Bayern munchen vs Chelsea 1-1 [3-4] | All Goals & Highlights | 19/05/2012

Djokovic beats Federer to reach the Final and face Nadal

Serbia's Novak Djokovic celebrates after defeating Switzerland's Roger Federer at the end their semifinal match at the Italian Open tennis tournament, in Rome, Saturday, May 19, 2012.

Rafael Nadal of Spain.

World number one Novak Djokovic beat Roger Federer in straight sets on Saturday (Sunday, PHL time) and will play Rafael Nadal in the Rome Masters final for the second year in a row.Defending champion Djokovic ended Federer's hopes of back-to-back claycourt titles with a gutsy 6-2, 7-6 victory over the Swiss.Five-time Rome champion Nadal wore down fellow Spaniard David Ferrer 7-6, 6-0 to reach his 70th career final.In their first meeting since last year's U.S. Open semifinal, which Djokovic won, the Serb broke twice to win the first set.Dominating the baseline rallies, top seed Djokovic constantly forced Federer on to the back foot and an errant forehand handed him the break for 4-3 in the second.Suddenly Federer became more aggressive and began to vary his game and when he saved a match point at 5-4 before breaking back, he was back in the match.But Djokovic regained his poise just in time to clinch the tiebreak 7-4 when Federer sent a backhand long."That was my best claycourt match of the year," Djokovic told reporters."I expected him to be aggressive but I stayed close to the baseline and I felt good all the way through."Federer said he was feeling tired having won the title in Madrid last weekend but admitted he had been outplayed."I thought he played very, very well," he said. "He's not the number one in the world for no reason."I had a couple of chances in the second set but couldn't take them."But I would have taken my results from these two weeks, so I am very happy going into Paris."GRUELING SET In the first semifinal, Nadal made it 12 wins in a row on clay against Ferrer in a match in which a grueling first set lasted 86 minutes.Sixth seed Ferrer had the better of it early on and led 3-1 but Nadal fought straight back and after taking the tiebreak 8-6, he ran away with the second."At the start of the match, David was playing unbelievably," Nadal said. “My thought was that the best news for me would probably to be level at 3-3."After the first six, seven games then it was more equal because before that he was playing better than me."Nadal said he had not played as well as he did in beating Czech Tomas Berdych in the previous round, but used his mental strength to get through."I was very happy with how I was mentally, because I stayed focused all the time," he said.Nadal, who will go back above Federer to the No. 2 spot if he wins, said he would need to be at his very best if he is to take the title."If I play my best clay-court tennis then hopefully I will have my chances," he said.It will be an important match to close the claycourt season before Roland Garros with perfect feelings."Djokovic said playing Nadal on clay is still “the ultimate challenge" but said he believed he had the game to win again."Before last year, I had never won against him on clay but I won in Madrid and here, so I know I can do it."Djokovic downs Federer to set up Nadal final.

Chelsea's Historic win Over Bayern Munich In the Champions League Final.

Chelsea Crowned as European Champions.

Chelsea Have Beated the Germans Giants Bayern Munich On Penalties 4-3 As Didier Drogba Fired the Last Penalty .In The Beggining Of this Finale The score Remained 0-0 Till Half-time. Robben,Gomez Missed Big Chances But The Blue army Defend stood strong and Brave. Bayern's Created the Most Opportunities With Having Above 50% Possession. After The Half's, Bayern Looked The Same way As Before the Half. Chelsea Defended And Bayern Attacked. Chelsea Did Kept Defense Tight But couldn't Last Long as Kroos Crossed The ball And The Header was scored by Muller. Bayern Celebrated as they are champions But there was still twist in a Tale as Chelsea Got their Corner In 88th Minute Just after Muller scored ,after 5 Min. Mata Who Took The Corner And Drogba Headed Into the Net touching Neur's Hand And Going Into Right net side. 3 minutes were added And the Whistle was blown Of Full-Time. It was Extra Time Of 30 Minutes with Players Having Craps and Hamstrings in their Legs specially Bayern Munich's Player. Chelsea were Very Fresh and Cool. Frank Ribery Got Injured as he Got Craps In his legs was Substituted With Van Buyten.After The First Half-Extra Time It was Dead-Locked Match still 1-1Five minutes into extra time Drogba gave Bayern the perfect chance to go back in front when he clipped the heels of Ribery in the area to concede a penalty but Petr Cech came to his side’s rescue with a superb stop to keep out Robben’s penalty. . The 2nd Period of Extra Time Begin With Players Tired . Chelsea Defended Just Like Italians And Bayern Attacked Like Spain.Substitute Ivica Olic had his head in his hands in the second period of extra time as he prodded a volley agonizingly wide of the post with Cech helpless.As The Whistle was Blown It was Time For Penalties. The night still seemed to be heading Bayern’s way when they moved 3-1 ahead in the penalty shootout after Juan Mata missed Chelsea’s first spot kick but Olic missed for Bayern and when Schweinsteiger struck the post the stage was left for Ivorian Drogba to write his name into Chelsea folkore.

