SPORTS MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2013

Eriksson: I signed for United Fox to have heart surgery Afridi: Pakistan can beat SA LONDON: Former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson has claimed that he signed a CHARLOTTE: Denver Broncos coach John Fox will have an aortic DUBAI: Dashing all-rounder Shahid Afridi yesterday showed confidence Pakistan can pull contract to succeed Alex Ferguson at Manchester United in 2002. heart valve replacement operation in the next few days and miss off a one-day series win despite the return of Hashim Amla and Dale Steyn in the South The Swede, who coached England between 2001 and 2006, made the claim in his several weeks of the NFL season, the team said Saturday. African squad for the last three matches. new autobiography, in which he also revealed that he clashed with Ferguson over Fox was hospitalized Saturday after feeling light-headed while Afridi starred with 3-26 to add to his 20-ball 26 in Pakistan’s comprehensive 66-run win Wayne Rooney’s participation at the 2006 World Cup. playing golf at Quail Hollow in Charlotte, North Carolina. He was in the second day-night international in Dubai on Friday which levelled the five-match Ferguson announced that he would step down as United manager in 2002 and taken to an area hospital, where he underwent medical tests. series at 1-1. although he later reversed his decision, Eriksson says he struck a deal with the club to While the information had been kept private, Fox had been Pakistan spurned a golden opportunity to win the first match in Sharjah on replace the Scot. In an extract from his book published in British newspaper the Mail on planning for such a surgery after the season. The incident Saturday Wednesday, going down by one run from a winning position. But Afridi, 33, said the way forced doctors to advance that timetable. Sunday, Eriksson wrote: “I knew it would be tricky. I had a contract their bowlers were performing Pakistan can win the series. “There “Although I am disappointed I must take some time away from is no doubt Amla and Steyn will strengthen South Africa but with England until the 2006 World Cup and I would be severely the team to attend to this pre-existing health condition, I under- the way our bowlers are doing, I am sure we can beat South criticised if I broke that contract. stand that it’s the right thing to do,” Fox said in a statement. Africa,” Afridi told reporters. “But this was an opportunity to manage Manchester “I have great confidence in our coaches and players, who are Amla reteuned to Dubai yesterday after missing the United. A contract was signed-I was United’s new manager.” fully committed to our goals. “I look forward to returning to coach- second Test and the first two one-day games due to the Eriksson included Rooney in his squad for the 2006 World ing as soon as possible.” The Broncos, led by star quarterback birth of his child back home. Cup in Germany despite the striker having broken a bone in Peyton Manning, are 7-1 at mid-season, the second-best record in Steyn is likely to join the squad in time for the third his foot shortly before the squad was announced. the NFL to the unbeaten Kansas City Chiefs. Denver had a bye this match in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday after returning home Eriksson claims that Ferguson did not want to release weekend, giving Fox the rare chance for weekend golf. for a rest before the one-day series. The fourth match will Rooney for the tournament, prompting a clash between him “Coach Fox was advised by doctors months ago that his defec- also be played in Abu Dhabi on Friday while the fifth and and England doctor Leif Sward. “Leif and I met Ferguson and tive aortic valve would require this procedure following the 2013 final match will be held in Sharjah on November 11. United’s doctor at the United training ground,” Eriksson wrote. season,” the Broncos said in a statement. “As part of his trip to North The teams will also play two Twenty20 internationals in “‘He cannot play in the World Cup’, Ferguson said flatly. The Carolina over the bye week, he had a preoperative appointment on Dubai on November 13 and 15. Besides Afridi, off-spinner doctor brought out some X-rays that he said showed Thursday with his doctor, who informed him to seek medical atten- Saeed Ajmal took 2-15 and paceman Mohammad Irfan Rooney’s broken bone would not heal in time. —AFP tion immediately if he felt any discomfort.” —AFP claimed 3-53 in the second match. —AFP Rangers stop Hurricanes

NEW YORK: Derek Stepan scored his first three goals of the season, and Carl Hagelin added his first two as the New York Rangers’ had their best offensive output of the season in a 5-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday night. Henrik Lundqvist made 27 saves and grabbed first star honors for New York (6-7), which is on a season- high, three-game winning streak. Hagelin scored the Rangers’ first two goals of the game, and Stepan netted the final three. Andrej Sekera scored a power-play goal with 37 seconds left in the second period to provide the only offense for the Hurricanes. Justin Peters made 33 saves in the loss and fell to 0-5. Carolina (4-7-3) has lost five straight.

