TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2014 SPORTS Time to heed the ‘don’t kill Rooney’ advice again LONDON: Don’t kill Wayne Rooney. It’s ened out.” “He will have to accept that as a further win in seven matches this season. “I could be achieved before the 2016 advice that is as pertinent now for Just six games into his captaincy it part of the pressure.” Before Saturday, think everyone knew (I was in the European Championship, with San English football as it was eight years ago was seen by some as a throwback to the Rooney had not been sent off since wrong),” Rooney said. “So I am just Marino and Estonia, the weakest teams when offered as Sven-Goran Eriksson’s days when the striker was defined by his October 2011, when he kicked out at a grateful that the lads were able to hold in England’s qualifying group, the oppo- last act as England coach. hot-headedness and his chances of win- Montenegro player during a Euro 2012 on.” nents next month. When one of Eriksson’s successors, ning the captain’s armband for club and qualifier. The last United dismissal came Had United lost again, Rooney would United will have to cope without Roy Hodgson, announces his squad for country seemed as thin as his receding two years before that, receiving a sec- undoubtedly have faced a far more hos- Rooney for the entire month of October. next month’s European Championship hairline. While it took a hair transplant ond booking and unleashing abuse at tile reaction from critics who resent him A consequence of the early League Cup qualifiers this week, questions over to bring the follicles back to life, the referee, a habit that seems to have for earning 300,000 pounds ($487,000) a loss to lower-league MK Dons means Rooney’s temperament will once again Rooney’s confidence and leadership been eradicated from his game. week. the three-match suspension will be be raised. abilities have developed with maturity. How many times was Vidic, the previ- The latest contract terms were served entirely in the Premier League. One rash swing of the right boot at When Nemanja Vidic left United in ous holder of the United armband, sent agreed last year after Rooney agitated The greatest beneficiary could be Juan Stewart Downing on Saturday earned May, it was Rooney against Robin van off in the Premier League? Twice last for a transfer unsuccessfully for a sec- Mata, the $60-million January signing Rooney a straight red card while cap- Persie for the captaincy, and new man- season alone, and six times in total ond time. However much those actions who was demoted to the bench on taining Manchester United against West ager Louis van Gaal overlooked his com- across nine seasons. divided sections of the United fan base, Saturday, with Rooney not eligible until Ham on Saturday. The tackle was wild patriot. Rooney has been dismissed just Rooney will now surely end his career at the Nov. 2 derby against Manchester and needless, coming inside the West When Steven Gerrard retired from twice in 313 league appearances for Old Trafford as one of the club’s greats City. Ham half. England duty after a woeful World Cup, United. Unfortunately for the former alongside Bobby Charlton, even if his “It is tough,” Rooney said. “So I just Reckless rather than malicious, even the 28-year-old Rooney was Hodgson’s Everton prodigy, Saturday’s blip came conduct hasn’t always matched that of have to make sure I train well and be though it earns a three-match suspen- obvious choice as the most experienced while marking a decade since his United the gentleman of English football. ready for when I come back.” And sion for serious foul play, with no appeal and vocal member of a youthful squad. debut. At Old Trafford, Rooney couldn’t Rooney is just 31 goals from the 250- ensure he remains as contrite as he is being sought. “Baggage,” is how Hodgson replicate his 2004 debut hat trick mark that would overhaul Charlton as now. “Don’t kill him, I beg you,” Eriksson “I tried to trip him up,” Rooney described Rooney’s past indiscretions against Fenerbahce, but significantly he United’s all-time leading scorer. The tar- said after Rooney was sent off as offered by way of explanation. “As he and flare-ups on international duty after did score before the Downing kick and get to claim Charlton’s England record is England exited the 2006 World Cup. “He pushed the ball away, my leg straight- being handed the honor, conceding: United did still collect just its second 50 and he needs nine more goals. That is a fantastic player.”