Sarena Williams in semis after Penetta retires

Flavia Pennetta, right, shakes hands with Serena Williams of the US after retiring from their quarterfinal match at the Italian Open tennis tournament, in Rome, Friday.

Sarena Williams advanced to the semi finals at the Italian Openon Friday after Flavia Pennetta retired with a right wrist problem while trailing 4-0 in the first set.The Italian player called for the trainer after falling behind 3-0. She had her wrist re-taped, but conceded during the fifth game after 28 minutes of play.The victory extended Williams' winning streak to 17 matches following titles in Charleston and Madrid. She also has two victories in Fed Cup.Williams will face the winner of match between French Open champion Li Na and fourteenth-seededDominika Cibulkova in the semifinals.Older sister Venus Williams plays defending champion Maria Sharapova later Friday.On men's side, top-ranked Novak Djokovic meets No. 5 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and five-time champion Rafael Nadal faces Tomas Berdych.Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Federer beats Ferrero, Djkovic pulls of win

Roger Federer outlasted former world number 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero 6-2 5-7 6-1 in the Rome Masters to move into the quarter-finals.The world number two will now face Andreas Seppi , who overcame Stanislas Wawrinka 6-7 7-6 7-6 in an epic match-up that went all the way.This was Federer's and Ferrero's first meeting in five years and the veteran Spaniard was impressive, Federer at times struggling to overcome his opponent's consistency.The Swiss was impeccable in the opening set though, spraying winners around at will and holding his serve with consummate ease. Ferrero managed to hang on for 2-2, but Federer won the next four to take it.Everyone watching was expecting a stroll through the second set for Federer, but Ferrero's ability and more importantly his nerve shone through.He stayed with the Swiss game for game as Federer's level dropped slightly. It looked like it was drifting for a tie break, but in the 11th Ferrero struck.A vicious backhand winner up the line gave him the opportunity and Federer hit the forehand error, meaning the Spaniard only had to stay solid on serve to take the set.In the end Federer's superior shot making ability told as he hit 46 winners in the match to Ferrero's 12. Federer raised his game to at times ridiculous levels in the third set. Ferrero managed to win just the one game as the Swiss hit some astonishing winners off his backhand side.The point of the match came on break point in the penultimate game as both players hit an array of groundstrokes before Federer ripped an unplayable backhand up the line.The shot of the match came on match point as Federer came to the net and hit a stylish backhand smash to take it. The form player of 2012 continues his run and is looking ominous going into Roland Garros.World number one Novak Djokovic also came through a tough match to reach the quarter-finals, coming from a set behind to beat Juan Monaco 4-6 6-2 6-3.The Serb struggled to come to terms with the conditions on a windswept afternoon in the Italian capital, but eventually booked his place in the last eight against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who outclassedJuan Martin del Potro in a 6-4 6-1 win during the evening session.In the fourth and fifth games, as the change of ends favoured him, Monaco took the match to Djokovic and was rewarded with a break of the defending champion's serve to go 3-2 up.World number 15 Monaco had not taken a set off Djokovic in the last three of their five previous meetings, but he ended that poor run which stretches back to the 2007 US Open.Djokovic did raise his level to save two break points in the ninth game - and see one of his own denied by an exquisite drop shot in the following game - but Monaco was able to hold out and take the first set of their maiden match on clay.During it Djokovic smashed his racket to pieces in frustration, but emerged for the second set with far more focus."I hope the children watching don't do that," a smiling Djokovic later said of his racquet-smashing. "But I show my emotions out there. That's who I am."Monaco again broke early in the set, but this time Djokovic responded immediately in kind, aided in part by a huge gust of wind which gave Monaco an eyeful of clay as he prepared to make a shot. 'Nole' also broke at the next opportunity to take the set 6-2.With Djokovic well into his stride and Monaco recovering from the run of just three points from 19 available which saw him lose the second set, the deciding set was the most competitive of the three. It went with serve until the eighth game, when for the second game in a row Djokovic came from two points down to win the game.That allowed Djokovic to serve for the match, and he converted the second of his two match points with an ace."I struggled with the wind today," the Serb said. "I was a bit defensive and passive in the first set, but once I was more direct I started to play much better."By contrast Tsonga's match against Del Potro was ultimately a comfortable 6-4 6-1 victory on the Supertennis Arena.Del Potro faded badly in the second set and had to call out the physio midway through as his knee started to affect his movement.It was evenly matched in the opening few games though, with some fiersome hitting from both players. It was Del Potro who broke first in the fifth game, a wonderfully executed pass on the back foot taking it.Tsonga replied immediately, then broke again as Del Potro cracked on the big points; the world number nine hitting tamely into the net to hand his opponent the set.The second set was a breeze for Tsonga. He broke in the second and the sixth game either side of Del Potro bringing out the physio. Djokovic won’t be looking forward to playing the Frenchman in this sort of form.In the other part of Djokovic's half of the draw, unseeded home competitor Seppi made it through to the quarter-finals after he came through a thrilling epic encounter against ninth seed Wawrinka (1)6-7 7-6(8) 7-6(6).In a match played in front of a passionate and partisan crowd on the Supertennis Arena, the momentum veered from one man to the other throughout the contest, but all three sets required tie-breaks.In the deciding set Wawrinka spurned six match points, including three in the breaker, before two unforced errors gave Seppi a most dramatic victory.The world number 30's reward for winning that thriller is a last-eight clash against third seed Federer.

