SPORTS NEWS NETWORK

Friday, 22 March 2013

Scotland v Wales

Scotland 1

G Hanley 45′

Wales 2

Ramsey 73′ (pen) Robson-Kanu 74′

FT 90 +5
HT 1-0

Play media

Highlights - Scotland 1-2 Wales

By Alasdair Lamont BBC Scotland at Hampden Park

Comments (203)

Wales produced a repeat of their Cardiff comeback to deny Gordon Strachan a winning start to his competitive Scotland managerial career.

Scotland started poorly but led through Grant Hanley's first-half header.
Wales' Gareth Bale had to be taken off, but Aaron Ramsey equalised from the spot as Robert Snodgrass was sent off.
And with the Scots reeling, Hal Robson-Kanu rose unchallenged to head home the winning goal for Wales, who had Ramsey sent off in injury time.
The victory lifts Wales up to third place in Group A but the Scots find themselves adrift at the bottom with no wins and just two points from five games.
The match ended in a similar fashion to Wales' 2-1 win in Cardiff back in October, as Chris Coleman's side came from behind to strike two late goals after Scotland needlessly conceded a penalty.

Wales 2-1 Scotland October 2012

27 mins: James Morrison gives Scotland the lead.
Steven Fletcher doubles Scotland's advantage but it's incorrectly disallowed.
81 mins: Gareth Bale equalises from the spot for Wales after Shaun Maloney's foul.
89 mins: Bale scores a wonder-goal to secure all three points.

Their comeback on this occasion was all the more impressive given Bale's withdrawal at half-time.

Coleman's side played the better football for large swathes of the game, but Strachan will be bitterly disappointed that having clawed their way into a winning position, it was surrendered.
Wales certainly came out the blocks quicker and almost caught the Scots flat-footed as they threatened to take the lead inside a minute.
Ponderous defending allowed Ramsey the opportunity to power in a drive, which Hanley did superbly to block and a soft-looking free kick given against Craig Bellamy, with Allan McGregor grounded, brought an immediate end to the danger.
But there was a less welcome respite for the Scots moments later, as Steven Fletcher crumbled in agony following an innocuous aerial challenge with Ben Davies and had to be replaced by Kenny Miller.
Hanley epitomised the nervousness seemingly coursing through the Scotland side as he misjudged a ball back to McGregor and only just managed to atone by heading clear.
Almost quarter of the game had passed before Scotland fashioned a chance. Chris Burke's deep cross found Miller, but the striker's header flew over.

Fifa 2014 World Cup Qualifying Group A

	Played	Won	Points

Belgium	5	4	13
Croatia	5	4	13
Wales	5	2	6
Serbia	5	1	4
Macedonia	5	1	4
Scotland	5	0	2

Full qualifying tables

Burke, who had excelled in Strachan's first game in charge against Estonia, twice blew chances to pick out well-placed team-mates in front of goal, with too many Scots passes finding Welsh feet.

Bellamy and Bale were denied in quick succession by the bravery and quick reactions of McGregor, but Scotland were gradually finding their way into the game.
And though Boaz Myhill was untested by two more Miller headers, he was motionless as the Scots took the lead in first-half injury time.
Mulgrew curled a corner from the right to the back post and Hanley, brilliantly freeing himself from the shackles of Sam Ricketts, headed into the net from just a few yards.
Scotland emerged after the break a far brighter side than the one that had started the game, no doubt buoyed by the goal and the non-appearance of Bale for the second period.
Their initiative was almost rewarded by a beautifully struck Snodgrass effort, which thudded back off Myhill's post.
But this Wales side is not one to feel sorry for itself and though penalty claims for a handball by Hanley were hopeful, they were denied an equaliser when the referee Antony Gautier deemed McGregor had been fouled before substitute Andy King - on the park seconds before - swept into the net.

Play media

Cannot play media. You do not have the correct version of the flash player. Download the correct version

Strachan says Scots caught napping

The game was turned on its head in a three-minute spell, starting with a foul by Snodgrass on Chris Gunter that brought him a second yellow card and - after a delay - a correctly-awarded penalty to Wales.
Ramsey hammered it in off the crossbar and with the Scots dazed, they were punished again as King floated in a cross from the right for Robson-Kanu to head emphatically past McGregor.
Scotland failed to threaten an equaliser, though James McArthur was cynically hauled down by Ramsey in the dying seconds, leading to the Welshman seeing a straight red.
Sadly for Scotland, Shaun Maloney blasted the free kick from 22 yards well over and Wales were left to take the acclaim of their fans.

