THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2013 SPORTS Sneijder sinks Juventus to send ‘Gala’ to last 16

Galatasaray 1

MILAN: AC Milan forward Mario Balotelli (right) grimaces in pain after being Juventus 0 fouled by Ajax’s Daley Blind during a Champions League, Group H, soccer match between AC Milan and Ajax yesterday. —AP

ISTANBUL: An 85th minute strike from Wesley Sneijder secured what Milan limp will go down as a controversial 1-0 win for Galatasaray over Juventus and a place in the last 16 of the Champions League yesterday. into last 16 Galatasaray’s second win in six games left them second in Group B on seven points, allowing the Turkish again went close in the 19th minute with giants to join Real Madrid in the last Davy Klaassen’s diving header which 16 of the competition. Juventus fin- AC Milan 0 Abbiati did well to turn around his post. A ished third on six points, two more moment of madness from Montolivo saw than FC Copenhagen, and drop into him shown a straight red card and left the Europa League. Milan with 10 men for the remaining 68 The match resumed in the 32nd Ajax 0 minutes. minute at the stadium Milan coach after officials called a halt to pro- immediately rang the changes, bringing ceedings while the match stood off forward Stephan El Shaarawy - scoreless on Tuesday due to heavy : Galatasaray’s players celebrate winning during the UEFA Champions League group B MILAN: AC Milan is through to the who was making his first start after three snowfall. Officials had managed to football match yesterday, at Turk Telekom Arena in Istanbul. —AFP Champions League last 16 after holding months out with injury - and replacing clear the pitch of snow for the Ajax to a goalless draw yesterday despite him with Andrea Poli. Milan fans, realizing remaining 59 minutes of the game, another postponement. “It was diffi- Juventus eventually grew into their final 20 minutes, with Carlos Tevez playing most of the match with 10 men how difficult the situation had become, however snow continued to fall and cult to play the ball, maybe it would stride and were by far the dominant finally finding his feet. On 74 minutes after captain was sent immediately got behind the players, several areas of the pitch were virtu- have been better not to play. It was team towards the end of the second the Argentinean striker squeezed off. Montolivo was shown a straight red upping the noise levels at San Siro and ally unplayable. Juventus coach dangerous for the players,” Mancini period, however the chances they did between two defenders on the right card in the 22nd minute for a stamp on resoundly jeering every time Poulsen was clearly unhappy, told Sky Sport Italia. create were only ever half-chances. and from the resulting corner defend- Christian Poulsen. The Ajax midfielder was touched the ball. Ajax almost made its especially as a large chunk of dam- “It was a difficult situation, but Four minutes after the restart er Giorgio Chiellini saw an effort go loudly jeered every time he touched the numerical advantage count immediately aged pitch lay in Juventus’s attacking the lads did well. The point we took Frenchman Paul Pogba, playing in wide. ball and was substituted at halftime. but Schone was denied by another fine end for the second half. from Turin served us well and today central midfield for injured Andrea Four minutes later Tevez failed to Poulsen had gone closest to scoring but Abbiati save. He complained vociferously of the we deserved the win.” Conte said his Pirlo, managed to get a shot away get enough height on his cross from headed off the inside of the post in the The Dutch side could have taken the playing conditions to the match ref- pleas to have the match postponed from outside the area as Galatasary the right of goal as Juventus piled the fifth minute. Ajax dominated but failed to lead on the stroke of halftime when it was eree at half-time, but to no avail. It fell on deaf ears. “We’ve been penal- failed to clear but his effort was col- pressure on. And minutes later Tevez find the goal it needed, thanks mainly to awarded a free kick in a dangerous, cen- made for a farcical game of football, ized in a very harsh manner,” com- lected by . cut the ball back for Claudio an impressive performance from Milan tral position after Sulley Muntari shoul- with many passes incomplete, over- plained the Juventus coach. “I con- Sneijder was next to show a Marchisio following