Tendulkar walks Pacers and Heat into18 the sunset advance19 SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2013 Scott storms clear at Australian Masters Page 17 PORTUGAL: Sweden’s forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic (left) vies with Portugal’s defender Bruno Alves during the FIFA 2014 World Cup qualifier play-off first leg football match. — AFP Ronaldo heads Portugal towards Brazil Sloppy France stunned by Ukraine LONDON: France’s hopes of reaching the World Cup finals France last failed to reach a major tournament in 1994 but However, the odds look slightly shorter on Ronaldo grac- Skulason for tangling with Ivan Perisic, while Croatia coach are hanging by a thread after a 2-0 first-leg defeat away to Deschamps, who was past of that squad, remained defiant. ing the stage after the Real Madrid man, so often the dazzler, Niko Kovac was also disappointed with his side’s tactics. Ukraine in their playoff on Friday while Cristiano Ronaldo’s late “We still have 90 minutes at home,” he added. proved he will also put his head in the line of danger for his “We resorted to playing long balls for too long,” said the winner gave Portugal the edge against Sweden. FIFA Ballon d’Or nominee Franck Ribery was shackled country by stooping to score an 82nd minute winner. Croat. “I expected us to keep it on the ground more and we Ten-man Iceland battled to 0-0 home draw with Croatia in closely as Les Blues toiled at the Olympic Stadium. A draw He also struck the woodwork shortly afterwards as just didn’t implement the gameplan.” Reykjavic to keep alive their dream of qualifying for a first would have been a satisfactory result to take home but just Portugal sought the comfort of a second goal. As it is, a work- Kostas Mitroglou struck twice for Greece in Athens with major tournament while Greece will be confident of finishing past the hour Zozulia squeezed a shot under Hugo Lloris from manlike Swedish side still harbour high hopes of swinging the Dimitris Salpingidis also on target against the Romanians who off Romania next week after a 3-1 victory in Athens. close range to spark wild celebrations. tie their way. had levelled through Bogdan Stancu. Of the eight European nations in the last-chance saloon Koscielny then fouled Zozulia in the box to allow Ukraine “We created a great early chance and Sweden hit back. But Several countries spared the ordeal of a playoff were also after missing out on automatic passage to next year’s tourna- to double their lead and the Arsenal man’s frustration boiled in the second half it was one way for us,” Portugal coach Paulo in action as the build-up to the 2014 finals begins in earnest. ment in Brazil, France are the worst placed going into next over when he slapped Kucher in the face to earn a red card Bento told reporters. “It was an important step to reach the Italy and Germany drew 1-1 at the San Siro where Ignazio week’s second legs after a miserable night in Kiev. that will keep him out of the return match in Paris. World Cup but not yet decisive.” Abate grabbed his first international goal for the hosts after Second-half goals by Ukraine’s Roman Zozulia and Andriy Ukraine also finished with 10 men after Kucher was dis- Iceland played most of the second half with 10 men Mats Hummels put the visitors ahead on the night their coach Yarmolenko and a red card for France defender Laurent missed for a second yellow card for a foul on Ribery. Ronaldo against Croatia after Olafur Skulason was shown a straight red Joachim Loew celebrated his 100th match in charge. Koscielny made it a night to forget for Didier Deschamps’ side overshadowed Sweden’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic in their playoff card in the 50th minute but they hung on stubbornly for a England were given a jolt at Wembley as an experimental who need a vast improvement in Paris on Tuesday to repair match - billed as a clash between two of Europe’s hottest strik- draw. side were outclassed by Chile, for whom Barcelona striker the damage. ers - pouncing late on a tense night in Lisbon. “To defend for almost 45 minutes with one less man on the Alexis Sanchez scored twice in a convincing 2-0 win. “It’s obviously a very bad result. We have to believe (we can By a quirk of the draw for the playoffs, one of the biggest pitch... I can’t describe in words what these players have done,” Italin Fabio Capello’s Russia side were held 1-1 at home by go through) but Ukraine are the team in the best position to names in the world