Other Sports

[Smallville22]

WRC - Neuville pledges to attack Hirvonen

Belgian star Thierry Neuville will risk his first ever podium finish in an effort to snatch second place from Mikko Hirvonen on the final day of Rally Mexico.
M-Sport Ford driver Neuville is just 7.5 seconds adrift of the Citroen team leader after Hirvonen suffered a front-left puncture on Saturday's final gravel stage.
"Of course I want to take my first podium," said Neuville, "and that's really important, but I think my Fiesta is good enough to give me the podium and the second place and that's what I'm going for.
"I will go flat-out and see what we can do."
Neuville's approach was backed by M-Sport team principal Malcolm Wilson.
"Thierry has driven very, very well through this event and second would be a fantastic result for him," said Wilson. "He's going to go for it."
Hirvonen had pulled out of Neuville's range before a shredded Michelin cost him two minutes on Otates 2.
"I didn't hit anything," said the Finn, "it was the left-rear tyre and we drove on it for about 25km. It was bad, the tyre was destroyed at the finish.
"It's close now for the final day. I'm sure it's going to be exciting..."
The fight for second behind leader Sebastien Ogier will get underway on the rally's longest stage, the 34-mile Guanajuatito test.
Drivers then have a 13-mile power stage through Derramadero and a fifth and final run around the superspecial to decide the result.

 

[Smallville22]

Cricket - Ashraful heroics boost Bangladesh in Galle

Mohammad Ashraful made the highest score by a Bangladesh batsman in Test cricket when he scored a magnificent unbeaten 189 on the third day of the first test against Sri Lanka on Sunday.
Together with captain Mushfiqur Rahim, who also made a career best score of 152 not out, Ashraful figured in an all-time record partnership for his country of 261 as Bangladesh reached 438 for four replying to Sri Lanka's first innings of 570-4 declared.
Bangladesh trail Sri Lanka by 132 runs with two days left.
Sri Lanka grabbed two wickets in the first session but Ashraful and Mushfiqur then batted together through the rest of the day to frustrate the home bowlers on a flat track that hardly offered any assistance.
The ball rarely beat the bat and Sri Lanka also missed a few half chances that came their way with Ashraful on 110 and 143 and Mushfiqur on 103.
Ashraful, selected for the tour only because of an injury to Shariar Nafees, went past his own previous highest score for Bangladesh - 158 not out against India at Chittagong in 2004 - and by the close had faced 398 balls and hit 20 fours and a six.
Mushfiqur provided him with excellent support, striking 18 fours and one six in his 236-ball knock.
Ashraful celebrated his return to test cricket after a 15-month absence by reaching his sixth century in the morning session, having moved on from his overnight score of 65.
It was his fifth ton against Sri Lanka and he raised his bat and punched the air in delight.
Ashraful had enjoyed a third wicket stand of 105 with overnight partner Mominul Haque before the hosts made a quick double strike.
Seamer Nuwan Kulasekara managed to find the edge of Mominul's bat and Angelo Mathews took the catch at first slip to send him on his way for 55.
Seven runs later, Mahmudullah (0) gave the charge to left-arm spinner Rangana Herath but missed to offer wicketkeeper Dinesh Chandimal an easy stumping.

 

[Smallville22]

Liga - Sub Muniain earns Athletic win over Valencia

Substitute Iker Muniain secured all three points for Athletic Bilbao as they shocked Champions League hopefuls Valencia 1-0 in La Liga at the San Mames.
Muniain came on for Jon Aurtenetxe in the 59th minute and rifled a loose ball into the top corner with 11 minutes left to play.
Athletic’s Ibai Gomez hit the bar with a free-kick just before half-time, while Los Che’s best chance to score was wasted when Roberto Soldado chipped over the bar in the dying moments.
Eliminated from the Champions League at Paris St Germain on Wednesday, the defeat dents the cash-strapped club's chances of securing a lucrative place in Europe's elite club competition for next season. They are two points behind fourth-placed Malaga and one behind Real Betis, having now played the same number of games.
Los Leones now sit in 14th in the table.

