Captain Cesc Fabregas Scores Twice

Fabregas celebrates his goal

Arsenal Captain Cesc Fabregas scored his second goal of 2008/2009 season in an English Premier League match last Sunday (4/26).

Cesc Fabregas trebled his goal tally for the season as Arsenal prepared for Old Trafford in fine style with a 2-0 win over Middlesbrough on Sunday. The Spaniard had just one strike to his name before Gareth Southgate’s side arrived at Emirates Stadium this afternoon.



However Fabregas plundered goals from Andrey Arshavin's cut-back in the 26th minute and Emmanuel Eboue’s incisive ball midway through the second half to give his side a straightforward victory against a relegation-haunted side.



The latter effort ended both the game as a contest and the Arsenal captain’s participation this afternoon. Before the game could kick-off again, Wenger withdrew Fabregas and Theo Walcott.



It was clearly a move made with Wednesday’s Champions League Semi-Final first leg at Manchester United in mind.

arsenal.com

Sudirman Cup 2009 Groups

Division One
Group A:_____________________Group B:

1-Denmark___________________ 2-Indonesia
4-Malaysia____________________3-China
5-Korea______________________6-England
7-Hong Kong__________________ 8-Japan

“We have a tougher draw. It will be a three-pronged challenge in the Group A. Denmark and South Korea have stronger women players,” said Koo Kien Keat, a men's doubles player from Malaysia.

“The men’s doubles players will have to deliver a sure point to keep the team’s hopes alive."

“If we lose, it will put a great pressure on the team. We have to try and win a point,” added Kien Keat.

“South Korea have been fielding many new men’s pairs of late while Denmark will be banking on their regulars.”

internationalbadminton
thestar

Sudirman Cup 2009 Selected Asian Squads

China 14-men, 13-women

Lin Dan.........................................Lu Lan
Chen Jin........................................Xie Xingfang
Bao Chunlai..................................Wang Yihan
Chen Long....................................Wang Lin
Cai Yun.........................................Yu Yang
Fu Haifeng....................................Du Jing
Xu Chen........................................Zhao Tingting
Guo Zhendong.............................Zhang Yawen
Chai Biao.......................................Pan Pan
Shen Ye.........................................Tian Qing
He Hanbin.....................................Ma Jin
Xie Zhongbo..................................Cheng Shu (added)
Sun Junjie......................................Zhao Yunlei (added)
Zheng Bo

Indonesia 12-men, 9-women

Sony Dwi Kuncoro.......................Maria Kristin
Simon Santoso.............................Adrianti Firdasari
Tommy Sugiarto..........................Linda Weni
Markis Kido..................................Shendy Puspa Irawati
Hendra Setiawan.........................Meiliana Jauhari
Bona Septano................................Greysia Polii
Mohammad Ahsan......................Nitya Krishinda
Rian Sukmawan...........................Lilyana Natsir
Yonathan Dasuki..........................Lita Nurlita
Nova Widhianto
Devin Lahardi
Fran Kurniawan

Korea 8-men, 6-women

Park Sung-hwan........................Hwang Hye-youn
Lee Yong-dae.............................Lee Hyo-jung
Hwang Ji-man............................Lee Kyung-won
Han Sang-hoon...........................Ha Jung-eun
Yoo Yeon-seong.........................Kim Min-jung
Jang Young-soo..........................Kim Moon-hi
Shin Baek-cheol
Jung Jae-sung

Malaysia 8-men, 8-women

Lee Chong Wei..........................Julia Wong
M Hafiz Hashim........................Wong Mew Choo
Kuan Beng Hong.......................Wong Pei Tty
Tan Chun Seang........................Chin Eei Hui
Koo Kien Keat...........................Goh Liu Ying
Tan Boon Heong.......................Woon Khe Wei
M Zakry AL...............................Vivian Hoo
M F Tazari.................................Ng Hui Lin

