Sports FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2015 47

Coutinho fires Liverpool into FA Cup semi-final

BLACKBURN: Philippe Coutinho produced a fade, with two defeats in three matches. final 26 minutes due to a hamstring strain, to thwart and Marshall early in moment of magic to earn Liverpool a much- By Rodgers’s admission, it had placed Blackburn had Jordan Rhodes as their lone the second. The introduction of Gestede lift- needed 1-0 victory at second-tier Blackburn extra significance on this competition, which striker for most of the match. It meant play- ed the home fans and gave the Rovers play- Rovers in their FA Cup quarter-final replay on the Reds have not won since 2006, and par- ers had to drive forward from midfield to ers someone other than Rhodes to aim at, Wednesday. The Brazilian fired in an accurate ticularly with the final falling on the day that offer support and Craig Conway almost ben- but Liverpool weathered the brief storm and low drive in the 70th minute at Ewood Park departing captain Steven Gerrard celebrates efited from doing so when an error from took the lead six minutes later. to earn Brendan Rodgers’s side an FA Cup his 35th birthday. “I made the point to the Mamadou Sakho nearly let him, only for the Coutinho’s poor right-wing corner was semi-final date with Aston Villa at Wembley players if we could get through to the semi- Frenchman to slide in and atone. volleyed away, but the ball came back to on April 19. “Over the two games it was a dif- final, it could give us a kick on in the league,” him. The former Inter Milan playmaker ficult tie,” said Liverpool manager Rodgers. Rodgers added. “We have had two poor per- Goalkeeper denies goalkeeper passed to Henderson, darted into space to “They are strong and well organized. We formances and been criticized. Tonight we It was to be Sakho’s last notable involve- receive the return ball, and arrowed a low knew it would be difficult. But my players performed very well.” Rodgers made three ment before he was replaced by Kolo Toure drive in off the far post. Blackburn manager were brilliant.” changes to the team humbled 4-1 by Arsenal after appearing to injure his right hamstring. waved his arms, urging his side Coutinho seems to enjoy playing cup on Saturday, with Dejan Lovren coming in Rhodes has 17 goals to his name this season, to lift themselves again, and there was time replays in this part of northwest England, for his first appearance since the match but he headed a glorious chance over the for one last close call in stoppage time. having also scored the winner against Bolton against Rovers at . bar from Ben Marshall’s left-wing cross. Quiet Eastwood went up to attack Adam Henley’s Wanderers in the fourth round. It was hardly A narrow midfield of Lucas Leiva, Joe for most of the first half, Coutinho forced a long throw-in and managed to slam in a shot comfortable and it was not pretty, but for Allen and Jordan Henderson helped smart save from Simon Eastwood in the on the turn, but Mignolet denied his fellow Rodgers this victory was more than wel- Liverpool enjoy the majority of possession in Blackburn goal after Henderson’s corner goalkeeper a famous equalizer to safeguard come. Since Blackburn held out for a goalless the first half, but both teams saw goal-scor- caused problems shortly before the interval. Liverpool’s place at Wembley. “Our lads gave draw at Anfield in their first encounter a ing opportunities come and go. With Rudy Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet had it a right good go,” said Bowyer. “They had a month ago, Liverpool have seen their hopes Gestede-Liverpool’s tormentor in the first hardly been called into action in the first half, taste for it and it was a great atmosphere in of a place in the ’s top four game-only fit enough to come on for the but he had to make two eye-catching saves the stadium tonight.”— AFP

