Sports news Unlimited

Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite : KAKA

2010-06-06T05:26:00.000-07:00

Gabriel Batistuta Top 20 Goals

2010-05-24T22:07:00.001-07:00

"Batistuta is one of the best strikers in the world and I like his
style -- he's fearless, powerful and sets his sails straight for goal,
a real team leader," - Paolo Montero.

FIFA WORLD CUP 2010 : South Africa

2010-04-02T05:31:00.000-07:00

Worldcup 2010 will start in south Africa in May 2010.

Football fever started all ove the world.

Here are some of the best matches happened in previous football world clubs.

2006 FIFA World Cup Semifinal: Italy vs. Germany

Most valuable sports teams

2009-09-05T06:53:00.000-07:00

Forbes's 10 most valuable sports teams

1 - Manchester United - $1.870bn (£1.144bn)

2 - Dallas Cowboys - $1.650bn (£1.009bn)

3 - Washington Redskins - $1.550bn (£948m)

4 - New York Yankees - $1.500bn (£918m)

5 - New England Patriots - $1.361bn (£833m)

6 - Real Madrid - $1.353bn (£828m)

7 - Arsenal - $1.200bn (£734m)

8 - New York Giants - $1.183bn (£724m)

9 - New York Jets - $1.170bn (£716m)

10 - Houston Texans - $1.150bn (£704m)

England Beat Australia in Lords at Ashes series 2009

2009-07-20T10:50:00.000-07:00

England won an Ashes Test at Lord's for the first time in 75 years as they beat Australia by 115 runs in the second Test here on Monday to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.

England World Cup Qualify Matches : Football

2009-06-10T23:38:00.000-07:00

England thrash Andorra 6-0 to record a seventh successive win in their World Cup qualifying group.

England coach Fabio Capello said he could not have been more pleased with their performance after the 6-0 thrashing of Andorra at Wembley.

England moved a step closer to World Cup qualification and Capello said: "I think it was good, we were very strong.

"When you play a team that is not strong you must start quickly, press and win back the ball and we did that.

"We didn't start well against Andorra last time, but step by step, game by game we are improving."

Wayne Rooney and Jermain Defoe scored twice each and Frank Lampard and Peter Crouch also netted as England moved 10 points clear at the top of Group Six.

Sehwag Injured , returned home

2009-06-10T23:26:00.000-07:00

The conference last Thursday was attended by every member of the India squad, but only Dhoni spoke.
Virender Sehwag has been ruled out of the ongoing ICC World T20 due to a shoulder injury," the Board of Control for Cricket in India said in a statement on Tuesday . "He will return to India after consulting medical experts in England."

Batsman Dinesh Karthik, who can also act as a backup wicketkeeper, has been called into the squad as Sehwag's replacement.

"Recent reports in the Indian media of a rift between myself and Sehwag amount to nothing but false and irresponsible media," Dhoni said then. "Our fans and supporters can take confidence from the wonderful unity that continues to exist in this team."

Full Coverage: Twenty20 World Cup

"As we prepare for the T20 World Cup, we are a superbly unified team. The team spirit is as good as it has ever been, with each individual supporting each other, both on and off the field.

Dhoni and the rest of the team immediately walked out and refused to answer any further questions.

India, which plays Ireland at Trent Bridge on Wednesday, has already qualified for the Super 8 stage after beating Bangladesh in its opening game.

ICC World Twenty20 2009: India v Ireland

2009-06-10T10:41:00.000-07:00

In Play
India won the toss and decided to field
India win the toss and decide to field against Ireland in a World Twenty20 match reduced to 18 overs per side because of rain

Defending champions India beat Ireland by eight wickets in the final match of the group stages at the World Twenty20.

Zaheer Khan (4/19) led the rout as India restricted a hapless Ireland to a mere 112 for eight in 18 overs and then went on to overwhelm the target in 15.3 overs with Rohit (52 not out) and Gautam Gambhir (37) making merry against the toothless Irish attack.

Mumbai Indians beat Chennai Super Kings in opening match of IPL-2

2009-04-18T08:35:00.000-07:00

Mumbai Indians started their run in Indian Premier League's second season with a convincing 19-run win over last year's finalists Chennai Super Kings in the opening match here Saturday.

Chasing a target of 165, Super Kings made 146 for seven after Matthew Hayden top scored with 44 and skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni made 36.

Sachin showed good Batting performance and shows the signs of batting rythm

Man United beats Porto 1-0, advances to semifinals

2009-04-16T07:13:00.000-07:00

Porto (Portugal: Cristiano Ronaldo scored a spectacular long-range goal on Wednesday to give Manchester United a 1-0 win over FC Porto and a spot in the Champions League semifinals with a 3-2 aggregate victory.

