Nurnberg Soccer

Nurnberg go for Galasek

2006-05-24T09:27:00.000-07:00

Nurnberg have completed the signing of Czech Republic midfielder Tomas Galasek on a two-year contract from Dutch side Ajax.
The 33-year-old, who is preparing for the World Cup finals, had been with the Amsterdam giants for six years, but was allowed to move on on a free transfer.
Nurnberg coach Hans Meyer told his club's official website: "Tomas Galasek is for me an experienced player who can lead our young team with his international experience.
"I have been watching his career for over ten years and look forward to having him here."
Meyer has already added four other new players to his squad for next season, snapping up Michael Beauchamp and Dean Hefferman on season-long loans from Central Coast Mariners, as well as striker Leon Benko from Varteks Varazdin and Josh Kennedy from Dynamo Dresden.

Nurnberg 2-1 Hertha Berlin

2006-05-16T07:50:00.000-07:00

Ivan Saenko grabbed a late winner for Nurnberg in a game that saw both them and Hertha Berlin reduced to 10 men.
Robert Vittek had put the hosts ahead on the half hour mark, and Hertha's troubles increased when Josip Simunic was sent off eight minutes later.
However, Pal Dardai brought them level four minutes before half time, and a draw seemed likely after Nurnberg's Jan Polak saw red mid-way through the second half.
That was before Saenko popped up with four minutes left to snatch all three points.
It was perhaps a fair reflection of the play as Nurnberg had the better of the chances.
Stefan Kiessling had the first chance in only the third minute but could not get his header on target from Javier Pinola's cross.
Kevin Boateng blazed over at the other end before Kiessling turned provider. His cross fell to Vittek but he slammed a shot against the post from close range.
The breakthrough came when Simunic was caught in possession and Vittek struck a shot which was too powerful for goalkeeper Christian Fiedler to hold on to.
Simunic's misery was completed when he received his second yellow card for a foul on Kiessling.
Nurnberg might have been expected to take control of the game, but instead they conceded almost instantly.
Dardai latched onto a through ball from Solomon Okoronkwo to find the net with a low shot from the right-hand side of the area.
The game turned again when Polak fouled Sofian Chahed to earn his second yellow card, but as with Hertha, the loss of a man only seemed to spur Nurnberg on.
Fiedler saved from Jan Kristiansen and Saenko in quick succession as they pushed forward in search of a winner.
Pinola then saw a free-kicked turned over the bar by their goalkeeper as Hertha looked like holding on for a draw.
However, with four minutes left, Vittek's pass found Saenko unmarked inside the area and he finally found the net.

LEVERKUSEN HELD BY NURNBERG

2006-05-08T09:53:00.000-07:00

Bayer Leverkusen's winning streak came to an end as Stefan Kiessling snatched a dramatic stoppage-time equaliser for Nurnberg.
Time had already been added on when Dimitar Berbatov put Leverkusen ahead from the penalty spot with his second goal of the match.
Earlier Berbatov had equalised Jawher Mnari's opener for Nurnberg.
But Kiessling's immediately leveller thus prevented Leverkusen from recording a seventh consecutive Bundesliga win - Bayer's Bundesliga Championship record since the resumption after the winter break had been the best in Germany.
Nurnberg mounted the first threat to the Leverkusen goal when Jan Polak crossed to Ivan Saenko but Jorg Butt made the save.
Leverkusen's first chance came after 17 minutes when Bernd Schneider crossed to Simon Rolfes who blasted over.
Nurnberg went close again when Jan Kristiansen fired over from long range.
Nine minutes before the break it was 1-0 to the Bavarians when Mnari found the net from 25 yards for his first goal of the season.
Leverkusen got back on terms with their first real attack of the second half when Berbatov netted from six yards after getting onto the end of a corner from Schneider.
Kiessling headed over for Nurnberg but at the other end goalkeeper Raphael Schafer did well to save from Berbatov at the expense of a corner.
Leverkusen thought they had added to their winning streak when they earned a penalty in stoppage time.
Berbatov converted from the spot after Mnari had fouled Andrej Voronin in the penalty area.
However, Leverkusen relaxed too early and Nurnberg went right down the other end to score with Kiessling taking advantage of a static defence.
Hans Meyer this week agreed to stay on as Nurnberg coach and the late leveller was the perfect way for the club to mark his contract extension.

