Friday, April 03, 2026

Football News & Opinions

Villareal lose 4th spot & Marcos Senna, Barca win but fail to shake off Madrid

Details: Created: Wednesday, 15 April 2009 19:35; Written by Benjamin Cullen

A last gasp goal in a five-goal thriller in Gijon, Northern Spain, sent a side who three weeks ago looked deadmen walking - soaring back into fourth place and Champions league contention. A win which could prove to be debt ridden Valencia's salvation.

A magnificent run and finish from Silva put Valencia ahead early on against Sporting, but then a penalty kick from Barral levelled matters soon after. Eventual match winner Mata then won his side a penalty which David Villa tucked away to put Valencia ahead again in the 56^th minute, only for Bilic to head Sporting level again just a quarter of an hour later. Time was ticking away and Valencia's big chance looked to be lost but with two minutes remaining Silva found Mata in the box to smash home an absolutely crucial winner.

Benfica lose again as Porto reach for the title

Details: Created: Tuesday, 14 April 2009 10:10; Written by Ian Shine

Benfica kissed the embers of their title hopes goodbye as they lost 1-0 at home to mid-table Académica.

The Eagles have now gone four games without scoring from open play, a fact which marks a harsh contrast to their big name rivals.

Porto and Sporting easily put three past their opponents this week and haven’t failed to score since their goalless draw at the end of February.

Rombling: Cigars, Centre Circles & Sex Tapes

Details: Created: Monday, 13 April 2009 14:45; Written by The Rome

In my opinion, one of the most overrated players in the Premiership is Richard Dunne. The guy is the master of the schoolboy error and is practically guaranteed to provide the opposition with one golden opportunity over the course of 90 minutes. His rather vacant eyes display the intelligence levels that lead him to repeatedly make rash decisions and if his simple, pudgy countenance was topped off with a scraggly bowl-cut then he would make the perfect village idiot for that long awaited Willow sequel.

He has the most Premier League own goals (tied with Jamie Carragher on 6) and the most Premiership red cards, clocking in with 9. Dunne’s most famous red was when he hauled down Tuncay in last season’s encounter at the Riverside. In a tribute to the hapless Irish centre-back, the City team that day all tried to emulate his skill level and as a consequence, Boro stuffed them 8-1.

Hillsborough: Twenty years on but still no closure

Details: Created: Monday, 13 April 2009 12:59; Written by Darren Douglas

There have been a lot of stories in the last few weeks and days about the impending 20th anniversary of the Hillsborough Disaster, which occurs this coming Wednesday. Clearly it was and still is a real tragedy that is rarely seen in the usually safe world of sport. Yet one of the saddest aspects about it is that almost twenty years on there remains a need for a campaign for justice.