SPORTS MONDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2013 Milan leave stadium after players meet angry ‘ultras’ MILAN: An angry protest launched by hardline “ultra” Despite having the man advantage, Milan went on who returned to the club at the start of the season, in charge, in 2011, and a runner-up place in 2012 had fans finally ended outside AC Milan’s San Siro stadium to spurn a series of chances in a dominant second-half and veteran goalkeeper Christian Abbiati meeting to drag Milan fighting and kicking to a third-place fin- on Saturday nearly two hours after a 1-1 draw with to claim an unwelcome share of the points. Subjected with fans in a bid to calm the situation. ish last season. Genoa, but only after demands to speak to players to angry banners in the hardline Curva Sud (South Reports on domestic agency ANSA said during the Ironically, Allegri may have benefited from had been met. Stand) throughout the game, almost the entire San meeting an ultras “leader” hit out at the “unprofession- Saturday’s incident, which appeared to show that a Milan have endured a disastrous start to the cam- Siro turned against Milan at the final whistle when al” attitude of a number of Milan’s side and demanded growing number of fans are angry with the perform- paign for the second successive season and had tar- jeers and insults rained down on Massimiliano improvements. ances of players and not necessarily the coach’s tacti- geted a win against Genoa to end a run of four games Allegri’s men. It added that Kaka, who scored in the fourth cal choices. without a win that has left the Serie A giants in the A reported 400 fans then gathered outside the sta- minute for the Rossoneri, and Abbiati-who had failed Allegri, who escaped a pre-Christmas sacking last second half of the table. dium to block the exit of Milan’s squad bus, in doing to stop an eighth-minute penalty strike from Alberto year, was given immediate backing by club vice-presi- But despite Genoa being reduced to 10 men just so preventing the small party of fans who had trav- Gilardino-had pledged to pass on the message to the dent Adriano Galliani, who called on fans to support after the half hour when Thomas Manfredini was sent elled to support Genoa from leaving the stadium. squad. Milan’s fifth draw in 13 games left the seven- the club in a difficult time. off for a foul on Mario Balotelli in the box, Milan failed Milan, and the Genoa supporters, were finally times European champions 18 points off the pace of “The fans shouldn’t get dramatic, because all of to capitalise. Italy striker Balotelli, who has not scored allowed to leave shortly after midnight (2315 GMT) leaders Roma and 14 behind the first Champions this is not just down to the last game (that was a league goal in two months, stunned the hosts when but not before the disgruntled supporters’ demands League qualifying place occupied by Napoli. played),” Galliani he told the Milan Channel. “We have he missed from the penalty spot for only the second for an audience with key players was met. The pressure has increased on Allegri, who, after to stand up and be proud of this Milan squad, even if time in 23 career attempts. Television pictures later showed club icon Kaka, winning the scudetto (league title) in his first season things are not going well at the moment.” — AFP Llorente, Tevez send Juvetus top MILAN: Second-half strikes from Fernando Llorente and Carlos Tevez secured a 2-0 win away to Livorno yesterday to send champions Juventus top of Italy’s Serie A for the first time this season. Elsewhere, Lazio escaped with a 1-1 draw away to 10-man Sampdoria while Fiorentina’s hopes of challenging for a place in Europe next season were dented by a 1-0 defeat away to dominant Udinese. Juventus now have a two-point cushion on overnight leaders Roma ahead of the capital side’s home game against struggling Cagliari on Monday. Napoli, stunned 1-0 at home by Parma on Saturday, are now six points off the pace in third and could see Inter Milan match them on 28 points if the Nerazzurri win away at Bologna in Sunday’s late game. Llorente, who also set up Tevez’s strike, said: “We have to take it a game at a time but, for sure, overtaking Roma can add a little pressure to them. “But we have to keep on winning, concentrate on our own jobs and continue doing what the CAPE TOWN: Pakistan’s cricketer Anwar Ali and Ahmed Shahzad (back) celebrates the coach asks us to do.” Juventus travelled to Tuscany LIVORNO: Juventus’ Argentinian foward Carlos Alberto Tevez vies with Livorno’s defender wicket of South Africa’s David Miller during the first One day International (ODI) Cricket looking for their fourth successive league win, Match