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Picks and predictions for every game … MAC through WAC, Week 13

Week 13 ACC-CUSA Picks

MAC
East  Akron | Bowling Green | Buffalo | Kent St | Miami Univ. | Ohio | Temple
West  Ball St | Central Mich | Eastern Mich | No Illinois | Toledo | West Mich

Friday, November 23

11:00 AM

Central Michigan -3 at Akron
Fiu – AK   Rich – CM   John – CM    Zemek - CM
MB – CM   WIS – CM  Clucko - CM    PICK – CM 

2:30 PM

Toledo at Bowling Green -6.5
Fiu – UT   Rich – BG*   John – BG   Zemek -BG 
MB – BG   WIS – UT  Clucko - BG    PICK – BG

Saturday, November 24

1:00 PM

Buffalo at Kent State -1.5
Fiu – UB   Rich – UB   John – UB    Zemek - UB 
MB – KS   WIS – UB  Clucko - KS    PICK – UB  

2:00 PM

Miami Univ. at Ohio -2.5
Fiu – OH   Rich – OH   John – OH   Zemek - OH 
MB – OH   WIS – OH  Clucko - MU    PICK – OH 

2:00 PM

Temple at Western Michigan -11
Fiu – WM   Rich – WM   John –  WM   Zemek -WM 
MB – WM*   WIS – WM  Clucko - WM    PICK – WM 

4:00 PM

Ball State -8.5 at Northern Illinois
Fiu – BS   Rich – NI   John – BS    Zemek -BS 
MB – BS   WIS – BS  Clucko - NI    PICK – BS

Mountain West
Air Force | BYU | Colorado State | New Mexico
San Diego State | TCU | UNLV | Utah | Wyoming

Friday, November 23

2:00 PM

Wyoming at Colorado State -3
Fiu – CS   Rich – CS   John – CS    Zemek -CS 
MB – CS   WIS – CS  Clucko - UW    PICK – CS

Saturday, November 24

2:00 PM

Utah at BYU -4.5
Fiu – BY   Rich – BY   John – BY    Zemek -BY 
MB – BY   WIS – BY*  Clucko - UT    PICK – BY 

5:30 PM

UNLV at New Mexico -10.5
Fiu – NM   Rich – NM   John – NM*   Zemek -NM 
MB – NM   WIS – NM*   Clucko - NM    PICK – NM

8:00 PM

TCU -10.5 at San Diego State
Fiu – TC*  Rich – TC   John – TC*  Zemek -TC 
MB – TC   WIS – TC*  Clucko - SD    PICK – TC* 

Pac 10  
Arizona | Arizona St |  California | Oregon | Oregon St | Stanford
UCLA | USC | Washington | Washington St

Thursday, November 22

8:00 PM

USC -3.5 at Arizona State
Fiu – AS   Rich – SC   John – SC   Zemek -SC 
MB – SC*   WIS – AS   Clucko - SC    PICK – SC 

Saturday, November 24

3:30 PM

Oregon -2.5 at UCLA
Fiu – LA   Rich – UO   John – LA    Zemek -UO 
MB – UO   WIS – UO  Clucko - UO    PICK – UO 

3:30 PM

Notre Dame at Stanford -3.5
Fiu – SU   Rich – SU   John – ND    Zemek - SU 
MB – ND   WIS – ND  Clucko - SU    PICK –SU

7:00 PM

Washington State at Washington -5.5
Fiu – UW   Rich – UW*   John – UW*   Zemek - UW 
MB – UW   WIS – UW  Clucko - UW     PICK – UW 

SEC
East  Florida | Georgia | Kentucky | South Carolina | Tennessee | Vanderbilt 
West Alabama | Arkansas | Auburn | LSU | Ole Miss | Miss State

Friday, November 23

12:30 PM

Ole Miss at Mississippi State -6.5
Fiu – MS   Rich – MS   John – MS    Zemek -MS 
MB – MS   WIS – OM  Clucko - OM    PICK – MS

