SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2015 SPORTS Ivory Coast face Ghana in ‘dream’ final

BATA: Ivory Coast face what is likely to ons Nigeria and record seven-time win- “Player for player, Ivory Coast has better fought till the end of every match,” “We are very motivated. From the be their sternest test of the 2015 Africa ners Egypt, two of the continent’s most individuals than Ghana and they are remarked skipper Asamoah Gyan, who beginning of this competition, we said Cup of Nations when they tackle Ghana consistent teams will clash for African playing better as a team now, especially remains an injury doubt after sustaining we have six games to play-we have today in what has been dubbed the football’s biggest prize. when not in possession. “Ghana are quite an abdominal injury in the quarter-final played five and there is one remaining.” ‘dream’ final. Both started this tournament slowly - impressive and, with (Christian) Atsu and against Guinea. Ivory Coast, on the other Tallo Gadji Celi was born in 1992, the Two of Africa’s football powerhouses the Ivorians needed to win their last the Ayew brothers (Andre and Jordan), hand, have been tactically shrewd and year his uncle Gadji Celi led the are in dire need of a continental trophy group game against Cameroon to reach are becoming unpredictable and cham- well organised when they do not have Elephants to Cup of Nations glory and after long, frustrating waits. Ghana have the knockout stage, while Ghana fought pion material. the ball. now hopes he can write his own name won the Cup of Nations four times but back from an opening-day loss to “They go into this final as underdogs They have been able to combine tal- into history. their last conquest was 33 years ago, Senegal to make the final. but with less pressure, unlike Ivory Coast, ented stars like Yaya Toure and The Bastia striker said victory in the while the Ivorians only triumph was in Former Nigeria skipper Sunday due to the fact that not many would with hard-working team-mates. final will be dedicated to Ivorian legend 1992 and, ironically, it was at the Oliseh, who won the Cup of Nations in have bet on them coming this far when Gervinho said they are gunning for his- , who retired from interna- expense of Ghana. 1994 and came close to another title in the tournament kicked off.” tory against Ghana. tional football last year. Ivory Coast beat their west African 2000, has tipped Ivory Coast to win, but The “new generation” Black Stars have “It has been a long time since we “Didier Drogba, our model, our neighbours 11-10 on penalties after 120 also warned Ghana are capable of caus- flourished under former Chelsea manag- have had a final between Ghana and strength, we love you. It will also be for minutes of action did not produce any ing an upset. er Avram Grant and displayed strong Ivory Coast and we want to write our his- you if we make it,” said the player who goals in Dakar. “Ivory Coast is clear favourite to win character throughout this campaign. tory too. This is our chance and we hope wears the No.11 shirt worn with distinc- In the absence of defending champi- the final,” said Oliseh on his website. “The boys do not give up, they have to take it,” the Roma forward told AFP. tion by Drogba. —AFP

Preview United seek rhythm at battle-worn West Ham

LONDON: With 15 games of the Premier in the league. After that, we beat League season remaining ahead of Cambridge and we are in the next round today’s trip to West Ham United, of the FA Cup. Manchester United know that the time “Now, we have to continue and all of for experimentation is at an end. the players know that it’s true, but it’s not United went into the weekend in third so easy because we have to play away in place in the table, but their rivals for London against West Ham and it was a Champions League qualification all tough game in Manchester. “It shall not appear to be finding form and Louis van be easy, but we want to continue. We Gaal’s side continue to impress only in have to win in London.” fits and starts. After a run of only one win United can at least call on a close to in five league games, culminating in a 1- fully fit squad, with Michael Carrick (calf) 0 loss at home to Southampton, United the only doubt for the trip to Upton Park, have got back on track, winning their last where they won 2-0 last season in a two games and scoring six goals in the game that saw Wayne Rooney score an process. But both of those victories came outrageous lob from the halfway line. with caveats. Rooney was sent off in this season’s Leicester City, who United beat 3-1 reverse fixture for hacking down Stewart last weekend, are bottom of the table, Downing after opening the scoring in a and Cambridge United, beaten 3-0 in the 2-1 win. West Ham’s infirmary, in stark FA Cup on