WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015 SPORTS Penalty miss the turning point for Gourcuff

MONGOMO: Algeria coach Christian Rantie missed a chance to make it 2-0 Vahid Halilhodzic after the World Cup “It was a real test for the players on a Algeria could qualify with a win Gourcuff accepted a missed penalty by from the spot. And a Thulani finals last year. “Given the problems we pitch which does not allow you to keep against Ghana in their next game, also Tokelo Rantie proved crucial as his side Hlatshwayo own-goal restored parity were having in midfield on a pitch that the ball. in Mongomo, on Friday, depending on stormed back to beat South Africa 3-1 in before Faouzi Ghoulam and Islam does not favour passing football, I “It was a very intense match. The the outcome of the other Group C the Africa Cup of Nations on Monday. Slimani secured a big win for the pre- brought on (Ishak) Belfodil to give their penalty was a turning point, because at match between Senegal and South Thuso Phala put Bafana Bafana tournament favourites. defence more problems. We managed 2-0 the game was not over but we Africa. ahead early in the second half in the “Our start to the second half was cat- to gain the upper hand at the end of the would have been in a difficult situation,” Senegal came from behind to beat Group C game in Mongomo, before astrophic,” said Gourcuff, who replaced match. added the 59-year-old Frenchman. Ghana 2-1 earlier on Monday. — AFP Adebayor unfazed by pain at the Lane

LONDON: Emmanuel Adebayor insists Troubled season he won’t be fazed if Tottenham support- Adebayor has scored just twice this ers give him another hostile reception in season, with his last goal coming in today’s League Cup semi-final clash October, but the continuing struggles of against Sheffield United. Spanish striker Roberto Soldado have Adebayor’s appearance as a second opened the way for the towering for- half substitute in Tottenham’s 2-1 win ward to potentially return to the starting against Sunderland on Saturday was his line-up as a partner for in-form Harry first for nine weeks because of injury, ill- Kane. ness and a period of compassionate After a troubled season which also leave due to family issues. saw him claim in November that his But the Togo star’s prolonged absence mother was practising black magic on hasn’t made Tottenham fans grow any him, Adebayor is adamant he wants to fonder of a player who irritated them ear- stay out of the headlines, and he praised lier this season when he claimed the Pochettino for refusing to be swayed team performed better away from home against him by the all the negative pub- due to the excessive pressure put on licity. them by the White Hart Lane faithful. “We have a very good relationship Adebayor was already regarded by between men because I am an adult and some as an uncommitted member of he knows what I have been through,” Mauricio Pochettino’s squad before that Adebayor said. ill-judged outburst, so it was hardly sur- “He knows what I can achieve and prising the 30-year-old was jeered by what I can do as a footballer so, yeah, we sections of the crowd when he returned have a mutual respect for each other. to action at the weekend. “It is always good to have a manager With Tottenham taking on Nigel that you can talk to as a friend and as a Clough’s third tier side in the semi-final brother. first leg at the Lane, Adebayor’s presence “He helped me a lot. When I have got could overshadow an important night a problem, I will definitely go to him and for the north Londoners. tell him ‘listen, this is my situation’. But the former Arsenal and “He always finds a solution to it, so it is Manchester City star says he won’t be always good to have a man manager like losing any sleep worrying about the fans’ him.” reaction. Tottenham are firm favourites to “I don’t want to understand it, but for advance to the Wembley final against me, I am not here to win any fans back. I Liverpool or Chelsea, but United will fan- just want to do my job as a professional,” cy their chances of adding another scalp MELBOURNE: Japan’s (L) and Jordan’s Mohammad Al Dmeiri (R) contest the ball during the Asian Cup football match between Adebayor said. after their giant-killing spree over the last Japan and Jordan in Melbourne yesterday. — AFP “With my age, to be honest with you, I 18 months. don’t want to look because, no matter Clough’s team, currently seventh in what you do, there will always be some League One, have knocked out West that hate you. Ham and Southampton en route to the Japan into quarters “I don’t know if I will win the fans over, last four and shocked QPR in the FA Cup I just want to play football and enjoy earlier this month. myself. Those impressive exploits followed “I know if you do good, they will last season’s run to the FA Cup semi- applaud you. I know if you do bad, they finals, which included wins