AC Milan Win 2007 FIFA Club World Cup

AC Milan defeated Boca Juniors from Argentina 4-2 in Sunday’s final. Inzaghi opened the scoring for Milan in the 21st minute but the teams where level again within a minute when Palacio equalised. The 2007 UEFA Champion League winners scored three times after the break (Nesta (50), Kaka (61) and a second to Inzaghi (71)). An own goal by Milan’s Ambrosini (85) gave a final score of 4-2.

The three previous tournaments have all been won by Brazilian clubs:

• 2006 Sport Club Internacional beat Barcelona
• 2005 Sao Paulo defeated Liverpool
• 2000 Corinthians defeated Vasco da Gama

On This Day – First Black Player Scores For England

15-12-1982: Luther Blissett became the first black player to score for England when he scored a hat-trick in England’s 9-0 victory over Luxembourg on this day in 1982. England have seven different scorers in the match – also a record:

1. Bossi (own goal)
2. Coppell
3. Woodcock
4. Blissett (3)
5. Chamberlain
6. Hoddle
7. Neal

England had beaten Luxembourg 9-0 22 years earlier in 1960. The England manager in 1982 Bobby Robson played in the 1960 match. Bobby Charlton and Jimmy Greaves in the 1960 away victory.

On This Day – Parachutist Crash Lands at Villa Park

13-12-1998: The half-time interval had to extended to 40 minutes at Villa Park following an injury to a parachutist who crashed into the stand roof and fell to the ground. Aston Villa had been losing 2-0 to Arsenal but after the extended break went on to win the match 3-2. The parachutist has since started a family with the nurse who looked after him.

The Villa goal scorers where Joachim and two from Dublin. Bergkamp scored both of Arsenal’s goals.

Source: When Saturday Comes : The Half Decent Football Book, 2006, page 179

AC Milan and Boca Juniors to Meet in Club World Cup Final

AC Milan and Boca Juniors will meet in the final of the 2007 FIFA Club World Cup in Japan on Sunday. AC Milan defeated Japanese Urawa Red Diamonds 1-0 thanks to a Seedorf goal in the 68th minute. Boca Juniors also won 1-0 in their semi-final against Tunisian club Etoile Sportive du Sahel – Neri Cardozo scored the winner after 37 minutes.

The other three teams that are competing in the championship are Pachuca (Mexico), Sepahan (Iran) and Waitakere United (New Zealand).

Source:

• http://fifa.com/clubworldcup/index.html

On This Day – Bryan Robson Scores Fastest Goal at Wembley

13-12-1989: On this day in 1989 Bryan Robson scored the fastest goal in a senior match at Wembley when he scored after 38 seconds of a friendly against Yugoslavia. Robson also scored the second goal in the 2-1 victory.

England’s line-up: Shilton; Parker, Pearce, Butcher, Walker; Michael Thomas, Rocastle, Robson, Waddle; Bull, Lineker

The previous record was Jackie Milburn’s goal after 45 seconds of the 1955 FA Cup final.

Robson also scored the fastest goal in any World Cup finals since 1962 when he scored after 27 seconds of the 3-1 victory over France in the 1982 World Cup in Spain.

The Road to Wembley – The First Miles

• 17-8-2007 Extra Preliminary Round: Woodbridge Town 5 Great Yarmouth Town 0 (Attendance 105)
• 1-9-2007 Preliminary Round: Woodbridge Town 0 Wroxham 2 (Attendance 91)
• 15-9-2007 First Qualifying Round: Kirkley & Pakefield 2 Wroxham 1 (Attendance 241)
• 29-9-2007 Second Qualifying Round: Kirkley & Pakefield 1 Leighton Town 2 (Attendance 225)
• 13-10-2007 Third Qualifying Round: Leighton Town 3 Boreham Wood 1 (Attendance 273)
• 27-10-2007 Fourth Qualifying Round: Havant & Waterlooville 3 Leighton Town 0 (Attendance 378)
• 10-11-2007 First Round Proper: York City 0 Havant & Waterlooville 1 (Attendance 2001)
• 1-12-2007 Second Round Proper: Notts County 0 Havant & Waterlooville 1 (Attendance 3810)
• 5-1-2008 Third Round Proper: Horsham or Swansea vs. Havant & Waterlooville

On This Day – 10st of Barbed Wire – Billy Bremner Born

9-12-1942: On this day in 1942 Scotland and Leeds midfield terrier Billy Bremner was born.

Here’s a couple of anecdotes from leedsfans.org.uk

Andrew says: Billy Bremner was very considerate to his opponents, He always put iodine on his studs to avoid infection. During one game against Man Utd he said to Norman Hunter “You flick him up and I’ll volley him” making sure that Besty overheard. By the way George Best NEVER had a good game against Leeds.

Barry Davis says: I saw Billy Bremner play on many occasions in the 60s and 70s. He was, indeed, the most talented player Leeds had and, with Johnny Giles, made up the best midfield in the country. He had a knack of always being in the right place at the right time. For instance, he scored the winning goal in the 1965 FA Cup semi-final replay against Manchester United and, again, in the 1970 FA Cup second semi-final replay, also against Manchester United. He could shoot from great distances and even head well. I was saddened by his untimely death.

rob dowson says: I had the privilege of watching Billy from the Lowfields Road stand – socks around his ankles he’d cover every blade of grass, a more committed player you will never see and he loved the club he always gave 110% A true great!

On This Day – Liverpool 6 Hamburg SV 0

6-12-1977: Liverpool demolish German club Hamburg SV 6-0 in the second leg of the European Super Cup at Anfield. The first leg in Germany had ended 1-1. 34,931 saw Terry McDermott score a hat-trick. Phil Thompson opened the scoring in the 21st minute. McDermott doubled the lead five minutes before the end of the first half. He completed his hat-trick with two goals in two minutes (55 and 56). Fairclough and Dalglish scored late goals to complete the rout.

Liverpool line-up: Clemence; Neal, Smith, Thompson, Hughes; R. Kennedy, McDermott, Case, Heighway; Dalglish, Fairclough

Source:

• http://www.lfchistory.net/viewgame.asp?game_id=1005

Good Luck Ricky – Part One

The Manchester Derby from November 1971. 63,000 pack Maine Road to watch Summerbee, Lee, Bell, Best and Charlton produce a brilliant match:

Fatty’s gonna get ya!

On This Day – Five Goals in Eight Minutes and a Game Without a Corner

5-12-1908: Newcastle lost 1-9 at home to arch north eastern rivals Sunderland in 1908. The game was level 1-1 at the the half way mark but seven goals in the second half including five in the game’s last eight minutes gave Sunderland their record league victory. To find a worse defeat for Newcastle we have to go to a 0-9 drubbing by Burton Wanderers in a Division 2 match in April 1895.

Sunderland’s goal scorers where Mordue (1), Hogg (3), Holley (3) and Bridgett (2).

After some previous weak results the Directors of Newcastle had decided to drop several of the side’s star players for match.

By the way Newcastle won the First Division that season and had the best defensive record in the League.

Source:

• http://www.toonarama.co.uk/opposition/sunderland_files/newcastle_sunderland.html

5-12-1931: 23 years later another curious match was played at St. James Park. The First Division match between Newcastle and Portsmouth finished 0-0 and their wasn’t a single corner kick.