Kevin-Prince and paupers shock Spurs April 11, 2010 TOTTENHAM (0) vs PORTSMOUTH (2) After extra-time, 0-0 after 90 minutes PORTSMOUTH manager Avram Grant toasted “a crazy day” after the crisis club defied administration and relegation to reach a fairytale FA Cup final. Pompey weathered a barrage of pressure to take much-fancied Tottenham to extra-time before Frederic Piquionne and Kevin-Prince Boateng earned an unlikely [...]
Toothless United put Chelsea firmly in the driving seat April 11, 2010 BLACKBURN (0) vs MANCHESTER UTD (0) MANCHESTER United manager Sir Alex Ferguson conceded Chelsea will be crowned champions unless the Blues “blow it”, after his disastrous few days continued with a potentially fatal slip in the title race. Winger Antonio Valencia missed United’s best chance as the visitors failed to convert territorial superiority into the [...]
WINNERS & LOSERS April 11, 2010 A WEEKEND is a long time in sport, as this lot will attest. But while for some it was a few days to remember, others may wish they had never set foot out of the house. TONY MCCOY Cheltenham Gold Cup, Champion Chase, and Champion Hurdle; McCoy had won them all. The 14-time champion jockey [...]
Man-of-the-match Cipriani leads Wasps into semi-finals April 11, 2010 WASPS (42) vs GLOUCESTER (26) WASPS fly-half Danny Cipriani hinted he could renege on his decision to move to Australia after his star turn guided them into the last four of the Amlin Challenge Cup. The No10 kicked 17 points and played a part in four of the hosts’ five tries, three of which were [...]
Cardiff second-half blitz shoots down the Falcons April 11, 2010 NEWCASTLE (20) vs CARDIFF (55) CARDIFF Blues boss Dai Young has urged his side not to rely on the Amlin Challenge Cup as they look to secure their place in next year’s Heineken Cup. Young’s men ran in seven tries in a magnificent performance at Kingston Park to set up a semi-final against Wasps. Winning [...]
Tevez and Ade hit braces as Man City scent history April 11, 2010 MANCHESTER CITY (5) vs BIRMINGHAM CITY (1) CARLOS Tevez netted a brace as Manchester City zeroed in on a Champions League debut with a second thumping victory in succession. City followed up last week’s 6-1 drubbing of Burnley with a rout of Birmingham, with Emmanuel Adebayor also scoring twice and Nedum Onuoha grabbing the other. [...]
Downcast Benitez admits he can’t keep his promise April 11, 2010 LIVERPOOL (0) vs FULHAM (0) RAFAEL Benitez all but admitted that a Champions League spot is now out of reach after seeing his Liverpool side lose more ground in the hunt for fourth place. The Reds, without injured striker Fernando Torres, failed to beat Fulham at home, leaving them six points off Manchester City having [...]
SPORT | IN BRIEF April 11, 2010 Wolves and Stoke draw blank FOOTBALL: Wolves inched closer to ensuring their survival with a 0-0 draw at home to Stoke. The visitors enjoyed the bulk of the chances, with centre-back Abdoulaye Faye missing three on his own. But a stalemate leaves Wolves six points clear of the relegation zone with their rivals having just [...]
Aviva re-enters Asian markets after five years in the wilderness April 8, 2010 AVIVA, Britain’s second largest insurer, will re-enter the Asian general insurance market five years after selling its non-life operations in the region. It is understood Aviva is preparing to announce its decision imminently, and could issue a statement today. The company said it would have made the move sooner but that a non-compete agreement, following [...]
Tiger straight back on prowl on Couples’ day at Augusta April 8, 2010 TIGER Woods played like he had never been away on his competitive comeback, shooting a superb four-under-par 68 to leave himself just two shots off the lead after the first round of the Masters. Fred Couples was the surprise pace-setter, the 50-year-old, who won the Green Jacket in 1992, leading the field on six under, [...]