Durante labels Jeronimo a cheat

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

Heated ... Durante was clearly displeased with Jeronimo's actions. Source: Sarah Reed / News Limited

Adelaide United's double-scorer Jeronimo Neumann has been branded a cheat by Wellington Phoenix captain Andrew Durante for diving in a bitter A-League fixture at Hindmarsh Stadium on Saturday.

The Phoenix were left fuming after defender Ben Sigmund was given a straight red card for bringing Jeronimo down as the last defender during the Reds' 3-1 win, but replays suggested the Argentine's reaction was significantly delayed.

Durante was incensed at the time, as he was when Cassio scored Adelaide's second goal after receiving a pass from a seemingly-offside Jeronimo, and the Wellington skipper didn't hold back during the post-game interview with Fox Sports.

"We got a few tough decisions against us," Durante said.

"I think the first one was offside from what I saw, the second one he's dived. He's a cheat.

"In my book, if he's dived, he's a cheat. I think the referees were shocking tonight.

"To end the game with a referee's decision like that ... I mean, that linesman on that far side did nothing to help this game. I thought it was extremely poor.

Phoenix coach Ricki Herbert was equally disappointed with the match officials, and while he said he wasn't aware of Durante's comments, he had a similar message.

---

Relive all the key moments from the controversial clash between Adelaide United and Wellington Phoenix with our A-League Match Centre!

---

"Let's have a look at the review on the dive - if the boy hasn't dived, then fine, we all move on, it happens from time to time," Herbert said.

"But if he has, then maybe there is a chance to make a bit of a statement here."

Adelaide coach John Kosmina was surprised at Durante's comment about Jeronimo.

"That is a bit unfortunate, not a nice to thing to say," Kosmina said.

Kosmina suggested referee Jared Gillett, who made headlines last season for awarding a stoppage time penalty for Brisbane Roar in the A-League grand final, was in best position to judge whether Jeronimo dived.

"The referees make decisions that you agree with sometimes and they make decisions that you don't," he said.

"Looking at the replay, it was a hard one to call.

"And he was in a better position than I was, and probably in a better position than the cameras, because he was right behind it."

18.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Jeronimo fires Reds over Phoenix

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

At the double ... Jeronimo continued his impressive start in the A-League. Source: Sarah Reed / News Limited

Adelaide United folk hero Cassio celebrated his 100th A-League game with a goal as the Reds downed Wellington Phoenix 3-1 on Saturday.

Argentine striker Jeronimo Neumann scored twice as Adelaide netted three goals in the final 40 minutes to deliver the Phoenix their first loss of the season.

The Phoenix finished with 10 men after Ben Sigmund was controversially sent off in the 77th minute.

		P	W	D	L	GD	Pts
1	Adelaide	4	3	0	1	4	9
2	Newcastle	4	3	0	1	1	9
3	Perth	3	2	0	1	2	6
4	Wellington	4	1	2	1	0	5
5	Brisbane	4	1	1	2	3	4
6	Central Coast	3	1	1	1	0	4
7	Heart	3	1	1	1	-1	4
8	Western Sydney	4	1	1	2	-1	4
9	Sydney	3	1	0	2	-2	3
10	Victory	4	1	0	3	-6	3

Wellington's Stein Huysegems scored the opening goal in the Hindmarsh Stadium fixture before the visitors were overwhelmed by Adelaide, who return to the top of the ladder with the win.

Jeronimo's brace was punctuated by fan favourite Cassio's 68th minute goal, which gave Adelaide a 2-1 lead.

Cassio, after a 20 metre run that sliced open Wellington's defence, flicked to Jeronimo, who fed the ball back to his teammate and the Brazilian promptly scored with a slick left-footer.

Replays suggested Jeronimo might have been offside when the ball was played to him, but the goal still stood.

Adelaide's comeback triumph came after Phoenix talisman Paul Ifill created Huysegems' strike with a crafty through ball in the 42nd minute.

As a flat-footed Adelaide defence stood hoping for an offside call, Ifill's insightful pass played the Belgian international into ample space.

---

Relive all the key moments from the game with our A-League Match Centre, featuring stats and video highlights.

---

Huysegems closed within 10 metres and powered a left-footer with such force it gave Reds goalkeeper Eugene Galevokic no chance.

