Two Tim Cahill goals in the first half and a David Carney injury-time strike secured Australia a comfortable victory over the Republic of Ireland in a friendly at Limerick in their lead up to the 2010 World Cup.

With key players Lucas Neill, Jason Culina, Vince Grella, Mile Sterjovski,Italia Euro 2012, and Josh Kennedy missing, Socceroos coach Pim Verbeek fielded a relatively inexperienced team, which included a defensive line up of Jade North, David Carney, Patrick Kisnorbo, and Rhys Williams.

Yet despite the inexperience and lack of playing familiarity, the Socceroos controlled the match from the outset while the Irish, who haven’t yet qualified for the World Cup and for whom the match represented important preparation, struggled to find their rhythm.

The Socceroos had some good early chances, including a Kisnorbo header that was narrowly saved in the 20th, but it was Socceroos talisman Tim Cahill who drew first blood with a quick counterattack in the 38th.

With just Cahill and Scott McDonald facing up against five Irish players, McDonald passed off to Cahill who guided it in to the bottom left corner with a quality delivery that ‘keeper Shay Given didn’t even attempt to stop.

Cahill made it a double in the 44th after Rhyss Williams seized on a poor clearance. The keeper could only parry his shot, but Cahill, who has a knack for finding himself in the right place at the right time, scored again from the rebound with a left-footed shot.

The 16th-ranked Australia has never lost a game when Cahill has scored and the confident Socceroos never looked threatened by the 37th-ranked Irish, who the Socceroos last met in 2003 and who have recorded draws in their previous four internationals.

Cahill, McDonald, and Kisnorbo were subbed off at half time, giving Brett Holman, Nikita Rukavytsya—who made his international debut—and Adrian Madaschi a chance to impress.

The Irish started the second half with greater confidence and energy, testing the Socceroos’ defense, which held its shape and help the Socceroos retain control of the match.

Matthew Spiranovic replaced Jade North in the 70th, after North sustained an injury to his cheek and couldn’t continue, while Nicky Carle replaced Marco Bresciano, who was celebrating 50 caps, in the 78th.

Ireland’s best chance of the match came in the 88th, when Keith Andrews hit the upright, denying the Irish a goal by the narrowest of margins.

An unmarked Sean St Ledger then spurned an opportunity to score, when he directed a point blank range header straight at Schwarzer’s body.

But the Socceroos continued to press for a third goal, with Carney finding the back of the net in injury time with a left-footed strike from outside the box that curled into the top left corner and cemented the Socceroos’ dominance.

Cahill has now scored 18 goals in 34 Socceroos appearances and his Limerick double also mark the first goals on the road for the Socceroos in 2009.

The Socceroos will continue their World Cup preparation, while Ireland,Maglia Italia, who are sitting second in Group 8, five points clear of third placed Bulgaria, will aim to win in their next game in Cyprus and push for a 2010 World Cup berth.

Article written by Fiona Crawford of Goal.

Adelaide United grabbed a critical 3 points in a fighting performance against Brisbane Roar in Brisbane tonight.,Moncler jassen

Fabian Barbiero headed home the only goal of the game after some clever work by Matthew Leckie out wide. Leckie had streaked down the flank before holding up the ball and delaying his cross to the back post until the late arrival of midfielder Barbiero.

The result was due reward for Adelaide United coach Aurelio Vidmar who finally shook up his under-performing side by dropping four senior regulars out of the squad in addition to the loss of Sarkies through injury. The new look Adelaide United showed much improved determination and reaped the 3 points as a direct result. It was a courageous performance and it gives Adelaide some slight hope that it may be able to turn around its otherwise disastrous 2009/10 season.

Manchester United’s Sir Alex Ferguson is pondering a move for out-of-contract Galatasaray striker Harry Kewell.

Kewell has been in scintillating form for the Turkish club scoring 14 goals this season. His contract ends in June and he is now free to sign a pre-contract agreement.

Ferguson is seeking to strengthen his squad down the left hand side. Portugese winger Nani has failed to convince Ferguson that he has the quality required to succeed Ryan Giggs and he is expected to be on his way out of the Premier League Champions.

