Forwards lay platform for Rabbitohs win

<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0.6em 1em 1.3em 0.2em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; clear: both; font-weight: 800; margin: 0.6em 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Coach Michael Maguire praised his forwards after South Sydney Rabbitohs produced their best display of the year to beat North Queensland Cowboys 31-18 in Townsville.</span><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />The Cowboys went into the game having won seven of their last eight home games, but were distinctly second-best against the reigning premiers.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0.6em 1em 1.3em 0.2em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The visitors completed 34 sets out of 39, and Maguire was delighted with their efforts over the full 80 minutes.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0.6em 1em 1.3em 0.2em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">"There's a lot of belief amongst us as a team and the players know what they're capable of," said the coach. "It's just a matter of doing that for 80 minutes which we produced tonight and that's something that we need to keep producing."</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0.6em 1em 1.3em 0.2em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The forwards pack came in for special praise, with Maguire saying they had laid a good platform for the victory.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0.6em 1em 1.3em 0.2em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">"Obviously the Cowboys have got a big forward pack and they rolled forward. We knew that and we had to make sure that we performed the way we were capable of and I thought the forwards did that for us tonight," he added.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0.6em 1em 1.3em 0.2em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">"It allowed our halves to play off the back and then obviously Greg (Inglis) out the back there with his edge plays."</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0.6em 1em 1.3em 0.2em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Though the Cowboys had 55 per cent of the possession, they trailed from the third minute when Inglis scored the first of his side's five tries - all of which were converted by Adam Reynolds.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0.6em 1em 1.3em 0.2em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">North Queensland are <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">4/1</span> to win the grand final.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0.6em 1em 1.3em 0.2em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The Rabbitohs had big efforts from the Burgess wins, who ran for a combined 271 metres, while Kyle Turner weighed in with a game-high 46 tackles.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0.6em 1em 1.3em 0.2em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The visitors only had a one-point advantage at the break but ran in the first three tries of the second half through Jason Clark, Alex Johnston and Dylan Walker.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0.6em 1em 1.3em 0.2em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The Cowboys' defeat gives Sydney Roosters, who are <span style="border: 0px; color: #14805e; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">19/20</span></span> conceding a 24.5-points start, chance to move above them into second spot if they beat Parramatta Eels.</span></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ndgcT4mndToHrljY37SZ04XiJ5KN-z1fQewGG-0mIh_Q19V_xN1DEQqt9ZatYXWKvbAFkFsctwyhzeQaC9V1BWF-glDjQcoqGtzf85nSfkaNw9ylmyLPbGPMLhLjyqUnQyEG65mfUg/s1600/143.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ndgcT4mndToHrljY37SZ04XiJ5KN-z1fQewGG-0mIh_Q19V_xN1DEQqt9ZatYXWKvbAFkFsctwyhzeQaC9V1BWF-glDjQcoqGtzf85nSfkaNw9ylmyLPbGPMLhLjyqUnQyEG65mfUg/s400/143.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <div> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></span></div>

Forwards lay platform for Rabbitohs win

Coach Michael Maguire praised his forwards after South Sydney Rabbitohs produced their best display of the year to beat North Queensland Co...

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The longest journeys in UEFA football history

