CHINA DAILY SPORTS MONDAY MARCH 19, 200711 INBRIEF Keeper Robinson sorry for ‘freak’ goal SOCCER Romario scores hat-trick, takes tally to 998 England No 1 RIO DE JANEIRO: Former Brazil striker Romario took strikes from 75 his career tally, according to his own records, to 998 goals yards to stun on Saturday after scoring his third hat-trick of the year. national rival Romario’s goals came in a 20-minute spell in the second LONDON: Tottenham goalkeep- half as he helped Vasco da er Paul Robinson apologized to Gama beat modest opponents Watford’s Ben Foster for the Boavista 6-2 in the Carioca ‘freak’ goal that embarrassed championship. his England rival. The irrepressible 41-year-old Robinson left Foster red-faced former Barcelona and PSV when he scored Tottenham’s Eindhoven player scored with second goal in their 3-1 win a header, a penalty and a left- over Watford on Saturday. The foot shot to drag Vasco from England number one launched 2-1 down to 4-2 ahead. a free-kick from deep in his “A few years ago, everybody own half that bounced over thought my career was Foster and into the net. fi nished,” Brazil’s 1994 World The match had been billed as Cup winner told reporters. a battle of the top two English “But there’s the reply. I’m going goalkeepers and Foster, who to be the second to reach this has been earning rave reviews milestone,” he said, referring this season, was expected to to the 1,000-goal target which underline his case to unseat Brazilian Pele passed in 1969. Robinson. But Foster’s 63rd minute ICE HOCKEY mistake means England coach Steve McClaren is likely to Rangers rout Bruins to keep the on-loan Manchester move into playoff spot United stopper on the sidelines NEW YORK: The New York for the forthcoming Euro 2008 Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Paul Robinson celebrates his goal against Watford during the English Premiership League soccer match at White Hart Lane, London, Rangers crushed the Boston qualifiers against Israel and on Saturday. Tottenham won the match 3-1. AP Bruins 7-0 on Saturday to Andorra. move into the eighth and fi nal However, Robinson insists Steed Malbranque created Arm’s length they win six of their remaining United’s fi rst three goals before sial 2-1 win at Blackburn. spot in the Eastern Conference he will go easy on Foster when the first chance in the 17th Wayne Rooney and Park Ji- matches. making way for Alan Smith to After cancelling out Christo- playoff race. they meet up for England duty minute when he got to the by- Sung grabbed two goals each as “There is nothing we can do make his fi rst Premiership ap- pher Samba’s opener through a Ryan Callahan scored his next week. line and cut a cross back, only Manchester United beat Bolton about them, we can only win pearance since breaking a leg Carlos Tevez penalty, the Ham- fi rst two NHL goals and Matt He said: “I will try not to men- for Mido to blast over. 4-1 on Saturday to retain a six- our games,” Mourinho admitted and dislocating an ankle in mers claimed only their second Cullen also scored twice and tion it. I know what it’s like and Jermaine Jenas was back point lead over Chelsea at the with an air of resignation. February 2006. win in four months after a goal- added an assist as the Rangers it’s not nice. in action after missing three top of the Premiership. At Old Trafford, South Korean The one negative point for mouth scramble in which Bobby slipped into the fi nal playoff “It was a bit of a freak. If it matches with a groin injury Chelsea made equally light midfielder Park scored two United manager Sir Alex Fer- Zamora’s poke was judged to place with 79 points, one be- goes wide I would probably and he looked determined to work of Sheffi eld United, goals close-range efforts either side of guson was an ankle ligament have crossed the line. hind Carolina and one ahead have got a telling off from the make up for lost time. from Andriy Shevchenko, Salo- Rooney’s superbly-taken opener injury for Gary Neville that will Television replays suggested of the New York Islanders, strikers - it’s just one of those He was at the heart of all mon Kalou and Michael Ballack as United killed the lunchtime sideline his captain for at least that his shot had been inadver- Toronto and Montreal. things in football.” Tottenham’s best moments and allowing the champions to cruise contest in the space of 11 fi rst- three weeks. tently blocked by his team-mate Carolina and the Rangers now Tottenham’s victory moved gave Tottenham the lead with to a 3-0 win at Stamford Bridge. half