Adelaide hit back just 10 minutes after halftime when Jeronimo scored.

After a scramble, Wellington's attempt to clear their defensive area rebounded into the path of the Argentine just 10m from goal.

While fortunate to find the ball at his feet, Jeronimo's finish was clinical - a left-footer which equalised against the flow of play.

Jeronimo repeated the dose in the 85th minute after being played into space by Adelaide's creative Dario Vidosic, his left-foot finish sealing the victory for the Reds.

While Phoenix captain Andrew Durante was fuming after the game about Jeronimo's actions that saw Sigmund sent off, coach Ricki Herbert was riled at a goal by Wellington's Jeremy Brockie being ruled offside in the 59th minute.

"You have seen the video footage, write it yourself, I probably don't need to put words in your mouth," Herbert said.

"At the end of the day we have got an opinion and sometimes we can't voice it and I think that is to be respected.

"But all we ask for, is there an equal sort of line across the board?

"I think Jeremy's goal was a great goal.

"I thought Cassio's goal ... that is offside.

"You make your own assessments on those.

18.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Vettel, Webber fastest again

Same again ... Vettel and Webber have dominated qualifying recently. Source: Greg Baker / AAP

Defending world champion Sebastian Vettel completed a third-successive Red Bull front row lockout on Saturday when he took pole position for Sunday's Indian Grand Prix ahead of teammate Mark Webber.

The 25-year-old German, who is seeking to become the youngest triple champion in F1 history, made an error on his first flying lap in the top-ten shootout but responded with a second effort in one minute 25.283 seconds to clock the fastest time.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

It was his fifth pole of the season and the 35th of his career.

"All in all it has been a great weekend so far," Vettel said.

"We have to keep pushing - there are a lot of races to go.

"I'm happy to be on pole but there's a hard race coming up tomorrow."

His Australian partner Webber did his utmost to match him, but could only deliver 1:25.327 and took second as Red Bull proved they have the overall pace to start as clear favourites.

"It wasn't the smoothest (flying lap) for (Sebastian) and also for me," said Webber.

"On the last corner I got a little on the Astroturf on the exit and didn't have the cleanest run to line, but I'm driving the car.

"It was a pretty tight run thing between Seb and I. The McLarens were doing a very slow out-laps, and I had no grip in the first sector. I was surprised to end up in second."

McLaren's Lewis Hamilton took third place late in the session to jump ahead of his teammate and fellow Briton Jenson Button.

The two Ferraris of Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa are on the third row.

Alonso, championship leader for a long period of the season, is now six points behind Vettel and, with four races remaining, needs to deliver a strong result, if not a victory, to stay in serious contention.

But the Red Bulls appear stronger, Vettel having overturned a 39-point deficit to Alonso by winning the last three races in Singapore, Japan and South Korea.

The German also won the inaugural Indian last year at the 5.125km Buddh Circuit, 45km south of New Delhi.

18.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Wanderers beat Roar for first win

Landmark ... Wanderers celebrate their first A-League goal, scored by Mark Bridge (second left). Source: AAP

Striker Mark Bridge headed home Western Sydney's first goal as the rookie A-League club secured a maiden win in a massive 1-0 upset of defending champions Brisbane Roar on Saturday night.

After missing a sitter in last weekend's 1-0 derby loss to Sydney FC, Bridge nodded in the drought-breaker 18 minutes into the first half, leaving Brisbane and the home fans shellshocked.

Brisbane's defence gave Bridge far too much space to move after Dutch import Youssouf Hersi delivered him a perfect ball off a short corner kick from star Japanese import Shinji Ono.

It ended 288 minutes of anxiety for for the Wanderers, who failed to score in their opening three games, though Bridge may have been lucky to grab his place in club history.

		P	W	D	L	GD	Pts
1	Adelaide	4	3	0	1	4	9
2	Newcastle	4	3	0	1	1	9
3	Perth	3	2	0	1	2	6
4	Wellington	4	1	2	1	0	5
5	Brisbane	4	1	1	2	3	4
6	Central Coast	3	1	1	1	0	4
7	Heart	3	1	1	1	-1	4
8	Western Sydney	4	1	1	2	-1	4
9	Sydney	3	1	0	2	-2	3
10	Victory	4	1	0	3	-6	3

It could easily have gone to 22-year-old midfielder Aaron Mooy, whose fourth minute speculator rebounded off the right post into the left post as powerless Roar 'keeper Michael Theo looked on.

