WEDNESDAY, MAY 25, 2016 SPORTS

Extras

Two-goal Leonardo paints Victory out of the picture SEOUL: Brazilian maestro Leonardo bagged a classic brace as Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors beat Melbourne Victory 2-1 to reach the AFC Champions League quar- ter-finals yesterday. The dead-ball specialist, who buried a superb free kick in last week’s last 16 first leg, fired home another in the opening half before scoring a sizzling second goal after the break. Besart Berisha gave Victory hope but his late strike on 84 minutes proved to be the visitors’ best moment as they went down 3-2 on aggregate, after the first leg finished 1-1. The South Korean team, Asian champions in 2006, are now into their seventh Champions League quarter- final in 10 appearances, while Kevin Muscat’s Victory remain in search of their first. Veteran striker Archie Thompson nearly opened the scoring in what would turn out to be his last game for Victory, but his fourth- minute double header-and-shot were scrambled away. Leonardo fizzed a free kick into the side-netting on 19 minutes before he recalibrated and was bang on target from a tight angle 10 minutes later. From the left edge of the box, the midfielder bent his place-kick past the two-man wall and into the far top corner, defying goalkeeper Lawrence Thomas’s attempted fin- gertip save.

NUREMBERG: Frankfurt’s players celebrate after the German Bundesliga second-leg relegation football match FC Nuremberg vs Eintracht Frankfurt on May 23, 2014.—AFP Seferovic’s strike keeps Eintracht in Bundesliga

BERLIN: Switzerland striker Haris Seferovic third in the second Bundesliga. “Thank god threw down a marker for Euro 2016 on we’re still in the first division,” said Kovac, Monday by scoring the crucial goal in whose team entered the play-off by finish- Eintracht Frankfurt’s 1-0 play-off win at ing third from bottom in Germany’s top Nuremberg to keep them in the German flight while Hanover and VfB Stuttgart went league. After last Thursday’s relegation down. “I am pleased that we’ve managed it, SANTIAGO: Professional and amateur players from play-off first-leg in Frankfurt finished in a 1- but I have some sympathy for Nuremberg. Chile celebrate after setting a new record for the 1 draw, Seferovic netted at Nuremberg’s “It would have been tragic if we’d gone longest football match at the Bicentenario stadium sold-out Grundig Stadium to the delight of down, with that goal, we can forget about in Santiago. — AFP the travelling fans in the 50,000 crowd. the entire season.” It was only Seferovic’s fourth goal of the The only bad news was an early injury to Chile breaks world record season, his first since November, but he midfielder Marc Stendera with a suspected for ‘most soccer players’ proved his form to Swiss coach Vladimir torn cruciate knee ligament, but he insist- SANTIAGO: Chile has broken the world record for the Petkovic for next month’s Euro 2016 by net- ed on staying at the stadium, instead of most participants in a soccer match. The mark was ting Frankfurt’s all-important goal to seal a going to hospital, to watch his club fight achieved Sunday night after a match that featured 2-1 aggregate win. The striker struck in the to stay up. There was already plenty of 2,357 people who took turns to keep the ball rolling 66th minute, converting a cross from Mijat drama in last Thursday’s first leg when during more than 120 hours. The score? A close 505- Gacinovic, who scored Frankfurt’s equalizer Eintracht’s captain Marco Russ scored an 504. The record was recorded by Guinness World in the first leg, to Eintracht’s delight. It own-goal, a day after discovering he has a Record adjudicator Evelyn Carrera. The feat took place means Frankfurt coach Niko Kovac has suc- tumor. He was due to undergo surgery on at Bicentenary stadium in La Florida, a neighborhood ceeded in his mission of keeping Eintracht Monday. The growth’s location has not in the Chilean capital. Most players were amateurs, up having taken over with nine games left been disclosed, but Russ insisted on play- but professionals also joined the end of the game. last March and his team in the bottom three. ing last Thursday, only to score Goalkeeper Gabriel Castellon of the Chilean first divi- NUREMBERG: Nuremberg and Frankfurt players jump for the ball during a German For Nuremberg, they face another sea- Nuremberg’s first-half goal before picking sion Wanderers club said he was elated to be part of a first division Bundesliga soccer relegation second leg match between FC Nuremberg son in Germany’s second division as they up a booking which saw him suspended world record for Chile. and Eintracht Frankfurt on Monday, May 23, 2016. — AP miss out on promotion having finished for Monday’s return.