Michezo magazetini leo...

[Rutashubanyuma]

Carling Cup Final

Arsenal 1

• van Persie 39

Birmingham City 1

• Zigic 28

• Jacob Steinberg
• guardian.co.uk, Sunday 27 February 2011 15.00 GMT <li class="history">Article history To receive updated content, refresh the page (F5 for a web browser).
  This page will update automatically every minute: On | Off
  
  
  Jack Wilshere does running. Photograph: Glyn Kirk/AFP/Getty Images 71 min: Welcome to the game, Nicklas. His first contribution is to win a free-kick for Arsenal on the right, Ridgewell dragging him down two yards away from the assistant referee. Nasri takes it but Song heads well wide on the left.
  70 min: Arsenal make their first substitution and this is what Birmingham want to see: Van Persie, who's also hobbling, comes off and The Best Striker In The World&#8482; comes on in his place.
  69 min: Arsenal are offering nothing at the moment. Bendtner is getting ready to come on and I expect Rosicky, who has been invisible (although not literally), to come off.
  68 min: Now Jiranek is down. Both Birmingham defenders are struggling with injuries. Oh, this is not good.
  66 min: Birmingham free-kick. It's lumped to Zigic - who else - and although he wins his header on the right of the area, it wouldn't quite come down for either Bowyer or Fahey and Arsenal get it clear. Like most sides, they have been rumbled by Zigic today.
  65 min: "So Birmingham should be a man up and have had a penalty and have still created the better chances but have not had the better of the game?" points out Joshua Schaefer. "Maybe you're just being seduced to say nonsense by the absurdly talented little scamp?" That's a fair point. Hmmm. I take it all back. I'm not sure Johnson is going to be able to continue, you know.
  64 min: Johnson is limping after landing awkwardly. He went off for treatment but he's back now.
  63 min: This match is as wildly unpredictable as Ashley Cole with an air rifle. One minute Arsenal are in the ascendant, then Birmingham. It's terrific stuff. At the moment, Wenger looks the more troubled of the two managers.
  61 min: Beausejour has had a massive impact for Birmingham since coming on, offering them pace and skill on the left. He skins Song with alarming ease on the left, but his low ball into the area is too close to Szcezny. After Arsenal started the second half well, Birmingham are back on top.
  60 min: I should point out that Djourou was played into trouble by a rather ill-advised lob from Wilshere. I'd say he should know better but he's only 19, bless him, the absurdly talented little scamp.
  58 min: Now it's Birmingham's turn to rattle the woodwork! It was catastrophic defending from Arsenal that led to the chance, the bumbling Djourou losing the run of himself and gifting possession to Beausejour. It looked like he had taken too long to decide what to do but managed to squeeze a pass to Fahey on the edge of the area. It looked like he was going to be crowded out but when his first shot was deflected back to him, in a flash he instantly smashed the ball low and hard on to the base of Szczesny's left post. So, so unlucky for Birmingham who have arguably had the better chances in this final, although perhaps not the better of the game.
  56 min: This match is fascinatingly poised. If Ashley Cole pointed an air rifle at my head and made me choose, I'd probably go for Arsenal, but Birmingham carry a real threat, especially with Zigic playing so well. Here is again, nodding down for Bowyer, who shanks a volley miles over the top from 30 yards, to jeers from the Arsenal fans.
  
  

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

Carling Cup Final

Arsenal 1

• van Persie 39

Birmingham City 1

• Zigic 28

• Jacob Steinberg
• guardian.co.uk, Sunday 27 February 2011 15.00 GMT <li class="history">Article history To receive updated content, refresh the page (F5 for a web browser).
  This page will update automatically every minute: On | Off
  
