The New Vision, Tuesday, June 9, 2009 SPORT 39 , in danger of missing out

Africa WC qualifying results Group A Cameroon 0 Morocco 0 Gabon 3 Togo 0 Group B Bryant (right) hugs teammate Derek Fisher after the first half 3 Kenya 0 2 Mozambique 0 Group C 3 Egypt 1 Lakers open up a 2-0 Zambia 1 Rwanda 0 Group D Mali 0 2 1 0 lead in NBA final series JOHANNESBURG Group E 1 I. Coast 2 The World Cup qualifica- Malawi 0 B. Faso 1 standards go,” Lakers coach tion hopes of African Standings P W D L F A Pts NBA Finals Game 2 result Phil Jackson told reporters giants Egypt and Cameroon Group A Lakers 101 Magic 96 (OT) of his star shooting guard. suffered dramatic setbacks Gabon 2 2 0 0 5 1 6 (Lakers lead series 2-0) “They double teamed him, on Sunday but Ghana Togo 2 1 0 1 1 3 3 they trapped him, they came improved their chances Matmour (right) and a teammate celebrate an Algeria goal Morocco 2 0 1 1 1 2 1 LOS ANGELES on all his drives, and we with a vital away win. Cameroon 2 0 1 1 0 1 1 didn’t adjust to it immedi- Ghana’s Black Stars beat both on course in their Abdelkader Ghezzal and Group B The Orlando Magic enjoyed ately. their key rivals Mali 2-0 respective groups, although finally Rafiuk Djeboour, to Tunisia 2 2 0 0 4 1 6 the bittersweet experience “We were able to find other away in Bamako to move both countries have more go joint top in Group C Nigeria 2 1 1 0 3 0 4 of successfully slowing guys that did things for us.” into the lead in Group D. testing assignments in two with Zambia. Egypt got a Mozambique 2 0 1 1 0 2 1 down Kobe Bryant, but fail- The Magic cut off Bryant’s But African champions weeks’ time. late consolation goal from Kenya 2 0 0 2 1 5 0 ing to prevent the Los driving lanes by having all Egypt suffered a massive Kwakwo Asamoah and Mohamed Aboutrika. Group C Angeles Lakers from taking of their defenders following dent to their chances with Matthew Amoah grabbed Two goals from Obinna Algeria 2 1 1 0 3 1 4 a 2-0 lead in the NBA Finals the 11-times All-Star’s every a 3-1 defeat in Algeria. They second half goals for Ghana Nsofor helped ensure a 3-0 Zambia 2 1 1 0 2 1 4 series on Sunday. move but it was not quite left with a single point at as they won a second suc- win for Nigeria in their Rwanda 2 0 1 1 0 1 1 Bryant amassed 29 points enough to emerge with a vic- the foot of Group C. cessive match. Group B match against Egypt 2 0 1 1 2 4 1 in the 101-96 overtime win, tory. Cameroon were held to a They now have a three Kenya in Abuja. Group D but only found the target on “I didn’t read the coverages goalless draw by Morocco point advantage over sec- Nigeria are two points Ghana 2 2 0 0 3 0 6 10-of-22 shots and was far as well as I did, and we still in Yaounde, a result that ond placed Benin. Razak behind Tunisia, who they Benin 2 1 0 1 1 1 3 less a force than the man managed to win the game,” leaves both sides trailing Omotoyossi scored the next meet on June 20. Sudan 2 0 1 1 1 2 1 who scored 40 points and the 2008 league MVP admit- by five points in Group A. game’s only goal in Cotonou A second half winner Mali 2 0 1 1 1 3 1 single-handedly took over ted. They both suffered sur- as Benin beat Sudan on from Christian Koffi Ndri Group E the opening game of the The victory gave the Lakers prise defeats in their first Sunday. ensured the Ivory Coast Ivory Coast 2 2 0 0 7 1 6 best0of-seven series. a comfortable lead before the group games in March. Algeria scored three goals stayed level on top of the Burkina Faso 2 2 0 0 5 2 6 “I didn’t think Kobe had a series heads to Orlando for Sunday wins for the Ivory in 17 minutes, first from Group E standings as they Guinea 2 0 0 2 3 6 0 good game at all as far as his the next three games. Coast and Nigeria kept Karim Matmour, then beat Guinea 2-1 away. Malawi 2 0 0 2 0 6 0