<span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #404040; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">As Kairat Almaty gear up for a record 5,947km trip to Bordeaux in the UEFA Europa League, UEFA.com maps the extremes of the footballing continent.</span></span><br /> <div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #404040; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; margin: 10px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">A new record will be set when Kairat Almaty travel 5,947km west for a UEFA Europa League play-off opener against Girondins de Bordeaux; UEFA.com maps the extremes of the footballing continent.</span></div> <div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #404040; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; margin: 10px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Previous longest journeys in UEFA football history</strong><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #2a549e; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Kairat Almaty 2-1 Aberdeen</strong><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #2a549e; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Aberdeen 1-1 Kairat Almaty</strong><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #2a549e; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">2015/16 UEFA Europa League third qualifying round</strong></span></div> <div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #404040; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; margin: 10px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Around 70 fans joined the Dons on their mammoth trip east, the club chartering a flight at some cost in order to minimise jet lag on a journey which took them through five time zones. Kairat's overall success was more impressive given that they had endured a two-hour delay and changes of flight in Russia and Belgium in order to get to Pittodrie.</span></div> <div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #404040; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; margin: 10px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Longest journey in UEFA group stage history</strong><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #2a549e; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">AZ Alkmaar 1-0 Shakhter Karagandy</strong><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #2a549e; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">2013/14 UEFA Europa League group stage</strong></span></div> <div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #404040; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; margin: 10px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">AZ's journey east to play Shakhter was made slightly easier by the fact the game was played at the Astana Arena rather than in their opponents' home city – a mere 4,418km from Alkmaar. The Kazakh side had an extra 177km to travel for the return fixture, with 4,595km separating Karaganda from the AZ Stadion.</span></div> <div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #404040; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; margin: 10px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Longest UEFA club journey</strong><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #2a549e; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Kairat Almaty</strong><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #2a549e; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">2015 UEFA Futsal Cup finals</strong></span></div> <div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #404040; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; margin: 10px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The longest victory parade in European football took Kairat back to Kazakhstan after they won the top prize in club futsal in Lisbon this April. A 6,911km journey west did not fluster Cacau's side. "It's impossible to be happier than this," beamed defender Leo after his side's 3-2 final win against Barcelona.</span></div> <div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #404040; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; margin: 10px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Longest European/South American Cup journey</strong><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Racing Avellaneda 2-1 Celtic</strong></span></div> <div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #404040; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; margin: 10px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">From 1960-2004, the champions of Europe and South America competed for the UEFA-endorsed European/South American Cup – or Intercontinental Cup. The furthest any side had to travel was 11,304km, when Celtic flew south to take on Argentina's Racing Avellaneda in the 1967 competition. Having won the home leg 1-0, they lost 2-1 in Avellaneda. They lost the tie 1-0 after a notoriously ugly replay staged in Montevideo, a mere 11,236km from Glasgow</span></div> <div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #404040; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; margin: 10px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Shortest UEFA journeys</strong><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #2a549e; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">AC Milan 0-0 Internazionale Milano</strong><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #2a549e; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Internazionale Milano 1-1 AC Milan</span></strong><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #2a549e; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">2002/03 UEFA Champions League semi-finals</strong></span></div> <div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #404040; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; margin: 10px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #2a549e; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">AC Milan 2-0 Internazionale Milano</strong><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #2a549e; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Internazionale Milano 0-3 AC Milan</strong><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #2a549e; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">2004/05 UEFA Champions League quarter-finals</strong></span></div> <div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #404040; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; margin: 10px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">In the early days of European football, smaller clubs were occasionally persuaded to play both their home and away games at their opponents' stadiums, but no away game involved a shorter round trip than <span style="border: 0px; color: #2a549e; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">these two Milan derbies</span></span>. The clubs always have the same dressing rooms at San Siro, ensuring an away trip of 0km for these ties. Ironically, the first of them was won on away goals.</span></div> <div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #404040; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; margin: 10px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Most northerly UEFA games</strong></span><span class="mceNonEditable" id="mceNonEditable_2010306" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; float: left; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span><span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Norway's Tromsø IL have played 27 UEFA home games at their Alfheim Stadium.<br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Tromso's coordinates are 69° 40' 58" N, which is inside the Arctic Circle.<br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />The longest UEFA journey to Tromso was taken by İnter Bakı, who had to travel 3,717km for a 2-0 UEFA Europa League second qualifying round defeat in July 2013.</span></div> <div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #404040; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; margin: 10px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Most southerly UEFA games (excluding European/South American Cup)</strong><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Spain's UD Las Palmas have played five UEFA home games at their Estadio de Gran Canaria. Las Palmas lies in the Canary Islands, coordinates 28° 9' 0" N, which lie off the coast of Morocco and are further south than Cairo. The longest UEFA journey to Gran Canaria was undertaken by Sloboda Tuzla, who travelled 3,548km for a 5-0 UEFA Cup first round defeat in September 1977.</span></div> <div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #404040; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; margin: 10px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Most easterly UEFA games</strong></span><span class="mceNonEditable" id="mceNonEditable_1509115" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; float: left; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span><span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Russia's Sibir Novosibirsk played two UEFA home games at their Spartak Stadium Novosibirsk. The coordinates are 82° 56' 0" E, making it about as far east as Nepal.<br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />The longest of the two journeys to play Sibir was a 4,951km haul taken by PSV Eindhoven for a 1-0 UEFA Europa League play-off defeat in August 2010.</span></div> <div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #404040; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; margin: 10px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Most westerly UEFA games (excluding European/South American Cup)</strong><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Portugal's CS Marítimo and CD Nacional have played 16 UEFA home games at their Estádio dos Barreiros – the most easterly of Funchal's two stadiums. Funchal is the main city in Madeira; its coordinates are 16° 55' 0" W, meaning it lies slightly east of Dakar.<br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />The longest journey west to Funchal was taken by Georgia's Dila Gori, who travelled 5,386km for a 1-0 UEFA Europa League play-off defeat in August 2012.</span></div> <div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #404040; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; margin: 10px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">The longest possible journeys</strong><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Confine the search to clubs who have competed in UEFA competitions and the longest possible would be a 7,991km trip for a game between Sibir Novosibirsk and Las Palmas, but even more arduous journeys could theoretically happen.</span></div> <div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #404040; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; margin: 10px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Luch-Energiya Vladivostok spent three seasons in the Russian top flight from 2006-08; their Dynamo Stadium is 100m from the Sea of Japan. A theoretical game between Luch-Energiya and Las Palmas would involve an 11,021km trip.</span></div> <div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #404040; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; margin: 10px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Europe's boundaries can be stretched even further though. Sides from overseas territories are entitled to play in the Portuguese and French domestic cups.</span></div> <div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #404040; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; margin: 10px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">On the wild off chance that a side from the Azores won the Portuguese Cup, they would most likely play their home games at the Estádio de São Miguel, in Ponta Delgada – home of CD Santa Clara – which is even further west than Funchal.</span></div> <div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #404040; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; margin: 10px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The situation in France is even more startling, given that sides from Mayotte, Reunion, Guadeloupe, Martinique and French Guyana could all theoretically qualify for European competition as French Cup winners. Should current French Guyanese champions Cayenne ever have to take on Luch-Energiya in a European game, it would involve a round trip of the best part of 30,000km – and it would be closer for them to fly west than east. The circumference of the planet, incidentally, is around 40,000km.</span></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkS9Zdd2l9vnnap627PzffAEASHZcgB1IeIwldGPjN317v75dTq9voghTIvSp9DAk3zehk5ojIEFl9w54WXpBqrvqcPYzpT7Kk7lcjAyuXZviiWrWCOqcw8rMS-JRX4MotdHMZSKQy1g/s1600/22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkS9Zdd2l9vnnap627PzffAEASHZcgB1IeIwldGPjN317v75dTq9voghTIvSp9DAk3zehk5ojIEFl9w54WXpBqrvqcPYzpT7Kk7lcjAyuXZviiWrWCOqcw8rMS-JRX4MotdHMZSKQy1g/s400/22.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #404040; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px; margin: 10px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span></div>

The longest journeys in UEFA football history

As Kairat Almaty gear up for a record 5,947km trip to Bordeaux in the UEFA Europa League, UEFA.com maps the extremes of the footballing cont...

