South Africa ahead Bayern rout Plzen after Tahir 5-0 in Champions wrecks17 Pakistan League THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2013 19 Spurs, Swansea hunt for more Euro success Page 18 MADRID: Real Madrid’s Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo (second left) vies with Juventus’ Argentinian forward Carlos Alberto Tevez (second right) during the UEFA Champions League Group B football match. — APF Ronaldo sees Real past Juventus MADRID: Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice as Real Madrid all Defeat, however, leaves the Italian champions in a per- behind for Ronaldo to round Gianluigi Buffon and find the ly before the break as the game rushed from end to end but secured their place in the Champions League last 16 ilous situation with just two points from three games, now net from a narrow angle. Juventus responded brilliantly to with Andrea Pirlo and Ronaldo firing just off target. with a 2-1 win over Juventus at the Santiago Bernabeu yes- two behind Galatasaray after they beat FC Copenhagen 3- going behind, though, as they swarmed forward and However, the game swung even further in Madrid’s terday. The Portuguese had fired the hosts into a fourth- 1 in the other game in the group yesterday. Carlos Tevez saw two efforts from distance fly just off tar- favour just three minutes into the second half when minute lead with a tidy finish, but Juventus were level mid- “After the sending-off they backed off and it was more get. Chiellini was harshly shown a straight red card for bringing way through the opening period when Fernando Llorente difficult for us to create opportunities,” Madrid captain Iker And they were deservedly level on 22 minutes when down Ronaldo just outside the area. bundled home from close range. Casillas told Canal Plus. “But we have taken an important Casillas parried Paul Pogba’s header at the end of a flowing Karim Benzema should then have sealed the three Ronaldo took his tally to an incredible seven goals in step towards qualifying with nine points in three games.” move and Llorente swept home the rebound for just his points when he somehow conspired to fire wide of an just three Champions League games this season with a The return of Casillas in goal was one of four changes second Juve goal since joining from Athletic Bilbao. open goal from two yards out after great work from Di penalty five minutes later and Juve’s task became even that Real boss Carlo Ancelotti made to his side from the 2-0 It took Madrid just seven minutes to edge back in front Maria and Alvaro Arbeloa. tougher when Giorgio Chiellini was sent-off just after the win over Malaga at the weekend, but the Spanish captain as referee Manuel Graefe rightly awarded a penalty when Bale was introduced for the much maligned Benzema interval. Gareth Bale was then introduced to make his showed no signs of rustiness as he parried away a fine Chiellini hauled down Sergio Ramos as the defender tried with just under 25 minutes remaining, but the Welshman home European debut for Real, but despite failing to make drive by Claudio Marchisio inside the first two minutes. to get on the end of Di Maria’s free-kick. Ronaldo stepped struggled to make any impact on the game and certainly the most of their numerical advantage they held on to Two minutes later and Madrid were in front as Angel Di up and dispatched the spot-kick with an unerring ease didn’t enhance his chances of starting when Real travel to make it three wins from three in Group B. Maria cut inside and slipped a perfect reverse ball in high into the net. Both sides could have added to their tal- face Barcelona in La Liga on Saturday. — AFP Narrow win keeps Aguero stars as City shines MOSCOW: Manchester City got their goal, in any of their last five games in the United in control Champions League bid back on track yester- Russian Premier League and now face an day, coming from behind to beat CSKA uphill battle to qualify for the last 16 after this MANCHESTER: Manchester United have lost their first three games. “You Moscow 2-1 in testing conditions in the result. City boss Pellegrini brought Jesus Navas ground out a tight 1-0 win over Real have to say it’s a fair result.” Russian capital. in for Samir Nasri, while Pablo Zabaleta and Sociedad at Old Trafford yesterday to Amid domestic shortcomings, the CSKA took a 32nd-minute lead courtesy of Aleksandar Kolarov came back into the move closer to a place in the win also eased some of the pressure former Manchester United winger Zoran Tosic, defence. However, that defence was again Champions League knockout phase. on