Copa America Final: Suarez named player of the tournament as Uruguay champion

With a large display in the first half, Uruguay won Paraguay by 3-0 and won the 2011 Copa America. In the Monumental stadium, in Buenos Aires, the Celeste regained the title South American - who has not won since 1995 - and became the biggest champion of the competition's history with 15 titles. Suarez, on 11 minutes, and Forlan, in the first step (41), and 44 of the second time, scored the goals of Uruguay, which gave the victory by 3-0.

With the best campaign in the Copa America, Uruguay tried to decide the match and quickly began to end everything. In the first minute, Suarez had a good chance after a little confusion in the area, but Villar saved. Lugano headed hard and had a great save of Villar, off the line. On the rebound, Coates tried, but Caceres saved. In the first ten minutes, Uruguay had six corners.

Thus, the goal did not take long. After passing from Diego Perez, the forward Luis Suarez passed by Dario Veron, who stood on the ground, and kicked in the right corner of Villar, scoring 1-0 for Celeste. After the goal, the country reacted in the field. At 15 minutes, and Enrique Vera launched in the area and Haedo Valdez arrived with danger. But Gerardo Martino's team stopped there.

Much better on the field, Uruguay reached the second goal after 41 minutes. Arevalo Rios stole the ball off the Paraguayan defence and rolled to Forlan hit hard, no chance for Villar. In a great first half, Celeste completely dominated the Paraguayan team, with twice as many passes (164 to 80), nine corner kicks compared to only one of Paraguay, as well as a possession of 60% and 13 shots against just two of Paraguay.

In the second half, Paraguay returned better, in order to minimize the advantage. At 8 minutes, the team that reached the decision with five draws almost scored with Haedo, who hit the crossbar of Muslera.

After that, however, returned to Uruguay the control the match. At 28 minutes, a quick counter-attack, Cavani (entered in the second half), rolled Suarez, who almost defined the game. But the final blow came on 44 minutes. After exchanging passes, the attack of Uruguay, with Suárez, played upside to Forlan, free to score, and made 3-0. Undefeated and deserved, Uruguay won the 2011 Copa America.

After spending the first phase with a draw against Peru and Chile, Uruguay won his classification conquering Mexico. Then, in the quarterfinals, eliminating the host Argentina on penalties, with great acting from Muslera. In the semi-final, beat Peru by 2-0, with two goals from Suarez, the runner-up top scorer with four goals, and voted best player of the Copa America.

By Rodolfo Rodrigues

Source: CopaAmerica.com

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Video: Tigers maul Liverpool

Source: TUFFGONGJR

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Pre-season: Hull 3-0 Liverpool

Stewart Downing, Jordan Henderson and Alexander Doni made their debuts as Liverpool fell to a 3-0 defeat to Championship side Hull City on Saturday.

Goals from Robert Brady, Robert Koren and Jay Simpson gave the Tigers a friendly victory they will remember on a day when Kenny Dalglish fielded 22 players in a bid to get his hefty squad fit for the 2011-12 campaign.

Both sides wore black armbands in respect for those killed in yesterday's terrorist attack in Norway, where the Reds have a massive fan-base.

Dalglish will not be overly worried by the result, with fitness the main concern at this stage, and he will now turn his attentions to Thursday's match with Galatasaray.

Joe Cole made clear his intention to impress from the off with a delightful pass down the wing to Martin Kelly, who skewed his cross behind for a goal kick.

But it was the side that finished 11^th in the Championship last season who threatened first, Aaron McLean pinging over after a misplaced pass from Jack Robinson.

Our 17-year-old full-back, who became Liverpool's youngest ever player on this ground at the end of 2009-10, soon made amends with a superbly timed tackle on Liam Rosenior.

Former Manchester United youngster Brady forced a first save in Liverpool colours from debutant Doni, who smothered comfortably at his near post.

The Brazilian had no chance on 21 minutes, however, following a neat move from Hull which started with left-back Joe Dudgeon and ended with a top-corner finish from the edge of the box by Brady.

Liverpool almost hit straight back with a magical pass from Alberto Aquilani which put David Ngog into a few yards of space, but the Frenchman was denied by a brilliant save from our own out-on-loan stopper Peter Gulacsi. Cole attempted to convert the parry but his effort spun well over.

Conor Coady was next to open up the Hull defence with another smart ball to Ngog, whose touch let him down this time.

At the other end, Hull captain Koren floated a free-kick towards the penalty spot where an unmarked McLean waited to execute a powerful header that flew just over the bar.

The two Hull men combined again for the home side's second goal, working an intricate one-two outside the penalty area before Koren thumped beyond Doni with a strike he'll dream about tonight.

The final chance of the first half for Liverpool followed a lofted ball from Aquilani which was met with a decent first touch from Ngog before possession was stolen by Paul McShane.

And so Liverpool went in 2-0 down at the break, though Dalglish will have been heartened by the adventure his midfielders showed with the ball and in particular the performance of young Coady.

The Liverpool boss made 11 changes at half-time, with new boys Henderson and Downing among those introduced for their debuts.

John Flanagan offered his greetings with a crunching tackle which would have earned more than a ticking off from the referee had this been a competitive encounter.

Downing was just a few inches away from opening his Reds account within two minutes of the restart, prompting a fingertip save from Adriano Basso with a right-foot hit following a pass from Dirk Kuyt.

This was a very different Liverpool to that seen in the first half, with Kuyt, Charlie Adam, Henderson and Andy Carroll all looking to impose themselves on the game.

