The Malaysian Insider :: Sports
The Malaysian Insider :: Sports |
| Real Madrid back on top after Levante stroll Posted: 09 Mar 2014 03:41 PM PDT Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring with his 38th goal of the season when he headed Angel di Maria's corner low past Keylor Navas after just 11 minutes. Navas then kept his side in the game with a string of fine saves, but there was nothing the Costa Rican could do when Ronaldo teed up Marcelo to curl in the second four minutes after half-time. Levante were reduced to 10 men on 63 minutes when David Navarro was shown a straight red card for a foul on Ronaldo. And the visitors' miserable evening was summed up when Nikos Karabelas's scored a spectacular own goal nine minutes from time to make it 3-0. Victory means Real now lead second-placed Atletico Madrid by three points with Barcelona a further point back in third. "It is a small advantage, but we cannot get ahead of ourselves. We can only think about the next game," said Real boss Carlo Ancelotti. "At one point we were six points behind so right now we are in a very good position. All we can do is conitnue in this form. "There is still a long way in the season to go and the objective is to get to the last game of the season in this position." Seemingly buoyed by Barca's latest setback in losing to lowly Valladolid on Saturday, Real started very brightly and Ronaldo forced Navas into his first stop after five minutes with a nicely cushioned volley that the keeper collected at the second attempt. The Portuguese wasn't to be denied six minutes later, though, as he rose highest to meet Di Maria's cross and power his header low into the corner. Navas then had to be quick off his line to smother efforts from Di Maria and Karim Benzema as Madrid continued to press. The pick of the saves from the Levante goalkeeper came in first-half stoppage time as he leapt to his right to turn Benzema's header from close range onto the post. Ancelotti's men did eventually get the all-important second goal four minutes after the restart when a lovely one-two between Ronaldo and Marcelo freed the Brazilian inside the area and he curled the ball into the far corner on his weaker right foot. Navas continued to frustrate Benzema moments later as he turned away the Frenchman's fiercely struck effort from the edge of the box. Levante were reduced to 10 men just after the hour mark when Navarro's reckless challenge from behind on Ronaldo was deemed to be worthy of a straight red card by referee Ignacio Iglesias Villanueva. The visitors then inflicted more damage upon themselves nine minutes from time when Karabelas swept home Marcelo's cross. However, there was just one moment of worry for Real when right-back Dani Carvajal collapsed to the turf in stoppage time under no pressure from a Levante player and had to be stretchered from the field. – AFP, March 10, 2014. |
| Wigan send Manchester City crashing in FA Cup repeat Posted: 09 Mar 2014 01:24 PM PDT City, newly-crowned League Cup winners, were bidding to avenge their 1-0 defeat in last season's final, but instead it was the holders - managed by former City striker Uwe Rosler - who advanced to a last-four date with Arsenal. "Is this my greatest day in management? Probably," Rosler, who played for City between 1994 and 1998, told BT Sport. "This was my chance to partially replicate what (former Wigan manager) Roberto Martinez did last season. "Overall I am so delighted. I am so happy for the chairman and the players." Jordi Gomez gave Wigan the lead with a 27th-minute penalty after Martin Demichelis fouled Marc Antoine-Fortune and James Perch made it 2-0 within seconds of kick-off in the second half. Samir Nasri pulled a goal back for City with 22 minutes remaining, but the Championship side - relegated within days of last season's final - withstood heavy pressure from the hosts to record another famous FA Cup win. "It's disappointing because we cannot be eliminated from the FA Cup at home by Wigan," said City manager Manuel Pellegrini, whose side will bid to overturn a 2-0 deficit at Barcelona in the Champions League on Wednesday. "We must go to Barcelona and try to continue in the Champions League, although it will be difficult. "It's important for a big team, when you have a setback, you have to react quickly." The Etihad was buoyant after City's 3-1 win over Sunderland in last weekend's League Cup final, but the home fans were silenced in the 27th minute when Wigan took the lead. A neat turn took Fortune past Demichelis on the Wigan left and after the Argentine brought him down, Gomez sent goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon the wrong way from the penalty spot. City's frustration was evident, with Nasri booked for kicking the ball away, and Wigan extended their lead early in the second half when Perch stole in front of Gael Clichy to tuck in a low cross from James McArthur. Hull City Tigers, Sheffield United advance Pellegrini reacted by sending on James Milner, David Silva and Edin Dzeko, and the latter came within a whisker of equalising in the 64th minute with a header that hit the post. The hosts continued to push, though, and four minutes later Nasri dragged them back into the tie with a left-foot shot from outside the box that skidded into the bottom-right corner. City threw everything at Wigan in the closing stages, with Emmerson Boyce producing an extraordinary goal-line block to thwart Dzeko, but Wigan held on by the skin of their teeth. Earlier, Hull City and giant-killers Sheffield United set up an unlikely semi-final showdown after coming through their respective quarter-final ties. Hull defeated Premier League rivals Sunderland 3-0 at the KC Stadium to reach the last four for the first time since 1930, while third-tier United overcame Charlton Athletic. Hull's Sone Aluko saw a first-half penalty saved by Sunderland goalkeeper Oscar Ustari, but three goals in nine minutes from Curtis Davies, David Meyler and Matty Fryatt in the second period gave the hosts victory. "I've just seen the draw and it's a great one," said Hull manager Steve Bruce, who twice won the trophy as a player with Manchester United. "Sheffield United have had a wonderful run and beaten every team put in front of them. "But you have got to be honest - you want to avoid the big boys and I'm sure Sheffield United will be thinking the same having drawn us." Sheffield United continued their remarkable journey in the FA Cup by upsetting second-tier Charlton 2-0 at Bramall Lane. Managed by Nigel Clough, son of legendary former Nottingham Forest manager Brian, the Blades became the first team from the third tier to reach the last four since Wycombe Wanderers in 2001. "I'm just delighted for everybody that we're going to Wembley, especially the players," said Clough, whose late father never won the tournament. "To win nine games on the spin, they deserve an immense amount of credit. We hope to play a lot more big games like this in the future." Having previously accounted for Premier League sides Fulham and Aston Villa, as well as second-tier Forest, the Blades prevailed thanks to quick-fire goals from Ryan Flynn and John Brayford mid-way through the second half. – AFP, March 10, 2014. |
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