Stats

Athletic Bilbao had the ball for 50.2% of the match.

Los Rojiblancos had four shots, three of which were accurate.

The four attempts by Ibai Gomez were the most of any Athletic Bilbao player.

Gorka Iraizoz made five saves for Athletic Bilbao.

Valencia had 49.8% of the possession during the match.

Xotos had 16 shots, including five on target.

Roberto Soldado made a big difference on the match for Valencia after coming on for Nelson Valdez in the 65th minute, as he took three shots.

Pablo Piatti had five shots for Los Che, more than any of his team-mates.

 

[Smallville22]

Serie A - Denis brace earns Atalanta win

Atalanta came from behind to beat Pescara 2-1 in Serie A at Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia with two goals from German Denis.
Former Argentina international forward Denis struck a penalty in the 34th minute to equalise a 24th-minute opener from Gaetano D'Agostino, who is on loan from Siena.
Denis then popped up with the winner in the 67th minute.
Pescara stay bottom, with the two sides above them Siena and Palermo – all are on 21 points - still to play.
Atalanta consolidate their position in mid-table.

 

[Smallville22]

World Football - Partizan beat BSK to go eight points clear in Serbia

Serbian league leaders Partizan Belgrade stayed firmly on course to clinch a record sixth successive league title after a 4-0 win at struggling neighbours BSK Borca on Wednesday sent them eight points clear of bitter city foes Red Star.
Partizan, who had their game against BSK postponed last week because of a waterlogged pitch, took full advantage of crisis-hit Red Star's slip-up on Sunday when they were held to a tepid 1-1 draw at Rad Belgrade.
The result triggered a board meeting at the 1991 European Cup winners and their coach Aleksandar Jankovic barely kept his job as he was given conditional support until the international break later this month, when Serbia play Croatia and Scotland in World Cup qualifiers.
Partizan dominated from start to finish in BSK's tiny stadium with dwellers of nearby houses enjoying as good a view from their balconies as those inside the dilapidated ground, whose bumpy pitch bore a resemblance to the surrounding ploughed fields.
Nemanja Kojic, who joined Partizan from Rad during the mid-season break, fired Partizan ahead with his first goal for the club after he was put through by strike partner Marko Scepovic, who limped off a few minutes later with a hamstring injury as the treacherous surface took its toll.
Scepovic's replacement Aleksandar Mitrovic doubled the lead midway through the first half when he ghosted in between a BSK defender and the advancing goalkeeper to find the back of the net with a delightful lob from the edge of the penalty area.
Kojic made it 3-0 on the hour with a cool finish after a defensive blunder and then made way for midfielder Dejan Babic, with Darko Brasanac sealing the rout directly from a corner kick.
"We were lucky not to concede an equaliser when we were 1-0 up but overall I am pleased with the performance as we rolled on at full throttle until the closing stages," Partizan coach Vladimir Vermezovic told Serbia's Arenasport television.
"The mid-season acquisitions played very well and I hope we can steer clear of injuries as the title race continues."

 

[Smallville22]

World Football - Palmeiras goalkeeper hurt by own fans

Palmeiras players were attacked by the Brazilian team's own fans at Buenos Aires city airport and goalkeeper Fernando Prass was hurt on Thursday after they lost 1-0 to Argentina's Tigre in the Copa Libertadores.
Prass suffered a cut to his ear and some glasses were broken during the attack by about 30 fans before the team boarded a flight to return to Sao Paulo after Wednesday's Group Two match in which they conceded the goal three minutes into added time.
Palmeiras said in a statement that club directors were meeting to discuss what action to take.
"Palmeiras repudiate the acts of violence which injured Fernando Prass and do not recognise the people who took part in this sad episode as supporters of the club," the club said.
Club president Paulo Nobre described the assailants as "irrational bandits and not passionate supporters."
Argentine sports daily Ole and Brazil's Glogo said the fans were mainly after Palmeiras' Chilean midfielder Jorge Valdivia, who hid in airport restrooms as hooligans fought with players and security personnel until police intervened.
Palmeiras, relegated last year to the Brazilian second division, were looking to keep pace with group leaders Libertad of Paraguay, who have seven points from three matches after Wednesdays 2-2 draw with Peru's Sporting Cristal in Asuncion.
At the halfway stage in the group phase, Cristal are second with four points while Palmeiras, Libertadores Cup winners in 1999, and Tigre have three points each.

