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Portuguese goal rain flattens N Korea
FAB(U)Luis win for Brazil
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Chile beat stubborn Swiss
Witch helped Algeria hold Eng?
Pak crush B’desh by 139 runs
M’rashtra to levy entertainment tax on IPL, ODIs
WC 2011: ICC official declares PCA pitch fit
BCCI eyeing stake in King’s XI Punjab
CWG: J&K ready to welcome Queen’s baton
Madras Engg Group win soccer tourney
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Portuguese goal rain flattens N Korea
Ronaldo got on the scoresheet at last as the Portuguese put themselves in prime position to accompany Brazil into the second round after a scintillating display of attacking football. Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz had said he would approach the game in three stages -- win, score goals and then look at the standings -- and his players followed the plan to the letter. Goals by Raul Meireles in the first half, Simao Sabrosa, Hugo Almeida and Tiago in a seven-minute blitz early in the second, and further strikes by substitute Liedson, Ronaldo and Tiago again secured the win that took them on to four points. They are now two points behind already-qualified Brazil, who Portugal meet in their final game, but more importantly have boosted their goal difference so much that Ivory Coast need to score a hatful in their final game against the Koreans. The Ivorians, beaten 3-1 by Brazil on Sunday, have one point and a draw for Portugal in their final game would in any case guarantee that Queiroz's side progress to the last 16. North Korea had earned widespread praise for their battling defensive effort against Brazil but, contrary to most predictions, they were far more positive on Monday. Although Portugal should have gone ahead after seven minutes when goalkeeper Ri Myong-guk failed hopelessly to claim a Simao corner and Ricardo Carvalho thumped his header against a post, it was anything but one-way traffic. Conditions were made treacherous by relentless rain and with defenders slipping and the ball skidding, both sides unleashed shots from long range at every opportunity. Cha Jong-hyok fizzed one just wide while a parried Hong Yong-jo effort fell to Pak Nam-Chol but he headed over. This time, though, it was Portugal who struck first as Tiago, drafted in for the injured Deco, rolled a beautifully weighted ball into the path of Meireles who struck it hard and low beyond Ri in the 29th minute. That took the edge off Korea and it was one-way traffic after that with the match settled by a trio of well-made goals. Meireles and Almeida combined well to set up Simao to tuck in the first of them after 53 minutes, Fabio Coentrao crossed for Almeida to head the next after 56 and Ronaldo put another on a plate for Tiago on the hour. Ronaldo, desperate to end his 16-month goal drought, hit the bar after 70 minutes before Liedson smashed in the fifth 10 minutes from time. Ronaldo did not have to wait long for his goal, though, although he had a bit of luck when it came. In the 87th minute he broke clear and the ball bounced into the air off keeper Ri, rolled over Ronaldo's head and fell into his path with the goal at his mercy. He could not miss. Two minutes later Tiago grabbed his second goal, heading home a cross from Miguel Veloso, to finish off the rout. — Reuters
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Johannesburg, June 21 Two goals from Luis Fabiano and one from Elano sealed the win which was blighted by a late red card shown to playmaker Kaka two minutes from time. Coasting and untroubled at 3-0 and with the game drifting to its obvious conclusion, Ivory Coast pulled a goal back when captain Didier Drogba headed home and seven minutes later the game exploded into life in the wrong way with a fracas that seemed utterly at odds with what had gone on before. It began when Ivorian substitute Kader Keita crashed to the ground in apparant agony holding his face after television replays showed he had been barely nudged in the chest by Kaka, and the Ivorians obvious frustrations boiled over. Players pushed and shoved and ran at each other before referee