Robbie control sinks Jets

Robbie Kruse made himself an irresistible Asian Cup prospect with a dazzling display in Melbourne's 2-1 win over Newcastle on Monday evening that featured a late twist.

Desperate to find a response to last week's shock 4-0 reverse in Wellington, Newcastle fought back from a goal down and looked to have a draw in the bag.

But some sensational individual skills from Kruse set up Ricardinho for the winner in the 90th minute, sending AAMI Park into raptures and giving Holger Osieck every reason to revise his Socceroos squad for Qatar.

Osieck is due to name his squad on Tuesday for the January 7-29 tournament, and Kruse must surely be a strong chance to join A-League stalwarts Jason Culina and Matt McKay on the plane to the Middle East.

The former Roar youngster wrong-footed two Jets defenders with three sets of turns and spins before squaring the ball for a tap-in to his Brazilian strike partner, keeping Melbourne's bid for finals football well and truly alive.

Kruse's creativity came just five minutes after he had missed his own golden opportunity to score after neat lead-up from Ricardinho down the right hand side - missing the target from close range.

But the 22-year-old's new-found penchant for seizing the big moment was not lost on Victory coach Ernie Merrick, especially without injured striker Archie Thompson and three other regular players plus so much at stake.

"I think a little bit of Archie's rubbed off on Robbie," Merrick said.

"He's much stronger, he's tougher, he doesn't get knocked off the ball so easily, I can't praise him enough. He's come a long way in a short period of time.

"It was a wee bit of magic at the end. I don't know how many times he beat either the same player twice or another player.

"Sometimes you think it's going to take something a bit special to break the deadlock and we produced it when we needed to."

A fighting performance from the Jets will give Branko Culina hope his side can continue to defy belief and squeeze into a play-off spot, despite now having lost twice in a row after a seven-match unbeaten run.

"It's very frustrating and disappointing, but it's a lesson for us you can't switch off for moments in the game," Culina said.

Kruse was influential not just in the lead-up to the winner but throughout the course of the match, continuing a brilliant individual season that will surely invite offers from abroad.

"The crowd... every week the Victory fans come out in their groups and it's a wonderful atmosphere here tonight," Kruse told Fox Sports.

"I think it got us over the line.

"We didn't have the best first half of the season, so we really want to start winning and I think tonight was a great example of the courage the boys show."

A thunderbolt midway through the first half from Carlos Hernandez put Melbourne on track for three points as the South American playmaker seemingly conjured something from nothing.

He turned two defenders inside out near halfway, before trying his luck from fully 35 yards and the pace and swerve of Hernandez's fierce strike had Ben Kennedy beaten on the line.

Ruben Zadkovich dragged Newcastle level on 54 minutes but Melbourne had more tricks in the bag and Kruse produced the rabbit with the move that set up Ricardinho for a simple finish.

Wayne Rooney ruled out of Manchester United’s European tie

Wayne Rooney has been ruled out of Manchester United’s Champions League game against Valencia tomorrow night through damage.

Rooney was taken off during yesterday’s 2-2 draw with Bolton in the Premier League after an hour’s play and was seen with an ice-pack over his left ankle.

The 24-year old has had a hard start to the season on the back of a wretched World Cup, where he failed to score for England. He has only scored one goal this season so far, which was a penalty in the 3-0 win over West Ham.

Allegations about his private life have also been well documented over the last few weeks.

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has decided to leave his talisman out against the team who are top of La Liga at the moment. United made a poor start to their Champions League campaign, drawing 0-0 with Scottish champions Rangers in their first game.

Roberto Mancini: 'Chelsea will win Premier League title easily'

Roberto Mancini has tipped Chelsea to run away with the Premier League title this season.

Mancini's Manchester City side tackles the champions at Eastlands tomorrow with a patched-up side containing just three fully-fit senior defenders. It is hardly the background he wanted heading into one of the key games of the movement, and not one that was anticipated when City were spending in excess of £100m this summer.

The Italian feels Carlo Anclote’s men are head and shoulders above his own side and the rest. "Chelsea are the best team in the Premier League at the moment," he said. "They are most likely going to win the Premier League title easily.

"They are a strong team, who has been playing together for many years. They have a fantastic manager and they have worked to reach this situation."

Mancini has damage problems ahead of tomorrow's game, with only 11 fully fit first-teamers to choose from.

U-17 Women to Face Japan in World Cup Soccer Final

The under-17 women`s soccer team has become the first South Korean team to advance to the final of a FIFA-sanctioned tournament.

South Korea will face Japan Saturday for the championship after having beaten Spain, 2-1, Tuesday in the semifinals of the FIFA U-17 Women`s World Cup in Trinidad and Tobago. Japan rallied to beat defending champion North Korea, 2-1, in the other semifinals.

At the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva, South Korea gave up the opening goal and trailed 1-0 in the 23rd minute, but scores by Yeo Min-ji and Joo Soo-jin propelled the team over Spain.

The semifinals had been South Korea`s best finish in a FIFA-sanctioned tournament. South Korea reached the final four of the 1983 U-20 World Cup in Mexico, the 2002 World Cup co-hosted by South Korea and Japan, and this year`s U-20 Women`s World Cup in Germany.

Yeo is the tournament`s leading scorer with eight goals in five games, and could finish as both top scorer and Most Valuable Player.

Before the final, North Korea will play Spain for third place.

I am no bad boy, says Balotelli

Manchester: Manchester City signing Mario Balotelli says he is "not a bad boy."

The Italy soccer player had a tempestuous relationship with Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho, but is ready for a new start after being reunited with Mourinho's ancestor, Roberto Mancini.



The 20-year-old Balotelli said on Wednesday that he is "happy to be here at Manchester City because of the manager and the environment."

Mancini added that "all of us are said to be bad boys when we are young."

City's offseason spending is now beyond 100 million pounds (7 million) — and midfielder James Milner is immobile to sign from Aston Villa.

Mancini hopes to confirm the deal for Milner by Wednesday, with City midfielder Stephen Ireland leaving for Villa.
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