18 Tuesday, February 5, 2019 Sports Investigators say body seen in Emiliano Sala plane wreckage The Argentinean was flying from France to join club Cardiff City when the aircraft disappeared two weeks ago afp London

The wreckage of a plane car- rying Argentine footballer Emiliano Sala and his pilot has been found two weeks after it disappeared in the , one of the investiga- tors said on Monday.

“I can’t believe it. It’s a bad dream.” Emiliano’s father Horacio A handout video footage released by the UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) shows the rear left Sala, 28, was flying from side of the fuselage, including part of the aircraft registration, identified as part of the France to join his new club, wreckage from the missing Piper Malibu aircraft that disappeared two weeks ago carrying footballer Premier League side Cardiff Emiliano Sala and pilot David Ibbotson lying on the seabed under the English Channel. (AFP) City, when the light aircraft dis- appeared on January 21 north has been found.” A further the British pilot, David Ibbot- ing anyone alive. of the island of . statement is expected later son, would be inside, he said: “This is about the best re- Shipwreck hunter David on Monday. “That’s a possibility.” sult we could have hoped for Cardiff City’s defender (left) and teammates warm up wearing shirts with a picture of the Mearns, who was hired by the Mearns said his private Sala was flying to Car- the families,” Mearns told football club’s new signing Emiliano Sala, whose flight disappeared from radar over the English Channel striker’s family after the of- company, Blue Water Recov- diff after transferring from Sky News. north of Guernsey, at Cardiff City Stadium in Cardiff, on Saturday. (afp) ficial rescue effort was called eries, had found the wreckage French team Nantes in a 17 Suspected debris from off, said the plane was found before calling in the AAIB to million euro ($19.3 million) the plane washed up on the and Guernsey to try to help day, but the search will be de- out behind one of the goals as on Sunday morning. take a closer look. move – a record deal for the Normandy coastline in France with the search. pendent on the weather. supporters held cards aloft. “It is broken but most of it “They dove with their re- Welsh team. last Wednesday. “I talk to them every day,” At Cardiff’s match against Cardiff manager Neil War- is there,” he told BBC radio. motely operated vehicle, that’s The plane, a Piper PA-46 Top footballers were he said. “They kept saying Bournemouth on Saturday, nock said Sala would have Sala’s father Horacio spoke a submersible with cameras Malibu, vanished from ra- among more than 4,500 con- days were going by, and that Sala’s photograph appeared been “really proud” of the of his shock from his home in and lights, and indeed con- dar around 20 kilometres (12 tributors to a crowdfunding there had been zero word on on the front cover of the team after they won 2-0 in Progreso, Argentina, telling firmed that it was the plane,” miles) north of Guernsey, with page that raised over 300,000 Emiliano, or on the plane.” matchday programme. their first home match since Cronica TV: “I can’t believe it. he said. pilot Ibbotson the only other euros ($343,000) to look for The authorities will now re- The two captains laid flo- the plane vanished. It’s a bad dream.” “They saw the registra- person aboard. the wreckage. sume control of the investiga- ral tributes on the halfway line Programme notes, penned A spokesperson for Brit- tion number and the biggest The family hired Mearns Horacio was the only tion, Mearns said. before what the club called a by owner Vincent Tan and ain’s official Air Accidents surprise to both of us was that after the official rescue team member of the Sala family to The AAIB hired offshore “silent reflection”. the rest of the Bluebirds’ Investigation Branch (AAIB) most of the plane is there.” gave up their search, saying stay behind in Argentina as supply ship Geo Ocean III for Sala’s name, in the Argen- board, said events had shaken told AFP: “I can confirm it Asked if the bodies of Sala and there was little chance of find- the others rushed to France three days, starting on Sun- tina colours, was also spelled “Cardiff City to its very core”. Herrera calls Brady wins sixth Super Bowl Dembele stars as Lyon for Man U end PSG’s unbeaten run focus on as Patriots out-muscle Rams afp ingly little resistance, while Paris Mbappe shouldered the ma- Fulham afp jority of the attacking respon- Atlanta Moussa Dembele scored and sibility in the absence of the afp won a penalty