No quick fix to Di Maria fires crisis, says unbeaten PSG IAAF chief15 Coe past18 Marseille TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2016 McCullum ends one-day career with strong legacy Page 17 SANTA CLARA: Carolina Panthers’ Jonathan Stewart (28) scores a touchdown against the Denver Broncos during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl 50 football game Sunday in Santa Clara, Calif. (Inset) John Elway, General Manager and Executive Vice President of Football Operations for the Denver Broncos, holds the championship trophy. — AP Manning fairytale as Broncos stun Panthers SANTA CLARA: Peyton Manning cement- “I’ll take some time to reflect,” he said. ed his place in the pantheon of quarter- “It’s been an emotional week and it’s an back greats as the Denver Broncos pro- emotional night.” duced a magnificent defensive display to stun the Carolina Panthers with an upset CAROLINA RATTLED Stay or go? Manning 24-10 victory in Super Bowl 50 here An absorbing first half saw defenses Sunday. exert a vice-like grip, with Denver’s vaunted Manning, 39, sealed the second Super unit rattling the Carolina offense. Bowl title of his 18-year National Football Denver took a 3-0 lead through a 34- to decide his future League career on the back of a phenome- yard Brandon McManus field goal after nal display by the Denver defense, who Manning mounted one of his few long-dis- Whatever he decides about his future, Peyton playing opportunities. The Los Angeles Rams meanwhile have racked up a record-equalling seven sacks at tance drives of the game early on. SANTA CLARA: Levi’s Stadium. Denver soon had Carolina under pres- Manning’s second Super Bowl victory represents the crowning reportedly been linked for a move for Manning should he decide to “I’m just glad we didn’t have to play sure and scored the opening touchdown achievement of an 18-year career that had looked to be in terminal play on. against our defense,” said a delighted when Miller swarmed through to smother decline. Another cloud on the horizon could be the NFL’s investigation Manning, the NFL’s all-time passing yards Newton, stripping the ball loose and allow- Plagued by poor form and hobbled by a foot injury, Manning’s into allegations of doping contained in a television documentary in record holder. ing Malik Jackson to recover for a dramatic season hit rock bottom in November after a career worst perform- December. Denver running back CJ Anderson touchdown for 10-0. ance against Kansas City that led to him being benched in Manning has dismissed the claims as “garbage” and the main crashed over for the decisive touchdown Newton showed glimpses of his dual favor on young back-up Brock Osweiler. source in the program later recanted the allegations in the program. late in the fourth quarter as the Broncos threat with a couple of long rushes to set But the 39-year-old returned to lead the Broncos wide receiver defense harried Panthers superstar quarter- up a one-yard touchdown run from Denver offense during the play-offs, drawing Emmanuel Sanders mean- back Cam Newton into a string of mistakes Jonathan Stewart to help make it 10-7 after on every drop of experience to steer the while said Manning’s team- on a night of high drama. Graham Gano added the extra point. Broncos past nail-biting games against the mates had been deter- The much-anticipated duel between Pittsburgh Steelers and New England mined to send him out on Manning-the oldest starting quarterback in CHANCE SPURNED Super Bowl history-and NFL Most Valuable Denver went 13-7 up with another Patriots. a high note. Player Newton never materialized. McManus field goal before Carolina Against Carolina on Sunday, Manning “Hopefully we’re not Instead it was left to Denver’s suffocat- spurned the chance to draw closer when was a pale imitation of the prolific quarter- sending him out, but if we ing defense to decide the contest, with Von Gano missed a 44-yard effort. back who was named National Football are, it’s amazing,” said wide Miller and DeMarcus Ware smothering the It was left for Denver to get the first League Most Valuable Player five times receiver Emmanuel Sanders. Panthers at every opportunity. Panthers points on the board in the second half, between 2003 and 2013. “It’s a lot of exclamation superstar Newton, who had been tipped to with Manning twice connecting with His final numbers in a defense-dominated points to a great career and dominate in his first Super Bowl appear- Emmanuel Sanders in a 54-yard drive to 24-10 victory were among the least impressive even crazier season... he han- ance, cut a dejected figure afterwards. Carolina’s 12-yard line. McManus added his of any Super Bowl-winning quarterback in his- dled his business, stayed true “They just played better than us,” third field goal to make it 16-7 and give tory — 13 completions from 23 attempts for 141 to his character, stayed true to Newton said. “I don’t know what you want Denver a nine-point lead. me to say...we got outplayed.” Miller-named yards, with one interception and no touchdown the person that he is, and it all Carolina looked to be building ominous passes. paid off.” Super Bowl MVP-ultimately set up the cru- momentum on the next drive, when cial Denver touchdown, forcing Newton Now the question remains-what next? Broncos head coach Gary Newton launched a long pass to find Corey into a fumble which the Broncos recovered Manning plans to take his time Kubiak saluted the way Brown for a 42-yard gain. close to the Carolina goal line. before deciding whether to Manning had worked his way But the drive ended when Newton’s “It was tough offensively but defensively retire or not, revealing that for- back into the starting line-up attempt to find Teddy Ginn was intercept- we were tremendous,” Broncos head coach mer Indianapolis Colts coach after the disappointment of Gary Kubiak said. “It was just another grind- ed by Broncos safety T.J. Ward. Denver were unable to make any Tony Dungy had warned him losing his place to Osweiler in it-out win.” not to make a decision in the mid-season. Panthers coach Ron Rivera blamed a fail- impression on the Carolina defense and seemed to be content to punt again know- heat of the moment. “He comes back and leads ure to make scoring opportunities count. “I think that was good this group at the end,” Kubiak “We had opportunities, we didn’t take ing that the Panthers were getting little joy advice, to kind of let this said. “I know it was just very, advantage of it,” Rivera said. “They took from the Broncos defense. advantage of their opportunities. We did- The tactic proved vindicated on the sink in,” Manning told very special for him to be a part n’t.” Manning was largely a peripheral figure next Carolina drive, which stalled when reporters. of this. He knew he was on a throughout, struggling to make any Miller sacked Newton for the second time good football team. “I’m just so impression with his passing game as in the match. But Denver’s own offense ‘EMOTIONAL NIGHT’ proud of him and what he did to defenses dominated. was always struggling to capitalize on their “It’s been an emotional make his way back and what he The veteran quarterback is widely opponent’s problems, and they squan- week, emotional night. meant to this group.” expected to call time on his career at the dered a 1st and 10 situation on Carolina’s I’ll take some time on it.” Running back CJ Anderson added end of the season, and can now do so with 37-yard line when Manning twice fumbled Denver are expected of Manning: “We have never seen a second Super Bowl ring to set alongside on successive plays to hand the ball back to go with the youthful him go through the things he went the one he earned with the Indianapolis to the Panthers who reduced the deficit to Osweiler as their start- through this season. For him to Colts in 2007. 16-10 with a Gano field goal. ing quarterback next come back on top-and if you leave “It’s very special, I’m very proud of these Yet once again Denver’s defense came season, a move that on top, thank God.” — AFP guys,” said Manning, who said he was through when it mattered, and when would limit Manning’s Peyton Manning unwilling to make a decision about his Miller forced Newton into his late fumble, future plans in the heat of the moment. Denver were home. — AFP.