Monday, May 30, 2011

Samuel Eto'o keys Inter in Italian final

Samuel Eto'o scored two goals to lift Inter Milan to a 3-1 win over Palermo in the Italian Cup final on Sunday.
His goals either side of halftime set Inter on its way to the defense of the last of its remaining trophies from the three it won in 2010 and gave the Cameroon striker 37 in all competitions this season.
"It is an enormous win," Inter coach Leonardo said. "It has been a strange year for me and a strange year for Inter, but it was a good game and an important win for us.
"It was a very difficult game, but I am delighted with the attitude of our team. We didn't stop working and didn't stop fighting."
Palermo had a number of chances in both halves, but was unable to find a way past Inter goalkeeper Julio Cesar, until Ezequiel Munoz pulled a goal back with two minutes to go.
Munoz was then sent off and in injury time Diego Milito put the seal on the win when he sidefooted in from close range.
The loss meant the 35,000 Palermo fans who flocked to the Olympic Stadium will have to wait another year for a chance to see their team win its first ever trophy, but could content themselves with Europa League action next season.
"We have grown and done some fantastic things over the last four years," Palermo midfielder Giulio Migliaccio said. "We showed how we could play tonight. It was always going to be difficult against Inter, but we can go home with our heads held high."

France


PARIS -- Seven-time French champion Lyon booked a place in Champions League qualifying by beating Monaco 2-0 on the last day of the French league season with goals from Pape Diakhate and Lisandro Lopez.
Lyon's win also sent 18th-place Monaco into the second division for the first time since 1976. Lens and last-place Arles already were demoted.
Third-place Lyon ended the championship with 64 points, four more than Paris Saint-Germain, and will play Champions League soccer for the 13th straight year.
Lille, which secured its first title since 1954 last weekend, celebrated in front of its home fans with a 3-2 win over Rennes courtesy of a hat-trick from Moussa Sow, the league's top scorer.
Second-place Marseille was held to a 2-2 draw at Caen.
PSG needed a win at Saint-Etienne to keep some hope of playing the Champions League, but Antoine Lombouare's team was held to a 1-1 draw at Geoffroy-Guichard and will have to be content with Europa League participation.
Auxerre made sure it will stay in the first division next season with a 2-1 win at Lorient.

Germany


SINSHEIM, Germany -- Mario Gomez and Andre Schuerrle scored in the first half and Germany held on to beat Uruguay 2-1 in an exhibition game.
Uruguay has not beaten Germany since their first meeting in 1928, with Germany winning eight and drawing two since.
The match was a replay of the third-place playoff at last year's World Cup in South Africa, which Germany won 3-2.

Ireland


DUBLIN -- Robbie Keane scored in the 23rd minute to give Ireland a 1-0 win over Scotland and victory for the host nation in the inaugural Nations Cup.
The Tottenham striker took a pass and surged forward to beat goalkeeper Allan McGregor from the edge of the penalty area.
The victory gave Ireland a boost ahead of Saturday's 2012 European Championship qualifier against Macedonia.
Wales and Northern Ireland were the other teams in the Nations Cup tournament.

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