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Weekend Football
22 February 2008
by Jerrad Peters

Bolton Wanderers’ supporters came under attack, Thursday, as Spanish police initiated “a number of assaults and unprovoked baton charges before, during, and after the game,” according to a statement released by the Premiership club. The Trotters, by playing Atletico Madrid to a goalless draw at Vicente Calderon Stadium, progressed into the UEFA Cup round-of-16 at the expense of their hosts.

Several clashes between rival sets of fans were reported ahead of kickoff. And Bolton manager Gary Megson was further infuriated after learning that his side’s Thursday itinerary had been posted on the official Atletico website.

Inside the stadium, amateur photographs showed riot police skirmishing with both local supporters and the traveling contingent. Whether they were interceding to subdue a hostile atmosphere or actually enhancing it remains unknown.

Phil Gartside, however, has little doubt that the authorities reacted to the situation with an excessive amount of violence. Labeling the incident an “overreaction,” the Bolton chairman also said that “Bolton Wanderers Football Club will be pursuing the matter at the highest level and seeking an explanation from the Spanish authorities.”

Club officials are expected to coordinate their action in tandem with both the British Embassy and Greater Manchester Police.

Ronaldo was discharged from Pitie-Salpetriere Hospital in Paris, Friday, after undergoing knee surgery which will require a nine-month rehabilitation period. Speaking to reporters as he prepared to leave the French capital, the AC Milan and Brazil striker commented on the likelihood of a full recovery and eventual return to top-flight football.

“Physically it will be difficult; and mentally it will be very difficult,” stated the 31-year-old. He continued, “My will is to keep on playing. My heart tells me this; but my body is showing me signs that it’s tired – that it is asking for rest.”

The all-time leader in World Cup goals also admitted a desire to return to Brazil before retiring. “My dream is to finish my career with Flamengo,” he said.

Before moving to PSV Eindhoven in 1994, Ronaldo played briefly for Brazilian side Cruzeiro – scoring 12-goals in 13-matches and winning the Brazilian Cup. Flamengo was his favorite club as a child, however; and he has always expressed a desire to represent the Rio de Janeiro outfit before hanging up his boots.

Berti Vogts has resigned as Nigeria manager. Speaking through his lawyer, the 61-year-old stated that the Nigerian Football Association had “destroyed all trust between the two parties and further cooperation is impossible.”

Vogts initially clashed with the Nigerian FA during the group phase of the African Nations Cup. The former Borussia Monchengladbach defender was incensed by what he perceived as a lack of support from the governing body while his underachieving squad delivered a series of poor results in Ghana. After managerial stints with Bayer Leverkusen, Kuwait, Scotland, and Germany – with which he won the 1996 European Championship, it remains to be seen where his career will take him next.

Newcastle Jets and Central Coast Mariners will contest the Queensland derby when they meet in the 2008 A-League Grand Final on Sunday. Both sides finished the season atop the standings with 34-points from 21-matches. But Central Coast were awarded the Premiership by virtue of a superior goal-differential.

Somewhat controversially, the Grand Final will be held in Sydney rather than Central Coast’s Bluetongue Stadium. The Football Association Australia (FFA) opted to move the game southward in an attempt to heighten interest and double the ticket sales. Sydney Football Stadium, located at Moore Park, has a capacity of 45,500 while the Bluetongue can accommodate just over 20,000 spectators. The move appears to have paid off; and the FFA is expecting a sell-out on Sunday.

On the pitch, Central Coast are narrow favorites to win their first Australian championship. Led by John Aloisi and Sasho Petrovski, each with 7-goals this term, the Mariners notched more regular-season goals than every side except Adelaide United. Manager Lawrie McKinna’s side is almost entirely homegrown. Midfielder Andre Gumpret is the only non-Australian in the squad.

On the other side of the ball, Newcastle boast the A-League’s top marksman. Joel Griffiths notched 12-goals during the season and is the club’s set-piece specialist. The Jets also went undefeated in three scheduled matches against Central Coast. After 1-1 and 0-0 draws, Griffiths scored the winner in a 2-1 victory over the Mariners at Bluetongue on the 20th-matchday.

Central Coast had their revenge, however, when the archrivals met in the Major Semifinal. After dropping the first leg of the home-and-away at Newcastle’s EnergyAustralia Stadium, the Premiership holders returned home and administered a 3-0 drubbing to win the tie on a 3-2 aggregate.

Unlike European football leagues, the seasonal fixture-list does not produce the national champion. Rather, the top four sides compete in a page-playoff system. As league-winners and runners-up, Central Coast and Newcastle met in the Major Semifinal. Third-place Sydney FC and fourth-ranked Queensland Roar, meanwhile, contested the Minor Semifinal. By defeating Newcastle, Central Coast advanced directly to the Grand Final. The Jets, however, remained in the play-offs and booked a showdown with the Roar after Queensland dispatched Sydney over two legs.

Matt Thompson’s opener in the dying moments of the opening period looked to have Newcastle in the Grand Final. But when Queensland striker Reinaldo converted a penalty in the 92nd-minute, the stage was set for extra time.

With the first-half of the added frame drawing to a close, Griffiths put Newcastle ahead with a penalty of his own. Tarik Elrich contributed a third tally in the 111th-minute. And, although Reinaldo pulled Queensland to within a goal with just two minutes remaining on the referee’s watch, the showdown between Newcastle and Central Coast was set.