SPORTS THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 2014 Diamanti comes to Guangzhou’s rescue

DOHA: Alessandro Diamanti came to Guangzhou Evergrande’s rescue once again yesterday as his first-half equaliser gave the AFC Champions League title-holders a 1-1 draw against Yokohama F. Marinos. The 30-year-old Italian international, who inspired a stunning fightback from two goals down against Melbourne Victory in his tournament debut, buried a superbly struck free-kick to cancel out Jin Hanato’s opener. New recruit Diamanti playing under ex-Italy manager Marcello Lippi, now has three goals in two appearances in the Asian competition, doing no harm to his chances of selection for the World Cup later this year. However, the defending champions dropped their first points and they currently lie second in Group G on goal dif- ference. Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors are narrowly ahead fol- lowing their 2-2 draw with Victory. Elsewhere, 2011 champions Al Sadd of Qatar were also held by the UAE’s Al Ahli in their Group D match Dubai, with Ecuadorian Grafite clinching a 68th minute equaliser off an Ismaeel al-Hamadi assist. Earlier Nadir Belhadj had put Al Sadd ahead in the 24th minute off a pass from Bayern Munich President Uli Hoeness Rodrigo Tabata. In another Group D match, Iran’s Foolad Sepahan edged Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal 3-2, thanks to a stop- page time strike by Albanian Xhevahir Sukaj. Bayern boss Sukaj’s compatriot Ervin Bulku had put the Iranian side ahead in the 17th minute, but Al Hilal scored twice in five minutes through Segundo Castillo and Thiago Neves to Hoeness could entertain hopes of a win. However, after Mehdi Sharifi scored the equaliser in the 72nd minute, Sukaj put paid to face jail today Al Hilal’s hopes with his late winner. In Group C Qatar’s Lekhwiya also dropped points, draw- ing with Iranian side Tractorsazi in Doha ending in a goal- MUNICH: German football legend Uli Hoeness, less draw, while Saudi Arabia’s Al Itthad beat Al Ain 2-1 with head of powerhouse club Bayern Munich, faces a Mukhtar Fallatah scoring both goals for the winners in YOKOHAMA: Guangzhou Evergrande forward Elkeson (bottom) and Yokohama F Marinos defender Fabio (top) fall verdict and possible jail term today after he Mecca. Earlier, Ulsan Hyundai extended their tournament- on the pitch during their AFC Champions League 2014 Group G football match. — AFP admitted in court to having evaded millions in record winning streak to 11 matches, and Australia’s ghosted into the box to meet a cross from the right with a League team held on for the win. taxes. Western Sydney Wanderers celebrated their first ever victo- well-directed header which sailed into the back of the net. Earlier, in Melbourne, a first-half header from Nick Ansell “If tomorrow there are no more applications to ry in the competition. Kim Shin-Wook ensured it finished 2-0 when he got gave Victory a barely deserved half-time lead but they Ulsan’s run dates back to 2012, when they won the com- submit new evidence, then final summaries can Ulsan’s second in stoppage time following a poor clearance went behind in three second-half minutes after a brace petition before failing to qualify for 2013, and Japan’s by Kawasaki goalkeeper Yohei Nishibe. from Jeonbuk skipper Lee Dong-Gook. But with eight min- be heard and the verdict handed down,” Munich Kawasaki Frontale came close to halting it when the game Newcomers Western Sydney beat China’s Guizhou utes left, New Zealander Kosta Barbarouses fired between regional court spokeswoman Andrea Titz said was goalless deep into the second half. Renhe 1-0, after striker Mark Bridge turned the ball in dur- the legs of Jeonbuk goalkeeper Choi Eun-Sung to snatch a yesterday. But with just six minutes left, substitute Yoo Jun-Soo ing a goalmouth scramble in the 10th minute and the A- point against the 2006 champions. — AFP Football-obsessed Germany has been gripped by the high-profile trial this week of Hoeness, 62, a former star player then team manager and cur- Atletico savor returns rent club president who is also a successful busi- Preview nessman. The public image of the stocky, folksy Bavarian, to Europe’s elite known also as a conservative TV talk-show regu- Spurs under pressure lar, has taken a beating since the scandal around MADRID: Atletico Madrid yesterday savored Calderon crowd could certainly