NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE - St. James' Park (52,405)

[Newcastle Historian]

2012 Olympics - The 2nd Match played at St James' Park, GABON v SWITZERLAND on 26th July 2012 . . .

Gabon 1-1 Switzerland
By Arthur Virgo, goal.com, 26th July 2012

St James' Park
NEWCASTLE
England

Gabon and Switzerland drew 1-1 in the second match of Group B to put all four sides in the group on a single point after the first round of games. Claude Mbourounot's side survived a shaky start to hold Pierluigi Tami's Swiss to a draw after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang cancelled out Admir Mehmedi's early opener.

Switzerland took the lead inside five minutes when Admir Mehmedi converted a penalty won by Innocent Emeghara, but the goalscorer missed an excellent chance to extend the lead after 20 minutes. Gabon however improved after a poor start as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang became a clear threat, equalising just before half-time after good work from Alexander N’Doumbou.

The second half saw the Swiss reduced to 10 men as Oliver Buff received a second yellow card for diving, but the European side managed to hold on for a point and remain level with their Group B opponents.

Switzerland had opened much the stronger of the two, and after just two minutes the Nati flooded down the left side of the pitch and combined to thread a ball from the the left wing to Emeghara who was clumsily fouled by Henri Ndong as he ran on to the pass. Mehmedi stepped up to take the penalty and placed it into the net to the diving keeper Didier Ovono’s right, only for the referee to disallow the kick and order a retake. The Dynamo Kiev striker retained his composure to give his side the lead after just five minutes.

The Panthers then began to grow into the game, and soon after the reprieve, Aubameyang received the ball down the left channel and fired from an acute angle towards Diego Benaglio who could not contain the shot, but his teammate Jerry Obiang was unable to follow up the effort and struck the bar.
Panthers' Saint-Etienne forward then had two opportunities when Swiss centre back pair Fabian Schar and Timm Klose failed to deal with through balls. The first span away from him as he tried to control a through-ball deflected off Schar, while Benaglio managed to thwart his effort to round the keeper down the right channel minutes later.

Aubameyang finally capitalised on his side’s renewed confidence just before half time after receiving a looping, deflected cross from the impressive N’Doumbou, who had cut inside from the left wing. The 23-year-old controlled the ball and then calmly slotted the ball into the left corner to put his team level at the break.


Read More - http://www.goal.com/en-gb/match/8029...nd-u-23/report

[Newcastle Historian]

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Some photos of INSIDE St James' Park, yesterday (Sunday 29th July 2012) . . .

[Newcastle Historian]

2012 Olympics - The 3rd Match played at St James' Park, JAPAN v MOROCCO on 29th July 2012 . . .

Japan 1 - 0 Morocco
Goal.com, 29th July 2012

St James' Park
NEWCASTLE
England

A late winner from Kensuke Nagai gave Japan a 1-0 win over Morocco at St James' Park to ensure their place in the quarter-finals. Nagai lobbed home with just seven minutes remaining, after racing onto a clever flicked pass from Hiroshi Kiyotake, giving the Blue Samurai a deserved win against a Moroccan side lacking any punch or penetration.

Japan, winners in their first match against the much fancied Spanish at Hampden Park, made one change, with highly-rated right-back Hiroki Sakai not fully fit to start the match, therefore, his namesake Gotoku Sakai, started in defence. Morocco also made just the single change to the side which drew 2-2 with Honduras in their opener, with Zakarya Bergdich, suspended after his red card in that game, replaced by full-back Abdellatif Noussair.

Pim Verbeek's team started brightly, fashioning a chance in the fourth minute when Nordin Amrabat timed his run into the box to perfection, but Japan skipper Maya Yoshida did just enough to put the Morocco striker off. With the talented wingers Zakaria Labyad and Soufiane Bidaoui on either flank, it was no surprise to see the north African side utilising the wings at every available opportunity and one such move saw them force an 18th minute corner from which Amrabat had a chance following a knockdown, but his shot was well blocked by Sakai.

Three minutes later and more terrific work on the right-flank from Bidaoui saw him bamboozle the Japanese left-back Daisuke Suzuki, but the Lierse wideman's cross was behind the onrushing Labyad and the chance was lost.