Liverpool Coach Kenny Dalgish Fired

Kenny Dalglish rescued Liverpool from possible relegation in 2011, but he was unable to push the team to a top-four finish this season.

Kenny Dalgish second stint as Liverpool manager ended Wednesday when he was fired following the club's disappointing eighth-place finish in the Premier League.Dalglish was in charge for fewer than 500 days, as club owners decided to terminate his contract despite having ended the team's six-year trophy drought with the League Cup triumph in February."Results in the Premier League have been disappointing and we believe to build on the progress that has already been made, we need to make a change," Liverpool chairman Tom Werner said.That decision was taken after Dalglish flew to Boston this week for an end-of-season review with the Boston Red Sox ownership group, which owns Liverpool.After the 2011 baseball season, the Red Sox hired a new manager in Bobby Valentine, after Terry Francona parted ways with the team.A League Cup triumph in February secured Liverpool's return to European play through the Europa League. Dalglish also took the team to the FA Cup final, but he fell short of the owner's target of finishing in the top four in the league as Liverpool went 14-14-10 and wound up 17 points behind fourth-place Tottenham. The Reds finished behind crosstown rival Everton for the first time since 2005 and only the second time since 1987."Whilst I am obviously disappointed to be leaving the football club, I can say that the matter has been handled by the owners and all concerned in an honorable, respectful and dignified way and reflects on the quality of the people involved," Dalglish said."I said when first approached about coming back as manager that I would always be of help if I can at any time and that offer remains the same," he added.Dalglish first left Liverpool in 1991 due to stress, less than a year after delivering the team's 18th -- and most recent -- top-flight title triumph in 1990.He was brought back to Anfield after a 20-year absence to replace Roy Hodgson in January 2011, when the club was in danger of being relegated from the top flight after being bought by the Fenway Sports Group.After lifting Liverpool from its perilous position to fifth place, Dalglish was given a three-year contract at the end of the season."Kenny came into the club as manager at our request at a time when Liverpool Football Club really needed him," Werner said. "He didn't ask to be manager; he was asked to assume the role. He did so because he knew the club needed him. He did more than anyone else to stabilize Liverpool over the past year and a half and to get us once again looking forward. We owe him a great debt of gratitude."Owner John Henry also paid tribute to Dalglish."Kenny will always be more than a championship-winning manager, more than a championship-winning star player," Henry said. "He is in many ways the heart and soul of the club. He personifies everything that is good about Liverpool Football Club. He has always put the Club and its supporters first. Kenny will always be a part of the family at Anfield."Our job now is to identify and recruit the right person to take this club forward and build on the strong foundations put in place during the last 18 months."

