SPORTS WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2013

Schalke draws 0-0 at Bucharest in Champions League

BUCHAREST: Schalke was held to a 0-0 draw at knockout stages despite defeat due to its lead in the to create most of the chances in a first half played in for the to be ruled out as the ball crossed the end Steaua Bucharest yesterday and now needs to beat group. heavy snowfall. line before Jefferson Farfan crossed. Basel in its last Group E match to have a chance of Bucharest pushed hard for its first win of the com- Dennis Aogo had the first shot on target in the “We missed too many chances, but we were also progressing along with Chelsea to the Champions petition in a frenetic finale but was unable to improve 18th minute, though failed to trouble Bucharest goal- lucky a few times,” Hoewedes said. Bucharest League knockout stages. Basel defeated visiting its miserable record of just one win from 18 European keeper Ciprian Tatarusanu from a difficult angle. improved in the last half-hour, but Andrei Prepelita Chelsea 1-0 in the other group game to move into games against German teams. With three points, the Federico Piovaccari might have done better at the and Adrian Popa failed to take advantage of a good second spot - one point behind Chelsea and one Romanian side is assured of finishing bottom of the other end seconds later, but his attempted chip went opportunity. The home team’s penalty appeals were ahead of Schalke. group. Schalke was missing inspirational attacking over the crossbar. waved away when Faehrmann caught Piovaccari with “We can actually handle pressure quite well. That’s Kevin-Prince Boateng due to his trouble- Schalke ‘keeper Ralf Faehrmann - making his his fist in a clearance. when we always produce our best performances,” some knee problem, while fellow attacker Julian Champions League debut for the injured Timo Cristian Tanase went close from a free kick, and Schalke captain Benedikt Hoewedes said, looking Draxler was kept on the bench due to illness. Dutch Hildebrand - did well to punch away Piovaccari’s next Bucharest substitute Nicolai Stanciu wasted another ahead to the game on Dec. 11. With the second and striker Klaas Jan Huntelaar was already a long-term effort, a well-struck overhead volley in the 32nd. good chance by shooting too close to Faehrmann, as third-place teams meeting, Chelsea qualified for the absentee. However, the visitors overcame a slow start Christian Fuchs thought he’d put Schalke ahead, only did Piovaccari with a header in the last minute. — AP Dortmund down Napoli to boost knock-out hopes

DORTMUND: Last season’s finalists Borussia Dortmund breathed life into their hopes of reaching the Champions League knock-out phase with a nervous 3-1 home win over Napoli yesterday. An early Marco Reus penalty and sec- ond-half strike by Jakub Blaszczykowski put Dortmund 2-0 up with an hour gone before Lorenzo Insigne pulled one back for Napoli with 20 minutes left. Substitute Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang came on to grab Dortmund’s third, 12 min- utes from time, to calm nerves and put Borussia level on nine points with Napoli in the group behind leaders Arsenal. The victory at Dortmund’s Westfalenstadion avenged Borussia’s 2-1 defeat at Napoli in September and gives : AC Milan’s Italian forward Mario Balotelli (L) vies with Celtic’s Dutch defender Virgil van Dijk (R) during the UEFA Champions League group H football match between Celtic and AC Milan at them hope of reaching the last 16 follow- in Glasgow yesterday. — AFP ing their 1-0 home defeat by Arsenal three weeks ago. “Now we’re back in the race,” said Milan keep Europe dream Dortmund’s relieved coach Jurgen Klopp. DORTMUND: Dortmund’s midfielder Kevin Grosskreutz (R) and Napoli’s Argentinian “We couldn’t have done more to set things forward Gonzalo Gerardo Higuain vie for the ball during the UEFA Champions alive with Celtic win up for the last game.” With the Gunners League Group F football match Borussia Dortmund vs SSC Napoli in Dortmund, three points clear, who will qualify from western Germany yesterday. — AFP GLASGOW: AC Milan kept their Champions west of Glasgow, earlier this month. Group F will now be decided by the final League hopes alive with a 3-0 thrashing of AC Milan arrived in Glasgow with a lengthy round of pool matches when Dortmund Celtic that ended a miserable five-game win- injury list, defender Philippe Mexes and mid- travel to Marseille and Napoli host Arsenal Courtois huge error ends less run and sent the Scottish side crashing out fielder Sulley Muntari joining Stephan El in a fortnight of Europe. Ajax’s 2-1 win over Barcelona means Shaarawy, Mattia De Sciglio and goalkeeper Having lost his entire back four to injury, Atletico’s perfect record the Dutch champions and Milan will battle it Marco Amelia in being ruled out. Borussia coach Jurgen Klopp moved defen- out for second place while Celtic, who will fin- Celtic were presented with a great early sive midfielder Sven Bender to centre-back SAINT PETERSBURG: A huge error from David Villa and Diego Godin back in the ish bottom of Group H, head to the Nou Camp chance when Charlie Mulgrew’s effort fell kindly alongside Greece international Sokratis Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois Spanish capital. allowed Zenit St Petersburg to snatch a vital