De Villiers blasts Murray bags 162 as South brace and Africa demolish sees red in West Indies Palace romp

SUNDAY, MARCH 1, 2015 17 19 Trail Blazers silence Thunder 115-112 Page 15

GRANADA: Barcelona’s forward Pedro Rodriguez (right) vies with Granada’s French defender Jean Sylvain Babin during the Spanish league football match Granada CF vs FC Barcelona at the Nuevo Los Carmenes stadium in Granada yesterday. — AFP Barcelona hot on Real Madrid’s heels

MADRID: Barcelona cut Real Madrid’s lead at the top of to a chipped Rakitic pass and slipped the ball past another fine performance from Uruguay international Spanish television. “It’s always a difficult challenge here La Liga to one point when in-form forward Luis Suarez home goalkeeper Oier to make it 2-0 three minutes into Suarez who struck twice in Tuesday’s 2-1 Champions but I think we worked really hard and deserved the win.” played a part in all three of their goals in a scrappy 3-1 the second half. Barca appeared to be cruising against League victory at Manchester City after Barca had been “What was really impressive was the intensity of the victory at Granada yesterday. Barca struggled to find their second from bottom opponents but Granada beaten 1-0 at home by Malaga last weekend. Messi team from the kickoff and we have to continue in the their rhythm in the early stages at the Nuevo Los pulled a goal back five minutes later when Marc Bartra fluffed two good chances in the closing stages when same way,” added the Croatia . Barca have 59 Carmenes stadium but took the lead in the 25th minute felled Lassane Bangoura in the penalty area and Fran twice sent clear by Neymar, leaving the Argentina cap- points from 25 matches with Real on 60 from 24 ahead when Ivan Rakitic smashed the ball in from close range Rico stroked the spot kick past Claudio Bravo. tain on 27 La Liga goals for the season, two behind top of their game at home to sixth-placed Villarreal on after Granada defender Cala failed to clear a Suarez cen- Suarez proved too much for the hosts though and he scorer Cristiano Ronaldo of Real. Sunday. Champions Atletico Madrid are six points adrift tre. sped clear in the 70th minute, left Oier floundering and “I think it was important for us to keep racking up of Barca in third and visit Sevilla, who are fifth, on Lionel Messi twice went close before Suarez ran on unselfishly set up Messi to find the empty net. It capped points after a tough game against Malaga,” Rakitic told Sunday. — Reuters Rooney fires United Berahino’s fast start as Brown goes red dents Saints Euro bid of the season, were particularly welcome given another sub-par Berahino turned provider when he Man United 2 performance by Louis van Gaal’s burst towards Southampton’s goal and side, and particularly record sign- West Brom 1 slipped Brown Ideye in, but the Nigerian ing Angel di Maria. striker’s shot was blocked by two Saints The first half was one of frus- defenders. Another chance was spurned Sunderland 0 tration for United and their sup- by West Brom when Michael Dawson porters, seeking to bounce back Southampton 0 headed straight into the hands of after defeat at Swansea City last Southampton goalkeeper Fraser Forster. weekend, with the hosts perhaps Koeman had seen enough of his side’s MANCHESTER: able to count themselves lucky WEST BROMWICH: Saido Berahino put a slow start and he ditched his 3-5-2 for- scored twice as Manchester not to have fallen behind. Just six dent in Southampton’s bid to qualify for mation, bringing on winger Eljero Elia in United beat Sunderland 2-0 yes- minutes had gone when Di Maria terday in a game notable for ref- was dispossessed by Patrick van the Champions League as the West place of centre-back Florin Gardos. There eree Roger East’s error in sending Aanholt, whose pass allowed Bromwich Albion striker’s early goal was no immediate improvement as off the wrong visiting player. Connor Wickham to advance MANCHESTER: Manchester United’s English striker Wayne Rooney clinched a 1-0 win at the Hawthorns yes- Albion midfielder Craig Gardner went Sunderland kept the hosts at bay from just inside the United half. celebrates scoring a penalty during the English terday. Berahino struck in the second through on goal, forcing