ISLANDERS 3, BRUINS 1 John Tavares, Andrew MacDonald and Thomas Vanek scored second-period goals, and backup Kevin Poulin made 26 saves for his first win of the season as the New York Islanders beat Boston. Tavares knocked a loose puck past Bruins backup goalie Chad Johnson at 6:15 of the second for his sixth EAST LANSING: Bennie Fowler No. 13 of the Michigan State Spartans tries to avoid goal of the season. Raymon Taylor No. 6 and Thomas Gordon No. 30 of the Michigan Wolverines during After MacDonald scored his first of the season at the fourth quarter. — AFP 13:13 to make it 2-0, and Boston’s Dougie Hamilton answered two minutes later, Vanek scored his first with the Islanders. It was his 255th NHL goal and Ohio State, Michigan 500th point. The 29-year-old Vanek also assisted on Tavares’ goal. The Islanders (6-5-3) won for the second straight night. Boston (8-5) lost for the third time in in control four games.

NEW YORK: Ohio State laid downed an four touchdowns as No. 8 Auburn earned BLACKHAWKS 5, JETS 1 overmatched conference foe, and No. 24 first-year coach Gus Malzahn a win in his Brandon Bollig, Patrick Sharp and Nick Leddy Michigan State took control of the Big return to Arkansas with a 35-17 win. scored within a 4:55 span in the second period as Ten’s other division with a rout of No. 9 Clemson downed Virginia 59-10 Chicago extended its winning streak to three games Michigan in college football Saturday. after Tajh Boyd threw three touchdown in a rout of Winnipeg. The Buckeyes, coming off 49-point vic- passes and ran for a score, while Maty Corey Crawford stopped 26 shots to earn his tory over Penn State, crushed Purdue 56- Mauk threw three touchdown passes and eighth win of the season. Niklas Hjalmarsson and Ben 0 in West Lafayette, Indiana. Ohio State ran for another to lead No. 10 Missouri to Smith also scored, and Marcus Kruger had a pair of has won 21 straight and has been far and a 31-3 victory over Tennessee. assists for the Blackhawks, who are 4-1-1 on the road. away the Big Ten’s most impressive team. No. 10 Missouri defeated Tennessee Defenseman Tobias Enstrom’s goal made it 1-0 in the Ohio State appears to be cruising toward 31-3 and No. 12 Texas A&M downed UTEP first period for the Jets, who have lost three straight. a Leaders Division title and their first Big 57-7, while Connor Shaw threw for four It was the Jets’ biggest margin of defeat this sea- son. They had lost 4-1 to Dallas Oct. 11. Ondrej Pavelec NEW YORK: Mats Zuccarello No. 36 of the New York Rangers butt helmets with teammate Ten title game. They have a one-game touchdowns and Mike Davis ran for 128 started in net for Winnipeg and stopped 10 of 14 Henrik Lundqvist No. 30 in this file photo. — AFP lead over Wisconsin, a team they’ve yards to move past 1,000 yards this sea- shots. He was replaced by Al Montoya after Leddy’s already beaten, and have games left son as No. 14 South Carolina equaled a added the winning goal in the shootout to lift RED WINGS 5, OILERS 0 goal at 5:49 of the second. Montoya made 10 saves on Washington over Florida. Petr Mrazek needed to make only 14 saves to earn against Illinois, Indiana and Michigan. school record with its 15th straight home 11 shots. Michigan State and the nation’s No. 1 victory 34-16 over Mississippi State. The Capitals won their second game in a row with- his first NHL shutout in his third game as Detroit out Alex Ovechkin, who is out with an unspecified cruised to its third straight victory with a win over defense were even more impressive. The In other games, No. 16 Fresno State DUCKS 6, SABRES 3 upper-body injury. Edmonton. Tomas Tatar, Darren Helm, Jakub Kindl, Spartans pummeled their rivals No. 23 defeated Nevada 41-23, No. 17 UCLA beat Emerson Etem and Corey Perry