raja club

lundi 26 janvier 2015

Lyon down 10-man Metz to go clear at Ligue 1 summit

Olympique Lyon's Alexandre Lacazette (C) reacts with team mates after scoring a penalty against Metz

Ligue 1 top scorer Alexandre Lacazette scored from the penalty spot but then went off injured as Olympique Lyonnais extended their lead at the top to four points with a 2-0 win against 10-man Metz on Sunday.

Lyon have 48 points from 22 games, ahead of second-placed Olympique de Marseille after they lost 2-1 to Nice on Friday.

Later on Sunday third-placed Paris St Germain travel to fourth-placed St Etienne, where a win would take French champions level with Marseille.

France striker Lacazette gave Lyon the lead in the 31st minute when he converted from the penalty spot after Metz defender Guido Milan was sent off for a foul.

The 23-year-old Lacazette, Ligue 1's leading scorer with 21 goals, had to be replaced by Maxwell Cornet on 33 minutes after going off with an injury but midfielder Corentin Tolisso struck late on to make sure of the points for Lyon.

Tomic tees off at 'ridiculous' Australian Open scheduling

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Tomas Berdych of Czech Republic celebrates defeating Bernard Tomic of Australia

Bernard Tomic of Australia reacts as he plays against Tomas Berdych

Bernard Tomic bowed out of the Australian Open fourth round on Sunday with a stinging rebuke of the scheduling following his straight sets defeat by Tomas Berdych.

Tomic played his last match on the second show court at Margaret Court Arena, while Rafa Nadal defeated South African Kevin Anderson at Rod Laver Arena's centre court.

Organisers have been criticised in the past for putting local players in the prime-time spots in the evening, but couldn't be accused of that on Sunday, with Nick Kyrgios playing a twilight match against Andreas Seppi on Margaret Court Arena.

Sunday's late matches feature women's third seed Simona Halep taking on Belgian Yanina Wickmayer on centre court before Andy Murray's blockbuster clash with Grigor Dimitrov.

Former Wimbledon quarter-finalist Tomic has generally enjoyed centre court treatment at his home grand slam but this year has been relegated to lesser courts.

"I spoke to a few people about it. Lleyton as well," 22-year-old Tomic told reporters, referring to Australia's two-time grand slam champion Lleyton Hewitt, who was knocked out in the second round at Rod Laver Arena.

"I think the scheduling was like ridiculous this year. Like not just from my side, but for many players. I don't know who was in charge of the schedule. Really, some of the matches I saw, it was just like, 'Wow'.

"I didn't mind (my own matches), but some of the other matches I saw I was like, 'what the hell?'"

"From what I heard in the locker room, and not just myself, like the scheduling was a bit funny.

"I'm not going to complain from my side, but on behalf of the people I talked to, they say it as well. It's not just me saying it."

When asked for comment, organisers referred to Tennis Australia boss Craig Tiley's comments earlier in the week on scheduling.

"Our feedback tells us that we get it right more often than not," Tiley said.

Tomic, the youngest male to win a main draw match at the Australian Open at the age of 16, has teed off at organisers in the past over scheduling.

At the 2010 tournament when 17, Tomic lost to Marin Cilic in a second round match that finished well after midnight and slammed organisers for not taking into account his age or approving his request for a day match.

Ogier wins Monte Carlo to boost third world title bid

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Sebastien Ogier of France drives his Volkswagen Polo

Sebastien Ogier successfully defended his Monte Carlo Rally title on Sunday, winning the opening round of the world championship with a masterful display in the snow and ice of the French Alps.

The double world champion Ogier, who saw off an initial challenge from returning great, ten-times Monte Carlo winner Sebastien Loeb, eventually cruised home to win by 58 seconds from Finnish team mate Jari-Matti Latvala.

Driving a Volkswagen Polo R in the difficult, slippery conditions over the rally's four testing days, Ogier led home Latvala and Norway's Andreas Mikkelsen, as the trio secured a podium sweep for the German manufacturer.

Ogier prevailed after some tremendous early battles with his illustrious compatriot Loeb, making a one-off appearance after a 15-month absence, over the first seven special stages, until the nine-time world champion hit a rock and broke his Citroen DS 3's rear suspension.

Ogier, who is hunting a third consecutive global crown, held a 43-second lead going into the final day and, though controlling his pace with safe tyre choices, still extended his lead to seal his third Monte Carlo triumph.

"Winning Monte Carlo means a lot for every driver, but especially for me," Ogier told the official World Rally website (www.wrc.com).

"It's the most important rally of the season. The weather makes it a huge challenge but the satisfaction is great when you make it.

"This event had the best atmosphere I have experienced on a rally," added Ogier, who grew up near the host town of Gap. "When I drove the stage close to my home village the atmosphere was magical."

Arsenal cling on to FA Cup victory over Brighton

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Arsenal players (L) celebrate Tomas Rosicky's (obscured) goal against Brighton

Holders Arsenal were made sweat by Championship side Brighton and Hove Albion before eventually prevailing 3-2 in the fourth round of the FA Cup on Sunday to ensure they did not fall foul of another upset.

A day after Chelsea and Manchester City were stunned by Bradford City and Middlesbrough respectively, Theo Walcott put Arsenal ahead on 89 seconds before Mesut Ozil added a second midway through the first half.

Brighton pulled a goal back through Chris O'Grady but Tomas Rosicky restored Arsenal's two-goal advantage with an exquisite volley from the edge of the box.

Sam Baldock reduced the deficit with a neat finish on 75 minutes to set up a nervy finish for Arsenal but the holders stood firm to book their place in the fifth round.

