The first 90 minutes at the Mestalla had ended goalless, with Madrid on top in the opening period and Barca better after the break.

But despite the Catalans’ superior possession in extra-time, Mourinho’s men looked dangerous on the break and after Ronaldo had angled a low shot just wide, the Portuguese beat Jose Manuel Pinto with a brilliant header following Angel di Maria’s pinpoint cross.

Pinto started in goal instead of Victor Valdes, as he had done all the way through the competition.

Meanwhile, Barca captain Carles Puyol was deemed unfit to start following his injury in Saturday night’s 1-1 draw at Madrid in the Primera Division, so Javier Mascherano slotted in alongside Gerard Pique in the centre of defence.

Mourinho restored Mesut Ozil to his side after the Germany playmaker began Saturday’s draw on the bench.

In this, the second of four Clasico meetings, with a two-legged semi-final to come in the Champions League starting next week, the Portuguese kept faith with Pepe in a three-man midfield shield alongside Sami Khedira and Xabi Alonso.

And it worked early on as Madrid pushed back Barcelona, appearing to surprise the Catalans with their dynamic start to the game.

Ronaldo, playing up front as Mourinho opted to leave three strikers – Gonzalo Higuain, Karim Benzema and Emmanuel Adebayor – on the bench, came close to giving his side the lead after 12 minutes when he beat Pinto from close range but saw Mascherano hack the ball off the line.

Madrid full-back Alvaro Arbeloa was lucky to get away with a clear stamp on David Villa later in the half as things began to turn ugly.

The defender escaped without a caution, but both Pepe and Pedro found their way into the referee’s book before the interval as the two teams continued to compete close to the edge.

But in football terms, Madrid had the edge.

Pinto saved well from Ronaldo 10 minutes before the interval, but the stand-in keeper was badly-positioned just before the break and was lucky to see Pepe’s header rebound off the post.

But Barca began the second half on the front foot, stepping up a gear following a disappointing opening 45 minutes.

Pedro fired just wide, Lionel Messi blasted over the bar and the Argentina forward was almost set up by Dani Alves as the Catalans found their rhythm.

And they thought they had gone ahead after 68 minutes when Villa, who had not scored for 10 games, latched onto a Messi through-ball after the Argentinian had brilliantly beaten three Madrid players, and slotted a low shot past Iker Casillas, but the assistant’s flag was up and the Spain striker’s effort was correctly ruled out.

Nevertheless, Barca were dominant now and that looked ominous for Madrid.

Casillas made two fine saves within a minute to deny Messi and then Pedro, while the Argentinian was stopped in his tracks as he looked to waltz through the Madrid defence.

But Madrid weathered the storm and the score remained goalless after 90 minutes.

The first period of extra-time was dominated by Barca, but the best chance fell to Ronaldo, who raced clear down the right flank and charged into the area, only to drive a low angled shot just wide of the target.

But the Catalans failed to heed the warning and five minutes later, they were behind.

Marcelo played a one-two with Di Maria, who then sent a deep, inviting cross into the area searching for Ronaldo, who rose majestically to power home a header at the far post.

Ronaldo should have wrapped it up two minutes before the end, but selfishly kept the ball in the area and his shot was eventually blocked.

But Madrid held on to seal a famous win and end a spell of almost three years without a trophy.

The only sour note for Mourinho’s men was Di Maria’s late dismissal after

picking up a second yellow card for a foul on Messi.

Source + Pic: football365.com

“It is difficult for anyone on the pitch to concentrate,” the Portugal star told a press conference.

“A lot of players don’t like them, but they are going to have to get used to them.”

The metre-long plastic vuvuzelas have been a hit with fans at the World Cup stadiums in South Africa, but the noise of thousands being blown at once resembles a high-volume swarm of buzzing bees.

“Teams have done nothing but criticise the vuvuzelas, but you have to respect them,” Real Madrid midfielder Ronaldo said.