Read More - http://www.goal.com/en-gh/match/8050...co-u-23/report

[Newcastle Historian]

2012 Olympics - The 4th Match played at St James' Park, SPAIN v HONDURAS on 29th July 2012 . . .

Spain 0 - 1 Honduras
By Ryan Benson, Goal.com, 29th July 2012

St James' Park
NEWCASTLE
England

Luis Milla's Spain, have one match remaining but will be going home early as two shock defeats leaves them with zero points, while their opponents are now on four. Spain have been knocked out of the Olympic Games after a 1-0 defeat to Honduras in a match that saw La Roja his the frame of the goal three times. Jerry Bengtson gave Luis Suarez's side the lead with a towering header in the first-half as the Central Americans put up a good fight in the opening period.

After the break things were a little different as Spain dominated from start to finish, hitting the woodwork three times, with Adrian Lopez, Iker Muniain and Rodrigo all going very close to getting their team at least one point. Luis Milla resisted the opportunity to make considerable changes following the defeat to Japan, with Alberto Botia coming in for the suspended Inigo Martinez and Iker Munian replacing Rodrigo the only differences to the team.

Honduras also named a very similar side to their 2-2 draw with Morocco, with Wilmer Crisanto the only new player as he came in for Alex Lopez at left-back.

Spain started in a fairly ominous fashion, attacking with intent, but the unfancied Hondurans took the lead with just over six minutes played as Roger Espinoza delivered a masterful cross from the left that Bengtson powerfully headed past David De Gea after unsurprisingly beating Jordi Alba in the air. Milla’s side continued to control the possession after the goal, but they were struggling to create chances and Honduras were looking dangerous once again soon after.


Read More - http://www.goal.com/en-ng/match/8050...as-u-23/report

[Newcastle Historian]

2012 Olympics - The 5th Match played at St James' Park (1st Womans Match) CANADA v SWEDEN on 31st July 2012 . . .

Canada 2 - 2 Sweden
By ESPN Soccernet, 31st July 2012

St James' Park
NEWCASTLE
England

Late Tancredi leveller sends Canada through.

Striker Melissa Tancredi claimed a double as Canada came from behind to snatch a precious Group F draw with Sweden. John Herdman's side trailed 2-0 to goals from Marie Hammarstrom and Sofia Jakobsson as the Swedes got off to a flying start, but Tancredi reduced the deficit before the break and then claimed a later equaliser to ensure that both teams go through to the quarter-finals.

Sweden looked to have wrapped up the victory inside the opening 16 minutes with a devastating salvo. Hammarstrom put them in front from Lina Nilsson's right-wing cross with just 14 minutes played, and then supplied the ammunition from the opposite flank to allow Jakobsson to double their advantage.

Canada refused to throw in the towel though, and although the Swedes looked capable of adding to their tally, got themselves back into the game two minutes before half-time when Rhian Wilkinson played a one-two with skipper Christine Sinclair down the right and floated a cross to the far post for Tancredi to fire home her third goal of the tournament.

It took brave blocks by keeper Hedvig Lindahl and Nilsson to deny Tancredi and then Jonelle Filigno a 48th-minute equaliser, but Tancredi squared it seven minutes from time with a header from Sinclair's cross.


Source - http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=349367&cc=5739#

[Newcastle Historian]

2012 Olympics - The 6th Match played at St James' Park (2nd Womans Match) FRANCE v COLUMBIA on 31st July 2012 . . .

France 1 - 0 Columbia
By ESPN Soccernet, 31st July 2012

St James' Park
NEWCASTLE
England

Thomis seals France quarter-final berth

Elodie Thomis fired France into an Olympic quarter-final showdown with Sweden after a narrow victory over Colombia. The Lyon winger's early strike was enough to claim the points, although a resilient display by keeper Sandra Sepulveda and a second-half Colombian fightback ensured the result remained in doubt until the final whistle.

France, inspired by the classy Louisa Necib, took the lead with just five minutes gone when the pacy Thomis got in behind full-back Natalia Ariza and calmly chipped the advancing Sepulveda.

Had it not been for the Colombia keeper, Ricardo Rozo's side would have been dead and buried long before half-time. She pulled off a string of fine saves, turning Thomis' 26th-minute shot on to the bar and then somehow clawing out Gaetane Thiney's close-range effort five minutes later, although she needed the help of the woodwork on two further occasions.

Sepulveda denied Marie-Laure Delie one-on-one as the break approached to keep her side in the game once again with her team-mates offering little in response.

However, Colombia rallied after the break and striker Ingrid Vidal saw a 57th-minute cross drift just past the far post and fast-arriving midfielder Carmen Rodallega with French keeper Sarah Bouhaddi beaten, and substitute Tatiana Ariza poked a shot wide five minutes from time with the goal at her mercy.