Earlier on Sunday, substitute Diafra Sakho scored a late winner to give West Ham United a 1-0 victory over League One (third tier) side Bristol City, while Aston Villa beat Championship (second tier) leaders Bournemouth 2-1.

Ajax and Feyenoord in rare goalless stalemate

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Feyenoord Rotterdam player Colin Kazim-Richards in action

A rare goalless draw between Ajax Amsterdam and Feyenoord on Sunday represented bad news for the two main pursuers of leaders PSV Eindhoven at the top of the Dutch league.

Both sides needed a victory to put just the slightest pressure on runaway leaders PSV, who now have a six-point advantage over champions Ajax and 14 points over third-placed Feyenoord.

It was only the second time the 'Klassieker' fixture of the Dutch season had ended in a goalless draw. The previous occasion was in 1978.

Feyenoord dominated proceedings at the home of the team who are seeking a record fifth successive title and had two good chances in the first half.

Colin Kazim-Richards shot wide and then Jean-Paul Boetius has his shot cleared off the line by Ajax striker Arkadiusz Milik.

Jop van der Linden netted a penalty two minutes before halftime as Go Ahead Eagles moved out of the relegation play-off positions with a 1-0 home win over 10-man ADO Den Haag.

Eagles rose above their opponents into 14th place after Den Haag's Vito Wormgoor was judged to have handled in the box and was sent off.

Van der Linden converted the penalty and the home side held out for a precious win.

Utrecht twice came from behind to force a 2-2 draw at Groningen.

The hosts were left frustrated after Tjaronn Chery and Michael de Leeuw had given them the lead in each half. On both occasions, though, Utrecht hit back within minutes, through Edouard Duplan and Yassin Ayoub.

Second-bottom NAC Breda missed the opportunity to push towards safety when they were held to a 0-0 draw by Willem II.

Pogba inspires Juve, Inter stunned at home

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Juventus' Paul Pogba celebrates after scoring against Chievo Verona

Paul Pogba scored a typically majestic goal to set Serie A leaders Juventus on the way to a 2-0 win over Chievo while troubled Inter Milan were booed off by their own fans after losing 1-0 to Torino with the last kick of the game on Sunday.

Former Argentina forward Javier Saviola scored his first goal for Verona in a 1-0 win over Atalanta and there was another goal line controversy in the 1-1 draw between Sampdoria and Palermo.

Juve struggled for an hour to break down lowly Chievo before Pogba glided past an opponent and scored with a low, left foot shot from the edge of the area.

The Frenchman also played a large part in the second goal when his volley, following a superb piece of control, was saved by Albano Bizzarri and Stephan Lichtsteiner netted from the rebound.

Inter were booed off at San Siro after Emiliano Moretti was left unmarked to head in from a corner in the fourth minute of stoppage time, giving Torino their first win away over their opponents since 1988.

Inter, who have won only twice in nine league outings since Roberto Mancini took over as coach, are languishing in joint ninth, along with neighbours AC Milan.

Eder gave Sampdoria a sixth minute lead with a breakaway goal and Franco Vazquez fired home a spectacular equaliser for seventh-placed Palermo early in the second half, before the game erupted in controversy.

Michel Morganella's shot for Palermo hit the underside of the bar but, although replays showed it had crossed the line, no goal was given.

Saviola broke his duck for Verona when he turned the ball in at the near post following good work by Lazaros Christodoulopoulos early in the second half. The 33-year-old has now scored for nine clubs in six countries.

Juve lead with 49 points, eight clear of AS Roma who visit Fiorentina in the evening match. Lazio and Sampdoria are joint third with 34.

Substitute Sakho comes to West Ham's rescue

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West Ham United's Diafra Sakho (C) celebrates with team mates Aaron Cresswell (L) and Andy Carroll after scoring

Substitute Diafra Sakho scored late on to help West Ham United beat third tier Bristol City 1-0 in the FA Cup fourth round on Sunday and ensure the Premier League side did not fall foul of another upset.

With time running out Sakho connected with Andy Carroll's cross and headed in off the underside of the crossbar to secure West Ham's place in the fifth round.

A day after Chelsea and Manchester City were stunned by Bradford City and Middlesbrough respectively, Bristol City looked determined to cause another upset and striker Matt Smith had a header cleared off the line in a goalless first half.

But West Ham improved in the second period and Sakho's arrival sparked life into the Hammers as he went close with a half-volley before heading home Carroll's cross in the 81st minute.

Later on Sunday Aston Villa host Championship leaders Bournemouth, while holders Arsenal travel to Brighton and Hove Albion.

Russell blasts Windies to one-wicket win

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West Indies' Andre Russell

All-rounder Andre Russell smashed a match-winning half-century as West Indies claimed a nail-biting one-wicket victory over South Africa in the fourth one-day international at St George's Park on Sunday.

The hosts' David Miller had earlier struck a first one-day international century as he caressed 11 fours and three sixes in an unbeaten 130 from 133 balls to take the Proteas to 262 for eight in their 50 overs.

Russell took West Indies past their victory target with nine balls and just a single wicket remaining, hitting five sixes in his unbeaten 64 from 40 balls.

He put on 27 for the final wicket with Sheldon Cottrell (one) as the tourists pulled a game back in the series to go into the fifth and final match in Pretoria on Wednesday trailing 3-1.

The victory is a rare high-point on a disappointing tour for the Caribbean side, but should give them some confidence going into next month's World Cup, albeit against a much-changed Proteas lineup.

West Indies lost early wickets but rallied with a 93-run sixth wicket partnership between Marlon Samuels (68) and Darren Sammy (51), before Russell strode to the crease and proved the perfect finisher.

West Indies won the toss and sent South Africa into bat, with the Proteas rotating their squad and resting Hashim Amla, Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander and Imran Tahir.

