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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18, 2015 SPORTS COLOMBO: Bhutanese players (in white) defend a goal attempt by Sri Lankan players during their 2018 World Cup qualifier. Bhutan, which is ranked 209th by the governing body of world soccer, beat Sri Lanka 1-0 as Asian qualifying started across the continent. —AP Joy as rock-bottom Bhutan pull off World Cup shock THIMPHU: Cheering fans poured onto the after Chokey Nima’s men beat Sri Lanka 1-0 in Tobgay to support the national team-who est nations, sent Mongolia crashing out 5-1 on al cricket teams on hold. streets of Thimphu yesterday as Bhutan, the Colombo. were celebrating a memorable win. aggregate in chilly Ulan Bator. Elsewhere Taiwan fought back from 1-0 world’s lowest-ranked football team, pulled off Gyeltshen opened the scoring on five min- Bhutan, better known for its Gross National Sleeping giant India made it through down in the first leg to beat Brunei 2-0 away a major shock to reach the second round of utes and he was mobbed by his team-mates Happiness Index and archery, will now take its thanks to a 0-0 draw with Nepal in thanks to goals from Wang Ruei and Chu En-le World Cup qualifiers. when he coolly struck the winner in the 90th place among 40 Asian teams in the group Kathmandu, following last week’s 2-0 victory either side of half-time. Joyous supporters banged drums and minute, sealing Bhutan’s progression. qualifying stage starting in June. in the east Indian city of Guwahati. French-born Thierry Bin scored for chanted “Now we’re not the worst team!” after Although Sri Lanka are only ranked 174th, Although Bhutan’s chances of reaching the But Pakistan’s home leg against Yemen in Cambodia in a 1-1 away draw with Macau, the tiny Himalayan nation, rock-bottom at Bhutan, attempting to qualify for a World Cup 2018 World Cup in Russia remain extremely Lahore was postponed and shifted to an as- which was enough to seal their progression 4- 209th in the FIFA rankings, stunned Sri Lanka for the first time, were such outsiders that ex- small, they have provided the first upset at the yet-unnamed neutral venue after a deadly 1 on aggregate. 3-1 on aggregate. Sri Lanka skipper Ashok Nawgalage even start of a marathon, global qualifying cam- Taliban attack on churches in the city. Asia’s lowest-ranked teams were playing The “Ronaldo of Bhutan”, Chencho questioned the point of playing the tie. But in paign. The move was another blow to sport in home and away to reach the group stage, kick- Gyeltshen, struck twice in Tuesday’s 2-1 win at the event it was the Bhutanese-given the It was not the only fairytale result as East Pakistan, who trail 3-1 from the first leg, after a ing off a marathon, worldwide qualifying cam- a packed Changlimithang Stadium, a week afternoon off by Prime Minister Tshering Timor, one of the world’s youngest and poor- 2009 attack in Lahore put tours by internation- paign for the next World Cup. —AFP Liverpool edge Swansea LONDON: Midfielder Jordan Henderson’s few words to say. I felt we passed the ball a fluke second-half goal kept Liverpool firmly lot better in the second and were solid at the in contention for a Premier League top-four back.” finish with a 1-0 win at Swansea City on Liverpool were indebted to goalkeeper Monday. Simon Mignolet for keeping out Swansea in a Liverpool got lucky on 68 minutes when first half shaded by the Welsh side and Jordi Amat slid in ahead of Henderson to try Rodgers praised the Belgian international, and clear but the ball ricocheted back off the who was dropped for poor form earlier in the England international and looped over season. Swansea keeper Lukasz Fabianski. Victory “There’s no doubt Simon Mignolet’s back took in-form Liverpool to within two points to his best. We needed him in the first half. of fourth-placed Manchester United, who He’s been excellent. Clearly now, you see his they host on Sunday. Chelsea lead on 64, confidence, along with the team’s, he said. ahead of Manchester City (58) and then Mignolet made a fine-one-handed save to Arsenal (57) and United (56). deny Swansea striker Bafetimbi Gomis who Since losing to United at Old Trafford in was cleared to play following his collapse at mid-December, a defeat which left Liverpool Tottenham Hotspur in his side’s last league languishing in 11th place, Brendan Rodgers’ game on March 4. side have won 10 and drawn three in the He was also equal to Gylfi Sigurdsson’s league. curling effort but