Source - http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=349364&cc=5739

[Newcastle Historian]

2012 Olympics - The 7th Match played at St James' Park (5th Mens Match) BRAZIL v NEW ZEALAND on 1st August 2012 . . .

Brazil 3 - 0 New Zealand
By ESPN Soccernet, 1st August 2012

St James' Park
NEWCASTLE
England

Brazil cruise past Kiwis

Internacional striker Leandro Damiao inspired 10-man Brazil to a comfortable Group C victory over New Zealand to send them into the quarter-finals with a 100% record. The 23-year-old set up midfielder Danilo to open the scoring and then claimed his second of the tournament before the break, with Tottenham's Sandro adding a third in the second half to cement the win which will see his side return to St James' Park on Saturday evening.

Brazil went ahead with 23 minutes gone when Danilo played a one-two with Damiao before surging into the box and lifting the ball over keeper Michael O'Keeffe. The South Americans were simply irresistible, and they extended their lead within six minutes when Alex Sandro ran on to an audacious back-heel by left-back Marcelo and squared for Damiao to tap home.
Sandro put the result beyond doubt within seven minutes of the restart when, after substitute Tim Myers had been penalised for a foul on Damiao, Marcelo curled the resulting free-kick to the far post for the Spurs midfielder to fire home.

Neymar should have made it 4-0 within two minutes, only to sky over an empty goal from Rafael de Silva's cross, but Alex Sandro's afternoon took a turn for the worse 15 minutes from time when, having been booked earlier for a foul, he was yellow carded for a second time for diving.


Source - http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report/_/id/349345?cc=5739

[Newcastle Historian]

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Final MENS Olympic Football Group Tables (Groups A, B, C, and D) . . .

http://www.london2012.com/football/event/men/index.html

[Newcastle Historian]

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So, that's SEVEN Matches played at SJP, and now only TWO left to play . . .


WOMENS FOOTBALL - QUARTER FINAL

United States v New Zealand
Friday 3rd August 2012, 14.30


MENS FOOTBALL - QUARTER FINAL

Brazil v Honduras
Saturday 4th August 2012, 17.00

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[Newcastle Historian]

Originally Posted by Newcastle Historian

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So, that's SEVEN Matches played at SJP, and now only TWO left to play . . .


WOMENS FOOTBALL - QUARTER FINAL

United States v New Zealand
Friday 3rd August 2012, 14.30


MENS FOOTBALL - QUARTER FINAL

Brazil v Honduras
Saturday 4th August 2012, 17.00
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Extra Olympic tickets for Brazil v Honduras on sale
Evening Chronicle, August 3rd 2012


ONE THOUSAND EXTRA tickets are on sale today for the Men's Football Quarter Final at St James' Park.

It has just been announced by LOCOG that 1,000 extra tickets for the men's quarter final between Brazil and Honduras are on sale today. The extra tickets for tomorrow's match have been made possible through the repositioning of the screen at St James' Park and athletic family returns, according to LOCOG.

The tickets are now on sale at St James' Park box office today only. There will be NO opportunity for tickets sales tomorrow, Saturday, August 4.

Anyone wishing to attend the men's quarter final at 5pm tomorrow should therefore buy their tickets today.


Read More - http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/north...#ixzz22Tyk6BME

[Newcastle Historian]

2012 Olympics - The 8th Match played at St James' Park (3rd Womens Match) U S A v NEW ZEALAND on 3rd August 2012 . . .

USA 2 - 0 New Zealand
By ESPN Soccernet, 3rd August 2012

St James' Park
NEWCASTLE
England

Wambach inspires win

Abby Wambach's fourth goal of the tournament helped to fire the United States into the Olympic semi-finals as New Zealand's hopes were dashed. The 32-year-old striker turned home Alex Morgan's 27th-minute cross to give her side the advantage in a game they controlled but failed to kill off until substitute Sydney Leroux made sure at the death.

Last year's beaten World Cup finalists won with something to spare and will head into their semi-final at Old Trafford on Monday with hopes of a third successive gold medal very much alive.

The Americans dominated throughout, pinning the Kiwis back into their own half for long periods with front two Wambach and Morgan repeatedly threatening to breach their defence.

They perhaps should have gone ahead with just 10 minutes played when Morgan ran on to Abby Erceg's miscued clearance and rounded goalkeeper Jenny Bindon, only to shoot wide of the far post, and Wambach side-footed harmlessly wide from Megan Rapinoe's driven cross seven minutes later.
However, the deadlock was broken after 27 minutes when Morgan got in on the left and drilled the ball across goal for Wambach to turn home at the far post.