against Aston with 2-0 Jordan win will boo you. It is as simple as that.” Villa and Fulham. — AFP MELBOURNE: and Shinji minute in a live-wire performance. trophy again. “It won’t be easy,” insisted Kagawa. Kagawa were on target to give Japan a 2-0 win “Every game is a knockout game now and we Mahmoud on target as Iraq over Jordan yesterday as the holders swept ‘Gulf in class’ expect far tougher challenges.” — AFP imperiously into the Asian Cup quarter-finals. “We perhaps should have scored a second beat Palestine to make q-finals Talisman Honda snapped up a rebound on 24 goal earlier to avoid complications but I can’t minutes after Shinji Okazaki’s drive had been fault the players,” said Aguirre. “We created a lot CANBERRA: Talismanic striker Younis through from the resulting corner. well blocked by goalkeeper Amer Shafi, to net of chances and had two goals wiped out. I feel Matches on TV Mahmoud was on target but also missed Substitute Ali Adnan whipped the ball his third goal in three games and take the Blue we are improving game by game. (Local Timings) a penalty as Iraq overcame a stubborn in from the right and Mahmoud rose Samurai through as comfortable Group D win- “Physically and mentally, we’re strong,” added Palestine 2-0 yesterday to set up an Asian highest to connect with a near post ners. the Mexican. “Now it’s about keeping our disci- English League Cup Kagawa, largely ineffectual up to that point, pline and not getting involved with the referees Cup quarter-final with old rivals Iran. header to break the deadlock. Tottenham v Sheffield 22:45 The 2007 champions were not at their Palestine, thumped 4-0 by a wasteful slammed home the second from close range or controversies. Every match will be difficult eight minutes from time, capping Japan’s third from here and it’s important to peak at the right beIN SPORTS 1 HD best but goals by Mahmoud and a late Japan and then 5-1 by Jordan, should straight victory. They advanced to face the time.” beIN SPORTS 11 HD second from Ahmed Yaseen sent them have pulled level just three minutes later United Arab Emirates in the last eight while , making a record 56th beIN SPORTS 13 HD through from Group D as runners-up when a careless pass by Salam Shakir Jordan were eliminated. appearance as Japan captain, bossed the mid- behind holders Japan, who made it three allowed Ashraf Al-Fawaghra clear on goal “It was an intense game,” Japan coach Javier field, constantly breaking up play to allow Italian Cup wins out of three by beating Jordan 2-0 but the Palestinian forward saw his shot Aguirre told reporters. “We had to give maxi- Honda and the freedom to run Fiorentina v Atalanta 20:00 in Melbourne. blocked by the legs of goalkeeper Jalal mum effort but we deserved to win. Now every- riot. beIN SPORTS 3 HD Mahmoud’s 48th minute header was Hassan. thing starts from zero again. All the eight teams Jordan coach Ray Wilkins, who had been only Iraq’s second goal in the tourna- Mahmoud, who has more than 130 in the quarter-finals have equal opportunity to screaming and waving his arms on the touchline Inter v Sampdoria 23:00 ment and their disjointed attack, which caps for his country, had the chance to win the tournament.” in red-faced fury as the veins bulged in his head, beIN SPORTS 3 HD struggled to penetrate the tournament’s settle the contest just on the hour mark Honda was his side’s heartbeat throughout gave a far calmer assessment of the game after beIN SPORTS 14 HD leakiest backline, will need to improve when Iraq were awarded a soft penalty. the match, watched by 25,000 in Melbourne the final whistle. beIN SPORTS 2 HD against a mean Iranian defence which Ahmed Mahajna was adjudged to including Japanese tennis star Kei Nishikori, “It showed the gulf in class,” said the has yet to concede. have shoved Justin Meram in the back competing at the Australian Open across the Englishman. “We were beaten by an exceptional- African Nations Cup Mahmoud has long been the focal fig- but Mahmoud could only hit a low, soft road. ly good Japan team. That’s what we have to Burkina Faso v Guinea 19:00 ure of the Iraqi frontline, the last link to penalty which the towering stand-in Shortly after putting Japan in front, Honda aspire to-to be as good as those guys. It’s going beIN SPORTS 6 HD the 2007 Asian Cup winning side, but his Palestine goalkeeper Tawfiq whipped in a corner which defender Masato to take a very good team to beat the Japanese Congo v Gabon 22:00 Morishige met with a fierce header that forced team.” powers are clearly on the wane. Abuhammad parried away to his left. beIN SPORTS 6 HD His winning goal was a case of third The chances continued to come for an acrobatic tip-over from the busy Shafi. Japan goalkeeper barely Japan had the ball in the net after just 10 broke sweat as he kept a third clean sheet. time lucky. Having failed to hit the target the Iraqis in a second period of high Spain