minutes. “To score four goals at home Tevez. hold the fi nal two playoff spots them into sixth place and was a well-taken header before But with only eight games left Rooney, United’s only fully fi t at this stage of the season is Manchester City earned after their wins, with the the ideal preparation for today’s half-time. in the title run-in, time is run- forward, added his second with tremendous,” Ferguson said. some breathing space by Islanders losing in Florida and FA Cup quarterfinal replay Hossam Ghaly added a third ning short for Jose Mourinho’s another brilliant fi nish quarter “It emphasizes the confi dence ending a run of fi ve straight Montreal beating Toronto in a against Chelsea. In contrast, for Martin Jol’s in-form team men: United’s superior goal of an hour from the end but the running through the team.” defeats with a 2-0 win at shootout. Watford look certain to go down before Darius Henderson pulled difference means they will real architect of the victory was Elsewhere, West Ham Middlesbrough. after a defeat that left them 11 one back in the last minute for almost certainly be champions Cristiano Ronaldo. climbed off the bottom of the TENNIS points from safety. doomed Watford. for the fi rst time since 2003 if The Portuguese winger made table with a hugely controver- AFP Rezai and father banned from Roland Garros PARIS: French tennis prodigy Aravane Rezai and her father- coach Arsalan have been New dad Arenas performs magic as Wizards sting Hornets banned from Roland Garros for two years following allegations BASKETBALL the first player since Tracy the rare two four-point plays in to lead fi ve players in double- Utah Jazz. LeBron James just of violent behaviour towards McGrady in 2003 to have one game. digits in points. missed a triple-double for the the French Fed Cup captain. WASHINGTON: Gilbert Arenas two four-point plays in one The Wizards shot a season- The Wizards led 65-55 at Cavs, fi nishing with 24 points, The 20-year-old has been told scored 30 points and had 11 game. high 58 percent overall and the half, maintained that a season-high 17 rebounds and she can not use the facilities at assists to lead the Washington Washington took a half-game won for the first time this 10-point lead after three nine assists. the home of the French Open Wizards past the New Orleans lead over the defending NBA season without Caron Butler in quarters and pulled away The Boston Celtics beat the throughout the year but can Hornets 125-103 on Saturday, champion Miami Heat in the the lineup. with a strong 30-point fourth San Antonio Spurs for the fi rst still compete in the second earning the team sole posses- division with the win. Washington had lost eight quarter to hand the Hornets time after losing 18 straight to Grand Slam of the year, which sion of fi rst place in the South- “I’m king of the castle straight games without him their seventh loss in the past them, scoring a 91-85 win at starts on May 28. east Division. now,” a beaming Arenas told in the lineup over the past two eight games. San Antonio. It was the fi rst win Her father, though, is banned Arenas missed Friday prac- reporters of his busy weekend. seasons, but were winners de- Chirs Paul had 21 points to for the Celtics in San Antonio from not only the venue but tice to fly to Oakland so he “Right now I’m on top of the spite his missing the game with lead New Orleans (29-37). since Feb. 14, 1990. also all tournaments organ- could witness the birth of his charts.” a knee injury Saturday. The Indiana Pacers snapped The Sacramento Kings ised by the French Tennis fi rst son before returning on an Arenas went 10-for-18 from “We got contributions from an 11-game losing streak with snapped a five-game losing Federation. overnight fl ight the next day. the field and made all six of everyone,” Washington coach an easy 113-90 win over the streak by downing the Orlando Rezai, ranked 50 in the world, The long trip appeared to his free throw attempts. He Eddie Jordan said. Atlanta Hawks. Magic 95-83. Orlando has lost had a breakthrough year last have little effect on his per- was also fouled twice while Antawn Jamison contributed The Cleveland Cavaliers 10 of its past 13 games. season, reaching the last 16 formance, however, as he led making three-point shots, and 21 points for the Wizards, while picked up their eighth straight at the US Open and the third Gilbert Arenas all scorers and also became made both free throws after for DeShawn Stevenson added 18 win, an 82-73 decision over the Agencies round at Roland Garros.