THE BREAKDOWN | WORLD CUP BRIEFS September 16, 2011 EAGLES TAKE FLIGHT The USA ensured there was no historic World Cup debut for Russia as the Eagles edged a tight Pool C encounter 13-6. The Russians, the 25th team to take part in the World Cup got on the scoreboard thanks to penalties from Yury Kushnarev and Konstantin Rachkov. But Chris Wyles responded with [...]
Home advantage should give champions the edge September 15, 2011 MANCHESTER UNITED vs CHELSEA SUNDAY – 4.00PM SKY SPORTS IT has been an incredible start to the Premier League season for Manchester United with four straight wins, 18 goals scored and only three conceded. They bounced back to earth slightly against Benfica on Wednesday night, but the 1-1 draw wasn’t a bad result and they [...]
Selfish City are stalled on their big night September 14, 2011 MANCHESTER CITY (1) vs NAPOLI (1) MANCHESTER CITY manager Roberto Mancini accused his players of putting personal glory before the team after Napoli held the Premier League pace-setters to a draw on their Champions League debut. City needed a free-kick from Aleksandar Kolarov to rescue a point from their first match against Europe’s elite for [...]
Golden Giggs to the rescue for Ferguson September 14, 2011 BENFICA (1) vs MANCHESTER UTD (1) MANCHESTER UNITED manager Sir Alex Ferguson reacted angrily to suggestions that last night’s inclusion of goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard at the expense of David de Gea indicated he was losing patience with the Spaniard following last night’s Champions League draw in Lisbon. Oscar Cardozo fired Benfica into a deserved early [...]
Empty seats are cause to revisit Chelsea strategy September 14, 2011 CHELSEA’S Champions League match on Tuesday night, when the club welcomed back an old legend in Michael Ballack as they kicked off their European challenge under the leadership of a new manager, should have felt like a grand occasion. A 2-0 win meant it all went passably enough but it was difficult not to notice [...]
Exiles star Corbisiero ready to replace stricken Sheridan September 14, 2011 ENGLAND prop Alex Corbisiero insists he’s ready to make the most of a World Cup opportunity presented to him by Andrew Sheridan’s untimely injury. Sheridan damaged his shoulder in last weekend’s bruising encounter against Argentina and will play no further part in the tournament, opening the door for London Irish’s Corbisiero to make a significant [...]
Emotional Williams still to apologise for US Open rant September 14, 2011 FORMER world No1 Serena Williams has again passed up the opportunity to apologise for her astonishing rant at the umpire during her US Open final defeat and claimed her outburst was prompted by the stresses of an emotional week. Williams collapsed to a surprise straight sets reversal against Australia’s Samantha Stosur and in the closing [...]
Scotland zero in on decider against Pumas September 14, 2011 SCOTLAND (15) vs GEORGIA (6) SCOTLAND coach Andy Robinson toasted his team’s battling qualities after a hard-fought victory over Georgia kept them on course to maintain their record of reaching the knockout stages of every World Cup. Fly-half Dan Parks kicked all the points, with four penalties and a drop goal, as Scotland’s front-five out-muscled [...]
Ireland in Flannery blow September 14, 2011 IRELAND’S World Cup hopes suffered a blow yesterday when hooker Jerry Flannery was ruled out of the rest of the tournament. Flannery, who came off the bench in the opening-match victory over the United States, is facing a six-week lay-off after tearing a calf muscle in training. Ireland coach Declan Kidney has drafted Damien Varley [...]
THE BREAKDOWN | WORLD CUP BRIEFS September 14, 2011 CANADA TAME TONGA Canada produced the first shock of the World Cup as they enjoyed a 25-20 win over Tonga in Whangarei. Canada led the Pool A clash 10-7 at half-time through Jebb Sinclair’s converted try with Siale Piutau replying before the break, but Canada stunned the favourites with two tries in the last 12 [...]