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Bilbao thrash Barca in Spanish Super Cup behind Aduriz's hat trick

<div class="mc_content" id="NewsContent" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <div align="left" style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Athletic Bilbao roared to a stunning 4-0 victory over Barcelona in the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup after striker Aritz Aduriz picked apart the European champions with a second-half hat trick on Friday.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">It was Barcelona's biggest loss under coach Luis Enrique, whose decision to start several reserve players helped the Basque hosts focus on keeping Lionel Messi in check.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Before Aduriz turned it into a rout, Mikel San Jose set the tone in the 13th minute by lobbing Marc-Andre ter Stegen's long clearance back over the goalkeeper's head with a shot from inside the center circle.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Barcelona will have to rebound on Monday at Camp Nou to keep alive its quest to repeat the six titles in one year won in former coach Pep Guardiola's first season.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Last May, Barcelona beat Bilbao in the final of the Copa del Rey with Messi scoring a spectacular opening goal before adding a second strike for a 3-1 win.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">That Barcelona squad was unrecognizable on Friday night, and not just in its faces. The European champion lacked both its usual verve in attack and discipline at the back.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Luis Enrique shuffled starting 11 from Tuesday's European Super Cup, when Barcelona's players tired and squandered a 4-1 lead before Pedro Rodriguez netted in added time for a 5-4 victory over Sevilla.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">That gave it four straight titles to go with the Champions League, Spanish league and Copa del Rey from last season.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Pedro started at San Mames for Neymar, out with the mumps, while Sergio Roberto played for Andres Iniesta and little-used Thomas Vermaelen and Marc Bartra anchored the defense.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">"We lost, but nothing is over yet" Barcelona midfielder Javier Mascherano said. "We still have a game at home, and we have won many games by a big score, although it will be difficult."</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Bilbao's intense pressure quickly shattered the cool control that Barcelona wanted to impose, leading to San Jose's great goal.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Ter Stegen left his area to head out a long ball, but the German keeper could only watch as San Jose controlled his long clearance and sent the ball sailing back into the net."We know how difficult it is to beat Barcelona and scoring four goals is almost impossible," Aduriz said.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">"But we cannot think four goals are enough against Barcelona at its stadium."</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Messi didn't muster Barcelona's first shot on goal until first-half injury time when goalkeeper Gorka Iraizoz did well to palm his free kick over the bar.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Barcelona briefly pushed for an equalizer after the restart, as Pedro poached a poor clearance and blasted the ball off the crossbar in the 50th. Messi then followed moments later with a low shot that was parried by Iraizoz.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">But seconds after Iniesta came on for Rafina, youngster Sabin Merino dribbled past Dani Alves and placed a cross for striker Aduriz to rise over Mascherano and head the ball home in the 53rd minute.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The story repeated itself 10 minutes later, when Luis Enrique ditched his experiment and sent on Ivan Rakitic for Roberto, only for Aduriz to score after Barcelona's defense again failed to clear the ball in the 62nd.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Aduriz brought up his hat trick from the spot six minutes later, after a senseless penalty committed by Dani Alves, who pushed Xabier Etxeita over during a corner kick.</span></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzl2Hdhxb8Qw1wyQkHFLHV1DQUq6lTyFDXlx24Fdonaz8580cRjwsLcPk4ylw7cH_ek3zc5GYFbAz_a3808-Ar0feWPcxsERf-NngQClv1qlKpKCwvyDw0dmO4ViWfTsSRp8PVaIqopA/s1600/bibao1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzl2Hdhxb8Qw1wyQkHFLHV1DQUq6lTyFDXlx24Fdonaz8580cRjwsLcPk4ylw7cH_ek3zc5GYFbAz_a3808-Ar0feWPcxsERf-NngQClv1qlKpKCwvyDw0dmO4ViWfTsSRp8PVaIqopA/s400/bibao1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <div> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></span></div> </div>

Bilbao thrash Barca in Spanish Super Cup behind Aduriz's hat trick

Athletic Bilbao roared to a stunning 4-0 victory over Barcelona in the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup after striker Aritz Aduriz picke...

