Real strike late to dash Apoel Nicosia dream March 27, 2012 EUROPEAN minnows Apoel Nicosia need a miracle to prolong keep their Champions League adventure after Real Madrid struck three times in the last 16 minutes in Cyprus last night. France striker Karim Benzema netted twice and forgotten man Kaka notched the other as the Spanish league leaders won the quarter-final first leg 3-0. Apoel, the [...]
Milan: We’ll attack Barca March 27, 2012 AC MILAN manager Massimiliano Allegri insists his team will not adopt an ultra-defensive approach against holders Barcelona in the Champions League tonight. The Italians, conquerors of Arsenal in the last 16, host the Spanish champions in an eagerly anticipated quarter-final first leg. “It’s difficult for us to play a match in the style of [Jose] [...]
Bahrain rejects GP security fears March 27, 2012 ■ FORMULA ONE: Bahrain’s top motorsport chief insists there is no need for extra security at the country’s grand prix next month, despite it being cancelled last year over safety fears amid anti-government protests. Sheikh Abdullah bin Isa Al Khalifa, president of Bahrain’s Automobile Federation, said: “I can guarantee you will be as safe as [...]
Jockey Lee swaps jumps for flat March 27, 2012 ■ HORSE RACING: Grand National-winning rider Graham Lee has made a shock code switch from jumps to flat racing. Lee, 36, said he found it too gruelling to keep up the weight required for jumps racing.
Jol cries foul after United open up gap March 26, 2012 Rooney’s strike puts the champions back in front of rivals Man City but Fulham are left to rue penalty controversy MANCHESTER UTD 1 vs FULHAM 0 FULHAM manager Martin Jol accused referee Michael Oliver of ducking a late penalty decision last night after Manchester United edged out the west Londoners to climb three points clear [...]
Di Matteo responds to Gaitan barb March 26, 2012 BENFICA vs CHELSEA CHELSEA boss Roberto di Matteo last night hit back at Benfica claims his team are crippled with anxiety over their misfiring strikeforce as the two teams prepare to collide in the Champions League this evening. Di Matteo responded to the barb from the Portuguese outfit’s star midfielder Nicolas Gaitan, who singled out [...]
Anderson’s regret as Jayawardene punishes England March 26, 2012 FAST-BOWLER James Anderson urged England to forget their fielding howlers after an encouraging start to the first Test in Sri Lanka was undermined by a litany of dropped catches. England had the hosts at 67-4 early yesterday but wasted four chances to remove Mahela Jayawardene before the captain’s 168 not out swept Sri Lanka to [...]
Hartley D-Day as England star faces huge ban March 26, 2012 ENGLAND hooker Dylan Hartley will discover today whether he faces a ban of up to four years over allegations he bit Ireland flanker Stephen Ferris. Hartley, 26, will appear before an independent Six Nations disciplinary committee in London after he was cited following the 30-9 defeat of the Irish earlier this month. If found guilty, [...]
Muamba able to leave bed as Bolton return to Spurs March 26, 2012 BOLTON midfielder Fabrice Muamba has recovered sufficiently to eat and get out of bed for the first time since his on-field cardiac arrest. The 23-year-old, who remains in intensive care in a London hospital, has also been well enough to watch his team-mates on Match of the Day, Bolton manager Owen Coyle said. Muamba’s improvement [...]
Cairns wins Modi libel case March 26, 2012 CRICKET: Former New Zealand captain Chris Cairns won £90,000 in libel damages in the High Court yesterday from Lalit Modi, after the ex-Indian Premier League chief alleged on Twitter Cairns had been involved in match-fixing. Modi must also pay £400,000 in costs.