They slipped to 76 for four, but left-hander Miller abandoned his usual power-hitting style to steady the innings and along with JP Duminy (43) put on 90 for the fifth wicket.

Some lusty blows in the final three overs took the innings score past 250 and gave Miller the record for the highest score by a South African number five in ODI cricket -- beating the previous best of 121 by Jonty Rhodes that has stood for 19 years.

The West Indies reply was not helped by the run outs of Leon Johnson (18), Jonathan Carter (five) and Carlos Brathwaite (11), but Russell kept them in the game as wickets fell around him.

The tourists will be grateful to the dismissal review system though after Russell was given out by Australian umpire Steve Davis on 40, caught behind off Wayne Parnell.

He sent it straight upstairs and with no sign of an edge, the dismissal that would likely have won the game for South Africa was overturned.

Equatorial Guinea advance with 2-0 win over Gabon

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Equatorial Guinea's Javier Balboa (C) celebrates with team mates after scoring against Gabon

Equatorial Guinea reached the African Nations Cup quarter-finals after second-half goals by Javier Balboa and substitute Iban Salvador gave them a 2-0 win over Gabon in a pulsating Group A clash on Sunday.

The victory ensured the host nation finished runners-up with five points and advanced two points adrift of group winners Congo, who edged Burkina Faso 2-1.

Having soaked up incessant pressure throughout the match, Equatorial Guinea took the lead against the run of play after forward Javier Balboa was fouled and then blasted home the spot-kick in the 55th minute.

Salvador rounded off a swift break in the closing stages, sweeping home a rebound after Gabon keeper Didier Ovono parried an Emilio Nsue shot straight into his path.

Equatorial Guinea goalkeeper Felipe Ovono was central to their success, having produced a string of superb saves to deny Gabon forwards Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Frederic Bulot.

Masterful Murray pays back dangerous Dimitrov

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Andy Murray of Britain jubilates after winning against Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria

Andy Murray avenged his shock loss at last year's Wimbledon and battled his way into his 16th successive grand slam quarter-final with a 6-4 6-7(5) 6-3 7-5 victory over Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov at the Australian Open on Sunday.

Murray was upset by Dimitrov in the quarter-finals of his Wimbledon title defence and Sunday's late night thriller helped dim those memories while setting up a last eight clash with Australian teenager Nick Kyrgios.

The Scot saved a set point while serving at 5-2 down in the fourth, roared back to 5-5 and broke Dimitrov to love, prompting the Bulgarian to destroy his racquet under the lights at Rod Laver Arena.

From there, Murray knew he had his man and ran Dimitrov ragged in the final games before also getting lucky with a net cord on match point.

Though the match ebbed and flowed with countless momentum shifts, Murray had the edge in most of the big points and thought his fitness told as the clash wore on.

"In the fourth set, I felt like he was trying to shorten a lot of the points," Murray said of Dimitrov, who was dragged into a taxing five-set scrap by Marcos Baghdatis in the previous round.

"When he got ahead, he was trying to come forward a lot. Then on my service games he was going for broke a little bit off my serves. So I felt like maybe he was tired.

"So I tried to, towards the end of the set, extend the rallies. And physically I felt completely different to how I felt at the U.S. Open last year or even here last year when I played a long match, especially in cold conditions. It was like night and day."

Two-time grand slam winner Murray has been impressive at Melbourne Park, where local fans have thrilled at the progress of 19-year-old Kyrgios.

Kyrgios's five-set win over Andreas Seppi, the Italian who knocked out Roger Federer, electrified Hisense Arena at the same time as Murray's match.

The Rod Laver Arena crowd roared their approval when news filtered through of the teenager's win, confusing Murray and Dimitrov for a moment before the penny dropped.

"I would say maybe he's more confident than I would have been at that age," Murray said of Kyrgios.

"So he obviously backs himself a lot. When you have the crowd behind you, it obviously helps."

Defour sent off after fans unveil severed head banner

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Anderlecht's Steven Defour

Anderlecht midfielder Steven Defour was sent off on his return to former club Standard Liege on Sunday after home fans unveiled a graphic banner targeting the Belgium international.

Defour, who spent five years with Standard before signing for Portuguese side Porto in 2011, was already on a yellow card when he was sent off for kicking the ball at the home fans during Anderlecht's 2-0 defeat at the Stade Maurice Dufrasne.

The giant banner, which was unfurled before kick off, showed a man holding a sword and a cartoon of Defour's severed head with the words "Red or Dead".

The 26-year-old Belgium international apologised for his actions on Instagram saying: "Apologies to my fans... although I do not understand the red card -- you can not see or hear the referee."

Former Standard captain Defour joined arch rivals Anderlecht in August after spending three years with Porto.

Saint-Etienne - Paris Saint Germain

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AC Fiorentina - AS Roma

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Shakhtar Donetsk - Cruzeiro

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Gent - Oostende

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Juventus - AC Chievo Verona

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Inter Milan - Torino FC

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Evian TG - Toulouse

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Olympique Lyon VS FC Metz

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Pordenone VS FeralpiSalo

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Perth Glory VS Melbourne Victory

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American Keys upsets Kvitova to make fourth round

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Madison Keys of the U.S. celebrates after defeating Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic

American teenager Madison Keys toppled fourth seed Petra Kvitova 6-4 7-5 in an impressive display of clean hitting to reach the fourth round of the Australian Open on Saturday.

The 19-year-old captured the decisive break at 5-5 in the second set and served out the match nervelessly under the lights of Rod Laver Arena, stunning the two-time Wimbledon champion.

Keys' win made it four American women in the last 16 at Melbourne Park, the most since five made it to the fourth round of the 2003 Australian Open.

She will play compatriot Madison Brengle for a place in the quarter-finals.