Saints defender until the 64th minute, when East He reached the edge of the area football match between Manchester United and Sunderland at minute to extend Albion’s impressive Jose Fonte to make a last-ditch chal- correctly adjudged that Radamel before shooting and his low shot in Manchester yesterday. — AFP since Tony Pulis took over as manager to lenge. Falcao had been brought down in was well saved by United goal- one defeat in 10 matches. Injured referee Phil Dowd was half, a badly aimed Ashley Young replace him at the interval, with the area by former United keeper David de Gea. Moments The result lifted Albion eight points replaced at half time by reserve official corner ended with United pass- young winger Januzaj thrown on defender John O’Shea. But the later, Rooney was caught in pos- clear of the Premier League relegation Graham Scott and there was injury frus- referee inexplicably decided that ing the ball all the way back to in an attempt to enliven proceed- session by Lee Cattermole, lead- zone and left fifth placed Southampton tration for Albion as well when fellow centre-back Wes Brown ing to an 18-yard Jermain Defoe their own goalkeeper, causing ings. Soon after the restart, Chris in danger of losing ground in the race for Berahino limped off early in the second had made the telling foul and shot that flew just over. consternation and jeers among Smalling’s driven cross was head- showed him a straight red card their supporters. But United ed back by Falcao for Rojo, whose a top four finish after their second suc- half. Southampton should have equal- before Rooney clinically convert- Young hits bar began to threaten, with Young shot flashed just over and Januzaj cessive defeat. Southampton boss ized when Ryan Bertrand drilled across ed the penalty low into the bot- In similar fashion, Falcao lost controlling an Antonio Valencia was on hand, after Anthony Ronald Koeman had made five changes the face of goal to Graziano Pelle, but tom-left corner. the ball to Brown to set another cross on his chest and turning a Reveillere headed clear, to drive to the side beaten by Liverpool, includ- the Italian striker produced a remark- The England forward’s second Sunderland counter-attack in powerful shot towards goal that an effort high. The penalty and ing a recall for Sadio Mane after the able miss as he somehow failed to find goal came six minutes from time motion, this time ending in a was deflected onto the crossbar red card drama naturally reduced Senegal winger was dropped last week- the finishing touch with the goal at his when a shot by substitute Adnan Defoe shot that De Gea saved by O’Shea. Rooney also had a Sunderland’s ambition and hopes end as punishment for arriving late to mercy. The hosts threatened a second Januzaj was parried by Costel comfortably. It was an uninspir- free-kick punched over by of taking anything home with the match. But Albion made the perfect when Yoshida’s clearance fell invitingly Pantilimon and Marcos Rojo saw them from their visit to Old Pantilimon and Rooney stooped ing start from United, although start as they took the lead through to Darren Fletcher inside the penalty a scrambled attempt blocked Trafford. Januzaj, in particular, to head in, unopposed, from six Rooney threatened early, heading England Under-21 forward Berahino, area, yet the former Manchester United yards. Victory sent United up to near the line by Sebastian seemed eager to take advantage wide from eight yards at a Di who blasted a fine finish into the top cor- midfielder smashed over. There was third place in the Premier League Maria corner, and O’Shea might Larsson. of their fatigue and after twice ner for his 17th goal of the season after one last chance for Pelle to level, but table, two points above Arsenal, have been punished after tan- Di Maria had endured a miser- forcing Pantilimon into action, he again he couldn’t hit the target from having played a game more. gling in the area with Falcao. able first half and it was no sur- let fly with the shot that yielded Chris Brunt’s free kick was only half Rooney’s goals, his 10th and 11th By the mid-point of the first prise that Van Gaal opted to Rooney’s second goal. — AFP cleared by Maya Yoshida. close-range. — AFP