Downing was next to test Basso with another low drive but the angle was too acute for the substitute goalkeeper to be seriously bothered.

Hull's third goal was unexpected, then, and Liverpool will be disappointed with the way they defended Kevin Kilbane's cross on 58 minutes, allowing the ball to be chested down to Simpson, who couldn't fail to beat Brad Jones from close range.

Liverpool almost pulled one back on 68 minutes when Adam squared across goal but Carroll couldn't make meaningful contact and the ball disappeared wide of goal.

A hat-trick of corners failed to produce anything for the visitors, while a terrific cross from Flanagan looked to be heading for the forehead of Carroll until Paul McKenna earned the appreciation of 20,924 fans with a superb intervention.

Kuyt and Flanagan both had chances to get their names on the scoresheet in the final seconds but it wasn't to be.

Source: Liverpool FC Official

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POLL: Should Alberto Aquilani remained at Liverpool FC?

There are many speculations on Aquilani leaving Liverpool FC again this summer, permanently or on loan. Leave your thought in the comment box and cast your vote on the poll below.

Should Alberto Aquilani remained at Liverpool FC?

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Rumour Mill: Liverpool interested in Argentine striker

According to Skysports.com, Blackburn Rovers have agreed terms with the Argentinean striker Mariano Pavone, who will sign a three-year deal with the Premier League club during the weekend.

But the Lancashire outfit have been unable to finalise the deal.

Now Pavone, who is a free agent after buying out the remaining year of his contract at Real Betis, is growing increasingly frustrated.

Whilst Rovers remain in pole position to sign him, Pavone is now ready to consider other offers and a number of clubs are showing an interest in the forward.

Skysports.com understands Liverpool, Fulham and Swansea are all interested in now striking a deal to land Pavone.

Pavone's British representative Barry McIntosh confirmed that a number of clubs were monitoring the situation.

This story has been reproduced from the media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club.

Source: Sky Sports

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Jovanovic on the move

Anderlecht have confirmed their interest in signing Liverpool's Milan Jovanovic - if they can agree personal terms with the Serbian forward.

The Serbian forward has been told he’s surplus to requirements at Anfield and the Belgian side are keen to snap him up.

However, the move hinges on Jovanovic being able to agree personal terms and that could yet be a stumbling block.

The 30-year-old Serbia international joined Liverpool on a free transfer from Standard Liege last summer and penned a lucrative three-year deal.

However, he struggled to make an impression and made just 13 starts for the Reds.

Jovanovic looked out of his depth in the Premier League and played just twice under manager Kenny Dalglish.

Liverpool are keen to get him off their wage bill and Jovanovic recently admitted he had been told he could leave.

This story has been reproduced from the media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club.

Source: Telegraph

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Copa America Special: Luis Suarez doubles sent Uruguay into Final

After eliminating the host Argentina, Uruguay confirmed its favouritism and won Peru by 2-0 for the Copa America semi-final, played in La Plata. Striker Luis Suarez, with two goals in the second half, secured the win of the Celeste, which returns to play for the South American title four editions later (lost to Brazil in 1999). The Lugano and Forlan’s team now waits the winner of the clash between Paraguay and Venezuela for the big decision on Sunday, in Buenos Aires.

To reach the final, Uruguay ended up doing a great second half after a balanced first stage. In the first 45 minutes, both teams had a portable game with two good scoring chances for each side. The surprising Peruvian team, who had passed by Colombia in the quarterfinals, reached 4 minutes with a shot from outside the area by Yotún and then on 23 minutes with a cross from Vargas, who went through Guerrero and Advincula.

Uruguay, with more ball possession (52% to 48%), however, led to more danger. At 7 minutes, with Suarez, picking up a spare in the box and then with Alvaro Pereira, who had a good chance, almost scored after a corner kicked by Forlan.

In the second step, Uruguay returned better and after a failure of the best goalkeeper Raul Fernandez opened the scoring. At 7 minutes, Forlan kicked from outside the area, Fernandez did not hold the rebound and the opportunistic Luis Suarez made 1-0 for the Celeste. Behind the score, Peru felt the goal. Shortly after, 12 minutes, Alvaro Pereira found Suárez free and gave a great assistance to the striker, who only dribbled Fernandez and scored the second goal, almost ordering the victory. Suarez is now one of the Copa America top scorers with three goals, along with the Argentine Aguero.

Best in the pitch and with the advantage, Uruguay became even closer to the place in the final half when Vargas hit an elbow in Coates, sent off after just 23 minutes. After that, the Uruguayan coach took out Suarez and put in Gargano, and the team only managed the result, securing its place on the final.

Uruguay is now awaiting the winner of Paraguay and Venezuela for the final, which will be held next Sunday, July 24th, in Buenos Aires, at the Monumental stadium. If Uruguay reaches the title, the Celeste will become the biggest champion of the Copa America’s history with 15 titles and repeated the feat in 1987, when was champion in Argentina itself. Peru will play the match for third place in La Plata, on Saturday.

Source: CopaAmerica.com and SportsHDChannel

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Liverpool confirmed defender exit

Liverpool have confirmed Chris Mavinga has completed a transfer to Rennes.

The 20-year-old defender departs Anfield for the French club after two years with the Reds.

Mavinga joined Liverpool from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2009, though he never made a first-team appearance.

He spent part of the 2010-11 season on loan at Belgian side Genk.

Source: Liverpool FC Official

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