This is me, says grunting, cursing Azarenka

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Victoria Azarenka of Belarus celebrates after defeating Barbora Zahlavova Strycova

Two-time grand slam champion Victoria Azarenka will no longer bite her tongue or try to fit into any media-trained "image" as she makes her way on the tennis tour, the Belarusian said at the Australian Open on Saturday.

Azarenka advanced to the fourth round at Melbourne Park with a 6-4 6-4 win over Barbora Zahlavova Strycova, a brilliant return to grand slam tennis after her 2014 season was all but wiped out by injury.

The Belarusian has already distinguished herself from some of her more introverted rivals, wearing a loud fluorescent yellow outfit on court and swearing like a trooper at herself during matches when disappointed with her play.

Azarenka took it to another level on Saturday, when she cursed during her courtside interview in front of some 7,000 fans at Margaret Court Arena, using an obscenity to describe her dismay at missing an attempted lob when serving for the match.

The 25-year-old told her interviewer the word could be "bleeped out" and later made no apologies for the 'sailor talk'.

"I'm having a lot more fun," Azarenka, wearing a multi-coloured pair of leggings and a trucker's cap backwards, told reporters of her new season.

"I'm just being me. I say what I want to say. I laugh when I want to laugh. I play how I want to play. I grunt when I want to grunt.

"I don't think I've changed as a person. I think I grew as a person. I think I'm able to speak my thoughts more freely, which before I think I was holding back and really was trying to fit into some kind of image that a lot of people, a lot of players do.

"I think it's very important to stay original, to stay yourself, true to yourself, to who you are.

"So I think I had to learn that and just be able to live with that and accept who I am as a person. I still have a lot of room to improve, but I love the way where I'm heading."

A happy Azarenka is likely to mean a tough match for her next opponent Dominika Cibulkova, the pint-sized Slovakian who was a surprise finalist last year.

Though a fierce challenger on court, Azarenka said she was also going out of her way to be more friendly in the locker room, reaching out more to her rivals.

"I just think we all have to forget that tension off the court and really enjoy it," she said. "If we look at other sports, there's so much incredible bond and just relations that I think on the tour we can do much better."

High ranking sits uncomfortably on Nishikori's shoulders

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Kei Nishikori of Japan reacts after winning against Steve Johnson of the U.S

A break-out 2014 season and a career-high ranking of five has added extra weight to Kei Nishikori's shoulders, with the U.S. Open finalist already bearing the burden of huge expectations in his home country Japan.

Nishikori became the first man from an Asian country to reach a grand slam final at Flushing Meadows and though the 25-year-old wears the distinction with pride, he also feels the pressure to take the extra step.

Nishikori reached the fourth round of the Australian Open on Saturday with a 6-7(7) 6-1 6-2 6-3 win over much-improved American Steve Johnson at the Hisense Arena.

But the fifth seed still has a huge mountain to climb at Melbourne Park with top seed Novak Djokovic and defending champion Stan Wawrinka likely to stand in the way of a maiden final in Australia.

"Obviously number five is a different feeling than outside of the top 10 because you still feel a lot of confidence, but you feel other things off the court," Nishikori told reporters.

"I think I feel more pressure than before. I try not to think too much. But you obviously feel a little bit. It's still not comfortable for me to be this ranking.

"But I think I need more time to get used to it. If I can play good tennis, I think I have a lot of chance to stay here this whole year. You know, practise hard and prepare good. Hopefully I can do good this week and next week."

Nishikori will have one less distraction at Melbourne Park before his fourth-round match against David Ferrer, with Japan's national soccer team bombing out of their Asian Cup title defence in Australia.

The defending champions lost a penalty shoot-out to underdogs United Arab Emirates in Sydney on Friday much to the disappointment of huge fan Nishikori.

"Yeah, (I'm) disappointed because I think they really had a chance of winning the whole thing. So really sad to see," he said.

"I hope tennis gets bigger in Japan, Asia. But I love soccer. So I hope lot of kids start playing soccer, too."

Rummenigge dismisses Zwanziger criticism on Saudi Arabia game

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DPA ©

FIFA Executive Committee member Theo Zwanziger

Bayern Munich chairman on Saturday attacked former
German football supremo Theo Zwanziger over his critical remarks on
Munich's recent trip to Saudi Arabia.
"What Theo said there was below the belt," Rummenigge told
broadcasters Sport1.
The former DFB chief criticised Munich in a mid-week interview with
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung for not raising human rights during
their short visit last weekend for a friendly in Saudi Arabia whose
flogging this month of a blogger accused of insulting Islam has
prompted outrage.
Zwanziger said "I have long known that commerce beats ethics at
Bayern and when in doubt they are on the side of the purse."
Rummenigge admitted in a club statement that the club could have
acted in a better way and reiterated that towards Sport1.
"Of course we should have have adressed that human rights in Saudi
Arabia are not handled in a desired way. But there is no reason for
this kind of retaliation (from Zwanziger)," he said.

Head boys PSV march seven points clear

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PSV Eindhoven player Georginio Wijnaldum

Headers from Georginio Wijnaldum and Memphis Depay gave pacesetting PSV Eindhoven a 2-1 win at Cambuur on Saturday that kept them on course for a first Dutch title in seven years.

PSV have 49 points from 19 matches, seven ahead of second-placed Ajax Amsterdam who play their game in hand against bitter rivals Feyenoord on Sunday.

Wijnaldum glanced home a right-wing cross from Jetro Willems in the 39th minute before Depay looped a second-half header over goalkeeper Leonard Nienhuis to notch his 11th league goal of the season.

Substitute Daniel de Ridder pulled a goal back for Cambuur in injury time.

