WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5, 2014 SPORTS

Minister backs Neymar transfer Froch v Groves Scotland recall skipper Brown BARCELONA: Barcelona should be treated with more respect, Spanish sports minister Miguel boxing re-match SCOTLAND: Scotland have recalled captain for the Six Nations clash Cardenal said yesterday following criticism of the Catalan club for their handling of the Neymar transfer. against France at Murrayfield on Saturday after the flanker was discarded for the last Brazilian striker Neymar was signed last June to add to Barca’s rich array of talent and was also intended LONDON: Wembley Stadium will host the re-match between WBA two matches by coach Scott Johnson. as a show strength as they beat off competition from around Europe including bitter rivals Real Madrid. and IBF super-middleweight champion Carl Froch and George Brown was dropped from the match day squad after the 28-6 defeat by Ireland on However, it has already cost Sandro Rosell the club presidency and while Barca initially claimed the cost Groves on May 31 with promoters expecting to sell more tickets Feb. 2 and missed the loss to England and win over Italy. of the transfer was 57.1 million euros it is now closer to 100m. than for any post-World War Two fight in Britain. “I think Saturday is a game that will really suit Kelly. Unlike other sides in the com- Following Rosell’s exit the club admitted that the player had cost 86.2 million The fight will be the first staged at the new national stadium in petition, France play above the ground a bit and there will be a lot of mauling,” euros and then after being charged with tax fraud last month they agreed to North London, which re-opened in 2007 and seats 90,000. “I think Johnson said in a Scottish (SRU) statement. “I think pay a further 13.5m euros to the Spanish treasury. The Spanish champions we have got the product to fill stadiums like this. When you get an the pitch suits Kelly too and I’ve picked a side that can win reiterated that they did not consider they had committed any offence opportunity to do so, you have to grab it with both hands,” promot- the game and that’s most important.” and said they had made the payment due to a “possible difference of er Eddie Hearn told the BBC. Brown, who replaced Chris Fusaro, was one of interpretation” about how much they owed. Barca have been criticised by “This is the ultimate, in my opinion — steeped in history — and three changes in the pack with prop fans and the media in Spain but have found an ally in Cardenal, the this is the first fight at the new stadium. And what a fight.” The two starting at tighthead and coming in for Secretary of State for Sport. Britons first clashed at the Manchester Arena in November when the ill Ryan Wilson in the back row. “Barca are the team of Xavi, Puyol, Busquets, Pique, Cesc, Victor Valdes, Groves, 25, was controversially stopped by 36-year-old Froch in the Scotland: 15-, 14-, Pedro.... and Iniesta, who scored the goal that made history (to win the ninth of 12 scheduled rounds. 13-Alex Dunbar, 12-, 11-, 10- 2010 World Cup), who brought so much joy and brought the world to Groves had floored Nottingham-based Froch in the opening , 9-; 8-David Denton, 7-Kelly our feet with our style of football,” he wrote in the Spanish newspaper El round and was ahead on the judges’ cards when referee Howard Brown, 6-Johnnie Beattie, 5-Jim Hamilton, 4-Richie Gray, Pais. “As long as there is no conviction, and we are at the very early Foster stepped in. 3-Geoff Cross, 2-, 1- stages of a case where no one can foresee the outcome, “I don’t want to fight in Nottingham. Nottingham’s not big Replacements: 16-, 17-, 18- Barca have reason to maintain their stance that they acted enough,” Froch told Sky Sports news. “It only holds the best part of , 19-, 20-Ryan Wilson, 21-Chris within the law and met the necessary rules. —Reuters 30,000. —Reuters Cusiter, 22-Duncan Taylor, 23-. —Reuters

Pistorius’ witness relives ‘terrifying screams’