Ronaldo began his run from just inside the Porto half in the sixth minute and sent a rising shot from 40 meters (yards) past diving goalkeeper Helton and into the top corner of goal in the second leg of the quarterfinals.

"To do it at that point in the game gave us a real platform to go into the game," United manager Alex Ferguson said. "We wanted to start the game quickly with good tempo ... but to get a start like that, no one can expect it, no one can expect that type of goal."

Defending champion United stretched its unbeaten run in the Champions League to 23 games by becoming the first English team to win at Porto in 12 matches. The English team won a second leg away from home for the first time since 1999, when it also won the continent's top club competition.

Man United will next play English rival Arsenal in the semifinals after the Gunners beat Villarreal 3-0 to advance 4-1 on aggregate. Chelsea will face Barcelona for the other place in the May 27 final in Rome.

"It's two good football teams so it should be a fantastic semifinal," Ferguson said. "We'll look forward to it."

Ferguson, who was marking his 150th Champions League match in charge of the club, had said earlier this week that he expected more from Ronaldo. The Portugal forward, who was playing center forward and was jeered by the local fans with every touch, replied with an impressive individual effort for his second goal of the competition.

"He's the quickest player we have and I felt that by using him in that role tonight we could stretch their back four," Ferguson said. "He's always willing to attack defenders, he's always a threat."

United showed better discipline to start than at the first leg at Old Trafford and controlled the play at the Stadium of Dragon from the fourth minute when goalkeeper Edwin van der Saar stopped winger Hulk's low shot.

Still, Ronaldo's long-range effort was the only chance the English champion's could muster despite controlling play until Porto began to rally in the 20th when Bruno Alves sent a free kick just wide of near post.

"We tried to change and spread the team around the field and hope Manchester would make some mistakes," Jose Gomes, who replaced suspended coach Jesualdo Ferreira, said through a translator.

The Portuguese champions continued to press and Van der Sar denied Lisandro Lopez five minutes later. The visitors finally penetrated the Porto area but Helton was well positioned to stop Ryan Giggs' volley in the 30th.

Porto captain Lucho Gonzalez left with an injury a minute later, and Mariano replaced him.

Alves then connected with Raul Meireles' floating free kick in the 41st, but the Porto center back headed wide as United's defense -- with Rio Ferdinand back from a back injury -- limited Porto's opportunities inside the area.

"They had to chase. That early (goal) had them on the back foot. I don't think they made any chances in the match," Ferguson said. "(We) defended very, very well and that was the key to it really, because if we get back to that foundation of not giving away goals then we can do well."

Helton soon stepped up to clear a dangerous centering pass, and then denied Dimitar Berbatov at the start of the second half as Porto looked for the equalizer that would put it through to the semifinals for the first time since 2004, when it had eliminated United on its way to winning the Champions League.

Hulk, unable to generate from the flank, tried to score with a free kick from the edge of the area in the 58th but it swerved directly at Van der Sar.

Porto had several other scoring chances, but Mariano, Rolando and substitute Ernesto Farias couldn't score the equalizer.

"We feel very bad. You can understand our emotions. We feel that wasn't a very just result today," Gomes said. "They scored one goal today and it was scored by the best player in the world."

Champions league

2009-04-15T11:07:00.000-07:00

Man Utd need a win at Porto to be sure of going through to the Champions League semi-finals while Arsenal host Villarreal with the tie poised at 1-1.

Manchester United fans had bad memories of trenchcoat-wearing Porto managers long before they saw Jesualdo Ferreira leap from the dug-out to celebrate Mariano's last-gasp equaliser at Old Trafford last week.

Jenson Button braced for appeal verdict

2009-04-14T08:45:00.000-07:00

Button has piloted his Brawn to victory in the first two races of the season Motorsport's governing body, the FIA, is meeting on Tuesday to decide whether Jenson Button's car is legal.

The Formula 1 championship leader's Brawn Grand Prix team, Toyota and Williams use a split-level diffuser.

The FIA rejected a protest by rival teams, who argue the design does not conform to the new 2009 regulations.

But the International Court of Appeal is expected to announce a final ruling on Wednesday and could deduct points from Brawn, Toyota and Williams.

An independent panel is hearing arguments from both sides at the meeting in Paris, where Ferrari's legal representative, Nigel Tozzi QC, has described Brawn GP team boss Ross Brawn as "a person of supreme arrogance".

WHAT IS A DIFFUSER?
The diffuser on the back of the Williams car
It is the rear part of the floor of the car between the rear wheels and under the rear wing
It is crucial to the aerodynamics, and small changes can have a big impact on downforce - and therefore grip and speed

The row broke out when Ferrari, Renault and Red Bull protested against the legality of the split-level diffusers on the eve of the season-opening Grand Prix in Australia, but race stewards in Melbourne rejected their claims.