Bottom club Dordrecht claimed a first win in 17 league matches when they defeated Excelsior 1-0.

Forward Mart Lieder scored 19 minutes after halftime to ensure their first victory since Aug. 9.

Dordrecht are now three points behind second from bottom NAC Breda but have played one game more.

Fourth-placed PEC Zwolle, on 33 points, came from behind to draw 1-1 with AZ Alkmaar who are fifth.

Serbian midfielder Nemanja Gudelj put the visitors ahead after five minutes but Jody Lukoki quickly equalised.

Heerenveen leapfrogged Cambuur into seventh place as they thumped Vitesse Arnhem 4-1.

Forward Luciano Slagveer (2), Marc Uth and Daley Sinkgraven were on target for the hosts.

Georgian defender Guram Kashia netted his first of the season to pull a late goal back for Vitesse.

Abu Dhabi trip not behind City's Cup exit, says Pellegrini

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Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini

Sunning themselves in Abu Dhabi and arriving home 19 hours before their FA Cup fourth-round tie against Middlesbrough was not the reason for Manchester City's shock 2-0 home defeat on Saturday, manager Manuel Pellegrini said.

Arab-owned City jetted out to Abu Dhabi following last Sunday's 2-0 defeat by Arsenal for a week's warm-weather training before arriving back in Manchester at around 2000 GMT on Friday.

After a goalless first half at the Etihad Stadium, City midfielder Fernando's defensive error allowed on-loan Chelsea striker Patrick Bamford to put Middlesbrough in front on 53 minutes.

City continued to be frustrated by the Championship (second tier) side and with time running out Middlesbrough substitute Kike added a second to seal the victory.

Despite the embarrassment of being knocked out by lower league opposition, City boss Pellegrini refused to blame his side's late arrival from Abu Dhabi as the reason behind their poor performance.

"No, I don't think so," he told the BBC. "It's easy to have an excuse, but I don't think that was the case.

"Before they scored the first goal, we had five or six clear chances. They didn't have one chance. But we conceded a very easy goal, and the game changed. We were nervous.

"They are a team who work well; that's why they are second in the Championship. They had opportunities to score more goals and deserved to go through."

Premier League champions City, who trail leaders Chelsea by five points at the top of the table, travel to Stamford Bridge next Saturday in a mouth-watering clash against Jose Mourinho's side.

With the Premier League and Champions League the only silverware left for faltering City this season, Pellegrini urged his side to put their FA Cup disappointment behind them amid accusations they took the Middlesbrough game too lightly.

"I wanted to continue in all the competitions but now we must focus on the Premier League and Champions League," the Chilean said.

"We now have a difficult game against Chelsea, we must reduce the five-point gap."

Frenzel wins again; Prevc also top; Oeberg ends Norway reign

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DPA ©

Eric Frenzel of Germany in action during the ski jumping

Germany's Eric Frenzel won his fifth race in a
row in the Nordic combined World Cup while Peter Prevc of Slovenia
beat Four Hills champion Stefan Kraft for a ski-jumping victory on
Saturday in Sapporo.
Norway meanwhile suffered a first season defeat in an individual
women's cross-country race in the absence of most of their stars,
with Sweden's Jennie Oeberg top of a sprint in Rybinsk, Russia, and
Italy's Federico Pellegrino winning the men's race.
Frenzel soared 138 metres on the Sapporo large hill and then topped
the 10-kilometres cross-country pursuit in 27 minutes 14.0 seconds.
Akito Watabe missed victory for hosts Japan by 1.8 seconds in second
place and American Taylor Fletcher matched a career-best third place
finish 3.5 seconds behind Frenzel, as neither was able to follow when
Frenzel attacked in the closing stages.
The world and Olympic champion Frenzel is in strong form again en
route to a third straight World Cup title and more silverware at next
month's world championships in Falun, Sweden.
He now has 23 career wins, seven for the season and topped the last
five competitions - all three stages of last weekend's Seefeld Triple
and both events in Sapporo.
"I am very happy to be top again today. It was another nice weekend
with two great competitions for me," Frenzel said.
The Nordic combined World Cup continues next weekend in Val di
Fiemme, Italy, with Frenzel dominating the World Cup on 821 points
far ahead of second-placed Watabe (541).
The ski-jumpers took to the Sapporo hill after the combined skiers,
with Prevc soaring 130 and 131 metres for a winning 276.4 points.
Austria's Kraft had 271.3 from 127.5m and 131m, and Czech Roman
Koudelka was third on 269.3 (127.5m, 130m).
Prevc got his fourth career win and a second in Sapporo following his
success there last year, and slightly made up ground on the leading
Kraft in the World Cup standings. Kraft has 957 points and Prevc 864,
with another large hill event set for Sunday in Sapporo.
The Norwegian women have completely ruled the women's cross-country
World Cup, but with the top three of Marit Bjoergen, Therese Johaug
and Heidi Weng chosing not to travel to Russia the door was open for
Oeberg to get her first career win from Russia's Natalia matveeva and
Swiss Laurien van der Graaf.
The men's side field was also without the top three in the World Cup
standings - holder Martin Johnsrud Sundby, fellow-Norwegian Petter
Northug and Swede Calle Halfvarsson - as Pellegrino claimed his third
career win by beating Russians Sergey Ustyugov and Andrey Parfenov.
Skiathlon races Sunday complete the Rybinsk programme.

