20 DEFINING MOMENTS OF 2011

1.INDIA WINNING THE CRICKET WORLD CUP AFTER 28 YEARS

2.DALLAS MAVERICKS WINNING THE NBA CHAMPIONSHIP.

3.BARCELONA WINNING THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FOR THE 2ND TIME IN 3 YEARS.

4.WAYNE ROONEY'S WONDER VOLLEY AGAINST MAN CITY.

5. MANCHESTER UNITED WINNING A RECORD BREAKING 19TH LEAGUE TITLE

6.SEBASTIAN VETTEL CROWNED DOUBLE WORLD CHAMPION.

7.NOVAK DJOKOVIC WINNING 3 GRAND SLAMS AND FINISHING THE YEAR AS WORLD NO.1

8.THE ST. LOUIS CARDINALS WINNING THE MLB WORLD SERIES.

9.INIDA HOSTING ITS FIRST FORMULA 1 RACE AT THE BUDDH INTERNATIONAL CIRCUIT.

10.MARCO SIMONCELLI'S DEATH.

11.DAN WEHLDON'S DEATH.

12.NEW ZEALAND WINNING THE RUGBY WORLD CUP.

13.CADEL EVANS WINNING THE TOUR DE FRANCE.

14.LUKE DONALD ,WHO BECAME WORLD NO 1 IN MAY 2011 AFTER WINNING THE BMW PGA CHAMPIONSHIP, CREATED HISTORY BY BECOMING THE FIRST PLAYER TO TOP THE US PGA AND EUROPEAN TOUR MONEY LISTS AND THE FIRST ENGLISHMAN TO WIN THE PGA PLAYER OF THE YEAR AND PGA TOUR PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARDS

15.ROGER FEDERER WINNING A RECORD 6th ATP WORLD TOUR FINAL.

16.JAPAN'S WOMEN'S TEAM BEATING USA TO WIN THE WOMAN'S FOOTBALL WORLD CUP.

17.LI NA MAKING HISTORY BY BECOMING THE FIRST ASIAN WOMEN TO WIN A GRAND-SLAM AFTER WINNING THE FRENCH OPEN.

18.USAIN BOLT'S FALSE START IN THE 100M RACE AT THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS.

19.OSCAR PISTOURIS MAKING HISTORY BY QUALIFYING FOR THE SEMI-FINALS OF THE 400M RACE IN THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS.

20.VIRENDER SEHWAG SCORING 219 AGAINST THE WEST INDIES TO HOLD THE RECORD OF THE HIGHEST INDIVIDUAL SCORE IN ONE DAY CRICKET.

EPL: WEEKEND PREVIEW

HERE'S A PREVIEW TO THE MAJOR FIXTURES FROM GAMEWEEK 19.


                1.LIVERPOOL VS NEWCASTLE


Liverpool take on Newcastle at Anfield in the only fixture to be played on Friday.


Liverpool have drawn their last two games against bottom sides Wigan and Blackburn Rovers, and will look to get back to winning ways to be back in reckoning for a top 4 place.

HE IS BACK!

They however will be without their charismatic striker LUIS SUAREZ who has been suspended by the FA for his improper conduct in the game against Fulham. STEVEN GERRARD has recovered from his injury and is expected to start.


KEY PLAYER : CHARLIE ADAM


Newcastle secured a 2-0 away win over Bolton to end a 6 match winless streak. 

UNSTOPPABLE!

Demba Ba has been their player of the season so far, scoring 14 goals so far this season. DANNY GUTHRIE and PETER LOVENKRANDS are out with injury.


KEY PLAYER : DEMBA BA


The game kicksoff at 19.45(GMT) (Friday)




     2.MANCHESTER UNITED VS BLACKBURN
In the early kickoff on saturday, Blackburn travel to Old Trafford to take on the reigning champions.


Blackburn are bottom of the table despite securing a hard fought 1-1 draw at Liverpool in mid-week. The last time they won at Old Trafford was in 2005 and they will have to play out of their skins if they are to achieve the same feat again. DAVID DUNN, JUNIOR HOILETT and PAUL ROBINSON are all doubtful starters.