Germany Bundesliga - Football

2006-05-04T10:36:00.000-07:00

With three fixtures left in the season the Germany Bundesliga can almost crown their champion. The only two teams now with possibilities to win the Championship are first place Bayern Munich and Hamburg SV; first place Bayern Munich is 5 points ahead of Hamburg SV. It will be a fierce fight for first place as none of the teams can afford the luxury of losing any points so expect them to try and win every game they have left.

The Bayern Munich will clinch the title if they win on Saturday against Kaiserslautern, it will be the second consecutive title and they already won the second consecutive cup so it will be a double double for them and the 20th Bundesliga title.

Bayern didn’t have a great campaign in the Champions League but they can wash their face to their fans if they manage to clinch the title on Saturday. It will be a great comfort for the team and the fans; as we know the sooner the league finish for the important teams it’s better for the National Team. That way they can count with all the players towards the preparation for the FIFA World Cup.

On the other side the Hamburg SV depends on the results of Bayern Munich. If Bayern losses on Saturday they can forget about the title; however if they lose Hamburg SV might still have a shot of course if they win all their games left.

It’s very impressive the campaign that the Hamburg SV has had. Not being such a known team they have proved to everybody in Europe that they can match any team they face. With a possible ticket to next year Champions League the team is very motivated in continuing the good work they’ve been doing so far and have a good season ending.

'We were lucky,' said HSV coach Thomas Doll. 'We weren't able to settle down into any rhythm after going ahead 1-0. Cologne got better and better. They played fantastic. We didn't invest enough into the match and didn't play well. 'But we got three points against a very strong Cologne team.'

Hamburg can clinch second place and direct qualification into the Champions League if Werder Bremen, third with 61 points, does not win their match on Wednesday against MSV Duisburg.
Now you know it, two important teams that will fight with everything they’ve got for the Championship; this is best opportunity if you like sports betting to add more excitement to that soccer passion.

Next week on TV (5-1/5-7)

2006-05-02T13:56:00.000-07:00

By Daniel Kline
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

Both the NBA and the NHL close out the first round of their playoffs. In baseball, you’ve got the Orioles and the Blue Jays, matching up in what has to be one of the biggest questions of the baseball season. One of these teams might hang on to challenge the Yankees and Red Sox, but probably not both, making this early season tilt a little more interesting.

*All times Eastern.

Monday, May 1
NFL Europe, Berlin at Rhein (3 p.m., NFL Network)
Stop arguing about who your team drafted and check in on the sport’s minor league with this mid-afternoon match-up. Though NFL Europe might not get the attention of its big brother, the league offers a good chance to figure out which back-up players might break through come the fall.

Tuesday, May 2
Yankees at Red Sox (7:05 p.m., DirecTV, regional)
Every Yankees versus Red Sox match-up gets covered like a playoff game in Boston and New York, so expect tempers to flare in this tilt. The Sox have had the early season advantage, but that’s nothing new, as the Sox always have a division lead in the Summer – the question is whether they can hold it in the Fall.

Wednesday, May 3
Boxing (9 p.m. ESPN2)
Sharmba Mitchell takes on Jose Luis Cruz in a 10-round welterweight tilt. Cruz plays the role of the fighter on the way up, taking on former two-time champion Mitchell, who wants one more shot at the gold. Mitchell was knocked out in the sixth round in his last fight, but that was against Floyd Mayweather – one of the best in the division – so he’s aiming to prove that was a fluke and knock Cruz off the ladder of contention.

Thursday, May 4
Wachovia Open (4 p.m., USA)
A Tiger-less field should leave this one pretty wide open. Vijay Singh attempts to repeat as champion, a title he took last year in a three-way playoff with Sergio Garcia and Jim Furyk.

Friday, May 5
College Volleyball (Midnight, ESPN2)
Catch the men’s semifinal of the NCAA men’s volleyball tournament. This might be your last chance to see some of your favorite players before they turn pro and head out on the lucrative men’s volleyball tour.

Saturday, May 6
Kentucky Derby (6 p.m., NBC)
Horse racing only matters three times a year to the average fan, but the Kentucky captures the best of the sport. Because it’s the first Triple Crown race, every Derby winner stands the chance of being the first horse to bring home racing’s most elusive prize since Affirmed in 1978.

Sunday, May 7
Premier League Soccer (5 p.m., FOXESP)
Two of the big powers in the Premiership face off as Newcastle battles Chelsea in an attempt to cut into Chelsea’s overall lead in the standings. Chelsea did just fall in the FA Cup semifinal, but their big lead in the regular season standings makes clinching the title almost inevitable.

Daniel Kline’s book “50 Things Every Guy Should Know How To Do” is available in bookstores nationwide. He can be reached at dan@notastep.com.