 

[Smallville22]

World Football - Ex-Bolivia star given two years for property scam

Former Benfica midfielder and Bolivia coach Erwin Sanchez has been sentenced to two years in prison for a property scam in his homeland.
Sanchez, 43, was found guilty of using false documents to purchase a property in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, in 2004.
It is understood that Sanchez, who retired from playing that year after a long career mostly spent in Portugal, acquired the deeds to a property using the signature of its former owner, who had died two years previously.
The complainant, Raul Paniagua, is the grandson of the deceased former property owner.
Paniagua told local media he will pursue a civil action to gain compensation.
Sanchez moved into management following his retirement, coaching the Bolivia national team between 2006 and 2009.

 

[Smallville22]

World Football - Relief for Corinthians as home fan ban reduced

Corinthians supporters will be allowed back into the stands to watch their team play home Copa Libertadores matches after officials reduced a 60-day ban imposed after a Bolivian boy was killed by a firework.
Conmebol, the South American Football Confederation, said the ban on fans for last week's game against Colombian side Millonarios was sufficient as long as there was no further trouble.
It imposed a $200,000 fine on the Sao Paulo-based club and banned its supporters from attending away games in Conmebol-sanctioned tournaments for 18 months.
The Brazilian club said they would await the formal notification of the decision before appealing the travel ban, which officials had told Brazilian media they considered "excessive".
The decision on home games will come as a huge relief to the Copa Libertadores and club world champions, who faced losses estimated at $650,000 per match.
The incident that sparked the ban came early in the away game against Bolivian side San José on February 20 when a Corinthians fan let off a firework that flew into the home section and hit 14-year-old supporter Kevin Beltran, killing him instantly.
A dozen Brazilians were arrested in connection with the incident and are now awaiting trial in a Bolivian jail accused of murder.
The 12 have protested their innocence and a 17-year-old later came forward in Brazil to claim responsibility for setting off the firework.
In its ruling, Conmebol's disciplinary committee also fined San José $10,000 and warned both clubs that any repeat incident over the next five years would be dealt with harshly.
Corinthians won the Copa Libertadores for the first time last July before beating Chelsea in December to win the world club title.
Their next Copa Libertadores game is at home to Mexican side Tijuana on March 13.

 

[Smallville22]

World Football - Boca lose again at home in Copa Libertadores

Boca Juniors continued their stuttering start to the year under multiple title-winning coach Carlos Bianchi with a 1-0 loss to Uruguay's Nacional in a clash of former Copa Libertadores champions at La Bombonera.
Central defender Andres Scotti headed the only goal from a corner midway through the first half to hand Boca their third defeat in four matches in all competitions and second at home in Copa Libertadores Group One.
The return of playmaker Juan Roman Riquelme, who shared in several titles with Bianchi in previous spells at the club, has not sparked Boca yet. They were the better side but lukewarm in attack.
"We had one loss of concentration and we couldn't score, but I think we played a good match ... we deserved more," Boca's Uruguayan midfielder Ribair Rodriguez told Fox Sports.
Boca were beaten at home by Union in the league at the weekend in Riquelme's first match in eight months and he failed to inspire the six-times South American champions again on Thursday night.
Nacional lead the group with seven points, three ahead of Mexico's Toluca, who also won at Boca three weeks ago. Boca have three points from their 2-1 away win over Barcelona of Ecuador last week.
Three-times champions Nacional were down to 10 men from the 73rd minute after defender Alejandro Lembo was sent off for dissent so he will be missing when the teams meet again at the Centenario in Montevideo next week.