Arturo Vidal’s goalkeeper Christian Abbiati. der-barged over Klaassen. But Schone played and stuck in the mud as play- gratulated the lads because they glimpse of creation on 54 minutes, smart cross to the left, but Marchisio’s Milan rarely threatened but managed blasted over the crossbar. Milan seemed ers tried to compensate for the poor gave everything they could on a the Dutchman pouncing on a loose first-time strike was straight at to earn the draw it needed to qualify for to be content to camp out in its own half conditions underfoot. Galatasaray pitch that wasn’t fit for football, and ball from Drogba to send a drive nar- Muslera. Juve were having the lion’s the knockout stages for the 11th consecu- and try to attack on the break. coach , who took this fact penalized us a lot. rowly wide of Buffon’s upright. Buffon share of play but were ultimately tive season. Milan needed just a point to Massimiliano Allegri’s men did not have a over from Fatih Terim the day before “The shame is that we were then pulled off a superb diving stop stunned five minutes from time when progress and was undefeated at home in single shot on target the entire second holding Juventus to a 2-2 draw in reduced to having to qualify in this down low to block Drogba’s goal- Sneijder beat Buffon at his far post the Champions League. Ajax had not won half and it almost got caught out several Turin, admitted the “dangerous” con- last game. Hopefully the experience bound shot from the edge of the from a tight angle after running on to any of its last six away fixtures in the com- times, but Ajax couldn’t find the finishing ditions should have perhaps led to will serve us well for the future.” area. Juventus moved up a gear in the Drogba’s header. —AFP petition but was full of confidence follow- touch. ing a shock 2-1 defeat of Barcelona. The Abbiati pulled off another good save in visitors almost got off to the perfect start the 67th minute, using his legs to block Zenit make history Wasteful Porto eliminated an angled drive from Klaassen, who had but Cristian Zapata perfectly timed his VIENNA: Zenit St Petersburg created Champions League been left unmarked on the right side of utes as he connected sweetly with Danilo’s interception to clear for a corner as Viktor history by becoming the first team to qualify for the knock- the penalty area. Ajax again went close to cross from the right and the ball rebound- Fischer was about to hit Lasse Schone’s out stages with only six points from six matches after a 4-1 breaking the deadlock but Fischer’s Atletico Madrid 2 ed to safety off the crossbar. Six minutes cross. defeat at Austria Vienna yesterday. The Russian side went attempt rolled narrowly past the far post. later it was Atletico who went in front as Ajax went even closer from the result- through thanks to Porto’s 2-0 defeat at Group G table-top- The visitors almost snatched a win with Garcia’s fierce effort from a narrow angle ing corner but Poulsen headed off the pers Atletico Madrid who finished on 16 points. inside of the left upright. Milan was press- the last kick of the game, but substitute caught Porto keeper Helton napping at his ing but struggling to carve out clear Kolbeinn Sigthorsson’s overhead kick flew Porto 0 near post. goalscoring opportunities, while Ajax narrowly wide of the left post. —AP Silvestre Varela then saw a headed effort Austria Wien 4 clip the bar as Porto responded positively and they had a glorious chance to equalize MADRID: Portuguese champions Porto when Aranzubia upended Martinez inside were left to rue a number of missed oppor- the area. However, Josue’s powerful spot- Zenit 1 tunities as they bowed out of the kick was placed too close to the keeper Champions League with a 2-0 defeat away who redeemed himself with a smart save. It to Atletico Madrid yesterday. The visitors wasn’t to be Martinez’s night as he struck struck the woodwork three times in the the post once more moments later. And Atletico eventually took advantage of Zenit dominated most of the match but Vienna keeper first-half and saw Atletico keeper Daniel Porto’s high line on the counter-attack as was in great form, saving three times in quick Aranzubia save Josue’s penalty as goals Costa raced onto Oliver Torres’ through ball succession in the first half to deny Hulk twice and Cristian from Raul Garcia and Diego Costa saw the to round Helton and squeeze home his Ansaldi. Zenit deservedly went