Rio Ferdinand out Terry in of England Euro 2012 squad

Rio Ferdinand Man utd defender was the highest profile casualty on Wednesday Roy Hodgson focused on footballing matters as he explained the selection of John Terry and the omission of Rio Ferdinand in his England squad for this summer’s European Championship.Terry was selected despite the July court case awaiting him regarding allegations that he racially abused QPR defender Anton Ferdinand, which Terry denies.Ferdinand’s elder brother Rio being left out of the squad will help to avoid any tension that could have stemmed from the pair sharing a dressingroom in Poland and Ukraine.The impending court case also saw Terry stripped of the captaincy by the English Football Association, a decision which saw Fabio Capello resign his post and Hodgson eventually succeed him. Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard will captain England this summer.Hodgson said: “If we take the court case first of all, that’s obviously very unfortunate for him but we must emphasise he is an innocent man until such time as he is proven guilty.“My decision with John Terry was based purely on footballing matters, I was given a free hand as to the squad I picked.“I realised that when I selected him there would be people who would raise eyebrows but that’s the decision that I’ve made, that’s the decision I shall live with.”“I admire Rio Ferdinand as a player. I think he’s a fine footballer and I respect him, but I had to pick a squad with defenders I wanted to take to the Euros.”Arsenal’s Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Norwich goalkeeper John Ruddy were the two uncapped players to get Hodgson’s vote.“My decision with John Terry was based purely on footballing matters, I was given a free hand as to the squad I picked.“I realised that when I selected him there would be people who would raise eyebrows but that’s the decision that I’ve made, that’s the decision I shall live with.”He continued: “I selected John Terry for footballing reasons and I left out Rio Ferdinand for footballing reasons. I’ve spoken to both of them of course. I had to do that.“In the last couple of days I’ve spoken to both of them and explained to them why I’ve come to the decision.”Terry led Chelsea to FA Cup success and helped them reach the Champions League final as they rebuilt their season under interim manager Roberto Di Matteo.

ENGLAND SQUAD 

Goalkeepers: Joe Hart (Man City), Robert Green (West Ham), John Ruddy (Norwich). 
Defenders: Leighton Baines (Everton), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Phil Jones (Man Utd), Joleon Lescott (Man City), John Terry (Chelsea). 
Midfielders: Gareth Barry (Man City), Stewart Downing (Liverpool), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), James Milner (Man City), Scott Parker (Tottenham), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal), Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Ashley Young (Man Utd). 
Forwards: Andy Carroll (Liverpool), Wayne Rooney (Man Utd), Danny Welbeck (Man Utd), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham).

Lionel Messi wins European Golden Boot Award

The Barcelona forward has claimed the accolade for the continent's top league goalscorer, bagging himself a half century of strikes during the 2011-12 season.

Lionel Messi has won Europen Golden Boot Award  as the continent's top scorer.The Argentine superstar scored an incredible 50 league goals over the campaign, and finished the season four goals clear of nearest rival Cristiano Ronaldo in La Liga.Messi failed to find the net on Saturday, as Barcelona drew 2-2 with Real Betis in Pep Guardiola's final league game in charge of the Catalans. But he could not be caught by Ronaldo, who netted just the one as Real Madrid beat Malaga 4-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu.Robin van Persie ended the term  on 30 goals, but failed to find the net as Arsenal beat West Brom 3-2 at the Hawthorns to confirm the Gunners place in the Champions League next season.The Bundesliga came to a close last weekend, where Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Mario Gomez finished on 29 and 26 goals respectively.In fifth place, Zlatan Ibrahimovic became the first person to win the capocannoniere (Serie A's top scorer award) with two different clubs as he ended his campaign with 28 goals for Milan, despite not scoring in their 2-1 win at home to Novara.Wayne Rooney came in closely behind with 27 goals, as he bagged the winner in Manchester United's 1-0 win at Sunderland.Four players made up the rest of the places, all joined on 48 points for the season. Burak Yilmaz failed to find the net in Trabznspor's 1-1 draw with Besiktas on Friday as he ended the campaign with 32 goals.Bas Dost's season wrapped up last weekend as he helped Heerenveen to fifth in the Eredivisie with 32 strikes.Radamel Falcao ended his season on a high, as he scored a late winner for Atletico Madrid as they beat Villarreal to condemn the Yellow Submarine to relegation. He is joined at 24 goals with Diego Milito, who rounded off his superb 2012 with a penalty for Inter as they went down 3-1 to Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday.