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y will end the year o
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zake201,
2014/04/11 04:24AM
Latest post: 2014/04/11 04:24AM, Views: 302, Posts: 1
Latest post: 2014/04/11 04:24AM, Views: 302, Posts: 1
zake201
KHARKIV, Ukraine -- Cristiano Ronaldos smile and swagger were back, and so was his scoring touch. The Real Madrid forward finally found the form he was lacking at the European Championship, scoring twice in a sparkling performance Sunday to give Portugal a 2-1 win over the Netherlands and a spot in the quarterfinals. Poised to be written off as one of the tournaments flops, Ronaldo put a miserable two-game goalless run at Euro 2012 behind him. "Now everything is possible," said Ronaldo, who went a long way toward silencing the critics who accused him of failing to reproduce the form he showed in a sensational 60-goal club season. Ronaldo failed to shine in Portugals 1-0 loss to Germany and 3-2 win over Denmark, but he was devastating against the Dutch. He produced an equalizer with his first goal of the tournament in the 28th minute and scored the winner in the 74th. He had a half dozen other attempts at goal, including a low drive that clipped the post in the 16th, and he set up two clear chances for teammates. "Ronaldo got so much criticism in the last game and he is back now," Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk said. "That is how fast things can change." On Sunday, Ronaldo upstaged Schalkes Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Arsenals Robin van Persie, the leading scorers in the Bundesliga and Premier League. Neither was able to find the net at the Metalist Stadium, although midfielder Rafael van der Vaart gave the Dutch an early lead. After that, Ronaldo stole the show. As Portugal cranked up the pressure, Ronaldo probed the Dutch back line and tied it off of Joao Pereiras pass. It was the kind of chance he took so often at Real Madrid last season but wasted in Portugals opening matches. For his second, Ronaldo received a pass from former Manchester United teammate Nani, coolly wrong-footed his marker and tapped the ball past the goalkeeper. "This was our best game so far," Portugal coach Paulo Bento said, declining to single out Ronaldo. "What is most important is that we kept fighting after we lost our opening game." After his goals, and at the final whistle, Ronaldo beckoned his teammates to celebrate, and they mobbed him. He pulled on a shirt with "Junior" printed on it, and explained later it was for his sons second birthday. Up next for Ronaldo and his teammates is a quarterfinal match against the Czech Republic on Thursday in Warsaw. "We really deserved to qualify for the quarterfinals," Ronaldo said. Euro 2012 was expected to provide a showcase for Ronaldo, but his explosive Real Madrid form had deserted him. And when hes not on form, Portugal often looks tame and ordinary. Opposition fans mocked him whenever he put a foot wrong or failed to pull off one of his ball tricks. He was taunted with chants of "Messi" -- his Barcelona and Argentina rival. And against Germany and Denmark, Ronaldo was often short-tempered with his team when he didnt get the ball supply hes used to at Real Madrid. But against the Netherlands, he was the consummate captain. Needing a win to have a chance at staying in the tournament, the disappointing Dutch fielded an impressive attacking lineup that needed to score at least two goals. It produced one. "We started quite well but we were playing against one of the better teams today," Van der Vaart said. "We lost three times. We were bad and we dont deserve to go through." ------ Lineups: Portugal: Rui Patricio, Bruno Alves, Fabio Coentrao, Joao Pereira, Pepe, Joao Moutinho, Raul Meireles (Carlos Custodio, 72), Nani (Rolaldo, 87), Miguel Veloso, Helder Postiga (Nelson Oliveira, 64), Cristiano Ronaldo. Netherlands: Maarten Stekelenburg, Joris Mathijsen, Gregory Van der Wiel, Ron Vlaar, Jetro Willems (Ibrahim Afellay, 67), Nigel De Jong, Wesley Sneijder, Rafael Van der Vaart, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Arjen Robben, Robin Van Persie. Cheap Jerseys From China Online . The Victoria cyclist was seventh in Mondays stage to hold onto the pink leaders jersey, avoiding a crash on the final turn that took out several of the top contenders. Cheap Jerseys . -- Given where the Kansas City Royals are, manager Ned Yost will savour any victory. http://www.nflwholesalecheap... .J. -- Ahmad Bradshaw is ready to return as the New York Giants top running back after being sidelined for a game by an inflamed disk in his neck. [url=http://www.nflwholesalecheapjerseysonline.com/]Wholesale Jerseys . -- New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis says the club has traded an undisclosed draft choice to Seattle for veteran linebacker Barrett Ruud. Wholesale NFL Jerseys . The deal includes $15.5 million in salary that is being deferred without interest. The money is to be paid in equal installments of $3.1 million each June 30 from 2021-25. Reasons To Believe 1. On The Attack - Newton instantly became one of the most exciting players at his position early in 2011. He turned the Panthers into one of the most-watched teams in the league with his hard work and athleticism. Newton is a special player with a good crop of pass catchers in Steve Smith, Brandon LaFell and Greg Olsen. The Rookie of the Year still has room to grow as a passer and will likely share more carries near the goal line, but he is the first step towards helping Carolina make up ground on the powerhouses in the NFC South. 2. Defensive Hunters - The Panthers will get their leader back on defence, Jon Beason, although it might not be in Week 1. Beason has a hamstring issue after recovering from a torn Achilles. Beason will be joined by first round pick Luke Kuechly, who is a complete player that is slated to start at weak side linebacker. James Anderson had an off year while playing with an injury, so he should be back to his 2010 form. This unit should be one of the most improved on the team. 3. Depth In The Backfield - With Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams, the Panthers have one of the best backfield tandems in all of football. Both players have been signed to big contracts and both players are capable of carrying the load if the other goes down with an injury. Carolina also went out and added former Charger Mike Tolbert to the mix. While Tolbert wont threaten to take away many carries, he could be used around the goal line as a battery ram back. Reasons To Doubt 1. Strong Finish - Fans of the Panthers will point to their 4-2 mark in the last six weeks of the season as a sign of what is to come in 2012. Expectations should be tempered since three of thee wins came against the Colts and Buccaneers (twice), as well as a Houston Texans team that was without starting quarterback Matt Schaub and receiver Andre Johnson.dddddddddddd The four late wins are a positive sign for the franchise, but they arent a playoff team yet. 2. Defensive Struggles - The Panthers defence ranked 27th in points allowed and 28th in yards allowed and was the main cause for the teams losing record in 2011. Carolina has serious weaknesses at defensive tackle and safety. The team will start Terrell McClain and Ron Edwards in the middle of their defensive line, two draft picks from 2011 that have underperformed. At safety Charles Godfrey and Haruki Nakamura will get the call and neither player can help make up for the teams deficiencies against the run or pass. 3. Overspending On Backs - A year after signing Williams to a new contract that included $21 million in guaranteed money, the Panthers inexplicably inked Stewart to a five-year, $36.5 million deal that had $22.5 million in guarantees. To compound matters, the Panthers signed Mike Tolbert to a four-year, $8.4 million contract this off-season. At one of the easiest positions to find serviceable players, Carolina has committed significant cap dollars that may prevent them from bringing in talent on the defensive side of the ball. What To Expect Newton will lead the charge in 2012 and the Panthers will gain fans each week with their playmaking ability on offence. Unfortunately, their defence will continue to hold them back and they will end the year outside of the playoff race. The organization is heading in the right direction, but they will need another draft class or two to improve enough to challenge. ' ' '
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