THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2016 SPORTS Spalletti hails Salah as ‘Pharaohs’ rule Roma

MILAN: Roma coach Luciano Spalletti Four minutes later on-loan AC Milan to the win,” said Salah, who has now hit room and around the club, could make er’s second has boosted his bid to be hailed the enthusiasm and clinical finish- striker , an Italy six league goals this season. Roma for a great dynamic,” added Spalletti, recalled to ’s national side ing of Mohamed Salah after a precious 2- international whose father is Egyptian, remain in fifth place and sit nine points who steered Roma to successive Cup tri- ahead of this summer’s Euro 2016 finals. 0 league win over Sassuolo yesterday escaped his marker to meet Diego behind leaders Napoli ahead of their trip umphs in his previous spell in charge of “I made no secret of the fact when I that had a particularly Egyptian flavour. Perotti’s cutback in the area to fire past to Lazio later, when the remaining the club (2005-2009). Salah may already signed for Roma. It’s one of my aims,” Egyptian international Salah put the visi- . It secured Roma’s sec- league fixtures will be played. be an integral part of Roma, who decid- said El Shaarawy, who joined the capital tors ahead with a “cracking” left-footed ond consecutive win under Spalletti and But Spalletti believes Tuesday’s per- ed to buy the 23-year-old outright from club on loan after playing at Ligue 1 side strike from the edge of the area after just the former Zenit St Petersburg handler formance has injected fresh life into his Chelsea earlier this season, but El Monaco in the opening half of the sea- 11 minutes at the Mapei Stadium. had special praise for Salah: “He’s a great embattled side’s campaign only three Shaarawy’s arrival at the club has helped son. When Domenico Berardi missed an kid who feeds on enthusiasm and weeks after the sacking of French coach revive Roma’s faint ‘scudetto’ hopes. ‘Il “The coach has backed me ever since 88th-minute penalty for the hosts-after through these results he will get even Rudi Garcia. Faraone’ (The Pharaoh), as El Shaarawy is I joined Roma and I really must thank Roma Radja Nainggolan was more. “He scored a cracking goal and “If we show the same spirit as we did known in football circles, hit his maiden him for that. I’m pleased I’ve made a pos- booked for a second time for a foul in the deserves all the credit.” “I’m happy with tonight (Tuesday) we can recreate that Roma goal in a 3-1 league win at home itive start but I have to keep working area-Roma twisted the knife. the goal, but mostly because it helped us buzz which, if transferred to the dressing to Frosinone last weekend and the strik- hard.”— AFP Kane’s double destroys Norwich

the hosts’ fragile rearguard.

Norwich City 0 IMPRESSIVE SEASON The goal came after Christian Eriksen’s corner was only half cleared to Toby Alderweireld on the edge of the penalty area. Tottenham 3 Alderweireld’s shot was blocked, but Eriksen pounced on the rebound and drilled a low strike that Norwich goalkeep- NORWICH: Tottenham kept their Premier er Declan Rudd could only parry towards League title challenge on track as Harry Alli, who gleefully tapped in from close- Kane’s double inspired a 3-0 win over strug- range. gling Norwich on Tuesday. The 19-year-old’s seventh club goal of Mauricio Pochettino’s side are only five his impressive breakthrough season might points behind leaders Leicester after climb- have been a more mundane affair than his ing above bitter rivals Arsenal into third last-a sublime contender among the best place thanks to a dominant display at of the season to date against Crystal Palace Carrow Road. in January. Dele Alli opened the scoring early on Regardless of the quality, the signifi- and Kane added a first half penalty before cance was clear to see as Tottenham, confi- wrapping up the points in the final dence soaring, threatened to blow Norwich moments. away before half-time. Tottenham’s third successive league win South Korea forward Son Heung-min and fifth victory in a row in all competitions forced Rudd into a good save when he pro- added to the growing feeling that duced a deft flicked effort from Kane’s Pochettino’s vibrant young team are capa- cross. ble of securing not only a top four finish Pochettino’s men were in complete con- but possibly the club’s first English title trol and they doubled their lead in the 30th since 1961. minute when referee Kevin Friend awarded OLD TRAFFORD: Manchester United’s English striker (C) celebrates scoring their third goal during the English Premier League The predatory finishing of Kane and the a penalty after Alli was brought down by football match between Manchester United and Stoke City at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on Tuesday. — AFP creative class of his England team-mate Alli Norwich defender Sebastien Bassong. have combined to drive Tottenham’s unex- Kane had scored a penalty in pected title bid and they were the key fig- Tottenham’s 3-0 win over the Canaries on ures once again. Boxing Day and the England forward was Man Utd rekindle glory In contrast to upwardly mobile nerveless from the spot again as he stroked Tottenham, Norwich have now lost their home his 17th club goal of the season. last five matches in all competitions and It