However, Zenit still struggled to break- on matchday six with nothing but pride to play to Beram Kayal inside the box but the midfielder with his first-choice pairing of Mats Champions League point against the high- down Atleti’s solid defence with Hulk’s for. couldn’t adjust his feet quickly enough and Hummels and Neven Subotic ruled out. Milan, who hadn’t won away in Europe in Zapata recovered to make a last-ditch saving flying Spaniards as they drew 1-1 in Russia piledriver from the edge of the area that was Dortmund got an early breakthrough almost a year, got off to the perfect start at tackle. The Hoops were left to rue that miss yesterday. beaten away by Courtois their most danger- Celtic’s Parkhead ground on Tuesday when Kaka moments later when Brazil star Kaka slipped when Federico Fernandez hauled down An under-strength Atletico, already ous effort of the first-half. found himself with time and space to head marker Van Dijk to easily head home Valter Poland striker in the assured of a pass to the knockout stages as Atletico had failed to take advantage of home a 12th minute corner. Birsa’s corner from close range. area and Germany’s Reus stepped up to Group G leaders, had taken the lead eight the space Zenit were allowing them to minutes into the second-half when Adrian counter-attack into during the first period, The Hoops were left to rue a missed opportu- Celtic were again the recipients of a ball drill home the penalty after 10 minutes. Lopez broke clear of the Zenit defence and but they finally got it right just after the Just eight minutes later, Reus forced nity for Virgil van Dijk just after the break when breaking kindly to them in the Milan box but finished confidently low past Juri Lodigin. break as Raul Garcia released Adrian and he Cristian Zapata increased Milan’s advantage this time Mulgrew sent his weak shot straight at Napoli goalkeeper into a diving However, the Russians were saved 17 kept his composure to slot home his second with a 49th minute tap-in. Christian Abbiati. save when he curled in a free-kick. The first minutes from time when Courtois allowed goal in as many games. Van Dijk had a header chopped off for offside Balotelli had the ball in the net again just half was a nervy affair and with half an hour teammate Toby Alderweireld’s looping Garcia then nearly doubled the visitors’ minutes later before Mario Balotelli ended before the break after he chased after a long ball gone Napoli hit the post when Jose header to drop into his own net to end advantage as he rattled the crossbar, whilst Celtic’s hopes when his strike made it 3-0 in the over the top but the flag was already up for off- Callejon jinked inside Bender and beat Atletico’s 100 percent record in the at the other end Alexander Kerzhakov head- 59th minute as Milan became only the second side. The Hoops should have been level in the Dortmund goalkeeper Roman Champions League so far this season. ed a great chance over from close range. side to defeat the Hoops at home in the group 47th minute. Mulgrew’s cross found Van Dijk The result does still dent Zenit’s chances Zenit’s equaliser was to arrive in comic fash- Weidenfeller. stages of the Champions League. eight yards out but he sent his volley straight at of progressing to the last 16 as they now ion though as Courtois let Alderweireld’s The win leaves Milan in second spot on eight Abbiati when he had the whole goal to aim for. At the other end Lewandowski fired need to beat Austria Vienna on matchday six header go, believing it was going out for a points-a point ahead of Ajax - and eases the The Dutch defender’s misery was compound- wide and forced Reina into one of his many and hope that Porto drop points against the corner, only to be left embarrassed when pressure on coach Massimiliano Allegri, who has ed two minutes later when Milan doubled their fine saves in the Napoli goal. Dortmund Austrians later on Tuesday or when they visit the ball dipped underneath his crossbar. come in for criticism following his side’s poor advantage. Birsa’s deep corner was fired back desperately needed a second goal to calm Madrid in two weeks time. Garcia had another chance to win the domestic form that saw fans protest outside the across goal by substitute Antonio Nocerino for their nerves and there were anxious With Atletico already assured of top spot game eight minutes from the end, but this San Siro following a 1-1 draw with Genoa at the Zapata to side-foot home from close range. glances at Westfalenstadion when Gonzalo coach Diego Simeone left a number of his time was denied by a smart low stop from weekend. Van Dijk thought he had made some amends Higuain was put clear in the area, but first-team regulars, including Diego Costa, Lodygin as the spoils were shared. — AFP Celtic were without captain Scott Brown and in the 51st minute when he headed Joe Ledley’s Weidenfeller blocked his half volley. Nir Biton due to suspension for the must-win cross beyond Abbiati but his effort was ruled Less than a minute later, Borussia match while Joe Ledley dropped to the bench. out for offside. grabbed their second when Dortmund Winger James Forrest, who earlier on Tuesday Any hope Celtic had was ended in the 59th swept forward on the counter-attack. Reus was arrested in connection with two alleged minute when Balotelli made it 3-0. The Italian public