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Pedro rethinks Manchester United move over fears about Louis van Gaal

<div class="mc_content" id="NewsContent" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <div style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Manchester United’s potential move for Pedro has stalled as he considers the managerial style of Louis van Gaal, with the Dutchman having fallen out with Víctor Valdes, the Spanish goalkeeper who is a good friend of the Barcelona forward.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Van Gaal’s recent handling of David de Gea’s future is also a factor in Pedro taking stock of his options. The United No1 has been dropped from the side – with Sergio Romero keeping his place in goal in the 1-0 victory at Villa Park on Friday night – and the manager this week claimed De Gea told the club he did not wish to play as he is distracted due to Real Madrid’s interest. However, De Gea is bemused by Van Gaal’s handling of the situation and Pedro has noted the manager’s stance in relation to another of his compatriots.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Pedro has a release clause of €30m (£21.3m) yet, having previously been minded to join United, he is now deliberating. The forward has been on Manchester City’s radar and while the club are not currently pursuing a deal to take the 28-year-old to the Etihad, Pedro may offer a fall-back option should a deal fail to be struck with Wolfsburg for Kevin De Bruyne, who is City’s first choice.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Van Gaal left Valdes out of United’s summer tour of America as the manager was unhappy with his attitude in refusing to play for the reserve team last season. Yet the 33-year-old did make some appearances for the reserves. Valdes is a friend of Pedro’s from his time at Barça when each were part of Pep Guardiola’s successful team.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">While Pedro could still decide to join United, De Gea’s future at the club is in the balance. It is understood he trained with the reserve squad this week and there would be some surprise if the 24-year-old is still a United player when the transfer window closes on 1 September.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Van Gaal’s decision to go public on Thursday regarding De Gea has compounded the view. Then, he said: "We talked with him [De Gea] and he fully agreed with our decision. Frans Hoek [United’s goalkeeping coach] – he has a meeting with David de Gea and he asked him: ‘Do you want to play?’" Asked what the response was, Van Gaal said: "‘No.’ Then I have to take the decision."</span></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil9wdsQdFYCBp6Q4YkqRzHCi6_5EV4pxFB7OdHoFDE_5RbPJMgY6B-fRSQ97Pqg-8yTPHuXf6jY6evFkLgAccy53tabLYB1P9AtPHmLBko5ZcUOug2skrbSi60PWKyhyphenhyphenZWKe0qMJ0Dew/s1600/barca25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil9wdsQdFYCBp6Q4YkqRzHCi6_5EV4pxFB7OdHoFDE_5RbPJMgY6B-fRSQ97Pqg-8yTPHuXf6jY6evFkLgAccy53tabLYB1P9AtPHmLBko5ZcUOug2skrbSi60PWKyhyphenhyphenZWKe0qMJ0Dew/s400/barca25.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <div> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></span></div> </div>

Pedro rethinks Manchester United move over fears about Louis van Gaal

Manchester United’s potential move for Pedro has stalled as he considers the managerial style of Louis van Gaal, with the Dutchman having ...

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Aston Villa sign talented Barca ace Adama Traore

<div class="mc_content" id="NewsContent" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <div align="left" style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Aston Villa have today completed the signing of Barcelona wonderkid Adama Traore on a five-year deal for an undisclosed fee, after fending off competition from several sides for the 19-year-old star.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The Villans had been heavily linked with Traore over the last few weeks, but there were other sides who were keen as well, such as Stoke City and Liverpool.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Mark Hughes confirmed last week at his pre-match press conference ahead of the clash with Brendan Rodgers’ side that Traore was in discussions with the club, but the Potters boss did not seem too confident in his expressions.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Metro reported shortly after that Liverpool had rejoined the race to sign Traore, but that has now gone out the window with the young forward the latest to join Tim Sherwood’s troops.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Traore joined Barcelona’s youth setup in 2004 at the age of eight and in 2013 he was promoted to the club’s ‘B’ team, before making his debut later that year.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The 19-year-old then played his first La Liga game at the age of only 17, replacing Neymar in a home win over Granada and just a few days later he also played in his first Champions League match.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Traore is highly-rated in Spain and his departure from Barcelona could anger some fans perhaps.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Villa have already signed the likes of Rudy Gestede, Jordan Ayew, Jordan Amavi and Jordan Veretout, which contributed to their opening day win over Bournemouth last week.</span><br /> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></span> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">next : </span><a href="http://www.mebet365.com/2018/11/the-big-match-tactical-view-arsenal-v.html" style="font-size: medium; text-align: start;">The Big Match Tactical View: Arsenal v Liverpool</a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCckIewqAWFUFSXirZPVkPfgxAU9WmNGJ1cF_hfZoc1K5zlOn7at041fkj3joQJMbiENJVqG-7fQQidoKVZ0DYhQz0ZvXelvnzQfpiyG1qmyZJ3mdVAyYrijAxgfqq12EyAOuWZPoXiQ/s1600/aston+villa+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCckIewqAWFUFSXirZPVkPfgxAU9WmNGJ1cF_hfZoc1K5zlOn7at041fkj3joQJMbiENJVqG-7fQQidoKVZ0DYhQz0ZvXelvnzQfpiyG1qmyZJ3mdVAyYrijAxgfqq12EyAOuWZPoXiQ/s400/aston+villa+7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <div> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></span></div> </div>

Aston Villa sign talented Barca ace Adama Traore

Aston Villa have today completed the signing of Barcelona wonderkid Adama Traore on a five-year deal for an undisclosed fee, after fending...

