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Knicks get Grand Slam past Nets winning trio cruise in Monte Carlo THURSDAY, APRIL 17, 2014 17 19 Dortmund’s winning run earns them Cup final spot Page 18 VALENCIA: Real Madrid’s players pose after winning the Spanish King’s Cup final ‘Clasico’ football match against Barcelona at the Mestalla stadium. Real Madrid won the match 2-1. —AFP Bale gives Real King’s Cup VALENCIA: Gareth Bale scored a stunning individual goal had the first two chances of the game as he dragged a shot advantage. Bale had the ball in the net soon after but the goal was five minutes from time to win the King’s Cup for Real across goal before Javier Mascherano deflected his next Lionel Messi was kept quiet for the majority of the game, ruled out for a foul as he challenged with Pinto for a high Madrid as they overcame Barcelona 2-1 at the Mestalla in effort just wide. but he had Barca’s best opening of the half when his snap ball. Within seconds Barca were level as Bartra directed a Valencia yesterday. Madrid were soon in front though as a flowing counter- shot from the edge of the area flew wide. perfectly weighted header from Xavi’s corner just inside the The Welshman had previously been wayward with a attack involving Isco, Bale, Benzema and finally Di Maria set Bale was first to threaten again at the start of the second far post. series of efforts on goal, but he finally made his mark as he the Argentine free and his low shot just squeezed under half as he waltzed past two weak Barca challenges and fired Both sides then had chances to win it in normal time, galloped through on goal from inside his own half before Pinto’s outstretched hand. into the side-netting. but it was Bale who got the winner as he escaped the atten- prodding the ball past Jose Manuel Pinto. Madrid had gone Neymar and Pepe were then booked by referee Mateu And the former Tottenham man was close again tions of Bartra down Madrid’s left and raced in on goal to in front after just 10 minutes as Angel di Maria raced onto Lahoz as tempers flared after the Barca man had a penalty moments later as his volley from the edge of the area flew slot home his 20th and most important goal of the season. Karim Benzema’s through ball and fired low into the corner. appeal turned down. Barca pressed for an equaliser for the just over. The chances continued to come for Madrid as There was still late drama to come as Neymar latched Marc Bartra levelled for Barca 22 minutes from time rest of the half as Cesc Fabregas’ low cross was just too Sergio Ramos’ powerful header from a corner was straight onto Xavi’s through ball and smacked a shot off the inside when he headed home Xavi’s corner, but it was the young strong for Neymar to connect at the back post, whilst Jordi at Pinto before the ‘keeper turned another effort from of the post with Casillas beaten. defender who was left in Bale’s wake as he sealed his first Alba saw a header comfortably saved by Iker Casillas. Benzema wide. However, there was to be no late reprieve for Barca as trophy as a Madrid player. However, Madrid still looked the more dangerous on the Barca’s first effort on target didn’t come until 25 minutes they slumped to a third consecutive defeat for the first time Without the injured Cristiano Ronaldo much was expect- break and only a great challenge from Alba prevented Isco from time when Bartra sauntered forward from central in more than 10 years and now look certain to end the sea- ed of Bale to fill the World Player of the Year’s shoes and he from turning home Bale’s cut-back to double his side’s defence and stung the palms of Iker Casillas. son without winning a major trophy. — AFP City hopes fade after EPL results/standings Palace rock Everton Everton 2 (Naismith 61, Mirallas 86) Crystal Palace 3 (Puncheon 23, Dann 49, Jerome 73); Manchester City 2 (Fernandinho 2, Nasri 88) Sunderland 2 (Wickham Palace succeeded in keeping the hosts at Sunderland setback 73, 83). arm’s length, however, and in the 23rd minute Everton 2 they took the lead. Yannick Bolaise cruised past English Premier League table after yesterday’s Leighton Baines on the Palace right and For a side bereft of points and confidence, it matches (played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals although his cross was palmed away by Tim was the worst possible start, and Sunderland