England fight back; Ireland in Super 8 Woods sends out early IN BRIEF

LONDON been hard to deal with. ‘Secure Ribery Twenty20 WC results “I reckon I’m about 70 warning for US Open England booked their place England 185 Pakistan 137 percent fit. Hopefully that in the second round Super England win by 48 runs is the last of it now because DUBLIN or let him go’ Eights of the ICC World B’gladesh 137 Ireland 138-4 I just love playing.” soccer Twenty20 with a 48-run win Ireland win by six wickets Meanwhile, Ireland sealed Tiger Woods sounded an over Pakistan at the Oval Today a place in the Super Eights ominous warning to his Bayern Munich should offer on Sunday. Netherlands v Pakistan when Kevin O`Brien’s rivals for this month’s US French playmaker Franck The hosts, 48 hours after N. Zealand v S. Africa unbeaten 39 from 17 deliv- Open in New York with a Ribery a contract extension their shock four-wicket loss eries helped them to a six- vintage display in winning or allow him to leave as to the Netherlands, bounced Lord’s on Tuesday. wicket win over Bangladesh the Memorial tournament speculation about a move back to record a win which, Kevin Pietersen came on Monday. by one shot on Sunday. to Real Madrid is rife, club because their net run-rate back from an Achilles inju- As a result, Bangladesh, The American world president Franz was now superior to that of ry to lead England to a total who were beaten by India number one clinched the Beckenbauer said on the Dutch, ensured their of 185 for five with 58 after in their opening game, have title for a record fourth Monday. “I only see two progress in the tourna- missing Friday’s Dutch no chance of progressing time, clinching his 67th Woods poses with the trophy solutions - Ribery extends ment. debacle at Lord’s. from Group A. PGA Tour victory with a his contract to end any talk Pakistan, finalists at the “It was a huge match,” Ireland, who also made it superb seven-under-par 65. best after being sidelined of a transfer or we offer his inaugural World Twenty20 Pietersen told Sky Sports. through the opening stage It was his second title this for eight months recover- release,” Beckenbauer told in two years “It was a huge evening –– of the one-day World Cup year in seven starts on the ing from knee surgery. Bild newspaper. ago, now face a make or I was desperate to play, I’ve in 2007, restricted US circuit and silenced The US Open will run break Group B clash never had an injury that Bangladesh to just 137 for critics who had argued from June 18-21 and Woods against the Netherlands at has kept me out which has eight in their 20 overs. Woods was not back to his will start as favourite. Iceland bank buys West Ham Miracle forehand rescued Federer soccer West Ham United have been PARIS grand slam of all four major titles. break point, Federer conjured up a bought for an undisclosed When Soderling ended Rafael screaming forehand winner to sum by CB Holding, a unit No Nadal, no excuses! Those are Nadal’s four-year Paris reign in the bring the scores back to deuce. of Iceland’s bailed out the words that could have haunted fourth round, Federer had been That earned Federer his get-out-of- Straumur-Burdaras bank, Roger Federer for the rest of his expected to grab his golden oppor- jail-free card. the Premier League club life if he had let the French Open tunity with both hands. The shot was akin to the miracle has said. Andrew Bernhardt, crown slip from his grasp on Except less than 24 hours later, it birdie Federer’s friend Tiger Woods a Straumur senior director, Sunday. seemed Roland Garros would be produced at the 16th during the the will become the club’s new Luckily for him, Swede Robin shaken by an aftershock of similar 2005 US Masters. non-executive chairman but Soderling, and a miracle forehand magnitude as Federer was on the Just as Woods had described that said there were no plans for winner in a fourth-round thriller verge of suffering his earliest moment to be the “turning point” an immediate shake-up of against Tommy Haas helped the grand slam loss since 2004 when he of his campaign, Federer also the east London club, who Swiss on his way to becoming only came within five points of defeat. pinned down his title charge to that finished ninth in the Federer buries his head after the victory the sixth man to complete a career At two sets and 3-4 down facing a moment of magic against Haas. Premier League this season.