2:30 PM

Arkansas at LSU -12
Fiu – LS    Rich – LS*   John – LS    Zemek -LS 
MB – LS*   WIS – LS  Clucko - AK    PICK – LS 

Saturday, November 24

1:30 PM

Tennessee at Kentucky -3
Fiu – UK   Rich – UT   John –  UT   Zemek -UK 
MB – UT   WIS – UK  Clucko - UK    PICK – UK 

2:00 PM

Wake Forest -2 at Vanderbilt
Fiu – WF   Rich – VU   John – VU  Zemek -WF 
MB – WF    WIS – WF  Clucko - WF    PICK – WF 

3:30 PM

Georgia -3.5 at Georgia Tech
Fiu – GA   Rich – GA   John – GA    Zemek -GA 
MB – GA   WIS – GA  Clucko - GT    PICK – GA 

5:00 PM

Florida State at Florida -14.5
Fiu – UF   Rich – UF*   John –  UF   Zemek -UF 
MB – UF   WIS – UF  Clucko - UF    PICK – UF

7:00 PM

Clemson -3 at South Carolina
Fiu – CU   Rich – CU   John –  CU  Zemek -CU 
MB – CU    WIS – CU  Clucko - SC     PICK – CU 

8:00 PM

Alabama at Auburn -6
Fiu – AU   Rich – AU   John – AU*   Zemek - AU 
MB – AU*   WIS – AU  Clucko - AL    PICK – AU 

Sun Belt
Arkansas State | Florida Atlantic | Florida International | MTSU
North Texas | Troy | UL Lafayette | UL Monroe

Tuesday, November 20

7:00 PM

Middle Tennessee at Troy -12
Fiu – TR   Rich – TR   John – TR    Zemek - TR 
MB – TR   WIS – TR*  Clucko - MT    PICK – TR

Saturday, November 24

3:00 PM

Arkansas State at Southern Miss -14
Fiu – SM*   Rich – SM*   John – SM    Zemek -SM 
MB – SM*   WIS – SM*  Clucko - SM    PICK – SM* 

4:00 PM

Western Kentucky -3 at North Texas
Fiu – WK   Rich – NT    John – NT    Zemek -NT 
MB – NT   WIS – NT  Clucko - WK    PICK – NT 

7:00 PM

UL Monroe -3 at UL Lafayette
Fiu – LM   Rich – LL    John – LM    Zemek -LM 
MB – LM    WIS – LM  Clucko -  LL   PICK – LM

7:00 PM

Florida Atlantic -11.5 at Florida International
Fiu – FA   Rich – FA*   John – FA    Zemek -FA 
MB – FA*   WIS – FA  Clucko -  FI   PICK – FA

WAC  
Boise State | Fresno State | Hawaii | Idaho | Louisiana Tech
Nevada | New Mexico St | San Jose State | Utah State

Friday, November 23

9:00 PM

Boise State at Hawaii -4
Fiu – BS   Rich – BS   John – HI    Zemek -BS 
MB – BS   WIS – BS  Clucko - HI    PICK – BS

Saturday, November 24

3:30 PM

Utah State at Idaho -2
Fiu – ID   Rich – UI   John – UI    Zemek -ID 
MB – US   WIS – US  Clucko - US    PICK – ID 

3:30 PM

Kansas State at Fresno State  PICK
Fiu – FS   Rich – FS   John – FS     Zemek -FS 
MB – FS   WIS – KS  Clucko - KS    PICK – FS 

4:00 PM

Nevada -3.5 at San Jose State
Fiu – UN   Rich – UN   John –  SJ   Zemek -SJ 
MB – UN   WIS – UN  Clucko - UN    PICK –  UN

Week 13 ACC-CUSA Picks

Source: CFN Staff Picks - Week 13 (MAC to WAC)

The Croatia coach, Slaven Bilic, has accepted his side cannot afford to play for a draw when they face England at Wembley in their final Euro 2008 qualifier.

England require only a point on Wednesday to secure their passage to Austria and Switzerland next year and Croatia have already qualified, but the former West Ham defender said: “Nobody is favourite when they play away against England so we would be happy for a point. But you can’t play for a draw,” Bilic said.