—AFP Off-form Swiss may miss out at the Euro BERN: Switzerland’s young, multicultural team are FIFA sack top official over Mourinho on the verge of often regarded as a success story both in sporting and political terms, yet a cloud has descended over them bonuses worth millions fulfilling his United dream as they head to the European Championship in France. The future certainly looked bright for MANCHESTER: Jose Mourinho was on the said it understood Van Gaal would have left ZURICH: FIFA has sacked deputy general mer FIFA finance chief Julio Grondona, an Switzerland two years ago when they beat Ecuador verge of fulfilling his dream of managing United without a pay-off-as he has at previ- secretary Markus Kattner for financial Argentine and close ally of Blatter. and Honduras at the World Cup and took Argentina to Manchester United yesterday after Louis ous clubs-had the Red Devils handled his ‘breaches’ involving secret bonuses worth Grondona died aged 82 in 2014 and has within a minute of a penalty shootout. However, the van Gaal’s troubled two-year reign came to dismissal better. It said he finally agreed a millions of dollars, according to sources been largely implicated in the scandal Swiss seem to have lost their way since veteran coach a bitter end. The path was clear for the for- severance package of £4.55 million. United close to an inquiry by the world body. which has embroiled FIFA over the past Ottmar Hitzfeld retired and was replaced by Vladimir mer Chelsea manager to be confirmed as goalkeeping legend Peter Schmeichel Kattner’s downfall topples another mem- year. “FIFA will not comment further on Petkovic. Petkovic said when he took over that he the new United boss after Van Gaal was believes Mourinho is the right man to get ber of ex-president Sepp Blatter’s inner cir- any of the details, but will continue its wanted Switzerland to dominate their matches sacked Monday-the price of failing to get the club back on track. “They have a guy cle at football’s world body. Kattner, a 45- cooperation with the relevant authorities,” against all opponents with an aggressive, attacking one of the world’s biggest clubs into the that is supposed to be the biggest manager year-old German-Swiss national, had been said the FIFA statement. The Swiss justice game, yet has struggled to impose that style. Instead, Champions League. Mourinho’s agent Jorge in the world, the one that really could save acting general secretary after previous ministry, meanwhile said that “as of today, Switzerland still look more comfortable when the Mendes was reported by British media to be Manchester United,” the Dane told the BBC. general secretary Jerome Valcke was also Mr M Kattner is not under investigation” opposition take the initiative. The club form of many in negotiations to tie up a deal. It sets the “It has been a brave decision but one that is dismissed for irregularities. “Kattner has by prosecutors. players, a perennial problem, has also dipped. Captain stage for one of the sport’s most intriguing long overdue.” been dismissed from his position effective Gokhan Inler has been unable to force his way into the characters to at last manage the Red Devils immediately,” the world body said in a Restoring FIFA’s image Leicester City team this season following his move after a glittering career that so far features Challenge of remoulding squad statement. “FIFA’s internal investigation Swiss prosecutors are already investigat- from Napoli and is at risk of being left out altogether. 21 major trophies, including three English Mourinho seemed destined to manage uncovered breaches of his fiduciary ing Blatter, who is serving a six year ban The form of Switzerland’s forwards, who all play in the Premier League crowns and two Champions United ever since his Porto side eliminated responsibilities in connection with his imposed by FIFA, and Valcke. Valcke was Bundesliga, is another worry with Haris Seferovic and League titles. Ferguson’s men from the 2004 Champions employment contract,” it added. sacked and suspended from football activi- Admir Mehmedi both struggling for goals and Josip Mourinho was sacked by Chelsea in League. He thought his time had come “There was enough to determine there ties for 12 years after being linked to the Drmic likely to miss the tournament through injury. December after a miserable campaign when Ferguson retired in 2013, but con- was a breach of his responsibilities and to sale of black market World Cup tickets. marred by rifts with the club’s star players cerns over his volatile nature prompted take action against Mr Kattner,” a source Swiss police are following up FIFA’s investi- Highly-respected Puel that eventually became intolerable to own- United to turn to the more reserved David close to an internal FIFA investigation said. gation against Valcke. Kattner had said sev- resigns as Nice coach er Roman Abramovich as the team, champi- Moyes instead. But with that move proving “We are talking about significant sums of eral times, after taking over as acting gen- NICE: Highly-respected French coach Claude Puel has ons just months earlier, languished near the a disaster and Van Gaal faring little better, money, millions of dollars,” the source eral secretary from Valcke, that FIFA wanted resigned from his job in the dug-out at Ligue 1’s Nice, relegation zone. Now the colorful and con- United’s powerbrokers have decided to take added. The source said the money came to be “recognized as a modern, trusted pro- a joint statement revealed yesterday. Puel has previ- troversial 53-year-old will hope to restore his a chance on Mourinho. Mourinho will hope from bonuses under a contract whose fessional organization” by 2018. Blatter is ously coached Lyon and famously took Monaco to the reputation by bringing back the sparkle to to have significantly improved an unbal- terms were kept secret from FIFA’s audit under investigation for making a “disloyal” 2004 Champions League final, while this season he United. A casually-dressed Mourinho anced and often lacklustre United squad by committees. The internal FIFA inquiry, car- payment of $2 million to ex-UEFA leader gave a free role to France forward Hatem Ben Arfa as declined to answer reporters’ questions as the time the new season begins in August. ried out by the Quinn Emanuel law firm, Michel Platini, who has also been banned the side finished