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Soccer schools: China’s play for World Cup glory Page 19

NEWCASTLE: Newcastle United’s Georginio Wijnaldum, left, vies for the ball with Liverpool’s captain James Milner, right, during the English Premier League soccer match between Newcastle United and Liverpool at St James’ Park, Newcastle, England, yesteray. — AP Wijnaldum, Newcastle halt Liverpool surge

forced an own goal by Martin Skrtel and scored Sturridge had scored five of the six goals that STURRIDGE CHANCE er, his side were in front. Sissoko’s cross from the himself to leave them six points adrift of the top Liverpool put past Southampton in the League Moreno had to produce an airborne chal- right struck Wijnaldum on the thigh, but the four in seventh place. Cup on Wednesday, but both dropped to the lenge to thwart Siem de Jong, who replaced Holland midfielder gathered the ball and worked Newcastle 2 It was only the second defeat of Klopp’s 12- bench as Klopp made six changes. Ayoze Perez in the only change to the team space for a shot that the sliding Skrtel deflected game tenure, but with Liverpool only mustering Befitting a team chasing a fifth successive thrashed 5-1 at Palace, while Papiss Cisse squan- past Simon Mignolet for an own goal. a single shot on target, it will douse some of the victory, Liverpool made an enterprising start, dered an opportunity to run at Skrtel, allowing Klopp threw on Origi for Ibe, realigning the excitement created by their recent surge, which winning two corners in the first 70 seconds and the Slovakian to dispossess him. strike-force that had torpedoed Southampton, Liverpool 0 has seen them anointed potential champions in forcing Newcastle back through the running of Shortly before half-time, Jack Colback’s corner but they could not reverse the visitors’ fate. certain quarters. Nathaniel Clyne and Jordon Ibe on the right from the right was flicked on by Cisse at the near Sturridge skewed a shot badly wide from McClaren has only been able to envy the flank. But for all their endeavour, there was little post, but Chancel Mbemba could not keep his Lallana’s slide-rule pass, while Moreno saw a deft NEWCASTLE: Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool resur- headlines created by Klopp in recent weeks, but penetration and when Liverpool did procure a header down. lobbed volley from James Milner’s raking pass gence ran aground yesterday as Georginio Monday’s newspapers will make far more pleas- chance in the 21st minute, Dejan Lovren nod- Newcastle continued to carry the greater ruled out in a marginal offside call. Wijnaldum inspired Newcastle United to a ant reading for the ex-England manager follow- ding Alberto Moreno’s corner down for threat after the break, Wijnaldum shooting wide When Liverpool finally found the target in the much-needed 2-0 home win that eased the ing recent heavy losses to Leicester City and Christian Benteke, the burly Belgian contrived from Moussa Sissoko’s pass, and with half an 89th minute, Lovren heading down Moreno’s pressure on their manager Steve McClaren. Crystal Palace. to jab the ball over the bar from three yards. hour remaining Klopp took action by sending on left-wing cross, it was straight at Newcastle goal- Liverpool went into the game chasing an While Newcastle remain in the relegation It was a poor miss and as the half wore on Sturridge and Adam Lallana for Benteke and keeper Rob Elliot. eighth win in nine games, which would have zone, their third win of the campaign means Newcastle gained a foothold, hunting their Roberto Firmino. Fittingly, Wijnaldum had the final say, running taken them to within three points of the they are now level on points with both Norwich opponents down in packs and looking the more McClaren countered by introducing Perez for onto Sissoko’s pass in stoppage time and liting a Champions League places, but Wijnaldum City and Bournemouth. Divock Origi and Daniel likely team to score. De Jong in the 67th minute and two minutes lat- delightful shot over Mignolet. — AFP Destro stuns Napoli, Platini hopeful new document can clear Viola up to second his name at FIFA