Stephane Lannoy, who failed to spot at least two handling offences by Luis Fabiano in the buildup to his second goal, flashed a second yellow card at Kaka and sent him off. "It was totally unjust. He (Kaka) was the one who suffered the foul," Brazil coach Dunga said after the game. Ivory Coast coach Sven-Goran Eriksson was also critical of the French referee for allowing Fabiano's second goal. "It's difficult to cope with Luis Fabiano and even more difficult if he's allowed to use its hands. Of course, it's handball, not once by twice," Eriksson said. "They got a goal free, a 2-0 goal which changed everything." Despite their dominance, the only memorable action of an otherwise poor first half came when Luis Fabiano lashed the ball high into the roof of the net past goalkeeper Boubacar Barry for the opener after 25 minutes. A smart backheel and a fortunate one-two with Kaka led to the goal while Luis Fabiano, who has been out of form recently, showed some nice individual skill, and got the benefit of two dubious handballs for his second 25 minutes later. Elano, who scored in their opening 2-1 win over North Korea made it 3-0 eight minutes later after Kaka crossed from the left leaving Elano with a simple tap-in from close range. Ivory Coast hardly put any pressure on newly-moustachioed Brazilian goalkeeper Julio Cesar after going behind with Drogba, seeming to spend most of the match shouting for his team mates to pass him the ball, rather than actually doing anything with it. When all seemed lost though, Sven-Goran Eriksson's side, suddenly found some invention with substitute Gervinho creating the goal with a surging run up field before Drogba headed home their consolation. — Reuters
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Port Elizabeth, June 21
Second half substitute Mark Gonzalez headed home a cross from Esteban Paredes with 15 minutes to go to finally break down a tight Swiss defence that had earlier broken Italy’s World Cup record of 550 minutes without conceding a goal. The match lived up to its billing as an ugly midfield stalemate, with the Swiss crowding out centre of the pitch and smothering Chile’s free-flowing attacks, even after having Valon Behrami sent off in the 31st minute for violent conduct. The draw left Chile top on six points followed by Switzerland on three then Spain and Honduras, who are both without a point and play later on Monday in Johannesburg. Chile attacked the Swiss continuously and had their first chance after 10 minutes when Swiss keeper Diego Benaglio was forced into a superb double save from Arturo Vidal then Carlos Carmona from long range. Alexis Sanchez tested the Swiss defence early on, outpacing Reto Ziegler on the wing and cutting back to the oncoming Humberto Suazo who missed the ball completely.
Switzerland were reduced to 10 men after the half hour mark when Behrami was adjudged to have elbowed Vidal, who slumped theatrically to the ground clutching his face. Chile thought they had broken the deadlock soon after the break when Sanchez’s strike from 25 metres deflected off Matias Fernandez and into the net but was ruled out for offside. Chile almost found their goal on 54 minutes when Sanchez dispossessed Stephane Grichting on the edge of the area but was denied by Benaglio as Chile clinched it with 15 minutes left. — Reuters
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Witch helped Algeria hold Eng?
African medicine men often use birds to deliver spells and a healer insisted that the Cape Town pigeon was sent to help Algeria's defence, The Sun reports. Shaman Olga Mokwena said: "Someone supporting Algeria has visited a witchdoctor to put a spell on England." "I am following the World Cup and saw the pigeon. That bird was there at night when birds are supposed to be sleeping. And that one was not sleeping. "That told me it was protecting the Algeria goal. It was guarding it," The Sun quoted Olga as saying. Olga, from Chaneng near England's Rustenburg base, said England players now need a spell of their own to beat Slovenia. She revealed: "I'd give them something to bathe in - powder from tree bark. They need something to wash away the evil spirits."