—AP Boca Juniors eye upset victory over River Plate ARGENTINA: Such is the must-win status Bombonera five days earlier and have 13 of the “Superclasico” that Boca Juniors points. would have gone to El Monumental confi- “We are Boca and we have to win (the dent of upsetting high-flying arch-rivals derby), for the shirt, for what it represents, River Plate even at their lowest ebb this to shorten the distance (behind River),” season. Argentina’s biggest match, like the Agustin Orion, Argentina’s third-choice world’s other major derbies, is a game goalkeeper at the World Cup in Brazil, told apart in which the result does not necessar- reporters. ily follow form, although unbeaten champi- onship leaders River are favourites on their RACING RALLY own turf next Sunday. Striker Gustavo Bou, who began his River, with a goals record of 21-5 in nine career at River, has lifted Racing with five matches have been pegged back by two 1- goals in a week contributing to a haul of 1 away draws, the latest at Lanus on seven points out of a possible nine to help Sunday, after a run of six wins in a row. his side climb back into title contention The league’s top scorer, Colombian Teo with 16 points. Gutierrez, claimed the equaliser from out- Bou, who has struck up a good partner- side the box against a tough Lanus team ship with former Inter Milan striker Diego gunning for River’s title to take his tally to Milito, scored twice in Sunday’s 4-1 win eight. over Belgrano in Cordoba, having also River have 21 points, promoted scored a brace at Boca. Independiente 18, after Sunday’s 2-0 home South American champions San Lorenzo win over Rosario Central, and Lanus 17. are struggling for the form they will need if Newell’s Old Boys, with 16 points, can climb they are to challenge for the Club World into second with a victory over Banfield in Cup title in Morocco in December and went Rosario on Monday. down 2-0 at home to Gimnasia on River’s slight dip in form may be partly Saturday. due to the loss through injury until next “We are worried and extremely angry year of young holding midfielder Matias because the team aren’t playing well,” said Kranevitter, widely regarded as a new coach Edgardo Bauza, who in 2008 steered Javier Mascherano in the making. Ecuador’s LDU Quito to the Club World Cup FRANCE: Marseille’s French forward Andre-Pierre Gignac (right) challenges Saint-Etienne’s Senegalese defender Moustapha Sall during the Boca, rejuvenated since coach Rodolfo final against Manchester United in Japan. French L1 football match. —AFP Arruabarrena took over from Carlos Bianchi “I think the players are struggling to a month ago, did their confidence some reach the level of concentration they had good with a 1-0 home win over Quilmes with that achievement (winning the having been upset 2-1 by Racing Club at La Libertadores Cup last month).” —Reuters Marseille strengthen lead PARIS: Midfielder Gianni Imbula and winger All the goals came in the second half, with lead in the 51st when center half Bakary Kone Dimitri Payet scored first-half goals Sunday as Rennes striker Mahamadou Habibou canceling beat goalkeeper Remy Riou with a glancing French league leader Marseille beat Saint- out winger Wahbi Khazri’s opener for Bordeaux header from Alexandre Lacazette’s free kick. Etienne 2-1 at home to record a sixth straight before Toure pounced in the third minute of But Kone then gave away a penalty in the win. injury time. 72nd, knocking over Chaker Alhadhur and Imbula put Marseille ahead after just seven Rennes looked the more dangerous side Jordan Veretout converted. PSG was held 1-1 minutes with a low shot that skimmed inside before Khazri’s goal, with winger Paul-Georges at Toulouse on Saturday, drawing for the fifth the post, and Payet doubled the lead in the Ntep causing problems with his pace and tech- time in eight league games ahead of its 28th after converting Ghana winger Andre nique. He created chances for center forward Champions League clash with Spanish league Ayew’s cross from the left. Ola Toivonen and Steven Moreira but they leader Barcelona today. —AP “We have to be honest. This is all down to were unable to take them. the coach (Marcelo Bielsa),” Marseille goalkeep- The win gives Bordeaux 17 points, putting it er Steve Mandanda said. “He’s precise, every- two points behind Marseille. Lille is third with one knows their role.” 15 points and two-time defending champion Saint-Etienne’s attack featured Turkey striker Paris Saint-Germain is one point behind. Matches on TV Mevlut Erding and 17-year-old Allan Saint- “The players never gave in, they finished the (Local Timings) Maximin, and he set up defender Jonathan game exhausted and they still managed to go Brison’s goal in the 53rd to ensure a tight fin- and get a winner in the closing stages,” said UEFA Champions League ish.