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THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2015 SPORTS

Guangzhou edge Wanderers Brown in line for return Park takes relaxed approach SYDNEY: Guangzhou Evergrande striker Ricardo Goular staggering price : England full-back Mike Brown is expected to be available to SINGAPORE: Free of the burden that comes with the world number one tag by scoring a hat-trick for the Chinese champions in their 3-2 win at face Scotland in his side’s penultimate Six Nations encounter after a con- ranking, ’s Park In-bee is looking forward to a more relaxed year holders Western Sydney Wanderers in their AFC Champions League clash cussion, head coach Stuart Lancaster revealed yesterday. on the LPGA Tour that she hopes will lead to an elusive British Open title. yesterday. The 23-year-old Brazilian, who joined the big-spending Chinese Brown was knocked unconscious during England’s 47-17 win over The 26-year-old world number two was displaced by 17-year-old Super League winners in January for a record fee of 15 million euros on Valentine’s Day and missed last weekend’s 19-9 loss to Ireland after New Zealander Lydia Ko at the top of the rankings in January and ($16.70 million), scored in the 19th minute and then netted twice receiving two setbacks during the return-to-play protocols. But the 29- Park was hoping to reap the benefits of being away from the more in the second half to give Guangzhou their second win year-old Harlequins man is due to resume full-contact training on pressures pole position brought. “I let Lydia have my number one in Group H. Iacopo La Rocca found the equaliser in the Thursday, clearing the way for him to be passed fit for the home game spot earlier this year so if I can capture that back at some point 57th minute for the hosts but Goulart, who also scored the with Scotland on March 14. that would be a very good,” Park told reporters on Wednesday. only goal for the 2013 champions last week in a 1-0 win “We’re pretty confident about Mike,” Lancaster told a press conference. “But I’m just going to try and have fun out here and not worry over FC Seoul, put the Chinese side in front a minute later. “He’s had a reasonable amount of time now and certainly all the signs about so many numbers or so many stats or things like that from everyone, including from Mike himself, is that he’s back to 100 per- The Wanderers paid for their lapse in concentration as the it is enjoying it that is the most important thing. “I’ve cent. “He has to tick the final box and then I’m sure he’ll be training on Brazilian tapped in after being set up by Gao Lin. The been in number one spot and number two spot before Friday. He has been symptom-free since last week.” Alex Goode stood in and it’s a lot more relaxing position. You don’t have as duo combined again to put Guangzhou, for Brown in England’s defeat in Dublin and was outjumped in the build- coached by Italy’s World Cup winning captain much pressure as number one and people expect a lit- up to the Robbie Henshaw try that was to prove the match’s pivotal tle bit less than you than being in number one Fabio Cannavaro, up 3-1 in the 64th moment.—AFP minute.—Reuters spot.”—Reuters Lavillenie ready to shine at indoor Euro

PRAGUE: French star Renaud Ukraine in what should be a thrilling Lavillenie owns a world record that long women’s 800m. The Czech Republic’s Pavel seemed impossible to reach, but he will be Maslak, who clocked a world-leading hungry for more as the European Athletics 45.27sec in the 400m last month, will seek Indoor Championships start in to please the home crowd after winning in today. The 28-year-old won three consecu- and at the 2014 world indoor tive European indoor titles from 2009- championships in , Poland. 