Date of Birth:
Place of Birth: Mouscron, Belgium
Position: Midfielder
Nationality: France
Steed Malbranque Rumours and Transfers
11 08 2007
The game looked set to end in a scoreless draw, however a 93rd minute strike from substitute Michael Chopra gave Naill Quinn, Roy Keane and Sunderland a fabulous triumph at the Stadium of light.
Sunderland missed several of their chances to win a closely contested tie, however it was almost destined to be a perfect starting for them, and a nightmarish one for Martin Jol's Tottenham, who looked very uninspired to say the least.
It would not were more dramatic either. Michael Chopra, who had come on with fifteen minutes left on the clock, scored with virtually the final touch of the game to send the Stadium of Light into delirium.
The early exchanges were pretty even as both sides looked to settle into the game. Sunderland can be forgiven for being the more anxious of the 2 sides, that came through when Kieran Richardson sent a corner from one flag to the other.
Spurs soon had a corner of their own, however Berbatov was penalised for jumping over the back of Paul McShane. Jermaine Jenas then had a go from 25 yards out after Berbatov had poked the ball back into his path, however dragged it well wide.
The 1st half chance of the game came in the 15th minute, when Steed Malbranque curled one into the box from open play. Berbatov was several inches from heading it in, and Robbie Keane half a yard from having a poke at the far post.
Gradually, Martin Jol's boys started settling into their own passing rhythm, and that saw a spell of domination. However, there is not much real danger in the final 3rd, with debutant Craig Gordon not having had to make a save.
The Black Cats had a lot to cheer about themselves, with Zokora and Jenas being forced away from the ball several times thanks to some good work from the Sunderland midfield. Richardon's 2nd corner brought about a sequence of headers in and around the Spurs box, however Jol's defenders in the end got the ball away from danger.
Tottenham regained their composure and Robbie Keane forced Gordon into the 1st save of the match only before the half hour mark. That was followed by another spell of load from the North London club, with Sunderland only about hanging in there for a good 5 or 7 minutes.
Dig in Roy Keane's boys did, and were rewarded with the best chance of the 1st half, with Daryl Murphy being denied by Paul Robinson (he could have pulled the trigger earlier).
That set up an absolutely fabulous final 7 minutes of the half, with both teams having a go. The Black Cats had the better of the exchanges, Dickson Etuhu heading wide following a good left wing cross from Ross Wallace.
Paul McShane had kept Dimitar Berbatov on a very short leash, whilst Dean Whitehead made his impression on the midfield, and Ross Wallace and Carlos Edwards both having done well as Sunderland almost looked the better team as the half ended. With some clinical finishing, they would well have had a shock lead. However, Roy Keane will still be happy with a solid 1st 45 minutes of the season, one that made so lots of promises.
For Tottenham, Steed Malbranque and Pascal Chimbonda looked good, however Jol had some half time talk on his hands.
The visitors expectedly came out stronger after the break, with Robbie Keane in particular looking charged up. A few neat passes and a header that found nobody at the far post to tap in, sent all the right signals, and when they won a free kick right on the edge of the box, one sensed something. Berbatov got it over the wall, however not back down again.
Martin Jol decided to add some more bite to the attack, and brought on Darren Bent, the 16 million signing from Charlton. However, Sunderland continued to hold their own, and enjoy their share of the half chances as Kieran Richardson started to show some of his abilities. Both sides were giving the ball away a little too much, however Sunderland were clearly the better.
Bent's pace was proving useful for Spurs on the break, though, as his push to run behind defenders was leaving more spaces open for Keane and Berbatov to operate in. Yet, their 1st Premier League goal of the season was proving elusive.
It became clear that Jenas and Zokora were struggling, which meant that Spurs were only winning the ball and kicking it to Bent in the other half in hope of something happening.
Roy Keane sensed the dominaton and brought on Michael Chopra for Anthony Stokes, however little changed in terms of clear chances.
Martin Jol had also seen enough of Berbatov, and decided to bring on Jermaine Defoe. The Bulgarian was not too impressed, and gestured with his hands before dragging himself off with much effort. It became very clear at that moment that Jol could have a tough time keeping 4 top forwards happy.
Coming back to the game, Spurs now threw everything forward as the game went into its final fifteen minutes.
It was getting tense as the game headed into the final minutes, and it was Sunderland who had the best chance of the match with hardly a minute remaining on the clock. However, there is never enough pace on the ball as it hit Etuhu's leg 4 yards out (rather than the player hitting it), giving Robinson only enough time to make a diving save. That should were 1-0 for Sunderland, and a triumph that would certainly not have flattered them.
