Bayern Crushes Barca 4-0

From Yahoo News:

MADRID, April 24 (Reuters) - Even Lionel Messi, so often Barcelona's saviour, was at a loss to explain how the La Liga leaders could come back from their Champions League semi-final mauling in Munich.

Barca were thumped 4-0 away by an impressive Bayern Munich in their first leg on Tuesday, putting in one of their most toothless displays in recent memory.

On Wednesday, they were greeted with newspaper headlines such as 'Historic beating' in Madrid-based daily Marca, 'Catastrophe' in Barcelona-based Mundo Deportivo, and 'Azulgrana Waterloo' in daily El Mundo.

The Barca players looked dazed and downcast as they spoke to reporters in the mixed zone, and lacked conviction when asked about their chances of turning the result around at the Nou Camp next Wednesday.
"They were better than us, they were much stronger. They beat us in everything and were superior," World Player-of-the-Year Messi told reporters.

"A comeback is difficult, Bayern are a very good team. We have to lift ourselves, try to secure the league title and try to turn this round. If we can't, we need to start thinking about next season."

Barca could be crowned La Liga champions for the fourth time in five years if they can beat Athletic Bilbao on Saturday, and Real Madrid lose the city derby at Atletico.

The Argentine forward has been the outstanding figure in the Barcelona side that won the European Cup in 2009 and 2011, his goals helping them to a sixth consecutive Champions League semi-final, but he was a barely noticed presence in Munich.

Messi suffered a hamstring injury against Paris St Germain in the quarter-final first leg, and after making a decisive substitute appearance to help Barca through the second leg two weeks ago, he has not played.

On Monday, he was given the all-clear to feature against Bayern, but on the pitch he looked short of spark and energy as he was crowded out time and again.

"I haven't played for a long time, but I felt fine," Messi said when asked about his fitness.

LACK OF FAITH

While Messi faltered, Barca coach Tito Vilanova's lack of faith in his alternatives up front was startling.
He did not make a substitution until the 83rd minute, bringing on striker David Villa for Pedro, by which time his side were already 4-0 down. His other two possible changes were not made.

Asked if the side were too reliant on Messi, Dani Alves retorted: "The debate on our 'Messi-dependency' only appears when we lose.

"It will be very difficult (to turn around)," the Brazil defender added. "But if we have to fall, let us do it with our heads held high. We haven't said the last word in this."

Barca came back from a 2-0 first-leg reverse to defeat AC Milan 4-0 at home in their last 16 tie in March, but the latest defeat felt more decisive.

Barca have famously shunned talk of a Plan B when their trademark passing game fails to produce the goods, simply saying they need to sharpen and improve Plan A.

Looking ahead to the second leg, their only alternatives up front are Cesc Fabregas and little-used winger Cristian Tello, while the suspension picked up by flying fullback Jordi Alba will limit them even further.
On top of that, is the feeling that the side are running out of steam.

Their pressing game high up the pitch has dropped off and the circulation of the ball has lost its zip, in stark contrast to a dynamic and imposing Bayern.

"They beat us with their physical fitness," Barca captain Xavi told reporters.

"We have to work a miracle. There are 90 minutes remaining and it is practically impossible, but we have to try because we wear the badge of Barcelona."

Barca, PSG Draw 2 - 2

From BBC Sport:

Barcelona have filed a complaint to Uefa about the refereeing of Wolfgang Stark in their 2-2 Champions League draw at Paris St-Germain.

Stark refused to stop play after Javier Mascherano and Jordi Alba collided, leaving both players on the ground.

Barca were also left unhappy that Zlatan Ibrahimovic's equaliser stood after it appeared he was offside.
"It was evident that the referee did not apply the rules of the game," said Barca spokesman Toni Freixa.
"When two players from the same team are on the floor, the referee should stop the match, which did not happen.

"We are fully conscious of the possibility of errors in refereeing and we do not consider ourselves badly treated. But it surprises us that in a high-level competition a referee does not know the rules," Freixa added.

Stark has hit the headlines before when he sent England striker Wayne Rooney off during their 2-2 draw in a Euro 2012 qualifier against Montenegro in October 2011.

Barcelona host Paris St-Germain in their quarter-final second leg at the Nou Camp on Wednesday night.

Magical Messi Over Milan

from yahoo.com sports:

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Hailed as perhaps soccer's greatest team ever, Barcelona faced a challenge no club had overcome: advancing in the Champions League after a 2-0 first-leg loss on the road.

Lionel Messi & Co. came through in spectacular fashion with another record-setting night.

Messi started the revival with a pair of first-half goals, and Barcelona overwhelmed AC Milan 4-0 Tuesday to reach its sixth straight Champions League quarterfinal with a 4-2 aggregate win.

"It had been a long time since we had pulled off a historic comeback," Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez said. "We pressed them very well and played an exceptional match."

Messi scored in the fifth and 40th minutes, and David Villa and Jordi Alba added second-half goals.

"We went out gunning from the start, and scoring early helped us," Villa said. "We have believed in the comeback ever since we lost in Milan, and belief combined with hard work is how you achieve things."