Gut gets Swiss home win, Vonn falters, Miklos makes Hungary history

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DPA ©

Lara Gut of Switzerland competes during the women's Alpine Skiing World Cup

Lara Gut delighted a Swiss home crowd
with victory in a downhill ski race while all-time record winner
Lindsey Vonn faltered and Edit Miklos made ski sports history for
Hungary by coming third on Saturday.
Gut conquered the sun-drenched 2,804-metres Engiadina piste in 1
minute 43.82 seconds to claim her second season win and 12th overall
ahead of World Cup holder Anna Fenninger of Austria (1:44.14) and
Miklos (1:44.40).
Miklos, 26, is the first Hungarian ever to make a podium in a World
Cup ski sports competition of the ruling body FIS (alpine, freestyle,
snowboard, ski-jumping, cross-country, Nordic combined). Her previous
best result was fifth in a downhill in Crans Montana last year, and
she came seventh at the 2014 Olympics downhill in Sochi.
The American Vonn was fighting for victory with Gut at the splits
until she had a major mistake in the lower section, barely avoided a
fall and finished outside the top 20, 2.08 seconds behind Gut. Vonn
had on Monday raised the all-time record to 63 race wins.
Overall World Cup leader Tina Maze of Slovenia was outside the top
15, 1.74 seconds off the pace. Vonn remained first in the downhill
standings.

Swansea boss defends Sigurdsson lunge after Cup exit

00:24 No comments

Swansea City manager Garry Monk

Swansea City manager Garry Monk believes Gylfi Sigurdsson should not have been sent off despite having "a lunge" during their 3-1 FA Cup fourth-round defeat at second tier Blackburn Rovers on Saturday.

Swansea defender Kyle Bartley was dismissed after seven minutes for a foul on Josh King as the Blackburn forward raced through on goal while Sigurdsson left the Premier League side with nine men following a rash tackle on Chris Taylor.

"The first (sending off) was a coming together, but you run the risk of that when you are the last defender," Monk told the Swansea website (www.swanseacity.net).

"I thought the second red card was harsh. It warranted a yellow, but I don't think it was a red.

"He (Sigurdsson) had a lunge after he was kicked. He shouldn't react, but it wasn't dangerous. I don't think he was in any danger of hurting the player."

Iceland international Sigurdsson had put Swansea in front but Blackburn equalised through Taylor before Rudy Gestede and Craig Conway struck late on to send the Championship side into the fifth round.

Swansea were thrashed 5-0 at home by Premier League leaders Chelsea last weekend and Monk was hoping for a morale-boosting victory over six-times FA Cup winners Blackburn.

"It's a disappointing result to go out of the Cup," Monk said. "We wanted to get back on track, but unfortunately we couldn't do that today.

"We're in a difficult moment after the last two games, but it's important we come through it together."

Blackburn manager Gary Bowyer was delighted with his side's performance against top flight Swansea.

"We had to be patient but fair play to the lads they learnt that today, they stuck at it and were terrific," Bowyer told the club's website (www.rovers.co.uk).

"We are delighted for everybody, hopefully now we can get another Premier League team in the draw and enjoy a cup run."

Djoker hits the books, video to study opponents

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Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates after defeating Fernando Verdasco of Spain

Top seed Novak Djokovic has justifiably been nicknamed 'The Djoker' on the men's tennis tour with his comical impersonations of fellow players but on Saturday he revealed he is also a bit of a swot.

Djokovic safely negotiated his way into the fourth round of the Australian Open with a 7-6(8) 6-3 6-4 victory over the feisty Fernando Verdasco to set up a fourth round clash with Luxembourg's Gilles Muller.

Seeking a fifth Australian Open title, Djokovic said he had never played Muller before but had already accumulated quite a dossier of intelligence on the lefthander.

"He's been on the tour for many years. Best junior in the world. He's got a great serve, lefty," Djokovic said when asked about what he knew about the 31-year-old. "He comes to the net. He has a nice slice serve. That's his favourite.

"He struggled a little bit with injuries last couple years, but I think last six months has been playing some of his best tennis."

The level of discussion of his next opponent surprised many, who are used to players blandly stating they have not even looked at the draw let alone studied potential opponents.

"It's my job to know my colleagues, tennis players, especially if I get to play them," Djokovic said. "So I do my homework.

"To come to the court and play the way I want to play against somebody I never played against before...can be dangerous because of the uncertainty of what he's going to do in some moments.

"That's why I've got to do my homework, sit down with the team, prepare myself well with the video analysis."

Djokjovic had no such concerns with analysing Verdasco and was well aware of the threat the former top-10 player posed.

The Spaniard had taken Rafa Nadal deep into the night in a five-hour, five set marathon during the 2009 semi-finals in Melbourne and only trailed the Serb 6-4 in their career head-to-head record.

"It was a big challenge for both of us," Djokovic added.

"He was a former top-10 player. Somebody that loves playing on the big stage, a powerful game.

"(The) turning point probably was winning the tiebreaker as close as it was ... so I'm glad to go through in straight sets."

Gradel salvages draw for Ivory Coast against Mali at Cup of Nations

00:23 No comments

DPA ©

Ivory Coast national soccer team players

A late goal from substitute Max
Gradel salvaged a 1-1 draw for Ivory Coast against Mali Saturday to
keep the Elephants' hopes of making the knockout stages of the Africa
Cup of Nations very much alive.
Wolves striker Bakary Sako looked to have secured a shock victory for
Mali in the Group D encounter in Malobo with a superb volley scored
after seven minutes until Gradel stroked home a Serge Aurier cross
with just seven minutes remaining.
The result leaves the group wide open with both sides joint top on
two points after two games.
The second match in Group D on Saturday is scheduled for 1900 GMT
with Cameroon facing Guinea. Both teams currently have one point each
after drawing their opening matches.

Brisbane Bandits - Perth Heat

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Mulumbu faces scan on injured hamstring

01:56 No comments

Democratic Republic of Congo captain Youssouf Mulumbu

Democratic Republic of Congo captain Youssouf Mulumbu will undergo a scan on Friday on a hamstring injury that threatens his further participation in the African Nations Cup.