  
  Jack Wilshere does running. Photograph: Glyn Kirk/AFP/Getty Images 71 min: Welcome to the game, Nicklas. His first contribution is to win a free-kick for Arsenal on the right, Ridgewell dragging him down two yards away from the assistant referee. Nasri takes it but Song heads well wide on the left.
  70 min: Arsenal make their first substitution and this is what Birmingham want to see: Van Persie, who's also hobbling, comes off and The Best Striker In The World™ comes on in his place.
  69 min: Arsenal are offering nothing at the moment. Bendtner is getting ready to come on and I expect Rosicky, who has been invisible (although not literally), to come off.
  68 min: Now Jiranek is down. Both Birmingham defenders are struggling with injuries. Oh, this is not good.
  66 min: Birmingham free-kick. It's lumped to Zigic - who else - and although he wins his header on the right of the area, it wouldn't quite come down for either Bowyer or Fahey and Arsenal get it clear. Like most sides, they have been rumbled by Zigic today.
  65 min: "So Birmingham should be a man up and have had a penalty and have still created the better chances but have not had the better of the game?" points out Joshua Schaefer. "Maybe you're just being seduced to say nonsense by the absurdly talented little scamp?" That's a fair point. Hmmm. I take it all back. I'm not sure Johnson is going to be able to continue, you know.
  64 min: Johnson is limping after landing awkwardly. He went off for treatment but he's back now.
  63 min: This match is as wildly unpredictable as Ashley Cole with an air rifle. One minute Arsenal are in the ascendant, then Birmingham. It's terrific stuff. At the moment, Wenger looks the more troubled of the two managers.
  61 min: Beausejour has had a massive impact for Birmingham since coming on, offering them pace and skill on the left. He skins Song with alarming ease on the left, but his low ball into the area is too close to Szcezny. After Arsenal started the second half well, Birmingham are back on top.
  60 min: I should point out that Djourou was played into trouble by a rather ill-advised lob from Wilshere. I'd say he should know better but he's only 19, bless him, the absurdly talented little scamp.
  58 min: Now it's Birmingham's turn to rattle the woodwork! It was catastrophic defending from Arsenal that led to the chance, the bumbling Djourou losing the run of himself and gifting possession to Beausejour. It looked like he had taken too long to decide what to do but managed to squeeze a pass to Fahey on the edge of the area. It looked like he was going to be crowded out but when his first shot was deflected back to him, in a flash he instantly smashed the ball low and hard on to the base of Szczesny's left post. So, so unlucky for Birmingham who have arguably had the better chances in this final, although perhaps not the better of the game.
  56 min: This match is fascinatingly poised. If Ashley Cole pointed an air rifle at my head and made me choose, I'd probably go for Arsenal, but Birmingham carry a real threat, especially with Zigic playing so well. Here is again, nodding down for Bowyer, who shanks a volley miles over the top from 30 yards, to jeers from the Arsenal fans.

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

#

Team​

GP
Pts

1

Manchester United​

27
60

2

Arsenal​

27
56

3

Manchester City​

28
50

4

Tottenham Hotspur​

27
47

5

Chelsea​

26
45

6

Liverpool​

28
39

7

Bolton Wanderers​

28
37

8

Sunderland​

28
37

9

Newcastle​

28
36

10

Everton​

27
33

Full Standings »


Premier LeagueEXCLUSIVE ANALYSIS

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

Goals

Assists

Shots

Yellows

Reds


# 1 - D. Berbatov
# 1 - Nani
# 1 - Nani
# 1 - C. Adam
# 1 - 4 Players Tied

Games
24

Goals
19


Games
23

Assists
12


Games
23

Shots
103


Games
26

Yellows
10


Reds
2

#​

Name​

GP​

Goals​

#​

Name​

GP​

Assists​

#​

Name​

GP​

Shots​

#​

Name​

GP​

Yellows​

#​

Name​

GP​

Reds​

​

1

D. Berbatov​

Man
24
19
​

2

C. Tevez​

MCY
24
18
​

3(T)

A. Carroll​

LIV
19
11
​

K. Nolan​

NCU
24
11
​

5(T)

D. Bent​

AST
6
10
​

1

Nani​

Man
23
12
​

2(T)