“Hardly anyone likes them, but the people who do like them are those who like to blow the instruments and make a racket.”

As well as the vuvuzelas, Ronaldo said he was getting used to the much-criticised World Cup match ball.

“I’m more used to it than I was two weeks ago. I don’t think it will be a problem,” he said.

“We’ve trained enough with it to get accustomed to it and I’m sure the dribbles, the shots and the corners with it will all be fine.”

Portugal start their Group G matches against the Ivory Coast on Tuesday.

Source + Pic: sport24.co.za

Fernando Torres, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Didier Drogba and Cristiano Ronaldo were all in action on Saturday, but none have come anywhere close to the 12 goals scored by Osea Vakatalesau of Fiji.

Vakatalesau has not even featured in a qualifying match since Fiji’s 2-0 win over Oceania section winners New Zealand in November 2008, but he is not the only confederation top scorer who won’t be appearing in South Africa next summer.

Thailand’s Sarayoot Chaikamdee and Uzbekistan’s Maksim Shatskikh were the deadliest marksmen in the Asian zone with eight goals apiece, but both countries failed to qualify.

Uzkebistan finished bottom of Group One behind Australia, Japan, Bahrain and Qatar in the final round of the Asian campaign, with former Dynamo Kiev player Shatskikh’s last involvement coming in the 4-0 win over Qatar back in March.

Sarayoot, meanwhile, has not played since Thailand’s 3-0 home defeat to Japan in the third round of qualifying in June last year.

Both players were able to fill their boots in the early stages of the qualifying procedure, with Thailand’s 13-2 aggregate victory over Macau and the Uzbeks’ 11-0 demolition of Taiwan going a long way towards explaining how Sarayoot and Shatskikh came to occupy their lofty positions.

Moumoui Dagano of Burkina Faso is the top scorer in Africa with 10 goals, but the 28-year-old’s hopes of participating in next summer’s South African showpiece were dealt a heavy blow when his side were drawn in the same group as all-conquering Ivory Coast.

Luton Shelton of Jamaica and El Salvador’s Rudis Corrales top the scoring charts in the Concacaf region, but they, too, will not make the finals; Jamaica having fallen by the wayside in the penultimate qualifying round and El Salvador seven points off the play-off spot in the current standings.

Things take on a more familiar feel in South America and Europe, where Brazil’s Luis Fabiano and England’s Wayne Rooney are the sharpest shooters.

Rooney, who has eight goals, is being pushed hard by Spain’s David Villa while Uruguay’s Atletico Madrid striker Diego Forlan is one of nine-goal Luis Fabiano’s nearest rivals.

Elsewhere, though, it is world football’s lesser lights that have seized their moment to shine and in the top scorer’s tables at least, it really is anybody’s game.

Source + Pic: supersport.co.za

North-west rivals United and Liverpool slugged it out for the trophy last season but both looked below-par and pedestrian compared with Arsenal who thumped six goals past Everton on Saturday.

The champions at least hung on to claim all three points and with Chelsea also victorious Liverpool were the only one of the four title favourites who failed to win on the opening weekend.

United, minus Cristiano Ronaldo, needed the quick reactions of Rooney 12 minutes before halftime at Old Trafford to see off promoted Birmingham, the England striker stabbing in a rebound after his header hit the post.

Liverpool suffered just two losses in the league last season, one of those coming at Tottenham, and they endured more frustration in north London as French defender Sebastien Bassong sealed a 2-1 defeat with a powerful header on his debut.

Benoit Assou-Ekotto fired Tottenham in front with a thumping shot past Pepe Reina just before halftime but Liverpool, narrow runners-up to United last season with their best ever Premier League points tally, levelled through Steven Gerrard’s penalty early in the second half.

Liverpool could have few complaints as they lacked creativity against a Tottenham side who in winning their opening match have gained more points than they did in their first eight last season, a run that ended with the sacking of Spanish coach Juande Ramos.