The West Bromwich Albion midfielder had to leave the pitch midway through the first half of Thursday's goalless draw with Cape Verde in Ebibeyin.

"I felt my hamstring but I hope it is going to be OK. But I really felt pain," he said.

Mulumbu's injury will come as yet another irritation to his Premier League club who have seen him hurt before on national duty.

But Mulumbu's primary concern was the Congolese's disappointing performance in their second Group B game.

"Most important was the game, we didn't win it and so I'm a bit angry and upset. We know have to win our last game or go home.

"Yesterday we didn't show the real face of the Congolese team. We looked like we were scared. We didn't believe we could be the better team," he said.

"We need to be angry with ourselves and show something better in the last game."

DR Congo next meet Tunisia, who top the group with four points. Cape Verde and the Congolese have two each after two matches and Zambia one point.

Mulumbu and team mates were eliminated after the first round of the last Nations Cup in 2013 when they drew all three of their group games.

Nadal avoids Federer's fate with comfortable win

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Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates after beating Dudi Sela

Rafa Nadal reached the fourth round of the Australian Open with a 6-1 6-0 7-5 win over Israel's Dudi Sela on Friday, avoiding the fate that befell great rival Roger Federer who had earlier lost to Andreas Seppi.

Third seeded Nadal had himself narrowly avoided an early exit when he took five sets and more than four hours to beat American qualifier Tim Smyczek in the second round as he battled illness, but had no problems against Sela.

The matchup, later in the evening, suited Nadal, who suffered from dehydration, an upset stomach and cramping during the marathon against Smyczek.

The 14-times grand slam winner said he had recovered well enough from the experience that he had described as one of the worst he had felt in his career.

"I was still a little bit dizzy yesterday," Nadal said. "I think I lost lot of fluids the other night. But in general I was not very, very bad.

"Knowing that I was going to play tonight ... I thought I going to be ready for tonight (and was) happy the way I was physically on court."

Nadal, whose 2014 campaign was upset by injury and illness in the second half of the year, had been concerned he might not be ready for an assault on a second title at Melbourne Park, having beaten Federer in the 2009 final.

The third round match was a work in progress for the Spaniard as he dominated physically, but was also made to work hard against the diminutive Israeli, who is listed by the ATP as being 1.75m and 65kgs.

Such is the physical disparity between the pair - Nadal is 1.85m and 85kg - anyone watching may have believed the Spaniard was playing someone from the junior tournament.

Sela was overpowered but he showed impressive touch, varied his pace on return, worked the angles and earned a massive cheer when he won his first game in the third set, ending a nine-game run by the Spaniard.

Nadal said he felt the match had helped him continue to work out any kinks and he was feeling the rhythm of his game back.

"When you are on the confidence, you feel that shots come without thinking," he said.

"If I want to have chances to keep being competitive in this tournament, I need to play this way."

Bayern hit back at FIFA's Zwanziger over Saudi trip

01:43 No comments

Theo Zwanziger, former president of the German Football Association (DFB) and member of the FIFA

Bayern Munich have accused senior FIFA member Theo Zwanziger of double standards after the former German soccer chief criticised the Bundesliga champions over last week's visit to Saudi Arabia.

The team from Bavaria, a leading global football brand, played a friendly against Al-Hilal in Riyadh on Saturday in a one-day trip organised by a club sponsor.

It coincided with an uproar over the flogging in Saudi Arabia of activist and blogger Raif Badawi and Zwanziger accused Bayern of being driven by "commercial ethics".

"If Dr Theo Zwanziger has indeed forgotten what he once said (about Bayern) then we are seriously worried," read a column on the club website. "Does the Dr need a doctor?".

"Dr Theo Zwanziger ... is grateful to have used his chance at Bayern's expense to hit the headlines."

The club also said Zwanziger, during his time as head of the German FA (DFB), had repeatedly praised them and listed a number of his quotes from the past.

The Bavarians added that Germany, when Zwanziger was on the DFB board, played in Saudi Arabia in 1998 but that never caused any problems.

Zwanziger believed the club should not have played in Saudi Arabia.

"I know commercial ethics has ruled at Bayern for some time and when in any doubt they always side with the money bag. It is a shame but it does not surprise me," he said.

Lawson of NBA's Nuggets arrested on drunken driving charges

01:41 No comments

Denver Nuggets head coach Brian Shaw

Denver Nuggets Ty Lawson

Denver Nuggets point guard Ty Lawson was arrested early on Friday on drunken driving charges, Denver police said.

Lawson, 27, was arrested at 1:19 a.m. after being stopped for driving 61 mph (98 kph) in a 35 mph (56 kph) zone, police said. His arrest came about three hours after the end of team's Punch Bowl charity social event that he had attended.

In a report, police said Lawson's speech was slurred, his "breath had a strong odor of an unknown alcoholic beverage, balance was swaying/stumbling, eyes were bloodshot/watery."

Lawson admitted he had "consumed alcohol prior to driving," the report said, adding that he refused to submit to a chemical test and was taken to the Downtown Detention Center.

"We have been made aware of an incident involving Ty Lawson early this morning," the Nuggets said in a statement. "Per team policy and out of respect for the legal process, we will have no further comment at this time."

A six-year NBA veteran, Lawson previously pleaded guilty to underage drinking charges while playing at the University of North Carolina in 2008.

Lawson is averaging 16.7 points and a career-high 9.9 assists for the Nuggets through 41 games.

League says Patriots used under-inflated balls

01:41 No comments

The NFL said on Friday that its ongoing investigation into the New England Patriots has shown that the team used balls that were under inflated during a victory that clinched a Super Bowl berth.