A. Arshavin​

ARS
26
11
​

W. Rooney​

Man
18
11
​

4

L. Baines​

EVE
27
9
​

5(T)

C. Brunt​

WBA
25
8
​

1

Nani​

Man
23
103
​

2

H. Rodallega​

WIG
26
101
​

3

D. Drogba​

CHE
25
99
​

4

C. Tevez​

MCY
24
97
​

5

C. Adam​

BLP
26
87
​

1

C. Adam​

BLP
26
10
​

2(T)

S. Gohouri​

WIG
24
9
​

C. Tiote​

NCU
20
9
​

4(T)

C. Brunt​

WBA
25
8
​

C. Clark​

AST
17
8
​

1(T)

L. Cattermole​

SUN
17
2
​

L. Koscielny​

ARS
21
2
​

Y. Mulumbu​

WBA
23
2
​

R. Shawcross​

STO
25
2
​

5(T)

A. Alcaraz​

WIG
24
1
​

Complete Stats​

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

Week 28​

Postponed

Tottenham​

vs.

Arsenal​

Postponed

Final

Aston Villa​

4-1

Blackburn​

Match Stats

Final

Everton​

2-0

Sunderland​

Match Stats

Final

Newcastle​

1-1

Bolton​

Match Stats

Final

Wolverhampton​

4-0

Blackpool​

Match Stats

Final

Wigan​

0-4

Manchester Utd​

Match Stats

Postponed

Chelsea​

vs.

Birmingham​

Postponed

Final

West Ham​

3-1

Liverpool​

Match Stats

Final

Manchester City​

1-1

Fulham​

Match Stats

Mon-02/28

Stoke City​

vs.

WBA​

3:00 PM ET

Tue-03/01

Chelsea​

vs.

Manchester Utd​

2:45 PM ET

Scores » | Fixtures »

Scoring​

Goals​

2 teams tied​

57​

Assists​

Manchester Utd​

48​

Shots​

Chelsea​

456​

Goalkeeping​

Goals Allowed​

Chelsea​

22​

Saves​

Blackpool​

129​

SOGF​

Blackpool​

179​

Discipline​

Yellow Cards​

Newcastle​

58​

Red Cards​

2 teams tied​

6​

Fouls Committed​

Bolton​

364​

Complete Stats

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

Carling Cup Final

Arsenal 1

• van Persie 39

Birmingham City 1

• Zigic 28

• Jacob Steinberg
• guardian.co.uk, Sunday 27 February 2011 15.00 GMT <li class="history">Article history To receive updated content, refresh the page (F5 for a web browser).
  This page will update automatically every minute: On | Off
  
  
  Jack Wilshere does running. Photograph: Glyn Kirk/AFP/Getty Images 75 min: Arsenal have done nothing for about twenty minutes but suddenly they burst into life, Nasri, of course, leading the charge forward. This is the danger for Birmingham - they've edged this half mostly, but Arsenal have players of such quality, and Nasri nearly makes the difference, scooting through into the area, and smashing the ball towards goal. Luckily for Birmingham it was straight at Foster who blocked it well.
  72 min: The pace has slowed a little here. Remarkably, despite appearing to only have the use of one leg, there's no sign of Johnson going off.
  71 min: Welcome to the game, Nicklas. His first contribution is to win a free-kick for Arsenal on the right, Ridgewell dragging him down two yards away from the assistant referee. Nasri takes it but Song heads well wide on the left.
  70 min: Arsenal make their first substitution and this is what Birmingham want to see: Van Persie, who's also hobbling, comes off and The Best Striker In The World&#8482; comes on in his place.
  69 min: Arsenal are offering nothing at the moment. Bendtner is getting ready to come on and I expect Rosicky, who has been invisible (although not literally), to come off.
  