Time was running out. The 3 minutes of injury time seemed to be failing to produce the 1st Premier League goal of the season, however that was until Michael Chopra latched onto a through ball and beat Robinson in the final move of the match, making Roy Keane jump with delight, and the tall Naill Quinn jump even higher.
A perfect start for Sunderland, a nightmare for Tottenham. You cannot put a ceiling on the amount of confidence the Black Cats will take from this. They will have good reason to think they belong in the Premier League. As for Tottenham, games like these must be won in order to challenge for a top 4 finish,
05 08 2007
Robin van Persie netted the goal which won Arsenal the Amsterdam Tournament, however was then carried off against Ajax.
A match which was a physical, and often bad-tempered affair, was settled by finish from the Dutchman with only 3 minutes left.
However, the former Feyenoord player then had to be helped from the field following a heavy challenge from Johnny Heitinga, however was able to soon rejoin his team mates as they celebrated a 2nd pre season tournament win.
Villa warmed up for the new Premier League season with a commanding 3-0 triumph over Italian champions Inter Milan at Villa Park.
Inter, who beat Man Utd 3-2 at Old Trafford earlier in the week, were a goal down in the 14th minute when Gareth Barry slotted home from Stiliyan Petrov's cross.
Sweden forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic dragged a shot wide 2 minutes before the break and 3 minutes into the 2nd half Villa doubled their lead.
Barry's free kick into the box was headed home by former AC Milan defender Martin Laursen. The 3rd came midway through the 2nd half when Gabriel Agbonlahor advanced into the box and was tripped by Walter Samuel, Barry converting the penalty.
Tottenham manager Martin Jol opted for Robbie Keane and Dimitar Berbatov up front and was rewarded with a goal from each in a 2-0 triumph over Torino.
Keane volleyed the home side in front in the 16th minute at White Hart Lane after the visitors failed to clear a free-kick.
Berbatov was then gifted a simple tap in on 65 minutes when Steed Malbranque collected Pascal Chimbonda's cross, rounded the goalie and rolled the ball across the box.
Spurs have now won 7 out of 7 in their pre season programme ahead of next week's league opener at Sunderland.
Valencia spoiled Sven-Goran Eriksson's Manchester City welcoming party by triumphing 1-0 at Eastlands to leave the new manager with a lot of work to do before the Premier League opener at The Hammers next week.
With 5 new transfers in his starting line-up, some of whom the former England manager had never even seen play, there is always going to be an element of the unknown about the clash with one of Spain's 4 Champions League entrants.
Eriksson would certainly were able to pick several positives out of the narrow defeat, not least the display of young midfielder Michael Johnson.
But David Silva's early winner, combined with a series of missed chances that included 2 by player forward Rolando Bianchi, suggested it could take some time for Eriksson's new-look side to gel.
Owen Hargreaves in the end made his Man Utd debut as the Premier League champions enjoyed a comfortable 3-1 triumph over Peterborough.
Hargreaves played 45 minutes after coming on as a subsitute and looked back to his best in his traditional holding position in midfield.
He was the only 1st team player of note in a youthful United side that proved too strong for Peterborough, managed by Alex Ferguson's son Darren.
Adam Eckersley gave Ferguson senior's side the lead in the 23rd minute when the left back fired a powerful shot beyond Posh goalie Shwan Jalal.
Ferguson junior looked to have pulled off a masterstroke when Rene Howe, a half time subsitute, levelled matters with a fine shot 4 minutes after the restart.
But United were always the stronger and they made their fitness tell later in the 2nd half with goals from Richie Jones in the 72nd minute and a 3rd from Fangzhuo Dong 10 minutes later.
Portsmouth's new recruit David Nugent was on target as they came from behind to beat Leicester 3-1 in a pre season friendly at the Walkers Stadium.
Iain Hume put the Foxes ahead in the 14th minute when a clever ball from Mark de Vries put him through on goal.
Pompey levelled 6 minutes later though as £6 million signing Nugent, who had come close to scoring twice before in the early stages, sidefooted in Arnold Mvuemba's cross.
Nugent turned provider for the 2nd as Lomana LuaLua latched onto his cross to score.
LuaLua was then heavily involved in Portsmouth's 3rd as his good work presented substitute Franck Songo'o with a chance to drill home from the edge of the box with 8 minutes to go.
Ricardo Vaz Te and Gary Speed were both on target as Bolton recorded a 2-1 triumph at Championship club Colchester.
The visitors found themselves a goal down in the 5th minute when former Charlton forward Kevin Lisbie was given too much space in the area and fired past Ali Al-Habsi.
That lead was shortlived though as Wanderers hit back with 2 goals in as many minutes.
Speed swept home the leveller from the penalty spot after Vaz Te was tumbled over by Mark Yeates, comfortably triumphing over Dean Gerken in the home goal.