 

[Smallville22]

World Football - Former World Cup boss Jordaan makes bid for CAF post

South African administrator Danny Jordaan, the man in charge of the last World Cup, will make another bid this weekend for a major post in international football after being handed several embarrassing setbacks since 2010.
Jordaan is a candidate for a place on the Confederation of African Football's (CAF) executive committee at the organisation's congress in Marrakech, Morocco on Sunday.
"I think I have a good chance but it is the congress who must decide," he told Reuters.
It is a second attempt by Jordaan to get a place on African football's inner cabinet after a trouncing two years ago at the previous elections in Sudan.
He also failed to win one of the African places on the FIFA executive committee, withdrawing his candidacy at the last minute in political horse trading that looked to backfire on him.
Last year, Jordaan gave up a bid for the presidency of the southern African regional body Cosafa in a further blow to his image as a suave politician with close connections to key FIFA officials who was one of the vital brokers in ensuring a first ever World Cup for Africa.
But the 61-year-old has a stronger chance this time after a decision to award an extra place on the committee to a southern African representative.
The elections are the only major business on the congress agenda and will see CAF president Issa Hayatou returned unopposed for another four-year term.
An attempt by his rival Jacques Anouma to overturn a decision to disqualify non-executive committee members from the election was rejected earlier this week by the Swiss-based Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Hayatou, from Cameroon, will extend his tenure in charge to 29 years after he steered through new election rules last September that allow only CAF executive committee members with full voting rights to stand for the presidency.
Anouma, former president of the Ivory Coast football federation, sits on the committee in his capacity as a FIFA executive committee member but has no voting privileges.
Former FIFA member Amadou Diakite of Mali, banned for two years in November 2010 by world football's governing body over allegations of bribery in the vote-buying scandal surrounding the bids for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, is also standing for a place on the CAF executive committee.

 

[Smallville22]

World Football - Heart problems force Benfica's Faria to retire at 23

Benfica defender Fabio Faria has retired from professional football at the age of 23 because of heart problems, the player said in an emotional news conference on Friday.
Faria, a centre-back on loan to Rio Ave, struggled to stem the flow of tears as he told reporters that, because of a heart anomaly, he was forced to seek alternative employment.
"This decision really pains me but I had the support of my parents, girlfriend, Benfica, Rio Ave, my agent and also from the players' union," he said. "That's life. The last exams did not go as well as we hoped for."
Faria's problem was first detected after a league match in February last year and he had not played since.
Benfica president Luis Filipe Vieira, who sat by his side in the press conference, said Faria could count on his club for help.
"He can count on Benfica, he won't be unemployed. We have a contract with Faria until 2015 and we will keep to it. Benfica's door will remain open," Vieira said.
Faria did not specify what his exact condition was.
"I realised I had to stop after some tests with physical exercise. It's a heart problem but I am not really able to explain you what it is," he said.
Former Bolton Wanderers player Fabrice Muamba suffered a cardiac arrest and almost died playing at Tottenham Hotspur last March.
Muamba, whose heart stopped beating for 78 minutes after collapsing during an FA Cup tie, made a full recovery but was forced to retire from the game on doctors' orders.
A few weeks later Livorno's Piermario Morosini collapsed and died from a suspected cardiac arrest during an Italian second division game.

 

[Smallville22]

World Football - Ballack to host farewell game in Leipzig

Former Germany captain Michael Ballack will host international and club team mates in a June 5 game in Leipzig to celebrate belatedly the end of his playing career.
Ballack, who won 98 caps for Germany and led them to the 2002 World Cup final and Euro 2008 final, played for clubs including Chelsea, Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen and Kaiserslautern.
"I want to say goodbye in an honourable way to colleagues and fans and to thank those people who developed me, supported me and challenged me in my career," said the former midfielder, who retired last year after returning to Leverkusen in 2010.
"Leipzig is great and my roots are in Saxony. It is where I learned my football ABC," he said in a statement.
Ballack, who started his career at Chemnitzer FC, won a string of domestic club trophies in Germany and England but failed to claim a major European or world title despite coming close on several occasions.
A proposed final Germany appearance last year was turned down by Ballack, angry with federation officials and coach Joachim Loew with the way his international career ended after injury ruled him out of the 2010 World Cup.