— ANI |
Dambulla, June 21 Powered by Afridi’s blitzkrieg and useful half-centuries from Imran Farhat (66), Shahzaib Hasan (50) and Umar Akmal (50), Pakistan made an intimidating 385 for seven, their highest score in ODIs, after electing to bat. The target being too huge for them, Bangladesh settled for batting practice, making a listless 246 from their 50 overs at the Rangiri international stadium. Juanid Siddique, who fell three runs short of his maiden hundred, and Imrul Kayes raised 160 runs for the second wicket, batting as if they were in a Test-match situation. Even the 100-odd spectators who had come to watch the inconsequential tie left the stands when the duo was at the square. The time spent at the wicket would have certainly pumped up their confidence, but their dour display was not a good advertisement for the 50-over format, which has already lost its appeal. Siddique struck six fours and two sixes during his 144-ball essay while Kayes, who took 24 balls to get off the mark, consumed 110 balls for his 66. For Pakistan, Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Asif, Afridi and Imran Farhat took a wicket each. Both sides have crashed out of the tournament while India and Sri Lanka will play in the final on June 24. — PTI Scoreboard Bangladesh: Man of the match: Afridi
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Fedex made to sweat, Schiavone ousted
London, June 21 Italy’s newly crowned French Open champion Francesca Schiavone fell at the first hurdle at Wimbledon today, losing 6-7 7-5 6-1 to Russian Vera Dushevina. Former world number one Kim Clijsters eased into the second round at Wimbledon with an efficient 6-0, 6-3 win over Italy’s Maria Elena Camerin. Results of first round: Men’s singles: Gael Monfils (France) beat Leonardo Mayer (Argentina) 6-1, 7-6(9), 6-2; Ilija Bozoljac (Serbia) beat Nicolas Massu (Chile) 7-6(3), 3-6, 6-3 7-6(7); Mardy Fish (US) beat Bernard Tomic (Australia) 6-3, 7-6(8), 6-2; Feliciano Lopez (Spain) beat Jesse Levine (US) 7-6(2), 3-6, 6-2 6-3; Daniel Brands (Germany) beat Igor Andreev (Russia) 7-6(5), 7-6(4), 7-5; Michal Przysiezny (Poland) beat 17-Ivan Ljubicic (Croatia) 7-5, 7-6(5), 6-3; Ricardas Berankis (Lithuania) beat Carsten Ball (Australia) 6-2, 6-0, 3-6, 7-6(5); and Lu Yen-Hsun (Taiwan) beat Horacio Zeballos (Argentina) 7-5, 6-4, 6-3. Women’s singles: Shenay Perry (US) beat Anastasiya Yakimova (Belarus) 6-2, 4-6, 9-7; Maria Kirilenko (Russia) beat Stefanie Voegele (Switzerland) 2-6, 6-4, 7-5; Petra Martic (Croatia) beat Elena Baltacha (Britain) 2-6, 7-5, 6-3; Alla Kudryavtseva (Russia) beat Sofia Arvidsson (Sweden) 6-4, 6-1; Karolina Sprem (Croatia) beat Bethanie Mattek-Sands (US) 6-3, 6-4; Marion Bartoli (France) beat Julia Goerges (Germany) 6-4, 6-3; Nadia Petrova (Russia) beat Tatjana Malek (Germany) 6-4, 6-3; Vera Zvonareva (Russia) beat Nuria Llagostera Vives (Spain) 6-4, 6-1; Kim Clijsters (Belgium) beat Maria Elena Camerin (Italy) 6-0, 6-3; and Chan Yung-Jan (Taiwan) beat Patty Schnyder (Switzerland) 6-0, 6-2. — Reuters
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M’rashtra to levy entertainment tax on IPL, ODIs
Mumbai, June 21 Entertainment tax will be levied on IPL and “similar” matches, and all international T20 and ODI matches, the government resolution dated June 14 says. Shiv Sena leader and MLA Subhash Desai had filed a PIL in the Bombay High Court seeking imposition of entertainment tax on IPL. It is scheduled for hearing tomorrow. In the affidavit filed recently, the state government had informed the court about its decision to bring IPL in tax net, said Desai's lawyer, advocate Balkrishna Joshi. According to the GR, posted on website of state revenue department, the decision to levy entertainment tax on IPL and ODIs was taken "in view of growing popularity, magnitude of sponsorship money, and commercialisation". The GR, however, does not clarify whether tax will be imposed retrospectively - on the IPL seasons held so far. Desai had alleged in the petition that because of NCP leader and former BCCI chief Sharad Pawar's political clout, the state did not implement its earlier decision to impose entertainment tax on IPL. — PTI
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India, Lanka to test reserves today
Dambulla, June 21 While Kumar Sangakkara’s Lanka have a fit and fighting side, India have been plagued by injuries to key players. Star India opener Virender Sehwag will return home tomorrow, having sustained a hamstring injury. The team management has flown in Dinesh Karthik to replace him but Jharkhand batsman Saurabh Tiwary will fancy his chances of making his ODI debut tomorrow. Ashish Nehra is said to have recovered from back spasms which had hampered his movement in the field against Pakistan but it is unlikely the left-arm seamer will play tomorrow.