“We are coming to Wembley to play a serious game. We are going to play our normal game and we are going to try to keep the English players far from our goal but that is easy to say.”

His side lost their unbeaten qualifying record after slipping to a 2-0 defeat against Macedonia on a waterlogged pitch at the Gradski Stadium on Saturday night. The home side thoroughly deserved their victory after controlling the game for large periods and eventually got their reward with second-half goals from Goran Maznov and Ilco Naumoski after their positive tactics and persistence paid off in the 71st minute through Maznov.

The 26-year-old forward played a neat one-two with his strike partner, Naumoski, before he lashed the ball in to the bottom-right-hand corner of the net from just inside the penalty area.

Srecko Katanec’s side doubled their advantage in the 79th minute when Naumoski turned from provider to goalscorer. The 24-year-old broke clear of the Croatia defence and stroked the ball past Stipe Pletikosa and into the corner of the net. Croatia briefly rallied and Dario Simic struck a powerful shot from distance in the dying stages but Macedonia held on to claim a well-deserved victory.

Bilic was not too downhearted, saying: “I don’t hold any grudge against my players. In fact, I congratulate them on their effort, considering the pitch conditions.”

But the defender Vedran Corluka admitted Croatia had allowed themselves to relax in the second half after learning of Russia’s defeat.

“Macedonia earned the victory and we must congratulate them. We owe our fans a much better game at Wembley next week,” the 21-year-old said.

Macedonia (4-4-2): Milosevski; Noveski, Mitreski, Popov, Sedloski (Grncarov, 88); Lazarevski, Tasevski, Grozdanovski, Sumulikoski; Maznov, Naumoski (Polozani, 78).

Croatia (4-4-2): Pletikosa; Simic, Simunic, R Kovac, Corluka; N Kovac, Srna, Modric, Kranjcar (Vukojevic, 75); Petric (Mandzukic, 42), Eduardo (Olic, 54).

Referee: F de Bleeckere (Belgium).

Booked: MacedoniaTasevski, Naumoski.

Man of the match: Naumoski.

Interesting? Click here to explore further

Source: Macedonia 2 Croatia 0: We cannot afford to sit back for a draw at Wembley, insists Bilic

Not a shocker by any stretch, but, Doba has denied the resignation rumor to the Times today:

“I don’t plan to resign” Doba, 67, said Tuesday.

Even if he’s already cleaned out his office and has the motor home idling in the driveway, what is he going to say 3 days before the game? Yep, I can’t wait to blow out of this one-horse town and get back to Indy with some serious coin in the bank and 19 grandchildren waiting for me with open arms?? But seriously…..Doba’s just not the type and we’ve been saying it since midseason - it’s not in his DNA to simply quit at anything. But once again, Sterk says that his job will be evaluated at the end of the season, with no further comment.

Other points of interest on Hump-day:

• The Times also has a story about that pesky Internet and how the different schools do - or do not - read this garbage. The thing is, the message boards or comments, it’s “safe haven” so to speak, where fans can unload with some sense of maintaining their anonymity. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. But it’s better that someone unleash their frustration online vs. kicking the dog, punching the walls, or much, much worse.
• Tony Harris is dead, and we may not ever really get the cause. Some claim suicide, some have no idea. What is known is that he basically disappeared for a few weeks and witnesses claim he was asking for food or money on the street. What a sad story. Sad for him, but especially his wife with their first baby due next month. Damn.
• Howie has a good notebook in the P-I. Specifically the margin of loss for us this year is staggering. 24 points, and that INCLUDES a pair of 3-point losses? My God that is really bad. I don’t know who said it, maybe it was Jim Walden on a post-game radio segment, but someone said that a sign of a poorly coached team is complete inconsistency from week to week. That’s a pretty hard thing to define, because often in college football the talent is wildly different from program to program, and when a thin team like our Cougs are also inexperienced in a lot of positions, the results can be pretty frightening!