ahead on 35 minutes when hosts maintain their unbeaten record in the fourth goal in just three Champions League a fine through ball by Hulk found Aleksandr Kerzhakov who Champions League this season. Porto’s appearances. rounded Lindner and fired home his seventh goal of the defeat means that Zenit St Petersburg David Villa replaced Costa at the break as season. A minute before halftime, Vienna were level when progress to the last 16 despite the Russians Simeone looked ahead to Saturday’s visit of Philipp Hosiner collected the ball on the edge of the box losing 4-1 to Austria Vienna in the night’s Valencia in . Without their top scorer, and hit a low right-foot drive past Yuri Lodygin. other game in Group G, whilst Porto drop Atletico were happy to sit on their lead Tomas Jun made it 2-1 after 48 minutes when he got on into the Europa League thanks to their bet- rather than go in search of a third and as a the end of a great cross from and tucked it ter head-to-head record against the result the second-half was far less of a spec- away from close range and three minutes later it was 3-1. Austrians. tacle as Porto pressed without having creat- Hosiner was quickest to react when Yuri Lodygin pushed With Atletico already assured of first ing any clear openings of note. However, out an effort from Florian Mader. Romain Kienast made it 4- place in the group, rested a that was of no concern to Simeone’s men 1 in stoppage-time for Vienna’s first Champions League win number of first team regulars from the start who now await to see who they will face in in their debut season. Porto and Vienna finished on five and it was no surprise that Porto started the last 16 when the draw is made in Nyon, points but Porto ended third because of a better head-to- the brighter. Jackson Martinez went des- Switzerland on December 16. —AFP head record against the Austrians. —Reuters perate close to the opener on eight min-

GELSENKIRCHEN: Schalke’s Felipe Santana (left) and Sead Kolasinac (right) chal- Dortmund sneak ready for winter lenge for the ball with Basel’s Giovanni Sio (center) during the Champions League or summer World Cup Group E soccer match between FC Schalke 04 and FC Basel yesterday. —AP into CL last 16 DOHA: Qatar is prepared to stage the 2022 World Cup in the summer or in the winter and will abide by whatever decision Schalke power into world governing body FIFA takes on the matter according to while Marseille had to deal with the a senior official in Doha. “From the beginning, we’ve always absence of France international Mathieu Marseille 1 said we can stage the World Cup in summer,” said Hassan Al- CL knockout stage Valbuena and Ghana striker Andre Ayew. Thawadi, Secretary General of the Qatar 2022 Organizing Centre back Nicolas N’Koulou and mid- Committee. “The cooling system for the stadia will be very 12th minute with sending fielder Alaixys Romao also missed out much part of our legacy. But if the football world or FIFA his clearance on to the crossbar and Dortmund 2 want it to be staged in the winter then we are happy and Schalke 2 teenager Max Meyer seeing his rebound through suspension and N’Koulou’s ready. If they want it in summer, then we are still ready.” shot cleared on the line. absence was immediately felt. In the fourth The awarding of the 2022 World Cup to Qatar has been Jefferson Farfan picked up the ball in minute, the central defense let met with a volley of criticism especially over the searing the box but sent his curling shot narrowly Lewandowski power his way into the area heat that bakes the Gulf emirate in the summer when the Basel 0 wide as Schalke pressed high in the Basel MARSEILLE: Borussia Dortmund sneaked to flick the ball past Steve Mandanda after tournament is traditionally held. Some have suggested that half. Things took a turn for the worse in the into the Champions League (CL) last 16 it should be switched to the winter time to protect players 31st minute for the Swiss, whose last trip to when Kevin Grosskreutz’s late strike earned collecting Eric Durm’s long pass. Marseille, and fans alike, but this has run into opposition from Germany was a 7-0 demolition by Bayern them a 2-1 win at 10-man Olympique though, equalized 10 minutes later when European clubs, who would lose their top players for sever- GELSENKIRCHEN: Schalke 04 powered Munich two seasons ago, when Ivan Ivanov Marseille in a nail-biting Group F finale yes- Souleymane Diawara headed