  

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

Carling Cup Final

Arsenal 1

• van Persie 39

Birmingham City 1

• Zigic 28

• Jacob Steinberg
• guardian.co.uk, Sunday 27 February 2011 15.00 GMT <li class="history">Article history To receive updated content, refresh the page (F5 for a web browser).
  This page will update automatically every minute: On | Off
  
  
  Jack Wilshere does running. Photograph: Glyn Kirk/AFP/Getty Images 75 min: Arsenal have done nothing for about twenty minutes but suddenly they burst into life, Nasri, of course, leading the charge forward. This is the danger for Birmingham - they've edged this half mostly, but Arsenal have players of such quality, and Nasri nearly makes the difference, scooting through into the area, and smashing the ball towards goal. Luckily for Birmingham it was straight at Foster who blocked it well.
  72 min: The pace has slowed a little here. Remarkably, despite appearing to only have the use of one leg, there's no sign of Johnson going off.
  71 min: Welcome to the game, Nicklas. His first contribution is to win a free-kick for Arsenal on the right, Ridgewell dragging him down two yards away from the assistant referee. Nasri takes it but Song heads well wide on the left.
  70 min: Arsenal make their first substitution and this is what Birmingham want to see: Van Persie, who's also hobbling, comes off and The Best Striker In The World™ comes on in his place.
  69 min: Arsenal are offering nothing at the moment. Bendtner is getting ready to come on and I expect Rosicky, who has been invisible (although not literally), to come off.

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

Carling Cup Final

Arsenal 1

• van Persie 39

Birmingham City 1

• Zigic 28

• Jacob Steinberg
• guardian.co.uk, Sunday 27 February 2011 15.00 GMT <li class="history">Article history To receive updated content, refresh the page (F5 for a web browser).
  This page will update automatically every minute: On | Off
  
  
  Jack Wilshere does running. Photograph: Glyn Kirk/AFP/Getty Images 78 min: Apologies. The mbm tool just crashed momentarily (there's an open goal here) which meant I wasn't able to inform you of another superb save by Foster from Bendtner's shot from six yards out. It took a heavy deflection and spun up, Foster brilliantly sticking up a hand to palm it away and then grab the ball with Nasri lurking. Then Arshavin went off for Marouane Chamakh.
  
  

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

Moyes hails Beckford progress


RivalsDM



PRINT RSS



Updated Feb 27, 2011 6:06 AM ET
Everton boss David Moyes expects Jermaine Beckford to continue improving after his double strike against Sunderland on Saturday.
Beckford struck twice in the first half to ease the Toffees into mid-table in the Premier League with a 2-0 success at Goodison Park.


Beckford, 27, has had a difficult first season in the top flight after moving from Leeds last summer but now has eight goals for the campaign and appears to be finding his feet.
Moyes said: "When we brought him to the club the idea was we brought him on slowly and we had to put him in a bit too early.
"But I always thought if he got his chance and played some games he would get goals and he is proving that.
"If you move up the divisions you have to try to compete with better players.
"The defenders are better, they are stronger, faster and have better concentration. You have to move up and learn that.
"It has been a big step up for him - it is for any player to jump up two divisions - and it was going to take time.
"He has got to improve on other aspects of his game but I think his movement in the box is as good as I have seen from a lot of the best.
"He can lose defenders and go one way and then the other. He is fantastic at that."
Everton's win was only their second in six league outings but built on last week's memorable FA Cup fourth-round replay success at Chelsea.

BARCLAY'S PREMIER LEAGUE ​

Sat., Feb. 26​

Aston Villa 4-1 Blackburn | Recap
Everton 2-0 Sunderland | Recap
Newcastle 1-1 Bolton | Recap
Wigan 0-4 Man Utd | Recap
Wolves 4-0 Blackpool | Recap

