Mourinho Baits Ferguson Over Fixtures
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CHINA DAILY SPORTS MONDAY APRIL 9, 200711 Mourinho baits Ferguson over fi xtures row Inter’s Chelsea get 1-0 win over Spurs, streak who had played 36 hours earlier snapped LONDON: Jose Mourinho saw Robinson when the England SOCCER Chelsea keep up the pressure goalkeeper saved well from on Premiership leaders Man- Carvalho. ROME: Inter Milan’s 11-match chester United but could not Apart from that, only a winning run away from home resist responding to Sir Alex deflected Frank Lampard came to a halt at Reggina on Sat- Ferguson’s claim that his side free-kick gave the Tottenham urday when Roberto Mancini’s are now controlling the fi xture defence anything to think about Italian league leaders could schedule. before the interval. only manage a 0-0 draw. The United manager was an- The early stages of the sec- Unbeaten Inter’s amazing re- gry that Chelsea were allowed ond half did, however, suggest cord – 25 wins and fi ve draws to face Tottenham less than that the contest would become in the league this season – has 48 hours after Martin Jol’s interesting. Referee Rob Styles meant a draw is seen as a fail- team had played out a taxing failed to award a penalty in the ure but they no doubt found UEFA Cup quarterfi nal fi rst leg 48th minute when John Terry solace in their 18-point lead clash in Spain against holders was pushed by Pascal Chim- with eight matches to go. Sevilla. bonda. Second-placed AS Roma Ferguson’s fears that Totten- In the 52nd minute Chelsea gained some ground with their ham would be under-strength fi nally broke the deadlock when 2-0 victory against Catania were confi rmed when Dimitar Carvalho took a pass from Jon and third-placed Lazio also Berbatov, Robbie Keane and Obi Mikel, before advancing clamied three points in a 1- Didier Zokora were rested for five yards and unleashing a 0 home win against Messina the game at Stamford Bridge, low shot from 35-yards which but they are still 25 points which Chelsea won 1-0 thanks fl ew past Robinson and into the behind Inter. to Ricardo Carvalho’s second bottom left corner. The fall-out from the Ital- half strike. It was another moment to ian match-fi xing scandal saw Mourinho, whose side were forget for the England goal- Juventus stripped of the 2005- fairly comfortable despite the keeper, who will claim he was 06 title, while second-placed narrow scoreline, met Fergu- left unsighted by his static AC Milan were deducted 30 son’s criticism with a hint of defence. points. sarcasm. “In the first half we were However with first-choice “At this moment we have the better side but Tot- players Patrick Vieira, Brazil- done our job. We had a chance tenham were better after ian Maxwell, Dejan Stankovic to close the gap by playing be- half-time. We needed Petr and Zlatan Ibrahimovic miss- fore United, but we control the Cech to save us. They have ing and Reggina fighting fixtures, of course. Imagine massive players and they Chelsea’s Michael Ballack (right) and Frank Lampard (center) challenge Tottenham Hotspur’s Adel Taarabt during their English relegation, there was no shame what it would be like if we did are a threat from set-pieces Premier League soccer match at Stamford Bridge in London on Saturday. Reuters in the result. Julio Cruz and Ol- not control the fi xtures,” said because they are difficult ivier Dacourt particularly had the Chelsea manager. to control,” said Mourinho, Tottenham pushed for an terception by Ricardo Rocha. at Chelsea. league action for Joe Cole. The good chances to fi nd the net in “I am not surprised that whose side travel to Valen- equaliser in the closing stages, Tottenham assistant man- “We would have been de- England midfi elder played 14 the second half. Alex Ferguson complained cia for the second leg of their and wasted a fi ne chance when ager Chris Hughton said: “An lighted with a goalless draw. minutes of his side’s Cham- Roma’s Francesco Tavano and about this game. He is an Champions League quarter- Steed Malbranque’s overhead equaliser would have been There was no doubt that the pions League quarter-final Mirko Vucinic were on target in intelligent man but maybe final on Tuesday. kick went over the bar in stop- nice given all the problems off game in Seville had an affect clash against Valencia on their win against Catania which he thinks everyone else is not “I don’t think we have suf- page time. the pitch in Seville. on the players and we would Wednesday, and followed that