Lineup, Bookings (7) & Substitutions (6)

Scotland

01 McGregor
02 Hutton
03 Mulgrew
04 G Hanley Booked
05 Caldwell
06 Dorrans (Adam - 63' )
07 Snodgrass Dismissed after an earlier booking
08 McArthur
10 Maloney
11 Burke (Rhodes - 86' )
09 Fletcher (Miller - 4' Booked )

Substitutes

12 Gilks
21 Marshall
14 Whittaker
15 Webster
23 R Martin
13 Mackay-Steven
16 Adam
19 Commons
22 Bannan
17 Naismith
18 Miller
20 Rhodes

Wales

01 Myhill
02 Gunter
03 Davies
05 Ricketts
06 Williams
04 Ledley (Church - 89' )
07 Collison (King - 58' )
09 Robson-Kanu Booked
10 Ramsey Dismissed after an earlier booking
11 Bale (Williams - 45' )
08 Bellamy

Substitutes

12 Price
21 fon Williams
13 Lynch
15 Collins
23 Nyatanga
14 Richards
16 King
17 Vaughan
20 Williams
18 Church
19 Vokes
22 Easter

Ref: Gautier

Att: 39,365

Match Stats

Shots

8 10

On target

3 10

Corners

4 5

Fouls

15 15

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:56 Full time

Full Time The final whistle is blown by the referee.

90:00 +3:46 Shaun Maloney fires a strike on goal direct from the free kick.
90:00 +3:46 Dismissal

Dismissal Aaron Ramsey sent off.

90:00 +3:41 Aaron Ramsey concedes a free kick for a foul on James McArthur.
90:00 +3:01 The assistant referee signals for offside against Kenny Miller. Aaron Ramsey restarts play with the free kick.
90:00 +2:20 Charlie Adam takes a shot. Blocked by Samuel Ricketts.
90:00 +0:52 Craig Bellamy has a curled shot. James McArthur gets a block in.
89:10 Foul by Charlie Adam on Hal Robson-Kanu, free kick awarded. Aaron Ramsey takes the free kick.
88:14 Substitution

Substitution Simon Church joins the action as a substitute, replacing Joe Ledley.

87:55 Gary Caldwell sends in a cross, Andy King manages to make a clearance.
87:39 The ball is sent over by Charlie Mulgrew, clearance made by Ashley Williams.
85:34 Short corner taken by Craig Bellamy from the left by-line.
85:34 Substitution

Substitution Jordan Rhodes joins the action as a substitute, replacing Christopher Burke.

84:27 Andy King takes a shot. Save made by Allan McGregor.
83:25 The ball is sent over by Christopher Burke, Ashley Williams manages to make a clearance.
81:48 Foul by Charlie Adam on Andy King, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Andy King.
76:50 Unfair challenge on Craig Bellamy by Gary Caldwell results in a free kick. Aaron Ramsey takes the free kick.
76:08 Charlie Adam concedes a free kick for a foul on Aaron Ramsey. Ben Davies takes the free kick.
76:08 Charlie Adam concedes a free kick for a foul on Craig Bellamy. Ben Davies restarts play with the free kick.
73:30 Andy King provided the assist for the goal.

Live text and data provided by The Press Association

Your comments (203)

England hit eight past San Marino

England completed the formalities of outclassing the minnows of San Marino to record their biggest win since October 1987.

Roy Hodgson's side repeated the eight-goal Wembley victory against Turkey in a predictable mis-match when faced with the country ranked lowest in the world standings in 207th place.
England can take credit for a job ruthlessly done and will be pleased to have suffered no injuries or any serious alarms before they head to Podgorica for Tuesday's more testing World Cup qualifier against group leaders Montenegro, who are two points clear of England having beaten Moldova.
Allesandro Della Valle's early own goal set England on their way and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Jermain Defoe, Ashley Young and Frank Lampard added more before the interval.

England's thumping victory

England last scored eight goals when they beat Turkey 8-0 in a 1987 European Championship qualifier at Wembley
The victory fell short of a 9-0 win over Luxembourg in 1982
England also recorded their biggest win over San Marino after beating them 7-1 in a World Cup qualifier in 1993 when the minnows famously scored after eight seconds

Wayne Rooney, substitute Daniel Sturridge and another from Defoe completed the rout as England creditably refused to let up in the quest to improve their goal difference.

With the host's best foray resulting in a second-half corner, the merits of such an embarrassingly one-sided World Cup meeting will be debated again. But England could only exert their vast superiority in a professional manner - which they did in impressive fashion.
Hodgson kept captain Steven Gerrard back for Montenegro while Ashley Cole, one yellow card away from suspension, was replaced by Leighton Baines.
And Baines was heavily involved as the procession started early, crossing from the left and forcing Della Valle to turn the ball past his own keeper Aldo Simoncini.
The rest of the half was predictably one-sided as England took up permanent residence in close proximity to San Marino's goal and rattled up the scoreline.