Liverpool improved after “It was a great pass from Daniel the break. Phillipe Coutinho forced Fabianski (Sturridge). It was a little bit fortunate, but to keep out his low shot from Raheem you’ve got to be in the right positions to Sterling’s cutback and after Henderson had score,” Henderson, who scored for a third scored Swansea never seriously threatened consecutive league game, told Sky Sports. to equalise. Sturridge went close to a second “It’s a great result. We were very disap- goal late on but rolled a shot against the post pointed with our first half. The gaffer had a in stoppage time. —Reuters Advocaat replaces Poyet as coach at Sunderland LONDON: Sunderland are banking on the “Dick has an incredible CV and vast experi- guile of Dick Advocaat to save them from ence of managing at the very highest level. relegation after the English Premier League We have one aim only now-to climb the ITALY: Fiorentina’s forward Alberto Gilardino (left) fights for the ball with AC Milan’s defender from France Philippe Mexes during the Italian strugglers appointed the Dutchman as table and everyone is fully focused on the Serie A football match. —AFP head coach until the end of the season yes- task ahead of us.” terday. The club, who sacked Gus Poyet on Poyet departed following a run of one Monday following a poor run of results that win in 12 league matches which has left culminated in a 4-0 home thrashing by the club in danger of relegation after eight Fiorentina sink Milan Aston Villa on Saturday, are one point and seasons in the Premier League. one place clear of the relegation zone with Advocaat’s immediate aim will be to win nine matches remaining. at West Ham United on Saturday. The 67- “Sunderland is a big club and I am very year-old becomes the oldest manager in as Roma lose at home much looking forward to the challenge the Premier League but has no previous ahead. We must now concentrate on experience of working in England, Saturday as a priority and I can’t wait to get although he did lead Rangers to successive MILAN: Fiorentina piled on the misery for AC Joaquin to score the winner with another header the second after the Roma defence had failed to started,” the former Dutch national coach Scottish titles in 1999 and 2000 and is one Milan by scoring twice in the last 10 minutes as in the 89th minute. clear the ball. said in a statement on the club website of the most experienced and respected they came from behind to win 2-1 and put more Milan coach Inzaghi, whose future is the sub- Roma had Seydou Keita sent off shortly after- (www.safc.com). coaches in the game. pressure on Filippo Inzaghi’s team on Monday. ject of speculation after almost every draw or wards, as the Malian was booked for dissent and Sunderland chairman Ellis Short said: As well as coaching the Netherlands, he Second-placed AS Roma’s dismal form contin- defeat, left the pitch looking thoroughly soaked then again for ironically applauding the referee. has also coached the national teams of the ued with a 2-0 loss at home to Sampdoria, keep- and miserable, although afterwards he said he Anderson set Lazio on their way to a fifth suc- United Arab Emirates, South Korea, ing them 14 points behind leaders Juventus, and was encouraged. “This evening, I’ve seen my cessive league win when he dribbled past three Belgium, Russia and Serbia. a superb brace from Felipe Anderson gave Lazio Milan again, we went back to playing the way defenders and fired past Daniele Padelli in the At club level, he has coached Borussia a 2-0 win at Torino which took them clear of we can. I’m disappointed but we have to remem- 71st minute in a run that began near the halfway Moenchengladbach, Zenit St Petersburg, Napoli in third. ber the performance,” he said. line. The Brazilian struck again from Miroslav AZ Alkmaar and PSV Eindhoven as well as Fiorentina’s winning goal came after chaotic Referring to his future, he said: “I don’t need Klose’s pass seven minutes later. —Reuters Rangers. But his appointment represents scenes at the Artemio Franchi stadium where reassuring, I have a contract and the club will something of a gamble for Short because, the referee went off injured and the teams kept make its considerations.” historically speaking, changing managers playing before he had been replaced, apparently The seven-times European champions have so late in the season, rarely has any major unaware there was nobody in charge of the won two out of 11 league games since the win- Matches on TV effect on the team.