 

[Bonezstorm]

World Football - Ballack to host farewell game in Leipzig

I never thought that he would actually make a last celebration match for his career. Of course he has won a lot and was a damn good player, but after all he shouldn't be surprised why he was ruled out of the team in 2010

 

[Smallville22]

Scottish Football - Ref blunder clouds Edinburgh derby draw

Hearts claimed a point against Edinburgh rivals Hibernian in controversial circumstances when the home side had a perfectly good goal disallowed during the goalless draw at Easter Road.
A Leigh Griffiths free-kick in the second half was well over the line but the goal was not given by the match officials.
The International Football Association Board - the body that approved the use of goalline technology in the game last year - met in Edinburgh only last weekend to discuss how the various licensed systems might be implemented.

 

[Smallville22]

Ligue 1 - Nice best Montpellier with Bahoken double

Young striker Stephane Bahoken hit a first-half brace as Nice downed European rivals Montpellier 2-0 at Stade du Ray.
The 20-year-old, who came through the youth ranks at Nice, scored in the 12th and 24th minutes.
That was enough to seal three points which puts them level on points with fourth-placed St-Etienne.
Montpellier are now four points behind Nice. The top three teams are reserved for the Champions League – with the last one having to enter the qualifying rounds – while fourth spot guarantees Europa League football.

 

[Smallville22]

Pistorius case - Pistorius 'broken, on verge of suicide'

Oscar Pistorius is a broken man "on the verge of suicide" as he battles a charge of premeditated murder, a friend has said.
The South African Paralympian stands accused of murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine's Day, in a case which has left him bailed but broken, according to his friend.
The 26-year-old, who claims he shot Steenkamp through a bathroom door thinking she was an intruder, is said to be resembling a man who “doesn’t know where he is going”.
Close friend Mike Azzie said the athlete has been left "a broken man" since the incident, speaking in the upcoming BBC3 documentary 'Oscar Pistorius: What Really Happened?'.
Azzie said Pistorius, who is out on bail, regularly talks about Steenkamp as he awaits his next court appearance on June 4 and that his state of mind has worsened since he was tasked with selling his racehorses to raise money to pay for his spiralling legal fees.
"He just always seems to mention Reeva and to ask us to pray for her and her family," Azzie said. "But most of all, you've got to understand that we are there for him and we will always be his friend.
"He has no confidence in his tone of voice and he is just a man that is almost like someone that is walking around in circles and doesn't know where he is going.
"I would say that, just speaking to him, that he is a broken man and that I would go as far to say that he would be on the verge of suicide. It really worries me."
The documentary also shows Steenkamp's close friend Gina Myers taking the cameras into her bedroom as she recalls the last time that they were together.
"I was doing my hair and she was getting ready for a meeting and I was getting ready to go to work," Myers said.
"And when she left she told me I was going to be awesome and that she loved me and then I ran out and then I gave her a hug and she left."
Police in Johannesburg said they have requested all records of phone calls and messages exchanged between Pistorius and Steenkamp on the day she was killed, according to the documentary makers.
Officers added they were also sifting through a "massive" number of texts on Steenkamp's phone, producers said.
There are no plans for police to enter into a plea bargain with Pistorius's legal team for a lesser charge, the show's makers claimed.

 

[Smallville22]

Champions League - Milan forward Pazzini ruled out of Barcelona clash

AC Milan's Champions League hopes were dealt a blow on Sunday when forward Giampaolo Pazzini was diagnosed with a micro-fracture in his right fibula.
Milan visit Barcelona on Tuesday for the second leg of their last 16 tie, holding a 2-0 lead from the first leg.
Separate Milan statements said Pazzini's problem had been identified and that he would not be travelling to Camp Nou.
Pazzini, who joined the club from neighbours Inter Milan at the start of the season, partnered Stephan El Shaarawy in the first leg as Milan's top striker Mario Balotelli is ineligible having played for Manchester City in the group stage.
Pazzini scored in the first half of Milan's 2-0 win at Genoa on Friday but went off injured shortly afterwards.
Milan said he had also suffered heavy bruising although they did not say how long they expected him to be out of action.