play a big his secret Swiss bank accounts broke early last ahead of Benfica clash their rise from the ashes under the guidance part if the Atletico bandwagon is to roll into year. Things have taken a turn for the worse since of Diego Simeone after thrashing seven-time the semi-finals. Nearly 50,000 were crammed he entered the dock Monday, ruefully confessing PARIS: The pressure is on Tottenham visitors’ starting line-up after a back European champions AC Milan. in the stadium waving red and white flags “Greats of Europe” said the Marca sports and drowning out the Champions League to large-scale tax fraud and admitting to a years- Hotspur to perform in the first leg of injury but Serbian international mid- their Europa League last-16 tie against fielder Ljubomir Fejsa will miss the daily after Atletico hammered Milan 4-1 on music as the teams emerged with a chorus long obsession with stocks and currency “gam- Tuesday night-with two goals from new hero of the club’s anthem. bling”. Benfica today, while there are two entic- game. ing derbies on the cards elsewhere. This Meanwhile, one of the great rivalries Diego Costa-to ensure a 5-1 aggregate win “The fans were incredible,” said Simeone. His vow of full disclosure was contradicted by a is a big week for Tim Sherwood’s in the Italian game will be translated to and a Champions League quarter-final place “Things went how we and they wanted them tax officer who testified in court Tuesday that Tottenham side as they look to bounce the European stage as Juventus take on for the first time since Simeone played for to. “When we walked out onto the field and Hoeness had in fact cheated the state out of 27.2 back from a thumping 4-0 defeat at Fiorentina in Turin. the club in 1997. saw all the flags, we had the chance to savor million euros ($37.6 million). Chelsea, the meeting with the The form guide suggests Antonio When the Argentine arrived back in the an extraordinary football moment.” The star That figure was a hefty jump from the 18.5 mil- Portuguese league leaders at White Conte’s Juve are the clear favourites — Spanish capital in December 2011, Atletico of the show from then on was Diego Costa as Hart Lane coming ahead of Sunday’s they beat La Viola 1-0 in Serie A at the were an underachieving mid-table side bur- the new Spanish international continued his lion euros Hoeness had spectacularly confessed dened by a huge debt. In his first 17 months claim to be Vicente del Bosque’s primary to at the trial’s opening, which was itself almost north London derby against Arsenal in weekend to go 14 points clear at the the Premier League. top of the table and leave Fiorentina in charge Simeone delivered Europa League, striking option at the World Cup by scoring five times more than prosecutors had assumed. Spurs capitulated in the second half with just one win in six games. European Supercup and Copa del Rey titles. twice to take his tally for the campaign to 29 The maximum punishment for major tax fraud at Stamford Bridge and the defeat dam- “Obviously I’d have preferred to play Despite having to sell Radamel Falcao to goals in all competitions. under German law is 10 years jail, although sen- aged their prospects of qualifying for another team in Europe but it’s motivat- Monaco last year for 60 million euros ($83 Costa’s rise to prominence has mirrored tences are usually shorter and can be suspended next season’s Champions League while ing for us. We’ll have to dig deep and million) to balance the books, this season that of his team. The Brazilian-born striker if there are mitigating circumstances. also turning up the pressure on their perhaps even raise our game,” Atletico have become serious challengers to spent the first six months of Simeone’s reign rookie manager. It has been suggested Fiorentina coach Vincenzo Montella perpetual Spanish giants Real Madrid and on-loan at relegation threaten Rayo that Tottenham will look to replace told his club’s website ahead of what is Barcelona as well as the rest of Europe. Vallecano, one of four loan spells he was ‘LAST CHEER?’ With just 11 games to go in La Liga, farmed out on before returning to strike up a Sitting in court, joined by his wife Susi in the Sherwood with experienced Dutchman a repeat of the 1990 UEFA Cup final, Louis van Gaal in the summer, but a which Juve won. Atletico are in front of Barcelona and just deadly partnership with Falcao last season. visitors gallery, Hoeness could be seen clenching good result against an in-form Benfica There is also a derby in store in three points adrift of leaders Real. They have In the Colombian’s absence he has moved up his jaw and, as the damning testimony was deliv- would help the current incumbent’s Spain, with bitter city rivals Sevilla and now won seven and drawn one of their eight another level, becoming the focal point of ered, cupping his hands over his flushed face. cause. Betis meeting at the Sanchez Pizjuan. Champions League games on their return to the team with his aggressive style of play Yesterday, his lawyer Hanns Feigen confirmed “We have to keep showing huge Unai Emery’s team are seventh in La the competition for the first time in four that symbolises Atletico’s approach as a years. Simeone insisted his side will remain group. “He can still improve. He has great the 27.2 million euro amount, telling the court character when we’ve lost in the way Liga and won their last two home we have,” captain Michael Dawson, who games against Betis by four-goal mar- “humble” whoever they are paired with in physical and psychological strength and I am that “the defence considers the figures accurate, the last eight. But for a club that has in the sure there is still plenty more to come from we do not challenge them”. suffered a hamstring injury during the gins, while Betis lie bottom of their Chelsea debacle, told the Tottenham domestic league. past excelled in shooting itself in the foot, he him,” insisted Simeone. “His participation He denied that the defence had been taken by website. “We will have our 12th man behind has created an extraordinary belief among with the Spanish national team will help him surprise by the ballooning amount, adding “Now it’s Benfica over two legs and us at home and in front of our own sup- players and fans alike. improve because they have a different style brusquely that “we’re not stupid”, while insisting we’ve got it all to play for. “We’ve got to port Sevilla are favorites,” insisted Sevilla “We have not been in this competition for of play and he adapts well to any style. “He is his client had not withheld any evidence. bounce back then it’s Arsenal, and that goalkeeper Beto. a few years and we were desperate to make destined for great things and everything that an impression,” said Raul Garcia, who scored happens to him is thanks to his humility. No The media response to Hoeness’ fiscal mis- needs no building up, we know what it Elsewhere, the 2011 Europa League means to everyone, the club, the sup- winners Porto, who recently sacked Atletico’s third goal on Tuesday. one has gifted him anything, he has done it deeds and courtroom performance has been “That is what we are doing day by day himself and everything he does has its base largely damning, with the Berliner Tagesspiegel porters.” Benfica travel to England on a coach Paulo Fonseca in response to run of 23 matches undefeated in all their unsatisfactory form in the and we will see how far we can go.” The in his work rate and desire.”— AFP daily mocking him as a “confession professional”. competitions. Last season’s Europa Portuguese Super League, could find Top-selling Bild printed a front page picture of League finalists have won eight consec- life tough against Napoli. The Italians Hoeness, throwing up his arms Tuesday to cheer utive games, all without conceding a are third in Serie A and their coach on his team against Arsenal, under the headline goal, and are currently seven points Rafael Benitez is looking to again tri- Ozil’s vanishing act a “Is Hoeness cheering for the last time?” clear at the top of their domestic Super umph in the competition he won last Several politicians have challenged Hoeness to League. season with Chelsea. real worry for Arsenal quickly step down as club president and chair- “Tottenham are a top-level English Benitez also won the UEFA Cup in team. It’s going to be difficult, but they 2004 with Valencia, the Spanish club LONDON: When Arsenal paid a club record 42 has not scored in the Premier League since man of its supervisory board, while players, fans must also look at Benfica with respect who go to Bulgaria this week to face million pounds ($69.84 million) for Mesut Ozil before Christmas and, more tellingly, his ability and veterans voiced continued loyalty and sup- because they will be coming up against surprise package Ludogorets