SPORT | IN BRIEF January 25, 2010 City revel in Saints victory AMERICAN FOOTBALL: New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton dedicated his side’s victory in the NFC Championship game with Minnesota Vikings to the whole city following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina four years ago. The Saints were cheered on to their first-ever Superbowl at the restored Louisiana Superdome after edging past [...]
Murray ready to face the wrath of Rafa January 25, 2010 ANDY MURRAY reckons he has the game to dethrone defending champion Rafael Nadal and continue his quest for a first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open. The fifth seed is the only player yet to drop a set on the way to the last eight and produced a near flawless display in powering past [...]
Venus and Serena set for a showdown January 25, 2010 SISTER act Serena and Venus Williams are heading for a semi-final showdown after reaching the last eight of the Australian Open in contrasting style. Defending champion Serena looked in irresistible form in powering to a 6-4, 6-2 win over Sam Stosur to set up a last eight clash with Victoria Azarenka. Home favourite Stosur beat [...]
Nemesis Davydenko next up for Federer January 25, 2010 WORLD No1 Roger Federer remained on course for an incredible 16th Grand Slam title after turning on the style to beat home favourite Lleyton Hewitt in Melbourne. The Swiss star hardly broke sweat to claim a resounding 6-2, 6-3, 6-4 victory and book a quarter-final date with sixth seed Nikolay Davydenko, who saw off Fernando [...]
Robinho sure he is heading back to Brazil January 25, 2010 WANTAWAY striker Robinho believes he has played his last game for Manchester City and is “90 per cent certain” to return to former club Santos this week. The £32.5m hitman revealed in an interview on Sunday how he was desperate to return to Brazil after City directors ordered him out of the club. Boss Roberto [...]
Moyes eyes striker after Senderos January 25, 2010 EVERTON boss David Moyes is targeting a deal for AC Milan outcast Klaas-Jan Huntelaar after sealing a loan swoop for Arsenal defender Philippe Senderos. Huntelaar, who has also been linked with West Ham and Tottenham, is desperate for first-team football ahead of this summer’s World Cup. The Holland international has struggled in Italy, following an [...]
Benitez passes buck in row with Bruce over Jones loan January 25, 2010 LIVERPOOL manager Rafael Benitez has rejected criticism from Sunderland manager Steve Bruce and focused his attention on reclaiming a place in the top four tonight. Bruce hit out at Benitez over their pursuit of Black Cats striker Kenwyne Jones last week, calling the Anfield club’s conduct “hugely disrespectful”. But the Spaniard yesterday insisted he had [...]
Sunderland target Cabanas critical after shooting January 25, 2010 PARAGUAY striker Salvador Cabanas, a recent target for Sunderland, was last night in critical condition after being shot in the head in a bar in Mexico City. Cabanas, a prolific scorer in the Mexican top flight for Club America, underwent life-saving surgery for seven hours at a Los Angeles hospital. Doctors prevented a fatal blood [...]
West Ham in for AWOL McCarthy January 25, 2010 BLACKBURN have confirmed West Ham want Benni McCarthy – but boss Sam Allardyce has warned the unsettled striker will not be allowed to leave on the cheap. Owners David Sullivan and David Gold have been trying to bolster the Hammers’ firepower since taking over the club last week and have made a written offer for [...]
Spurs won’t crack under the pressure, says Defoe January 25, 2010 JERMAIN DEFOE insists Tottenham will not crack under the pressure of a top-four charge as they enter a crucial stage of the season. Harry Redknapp’s men currently lie fourth in the table, but a run of five games in the next 16 days, starting with the visit of London rivals Fulham to White Hart Lane [...]