Torres double ends Chelsea's barren run

Torres double ends Chelsea's barren run

By: AAP | Latest Football News | Sunday December 9 2012 7:36

Fernando Torres claimed a brace as Chelsea ended a run of seven Premier League games without victory by prevailing 3-1 at Sunderland on Saturday in their last game before the Club World Cup. The Spaniard had not scored in the league since October 6 but he found the net twice in the mid-week thrashing of FC Nordsjaelland in the Champions League and was in unforgiving mood once again at the Stadium of Light. He opened his account in the 11th minute, guiding Eden Hazard's cross into the top-left corner with a fine volley to end a 770-minute goal drought in the league. Torres had been overlooked for penalty-taking duties in the 6-1 win against Nordsjaelland, but he notched his second goal from the spot on the stroke of halftime after Sebastian Larsson slid in on Ramires. Juan Mata made it 3-0 early in the second half, side-footing home after a Torres shot came back off the crossbar, before a fine effort from Adam Johnson gave Sunderland a consolation. It was a first win in four Premier League games for Chelsea's interim manager Rafael Benitez, whose side closed to within four points of second-place Manchester City. City host leaders Manchester United on Sunday, when Alex Ferguson's men will be bidding to move six points clear at the top of the table. Arsenal also returned to winning ways after three games without victory, beating West Bromwich Albion 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium through a pair of Mikel Arteta penalties to climb to sixth. Prior to Arteta's 26th-minute opener, Steven Reid was penalised for a foul on Santi Cazorla despite failing to make any contact with the Spanish midfielder, who collapsed theatrically. Arteta's second arrived in the 64th minute and although there was no doubt about Chris Brunt's foul on Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, West Brom felt the England winger had committed an offence of his own in the build-up. It was a third straight defeat for fifth-placed West Brom, whose lead over Arsenal has been cut to two points. Bottom club Queens Park Rangers remain without a win in 16 games - a new Premier League record - after being held to a 2-2 draw at Wigan Athletic. QPR captain Ryan Nelsen cancelled out James McCarthy's 19th-minute opener for the hosts before substitute Djibril Cisse gave the visitors the lead from Shaun Wright-Phillips' pass in the 71st minute. Harry Redknapp was less than 20 minutes away from a first win as QPR manager, only for McCarthy to strike again in the 74th minute, controlling Jean Beausejour's left-wing cross and then coolly prodding the ball home. Southampton clambered out of the relegation zone and up to 15th place after a 61st-minute strike from Jason Puncheon secured a 1-0 win at home to second-bottom Reading. The Saints' win saw Sunderland slip into the bottom three, while Aston Villa fell one place to 16th after drawing 0-0 at home to Stoke City. The clash at Liberty Stadium between Swansea City and Norwich City was a pulsating affair, the visitors winning 4-3 to end the Swans' six-game unbeaten run and prolong their own run of games without defeat to nine matches. Goals from Steven Whittaker, Sebastien Bassong and Grant Holt put Norwich 3-0 up at the break but Swansea came back into the game through Michu and Jonathan De Guzman before Robert Snodgrass' 77th-minute free-kick made it 4-2. Michu found the net again in injury time - his 12th goal of the season - but it was too late to prevent Norwich moving up to 11th.

Daddy Messi: Girlfriend has baby boy Thiago, next football star born

Lionel Messi and girlfriend Antonella Rocuzzo. (AP)

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Lionel Messi's girlfriend gave birth to a baby boy, the Barcelona star's first child, on Friday.
Messi and his girlfriend Antonella Rocuzzo named the boy Thiago.
"Today I am the happiest man in the world, my son was born and thanks to God for this gift!" Messi wrote on Facebook. "Thanks to my family for the support! A hug to everyone."