Western Sydney coach Tony Popovic said before the game he was hoping for a "lucky goal'' to put Brisbane under pressure.

Mooy almost provided it.

The coach had to wait another 14 minutes but there was nothing lucky about Bridge's goal and Western Sydney grew in confidence.

They made Brisbane look average in the first half with eight corners to nil.

The magnitude of the upset can be measured by Brisbane's fabulous Suncorp Stadium record, having lost just three of their previous 34 home games.

The visitors continually upset Brisbane's rhythm.

Popovic's defensive structure closed down the Roar in the middle of the pitch where they are usually very dangerous.

Hersi tormented Brisbane's defenders all night, taking the sting out of the crowd, who expected most of the action would be directed at Wanderers 'keeper Ante Covic who was rarely tested.

Covic had heated words with Brisbane's Jack Hingert, who he claimed had clipped him in the head with his boot searching for the equaliser.

Popovic kept his emotions under control despite the significance of the win for the club and the pressure on his players to score.

"Obviously the stats don't lie and we hadn't scored but there was no lack of confidence in this group,'' he said.

"We came here with a belief we could win the game if we played well and in the end we did that.

"At no stage did we doubt ourselves before the game.''

Popovic said keeping a class outfit like Brisbane scoreless for 90 minutes was equally as satisfying as the win.

"It would have been an injustice had we come away tonight without those three points, which can happen in football,'' he said.

"We didn't get down on ourselves when we didn't get a win or a goal in our first three games and we certainly won't get ahead of ourselves after this.

"It's three points, three great points.''

Roar coach Rado Vidosic looked in shock after the loss, unable to offer an excuse after two high quality training sessions during the week.

"They were very hard to penetrate, their defence was excellent,'' he said.

"They looked better (than us) on the fast break and could have punished us with more goals.''

---

Relive all the key moments from the game with our A-League Match Centre, featuring stats and video highlights.

18.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Ellis endorses Hull's Miller move

Bright talent ... Jacob Miller shone in the Toyota Cup grand final this year. Source: Brett Costello / News Limited

A glowing endorsement from Gareth Ellis has Hull FC poised to snap up young halfback Jacob Miller over Gold Coast Titans captain Scott Prince, despite objections from his ex-club Wests Tigers.

Former Tigers backrower Ellis has linked with the English Super League club after four NRL seasons and wasted no time stating his preference following Hull's offers to Prince and Miller.

Junior Kangaroos half Miller has suddenly emerged as the top option after Prince met with coach Peter Gentle but failed to commit to a three-year offer.

Miller, the NSW Under 20s captain, blossomed in Wests Tigers' junior ranks, impressing Ellis.

"I spoke with Jacob Miller before I left about the speculation surrounding him and a possible move to my new club Hull FC," Ellis told the Hull Daily Mail newspaper.

"As far as I'm concerned, the move would be great for him.

"His path to the first team (at the Tigers) is blocked by a couple of very good halfbacks like Benji Marshall which has restricted his first-grade appearances (to five games).

"When I spoke to him he was very keen to come over to England and was looking forward to it.

"I told him a move to Super League would be great for him but it's not for me to advise him."

Wests Tigers recruitment manager Warren McDonnell hoped Miller's future lay at the NRL club after the appointment of new coach Mick Potter.

"Jacob has another year left to run on his contract here and I don't think a move to Hull FC will be happening," he said.

"The chances of a move might have been better earlier in the season, but there is a new coach here now and Mick wants him to stay.

"He is an impressive kid with a bright future ahead of him."

18.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Heskey double hands Jets victory

Double trouble ... Emile Heskey the first of his fantastic goals against the Victory. Source: AAP

Emile Heskey and Newcastle Jets continued their flying starts to the A-League season as the striker scored both goals in a 2-1 win over Melbourne Victory on Friday night.

The former England international struck with two opportunistic goals in front of 13,912 fans at Hunter Stadium, moving him to the top of the league's scoring chart with four goals in as many games.

The second half strikes secured the Jets a third straight win, ensuring their best start to an A-League season.

		P	W	D	L	GD	Pts
1	Newcastle	4	3	0	1	1	9
2	Adelaide	3	2	0	1	2	6
3	Perth	3	2	0	1	2	6
4	Wellington	3	1	2	0	2	5
5	Brisbane	3	1	1	1	4	4
6	Central Coast	3	1	1	1	0	4
7	Heart	3	1	1	1	-1	4
8	Sydney	3	1	0	2	-2	3
9	Victory	4	1	0	3	-6	3
10	Western Sydney	3	0	1	2	-2	1

While Sydney FC's marquee star Alessandro Del Piero has been hogging most of the competition's early headlines, former Liverpool striker Heskey has proven a revelation himself.

The 34-year-old becomes the first Jet to score in three successive games since Johnny Warren medallist Joel Griffiths in the club's championship-winning 2007/08 season.

The Victory hit back late through Archie Thompson but failed to build on a breakthrough win over Adelaide United last weekend, leaving coach Ange Postecoglou with plenty to ponder after three losses from four games.

The visitors had looked the most dangerous side in a scoreless first half, and could have gone ahead in the second minute had Marco Rojas not wasted a great chance.

Only two great stops from Mark Birighitti prevented the Victory from taking a lead into the sheds at halftime.

The Jets' gloveman used his legs to deny Thompson from close range in the 37th minute before tipping over a curling, long-range effort from Adam Traore.

Heskey turned the game after the break, storming onto a great cross from young defender Josh Brillante in the 54th minute to put the home side up.

The big frontman made the most of some sloppy defending from Mark Milligan and he capitalised again two minutes later, neatly converting a close-range chance as the Victory failed to clear from a corner.

Thompson put the Victory back in the game in the 71st minute when he pounced to head in a wayward clearance from Tiago Calvano but the Jets held on to move atop the competition table.

---

Re-live the match with our A-League Match Centre.

18.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Red Bulls dominate practice

Out in front ... Vettel and Webber were the fastest two cars in practice on Friday. Source: Saurabh Das / AAP

Sebastian Vettel kept the momentum going when he dominated Friday practice for the Formula One Indian Grand Prix where he seeks a fourth-straight season win.

Driver		Team	Pts
1	Sebastian Vettel (GER)	Red Bull	215
2	Fernando Alonso (ESP)	Ferrari	209
3	Kimi Raikkonen (FIN)	Lotus	167
4	Lewis Hamilton (GBR)	McLaren	153
5	Mark Webber (AUS)	Red Bull	152
6	Jenson Button (GBR)	McLaren	131
7	Nico Rosberg (GER)	Mercedes	93
8	Romain Grosjean (FRA)	Lotus	88
9	Felipe Massa (BRA)	Ferrari	81
10	Sergio Perez (MEX)	Sauber	66
11	Kamui Kobayashi (JPN)	Sauber	50
12	Nico Hulkenburg (GER)	Force India	45
13	Paul di Resta (GBR)	Force India	44
14	Michael Schumacher (GER)	Mercedes	43
15	Pastor Maldonado (VEN)	Williams	33
16	Bruno Senna (BRA)	Williams	25
17	Jean Eric Vergne (FRA)	Toro Rosso	12
18	Daniel Ricciardo (AUS)	Toro Rosso	9
19	Timo Glock (GER)	Marussia F1	0
20	Heikki Kovalainen (FIN)	Carterham	0
21	Vitaly Petrov (RUS)	Carterham	0
22	Jerome d'Ambrosio (BEL)	Lotus	0
23	Charles Pic (FRA)	Marussia F1	0
24	Narain Karthikeyan (IND)	HRT F1	0
25	Pedro de la Rosa (ESP)	HRT F1	0

Vettel, the world champion of the past two seasons and current overall leader, topped the morning session and then clocked a day-leading 1 minute 26.221 seconds in the afternoon.

Red Bull teammate Mark Webber was next in 1:26.339 followed by Ferrari's Fernando Alonso (1:26.820) at the 5.125km Buddh Circuit, some 45 kilometres south of New Delhi.

Vettel overturned a 39-point deficit on Alonso by winning the past three races in Singapore, Japan and South Korea, and Friday's results further confirmed Red Bull's current dominance on the circuit where Vettel won the inaugural race last year.