Ferguson has long admired Harry Kewell and made several attempts to land the player in 2003. At the time Ferguson offered Leeds double the transfer fee paid by Liverpool and made a personal approach to try to convince Kewell to join Manchester United. But Kewell could not be swayed from joining Liverpool, the club of his boyhood idols.

Seven years on Ferguson is considering making another attempt to capture Kewell. The Australian international is in the twilight years of his career at 31 years of age. Yet Ferguson sees Kewell as a perfect complement to Ryan Giggs. The 36 year old Giggs continues to provide exceptional quality to Manchester United but does not have the legs to play 90 minutes week in and week out. Ferguson needs a second left sided attacking midfielder to share the workload.

Kewell appears to have seen the back of his injury woes that almost ended his career at Liverpool. Manchester United have been closely watching his fitness and performances in Turkey. By sharing the workload on the left hand flank with Giggs, it is thought that Kewell will be well placed to cope with a return to the hustle and bustle of the Premier League.

The thought of having the option of unleashing either Ryan Giggs or Harry Kewell down the left hand flank is proving very enticing to Ferguson. The Premier League’s most successful manager has already demonstrated his shrewdness through the signing of Michael Owen on a free transfer at the start of the season. Harry Kewell may be next on Ferguson’s free transfer shopping list.

SOCCEROOS coach Pim Verbeek has finally confirmed after much speculation that he will quit the job after this year’s World Cup finals in South Africa.

Verbeek said he would not continue on with Australia beyond the World Cup campaign,michael kors Hamilton Tote, saying he would “look for a new challenge”.

“It has been a very difficult decision for me after more than two years but it is time for me to look for a new challenge,” Verbeek said.

“I have enjoyed every minute of being head coach of Australia and we achieved some fantastic results including qualifying for the World Cup and the Asian Cup.

“It is a good time to make this announcement so we can now focus completely on preparing everything perfectly for the upcoming World Cup in South Africa.”

Verbeek has guided Australia to both the World Cup and Asian Cup finals during his tenure.

In his 27 matches in charge,michael kors Tote Bags, the Socceroos have won 15, drawn eight and lost four.

Football Federation Australia chairman Frank Lowy said Verbeek had done an outstanding job in charge of the Socceroos.

“Pim has been a great coach for the Socceroos and has earned the respect of everybody in football in this country and around the world,” Lowy said.

“He has been the consummate professional in every aspect of his role and has led our national team with distinction here and overseas.

“Under his leadership the team has achieved everything we aimed to achieve and I expect he will have the team ready to perform at its best in South Africa.”

It remains unclear whether Australia will appoint a fulltime successor to Verbeek in time for next January’s Asian Cup finals.

The other option is to appoint a caretaker for that tournament, then look to appoint a new fulltime coach ahead of the 2014 World Cup campaign.

Adelaide United FC Coach Aurelio Vidmar is banking on ‘ice cool’ finishing from his side, when the Reds go up against Japan’s Sanfrecce Hiroshima on Tuesday night (30 March) at the Hiroshima Big Arch in Match Day 4 of the AFC Champions League 2010.

Vidmar, who returns to one of his old stomping grounds after he spent a season with Sanfrecce Hiroshima as a player in the late 1990’s, is attempting to mastermind a second win over his former club within the space of a week, the Reds coming away with a narrow 3-2 victory at Hindmarsh Stadium last Wednesday.

Having arrived in Hiroshima on Saturday, the Reds are chasing their fourth straight win in the AFC Champions League, and the club’s sixth successive triumph going back to the final two rounds of the Hyundai A-League season.

With Sanfrecce Hiroshima sitting in the Group H cellar without a point next to its name after three matches, the Reds are looking to extend their winning run and maintain their gap at the top of Group H.

However, with memories of the vocal support and fortress-like environment at the Big Arch still in his mind from when he played for Sanfrecce, Vidmar knows it will be an extremely tough assignment.

As he emphasised when the sides last met, Vidmar has again stressed the importance for the Reds to focus on what they can control and what they have to do to come out in front.

After seeing his charges produce a flurry of opportunities against Sanfrecce at Hindmarsh, particularly in the opening half, Vidmar says securing another three points will come down to a disciplined committed 90 minute effort and clinical finishing, an area that helped the Reds defeat Shandong Luneng in their only other match away from home so far in this campaign.