“The first half was not the best for us, the second half much better,” Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez told Sky Sports.

“We are disappointed because we worked hard in the second half. It’s still early, but we know we have to improve.”

With much of the pre-season talk surrounding the loss of Ronaldo, Manchester United’s most influential player during their recent domination of the league, all eyes were on new signing Antonio Valencia and Nani.

Valencia had a quiet debut but Nani was involved in United’s winner before being replaced at halftime by veteran Ryan Giggs, beginning his 18th Premier League campaign.

Michael Owen, another new face at United after his free transfer from Newcastle United, nearly made an immediate impact, having one shot well saved by Birmingham keeper Joe Hart and another effort ruled out for offside.

“I started with Wayne and Dimitar (Berbatov) because they have been at the club last season and were regulars but Michael will get his chances, no question about that,” United manager Alex Ferguson told Sky Sports.

“There are plenty of games coming up in the next few weeks for him to take those chances.”

United were dealt a blow when centre back Rio Ferdinand was ruled out with a calf injury and they often looked jittery against a Birmingham side who gradually gained belief.

The early stages were all United with Rooney having one curler tipped over the bar and another effort blocked before he struck in the 33rd minute.

Nani found space out on the left and his cross was well met by Rooney with a firm header which hit the post and rebounded for the striker to tap in.

Birmingham have never scored a Premier League goal at Old Trafford but they came close when Franck Queudrue’s near-post header was cleared off the line by United defender Patrice Evra.

Rooney was United’s main threat in the second half but they failed to kill off the visitors and suffered anxious moments, most notably when substitute Christian Benitez forced a great save from Ben Foster.

The ’second Galacticos’ as the team is commonly referred to, began the match without a single Dutchman on the pitch. This adds to speculations on manager Pellegrini’s wish to sell most of the Dutch players.

Cristiano Ronaldo did form part of the starting line-up but failed to impress against the Irish.

The only goal was scored with just four minutes to go, and came from substitute forward Karim Benzema.

Real Madrid begin their 2009-10 La Liga campaign against Deportivo la Coruña on August 30.

Source: soccernews.com

“He’s as I expected him to be. He is the first to arrive at a training session, he has fully integrated into the squad, he doesn’t act as a star,” he said Sunday during his first post-training press conference as Real’s new coach.

“He is a very talented but normal player who is devoted to Real Madrid. His image is very different to how he is as a player.”

Real signed the player from Manchester United last month on a six-year deal worth around 94 million euros (131 million dollars) and he will reportedly be paid 13 million euros each season, making him the most expensive player in the world.

The 24-year-old was officially unveiled before some 75,000 ecstatic Real fans on July 6 at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium.

He had to be hurried away when spectators leapt over security barriers to try to get an autograpah.

Real has spent over 200 million euros in the pre-season to sign new talent, including Brazilian playmaker Kaka and French international striker Karim Benzema.

Pellegrini said he hopes the squad will be completed by the end of the month.

“The sooner the better. July 27 would be good because that’s when all our internationals return,” he said when asked for an ideal date to have his squad finalised.

“But I’m not bothered about waiting a while longer if there are any doubts concerning a signing. There’s no deadline. I know what I want, but I’m not looking to have it for our first pre-season match,” he added.

The Chilean coach said recruiting Spanish international Xabi Alonso from Liverpool would not be easy.

“There aren’t any players we can’t do without. He is an important footballer and it is no mystery that Real want to sign him, but it won’t be easy,” Pellegrini said.

He also denied Spanish press reports that Real want to unload its entire contingent of six Dutch players, including Ruud van Nistelrooy and Wesley Sneijder.

“It’s not true that all the Dutch players are going to leave as has been reported in the media,” he said.

He called Sneijder “a very good player”, adding “our game could benefit from having him”.

Real will face Deportivo La Coruna at home on the weekend of August 29-30 in their first league match of the new season.

