THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016 SPORTS United’s Martial can become a great striker: Blind LONDON: Anthony Martial has all the matches already how much quality he men travel to face second tier side Derby Olympiakos Piraeus and a brace against “I think Olivier has a work rate for the attributes to become a great striker, his has,” Blind told the club’s website County in the fourth round of the FA Cup Liverpool in the Premier League. team which is very high. He’s not just a Manchester United team mate Daley (www.manutd.com). “If he is working that tomorrow. Giroud, 29, has netted an impressive forward, he’s always there (when we Blind has said. hard like he is now, improving and Meanwhile, ability to ‘smell’ situations 18 goals in 32 games in all competition have) free-kicks or corners against us. Following his big-money move from improving each week, then he can key to Giroud’s form - Koscielny Jan 27 for the Gunners this season and “You can see now that he smells the French side Monaco in the close season, become a really great striker. He is very (Reuters) - Olivier Giroud’s high work rate Koscielny stressed the forward gives situations well - when he needs to shoot Martial has scored eight goals in 27 quick of course, he is strong and I think and an ability to “smell” situations have much more to the team than just those quickly, or control the ball, like he did appearances for United. Blind is he is really calm in front of the goal. been key to the striker’s impressive form goals. “He’s so massive and that’s one of against Liverpool with his second goal.” impressed by the talent of the France “He has everything needed to this season, according to his Arsenal the best qualities for a striker. When he Arsenal continue their FA Cup international as well as how the 20-year- become a great striker. Now he is evolv- team mate and compatriot Laurent can play like this, with one or two touch- defence hosting second tier side old has adapted to English football. ing and performing in the training ses- Koscielny. The France international has es and staying in the box, which is where Burnley on Saturday and take on “He is a big talent, he is still young and sions, working hard on and off the pitch scored nine times in his last 11 club we want him, we can score in the air,” Southampton on Tuesday hoping to we cannot forget that. But you can see with his languages and personality, he is appearances, including a vital Koscielny told the club website improve their third position in the on the training pitch and even in the coming along really well.” Louis van Gaal’s Champions League hat-trick at (www.arsenal.com). Premier League table. — Reuters Lille punish Bordeaux to make first League Cup final LILLE: Lille eased past an error-strewn but back-up stopper Prior performed won- Bordeaux 5-1 on Tuesday to secure their ders to deny Rony Lopes’s left-footed shot first ever appearance in a French League on 36 minutes. Cup final. Their opponents in the April 23 Lille, who had fallen at this stage in 2013 final at the Stade de France will be the win- to Saint-Etienne and last season to PSG, ner of yesterday’s semi-final between Paris wrapped up the tie as half-time Saint-Germain and Toulouse. approached. First Bordeaux defender Three-time winners Bordeaux were Ludovic Lamine Sane inadvertently put the form side going into the last four tie them back in front when he lobbed help- at Lille’s Stade Pierre-Mauroy. Willy less Prior shortly after replacing Andre Sagnol’s team arrived unbeaten in 11 Biyogo Poko. matches in all competitions after a late Then Soumoaro connected with Renato show rescued an unlikely point against Civelli’s header following a free kick to send Nantes at the weekend. Lille heading for the final. Eric Bautheac In contrast Lille had seen their recent added the fourth near the hour mark with resurgence under new coach Frederic Soufiane Boufal putting the finishing Antonetti stutter. They were dumped out of touches to a memorable night for the hosts the French Cup by fourth-tier Trelissac and in the third minute of injury time. suffered the ignominy of becoming the first Antonetti said: “This win is down to team to lose to Troyes in the league this team spirit, to generosity, to desire. term. But it was Lille who raced into a sev- Football’s a team sport and tonight every- enth minute lead when after good work by one was playing for his teammates.” Florent Balmont on the left Djibril Sidibe On Wednesday, PSG continue their crossed to Yassine Benzia who capitalised quest for a domestic treble when they on a collision between Diego Contento and meet Toulouse for the third time in just goalkeeper