“Once again it comes down to what we need to do,” Vidmar said.

“I think we’ve been doing exceptionally well. We’ve been playing some great football, which was evident through the 90 minutes last week, and if we can create half as many chances as we did on Wednesday, we just have to be ice cool in front of goal and make sure we put two or three away.”

Although they will be without key defender Ilian Stoyanov through suspension, Sanfrecce will be refreshed for the Reds’ visit as they did not have a game in the J-League over the weekend. Add to that the incentive that this match is the Japanese club’s final chance to make a last ditch bid for a two spot, and Vidmar is fully aware his team will need to prepare for a fierce contest from the hosts.

“There’s no game for them this weekend, so I’d imagine that they’ll go out there with their strongest possible side to try to win the game,” Vidmar said.

The desperation stakes for Sanfrecce Hiroshima to salvage something from their debut ACL campaign is not the only concern for Vidmar, the short turnaround between Match Day 3 and 4 seeing the Reds boss have to juggle the training and workload of his players, particularly those in the front half of the pitch.

Captain Travis Dodd, striker Sergio van Dijk and instrumental playmaker Marcos Flores are all being managed carefully, with Vidmar set to wait until after the team’s final training session before deciding on the make up of his starting eleven.

Regardless of which players take the field against Sanfrecce, Vidmar has no qualms that whoever runs out will be able to get the job done.

“It’s a long season but the spirit in the group at this point in time is fantastic, there’s a great buzz surrounding the whole group and I think everyone is focused on getting into that Round of 16,” Vidmar said.

“When everyone is playing and the team is doing well, they never want it to stop. So it is a long season and we just have to manage those players who have got a few niggly injuries so that they’re fresh for the games.”

Another factor for Vidmar to consider in his team selection is the eight players on yellow cards, as another caution to any of these players will result in an automatic one match ban.

Kick-Off is at 8.30pm (ACDT) and the match can be seen LIVE on Fox Sports 3.

AFC Champions League 2010 – Match Day 4

Sanfrecce Hiroshima v Adelaide United FC

Tuesday 30 March 2010, Hiroshima Big Arch

Kick-Off: 8.30pm ACDT

Referee: Jame Fong Yau Fat (Hong Kong)

Adelaide United squad: 1.Eugene GALEKOVIC (gk), 2.Robert CORNTHWAITE,La martina tienda, 3.Nigel BOOGAARD, 4.Iain FYFE, 5.Daniel MULLEN, 6.CASSIO, 7.Lucas PANTELIS, 9.Sergio VAN DIJK, 10.Adam HUGHES, 12.Paul REID, 13.Travis DODD (c), 14.Scott JAMIESON, 17.Michael MARRONE, 18.Fabian BARBIERO, 19.Mathew LECKIE, 20.Mark BIRIGHITTI (gk),polo paul shark, 24.Marcos FLORES, 27.Adam GRIFFITHS

Sanfrecce Hiroshima squad: 5.Tomoaki MAKINO, 7.Koji MORISAKI, 8.Kazuyuki MORISAKI, 9.Tadanari LEE, 11.Hisato SATO (c), 13.Issei TAKAYANAGI, 16.Satoru YAMAGISHI, 17.Kota HATTORI, 20.Shinichiro KUWADA, 21.Shusaku NISHIKAWA (gk), 22.Tsubasa YOKOTAKE, 23.Hironori ISHIKAWA, 24.Ryota MORIWAKI, 27.Kohei SHIMIZU, 33.Masato YAMAZAKI, 34.Hirotsugu NAKABAYASHI (gk), 35.Koji NAKAJIMA

Men’s League – Devine Homes Super, Premier & State Leagues

Round 6 Fixtures

DEVINE HOMES SUPER LEAGUE

Saturday 8 May

Adelaide Blue Eagles vs Cumberland United

3:00pm – Marden Sports Complex, Lower Portrush Road, MARDEN

Head to Head: 42 Matches – Blue Eagles 21 Wins, Cumberland 14 wins, Draws 7 (since 1970)