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Nurnberg trailing Schlaudraff - German Soccer

2006-05-01T10:59:00.000-07:00

FC Nurnberg are reportedly ready to make a move for Alemannia Aachen striker Jan Schlaudraff.
The 22-year-old has been in impressive form this season, helping Aachen to return to the top flight after a 36-year absence.
He has attracted the attention of numerous Bundesliga Championship sides, but Nurnberg have emerged as the leading candidates to snap him up.
Schlaudraff has a get-out clause in his contract and could be keen to be reunited with Hans Meyer, the coach who helped him break into the Borussia Monchengladbach team earlier in his career.
Meanwhile, Nurnberg have stated that they are not willing to let top scorer Robert Vittek leave the club.
The Slovakian international's 13 goals have hauled the Bavarian outfit away from relegation trouble and he is thought to be a target for several Bundesliga rivals.
"We are planning to keep Robert here next season," commented sport director Martin Bader.
"It would take something extraordinary to get us even talking about letting him go."

2006 UEFA CUP Tournament

2006-04-26T11:40:00.000-07:00

The UEFA Cup is handed over to the Dutch city of Eindhoven, and in preparation for hosting this season's final, golden memories of 1978 will come flooding back.
It was on 9 May 1978 that local side PSV Eindhoven established themselves as a major force in European football as they beat SC Bastia 3-0 at the Philips stadium - the venue for this season's final - to win the UEFA Cup, following a goalless draw in the first leg in Corsica two weeks earlier.
By that time, PSV had already broken the cast-iron grip that the big clubs from the west of the Netherlands - Feyenoord and AFC Ajax - held on the Dutch title by winning the Eredivisie in 1974/75 and 1975/76, but in taking the UEFA Cup, they announced their presence to the whole continent.
With the final being contested over two legs in those days, PSV had not enjoyed an easy time in the opening fixture against Bastia. Heavy rainfall turned the first leg into a boring show. But the second leg, however, was much more one-sided, and with the elements no longer blocking their route to goal, PSV shone with Willy van de Kerkhof, Gerrie Deijkers and Willy van der Kuylen finding the target as they secured a famous victory in front of 27,000 fans.
With Feyenoord and Ajax both having won major European competitions in the early 1970s, PSV were the third Dutch club to triumph in UEFA competition, and added to their trophy cabinet by winning the European Champion Clubs' Cup in 1987/88 before reaching the UEFA Champions League semi-finals in 2004/05.
The memories of that first success back in 1978 will be celebrated as 2004/05 UEFA Cup, against all the Sportsbooks odds. Winners of last year’s cup PFC CSKA Moskva hand the trophy to Eindhoven, with goal scorers Van de Kerkhof and UEFA Cup in attendance. Sadly Deijkers died of heart failure at the age of 56 back in October 2003.
Deijkers' story was an odd one. He had played as a defender in previous seasons but coach Kees Rijvers - who will also be at the handover - decided to hand him a chance to become a striker as PSV were having attacking problems in 1977/78. He went on to score 18 league goals and six in the UEFA Cup that season. While Deijkers will be missed at the ceremony at the Evoluon building in Eindhoven, plenty of other PSV stars of 1978 will be there to make up the numbers. Among them will be Willy's twin brother René van de Kerkhof, Jan Poortvliet, Adri van Kraay and Kees Krijgh all eager to get their hands on the trophy again.

German Soccer: Borussia Dortmund 2-1 Nurnberg

2006-04-24T13:28:00.000-07:00

Florian Kringe scored both goals to help Borussia Dortmund climb up to seventh in the Bundesliga Championship Tournament with a narrow win over mid-table Nurnberg.
Kringe opened the scoring in the 19th minute and then grabbed the winner with 14 minutes remaining after Marek Nikl had brought Nurnberg level with a first-half equaliser.
Dortmund had seen their European hopes take a battering in recent weeks after picking up just one point from a possible nine.
However, a clash with Nurnberg was just the fixture Dortmund would have wanted to get back on track having beaten them in six of their seven previous encounters, drawing the other.