 

[Smallville22]

Italian Serie A - Juventus beat Catania to stretch lead

A stoppage-time winner from substitute Emanuele Giaccherini saw league leaders Juventus deservedly beat Catania 1-0 in a game that looked increasingly like it was heading for a draw despite the home side's total dominance.
But in the 91st minute Giaccherini gave the Bianconeri a victory that had looked likely throughout as he was the first to react to a loose ball in the box after Catania's keeper Mariano Andujar could only parry a dangerous Paul Pogba cross.
Eighth-placed Catania came into the game looking to bounce back after their disappointing 3-2 loss at home to Inter last week, where they had gave away a two-goal lead. But they were never able to get any meaningful possession and were under pressure for the full 90 minutes.
Juve showed no ill effects of their midweek Champions League match at home to Celtic and attacked from the kick off with Pogba and Andrea Pirlo in complete control of a match which confirmed Catania struggle on the road this season with only three wins away from home.

 

[Smallville22]

Cricket - South Africa beat Pakistan in first ODI

South Africa beat Pakistan by 125 runs in the first one-day international on Sunday.

 

[Smallville22]

FA Cup - Lions and Rovers to replay after scrappy stalemate

Both Millwall and Blackburn remain in this season's FA Cup after grinding out a mediocre goalless draw in their quarter-final clash at the New Den this afternoon.
Neither side could break the deadlock and will face a replay at Ewood Park to determine which team will represent the npower Championship in the semi-finals.
2004 finalists Millwall created more chances to win the game throughout the 90 minutes and Rovers, who are yet to concede in this season's competition, will be pleased to have left London with another chance of securing a trip to Wembley.
Andy Keogh hit a post and Danny Shittu forced a great save out of Blackburn's Jake Kean whilst the visitors did not register a single shot on David Forde's goal, although Joshua King saw a header hit the post with 13 minutes remaining.
The opening half an hour was short of both chances and quality as the two sides struggled to create openings.
Scott Dann suffered a cut above his eye in the 15th minute after being caught by Millwall striker Rob Hulse's elbow in an aerial challenge.
The first decent effort came after 23 minutes when Liam Trotter bent a shot wide of Kean's left-hand post as the hosts looked to take the initiative in the tie.
Millwall had the ball in the back of the net later in the half as Keogh headed home Chris Taylor's corner but the whistle had already gone as Dany N'Guessan impeded Kean.
Former Wolves forward Keogh then saw a diving header come back off the post as he connected with Smith's deep cross five minutes before the break.
Blackburn had a good chance to take the lead early in the second half but Jordan Rhodes could only fire over after latching on to David Bentley's set-piece.
With the second half following a similar pattern to the first, Lions' skipper Shittu picked up the ball in his own half before unleashing a piledriver from 40 yards which Kean tipped over for a corner.
Kenny Jackett's side should have been ahead moments later when Keogh's ball across the face of goal was ballooned over by Hulse.
The home side then enjoyed a period of sustained pressure but could not muster up an effort to beat Kean, with the final ball lacking quality on numerous occasions.
Blackburn came back into the game as the second half progressed and former Manchester United youngster King saw a climbing header come back off a post as they looked to snatch a semi-final berth late on.
It was Shittu who again came close to taking his side to the final four, stinging the palms of Kean from long range with the Rovers goalkeeper doing well to claw the rebound away from Hulse.
Dany N'Guessan then wasted a decent opportunity with just six minutes remaining as he blazed high and wide after cutting inside.
That proved to be the last chance for either side to settle the tie at the first time of asking, leaving both clubs waiting to see who their potential semi-final opponents could be.