Berdych Aussies hammer routs Simon England

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY16 15, 2015 18 Qatar World Cup head protests of ‘clear bias’ Page 19

SPAIN: Real ’s French forward Karim Benzema (right) controls the ball past Deportivo’s defender Alberto Lopo during the Spanish League football match. —AFP Real ease pain of derby drubbing

MADRID: Real Madrid bounced back from their 4-0 mer winger fired just over after he had not to be pegged back at the start of the second straight red cards. Vicente Iborra rounded off the vate lives and I am not going to start today,” added derby humiliation by Atletico Madrid last weekend been gifted possession by Bale. period when Costa Rican international Celso scoring to move the Andalusians a point ahead of the Italian. “The problem is that some think this with a 2-0 victory over Deportivo la Coruna to Madrid slowly began to take control as the first- Borges volleyed off the post and Casillas came to Valencia, who host Getafe today. might affect the professionalism and seriousness of move four points clear at the top of yester- half wore on and Ronaldo nearly answered his crit- his side’s rescue again moments later to parry Oriol Meanwhile, Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti the players. “In that sense, I would note that this day. The hosts started nervously, but could have ics for hosting his 30th birthday party hours after Riera’s header to safety. has dismissed criticism of Cristiano Ronaldo and squad and these players have demonstrated their been well in front at the break as Cristiano Ronaldo the Atletico defeat in style with a dipping effort Brazilian midfielder Lucas Silva made his Madrid some of his team mates over the Portugal captain’s professionalism many times. and Gareth Bale struck the bar before Isco’s curling that struck the underside of the bar. debut when he replaced Asier Illarramendi 20 min- 30th birthday party thrown hours after last week- “My job is to evaluate the professionalism of the effort opened the scoring. Deportivo had their Bale then did likewise as his thunderous strike utes from time as Ancelotti looked to make the end’s 4-0 La Liga drubbing at Atletico. players and about that I have no doubt. There is no chances to level early in the second-half with Celso on his favored left foot also came back off the game safe. Ronaldo and players including James lack of motivation.” Borges hitting the post, but Karim Benzema put the woodwork with Fabricio in the Depor goal beaten. And the Italian could finally relax three minutes Rodriguez, Pepe, Marcelo and Sami Khedira were Ancelotti acknowledged that the world and result beyond any doubt with Madrid’s second 17 Benzema saw a deflected effort from Bale’s later when Ronaldo poked the ball through for widely condemned after photographs from the fes- European champions had lost some intensity and minutes from time. clever cut-back fly just wide as the pressure mount- Benzema to chip past the onrushing Fabricio to tivities leaked into the media. focus since their Spanish record 22-match winning Barcelona can move back to within a point of ed, and it finally told on 23 minutes when Isco col- double his side’s lead. Ancelotti said the players’ professionalism could streak came to an end with last month’s defeat at the leaders when they host Levante today. With the lected Alvaro Arbeloa’s cross and curled the ball Earlier, Sevilla leapfrogged Valencia to move not be questioned and he was confident the La Valencia in La Liga. European champions still plagued by injuries, inside the far post for his fifth goal of the season. into fourth with a comfortable 3-0 win over Liga leaders would soon return to top form starting He said there was plenty of time for the players coach Carlo Ancelotti made just three changes to Ronaldo’s frustration in front of goal continued Cordoba. Grzegorz Krychowiak and Carlos Bacca with Saturday’s game at home to Deportivo La to turn things around and he expected to see an the side that started against Atletico. when he headed over from another purposeful put the hosts in the driving seat in the first-half Coruna. “The party issue for me is not an issue,” improvement against Deportivo and in However, Real made another slow start as Iker Bale run and cross just before the break. before both sides were reduced to 10 men as firstly Ancelotti told a news conference on Friday. Wednesday’s Champions League last 16, first leg at Casillas blocked from Isaac Cuenca before the for- However, Ancelotti’s men were very fortunate Patrick Ekeng and then Krychowiak were shown “I have never given an opinion on players’ pri- Bundesliga side Schalke 04. —Agencies King slays Stoke, Ideye lifts Albion

LONDON: Norway striker Josh King scored a hat-trick as second- tier Blackburn Rovers reached the FA Cup quarter-finals by com- ing from behind to beat 10-man Stoke City 4-1 yesterday. Stoke manager Mark Hughes saw his side take a 10th-minute lead against his former club at Ewood Park when Peter Crouch volleyed home at a corner, only for King to head in an equaliser in the 36th minute. After Geoff Cameron was sent off for holding King back, Rudy Gestede put Blackburn in front with a penalty on the stroke of half-time before King completed his treble with quick-fire goals early in the second period. Asked if his side could go on and claim a first FA Cup trophy since 1928, victorious manager Gary Bowyer joked: “Do me a favour, I’ve just finished this game! “We are just delighted to be in the next round. We would love another home tie and then we will go from there.” Earlier, Brown Ideye continued his fine recent form by scoring twice as West Bromwich Albion beat a woeful West Ham United 4-0 at The Hawthorns to also reach the last eight. The Nigeria striker, West Brom’s £10 million ($15.2 million, 13.4 million euros) record signing, scored either side of a 25-yard strike from James Morrison to take his tally to four goals in three games. West Ham substitute Morgan Amalfitano was sent off after shoving Chris Brunt in the face and Saido Berahino added a fourth to rubber-stamp West Brom’s progress to the quarter-finals for the first time since 2008. “It was a good performance and we’re very pleased, but there’s still a long way to go in the league and we need that bit of luck with the next draw,” West Brom manager Tony Pulis told BT Sport. “Brown Ideye was fantastic. He is scoring goals and that takes the weight off your shoulders, and he looks a good player.” LONDON: Blackburn’s Luke Varney (left) tangles with Stoke’s Steven NíZonzi during the English FA Cup fifth round soccer Five-time winners West Brom have now won five of the eight match. —AP matches since Alan Irvine was succeeded as manager by Pulis, Middlesbrough and Everton striker Yakubu. giant-killers Bradford City, conquerors of leaders who is bidding to emulate his achievement of guiding Stoke City Liverpool tackle Crystal Palace later on Saturday, when Chelsea in round four, take on Sunderland at Valley Parade. to the final in 2011. Blackburn and West Brom were joined in the Brendan Rodgers’s side will attempt to arrest a run of six games Manchester United face a third consecutive tie against lower- THE HAWTHORNS: West Hamís Morgan Amalfitano (left) is quarter-finals by Reading, who won 2-1 at fellow Championship without victory at Selhurst Park. league opposition tomorrow when they visit third-division consoled by West Brom’s James Morrison after being sent off side Derby County courtesy of a late strike by former Portsmouth, Holders Arsenal host Middlesbrough today, while third-tier Preston North End. —AFP during the FA Cup fifth round soccer match. —AP