was played at a neutral venue intelligent.” fered any injuries. I have a hope At the other end, Didier “We utilised the squad with have liked an extra day to up with seven minutes against because Catania’s stadium has The fi rst half was a dull af- that maybe Michael Essien can Drogba would surely have games against Sevilla and prepare.” Spurs. not come up to safety require- fair, with Chelsea only once play on Tuesday and he will made it two had it not been for Wigan coming up. We always Another bright spot for ments. managing to extend Paul travel with us.” an excellent recovery and in- know it is very diffi cult for us Chelsea was the return to AFP Roma even rested a number of their first choice players with their biggest match of the season so far in three days time against Manches- ter United in the Champions Spanish title race wide open after Zaragoza stun Barcelona League quarterfinal, second leg. They won 2-1 at home in SOCCER Frank Rijkaard. Zaragoza being the best side up that Barca play means that this “His absence is because he’s David Villa hit the cross bar the fi rst fi xture. Milito found the net after to that point. was always going to be an open not fi t to play. For us, it’s always after 78 minutes and then, six Of the 11 Roma players MADRID: Real Zaragoza blew 58 minutes, chipping the ball First half chances fell to game and so we had the chance to better if he’s with the team,” minutes from time, Valencia’s who started against Catania, the Spanish title race wide past Barca goalkeeper Victor D’Alessandro, Carlos Diogo and surprise them. We beat them by said Rijkaard on Friday. Spanish international striker only two are almost certain open with a 1-0 home win over Valdes from close range after Sergio Garcia but Barca grimly playing football,” refl ected Zara- Eto’o threatened to walk off sent a free kick from 30 metres to start the match at Old reigning champions Barcelona an oustanding pass from held on until the break. goza coach Victor Fernandez. the pitch during last season’s just inches past the post. Trafford – defender Philippe on Saturday, the only goal of the close to the touchline by his Barca almost equalised Barcelona were without their match at Zaragoza after receiv- The victory means Athletic Mexes and midfi elder David game coming from Argentine Argentine compatriot Andres within seconds of Milito’s goal three-time African Player of the ing racist abuse from the home climb out of the relegation zone Pizarro. Francesco Totti, sharpshooter Diego Milito. D’Alessandro. but Zaragoza goalkeeper Cesar Year Samuel Eto’o, who sus- crowd. and improves their chances of Brazilian Doni, Rodrigo Tad- Barcelona still lead La Liga “This was revenge for Barca Perez came out on top a one-on- tained a muscle strain at the Zaragoza move up to fourth keeping their historic status of dei and Cristian Chivu did by two points but would lose beating us here and knocking one situation with Deco and the top of his right leg in training place, ahead of Valencia on goal being ever-present in the Span- not play and Brazilian Man- pole position with nine games us out of the (Spanish) Cup in visitors never had a better chance earlier this week. difference, after the 2002 and ish fi rst division although every cini, Daniele De Rossi, and remaining if Sevilla beat Rac- February. I think we were up in the remaining half hour. Media speculation in Spain 2004 Spanish champions went other team in the bottom half of Christian Panucci came on as ing Santander yesterday. for this game from the very fi rst Zaragoza are now unbeaten suggested Eto’o had actually down 1-0 at struggling Athletic the table plays on Sunday. substitutes. “It wasn’t our night but they minute,” added Milito. in seven games and are in con- been left out to prevent more Bilbao later on Saturday. Real Madrid are three points It was Roma’s fi rst away vic- deserved this result. They Milito’s 19th goal of the tention to qualify for the Cham- racist taunting of the Cameroon Valencia piled on the pres- behind Sevilla in third and tory since beating Torino 2-1 13 scored and we didn’t have the season makes him the joint top pions League for the fi rst time. striker, but it was a suggestion sure in the second half in a bid faced Osasuna yesterday. matches ago. capacity to change the result,” scorer in the Spanish fi rst divi- “Overall this was our best 90 strongly refuted by Barcelona to get an equaliser but just came admitted Barcelona coach sion, and was a just reward for minutes of the season.