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Philippine boxing Dortmund down hero Pacquiao Napoli to boost floored knock-out hopes in tax16 fight WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2013 19 Ronaldo doubtful, last 16 in sight for Madrid Page 18 AMSTERDAM: Barcelona's Neymar (second right) challenges Ajax's Stefano Denswil (first right) during the Group H Champions League soccer match etweenb Ajax and FC Barcelona at the Arena stadium. — AP Ajax stun Barcelona to end unbeaten run AMSTERDAM: Ajax gave their chances of qualifying for Dutch side remain third, a point behind Milan, and will Rhijn’s low cross. goalscoring opportunity. the Champions League last 16 a huge boost as they beat need to win in Italy when the two sides meet in two weeks’ Barca should have been level six minutes later when Xavi took responsibility from the spot in Messi’s Barcelona 2-1 yesterday despite playing almost the entire time to progress. Neymar was released through on goal by Pedro, but the absence and sent Jasper Cillessen the wrong way. Neymar second-half with 10 men. Despite injuries to a series of key players, including Brazilian dragged his shot well off target. Lasse Schone should have levelled seven minutes later when he was Frist-half goals from Thulani Serero and Danny Hoessen Lionel Messi, and having already qualified for the knockout then forced Pinto into another smart save, but the Barca played in by a wonderful pass from Xavi, but Cillessen just had the hosts well in command at the break. However, stages, Barca boss Gerardo Martino still named a strong defence was breached for a second time four minutes got enough on his lofted effort to turn it behind. Barca were back in the game minutes after the restart as side. before half-time. The scarcity of options on offer to Martino given Barca’s Joel Veltman was sent off for bringing down Neymar inside However, the Catalans were forced back from the off by Pinto again did well to parry Fischer’s first effort, but current injury crisis was demonstrated as he introduced the area and Xavi converted the resulting spot-kick. a young Ajax side full of energy and quality on the ball. Hoessen reacted quicker than the statuesque Gerard Pique youngsters Patric, Sergi Roberto and Adama Traore from Barca then pressed for an equaliser, but failed to break- Jose Manuel Pinto got down well to his left to save Viktor and Carles Puyol to double the Dutch champions’ advan- the bench as they searched for an equaliser. down a stubborn Ajax backline as they slipped to a first Fischer’s effort after 11 minutes, but there was nothing the tage. Barca were handed a lifeline just two minutes after But they failed to create another clear chance in front of defeat in any competition this season. AC Milan’s 3-0 win stand-in ‘keeper could do to prevent Serero opening the the restart when Veltman brought down Neymar just goal as Martino tasted defeat for the first time in 21 games away to Celtic in the other game in Group H means the scoring eight minutes later as he turned home Ricardo Van inside the area and was sent off for denying a clear since taking charge in July. — AFP Chelsea through despite Basel loss BASEL: Chelsea reached the last 16 to take one of the top two spots in tics, with Basel having more of the of the Champions League despite the group. However, they still have possession and all the chances. And going down to a 1-0 defeat to Basel work to do if they are to clinch first while Chelsea only came close to in Switzerland yesterday, Mohamed place, with a home game against scoring once in the opening period, Salah scoring the only goal with just Steaua still to come, and manager when Samuel Eto’o, diving in at the three minutes remaining. Jose Mourinho will be deeply disap- back post, just failed to connect Salah latched on to a long ball pointed with what was a flat display with a Ivanovic cross from the right, forward by Fabian Schaer and out- by his side, three days after they had Basel brought the best out of Cech paced Branislav Ivanovic as he cut in thumped West Ham United 3-0 on several occasions. from the left before finishing past away in the Premier League. The Czech goalkeeper needed to Petr Cech to hand the hosts a thor- Mourinho had made just one be alert to keep out Marco Streller’s oughly deserved victory and keep change to his side, with Willian tak- header from a Valentin Stocker free- LONDON: Arsenal’s English midfielder Jack Wilshere (2R) scores his second goal during the UEFA Champions their hopes alive, of joining Chelsea ing the place of Eden Hazard, who kick inside three minutes, and that League group F football match between