Source: soccernews.com

An estimated 50,000-strong crowd – almost three times the anticipated number – turned up to watch the ceremony at the Bernabeu stadium as Kaka was unveiled as Madrid’s latest addition by club president Florentino Perez and honorary president Alfredo di Stefano.

Sources:     dailymail.co.uk       zimbio.com 

“I have had my time at Man United. It’s time to look forward and £80million is quite a sum of money. This deal is historic,” said Ronaldo, who is currently on holiday in Los Angeles.

“It’s flattering when two of the top teams in the world want you to play for them.

“Now I can look forward to Real Madrid and a new stage in my career. I learned of the deal here in LA and heard from my people that United had accepted.”

Source: football365.com

Defending champions Manchester United will walk out at Rome’s Olympic Stadium for Wednesday’s show-case final to face a Barcelona side who have already humiliated European giants Bayern Munich and Real Madrid this season.

It promises to be a battle royal between two teams at the peak of their powers and includes a sub-battle between arguably the world’s best two attacking players who can terrorise defences on their day.

United’s Ronaldo currently has the upper hand having won both the world player of the year crown and the Ballon d’Or in 2008 while his side aim to retain their Champions League title by beating Messi’s Barcelona side.

Dead-ball specialist Ronaldo hit a staggering 42 goals in all competitions last season, but his winner away to Porto and two at Arsenal in this season’s Champions League campaign have gone some way to answering criticism of his big-game temperament.

Barcelona centre-back Yaya Toure admits the Spaniards can ill-afford to allow Ronaldo the freedom to control the midfield if they are to fulfill their ambition to win the competition they last claimed in 2006.

“They are physically very strong, they have a truly great footballer in Cristiano Ronaldo and they won the Champions League last year, so we know it will be very difficult,” said the 26-year-old Ivory Coast international.

“It will be a great game and it’s important that we play at 100 percent because anything less and you cannot beat this team.”

While Ronaldo can strike fear into the heart of any goalkeeper with the deadball, Messi can give defenders nightmares with his ability to beat opponents with the slightest of touches from his favoured left-foot.

United defender Patrice Evra, 28, insists there is no special preparation for facing the Argentinian winger, but feels that coming up against the likes of Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney every day in training is adequate.

And the knowledge he would have to face the wrath of United manager Sir Alex Ferguson in the event of a poor display is an added incentive when dealing with Messi who came second in the voting for the world player of the year.

“Messi is a great player. I might stop him 10 times, but if on the 11th he goes past me and scores, people will say I have played badly against him,” said the French international.

“I need to concentrate for all the game and win every challenge. Last year the boss told me I could win the game for United. I was very proud about that.

“The boss (Ferguson) trusts you but he likes to say things that will give you confidence. I don’t want to disappoint him or my team-mates.”

Ronaldo and Messi faced each other in last season’s Champions League semi-final when Messi shaded the contest by proving the more dangerous of the pair although United progressed 1-0 thanks to Paul Scholes’s wonder strike at Old Trafford.

United defender Rio Ferdinand looks likely to play in Wednesday’s final having come through the weekend’s training with no ill-effects on his calf injury which has kept him out for the last three weeks and Sunday’s 1-0 win at Hull.

Jonny Evans, impressive at the back for United throughout the season, is on stand-by to partner Nemanja Vidic at the heart of United’s defence in case Ferdinand fails to recover.

Barcelona star striker Thierry Henry and midfielder Andres Iniesta appear to have overcome their injuries after training on Monday.

Henry, who played against Barca on the losing Arsenal team in the 2006 final, has had a ligament problem since beating Real Madrid 6-2 on May 2, while Iniesta has been struggling with a thigh injury.

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola has several options at full-back with first-choice pair Dani Alves and Eric Abidal both missing out through suspension.

Captain Carles Puyol and former United defender Gerard Pique are almost certain to start.

