Portugal vs Spain (Euro 2012 1st Semifinal) Live -- First half finished goal-less

Donetsk, Ukraine (Wed, Jun 27) – First 20 minutes of the first half of first semifinal of soccer’s European Championship 2012 have gone goal-less as Spain and Portugal couldn’t score any goal. 

Portugal vs Spain (Euro 2012 1st Semifinal) Live -- First half finished goal-less

The match is being played at the Donbass Arena in Donetsk, Ukraine.

The winner of the match will face record 3-time winner Germany or Italy intournament final schedule on July 1. 

Defending champion Spain, also the reigning world champion, is aiming to become the first team to successfully defend the title. 

On the other hand Portugal led by Cristiano Ronaldo, on the hunt for a major title, was runner-up in 2004. 

The other semifinal will be played tomorrow between Italy and Germany in Warsaw.

Champions Trophy Hockey Final: Australia 1 - 0 Spain -- Match Summary and Highlights

AUCKLAND, New Zealand (Dec. 11) - Australia successfully defended their title beating Spain in a close contest in the final of Champions Hockey Trophy Tournament here today at the Auckland’s North Harbor hockey stadium.

Champions Trophy Hockey Final: Australia 1 - 0 Spain

The Kookaburras have created history with this 1-0 victory by winning the FIH Champions Trophy tournaments fourth time consecutively.

Australian forward Eddie Ockenden was in the right place at the right time to play a key role in this historical victory for his team. He scored the only goal of the match just 11 minutes before the final whistle on a penalty corner rebound.

The grand final and gold medal match was an extremely close contest, with both sides enjoying periods of ball possession and filed domination. But Spain possibly had played much better in the first half than the second one and could easily have taken a lead when Roc Oliva and David Alegre missed their respective chances. 

Newly-crowned FIH Young Player of the Year Matthew Swann also produced a wonderful tackle on Spain's Edi Tubau just at the right time when he was about to shoot in the dying moments of the first half.

Watch the highlights of the final match between Australia and Spain HERE.

Champions Trophy Hockey Final -- Watch Live Streaming: Australia v Spain

AUCKLAND, New Zealand (Dec. 11) – Australia is just hours away to create a history in Field Hockey, if they managed to take down spirited Spaniards in the grand final of Men’s Hockey Champions Trophy tournament in Auckland. That will be fourth consecutive victory for The Kookaburras in Champions Trophy Hockey Tournament.

Champions Trophy Hockey: Today's (Dec. 11) Match Schedule and Results

The Kookaburras have held off a determined New Zealand on Saturday to remain undefeated at the Champions Trophy with a 2-1 win in Auckland, New Zealand. Although they had qualified for the grand final even before their last outing against the hosts New Zealand; but they didn’t waste a chance to go for final with a morale booster tag of “undefeated”.

On the other hand; Spain defeated the Netherlands 3-1 on Saturday to set up a hockey Champions Trophy final showdown against defending champions and World No. 1 Australia.

On the last day of the tournament; Germany has already defeated Great Britain 1-0 to take to fifth position; while Pakistan took down South Korea for their Sevent spot in the tournament. This is second defeat for South Korea in the hands of Pakistan in this Champions Trophy.

The match for third and fourth position is underway between the Netherlands and New Zealand. At the half time the score is level with 2-2.

Grand final between Spain and Australia will start at 6:05 pm (local time) and will be live broadcasted on Ten Sports. Live Streaming is also available on Fox Sports. 


Watch it live also at LiveFIH.TV

Champions Trophy Hockey: Latest Pool Standings and Matches Results (Thu, Dec. 08)

AUCKLAND, New Zealand (Dec. 08) – Four matches were played today in ongoing Men’s Hockey Champions Trophy Tournament at Auckland’s North Harbor hockey stadium.

Champions Trophy Hockey: Today's Matches Results (Thu, Dec. 08) 

In first match of the day; Asian Champions Pakistan beat Korea by 6-2 in a Pool D fixture. This is the first victory of wild card entrants Pakistan in this coveted tournament. Pakistan are now placed at the second spot in the Pool ahead of Great Britain due to better goal average.

Penalty corner goal by German forward Jan-Marco Montag in the last moments of the second match of the day earned all three points for European Champions and broke the hearts of Brits after a shocking 8-1 defeat in the first round match against Spain. Germany is on top in Pool D after 2-1 victory against Britain; while GB slipped to third spot in this pool.

Australia become the first team to qualify for the finals of the Champions Trophy Hockey Tournament after beating the Netherlands 4-2 in the third match of the day and first of the Pool C. The defending champions and World No. 1 Australia were in ruthless goal-scoring with Chris Ciriello, Matt Gohdes (2) and his cousin Jamie Dwyer gave Australia a 4-2 win over the Dutch.

In the last match of the day and second of the Pool C; high-spirited Spain defeated the hosts New Zealand by 3 -2. The Black Sticks lead their European opponents twice courtesy to goals from Andrew Hayward and Blair Hilton but were pegged back by strikes from Ramon Alegre and Edi Tubau before Ramon’s brother David Alegre hit a brilliant winner four minutes from time.