Bundesliga round-up - Soccer

2006-04-20T14:03:00.000-07:00

Stuttgart clawed their way back from 3-1 down to draw at Hannover and keep their European dream alive.
The home side made the perfect start, Hanno Balitsch creeping in between two defenders to expertly turn the ball home in the second minute. Their lead was doubled after 33 minutes, Jiri Stajner heading in a cross from the right.
Altin Lala was sent off for Hannover but they kept up the pressure, forcing Stuttgart keeper Timo Hildebrand into a string of fine saves, before conceding a goal against the run of play, Daniel Ljuboja driving a fierce strike into the top corner with his left foot.
Hannover restored their two-goal advantage after 67 minutes, Per Mertesacker rising highest to head home a corner, before late strikes from Thomas Hitzlsperger (77) and Jon Dahl Tomasson (83) rescued a point for Stuttgart.
In the day's other game Nurnberg kept the pressure on relegation-threatened Kaiserslautern with a late 3-2 win.
Robert Vittek (13) fired Nurnberg ahead, but a brace from Halil Altintop (20 and 48) put Kaiserslautern on course for a rare three points on their travels.
However, Thomas Paulus (62) pulled the scores level, and Vittek grabbed his second of the game (87) to leave The Red Devils three points from safety.

Stuttgart v Nurnberg - Soccer

2006-04-11T12:57:00.000-07:00

In their last 3 visits here Nurnberg football team colleted 9 points. And if we count the one preceding that adds up to 10 points out of a possible 12. Stuttgart traditinally doesn;t win Nurnberg at home, eventhough they won 2 of the last 3 in NurnbergNow add to it that Nurnberg are undefeated in 5 (4 wins and a draw) while Stuttgart are winless in 5 (3 draws followed by 2 losses), plus the tired legs of the UEFA cup tournament encounter at mid-week, it all adds up to -at least- a point for the visitors, if not all 3.Stuttgard actually won only 3 games at home out of 14 thy've played so far. They prfer the draw both home and away, and Nurnberg have been doing a great job keping their distance from the nearest relegation slot.

Nurnberg target Maccabi stars - Soccer

2006-04-07T12:10:00.000-07:00

FC Nurnberg soccer team are thought to be tracking two of Maccabi Haifa's stars.
Michael Zandberg and Xavier Dirsau have both become targets for the Bundesliga championship Tournament outfit after strong displays for the Israeli side this term.
Zandberg is an Israeli international midfielder and has been a member of Maccabi's set-up since 2002 while Brazilian Dirsau is a holding midfielder.
Both players could move to the Franken Stadion in the close season after coach Hans Meyer made his interest known for the pair.

Nurnberg Make Point

2006-03-31T08:03:00.000-08:00

Arminia Bielefeld and Nurnberg remain stuck in the relegation race after they settled for a scoreless draw in the Schuco Arena tournament. Arminia's Artur Wichniarek came closest to scoring in the 53rd minute when he hit the post before the two sides shared the spoils in an otherwise uneventful encounter. Both teams ended the afternoon in the midtable zone where they are not entirely safe from relegation and are also not to be entirely discounted from qualifying for Europe. With either team holding a six-point edge to both the UEFA Cup Championship and relegation ranks prior to the weekend, the first half of the game a well-balanced, yet unspectacular act. Arminia4s best chance of the opening period came after just five minutes when Wichniarek won a header in the box. His effort landed to the feet of Sibusiso Zuma who outfoxed soccer player Leandro Glauber but his right-footed shot from six yards out landed inches to the left.

Team Report

2006-03-10T11:28:00.000-08:00

Nuremberg was the centre of German football attention lastweekend when crisis-hit Leverkusen avoided relegation with atight 1-0 victory. It also marked the return of former coachKlaus Augenthaler, who had taken over as Bayer boss just twoweeks after getting the chop from mighty president Michael A.Roth... Newly appointed Wolfgang Wolf still has to win his firstpoints for his new side as their losing slide hit five...Playing without 10 starters, Nuremberg came up short againstBayer, who scored the game's only goal after a costly mistakefrom junior team member Dominik Reinhardt... The "Club" goesdown to the second division for a record sixth time but might begood enough to regain promotion quickly... Midfielder DavidJarolim is expected to join Leverkusen for next season.

Germany: Bayern too strong for Nurnberg

2006-02-16T10:44:00.000-08:00

Bayern Munich made no mistakes on Sunday, as the league leaders defeated Nurnberg 2-1 to maintain their ten-points advantage over Hamburg.
Bayern Munich - Nurnberg 2-1
Dutchman Roy Makaay opened the score for the hosts in the 28th minute, but had his goal cancelled out by Robert Vittek in the 35th. The decision however came in the 54th minute, when playmaker Michael Ballack scored for 2-1.
Cologne - Borussia Dortmund 0-0
No goals were scored at Cologne versus Borussia Dortmund. Cologne move down to the last position as Kaiserslautern had a surprise win over Werder on Saturday.