Messi's son on his boots "THIAGO" (FACEBOOK)
Barcelona excused the 25-year-old Argentina forward from training Friday morning to attend his son's birth at a hospital in Barcelona.
The club announced the birth on its website after it was originally reported by Spanish and Argentina media outlets and confirmed by Messi.
Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta, who became the father of a baby girl last year, wrote on Twitter: "Much happiness to Leo and Antonella! Congratulations... I am very happy that everything went well!!"
In a recent interview with Spanish newspaper El Pais, Messi said he was looking forward to becoming a father.
"I'm prepared for Thiago's arrival, it is very exciting," said Messi. "It makes you think of things in a different way. You can no longer just think about yourself, you think about him, and how you hope he doesn't have any problems."
Earlier Friday, Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova said he still expected Messi to play in Saturday's Spanish league match against Celta Vigo at Camp Nou stadium.
"Leo didn't attend training, but tomorrow he will play in the match," said Vilanova. "If everything goes well, he will come to play. It doesn't change our plans at all that he didn't train today."
The birth of his child comes at the peak of Messi's prodigious career so far. After breaking a number of individual scoring records over the past season, Messi is two goals shy of matching Brazil great Pele's milestone of 75 goals for club and country in a calendar year, set in 1958. He is also a leading candidate to win what would be his fourth Ballon D'Or.

Never mind Daddy: Cristiano Ronaldo gets plenty of hugs and kisses from his son as they holiday in St. Tropez after Euro 2012

wo years ago Cristiano Ronaldo stunned the world when he announced he had become a father to a child by an unknown woman.
But since the arrival of his little boy the football ace has taken to fatherhood like a duck to water and was seen showered his child with love and affection.
Spotted yesterday the doting daddy boarded a luxury yacht with his son Cristiano Ronaldo Jr in St. Tropez alongside his stunning girlfriend Irina Shayk.

Doting daddy: Cristiano Ronaldo was spotted showering his son with affection in St. Tropez

Like father, like son: Ronaldo and his little boy sported similar outfits

Ronaldo was seen holding his son as he sat in a boat making their way onto the boat.

 

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The Portuguese footballer kissing the boy's head and returning the love, the two-year-old wrapped his tiny hands around his father's neck.

A day out with daddy: The adorable two-year-old was seen hugging the soccer ace

Dressed for the scorching weather, the 27-year-old donned a trucker cap with a white T-shirt, a pair of blue shorts, flip flops and sunglasses.
Similar to his father the little boy looked adorable in a backwards cap, a bright orange T-shirt and a pair of flip flops.

Didn't shirk on childcare: Cristiano was seen carrying his son around during the day

I'll take care of you: The football ace was pictured cleaning up his son's face as the boy sat in his lap

Leo Messi’s son, less than a week old, is already a member of a team’s official fan club

On Sunday, Thiago Messi was officially inducted as a member of the Newell's Old Boys supporters club in Argentina. That's not particularly surprising, considering the fact that his now uber-famous Dad is a former Newell's Old Boys youth team player and lifelong fan of the club.

What is rather odd is that Thiago Messi's official induction came on Sunday, for a rather simple reason: Thiago Messi was less than four days old at the time.
Leo Messi may be a protege, but there's no way his son is so remarkable that he came out of the womb with an ability to write and fully formed fan affinity.
As it was, Thiago Messi was officially registered as a "socio" of Newell's by the fans themselves. The infant was given club number 2,881,152 with his registration, making him almost the 3 millionth official Newell's fan. The youngest Messi's fan affiliation was first noted on Twitter, where photos of his welcome banner swirled around late Sunday night, and was then reported by Barcelona-based sports newspaper El Mundo Deportivo.
 
Thiago Messi, still less than a week old, in a Barcelona shirt


If they'd waited a few more years, they might even have been able to make young Thiago number 3 million himself.
Naturally, soccer fandom is manic in South America, with Brazil and Argentina leading that charge. And of the Argentinian clubs, Newell's Old Boys us renowned for its loyal, ferocious support.
Meanwhile, a Barcelona-backing newspaper had also presented the elder Messi with an infant "Thiago, 10" Barcelona shirt before he was even born, trying to keep the Blaugrana in the driver's seat to land his eventual services ... if he ever decides to play soccer at all (seems likely, no?).

Still, registering an infant, even one as famous as Thiago Messi, at four days old is a bit over the top. Then again, if he has even a drop of the athletic genius of his father, little Thiago's socio membership may prove to be something far more than symbolic. IT could be future-changing for his club.
No holding one's breath until then, though. After all, at the very, very, most ridiculously early, such a moment would still be years away.

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