— PTI |
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WC 2011: ICC official declares PCA pitch fit
Mohali, June 21 Atkinson, who is the ICC’s pitch consultant, visited the stadium in connection with the three matches of Cricket World Cup 2011- two league matches and one semifinal - scheduled to be hosted by the PCA. “I am fairly happy with the paraphernalia and the condition of pitch as well as outfield here in the stadium. It (PCA) is good ground and fit for the big matches,” said Atkinson immediately after his inspection of the field. He discussed some vital issues with PCA’s Joint Secretary GS Walia and pitch curator Daljeet Singh. On being asked, whether the apex cricketing body would try to lay alike pitches at all the World Cup venues, Atkinson denied: “No, we are not trying to enforce specific standards for the pitches of the World Cup matches. Nature of the pitch depends on several factors, including the content of soil and local climatic conditions. So it is not possible to have a standardised system for the pitches. But certainly, we want wickets having even and consistent bounce till 100 overs and providing equal opportunities to both the teams.” However, he added a team of around 15-20 ICC officials would again come in October to check all arrangements and facilities including the stadium, flood lights, airports, ticket allocations and hotel accommodation, nets, practice area while the final inspection will take place in January. |
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BCCI eyeing stake in King’s XI Punjab
Mumbai, June 21 According to BCCI officials, the matter is before the governing council of the Indian Premier League which is scheduled to meet on Friday. The promoters include Ness Wadia of Bombay Dyeing and Mohit Burman of Dabur apart from Zinta. The present promoters of the Mohali franchise of the IPL won the bid for $76 million in 2008. According to reports, the team is likely to be sold for around $250 million. A number of buyers have been bandied about but there has been no official confirmation on the name of the actual buyer yet. Reports say the present owners are likely to sell 93 per cent of their stake with Zinta retaining the rest. |
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CWG: J&K ready to welcome Queen’s baton
Srinagar, June 21 The torch would be carried by sports persons - travelling on horse cart and floating on the placid waters that come in between and other modes of transportation. “Outstanding sportspersons of international stature are eligible to carry the torch. “There is no age bar or gender-discrimination, only merit is the criteria,” said Aamir Ali, Officer on Special Duty, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir. The QBR is expected to be received at Lakhanpur on June 28. The event will be marked by a colourful cultural programme depicting composite culture of state. The Relay is schedule to arrive Leh on July 1. It will be carried out from Leh Hill Council Secretariat to Shanti Stupa, passing through Leh main Bazar on the next day.
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Madras Engg Group win soccer tourney
Mandi, June 21 MEG took lead through its striker Thapa who after dodging two defenders of the opponent scored a splendid goal. The second half was lit up by attacking play by both the teams. Shivaji Sports Club Kolhapur, inspite of many chances that came their way, failed to equalise. Kolhapur almost grabbed an equaliser in the 40th minute but again fumbled. MEG eventually stretch their lead in 48th minute through Suraj. Yesterday, Shivaji Sports Academy, Kohalpur, defeated YFC Rourka Kalan, Punjab to secure a place in the final of this Mega event. Whereas, MEG, Bangalore, thrashed Mandi District Football Association-XI 5-1. The local team had no match to the speed and accuracy of the Bangalore team. Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Jai Ram Thakur gave away the prizes and announced a grant of Rs 21,000 to the organisers.
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Port Elizabeth, June 21
Cape Town, June 21
LONDON: A witch doctor sent a pigeon that perched on Algeria's goal during England's boring draw to curse the Three Lions.