Sun., Feb. 27​

West Ham 3-1 Liverpool | Recap
Man City 1-1 Fulham

Mon., Feb. 28​

Stoke City vs. West Brom

BPL Scores | Table | Fixtures​

Sunderland were competitive throughout the first half and almost cancelled out Beckford's opener when Tim Howard tipped a thunderous Stephane Sessegnon drive onto the bar.
But the second goal blunted the visitors' attack and the Black Cats surrendered to a fourth successive defeat that could have been more emphatic.
Moyes said: "I thought we did a good job today, we were in control for most periods.
"I'm maybe a little disappointed we didn't add to our tally.
"I thought we might have scored more goals but overall we won 2-0 and I've not been able to say that too often in the Premier League this season. Thankfully we got those important points."
The result knocked Sunderland down to eighth and was another blow to their hopes of pushing for a place in Europe.
"We seem to save our worst for Everton for some reason," said manager Steve Bruce, whose side have not won at Goodison Park since 1996.
"Throughout the season you have disappointing games and disappointing moments and there is no doubt this was one of them.
"We were second best all afternoon.
"Defensively we were very poor and if you don't do the basics you are going to come unstuck.
"I didn't see them do much but if you get 2-0 up it's game over, usually, in the Premier League.
"We have to get that resilience and determination that we had three or four weeks ago, to keep a clean sheet, back.
"That is why we are in the position we are - because defensively we didn't give much away.
"We were difficult to beat but that is the opposite of what we have seen today.
"We have given away poor goals and you can count on one hand how many people really played well.
"When you come away to somewhere like Everton you have to produce a better performance and have more resilience about you than we did today."

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

West Ham 3-1 Liverpool


RivalsDM



PRINT RSS



Updated Feb 27, 2011 11:27 AM ET
West Ham boosted their bid for Premier League survival with a stunning 3-1 win over Kenny Dalglish's Liverpool at Upton Park on Sunday.
The Hammers produced arguably their best display of the season to haul themselves back off the bottom of the table and all-but kill off Liverpool's faint Champions League hopes.

BARCLAY'S PREMIER LEAGUE ​

Sat., Feb. 26​

Aston Villa 4-1 Blackburn | Recap
Everton 2-0 Sunderland | Recap
Newcastle 1-1 Bolton | Recap
Wigan 0-4 Man Utd | Recap
Wolves 4-0 Blackpool | Recap

Sun., Feb. 27​

West Ham 3-1 Liverpool | Recap
Man City 1-1 Fulham

Mon., Feb. 28​

Stoke City vs. West Brom

BPL Scores | Table | Fixtures​

Goals from Scott Parker, Demba Ba - rapidly developing into one of the signings of the January transfer window - and Carlton Cole secured all three points and kept the pressure on the Hammers' relegation rivals.
Glen Johnson pulled one back for Liverpool but their late rally was in vain as their revival under Dalglish suffered its first major setback.
The defeat left the Reds eight points behind fourth-placed Tottenham having played a game more, while Avram Grant was able to celebrate a result that moved the Hammers level on points with fourth-bottom Wolves.
The hosts certainly did not lack for confidence in the opening moments, Thomas Hitzlsperger - making his Premier League debut for the club - unleashing an outrageous 40-yard volley that flew into the arms of Jose Reina.
A minute later, Raul Meireles looped a header wide from the fit-again Steven Gerrard's pinpoint 50-yard ball before Martin Skrtel was booked for tripping Frederic Piquionne in full flight.
Meireles also fired straight at Robert Green, Gary O'Neil's shot hit a Liverpool defender and Johnson saw a header from a corner blocked before the game settled down.
A Hitzlsperger rocket was again too close to Reina before Parker showed the kind of precision his team-mate had been lacking to give West Ham a 22nd-minute lead.
He and Hitzlsperger played a neat one-two on the edge of the box and Parker floated a delightful finish right into the far corner with the outside of his foot.
Dirk Kuyt hit the sidenetting from 20 yards following a lightning Liverpool break when team-mates were arguably better placed.
The recalled Piquionne then sent a wicked ball across the six-yard box, which just evaded Ba.
Liverpool struggled to respond, Luis Suarez repeatedly coming off second best in his personal battle with the impressive James Tomkins.
Right-back Martin Kelly's low drive was too close to Green as the interval approached, while Mark Noble curled a free-kick wide at the other end.
Liverpool suffered another blow when Kelly pulled a hamstring and was replaced by Joe Cole, Dalglish switching his formation from 5-3-2 to 4-4-2.