Finally, to help ease the sting of the Oregon State mess on Saturday, here’s some video goodness. This is from the 2003 season, a game in which we came back from a big deficit to win 36-30. That was the game that Scott Lunde kept catching slants over the middle, remember?

That 2003 team, easily one my all-time favorite teams to watch. Boy, that defense, man oh man could they play. The swagger, the speed on the edges with Acholonu and Brown, the power up the middle with Williams and Tupai, the linebackers fly around, the DB’s were fast and aggressive and many of them are in the NFL right now (Coleman, David, Paymah and Frampton), etc, etc, etc! But pay special attention to when the Beavers have the ball and not only listen to the crowd noise, which is great, but just watch the aggressive d. Those were the days. Check it out:

Source: Doba Denies Resignation Rumor; More Video Goodness

Tour match, Colombo, day two (close):
Board President’s XI 500-5 dec v England

James Anderson (right) and the England bowlers toiled in the heat

England spent another day suffering in the field against the Sri Lanka Board President’s XI as three players hit centuries on day two in Colombo.

Opener Upul Tharanga (112) reached his ton early on to press his Test claims.

Chamara Kapugedera smashed 141, adding 142 with Thilina Kandamby (107 not out), the declaration came at 500-5 and rain then prevented any further play.

Paceman Steve Harmison’s return to action was delayed until the afternoon as his bowling boots failed to arrive.

The President’s XI had started the day on 218-3, and play began half an hour earlier than scheduled to make up the time which was lost to a thunderstorm on Tuesday.

Without Harmison, captain Michael Vaughan had thrown the ball to fellow seamer James Anderson to begin the first over of the day.

However, as he was about to begin his run-up, the umpire halted Anderson as he had bowled the final over of the first day.

Monty Panesar had to open proceedings instead, and bowled for most of the morning session in tandem with fellow spinner Graeme Swann.

Tharanga, looking for a recall to the national side after Marvan Atapattu’s retirement, added 20 runs to his overnight score of 92 before he slashed Matthew Hoggard to Ravi Bopara at gully to leave his side 255-4.

As well as the wicket, Hoggard’s tight five-over morning spell included three maidens and yielded just four runs.

But England’s fielders continued to toil in the heat as Kapugedera and Kandamby both survived some strong lbw appeals, while the latter was given not out after appearing to edge behind off Stuart Broad.

Kapugedera, who began the day on 48, reached his century before lunch and smashed three sixes and 16 fours before eventually hoisting Swann to Owais Shah on the midwicket boundary.

All 16 members of England’s squad are able to feature during the game.

Harmison had been in South Africa to play for Highveld Lions while recovering from hernia surgery, and his favoured bowling boots were delayed in transit to Sri Lanka.

After tour manager Phil Neale had rushed to Colombo Airport to retrieve the boots - and, crucially, his special insoles - Harmison made a belated return to the attack.

He bowled four overs before tea and two more after the interval - yielding 48 runs while sending down a wide and six no-balls.

England’s bowlers were finally given some respite when the declaration came with Kandamby having added 103 for the sixth wicket with keeper Kaushal Silva (54 not out).

However, rain then prevented the England batsmen to get some much-needed practice in the middle, and they will begin their first innings on the final day of the game.

Source: England toil in Colombo warm-up

OU defensive end makes final watch list

Nov. 21, 2007

NORMAN, Okla. - Oklahoma defensive end Auston English has advanced to the final watch list for the Ted Hendricks Award. The honor is presented annually to the top defensive end in college football.

English leads Oklahoma with 9.5 sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss despite missing two games due to injury. He ranks No. 3 nationally in sacks and 13 in tackles for loss.

The next step for the Hendricks Award is to trim it list to six finalists. This vote will be concluded on Nov. 26, and the finalists will be announced on Nov. 28. The 2007 Hendricks Award winner will be announced on Dec. 5.

Oklahoma returns to action this Saturday when it hosts Oklahoma State. The game kicks off at 2:30 p.m., on FSN. A win by the Sooners would send them to the Dr Pepper Big 12 Championship game for the sixth time since 2000.