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Aston Villa 0-1 Manchester United: Januzaj strikes for unconvincing Red Devils

<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The Belgium international opened the scoring in the first half with a goal that was enough for the Red Devils to extend their winning record at Villa Park.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Adnan Januzaj showed why Louis van Gaal insisted he is not for sale by scoring on his first start since February as <b>Manchester United beat Aston Villa 1-0 in the Premier League.</b></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">United manager Van Gaal this week ruled allowing Januzaj to leave Old Trafford amid reported interest from Sunderland and the Belgium international repaid the Dutchman for putting his faith in him at Villa Park.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Januzaj showed great skill and composure to score his first Premier League goal since April 2014 and ensure United made it two wins out of two in the league on Friday.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b>Manchester United</b> goalkeeper Sergio Romero was rarely troubled as he kept a second consecutive clean sheet, as David de Gea was once again not involved as speculation over a move to Real Madrid continues.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">In a game brought forward at the request of West Midlands Police, with a march in Walsall on Saturday, Villa lacked a cutting edge as their wait for a first home league win over United since 1995 goes on.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b>Aston Villa</b> manager Tim Sherwood named an unchanged starting line-up, meaning Rudy Gestede had to settle for a place on the bench despite scoring the winner at Bournemouth last Saturday.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Januzaj was recalled at the expense of former Villa winger Ashley Young in the only change to the <b>Manchester United </b>team following the victory over Tottenham.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Two of United's new signings combined for their first goalscoring opportunity of the night, with Memphis Depay whipping in a free-kick that Morgan Schneiderlin could only head wide.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Depay was then denied by Brad Guzan when the alert Villa goalkeeper raced out to avert the danger with a sliding tackle as the Netherlands international raced clear.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b>Manchester United </b>were in front 29 minutes in, though, as Januzaj latched onto a brilliant pass from Juan Mata and cut inside Micah Richards before finding the far corner of the net with a shot that deflected off Ciaran Clark.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">It was no more than United deserved, with Villa showing plenty of endeavour without looking threatening in the first half.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Jordan Ayew had half a chance to equalise just after half-time but fired high over the crossbar, before Jordan Amavi surged down the left and drilled over a cross that evaded everyone as Villa raised the tempo.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Gestede replaced Scott Sinclair before the hour mark, while Van Gaal sent on Bastian Schweinsteiger and Ander Herrera in place of Michael Carrick and Januzaj.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Depay should have opened his league account 18 minutes from time when Mata once again opened up the Villa defence with a fine pass, but the Netherlands international shot wide with only Guzan to beat.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b>Aston Villa's latest signing Adama Traore</b> - recruited from Barcelona earlier in the day - watched on from the stands as his new team-mates ran out of ideas and United made it back-to-back 1-0 victories.</span><br /> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">next : </span><strong style="border: 0px; color: black; font-size: medium; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"> <a href="http://www.mebet365.com/2018/11/the-big-match-tactical-view-arsenal-v.html">The Big Match Tactical View: Arsenal v Liverpool</a></span></strong></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY-9nxV7DW8fNu1a8TdBuGhezdnZRon2MDmCf3E-98nbiTvWeLFAVOPYjVmDvd303S6_LwL1TVzesyWkuD8CQlgmpXLXZK5zzDwn2LUYJoVvTUTKE959byYQFYeYCSzkl4Y64B4Xgy7w/s1600/mu41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY-9nxV7DW8fNu1a8TdBuGhezdnZRon2MDmCf3E-98nbiTvWeLFAVOPYjVmDvd303S6_LwL1TVzesyWkuD8CQlgmpXLXZK5zzDwn2LUYJoVvTUTKE959byYQFYeYCSzkl4Y64B4Xgy7w/s400/mu41.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <div> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></span></div>

Aston Villa 0-1 Manchester United: Januzaj strikes for unconvincing Red Devils

The Belgium international opened the scoring in the first half with a goal that was enough for the Red Devils to extend their winning recor...

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Koutsokoumnis re-elected in Cyprus

<span style="border: 0px; color: #404040; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Costakis Koutsokoumnis has been re-elected as Cyprus Football Association president for a fourth term, and pledged further dialogue to help the association progress.</span></span><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="border: 0px; color: #404040; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Cyprus Football Association (CFA) president Costakis Koutsokoumnis has been re-elected for a fourth consecutive term at the association's general assembly.</span></span><br /> <div class="innerText clearfix" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; color: #404040; line-height: 10px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 1px 6px;"> <div class="clearLeft newsBody" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; clear: both; float: left; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 646.008483886719px;"> <div class="newsText" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 10px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Koutsokoumnis has been at the helm of the CFA since 2001. "I thank you all from the bottom of my heart for your support," he told the assembly. "I thank you for your respect, for your honour and for your recognition. I thank you for being friends and fellow travellers along the beautiful path of football."</span></div> <div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 10px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Koutsokoumnis' tenure at the CFA has coincided with some remarkable successes for football on the Mediterranean island, and for the CFA itself. The island's top clubs are frequent participants in the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League, while there has also been some sterling work at grassroots level, and in women's football, thanks also to the assistance provided by the UEFA HatTrick programme.</span></div> <div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 10px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">"We can move forward in a lot of areas regarding football," Koutsokoumnis said. "I can say that I will work rigorously – just like in previous years – to address the problems we face head-on and, together, to work through dialogue in finding solutions and ways through."</span></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7_8_oU8UFnx3AZxzN7GvryDU5M78JaRv3xkinUC8W3cDuovGHQhYC_woBxICwn1zvlmFoiWarVZMkJ8enTNG8jL-NdYXnyhnDP8CY3eEM9-amKiFWdyiKy2ck6Se9xkqd5KGM5Qz2hA/s1600/13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7_8_oU8UFnx3AZxzN7GvryDU5M78JaRv3xkinUC8W3cDuovGHQhYC_woBxICwn1zvlmFoiWarVZMkJ8enTNG8jL-NdYXnyhnDP8CY3eEM9-amKiFWdyiKy2ck6Se9xkqd5KGM5Qz2hA/s400/13.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 10px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span></div> </div> </div> </div>

Koutsokoumnis re-elected in Cyprus

Costakis Koutsokoumnis has been re-elected as Cyprus Football Association president for a fourth term, and pledged further dialogue to help ...