Japan 7-men, 7-women

Sho Sasaki.................................Mayu Sekiya
Kenichi Tago.............................Sayaka Sato
Shintaro Ikeda..........................Reiko Shiota
Kenichi Hayakawa...................Miyuki Maeda
Kenta Kazuno...........................Satoko Suetsuna
Noriyasu Hirata.......................Mizuki Fukii
Hirokatsu Hashimoto..............Reika Kakiiwa

Hong Kong 7-men, 6-women

Chan Yan Kit.............................Zhou Mi
Ng Wei.......................................Wang Chen
Albertus Njoto...........................Yip Pui Yin
Yohan Wiratama.......................Chau Hoi Wah
Hui Wan Ho...............................Koon Wai Chee
Hu Yun ......................................Chan Tsz Ka
Wong Wai Hong

Thailand 7-men, 5-women

Boonsak Ponsana .....................Salakjit Ponsana
Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk..Porntip Buranaprasertsuk
Pakkawat Vilailak.....................Duanganong Aroonkesorn
Sudket Prapakamol..................Kuchala Worawichitchaikul
Songpol Anukritayawan...........Saralee Thungthongkam
Nittipong Saengsila
Nutthapon Narkthong

Arshavin's Record!

Andrey Arshavin created a new record as he struck four for Arsenal's holding Liverpool 4-4 in Anfield, Liverpool.



Though Arsenal didn't win, Arshavin became the first player to score four times in the English Premier League.

For Arsenal, this was the second time in a period of two years that a Gunner scored a quadruple in a match. In 2007, Julio Baptista, now playing in AS Roma, also contributed four goals against Liverpool again in an English League Cup match that ended 6-3.

Arsenal is now sturdy in the fourth position, but they still aim to finish higher in the table.

Roger Cruises in Monte Carlo

Monte Carlo - Swiss Roger Federer got his clay-court season off to a solid start with 6-4, 6-4 win over Italian Andreas Seppi.

Roger went into his opening match with a 4-0 record against Seppi, the world number 40. He made the first breakthrough with some heavy forehands in game nine after saving two earlier break points. Two magnificent games followed from Federer as he served out the set and broke at the start of the second, going on to win.

Federer will face Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka, who was his men's doubles partner. Federer/Wawrinka were 2008 Beijing Olympic gold medalists.

all pictures are from reuters.com

Arsenal 3-0 Villarreal

Arsenal are now in the Champions League semi-final after sweeping past Villarreal at the Emirates Stadium.

Theo Walcott, Emmanuel Adebayor and Robin van Persie were on the scoresheet as Arsene Wenger's youngsters defied their injury worries in defence to wrap up the tie within an hour.

The Spaniards had Sebastian Eguren dismissed, and the hosts were then able to conserve energy for their FA Cup clash against Chelsea at the weekend.

If they win at Wembley there will be genuine hope of getting something out a season where many predicted them to slip out of the traditional top four in England.

Wenger himself admits he has been amazed by how his young players have gone 18 Barclays Premier League games without defeat - and this performance will have impressed him too.

But nothing has been easy at Arsenal this season. Earlier in the campaign William Gallas was stripped of the captaincy, now Wenger is desperately short on numbers in at the back.

Ahead of this clash, Bacary Sagna was taken ill, meaning an entire back four was missing as Arsenal protected their slender away-goals advantage.

Kolo Toure held together a defence that contained Emmanuel Eboue at right-back, Kieran Gibbs at left-back and inexperienced Lucasz Fabianski in goal.

Villarreal had problems of their own, with Marcos Senna, the cornerstone of their midfield, out injured.

They did have Robert Pires stationed on the left flank, meaning it was Arsenal's past versus the club's future, as Walcott was raiding down the right.

It was a fascinating clash, with Walcott almost putting the ball out of play early on when Pires picked up a knock, only to carry on with the ball to set up an attack.



The 20-year-old showed his ruthless side again when he netted the opener in the 10th minute.
Eboue slipped the ball forward from the right, Cesc Fabregas' flick allowed Walcott to run through on goal, with the England winger chipping home high over goalkeeper Diego Lopez.





It was reward for Arsenal's bright start after Van Persie went close with a header that cleared the crossbar and a long-range effort that Lopez gathered at the second attempt.