Before a screaming crowd of 94,944 at Camp Nou, Europe's largest stadium, Messi scored his first goal to goalkeeper Christian Abbiati's right with curling left-footed shot into the upper corner from 17 yards between two defenders. The goal moved Messi past Ruud van Nistelrooy into sole possession of second on the Champions League career list with 57, trailing only Raul Gonzalez's 71.

Messi then scored his second goal to Abbiati's left with a low 19-yard shot after Andres Iniesta stole the ball from Massimo Ambrosini.

"For anyone who doubted Messi, today Messi gave a lesson on how to play football," said Barcelona assistant coach Jordi Roura, in charge while coach Tito Vilanova undergoes treatment in New York for a saliva gland tumor. "He is extraordinary, and surrounded by great players, he is capable of doing what he does."

Villa put Barcelona ahead in the series in the 55th minute with a 14-yard shot after Cristian Zapata's weak clearance was intercepted by Javier Mascherano, and Kevin Constant missed a sliding tackle on Xavi's through pass to the forward.

Alba sealed the win in the second minute of stoppage time when he raced the length of the field on a counterattack after Messi stole the ball and passed to Alexis Sanchez on the break.
"Milan only needed a goal, but we knew how to handle the game very well," Alba said. "This is a very important win for us. A lot was at stake."

AC Milan, a seven-time champion, won the first leg at San Siro on Feb. 20 and nearly got a valuable away goal in the 38th minute, but 18-year-old forward M'baye Niang hit a post with an open shot after a sloppy headed backpass by Mascherano. If Niang had tied the game 1-1, Barcelona would have needed at least three more goals at that point to advance because away goals are a tiebreaker.

"Barcelona is still the best team in the world. Moving on was a true feat," Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri said. "The first leg didn't change these two teams, and whoever thought so was wrong. We played worse than in the first leg, but that is to Barcelona's credit."

Messi, the four-time FIFA Player of the Year, got his 18th multigoal game of the season and increased his season goals total to 53.

Led by the 25-year-old Messi, Barcelona is seeking its fourth Champions League title in eight years and is closing in on its sixth Spanish league championship in nine seasons. Barcelona is 16-0-4 at home in the Champions League since a loss to Ruben Kazan in October 2009.

DC United Rehires Olsen

from dcunited.com:

D.C. United today announced that it has exercised its option to extend the contract of Head Coach Ben Olsen to run through the 2014 season. Per team and League policy, details of the contract were not disclosed.

“I appreciate the commitment and loyalty this club has given me over the years,” said D.C. United Head Coach Ben Olsen. “Hopefully I can continue to repay this organization with results and a team that our community is proud of.”

“Ben has had the leading role in rebuilding D.C. United and he is extremely deserving to have his option exercised a year in advance,” said D.C. United General Manager Dave Kasper. “We are very excited about our future with Ben as our head coach.”

Olsen originally took the role of interim head coach after United relieved Curt Onalfo of his duties in August of 2010. Prior to this promotion, Olsen served as an assistant coach under Onalfo after retiring as a player on November 24, 2009. Following improved play under the former United midfielder, the club hired Olsen permanently as head coach on November 29, 2010.

2012 was a breakout year for Olsen as he led the Black-and-Red to the MLS Cup Playoffs for the first time in five years. After losing its home debut, United went on a 16-match home-unbeaten streak – including 12 wins – to capture more home points (40) than any other team in MLS. En route to an Eastern Conference Finals appearance, Olsen was named the 2012 MLS All-Star Game Head Coach, leading the League’s select squad to a 3-2 win over 2012 European champions Chelsea FC.

As a player, Olsen was amongst the club’s all-time leaders in several key categories at the time of his retirement – second in games played (221), minutes played (17,097) and game-winning goals (13), third in assists (49) and shots on goal (155), and seventh all-time in goals (29). Arguably the most popular player in United history, the midfielder won eight total trophies while with the team, including two MLS Cups (1999 & 2004). He was a two-time All-Star (1998 & 1999), the 1998 MLS Rookie of the Year, the 1999 MLS Cup MVP, the 2003 USSF Humanitarian of the Year and an MLS Best XI selection in 2007.

In addition to his storied tenure with United, Olsen had an illustrious career with the U.S. Men’s National Team. He made his full international debut against Australia on November 6, 1998. His first goal for the U.S. came during just his second cap when he tallied against Chile on February 21, 1999. In 2000, he was part of the team that reached the bronze medal game at the Sydney Olympics before falling to Chile. Olsen was selected to the 2006 World Cup squad and played 51 minutes in the team’s final match against Ghana. In total, the midfielder earned 37 caps and notched six goals with the U.S. Men’s National Team.

Prior to his professional playing career, Olsen spent three seasons (1995-97) at the University of Virginia. During his time with the Cavaliers, the team posted a 56-8-8 record. All told, the midfielder compiled 34 goals and 41 assists and started and played every game (69) of his collegiate career. After his junior season, he was named the 1997 Soccer America Player of the Year and was a finalist for the Hermann Trophy. In his senior year, Olsen was selected as the ACC Tournament MVP and earned NSCAA All-American First Team accolades.