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North Melbourne recovers for 37-point win over St Kilda, keeping top four hopes alive

<div class="first" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">North Melbourne has recovered from a shaky first half to record a comfortable 37-point win over St Kilda at Bellerive Oval.</span></div> <div class="first" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span></div> <span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">The Saints will be left to bemoan poor kicking at goal - particularly in the second quarter - that saw the visitors fail to take advantage of a dominant period before the Roos rallied to run out 18.12 (120) to 11.17 (83) winners.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"></span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">St Kilda took a 20-point lead into the half-time break, but the game completely changed after the long change as Drew Petrie wielded his influence up forward and the midfielders began to influence the play.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"></span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">The win puts the Kangaroos back above Adelaide in sixth and keeps their top four hopes alive, although they will be concerned about a possible suspension to Jack Ziebell, who was reported for a late hit to the head of Jack Newnes.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"></span><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFBeaItjJ_ntz1_TFNpTqjDpKayg5aW7PuJu9ULoKpvapArbtcyvF-OL_DDCQVuRhsD54oD-q2NjexXJThm1OUZywckIR6_b96Z7hugnopzIulyK4wv2B4PL0d6sqqY2IRu0uqkuQIPA/s1600/188.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFBeaItjJ_ntz1_TFNpTqjDpKayg5aW7PuJu9ULoKpvapArbtcyvF-OL_DDCQVuRhsD54oD-q2NjexXJThm1OUZywckIR6_b96Z7hugnopzIulyK4wv2B4PL0d6sqqY2IRu0uqkuQIPA/s400/188.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span>

North Melbourne recovers for 37-point win over St Kilda, keeping top four hopes alive

North Melbourne has recovered from a shaky first half to record a comfortable 37-point win over St Kilda at Bellerive Oval. The Saints w...

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Adelaide Crows beat Essendon by 112 points at Docklands to break into top eight

<div class="first" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Eddie Betts's five-goal AFL haul has helped Adelaide thump a sorry Essendon by 112 points.</span></div> <div class="first" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">The Crows continued their campaign for finals football by thrashing James Hird's side 27.9 (171) to 8.11 (59); Essendon's second loss by more than a hundred points in seven rounds.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"></span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">Adelaide needed a quarter to click into gear, but then an hour </span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">of dominant football ensured its return to the top eight.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"></span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">Between two running goals from Dangerfield in the first and third terms, the Crows kicked 12 unanswered goals to settle the contest.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"></span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">With the match in the bag, the Crows produced their best ever final term to utterly crush the Bombers with 11 goals.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"></span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">Betts kicked five goals for the game, with best-afield Patrick Dangerfield, Taylor Walker and Josh Jenkins kicking with three each.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"></span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">Dangerfield and Rory Laird powered Adelaide in the midfield. The Crows attacked relentlessly and finished with 14 different goalkickers.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"></span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">Time and again the Bombers erred while trying to clear their lines, allowing Adelaide to lay siege to their goal.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"></span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">The thumping is the latest in a woeful end to the Bombers' season, with James Hird's side losing 10 of their past 11 outings.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"></span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">The Bombers at least started well, with the fit-again David Myers winning the first clearance on his return from injury.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"></span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">Cale Hooker's two goals gave Essendon a six-point lead at the first change.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"></span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">At full-time that lead felt like a fantasy as the Crows took total control.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"></span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">Goals from Rory Sloane and Jarryd Lyons gave Adelaide the lead, with Essendon well off the pace.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"></span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">Hooker was playing a lone hand in the Bombers' forward line but shanked a set shot from 20 metres out to keep them in the contest.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"></span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">The miss felt like a turning point and so it proved as the Crows ran away with the contest.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"></span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">Betts and Taylor Walker added to their first-term majors with goals to push the Crows to a five-goal half-time break and crack the match open.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"></span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">Betts continued the rout with a never-say-die effort inside the goalsquare to open the third term.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"></span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">Essendon finally arrested the streak through Shaun Edwards but the Crows were far from done.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"></span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">Playing as if hunting a massive percentage boost, Adelaide slammed on six goals in nine fourth-quarter minutes without response as it cut the Dons to ribbons.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"></span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">Betts saved his best until last, threading the needle from a set shot outside the boundary line to cap his five-star performance.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"></span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> </span><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKCt9_pgJlV6uichpXcDl8CmVB0PNarkkWYztT63s-NyhNwlaAeFQGmwlzA7MuS_3v3KeLji4hitX3OqiRRwdT1LeZFhvuNa5vh0owF93Gwlg4-KpNWZj4yNYypjp7RfyN9yIQVpojZQ/s1600/189.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKCt9_pgJlV6uichpXcDl8CmVB0PNarkkWYztT63s-NyhNwlaAeFQGmwlzA7MuS_3v3KeLji4hitX3OqiRRwdT1LeZFhvuNa5vh0owF93Gwlg4-KpNWZj4yNYypjp7RfyN9yIQVpojZQ/s400/189.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <span style="background-color: white; 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Adelaide Crows beat Essendon by 112 points at Docklands to break into top eight

Eddie Betts's five-goal AFL haul has helped Adelaide thump a sorry Essendon by 112 points. The Crows continued their campaign for ...