Referee: Cetrangolo

Assistant Referees: Corey & M.Mustafic

Blue Eagles: De Lucia (GK), Lagati, Di Mella, Kenrick, Annicchiarico, Filletti, Vizzari, Nicholson, Kounavelis, Bugeja, K Harris, Delkic, Crettenden, Vukic, A Harris, Andreucci (RGK)

Cumberland: Larkin (GK), Young, Puyenbroek, Varma, Lippett, B.Macdonald, Loomes, Carter, Smith, Briscoe, R.Macdonald, Burgess, Daly, Bowman, Turner, Carmichael, L.Schoen (RGK)

Adelaide Cobras vs MetroStars

3:00pm – Weigall Oval, Urrbrae Terrace, PLYMPTON

Head to Head: First Meeting

Referee: E.Mustafic

Assistant Referees: M.Haccou & Gallo

Cobras: Crossley (GK), Staltari, Costanzo, Costalos, Green, Marino, P.Karittevlis, Totani, Ciccozzi, Icolaro, C.Karittevlis, Katuka, Milovanovic, Kostopoulos, Okello, Trbovic (RGK)

MetroStars: Godley (GK), Dan.Menechella, Karlovic, Robertson, Dav.Menechella, Pirone, Brain, Grelli, Ciarla, Tunbridge, Grvoes, Sarris, Mettyear, Van Dommele, Polisena, Taormina, Orphanou, Rende (RGK)

Western Strikers vs Adelaide City

3:00pm – Carnegie Reserve, Kingston Avenue, ROYAL PARK

**5RTI 531AM Live Broadcast**

Head to Head: 2 Matches – Adel City 2 wins. (Since 2009)

Referee: Queffelec

Assistant Referees: Schneider & Boehm

Strikers: Lennon (GK), D.Lastella, M.Lastella, Middleton, Stefanopoulos, DaSilva, Noujaim, Dae-Suk, Sudic, Flanagan, Spadavecchia, McNeill, Festa, Fanto, Ahmed, Revesz (RGK)

Adel City: Ostbye (GK), Cummins, D’Arsie, Nsh, Eleftherakis, Marveggio, Agius, Blefari, Spagnuolo, Negus, Orr, Deruvo, DaSilva, Vlassis, Paladino, Budin,michael kors Crossbody Bags, Halliday, Kaitatzis, Abubakar (RGK)

Adelaide Galaxy vs Raiders

7:00pm – Con Makris Park, Corner Saratoga Drive & Morphett Road, NOVAR GARDENS

Head to Head: 50 matches – Raiders 25 wins, Galaxy 12 wins, Draws 13 (Since 1982)

Referee: Alberton

Assistant Referees: Manuela & Petruzzella

Galaxy: Veitch (GK), Doyle, Wright, Wooding, Debono, DeGiovanniello, Christophersen, Metanomski, Dittmar, Kidd, McGreevy, Rayner, Markham, McLoughlin, Caine, Torresan (RGK)

Raiders: Delfos (GK), Mackey, Acton, Barasic, Francis, Hain, Goodwin, Brennan, Muscroft, Vingerhoets, Willcocks, Alagich, Kuzman, Ewers (RGK)

Para Hills vs Campbelltown City

7:00pm – The Paddocks, Bridge Road, PARA HILLS

Head to Head: 34 matches – Para Hills 11 wins, Campbelltown 8 wins, Draws 15 (Since 1977)

Referee: Goodwin

Assistant Referees: Mooney & A.Fedele

Para Hills: Moore (GK), Sunasky, Goulding, Marchioro, Bounds, A.Mullen, Townsend, Rutter, Allwright, Clayton, Ma.Mullen, Mi.Mullen, Ward, Tobias, Debono, Capaldi (RGK)

Campbelltown: Pogliacomi (GK), Paleka, Signoriello, DiGirolami, Menechella, Talbot, Sapa, Taye, Toure, Frisina, Bulabek, Nelson, Parhas, Deegan, Weigl (RGK)

DEVINE HOMES PREMIER LEAGUE

Friday 7 May

Modbury vs Enfield City

7:45pm – Jet Park, Corner Golden Grove & Milne Roads, RIDGEHAVEN

Referee: S.Smith

Assistant Referees: Muller & M.Laginestra

Modbury: Reilly (GK), Flounders, Weidenbach, Crowl, Day, Devlin, Pearce, Kelly, Solagna, Dean, Morell, Elekwachi, Francis, Else (RGK)