against, points): Howard, Marouane Chamakh teed up Man City 2 must have immediately feared the worst. Liverpool 34 24 5 5 93 42 77 Puncheon to sweep home his fourth goal in as But they did not buckle, and created a flurry Chelsea 34 23 6 5 66 24 75 Crystal Palace 3 many matches. of chances to wrest the initiative away from a Man City 33 22 5 6 88 34 71 Eager to capitalise on their momentum, City team missing injured playmaker David Silva Arsenal 34 20 7 7 59 41 67 Palace continued to press forward, and Bolasie Everton 34 19 9 6 55 34 66 Sunderland 2 and midfield powerhouse Yaya Toure, and seem- saw a low shot come back off the post 10 min- Spurs 34 18 6 10 48 48 60 LIVERPOOL: Everton squandered an opportu- utes before half-time, with Jerome prodding the ingly seized by complacency. England goalkeep- ManUtd 33 17 6 10 56 38 57 er Joe Hart almost gifted the visitors a route Southampton 34 13 9 12 50 45 48 nity to reclaim fourth place from Arsenal in the rebound wide. In response, Romelu Lukaku back into the game with a terrible clearance that Newcastle 34 14 4 16 38 52 46 Premier League after Crystal Palace ended their drew a sharp near-post save from Palace goal- MANCHESTER: Manchester City’s Premier would have given ex-City winger Adam Johnson Stoke 34 11 10 13 38 48 43 seven-game winning run with a 3-2 away victo- keeper Julian Speroni, but the visitors finished League title hopes suffered a major blow as an open goal had his control been better. Crystal Palace 34 12 4 18 27 41 40 ry yesterday. Everton were seeking to return to the half in the ascendancy, with the livewire West Ham 34 10 7 17 38 47 37 the Champions League places after Arsenal had Bolasie cutting in and shooting over. they needed a late Samir Nasri goal to rescue a Captain John O’Shea should then have head- Hull 33 10 6 17 34 40 36 2-2 draw against bottom club Sunderland yes- ed in a Sebastian Larsson free-kick, which he leapfrogged them by beating West Ham United Martinez made a change at half-time, send- Aston Villa 33 9 7 17 35 49 34 on Tuesday, but instead they remain in fifth ing on Naismith in place of Gerard Deulofeu, terday. directed just wide, before the former Swansea 34 8 9 17 45 50 33 place, a point behind Arsene Wenger’s side with but within minutes of the restart the home side Manuel Pelligrini’s side are now six points Manchester United defender headed another West Brom 33 6 15 12 40 51 33 Norwich 34 8 8 18 26 53 32 four matches to play. were two goals down. behind leaders Liverpool with just one game in Larsson set-piece over the top. Palace went 2-0 up through goals from After Ledley had forced Howard into a save hand after they failed to beat a side seemingly At the other end, Mannone made hard work Fulham 34 9 3 22 34 74 30 Cardiff 34 7 8 19 30 64 29 Jason Puncheon and Scott Dann either side of at his near post, a corner from Bolasie picked destined for relegation. of dealing with an Aguero shot, with Sunderland 33 6 8 19 31 56 26 half-time, with Cameron Jerome adding a third out the unmarked Dann, who had the simple And it could have been worse, as two goals Fernandinho almost following up to score, but Notes: Top four teams qualify for next season’s in the 73rd minute after substitute Steven task of heading home from seven yards. from Connor Wickham threatened to hand City that was an isolated incident as Sunderland con- Champions League; fifth-place team qualifies for Naismith had reduced the arrears for the hosts. McGeady drilled narrowly wide as Everton only a second home defeat of the season, until tinued to press for an equaliser. And it should Europa League; bottom three teams relegated to Kevin Mirallas clawed a goal back for sought an immediate reply, while Lukaku put a Nasri saved face at the death. have come after 18 minutes when Fabio Borini Championship. — AFP Everton with four minutes left, but Tony Pulis’s header wide from a Baines free-kick. City went ahead after just two minutes was given the freedom of the City penalty area, Palace would not be denied a victory that took Martinez reacted by making a double substi- through Fernandinho, but following Wickham’s but lacked the composure to make it count as finally got the goal they deserved to level the them to the 40-point mark that usually repre- tution, sending on Ross McCarthy and Leon late brace, they were indebted to a howler from he dragged a weak shot across the face of goal.