TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2013 SPORTS Kenyan fan commits suicide after United loss to Newcastle NAIROBI: A Kenyan soccer fan unable to means the champions are now 13 points cope with Manchester United’s loss to adrift of league leaders Arsenal. Macharia’s northern rival Newcastle United committed death is reminiscent of the suicide by a suicide over the weekend, a senior Kenyan Kenyan Arsenal fan in 2009. Suleiman police official said yesterday. John Macharia, Omondi, 29, was found hanging in his flat 28, plunged to his death from a multi-storey after the Gunners were trounced 3-1 by apartment block in Nairobi after David Manchester United in the second leg of a Moyes’ men suffered a second home defeat Champions League semi-final game. in four days, denting the champions’ chance Kibui urged soccer-obsessed Kenyan of retaining their Premier League title. fans to support local teams rather than for- “Macharia jumped from seventh floor of eign clubs who do not have a link to the an apartment at Pipeline Estate after realiz- east African nation that is best known in the ing that his team Manchester United lost 1- sporting world for producing middle and 0 to Newcastle at Old Trafford and commit- long-distance champion runners. “The foot- ted suicide,” Nairobi’s County Police ball fans should enjoy the matches... but Commander Benson Kibui said. Newcastle’s they should not commit suicide since life is MUNICH: (From left) Bayern’s Jan Kirchhoff, Mario Mandzukic of Croatia, Claudio Pizarro of Peru, Javier Martinez of Spain and first win at Old Trafford since February 1972 very precious,” Kibui added. —Reuters Bayern’s Thiago Alcantara of Spain stretch during a last training session prior the Champions League group D soccer match between FC Bayern Munich and Manchester City in Munich yesterday. Munich will face Manchester today. —AP Man City face uphill task to end Bayern record run MUNICH: Coach Manuel Pellegrini admits with a 4-2 home win over Czech outfit Viktoria each of his four matches before injury struck, Manchester City face an uphill task to break Pilsen at home a fortnight ago. “We have quali- when they romped to a 7-0 win at Werder Bayern Munich’s record winning streak in the fied for the next round and this is very good,” Bremen on Saturday. It was the Bavarian giants’ Champions League in today’s battle for top spot said Pellegrini. “It would be better to be first in 40th unbeaten Bundesliga match since losing to in Group D. Bayern are on record runs in both the group, but we have already played against a Bayer Leverkusen in October 2012 and the Bundesliga and Champions League and their very strong Bayern Munich team. “They played Guardiola said he was ‘honored’ by his team’s 3-1 win at CSKA Moscow a fortnight ago was better than us (in Manchester) and it will be very performance. France’s Franck Ribery showed he their tenth straight victory in Europe, breaking difficult to beat them 3-0 at their ground. “But is back at his best after a rib injury with two Barcelona’s previous record. we will try to do a very good match and we will goals and two assists in an outstanding display. Bayern have turned the Allianz Arena into try to win.” Despite becoming the first German team to something of a fortress of late, winning all 18 Despite beating CSKA Moscow and Pilsen on win the treble of European, league and cup home matches in all competitions since their last the road in Europe this season, City’s away titles under Jupp Heynckes last season, his suc- defeat in Munich last March at the hands of record in the Premier League is poor with only cessor Guardiola is ensuring Bayern maintain Arsenal. Both City and Bayern sides are through two wins in eight away games, including their high standards. “The coach never lets up,” to the knock-out stages and all that remains to Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Southampton. Pellegrini said centre-back Jerome Boateng. “We were be settled is who will finish top of the group. The is hoping to have Spanish playmaker David Silva focused from the start (in Bremen) and we nev- defending champions have won all of their five back from injury. The Spanish attacking mid- er let up, results like that happen when you play group games so far, including a dominant 3-1 fielder has missed City’s last five matches due to at such a frenzy.” Bayern face more international win last October at City, who are three points a calf injury. Germany captain Philipp Lahm competition after the City game as they travel behind the German side. Pellegrini’s side would could return for Bayern having missed the last to Morocco to play