Established 1961 Sport MONDAY, MARCH 19, 2018 Tributes to ‘inspiration’ Hawking India win tri-series after Late Alves goal sends PSG 12as curtain falls on Paralympics 14 Karthik blitz in tense final 15 to massive 17 points clear BARCELONA: Barcelona’s Argentinian forward Lionel Messi (L) vies with Athletic Bilbao’s Spanish defender Inigo Martinez during the Spanish League football match between FC Barcelona and Athletic Club Bilbao at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona yesterday. — AFP Messi scores as Barca beat Athletic Sevilla defeated by Leganes BARCELONA: Barcelona moved 11 points clear at the from the edge of the area. area they rarely got close to troubling goalkeeper had stunned Old Trafford, giving a starting berth to top of La Liga yesterday after beating Athletic Bilbao Barca lead the standings on 75 points, 11 ahead of Marc-Andre ter Stegen. Wissam Ben Yedder after he scored twice after com- 2-0 at home with a goal from Paco Alcacer and a nearest challengers Atletico Madrid who were visiting Earlier yesterday Sevilla suffered a hangover from ing off the bench on Tuesday, but his side rarely got thumping strike from Lionel Messi in the first half. Villarreal later on Sunday, with champions Real their Champions League triumph over Manchester going against Leganes. Alcacer took the place of suspended striker Luis Madrid hosting Girona. The Catalans were missing United as they lost 2-1 at mid-table Leganes in La Forward Javier Eraso side-footed home a second Suarez in the starting line-up and scored a first goal in injured midfield linchpin Sergio Busquets as well as Liga yesterday, their sixth defeat in 12 league games goal for the home side in the 69th minute and things three months to put Barca ahead in the eighth minute, Suarez. However, they were rampant in the first half under coach Vincenzo Montella. Sevilla qualified for got worse for Sevilla when midfielder Pablo Sarabia side-footing home a pass from Jordi Alba after Messi and could have taken a heavier lead into the break as the quarter-finals of Europe’s elite competition for the was sent off in the 84th for picking up two yellow had cut in from the left. Brazilian midfielder Philippe Coutinho hit the wood- first time by beating United 2-1 at Old Trafford on cards inside 11 minutes. The Argentine scored for the sixth game in a row in work twice and his compatriot Paulinho struck a post. Tuesday but went behind to Leganes four minutes Miguel Layun pulled a goal back for Sevilla in the all competitions and for the 25th time in this league The unbeaten league leaders slowed down in the before halftime to a looping header from defender 90th minute. Sevilla are fifth in the Liga standings on campaign when he doubled Barca’s lead in the 30th second half and Athletic came into the game for the Unai Bustinza. 45 points, 12 behind fourth-placed Real Madrid and minute with a deadly strike into the bottom corner first time but despite numerous forays into Barca’s Montella made three changes from the side that one ahead of Villarreal in sixth. — Reuters Chelsea had lost three of their past four matches to fall Morata. And Morata coolly clipped the ball beyond the Pedro halts slide, behind in the race for a top-four finish in the Premier advancing Schmeichel with an assuredness unbefitting of a League as well as their European exit. But victory does at striker who had gone 13 games without a goal. Despite least keep their chances of silverware to end the season going in front, Conte still withdrew Tiemoue Bakayoko at sends Chelsea into alive. Chelsea will meet Southampton in the last four, while half-time after another awful 45 minutes for the Frenchman Manchester United face Tottenham Hotspur for a place in in a desperately disappointing debut season in English the final. Both Morata and Pedro had a point to prove after football following a £40 million move from Monaco. FA Cup semi-finals being left out of the Spain squad on Friday just three The visitors were happy to take their chances on the months ahead of the World Cup. counter-attack in the second period as they began to feel LEICESTER: Pedro Rodriguez came off the bench to halt Morata was recalled for just his second start since the the after-effects of their run around at Barcelona in mid- Chelsea’s slide with an extra-time winner in a 2-1 victory sides last met in a 0-0 draw at Stamford Bridge back in week. Leicester’s search for an equaliser was largely at Leicester yesterday to reach the FA Cup semi-finals. January. And after a quiet start, Chelsea’s club record £70 laboured and, even when a big chance did arise, Vardy Alvaro Morata’s first goal since Boxing Day on his return million buy from Real Madrid was presented with his first headed wastefully over when completely unmarked inside to the Chelsea starting line-up put the visitors on course big chance of the afternoon when he was brilliantly picked the area. However, the England international made amends to bounce back from their Champions League elimination out by Marcos Alonso’s low cross, but his shot was far too 15 minutes from time when he forced the ball home at the at the hands of Barcelona in midweek. close to Kasper Schmeichel. third attempt after Vicente Iborra’s first two efforts were However, Jamie Vardy’s equaliser 15 minutes from time Morata headed another half-chance from a teasing blocked and then saved by Willy Caballero. Only a fine low made them do it the hard way in an extra 30 minutes. Yet, Willian cross over and then hit the outside of the post from save from Caballero prevented Vardy from turning the tie for all Antonio Conte’s complaints this season about his the narrowest of angles. The goal he craved finally arrived completely around eight minutes later as both sides settled side’s strength in depth, the Italian was able to call on three minutes before half-time, but much of the credit must for extra time. Crucially, Conte was able to refresh his side Pedro to turn the game in Chelsea’s favour when he head- go to Willian who surged through the heart of the as Pedro, Gary Cahill and Olivier Giroud were all intro- LEICESTER: Leicester City’s English striker Jamie Vardy ed home former Leicester favourite N’Golo Kante’s cross. Leicester midfield on the counter-attack before feeding duced in the first half of extra time.—AFP celebrates after scoring his team’s goal. — AFP.