Vettel has 215 points in the standings with four races left.

Alonso is on 209, while Kimi Raikkonen of Lotus (167), McLaren's Lewis Hamilton (153), Webber (152) and Jenson Button of McLaren (131) only appear to have a mathematical chance.

Raikkonen was fifth on Friday, Hamilton sixth and Button seventh.

Qualifying is scheduled for Saturday and the race is Sunday.

18.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Sea Siren wins Manikato Stakes

Class... Jim Cassidy rides Sea Siren to victory at Moonee Valley. Source: Ian Currie / News Limited

The riding brilliance of Jimmy Cassidy and the training skills of John O'Shea have combined perfectly with the outstanding galloping ability of Sea Siren to claim the Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley.

The winner of both the Doomben 10,000 and BTC Cup in Brisbane, both at Group One during the winter, Sea Siren joined an elite group with Friday's third win at the highest level.

"She deserved it and the ride deserved it," O'Shea said.

Cassidy immediately found the perfect position on Sea Siren, one off the fence outside the favourite Buffering and on the back of joint leader Satin Shoes.

From the 1000m mark, everything went to a script that was written on Tuesday when Sea Siren galloped at Moonee Valley.

"She took the the Valley like a duck to water," Cassidy said.

"I knew on the corner they'd have to be good to come from behind me and beat me.

"I thought she'd win and she did."

At the first sign of distress from the leaders, Cassidy made his move on Sea Siren ($5.50) and the mare sprinted clear, hanging on to beat Mental ($14) by a neck.

We're Gonna Rock ($10) came from last to take third place a further 2-1/4 lengths away.

O'Shea played down his effort in training Sea Siren to win three Group One races in her past four starts, preferring to praise the mare and her rider.

"That was just a great Jimmy Cassidy ride," O'Shea said.

"I just got her fit gradually and had her right tonight."

Sea Siren will now be aimed at the Group One Patinack Farm Classic (1200m) at Flemington on November 10, as will the slightly disappointing Buffering who weakened to finish sixth.

O'Shea will then consider a trip to the rich Hong Kong International meeting in December.

"I'd love to run her down the straight at Flemington," he said.

"I'd also love to take her to Hong Kong, it's the pinnacle of international racing in the world and I think she'd be very effective."

Buffering dropped out to finish an "inexplicable" sixth, but will press on the the Patinack Farm Classic.

"He was extremely disappointing and I don't know why," said trainer Robert Heathcote.

"He had no rhythm. It was an uncharacteristically below-par performance."

18.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Mel's round four A-League preview

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

Date/Time: 2012:10:12 12:34:45 Source:FOX SPORTS

Fox Sports football commentator Mel McLaughlin previews round four of the A-League season and gives you her tips for every game.

Newcastle Jets v Melbourne Victory, Friday 7.30pm (EDT), Hunter Stadium

Why you should watch this game

Another mouth-watering prospect to kick off the round. But who to tip? Two very exciting, very capable attacking teams with an interesting record against each other. The Jets have the edge at Hunter Stadium historically speaking, a bogey side in fact - even when the Victory have been flying in years gone by. Going forward things look very promising for Newcastle, but defence is still a work in progress. The Jets have conceded five and Victory eight so far - and this week Victory surprised many by unveiling one of Mark Schwarzer's back ups in the green and gold, Nathan Coe, as their new no.1 shot stopper. It's a timely announcement to go with a definite improvement in the team's defensive work overall. Victory's first (and much-needed) three points at Etihad last Friday came along with a lot to like, but there are one or two newer faces I'm not fully convinced of just yet. Importantly for the Victory, despite going behind there seemed to be the feeling they could still go on and win - something that didn't really exist last season. Hunter Stadium should enjoy a huge turnout and for viewers that can't get to the game, Fox Sports' Hero Cam will focus on Emile Heskey this week - press red on your remote or head to foxsports.com.au.

Key men

For the Jets last week, it was the outstanding youngster Craig Goodwin together with Ryan Griffiths, Emile Heskey and James Virgili doing much of the damage. Marco Rojas was an absolute stand-out for Victory last Friday, and this combination of Archie Thompson, Marcos Flores and him has huge potential. Mark Milligan is also a huge plus, and very handy in the midfield.