Source: English Advances in Hendricks

The seven-time Grand Slam champ Justine Henin has been busy giving interviews recently. She let us take a glimpse into her personal and everyday life in a show on French Belgian RTL, as well as in an interview for BBC.

The world No.1 made a unique television appearance on French Belgian RTL in a show called Justine une star, une femme (Justine a star, a woman). It was the first time Justine gave this kind of interview for Belgian television – among other things, she talked about her personal life in front of 150 people in the audience. Many short films and video comments were included in the show, such as those of Steffi Graf, Bjorn Borg, Yannick Noah, John McEnroe, Giorgio Armani and Celine Dion.

For more photos from Justine une star, une femme check out her website's gallery.

Moreover, Henin was interviewed by Gabby Logan for BBC’s Inside Sport. Nice of Kiera123j who has uploaded it so fast to YouTube, so that more of us can watch it. In the interview the Belgian talks about her reconciliation with her family, her divorce, her passion for fashion, the respect she has for her long-time coach Carlos Rodriguez, the relationship among women’s tennis players, her Justine’s Winners’ Circle foundation , and other things.

I like the part when Justine mentions that Wimbledon is her No.1 priority, since it’s the only Grand Slam she has never won. The 25-year-old Belgian is aware that she shouldn’t pressure herself too much: “If I make it an obsession I will never win, that’s for sure”. That’s good attitude.

Enjoy the interview (it’s divided into two parts)!

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Source: Justine Henin’s two recent TV appearances: on RTL and BBC

A new day means new transfer news and rumours. Several clubs have been linked with several players today, as detailed below.

Firstly, Celtic are in the hunt for a possible replacement for their star Japanese set piece expert Shunsuke Nakamura. He had been offered an extension to his current contract but reports say he’s looking to move back home after getting homesick recently.

The man Celtic see as Nakamura’s replacement is Aston Villa’s Shaun Maloney. If the bid is successful in January then Celtic will look to push Aiden McGeady to the right of midfield. For Nakamura, if he does move back to Japan it seems like former club Yokohama Marinos are favourites to bring him back.

Editor’s note: Do you think Nakamura can do well in the Premiership?

Another Scot involved in transfer news is Rangers’ full-back Alan Hutton. After some impressive displays for his country, and unlucky to concede a free kick which led to Italy’s last minute goal to send Scotland out, numerous clubs have taken and interest. Leading the chase is Newcastle United. The Geordie side had a scout watching him apparently in the match against Italy and was duly impressed. Newcastle United have made it their objective in the New Year to bring in a reliable defender and see Hutton as the man capable for the role. Other teams that have shown interest in the player include Liverpool, Manchester City and Tottenham.

Arsenal, Manchester United and Tottenham (again) have been linked with Bolton keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen. The goalkeeper is hoping for a new challenge after spending 10 years with Bolton, the longest-serving player currently in the team. His contract expires at the end of the season and with Jens Lehmann out of favour at Arsenal, they may look to Jaaskelainen’s services. His agent however has stated that the player will leave England altogether with Inter Milan apparently showing some interest.

Manchester United are looking to add to the Portuguese contingent by hoping to sign Miguel Veloso, Sporting Lisbon’s impressive young midfielder. With the advice of Carlos Queiroz, Alex Ferguson has been alerted to the player as the next big thing to emerge from Sporting’s ranks, which also produced Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani. The 21 year-old will cost Manchester United around £10m. The club’s chief scout, Ferguson’s brother Martin has been present to witness six of Veloso’s last seven games.

Gabriel Agbonlahor has declared his future remains with Aston Villa after his decent form this season has linked him with a £15m move to Arsenal in January. Agbonlahor has notched five goals so far this season for Aston Villa and only penned a new four-year deal with the club at the end of last season. He admits that he’s flattered with the interest shown in him but his loyalty remains with his home-town club.