Copa del Rey in two previous subdued displays against intensity after a drab first half with the minutes, only for Takashi Inui’s bullet volley to be “We didn’t have too many opportunities,” ruled out after Okazaki was harshly adjudged to shrugged Wilkins. “It was very difficult to get the Villarreal v Getafe 22:00 Japan and Jordan he netted with his pace and driving runs of Ahmed Yaseen have taken the ball out of play before crossing. ball off them. My head’s still spinning, their foot- beIN SPORTS 16 HD third chance in as many second half min- causing problems for the debutants. Honda, fined $5,000 at the weekend for an ball is of a very, very high standard.” Thursday utes to break the Palestinian resistance. The attacking midfielder was outburst over the officiating at the Asian Cup, Japan, who won a record fourth Asian Cup by Barcelona v Atletico 0:00 The 31-year-old skipper hooked a inevitably the man to make the game also had a goal disallowed for a questionable edging Australia in the 2011 final, thrashed right foot shot wide in the 47th minute safe when his low 88th minute strike beIN SPORTS 16 HD offside shortly before the hour-mark and Palestine 4-0 and beat Iraq 1-0 in their first two Malaga v Bilbao 0:00 before Abdallatif Al-Bahdari’s out- from the edge of the penalty area smashed a shot against the post in the last games and are regarded as favourites to lift the stretched leg blocked his next effort sailed past a wrong-footed moments later but he finally found a way Abuhammad. —Reuters Mirallas penalty row fuels Everton frustration

LIVERPOOL: Everton forward Kevin Mirallas was “I would have been happy for the two players to Albion’s former Everton defender Joleon Lescott involved in a penalty row as the Belgian’s missed discuss it. There are a few penalty takers in the conceded a clear penalty when he handled after spot-kick condemned his struggling side to a frus- squad and the big disappointment is we missed Romelu Lukaku tried to bring the ball down inside trating 0-0 draw against West Bromwich Albion on the penalty, not who took it. the area with his chest. Monday. “He (Mirallas) was not feeling 100 percent, he Baines had scored 15 of his last 16 penalties, but Mirallas appeared to ignore his team-mates felt his hamstring straight after the penalty. That it was Mirallas who snatched the ball and ignored when he picked up the ball to take a penalty was the reason for the substitution.” his team-mates’ protests before driving his spot- instead of spot-kick expert Leighton Baines just kick against a post. before half-time at Goodison Park. Lacking punch It was a huge blunder by the Belgian and And the winger’s risky decision backfired as his With a scene from Sylvester Stallone’s new Martinez appeared to waste little time laying down penalty hit a post and he was then taken off by Rocky movie being filmed at half-time, both the law to his rebellious star as he hauled off Everton manager Roberto Martinez moments later Everton and Albion were sorely lacking a knockout Mirallas at half-time and sent on Bryan Oviedo in at half-time. Mirallas’s actions, which came just punch in a dour encounter. Unsurprisingly given his place. The controversy could have destabilised days after he was linked with a potential move to their recent struggles, Martinez’s men looked short Everton, but they pushed hard in the second half Tottenham or German side Borussia Dortmund, will of confidence and when Baines had their first shot, and Lukaku’s shot was blocked when the burly be interpreted as a selfish attempt to seize the the left-back was unable to get enough power striker tried to bulldoze his way through. spotlight. But more significantly, his miss means behind it to trouble Albion goalkeeper Ben Foster. After scoring six goals in his previous three Martinez’s troubled team are now without a win in A foul on Baines gave Mirallas the chance to try appearances, Albion striker Saido Berahino was their last eight matches in all competitions and sit his luck with a free-kick in a dangerous position, completely anonymous and he was replaced by only four points above the Premier League relega- but the Belgium international’s effort was easily midfielder Graham Dorrans as boss Tony Pulis tried tion zone. saved by Foster. to spark his side into life. Instead, it was Everton CANBERRA: Younus Mahmood of Iraq (C) and Abdallatif Albahdari of Palestine (R) “For me, Leighton is the number one penalty Even when Everton were handed a golden who nearly won it when Ross Barkley and Steven fight for the ball during their Group D football match of the AFC Asian Cup in taker but at that moment Kevin felt really confident opportunity to open the scoring in the 43rd Naismith combined to tee up Lukaku, but the strik- Canberra yesterday. — AFP and wanted to take it,” Martinez said. minute, they still couldn’t take advantage. er shot wide from 12 yards. — AFP