Arsenal and Olympique de Marseille at the Emirates Stadium in London in the Last 16, heading into the final dropped to the bench alongside the early scare for Chelsea set the tone yesterday. — AFP round of matches. fit-again Fernando Torres. That for the opening half an hour. It was Basel’s second win against meant that Cesar Azpilicueta again Basel, with seven players aged 24 the Premier League club in this sea- started at left-back with Ashley Cole or under in their starting line-up, son’s competition and propelled also only a substitute. were by far the livelier of the two Early bird Wilshere them into second place in the group Perhaps Mourinho’s decision not teams, and Cech was also called into above Schalke 04, who only man- to rotate his squad meant they also action to turn Fabian Frei’s shot aged a goalless draw away to lacked freshness, as the Blues pro- from long range around the post takes Arsenal to brink Steaua Bucharest in the night’s oth- duced a lacklustre performance in before twice denying talented er match. the opening half of a game played Egyptian Salah. LONDON: Jack Wilshere scored two goals, the first after Welshman saw his shot cannon back off Steve That result was good news for in sub-zero temperatures. In between, Basel were also only 27 seconds, as Arsenal beat Marseille 2-0 yester- Mandanda’s chest. Chelsea too, as they are now certain That was reflected in the statis- denied a penalty by French referee day to move to within touching distance of the Marseille’s response was timid, Andre-Pierre Gignac Stephane Lannoy, who let play go Champions League last 16. heading over and then over-running the ball inside the on when the ball came off Frank Wilshere rewarded Arsenal’s dominance with a sec- Arsenal box, but the hosts failed to exploit an invitation Lampard’s arm inside the area. ond goal in the 65th minute, after Mesut Ozil had seen to extend their lead shortly before half-time. Ramsey Chelsea’s first half was summed a penalty saved, to leave Arsene Wenger’s side three appeared fortunate to win a penalty after tangling with up when Eto’o was stretchered off points clear of Borussia Dortmund and Napoli at the Nicolas N’Koulou, the challenge occurring just outside following an innocuous-looking top of Group F. the 18-yard box, but Ozil saw his spot-kick pushed challenge with Serey Die during a Arsenal can now secure their progress to the knock- away by Mandanda. rare foray forward, and Torres took out rounds for the 11th successive season by avoiding Arsenal continued to press early in the second peri- his place. defeat in their final group game at Napoli on December od, but Giroud saw a shot deflected inches wide by There was a feeling that Chelsea 11. However, Napoli’s loss to Dortmund in yesterday’s Kassim Abdallah and when Wilshere released Ozil with had been let off the hook as they other group game means that should Arsenal lose in an inventive chip, Mandanda flew out to save. went in at the interval on level Naples, and Dortmund win in Marseille, qualification The entrances of Valbuena and Florian Thauvin as terms, and their defence was rarely would be decided by goal difference in the three substitutes threatened to make it an uncomfortable troubled after the restart, with the games between Arsenal, Dortmund and Napoli. closing half hour for Wenger’s men, but in the 65th exception of a Serey Die volley that Arsenal manager Wenger made three changes to minute they scored the second goal that their persist- flashed just wide after a poor clear- the team that beat Southampton 2-0 on Saturday, with ence merited. ance by John Terry. Nacho Monreal, Tomas Rosicky and former Marseille Ramsey was the instigator, sliding a subtle pass They also looked brighter going midfielder Mathieu Flamini coming into the team. down the inside-right channel for Ozil, and the German forward once Hazard had come on With Marseille already eliminated, coach Elie Baup partly atoned for his failed penalty attempt by centring in place of the ineffective Oscar but, fielded a weakened team. Mathieu Valbuena was for Wilshere to side-foot home his second goal. remarkably, Basel ‘keeper Yann among five first-team players on the bench, and it did Thauvin gave the Premier League leaders a couple Sommer did not have a save of note not take long for the visitors to fall behind. of scares as the game approached its closing stages, to make all evening. Bacary Sagna freed Wilshere on the Arsenal right but goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny showed his alert- And Basel finally got the break- and the England midfielder lazily stepped inside Lucas ness by saving sharply on each occasion.