Play media

Cannot play media. You do not have the correct version of the flash player. Download the correct version

Oxlade-Chamberlain, in the side after Arsenal team-mate Theo Walcott prepared to return to England with a groin injury picked up in training, then added the second with some fine footwork and a cool finish.
Defoe had already had a goal ruled out for offside when he put England three up after 35 minutes. He scored from virtually on the line after Rooney's cross picked out Oxlade-Chamberlain at the far post.
The woeful standard of opposition meant it was almost an open invitation for England to score goals but there was no dispute about the quality of the fourth goal as Young rattled a magnificent rising 25-yard finish past Simoncini.
And Lampard, captain on his 95th England appearance, made it five just before half-time as he was the beneficiary of more fine work from Baines to score in composed fashion.
Rio Ferdinand, who withdrew from the England team to stick to administered training programme, was the subject of abusive chanting from the visiting England fans.
But on the pitch, Rooney - who was a focal point for England - deservedly got on the scoresheet nine minutes after the restart with an excellent free-kick beyond the reach of the besieged Simoncini.
It was his final contribution as Hodgson removed him with the more taxing examination in mind. He and Tom Cleverley were replaced by Leon Osman and Daniel Sturridge.
And Liverpool's £15m striker wasted no time getting on the scoresheet with a simple header from Young's perfect cross before Defoe scored another poacher's goal to make it 8-0.
It was the final act as the final whistle put San Marino out of their misery.

Lineup, Bookings (2) & Substitutions (6)

San Marino

01 Simoncini
02 Vitaioli
03 Palazzi
05 Della Valle
06 Simoncini Booked
09 Cervellini Booked
04 Gasperoni
08 Bollini (Valentini - 81' )
11 Cibelli (Buscarini - 67' )
07 Vitaioli
10 Selva (Rinaldi - 74' )

Substitutes

12 Valentini
13 Bacciocchi
19 Valentini
15 Buscarini
16 Coppini
17 Della Valle
20 Vannucci
14 Bianchi
18 Rinaldi

England

01 Hart
02 Walker
03 Baines
05 Lescott
06 Smalling
04 Cleverley (Osman - 56' )
07 Oxlade-Chamberlain
08 Lampard (Parker - 66' )
11 Young
09 Defoe
10 Rooney (Sturridge - 55' )

Substitutes

13 Foster
23 Forster
14 Cole
15 S Taylor
16 Caulker
12 Parker
17 Milner
18 Gerrard
19 Carrick
20 Osman
21 Welbeck
22 Sturridge

Ref: Alain Bieri

Att: 4,900

Match Stats

Shots

1 28

On target

0 19

Corners

1 15

Fouls

11 5

Live Text Commentary

89:47 Full time

Full Time The referee signals the end of the game.

89:39 Leon Osman concedes a free kick for a foul on Danilo Rinaldi. Free kick taken by Fabio Vitaioli.
89:07 Free kick awarded for a foul by Michele Cervellini on Leon Osman. Leon Osman restarts play with the free kick.
88:16 Leon Osman challenges Matteo Vitaioli unfairly and gives away a free kick. Carlo Valentini restarts play with the free kick.
83:53 Close range headed effort by Jermain Defoe goes wide of the left-hand post.
79:51 Substitution

Substitution Fabio Bollini goes off and Carlo Valentini comes on.

79:51 Leon Osman has an effort at goal from just outside the penalty box which goes wide of the left-hand post.
79:34 The ball is crossed by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, save by Aldo Simoncini.
78:24 Free kick awarded for a foul by Leighton Baines on Alex Gasperoni. Direct free kick taken by Fabio Vitaioli.
76:39 Assist by Kyle Walker.
76:39 Goal scored

Goal - Jermain Defoe - San Marino 0 - 8 England Jermain Defoe gets on the score sheet with a goal from inside the six-yard box to the bottom right corner of the goal. San Marino 0-8 England.

74:23 Unfair challenge on Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain by Michele Cervellini results in a free kick. Leighton Baines produces a shot on goal direct from the free kick, save by Aldo Simoncini.
73:49 Substitution

Substitution Danilo Rinaldi joins the action as a substitute, replacing Andy Selva.

71:48 A cross is delivered by Leighton Baines, save by Aldo Simoncini.
70:52 Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Leighton Baines.
69:25 Ashley Young provided the assist for the goal.
69:25 Goal scored

Goal - Daniel Sturridge - San Marino 0 - 7 England Daniel Sturridge finds the net with a headed goal from close in. San Marino 0-7 England.