game will be missing next year in South Iceland coach Lars Lagerback said. Serbia while Switzerland went down 2-1 to South Korea in qualify,” he said. America - a blow for neutrals and sponsors alike. Swede Lagerbeck was annoyed by the decision to send off Seoul. — Reuters Nigeria qualify for Beckham lines up long shot: World Cup finals Founding Miami soccer team MIAMI: From his tattoos to his finely chiseled million renovation of its privately owned physique and Armani underwear ads, soccer American football stadium. CALABAR: Nigeria yesterday qualified for the ing. My target is now to help my country do well icon David Beckham oozes Miami-style sex Instead, Beckham is assembling a group to 2014 World Cup in Brazil after beating Ethiopia 2- at the World Cup.” Ambrose came close for appeal. Blending charisma with a smart busi- invest $150-200 million in private financing 0 at home in Calabar in the second leg of their Nigeria right at the start of the game and goal- ness plan, Beckham intends to launch his for a new soccer stadium in Miami’s urban decisive play-off to go through 4-1 on aggregate. keeper Sisay Bancha then made a one-handed own professional soccer team in Miami, a core by 2018-19, according to the source, Victor Moses gave Nigeria the lead after 20 save from Emmanuel Emenike from 10 yards out multicultural market that has defied major who divulged financial details that have been minutes when he tucked away a penalty after as the home team pressed for an early opening league owners twice before. But Beckham is under wraps until now. The same person Anyalem Hailu handled the ball inside his box, goal. Ethiopia’s Saladin Said then saw a shot from known for making long shots. Expectation is stressed that the plans are still in the early and substitute Victor Obinna doubled Nigeria’s a tight angle flash across the face of the goal high that the former captain of the England stages and the cost could vary according to lead on 82 minutes when he fired home a free- before Moses calmly dispatched his penalty to team, who retired as a player in May, will the final site choice. “He will not be asking for kick to kill off the game and the tie. The reigning put Nigeria ahead after Hailu was penalised. exercise a $25 million option in his Major taxpayer money,” the source added, noting African champions thus march on to their fifth Only a good Bancha save prevented Moses League Soccer (MLS) player contract to start that Beckham was well aware of local resist- a new team later this year and base it in ance to public financing. World Cup finals having also featured at the 1994, from scoring another goal half an hour in, and Miami. “That is very encouraging, a big boost,” 1998, 2002 and 2010 tournaments. But the Super then Brown Ideye came close to doubling The league has confirmed it is in discus- said Chip Iglesias, Miami-Dade County Eagles’ display yesterday inside the packed Nigeria’s lead when his header off a cutback from sions with Beckham but is awaiting a formal Deputy Mayor who met with Beckham this 15,000-capacity the right by Ogenyi Onazi narrowly missed the bid, including details of the city, the owner- week after a tour of possible stadium sites. He UJ Esuene Stadium in Calabar was laboured target. ship group, and a stadium plan, which is said the commitment to private financing and, until Obinna’s late goal, Ethiopia were still in Bancha again denied Nigeria when Onazi’s expected before the end of the year. A source was bound to create local goodwill. Beckham with a chance. CSKA Moscow forward Ahmed left-footed shot in the 43rd minute was kept out close to the negotiations described a financial envisions building the team with veteran Musa said it was a dream come true to qualify for by the outstanding Ethiopia goalkeeper and CALABAR: Nigerian midfielder Sunday Mbah plan that is well advanced if incomplete. players, international stars who, following his what will be his first World Cup, but he blamed Ideye could not put away the rebound. Beckham declined requests for an interview, own lead when he moved from Real Madrid (left) vies for ball with Ethiopian defender but he has been touring Miami and recently to Los Angeles, will hang up their cleats in the hot weather for the team’s subdued outing. Ethiopia had set their stall out to defend in the Assefa Behajlu during the FIFA World Cup “I thank God for the World Cup ticket, it is a first half, but they came out of their shell after the said the city was ripe for a new soccer team.