2013, then went on to vault 6.16 metres a Eelco Sintnicolaas of the year ago to break Ukrainian Sergey Bubka’s and ’s will world record dating from 1993. defend titles from Gothenburg in hep- Having cleared a world-leading 6.02 tathlon and pentathlon, respectively. metres so far this year, Lavillenie has Another top star, ’s David Storl, unveiled ambitious plans for Prague, say- the outdoor world champion from 2011 ing he would have a go at his record in the and 2013, is the odds-on favourite in men’s Czech capital’s O2 Arena. shot put. “I feel good. I am still in good shape and Major absentees include French sprint- I am ready for my major goal for the sea- ers Christophe Lemaitre and Gothenburg son,” he said after a meeting in Malmo, champion Jimmy Vicaut, and their British last week where he managed a rival Dwain Chambers. modest 5.92 metres by his standards. The controversial 36-year-old misses The reigning Olympic champion will Prague after the British federation picked notably take on Poland’s Piotr Lisek with a Richard Kilty, Sean Safo-Antwi and season best of 5.90, and his own brother Chijindu Ujah for the 60m race. Valentin, five years his junior, who has Britain’s Olympic long jump champion cleared 5.80 metres this season. Greg Rutherford has pulled out of the Germany’s Bjoern Otto and Malte Mohr, indoors on short notice, preferring to focus the silver and bronze medalists from Euro on the outdoor season peaking at the 2013 in Gothenburg, have both been ruled world championships in in August. out with injuries. His withdrawal has made things easier Also defending gold from Gothenburg, for world-leading Frenchman Kafetien Spanish high jumper Ruth Beitia will face Gomis, who will seek to improve his sea- Russian duo Mariya Kuchina and Svetlana son best of 8.18m. The men’s high jump Shkolina as well as Poland’s Kamila should fall to Ukraine’s Andrii Protsenko Licwinko who leads this year’s rankings as out-of-form Russian rival Ivan Ukhov, NEWARK: Cory Schneider No. 35 of the New Jersey Devils shoots the puck away from Matt Cullen No. 7 of the Nashville Predators during the with a leap of 2.02 metres. who cleared 2.42m in Prague last year to third period at the Prudential Center. —AFP Britain’s Jennifer Meadows will take on equal the European record, will not be defending champion Nataliya Lupu from present.—AFP Predators fall to Devils Singapore’s rising mercury NEWARK: Cory Schneider made 33 saves, and Nicklas Backstrom and Jason Chimera each had their second consecutive game. the playoff-hopeful New Jersey Devils beat NHL- two assists for the Capitals, who solidified their challenge for Ko’s hot streak leading Nashville 3-1 on Tuesday night, sending hold on the first wild-card playoff spot in the DUCKS 4, COYOTES 1 the Predators to their season-worst fourth East before starting a five-game homestand. Andrew Cogliano scored twice, Frederik SINGAPORE: Singapore’s steamy tem- people think you should win every week straight loss. Adam Larsson and Eric Gelinas Braden Holtby had 27 saves. Ovechkin, who has Andersen stopped 29 shots in his return from peratures will be no less a challenge than because you are, but that’s really not the scored first-period goals in front of a sparse won the Richard Trophy as the league’s goal- injury, and the Ducks got a point from one of the star-studded field at the HSBC case,” she said. crowd that came out on a snowy night. Mike scoring leader the last two years and four times their newcomers. A day after being acquired Women’s Champions for teenaged world “Hopefully I’m going to keep myself Cammalleri was awarded a goal with 1:14 overall, now has 43. Scott Hartnell had two goals from Pittsburgh, Simon Despres assisted on number one Lydia Ko’s bid for her third cool. I think that’s the big thing here. You remaining in the game. and an assist - and was stopped on a penalty Cogliano’s first goal. Ryan Kesler added an acro- successive title. The 17-year-old New can be playing good golf and then the Mike Fisher had the lone goal for Nashville shot - while David Savard also scored for the batic short-handed goal, and Jakob Silfverberg Zealander discovered it was not just heat gets to you and you start making a (41-17-7), which entered the night with a Blue Jackets, 0-6-1 in their last seven. also scored as the Ducks moved into a tie with sweaty palms that golfers have to cope couple of mistakes. I’m going to keep league-leading 89 points. This is the Predators’ Sergei Bobrovsky started in goal for slumping Nashville atop the Western Conference with in the humid Southeast Asian citys- myself cool and try and have some fun.” worst skid since last March. Backup goalie Carter Columbus, making his first appearance in 18 with their third straight win. tate when she played in the 2012 Queen Enjoyment was central for Ko on Hutton made 21 saves for Nashville, which