My tip

I've avoided this question for as long as possible, but I'm going to go with Newcastle.

Adelaide United v Wellington Phoenix, Saturday 5.30pm (EDT), Hindmarsh Stadium

Why you should watch this game

Top of the table host the only unbeaten side after the opening three rounds. Adelaide happily return to Hindmarsh Stadium after things didn't quite go to plan against Melbourne Victory. Dario Vidosic returned and did well, but others that had been so influential the week before such as Jeronimo Neumann didn't have the same impact, and for that matter didn't last the full game. Wellington are back on the road, and this time for a tough couple weeks, after a hard-fought draw at home against the Roar. They face the Reds and then the Victory away in consecutive matches, and they'll return home with a better idea over any potential concerns about their away form.

Key men
For the home side, Bruce Djite and Sergio van Dijk were left out of the squad that travelled to Melbourne, and it looks like they might miss out again as Kossie looks to get back to winning form, so once again Jeronimo will be the key man for the Reds. Once again Manny Muscat will be key for Ricki Herbert's men, providing plenty of stability in the centre of the park, while young flyer Louis Fenton will hope to recreate his form from the opening two rounds after having a relatively quiet game last week.

My tip

I'm going with a draw for this one.

Brisbane Roar v Western Sydney Wanderers, Saturday 7.45pm (EDT), Suncorp Stadium

		P	W	D	L	GD	Pts
1	Adelaide	3	2	0	1	2	6
2	Perth	3	2	0	1	2	6
3	Newcastle	3	2	0	1	0	6
4	Wellington	3	1	2	0	2	5
5	Brisbane	3	1	1	1	4	4
6	Central Coast	3	1	1	1	0	4
7	Heart	3	1	1	1	-1	4
8	Sydney	3	1	0	2	-2	3
9	Victory	3	1	0	2	-5	3
10	Western Sydney	3	0	1	2	-2	1

Why you should watch this game

It's hard not to feel for Western Sydney Wanderers. Yet to score a goal, although they have picked up a point and leaked just two goals, but after a tough few weeks and an enormous, emotion-draining Sydney derby they now head to the home of the champions. Ouch. That's not to say they haven't impressed with well-organised, resolute defence and they've perhaps been a bit unlucky not to have found the back of the net yet, but Brisbane Roar at home and doing its job is a scary prospect for the new boys still finding their feet. Tony Popovic will need to get his team up for this one. The Roar, meanwhile, are coming off a trip across the ditch in which they grew into the game as it progressed. They may not have Ange Postecoglou in charge but much of Brisbane's play so far this season has been the familiar, quick-passing style that they're now renowned for, and it will be hard for the Wanderers' midfielders to shut that down.

Key men

Besart Berisha's goalscoring record is second-to-none, and the Roar will be hoping the Albanian striker overcomes a training-ground injury scare to take his place on Saturday night. Berisha has continued his form from last season, showing just how valuable a clinical finisher is in the A-League. For the Wanderers, it's all about their forwards. Big man Dino Kresinger is out with injury, so it's up to the likes of Mark Bridge, Labinot Haliti and perhaps Youssuf Hersi to grab Western Sydney's first A-League goal.

My tip

I do think there will be some good wins for the Wanderers this season - but not at Suncorp on Saturday. Brisbane to win.

Melbourne Heart v Central Coast Mariners, Sunday 3pm (EDT), AAMI Park

Why you should watch this game

Melbourne Heart are back home after a disappointing performance against Perth at nib Stadium last weekend - a 2-0 loss in hot, tough conditions. They host Graham Arnold's side, who are smarting from not only a loss at Hunter Stadium but a fairly controversial one at that. Heart created chances last week but really failed to capitalise on any of them, and seemed to fade in the second half, much to the frustration of coach John Aloisi. He'll be looking for better in the final third for this one, which will be a tough ask up against the Mariners' solid backline. Many fans beyond that of Melbourne Heart will be excited or at the very least keen observers to see Vinnie Grella back in action, but a date for his debut has not yet been set as he looks to get match fit.