BMW Sauber then had a similar protest rejected at the Malaysian Grand Prix while McLaren have recently added their weight to the official protest.

Speaking from outside FIA headquarters in Paris, BBC sports news reporter Joe Wilson said: "Rear diffusers this season were supposed to get smaller, but Brawn and a couple of other teams have ended up with bigger ones, exploiting a little loophole in the laws.

"An independent panel of judges, looking at things with a legal mind, may just uphold this appeal - though there will be widespread surprise, if not shock, if Brawn end up losing their points this season."

The protesting teams say the split-level design contravenes a rule that states the diffuser - an aerodynamic body part which aids performance - must have an upper edge that runs in a horizontal straight line.

They also believe the design is negating the main aim of this season's new rule changes, which is to make overtaking easier.

The split-level diffusers generate more downforce at the rear of the car, resulting in a clear performance advantage of around 0.5 seconds per lap.

If the protestors win their appeal the FIA has two options.

It could allow the results of the first two races to stand, with the three teams concerned being forced to alter their cars from Sunday's Chinese GP onwards, or they could remove any points won by those teams in Australia and Malaysia.

Brawn arrives at Paris hearing

British driver Button - who insists his car is "100% legal" - has won both and his team lead the constructors' championship with 25 points, ahead of Toyota on 16.5 points.

The other eight teams have only 17 points between them and Ferrari, the reigning constructors' champions, are yet to get off the mark.

Prior to the hearing, Brawn said he was optimistic the Court of Appeal would agree with the race stewards and sanction the split-level diffuser design.

"I would just be surprised if the appeal court can make judgements on technicalities - it's quite a complex technical matter," he told BBC Sport.

"You can't be 100% confident but I hope common sense prevails on their side."

If the judges rule the diffusers are legal, then the seven teams who are running without the split-level diffusers are expected to try and incorporate the design into their cars as soon as possible.

Setting about such a radical redesign with the season under way will not be easy.

Many of the teams running with regular diffusers argue the cost of making the changes is too great, especially during a climate of cost-cutting within the sport in the face of the global economic crisis.

"I've heard several of them complaining about the cost," said Brawn.

"But there are lots of things teams copy from each other and the cost doesn't get debated.

"I think some teams will be able to do it very quickly, but for other teams it will be more difficult because of their suspension configuration or other elements of the car."

Whichever way the judges rule in Paris, the outcome of the hearing is likely to have a significant effect on the season.

"The championship could be more or less decided," warned Renault's double world champion Fernando Alonso.

"If the diffusers are legal, then the Brawns are going to be nearly unreachable for any other team."

India's Historic win in Newzealand after 41 years

2009-04-07T10:29:00.000-07:00

India has clinched its first test series win in New Zealand in 41 years when the third test is drawn after a rain-shortened final day.
India won the first test by 10 wickets and the remaining two matches were drawn. A century by Ross Taylor his second in successive tests and his record 142-run fifth wicket partnership with James Franklin (49) carried New Zealand to 281 for eight when rain began to fall Tuesday.
India declared its second innings Monday at 434 for seven, with an overall lead of 616, and New Zealand was still 335 behind when rain hastened the close of play.

Victoria Azarenka Won Sony Ericsson open Women's Title

2009-04-05T00:14:00.000-07:00

World No. 10 Victoria Azarenka showed no signs of nerves in her first Premier-level final as she defeated No. 1 Serena Williams 6-3, 6-1 on Saturday to deny the American an all-time record sixth Sony Ericsson Open title.

At the age of 19 years, eight months, Azarenka becomes only the sixth teenage champion in tournament history, joining the distinguished list of Monica Seles (16 years, four months in 1990), Martina Hingis (16 years, six months in 1997), Steffi Graf (17 years, eight months in 1987), Venus Williams (17 years, nine months in 1998) and Gabriela Sabatini (18 years, 10 months in 1989).

Her success at the Sony Ericsson Open will see Azarenka rise from No. 10 to a career-high No. 8 in the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Rankings on Monday. The Belarusian began the season ranked No. 16, but after winning her first two WTA Tour singles titles at Brisbane (d. Bartoli) and Memphis (d. Wozniacki) and reaching the semifinals at the Premier-level event in Indian Wells (l. to Zvonareva) two weeks ago, her ranking improved to No. 10 coming into the Sony Ericsson Open.

"I was so happy," said Azarenka. "It was the biggest win of my career so far. I was just so happy to finish that match, because I was getting a little bit nervous in the end."

Roger Federer knocked out of the Sony Ericsson Open

2009-04-04T03:40:00.000-07:00

Roger was knocked out of the Sony Ericsson Open semifinals
by No. 3 Novak Djokovic 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 on Friday afternoon.