both scored two Tomas Fleishmann tied the game for Florida with a Joakim Andersson and Todd Bertuzzi scored for the Michigan 29-6 in East Lansing, Michigan Colorado 45-23, No. 18 Oklahoma State goals to lift Anaheim over reeling Buffalo. Ryan Getzlaf power-play goal with 2:38 left in the third. The Red Wings (9-4-2), who are 3-1-2 in their last six and have a game and a half lead in the were 52-34 winners over Texas Tech, No. scored and added a pair of assists for the Ducks (11-3- Capitals also got shootout tallies from Mikhail games. Helm played in his first game of the season Legends Division. Michigan State plays 21 Northern Illinois trounced 1), who recorded five straight goals after Buffalo Grabovski and Brooks Laich. and third since March 2012, due to various injuries. second-place Nebraska in two weeks. The Massachusetts 63-19 and No. 22 struck first. Sami Vatanen also scored for Anaheim. Ovechkin had 10 goals in 12 games before he was The Oilers (3-10-2) lost their fifth straight before they Huskers kept pace by beating Wisconsin downed Iowa 28-9. Cody Hodgson, Tyler Myers and Henrik Tallinder hurt in the first period Monday at Vancouver. Since head out on a four-game trip. Edmonton has been scored for Buffalo, but the Sabres (2-13-1) continued Northwestern 27-24 on a last-play touch- Kendall Brock scored on a 43-yard run then, the Capitals have outscored opponents 9-2 and shut out in its last two home games. Detroit took a 2-0 their worst start in franchise history. The Sabres have reached .500 (7-7). lead on goals 27 seconds apart five minutes into the down pass. At Tallahassee, Florida, Jameis on the opening possession for the Wolf lost their first nine home games, their longest stretch Winston threw for 325 yards as Florida Pack (3-6, 2-4), who have lost four straight John Carlson also scored for Washington and game. The Red Wings outshot the Oilers 21-10 to open a season. Michal Neuvirth stopped 31 shots in regulation. Jesse through the first 40 minutes. State rolled to another romp in a battle of games in a season for the first time since Thirteen players recorded points for Anaheim, ACC unbeaten, downing No. 7 Miami 41- 2001. Cody Fajardo threw for 202 yards Winchester had the Panthers’ other goal. which won its first game in Buffalo since 2009. Buffalo AVALANCHE 4, CANADIENS 1 14. Tre Mason rushed for 168 yards and and two touchdowns. —AP barely tested Anaheim goalie Jonas Hiller, and the CANUCKS 4, MAPLE LEAFS 0 Gabriel Landeskog scored a goal and assisted on Sabres were outshot for the sixth straight game, 29- Roberto Luongo made 21 saves for his second rookie Nathan Mackinnon’s go-ahead score as 17. The three-goal loss was the Sabres’ fifth of the sea- shutout of the season, leading Vancouver to a victory Colorado beat Montreal for its second six-game win- Eagles beat Giants son, four of which have come at home. over Toronto. Daniel Sedin, Zack Kassian, Chris Higgins ning streak of the young season. and Dan Hamhuis scored for the Canucks, who Ryan O’Reilly also had a goal, and Jean-Sebastien LIGHTNING 4, BLUES 2 rebounded from a disappointing loss to Detroit on Giguere made 29 saves for the Avalanche, whose 12-1 to win Brett Connolly and Valtteri Filppula scored in the Wednesday with one of their best efforts of the sea- start is the best in franchise history. P.A. Parenteau third period, lifting Tampa Bay over St. Louis. Connolly, son. Henrik Sedin, who along with his brother signed added an empty-net goal in the final minute. playing in his second game since being recalled from a four-year contract extension on Friday, earned an Brendan Gallagher scored a power-play goal for SENDAI: The Eagles beat the contaminated water at the crippled Syracuse of the AHL, put Tampa Bay ahead 3-2 when