THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2013 SPORTS

Managerless Wednesday Photo of the day stun Leicester

LONDON: Managerless Sheffield and Southampton, was equivocal when Wednesday produced one of the great asked if he would be interested in taking upsets of the season to beat English over at Hillsborough. “I am very disappoint- Championship leaders Leicester City 2-1 at ed Dave has gone because I worked with Hillsborough on Tuesday. The second-tier him at Wolves and Southampton. Owls sacked Dave Jones on Sunday after “A lot of players feel they have let Dave just one win in all competitions so far this down because he has brought them in. “I season but two goals from Connor can understand why the chairman has Wickham helped Wednesday stop the rot done it because our results were not good after Anthony Knockaert gave City a lead in enough. I’ve been asked to take charge of just the third minute. the team and all I said to the players is ‘give First-team coach Stuart Gray, in caretak- 100 percent’. You might have to lift the fans er charge, is due to hold talks with because the mood might be quite sombre. Wednesday chairman Milan Mandaric later “The chairman just asked me to get the this week about his future at the Yorkshire team prepared for this evening. I am going club. “We are disappointed for Dave,” said to enjoy the evening and wait until I sit Gray. “I am very grateful, honored and down with the chairman before I make any pleased to take charge of the team tonight statement.” Leicester manager Nigel Pearson and that is all it was. said: “We got off to a good start and didn’t “The chairman has told me there are back it up. “We conceded two poor goals about 40 applications (for the manager- from our own perspective, but they would ship) and I can understand why because it probably argue they were two good finish- is a fantastic football club with a big fan es. “We should have managed the ball bet- base and a huge stadium. “You saw there ter, but we gave them something to build tonight if the players give 100 percent com- on, hang on to. But Pearson insisted compla- mitment, the crowd get behind them. “Any cency was not an issue, adding: “No compla- manager that is out of work, and in work, cency. It’s a word people overuse. No com- would be interested in this football club.” placency. We had too many players having Gray, who worked under Jones at Wolves off days, if ouy like.”— AFP Peter Besenyei performs during the Red Bull Air Race press conference in Gdynia, Poland.— www.redbull.com A Tokyo district’s Lille beat Marseille; Enyeama uphill quest for the perfect bobsleigh keeps 11th straight clean sheet TOKYO: At the end of November, Satoshi of the 1980s, decided something needed to PARIS: Lille beat Marseille 1-0 Tuesday with a Kosugi got terrible news: the bobsleigh he be done - both for the team and to restore late goal from Nolan Roux to consolidate second and a group of Tokyo manufacturers had the lustre of Ota’s name. place in the French league and put pressure on spent two years building for the Sochi Ota, on the southern edge of central leader Paris Saint-Germain. Roux scored his sixth Olympics would not be used by the Tokyo, is known as a logistics hub. It had goal this season by heading a cross from Florent Japanese national team. Japan has sent bob- 4,300 firms in 2008, the latest year for which Balmont into the bottom corner in the first sledders to the Winter Olympics before but data is available, but was hit hard by the minute of stoppage time, while Lille goalkeeper due to budget constraints they had always 2008 financial crisis and the massive 2011 Vincent Enyeama kept an 11th straight clean raced in used, foreign-made sleighs that did- earthquake and tsunami, which prompted sheet in the league. n’t fit Japanese athletes properly. Kosugi big companies to move their product bases Lille pulled within a point of PSG and is nine decided to rectify the situation, and so abroad. “The most terrifying thing for us was points clear of Marseille. “I’m sorry for those who began the quest to create a homemade losing markets,” said Junichi Hosogai, chair- will say: again a 1-0 victory,” Lille coach Rene sleigh the national team could use at the man of the bobsleigh project committee Girard said. “Football is about defending and Olympics for the first time. and the president of Material, a non-ferrous attacking. We did attack since we scored a goal. It was a brave move, given that foreign metals processing firm. “It was necessary for We’re efficient. We don’t dominate by creating teams are often supported by giant corpora- us to make an appeal for our technology by 20 chances per game. But we step up when it tions. Ferrari develops for the Italian team, creating something symbolic to grab mar- matters.” Monaco earned a third straight victory BMW supports the Germans and NASA has kets.” When the call for the project went out, by defeating Nice 3-0 to stay in third place, one backed up the US team in the past. “I just a number of factories hesitated at first, since point behind Lille, while Nantes edged couldn’t believe the decision,” said Kosugi, Tokyo has very little snow and they were not Valenciennes 2-1 to move provisionally into fifth fighting for calm a day after the news came familiar with the sport. They also did not place. in. The project began in 2011 