MONDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2017 SPORTS Japan’s ‘King Kazu’ turns 50 with J-League start YOKOHAMA: Twinkle-toed former “I want to thank the fans, players and Though the pin-up looks have been IN THE PINK Asia’s best-known footballer, helping to Japan striker Kazuyoshi Miura celebrated staff for giving me this victory as a birth- replaced by a few tell-tale wrinkles and “I was just trying to focus on my build Japan’s football culture after the his 50th birthday by starting a J-League day present,” said Miura after being sere- greying hair, Miura still enjoys celebrity game,” said Miura after slipping into a professional J-League was launched in game for Yokohama FC yesterday, mark- naded by fans and presented with a cake status in Japan. dapper pink suit and high-fiving fans on 1993. He blazed a trail for Japanese play- ing yet another landmark in a storied and a bouquet. “To be able to play for so Miura, who last year also broke his a lap of honour joined by match-winner ers when he joined Italy’s Genoa in 1994, career. Miura, the oldest Japanese to many years I’ve been blessed with a lot own mark as the J-League’s oldest Naoki Nomura, half his age at 25. although a broken nose on his debut play professional football, lasted 65 min- of support,” added the former Dinamo goalscorer at 49, received a rousing ova- “It gave me a lot of motivation to be took some of the gloss off his trumpeted utes in a 1-0 home win over second divi- Zagreb forward, who last month signed tion from a sellout crowd of 13,000 when able to play in such a great atmosphere,” arrival. sion rivals Matsumoto Yamaga as he a new one-year deal with Yokohama to he was withdrawn after an industrious he added. “There will be a lof of tough Miura scored 55 goals in 89 games for became the first quinquagenarian to take his career into a 32nd season, spell in Yokohama’s season-opener. games ahead as the team fights for pro- Japan but when he was axed from the grace the J-League. stretching his own record. He made 20 league appearances last motion so I want to give everything I can Blue Samurai squad by then-coach Now the golden oldie, dubbed “King “I really want to thank my team mates season, scoring twice, but he betrayed to help.” Miura’s lengthy career began Takeshi Okada before the country’s first Kazu” by Japanese media and fans, for their help. I’ll do my best to play on signs of rust Sunday when he mis-kicked with a move to Brazil at age 15 before World Cup appearance in 1998, it trig- wants to play until he’s 60. until I’m 60!” with his only real sight of goal. making his name in the early 1990s as gered a national debate.—AFP NHL Landeskog scores twice as Avalanche beat Sabres 5-3 DENVER: Gabriel Landeskog had two goals ries. A crowd of 67,318 watched. and an assist as Colorado beat Buffalo on Saturday night. Blake Comeau had a goal KINGS 4, DUCKS 1 and an assist, Tyson Barrie and Mikhail Tyler Toffoli scored two goals and Los Grigorenko also scored and Jeremy Smith Angeles rallied for four goals in the third stopped 32 shots for Colorado. Marcus period to defeat Anaheim. Kings goal- Foligno, Evan Rodrigues had goals, and tender Jonathan Quick, who led Los Sam Reinhart also scored in his return after Angeles to Stanley Cups in 2012 and 2014, missing two games for Buffalo. Robin returned after missing the previous 59 Lehner stopped 25 shots for the Sabres, games with a groin injury and stopped 32 who continued the poor record for teams shots. The Ducks entered the game allow- coming out of the league-mandate five- ing the fewest third-period goals in the day rest period. NHL teams are 6-14-4 after NHL (39). Toffoli tied the score at 3:37 after their break. Tanner Pearson took a shot from a tough angle and the puck came out to Toffoli, SHARKS 4, CANUCKS 1 who stuffed it past goalie Jonathan Bernier. Mikkel Boedker and Logan Couture Toffoli scored again just over four minutes scored goals 2:49 apart in the third period later when he worked a 2-on-1 with Jeff as San Jose defeated Vancouver Saturday. Carter and finished the play for a 2-1 lead Tomas Hertl and Patrick Marleau also on his 12th goal of the season. scored for the Sharks (36-18-7), who haven’t lost in Vancouver for over five years. PREDATORS 5, CAPITALS 2 Chris Tierney broke an eight-game point- Filip Forsberg scored his seventh goal in