68:46 Leon Osman fouled by Andy Selva, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Leon Osman.
66:40 Substitution

Substitution Lorenzo Buscarini replaces Enrico Cibelli.

65:24 Substitution

Substitution (England) makes a substitution, with Scott Parker coming on for Frank Lampard.

Live text and data provided by The Press Association

West Ham Olympic Stadium move 'a mistake' - Richard Caborn

Former sports minister Richard Caborn has described the deal to make West Ham anchor tenants of the Olympic Stadium in Stratford as "the biggest mistake of the London Olympics".

West Ham will pay £15m for a 99-year lease on the £429m venue on which conversion costs could reach £190m.
"I do welcome the fact that the future of the stadium has finally been secured," said Caborn.
"But we should also realise that the public sector is picking up the tab."
Premier League club West Ham will move from Upton Park to the Olympic Stadium from August 2016 and pay around £2m-a-year rent.

Play media

Hammers land Olympic Stadium tenancy

Under conversion plans, the roof will be extended and the seating capacity reduced from 80,000 to between 54,000 and 60,000, with a retractable system allowing the venue to be converted from a football stadium to an athletics arena within days.
Seats will slide over the running track to bring West Ham fans closer to the action.
After West Ham's contribution, the rest of the funds for the conversion will be drawn from a range of sources, including Mayor of London Boris Johnson's budget, a £40m loan from Newham Council and around £20m of borrowings by the London Legacy Development Corporation.
Caborn suggested the stadium could have been adapted at a fraction of the cost if it had been built with a post-Games switch to football in mind.
"This is the biggest mistake of the Olympics and lessons should be learned from this," he added.
"West Ham are basically getting a stadium costing more than £600m for just £15m and a small amount in annual rent.
"The mistake was made in 2006-7 when they [Olympic Board] ruled football out of a retro-fit design as was done successfully in Manchester with the Commonwealth Games stadium.
"I suggested retractable seating like the Stade de France in Paris but they insisted it should be a 25,000-seat athletics stadium.
"Time and again mistakes are made with Olympic Stadiums and the lessons should be learned for any future similar projects."
Johnson defended the public cost of a stadium that will also be used to stage community and commercial events.
"It's a deal they said could never be done," he said. "This fantastic stadium will not only host community sports, but rock concerts, athletics like the Diamond League this summer, all sorts of sports where the ball is not necessarily spherical.
"I think when you look at the deal, the income, which is going to come in from rent, hospitality and naming rights, will be very, very substantial.
"That means there will be no more subsidy from the taxpayer to keep the whole thing going."

Breakdown of conversion funding

Government: Around £60m
Loan from Newham Council: £40m
LLDC loan: £20m
West Ham: £15m
There will also be funding from Mayor of London Boris Johnson's budget

But Johnson's stance was opposed by Conservatives on the Greater London Authority, who called for the West Ham deal to be scrapped.

"The decision to give West Ham the Olympic stadium means Londoners and the nation's taxpayers have been landed with a poor deal," said their spokesman Andrew Boff.
"It is a disgrace that another £25m from the public purse will now be used to prop up this agreement.
"The deal should be scrapped immediately and a commercially viable alternative explored as a matter of urgency."
West Ham will now start a consultation process with fans over the new stadium.
Two of its stands will be named after former Hammers stars Trevor Brooking and Bobby Moore to mirror Upton Park.
West Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady said: "It was important to me that we struck a deal that would stand the test of time and that represented the right deal for West Ham United and our loyal and patient supporters.
"The consultation we have promised them will now begin and we can't wait to work with them to create a stunning new home that befits the pride, passion and tradition that the world associates with West Ham United."

West Ham Olympic Stadium move 'a mistake' - Richard Caborn

Former sports minister Richard Caborn has described the deal to make West Ham anchor tenants of the Olympic Stadium in Stratford as "the biggest mistake of the London Olympics".

Play media

Hammers land Olympic Stadium tenancy

Breakdown of conversion funding

Government: Around £60m
Loan from Newham Council: £40m
LLDC loan: £20m
West Ham: £15m
There will also be funding from Mayor of London Boris Johnson's budget

But Johnson's stance was opposed by Conservatives on the Greater London Authority, who called for the West Ham deal to be scrapped.

Friday, 22 March 2013

Wales 2-1 Scotland October 2012

Fifa 2014 World Cup Qualifying Group A

Scotland

Substitutes

Wales

Substitutes

Shots

On target

Corners

Fouls

Live Text Commentary

Also related to this story

England's thumping victory

San Marino

Substitutes

England

Substitutes

Shots

On target

Corners

Fouls

Live Text Commentary

Breakdown of conversion funding

Breakdown of conversion funding