assist on Daniel’s first-period goal to extend his point the Canadiens at 3:38 of the third. That snapped 3-0 in Game 7 of the Fukushima nuclear plant have been he redirected Radko Gudas’ shot at 8:37 of the third. streak to 11 games (three goals, 10 assists). Before the Colorado’s season-high streak of 22 consecutive Filppula made it 4-2 with 3:59 remaining. Alex Killorn Japan Series yesterday to win their first keeping people on edge. Sendai is only game, Vancouver retired former star winger Pavel penalty kills. had a goal and two assists, and Steven Stamkos also Bure’s No. 10. championship and give a boost to a 57 kilometers (36 miles) from scored for the Lightning, who have won all five games region still recovering from the 2011 Fukushima. James Reimer kept the Maple Leafs in it most of COYOTES 3, SHARKS 2, SO this season against Western Conference teams. St. the night, making 43 saves as Toronto was outshot for Antoine Vermette scored in the opening minute earthquake and tsunami. Rakuten “This is a great present for the peo- Louis got goals from Alex Pietrangelo and Jaden starter Manabu Mima, who was named ple of the Tohoku region,” Rakuten the 13th time in 15 games this season. The Maple and then got the winning goal in the shootout to give Schwartz. Leafs had a three-game winning streak snapped. Phoenix a victory over San Jose. MVP of the series, held the Giants to manager Senichi Hoshino said. “I hope Mikkel Boedker also scored for the Coyotes (10-3- one hit while striking out five over six this victory will be an inspiration to the FLYERS 1, DEVILS 0 PREDATORS 4, KINGS 3 2), who have points in 11 of their last 12 games. Joe scoreless innings for the win. Rookie evacuees. There will be many tough After being embarrassed by Washington at home David Legwand’s second goal of the game with Pavelski and Danny Boyle, who missed the previous Takahiro Norimoto pitched two score- days ahead but tonight I hope we can 24 hours earlier, Philadelphia ground out a win at New 3:56 left carried Nashville past Los Angeles. Legwand seven games with a concussion, scored for the Sharks less innings of relief and 24-game win- all enjoy this win.” Jersey. Brayden Schenn deflected Andrej Meszaros’ and Shea Weber scored power-play goals in the first (10-1-3). Logan Couture converted the first attempt of ner retired the side in The Giants are the oldest and most shot past Martin Brodeur in the first period, and Ray period, Eric Nystrom also scored, and Patric Hornqvist the shootout for San Jose. He thought he had the win- Emery made 14 saves, as last-place Philadelphia (4-9) had three assists. Carter Hutton made 35 saves in his ning goal with 33 seconds left in regulation, but it was the ninth. successful team in Japanese earned a needed victory. “I was nervous at the beginning but with 22 championships while the fourth straight start since Pekka Rinne went on the waved off because the puck never crossed the line. The fight-filled 7-0 loss to Washington on Friday injured list because of an infection in his surgically It was just one of many brilliant saves made by with the support of my teammates and Eagles are playing in just their ninth might have sparked the Flyers. Philadelphia peppered the fans, I was able to settle down,” said season in Japanese professional base- repaired hip. Anze Kopitar, Dustin Brown and Mike Mike Smith, who stopped 48 shots through overtime. Brodeur, who started his season-high third consecu- Richards scored for the Kings, and Jonathan Quick Sharks goalie Antti Niemi made 28 saves. Radim Vrbata Mima, who also was the winning pitch- ball. tive game. Brodeur made 20 saves. faced only 17 shots. also scored in the shootout for Phoenix. — AP er in Game 3. After a fourth-place finish in 2012, New