Enfield: Kourkoulis (GK), Martinez, Graham, Ja.Costa, FImmano, Waller, Parhas, Stavrides, Cristarella, M.Margaritis, Jo.Costa, Prescott, Cinco, Jamal, J.Margaritis, Klappers (RGK)

Saturday 8 May

Adelaide Hills vs Croydon

3:00pm – Hawks Nest, Hutchens Road, WOODSIDE

Referee: Drallini

Assistant Referees: McCabe & Ford

Adel Hills: Robinson (GK), Kelly, Papini, A.Paice, Nicholson, Wegener, Stam, Lenzi, Rathjen, Bowman, Elliott, Smith, Barnard, D.Paice, Morgan (RGK)

Croydon: Christison (GK), Gazettas, Papacharalambous, Klimek, D’Alfonso, Gray, Harous, Kosznik, Malik, Kirreh, Kamau, Dingle, Haines, Violi, Romanik (RGK)

Pirates vs West Adelaide

3:00pm – Pirate Park, Swan Terrace, ETHELTON

Referee: Parry

Assistant Referees: Zarkhin & D.Mullins

Pirates: Speer (GK), Pearce, Quinn, Markham, Ribeiro, McFadyen, Adcock, Georgekopoulos, J.Mavromatis, Alagich, Tattoli, Pemberton, Unglaube, Skeffington, Koulocheris, Dimanti (RGK)

West Adel: Tsacos (GK), Belekas, Weaver, Sarris, Alexandrou, Lambrinos, Giamarelos, Toumazos, Reynolds, Skoumbros, Arambatzis, Karakasilis, Paspaliaris, Veloudos, Anagnostopoulos (RGK)

Salisbury United vs Adelaide Olympic

3:00pm – Steve Jarvis Park, Decimal Road, SALISBURY NORTH

Referee: Galdamez

Assistant Referees: Davis & P.Sasopoulos

Salisbury: Van Paridon (GK), Harris, Deeley, A.Lindsay, McKenna, Stam, Agars, Johnstone, Burton, Miller, Bekirovski, Marron, Clayton, Camarinha, Rowe (RGK)

Olympic: M.Milosevic (GK), Pezos, Orlando, Loizides, Nicholls, Andijanto, Dimopoulos, Iandorio, Mullen, Deng, Hassan, Pullinen, Misale, A.Milosevic, Gomes (RGK)

White City Woodville vs Adelaide Comets

7:00pm – Frank Mitchell Park, Minns Street, WOODVILLE WEST

Referee: K.Massinis

Assistant Referees: Elder & Read

White City: Zacharopoulos (GK), Tosic, Crisci, Leane, Mileusinic, Manolev, Keens, Saraceno, Jackson, Jovanovic,michael kors Wallets, Bezbradica, Semiz, Brook (GK)

Comets: Borgas (GK), Hiern, Secomb, Tsounis, Day, Warner, Zerillo, Makridis, Dimopoulos, Catanzaro, Mitchell, Fleetwood, Demourtzidis, Marafioti, Moularas, Paterson (RGK)

DEVINE HOMES STATE LEAGUE

Saturday 8 May

N.A.B. vs The Cove

3:00pm – Athelstone Recreation Reserve, Lower Athelstone Road, ATHELSTONE

Referee: C.Zepeda

Assistant Referees: B.French & Attana

N.A.B.: Di Biase (GK), Allocca, Ammirato, Bonnet, D’Aloia, Forte, Khoury, Mignone, Renna, Saccardo, Schimizzi, Seatree, Sette, Todarello, Viscariello, Halikias (RGK)

Cove: Schreuder (GK), Bentley, Prodanvoski, Koehne, Hume, Kestell, Billinghurst, Lenartowicz, Simpson, Thornburn, Murray, Van den berd, Freeling, Yates (RGK)