Manchester City are lining up a possible £6m bid for Udinese striker Asamoah Gyan. The Ghanaian is desperately seeking a move to the Premier League and recently admitted he was a boyhood fan of local rivals Manchester United. However, he would consider a move to Manchester City should they proceed to approach him. Gyan has scored three goals in eleven matches for the Udinese so far this season. Any deal for the player, 22 on Thursday, could be put on hold until next summer as he will be representing Ghana at the African Nations Cup in the New Year.

Speculation has continued to surround Peter Crouch as his Liverpool career remains in doubt. Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp could be interested in recruiting the lanky striker having worked with him before at Southampton and Portsmouth. The 26 year-old is more than likely going to be on the move in the New Year having been dropped down in the pecking order at Anfield. Redknapp reflected on the year Crouch spent at Pompey where he netted 19 goals and sold him for £5m having bought him for £1m. He believes the England international has improved since as a player.

Source: Transfer Roundup: Tottenham, Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal, Newcastle United, Manchester City, Celtic, Portsmouth

Looking for a great pair of bindings for either a beginner or an expert, this would be the one! Compared to some of the other bindings out there this one would cost way more. So, you don’t have to pay an arm and a leg for a great pair of bindings.
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Lippi quit as Italy coach after winning the World Cup

Italy’s 2006 World Cup-winning coach Marcello Lippi has turned down an offer to become Birmingham’s new manager.

City wanted Lippi, 58, to succeed Steve Bruce, who has left St Andrews to take up the managerial reins at Wigan.

“We made an approach and he turned it down,” Blues co-owner David Sullivan told the Birmingham Mail.

“This is not a stunt, it’s genuine - he is available and we are looking at bringing in a manager of his stature and calibre, if at all possible.”

Lippi guided Juventus to five Serie A titles in Italy and four Champions League finals, winning one in 1996, during two spells as manager.

In between, he endured an unsuccessful season as coach of Inter Milan.

Lippi, who has never coached outside Italy, became national coach in 2004 and took his team to World Cup glory in Germany, beating France 5-3 in a penalty shoot-out after the final ended 1-1.

But he did not renew his contract with the Italian Football Federation after the tournament, deciding instead to take a sabbatical.

“He was one of the first we went to but unfortunately nothing materialised,” said Sullivan.

“Of course, you get knock-backs. That’s football. But if you do not try you will never know.

“It was the same with (former Tottenham manager) Martin Jol. It made sense for us to approach him.

“I want to stress to our supporters that we are working very, very hard to bring in the right man.

“Until you get to meet them and speak to them, you can never be quite sure, but it won’t be for a lack of trying, believe me.

“We are determined to find a manager who would create a bit of a stir and excite people.”

Sullivan wants to make an appointment as soon as possible, while Bruce’s former assistant Eric Black will be caretaker manager for the game against Portsmouth on Saturday.

“We will resolve the issue of a new manager within 10 days,” added Sullivan.

“Eric has taken temporary charge, and that might only be for one game.

“Has he got a chance of becoming manager? Yes, he has. We will just have to wait and see what develops.”

Source: Lippi turns down Birmingham job

AUSTRALIA kept alive their proud Olympic football record, qualifying for the sixth consecutive Games with a 1-1 draw against North Korea in Pyongyang.

Skipper Mark Milligan headed in a 67th minute equaliser from a Kristian Sarkies free-kick to give the Olyroos the one point they needed to qualify for Beijing.

North Korea took the lead in the 10th minute and could have scored more as Australia struggled to come to grips with the cold weather and plastic pitch.

But the visitors regrouped in the second half and looked dangerous in attack, especially from set pieces.

Sarkies’ delivery in the 67th minute went to the far post where Milligan, the top goalscorer for the Olyroos throughout their campaign, rose high and headed across the goalkeeper and into the net.

I always thought that wearing gloves was the domain of the overpaid stars in the EPL or Europe, so it must be chilly in Pyongyang today. I’d say 70 per cent of the Olyroos squad are wearing gloves.

The crowd is sparse to say the least.

Australia have retained the same starting X1 from the win over Iraq in Gosford last weekend. a 4-3-3 formation, so I suppose we won’t be playing a tight, defensive game. Should be a few goals.