Morgan could have ended the game as a contest within three minutes of the restart when she robbed Erceg and drove into the penalty area, but she blasted into the side-netting with just Bindon to beat.


Read More - http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report/_/id/352285?cc=5739

[Steve Ellwood]

Some photographs taken by my son Scott at the Brazil v New Zealand game at St James' Park on 1st August 2012.





















Photographs hosted on http://ellwood.fototime.com/Brazil%2...lympics%202012

[Newcastle Historian]

2012 Olympics - The 9th and FINAL Match played at St James' Park (6th Mens Match) BRAZIL v HONDURAS on 4th August 2012 . . .

Brazil 3 - 2 Honduras
By ESPN Soccernet, 4th August 2012

St James' Park
NEWCASTLE
England

Damiao at the double

Leandro Damiao fired Brazil into the Olympic semi-finals as Brazil survived a major scare against Honduras. The Internacional striker cancelled out Mario Martinez's stunning opener and, after Neymar had done the same from the penalty spot following Roger Espinoza's equally eye-catching 48th-minute finish, booked a trip to Old Trafford on Tuesday evening with his second.

Honduras played a full part in a thrilling encounter at a packed St James' Park despite having midfielder Wilmer Crisanto sent off with just 32 minutes gone and Espinoza at the death, both for two bookings.

Brazil should have been ahead with just 30 seconds played when Damiao burst free through the middle, but pushed his right-foot shot wide with only keeper Jose Mendoza to beat. Oscar saw a second-minute effort blocked by Honduras skipper Johnny Leveron after good work by Neymar, who went close himself during a confident start.

However, the opening goal arrived at the other end after 12 minutes when Espinoza left Rafael da Silva and Sandro for dead before pulling the ball back for Maynor Figueroa to divert it into the path of Martinez, who thumped a sumptuous dipping volley past helpless keeper Gabriel.


Read More - http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=352297&cc=5739

[Newcastle Historian]

Olympic football fever at St James' Park comes to an end
By Sophie Doughty, Aug 5 2012, Sunday Sun



THE OLYMPIC football fever that has gripped the North East, came in an end in spectacular style last night. For the past two weeks Newcastle has been welcoming sports fans from across the globe who flocked to St James’ Park to take in some fantastic football and taste the famous Geordie hospitality.

There was a colourful carnival atmosphere around the ground yesterday as the see of black and white was replaced with yellow and green ahead of mighty Brazil’s quarter final clash with underdogs Honduras.

42,166 spectators inside the stadium were treated to a thrilling 90 minutes of football, with a 3-2 win propelling Brazil into the semi-finals of the London 2012 men’s football competition.

As the Brazilians and their many new adopted supporters parted samba-style into the night, Newcastle was also celebrating its success at hosting nine Olympic football matches, which brought thousands of visitors to the city from all over the world.


Read More - http://www.sundaysun.co.uk/news/nort...9310-31552008/

[TOON FAN]

St. James' Park in Olympic colours, from the Brazil 3-2 Honduras quarter final.






Not a Sports Direct sign in sight!

[EPA001]

If only they could build the other stands just as the main stand. What a fantastic stadium would it be then. Probably the best in the UK imho.

[Lumbergo]

looks great without the ads

[Luigi742]

Originally Posted by EPA001

If only they could build the other stands just as the main stand. What a fantastic stadium would it be then. Probably the best in the UK imho.

better than emirates? better than wembley? better than old trafford? better than millenium stadium?

There's plenty on better stadiums in the UK, and I doubt building some bigger stands would make this one any better, if anything it would make it worse.

[AdidasGazelle]

Originally Posted by Luigi742

better than emirates? better than wembley? better than old trafford? better than millenium stadium?

There's plenty on better stadiums in the UK, and I doubt building some bigger stands would make this one any better, if anything it would make it worse.

Yes it would be the best football stadium in Britain. Not the best stadium in terms of grandeur or quality but as a football stadium it would be number one IMHO. Old Trafford could have been the best but that atrocious sloping roof seriously affects the overall look and atmosphere of the place. St. James park has showed how a roof should look.

Anyone who thinks the Emirates is the best football stadium in Britain is not a football fan. It is a souless bowl. Wembley is even worse, horrible football stadium.

[bigchrisfgb]

Well sorry to disappoint you guys, it CANNOT be expanded to have all the stands the same size, only stand out of the two stands that can be expanded to the same size and the two larger ones in the smaller one behind the goal.