took a decent stop from Rudd to deny are languishing just two points above the Kane his second goal and moments later days with win over Stoke relegation zone. Alli headed wide when he should really Norwich manager Alex Neil signed nine have scored from Danny Rose’s cross. Southampton. third goal of the season. players during the January transfer win- Alli came off at half-time, reportedly But the Dutchman has clung onto his job and Martial then fired into the side netting and dow, more than any other Premier League with an illness, and his absence robbed Man Utd 3 this result - allied to a superb attacking perform- forced Jack Butland into a save before he scored club, as he tried to revitalise a squad which Tottenham of their driving force, with ance - keeps them within five points of the top a superb goal to take his total for the season to has struggled on their return to the top- Norwich looking reinvigorated as a result. four places and should buy van Gaal a little nine. flight. Steven Naismith headed narrowly wide breathing space. United launched a lightning break, bringing Switzerland international Timm Klose, for the hosts before Bassong saw his close- United had won just two of their previous 10 back memories of some of their finest football one of Neil’s new recruits, made his debut range finish ruled out for offside. Stoke City 0 league games and scored only 11 home goals. under Alex Ferguson, which ended with Rooney in defence, but Norwich had conceded 14 But Norwich’s pressure soon fizzled out Their total of 27 goals in total at this stage of the teeing up Martial to curl a superb right-footed goals in their previous four games and it and Kane capped the Spurs stroll when he season was their lowest since 1989-90 when shot into the top corner. took Tottenham just 96 seconds to exploit slotted home in the 90th minute. — AFP MANCHESTER: Manchester United produced they finished 13th in the top flight and Mark Stoke, unable to use record signing Giannelli one of their best performances under belea- Hughes finished as top scorer with 15 goals. Imbula after his late arrival on Monday, couldn’t guered boss Louis van Gaal as they lifted the Hughes was back on his old stamping ground handle Juan Mata, who excelled in a central Wenger on the attack gloom around Old Trafford with a 3-0 win over as Stoke manager, but it was not a happy home- position and could have had a hat-trick as he Stoke on Tuesday. coming as his 100th Premier League match in saw efforts blocked and headed wide from a Van Gaal’s side equalled their biggest Premier charge of the Potters ended in a chastening Matteo Darmian cross. after Gunners misfire League win of the season thanks to goals from defeat and prolonged Stoke’s winless record at Jon Walters did go close for the visitors, Jesse Lingard, Anthony Martial and Wayne Old Trafford, which stretches back 40 years. whose season is falling apart around them after at the moment. It’s very down for us now. Rooney. And the timing couldn’t have been bet- A victory over United on Boxing Day, which two cup exits in a week and a third league game “We have a difficult programme, especial- ter as United delivered a strong performance 24 threatened to push Van Gaal close to the exit without a win, as he volleyed over before the Arsenal 0 ly away from home, but we need to hours after the high-profile appointment of Pep door, gave Stoke the chance to complete the break. But they had no answer to a classy United respond.” Guardiola as manager of their bitter rivals double over United for the first time since 1952- performance which included a goal from Manchester City. 53. Rooney after the break. MAGIC Guardiola’s impending arrival in the close- But that never looked likely as United raced The United and England captain had an effort into a 2-0 lead inside the first 23 minutes. disallowed as he barged over Phil Bardsley in the Southampton 0 Southampton manager Ronald season as the replacement for Manuel Pellegrini Koeman paid tribute to Forster, who kept is designed to make City the dominant force not build-up. But Rooney wouldn’t be denied a sev- his fourth successive clean sheet since only in Manchester but also in Europe. MEMORIES enth goal in as many games as he tapped in a returning from a knee injury last month. United look to be in danger of falling behind United showed their intent from the start as Martial cross following another flowing move LONDON: Arsene Wenger shrugged off “Our goalkeeper is magic and he was their neighbours as they struggle to even qualify they created more chances than they had in with 53 minutes gone. criticism that he should have signed a magic tonight,” Koeman said. “It’s always for next season’s Champions League, while ques- most of their home games put together. And as United made a long overdue state- world-class goalscorer in the January difficult when you are out for more than tion marks persist over their managerial posi- And they went ahead in the 13-minute when ment of intent they almost added a fourth when transfer window despite acknowledging nine months. Knowing you need rhythm tion. Van Gaal was booed by United’s supporters teenage full-back Cameron Borthwick-Jackson substitute Memphis Depay hit the bar with an that Arsenal’s finishing has been rather and games. after their