Moyes, whose storied predeces- but Sergio Aguero quickly equalised and then missing Vincent Kompany and their soft centre The decisive goal in the first ever sor, Alex Ferguson, was once again in put the Premier League club in front before was exposed when the hosts took the lead just meeting between the teams came attendance, a day after launching his the interval at the Arena Khimki. after the half-hour mark. within moments of kick-off, Inigo new autobiography. Aguero, who scored twice in the 3-1 week- A long ball downfield was headed on by Martinez scoring an own goal after With Robin van Persie carrying end win at West Ham United, picked up where Keisuke Honda to Tosic, and the Serbian the excellent Wayne Rooney had minor toe and groin injuries, Javier he left off to give Manuel Pellegrini’s side a sec- winger, who had an unsuccessful spell with struck the post. Hernandez was handed a start up ond victory in Group D that leaves them well- Manchester United earlier in his career, lobbed Both sides hit the woodwork front for United, while La Real placed, along with Bayern Munich, to progress the outrushing Joe Hart to open the scoring. thereafter, Real Sociedad on two recalled captain Xabi Prieto following to the competition’s knockout stages. “It is an City, wearing all white, had created the best occasions, but unlike in Saturday’s 1- a spell out with hamstring trouble. important win,” Pellegrini told UK Sky televi- chances before that, with Toure squandering a 1 draw at home to Southampton in United were trialling a new ‘singing MANCHESTER: Real Sociedad’s midfielder Markel Bergara (left) vies sion after the game. “Now we have to play the glorious chance from a third-minute David the Premier League, United were section’ in the East Stand and the with Manchester United’s Welsh midfielder Ryan Giggs during the next two games at home. I told the players Silva corner, but they responded to falling spared the pain of shipping a late 1,500 fans in that area were given UEFA Champions League football match. —AFP that we had to make sure we didn’t lose this behind brilliantly, drawing level barely two equaliser. “I thought we played well something to sing about within only one. We are not in the next round yet but this minutes later. the break, however, and after David Valencia and Rooney each shot tonight. I thought we created oppor- 69 seconds of kick-off. was an important step.” Sergei Ignashevich failed to clear a low de Gea tipped a Haris Seferovic shot straight at Bravo, before the latter tunities,” said United manager David Rooney left three defenders in Reaching the last 16, of course, is some- Silva cross from the left, and Aguero took full over, Antoine Griezmann almost produced a piercing through ball Moyes. his wake with an uncharacteristic thing City have never managed to do before advantage, allowing himself a touch before silenced the stadium with a free-kick for the former, whose low effort “But while it was 1-0, I still had jinking run on the left-hand edge of despite their huge outlay on players in recent prodding past the exposed Igor Akinfeev. that bounced back off the left-hand came back off the foot of the left- feelings of Saturday left inside me the penalty area and although his seasons, but their attacking quality shone The game became more and more open upright. hand post. and while it was 1-0, you know you shot hit the post, Martinez inadver- through here on a poor pitch in cold condi- after that, and the visitors struck again to take The scares continued early in the Only a smart block by Carlos can always lose a goal from a corner tently shanked the rebound into his tions and in an unsavory atmosphere. the lead three minutes before the break, second half, with Jonny Evans slicing Martinez prevented Shinji Kagawa kick or a free-kick. own net. Torrential rains last month seriously dam- Aguero getting in front of Kirill Nababkin this a cross from Seferovic inches over his from tucking away a pull-back “But it wouldn’t have been right Rooney was one of several players aged pitches in the Moscow region to the time to head home a delightful cross from fel- own bar in the 51st minute. from Valencia, before Rooney if we hadn’t taken all three points criticised in Ferguson’s book, with the extent that Leonid Slutski’s side had to play low forward Alvaro Negredo. Bravo had to produce a sharp save blazed a half-volley over from just tonight.” Victory, coupled with Scot repeating his allegation-contest- their last home group game against Viktoria Akinfeev saved well from a Silva free-kick to block a Phil Jones header from inside the box.