THURSDAY JANUARY 22 2015 SPORT 35 Roos’ timing extra special

By DAVID DAVUTOVIC will return in midfield 13 days Uzbeks seek Victory support Sterling effort frustrates Chelsea after rolling his ankle, most is confi- likely replacing . dent his Socceroos can over- UZBEKISTAN are calling on Victory, which like A RAHEEM Sterling second- ward’s brilliance and was the Otherwise there was con- run China if tonight’s AFC an unlikely source of inspi- us, they wear the blue shirts half solo goal earned Liverpool reward for a committed display jecture over the left back spot Asian Cup quarter-final runs ration for their AFC Asian Cup and the white shirts,” he said. a 1-1 draw with Chelsea in the by Brendan Rodgers’ men in with Postecoglou contemplat- into extra time. quarter-final with South Korea “I hope Melbourne Victory first leg of their English League Liverpool. ing replacing with The Socceroos coach hinted – Melbourne Victory fans. supporters will support us to- Cup semi-final yesterday at It also prevented English . that sparingly used duo Mark After defeating Saudi Ara- morrow and of course we’ll do . leaders Chel- will replace Bresciano and bia in Melbourne to continue our best for them.” With Chelsea leading sea recording a third success- suspended Matthew Spiranov- would figure more promi- their Asian Cup campaign, Qosimov has clearly done through Eden Hazard’s 18th- ive victory at Anfield, where ic at stopper, with Bresciano nently in the knockout phase, coach Mirjalol Qosimov has his local research given the minute penalty, Jose Mouri- they famously derailed Liver- and Oar competing with Matt with captain con- settled into Victorian capital. Victory’s raucous fans. nho’s London side were poised pool’s title challenge last sea- McKay, and Mas- firmed as a starter for the clash So much so, he has picked a The Uzbek coach dropped to pull off a classic smash-and- son. simo Luongo for two midfield at Suncorp Stadium. team from the A-League and is two-time Asian player of the grab when Sterling equalised Liverpool appear to have spots. The Socceroos seemed hoping its supporters can help year Server Djeparov from his in the 59th minute. belatedly digested that disap- Jedinak said it had been exhausted at the final whistle drag them over the line. team for their crunch match The goal, Sterling’s seventh pointment, having lost once on frustrating watching the past of Saturday’s 1-0 Group A loss “We know that here is one with the Saudis, won 3-1, but of the season, was a demon- their past 15 outings in all com- two games. to South Korea in stifling Bris- of the best clubs in , could recall him tonight. stration of the 20-year-old for- petitions. “Would I have been fit to bane humidity. play (if South Korea was sud- After incorporating a modi- den death)? I’m not 100 per fied and personalised training thing, 90 minutes, extra time, ing me that the boys are in it goes to extra time that we’ve they’ll be ready to do what’s re- cent sure. Possibly,’’ he said. regime since that game, Poste- penalties, whatever it is,’’ Pos- great condition. got fuel in the tank to do that. quired and whatever’s thrown “As captain you want to be coglou said his players were in tecoglous said. “There’s a game “We’ve finished strongly in “It’s not ideal because it at them.’’ involved, but I don’t think I’ll pristine condition. of football to be won. all games, really strong. takes more out of the players Jedinak got through last be affected by a lack of game “We’ll be ready for any- “(The fitness staff) are tell- ‘‘I’m more than confident if going forward, but physically night’s session unscathed and time.’’ Siblings on Sam Lambert enjoying the luxury of completing laps at the famed Phillip Island circuit in course for during the 2014 World Superbikes event nationals Picture: PHILIP VENERIS PHOTOGRAPHY By GREY MORRIS

DARWIN golfing brothers Will and Josh Hetherington have adopted pathfinder roles for Territory golfers at the Australian Amateur Cham- pionship being played in . Golf NT has been included on the playing roster for the first time at the national tour- nament being held at The Aus- tralian and The Lakes golf clubs. Products of Darwin Golf Club, the Hetherington broth- ers were given the honour of wearing the Territory colours for the first time and both play- ers have started their cam- paign in style. The championship is div- ided into strokeplay and matchplay events, where the top 64 players from the first two days of strokeplay enter a knockout matchplay format. Will fired a two-over par 74 and 17-year-old Josh a five- over 77 in blustery conditions at the The Australian on Tues- day before a repeat at The Lakes course yesterday. Josh worked hard to shoot an exceptional three-under par 69 and Will fired an eventful par round of 72, that included a triple bogey. Young NT gun ready to take on the world’s best “We’re both hitting the ball pretty well and I guess from that comes a bit of confidence By GREY MORRIS pany at Phillip Island is a push and technical prepara- those goals with the right and relatives up there that are which isn’t a bad thing at this MOTORSPORT dream come true. tions are in full swing and will equipment underneath him. still supporting me and follow- level,’’ Josh said last night. “I couldn’t wait to tell mum go down to the wire.’’ Special race engines are ing my racing,’’ Lambert said. “It’s awesome walking TERRITORIAN Sam Lam- and dad after a phone call to The Lambert team spent being built because different “That includes friends like around a course that has host- bert has secured a rare wild- tell me my application had 2014 testing at selected race rules in the world bracket Che Diggens from AMS-it, ed greats like Adam Scott and card ride at next month’s been successful,’’ Lambert said. meetings in preparation for allow for more modifications Graham Murray from Smokin’ Rory McIlroy.’’ Phillip Island round of the “It’s exciting due to the ex- this year. His two prime goals to his Triumph 675R. Stainless and TERRA, the club Both the brothers will line World Superbike Champion- posure to international race are to finish in the points as a The former Nakara Pri- that gave me the opportunity up in this morning’s 64-player ships. teams and up to 100 million wildcard rider at the elite mary School and Dripstone to climb to where I am now. matchplay knockout stage, The 19-year-old Triumph viewers worldwide, not to world supersport level and to High School student reluc- “Still a long way to go but where the draw brings the rider will compete in the Su- mention the 60,000 Aussie win the Australian Supersport tantly left the NT in 2012 to en- far from the 11-year-old wob- highest and lowest qualifiers persports category after get- spectators at the track. championship in 2015. hance his career prospects and bling around Hidden Valley together. ting confirmation from the “Now the hard yards begin. Both are very difficult tasks, reduce the travel costs of com- circuit for the first time.’’ The knockout phase will see sport’s governing body he We had prepared as best we but the youngster who started petition. Lambert and his fam- Lambert will wear a new Ri- winners advance to the next would be riding against the could knowing that we were riding road bikes at Top End ily have their home in Nakara condi race suit with the team round until the last two players world’s best on the prestigious only going to get four to five Road Racing Association and still call Darwin home. colours and the Territory flag contest the final at The Austra- 4.45km circuit. weeks notice and that was ‘IF’ meetings on Sunday after- “I’m so proud to have grown on the aero hump that will be lian Golf Club on Sunday, For Lambert, the oppor- we were successful. noons at Darwin’s Hidden Val- up in Darwin and I would like used for the first time at the January 25. tunity to ride in such elite com- “Now the final fundraising ley is confident he can achieve to thank some great friends world championship round.

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