WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16, 2014 SPORTS Players, families honor Hillsborough dead LIVERPOOL: Liverpool stars joined relatives of Dalglish a standing ovation. the 96 Hillsborough stadium disaster victims yesterday as the club marked the 25th CHURCH BELLS TOLL anniversary of the tragedy with a solemn After a long campaign by the victims’ fami- memorial service at Anfield. lies, an independent report into the disaster Club captain Steven Gerrard and former concluded in 2012 that 41 of those who died manager Kenny Dalglish were among those in would have had the “potential to survive” if a crowd of around 25,000 who gathered to they had received medical treatment more honor the Liverpool fans killed after a crush quickly. As a result, fresh inquests into the 96 during an FA Cup semi-final in Sheffield in deaths opened recently, while two investiga- 1989. A minute’s silence took place at 3:06 pm tions into the police’s handling of the disaster (1406 GMT), reflecting the precise moment at are also being carried out. which the fateful game against Nottingham “How can anyone die watching the game Forest at Sheffield Wednesday’s Hillsborough you love?” asked Martinez, to resounding ground was called off. applause. “That isn’t right, that isn’t fair. What Beforehand, local religious leaders read out happened after wasn’t right or fair either. To the names of those who had died, as have to fight for the good name of the ones Liverpool players past and present and family you lost was appalling.” Outside Anfield, members of the victims looked on. church bells tolled across Liverpool and public As they did so, the names of the victims transport services came to a halt at 3:06 pm, were illuminated on the inside of a giant ring allowing the city to pause to remember the sculpture standing in front of the stadium’s victims of Britain’s worst sporting disaster. ITALY: Juventus’s players celebrate after winning their Italian Serie A football match against Udinese at the Friuli Stadium. — AFP iconic Kop stand. Liverpool’s city rivals Everton screened the The number 96 was written on the pitch in memorial service at their Goodison Park large numerals made up of scarves donated ground, while there was also a small service at Victorious Juve close in by fans and various sporting institutions. Hillsborough. Scarves were also draped over 96 seats in the FIFA president Sepp Blatter called on all of stadium that had been symbolically left emp- his organisation’s member associations to fly ty, while supporters attached scarves to the their flags at half-mast to mark the anniver- on third straight title Shankly Gates beside the Hillsborough sary of the tragedy. memorial outside the ground. Liverpool man- “Twenty-five years on from this dark day in ager Brendan Rodgers and his Everton coun- the history of the game, I would like to express ROME: Two goals in 10 first half minutes from ten. Cutting in from the right, he whipped in a the post for Udinese in stoppage time. terpart Roberto Martinez were among several my deepest sympathy to the families and Sebastian Giovinco and Fernando Llorente were superb shot with his left that flew past rookie Udinese stay 14th on 38 points after a flat per- figures to give readings, with both men friends of the 96 who so tragically lost their enough for Juventus to close in on their third Udinese keeper Simone Scuffet, who was unsight- formance befitting a side that has all but mathe- expressing admiration for the victims’ families. lives in the Hillsborough disaster,” he said in a straight Serie A title with a 2-0 stroll at Udinese on ed by four players. matically secured Serie A safety and has little left to “Without doubt the single biggest source of letter sent to the Football Association. Monday. The win sent them eight points clear of AS Tiny Giovinco was unlucky in the 69th minute play for. inspiration for me is every match day here at UEFA president Michel Platini also issued a Roma at the top on 87 points with five games when managing to squeeze off a shot after impres- Francesco Guidolin’s side are 13 points clear of Anfield, when I arrive at the ground and I see statement to mark the 25th anniversary, say- remaining as a scudetto that has rarely looked in sive close control in the area only to see his effort the drop zone and were playing two years to the the Hillsborough memorial, where I see 96 ing the “European football family” was think- doubt heads towards the dominant Turin side. rebound back off the post. day since the tragic death of their player Piermario names,” said Rodgers. “Those who we lost, and ing of