With this win over New Zealand in the Championship pool; Spain managed to alive their hopes of reaching into the finals of coveted tournament.

The latest and updated pool standings and points table are given below:

Champions Trophy Hockey: Latest Pool Standings and Points Table (Thu, Dec. 08) 

Highlights: Pakistan 2-4 Spain -- Hockey Champions Trophy, Auckland, NZ

AUCKLAND, New Zealand (Dec. 05) – Pakistan lost their second match of the Hockey Champions Trophy against Spain here at North Harbor hockey stadium, Auckland. Pakistan is now virtually out of the tournament after losing by 4-2 to Spain.

Hockey Champions Trophy Highlights: Pakistan 2-4 Spain

Pakistan came from behind twice to equalize; but couldn't do better to stop Spanish penalty corner ace Pau Quemada from scoring a winning double within less than last 15 minutes of the match.

Santi Freixa, Jorge Dabanch scored one goal each for Spain with a double from Quemada; while Shakeel Abbasi and Sohail Abaas were the goal scorer from Pakistan.

To read full match report ......... CLICK HERE.  

Watch the highlights of the match ……….. HERE.

Hockey Champions Trophy -- Pakistan ousted by committed Spain with a double from Pau Quemada

AUCKLAND, New Zealand (Dec. 05) – Pakistan lost their second match of the Hockey Champions Trophy against Spain here at North Harbor hockey stadium, Auckland. Pakistan has virtually out of the tournament after losing by 4-2 to Spain.

Men's Hockey Champions Trophy, Auckland: Pakistan 4-2 Spain

Spanish penalty corner specialist Pau Quemada was the hero in their comprehensive victory by 4-2 over Pakistan. Spain took the lead through penalty corner rebound goal by Santi Freixa; but Pakistan managed to equalize with am skilful field goal by Shakeel Abbasi in the 9th minute of the match. Abbasi punished some weak Spanish defending by squeezing the ball between the legs of goalkeeper Francisco Cortes.

An on-field clash between Spain’s Roc Oliva and Waseem Ahmed of Pakistan forced referee to show yellow cards to both leaving both sides with 10 players. Spain again cruised up courtesy to Jorge Dabanch who made space for himself with a wonderful first touch before cracking home on his reverse stick. Shakeel Abbasi again came up with a brilliant effort just before half-time; but his diving flick went just out of the goal-post.

Pakistan’s penalty corner expert and orld record goal scorer Sohail Abbas produced a moment of magic from a penalty corner six minutes into the second half to restore equality once again.

With the score locked at 2-2, Quemada found the target twice within last fifteen minutes to give Spain their first win of the Men’s Hockey Champions Trophy following their defeat against Australia on Saturday. The win moves Spain up to second in the Pool A table, just ahead Great Britain because of a better goal average. Spain will face Great Britain on Tuesday in their last match of the first round.

Great Britain lost to World No. 1 Australia 4-1 in the first match of the day (Monday, December 05). Australia now leading the Pool A with the only unbeaten team in Pool A.

Champions Trophy Hockey (Saturday, Dec. 03): Latest Pool Standing and Points Table

AUCKLAND, New Zealand (Dec. 03) – In the 8-nation coveted tournament, which got underway here today at North Harbor hockey stadium, total of four matches were scheduled and played on very first day of the tournament.

Today’s (Saturday, Dec. 03) matches’ results are given below:

• Match No. 1

Netherlands v S Korea (Pool B) – Netherlands won by 2-0

• Match No. 2

Germany v New Zealand (Pool B) – Germany won by 2-1

• Match No. 3

Australia v Spain (Pool A) – Australia won by 3-2

• Match No. 4

Great Britain v Pakistan (Pool A) – Britain won by 2-1

After the first day’s matches defending champions Australia is leading the Pool A; while Netherlands is on top in the Pool B. See the Points Table in the image below:

Champions Trophy Hockey: Latest Pool Standing and Points Table

Read all news and updates about Men's Hockey Champions Trophy 2011, HERE.

Alberto Contador, 2010 Tour de France Champion, Came Out Clear From Doping Ban: Spanish Media Reports

MADRID - According to Spanish media especially El Pais newspaper; Alberto Contador, 2010 Tour de France champion, has been cleared of alleged doping charges during Tour de France in July last year. 

 Alberto Contador was tested positive for the prohibited substance clenbuterol; but he claimed that it was due to eating contaminated beef at the last day of the race. According to the test reports 50 picograms per milliliter of clenbuterol were found in his body.

Reports published on El Pais website referring undisclosed sources described that the Spanish Cycling Federation cancelled its Jan. 26 proposal for a one-year ban after considering final arguments by Contador’s legal team and finally cleared the champion from the dope charges. 

Juan Carlos, president Spanish Cycling Federation, and Contador’s lawyer Andy Ramos and spokesman Jacinto Vidarte seemed reluctant to comment on the news. 

International Cycling Union (UCI) and the World Anti-Doping Agency may plea the Spanish federation’s judgment at the Lausanne, Switzerland-based Court of Arbitration for Sport, a process that could take months.