KEY PLAYER : CHRISTOPHER SAMBA


The champions are level on points with City and any result will take them to the top going into the new year.

VALENCIA HAS BEEN EXCELLENT IN RECENT GAMES!

DIMITAR BERBATOV showed everyone why he is still one of the best strikers in the league with an impressive hat-trick against Wigan. WAYNE ROONEY is expected to start, however they will be without JOHNNY EVANS and ASHLEY YOUNG who are out due to injury and RIO FERDINAND remains a doubtful starter


KEY PLAYER : PHIL JONES


The game kicksoff at 12.45(GMT) (Saturday)


                3.CHELSEA VS ASTON VILLA


The blues will look to get back to winning ways, when they take on Aston Villa on Saturday night.


Chelsea have drawn their last 3 games, which has seen them fall 11 points behind the leaders City which has all but ended their title aspirations. A win is essential for the blues to consolidate their position in the top 4.

TIRELESS RAMIRES!

RAMIRES will return to the starting 11 having served out his one match suspension but BRANISLAV IVANOVIC and JOHN OBI MIKEL are both still injured.


KEY PLAYER : RAMIRES


Aston Villa haven't beaten the blues at the bridge since 2002 and if they continue they way they have been playing in recent weeks, they will have a tough time again.
They have the most no. of draws in the league(8) and their lack of goals has seen them fall to 12th place in the league just 6 points clear of the drop zone.
DARREN BENT remains a slight doubt to start having sustained a thigh injury.


KEY PLAYER : GABRIEL AGBONLAHOR


The game kicksoff at 15.00(GMT) (Saturday)


                 4.SWANSEA VS TOTTENHAM


Tottenham travel to Wales to take on Swansea.


Spurs have had a dream start to the season so far and look to be the best team outside of the top 2 and are genuine title contenders. 

TOTTENHAM'S MOST PRICED POSESSION!

In mid-week GARETH BALE showed everyone why he is one of the best players in the world, netting a brace to take his side to a 2-0 victory over Norwich. If Spurs manage to win their next two games and their game in hand against Everton it would take them to within 4 points of the top atleast. 
AARON LENNON is out and JERMAINE DEFOE is a doubtful starter.


KEY PLAYER : GARETH BALE


The swans have an impressive home record having won 4 games, drawn 4 and lost only 1 to Manchester United. This has been a memorable year for Swansea, and they will look to end it on a high by getting all 3 points against Spurs which could take them to the top half of the table depending on other results.
STEVEN CAULKER is ineligible to play the game against his parent club and ANGEL RANGEL is a doubtful starter.


KEY PLAYER : MICHEL VORM


The game kicksoff at 15.00(GMT) (Saturday)


      5.SUNDERLAND VS MANCHESTER CITY


On new year's day, the citizens travel to the Stadium of Light to face a Sunderland side who have been revived under Martin O' Neil.

BARRY HAS BEEN CITY'S MOST UNDER-RATED PLAYER!

City's disappointing 0-0 draw saw them lose their 2 point lead at the top and are ahead only on goal difference. Its their away form that has let them down all season and will look to change that, to stay on top. MICAH RICHARDS is expected to start.


KEY PLAYER : GARETH BARRY


Sunderland were very unlucky to not pick up all 3 points against Everton after a LEIGHTON BAINES penalty restricted them to a 1-1 draw.

SUNDERLAND'S BEST PLAYER BY A LONG WAY!!

Despite that, they look to be a much improved team under the new manager and will look to show the rest of the league that they still are very much a top side when they face City.
PHIL BARDSLEY, CONOR WICKHAM and TITUS BRAMBLE are all doubtful starters.


KEY PLAYER : SEBASTIAN LARSSON


The game kicksoff at 15.00(GMT) (Sunday)


THE FIXTURE LIST

EPL-GAMEWEEK 18: REVIEW

THIS WAS THE GAMEWEEK OF THE AWAY SIDES AS THERE WAS ONLY ONE HOME VICTORY IN ALL THE FIXTURES. HERE IS A LOOK BACK AT ALL THE RESULTS..