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Brisbane Broncos beat St George Illawarra Dragons 32-6 to move clear on top of NRL ladder

<div class="first" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Brisbane has bounced back to winning ways with a convincing 32-6 victory over St George Illawarra on Friday night.</span></div> <div class="first" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span></div> <span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">The Broncos will hold on to the NRL top spot for at least another week after the six-tries-to-one win, which ends a two-game losing run.</span><br /> <span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"></span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">The Dragons, with Benji Marshall unavailable due to a hamstring strain, threw up a surprise when coach Paul McGregor named forward Jack De Belin at half-back.</span><br /> <span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"></span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">The gamble did not pay dividends however with the Dragons dominating territory in the first half but coming off the field 16-0 behind at the break.</span><br /> <span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"></span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">The Broncos, who only had 11 tackles inside the Dragons' 20 in the first half, made the most of every trip through tries to Jordan Kahu, Lachlan Maranta and Anthony Milford.</span><br /> <span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"></span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">The Dragons came closest when Kahu dithered over a kick in-goal but winger Justin Hunt somehow overshot the ball as he attempted to pounce on it.</span><br /> <span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"></span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">A double to Broncos half-back Ben Hunt in the second half sealed the points as coac</span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">h Wayne Bennett claimed just a second win in 14 matches against his former club.</span><br /> <span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"></span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">A late consolation try by Justin Hunt at least limited the damage to the Dragons' percentage as they battle to stay in the top eight.</span><br /> <span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"></span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">St George Illawarra also lost captain Ben Creagh after he failed a concussion test at half-time and had to sit out the rest of the match.</span><br /> <span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"></span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">The Broncos have now moved two points clear on top of the ladder after North Queensland was beaten by South Sydney on Thursday night.</span><br /> <span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"></span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">Broncos coach Wayne Bennett praised his players, saying they exhibit all the characteristics of a winning team, but bemoaned the NRL's changes to the shoulder charge law.</span><br /> <span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"></span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">"The bottom line is they had the rules there, and they didn't enforce the rules. So they put some more rules in to make sure they did enforce it in the future," Bennett told Grandstand.</span><br /> <span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"></span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">"Incompetency from the judiciary themselves - that's what has started it.</span><br /> <span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"></span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">"They made a very poor decision a couple of weeks ago, and the game has taken a hit for it."</span><br /> <span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"></span> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwUqxkfcd5oK7qzM0bR_SkRENGwfKPs9rx9v6oXar0S9ILTWzMhj9tH-fTU0rCzr8Grd03z0vFWFU1lI-oH_MMF7FKuheBBaBcU3M5N5TsPq1A55E952i9M5LBEdIDtNAFaKUyQwmkTA/s1600/144.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwUqxkfcd5oK7qzM0bR_SkRENGwfKPs9rx9v6oXar0S9ILTWzMhj9tH-fTU0rCzr8Grd03z0vFWFU1lI-oH_MMF7FKuheBBaBcU3M5N5TsPq1A55E952i9M5LBEdIDtNAFaKUyQwmkTA/s400/144.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span>

Brisbane Broncos beat St George Illawarra Dragons 32-6 to move clear on top of NRL ladder

Brisbane has bounced back to winning ways with a convincing 32-6 victory over St George Illawarra on Friday night. The Broncos will hold...

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Southampton v Everton: Pelle to march Saints to all three points

