ARSENAL HELPS MAM U TO TITLE RACE,MAZEMBE 6-0 ZECKO

It's all over! Crestfallen Mancini concedes title 'will be difficult' after defeat leaves City EIGHT points behind rivals United

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white flag in the Premier League title race after his Manchester City side choked at The Emirates.

With Manchester United beating Queens Park Rangers 2-0 at Old Trafford on Sunday lunchtime, City fell eight points behind their rivals and needed to win at Arsenal.

But they failed to react and fell to a stunning Mikel Arteta strike three minutes from time. They also had mercurial striker Mario Balotelli sent off shortly afterwards for a second bookable offense in the 1-0 defeat.

We need a miracle: Mancini (left) knows that United have flown and the title race is all but over

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Mancini beforehand that the title would head to United 'If we lose against Arsenal and they beat QPR'.

And Arteta's wonder strike seemingly fulfilled the prophesy, even if pure mathematics say otherwise.

He knows that the trophy will almost certainly be adorned with the red ribbons of United.

Mancini's body language afterwards spoke volumes, even if he was loathe to openly admit the fact.

In truth, he was convincing no-one that the title race is still alive, not even himself, and after four seasons of massive spending - two under Mancini's leadership - City's owners are sure to ask the Italian some searching questions.

Mancini said: 'No, it's not mathematically (over), but it's clear now that it's very difficult. We have a game in three days and we will try to win. Never say never in football.

No lads, it's eight points: Mancini (left) and Balotelli (right) are left counting the cost at Arsenal

 

He added on Sky Sports 1: 'In life until it's over you should do your best. In the end if we don't win it's probably because they (United) did better than us.

'It's clearly difficult (to lift the players) but we play in three days and this is good. We are a professional team, with professional players. It's important we start to win and finish the championship well.'

That's the spirit: A young Manchester City fan with a positive perspective

Tears before bed time: But this young City supporter finds it too hard to take

 

A miserably day for City was made complete by Balotelli's late red card. 

The Italian was deservedly sent off in the final minute after referee Martin Atkinson and assistant Peter Kirkup somehow failed to spot his first-half knee-high tackle on Alex Song, and he could now face a lengthy ban. 

Mancini said of that first-half challenge: 'From the bench I didn't see the first tackle but it was a bad tackle.' 

Mario misery: Balotelli reacts before receiving a red card from referee Martin Atkinson

When asked if the authorities should take a look retrospectively, he said: 'I hope (so),' and admitted the striker deserved a lengthy ban. 

Mancini added of his controversial countryman: 'I defend him always because Mario is a good guy, but if he doesn't change in the future he can lose all his talent. 

Art attack: Mikel Arteta thumps home what could be the final nail in City's coffin

'If he doesn't understand this, after two years I can't do anything. I hope for him that he can improve, that he can understand that he can't continue like this, for his future, for his talent. I'm very sorry for him for this.'

Taking the Mik: Arteta celebrates Arsenal's late winner

Arsenal 1 Manchester City 0: Balotelli sees red as Arteta super strike dents title charge

blow to Manchester City's Barclays Premier League title hopes as Mikel Arteta fired home a brilliant late winner at Emirates Stadium, where Mario Balotelli was shown a red card their defeat.

Leaders Manchester United had earlier opened up an eight-point lead over their bitter rivals with their 2-0 win over QPR at Old Trafford, leaving Roberto Mancini's men with little room for error.

However, the Gunners - chasing a place back in the top three - raised their own game and created enough chances to have been well ahead by half-time, with Robin van Persie's goalbound header striking team-mate Thomas Vermaelen.

Take that! Mikel Arteta celebrates scoring the winner for Arsenal

Mancini cut a forlorn figure at the final whistle, as his position will now once again come under intense scrutiny.After the woodwork twice again came to City's rescue in the second half, the Gunners were not to be denied as, with three minutes left, Arteta strode forwards to smash a superb, 25-yard drive past Joe Hart into the bottom corner
City finished the match with 10 men when Balotelli, who should have been sent off for a studs-up challenge on Song in the first half which was missed by referee Martin Atkinson and his assistants, was shown a second yellow card for clattering into Bacary Sagna.