1st: North Korea start off with a bang but their striker blasts over the bar from about 20 yards.

3rd: Olyroos given free-kick in good position. Kristian Sarkies’ shot is hit straight into the wall. Geez, it looks cold. Apparantly the game was almost postponed when snow fell overnight.

Australia have adapted well in the first five minutes to the weather and the plastic pitch, moving the balla round nicely. North Korea are not to be underestimated here. Their U20 women’s team won the world title last year and the Olyroos only beat them 1-0 in Newcastle back in August.

7th: Trouble for Australia and the weather and pitch strikes. Captain Mark Milligan slips over going for a challenge and looks to have done a knee injury. He’s back on but clearly struggling.

8th: Korea pile forward and their striker blasts over the bar from a good position. A bit wasteful.

10th: Goal. It had been coming. Park Chol Min opens the scoring for North Korea with a clever lob over Vukovic.

Jonathan Prendergast emails in about plastic pitches: "I’ve played on synthetic surfaces and really liked it, but I think you could blame Milligan’s fall then on it. His foot slipped from under him, and he could have done his knee."

I agree and he was clearly not at ease when Korea scored their goal.

14th: Korea nearly scored again. Vokovic stopped the initial charge but it took Adrian Leijer on the line to prevent them going down 2-0. Korea have started out on fire and are looking for an early kill.

16th: Free kick in another good position for the Olyroos and the ball is scrambled away. Australia’s best chances are probably going to come from these positions and we need to take better advantage of it.

18th: Korea take advantage of indecision in Olyroos defence but waste another opportunity.

20th: A Sarkies free kick is headed wide by Leijer

21st: A  lot of indecision in the Olyroos defence. Maybe they are worried about the pitch. Although Korea are not going to Beijing, they have showed they are a decent team. Interesting that the player turnover is so high in North Korea. Apparantly, there is hardly a player backing up from the August loss in Newcastle.

22nd: Another Korean miss. They are piling forward from midfield and causing all sorts of problems.

29th: The Koreans are really quite skillful. Their attacker left the Australian defence for dead again but blasted the ball into the side-netting. Australia just hanging on here.

30th: First half an hour gone and Australia not really offering anything that would bring an equaliser. In fact, they look as though they could go further down. They need to hang on. A second goal would be a killer. The Koreans are shooting from everywhere, all it needs is for a deflection to end up in the net.

34th: First yellow card goes to the Olyroos. Melbourne’s Leigh Broxham booked

36th: Australia go close. Their first positive foray forward that wasn’t a set peice. Mark Bridge sets up Newcastle team-mate James Troisi but the ‘keeper makes a save and Bridge just misses the rebound. Encouraging.

38th: An early change for an ineffective Australia. Adelaide’s Nathan Burns on for Broxham.

Ross Ward brings up a very valid point:

"Think you will find James Troisi plays for Newcastle United not Newcastle Jets hence him and Bridge are not team mates. Go the Roos – glad Burns has come on should inject a bit of creativity."

Thanks for that pick-up Ross. Yes, Burns has helped by the Olyroos are still not creating much. Korea are massing in defence and then breaking ominously.

Half-time: A lot of Aussie endeavour but nothing to show for it. The Koreans are good value for their 1-0 lead. The Aussies will need to regroup quickly or the Beijing dream is over.

A couple of people have been asking the score in the Lebanon v Iraq game. The game is not being played simutaneously with this one as we thought. As the table stands, Iraq, who have a better goal difference than the Olyroos, need to beat Lebanon. So an Olyroos defeat is not necessarily the deathknell on their chances. But, realistically, Lebanon are not going to cause Iraq too many problems.

Great work by Andy Withers in here has found out that the Iraq v Lebanon game will start at midnight our time in Qatar. So we will have a resultt for you in the morning.

Second half underway and it’s all fairly tepid at the moment.

Michael Franks asks a pertinent question: "Is Michael Zullo on the bench? Get him on Arnie!"

