Sunday, May 18, 2008

Rangers Draw With Motherwell, Title Chances in Celtic's Hands


Chris Porter did Celtic a huge favor by putting a massive dent in Rangers' Clydesdale Bank Premier League title hopes at Fir Park.

Christian Dailly was the unexpected scorer of Rangers' goal but striker Porter snatched a point for Motherwell with a second-half equalizer.

Rangers still have games to come against St Mirren and Aberdeen but Celtic's superior goal difference tilts the championship race in their favour ahead of their final game against Dundee United. Rangers, three points behind Celtic, now have just one game in hand.

The players ran out to Bobby Darin's 'Mack the Knife' - the late Tommy Burns' favourite song - at the request of Motherwell manager Mark McGhee.

A minute of applause was then observed in memory of the Celtic legend who lost his battle with cancer on Thursday.

Motherwell, of course, had already experienced the tragic loss of skipper Phil O'Donnell this season.

'We did it, Phil' was the headline on the cover of the match program, making reference to their success in clinching third place in the SPL and a UEFA Cup slot last week.

(Article.)

Who would have thought 6 weeks ago that Celtic would even have a chance to win the Scottish Premier League title. Now with this result, if Celtic beat Dundee United on Thursday, goal difference would make them prohibitive favorites to win the title!

Get it Done BHOYS!


TomC

Revs Win Second In A Row!

New England Revolution vs. San Jose Earthquakes
May 17, 2008 – Foxborough, Mass. (Gillette Stadium)


Scoring Summary

NE – Kheli Dube (Shalrie Joseph, Steve Ralston) 6
NE – Own Goal (James Riley) 23

New England Revolution: Matt Reis (GK), Jay Heaps, Michael Parkhurst, Chris Albright, Mauricio Castro (Khano Smith 77), Shalrie Joseph, Jeff Larentowicz, Wells Thompson (Sainey Nyassi 62), Steve Ralston, Kheli Dube, Kenny Mansally (Adam Cristman 87)
Substitutes Not Used: Doug Warren (GK), Argenis Fernandez, Gary Flood, Amaechi Igwe

San Jose Earthquakes: Joe Cannon (GK), Eric Denton, Jason Hernandez, Ryan Cochrane, James Riley (Shea Salinas 57), Ivan Guerrero (John Cunliffe 82), Ramiro Corrales, Joe Vide, Ronnie O’Brien (Ryan Johnson 46), Ned Grabavoy, Kei Kamara
Substitutes Not Used: Preston Burpo (GK), Nick Garcia, Matt Hatzke, Jamil Roberts

Forward Kheli Dube scored his first career MLS goal and the visitors added an own goal as the New England Revolution downed the San Jose Earthquakes, 2-0, Saturday night at Gillette Stadium.

With the win, New England (5-3-1, 16 pts.) earned back-to-back wins for the first time in 2008 following last Sunday’s 2-1 win at Chivas USA. The victory also improved the Revs’ record against the Western Conference to 4-1-0 this season. San Jose (1-5-1, 4 pts.) remained winless against the East.

New England had two chances to score in the opening four minutes, but Shalrie Joseph and Mauricio Castro both sent long-range shots on the ground straight at San Jose goalkeeper Joe Cannon.

The hosts did turn their pressure into the first goal of the game in the sixth minute, as Dube scored his first to stake the Revs to a 1-0 lead. Steve Ralston’s in-swinging free kick from the right wing skimmed off the foot of Joseph at the near post and across the face of goal to the far post, where Dube pounded the loose ball past Cannon from close range.

New England continued to control the play and extended its lead to 2-0 in the 23rd minute, as Earthquakes defender James Riley – making his first-ever appearance against the Revolution after spending the first three years of his career in Foxborough – scored an own goal. Jeff Larentowicz sent a high, looping ball down the middle of the field towards the San Jose goal, and Riley – who was under heavy pressure from Dube – headed the ball over the onrushing Cannon and into the open net.

The Revolution – which out-shot the Earthquakes, 6-0, in the first half – had chances to build an even greater lead in the opening 45 minutes, but ultimately took a 2-0 advantage into the halftime break.

(Article.)

Finally some momentum in the early season, back to back wins! Hopefully it will continue!

TomC