Jersey came up empty on five power-plays. Casey McGehee made it 1-0 in the the Eagles signed major league veter- Emery, who gave up four goals on 15 shots and first inning with a hard-hit ball that an Andruw Jones and the move fought Washington’s Braden Holtby a night earlier, NHL results/standings shortstop bobbled, proved to be a huge success. Jones hit recorded his 15th NHL shutout. allowing Ginji Akaminai to score from 26 homers and drove in 94 runs as the PENGUINS 3, BLUE JACKETS 0 Chicago 5, Winnipeg 1; Anaheim 6, Buffalo 3; Tampa Bay 4, St. Louis 2; Philadelphia 1, New Jersey 0; NY third. team went 82-59 to earn its first Pacific Deryk Engelland, Chris Kunitz and Jussi Jokinen Islanders 3, Boston 1; NY Rangers 5, Carolina 1; Washington 3, Florida 2 (SO); Pittsburgh 3, Columbus 0; The Eagles added another run in the League pennant. scored, and backup Jeff Zatkoff made 19 saves in his Vancouver 4, Toronto 0; Colorado 4, Montreal 1; Detroit 5, Edmonton 0; Phoenix 3, San Jose 2 (SO); Nashville 4, Los Angeles 3. second inning on a double by Takeru Tanaka went 24-0 in the regular sea- first NHL win to lead Pittsburgh past Columbus. Okajima and Akihisa Makida complet- son. In September, he notched his 21st Western Conference Eastern Conference The Penguins beat the Blue Jackets for the second Pacific Division Atlantic Division ed the scoring with a solo homer in the straight win to break Japan’s previous straight day to stretch their winning streak to four. WL OTLGFGAPTS Tampa Bay 10 4 0 47 35 20 fourth. record of 20 wins in a row set by Zatkoff was 0-2 with a 5.06 goals-against average Toronto 10 5 0 48 36 20 San Jose 10 1 3 53 27 23 Detroit 9 4 2 38 37 20 The Eagles are the only professional Kazuhisa Inao in 1957. coming in. Anaheim 11 3 1 50 39 23 Boston 8 5 0 36 25 16 baseball team located in the Tohoku His success this season has raised Engelland scored on a rapid-fire one-timer and Phoenix 10 3 2 51 46 22 Montreal 8 7 0 41 31 16 Kunitz picked up his eighth when a shot went in off a Vancouver 10 5 1 46 41 21 Ottawa 4 6 3 39 43 11 region that was devastated by the Tanaka’s profile among teams in Major Florida 3 8 3 28 49 9 March 11, 2011 disaster. The team’s League Baseball, making him the most Blue Jacket’s stick in the third. Jokinen added an emp- Los Angeles 9 6 0 43 40 18 Calgary 5 6 2 39 47 12 Buffalo 2 13 1 26 49 5 home stadium was severely damaged sought-after Japanese import since Yu ty-net goal. Metropolitan Division Perhaps Zatkoff’s best save came when he blocked Edmonton 3 10 2 36 59 8 Pittsburgh 11 4 0 48 33 22 by the earthquake. Darvish. Dalton Prout’s hard shot from close range at 8:32 of Central Division NY Islanders 6 5 3 45 44 15 More than two years after the disas- According to media reports, at least the third period that would have cut the margin to a Colorado 12 1 0 42 19 24 Washington 7 7 0 44 40 14 NY Rangers 6 7 0 25 38 12 ter that killed nearly 19,000 people, the seven major league teams, including goal. Curtis McElhinney, getting his second start for Chicago 9 2 3 50 39 21 St. Louis 8 2 2 44 29 18 Carolina 4 7 3 27 44 11 region is still struggling and progress the New York Yankees and Boston Red the Blue Jackets, stopped 24 shots. Minnesota 7 4 3 34 34 17 Columbus 5 8 0 33 36 10 in recovery efforts is slow. More than Sox, are expected to enter the Tanaka New Jersey 3 6 4 26 38 10 Nashville 7 5 2 31 40 16 280,000 people remain living in tem- sweepstakes now that the season is CAPITALS 3, PANTHERS 2 Philadelphia 4 9 0 21 37 8 Dallas 5 6 2 33 39 12 Note: Overtime losses (OTL) are worth one point in the porary housing. Leaks of radioactive over. — AP Nicklas Backstrom scored in the first period and Winnipeg 5 8 2 35 45 12 standings and are not included in the loss column (L).