as Lyon stunned injured . London Tom Brady wrote his name Paris Saint-Germain 2-1 on “I’m not worried about the into the record books here Sunday to end the runaway Champions League,” insisted Ander Herrera has urged Sunday, winning the Super leaders’ hopes of an unbeaten Mbappe. “We must take it Manchester United to main- Bowl for a sixth time as the campaign. match by match and wait for tain their concentration on the New England Patriots defeated Angel Di Maria fired PSG the Champions League.” On task facing them at Fulham the Los Angeles Rams 13-3 in into a seventh-minute lead, paper, this looked the toughest this weekend as they head into the lowest scoring NFL cham- but Dembele equalised and test remaining for PSG in their a month of crunch games. pionship game in history. Nabil Fekir scored the winner bid to go through the league Sunday’s 1-0 win at Leices- Brady, 41, became the first from the spot three minutes season unbeaten, having won ter extended caretaker manager player ever to win six Super after half-time. on just two of their previous Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s unbeat- Bowls, 17 years after leading “I don’t know if the defeat 13 Ligue 1 visits to Lyon, los- en start to 10 games and saw the Patriots to his first title was deserved. In the first half ing seven. United move up to fifth place in way back in 2002. it was deserved, but after half- But Thomas Tuchel’s men the Premier League table, just The total of 16 points scored time, we still dominated,” said almost forged ahead inside two points adrift of the top four. in the game was the lowest ever PSG forward Kylian Mbappe. the first two minutes, as Ky- Next week they face Paris in a Super Bowl, surpassing Mi- The reigning champions lian Mbappe raced clear only Saint-Germain in the last 16 ami’s 14-7 win over Washing- remain 10 points clear of sec- to shoot tamely at Lyon goal- of the Champions League be- ton in 1973. The attritional sea- ond-placed Lille at the top of keeper Anthony Lopes. fore a fifth-round FA Cup tie son-finale was swiftly dubbed the table despite the defeat, The away side did not have against Chelsea on February 18 the “SuperBore” by critics on with two games in hand, while to wait long to strike, though, which is in turn followed by an social media. Julian Edelman of the New England Patriots and teammate Tom Brady celebrate at the end of the Super Lyon strengthened their grip as carelessly Old Trafford clash with leaders “We’ve been this far and Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, on Sunday. (afp) on third spot, three points fur- gifted possession to Julian Liverpool, United’s arch-rivals. lost which is really tough,” a ther back. Draxler, who strode forward But before all those fixtures jubilant Brady said. “We had a League has ever seen -- provid- fought opportunity, and rook- them join the Pittsburgh Steel- “We did what we had and teed up Di Maria to slot in United have the seemingly lot of resolve the last couple of ed the decisive moment to break ie running back Sony Michel ers with six Super Bowl titles, planned, namely high press- his 10th goal of the season. more straightforward task of a weeks I wish we played a little open the game midway through crashed over for what turned the most by any franchise. ing, quick transitions, and to But Lyon, on a six-match league match away to second- better on offense but we won. the fourth quarter at Atlanta’s out to be the crucial score. Patriots receiver Julian cause them problems every unbeaten run in the league bottom Fulham. Super bowl champs.” Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The Rams looked to have Edelman was named Super time we had the ball,” said themselves, quickly improved United midfielder Herrera, Patriots head coach Bill With the score finely bal- finally found some fluency as Bowl MVP for a series of cru- Lyon coach Bruno Genesio. and twice wasted clear-cut however, said: “It will be a big Belichick meanwhile said the anced at 3-3, Brady picked they chased a touchdown to cial receptions that kept the “I don’t think they’re used to chances to level, as PSG ‘keep- mistake if we think further team had been determined to out tight end Rob Gronkowski level, but quarterback Jared Patriots on the front foot at that in Ligue 1.” All eyes will er denied than Fulham, that’s a mas- dispel suggestions they were a for a 29-yard completion that Goff was picked off by corner critical moments. now turn to the Champions Bertrand Traore from point- sive game for us because Chel- dynasty in decline. left the Patriots just two yards Stephon