between Pakistan and South Africa at Newlands Cricket Ground in Cape Town yes- Federico Ceccherini during the Serie A footballmatch Livorno vs Juventus at Armando Picchi with goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, making his stadium yesterday in Livorno. — AFP terday. — AFP 500th Serie A appearance, having kept clean sheets in their three previous games. Although Roma could regain top spot with a However, with new coach Sinisa Mihajlovic in Debutants spur Pakistan Despite missing several defenders due to injury win on Monday, results elsewhere would be wel- charge, the hosts rallied and substitute Roberto and suspension, prompting coach Antonio Conte comed by Juventus, who host FC Copenhagen on Soriano headed Samp into a shock 67th minute to slot midfielder Arturo Vidal in the middle of his Wednesday in a Champions League clash they lead after keeper Federico Marchetti had fumbled to victory over S Africa back three, the Bianconeri weathered a frustrating cannot afford to lose if they harbour any hopes of at the crossbar following a poor clearance. first period and made the difference in 12 second- qualifying from Group B. Samp looked to have secured all three points half minutes. Two weeks after a 3-0 rout away to Juve, until their defence allowed Lorik Cana to weave CAPE TOWN: Debutants Bilawal Bhatti Bhatti (39) and Ali (43 not out) pros- Goalscoring action was scarce in a frustrating Napoli’s second successive defeat also left them his way towards the edge of the area where he and Anwar Ali spurred Pakistan to victory pered after Pakistan’s recognised bats- first half for both sides. However, Juventus saw without influential midfielder Marek Hamsik, who beat Angelo Da Costa at his near post with a low after their team had been in deep trou- men struggled against a strong South claims for a penalty waved away just before the suffered a foot injury, ahead of their crucial drive. ble in the first one-day international African pace attack. Bhatti, 22, took three hour despite the ball clearly coming off the arm of Champions League clash away to Borussia Mihajlovic, who appeared as a player for both against South Africa at Newlands yester- for 37 in South Africa’s innings, while Ali, Federico Ceccherini. Dortmund. Sampdoria and Lazio, was disappointed but day. 25, claimed two for 24, including the cru- Minutes later Llorente broke the deadlock Fiorentina were dominated throughout a 1-0 buoyed by his side’s performance. The newcomers shared an eighth cial wicket of Kallis, bowled for 50. Bhatti when he smashed a volley past Francesco Bardi defeat away to Udinese that left ‘La Viola’ with their “It’s never pleasing to concede a goal in the wicket stand of 74 to rescue Pakistan and Ali shared the man of the match from Paul Pogba’s cross from the right, and the third defeat of the campaign, but still in fifth place. dying seconds. I’m more sorry for the lads because from a precarious 131 for seven, then award and earned high praise from cap- Spaniard then held up several defenders to lay the Coach Vincenzo Montella said: “We just they showed how they can play, how they can shared five wickets as Pakistan won by 23 tain Misbah-ul-Haq. ball off for Tevez to hit a low drive past the goal- couldn’t get going in the second half. We were far fight,” said Mihajlovic, who quit as Serbia coach in runs. Pakistan made 218 for nine in their “I am very happy, especially as the two keeper at his near post. too frenetic.” Sampdoria suffered a blow from the midweek. 50 overs after winning the toss. Despite youngsters set it up. The plan was to Conte said: “We struggled to find the openings opening minute of the second half when Nenad “But we shouldn’t let the heads go down, we’ve a half-century from returning veteran negotiate the new ball, then accelerate at first, but when the goals came it was from situa- Krsticic saw red for a challenge on Cristian shown what we’re capable of and I’m sure we will Jacques Kallis, South Africa were bowled but we kept losing wickets at the wrong tions that we had worked on in training.” Ledesma which left the Italian midfielder. fight our way back up the table.” — AFP out for 195. time. It was not a good total but the bowlers did really well,” said Misbah. For the first time since South Africa England crumble to SCOREBOARD began their rise to the top of the Test rankings, the hosts fielded all three of defeat against Australia their leading fast bowlers - Dale Steyn, CAPE TOWN: Final scores in the first one-day Vernon Philander and Morne Morkel - in international between South Africa and BRISBANE: England suffered one of their looked at one stage as if they might be saved the same one-day side.