THE BOXING DAY FIXTURE LIST KICKED OFF WITH THE WEST LONDON DERBY BETWEEN CHELSEA AND FULHAM WHICH ENDED IN A 1-1 DRAW, PUSHING CHELSEA FURTHER BACK IN THE RACE FOR THE TITLE AND MANAGER ANDRE VILLAS BOAS ADMITTED THAT THEIR TITLE CHALLENGE IS ALL BUT DONE.

IN A GAME WHICH DID NOT LIVE UP TO EXPECTATIONS, CHELSEA WERE MADE TO PAY FOR THEIR LACK OF DESIRE AND KILLER INSTINCT.

DEMBELE tormented the chelsea defense!

IN A LACK LUSTER FIRST HALF, THERE WERE HARDLY ANY CHANCES FOR EITHER TEAMS, JUAN MATA PUT THE BLUES ONE NIL UP IN THE SECOND HALF BUT THEY WERE PEGGED BACK ALMOST IMMEDIATELY VIA A CLINT DEMPSEY GOAL.

stockdale had an excellent game!

CHELSEA TRIED THEIR BEST TO GET THE WINNING GOAL, BUT WERE UNABLE TO GET PAST FULHAM KEEPER DAVID STOCKDALE.

MAN OF THE MATCH: DAVID STOCKDALE

OVER IN MANCHESTER, UNITED PRODUCED ANOTHER 5 STAR PERFORMANCE AS THEY THRASHED WIGAN 5-0 IN A ONE SIDED MATCH. DIMITAR BERBATOV WAS THE STAR OF THE SHOW, GETTING A HAT-TRICK. JI SUNG PARK AND ANTONIO VALENCIA WERE THE OTHER SCORERS.

DIMI-STAR!!

WOLVES HAD THEIR FOWARD CONNOR SAMMON SENT OFF, FOR WHAT WAS DEEMED TO BE AN ELBOW INTO THE FACE OF JOHNNY EVANS AND FROM THEN ON IT WAS ALL UNITED. THE WIN TAKE UNITED TO 45 POINTS LEVEL WITH MANCHESTER CITY.

MAN OF THE MATCH: DIMITAR BERBATOV

LIVERPOOL PLAYED OUT A 1-1 DRAW WITH BOTTOM PLACED BLACKBURN AT ANFIELD.

The draw eases some of the pressure on STEVE KEAN!

BLACKBURN WENT UP 1-0 RIGHT ON THE STROKE OF HALF-TIME THANKS TO AN OWN GOAL FROM CHARLIE ADAM. A MAXI RODRIGUEZ HEADER LEVELED MATTERS IN THE SECOND HALF, BUT LIVERPOOL WERE NOT ABLE TO GET PAST BLACKBURN'S RESERVE KEEPER MARK BUNN, WHO MADE SOME STUNNING SAVES TO DENY LIVERPOOL ALL 3 POINTS AND LEAVE THEM 6TH IN THE TABLE.

star of the match!

MAN OF THE MATCH: MARK BUNN

THE PREMIER LEAGUE LEADERS WERE HELD TO A 1-1 DRAW BY A RESILIENT WEST BROM SIDE AT THE HAWTHORNS.

IN AN EVENLY CONTESTED ENCOUNTER, BOTH SIDES FAILED TO CAPITALIZE ON THEIR CHANCES.

THOMAS was excellent in midfiled!

THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT MANCHESTER CITY FAILED TO SCORE THIS SEASON, THE DRAW SEES THEM LEVEL ON POINTS WITH THEIR BITTER RIVALS UNITED.

MAN OF THE MATCH: JEROME THOMAS

ARSENAL FAILED TO CAPITALIZE ON THE SLIP UPS BY CHELSEA AND LIVERPOOL, AS THEY WERE HELD TO A 1-1 DRAW BY WOLVES AT THE EMIRATES.