He would be a great player to throw on near the end when Australia look like they are chasing the game.

Ben Hawes says: "Guys, Absolutely stoked you guys are doing this update!!! Can’t get to my TV until later tonight so this is just awesome. Thanks a lot.

No problem, Ben!

Sorry folks, there are transmission difficulties at the moment, we will update you as soon as possible.

Frank Ntim writes in: "Lets hope we didn’t celebrate too soon, wonder how our tactics were worked out for this game 4-3-3 is a bit too attacking for me. Its good Graeme is using Hiddink tactics. All we need is a draw, knowing North Korea would attack at home, would have liked to have seen a 4-5-1."

Back in business. Australia putting on the pressure now.

Michael Cresswell asks: "Wonder if our friend Michael Cockerill at the SMH will still be endorsing the brilliant Graham Arnold to be our national coach after tonight’s result (considering he thought that beating Iraq was reason enough to appoint him…) "

Anthony Martinovich says: "Great updates guys. Still working and can’t get to a tele. They should get Nick Ward on, attacking midfielder to put the pressure on.

Thanks for the compliments, guys.

62nd: Australia still down 1-0 and, although the Olyroos are pressing forward, they don’t really look like scoring. Korea, though, are sitting on their hump at the moment and not threatening much.

Further to Michael Franks’ question  about Michael Zullo, apparantly he is on the bench but his eligibility for the tournament is in question.

64th: Nick Ward is on as Arnold goes for broke, Dario Vidosic is off.

65th: Nikolai Topor-Stanley has looked the most likely Olyroos goalscorer and he nearly converts a header from a set piece.

67th: GOAL: Australia equalise and from a set peice. Another Sarkies free kick, Milligan heads on and Leijer finishes off. 20 minutes to go and Beijing looking good.

Michael writes in at just the right time: "hi guys,this is wonderfull you guys doing this thanks heaps . I can’t watch it i’m looking after my baby boy we are sitting in front of the computer waitng for the aussies to score .GO YOU AUSSIES

Hope you are celebrating hard, now.

Dan A’Vard in Qatar writers: "I’m sitting at my desk in Qatar (where Iraq will play later tonight) watching your coverage. The 3 Iraqi guys sitting across from me all just swore something in Arabic when I told them that Australia had equalised! Go Olyroos! "

Thanks for writing in, Dan. Good to know.

78th: Very nervy now. Australia are defending what they have.

Nick Travaglini emails in: "Yes, thanks guys. Great news about the equaliser. Still at work here in Perth. Your “coverage” is much appreciated.

Again, it’s our pleasure.

Koreans are not throwing caution to the wind and are still content to shoot from distance. I suppose they don’t have that much to play for.

81st: Sarkies has been brilliant in the second half, especially. He’s been holding the ball up in the corners, allowing Australia to eat up time.

82nd: Korea bring on a striker they used effectively against the Olyroos in Newcastle. Apparantly, has some great pace.

84th: Australia content to eat up time when they get into Korean territory. Troisi is booked for timewasting.

85th: Korea have not posed much of a threat in the second half. They look deflated and content with their one point.

86th: Mark Milligan is playing very deep and the long balls Korea used so well in the first half are being snubbed out. Australia have a corner.

88th:  The game looks to be petering out

Troy Cappellucci writes: "Still at work over here in Perth, finish in 10 mins so hopefully can have a good drive home with the boys holding on to qualify for Bejing!

It’s looking good!

Four minutes of stoppage time

91st: Anxious times. A North Korea free kick. But it’s cleared and the Olyroos break,

93rd: Substitute: Nathan Burns goes off and defender Aaron Downes is on. The finishing of the North Korean striker has thankfully, been really poor.

94th: The game is over and the Olyroos are going to Beijing. A 1-1 draw is enough.

Renzo Di Giulio writes in from Dubai: "Thanks Foxsports for the updates. Great Work!
From a mad aussie football supporter living in Dubai."

Hope the celebrations go well everyone. The Olyroos hung in well after a poor first half and got the desired result.

Source: Olyroos headed for Beijing