PARIS, 5 August 2007 — Newly promoted Strasbourg held Marseille to a scoreless draw yesterday to open the French league.
Marseille, last season’s runner-up, was without Samir Nasri with the France midfielder recovering from an ankle injury.
“We knew it would be tough today,” Marseille winger Boudewijn Zenden told Canal Plus Television. “We tried. We had a few shots on target, but it wasn’t enough.”
Strasbourg had the best chances in the second half. Midfielder James Fanchone headed just wide in the 52nd minute. Forward Wason Renteria’s shot 11 minutes later on a cross from Eric Mouloungui was blocked by Marseille goalkeeper Cedric Carrasso. Marseille striker Djibril Cisse had a goal disallowed in the 84th for offside.
Thaksin Upbeat Despite Man City
Losing 1-0 to Valencia
In Manchester, England, Sven-Goran Eriksson’s Manchester City lost 1-0 to Valencia in a preseason friendly yesterday, his first home game since taking charge.
David Silva scored for the Spaniards in the ninth minute.
The defeat marred the carnival atmosphere which greeted Eriksson and new owner Thaksin Shinawatra at the City of Manchester Stadium. Thaksin, whose suitability to own a Premier League club has been questioned by human rights activists this week, told The Associated Press he was touched by the fans’ welcome.
“I feel very warm that the community embraced me today,” Thaksin said. “I have tried my best for the club. What I have started in the first month of taking over gives me some hope that Manchester City, having not won a trophy in 31 years, may have some hope now.” Valencia’s goal came after a wayward pass by Switzerland under-21 captain Gelson Fernandes, one of five new City signings in the staring lineup.
Joaquin Sanchez had his shot parried by Kapser Schmeichel, giving Silva a clear view on goal to dampen City’s celebrations.
Scotland Defeat Poland 9-3 in Finals
of Homeless Soccer World Cup
In Copenhagen, Denmark, Scotland defeated Poland 9-3 yesterday to win soccer’s Homeless World Cup, a six-day street tournament, played this year in Copenhagen’s main square, aimed at focusing attention on homelessness. Denmark’s Crown Prince Frederik attended the finals and handed the cup trophy to the Scottish team. About 500 players from 48 countries took part in the annual event, first held in 2003. The games were played on two pitches on Copenhagen’s City Hall Square. Each team, of mixed ages and genders, had four players, including a goalkeeper. Each game lasted 14 minutes, with two seven-minute halves. Liberia, which played without substitutes after four players deserted the team, beat Denmark 11-5 to grab third place.
Rangers Blank Inverness
in Season Opener
In Glasgow, captain Barry Ferguson scored twice to help Rangers to a 3-0 win away to Inverness Caledonian Thistle in their opening match of the Scottish Premier League season yesterday.
Ferguson struck left-footed from 25 meters to give Rangers, last season’s runners-up behind Celtic, the lead in the 16th minute.
Spanish striker Nacho Novo came off the bench to make it 2-0 in the 65th minute and Ferguson rounded off the scoring two minutes from time after taking advantage of a dreadful mistake from defender Ross Tokely.
Celtic begin the defense of their title at home to Kilmarnock today.
Elsewhere, Dundee United beat Aberdeen 1-0 with a late goal from David Robertson.
He pounced on a blunder by Andy Considine to rifle a shot into the roof of the net when the game seemed to be heading for a draw. United had Willo Flood sent off before halftime for his second bookable offense. Newly promoted Gretna crashed to a 4-0 defeat against Falkirk in their first ever SPL game while St. Mirren lost 1-0 at home to Motherwell with Steve McGarry grabbing the winner.
St. Pauli Upset Leverkusen in
German Cup First Round
In Berlin, Second division St. Pauli beat Bayer Leverkusen 1-0 yesterday to knock the Bundesliga side out in the first round of the German Cup.
Fabian Boll scored in the 87th minute for St. Pauli, regular giantkillers who reached the semifinals two years ago. For Leverkusen, who finished fifth last season in the Bundesliga and qualified for the UEFA Cup, it was their first Cup exit in the first round in 11 years in a match played in front of a crowd of 15,000 in Hamburg.
Werder Bremen avoided embarrassment against third division side Eintracht Braunschweig with a Boubacar Sanogo in the 90th minute giving them a 1-0 win.
On the first weekend of competition in the new season after a three-month break, three other Bundesliga clubs advanced to the next round with victories over opponents from lower divisions.
Borussia Dortmund beat FC Magdeburg 4-1, Hanover 96 defeated Rot-Weiss Ahlen 3-1, and Hertha Berlin came safely through 3-0 against SpVgg Unterhaching.
Veron On Target as Estudiantes
Make Winning Start
In Buenos Aires, midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron put a difficult week behind him by inspiring Estudiantes to a 3-0 win away to Banfield in their opening Argentine championship match. Veron, who briefly walked out on the team in a contract row on Thursday, pulled the strings in midfield and converted a 90th minute penalty in Friday night’s game. Ezequiel Maggiolo had put Estudiantes ahead in the 74th minute.
Banfield defender Javier Sanguinetti put through his own goal eight minutes later before Veron put the finishing touch to the win.
Velez Sarsfield, under former Mexico coach Ricardo La Volpe, also got off to a winning start despite playing almost the entire match away to Colon with 10 men.
Velez had Pablo Lima sent off after only two minutes for a vicious foul on Pablo Jerez but a 57th minute goal from striker Damian Escudero, a member of the Argentina squad that won the World Youth Cup in Canada last month, gave them a 1-0 win.
Pachuca Begin Mexican
Title Defense in Style
Mexican champions Pachuca began their title defense with a 4-1 win away to Tecos UAG.
Colombian striker Andres Chitiva fired the Beavers in front when he pounced on a rebound in the 33rd minute and striker Rafael Marquez Lugo added a second six minutes later in the Apertura championship game on Friday night.
Argentine forward Damian Alvarez scored the third, converting a penalty in the 64th minute after a foul on Joel Sanchez.
Although Chilean striker Hugo Droguett pulled one back three minutes later for the Tecos, Mexico forward Juan Carlos Cacho restored Pachuca’s three-goal advantage 12 minutes from time.