GERVINHO tormented the wolves defence!!

GERVINHO OPENED THE SCORING FOR THE GUNNERS, BUT ONCE AHEAD THEY DIDNT LOOK TO FINISH WOLVES OFF AND WERE MADE TO PAY AS STEVEN FLETCHER EQUALISED IN THE 38TH MINUTE.

THE SECOND HALF WAS ALL ARSENAL, THEY POURED MEN FORWARD BUT THEY JUST COULDN'T GET PAST WOLVES KEEPER WAYNE HENNESSEY WHO HAD AN EXCELLENT GAME. 

MAN OF THE MATCH : WAYNE HENNESSEY

IN THE FINAL GAME, SPURS CRUISED TO A 2-0 VICTORY OVER NORWICH CITY AT CARROW ROAD. THE WIN SEES THEM MOVE WITHIN 7 POINTS OF THE LEADERS WITH A GAME IN HAND.

THE FIRST HALF WAS AN EVENLY CONTESTED AFFAIR WITH BOTH SIDES CREATING CHANCES.

BUT THE SECOND HALF WAS ALL ABOUT GARETH BALE AS THE WINGER SCORED TWICE TO SEE HIS SIDE THROUGH.

MAN OF THE MATCH: GARETH BALE

HERE ARE THE OTHER RESULTS

LEAGUE TABLE

EPL: BOXING DAY- PREVIEW

HERE'S A PREVIEW TO THE BIG GAMES OF GAMEWEEK 18


                                   1. CHELSEA VS FULHAM


The West London derby will kick-start the boxing day fixtures when Chelsea play host to Fulham.


KEYSTAT: Fulham havent won at Stamford Bridge since 1968


The Blues earned a point away at Tottenham in mid-week and are confident to pick all 3 points going into this fixture, but they have some injury concerns with JOHN OBI MIKEL and BRANISLAV IVANOVIC out of the game having sustained a hamstring injury in the game against Tottenham and DAVID LUIZ fitness remains a doubt while RAMIRES is suspended.

STURRIDGE WILL LOOK TO GET HIS 10th league goal of the season!

Fulham on the other hand were handed a 5-0 thrashing at the hands of Manchester United and will look to give some Christmas cheer to their supporters by getting something out of this game.




The game kicksoff at 6.30 PM(IST)






                                              2.MANCHESTER UNITED VS WIGAN


The champions welcome Wigan to town and will look to collect all 3 points from the game


KEYSTAT: Wigan have scored only 6 goals away from home this season


United were in scintillating form in midweek and will look to continue their impressive run.
But they will have to make do without ASHLEY YOUNG and RIO FERDINAND who have been ruled out with injuries, PHIL JONES however looks to have recovered from the facial knock he suffered against Fulham and is expected to start.

Nani has been key to united's success

WIgan have been very impressive in their last few games and have picked up 2 points from games against Chelsea and Liverpool. They will look to continue their good work against United which will help to take them further clear of the bottom.


The game kicksoff at 8.30 PM(IST)




                        3.WEST BROM VS MANCHESTER CITY
Roberto Mancini will look to rest some of his stars when his side travel to west brom.


KEYSTAT: ADAM JOHNSON has started only 11 games, but he has 6 goals and 5 assists to his name.

CITY'S FINEST!!

Man city eased to a comfortbale victory over Stoke in midweek, but will be well aware of the threat the baggies pose. EDIN DZEKO and MICAH RICHARDS are out with injury.

Odemwingie will have to be on top of his game if the baggies are to get anything out of this!

West Brom were impressive in their 3-2 away win at Newcastle and will put up a full strength squad and look to capitalize on any lapses from city.



The game kicksoff at 8.30 PM(IST)


                         4.NORWICH CITY VS TOTTENHAM


In the last fixture of gameweek 18, Spurs face a gritty and determined Norwich side.


KEYSTAT: Norwich's 12 goals out of their 27 have come from set piece situations


Spurs were held to a 1-1 draw by Chelsea which saw them fall futher back in the race for the title, however they will look to take maximum points away from this game.

