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classic michael owen

Tap Ae The League // 11.12.09 // Classic Michael Owen

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Group A Bordeaux 16pts Bayern Munich 10 pts Juventus 8pts Maccabi Haifa 0pts

Juventus 1 - 4 Bayern

Juventus and Bayern faced off in Turin, with the winner guaranteed a spot in the last 16 (Juventus only needed a draw). Juve took the lead and then just sat in content for the draw. Butt equalised from the penalty spot, a 3rd goal in the CL for the keeper. Despite defeating Inter at home on Saturday, Ciro Ferrara attempted to play it safe, taking off Del Piero at half time, and replacing him with Poulsen. Juve got what they deserved for this, as Bayern played them off the park, scoring 3 in the 2nd half to finish 4-1. Buffon made a mess of the second, and Tymoschuk scored a cracking 4th to round things off, and ease the mounting pressure on van Gaal. Impressive win with no Arjen Robben in the starting line up, and Ribery and Klose injured (with Luca Toni out of the picture having fallen out with Van Gaal) yet they still managed to inflict Juve's worst home Champions League defeat.

Maccabi Haifa 0 - 1 Bordeaux

Bordeaux winning comfortably in Israel, sealing top spot and making it through undefeated. Great finish from Jussie to win it here, and they progress to the final 16.

Group B

Man United 13 CSKA Moscow 10 Wolfsburg 7 Besiktas 4

Wolfsburg 1 - 3 Man United

All the talk before this game was of United's defensive injuries however they won pretty handsomely here. A Michael Owen hat trick, rarer than an accurate Lee Naylor cross, was the highlight here. He contrived to miss 1 other excellent chance but a great performance from him, about time too... Also worth mentioning Patrice Evra was outstanding at the back for United. The always impress Edin Dzeko got Wolfsburg's equaliser but this wasn't enough to kick them on and get the win they needed. Barzagli and Misimovic both missed good chances in the first half as well, as the German champions settle for the Europa League.

Besiktas 1 - 2 CSKA

A good win on the road for the Muscovites (without Ignashevich and Alexei Berezutskiy, who were both banned for failing a drugs test after their game at Old Trafford, though on their recent form for club and country this is probably a blessing in disguise), as they sealed their progression to the last 16. A good goal from the increasingly impressive Milos Krasic was cancelled out by Bobo, but Aldonin struck late on to give them the win.

Group C R. Madrid 13 Milan 9 Marseille 7 Zurich 4

Marseille 1 - 3 Real Madrid

A win for Marseille would have seen them through but it wasn't to be the case. Cristiano Ronaldo got his 11th and 1th goals for Real, with Raul Albiol netting in between. Lucho Gonzalez had equalised for Marseille after Ronaldo's long range free-kick found the net (Mandanda should have done better), and Lucho also missed a penalty with the score at 2-1. Madrid progress top scorers with 15.

Zurich 1 - 1 AC Milan

Zurich were looking to build on their 1-0 victory in the San Siro, and took the lead with a great free kick from Milan Gajic (again though, questions could be asked of the keeper). Ronaldinho equalised from the penalty spot and Milan seal their place in the last 16.

Group D

Chelsea 14 Porto 12 Atletico Madrid 3 APOEL Nicosia 3

Chelsea 2 - 2 APOEL

APOEL knew a Europa League spot was up for grabs if they could shock the world and win at Stamford Bridge. They took the lead early on however Essien and Drogba soon gave Chelsea the lead. A mistake from Mikel Jon Obi let Mirosavljevic in to equalise but they couldn't find a winner.

Atletico Madrid 0 - 3 Porto

Another shambolic Atletico performance in Europe. Making progress in the league under Quique Sanchez Flores, they were facing an already qualified Porto side and should have been looking to win. Porto took an early lead and it got worse from there, Hulk's goal (Porto's third) was the pick of the bunch, a terrific strike. Atletico qualify for the Europa League only on the away goal they scored in Cyprus, and things can only get better for them.

Group E

Fiorentina 15 Lyon 13 Liverpool 7 Debrecen 0

Liverpool 1 - 2 Fiorentina

Liverpool were already consigned to the Europa League before this game however another home defeat piles on the misery for them. Aquilani impressed on his first start, and Benayoun gave them a half time lead. Martin Jorgensen levelled for Fiorentina after the break before Gilardino confined Liverpool to their second successive home defeat in Europe (a first for the club) after youngster Stephen Darby's error. A shambles in Europe this season for Liverpool, their only saving grace being that Debrecen were the 4th team in their group.

Lyon 4 - 0 Debrecen

The question was always going to be how many for Lyon. Aly Cissokho and Michel Bastos both scoring good goals, to add to Bafe Gomis and Miralem Pjanic's strikes. An impressive campaign for perennial last 16 (at least) campaigners Lyon, and Bordeaux, and to think there are some who don't believe French sides impress in this competition...

Group F

Barcelona 11 Inter 9 Rubin Kazan 6 Dynamo Kiev 5

Inter 2 - 0 Rubin Kazan

Inter hadn't won a home CL game since last year v Anorthosis Famagusta, but they needed a result against the Russian champions. Great play by Zanetti on the left set up Samuel Eto'o who powered it home. The much maligned Mario Balotelli sealed the points for Inter with a cracking free-kick. Inter were buoyed by the return of Wesley Sneijder, I may be wrong, but I don't think they have lost a game when he's played for them. Rubin missed a couple of good chances, Gokdeniz and Cesar Navas the culprits. A spirited showing in this group from Rubin - they defeated the holders in the Camp Nou, and drew with both Barca and Inter in Kazan (though they should probably have won both).

