Seven Days: Monday, 20 April 2009
AZ won the Eredivisie in the Netherlands despite losing 1-2 at home to Vitesse on Saturday. Second-placed Twente lost 0-1 at Feyenoord on Saturday while third-placed Ajax lost 2-6 at PSV on Sunday, leaving AZ 11 points clear of Twente and 12 points clear of Ajax, with all three sides having 3 games left to play.
The last time a club other than Ajax, PSV or Feyenoord won the Dutch title was in 1981, when AZ themselves won their one and only previous title. If Twente finish second, it will be the first time since 1959 that two clubs other than Ajax, PSV or Feyenoord finish as the top two in the Netherlands.
In Germany, Wolfsburg won 2-1 at home against Bayer Leverkusen to stay top of the Bundesliga on 57 points after 28 games. Bayern Munich won 1-0 away at Arminia Bielefeld to stay second, three points behind, having played the same number of games.
In France, Olympique Marseille remain top after a late winner earned them a 2-1 victory away at Lorient. Olympique Lyonnais, who have led the table for most of the season, and who have won the title in each of the last 7 seasons, slipped to third after losing 0-1 at Bordeaux. Bordeaux are now in second place, 2 points ahead of Lyon, and 2 points behind Marseille. With 6 games left to the end of the season, all of the top 6 clubs still have a shot at the French title.
AFC Wimbledon, formed in 2002 after the old Wimbledon FC moved to Milton Keynes and were re-named Milton Keynes Dons, have effectively been promoted from the Conference South to the Conference National, the fifth tier of football in England. After drawing 1-1 at home with second-placed Hampton & Richmond Borough, AFC Wimbledon remain 3 points clear at the top of the Conference South and with a vastly superior goal difference, with both clubs having just one game left to play.
This would be their second successive promotion, as well as their fourth in six seasons since 2003.
Milton Keynes Dons themselves are still in the running for their second successive promotion, this time from League One to the Championship. After a 1-0 win away at Scunthorpe United on Saturday, they are in third place, four points behind third-placed Peterborough United with a game in hand.
Sebastian Vettel won the Chinese Grand Prix yesterday, his second victory after his first at last year’s Italian Grand Prix, and the first-ever for his Red Bull Racing team. His team-mate, Mark Webber finished second. Jenson Button of Brawn GP finished third.
Chelsea will face Everton in the FA Cup Final on 30 May 2009 after they both won their semifinals over the weekend. Chelsea are still in the running for the treble this season.
S. League fixtures this week:
- Tonight at Tampines Stadium: Tampines Rovers v Albirex Niigata
- Wednesday night at Bedok Stadium: Geylang United v Young Lions
- Thursday night at Hougang Stadium: Sengkang Punggol v Woodlands Wellington
- Friday night at Jalan Besar Stadium: Balestier Khalsa v Gombak United
- Saturday night at Yishun Stadium: Super Reds v Home United
- Sunday night in Brunei: DPMM v SAFFC
Ferment: Indefatigable Fun For Adults 
Just a slight correction. The way it reads it sounds like AFC Wimbledon drew at their ground. We did not – the game was at Hampton & Richmond’s. Otherwise thanks for the publicity 🙂
You’re welcome J.
I have a great personal interest in what a football club stands for, and AFC Wimbledon is an excellent example. In fact, non-league football is full of good examples, although the way they’re going, AFC Wimbledon won’t be a non-league club for much longer. 😉 I take it you’re a AFC fan?
Also, I regret not having watched either the old Wimbledon FC or Tooting & Mitcham United when I was in South London in the late 1980s (although I did manage to catch Crystal Palace).
Further, one of our participants is from South London and used to support the old Wimbledon FC. I’m not sure he supports any club now.
By the way, how did you find your way to this blog?
Last night at Tampines Stadium: Tampines Rovers 1 Albirex Niigata 0
Sheffield United lost 0-1 away to Burnley in the Championship last night, missing out on an opportunity to close within one point of Birmingham City in second place and automatic promotion to the Premier League.
Burnley strengthened their position amongst the play-off places, climbing above Reading into fifth place. Last season’s FA Cup Finalists Cardiff City lie in fourth place between Sheffield United and Burnley.
Liverpool are at home to Arsenal tonight.
In the Championship, Cardiff City are away at Charlton Athletic (who are already relegated), while Reading are away to Derby County, who are still at risk of relegation.
Liverpool drew 4-4 with Arsenal last night. Guaranteeing themselves a Champions League spot for next season will be scant consolation to Liverpool for dropping two points at home. Goalscorers:
• Liverpool: Torres 2 (49 & 72 mins), Benayoun 2 (56 & 90 mins)
• Arsenal: Arshavin 4 (36, 67, 70 & 90 mins)
Results from the Championship:
• Derby County 0 Reading 2
• Charlton Athletic 2 Cardiff City 2
Reading are virtually guaranteed a play-off place.
holy crap.. arshavin 4..
Game of the season and i am surprise the way Liverpool defended.
In the Premier League later tonight:
• Chelsea v Everton
• Manchester United v Portsmouth
Ipswich Town have sacked their manager Jim Magilton after they failed to make it to the Championship play-offs.
Results:
• Chelsea 0 Everton 0
• Manchester United 2 Portsmouth 0
“Good” news for Manchester United – Gary Neville and John O’Shea will miss the “next few weeks” after picking up injuries. They’ve both looked dodgy in recent games.
Wes Brown is “likely to play for the club’s reserves against Newcastle on Thursday and could play for the first-team’s at home against Tottenham on Saturday”.
At Bedok Stadium last night: Geylang United 1 Young Lions 1