Tuesday, play in the fourth tier. contrast, is full to bursting, with ham- Double-edged statistics become a recur- string injuries to Winston Reid and James ring theme when United’s recent form is Collins likely to see Cheikhou Kouyate subjected to scrutiny. pressed into action as an emergency Van Gaal’s side have not lost away centre-back. from home since a 1-0 reverse at Record signing , mean- Manchester City on November 2, but in while, is a doubt after injuring his ankle their last four away matches they have during the 2-0 loss at his former club won only once, and that at second-bot- Liverpool last weekend. tom Queens Park Rangers. “I’ve had to bring a list of the injuries SPAIN: Real Madrid’s French defender Raphael Varane (left) vies with Atletico Madrid’s forward Fernando Torres during the Spanish League And while last weekend’s results with me,” West Ham manager Sam football match. —AFP enabled United to hold on to third place Allardyce told his pre-match press con- and close to within five points of second- ference. “James Collins, Winston Reid, placed Manchester City, the teams below Guy Demel, Diego Poyet, Doneil Henry them-Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and and Andy Carroll lie in our medical room Atletico thrash woeful Liverpool-seem to be slipping into gear. at the moment. Van Gaal’s tactical experimentations “We’re not sure how many of those mean that United still have the look of a will make it for today. With such a big work in progress and in West Ham, they week coming-three games in a week- Real 4-0 in Madrid derby face opponents who have lost only once there’ll be very few risks taken, unless in their last 10 home matches. they’re 100 percent fit.” “I said before the game against The injury blight has contributed to a MADRID: Atletico Madrid blew the La Liga title Sergio Ramos, Pepe, Luka Modric, James away after he blocked Diego Godin’s effort with race wide open by extending their unbeaten run Rodriguez and suspended Marcelo. Atletico suf- his hand. Leicester City that this is an important return of only two wins from eight over Real Madrid to six games this season with a fered an injury blow of their own after just 10 Real offered barely anything as an attacking week and we have to win all three league matches-against bottom-three 4-0 thrashing of the European champions yester- minutes when Spanish international Koke threat in the first period and coach Carlo matches,” said Van Gaal, who has vowed sides Leicester and Hull City-which has day. First-half goals from Tiago and Saul Niguez limped off, but that curse turned into a blessing Ancelotti responded by introducing Jese to contest a Football Association charge seen West Ham slide to eighth place in put Atletico in command before Antoine as he was replaced by Saul. Rodriguez for Khedira at the break. However, it over remarks he made about the referee the table. But they have shown them- Griezmann and Mario Mandzukic sealed a first The hosts went in front on 13 minutes when made little impact as Real failed to muster a sin- following last month’s 0-0 draw at selves capable of rising to the occasion home league win over Real since 1999 just after Mandzukic laid Juanfran’s cross from the right gle shot on target during the 90 minutes. Cambridge. on home soil this term, notably beating the hour mark. into the path of Tiago on the edge of the area Griezmann came close twice more with a “After we beat Leicester, we were third Liverpool and Manchester City. —AFP Atletico have now beaten their city rivals and the Portuguese’s low effort had too much powerful shot that Casillas parried before also twice in La Liga and over two-legs in the Spanish power for Iker Casillas, who will feel he should trying his luck with an overhead kick that flew Supercup and Copa del Rey this season to have kept it out. inches over. bounce back in fine style from their heartbreak- Four minutes later Atletico doubled their lead The Frenchman did get the goal his perform- ing loss in the Champions League final last sea- with a move of real quality as Guilherme ance deserved 24 minutes from time when Saul son. Siqueira hurtled down the left and his cross was headed Arda Turan’s cross back across goal and Real still lead Los Rojiblancos by four points, acrobatically turned home by Saul with an over- he outmuscled international teammate Raphael but Barcelona can move to within a point of the head kick. Varane to prod home from a yard out. leaders should they beat Athletic Bilbao today. Atletico’s advantage at the break could have And Real’s embarrassment was complete a World Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo been even greater as Griezmann had a goal mar- minute from time when substitute Fernando returned from a two-game ban, but the visitors ginally ruled out for offside and strong claims for Torres crossed for Mandzukic to power home a were otherwise depleted without the injured a penalty against Sami Khedira were waved header into the far corner.—AFP Dortmund down Freiburg