FOXSOCCER.TV

​

The home of the best LIVE soccer and rugby awaits at FoxSoccer.tv -- don't miss a second of the action.

That was not the end of their woes, with the unmarked Ba powering home a header on the stroke of half-time from O'Neil's cross.
Liverpool began the second half on top but nevertheless made a quick change when David Ngog came on for Meireles.
With Wolves having won 4-0 on Saturday, West Ham needed another goal to climb out of the drop zone and Ba almost provided it when he drilled inches wide from 25 yards.
Tomkins, Piquionne and Ba were all close to connecting with a corner as the home side hit back.
But they had Green to thank for preserving their two-goal lead when Suarez finally beat Tomkins with a quick turn and unleashed a rising drive which the goalkeeper tipped behind.
Piquionne missed a glorious chance to kill the game when he glanced Noble's corner wide midway through the half but West Ham's commitment was summed up when Parker threw himself in front of a goalbound Gerrard shot.
Gerrard was making his presence felt and Green tipped a dipping volley over the bar from the England star.
Reina had to be equally alert to beat Ba to the ball from a Hammers break but he almost produced an absolute howler when he spilt Piquionne's shot goalwards before recovering.
It was all Liverpool at this stage and Grant responded by withdrawing Piquionne for Jonathan Spector after Cole had mishit a volley for the visitors.
But the Reds' pressure paid off six minutes from time when Suarez crossed for Johnson to tap into an unguarded net.
West Ham ran down the clock by bringing on Cole for Ba - although time-wasting was the last thing on the substitute's mind as he left Skrtel in a heap and drilled home at Reina's near post in stoppage-time.
There was still time for Suarez to test Green again but the points had already been lost.

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

Carling Cup Final

Arsenal 1

• van Persie 39

Birmingham City 1

• Zigic 28

• Jacob Steinberg
• guardian.co.uk, Sunday 27 February 2011 15.00 GMT <li class="history">Article history To receive updated content, refresh the page (F5 for a web browser).
  This page will update automatically every minute: On | Off
  
  
  Jack Wilshere does running. Photograph: Glyn Kirk/AFP/Getty Images 84 min: Oof. Nearly. Carr crosses from the right and Beausejour's header through to Bowyer just zips away from the midfielder on the skiddy surface.
  83 min: Finally Birmingham get some respite from the Arsenal pressure, as Beausejour wins a corner on the left. Larsson whips it in but nothing doing. Birmingham make another change now and it's an attacking one too, Fahey, who hit the post, replaced by Obafemi Martins. So they'll go to 4-4-2.
  81 min: Nasri, Nasri, Nasri. Nasri's aim eludes him this time as he drags a low free-kick wide of the left post from 30 yards out.
  80 min: It's increasingly becoming Arsenal v Ben Foster. Has Birmingham's chance to win this gone? First Jiranek dawdled on a long pass down on the left, allowing Chamakh to nip in and steal the ball. He slid a low cross into the six-yard box, where Nasri tried to score with a delicate backheel, Foster saving at his feet. Then Nasri cut in from the left, and unleashed a swerving shot towards the far corner, Foster flying to his left to beat the ball away.
  78 min: Apologies. The mbm tool just crashed momentarily (there's an open goal here) which meant I wasn't able to inform you of another superb save by Foster from Bendtner's shot from six yards out. It took a heavy deflection and spun up, Foster brilliantly sticking up a hand to palm it away and then grab the ball with Nasri lurking. Then Arshavin went off for Marouane Chamakh.
  
