term future is at Eastlands as the striker himself denied rumours of a move back to Italy with AC Milan.

Balotelli, 20, scored a hat-trick as City overcame Aston Villa 4-0 on Tuesday to maintain their bid for the Premier League title.

The Italian striker has rarely been out of the headlines since arriving from European champions Inter Milan in a £24mil (US$37mil) pre-season move.

Balotelli has been involved in several on-field spats but Mancini is adamant his compatriot’s miserable on-pitch demeanour is just an act and that he is satisfied with life in England.

“After the first goal he celebrated, which is a step forward,” Mancini joked after Tuesday’s comprehensive home victory. “He celebrated after the first goal but it’s more important that he scored goals.

“Every player has his behaviour but I think he’s happy. Mario is a good guy but I think that today he was happy because the supporters supported him throughout the game.

“He’s a different guy outside the pitch but he likes to give this hard, ‘don’t like to play’ image.”

Mancini added: “I think maybe he could be homesick because he’s 20 and it’s his first time away from his family and it’s normal to miss your family.

“I don’t think it’s a long-term problem.”

Balotelli, who has now scored eight times in 11 games for City, said he could not understand all the fuss about his lack of goal celebrations.

“I am always happy, even when I don’t smile,” he told 
www.mcfc.co.uk.

“But I feel a striker has to score. It is my job. That is why I don’t smile. I am still happy and I can score more.”

And he too dismissed talk of a return to Italy by saying: “I am very happy even if the journalists in Italy say I want to go to Milan.

“I am here and I am working hard in training. I want to be an important man for this team and the results are on the pitch.”

Mancini confirmed star striker Carlos Tevez was left on the bench against Villa with a minor hamstring problem but will be fit to return against Blackpool on Saturday.

“Carlos will be OK. He had a little problem with his muscle and he went on the bench. We didn’t take any risk with him.”

Mancini believes City, last crowned champions of England in 1968, are showing they have the quality and depth to mount a sustained title challenge.

“In 2011 I hope we can improve like a team who can play football well always and stay always on the top but the most important thing is to improve again.”

Former Liverpool player Cohen dies after bike crash

JERUSALEM: Avi Cohen, Israel’s best-known player in the late 1970s and early 80s and a league title winner with Liverpool, died on Tuesday from head injuries suffered in a traffic accident, his son Tamir Cohen said.

Cohen, who was 54, was thrown from his motorcycle after a collision with a car in Tel Aviv on Dec 20.

Doctors declared Cohen brain dead on Tuesday, Tamir told reporters gathered outside Tel Aviv’s Ichilov hospital where the former star had been treated.

“To our great sadness, a health ministry committee was in the hospital today and confirmed that our father is indeed brain dead. Which is to say, he has died,” a tearful Tamir Cohen announced.

Tamir, who plays for Bolton Wanderers in England, had flown from Britain to be at his father’s side.

Cohen’s 18-year playing career began in 1974 with Maccabi Tel Aviv.

He went on to make 64 appearances for Israel, 33 as captain.

He made 24 appearances for Liverpool, scoring one goal in the match against Aston Villa that secured Liverpool the 1979-80 league title.

He also scored an own goal in the match. 

Capello wants Qatar World Cup held in January

DUBAI: England manager Fabio Capello has backed calls to play the 2022 World Cup during the winter, fearing that Qatar’s ferocious heat could force players to spend weeks couped up in hotels if the tournament is held in summer.

Capello said that building air conditioned stadiums for the event would not be enough.

“It will not be easy for the players to stay all day in the hotel, you can’t run around the hotel,” he told reporters at an event in Dubai on Tuesday.

“It’s a big problem, not only for the training, you have to spend the time, all the day in the hotel, you can’t go around to relax, to do something different.

“When you stay together for long time you need to relax to do something different, not only training or playing,” he added.

“That’s why I think it would be a good idea to play in January or February.”

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has said he would not object to a January-February World Cup and UEFA president Michel Platini is also sympathetic to the idea.

On Tuesday, Asian Soccer Federation president Mohammed Hamman, a Qatari, reiterated his country’s view that June and July would not be a problem.

“I believe our country has submitted a bid where they would like to organise and host the World Cup in June/July and they have actually presented also the solution for the heat challenges,” he said.

“So our country actually is ready and willing to host a very comfortable World Cup in the summer season.”

But he declined to write off the winter alternative.

“The month of January is a sort of dead season, most of the leagues in Europe are suspended, they are not playing during that time,” he said.

“It’s not going to affect practically, the leagues or the clubs if they played the World Cup in January.”

However, Barcelona president Sandro Rosell said a January/February tournament would disrupt the Spanish season which does not have a winter break.

“I have to stand up for the Spanish league. The World Cup has to be in June, July,” he said.

“I don’t like to break the Spanish league because it’s one of the leagues in Europe that continues in January.” 

Man City offer US$46mil for Dzeko

BERLIN: Manchester City have offered €35mil (US$45.9mil) for Wolfsburg’s Bosnian striker Edin Dzeko (pic), Germany’s Bild daily reported yesterday.

In what Bild said would be a record price for a Bundesliga player, the English club would pay the Germans €30mil for the 24-year-old plus €5mil more if City reach the Champions League.

The transfer could be finalised in time for City’s crunch away clash at Arsenal on Jan 5, Bild added, without identifying a source.

The paper cited Wolfsburg’s general manager Dieter Hoeness as declining to comment on what he called “speculation“.

Wolfsburg are currently 13th in the table, having gone seven Bundesliga games without a win, putting their coach – former England manager Steve McClaren – under severe pressure.

Roberto Mancini’s City, by contrast, are riding high, level on points with Manchester United at the top of the Premier League, although they are behind on goal difference and Alex Ferguson’s side have two games in hand.

Earlier this month, Dzeko, who is Wolfsburg’s captain, refused to shake McClaren’s hand when he was substituted after missing a crucial penalty in the 77th minute of a goalless draw with Werder Bremen.

Other top-rank European clubs have also been linked with the striker, including Italian giants AC Milan and Juventus as well as under-performing Bundesliga heavyweights Bayern Munich. 

Ferguson issues title warning despite shock draw

BIRMINGHAM: Alex Ferguson did his best to dispel any doubts about Man-chester United’s challenge for the Premier League title by insisting his side were on course for glory despite dropping points in a 1-1 draw away to Birmingham.

United, still unbeaten in the league this season, were set for victory after Dimitar Berbatov’s sublime goal gave them the lead just before the hour mark at St Andrew’s here on Tuesday.

But Lee Bowyer’s controversial 89th minute equaliser denied United the full three points and left them top on goal difference alone from Manchester City, although Ferguson’s men do have two games in hand over their local rivals.

Ferguson is desperate to regain the title from stuttering champions Chelsea and he will enter the New Year with United in the place which he feels sends out danger signals to all those jostling for position behind the Red Devils.

“I think we’ve a chance with the title,” United manager Ferguson said ahead of his side’s return to the Midlands to play West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.

“At this moment in time there are five or six teams who are all contesting that area.

“I always say if you get to New Year in first position, Manchester United have a big chance then.”

Ferguson made clear his displeasure with referee Lee Mason for costing United a two-point cushion for failing to spot a handball by Birmingham substitute Nikola Zigic in the build up to Bowyer’s leveller.

“It was handball and a foul,” he said. “He went straight through the centre half. If the referee can’t see that what chance have you got?” said Ferguson.

“You would expect in a game of this importance they (the officials) would see that. If they can’t what hope have you got?

“I have no complaints with my team. They fought hard and worked hard after only two days’ rest.”