BERLIN: climbed off the bot- out just before the half-time break to give Pep the rebound. Dost then turned provider for De tom of the yesterday with their first win Guardiola’s side the lead. Left-back David Alaba Bruyne to claim his eighth goal of the season-his in seven matches as Pierre-Emerick Aubemayang then drilled home a superb free-kick from 30 fifth in the last three games-in what is proving a scored twice in their 3-0 win at Freiburg. metres out to make it 2-0 with 50 minutes gone. productive campaign for the 23-year-old. German star Marco Reus gave Dortmund an Bayern stay eight points clear of second-placed Hertha Berlin bounced back from the sacking of early lead before Gabon winger Aubemayang Wolfsburg who gave Germany winger Andre coach Jos Luhukay on Thursday with an impressive added two second-half goals in Borussia’s first win Schuerrle his debut after he moved from Chelsea display which lifted them out of the bottom three since the start of December. Dortmund now face in a 3-0 win at home to Hoffenheim. after their 2-0 win at ten-man Mainz 05. With mid-table Mainz and strugglers Stuttgart in the Belgium midfielder Kevin de Bruyne claimed Hungary national team coach Pal Dardai now at league before Italian league leaders Juventus away two goals in the impressive display. Schuerrle the helm, the visitors took the lead when Jens in the last 16 of the Champions League on needed just three minutes to make his mark when Hegler netted a 35th-minute penalty after former February 24. his pin-point accurate cross was met by Bas Dost Manchester City goalkeeper Loris Karius was sent “We must keep believing things will move for- for the Dutch striker to fire home his fourth goal in off. Hertha doubled their lead on 43 minutes when ward after three or four months in which they four games. Schuerrle clattered the crossbar with a Roy Beerens slotted home after Valentin Stocker didn’t. Today was a step in the right direction,” said shot on 28 minutes, but De Bruyne headed home had hit the post to leave Berlin 13th.—AFP relieved Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp. The result lifted Dortmund to 16th, while Freiburg drop to 17th, still leaving both teams in the relegation places. Freiburg got off to the worst possible start when midfielder Mike Frantz played FRANCE: Rennes’ Senegalese forward Fallou Diagne (left) vies with Marseille’s French a poor back pass which was snapped up by defender Jeremy Morel during the French L1 football match. —AFP Aubemayang. The fleet-footed winger drew Freiburg goalkeeper Roman Buerki and squared for Reus to tap into an empty net with nine minutes Marseille squander gone. Aubemayang then darted onto Ilkay Gundogan’s superb through ball and planted his shot past Buerki on 56 minutes. chance to go top His second followed on 72 minutes when he fired home after some superb passing from PARIS: Marseille stretched their undefeat- side all afternoon. Dortmund’s midfield trio of Reus, Shinji Kagawa ed run at Rennes to seven games yesterday The 28-year-old gave Rennes the lead and Jakob Blaczszykowski. Leaders Bayern Munich but a labored 1-1 draw meant they squan- after 26 minutes, smartly chesting down a continued their march to a third straight title with a dered the chance to go top in France. loose ball to score past Steve Mandanda in 2-0 win at VfB Stuttgart, which saw Huub Stevens’ Marcelo Bielsa’s side are one point the visitors’ goal. side drop to bottom of the table. behind leaders Lyon who tackle champions Marseille were saved when Lucas “It was very important to score just before half- and third-placed Paris Saint Germain in the Ocampos, the Argentine signed on loan time. I’m happy for both myself and the team - it weekend’s standout fixture today. In a from Monaco in the last moments of the was important to get a win today,” said Bayern depressing summary of Marseille’s after- transfer window, found the net in the goal-scorer Arjen Robben. noon, they finished the game in Brittany 59th minute after coming on as a half- Bayern’s win was their first in three matches with 10 men after Mario Lemina was red- time substitute. The winger was handily having been thrashed 4-1 at Wolfsburg just over a carded for a foul on Ola Toivonen. Swedish placed to score from a corner taken by week ago. Robben scored his second goal in as GERMANY: Freiburg’s striker Nils Petersen (right) and Dortmund’s defender Mats Hummels vie striker Toivonen was a thorn in Marseille’s Dimitri Payet. —AFP many games when he fired home from 13 metres for the ball during the German First Division Bundesliga football match. —AFP