in the Club World Cup and need to better that result at the Allianz Arena to few weeks with a hamstring injury, but Bayern will want to finish their Champions League knock Pep Guardiola’s Munich from top spot. are definitely without winger Arjen Robben. group campaign on a high. “The team is happy, City have already pulled off a landmark The Dutchman is recovering from a deep we have a great mentality, but we have to keep achievement by reaching the Champions thigh cut, but the European champions showed playing at that level,” said Ribery with an eye on League’s knock-out stages, at the third attempt, no signs of missing Robben, who had scored in the City clash. —AFP Champions League set for some much-needed drama BERNE: The Champions League is and can use the games to give Milan (8) should get the point visit winless debutants Austria set for some much-needed drama their lesser-used players a run- they need at home to Ajax Vienna for their final match. this week with the conclusion of a out. So far, four games in the Amsterdam (7) and follow Porto (5) have a tough trip to group stage which has been all group stage have been won by Barcelona through from Group H. Atletico and, although the MANCHESTER: Manchester United’s Scottish manager David Moyes attends too predictable and produced an five-goal margins, six games won “The Dutch have achieved great Spaniards are already through, a press conference at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England yester- embarrassing procession of one- by four goals and 13 matches results and have good technique their Argentine coach Diego day ahead of the UEFA Champions League football match between sided matches. Eight places in the have ended with a difference of and we must take all the neces- Simeone is not known for allow- Manchester United and Shaktar Donetsk today. —AFP round of 16 are still up for grabs, three goals. Despite the group sary precautions,” said Milan’s ing his teams to relax. Benfica and with much of the attention stage’s predictable nature, this unflappable coach Massimiliano Olympiakos (both 7 points) will focused on Group F where season has at least proved more Allegri whose future is the source duel for the second qualifying Napoli, Borussia Dortmund and competitive than last term when of constant speculation. “We have place in Group C where Paris St What went wrong? Arsenal are battling for two spots. 13 of the 16 knockout stage to score a goal, we cannot think Germain are already through. The With Juventus and AC Milan each places had been booked before of playing for the 0-0.” Greeks are firm favorites as they Man United wonder needing a point to qualify against the final round of group matches. have the better head-to-head tricky opponents, Italy could end As expected, Group F has FORMIDABLE REPUTATION record and need only to beat bot- LONDON: Manchester United’s home FAILURE TO STRENGTHEN up with all three of their teams in turned out to be by far the A point also appears to be well tom side Anderlecht at home the last 16, or none at all. toughest. Leaders Arsenal (12 within the reach of Serie A lead- while the Portuguese host formi- defeat by Newcastle United at the week- Fellaini, a £27.5 million ($45 million, 33.2 Benfica’s chances of reaching the points) travel to Napoli (9) need- ers Juventus (6) when they visit dable PSG. end left them 13 points behind Premier million euros) recruit from Moyes’s former final in their own Estadio da Luz are ing a draw, or a defeat by less Galatasaray (4) in Group B, espe- Group A, where Manchester League leaders Arsenal and in danger of club Everton, was the only major new arrival out of their hands and will be pre- than three goals, while Borussia cially as they Turks’ formidable United are qualified, is also set missing out on a Champions League during the close season. Whereas United maturely ended if Olympiakos beat Dortmund (9), will go through if home reputation took a huge for a nerve-wracking finale. place. With Everton having won at Old missed out on targets including Leighton winless Anderlecht, while their they beat pointless Olympique knock when they were thrashed Shakhtar Donetsk (8) are current- Trafford four days earlier, the 20-time Baines, Cesc Fabregas, Thiago Alcantara and compatriots Porto also face an Marseille away, regardless of the 6-1 by Real Madrid. Juventus ly second, but must visit Old English champions have now lost con- Ander Herrera, all of their rivals strength- uphill battle. Swiss champions other result. Should Napoli and have won their last seven league Trafford while Bayer Leverkusen, secutive home league games for the first ened.