lost at games since sustaining a groin injury on Jan. 21. Tobias Rieder scored in Arizona’s 10th straight Sirikit Cup. “At that time, I had glasses Wednesday as she spoke about the fun the New York Rangers on Monday. He had 27 saves. regulation loss, matching a franchise record set and the moment I opened the door and of appearing in a pre-tournament fash- New Jersey started the night nine points when the team was in Winnipeg in 1994. Mike went out my glasses just fogged up ion show, where she blew kisses to the behind Boston, holder of the second wild-card WILD 3, SENATORS 2 Smith stopped 31 shots for the Coyotes, who straightaway,” Ko told reporters on crowd after taking catwalk tips from fel- spot in the Eastern Conference. Charlie Coyle scored the winner in a also lost their ninth in a row at home, tying a Wednesday. low LPGA professional Jessica Korda. shootout, Matt Dumba had two goals in regula- club record set earlier this season. “I was like, ‘man’, obviously this is like More pleasure is in store when her MAPLE LEAFS 3, PANTHERS 2 tion and the Wild stopped Ottawa’s five-game going to freeze up the whole time.” The name is announced on the first tee on SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) - Peter Holland and the winning streak. Devan Dubnyk made 31 saves KINGS 5, OILERS 2 large-framed glasses were ditched at the Thursday with the prefix of “world num- Leafs took advantage after both Panthers goalies and turned away Mike Hoffman in the fifth Anze Kopitar and Trevor Lewis each had a start of this year in favour of contact lens- ber one”. “Hearing it on the tee it’s pretty were injured to snap a franchise-worst 16-game round of the shootout to secure Minnesota’s goal and two assists for Los Angeles. Matt es and the switch has coincided with her exciting stuff but when I’m out there I’m road losing streak. Holland netted the winning 15th victory in 20 games. Greene, Jeff Carter and Kyle Clifford also scored goal 5:28 into the third period against Al Ottawa’s Andrew Hammond showed why he’s for the defending Stanley Cup champions, who becoming the youngest golfer, across not really thinking about it,” said Ko. Montoya, who had replaced injured starter called “The Hamburgler” by making 36 saves, but snapped a three-game skid that came on the genders, to top the world rankings. “It’s always been my dream so hope- Roberto Luongo after the first period. It was the he lost for the first time in six NHL starts. Mika heels of an eight-game winning streak. Luke Undeterred by the pressure of the fully I can become one of the world’s Maple Leafs’ first road win in 17 games (0-14-2) Zibanejad and Bobby Ryan scored for the Gazdic and Teddy Purcell had the goals for the position, Ko has won her last two events great female golfers and it feels like I’m since they beat Boston on Dec. 31. The Panthers Senators. Dumba scored twice in the second Oilers, who have lost four of five. Los Angeles in Australia and at her home New right there. Obviously I have a lot of changed goalies twice, and even had goalie period for his first career two-goal game and got on the board 9 minutes into the opening Zealand Open, where she threatened things to work on.” coach Robb Tallas get dressed on an emergency give Minnesota a 2-0 lead. period on its 10th shot of the game as Greene golf’s magical number, 59, in the second Her game might appear to lack little basis, but the 41-year-old Tallas never entered hammered a point shot past Oilers starter Ben round. work but it will be off the course where the game. He hasn’t played in an NHL game STARS 3, ISLANDERS 2 Scrivens. The Kings made it 2-0 in the final The Seoul-born Ko will look to make it the demands will heavily increase as she since 2001. Montoya was injured early in the Cody Eakin scored 2:18 into overtime and the minute of the first when a bad pass by Benoit three consecutive wins when she returns starts university later this year. third period, but managed to stay in the game Stars snapped a six-game losing streak. Eakin Pouliot turned into a 2-on-1 the other way, with to Singapore for the LPGA tournament, Ko, who was named one of the 25 despite being hobbled. He eventually was took a pass from Jamie Benn on a 2-on-1 break Lewis converting on a pass from Kopitar. which starts on Thursday and boasts