Scott Parker has been one of the best signings of the season!

Norwich will themselves look to take all 3 points from this game, seeing that Spurs have many of their top players injured and they themselves have been in decent form off late


The game kicksoff at 1.30 AM(IST) on Wednesday


Here are all the fixtures:

FOOTBALL: MIDWEEK REVIEW

                     1.ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Starting off with Tuesday night's fixtures, RONALD ZUBAR'S late goal ensured wolves a point as they held off Norwich City to a 2-2 draw at Molineux.

KEAN LOOKS SET TO FACE THE AXE!

In the clash at the bottom of the table, Bolton ran out 2-1 winners against Blackburn, which further mounted the pressure on Steve Kean.


Wednesday saw 7 fixtures taking place, high flying Macnhester City eased to a 3-0 victory over Stoke, thanks to a brace from SERGIO AGUERO and a stunning strike from ADAM JOHNSON. 

JOHNSON JUSTIFIED HIS PLACE WITH A STUNNING GOAL!

City now go into the christmas period on top, and as history suggests, the team on top at christmas are the firm favourites to lift the title come the end of may.


Over in London, Manchester United maintained the 2 point gap between their neighbours after a scintillating performance against fulham, netting 5 goals past them.

38 AND GOING STRONG!

RYAN GIGGS made history after he became the only player to have scored in all of the 20 seasons of the league.


In Birmingham, Arsenal were lucky to come out of the game with all 3 points, as a late goal from YOSSI BENAYOUN saw them to a 2-1 victory over Aston Villa.

ALBRIGHTON WITH THE HISTORIC GOAL!

Robin Van Persie scored his 34th league goal of 2011 from the penalty spot after THEO WALCOTT was brought down in the box. MARC ALBRIGHTON then equalised with a goal in  the 54th minute, which was the historic 20,000 premier league goal.


Luis Suarez was the centre of attention as Liverpool were held to a 0-0 draw by Wigan.
Liverpool had the chance to pick up all 3 points after they were awarded a penalty, but AL HABSI produced a brilliant save of CHARLIE ADAM'S spot kick to salvage them a point.

AL-HABSI WITH THE SAVE!

In the big game of gameweek 17, Chelsea held Tottenham to a 1-1 draw in what was a very enjoyable and open game of football.
Spurs opened the score after Petr Cech's mistake allowed EMMANUEL ADEBAYOR an easy tap in, following brilliant work by GARETH BALE on the left wing.
Spurs were on top, having about 71% posession of the ball, but a clever ball from DIDER DROGBA put ASHLEY COLE through, who put a brilliant cross in which was finished off neatly by DANIEL STURRIDGE(his 9th league goal).

CAPTAIN,LEADER, LEGEND!!

But without a shadow of a doubt, the man of the match was Chelsea captian JOHN TERRY who  led the defensive line brilliantly, and cleared Adebayor's effort of the line in the dying minutes.


HERE ARE ALL THE RESULTS

LEAGUE TABLE

                                   2.ITALIAN SERIE A

CHAMPIONS BACK ON TOP!

AC Milan were back on top of the Serie A table after they secured their second consecutive 2-0 victory to get past Cagliari, PISANO with an own goal and IBRAHIMOVIC with the second.


In the game of the week, it was a bit of an anit-climax as Udinese and Juventus played out a boring 0-0 draw, in a game which hardly saw any chances being created.


Inter Milan continued their impressive form, as they cruised past bottom side Lecce to a 4-1 victory.

PAZZINI HAS BEEN THEIR BEST PLAYER!!

This was Inter's 4th consecutive win, which took them to 5th place in the Serie A standings in the lead up to the winter break.

CAVANI- ON TOP OF HIS GAME!

EDISON CAVANI netted a brace as Napoli blasted 6 past Genoa.  The win saw Napoli move up to 6th place in the standings.


HERE ARE ALL THE RESULTS

LEAGUE TABLE