The hosts were inches from adding a second goal after Van Persie's powerful free-kick was saved by Lopez. Adebayor's follow-up header got deflected on target but Gonzalo Rodriguez hacked off the line.

All eyes were on the assistant referee but it would have been the tightest of calls if he had flagged for a goal.

The equation for Villarreal shifted only slightly - they still needed a goal.

Diego Godin had given Wenger's side an early scare when he got on the end of Giuseppe Rossi's free-kick and forced Fabianski into a save with his scissor-kick.

The visitors then caused some nervous moments in Arsenal's defence before the break, with Rossi getting sight of goal at the near post before the hosts scrambled clear.

Pires also had a shot blocked from the edge of the area, while Godin headed over from a corner in first-half stoppage-time.

Manuel Pellegrini's men sensed that it was their time to apply pressure on Arsenal's makeshift defence. It meant all hands on deck for Wenger's makeshift back line.

Arsenal's best option was to counter attack. Van Persie was making runs from deep to cause Villarreal problems, with Godin picking up a booking for stopping one run.

No opponent got close enough to Van Persie on the hour mark and he sent through Adebayor, who took one touch before finishing past Lopez with the outside of his boot.



The third came from Van Persie's penalty and also saw Eguran dismissed.



Godin took Walcott's legs away in the penalty area but escaped a second booking for the offence.

Eguran, who got a yellow card in the first half, got another caution for dissent and then disgracefully put his hands on the referee while protesting more. Van Persie kept his nerve and fired in the spot-kick.

Wenger's goalscorers were then given a breather to rest for the battles ahead.

www.espnstar.com


Walcott and Fabregas celebrate Walcott's goal


Adebayor challenges a Villarreal player


Fabregas in action


Adebayor, van Persie, and Eboue celebrate Adebayor's goal

Walcott challenges Lopez


Fabregas challenges Fernandez

pictures by reuters.com

Wigan Athletic 1-4 Arsenal

Andrei Arshavin celebrates his goal against Wigan with captain Cesc Fabregas-reuters

A blistering fightback at Wigan will give Arsenal a great boost ahead of the return leg of their Champions League clash.

The scores are locked at 1-1 but the Gunners proved against Wigan they have the firepower to make the semi-finals.

Wigan were left stunned by a breathtaking second half-performance after taking the lead through Mido.

That was when all the goals came first from Theo Walcott, then Mikael Silvestre and finally Andrey Arshavin and Alexandre Song.

However, referee Alan Wiley sparked controversy in first half stoppage-time by handing only a yellow card to Keiran Gibbs after he hauled back Antonio Valencia. To complete Wigan's misery Ben Watson's free-kick smacked the post.

Arsenal were rocked in the 18th minute when Wigan took the lead from a set-play.

Watson swung in the corner and Emmerson Boyce headed it forward. Bacary Sagna only half cleared the ball to Mido.

The Egyptian striker struck a firm shot but Lukasz Fabianski looked culpable and helped it into the net.

Nicklas Bendtner headed wide following a cross from Arshavin as Arsenal attempted to get back on level terms.

Bendtner then made space for himself on the edge of the area only to drill his effort wide of the target.

Arsenal were left exposed four minutes later and Mario Melchiot was able to make a surging run down the right.

He attempted to pick out Mido who had raced into the area but Johan Djourou was able to make an important clearance.

It was Djourou's last kick of the ball, however, as he was carried off with Silvestre replacing him.

Arsenal were looking a bit lethargic and finding it difficult to break Wigan down.

Silvestre, however, got on the end of a free-kick from Cesc Fabregas in the 42nd minute but failed to get a decent touch and Wigan were able to scramble the ball to safety.

Fabianski was looking fragile and almost conceded a second goal when he came racing out to try and beat Mido to a header.

He chose the wrong option as the striker got there first but Gibbs showed good composure to clear his header off the line.

Mido was struggling after taking a number of knocks and was given a generous round of applause when he came off in the 58th minute. He was replaced by Olivier Kapo.

