Real Madrid clinches their first ever FIFA Club World cup

Real Madrid marched on and entered a 22-game winning streak after trampling  San Lorenzo on Saturday evening to win the Club World Cup, their fourth trophy of 2014.

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti put out his best possible starting line-up, which featured the returns of Sergio Ramos and James Rodriguez, who had both been suffering from injury prior to the match.

Immediately after the opening whistle blew, San Lorenzo came out as the aggressors, keeping Real Madrid honest with several hard challenges and trying to disrupt their rhythm.

San Lorenzo’s strategy worked perfectly as their aggressive challenges and antics seems to distract Real Madrid and disrupt their rhythm, preventing them from exploiting their deadly counter attack.

However, it’s hard to keep the most in-form team in the world down for long and at the 36th minute, a Kroos cross found Sergio Ramos, who headed in the opening goal.

But it wasn’t all smooth sailing for Real Madrid, as starting left-back Marcelo would be forced to leave the match just before halftime due to injury, being replaced by Fabio Coentrao.

Real Madrid went into the half with the lead, but San Lorenzo refused to give up, continuing their aggressive approach in the second half.

Yet, Real Madrid would solidify their lead when a mistimed clearance by Torrico found Cristiano, who passed to Bale for the insurance goal. San Lorenzo continued to fight and even worked their way into Real Madrid’s half, giving Iker Casillas some action in what was his 700th match with Real Madrid.

Things progressively got dirtier as time wore on with San Lorenzo pulling out all the steps leaving Cristiano and Benzema, with a ripped shirt, to call for the referee to card the Argentine players.

Buffarinni came up with a brilliant attempt with five minutes remaining, forcing Casillas to dive to make the stop, and begging the question why they San Lorenzo waited so long to turn up the heat.

With the exit of Sergio Ramos in the 88th minute, Real Madrid capped off a brilliant 2014, winning the Copa del Rey, Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and the title which they’ve never won in the club’s history; the Club World Cup.

Real Madrid 2-0 San Lorenzo

Referee: Walter López (Guatemala)

Real Madrid XI: Casillas; Carvajal (74′), Ramos (88′), Pepe, Marcelo (44′); Kroos, James, Isco; Bale, Cristiano, Benzema

Goals: Ramos (36′), Bale (51′)

San Lorenzo XI: Torrico, Buffarinni, Kanneman, Yepes (62′), Mas, Mercier, Verón (58′), Kalinski, Ortigoza, Barrientos, Cauteruccio (69′)

Zhang attracting Views around the Globe

Chinese international midfielder Zhang Xizhe, whose transfer to Wolfsburg has attracted huge interest back in China, has been tipped to become the Bundesliga's next big Asian star.

The 23-year-old, who has signed for Wolves until 2017, is set to become the fourth Chinese to play in Germany's top flight and one of his predecessors, Shao Jiayi, insists he has all the talent to become a household name in Europe.

Shao, who made 168 appearances in Germany's top two divisions for 1860 Munich and Energie Cottbus, is a former teammate of Zhang at Beijing Guoan, to whom Wolfsburg paid a reported fee of €750 000.

"On the internet, in the newspapers, you read about his transfer everywhere," Shao told Bundesliga.com from Beijing.

"Football fans here are absolutely thrilled. It's been a good long while since a Chinese player played for a top side in a big European league. It's massive news.

Mark Mentors crashes out of FIBA Africa Basketball Championship

Mazembe club of Congo prevailed against Mark Mentors of Nigeria to seal their quarterfinal birth. Evariste Shonganya stepped up with 23 points and 9 caroms to pace DR Congo team. 
Patient Felekeni tossed in 11 points and 9 rebounds in the winning case. Stanley Gumut responded with 18 points and 8 rebounds for Mark Mentors. Ejike Ugboaja had 16 points in the loss.

The loss means that mark mentors are out of the 29th edition of the African Champions Cup Basketball in Sfax Tunisia after they could only muster 1 win in 5 outings in the championship. 
Their only victory coming from the opening day win over ABC basketball club of Cote D' Ivoire.
Kano Pillars did not make it to the championship all together due to the failure of the Kano state government to sponsor them to then event. Their failure to attend despite being given a wild Card could attract sanctions from FIBA Africa.
SuperSports.

Eduok to Join Sarpsborg 08

Sarpsborg sports director, Thomas Berntsen, kept the name of their new player to his chest while being quoted by Norwegian media this week.

"I hope that we can give Sarpsborg football audience a real Christmas present. We are in contact with a player, but there are still details left before the player can be ready. I do not want to confirm the name or nationality of this player," said Berntsen.

Nigerian international, Emem Eduok, has agreed a move in principle to Norwegian club, Sarpsborg 08.
Eduok has agreed personal terms with the Norwegian outfit and has also agreed a three-year contract with Sarpsborg 08 after he recently travelled to the country to seal the deal.

Dolphins have been offered around $150,000 (around N28 million) as transfer fee for Eduok, and that the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) club have been offered a sell-on clause in the deal that could see them earn as much as 50 percent in future transfer of the player. But no deal has been agreed yet for the player between the two clubs.
Sarpsborg sports director, Thomas Berntsen, kept the name of their new player to his chest while being quoted by Norwegian media this week. "I hope that we can give Sarpsborg football audience a real Christmas present. We are in contact with a player, but there are still details left before the player can be ready. I do not want to confirm the name or nationality of this player," said Berntsen.

Eduok scored 20 league goals for Dolphins last season including six in the club's 6-0 thrashing of Nembe City.

He is expected to join the Norwegian club in January once Dolphins and Sarpsborg agree a fee for the player.

Dolphins wins 3rd Game in African Women Championship

FIBA Africa Zone 3 champions, Dolphin, continued their impressive run in the ongoing Africa Championship Cup for Women in Sfax, Tunisia on Tuesday with a 68-59 win over Club Sportif Police de Circulation.

It was Dolphins third match in the tournament, which came after they defeated United State International University from Kenya 102-58 in the second match on Monday, and won 78-76 against INSS from Democratic Republic of Congo in their opening match on Sunday.

The Chairman of Dolphins Basketball Foundation, Mr. Wale Aboderin, said the team morale had been boosted by their outing.

He said, “Seriously, it’s the Lord’s doing. I can’t explain it but we are rejoicing.”

Against CSPC, Dolphin’s starters, Upe Atosu and Juliet Currency got 14 and 13 points respectively, while Ndidiamak Nwakamma and Akpene Kodjo had 11 points apiece. Patience Okpe, who came from the bench, scored the highest number of points for the team, 15.

CSPC’s Kalanga Tshiniangu got points for her team, while D. Latrous and N. Dhouibi, came from the bench to score 12 and 10 points respectively.

The Monday night defeat worsened the plight of USIU, the Zone 5 champions, considering that they had lost their opening match 59-78 to CSPC of Tunisia.

The other Nigerian club in the competition, First Bank, recorded their first win on Monday, beating CSS of Tunisia 77-66.

First Bank lost their opening match 87-77 against Primero Agosto from Angola.

First Bank’s third match is against INJS from Cameroon.

women basketball league action

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