First half goals from Stewart Downing and Yakubu gave Boro a 2-0 triumph over AZ Alkmaar.
Andrew Taylor, Julio Arca and Jeremie Aliadiere all combined to set up Downing and the England winger comprehensively beat visiting goalie Sergio Romero with a fierce left footed drive.
Boro's second, and clincher, came only 14 minutes later when Taylor's cross from the left found the head of Yakubu who powered his effort beyond Romero from 6 yards.
Long term injury absentee Dean Ashton was back on the scoresheet for The Hammers as they came from behind to beat Roma 2-1 at Upton Park.
The visitors had taken a 13th minute lead through Ludovic Giuly, before The Hammers equalised as George McCartney headed in Freddie Ljungberg's corner in the 63rd minute.
3 minutes later Alan Curbishley's side were in front as Ashton, who missed the whole of last season with an ankle injury, cut in from the right wing and fired in a shot from an acute angle.
Sunderland warmed up for their season opener against Spurs next week with an entertaining 1-1 draw with Juve.
Daryl Murphy gave Roy Keane's side the lead when he stabbed home after Ross Wallace's 7th minute corner was headed into the danger area by Dickson Etuhu.
Cristian Molinaro grabbed a deserved equaliser for the Italian side with 2 minutes left, the substitute smashing a powerful drive into the roof of the net.
Jason Koumas scored both goals as Wigan beat crisis club Leeds 2-1 in a pre season friendly at Elland Road.
Koumas put the Premier League side in front only a minute before the interval, slotting home after good work from Emile Heskey.
Jermaine Beckford equalised 10 minutes into the 2nd half however Koumas sealed win with a deflected free kick on 69 minutes.
Reading warmed up for the start of the season with a 3-2 win against Wolves at Molineux.
Seyi Olofinjana opened the scoring with a header from Gary Breen's 14th minute cross however Reading were level within 3 minutes through Stephen Hunt.
Bryn Gunnarsson then put Steve Coppell's side in front and Dave Kitson diverted home a shot from Hunt only seconds before the interval.
Jay Bothroyd pulled one back for Mick McCarthy's side 6 minutes from time.
Blackburn showed their Premier League class to comfortably see off Lancashire rivals Preston 3-0 at Deepdale.
Centre back Christopher Samba scored twice with fellow defender Andre Ooijer putting Rovers ahead in the 1st minute.
Steve Howard produced a late equaliser as Derby finished their pre season preparations with a lively 2-2 draw against UEFA Cup finalists Espanyol.
Marc Torrejon's own goal gave the Rams a 1-0 half time lead however Sergio Sanchez pulled the La Liga side level before Luis Garcia converted a controversial penalty.
Everton were held to a goalless draw by Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park in their final pre season friendly.
Sheffield United forward Billy Sharp scored on his return to Bramall Lane to hand the Blades a 1-0 friendly triumph over Nottingham Forest.
The 21 year old learnt his trade in the United academy however was unable to break into the 1st team under Neil Warnock, who allowed him to leave for Scunthorpe in 2005.
Sharp's former team mates at Scunthorpe had to settle for a 1-1 draw in their Lincolnshire derby with Grimsby at Blundell Park as Andy Crosby opened the scoring for the Iron before having to leave the pitch.
And it was his replacement Andy Butler who scored an own goal to level for the League 2 side.
Southampton recorded a 1-0 triumph at Brentford thanks to Marek Saganowski's finish from Nathan Dyer's cross only after the interval.
Championship new boys Bristol City had to settle for a 2-2 draw with Bournemouth at Ashton Gate after twice falling behind. Brian Wilson and Louis Carey were the men to find the net for Gary Johnson's side.
Barnsley completed their pre season programme with a shock 2-0 defeat to Bury at Gigg Lane courtesy of goals from Richie Baker and Dave Challinor.
Blackpool, also looking forward to their Championship debut next weekend, crashed 2-1 at Carlisle.
David Fox gave the Seasiders the lead with a fabulous volley, however United hit back after the interval and goals from Chris Lumsdon and Danny Graham were enough to claim the win.
Hull rounded off pre season with a goalless draw against Belgian club Antwerp at KC Stadium.
Dagenham warmed up for their Football League bow next weekend with a 2-1 triumph over Fisher Athletic, Paul Benson and Jon Nurse finding the net.
Robbie Fowler made his 1st appearance for Cardiff in their 1-0 triumph over Dutch opponents Twente at Ninian Park.
The former Liverpool forward's debut lasted only 24 minutes, however, as he struggled to shake off the effects of a thigh injury suffered in training earlier this week.
Warren Feeney scored the only goal, smashing home from Trevor Sinclair's free-kick.
