SPORTS Wednesday, April 18, 2018 21

WestLondon Ham steal Stoke pointtaken her advice, stayed at ndy Carroll climbed off home and tuned in instead. the treatment table to But at least one man was Ascore a dramatic last-minute grateful for a lack of incident. equaliser and deny Stoke a Referee Michael Oliver was in precious win in their battle for charge of his first match since survival. he caused a storm by sending The striker, out injured since off Juventus goalkeeper the turn of the year, was sent Gianluigi Buffon against Real on as a last throw of the dice last week. by manager with Oliver was busier shortly West Ham trailing to Peter after the break, though, as West Crouch’s goal. Ham twice had the ball in the And within three minutes back of the net only to see both Carroll fired home from the goals disallowed. edge of the area to snatch a First Arnautovic converted 1-1 draw which edged the Cresswell’s cross with a deft Hammers closer to safety and header but he had strayed left Stoke in serious trouble. marginally offside. England boss Gareth Then a low Edimilson Southgate was in attendance Fernendes drive flew past to witness two Three Lions Butland but Arnautovic, this strikers of old take centre stage. time clearly offside, was in the But Southgate was running keeper’s way and may even the rule over opposing have got the faintest of touches. goalkeepers Joe Hart and Jack Butland made another Butland -- and it was Stoke decent save to palm away stopper Butland who at least Cresswell’s long-range effort, won that showdown with Hart but when Hart was called into badly at fault for Crouch’s goal. action from similar distance Hart did repel early shots he failed. from Moritz Bauer and Mame West Ham United’s Andy Carroll celebrates scoring a late equaliser (Pic courtesy: theguardian) The Manchester City loanee Biram Diouf, while Butland Butland then made a vital blank volley hit his old team- to a close. show, which started the same fumbled Xherden Shaqiri’s kept out Arthur Masuaku’s save to keep out West Ham’s mate in the face. Shortly before the match time as kick-off. shot and was too slow to react, cross-shot with his legs and best chance of the first half, Butland got down well to Hammers vice-chairman At half-time many fans at allowing Crouch to stick out a tipped ’s free- not that he knew much about it hold a low drive Karren Brady had taken to the London Stadium were long leg and stab the ball home. kick wide. as Marko Arnautovic’s point- as a tepid opening half drew Twitter to plug her new TV probably wishing they had (PA Sport) Rangers Bale is not need to raise Aguero confirms their game London knee surgery sad at Real tiliyan Petrov has claimed Rangers are no longer Manchester resolve the issue. Sa big club after their latest ergio Aguero has The Argentina international humiliation at the hands of Sundergone minor knee tweeted: “Recovering from Madrid Celtic. surgery, the Manchester City an arthroscopy on my knee. London ahead of his side’s top-flight Brendan Rodgers’ side striker has announced. Fully motivated to get back eal Madrid head clash against Athletic Bilbao thrashed a hapless Gers 4-0 Aguero has been troubled soon to the field.” coach Zinedine on Wednesday, insists he is in the William Hill Scottish by a problem in his left knee No timescale for his RZidane insists Gareth not at odds with Bale. Cup semi-final at Hampden on for the past five weeks. recovery has been given but, Bale is not upset “We’re all on the same Thursday, their 13th Last Friday City boss Pep with City already crowned despite his lack side and we need all the meeting unbeaten. Guardiola admitted he was Premier League champions, of game time at players,” said Zidane, who It has been another season unsure when the 29-year- the World Cup will be his the Bernabeu this was also addressing the out- of turmoil for the Ibrox club, old, who has scored main target. season. of-form Karim Benzema. who sacked manager Pedro 30 goals this season Aguero has not started a Bale has started “They don’t come across as Caixinha earlier in the season and 199 for the club game since City’s victory only 16 times in sad to me. before failing to lure their in total, would be fit over Chelsea on March 4, LaLiga and has “They’re training well. Of primary target Derek McInnes again. although he was an unused played just 81 course, both would like to away from Aberdeen, which Aguero has now substitute against Basel on minutes of knock- score more goals, but they resulted in had keyhole surgery March 7. (PA Sport) out Champions are working well. taking the job until the end of in a bid to League football in “It always happens in a the season. Madrid’s run to the team where you have some The club suspended semi-finals. players on good form and experienced duo The former that is what happening at and Lee Wallace on Tuesday Tottenham forward the minute. We’ve got very following an alleged exchange did not feature in good players and I have to with the manager and have Real’s win over evaluate that.” fared little better on the pitch in Malaga last Sunday, Zidane’s side will travel recent weeks with just one win and the 28-year-old has to Germany next week for in their previous five matches. Gareth Bale (file pic) widely been linked with a the opening rubber of their That has seen seem drawn move back to the Premier Champions League last- into a battle for the top three League this summer. four match against Bayern by Aberdeen and Hibernian, Manchester United, Munich. But before their which Petrov says is damning Chelsea and Spurs are all mouthwatering test against about their current plight. said to be interested in a the Bundesliga champions, “At the moment if you look move for the Wales star. Real will host Bilbao. (PA at it, people don’t take Rangers But Zidane, speaking Sport) as a threat,” said Petrov. Sergio Aguero (file pic)