Jerome Prior to score from six eleven days. yards. Having already knocked Dominique On 23 minutes, Lille had the ball in the Arribage’s men out of the French Cup and back of the net again only for Sidibe’s effort beaten them in the league in the last fort- to be ruled offside. Bordeaux drew back night, PSG will be looking to complete a level ten minutes later after Lille defender quick-fire hat-trick of wins in their League Bakary Soumaoro lost possession, with Cup semi-final at the Parc des Princes. Clement Chantome arriving quickly on the Laurent Blanc’s side are going for a third scene to fire between the legs of Vincent successive League Cup success and with LIVERPOOL: Liverpool’s players celebrate after winning the English League Cup semifinal second leg soccer match between Liverpool and Stoke Enyeama. the league title all but sealed already, they City at Anfield stadium in Liverpool, England, Tuesday. — AP Bordeaux were without injured first can afford to focus on the three cup com- choice keeper goalkeeper Cedric Carrasso, petitions. — AFP Liverpool reach League Cup Balotelli strikes as Milan dent Alessandria Cup hopes final after penalty drama MILAN: Mario Balotelli scored his first trap to run on to Keisuke Honda’s perfect LONDON: Keeper Simon Mignolet proved the manager Juergen Klopp who could not bare to winners, struggled to create any chance of note goal for AC Milan in over four months as ball but despite rounding Vannucchi the shootout hero as Liverpool reached the League watch as Allen’s final penalty hit the net. in the first 45 minutes with their forays into the Rossoneri put a dent in third division striker hit wide. Cup final on penalties after a gripping last-four “It was great, the atmosphere was special,” Stoke territory frequently ending with a mis- Alessandria’s Italian Cup hopes with a 1-0 When Luca Antonelli was brought second leg tie at Anfield ended 1-1 on aggregate the German told Sky Sports. “It was a good placed pass or a timely Stoke tackle. The visitors win in Turin on Tuesday. down by Alessandria captain Santiago on Tuesday. game for my side against a difficult side to play.” got their reward for blunting Liverpool’s attack Balotelli only returned to competition Morero as he ran in to the box, the refer- Mignolet saved twice in the shootout, includ- Liverpool will face either Everton or with a stoppage-time goal that prompted an two weeks ago having been sidelined ee pointed to the spot. ing a brilliant stop to deny Marc Muniesa in sud- Manchester City in the final on Feb. 28, with angry response from the hosts, with Arnautovic with a hernia problem since September. Balotelli stepped up to send 20-year- den death, which allowed Joe Allen to stroke Roberto Martinez’s side holding a 2-1 lead having strayed a metre offside when he stroked Alessandria borrowed Torino’s Olympic old Vannucchi the wrong way and score home the decisive spotkick and send Liverpool heading into Wednesday’s second leg. For home Bojan’s cross. Stadium for the first leg of the Cup semi his first goal since hitting the opener in a to Wembley. Stoke manager Mark Hughes, there was little Liverpool’s Firmino rattled the outside of the but Angelo Gregucci’s men were a pale 3-2 win at Udinese on September 22. It was a fortunate end to an uncomfortable consolation to be had other than his side’s posi- post shortly after the interval, but Stoke contin- shadow of the side that had eliminated Milan dominated the second half but evening for the hosts, who were under pressure tive performance. “I thought we merited a win,” ued pile on the pressure with the hosts’ defence Palermo, Genoa and Spezia in previous it was far from impressive stuff and coach for much of the encounter which ended 1-0 to he said. “We got a win on paper-goodness looking increasingly erratic as the encounter rounds and will be hoping to do better at Sinisa Mihajlovic was openly frustrated Stoke City after extra time. Stoke took the lead knows how long it’s been since we won here- wore on. the San Siro in a week’s time. on the touchlines. Balotelli did well to in first-half stoppage time when Marko but the objective was to get to a Wembley final Stoke almost took the lead in extra time Balotelli, on loan from Liverpool, start- snatch possession on the left flank to set Arnautovic swept the ball home from an offside which we didn’t.” when substitute Marco van Ginkel bustled ed up front alongside Brazilian Luiz up Honda with an inviting cutback but position but the assistant’s flag stayed down and through and struck the outside of the post, but Adriano, making his first debut since an the Japanese midfielder’s first-timer the goal was allowed to stand.