Monthly Archives: February 2014

Sturridge humiliated, Messi elated and tear gas causes chaos – defining moments of the weekend

Check out the best photos from the latest round of matches throughout the footballing world, featuring the FA Cup, La Liga, Serie A and more

After yet another dramatic weekend of action, Goal offers you the most illuminating images from across the globe… enjoy!

Ezequiel Lavezzi points to the heavens in an emotional tribute to his uncle who was murdered last week

Muangthong United captain Datsakorn Thonglao is sent off for headbutting Leigh Broxham of Melbourne Victory in the AFC Champions League playoff

Jonathan Pereira kicks away a tear gas bomb which stopped the clash between Villarreal and Celta Vigo for 17 minutes as players and fans were evacuated from the stadium

Lionel Messi nets his second of the night to reach 228 league goals, tying him with Raul Gonzalez for La Liga’s third best

Referee Mauro Bergonzi argues with Bologna’s Cesare Natali during the Serie A clash between AC Milan and Bologna

Mario Balotelli scores the winning goal for AC Milan with a long range screamer at San Siro

Bert van Marwijk reacts to Hamburg’s 4-2 defeat against bottom-placed club Braunschweig. The Dutchman was later relieved of his duties

Xherdan Shaqiri enjoys scoring a double as Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich beat Freiburg 4-0

Al Qadsia defender Hamad Aman clashes with an Al Jaish player during the AFC Champions League playoff match

Fraizer Campbell gets a shot away as Cardiff City lose to Championship side Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup fifth round

Liverpool’s Luis Suarez is tripped in the box by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain but controversially no penalty is awarded

Mattia Destro helps Roma to a 3-0 victory over Sampdoria to keep their Serie A title hopes alive

Fenerbahce edge past Kasimpasa to earn a five point lead at the top of the Super Lig

Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Christian Eriksen returns to Ajax for a special farewell ceremony

‘It was a blatant penalty, a strange decision’ – Rodgers questions Webb after Arsenal loss

The Northern Irishman felt that Luis Suarez should have been given an even “clearer” spot-kick than the one from which Steven Gerrard scored

Brendan Rodgers was left questioning match official Howard Webb’s “strange” decision not to award Liverpool a second penalty in the 2-1 loss to Arsenal in the FA Cup on Sunday.

Luis Suarez was brought down by Lukas Podolski in the second half, with Steven Gerrard converting from the spot to pull the Reds back into the game.

But Suarez was denied a second spot kick just a few minutes later after going down under a strong challenge from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

“It was probably clearer and blatant than the first one,” Rodgers told BT Sport. “The first one Luis gets clipped, so for sure it was a penalty, but the second one is clear.

“I’m not sure if it’s because it was just after that but it was certainly a clear penalty. Luis has just got a touch on the ball and Alex has just taken him inside the box in front of the referee’s eyes, so it was a strange decision.”

Rodgers felt his side were worthy of a place in the quarter-final despite narrowly falling short at the Emirates Stadium.

“I thought the best team lost,” he added. “I thought the very least we deserved was a replay in the game, and probably should have been 2-0 up in those first six or seven minutes.

“I thought going forward we were outstanding [and] created so many chances. I’m disappointed with the goals, the first one in particular is just a long ball into the box. The positioning might have been better for the second one.

“We’re bitterly disappointed not to get something and to get another penalty, which I thought was a blatant penalty.”

Arsenal 2-1 Liverpool: Podolski strikes as Gunners cling on for quarter-final spot

Arsenal held off a late fight back from Liverpool to book their place in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup thanks to a 2-1 win at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain opened the scoring after the hosts had weathered an early spell of dominance from Liverpool, with the England international collecting Yaya Sanogo’s blocked shot inside the box and firing it into the back of the net.

The 20-year-old winger was influential in the Gunners’ second goal too, racing in behind Daniel Agger just after the restart and cutting the ball back to Lukas Podolski, who hit a first-time effort beyond Brad Jones.

The German goalscorer quickly went from hero to villan, though, as he clipped Luis Suarez’s ankles inside the penalty area. Howard Webb pointed to the spot and skipper Steven Gerrard buried the resulting spot-kick, though the Merseysiders could not find a second goal to force a replay.

More to follow…