MILAN: Mattia Destro hit a brace in a 3-2 win as secutive win on Friday after outclassing Lazio 2-0 in PARIS: is hopeful that a new memo allegedly Bologna dented Napoli’s Serie A title hopes, while the Italian capital and are now just six points adrift showing a payment agreement with suspended FIFA boss Fiorentina moved up to second behind leaders Inter and only one behind Roma. Sepp Blatter will clear his name in a corruption case and re- with a 2-0 win over Udinese. Napoli travelled to the Sarri had warned his side risked being fatigued ignite the Frenchman’s bid to become the next president of Dall’Ara stadium expecting to maintain a long due to their Europa League commitments but the world soccer’s governing body. unbeaten run that has seen Maurizio Sarri’s men Napoli coach suggested Destro had been marginally Facing a possible life ban for corruption, the suspended become bona fide challengers to defending champi- offside for his opener. “We went a goal down because UEFA president was charged over a controversial $2 million ons Juventus. of a refereeing mistake and at the start of the second payment from FIFA in 2011 that Blatter said he approved as But the Azzurri struggled to recover after going half we had four clear chances to score,” said Sarri. backdated salary for work by Platini as a presidential adviser 2-0 down before the half-hour as Luca Rossettini “When we didn’t, and they got their third goal, the from 1998-2002. Platini’s communication team claimed added to Destro’s 14th-minute opener. Destro hit heads went down and that is a big mistake because Sunday that a 23-page memo they obtained earlier this week his second on the hour and although Gonzalo the final minutes showed we still had plenty to give.” shows that UEFA’s executive committee was aware of a deal Higuain hit a last-gasp brace to set up a tense finale, with Blatter as early as November 1998. Blatter and Platini are expected to appear before the FIFA ethics committee within the hosts hung on for just their fifth win of the sea- RENAISSANCE two weeks. son to move two points clear of the drop zone. Bologna have enjoyed a renaissance since The document, which was leaked to French newspaper Le “Before the game I told the lads not to think too Donadoni took over from the sacked Delio Rossi last Journal du Dimanche, is an agenda for a UEFA executive much about Napoli, they have top players but it was month and pounced on slack Napoli defending to committee meeting dated Nov. 12, 1998. At the time, Platini important to focus on our strengths, to press them, take a 2-0 lead by the 21st minute thanks to Destro was not a member of the UEFA executive committee and had attack and try to put them in difficulty,” said Bologna and a Rossettini header from a corner. Antonio contributed to Blatter’s successful campaign for the FIFA coach Roberto Donadoni, a former Napoli coach. Mirante was forced to save from Lorenzo Insigne presidency. In an annex to the memo, a small note related to “The lads were incredible, they went out and did and then, in spectacular fashion, to touch Jose Platini’s role with Blatter mentions that he is expected to exactly what we had planned to do.” Callejon’s deflected volley onto the post. Napoli become the federation’s next director of sports. Napoli had gone top of the pile for the first time were firing on all cylinders when they emerged from According to Platini’s communication team, the former in 25 years last week with a 2-1 win over Inter Milan. the interval, but Higuain, Allan and Callejon all soccer great’s payment for his work with Blatter is clearly But after Inter reclaimed first place with a 1-0 win missed opportunities before an error by Marek mentioned in the note, which reads: “There has been talk against Genoa on Saturday, Sarri’s men are now two Hamsik allowed Destro to fire under a nervous-look- about Sfr 1 million as salary.” points adrift in third after seeing Fiorentina maintain ing Reina on the hour. Higuain reduced arrears on Platini previously said he had a verbal agreement with their push for honours this season. Fiorentina 87 minutes when he flicked Insigne’s cross past Blatter to be paid one million Swiss Francs per year. “Contrary moved up to second place at just one point behind Mirante and then again when he collected a Callejon to the thesis on which the case is built, this document after goals from Milan Badelj, Josip Ilicic, from the long ball to fire past the ‘keeper from just inside the demonstrates that Platini’s contract with FIFA was not kept spot, and Gonzalo Rodriguez five minutes from the box. But it was not enough for Napoli, who suffered secret, and that many people within UEFA and FIFA were whistle secured a 3-0 home win over Udinese at a their first defeat since losing to Sassuolo on the aware of it since 1998,” Platini’s lawyer Thibaud d’Ales said. packed Artemio Franchi stadium. opening day of the season. Elsewhere, German The document was distributed during a meeting attended by Roma, held 1-1 at Torino on Saturday when Maxi Denis, Nicolo Cherubin and Dutchman Martin De then UEFA president , who lost to Blatter Lopez hit a last-gasp penalty to level Miralem Roon struck as Atalanta built on their shock 2-0 win BOLOGNA: Napoli’s midfielder from Slovakia Marek Hamsik runs with the ball dur- in the 1998 FIFA election, as well as three members of FIFA, Pjanic’s superb free kick, remain in fourth at five at Roma last week with a 3-0 rout of Palermo to ing the Italian Serie A football match Bologna vs Napoli at the Dall’Ara stadium in Platini’s advisers said. —AP points behind. Juventus had claimed their fifth con- move up to sixth. —AFP Bologna yesterday. — AFP