indecencies, started the match. striker collected a long ball from Riccardo broke down the left and found Poland The 22-year-old had been reported to the Montolivo and shrugged off the challenge of Efe winger Blaszczykowski unmarked to slot procurator fiscal (Scotland’s public prosecutor) Ambrose before sending an angled shot past the ball between Reina’s legs with a first over the alleged offences in Prestwick, south- helpless goalkeeper . — AFP time shot on 60 minutes. Rafael Benitez’s Napoli got back in the game with a superb goal on 70 minutes after Higuain pounced on a loose pass and Porto held with Weidenfeller off his line, Insigne fired Matches on TV home from a tight angle. to 1-1 draw (Local Timings) Only another excellent save from Reina denied Dortmund Aubameyang, but the PORTO: Jackson Martinez netted a second-half equaliz- UEFA Champions League Gabon winger found the net soon after. er as Porto salvaged a 1-1 draw against Austria Vienna The former St Etienne man chipped in a Champions League Group G game yesterday. CSKA Moskva v Bayern Munich 20:00 Dortmund’s third goal home when the Roman Kienast got Vienna’s first goal - and ultimately its Aljazeera Sport +7 hosts’ pressing game saw Lewandowski first point in the competition this season - after pounc- Aljazeera Sport 3 HD steal possession and charge down the right ing in the 11th minute when Brazilian defender Danilo before Aubameyang chipped Reina on 78 mis-hit his clearance and sending a shot from the edge Juventus v Kobenhavn 22:45 minutes. The third goal could prove crucial of the area that beat Helton. Aljazeera Sport +5 in the head-to-head stats should SAINT PETERSBURG: Zenit Saint-Petersburg’s Vladimir Bystrov (L) vies with Atletico Porto was livelier in the second half, with Martinez Madrid’s Emiliano Insua (2nd L) during their UEFA Champions League group G match Aljazeera Sport 4 HD Dortmund and Napoli finish level after the heading the equalizer into an open goal amid a goal- final round. — AFP in Saint-Petersburg yesterday. — AFP mouth scramble three minutes after the restart. Porto, a two-time European champion, is winless in Anderlecht v Benfica 22:45 three home games in the Champions League this sea- Aljazeera Sport +4 son. It sits in third place in the group on five points, one Top Nigeria official banned for corruption behind Zenit St. Petersburg with one game remaining. Bayer 04 v Man United 22:45 Leader Atletico Madrid has 13 points. Aljazeera Sport 1 HD ABUJA: A senior Nigerian football official has been banned that one of their officials had been attacked. Porto is on its worst run in a competition it has con- Aljazeera Sport +9 tested 18 times. At the final whistle, fans at the Stadium for 10 years for corruption, the country’s football federation Shooting Stars were fighting relegation at the time. A announced late Monday. subsequent hearing awarded Sunshine Stars the three of the Dragon jeered and whistled for the second time Shakhtar v Real Sociedad 22:45 in four days at Porto coach Paulo Fonseca, who is in his A Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) emergency commit- points from the match. Aljazeera Sport +2 first season in charge at the club.Vienna didn’t play par- tee handed Leye Adepoju the sanction excluding him from The NFF also banned another senior official for 10 years ticularly well but it profited from Porto’s weak form as all football-related activities following an investigation. for claiming he was attacked in the game and also referred Real Madrid v Galatasaray 22:45 the home team hit too many stray passes and failed to Adepoju was a member of the NFF executive committee to police an allegation that the chairman of Enugu State Aljazeera Sport +8 get out of first gear in midfield. Vienna goalkeeper and also the chairman of the football association in Oyo Football Association was an imposter. Aljazeera Sport 2 HD Heinz Lindner played a key role, helping maintain the state, southwest Nigeria. Chidi Ofo Okenwa was told to step down from his role visitor’s first-half lead as he twice denied Martinez and He was alleged to have received a cash payment of 1.5 pending the outcome of the police probe. blocked Steven Defour’s close-range effort.Lindner was Saint-Germain v Olymiacos 22:45 million naira ($9,400) before a disciplinary hearing against Match fixing and corruption is a problem in Nigerian foot- kept busy in the second half, too, as he produced a Aljazeera Sport +6 Shooting Stars, from the Oyo state capital Ibadan, after they ball and has led to sanctions against a number of clubs, ref- reflex save in the 56th to stop a ball that bounced off Aljazeera Sport 5 HD Lucho Gonzalez’s chest. abandoned a league match against Sunshine Stars earlier erees and officials. Four clubs were suspended earlier this this year. He was said to have received money to find in year after two teams vying for promotion won 67-0 and 79-0 Martinez appeared set to score a winner two minutes Man City v Viktoria Plzen 22:45 from the end but he narrowly failed to connect with favour of Shooting Stars after their players refused to take respectively with the NFF calling it a “scandal of huge pro- Aljazeera Sport +7 Danilo’s cross. The Colombian striker missed again in the field in the second half when the score was 0-0, claiming portions”. — AFP Aljazeera Sport 3 HD added time. — AP