Meanwhile local authorities in Rome have issued a total ban on alcohol from 2200GMT on Tuesday to 0500GMT on Thursday in the Italian capital in a bid to prevent crowd trouble around the final with more than 67,000 fans expected.

Source: soccernews.com

The Portugal and Manchester United football star Christiano Ronaldo was named FIFA World Player of 2008 on Monday.

Ronaldo, who is also holder of the prestigious Ballon d’Or for the European Footballer of the Year, beat off competition from 2007 winner Kaka (Brazil), Lionel Messi (Argentina), Fernando Torres (Spain) and Xavi (Spain).

“It’s an overwhelming moment in my career and I’d like to dedicate this award to my family, friends and colleagues,” he said.

“Winning the Champions League for me was the most memorable moment of 2008,” added Ronaldo, who scored in the final but missed a penalty in the penalty shootout against Chelsea.

Ronaldo went out of his way to heap praise on United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, with whom relations became strained during last summer over whether he was going to leave the club for Real Madrid.

“It’s also true that the manager always has an important role to play,” said Ronaldo.

“It was a great season for me and for my club, and the coach was important for me because I learned a lot from him.

“His experience over so many years is of paramount importance – it’s a privilege to have such a great club manager.

“This is the climax of a fantastic era for me. I’m happy and proud about what has been done by my team and what we have won.

“I am lucky to be part of the history of a club like Manchester United.”

Portugal manager Carlos Queiroz, who was also with Ronaldo at Manchester United when he was assistant coach to Ferguson, said it was a logical decision.

“Quality and justice were behind this decision,” said Queiroz.

“This is a great achievement for a player as young (23) as he is and with his career before him.

“I congratulate Cristiano Ronaldo and hope that this award both stimulates and inspires his career.”

Ronaldo, scorer of 42 goals in all competitions in the 2007-8 season, was one of United’s architects behind the club’s English Premiership and Champions League double.

It was not a perfectly scripted year for Ronaldo, however, as Portugal crashed out 3-2 to Germany in the quarter-final of Euro 2008 in June.

Ronaldo becomes the second Portuguese player to win the FIFA accolade after Luis Figo in 2001, and the first one playing for a British club.

He reaped 935 points in the vote in which the coaches and captains of 155 national teams took part. Messi finished second (678 points) and was trailed by Torres (203), Kaka (183) and Xavi (155).

Brazilian midfielder Marta was unveiled as FIFA World Women’s Footballer of the year for 2008, for the third year running.

Marta delivered an outstanding performance at the women’s Olympic football tournament in Beijing 2008, and equalled the record set by Birgit Prinz by claiming her third consecutive title.

For the women’s vote, 139 coaches and captains cast their vote and Marta won comfortably (1,002 points) ahead of Germany’s Prinz (328), Brazil’s Cristiane (275), Germany’s Nadine Angerer (198) and England’s Kelly Smith (150).

WORLD FOOTBALLERS OF THE YEAR WINNERS

2008: Cristiano Ronaldo (POR) Manchester UnitedM
2007: Kaka (BRA) AC Milan
2006: Fabio Cannavaro (ITA) Real Madrid
2005: Ronaldinho (BRA) Barcelona
2004: Ronaldinho (BRA) Barcelona
2003: Zinedine Zidane (FRA) Real Madrid
2002: Ronaldo (BRA) Real Madrid
2001: Luis Figo (POR) Real Madrid
2000: Zinedine Zidane (FRA) Juventus
1999: Rivaldo (BRA) Barcelona
1998: Zinedine Zidane (FRA) Juventus
1997: Ronaldo (BRA) Inter Milan)
1996: Ronaldo (BRA) Barcelona
1995: George Weah (LBR) AC Milan
1994: Romario (BRA) Barcelona
1993: Roberto Baggio (ITA) Juventus
1992: Marco van Basten (NED) AC Milan
1991: Lothar Matthaus (GER) Bayern Munich

Source + Pic: supersport.co.za