the rebound al weeks in the middle of the season and from the into the Champions League (CL) knockout was sent off for a foul on Adam Szalai who into the empty goal after Saber Khalifa’s International Olympic Committee fearful of any competi- stage with a 2-0 win over 10-man Basel yes- was charging clear at the edge of the box. terday. Souleymane Diawara had cancelled header from Dimitri Payet’s free kick had tion with the Sochi Winter Olympics in February. terday, helped by a fine goal from Julian The Hungarian forward had come on sec- out Robert Lewandowski’s early opener but Speaking on the sidelines of the Doha Goals sports sum- Draxler and a clear offside effort from Joel onds earlier for injured captain Benedikt Borussia were heading for the exit until bounced off the bar. Goalkeeper Roman mit being held in Doha, Al-Thawadi rejected any sugges- Matip. The Germans, who moved into the Hoewedes as coach Jens Keller, under Grosskreutz found the back of the net with Weidenfeller completely misjudged the free tions that Qatar was not fit to host the World Cup. “We have last 16 for the second consecutive season, mounting pressure to turn things around, a deflected shot three minutes from time. kick. always complied with FIFA regulations and these allega- took a deserved lead in the 51st minute brought on a striker for a central defender. The game turned the visitors’ way when tions have absolutely no basis,” he added. “Our bid team through 20-year-old Draxler after dominat- Germany international Draxler and 18- His goal meant last season’s runners-up fin- Payet was sent off 11 minutes before the had to build credibility, showcase Qatar and deliver the ing from the start and needing victory to year-old Meyer continued to wreaked hav- ish top of Group F. Arsenal are second, also messages. We worked very hard and were at every major advance from Group E. They were lucky to oc with their dazzling display of tight drib- on 12 points, after losing 2-0 at Napoli who interval after receiving two yellow cards in event in the build-up to winning the right to host the tour- have had their second goal count, however, bling and explosive speed but Farfan failed are eliminated. Napoli also finished with 12 quick succession, the second for simulation. nament. with at least four Schalke players clearly in to stab in from close range in their biggest but were robbed of a last-16 place by their Marco Reus hit the woodwork in the 57th as “Why did we win it? Without wanting to sound arrogant, offside position when Matip slotted in from chance before the break. Draxler managed Borussia piled on the pressure but despite it was because we had the best bid in terms of messages. close range to seal the win and relieve to break the deadlock five minutes after head-to-head record. their domination, they failed to score. “We offered a compact World Cup with no long distance some of the pressure on coach Jens Keller. the restart with Farfan delivering a cross at Marseille were down to 10 men from the travel involved; we offered the perfect geographic location The win moved Schalke, who have the far post and the 20-year-old drilling in. 34th minute when Dimitri Payet was sent Lewandowski inexplicably missed an emp- that allows three billion prime time TV viewers; and we dropped down to sixth in the , Matip then was left in the box along with off. They are the first French team to finish ty net after dribbling past Mandanda fol- offered a concept of modular stadia.” “There are so many above their Swiss rivals into second place three other Schalke players but neither offi- the group phase without a point. lowing a Marseille defensive blunder in the misconceptions about the Middle East and the World Cup with Chelsea securing top spot in the cial signalled for offside and the Cameroon 67th, but Grosskreutz’s low shot from the in 2022 will go a long way to showing the world the friend- group. Schalke, who had not won any international had little trouble in scoring. Dortmund were without the injured Sven edge of the area spared Juergen Klopp’s liness, hospitality and sense of humor of the Middle East. It group game since beating Basel on match- The Swiss side will go into the Europa Bender, Ilkay Gundogan, Neven Subotic, is a great opportunity for us all to come together. —AFP day two, carved out their first chance in the League. —Reuters Mats Hummels and Marcel Schmelzer, team an embarrassing exit. —Reuters