Entries from August 2003 ↓

Roger Clemens earned his 100th career victory at Fenway Park today as the Yankees beat the Red Sox 8-4. The win puts the Red Sox six games behind the Yankees in the loss column with only 27 games to play. The two teams meet for the last time this season in a weekend series at Yankee Stadium starting Friday.

Second half strikes from Wiltord and Ljungberg cancel out Lauren own-goal, keep Arsenal top.

Arsenal Scorers:
Wiltord - 47′ (3)
Ljungberg - 71′ (1)

Manchester City Scorers
Lauren (og) 10′

Cards
31′ - Cole (Arsenal) Dissent
49′ - Barton (Man City) Unsportsmanlike Conduct
55′ - Sommeil (Man City)Unsportsmanlike Conduct
58′ - Lauren (Arsenal) Unsportsmanlike Conduct
73′ - Ljungberg (Arsenal) Unsportsmanlike Conduct
74′ - Tarnat (Man City) Dissent
75′ - Tiatto (Man City) Unsportsmanlike Conduct

Sylvain Wiltord scored his third goal of the season just two minutes into the second half, and Freddie Ljungberg added his first as Arsenal won a hard-fought 1-2 victory against a vastly improved Manchester City side at the brand-new City of Manchester Stadium on Sunday.

Manchester City opened the scoring about ten minutes into the match, but that wasn’t of their own doing. They got some help from Lauren, who, in an awkward attempt to clear the ball into touch, accidentally shanked the ball goalward, and past a shocked Jens Lehmann.

That’s not to say that City didn’t have their chances. Ex-Gunner, Nicholas Anelka (aka Rat-Faced Boy,)had several chances to extend the lead, but they either went begging, or Lehmann was up to the task.

At the other end of the pitch, former Arsenal hero, David Seaman made several key saves to keep his side ahead, including a scorcher from Freddie Ljungberg which Seaman tipped over the bar. However, the Gunners would not be denied, putting two past their old teammate. Wiltord’s goal tied him Thierry Henry for the team lead with three.
As for Freddie’s goal - he got so excited, that he was shown a yellow for his celebrations with the away fans!

So, now it’s a break from the action in favor of an international week (I hate these!) Next up, Portsmouth at Highbury on Saturday the 13th. Pompey are now third in the league, and doing it with some tough defensive play. Yet another test for the Gunners, but one they can definitely ace.

The Gunners were drawn into the 2003-04 UEFA Champions League against Inter Milan (Italy,) Dynamo Kiev (Ukraine,) and Lokomotiv Moscow (Russia) in what seems to be this year’s “group of death.”

Being drawn against two Eastern European clubs means that Arsenal are forced to travel to two of the coldest locations in the entire tournament. Thankfully, the matches at the Republican and Lokomotiv stadiums take place in September and October, before it gets REALLY cold.

There is only one group phase this year, so Arsenal will really have to step it up this year in order to capture the elusive European Club Championship.

Here’s the draw and the schedule for the first phase:

1.
Arsenal

2.
Inter Milan

3.
Dynamo Kiev

4.
Lokcomotiv Moscow

Date Time Location Opponent
Wed 17 Sep 2:45 PM ET Highbury Inter Milan
Tue 30 Sep 2:45 PM ET Lokomotiv Stad. Lokomotiv Moscow
Tue 21 Oct 2:45 PM ET Republican Dynamo Kiev
Wed 5 Nov 2:45 PM ET Highbury Dynamo Kiev
Tue 25 Nov 2:45 PM ET San Siero Inter Milan

Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Quarter-Final

Golden goal by “Che” sends Revs packing and Metros to Cup semis.

Metrostars Scorers
Mathis - 29′ ( 8 )
Guevara - 116′ ( 3 )

New England Revolution Scorers
Heaps - 47′ ( 3 )

Booked

Metrostars:
Mark Lisi Reckless Foul 47′
Clint Mathis Dissent 61′, Violent Conduct 97′ (sent off)
Richie Williams Unsportsmanlike conduct 105′
Amado Guevara Dissent 106′

Revolution:
NE — Joe Franchino Serious Foul Play (sent off) 97′

Metrostars rookie Amado Guevara scored the dramatic overtime winner in the 116th minute to beat the New England Revolution in US Open Cup Quarter-Final action Wednesday night.

The Metros will now face the DC Scum at Rutgers University’s Yurcak Field against on Tuesday, September 23 for a chance to advance to the Final.

Clint Mathis opened the scoring for the Metros with a shot from just outside the 18 yard box that beat Revs keeper Aiden Brown low.

The Revolution responded just after the break in the form of a volley by Jay Heaps, which tied the game at 1-1.

Early in the first overtime period, New England defender Joe Franchino got tangled up with Clint Mathis. A bit of a scuffle broke out, and Franchino actually threw punches. Both players were immediately ejected, and each side was down to ten men.

With the Metros losing serious ground in the league to the Chicago Fire, the US Open Cup could be their best chance for some silverware this season.

Campbell and Henry help make it three for three

Arsenal Scorers
Campbell - 59′ (1)
Henry - 90′ (3)

Aston Villa Scorers
None

Bookings
Aston Villa:
Lee Hendrie - 16′ - unsportsmanlike conduct
Mark Delaney 18′ - dissent
Juan Pablo Angel -37′ - unsportsmanlike conduct
Pete Wittingham - 71′ - unsporstmanlike conduct

Arsenal:
Kolo Toure - 39′ - unsportsmanlike conduct
Patrick Viera - 67′ - unsportsmanlike conduct
Dennis Bergkamp - 80′ - unsportsmanlike conduct

Apparently the people behind Arsenal.com underestimated the demand for the radio.arsenal service, as it crashed, and I was forced to rely on the text service provided by the BBC for the entire first half. Not much happened in the first half, although with four saves, Lehmann had much too much to do for my tastes. In fact, in total, Villa had eight corners compared to Arsenals’ two.

It was from the first of these corners that the Gunners scored their first goal, with about 11 minutes of the second half played. I was finally able to get radio.arsenal to work, and was able to hear the goal being scored. Sol Campbell with a header into the back of the net from Bobby’s corner. Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy, and that’ll keep a smile on Sol’s face while he sits out Sunday’s match against Man City through suspension.

Arsenal were definitely sub-par for most of the match, but they got the job done. Freddie Ljungberg and others spoke during the summer about killing games off, and that’s just what the Gunners did tonight, adding one heck of a nail to the coffin when Thierry Henry scored his third league goal of the season to make it 2-0 to the Arsenal.

A very pleasing victory, and one that sees Arsenal go back to the top of the table by virtue of goal difference over ManUre.

Next up, away to Manchester City on Sunday, where TiTi, Bobby et al will have the strange task of trying to score against old teammate and former Arsenal hero David “Spunky” Seaman, who left on a free transfer this past summer in an attempt to prolong his career. This match is on PPV here in the States at 11 AM ET.

Arsenal agreed to a loan deal with FC Barcelona to send Giovanni Van Bronckhorst to the Catalan giants for the remainder of the season. Rumor has it that there is a possible transfer provision in the deal that will keep Gio playing at the Nou Camp well beyond May.

This is a boost for Gio’s international career, as he needs the playing time to get a chance to be a part of Holland’s plans for 2004. That being said, I still can’t help but scratch my head at this. Arsenal have already sent several young players out on loan deals, and from what I know about life in the Premiership, not to mention Europe, the team will need all the cover it can get. I have faith in Arsene Wenger, but this one perplexes me.

Good luck Gio!