Naga Corp FC Stun Ulsan Mipo Dockyard

A few days earlier, the club side from South Korea’s second division had beaten the Cambodian national team 3-2 and they were looking to beat Naga Corp FC to complete their trip.
But in front of close to 10,000 fans, Naga Corp proved that they are worthy champions of Cambodian football when they staged a fightback to score two goals after the break for the win.
Chin Chum made the score sheet with the first goal in the 67th minute before Ernest Dipita added the winning lustre with the second goal of the afternoon six minutes to the end.
Ulsan finished top of Korea’s national league in 2007 but refused to accept promotion.

http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=601014

Hitzfeld Urges Team To Perform Against CIty Rivals

Bayern face their traditional rivals at the Allianz Arena with a place in the semi finals at stake.  1860 may be in the second division, but Hitzfeld’s side are yet to beat them in the new stadium and have failed to register a win in the last four encounters.

“It is needling us a little, so it’s time to make amends” Hitzfeld declared. With Stuttgart crashing out at home to second division opposition last night, the Bayern bosses are stressing that a similar thing cannot happen tonight.

“There is only one option- a win” said manager Uli Hoeneß.  “We don’t have the excuse that it’s just a friendly, this time it’s serious.  And there can definitely be no excuses for losing to a second division side in the Cup.  We’d be desperately disappointed with anything less than a place in the semis” he added.

“We’re favourites to make the semi-finals and take another step towards our target of the final in Berlin” commented Hitzfeld, “we’re taking the match very, very seriously.  This is a huge opportunity to win a trophy, and we don’t intend to pass it up.

“1860 have nothing to lose.  Fighting spirit can compensate for a shortage of class.  We mustn’t let them drag us down, we need to play with cold-blooded efficiency and focus on winning the game.”

Lions coach Marco Kurz on the other hand is plotting the downfall of his more illustrious city rivals.

“My lads are really up for it” he explained.  “We want to achieve the impossible; we want a place in the semis.

“We can only do it with desire, enthusiasm and passion” declared director of sport Stefan Reuter.

“We’ll run and fight like lions.”

http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=601426

Preview: Siena vs Cagliari

Relegation Battle

Following the missed opportunity of last weekend - where the Bianconeri were two goals up before being pegged back by Atalanta - the home team will be hoping to make amends as they host bottom side Cagliari.

This is a classic do-or-die situation for both teams as the end of the season is looming and every point becomes very precious in the battle to avoid the drop to Serie B.

Siena are exactly on the relegation line as they are equal points to Parma, but what makes the relegation interesting this season is that there are just 7 points from bottom club Cagliari to 14th place Empoli, and thus three points could help a team make a big jump forward.

Cagliari have done well recently, and if they looked doomed until a few weeks ago, the team can now see the light at the end of the tunnel as a win here would pull them up and help them reach the group of hopefuls who want to avoid demotion.

A defeat could spell trouble, but not necessarily kill their hopes of staying up as there are more direct clashes. However, not winning this clash might be detrimental for their morale, which will be fundamental in the last weeks of the season.

Past Encounters

The last time these two teams clashed at the Artemio Franchi stadium, the match ended in a goalless draw.

In all recent encounters of this millennium, Cagliari have never beaten their opponents away from home, whereas Siena won three times and the game ended in a draw three times too.

FORM GUIDE

Siena
Atalanta - Siena 2 - 2 24/02/2008 SERIE A
Siena - Torino 0 - 0 17/02/2008 SERIE A
Milan - Siena 1 - 0 10/02/2008 SERIE A
Siena - Roma 3 - 0 03/02/2008 SERIE A
Sampdoria - Siena 1 - 0 26/01/2008 SERIE A
Palermo - Siena 2 - 3 20/01/2008 SERIE A

Cagliari
Cagliari - Lazio 1 - 0 24/02/2008 SERIE A
Palermo - Cagliari 2 - 1 17/02/2008 SERIE A
Cagliari - Parma 1 - 1 10/02/2008 SERIE A
Juventus - Cagliari 1 - 1 03/02/2008 SERIE A
Cagliari - Napoli 2 - 1 27/01/2008 SERIE A
Reggina - Cagliari 2 - 0 20/01/2008 SERIE A

TEAM NEWS

Siena
No player is suspended or injured for the Tuscan side. However, Loria, Portanova and Frick are all one yellow card away from suspension.