Noarlunga United vs South Adelaide

3:00pm – Wilfred Taylor Reserve, States Road, MORPHETT VALE

Referee: Wordsworth

Assistant Referees: S.Sasopoulos & J.Mullins

Noarlunga: McLean (GK), Foy, Ritchie, Roberts, Hill, Reed, Sephton, Paris, Cooper, Hibbs, MacLean, Richardson, Walding (RGK)

South Adel: Somers (GK), Canny, Barnhurst, Reece, Duffin, Dawes, Kelly, Kosmina, Phillips, Cook, Coombs, Robbins, Reed, Dean

Seaford vs Northern Demons

3:00pm – Karingal Reserve, Norseman Street, PORT NOARLUNGA SOUTH

Referee: DeMartino

Assistant Referees: F.Massinis & Cook

Seaford: Samardzija (GK), Elliott, Moore, Winder, Williams, Dickinson, Piro, Frayne, Brown, Machochi, Nicholls, Slattery, Babbage, Sheriff, Hawkes, Leigh-Heidt (RGK)

Demons: M.Mezzino (GK), Leet, R.Mezzino, Saler, Giancaspro, Cox, Gannon, Introna, Markovic, Hatzidavid, P.Keane, Annese, S.Keane, Lobasso, Roros (RGK)

Toros vs Gawler

3:00pm – Pennington Oval, Collins Street, PENNINGTON

Referee: Verdicchio

Assistant Referees: Piccolo & Losapio

Toros: Sljivo (GK), Mitropoulos, M.Mastropaolo, J.Mastropaolo, Racioppi, Labrosciano, Tsianos, Mercurio, Kavanagh, Violi, Anic-Kaliger, Matteo, Lalli, Cazzetta, Dods, Attana (RGK)

Gawler: G.Joy(GK), Woodland, Stone, Lainas, Leahy, Gurney, Kidd, Sinclair, Cockington, Dunkley, Trimboli, Hughes, Lynn.

Playford City have the BYE.

Details Subject to Change without notice.

NB1 – Statistics based on First Division League matches only. Does not include Finals or Cup competitions.

NB2 – Adelaide Galaxy stats as of 1979 amalgamation of West Torrens & Birkalla Rovers.

COLLEGIATE SOCCER LEAGUE

Round 4 Fixtures

DIVISION ONE

Friday 7 May

8:45PM

Adelaide University Black v Rostrevor SAWSA Park, Greenhill Road, Adelaide

Saturday 8 May

3:15PM

Sacred Heart vs Norwood Sacred Heart College Oval, Cnr Elgar Rd & Brighton Rd, Adelaide

Scotch vs Adelaide University White Scotch College, Carruth Rd, Torrens Park

Mercedes vs Pembroke Waite Oval, Cnr Claremont Ave & Fullarton Rd, Netherby

Immanuel vs Unley Immanuel College, Morphett Rd, Novar Gardens

DIVISION TWO

Saturday 8 May

3:15PM

CBC vs Adelaide Simba Heroes Collins Reserve, Valetta Rd, Fulham Gardens

Westminster vs Pulteney Westminster College, Allison Ave, Marion

Regency Eagles vs Adelaide Red Stars The Parks Community Centre, Trafford St, Mansfield Park

PAOC vs Adelaide University Grads Red Adelaide High School, Cnr Glover Ave & West Tce, Adelaide

DIVISION THREE

Saturday 8 May

2:45PM

Mercedes vs Pembroke Waite Oval, Cnr Claremont Ave & Fullarton Rd, Netherby

Immanuel vs Unley Immanuel College, Morphett Rd, Novar Gardens

Adelaide University Black vs Rostrevor South Pitch, University Oval, War Memorial Drive, North Adelaide

Adelaide University Grads Blue vs Windsor Gardens North Pitch, University Oval, Frome Rd, North Adelaide

DIVISION FOUR

Saturday 8 May

1:00PM

Mercedes vs Pembroke Gold Waite Oval, Cnr Claremont Ave & Fullarton Rd, Netherby

Unley Navy vs Unley Sky Unley High School, Kitchener St, Netherby

Adelaide University Black vs Rostrevor South Pitch, University Oval, War Memorial Drive, North Adelaide

Adelaide University White vs Pembroke Blue North Pitch, University Oval, Frome Rd, North Adelaide