PSG eye 4-trophy Ronaldo hits 300 mark sweep, book French Cup final Treble-chasing Barca riding high MADRID: Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 300th Real Madrid goal A consistent feature of that run has been the Catalans sud- PARIS: A Zlatan Ibrahimovic hat-trick fired Paris Saint- as the European champions remained four points adrift of La den ability to score from set-pieces and they did so for the Germain to a 4-1 French Cup semi-final victory over Saint- Liga leaders Barcelona with a 2-0 win at Rayo Vallecano on third consecutive game 15 minutes from time when Bartra Etienne at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday as their epic Wednesday. Earlier, Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez were on tar- rose highest to power home Xavi’s in-swinging delivery. And quest for a four-trophy sweep continued apace. get as Barca eased past Almeria 4-0. Barca took over half an Suarez was gifted his second when Pedro Rodriguez unselfish- Ibrahimovic’s opener from the penalty spot on the 21st hour to make the breakthrough, but Messi did so in style as he ly picked out the former Liverpool man to roll into an empty minute was his 100th goal for the club, he then rounded the curled home his 44th goal of the season into the far corner. net. At the other end of the table Deportivo la Coruna sacked ‘keeper on 81 for the second, and completed his hat-trick Suarez made the game safe when he fired into the top corner manager Victor Fernandez after Cordoba ended a 10-game with a fine run and shot in injury-time. 10 minutes after the break and bagged his second of the losing streak with a 1-1 draw against the Galicians at La Riazor. But an injury-depleted Paris had to fight for long periods evening in stoppage time after Marc Bartra headed home the Granada’s survival hopes also suffered a huge blew as Theo of this gutsy Cup tie as Saint-Etienne drew level with a third from Xavi’s corner. Bongonda struck a 93rd minute equalizer for Celta Vigo to Romain Hamouma header, going in 1-1 at half-time before “It is the stage of the season where we have a lot to play secure a 1-1 draw at Nuevo Los Carmenes.— AFP an Ezequiel Lavezzi header put PSG back ahead on 60. for,” said Suarez. “We ought to show our personality because Saint-Etienne coach Christophe Galtier praised Swede we are Barcelona. “In the league we depend on ourselves and Ibrahimovic as “the greatest foreigner to have played in we need to continue in this vein.” Madrid endured a much France” as he lamented his side’s inability to match PSG’s more uncomfortable evening in a capital derby at Rayo before pounding artillery. PSG have scored 11 times against Saint- Ronaldo and James Rodriguez struck midway through the sec- Etienne in four matches this season of which eight have ond-half. “We suffered, but in the end we won which is the come off Ibrahimovic’s boot. most important thing,” said Rodriguez, who again impressed in just his second game back after two months out with a foot injury. ‘War machine’ “In the first-half they were intense, we knew that in the sec- “There’s nothing to say, at this level they are unbeatable, ond they would get a bit tired and not be able to pressure so in any case for us,” said Galtier. “They had the perfect match, much and it was like that.” Rayo dominated the first period in in intensity, technical plan, determination. It’s never good to terms of possession, but it was still Madrid who had the better take on this type of team so near the final. “I’m disappointed chances as Rodriguez shot straight at Diego Cobeno when for my players that they weren’t able to go all the way in unmarked inside the area before Ronaldo headed over from this adventure. But that’s all, there was too big a difference. the Colombian’s free-kick. At the other end, Iker Casillas made “They are a war machine. They were superior on all levels.” a fine save to keep the visitors level at the break as he parried PSG now face second division Auxerre, who beat holders Roberto Trashorras’s back post header to safety. Guingamp 1-0 on Tuesday, in the Cup final at the Stade de Madrid started much stronger after the break and were France on May 30. Paris also take on Bastia in the League inches away from an opener when Gareth Bale’s header from Cup final at the same venue on Saturday, face Barcelona in Rodriguez’s cross looped just wide. There was then a huge Paris in the Champions League quarter-finals first-leg next moment of controversy when Ronaldo was booked despite Wednesday and they lead Ligue 1 by a single point from appearing to be clearly brought down by Antonio Amaya Lyon. inside the area meaning he will miss Saturday’s visit of Eibar to No French club has ever clinched the domestic treble. the Santiago Bernabeu. The chances continued to come and “As long as we’re in the running on four fronts, we’re think- go for Real as Benzema, Marcelo and Bale fired just off target ing about this quadruple, but nothing is won yet,” said PSG in a matter of minutes, and the goal finally arrived when a fine coach Laurent Blanc. “They aren’t machines. You get used to run and cross from Dani Carvajal picked out Ronaldo and he the players scoring two or three goals per match. They also sealed his triple century of goals for Madrid in just 288 games. have the right to be a little tired. Zlatan was tired against Six minutes later it was 2-0 as Ronaldo turned provider this time for Rodriguez to curl home. Barcelona also started slowly Marseille (last weekend). “They are an exceptional group of at the Camp Nou as boss Luis Enrique made six changes with players and Zlatan is one of them. I’m proud to coach these one eye on tomorrow’s tough trip to Sevilla. However, Messi boys. I’ve a fantastic group, with an enormous capacity to opened the scoring in brilliant fashion when he found space work.” With defender David Luiz, midfielder Thiago Motta, on the edge of the area and curled into the far corner with pin- and forwards Edinson Cavani and Lucas all ruled out point accuracy. Suarez made sure of Barca’s 20th win in their through injury, coach Laurent Blanc also rested Blaise BARCELONA: Almeria’s midfielder Verza (left) vies with last 21 games in all competitions with a little help from Cuesta Barcelona’s defender Marc Bartra during the Spanish Matuidi with a packed calendar of matches coming PSG’s the keeper got a hand to the Uruguayan’s powerful effort but way.— AFP league football match FC Barcelona v UD Almeria at the couldn’t keep it out. Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on April 8, 2015. — AFP