But the league said it had not made any judgments and will not do so until it concludes the investigation and considered all of the relevant evidence.

After nearly 40 interviews, the NFL said evidence supports the conclusion that illegal balls were used by the Patriots in the first half but were properly inflated for the second half of their 45-7 win over the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday.

"The goals of the investigation will be to determine the explanation for why footballs used in the game were not in compliance with the playing rules and specifically whether any noncompliance was the result of deliberate action," the NFL said in a statement.

The growing storm over the Patriots' use of illegal balls, which is being referred to as 'deflate-gate,' has dominated the buildup to the Feb. 1 Super Bowl versus the Seattle Seahawks.

Under NFL rules, no alteration of game balls, which must be inflated to between 12.5 and 13.5 pounds per square inch, is allowed once they are approved.

Patriots quarterback Tom Brady threw three touchdown passes during Sunday's game in wet conditions where a firm grip on a slippery ball could have helped.

Both Brady and Patriots head coach Bill Belichick have professed innocence regarding the deflated ball issue and said they knew nothing about it until Monday.

The NFL said it still needed to obtain more information, including video and other electronic information and physical evidence, before wrapping up its investigation.

The league also said it had retained an investigatory firm with sophisticated forensic expertise to assist in reviewing electronic and video information.

"The playing rules are intended to protect the fairness and integrity of our games. We take seriously claims that those rules have been violated and will fully investigate this matter without compromise or delay," the NFL said.

"The investigation is ongoing, will be thorough and objective, and is being pursued expeditiously."

The investigation is being led jointly by NFL Executive Vice President Jeff Pash and lawyer Ted Wells, who oversaw the league's probe into the Miami Dolphins' bullying scandal.

The NFL also said the Patriots have pledged their full cooperation and have made their personnel and other information available upon request.

"Our investigation will seek information from any and all relevant sources and we expect full cooperation from other clubs as well," the league said. "As we develop more information and are in a position to reach conclusions, we will share them publicly."

Gyan magic gives Ghana last-gasp win over Algeria

01:39 No comments

Ghana's Asamoah Gyan kicks the ball past Algeria's Carl Medjani to score the winning goal

Quadruple winners Ghana are back in contention for a berth in the African Nations Cup quarter-finals after captain Asamoah Gyan struck deep into stoppage time to earn a 1-0 victory over Algeria on Friday.

The striker, who missed the opening 2-1 defeat by Senegal due to a mild bout of malaria, drilled home a long upfield punt just as a tepid clash between the continent's two heavyweights seemed to be heading for a stalemate.

The result left Ghana, Algeria and Senegal on three points in Group C with the latter playing South Africa (zero) in the evening kickoff (1900 GMT).

Littered with errors and fouls in the first half, the game came to life after the break but produced no clear-cut chances until the talismanic Gyan struck to ease the pressure on Ghana coach Avram Grant, the former Chelsea boss.

Gyan showed his class when he took the ball in his stride and, with a defender closing him down, produced a bobbling shot from a tight angle that went past keeper Cedric Si Mohamed.

Algeria, the top-ranked team in Africa, dominated the opening 30 minutes but defender Madjid Bougherra had to glance away a teasing cross from the right to deny Gyan a clear header at goal.

Ghana's skipper then twice misfired woefully wide from good positions, either side of a flicked effort by Jordan Ayew which fizzed just over the bar.

With time running out and Grant frantically yelling instructions from the touchline, substitute Mubarak Wakaso belted a hopeful ball up field and Gyan produced a moment of magic to delight his team mates.
LOT OF EMOTION

"This is a game with a lot of emotion," said a delighted Grant. "I didn't like it when we conceded a goal in the last minute (against Senegal) but this time we scored in the last minute.

"We deserved it, we were the better team. Asamoah has a fantastic attitude and he proved his ability in an important game but I have to praise the whole team because they worked very well as a unit in both good and bad moments."

Algeria's French coach Christian Gourcuff, who took charge despite the death of his mother on Thursday, rued his team's costly lapse in concentration.

"It's cruel to lose a game in the last minute and it fundamentally changes the group," he said.

"A draw would have put us closer to the next round and we deserved that. The pitch and the weather were also a factor. We now have to go all out in the next game against Senegal."

Senegal go top after comeback draw with S.Africa

01:38 No comments

Senegal's Lamine Gassama (L) challenges South Africa's Andile Jali

Senegal inched closer to an African Nations Cup quarter-final place after a 1-1 draw with South Africa put them top of Group C on Friday.

Kara Mbodji's equaliser on the hour at the Estadio de Mongomo left Senegal needing only a draw in their last group game against Algeria in Malabo to advance.

The towering Belgian-based centre back climbed above the defence to power home a header after South Africa had taken the lead straight after halftime through Oupa Manyisa.

Letting a lead slip for the second successive match means South Africa (one point) are in peril at the bottom of the group but, like all four teams, they still have a chance to qualify.

Senegal have four points with Ghana and Algeria on three.

"We played against a good team and did not get the rhythm we might have liked but we are in position to control our own destiny," said Senegal coach Alain Giresse.

Sibusiso Vilakazi had South Africa's first effort early in the first half but his snap shot was pushed over the crossbar by goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul.

Senegal had to wait until the end of the first half to set up their first opportunity when a corner found Mame Birame Diouf unmarked at the back post and he steered his header wide.

Straight after the break a cross from Anele Ngcongca slipped through the Senegal defence and found Manyisa unmarked at the back post to tuck the ball away.

Mbodji's goal came from a free kick that Pape Diop floated high into the air.

"Again we created more chances than our opponents. We are still in with a chance. We now have a must-win game against Ghana," said South Africa coach Ephraim Mashaba.

lundi 26 janvier 2015

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