Messi wins top Fifa award January 10, 2011 FOOTBALL: Barcelona forward Lionel Messi has won the inaugural Fifa Ballon d’Or. Messi, 23, won the prize – a merger of the Fifa Player of the Year prize and Ballon d’Or – ahead of his Barca team-mates Andres Iniesta and Xavi.
Torres fires Crawley through January 10, 2011 FOOTBALL: Sergio Torres’ injury-time strike handed non-league Crawley a 2-1 win over Championship side Derby in the third round of the FA Cup. With a replay looking likely, Torres side-footed in from a corner to hand Crawley a fourth-round tie at Torquay.
Dott knocks out Higgins January 10, 2011 SNOOKER: World No1 John Higgins’ Masters campaign was ended by fellow Scot Graeme Dott in the first round. Last year’s World Championship runner-up, Dott, took the final two frames to claim the match 6-4. Meanwhile, Ding Junhui edged out former world champion Mark Williams with a 6-4 victory after n scrappy display from both men.
Cook served up an Ashes feast January 9, 2011 I HAVE to confess I’m more than a little bit jealous – what a fantastic time to be an England cricketer. The Ashes triumph was the greatest series win for as long as I can remember and nobody can ever deny that it was thoroughly deserved. The decisive moment was when England won the toss [...]
Breakthrough series sets up England hero for bumper windfall January 9, 2011 ENGLAND hero Alastair Cook’s record-breaking Ashes displays have hugely boosted his earning potential, with sports marketing experts predicting “the sky is the limit” for a man dubbed the “sponsor’s dream”. The Essex opener arrived in Australia desperately struggling for form and fighting to keep his place in the team, but plundered three centuries and a [...]
Men against Tractor boys doesn’t fool Ancelotti January 9, 2011 CHELSEA (7) vs IPSWICH TOWN (0) CHELSEA manager Carlo Ancelotti admits he remains unhappy at his side’s current predicament despite an emphatic return to goalscoring form in the FA Cup. The holders extended their unbeaten run in this competition to 14 matches with a demolition of managerless Championship outfit Ipswich Town, who sacked Roy Keane [...]
Dalglish: I’ll cope with the pressure January 9, 2011 MANCHESTER UTD (1) vs LIVERPOOL (0) LIVERPOOL manager Kenny Dalglish is confident he can restore the club to its rightful position amongst the Premier League elite, despite seeing his sensational comeback end in defeat at Old Trafford. The 59-year-old Scot (right) took his place in the Reds’ dugout for the FA Cup third round reversal [...]
Mancini relief after Hart stopper nearly costs City January 9, 2011 LEICESTER CITY (2) vs MANCHESTER CITY (2) MANCHESTER manager Roberto Mancini admitted his side are lucky to still be in the FA Cup after their former boss Sven-Goran Eriksson nearly masterminded a third round defeat. City reacted well to Sol Bamba’s first minute strike to lead 2-1 at the break through goals from James Milner and Carlos [...]
Redknapp refusing to give up on Beckham loan switch January 9, 2011 TOTTENHAM (3) vs CHARLTON ATHLETIC (0) TOTTENHAM boss Harry Redknapp insists a loan deal for David Beckham could still happen, after seeing his side coast into the FA Cup fourth round with a swaggering London derby defeat of managerless Charlton. Striker Jermain Defoe netted twice against his former club while teenage winger Andros Townsend capped [...]
Rookie Farrell ends Venter reign on high and condemns Irish to tenth loss in row January 9, 2011 SARACENS (12) vs LONDON IRISH (6) SARACENS boss Brendan Venter predicted a bright future for the club after bringing the curtain down on his tenure as director of rugby in winning style. Fly-half prodigy Owen Farrell – son of former dual-code star and new Sarries head coach Andy – kicked all the points as Venter’s [...]