SUNDAY, JUNE 22, 2014

Valencia gives Ecuador new life

CURITIBA: Ecuador moved into second place in However, Honduras can also still qualify should have taken the lead as Valencia timed his World Cup Group E as two goals from Enner despite losing both their games so far should run onto Frickson Erazo’s long ball forward per- FAN FERVOR Valencia handed them a 2-1 win over Honduras they heavily defeat the Swiss and Ecuador lose fectly but couldn’t find the target when left with in Curitiba on Friday. to France. just Noel Valladares to beat. Honduras’s first Honduras had looked on course for And Honduras boss Luis Suarez clear chance of the game came just before the their first ever World Cup win when insisted they have to believe anything half hour mark when Victor Bernardez headed Carlo Costly fired them in front on 31 is possible against Switzerland. wide when unmarked at the far post. minutes, but “It would be worse if we were Four minutes later, though, Costly did net his Valencia levelled eliminated and this game didn’t country’s first World Cup goal in five games from close range mean anything. This chance still stretching back to their inaugural appearance at exists and we have to try,” he said. the finals in 1982 as he beat Jorge Guagua to a “Now more than ever we have to high ball before slamming home left footed. fight for the country. If a vic- The Hondurans’ lead was short-lived as with- tory means qualification in three minutes Juan Paredes’ deflected effort then great, but if it does- fell perfectly for Valencia to bundle home his n’t at least we second goal of the tournament. have Honduras ended the half the stronger side as Bernardez’s powerful free-kick was just turned three minutes later. And the Pachuca striker moved alongside Karim Benzema, Robin Van Persie, Thomas Mueller and Arjen Robben as the tournament’s joint top scorer on three goals when he headed home the winner from Walter Ayovi’s free-kick 25 minutes from time. “Scoring at a World Cup has been something I have dreamed of since I was a child and thanks to the coaching staff and my teammates that has come true,” said Valencia. “The golden boot is not something I am thinking about. The most important thing is qualifying from the group and if that comes thanks to more goals from behind by me then all the Alexander better.” Dominguez and Jerry Ecuador now Bengston rightly had a goal lead Switzerland ruled out for handball after on goal differ- given Costly’s initial header had ence with everything come back off the post. both sides until the end.” After the break it was locked on After a nervy Ecuador’s turn to feel aggrieved three points opening from both sides with referee Williams as he again after two the game began to open up was unmoved when Felipe games midway through the half and Caicedo tumbled under a chal- behind Honduras felt they had a strong lenge from Maynor Figueroa. group penalty appeal waved away by However, that decision mat- leaders Australian referee Benjamin Williams tered little in the end as Valencia France on when Costly went down under pressure netted the winner when he rose six. from Juan Paredes. highest to meet Ayovi’s sweet Moments later it was Ecuador who delivery. —AFP