Gilmore to leave the Edelman missed all of last League for PSG, with only a blank range before Dembele sea are playing (Manchester) “It’s sweet,” Belichick from the line. Patriots in sight of victory. season after suffering a seri- French Cup tie at third-tier nodded wide. City. Let’s go game by game, said. “Everybody counted us It was the first time in The Patriots marched up ous knee injury and was also Villefranche and a home game Areola had to be alert because if you lose one game out from the beginning of the the game that either side had field on the subsequent pos- banned for failing a drugs test against Bordeaux to come be- again, springing to his right to you regret. Now for Fulham. season, mid-season, but we’re advanced to 1st and goal in a session and Stephen Gost- last year. fore the last-16, first-leg clash tip away a vicious long-range The best way to prepare for still here.” defense-dominated game that kowski’s second field goal with “Tough times don’t last, with Manchester United at drive from Nabil Fekir, before the PSG game is to try and win Brady – already widely failed to live up to its billing. 1min 16sec remaining made it tough people do,” Edelman Old Trafford on February 12. producing a wonderful double away at Fulham and that’s the regarded as the greatest quar- The Patriots were in no a two-score game. said. “I preach that, and I Man United boss Ole Gun- stop from Traore and Mem- way I think.” terback the National Football mood to waste the hard- The Patriots’ triumph saw guess you have to live to it.” nar Solskjaer and his assistant phis Depay. Mike Phelan were both in at- However, just seconds af- tendance at the Groupama ter another excellent save to Stadium on Sunday, just hours deny Fekir, Areola was totally after their side’s 1-0 Premier at fault for Lyon’s 33rd-min- League win at Leicester. ute equaliser. Real in good form ahead of clasico with Barca The pair would have The 25-year-old misjudged learned plenty from watching Leo Dubois’ cross, allowing dpa the semi-finals coach Ernesto “We always go into games Lyon regularly slice through Dembele the simplest of tasks Barcelona Valverde has no intention of as the favourite. There is no eu- the PSG defence against seem- to head into the net. resting anyone but will wait to phoria around the team and we Real Madrid will arrive at the see how his talisman comes know that we have to keep play- Camp Nou on Wednesday in through tests on his injured ing the way we are,” he said. their best form so far this sea- thigh after he picked up a knock In the other semi-final be- son as they take on Barcelona in the draw with Valencia at the tween Valencia and , in the Copa del Rey semi-final weekend. both sides will go into the game first leg. “If Leo is fine then he will on Thursday at Betis’ Benito Vil- Coach Santiago Solari has play. We imagine that he does lamarin stadium - where the fi- given playing time to young not have a serious problem but nal will be played on May 25 - in talents such as Sergio Reguilon we have to wait to see,” Valverde fine form. and Vinicius Junior and reaped said. Betis beat 1-0 Atletico Ma- the rewards with league form The player was due to have drid on Sunday and Valencia having taken them to within tests on Monday. French winger drew 2-2 with Barcelona having eight points of leaders Barcelona Real Madrid’s striker Karim Benzema celebrates after scoring the Ousmane Dembele is also hop- taken a 2-0 lead. “We will not get and two behind second-placed opening goal during the Spanish match at Santiago Bernabeu ing to fit. ahead of ourselves but the team Atletico Madrid who they play Stadium, in Madrid, Sunday. (epa) “I hope he will be ready for is growing,” Valencia coach next weekend. this week but I’m not sure if it Marcelino said. Karim Benzema will lead He now has 18 goals in all will be conditioned by the fitness will be Wednesday or Sunday,” Betis have in their attack against Barcelona competitions. Only Lionel Mes- of Messi. The Argentinian has added Valverde. the form of his life ahead of the on the back of scoring six goals si, who he faces Wednesday, has been left out of first-leg matches Real coach Santiago Solari semi-finals and coach Quique in his last four games in all com- more. in the last two rounds. was pleased with his team’s form Setien was asked if the player Lyon’s Moussa Dembele scores his goal against PSG during their Ligue petitions. Barcelona’s team selection Now that Barcelona are in in Sunday’s 3-0 win over Alaves. was ripe for a Spain call-up. 1 match at the Groupama Stadium, in Lyon, on Sunday. (REUTERS)