Probable Formation (4-3-1-2): Manninger, Rossettini, Portanova, Loria, Rossi, Vergassola, Codrea, Galloppa, Locatelli, Frick, Maccarone

Cagliari
Shala, Ferri and Koprivec are injured, whilst Fini is suspended. Lopez, Jeda, Agostini and Foggia must be careful not to receive a yellow card in order to play the next game.

Probable Formation (4-3-2-1): Storari, Pisano, Lopez, Bianco, Agostini, Biondini, Conti, Parola, Foggia, Jeda, Larrivey

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Maccarone (Siena)
Has more competition since the arrival of Rigano. Will therefore have to do his best and score as much as he can in order to be considered as the main striker.

Foggia (Cagliari)
Has not been particularly impressive since being reintegrated back in the squad, but his help will surely be needed if Cagliari wants to win this game and hope to stay up.

PREDICTION

Cagliari have been in good form lately and this might make it more difficult for Siena who need the three points to boost their survival credentials. In the end it will be a suffered win for the home team.

Siena 2 - 1 Cagliari

http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=601141

Preview: Parma vs Udinese

Last Chance Saloon?

Parma host Udinese at the Tardini stadium in a game where coach Domenico Di Carlo could be sitting for the last time on the hosts’ bench - unless he obtains the three points.

In fact, rumour has it that unless he obtains a win, he will be given the sack by president Tommaso Ghirardi.

The Crociati are coming into this one off the back of three consecutive draws, and their last win dates back to December 16, over two months ago. However, they now have a great opportunity to grab all three points as they face an Udinese side hit badly by injuries.

The Friulani seem to have lost their early season spark and in recent weeks they have only obtained one win away to Reggina, which has slowed down their Champions League ambitions: now, the team just wants to reach the 40 points margin in order to feel safe.

However, this game is obviously more important for Parma, who will need all three points in order to steer clear from the relegation zone in which they currently lie. Luckily for them, there are many teams within a few points of their grasp, and obtaining the three points here would help them take an important step forward.

Past Encounters

The Gialloblu have bad memories of the last game played between the two sides at the Tardini stadium, where Udinese easily won 3-0.

This encounter is characterized by just a handful of draws, whereas Parma seem to have the upper hand in most clashes at home. Udinese only managed to win 4 times in these last 15 years and this could further boost the home side’s morale ahead of this clash.


FORM GUIDE

Parma
Torino - Parma      4 - 4      23/02/2008      SERIE A
Parma - Milan     0 - 0     16/02/2008     SERIE A
Cagliari - Parma     1 - 1     10/02/2008     SERIE A
Parma - Atalanta     2 - 3     03/02/2008     SERIE A
Catania - Parma     0 - 0     27/01/2008     SERIE A
Inter Milan - Parma     3 - 2     20/01/2008     SERIE A

Udinese
Udinese - Genoa      3 - 5      24/02/2008      SERIE A
Reggina - Udinese     1 - 3     17/02/2008     SERIE A
Udinese - Juventus     1 - 2     10/02/2008     SERIE A
Napoli - Udinese     3 - 1     02/02/2008     SERIE A
Catania - Udinese     2 - 1     30/01/2008     COPPA ITALIA
Udinese - Inter Milan     0 - 0     27/01/2008     SERIE A


TEAM NEWS

Parma
Morfeo is the only injured player, whereas Gasbarroni is suspended. Zenoni, Reginaldo, Falcone and Coly could all be banned for the next encounter if they receive a yellow card.

Probable Formation (4-4-2): Bucci, Zenoni, Falcone, Couto, Castellini, Dessena, Morrone, Cigarini, Pisanu, Corradi, Budan

Udinese
Many injuries for the Friulani as De Martino, Asamoah, Obodo, Mesto, Zapata and Isla are all out. On the other hand no player is suspended, but Dossena and Lukovic are one yellow card away from suspension.

Probable Formation (3-4-3): Handanovic, Ferronetti, Felipe, Lukovic, Colombo, D’Agostino, Inler, Dossena, Pepe, Quagliarella, Di Natale

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Corradi (Parma)
His goals are desperately need for the Crociati in order to climb up the standings away from the bottom positions. Not a particularly brilliant season so far, but he could be decisive in these last few months.

Di Natale (Udinese)
Even during his side’s defeat last weekend, he was Udinese’s best player on the field as he scored and created a lot of spaces for his team. Very consistent this year and will need to continue this trend against Parma.

PREDICTION

Udinese seem to have too many injuries to really be able to cope with them for this clash. Parma also have a lot of reasons and motivations to win this game and in the end it should go their way.

Parma 2 - 0 Udinese

http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=601138

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