Grizzlies, Ronaldo set to Clippers win return for Real’s 16 Bayern19 test WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23, 2014 Tackles fly in on planned India Super League Page 19 SPAIN: Atletico’s Diego (right) goes for the ball with Chelsea’s Frank Lampard during the Champions League semifinal first leg soccer match. — AP Atletico fail to pierce Chelsea defence MADRID: Atletico Madrid and Chelsea were locked at 0-0 Thibaut Courtois were genuinely tested in a drab affair. attacking midfielder Raul Garcia and Diego and Koke pro- hosts managed only one shot on target before the break, a after their Champions League semi-final first leg yesterday Home captain Gabi, who was booked and will be sus- viding the creative impetus just behind. Mourinho, by con- weak Diego effort, and the visitors none. after the Spanish side failed to break down their ultra-cau- pended for the return leg, said he and his team mates were trast, had containment in mind, with former Atletico cap- Midfielder Mario Suarez flashed a long-range drive nar- tious visitors at the Calderon. Atletico, through to the last not happy with the result. tain Fernando Torres alone up front and defender David rowly wide in the 34th minute and Diego Costa had a volley four of Europe’s elite club competition for the first time in “Atletico wanted to win the match at any cost but they Luiz in a holding role in a five-man midfield. well blocked by Cesar Azpilicueta but otherwise there was 40 years, dominated the defence-minded 2012 winners but defended very well,” Gabi told TVE. “We knew they wouldn’t The Portuguese coach had obviously instructed his play- little goalmouth action. were unable to carve out an advantage ahead of next want to concede a goal and I think Atletico played a much ers to sit back and try to catch Atletico on the break and The second half was a similarly cagey affair and there week’s return leg at Stamford Bridge. more attacking game. they were happy to let the home side have the ball in a first was more bad news for Chelsea in the 73rd minute when Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho, returning to the Spanish “It leaves a bad taste in the mouth but the tie is still very half short on entertainment. captain John Terry limped off after turning his ankle at a capital after three years at Atletico’s city rivals Real, had open and we will go to Chelsea and try to win.” There was Chelsea were forced to make an early change when corner. clearly set out to frustrate the home team and the result another cracking atmosphere before kickoff at the 55,000- Cech was knocked to the ground by a tumbling Raul Garcia Captain Gabi forced a decent save from Schwarzer in the means his side will be slight favourites to advance to next capacity stadium next to the Manzanares river where the at a corner and he was helped off clutching his right arm. 76th minute as Atletico pressed for a goal but Chelsea held month’s final in Lisbon. fans have been flocking to enjoy what is easily the Madrid Australian Schwarzer, 41, making only his second out reasonably comfortably. “Everyone was right up for it, The Londoners lost goalkeeper Petr Cech when he fell club’s best season in almost 20 years. Champions League appearance, became the oldest player which you’d expect, and we have got world-class players,” heavily and hurt his right elbow in the 15th minute but nei- Atletico coach Diego Simeone deployed an attacking to feature in the knockout phase. said Schwarzer. “We knew if we could match their determi- ther his replacement Mark Schwarzer nor Atletico keeper formation with Diego Costa leading the line supported by With almost the entire Chelsea team behind the ball, the nation our quality would come through.” — Reuters Guangzhou win Preview SYDNEY: Guangzhou Evergrande ensured its Asian Champions All-Spanish semi-final show League title defense progressed to the knockout stages, while Shinji Ono helped Western Sydney Wanderers reach the second BARCELONA: Despite having lost key play- the most enjoyable and the most difficult. round on debut. Brazilian midfielder Elkeson scored both ers this season Sevilla and Valencia go head- We will continue on the same lines and Guangzhou’s goals in the 2-1 win over Yokohama F-Marinos yester- to-head in their Europa League semi-final clearly in Europe is where everyone wants to day, helping the big-spending Chinese Super League champions tomorrow, underlining the enduring quality be,” Emery told a news conference ahead of top Group G. of La Liga compared to the continent’s the Valencia tie. K-League club Jeonbuk Motors held on for a 0-0 draw at home wealthier leagues. “A great club like this deserves to be in against Melbourne Victory, advancing in second place on goal dif- There was an exodus of talent from this competition and from here on we will ference. Victory, which had an upset win over Marcello Lippi’s Spain ahead of this campaign with many try and show our strengths and bring peo- Guangzhou squad in Melbourne last week, needed a win over the players going to the Premier League as ple together. 