After winning the first set comfortably against an error-prone Djokovic in just 25 minutes, Roger unfortunately faded badly in the second. Under windy conditions, our Swiss won just 57 percent of first serve points in the second and it got worse in the third as Djokovic broke at the first attempt.

" I definitely struggled with my timing," Roger explained after the match. "You kind of try hard, and then it's just not
working. Today it is different just because there's so much wind. Once you start feeling bad, it's kind of tough to regroup."

In the third set, although Roger won two games in a row from 4-0 down, Djokovic finished the match and could capture his third win in 10 attempts against Roger.

The remains of one of the rackets with which Roger Federer had dominated the men’s game lay in bits at Crandon Park yesterday as an emblem of the sense of brokenness that has overcome the former world No 1.

All that could have gone wrong for the 27-year-old Swiss went wrong yesterday as he slumped to a 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 defeat by Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals of the Sony Ericsson Open. As Federer faced the media afterwards, wiping away the tears with his collar, you wondered when he would look at the world with a clear vision again.

When Federer smacked his racket into the ground and the jeers of the Miami crowd rang in his ears — they are an uplifting lot in these parts — there was a feeling of emptiness, even though 8,000-odd people were in his company. It is a sensation that he has felt before in a period of his career that has provided an awful lot of questions but very few answers.

He has been a great player for so long — 237 consecutive weeks as the No 1, 13 grand-slam titles and assorted other tournaments bear testimony to his brilliance — that to see him in such disarray comes as a bit of a shock. “You try hard and then it’s just not working,” Federer said, the tears sticking to his eyelid. “Today it is different just because there’s so much wind as well. Once you start feeling bad, it’s tough to regroup. Once one guy gets the upper hand, the other guy is a bit uncertain. He played so bad in the first set, I had a great effort by finishing even worse than him. It was good.”

Doubles Final Set at Sony Ericsson Open

2009-04-04T03:26:00.000-07:00

Two seeded pairs en route to the final, and now Svetlana Kuznetsova and Amélie Mauresmo will try to make it three-for-three, as they go to battle with No.3 seeds Kveta Peschke and Lisa Raymond for the prestigious Sony Ericsson Open doubles title in Miami on Sunday.

Kuznetsova and Mauresmo, who were wildcards into the doubles draw but upset No.1 seeds Cara Black and Liezel Huber and No.6 seed Nuria Llagostera Vives and María José Martínez Sánchez in the second round and quarterfinals, made it past unseeded combination Anna-Lena Groenefeld and Patty Schnyder in the semifinals on Friday, 76(6) 63. Groenefeld and Schnyder held a set point at 6-5 in the tie-break before losing the first set to the duo.

Peschke and Raymond didn't face any set points but were given a fierce test by another unseeded duo, Chuang Chia-Jung and Sania Mirza, edging the Asian combo in two tight sets to reach the final of the $4.5-million event, 76(5) 64.

Both of the finalist teams have won one Sony Ericsson WTA Tour doubles title together in the past, Kuznetsova and Mauresmo on the grass of Eastbourne in 2006 and Peschke and Raymond on hardcourts at New Haven last summer. Kuznetsova and Raymond have won here with other partners, though: the Russian won in 2005 with Alicia Molik, while the American has won here three times, in 2002 with Rennae Stubbs and in 2006 and 2007 with Samantha Stosur.

Read Mores About Sony Ericsson Open WTA Tour

Video: Sony Ericsson WTA Tour announces 2008 Player Awards

2009-04-04T03:24:00.000-07:00

Ana Ivanovic and Elena Dementieva are among the winners at the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour 2008 Player Awards Ceremony.

Zaheer's five gives India control

2009-04-04T02:18:00.000-07:00

New Zealand v India, 3rd Test, Wellington, 2nd day

Zaheer's five gives India control

Zaheer Khan produced a devastating spell of seam bowling to take five wickets as India put themselves in drivers' seat by taking a 182 first innings lead in the third and final Test on Saturday.

Zaheer capitalised on the bounce at the Basin Reserve track to return with impressive figures of five for 65, his seventh fiver, as the hosts folded up their first innings for a paltry 197 in reply to India's 379.

The Indians were 51 for 1 in their second essay at close of second day to have an overall lead of 233 runs, with Gautam Gambhir (28) and Rahul Dravid (9) at the crease.

Read more information : New Zealand v India, 3rd Test, Wellington

Crowe apologises for criticising Sehwag's captaincy

2009-04-03T08:09:00.000-07:00

Former New Zealand skipper Martin Crowe has apologised for being too "harsh" and "impatient" while criticising Virender Sehwag's captaincy during the second Test in Napier which ended in a draw.

"I often have bad days and so I wish to apologise for being too harsh, too quickly," Crowe wrote in his column for a cricket website.

Read more from here : Martion Crowe Apologise