Arsenal started strongly, with both Theo Walcott and Sagna stretching former team-mate Gael Clichy on the overlap.

Tomas Rosicky was seeing plenty of the ball and on nine minutes the Czech midfielder's drive was deflected behind.

Yaya Toure, who once had a trial at Arsenal as a youngster, was left in a heap following a clash of knees with Song, and the Ivory Coast midfielder hobbled off for treatment.

On 14 minutes, Arsenal had a shout for a penalty when Vincent Kompany looked to have pushed Van Persie in the back as the ball was floated into the City penalty area.

Super strike: Arteta scores the winning goal

Leaving it late: Arsenal's Mikel Arteta celebrates his winner in the final ten minutes

Jumping for joy: Arsenal fans do the Poznan celebration

Toure was unable to continue, and while the visitors were down to 10 men, they almost went behind.

A corner from the left was flicked through the City six-yard box, where Van Persie headed it goalwards, only for the ball to cannon back of team-mate Vermaelen on the line and up onto the crossbar, with Rosicky nodding the rebound over.

City made an enforced change on 17 minutes as David Pizarro replaced Toure.

Lucky to escape: Mario Balotelli's high tackle on Alex Song

Caution: Balotelli was later booked for a challenge on Bacary Sagna

Time to go: Balotelli is sent off in the final minute

Balotelli then caught Song with a studs-up challenge just below the knee. Neither Atkinson nor his assistant on the touchline saw the poor tackle which, if they had, would have surely resulted in a red card for the controversial Italian striker. Fortunately, Cameroon international Song was able to recover and continue.

On 25 minutes, Balotelli popped up in the Arsenal penalty area to flick a corner goalwards, and when his shot was blocked by Kieran Gibbs, the maverick City forward took his frustrations out by kicking the base of the post.

The Italian finally received a caution for catching Sagna with a high boot on 38 minutes.

Battle of pace: Gael Clichy and Theo Walcott fight for the ball

Sliding in: Clichy makes a challenge on Walcott

It was perhaps something of a surprise to see the 21-year-old return for the second half, Mancini electing to keep faith with a player whom he openly admits he may well have punched were they team-mates.

City went on the offensive, with Sergio Aguero's looping header tipped over by Szczesny.

At the other end, Blues keeper Hart was a bystander as Van Persie came even closer to breaking the deadlock on 62 minutes after he was picked out from a floated cross by Song, but his cushioned header came back off the base of the post when perhaps the Dutchman - without a goal in three games - should really have hit the back of the net.

Getting in the way: Robin van Persie has an effort on goal that hits team-mate Thomas Vermaelen and goes over

Battle for the ball: Vermaelen collides with Manchester City's Sergio Aguero

On 66 minutes, Laurent Koscielny caught Gareth Barry on the ankle to collect a 10th yellow card of the season, and with it a likely two-game suspension.

It was then City's turn to spurn a great chance when Kompany headed a deep free-kick back across the Arsenal six-yard box, but Balotelli failed to connect with his attempted scissors-kick.

The Gunners broke away through Song, who slipped Van Persie clear on the left side of the penalty area to slot past Hart, but the Dutchman had strayed just offside.

Taking the ball: Tomas Rosicky wins the ball from Gareth Barry

City's goal continued to lead a charmed life as Walcott's shot was tipped on to the far post by Hart, with Vermaelen then scuffing the rebound which Benayoun could not force past Joleon Lescott on the line.

On 87 minutes, Arsenal finally made the breakthrough - and effectively gift-wrapped the championship for United - when Mikel Arteta strode forwards to fire a brilliant 25-yard strike into the bottom corner.

