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 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 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 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 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 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 that he was not to be forgot- Osvaldo to see out victory before 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 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 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. To win the first doctor how many days,” Pellegrini told a news their remaining six matches, they must rely on trophy of the season motivates us a lot. conference yesterday. “Maybe it’s not so bad as the Merseysiders to drop points if they are to “In the mental aspect, this game will have a we thought at the beginning but he needs at claim their second title in three seasons. “The lot of importance for what remains of the sea- Real Madrid’s Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo least ten days or two weeks to recover.” Striker team knows perfectly what they have to do - we son. After the game, the team that wins will have stage for the first time in seven years by Atletico we will evaluate the chances each of us have.” Sergio Aguero and defender Vincent Kompany still have six more games and we will fight to the more motivation, hope and desire for the rest of Madrid and then relinquished their hold on their Puyol has barely featured in what will be his are fit to start against Sunderland as third- end for the title,” Pellegrini said. the campaign. I think psychologically it will be league title by losing 1-0 to Granada on Saturday farewell season at the club due to knee injuries, placed City look to close a seven-point gap on “If we don’t do it, it’s because Liverpool have very important.” to fall four points behind leaders Atletico with but he still maintains a huge influence over his leaders Liverpool. won their four games, I don’t think anything just five games remaining. teammates and insisted they must make Pellegrini’s team, on 70 points, have two changed on Sunday. “We must win our games, DIFFICULT WEEK Barca boss Gerardo Martino has a selection amends to the fans for their defeats of late. games in hand on Liverpool and second-placed we can’t do anything about other teams. We Barcelona have enjoyed the upper hand in headache in central defence as Gerard Pique, “We are aware that we have failed in some Chelsea who have 75. Toure hobbled off with a know exactly what we have to do - we start the two meetings between the sides this season Marc Bartra and Carles Puyol are all set to miss things, but all I can say is that we will fight tooth groin injury after 20 minutes in Sunday’s 3-2 loss tomorrow, hoping to win one of the postponed in La Liga as they followed up a 2-1 win at the the game so Sergio Busquets or Alex Song may and nail for the final and the remaining five to Liverpool, with Chilean Pellegrini indicating games.” Camp Nou in October with a stunning 4-3 victo- once again be paired with Javier Mascherano. games in La Liga, in which a lot can happen. afterwards he could miss the remainder of the Bottom club Sunderland are running out of ry at the Santiago Bernabeu just over three season. A two-week layoff would rule Toure, a time to save their status, but “I am working hard to make it, just like Marc “There are moments in which we haven’t weeks ago. However, the Catalans have endured driving force in the centre of City’s midfield, out having given City a scare in the Capital One and Gerard, “ Barca captain Puyol said on been consistent enough, but now we have to of the visit of West Bromwich Albion next (League) Cup final last month, Pellegrini warned a difficult week as they were firstly dumped out Monday. “There are two days to go and we will look forward. We have a very important final and Monday and potentially the trip to Crystal against taking anything for granted. of the Champions League before the semi-final give everything we have to be there. Yesterday we need to give some joy to the fans.”— AFP Palace on April 27. Kompany hurt himself in “Playing against a team in the relegation training on Saturday in a collision with team spots is very difficult - nobody can think that mate Micah Richards but was passed fit to face one of those games will be easy,” he added. Beckham’s stadium plans Liverpool. The move backfired, however, as the “I am sure they will try to fight to the end to captain and Belgian international botched clear- stay in the Premier League. “It’s a different game ance allowed Philippe Coutinho to score the to Wembley - one thing doesn’t have a relation- winner with 12 minutes remaining. ship with the other. —Reuters face growing opposition

MIAMI: David Beckham’s ambitions of seeing his Cruises, was published as a full-page advert in new Miami football team playing at an eye-catching Monday’s Miami Herald. state-of-the-art stadium at the city’s port are facing PortMiami is Miami-Dade County’s second- growing local opposition. largest economic engine after tourism, the alliance An influential group striving to safeguard “the says, contributing $27 billion annually to the local long-term success of the port” has issued an open economy and supporting more than 207,000 jobs in English Premier League letter railing against the former England football South Florida. star’s stadium plans, saying thousands of jobs and Beckham’s plans for a Miami team in Major Man City v Sunderland 21:45 millions of dollars in investment could be at risk. League Soccer (MLS) have been generally well- beIN SPORTS 1 HD “We support a soccer franchise in Miami whole- received locally, although the side is not expected Everton v Crystal Palace 21:45 heartedly and there are several suitable sites that to take to the pitch until 2017 at the earliest. beIN SPORTS 14HD would benefit tremendously from a stadium. The former midfielder, who played for However, PortMiami is not one of them,” Miami Manchester United, Real Madrid, LA Galaxy, AC Spain Copa del Rey Seaport Alliance said in its letter. Milan and Paris Saint-Germain, is looking to build a Barcelona v Real Madrid 22:30 “We cannot support locating a stadium at stadium for 25,000 spectators, with his preferred beIN SPORTS 12 HD PortMiami due to the risks it would pose to jobs, place the port because of its prominent location beIN SPORTS 2 HD cruise and cargo operations, and the port’s promis- and sweeping views of the downtown skyline. beIN SPORTS 3 HD ing future.” John Alschuler, Beckham’s real-estate adviser, The alliance, which counts cruise lines and cargo told The Herald: “People are responding to specula- German Cup carriers among its members, added: “Even the hint tion. “I’ve got confidence that (county) commission- Bayern v Kaisersalautern 21:30 of a disruptive, non-port operation-such as a stadi- ers, when presented with a formal recommendation beIN SPORTS 13 HD um-could put thousands of jobs at risk.” The letter by the mayor-and a full, factual briefing-will respond beIN SPORTS 6 HD Yaya Toure by the alliance, which includes Royal Caribbean to the facts.” — AFP