CURTIBA: Ecuador’s Jorge Guagua (right) and Ronaldo fitness Honduras’ Carlo Costly challenge for the ball during leaves Portugal the Group E World Cup soccer match. —AP in disarray MANAUS: Lingering doubts about the fitness of world player of the year Cristiano Ronaldo have left Portugal in disarray ahead of their World Cup Group G clash with the United States in Manaus today. Already reeling from a crushing 4-0 defeat to Germany in their opener, Portugal face almost certain elimination if they lose to US. Russia bar Belgium’s But their preparation for the game could not be going much worse. Although the Portugal camp insist the Real Madrid forward is fit, Ronaldo has been seen sporting an path to WCup last 16 ice pack on his knee at training sessions and leaving early as his team-mates continued to train, while he was far RIO DE JANEIRO: Having come from decided that he’d spend two days work- from his scintillating best against the Germans. ing separately with (physiotherapist) behind to beat Algeria in their opening Much media speculation has focused on whether or game, Belgium can reach the World Cup Lieven Maesschalck and the (medical) not he will play against the US, or indeed if he does, knockout phase by beating Russia at Rio staff. He should be back on the pitch for whether or not he will be fully fit. But fellow forward de Janeiro’s fabled Maracana today. training with the squad yesterday.” Helder Postiga was adamant that too much is being read Marc Wilmots’s ‘golden generation’ Chelsea playmaker Eden Hazard, cre- into an ice pack. looked destined to make a meek ator of Mertens’s winning goal against entrance into the tournament after Algeria, is also expected to be fit despite “I personally think that the Cristiano Ronaldo talk is a falling behind to a Sofiane Feghouli sustaining a bruised toe during that bit too much so I imagine how he must be feeling about penalty in Belo Horizonte on Tuesday, but game. that,” Postiga said. late goals from substitutes Marouane Should Russia lose, Capello’s side “But regarding his physical condition, he’s been training Fellaini and Dries Mertens got them off to would find themselves on the brink of at his maximum and if it’s not listed in the clinical informa- a winning start. elimination ahead of their final game tion of the Portuguese (football) federation it’s because With Russia having been held 1-1 by against Algeria on Thursday. he’s fit to play.” South Korea in their Group H opener, the Russia needed a 74th-minute goal But Ronaldo is just one of Portugal’s problems as they last 16 is already within sight for Belgium, from Aleksandr Kerzhakov to rescue a will be missing several other players. Real centre-back who are seen as dark horses to win the point against South Korea after goal- Pepe has been suspended for one match after his stupid tournament after going through qualify- keeper Igor Akinfeev’s blunder had and needless red card against Germany for headbutting ing unbeaten. Belgium centre-back allowed Lee Keun-Ho to break the dead- Thomas Mueller, who went on to score a hat-trick. Nicolas Lombaerts, who plays for Russian lock. Given his volatile nature, that may be a blessing in dis- side Zenit Saint-Petersburg, knows better It was a low-key opening for a team guise in a tournament where one error can prove hugely than most what to expect from Fabio who pipped Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal costly. Fabio Coentrao has been ruled out of the tourna- Capello’s side, and he expects his team- to an automatic berth in European quali- ment with a torn thigh muscle while forward Hugo mates to have a physical edge. fying, but Spartak Moscow midfielder Almeida has a pulled hamstring and reserve goalkeeper “Capello places lots of importance on Denis Glushakov has urged his side to Rui Patricio pulled a thigh muscle. It is hardly the ideal organisation,” said the 29-year-old, whose put it behind them. “We should forget preparation to face buoyant USA, who began their cam- side are appearing at a first major tourna- the first game because it’s in the past and paign with a last-gasp 2-1 win over Ghana, avenging ment since 2002. we have to focus on the game against defeats to the Black Stars at the last two World Cups. “We’ll have to pay attention on the Belgium,” he said. Yet Portugal coach Paulo Bento believes that his side turnovers. Russia are not very physical. “We have a huge responsibility on our are simply better than their opponents.”The best version Our size should be an advantage. shoulders, so we have to try to do our of Portugal can beat the United States. We respect the “They’ve only got two players taller than best to get the three points to get a USA as a very good team,” he said. six foot (1.85 metres). They’ll try to hurt chance to qualify. “We know the Belgian “They have grown up over the last years so we have to us by keeping the ball on the ground.” players are really good and they have top respect them but we believe in ourselves, we believe in Lombaerts is on standby to play in case players playing in the best clubs in our work, in our quality, so we have to be responsible, we Belgium captain Vincent Kompany is Europe.” Glushakov’s position in the team have to be in the best condition to win this match and we unable to shake off a minor groin com- is under threat from Dynamo Moscow believe it.” plaint. midfielder Igor Denisov, while The US are not without problems of their own as striker The Manchester City defender missed Kerzhakov’s goal in Cuiaba has strength- Jozy Altidore is out of the game due to a hamstring injury, training on Thursday and Friday, but ened his claim to a starting berth. although US Soccer believe he could be available later on Wilmots is confident that he will be able Russian media reports, meanwhile, in the tournament. to take part in late yesterday’s eve-of- suggest that CSKA Moscow playmaker There is better news when it comes to Clint Dempsey, match session at the Maracana. “Vincent Alan Dzagoev will replace Zenit’s Oleg the opening goalscorer against Ghana who broke his nose felt something in the last few minutes Shatov in the number 10 role. “We have in that match. He is likely to line up against Portugal wear- against Algeria and couldn’t sprint at 100 to play better against Belgium,” says ing a protective face mask. Centre-back Matt Besler, who percent,” the Belgium coach told a press defender Sergey Ignashevich. “It’s impos- like Altidore had to come off in the first half against Ghana conference at the team’s base in Mogi sible to play worse than we did against due to a hamstring problem, is another who should be fit das Cruzes, near Sao Paulo, on Friday. “We Korea.” —AFP to play.—AFP