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Pakistan crush Sharapova battles Ireland to reach past Wickmayer quarter-finals17 18 MONDAY, MARCH 16, 2015 Hamilton wins Australian GP Page 18 MANCHESTER: Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney (right) takes a shot at goal during the English Premier League soccer match against Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford Stadium. —AP Rooney delivers knockout blow A record of just two league defeats since the United were superior in every department as shot across Hugo Lloris. ry a formality. Taking possession off Nabil Bentaleb, start of November had given them every chance, they produced one of their best performances Carrick had not scored since February 2014 and the United captain ran unchecked through Man United 3 but the unconvincing nature of some of their per- under van Gaal and, thanks to a ninth win in 10 managed only one all of last season. But his 19th Tottenham’s defence before slotting the ball home formances had still raised doubts that they would home league games, they are now just two points minute finish was that of a proven marksman as he and celebrating with a flurry of punches and a col- stay the course. A run of games against Tottenham, behind second placed Manchester City. deftly guided a header beyond Lloris after Nacer lapse to the floor to mimic the morning newspa- Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea within United again started with the out of form Chadli had struggled to clear a header from Fellaini per report which claimed he had been knocked Tottenham 0 their next five fixtures was supposed to be the acid Radamel Falcao on the bench. With Robin van following an Ashley Young corner. out in an impromptu boxing bout in his kitchen test. Persie also still out injured, Fellaini has played an Tottenham looked anything but the side that with Stoke defender Phil Bardsley. MANCHESTER: Wayne Rooney ensured And van Gaal’s side could not have made a bet- increasingly important role as an attacking option had won five of their previous seven league games Spurs couldn’t be as bad in the second half and Manchester United packed a punch as they tight- ter start by overwhelming a Tottenham side with and it was the Belgium international who put and watching England coach Roy Hodgson barely Ryan Mason missed a chance to pull a goal back ened their grip on a top-four place with an impres- top-four aspirations of their own thank to an United ahead after nine minutes with his fifth goal saw Harry Kane, aiming to score for a seventh suc- when he shot wide 10 minutes into the second sive 3-0 victory over Tottenham yesterday. impressive run which had lifted them to within of the season. cessive away game, get a meaningful touch as he half and Kane was denied by David de Gea at the After going out of the FA Cup against Arsenal three points of United before kick-off. Carrick’s return to starting duty for the first time seeks to win a place in the full England squad to be death. last Monday, the sole remaining target for Louis Spurs had also won on their two previous visits since late January was also a contributory factor to named this coming week. United also didn’t need to sustain the tempo van Gaal’s first season in charge is to finish at least to Old Trafford but any chance of a hat-trick disap- United’s first-half dominance and it was a pass Rooney will definitely be in that squad and he and intensity that marked this out as one of their fourth in the Premier League to seal a return to the peared with first-half goals from Marouane Fellaini, from the former Tottenham midfielder that underlined his well-being with his 19th goal of the best performances at Old Trafford since the Alex Champions League. Michael Carrick and Rooney. released Fellaini to score with a low left-footed season 11 minutes before the break to make victo- Ferguson era. —AFP Chelsea frustrated, Rooney pokes fun at Saints make a point boxing bout claims LONDON: Wayne Rooney cheekily interview. “That’s the world we live in poked fun at claims he had come off today. It was a few mates in a private the referee - and bullishly insisting his team would badly in a boxing bout in his own house, which has somehow managed make up for that set-back by winning the title. kitchen by miming a knockout blow to go front page of a national newspa- Chelsea 1 The Chelsea manager’s decision to retain 10 of after scoring against Tottenham yester- per. It was me and a few friends joking the starting line-up that failed to beat PSG, Willian day. about,” Rooney told Sky Sports 1. “I’ve came in for Ramires, reinforced the view that Rooney’s day began badly when been focused on the game, I think it’s Mourinho had faith in his players’ resilience. Southampton 1 video footage emerged of the United more interesting for other people And the opening moments of the game sug- and England striker being apparently rather than myself. You’ve seen I’ve gested the Portuguese’s confidence was not mis- knocked out in his kitchen by former done a professional job, got on with LONDON: Diego Costa ended his seven-game placed with his side capping a bright start with a team-mate Phil Bardsley during a sup- the game. drought but the Chelsea striker’s 18th Premier much-needed goal from Costa. posedly friendly sparring session. “It’s in my own home so it’s not in League goal of the season was not enough to The move that led to Chelsea taking the lead The Sun newspaper reported the any public place but I don’t know how secure victory as the leaders were held to a 1-1 offered a reminder of the qualities they have footage was shot in Rooney’s kitchen it’s got out. You know it’s what friends draw by Southampton at Stamford Bridge yester- shown for much of the season with Eden Hazard on February 22. In the video, the pair do, we mess around in the house and day. Jose Mourinho’s side were desperate to exchanging passes with Costa outside the pull on boxing gloves and trade blows unfortunately it’s made the front page bounce back from their midweek Champions Southampton area before working the ball out to as they spar in Rooney’s Cheshire man- of the newspaper so we just deal with League exit against Paris Saint Germain and take Branislav Ivanovic on the right. sion. it.” His celebration raised plenty of advantage of Manchester City’s surprise defeat Costa, meanwhile, spotted a gap in the visi- Stoke defender Bardsley then smiles around the sporting world how- against Burnley on Saturday. But Dusan Tadic’s tors’ defences and darted into the area where he catches Rooney square in the face with ever. Former United and England 19th penalty cancelled out Costa’s 11th minute met Ivanovic’s well-flighted cross with a powerful a left jab, sending the United and team-mate Michael Owen wrote on opener and denied the Blues the chance to estab- header from just six yards out. The pain of England skipper plummeting to the Twitter: “Best celebration ever from lish an even more commanding lead over the Wednesday evening had been eased, but floor. Rooney lays prostrate on the Rooney!” chasing pack. Southampton responded immediately, confirm- floor and the video comes to an abrupt Gary Lineker, the former England While a point extended Chelsea’s lead at the ing they had no intention of simply playing a sup- end. Rooney was able to see the funny striker, tweeted: “Terrific finish from head of the table to six points, having played a porting role as Mourinho’s team repaired their side, however, as he marked his goal Wayne Rooney and a even better cele- game less than second-placed City, it was a disap- wounded morale. Ronald Koeman’s side had against Spurs, which gave United a 3-0 bration.” Former Liverpool centre-back pointing end to a frustrating week for Mourinho enjoyed a 12-day break since the victory over half-time lead, by doing a mime of a Jamie Carragher added: “I did love that and company. The draw also frustrated Crystal Palace that had revived their top-four chal- flurry of punches before falling back- celebration to be fair.” And British for- Southampton who were unable to make bigger lenge. Presented with the opportunity to take his wards to the Old Trafford turf. mer heavyweight champion boxer inroads in their efforts to force their way back into players for a mid-season break, Koeman broke Team-mates gathered around David Haye offered to give Rooney, a contention for a top four finish. with tradition, opting to head for the snow of Rooney as he lay on the pitch, pretend- noted boxing enthusiast, some tips on Mourinho had responded to the Champions Switzerland instead of the more traditional warm ing to try to revive the 29-year-old as the sport. League exit by rounding on his team’s critics - weather training trip. The move appeared to have he feigned unconsciousness. “Next time you’re in London Wayne Jamie Carragher and Graeme Souness, the former had the desired effect with Southampton looking Despite his jovial celebration, Rooney pop to my gym, I’ll show you Liverpool players turned TV pundits, came in for sharp and refreshed as they quickly recovered LONDON: Chelsea’s Ramires (left) competes for the ball with Rooney was keen to play down the some useful defence and head move- particular attention for their comments and were back on level terms thanks to a con- Southampton’s Sadio Mane during the English Premier League soccer incident when quizzed in a post-match ment,” Haye tweeted.

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