  

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

Ramos agent claims Prem interest


RivalsDM



PRINT RSS



Updated Feb 27, 2011 8:54 AM ET
Sergio Ramos' brother and agent claims "some big clubs" from England and Italy are interested in the Real Madrid defender.

FOXSOCCER.TV

​

The home of the best LIVE soccer and rugby awaits at FoxSoccer.tv -- don't miss a second of the action.

Ramos has been in talks with Real about a new deal taking him to 2017 - but as yet nothing has been agreed.
His brother, Rene, is also his agent and, although he has confirmed fresh talks with Real are due to take place, he also acknowledged interest from abroad.
Manchester United, Chelsea and AC Milan have all been linked with the 24-year-old Spanish star, who can play centre-half as well as right-back.
"Some big clubs in England and Italy have been interested in Sergio for some time," Ramos told The People.
"We expect to have a meeting with the club in the next few months and to analyse the future of Sergio."



PRINT RSS

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

Carling Cup Final

Arsenal 1

• van Persie 39

Birmingham City 1

• Zigic 28

• Jacob Steinberg
• guardian.co.uk, Sunday 27 February 2011 15.00 GMT <li class="history">Article history To receive updated content, refresh the page (F5 for a web browser).
  This page will update automatically every minute: On | Off
  
  
  Jack Wilshere does running. Photograph: Glyn Kirk/AFP/Getty Images 88 min: Tomas Rosicky used to be such a fine player. These days, not so much. Birmingham back off him, inviting the shot but instead his pass through to Chamakh is woefully over-hit.
  87 min: Birmingham have found a second wind. Carr beats several Arsenal players on the right and digs out a dangerous cross towards Zigic and Martins, Koscielny getting in the way. I always think it's embarrassing for any player to be beaten by Carr. He retired!
  85 min: It's a cup final, an unpredictable beast, but if Arsenal play like this against Barcelona, they'll be on the end of a thrashing. Although it's unlikely Barcelona have a Nikola Zigic type to call upon. Maybe Messi could do it; he did score a header last night after all.
  84 min: Oof. Nearly. Carr crosses from the right and Beausejour's header through to Bowyer just zips away from the midfielder on the skiddy surface.
  83 min: Finally Birmingham get some respite from the Arsenal pressure, as Beausejour wins a corner on the left. Larsson whips it in but nothing doing. Birmingham make another change now and it's an attacking one too, Fahey, who hit the post, replaced by Obafemi Martins. So they'll go to 4-4-2.
  81 min: Nasri, Nasri, Nasri. Nasri's aim eludes him this time as he drags a low free-kick wide of the left post from 30 yards out.
  80 min: It's increasingly becoming Arsenal v Ben Foster. Has Birmingham's chance to win this gone? First Jiranek dawdled on a long pass down on the left, allowing Chamakh to nip in and steal the ball. He slid a low cross into the six-yard box, where Nasri tried to score with a delicate backheel, Foster saving at his feet. Then Nasri cut in from the left, and unleashed a swerving shot towards the far corner, Foster flying to his left to beat the ball away.
  
  

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

Carling Cup Final

Arsenal 1

• van Persie 39

Birmingham City 1

• Zigic 28

• Jacob Steinberg
• guardian.co.uk, Sunday 27 February 2011 15.00 GMT <li class="history">Article history To receive updated content, refresh the page (F5 for a web browser).
  This page will update automatically every minute: On | Off
  
  
  Jack Wilshere does running. Photograph: Glyn Kirk/AFP/Getty Images GOAL! Arsenal 1-2 Birmingham (Martins, 89 min): What a disaster! Birmingham have surely won it!
  88 min: Tomas Rosicky used to be such a fine player. These days, not so much. Birmingham back off him, inviting the shot but instead his pass through to Chamakh is woefully over-hit.
  87 min: Birmingham have found a second wind. Carr beats several Arsenal players on the right and digs out a dangerous cross towards Zigic and Martins, Koscielny getting in the way. I always think it's embarrassing for any player to be beaten by Carr. He retired!
  