fourth in France. “We came to a com- he left his London home and got into a car Outgoing Paris Saint-Germain forward “covers the period from 2008 to 2014,” the from football activities. Kattner, as finance mon decision not to continue our adventure,” a state- on Tuesday morning. The BBC said the Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Sporting Lisbon mid- source said. “There was sufficient evidence director, signed off on that payment that ment said on Nice’s website on the end of a four year Portuguese manager’s appointment was fielder Joao Mario, Everton defender John to demonstrate shortcomings in his fiduci- Blatter ordered made to Platini in 2011 that collaboration. The move will likely be taken badly by unlikely to be finalised Tuesday but was Stones, Chelsea midfielder Nemanja Matic ary responsibilities and to take action,” the led to their downfall. the club’s fans, who are also set to lose their star player expected to be completed within the week. and Atletico Madrid forward Antoine same source revealed, adding that “only a The latest sacking is a new blow to FIFA’s Ben Arfa in June after their highest league finish for 30 Griezmann are reportedly among the small group of people knew about these reputation as it seeks to redeem its scan- years. As well as his run to the Champions League and Mourinho ‘tipped off’ Van Gaal names on his wanted list. But Mourinho payments”. dal-tainted name under new president French League victory at Monaco, Puel also led Lyon For his part, Van Gaal said he was “very might also have to deal with skepticism According to another source familiar Gianni Infantino who was elected in to the Champions League semi-final in 2010, and disappointed” to be sacked just 48 hours from the squad at Old Trafford after a report with the workings of FIFA, these bonuses February. Infantino only this month named guided Lille to a 2004 Intertoto Cup and a French after leading United to victory in the FA Cup that some senior players have already would have been approved by the world Senegalese Fatma Samoura as its new gen- league runners up spot in 2005. final against Crystal Palace on Saturday. But expressed concern the tactically defensive body’s financial committee, who decided eral secretary. Samoura is the body’s first United had finished fifth in the Premier coach might prove too similar to Van Gaal, how much the president, general secretary woman secretary general and FIFA also Slovakia look to hit League and thereby missed out on a lucra- whose dull tactics frustrated United fans. If and deputy general secretary were paid. wanted her United Nations background to the ground running tive Champions League place, which proved he can rebuild the confidence of his squad The president of this committee was for- give a sign of football’s new direction. PRAGUE: If Slovakia start the European the final straw for the club’s US-based own- and make United champions for the first Infantino has repeatedly said he wants to Championship finals the way they did the qualifiers ers. The Glazer family didn’t let United’s first time since 2013, Mourinho may regard it as bring a new era of “transparency”, “honesty” the rest of Group B had better beware. Six straight piece of silverware since the 2013 retire- his finest achievement yet.— AFP and “professionalism.” But Kattner’s dis- wins, including victory against champions Spain, set ment of legendary boss Alex Ferguson stop missal is a new sign that FIFA’s past mis- them on the way to qualifying in second place in their them from wielding the axe on 64-year-old deeds have still not all been brought out group for what will be their first Euro finals since Van Gaal. The Dutchman cleared out his into the open. becoming an independent nation in 1993. However, office at United’s Carrington training ground Swiss prosecutors are investigating the they face a tough task in France against group oppo- on Monday after talks over a settlement for awarding of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups nents England, Russia and fellow Euro debutants the final year of his three-year contract- to Russia and Qatar. Court hearings in the Wales, all ranked higher than the Slovaks. First up they worth a reported £6.4 million ($9.2 million, United States after the detention of a host must muzzle the rampaging threat of Real Madrid 8.2 million euros) per year. The Daily Mirror of top football officials from South and winger Gareth Bale, who netted seven of Wales’s 11 newspaper reported that Mourinho called North America are set to bring new embar- goals in qualifying, on June 11. Bale has fond memo- Van Gaal in the last few weeks to warn him rassment. Acting under US warrants, Swiss ries of Slovakia’s defense, having scored his first inter- that United had sounded him out about the police detained seven FIFA officials in a national goal against them in a Euro 2008 qualifier. Old Trafford job. dawn raid on a Zurich hotel on May 27 last Although Slovakia have sometimes struggled to score, Mourinho worked under Van Gaal at year. US authorities have charged 39 indi- failing to find the net for three successive games mid- Barcelona in the late 1990s and made the viduals and two companies over more than way through their qualifying campaign, they are not call to preserve their long-standing friend- $200 million in bribes paid for television reliant on one source of goals with nine different scor- ship, the tabloid said. The Times newspaper and marketing deals. —AFP ers chipping in on the road to France. Markus Kattner Jose Mourinho