last home game - a 1-0 defeat to crossed for Lingard to stoop and head in his angled shot late on. — AFP poor in recent weeks. “But since coming back he was the The Arsenal manager cut a frustrated same. Credit to the medical staff and cred- figure at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday it to Fraser. as the Gunners created plenty of chances “He is one of the best goalkeepers in Pardew rues luck as poor in a 0-0 draw with Southampton, but ulti- the Premier League and maybe one of the mately were denied on numerous occa- best in Europe.” sions by the sheer brilliance of Saints Koeman was quick to admit that his goalkeeper Fraser Forster. team had enjoyed their fair share luck giv- Palace run continues It has often been said that, in pursuit of en the sheer amount of chances created winning a first Premier League title since by Arsenal. But he emphasised how well 2004, the north London club should have certainly missed Yohann (Cabaye) to put his foot stoppage-time shot hit the side netting. Southampton have played away to the on the ball and slow the game down a bit, it was “Adehad a chance. If we can get the quality in invested heavily in a proven striker. supposedly prominent Premier League Crystal Palace 1 a frantic match. the box he will deliver for us because it is Wenger, though, batted away such clubs. “We were unlucky to lose two chances, if they becoming a problem a striker not scoring,” he claims after his side fell to fourth place, “Not one team in my one-and-a-half go in, and that’s the run were on at the moment.” said. Palace’s list of injuries includes dynamic five points behind leaders Leicester. years managing Southampton created Debutant Emmanuel Adebayor, who had scored winger Yannick Bolassie and creative midfielder “If you had found a world-class striker, what Arsenal created against us,” he said. Bournemouth 2 on his debuts with previous English clubs Cabaye. “We have won twice in the (FA) Cup, we who could have strengthened the team, “So you need to be lucky first and you Arsenal, Manchester City and Tottenham got really good results, but we need a win in the then you should have told me,” he said. need to have a goalkeeper who is saving Hotspur, came close to equalising when his league,” Pardew said. —Reuters “Believe me, they do not walk in (off) the everything and that’s maybe what street and say: ‘I am a world-class striker’. explained what happened. “Normally it’s LONDON: Crystal Palace’s run of seven Premier “They are already at a big club and more difficult for opponents to create that League games without a win is down to injuries, under contract and not available. We have many chances against us. a lack of composure and bad luck, manager Alan Walcott, Giroud, Ozil, Sanchez and “We didn’t play well but we had unbe- Pardew said on Tuesday. Palace went down 2-1 Welbeck, who is coming back. “Tonight, I lievable spirit. In the counter-attacking, at home to Bournemouth, chalking up a fifth don’t think that a miracle man would have we didn’t have the quality. “But to get one successive league loss. come in and scored for us. As a team, we point away to Arsenal, three points at Palace took the lead in the 27th minute when can score goals. Manchester United, to beat Chelsea away, Lee Chung-yong’s neat backheel was crossed “I don’t like to say it was one of those one point against Liverpool at Anfield is low into the middle by Wilfried Zaha and nights. We are all disappointed because amazing, a dream for a club like defender Scott Dann blasted it home. we had enough chances to win the game. Southampton.” Bournemouth equalised seven minutes later “The most disappointing thing is that Koeman revealed that his new striker when Marc Pugh turned Dann twice on the edge some players missed chances that they Charlie Austin suffered a “knock” on the of the Palace box before hitting a low shot inside usually take. eve of the match. But the recent signing the bottom corner before Benik Afobe headed a “Our finishing is very poor at the from QPR should be available for the 57th minute winner. moment. We have played three Premier home match with West Ham on Saturday. “No one gets sent off against us, no one, League games now without scoring a “It was risky in my opinion to put him you’ve got to really commit murder to get sent goal. “Forster had a brilliant game. But on the pitch. It’s not a serious injury,” he off against Crystal Palace,” Pardew said. you’d expect that. The rate and quality of said. “Normally he’ll be available. If you “We had a one on one tonight, Jordan Mutch chances created was high for a Premier goes through, for me it’s another tough deci- know his past, he had been out for five or SELHURST PARK: Bournemouth’s English defender Simon Francis (R) vies with Crystal Palace’s League game but the quality of finishing sion,” he added. The referee decided the six weeks. Australian midfielder Mile Jedinak during the English Premier League football match between was poor. Bournemouth defender who fouled Mutch was “So I’d prefer to wait one week to Crystal Palace and Bournemouth at Selhurst Park in south London on Tuesday. Bournemouth “Finishing is a bit cyclical, up and down ensure the player is back.” — AFP not the last man. “We lacked a bit of composure at times, we won the game 2-1. —AFP