<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1e1e1e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.5em; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Southampton v Everton</span><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Saturday, August 15, 12:45<br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Live on BT Sport 1</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1e1e1e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.5em; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="border: 0px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Southampton</span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1e1e1e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.5em; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Saints assistant manager Erwin Koeman felt that his side should have left St James' Park with three points after Sadio Maine missed two late chances to win the match 3-2. But concluded that it was a decent point with which to kick-off the new season.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1e1e1e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.5em; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Graziano Pellè</span> had opened the scoring for Saints with his third goal of the season before<span style="border: 0px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Shane Long</span> equalised 11 minutes from the end, after conceding either side of half-time to fall behind in the game. Pellè's goal was his third of the campaign already following one in each of the <span style="border: 0px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Europa League</span> qualifiers, while Long was notching his second in the same number of games.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1e1e1e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.5em; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Ronald Koeman</span> watched the game from home following surgery on his Achilles, but will return to the dugout this weekend.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1e1e1e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.5em; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Team News:</em></span> <span style="border: 0px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Oriol Romeu</span> could make his debut after completing a £5million move from Chelsea, but it's unlikely that Virgil Van Dijk will line-up in red and white stripes this weekend despite Southampton being in talks with Celtic regarding the player.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1e1e1e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.5em; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Ryan Bertrand and Jordy Clasie are each doubtful with minor injuries, while Fraser Forster remains a long-term absentee.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1e1e1e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.5em; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="border: 0px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Everton</span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1e1e1e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.5em; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The Toffees also kicked off the season with a <span style="border: 0px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">2-2 draw</span> as they twice equalised against newly-promoted Watford last Saturday. <span style="border: 0px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Roberto Martinez</span>, however, was left disappointed by the performance and result and suggested that he needs three more signings if his team are to be competitive this season. On the evidence of that opening game, it's difficult to argue with him.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1e1e1e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.5em; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">There were some positives to take from the draw though. <span style="border: 0px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Arouna Kone's</span> late equaliser was only his second goal in 18 appearances (seven of which were as a substitute) for the club since signing over two years ago - perhaps the Ivorian can finally put his injury torment behind him - and <span style="border: 0px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Ross Barkley</span> marked the start of a new season with a screamer of a goal as well as an impressive performance to suggest that the summer's break may have revitalised him.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1e1e1e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.5em; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><em style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Team News:</em></span> The extent of <span style="border: 0px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Leighton Baines'</span> recent injury remains unclear, although the 30-year-old will definitely miss this weekend's game. Darron Gibson, Tony Hibbert, Aiden McGeady and Steven Pienaar are all also out with long-term injuries, but <span style="border: 0px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Kevin Mirallas</span> is expected to be available for selection and Gerard Deulofeu and Muhamed Besic may be considered for inclusion in the first team squad.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1e1e1e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.5em; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="border: 0px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: color 0.2s;">Match Odds</span></span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1e1e1e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.5em; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Everton's record in this fixture is particularly poor. Southampton are <span style="border: 0px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">unbeaten in six</span> Premier League meetings on the south coast and the Toffees have failed to score on each of their last three visits to St. Mary's.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1e1e1e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.5em; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The absence of captain Baines is also disconcerting given that Roberto Martinez's side have<span style="border: 0px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">won only two of eight</span> games since the start of last season without the defender in the team.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1e1e1e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.5em; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">I fancy Southampton for the three points this weekend, they looked the sharper of the two sides on the opening weekend and were particularly strong on home soil last season. That said, I'm not overly enamoured by odds of <span class="inline-odds has-qtip" data-hasqtip="1" oldtitle="1/1" style="background: rgb(255, 184, 12); border: 0px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 2px 1px;" title=""><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: color 0.2s;">2.00</span></span> and would probably rather put my money elsewhere.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1e1e1e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.5em; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="border: 0px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: color 0.2s;">Over/Under 2.5 Goals</span></span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1e1e1e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.5em; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Over the last three seasons, since Southampton were promoted back to the Premier League, there's been an even 50/50 split of games between these two clubs that have produced over/under 2.5 goals.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1e1e1e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.5em; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Although Everton's record of not having scored here on their last three visits is slightly worrying, this Southampton <span style="border: 0px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">defence doesn't look as tight</span> without Fraser Forster and the now-departed Toby Alderweireld and I'm happy to suggest a value bet on Over 2.5 Goals at odds of <span class="inline-odds has-qtip" data-hasqtip="2" oldtitle="5/4" style="background: rgb(255, 184, 12); border: 0px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 2px 1px;" title=""><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: color 0.2s;">2.26</span></span> this Saturday.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1e1e1e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.5em; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="border: 0px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: color 0.2s;">To Score</span></span></span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1e1e1e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.5em; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Graziano Pellè has begun this season as he did the last and already has three goals to his name. <span style="border: 0px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">11 of his 13 Premier League goals</span> have come at home and he now has five in his last eight Premier League appearances after ending the 2014/15 season in fine fettle.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1e1e1e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.5em; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Take some of the <span class="inline-odds has-qtip" data-hasqtip="3" oldtitle="9/5" style="background: rgb(255, 184, 12); border: 0px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; padding: 3px 2px 1px;" title=""><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: color 0.2s;">2.80</span></span> on the Italian continuing with his rich vein of form by backing him in the To Score market. And if you're feeling adventurous you can also get <span class="inline-odds has-qtip" data-hasqtip="4" oldtitle="9/1" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #ffb80c; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 3px 2px 1px; transition: color 0.2s;" title="">10.00</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: color 0.2s;"> </span>that he scores two or more in the game.</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1e1e1e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.5em; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="border: 0px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Recommended Bets</span></span></div> <span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; border: 0px; color: #1e1e1e; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #1e1e1e; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.5em; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; transition: color 0.2s;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: color 0.2s;">2pts Back Over 2.5 Goals @</span><span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: color 0.2s;"> </span></span><span class="inline-odds has-qtip" data-hasqtip="5" oldtitle="5/4" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #ffb80c; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 3px 2px 1px; transition: color 0.2s;" title="">2.26</span></span></span></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJLXAhjjBR30_4-HhJ5Cwdl44oB3dZnEpJ7eKTlSld8WAo6oDLSHpKNYBhQpTfogRFz53lv7OSLPgXYwdlc-wBwgj6tPB1yQEQLqs4OhwGTWX0p81853UE8FHNr4KMIMggi4fIW28Oyg/s1600/8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJLXAhjjBR30_4-HhJ5Cwdl44oB3dZnEpJ7eKTlSld8WAo6oDLSHpKNYBhQpTfogRFz53lv7OSLPgXYwdlc-wBwgj6tPB1yQEQLqs4OhwGTWX0p81853UE8FHNr4KMIMggi4fIW28Oyg/s320/8.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span></div>

Southampton v Everton: Pelle to march Saints to all three points

Southampton v Everton Saturday, August 15, 12:45 Live on BT Sport 1 Southampton Saints assistant manager Erwin Koeman felt that his sid...

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