Three minutes later Arsenal were level after Arshavin threaded the ball through to Walcott.

He steadied himself and rifled a shot into the corner beyond goalkeeper Chris Kirkland to make it 1-1.

It was only Walcott's second league goal of the season but his seventh overall in the campaign.

He came off in the 68th minute with Emmanuel Adebayor coming on for a late run-out.

Arsenal had suddenly stepped up a gear and went ahead after 71 minutes with a simple goal that has become their trademark.

Arshavin prodded the ball into the path of Fabregas and he immediately released Silvestre, who made no mistake from close range for his second goal of the campaign.

Arshavin then added a third on the stroke of full time when he capitalised on a mistake by substitute Jason Koumas.

Song completed Wigan's misery in the stoppage time with a fourth after a surging run.

It was an amazing finish to the game and Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was entitled to a smile of satisfaction after looking so frustrated for long periods.

espnstar

Win and Loss for Lee Hyo-jung

First seed local players, Lee Hyo-jung and Lee Yong-dae, claimed Asian Badminton Championship title after a 21-12, 21-15 win over teammates Kim Min-jung/Yoo Yeon-seong. The 2008 Olympic gold medalists needed only 35 minutes to finish the match.

Earlier, Lee Hyo-jung and her women's doubles partner Lee Kyung-won was defeated by unseeded pair Ma Jin and Wang Xiaoli. The Chinese burst into a 21-11, 21-18 win in 47 minutes.

Zhu Lin grabbed the women's singles title by defeating Xie Xingfang easily 21-11, 21-10.

The other results are senior Bao Chunlai downing 19-year-old Chen Long in tough three sets, 16-21, 21-10, and 21-16; world number one Markis Kido/Hendra Setiawan beating Korean Ko Sung-hyun/Yoo Yeon-seong 21-18 and 24-22.

Lee Yong-dae and Lee Hyo-jung Advance

Suwon-Top seed Lee Yong-dae and Lee Hyo-jung vanquished Chinese Tao Jiaming and Ma Jin 21-16, 21-18 to reach Asian Badminton Championship final in just 42 minutes.

The local favorites will meet teammate Yoo Yeon-seong/Kim Min-jung who overcame Noriyasu Hirata/Miyuki Maeda of Japan 21-15 and 21-15.

Lee Hyo-jung also progressed to the women's doubles final, pairing with Lee Kyung-won. The 2008 Olympic silver medalists defeated top-seed Cheng Wen-Hsing/Chien Yu-Chin in straight sets, 21-19, 21-18.


Lee/Lee will face Ma Jin/Wang Xiaoli of China who eliminated compatriots Zhang Jiewen/Yang Wei 21-16, 22-20.


The men's singles final is all-Chinese as fourth seed Bao Chunlai meets junior Chen Long. Bao Chunlai subdued Sho Sasaki 22-20 and 21-10. The Japanese played tough in the first set but his performance dropped in the second set.

Meanwhile, unseeded Chen Long beat another Chinese player, Du Pengyu in straight sets, 21-16 and 28-26.

In the women's singles, China dominates again. Senior player Xie Xingfang will play against Zhu Lin in the final. Xie Xingfang battled enduring Wang Yihan 21-18, 19-21, and 21-12 while Zhu Lin easily passed Wang Lin 21-12, 21-16.

Asian Badminton Championship Quarter-final Results

Mixed doubles

1-Lee Yong-dae/Lee Hyo-jung (KOR) def. Kim Ki-jung/Eom Hye-won (KOR) 21-9, 21-9
Tao Jiaming/Ma Jin (CHN) def. 6-Chai Biao/Zhang Yawen (CHN) 21- 19, 11-6 retired
Yoo Yeon-seong/Kim Min-jung (KOR) def. Chan Peng Soon/Goh Liu Ying (MAS) 21-13, 21-6
Noriyasu Hirata/Miyuki Maeda (JPN) def. Chen Zhiben/Zhang Jinkang (CHN) 21-15, 21-18

