Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Spartak Moskva 1 - 2 NEC
NEC Nijmegen kept their UEFA Cup hopes alive in dramatic fashion by scoring twice in the final six minutes to move into third place and leave Group D wide open.
Late drama
The Eredivisie outfit seemed to be on their way out of the competition after a second-minute header from Serghei Covalciuc put FC Spartak Moskva ahead in the Russian capital. With NK Dinamo Zagreb also losing to Udinese Calcio, Spartak looked all set to qualify for the Round of 32 until half-time substitute Jhon van Beukering levelled with just six minutes to go and Lasse Schöne completed the turnaround three minutes later.
Perfect start
It all started so well for Spartak, however, with Nikita Bazhenov's cross leaving Covalciuc with the simple task of heading in from close range. Bazhenov then tried his luck from distance in an attempt to double the hosts' lead, first forcing a save from NEC goalkeeper Gábor Babos and then sending an effort wide.
Babos save
At the other end, Schöne, Joël Tshibamba and Mostapha El Kabir all fired wide from inside the penalty area, chances which NEC were almost made to pay for missing as Babos turned Ivan Saenko's 20-metre effort round the post. Van Beukering replaced Tshibamba at the break and immediately signalled his intentions by drawing a save from Spartak goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa.
NEC chances
Opportunities were being created at both ends and Bazhenov thought he had made it 2-0, only for Babos to turn his strike away for a corner. Despite the lack of a second goal it seemed Spartak would take the points, especially when El Kabir and Youssef El-Akchaoui passed up opportunities for the visitors.
Schöne winner
Babos was continuing to excel, meanwhile, denying Aleksandr Prudnikov and then Roman Shishkin, saves which were to prove decisive as NEC turned the game around late on. First substitute Collins John set up Van Beukering to nod in and, with time ticking away, Schöne fired a left-footed shot low past Pletikosa.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Armstrong decides on 2009 Tour return
Seven-time champion Lance Armstrong will ride in the 2009 Tour de France having announced in September that he was ending his three-year retirement from cycling.American Armstrong had already said he would compete in the Giro d'Italia for the first time but had voiced safety concerns ahead of a possible Tour return.
"I'm committed to riding for the best guy," Armstrong said Monday, acknowledging the taxing schedule could leave him riding in a supporting role in France.
Armstrong is scheduled to race the 100th anniversary edition of the Giro from May 9-31 while the Tour de France starts on July 4.
"If you've been away for three or four years, it would be silly for anybody to think I could pick up where I left off," Armstrong told The Associated Press in a telephone interview from Tenerife in the Canary Islands where Astana are training.
"I can tell you I feel better than ever, I feel stronger than ever on December 1. How that translates to racing, we'll have to see. Mentally, in terms of motivation, this feels like 1998-1999 to me."
Armstrong's decision to ride gives the powerhouse Astana team a superstar lineup in France, including 2007 Tour winner Alberto Contador.
He missed last year's race because Astana was barred from riding for previous doping violations. Also riding with Astana is Germany's Andreas Kloeden, American veteran Levi Leipheimer and top support rider Yaroslav Popovych.
"We'll abide by the same code that I do: cycling is team sport, while we'd all like to win," said Armstrong.
The 37-year-old stunned the cycling world in September, when he announced he was ending his three-year retirement. He said then his goal was to race in the Tour but stopped short of a guarantee.
Reached by telephone, French anti-doping agency chief Pierre Bordry would not comment on Armstrong's decision but did say "he will treated like everyone else" when it comes to drug testing.
In recent interviews, Armstrong revealed worries about his personal safety while riding in the open roads of France and through the throngs of fans that pack the route.
The Tour has its own police force to guard each stage and ensure safety, and French police paid particular attention to Armstrong's safety when he was riding. In recent years, organizers have taken additional steps to protect riders.
Armstrong dismissed any potential threats Monday: "It's not going to keep me from going and doing my job, and it's not going to keep me from spreading my message."
He has dedicated his comeback to raising awareness for the Lance Armstrong Foundation and his global fight against cancer.
"I'm happy with the record (seven wins). I'm training hard and trying to be as competitive as possible," he said. "The main objective is the message of the foundation. That's the first priority and if we ride moderately well, it helps get the message out."
He's scheduled to return to elite racing January 20 for the Tour Down Under in Australia. That's also when the drug-testing program he's arranging with Don Catlin, America's top anti-doping expert, will be in place.
But no race provides a stage similar to the Tour.
"The Tour is the biggest bike race in the world; we need it to tell this story on the biggest stage," Armstrong said. "There's a mutual respect there, it hasn't always been mutual love. We need them, they need us."
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