2006 champion Jeonbuk to advance. clubs other than powerhouses Real Madrid “It is fine if people are excited by the Western Sydney thrashed an under strength Guizhou Renhe and Barcelona, fought to control spiralling game but we are not getting carried away as lineup 5-0 to finish atop Group H, edging Kawasaki Frontale on debts. Despite fears of a deterioration in it will be a contest of 180 minutes where a goal difference. Kawasaki beat Ulsan Hyundai 3-1 to knock the quality, however, they still possess four lot of aspects come into play.” 2012 champions out of the competition. teams in the semi-finals of Europe’s top Valencia’s season has been more incon- Needing only a draw to advance, the Wanderers opened the two competitions. sistent and disappointing performances, scoring in the 6th minute via Shannon Cole, who controlled a cross While all attention is first on Madrid in which led to the departure of Miroslav with his chest at the edge of the area before spinning and driving a the Champions League with Atletico and Djukic, have at times been overshadowed shot inside the left post. Real hosting Chelsea and Bayern Munich by their crippling debts. The Wanderers didn’t score again until Labinot Haliti swooped respectively, it will then switch to Sevilla New coach Juan Antonio Pizzi has failed on a sloppy defensive error in the 75th to make it 2-0, triggering a where the Andalusian side take on Valencia. to provide inspiration so far and now a run late flurry against an under strength Guizhou team that was It has been a difficult season of change for of one win in five games has left them already out of playoff contention and had only three available sub- Sevilla but after a slow start where there was down in eighth place in the Spanish table. stitutes - and no backup goalkeeper. mounting pressure on coach Unai Emery, The Europa League gives Valencia the pos- Aaron Mooy scored with his first touch, a penalty kick in the the side has responded since Christmas and sibility to rescue a disappointing season 81st minute, before Ono charged onto a ball that had been now they boast nine wins from 10 games in domestically. punched away by the Guizhou keeper and drove a long-range half La Liga and are still pushing for a “We play every game to win it for the volley into the back of the net. Champions League place. badge, because Valencia is a great club and The Wanderers joined the A-League in 2012-13 and qualified for Manchester City-bound Alvaro Negredo you have to fight each game as though it is the continental championship by finishing atop the domestic and Jesus Navas were among those who left the last. We are now at the doors of a final, we and it took time for Emery to knit together a have the support of the people from Valencia standings at the end of their first regular season. The Wanderers new side with so many fresh faces. and we want them to enjoy it,” midfielder are still in contention for a spot in the Australian league’s 2013-14 The team is built around the skills of mid- Sofiane Feghouli told a news conference. “It final, and into the knockout stage of the Asian tournament as well. fielder Ivan Rakitic while on-loan signings would be fantastic for us to reach the final “It’s a fantastic feeling - to do it in that manner as well, five from England, Stephane Mbia and Daniel and we will try and have a good game in goals,” coach Tony Popovic said. “To finish on top of the group is Carrico, from QPR and Reading respectively, Sevilla first. Then the atmosphere in the something special.” GUANGDONG: Zhang Linpeng (left) of China’s Guangzhou have given them solidity. Mestalla will be amazing but first we have a By midway through yesterday’s scheduled matches, 10 teams Evergrande tussles for the ball against Shingo Hyodo of Japan’s “I don’t like to make judgments at the tough game in Sevilla where the difference had qualified for the second stage. The remaining six spots were to Yokohama Marinos during their AFC Champions League Group G moment because the best is still to come: will be in the small details.” — Reuters be decided in matches late yesterday and today.