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Home , Etrit Berisha, Simon Mignolet

THURSDAY, JANUARY 29, 2015 SPORTS

LONDON: Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic (top) scores during the English League Cup semifinal second leg soccer match between Chelsea and Liverpool at Stamford Bridge stadium. — AP Ivanovic heads Chelsea into League Cup final

LONDON: Chelsea reached the League Cup the scores level in a blood-and-thunder So I’m even happier because we beat a very . While Chelsea struggled to shot and then when the striker was through final after Branislav Ivanovic’s towering extra- encounter with plenty of controversy. Chelsea good team over two legs,” Chelsea manager create opportunities, they did have loud on goal. Ivanovic ensured Chelsea would not time header secured a 1-0 victory over striker was typically in the thick Jose Mourinho told Sky Sports. This was a very appeals for a penalty waved away when have to rely on the away goals rule, which Liverpool in a rip-roaring semi-final second of the action and twice appeared to stamp on different Chelsea side to the one that was Costa, who was lucky to be on the pitch after would only have come into play after extra leg at an electric Stamford Bridge on Tuesday. Liverpool players, but should also have been beaten 4-2 by Bradford in the FA Cup at stamping on Emre Can’s ankle earlier in the time, to progress while Liverpool’s best The Serbian defender powered a header awarded a penalty when he was felled by Stamford Bridge on Saturday, with manager match, was felled by a clumsy tackle from chance in extra time fell to Jordan Henderson, past Liverpool keeper Simon Mignolet four Slovak defender Martin Skrtel in the first half. Jose Mourinho making nine changes. Skrtel. who headed wide. minutes into the extra period to secure a 2-1 Chelsea will face Tottenham Hotspur or Tempers began to flare after the break with For Liverpool boss , the aggregate win for the four-times winners days Sheffield United, who play the second leg of FULL THROTTLE Brazilian-born Spain striker Costa involved in difference between the teams was Chelsea after their humiliating FA Cup exit to third-tier their last-four clash on Wednesday with the The first half was played at full throttle another stamping incident, but as the match keeper Courtois. “We were better in every Bradford City. London side leading 1-0, in the final at with both teams looking to seize the early ini- wore Chelsea began to craft the better open- aspect of our game but we just couldn’t get Both sides had good chances in normal Wembley on March 1. tiative, but the visitors had the better chances ings. beat four men and drove a the big goals. Sometimes you have a barrier in time and were grateful to their keepers- “This is a new Liverpool team (from earlier with Chelsea keeper Courtois producing shot just wide, and Mignolet superbly denied your way and tonight and last week it was and Mignolet-for keeping in the season) and a very difficult opponent. excellent saves to deny Alberto Moreno and Costa twice with his feet, first from a deflected Courtois,” he said. —Reuters Milan’s troubles mount after defeat by Lazio

MILAN: Crisis-torn AC Milan’s problems mount- ed when they were knocked out of the quarter-finals 1-0 by visiting Lazio who played the entire second half of the with 10 men on Tuesday. The result at a freezing, almost empty and hostile San Siro increased the pressure on coach Filippo Inzaghi, with Italian media having specu- lated before the match that defeat could lead to his downfall after six months in the hot seat. Inzaghi, in his first senior coaching role, would become the third Milan coach to leave in a year if he loses his job. Lazio beat Milan 3-1 in on Saturday and the home side’s nerves were clearly on display as they gifted their oppo- nents two chances early on. A dreadful back pass by Ignazio Abete was intercepted by Lazio’s Miroslav Klose but the for- mer Germany forward shot into the side-netting after rounding goalkeeper Christian Abbiati. Jeremy Menez then produced another shock- ing pass which gave Lazio’s Keita Balde a clear run on goal but Abbiati rushed out of his area to block the danger with a risky sliding tackle. Milan’s luck ran out, however, when Michelangelo Albertazzi handled the ball in the ITALY: Lazio’s Etrit Berisha saves on AC Milan’s Alex Dias da Costa during an Italian Cup, quar- SPAIN: Real Madrid’s Welsh forward Gareth Bale jumps during the Spanish League area and Lazio’s Argentina Lucas terfinal match at the San Siro stadium. — AP football match in this file photo. — AFP Biglia fired home from the penalty spot after 38 second period but it was harshly disallowed for er looked like turning the match around. minutes. offside and Alessio Cerci had a goal chalked off Although Inzaghi is the obvious scapegoat, Lazio then had defender sent off for the same reason, though replays suggested Milan’s Ultras issued a statement on Monday ‘Happy’ Bale rules for a second booking just before halftime but he was also onside when he received the ball. blaming the club’s problems on their transfer even that failed to revive the hosts. Milan’s Apart from that, however, Milan, who have strategy and called for chief executive Adriano out United move Giampaolo Pazzini put the ball in the net in the not won a game since the Christmas break, nev- Galliani to be sacked. — Reuters

