Nadal and Kun the potential Sharapova key to Man City’s stumble at salvation Indian17 Wells 19 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2014 Vettel lags behind off track as well as on it Page 17 MADRID: Atletico’s Diego Costa scores the opening goal during a Champions League, round of 16, second leg, soccer match between Atletico Madrid and AC Milan. — AP Costa propels Atletico into q-finals MADRID: Atletico Madrid booked their Milan boss Clarence Seedorf had home at the back post by Kaka, though, it his fierce strike came back off the outside place in the quarter-finals of the insisted pre-match that the tie was still took a deflection off Miranda. of the post. Champions League for the first time in 17 open despite losing the first leg at home, The Milan captain then had a great Just as in the first-half Milan grew into Leading CL scorers years as they beat AC Milan 4-1 at the but it looked as if the Italian’s hopes had chance to put his side ahead in the tie on the game as the half progressed and Vicente Calderon to progress 5-1 on been killed off within minutes as Gabi away goal when he nodded Adel Thibaut Courtois had to dive low to his left aggregate yesterday. Diego Costa struck robbed the ball from on the right, fed Taarabt’s inviting cross just over. to parry substitute Robinho’s low drive 11 goals: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid/ESP) the winner in the first leg three weeks ago Koke and his cross was hooked home on Just four minutes later, the seven-time across the box. 10 goals: Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Paris Saint- and it took him just three minutes to dou- the volley by Costa for his 28th goal of European champions were left to rue that Diego Simeone’s men did finally get the Germain/FRA) ble Atletico’s advantage as he acrobatical- the season. miss as Garcia chested down for Arda on two-goal cushion on the night they craved 7 goals: Diego Costa (Atletico Madrid/ESP), Lionel ly turned home Koke’s cross. The hosts were dealt a blow moments the edge of the box and his shot can- when Garcia rose highest to power home Messi (Barcelona/ESP) Milan were given hope when Kaka later, though, as Garcia was shown a yel- noned off Adil Rami and past the helpless Gabi’s free-kick 20 minutes from time. 6 goals: Sergio Aguero (Manchester City/ENG), headed home Andrea Poli’s cross on 27 low card that will keep him out of the first Abbiati. Robinho nearly responded immedi- Robert Lewandowski (Borussia Dortmund) minutes, but Arda Turan restored leg of their quarter-final tie. Garcia then came within inches of ately as he blasted Kaka’s neat through 5 goals: Alvaro Negredo (Manchester City/ENG), Atletico’s lead on the night before half- After an early burst from Atletico, sealing the tie with a spectacular over- ball onto the bar with Courtois beaten. Arturo Vidal (Juventus/ITA) time when his volley from the edge of the Milan were enjoying plenty of possession head kick from Juanfran’s cross that flew However, it was Atletico who were able 4 goals: Gareth Bale (Real Madrid/ESP), Karim box deflected past Christian Abbiati. midway through the half, but didn’t look just past the far post Atletico had another to round off their first victory in a Benzema (Real Madrid/ESP),Edinson Cavani (Paris Raul Garcia’s header made it 3-1 before threatening until a lovely move opened great chance to put the tie to bed within knockout tie of Europe’s premier club Saint-Germain/FRA), Gonzalo Higuain (Napoli/ITA), Costa rounded off a fine individual display up the Spanish side just before the half three minutes of the restart for the sec- competition since 1978 when Costa Thomas Mueller (Bayern Munich/GER), Raul Garcia with his seventh Champions League goal hour. Mario Balotelli sprayed the ball ond-half as a rapid counter-attack from a arrowed in his second of the night off (Atletico Madrid). — AFP of the campaign six minutes from time. wide to Poli and his cross was headed Milan corner saw Costa tee up Gabi and the far post. — AFP Bayern advance, but Arsenal earn draw MUNICH: Holders Bayern Munich booked their place in the first leg, switching from a 4-1-4-1 in London to the 4- the Champions League’s quarter-finals, despite Arsenal 2-3-1 formation used in last season’s European final. earning a 1-1 draw in Bavaria in yesterday’s last 16, sec- Bayern got off a bad start when centre-back Dante was ond-leg clash. booked for a clumsy challenge on Oxlade-Chamberlain A second-half Bastian Schweinsteiger goal gave after only eight minutes. Bayern a brief lead before Arsenal’s Lukas Podolski It was his third of Bayern’s European campaign and equalised with a thunderbolt of a shot as the tie finished means he is suspended for the quarter-final first-leg. 3-1 on aggregate. Bayern earned the first real chance when winger Franck Arsenal, who also went out at the same stage of the Ribery found space on the left and sent in a cross which competition to the same opponents last season, failed Arjen Robben fired over with 19 minutes gone. to overturn their 2-0 deficit from the first leg three Spain’s Javi Martinez had a goal disallowed for offside weeks ago. after 27 minutes, while at the other end Bayern’s Manuel But midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain told ITV they Neuer saved Olivier Giroud’s header. could be proud of their performance in Munich. “We Mario Mandzukic, who headed over, Robben, whose lacked a bit of quality with the final ball. We got into a lot shot was blocked, and Mario Goetze, who forced of dangerous positions but lacked that final cutting-edge Fabianski into a fine save, had chances as Bayern enjoyed ball,” he said. their customary 70 percent possession, although it stayed “The boys put in a great shift tonight, we can take away goalless at the break. positives and be proud of our efforts. “They (Bayern) are Wenger made a key change for the second-half as definitely up there with the best teams but there’s still lot Mesut Ozil, who had hamstring trouble, made way for of good teams in it.” Tomas Rosicky in the attacking midfield role. Amidst hopes of repeating last season’s shock 2-0 win It marked a miserable two legs for the off-form Ozil, MUNICH: Arsenal’s Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (center) is tackled by Bayern’s Franck Ribery (left) and Dante during in Munich, Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger made six changes who apologised to Gunners fans via Facebook after failing the Champions League round of 16 second leg soccer match yesterday. — AP from the team which lost to Bayern in London. to convert a key penalty in the first-leg. winger Lukas Podolski robbed Bayern captain Philipp against the backdrop of the court case against Bayern Lukasz Fabianski was named in goal for the suspended Soon after the break referee Svein Oddvar Moen Lahm and fired home from a tight angle giving Manuel president Uli Hoeness, which started Monday. The 1974 Wojciech Szczesny, who was sent off in the first-leg. There ignored Bayern’s penalty appeals when Robben went Neuer no chance. World Cup winner is fighting to avoid a jail term and were only six of the seven permitted replacements named down in the area just before the opening goal. There was drama in added time as Bayern replacement stands accused of having dodged 27.2 million euros amidst reports Japan’s Ryo Miyaichi flew to Germany Ribery found space on the left and crossed inside to Thomas Mueller had a penalty attempt saved by Fabianski ($37.6 million) in taxes by hiding his wealth in Swiss bank despite being ineligible for the Champions League’s Schweinsteiger, playing his first Champions League game after Robben was fouled by centre-back Laurent Koscielny. accounts. A verdict is expected tomorrow and major tax knock-out stages. since November, to drill home on 55 minutes. The result was welcome news in a dark week for the fraud carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in Bayern coach Pep Guardiola made three changes from The lead lasted just two minutes as Arsenal’s Germany Bavarian giants. The Allianz Arena clash was played Germany. — AFP.