the families. Italy’s Giovinco opened the scoring with a sweet “I’d been looking for that goal, as I’d not scored Morosini, who died after suffering a heart attack for those of you who have fought and cam- British Prime Minister David Cameron curling strike after 16 minutes and fellow World for a while. I’m glad it came in a match as impor- and collapsing on the pitch while playing on loan paigned tirelessly on their behalf, and on tweeted that “my thoughts are with the fami- Cup hopeful Llorente of Spain tapped in his 14th of tant as this,” said man of the match Giovinco. at Livorno. behalf of the survivors, you are the real, true lies of the 96, the survivors and all those the season following a goalmouth scramble at a Juve have to travel to the Italian capital to face inspiration for us.” affected by the tragedy.” corner 10 minutes later. SEWN UP Roma, who beat Atalanta 3-1 on Saturday, in their Rodgers also paid tribute to his predeces- As a mark of respect to the Hillsborough “This was a potentially dangerous match and Llorente’s stabbed finish from close range, penultimate match next month but the title could sor Dalglish, Liverpool’s manager when the victims, all English professional matches that we could not afford to drop points,” Juve coach which game after Scuffet poked the ball away from already be sewn up by then. disaster occurred, who insisted on attending took place at the weekend kicked off seven Antonio Conte told reporters. Paul Pogba as it pinged around the area, was less Conte’s charges have only lost twice all season many of the victims’ funerals. The crowd gave minutes later than scheduled. — AFP “The title race is still open and we did well to elegant but ended the match as a contest. “It was a in Serie A and have won all 16 of their home face this match with the right determination, decisive match. We’re very happy because there are games. They next face relegation-threatened approach and concentration.” fewer games left and the points difference is the Bologna and Sassuolo either side of their Europa Without top goalscorer Carlos Tevez, it was left same so it went brilliantly well for us,” Llorente said. League semi-final first leg at Benfica. Roma mean- to Giovinco to provide Juve with thrust up front Juve were comfortable enough to substitute while travel to fourth-placed Fiorentina on and his second of the season was a signal to Italy their match winners with Mirko Vucinic and Pablo Saturday (1900 GMT) before facing in-form AC boss Cesare Prandelli that he was not to be forgot- Osvaldo to see out victory before Luis Muriel hit Milan. — Reuters Injuries mar Barca, Real Cup preparations in final MADRID: Barcelona and Real Madrid face off for the first major title of the Spanish season in the Copa del Rey final at the Mestalla in Valencia yes- terday. However, the build up to the game for both sides has been disrupted by injuries to key players. World Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo is a major doubt for Real due to a hamstring injury suffered in his side’s 3-0 win over Borussia Dortmund two weeks ago. The Portuguese hasn’t played in three games since and is unlikely to be risked with Real’s LIVERPOOL: Liverpool football club manager Bendan Rodgers (left) shakes hands Champions League semi-final first leg against with a supporter as he leaves at the end of a memorial service to mark the 25th Bayern Munich just seven days away. anniversary of the Hillsborough Disaster at Anfield Stadium. — AFP Brazilian full-back Marcelo is also expected to miss out due to a similar injury, but Sergio Ramos should be fit despite missing Saturday’s City’s Toure ruled 4-0 win against Almeria due to a neck problem. Madrid remain in the hunt for titles on three fronts and coach Carlo Ancelotti believes claim- out for two weeks ing the first trophy of the season will boost their chances in the Liga title race and the Champions League. “This game is important for many rea- LONDON: Manchester City midfielder Yaya AGUERO RETURN sons,” he told the club’s website. Toure will be out of action for two weeks due to Argentine Aguero came off the bench a muscle injury, manager Manuel Pellegrini said, against Liverpool, his first appearance in a “Firstly, because it is the first title of the sea- ruling the Ivorian out of today’s home Premier month after being plagued by a hamstring son we can win and, secondly, because we are League game against bottom club Sunderland. problem. facing a great team in Barcelona. All of that lends “Yaya has a muscle injury - we’ll see with the The loss to Liverpool means even if City win this game a lot of importance.