Balotelli then lunged in on Sagna out on the far touchline, and was shown a second yellow card, swiftly followed by a red as City's season crumbled.

Frustrating afternoon: Roberto Mancini saw Manchester City fall further behind rivals Manchester United in the title race

All over? The Manchester City players look dejected at the final whistle

FESTIVAL DE MAZEMBE DEVANT POWER : 6-0

8 avril 2012

Le Tout Puissant est ressuscité !

Après le double échec de Lupopo et de Tshinkunku, le TPM était attendu au tournant. « Jamais deux sans trois » pensaient les pessimistes. L’équipe de Lamine NDIAYE leur a répondu en une mi-temps plongeant le stade Kibassa Maliba dans une atmosphère de joie comme aux plus beaux jours. 6-0 au marquoir à la fin du match : toute l’Afrique est prévenue, Mazembe est de retour. 
La machine katangaise n’a mis que 10 minutes pour tourner à plein régime. Après des tentatives de KALABA pas cadrées (7^èmeminute) et de KANDA après un tir contré de MPUTU (8^ème), le capitaine de noir et blanc obtenait un corner. La balle repoussée parvenait à KALABA qui ajustait un tir imparable, 1-0 (10^èmeminute). L’arène de la Kenya était transportée de bonheur 12 minutes plus tard lorsqu’une action KANDA-KALABA mettait Trésor sur orbite. Après avoir évité la sortie du gardien, MPUTU signait le 2-0 (22^ème).
A partir de ce moment-là, il n’y eut plus qu’une seule équipe sur le terrain, celle de Mazembe qui démontrait sa solidité défensive autour d’un SUNZU impérial et qui enchantait le public par les actions subtiles du quatuor KANDA-MPUTU-KALABA-SINGULUMA. Après plusieurs essais infructueux sur SINGULUMA réalisait le doublé à la réception des centres de KANDA depuis l’aile droite.  Deux buts (43 et 45^e) qui enlevaient toutes leurs illusions aux compatriotes de Given.
En une mi-temps, Mazembe avait fait le break et donné du plaisir à ses supporters les plus exigeants.
La deuxième mi-temps ne fut qu’une formalité, le TPM ajoutant deux autres buts sans forcé son talent. Le premier sur une percée de SINGULUMA qui démarquait KANDA lequel était fauché en pleine surface. MPUTU transformait le penalty (67^e). Six minutes plus tard, le capitaine plaçait une tête puissance en plein dans le cadre sur un centre de KASUSULA (73^e) L’équipe de Lamine NDIAYE terminait la rencontre en toute décontraction. Trop peut-être même car le festival aurait pu se conclure par un 7^èmeou 8^èmebut.  Un bon avertissement pour les Soudanais de El Merreikh prochains adversaires des Corbeaux.
TPM

Robert KIDIABA-Eric NKULULUKA-Joël KIMWAKI-Felix SUNZU- Patrick ILONGO (Francis KASONDE 68e)-Patrick OCHAN (Yannick TUSILU 70e)-Rainford KALABA—Deo KANDA-Trésor MPUTU (Luka LUNGU 82e)-Given SINGULUMA

Coach : Lamine NDIAYE

Buteurs : Rainford KALABA (10^e), Trésor MPUTU (22^eet 68^eet 73^e), Given SINGULUMA (43^eet 45^e) 

Power Dynamos

Joshua TITIMA—Govenda SIMWALA-Gilbert KALUSA-Kabue KAMUZATI-Maybin CHISIMBA—Emmanuel CHIMPINDE-Simon BWALYA-Joseph SITALA—Sebastien MWANSA ( Mulenda MAKUKA 50e)-Graven CHITALU (Thomas NYIRENDA 64e)-Kennedy MUDENDA (Felix NYANDE 74e ).

Coach : Fordson KABOLA

Avertissement : Emmanuel CHIMPINDE (20e), Graven SITALU (21ème).