Razgrad, last August it was with nights like Tuesday in to influence games with a range of passing that port. an excellent team,” said coach Jorge who have already beaten PSV Munich in mind. Trailing 2-0 from the first leg of made him “king of the assists” earlier in the “He is Bayern Munich personified, and that’s Jesus after his side beat PAOK of Greece Eindhoven and Lazio this season. Lyon the Champions League last 16 tie against hold- campaign has waned. in the last round. host Czech champions Viktoria Pilsen, why he belongs here,” honorary club president ers Bayern, it was the perfect stage for His penalty miss against Bayern in the first The tie evokes memories of the AZ Alkmaar face Anzhi Makhachkala, Franz Beckenbauer told Sky TV about Hoeness Germany playmaker Ozil to deliver a grand- leg at the Emirates appeared to drain his clubs’ meeting in the semi-finals of the and Swiss champions Basel, semi-final- attending the game and wearing the club’s red- stand performance. already fragile confidence and the way he was European Cup in 1962, when the late ists last season, take on Salzburg, who What transpired, however, was a brief jeered by Bayern’s fans on Tuesday summed up and-white fan scarf. Beckenbauer added that Eusebio’s Benfica prevailed en route to have won 14 consecutive games, cameo as Ozil vanished at halftime with a ham- a horror tie for the former Real Madrid man. “matches are won in the defence. I hope the lifting the trophy. including beating Ajax over two legs in string niggle after being virtually invisible for Paying so much money for Ozil was always defence will be strong enough to disprove the Oscar Cardozo could return to the the last round. — AFP the opening 45 minutes in the Allianz. going to be something of a gamble but when indictment.” Arsenal eventually bowed out after a bat- he began the season in scintillating form it Hoeness turned himself in to tax authorities Michael Dawson tling 1-1 draw - Lukas Podolski equalising with looked as though the investment could spur and paid 10 million euros in back taxes in January a rocket shot after Bastian Schweinsteiger had Arsenal to silverware. However, with injuries last year, at a time when tax authorities and jour- put Bayern 3-0 up on aggregate - and there taking their toll and Ozil struggling to maintain nalists were already pursuing his case. season is in danger of fizzling out. his form, Arsenal’s failure to bolster their ranks, In March, police raided his lakeside villa and After setting the pace in the Premier League particularly in attack, during the January trans- briefly arrested him, then released him on five Arsenal are now seven points behind leaders fer window could ultimately prove to be their million euros bail, developments which were only Chelsea with a game in hand after registering undoing yet again. only one league win in their last four. Their best The addition of the injured Kim Kallstrom reported in the media weeks later. bet of ending a nine-year wait for silverware on loan from Russian side Spartak Moscow was Hoeness has said he originally wanted to ben- rests with the FA Cup where they face second hardly a statement of intent from the Gunners efit from a tax deal Germany was negotiating tier Wigan Athletic in the semi-finals. who at the time were going toe-to-toe with with Switzerland, which would have guaranteed Manager Arsene Wenger will point to long- Chelsea and Manchester City. With a tough- immunity for tax dodgers who come clean volun- term injuries to Aaron Ramsey and Theo looking run of fixtures to come, they are now tarily. However, the amnesty deal was torpedoed Walcott, while Jack Wilshere is now also side- behind a free-scoring Liverpool side and defeat by the German centre-left political opposition of lined with a broken foot sustained on England in the north London derby at fifth-placed duty. He also highlighted keeper Wojciech Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday would leave the time, which argued that wealthy tax criminals Szczesny’s red card in the first leg against them looking anxiously over their shoulders. should not be let off the hook so easily. — AFP Bayern as a turning point in the tie. Ozil’s worry- “We want to finish the season strongly now ing loss of form will be as perplexing for the and achieve something,” German defender Per Frenchman as his likely three-week lay-off. He Mertesacker told UEFA.—Reuters