Messi favourite to land hat-trick December 6, 2011 FOOTBALL: Barcelona forward Lionel Messi is the overwhelming favourite to win the prestigious Fifa Ballon d’Or award for the third year in a row after the three-man shortlist was announced yesterday. The 24-year-old Argentine, who scored a staggering 53 goals in all competitions last season, is joined by his Barcelona team-mate Xavi and Real Madrid’s [...]
Manchester rivals thrown together by FA Cup draw December 4, 2011 A SIMMERING rivalry that has already delivered fireworks this season is poised to be reignited after Manchester City were drawn against neighbours Manchester United in the FA Cup third round. Holders City, who thrashed United 6-1 at Old Trafford in October, could now inflict more misery on them by dumping them out of the FA [...]
Tiger’s back: Woods wins for first time in two years December 4, 2011 FORMER World No1 Tiger Woods finally ended the longest barren spell of his distinguished professional career last night when he won the Chevron World Challenge – more than two years after his last victory. Woods, who dropped outside the top 50 in a desperate spell that followed the break-up of his marriage, showed flashes of [...]
I may have made £35k toilet quip, admits Easter December 4, 2011 ENGLAND and Harlequins star Nick Easter admits he may have been the player who uttered the notorious line “That’s £35k down the toilet” following the World Cup quarter-final exit to France in October. But the No8 insists that even if he did make the remarks, they would have been meant “facetiously” and that money played [...]
CRUEL FOR CATS | O’Neill watches as Sunderland crash at Wolves December 4, 2011 SUNDERLAND’S new manager Martin O’Neill (inset) received an unwelcome reminder of the scale of the task he will inherit when he officially takes over this morning when his side lost yesterday at Wolves. The Black Cats, including Nicklas Bendtner (pictured above) squandered a lead and missed a penalty before collapsing to two Steven Fletcher goals, [...]
Wolves make Sunderland pay penalty December 4, 2011 WOLVES (2) vs SUNDERLAND (1) WOLVES manager Mick McCarthy delighted in ruining his good friend Martin O’Neill’s day, as his battling side deepened the woes the Northern Irishman is poised to inherit. Two goals from Steven Fletcher cancelled out Kieran Richardson’s thumping opener in a match that hinged on a controversial penalty won and then [...]
Ruthless Quins warm up for European test December 4, 2011 WASPS (16) vs HARLEQUINS (22) HARLEQUINS captain Chris Robshaw declared his unbeaten side ready to test themselves in a double-header with European super-powers Toulouse after clinching a 14th successive win of the season. Tries from centre Matt Hopper, full-back Mike Brown and flanker Luke Wallace maintained the south Londoners’ flawless start to the campaign and [...]
Pulis joy as Huth completes Stoke’s perfect week December 4, 2011 EVERTON (0) vs STOKE CITY (1) STOKE manager Tony Pulis toasted a perfect week after following up Europa League qualification with a second consecutive Premier League victory at Goodison Park. A 15th-minute goal from Robert Huth, the defender diverting Dean Whitehead’s shot past Tim Howard from close range, was the decisive moment in a game [...]
Nadal signs off with Davis Cup victory December 4, 2011 AN EMOTIONAL Rafael Nadal hailed the best crowd of his life after a typically gutsy victory over Juan Martin del Potro earned Spain a third Davis Cup in four years, to the delight of a 22,000-strong support in Seville. Nadal had to come from a set down to defeat Argentinian No1 Del Potro 1-6, 6-4, [...]
Dubai showdown on cards as McIlroy closes in on Donald December 4, 2011 NORTHERN Ireland’s Rory McIlroy piled further pressure on European Tour leader Luke Donald and ensured a nailbiting climax to the season by winning the UBS Hong Kong Open yesterday. McIlroy’s two-shot victory at Fanling means he can deny Donald the honour of becoming the first man to officially top the US and European money lists [...]