a most influential teenagers in the world replaced by Luongo, who got back into uniform and beat goalie Jaroslav Halak. The goal gave field that includes 19 of the top-20 by Time magazine in October, will study after changing into street clothes. the Stars their first overtime victory in eight SHARKS 6, CANUCKS 2 women’s golfers in the world. psychology at Korea University in Seoul. games this season. Matt Nieto had two goals and an assist for “I have had such a great last two “I’m pretty sure its going to be a tough LIGHTNING 3, SABRES 0 Anders Lee tied it for New York with 2 sec- San Jose. Chris Tierney, Melker Karlsson, Logan weeks, so obviously there’s expectation. journey, study and playing golf at the Tampa Bay rookie Andrei Vasilevskiy made 28 onds remaining in regulation when his shot Couture and Marc-Edouard Vlasic also scored for You’re world number one and a lot of same time,” Ko said. —Reuters saves in his first NHL shutout. Steven Stamkos from the left-wing boards hit defender Jordie San Jose, which was coming off a 4-0 home win opened the scoring late in the first period, snap- Benn’s skate and eluded goalie Kari Lehtonen. Monday against Montreal. The Sharks have won ping a wrist shot past former teammate Anders Josh Bailey scored for the Islanders in the first seven straight in Vancouver, including the post- Lindback. Ryan Callahan and Victor Hedman period. Brett Ritchie and Vernon Fiddler scored season. Antti Niemi made 26 saves for the San added power-play goals 1:36 apart early in the on third-period rebounds as Dallas rallied for a 2- Jose. Henrik Sedin had both goals for Vancouver, second. Lindback (2-9) made 32 saves in his first 1 lead. Lehtonen made 35 saves for the Stars, which is second in the Pacific Division, three appearance for Buffalo since being acquired last who were 0-4-2 in their previous six games. points ahead of San Jose, Los Angeles and month from Dallas. He was given the starting Halak stopped 32 shots but the Islanders lost Calgary.—AP assignment one day after Michal Neuvirth was dealt to the New York Islanders for Chad Johnson in a swap of goalies. NHL results/standings

FLAMES 3, FLYERS 2 New Jersey 3, Nashville 1; Calgary 3, Philadelphia 2 (OT); Washington 5, Columbus 3; Tampa Bay 3, Buffalo 0; Toronto 3, Jiri Hudler scored 1:23 into overtime. The Florida 2; Minnesota 3, Ottawa 2 (SO); Dallas 3, NY Islanders 2 (OT); Anaheim 4, Arizona 1; Los Angeles 5, Edmonton 2; Flames won for the second time in six games as San Jose 6, Vancouver 2. they try to make a push in the Western Western Conference Tampa Bay 39 20 6 213 171 84 Conference playoff race. Pacific Division Detroit 35 15 11 180 159 81 It was a successful homecoming for 21-year- WLOTLGFGAPTS Boston 31 22 9 165 161 71 Anaheim 41 17 7 193 178 89 old rookie and New Jersey native Johnny Florida 28 23 13 156 181 69 Vancouver 36 24 3 182 173 75 Gaudreau, who had hundreds of fans in atten- Ottawa 27 23 11 173 166 65 dance. Gaudreau assisted on the winning goal, Calgary 34 25 4 178 162 72 Los Angeles 30 21 12 171 164 72 Toronto 26 33 5 173 195 57 helping the Flames rebound after blowing a 2-0 San Jose 32 25 8 185 183 72 Buffalo 19 40 5 123 215 43 lead. Sean Monahan and Mikael Backlund also Arizona 20 37 7 139 218 47 Metropolitan Division scored for the Flames. Sean Couturier and Mark Edmonton 18 36 10 145 213 46 NY Islanders 41 21 3 207 182 85 Streit both scored in the third period for Central Division NY Rangers 39 17 6 196 153 84 Philadelphia. Nashville 41 17 7 193 158 89 St. Louis 40 18 5 197 159 85 Pittsburgh 36 17 9 181 155 81 Chicago 38 21 5 188 152 81 Washington 35 20 10 193 162 80 CAPITALS 5, BLUE JACKETS 3 Winnipeg 32 20 12 179 172 76 Alex Ovechkin added to his NHL-leading total Philadelphia 27 25 12 170 186 66 Minnesota 34 22 7 179 163 75 New Jersey 27 27 10 144 165 64 with two goals, leading the charge in Dallas 28 26 10 199 212 66 Washington’s victory over the Blue Jackets, Colorado 27 25 11 167 182 65 Columbus 26 33 4 163 201 56 Columbus’ seventh loss in a row. Eastern Conference Carolina 24 31 7 144 167 55 Eric Fehr and Tom Wilson also scored, and Atlantic Division Note: Overtime losses (OTL) are worth one point in the Montreal 41 17 5 171 139 87 Lydia Ko Marcus Johansson added an empty-net goal. standings and are not included in the loss column (L).