when Kosugi, a think there would be any financial benefits. Florian Thauvin was booed by the crowd at civil servant in Ota - a proud but struggling Still, 30 firms stepped forward. The first Stade Pierre Mauroy every time he touched the area known for its small manufacturers - step was borrowing a bobsleigh from a uni- ball. The Marseille forward went on strike this heard that the national team had never used versity in northern Japan that had a team summer to obtain a transfer from his former a Japanese-built sleigh before. and taking it apart to draw a blueprint. Two club, Lille. Lille tested Marseille goalkeeper Steve “The foreign sleighs were a little too big hundred different parts were needed. Each Mandanda with long-range strikes from Ronny for Japanese, and when it had problems no company then built sections of the bob- Rodelin in the fifth minute and Balmont in the mechanics were available to fix them,” he sleigh according to its own speciality. The 14th. But Andre-Pierre Gignac was the most said. “The sleigh the Japanese athletes used first prototype, which came together in only threatening player in the first half, forcing Enyeama to punch away his cross-shot in the was once repaired with adhesive tape.” So 10 days, was finished in October 2012. “Even NORD: Marseille’s French forward Andre-Pierre Gignac (right) vies with Lille’s French defender 17th. The Marseille striker then rolled away from Kosugi and a group of businessmen from though we were used to quick deliveries, we Dijbril Sidibe during the French L1 football match Lille (LOSC) vs Marseille (OM) on December Lille defender Simon Kjaer to be clean through Ota, whose tiny factories have produced had to work late at night and it was hard to 3, 2013. — AFP parts for rockets and Formula One cars but come up with ideas,” said Hosogai, whose on goal in the 24th, but Enyeama denied him. has been in slow decline since the glory days firm produced some 50 parts.—Reuters The Lille goalkeeper frustrated the visitors in midfielder James Rodriguez put Monaco ahead tute Lucas Ocampos put the result beyond the second half, stopping a close-range effort with a curling shot from a tight angle in the fifth doubt by stealing the ball from Nice defender from Gignac in the 54th, a drive from Thauvin minute before striker Emmanuel Riviere out- Mathieu Bodmer and dribbling past Veronese to and a volley from Gignac in the 63rd. Marseille jumped the Nice defense in the 23rd to meet a slot into an empty net in the 89th. lost France playmaker Mathieu Valbuena and cross from Anthony Martial and send a looping “We had the match under control,” Monaco Dimitri Payet to injuries in the 72nd and the header inside the far post for his seventh goal coach Claudio Ranieri said. “I asked my players to 78th, respectively. Payet picked up a left calf this season. play aggressively but also to keep calm.” Jose strain whereas Valbuena suffered a left shoulder Monaco goalkeeper Danijel Subasic protect- Saez gave Valenciennes the lead with a lob in injury that will sideline him for at least four ed his team’s lead by stopping a low volley from the 52nd before Nantes forward Alejandro weeks. “We should have scored and taken the Nice winger Valentin Eysseric in the seventh and Bedoya leveled with a long-range strike that lead,” Marseille coach Elie Baup said. “Conceding tipping around the post a low drive from deflected off defender Benjamin Angoua in the that goal in stoppage time really hurts. It’s unfair Argentine striker Dario Cvitanich in the 26th. 59th. Valenciennes goalkeeper Nicolas given the game we had.” Riviere then wasted two good chances. The Penneteau saved a penalty from Filip Djordjevic Monaco played without Colombia striker Monaco striker sent a chip over the bar in the in the 72nd after the Nantes striker was fouled Radamel Falcao, who is recovering from a thigh 38th and lost his balance with the goal at his by Angoua. But Nantes substitute Fernando injury. But it hardly mattered as Monaco con- mercy after skipping past Nice goalkeeper Luca Aristeguieta scored the winner by volleying verted its first two scoring chances. Colombia Veronese in the 56th. However, Monaco substi- home a corner in the 89th.—AP Chamakh’s goal takes Palace off the bottom

LONDON: Marouane Chamakh’s goal took our fault today.” Palace captain and Crystal Palace off the bottom of the Australia international Mile Jedinak, Michel Platini Premier League table as they beat West released Jason Puncheon early on, only for Ham 1-0 in Tony Pulis’s first home game in Puncheon to shoot tamely at Jussi charge at Selhurst Park on Tuesday. Jaaskelainen. West Ham, however, then UEFA boss denies Sarkozy Chamakh scored the only goal of the looked the more likely to open the scoring game-the Moroccan’s first since August 24 with Mark Noble failing to connect proper- deal on Qatar 2022 WCup - when he headed in Barry Bannan’s curl- ly with a close-range shot following a well- ing cross in the 42nd minute. The striker worked free-kick routine. The Hammers MADRID: UEFA chief Michel Platini denied heat. Asked what chance there was of a had previously scored just one goal this then created another fine chance only for yesterday that he had made a deal over change of country for the 2022 World Cup, season-although that was still one goal Mohamed Diame to head over the bar from dinner with then