BARCELONA: Real Madrid winger Gareth not passing to Karim Benzema who was English clubs dominate Barca president slams Bale says he is happy at the Bernabeu well positioned to score, and he also transfer deals — FIFA and has no intention of moving to whistled at the Bernabeu when Real Manchester United. played Espanyol. FIFA over transfer ban Despite playing a significant role in “(Against Valencia) I only remember LONDON: English clubs are spending more money in the international transfer market than any other country in the BARCELONA: Barcelona president Josep “Leo Messi couldn’t have come to Barca Real winning their celebrated 10th running towards the goal, I wanted to world according to a FIFA report published yesterday. European Cup and the King’s Cup last score but it didn’t go in,” said Bale. “If I Maria Bartomeu believes FIFA regulations according to FIFA. FIFA have a problem and The findings of the 2015 FIFA/TMS Global Transfer Market concerning under-age player transfers they can’t have a rule which so many kids are season there has been talk of a move had scored against Valencia and Systems Report, covering the last 12 months, shows English back to the for the Espanyol then nobody would have said clubs spent more than $770 million on foreign players-about needs to be revised and that current rules not complying with. At the moment, it is Welshman. anything. I didn’t see the pass and I don’t $308 million (67 percent) more than their nearest rivals would have prevented Lionel Messi from Barca who are paying for five kids. “Barca He has been criticised by a section of think it was so easy but these things hap- Spain. joining the club. The Catalan side have been have suffered injustices in the past and this is the Real fans and the media for being pen in football. They are part of the play. In total, clubs around the world spent $4.06 billion sign- banned from signing players during this another example. “Clearly there are going to transfer window and the next one for break- be other clubs involved, (Spanish federation greedy on the ball and failing to link up “I feel the support of the Bernabeu. I am ing players from outside their own borders. The report does not include domestic transfers. ing the rules over the signing of foreign president Angel Maria) Villar already told us with his team mates. going to continue working to show what Brazil is the most active country in terms of international under-18 players. that other Spanish teams were being investi- It has led to rumours that he could be I am capable of doing on the pitch and transfers with 1,335 deals-incoming and outgoing-followed Now Real Madrid are also being investi- gated.“I don’t want other clubs to be investi- part of a deal where United goalkeeper so as to win more trophies.” by England with 1,263 and Portugal with 823. One area high- gated by FIFA over the transfer of 51 players gated. I want FIFA to change the rules and David de Gea would move to Real. “I can’t Bale claimed he had a good relation- lighted in the report for the first time concerns the transfers and there are rumours that the activities of (FIFA President Sepp) Blatter to consider this.” see myself at Manchester United,” Bale ship with Cristiano Ronaldo and that the of young players under the age of 18. other La Liga clubs could be examined. A failed appeal against the transfer ban Spanish clubs sign more overseas youngsters under 18 — told Spanish radio. “In an interview criticism he had received would not The ban is a major blow for Barca, who last December plunged the Barca board into recently I was asked if I was happy in affect his style of play. a fact highlighted last week when Real Madrid unveiled 16- year-old Norwegian “wonderkid” Martin Odegaard who they have been held up as an example for their crisis, playing a part in the firing of sports Madrid and I said that I was very happy “There is no rivalry between us. We development of youth players through their director Andoni Zubizarreta and Bartomeu’s here. have meetings to talk about tactics. bought from Stromsgodset earlier this month. Real’s arch rivals Barcelona have been hit by a FIFA transfer ban for celebrated Masia academy, where they nur- decision to bring forward presidential elec- “I have a long contract still to go, I am Normally if there is a free-kick from the breaching the strict rules regarding the signing of young tured the talent of Argentine-born Messi tions. “If there wasn’t so much tension, then enjoying myself and we are winning tro- left then Cristiano takes it and on the players, while Real Madrid are also being investigated by FIFA after he arrived at the club aged 13. I wouldn’t have called the elections,” phies. I want to continue doing this at right it would be me. We get on well,” for alleged similar offences. The report states: “In 2014, Spain Bartomeu is angry at the way they have Bartomeu said of the vote taking place at Real Madrid.” said Bale. “I don’t think I’m greedy. On the was the country that engaged the highest number of minors. been treated. “The problem is with FIFA and the end of this season. “I wanted to com- Bale was singled out after Real’s pitch I make assists and score goals. I 400 minor applications were submitted, and 352 were they need to change this article 19 (over the plete our mandate and the club is function- defeat against Valencia in their first game play the game how I like to play and the accepted. This is a much higher number than any other asso- transfer of youth players) as it doesn’t make ing reasonably well but I think it was the back following the Christmas break for press can say what they want.” — Reuters ciation worldwide.” —Reuters any sense,” the president told Spanish radio. right thing to do.” — Reuters