PRETORIA: A key witness in Oscar Pistorius’s murder trial wept Runner” for his carbon-fibre running blades, has pleaded not in court yesterday, saying she still relives the “terrifying screams” guilty to murder and three unrelated gun charges. heard from his home the night Reeva Steenkamp was killed. While admitting killing Steenkamp, the sprinter described it In vivid testimony that cast doubt on the star sprinter’s as a “tragic accident”, denying murderous intent and saying “we defence, Michelle Burger, her husband and a third neighbour were in a loving relationship”. each told the court they heard a commotion then gunshots on If found guilty of premeditated murder, Pistorius faces 25 Valentine’s Day 2013. years in South Africa’s notoriously brutal jails and an abrupt end The trio’s account directly contradicts Pistorius’s claim that to his glittering sporting career. he shot the 29-year-old model and law graduate Steenkamp In the face of the prosecution’s onslaught, Pistorius’s lawyer through a locked toilet door after mistaking her for an intruder. Barry Roux spent most of Tuesday trying to pick apart the wit- In an emotionally charged second day of the South African nesses’ account of events. Paralympian’s trial, Burger broke down in the witness box after In terse exchanges, he accused Burger of rejecting Pistorius’s fierce cross examination, saying events of that February 14 still account out of hand, moulding her testimony to fit media haunt her. reports and jumping to conclusions. “When I’m in the shower, I relive her shouts. The terrifying “You made up your mind that his version could not be,” said screams,” the university lecturer said, her voice cracking with Roux, claiming Pistorius sounds like a women when he screams emotion as she was unable to hold back the tears. and that the bangs heard were him trying to break down the Another neighbour, Estelle van der Merwe, who lives less toilet door with a bat. “You interpreted cricket bat shots to be than 100 metres (feet) away from Pistorius’s home, later told the gunshots and screaming to be a woman and not Oscar. If you court she heard arguing coming from the house. didn’t do that, his version would make sense.” “I woke up in the morning at 1:56am to sounds of someone Tensions in court were heightened when a statement was talking loudly and fighting,” she told the court. “It lasted about read explaining the violent nature of Steenkamp’s death. an hour.” As Roux claimed a gunshot wound to the head would have Later she recalled waking up to the sound of loud bangs. made it impossible for Steenkamp to scream, Pistorius bowed Burger’s husband, Charl Johnson, also took the stand, telling his head and folded his hands behind his neck. judge Thokozile Masipa that a woman’s screams woke him up “The person with that brain damage will have no cognitive and that he ran to his balcony, less than 200 metres from response,” continued Roux. “It cannot be. She could not have Pistorius’s home. screamed.” Prosecution lawyer Gerrie Nel interjected to say it “At that point the fear and intensity of her voice escalated was the last of four shots that struck Steenkamp’s head, the first and it was clear that this person’s life was in danger,” he said. three hitting her right side, the wall and her shoulder. ST PAUL: Reto Berra No. 29 of the Calgary Flames looks on as Torrey Mitchell No. 17 of the Minnesota Wild controls the “That’s when the first shots were fired,” although Johnson could Meanwhile, across the court, one of Steenkamp’s relatives puck during the second period of the game. —AFP not recall how many. Both Johnson and Burger also said they touched a photo of the budding reality TV star, as a man put his heard a male person shout for help, a point that was seized arm around her. Proceedings are expected to resume today upon by the defence as evidence Pistorius was calling for help. with Charl Johnson retaking the stand and facing cross exami- Sabres, Flames Pistorius, 27, a double amputee known as the “Blade nation. The trial is expected to last three weeks. —AFP suffer defeat