less streak with a pair of assists. Daniel three games and had an assist in Nashville’s Sedin scored for the Canucks (26-29-6), three-goal second period that lifted it over who have three wins in their last 12 games Washington. Roman Josi scored twice for (3-9-0). Canucks goaltender Ryan Miller the Predators, including the clincher at LONDON: Italy’s Sergio Parisse wins a lineout during the Six Nations rugby union match between England and Italy at Twickenham stadium in stopped 22 shots. San Jose goalie Martin 12:07 of the third period with a slapper London, yesterday. — AP Jones made 35 saves. only three seconds into a power play. Mike Fisher also added a goal as Nashville CANADIENS 3, MAPLE LEAFS 2 jumped over idle St. Louis for third place in RUGBY Andrew Shaw scored 1:06 into overtime the Central Division. Evgeny Kuznetsov as Montreal recorded their 14th straight scored his 15th goal at 17:03 of the third to victory over Toronto on Saturday night. draw the Capitals within a pair, but they Shaw broke into the clear and put a back- got no closer in losing for the third time in England keep Grand Slam hand past Toronto goaltender Frederik 11 games. Andersen for his ninth goal of the season as Montreal improved to 4-0 versus the Maple RANGERS 4, DEVILS 3 (OT) dream alive after Italy scare Leafs in 2016-17. Max Pacioretty and Alex Mika Zibanejad’s eighth goal of the sea- Galchenyuk also scored for the Canadiens. son at 1:16 of overtime lifted New York to Galchenyuk added an assist while Carey its league-leading 21st road victory. The TWICKENHAM: England kept their hopes of I was confused by it. The guys adapted well, we dled over from a catch and drive. Farrell sliced Price made 32 saves. Auston Matthews Rangers forced overtime on an Adam back-to-back Grand Slams alive with a 36-15 vic- took the game line. We found a way. his conversion but England were 5-0 up. scored twice for Toronto and Andersen Clendening goal with 4:25 remaining in tory over Italy at Twickenham yesterday but only “Their mauling threat is huge and we conced- Italy’s territorial pressure was eventually stopped 25 shots. The Maple Leafs tied the regulation. Antti Raanta stopped 36 shots after being given a massive scare by the game ed way too many penalties.” Italy kept the game rewarded when Allan landed a 20-metre drop- game at 1:19 of the third period when for New York. New Jersey’s Kyle Palmieri Azzurri. scoreless until the 24th minute when England goal to cut England’s lead to 5-3 before wing Matthews deflected a shot by Zach Hyman scored twice earlier in the period, his team- In a week where Italy’s place in the Six prop Dan Cole was driven over for an unconvert- Venditti’s opportunist try stunned Twickenham. for his 30th goal of the season. high 17th and 18th goals, to give the Devils Nations had been repeatedly called into ques- ed try. But Allan, who had missed two earlier England, however, regained the initiative their first lead at 3-2. Cory Schneider tion following their 63-10 thrashing by Ireland penalty attempts, cut the deficit with a well-tak- with two tries in a matter of the minutes at the PENGUINS 4, FLYERS 2 sparkled in the Devils’ net with 36 saves. last time out, they defied all pre-match predic- en drop-goal in the 33rd minute. England, who start of the second half. Care, in a move all too Sidney Crosby increased his league lead tions to lead 10-5 at half-time. had been massive odds-on favourites at 1/150 familiar to O’Shea, who coached him at London to 34 goals and Matt Cullen, playing in his BLUE JACKETS 7, ISLANDERS 0 And even when England recovered to go 17- with some bookmakers before kick-off, astonish- club Harlequins, then caught the Italian defence first NHL outdoor game at age 40, scored Nick Foligno and Josh Anderson scored 10 up early in the second half, Italy centre ingly found themselves behind on the stroke of napping with a try off a quick tap penalty. the winning goal as Pittsburgh bested two goals apiece as Columbus rolled. The Michele Campagnaro’s try on the hour mark cut half-time. An Allan penalty came back off the Farrell’s missed conversion left the scores tied Philadelphia at Heinz Field in a Stadium Blue Jackets showed little ill effects from the hosts’ advantage to 17-15. post and wing Giovanbattista Venditti was first at 10-10 but it was not long before England were Series game.