  

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

Carling Cup Final

Arsenal 1

• van Persie 39

Birmingham City 1

• Zigic 28

• Jacob Steinberg
• guardian.co.uk, Sunday 27 February 2011 15.00 GMT <li class="history">Article history To receive updated content, refresh the page (F5 for a web browser).
  This page will update automatically every minute: On | Off
  
  
  Jack Wilshere does running. Photograph: Glyn Kirk/AFP/Getty Images GOAL! Arsenal 1-2 Birmingham (Martins, 89 min): What a disaster! Birmingham have surely won it! Birmingham have surely won the Carling Cup! Ben Foster smashed a high free-kick up towards Arsenal's area and Zigic, of course, won it, the ball running through harmlessly. Or so it seemed. There was no communication between Szcezny and Koscielny at all. Koscielny went to swing his foot to clear but must have heard a call from Szczeny and suddenly pulled his foot away. Szczeny couldn't react quickly enough and spilled the ball straight to Martins who couldn't miss from six yards out. With his left foot, he didn't. What an utter, unforgivable farce.
  
  

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

Carling Cup Final

Arsenal 1

• van Persie 39

Birmingham City 1

• Zigic 28

• Jacob Steinberg
• guardian.co.uk, Sunday 27 February 2011 15.00 GMT <li class="history">Article history To receive updated content, refresh the page (F5 for a web browser).
  This page will update automatically every minute: On | Off
  
  
  Jack Wilshere does running. Photograph: Glyn Kirk/AFP/Getty Images 90 min+3: Oh, Arsene.
  90 min: Birmingham can barely believe it. That was a goal that sums up all of Arsenal's defensive failings. Cameron Jerome comes on for Zigic. There will be four minutes of stoppage time.
  GOAL! Arsenal 1-2 Birmingham (Martins, 89 min): What a disaster! Birmingham have surely won it! Birmingham have surely won the Carling Cup! Ben Foster smashed a high free-kick up towards Arsenal's area and Zigic, of course, won it, the ball running through harmlessly. Or so it seemed. There was no communication between Szcezny and Koscielny at all. Koscielny went to swing his foot to clear but must have heard a call from Szczeny and suddenly pulled his foot away. Szczeny couldn't react quickly enough and spilled the ball straight to Martins who couldn't miss from six yards out. With his left foot, he didn't. What an utter, unforgivable farce.
  
  

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

Carling Cup Final

Arsenal 1

• van Persie 39

Birmingham City 1

• Zigic 28

• Jacob Steinberg
• guardian.co.uk, Sunday 27 February 2011 15.00 GMT <li class="history">Article history To receive updated content, refresh the page (F5 for a web browser).
  This page will update automatically every minute: On | Off
  
  
  Jack Wilshere does running. Photograph: Glyn Kirk/AFP/Getty Images 90 min+5: Arsenal have a throw deep in Birmingham;s territory. Ferguson and Jerome have been booked. This is astonishing. Carr heads clear.
  90 min+4: Martins nearly seals it! He beats Djourou to a long ball, steps round Szczeny ... and then loses control with the angle too tight to shoot.
  90 min+3: Oh, Arsene.
  90 min: Birmingham can barely believe it. That was a goal that sums up all of Arsenal's defensive failings. Cameron Jerome comes on for Zigic. There will be four minutes of stoppage time.
  GOAL! Arsenal 1-2 Birmingham (Martins, 89 min): What a disaster! Birmingham have surely won it! Birmingham have surely won the Carling Cup! Ben Foster smashed a high free-kick up towards Arsenal's area and Zigic, of course, won it, the ball running through harmlessly. Or so it seemed. There was no communication between Szcezny and Koscielny at all. Koscielny went to swing his foot to clear but must have heard a call from Szczeny and suddenly pulled his foot away. Szczeny couldn't react quickly enough and spilled the ball straight to Martins who couldn't miss from six yards out. With his left foot, he didn't. What an utter, unforgivable farce.