French president Nicolas he replied: “None.” “Perhaps we can change more than he managed in five months on Stewart Downing’s curling cross. Sarkozy to support Qatar’s bid to host the the month but not the country.” Platini said loan at West Ham last term. West Ham And moments later Palace took the lead 2022 World Cup. But Platini, the French FIFA and UEFA agreed that playing the came into this all London clash boosted by when, after Bannan’s initial cross was head of the ruling body for European foot- World Cup in summer in Qatar was “not a 3-0 win over Fulham but have still to blocked, the Scotland midfielder whipped ball, said Sarkozy’s wishes were clear. In an ideal”. “But it has to be Qatar that takes the record back-to-back Premier League wins in a second ball glanced in by the now interview published in Spanish sports daily decision. In any case, FIFA has decided not since being promoted last year. unmarked Chamakh. The second half saw AS, Platini said he was invited to dinner at to get involved in the matter until after the Victory left Palace just three points adrift Palace go in search of a second goal that the French president’s Elysee Palace in Paris World Cup in Brazil.” Tiny, resource-rich of safety and West Ham, one of several would put the result beyond doubt and ahead of a December 2, 2010 FIFA vote in Qatar has proved a contentious choice which Qatar was chosen to organise the since being awarded World Cup hosting clubs on 13 points who could yet get give Pulis the boost of a victory after his 2022 World Cup. rights following a bidding process tainted drawn into a relegation battle. “We stayed first game in charge ended in defeat by “I received a call from the president of with corruption allegations. Following strong and didn’t give them the chances to Norwich last weekend. Another Bannan the Republic of France, which is my country strong and lengthy protests, FIFA boss score and I hope it will be like that every cross was headed narrowly over by as everyone knows,” Platini said. “When I Sepp Blatter, who has passionately defend- week until the end of the season,” said Pulis. Kagisho Dikgacoi and Jaaskelainen did arrived I met the emir of Qatar and the ed the Gulf nation’s right to host the global Meanwhile West Ham manager Sam well to spread himself to deny Cameron prime minister of the emirate. No-one had extravaganza, has agreed to move the Allardyce bemoaned his side’s performance Jerome after he raced through one-on- told me of their presence. “We dined World Cup to the end of 2022 to avoid at both ends of the pitch. “Not enough cut- one. West Ham, however, did have the ball together but just as I say that no-one told Qatar’s summer. Rights groups called for a ting edge. I think that’s the problem for us,” in the net after 65 minutes when England me the Qataris were going to be there, I boycott of the World Cup over an Amnesty Allardyce said. “Then we gave away the winger Downing lashed in a low volley but state emphatically that president Sarkozy report that foreign workers suffer exploita- most ridiculous goal I’ve seen in a long, James Tomkins had already been penal- did not ask me to vote for Qatar as host of tion, including non-payment of wages and long time from our point of view. “I haven’t ized for a foul in the area, although it the 2022 World Cup before, during or after hazardous conditions. French-Algerian got the words for it when everybody has a looked as if the Hammers man had been that meeting.” footballer Zahir Belounis says he was forced marker and the ball comes in from the cor- impeded first. Palace substitute Jimmy Nevertheless, Platini said he understood to remain in Qatar for 17 months because ner, you still have your marker, you don’t Kebe also had a ‘goal’ ruled out moments what the French president wanted. “I could his employers the Al-Jaish club, whose lose your marker but we did and being in later when he turned in Jedinak’s pull-back understand for myself that Sarkozy was chairman is Sheikh Joaan bin Khalifa bin the middle of the goal with a free header but was flagged for offside. West Ham interested in Qatar organising the World Ahmad Al-Thani, brother of the emir, they’re not going to miss. “That’s the most pushed for an equaliser late on but Ravel LONDON: West Ham United’s Welsh defender James Cup. But he did not make that request to refused him an exit permit. Belounis is disappointing thing for me today (Tuesday) Morrison and James Collins were off target, Collins (right) heads the ball clear in front of Crystal me,” Platini said. The UEFA boss said the suing Al-Thani in a Paris court. Blatter has because that’s lost us the game effectively. while Kebe shot over the top in stoppage- Palace’s Cameron Jerome during the English Premier decision in favour of Qatar could not now called conditions for migrant workers “On such a crucial game we should not time for Palace. An angry Morrison was League football match between Crystal Palace and be changed, despite criticism of the choice, “unacceptable”. However, Qatar said the have let that slip. A point at the end of the booked after the final whistle for shoving West Ham United at the Selhurst Park in south London notably because of the scorching summer allegations were “exaggerated”. — AFP day wouldn’t have been a bad result. It’s all Joel Ward in the face.— AFP on December 3, 2013. — AFP