Women's doubles

3-Lee Hyo-jung/Lee Kyung-won (KOR) def. Zhang Jinkang/Wang Siyun (CHN) 21-19, 21-8
4-Zhang Jiewen/Yang Wei (CHN) def. Kim Mi-young/Jang Ye-na (KOR) 21-14, 21-10
Ma Jin/Wang Xiaoli (CHN) def. Cheng Hsiao-Yun/Wang Pei-Rong (TPE) 21-11, 21-13
1-Cheng Wen-Hsing/Chien Yu-Chin (TPE) def. Mizuki Fujii/Reika Kakiiwa (JPN) 21-15, 21-18

Men's Doubles

Hwang Ji-man/Han Sang-hoon (KOR) def. Songpol Anukritayawan/Sudket Prapakamol (THA) 21-13, 21-15
8-Ko Sung-hyun/Yoo Yeon-seong (KOR) def. Cho Gun-woo/Kim Ki-jung (KOR) 21-17, 21-12
1-Markis Kido/Hendra Setiawan (INA) def. Cheng Hung-Ling/Lin Yu-Lang (TPE) 21-15, 21-10
Chai Biao/Liu Xiaolong (CHN) def. Hoon Thien How/Lin Woon Fui (MAS) 23-21, 21-19

Women's Singles

6-Zhu Lin (CHN) def. 1-Zhou Mi (HKG) 12-21, 21-13, 21-15
3-Wang Lin (CHN) def. Jiang Yanjiao (CHN) wo
8-Wang Yihan (CHN) def. 4-Wang Chen (HKG) 21-16, 21-17
5-Xie Xingfang (CHN) def. 2-Lu Lan (CHN) 21-11, 21-18

Men's Singles

Chen Long (CHN) def. Kazuteru Kozai (JPN) 21-8, 21-17
9-Sho Sasaki (JPN) def. Zhou Wenlong (CHN) 21-18, 21-16
Du Pengyu (CHN) def. Jang Young-soo (KOR) 20-22, 21-13, 21-14
4-Bao Chunlai (CHN) def. Parupalli Kashyap (IND) 15-21, 21-9, 21-16

Federer Plays in Monte Carlo

Former world number one Roger Federer accepted a wildcard into Rolex Monte Carlo Masters that begins on Monday (4/13). He will head there to start the clay court season.

Federer is looking forward to winning his first 2009 title. In the previous two Masters events, the Swiss ace was defeated in the BNP Paribas Open semi-final by British Andy Murray, while in the Sony Ericsson Open semi-final, he was beaten by Novak Djokovic.

He was the 2006-2008 Monte Carlo finalist.

Villarreal 1-1 Arsenal

In the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first-leg result, the visitor team Arsenal managed to draw Villarreal 1-1 after the home team led 1-0 at the 10th minute through Marcos Senna's goal.



Villarreal continuously played offensive, and three Arsenal players received yellow cards: Alex Song, Emmanuel Adebayor, and Cesc Fabregas. Fabregas was marked because he started a free-kick before the referee blew the whistle.



This score remained until the end of the first-half.

The performance of the Gunners improved during the second-half, and Emmanuel Adebayor continued Cesc Fabregas' long pass, somersaulting to score a impressive equalizer.



However, this draw cost the fitness of two pillar players, goalkeeper Manuel Almunia, who suffered ankle injury, and defender William Gallas, who sprained his knee ligament. They are supposed to rest for a couple of weeks.



Other Champions League results:

Manchester United 2-2 Porto
Liverpool 1-3 Chelsea
Barcelona 4-0 Bayern Munich

Photos by reuters.com

Cesc Is BACK!

Arsenal hailed the comeback of Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas with a 2-0 win over Manchester City in Emirates Stadium.

Fabregas, who was absent for three months due to knee injury, inspired the Gunners to maintain a 17-times unbeatable record in the Premier League. His free-kick, awarded by the referee for Robinho's violating Bacary Sagna, assisted Emmanuel Adebayor's header goal at the 8th minute.

Again, Fabregas was the provider for Adebayor's second goal early in the second half, at the 49th minute.

He received a well-deserved standing ovation when he was substituted by Aaron Ramsey.