News - Archive

The men in purple produced arguably their best performance of the season in downing ladder-leaders Central Coast last time out and Edwards is confident that they can keep their finals hopes alive by pulling off another upset at the expense of the in-form Wanderers.

"Last week it was first against last," Edwards said. "This week it's second against second-last.

"Wanderers are the form team at the moment and Tony Popovic has got them playing some really good football, but we're looking forward to it.

Freddy Garcia's men moved to four points through two games, while their Paraguayan opponents made it back-to-back losses in the competition, after Alfredo Ramua netted an 88th-minute winner at Estadio General Pablo Rojas.

Argentine attacker Ramua was a second-half substitute, scoring 10 minutes after gracing the pitch to break a personal drought that extended back to November 2011, when he was with Ecuadorian side Olmedo.

The recent arrival from Melbourne Victory left the field early in the Phoenix's 2-0 loss to Brisbane Roar last Sunday with the problem and Wellington coach Ricki Herbert rates the Australian's chances for the Westpac Stadium clash as 'pretty little'.

Goalkeeper Mark Paston, who dropped to the bench for last weekend's game against the Roar, also missed training on Friday through illness but is expected recover in time.

If he doesn't, Herbert's options for a back-up keeper to Glen Moss will be limited and goalkeeping coach Jonathan Gould could have to deputise.

The Phoenix are languishing at the bottom of the table with a five-win, five-draw and 11-loss record, but are just six points off sixth-placed Newcastle who they play next Wednesday night.

The match is one of three in a seven-day period, starting with Adelaide United on Sunday and finishing with Melbourne Heart the following weekend. 

All the matches are home fixtures although the Heart game will be played in Dunedin's Forsyth Barr Stadium.

Spurs moved through thanks to a last-minute goal from Mousa Dembele at Lyon on Thursday.

Spurs won the first leg 2-1 at home, but trailed 1-0 in the return after Maxime Gonalons struck for the hosts before Dembele's late effort sent Tottenham through 3-2 on aggregate, much to the manager's delight.

"Even if Lyon won the game, I think we should have been rewarded with something extra," Villas-Boas said.

"In the end, if you count the amount of opportunities that Lyon had in both legs, it would be unfair for them to have gone through, although they have been very well organised."

The Italian club knocked out Borussia Moenchengladbach with a 2-0 win to reach the next stage of the competition after goals from Antonio Candreva and Alvaro Gonzalez helped the side to a 5-3 aggregate victory. 

The 49-year-old told reporters: "We can and must continue in the Europa League. 

"I saw the right attitude on the field for the full 90 minutes. The Germans fought to the end, but we were disciplined and clinical when making the most of our scoring opportunities."

Torres missed several chances in the Europa League match at Stamford Bridge on Thursday, as Chelsea were forced to rely on a goal from Eden Hazard to reach the round of 16, seeing off Sparta 2-1 on aggregate following a 1-1 draw in the second leg 

A 50 million-pound signing from Liverpool in January 2011, Torres has failed to perform consistently during his time in west London, but interim Chelsea coach Benitez stood by the Spain international.

"He (Torres) didn't play badly tonight," Benitez said.