DALLAS: Alex Chiasson broke a for the first time in 25 days due to the win. The Blue Jackets completed a third-period tie with his first goal in Olympic break, the Wild also three-game season sweep of 13 games, and Lindy Ruff earned his improved to 14-4-2 since the new Toronto. Mason Raymond had the 600th NHL coaching victory with a 3- year began while welcoming captain lone goal for Toronto, bringing the 2 win over his former team, the Mikko Koivu back from injury. Maple Leafs within a goal with 4:15 Buffalo Sabres, on Monday night. Zach Parise gave the Wild some remaining. Toronto made a late flur- Jamie Benn’s slap shot from the blue insurance by deflecting a shot past ry after goalie James Reimer was line deflected off Chiasson and past Reto Berra with 5:16 remaining for his pulled for an extra skater, but could- goalie Jhonas Enroth for a power- 21st goal. Just 77 seconds later, Mark n’t tie it. Reimer, in his first start play goal at 10:25 of the third. Ruff Giordano scored to bring the Flames since Jan. 25, made 31 saves. posted his first 571 wins with the back within a goal. But Kuemper Toronto had won five of six before Sabres before joining the Stars. hung on to raise his record to 11-3-2. the Olympic break. Defensemen Jordie Benn and Alex Mike Cammalleri, playing perhaps Goligoski both scored their third goal his last game for the Flames with the KINGS 2, CANADIENS 1 of the season for the Stars, who over- NHL trade deadline looming on Jeff Carter scored his 250th came a 1-0 deficit. Benn had been Wednesday, tied it 1-1 in the second career NHL goal on a power play, scoreless for 11 games, and Goligoski period. Mikael Granlund had two Jonathan Quick made 17 saves to had gone 48 without a goal. assists while playing in the NHL for remain unbeaten since the Olympic Tyler Ennis scored twice for the first time against his brother break, and Los Angeles beat Buffalo, with Matt Moulson assisting Markus Granlund. Montreal for its fifth straight victory. on both goals. The second got the Jake Muzzin scored an early goal Sabres even at 3:23 of the third. BLUE JACKETS 2, MAPLE LEAFS 1 for the Kings, who have won four Enroth made 36 saves, and Dallas’ Dalton Prout and Artem Anisimov games in six days since the break to Kari Lehtonen had 21. scored second-period goals, and solidify their playoff position in the Columbus held off Toronto. The Pacific Division, 10 points ahead of WILD 3, FLAMES 2 Maple Leafs dropped their third fourth-place Vancouver. Jared Spurgeon’s power-play goal straight since the Winter Olympics. Los Angeles hung on to an early in the third period helped Minnesota They had won seven consecutive at lead for its first home victory over beat Calgary and notch its season- home, their best stretch there since a the Canadiens since March 8, 2003. high fifth straight win. nine-game run in the 2006-07 sea- PK Subban scored and Peter Budaj Kyle Brodziak also scored, rookie son. stopped 20 shots for Montreal, Darcy Kuemper stopped 21 shots Prout, a defenseman, and which had won five of six. The during his 15th start in a row, and the Anisimov scored less than three Canadiens opened a four-game Wild raised their record at home to minutes apart for Columbus. Sergei West Coast trip with their first regu- 22-7-2. Playing in front of their fans Bobrovsky made 28 saves in the lation loss since Feb. 2. —AP

NHL results/standings

Columbus 2, Toronto 1; Dallas 3, Buffalo 2; Minnesota 3, Calgary 2; Los Angeles 2, Montreal 1. Western Conference Eastern Conference Pacific Division Atlantic Division W L OTL GF GA PTS Boston 38 17 5 188 137 81 Montreal 34 22 7 160 154 75 Anaheim 43 14 5 202 150 91 Tampa Bay 34 22 5 177 156 73 San Jose 39 17 6 188 151 84 Toronto 32 23 8 186 193 72 Los Angeles 35 22 6 152 134 76 Detroit 28 20 12 159 165 68 Vancouver 28 25 10 150 166 66 Ottawa 27 23 11 174 199 65 Phoenix 27 23 11 169 180 65 Florida 23 31 7 151 197 53 Calgary 23 31 7 141 185 53 Buffalo 18 35 8 124 183 44 Edmonton 20 34 8 154 204 48 Metropolitan Division Pittsburgh 40 16 4 192 149 84 Central Division Philadelphia 32 24 6 174 180 70 St. Louis 40 14 6 200 139 86 NY Rangers 33 26 3 162 157 69 Chicago 36 12 14 213 166 86 Washington 29 23 10 184 186 68 Columbus 31 25 5 180 170 67 Colorado 39 17 5 188 164 83 New Jersey 26 23 13 148 153 65 Minnesota 34 21 7 153 150 75 Carolina 26 26 9 151 173 61 Dallas 29 22 10 173 171 68 NY Islanders 23 32 8 173 215 54 Winnipeg 30 26 6 174 178 66 Note: Overtime losses (OTL) are worth one point in the Nashville 26 25 10 150 185 62 standings and are not included in the loss column (L).