Dynamo Kiev 1 - 2 Barcelona

Artem Milevskiy gave Dynamo an early lead, with Valdes letting his header slip under him. Xavi brought it level before half time, and Messi's free-kick late on denied Kiev a Europa League spot. AT one stage in the evening Kiev were in the last 16, but ended up going out of Europe altogether...

Group G

Sevilla 13 Stuttgart 9 Unirea Urziceni 8 Rangers 2

Sevilla 1 - 0 Rangers

And so Rangers European campaign comes to an end, the worst ever showing in the Champions League by a Scottish team with only 2 points (and equalling their own record of failing to win a game). The defeat could have been heavier, as they simply couldn't get close to Sevilla in the first half. Papac and Bougherra cleared off the line, and Sevilla were also denied 2 pretty good penalty appeals in the first half. Diego Capel was in magnificent form, terrorising Whittaker down the left flank. Novo had a good chance to level in the second half, and Lee McCulloch forced a good save from Palop, however Rangers will just be glad that their European campaign is finished after a dreadful season.

Stuttgart 3 - 1 Unirea

Christian Gross' first game in charge of Stuttgart saw them qualify for the last 16 at the expense of the Romanian champions. 3 goals within the first 11 minutes saw to that. A draw for the Romanians would have ensured their passage through, but they couldn't keep up with the Germans blistering start (including a rare Pavel Pogrebnyak goal, almost as rare these days as a Michael Owen hat-trick). A shame for Unirea, who have had their moments in this group, however they will console themselves with the Europa League spot.

Group H

Arsenal 13 Olympiacos 10 Standard Liege 5 AZ Alkmaar 4

AKA The group no-one cares about.

Olympiacos 1 - 0 Arsenal Reserves/Under 19's

Arsenal were already assured top spot, and as such Arsene Wenger rested most of his key players. Olympiacos knew a point would send them through, and Leonardo went one better by grabbing them all 3 with a great run and finish. Arsenal had a couple of decent chances late on, though Carlos Vela faltered twice.The performances of Ramsey and Song in particular will please Arsenal fans ahead of Sunday's trip to Anfield.

Standard Liege 1 - 1 AZ Alkmaar

Standard Liege qualify for the last 16 at Alkmaar's expense, with goalkeeper Sinan Bolat scoring in the 95th minute to equalise, and ensure the Belgians will play in Europe after Christmas.

So there we have it: Bordeaux, Bayern Munich, Manchester United, Cska Moscow, Real Madrid, AC Milan, Chelsea, Porto, Fiorentina, Lyon, Sevilla, Stuttgart, Arsenal, Olympiacos, Inter Milan and Barcelona are the last 16 teams in the Champions League. A mixed bag, Liverpool and Juventus the big shocks who went out, though neither deserve to be in the last 16. It is perhaps worth noting that 1st place doesn't really offer too much comfort - Lyon, Inter, AC Milan, and Bayern Munich all finished second, no team would savour being drawn against these sides.

Posted at 10:02, 11th December 2009

world cup draw and more

Tap Ae The League // 04.12.09

This week Tap Ae The League discussed th eweek in football including Ireland's request to become the 33rd team in a 32 team world cup. Also, Pompy have again failed to pay their staff's wages and Scotland look for their new team manager, with abour 20 applicants so far.

A look back at the week in football results gave us many boring draws in the EPL, some exciting ties and Scotland gave us yet another twist in the title race. Coming up this week are pretty much the same, some boring, some good.

FInally we look ahead to today's world cup draw, where the groups will be decided. Is the seeding system fair, what will the group of death be, will North Korea face USA at any point and will England make it to the the final so Murphy can watch them get beat with a bunch of Australians in Brisbane.

Coupon

ARSENAL v stoke

ASTON VILLA v Hull

Derby v WEST BROM

NEWCASTLE v Watford

HIBERNIAN v Motherwell

RAITH ROVERS v Airdrie Utd

Posted at 08:11, 4th December 2009

Tap Ae The League // 13.11.09 // RIP Robert Enke

This Week's Tap Ae The League brings about a round up of the last weeks football results and flashpoints, including David Ngog's horrendous penalty dive and the boring Chelsea Vs Man Utd match.

Also covered were this weeks football news, including the results of UEFA's investigation into the crowd troubles in Bucharest involving Rangers supporters and the decision by the EPL to not allow the Old Firm to join.

A look forward to the international week is highlighted, in that it is going to be awful as international weekends usually are.

The Tap Ae The League Coupon for this week is:

Brazil v England

Macedonia v Canada

Brentford v Millwall

Bury v Notts County

Shrewsbury v Torquay

Alloa v Stenhousemuir

Post your coupons on the Tap Ae The League Facebook page.

Good Luck!

Posted at 08:17, 13th November 2009

debut show

Tap Ae The League // 06.11.09 // Debut Show

The first run-out of Tap ae the League on Subcity Radio. Who knows what to expect from this first episode, but we're sure it will have some level of success and informative insights into the world of football. We will be trying our best to help you with your weekend coupon as well, so make sure to get listening. We don't expect anyone to be rising at 7am on a Friday to listen to the show live, but the show will be available for listen again during the day if you find yourself with a spare hour. So make sure to have a listen, before the weekend is out anyway.

This Weeks Coupon:

Blackburn V Portsmouth

Blackpool V Scunthorpe

Dundee V Airdrie

Stirling V Alloa

Hull V Stoke

Wigan V Fulham

Join our Facebook and let us know your weekend coupon, any 6 games in England and Scotland between Friday and Monday this weekend. Good Luck!

Posted at 13:43, 2nd November 2009