Key men

Fred is always a key man for the Heart, but some of his support cast from last season have been a bit quiet so far this time round. Mate Dugandzic will need to find some spark in attack to help the home side find the back of the net, while Richard Garcia will need to continue his impressive start in the A-League. For Central Coast, Graham Arnold may turn to the reliable Daniel McBreen after his impressive stints off the bench in previous games this season.

My tip

I'm going for a draw here - I just can't see the Mariners losing two games in a row.

Sydney FC v Perth Glory, Sunday 5pm (EDT), ANZ Stadium

Why you should watch this game

In the new surrounds of ANZ Stadium, two teams meet coming off wins - for Sydney, their first of the season, and what a big one, the first ever Sydney derby. We're also lucky in that we will get to witness the great man Alessandro Del Piero's 800th football match. I wonder if in his wildest dreams he thought he'd a) achieve that, and b) think he would do so at Sydney's Olympic Stadium? However, the team, and coach Ian Crook, will not want to rely on Del Piero for much longer. For long-term success, for a serious finals campaign, the whole team must be firing, and there are positive signs that things are coming together. Their first clean sheet last week was a confidence booster (OK, against a team yet to score) but it's important. You got the feeling, given the occasion and lack of points, anything short of a win would have been unacceptable. Their opposition meantime is flying in second position, two wins from three albeit both at home, and Perth are full of confidence despite the absence of injured star striker Shane Smeltz, with Billy Mehmet filling in nicely. The Glory were entertaining to watch against Melbourne Heart on Sunday, using the width of the park as well as through the middle, with well-worked movement going forward and creating a host of chances in the process. Many describe Perth as "physical", and whilst that is considered an insult by some, it is a part of their game, but one of many elements the Glory possess. Can they head to ANZ and pick up the points though? They haven't been great in Sydney, but they could cause huge problems for the home side on Sunday.

Key men

Paul Reid's presence in the midfield made a difference for Sydney last weekend, as did Brett Emerton further up the park, as the coach continues to tinker with positions and tactics. For Perth, there was a lot to like about a bunch of players who caused all sorts of problems for Heart's defence, from Travis Dodd to Dean Heffernan, Scott Jamieson and Josh Risdon - who had an excellent game at right back. - and Ian Ferguson's options on the bench are perhaps another good reason why Perth should be such a force this season.

My tip

For the first time this season, I'm going with Sydney for the win.

18.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

'Rossi made MotoGP boring'

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

Boring ... Casey Stoner doesn't expect to return to MotoGP in the future. Source: Wayne Ludbey / News Limited

Casey Stoner has backed Valentino Rossi's belief that MotoGP is boring but says the Italian is one of the main reasons why.

Retiring at the end of the season, Stoner said the sport would have to change greatly for him to consider a return in the future.

"The class has to change a lot before I'd consider coming back," he said ahead of the Australian Grand Prix at Phillip Island.

"I'm not enjoying it as much, the bikes the way they are, the format, the rules, the way it is now is not appealing to me."

On Rossi's belief MotoGP was boring, Stoner had some choice words for "The Doctor".

"I think (Rossi) started that himself though, he's the one that started using electronics so much. It's him that's helped progress the electronic side of it," he said.

"Of course it's boring for him, he's not up the front challenging for wins and it's difficult."

The two-time world champions exit leaves MotoGP leaves a major void in the sport - no Australian rider seriously challenging for world 500cc or MotoGP success.

Australians have won eight premier class world titles since 1987.

Stoner blames the lack of an obvious Australian successor in MotoGP on the financial and legal threats facing motorcycling in Australia.

"It's going well as far as motorsport visiting Australia, but unfortunately motorsport inside Australia doesn't have support," he said.

"There's nobody out there that's stepping up with sponsorship, or helping to find places for people to ride or start learning, or running Australian championships.

"It's very disappointing. I think everybody wants to be wrapped up in cotton wool too much."

Like so many Australians aspiring to top-level world motorsport, Stoner had to leave Australia as a teenager - in his case at 14.

He was unable to race legally in Australian road races until he was 16.

Practice for Sunday's Australian Grand Prix - Stoner's last as he attempts to win a sixth successive title at Phillip Island - begins on Friday.

18.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Crows may have breached cap

Adelaide Crows ... winning games, not convincing everybody. Source: Simon Cross / News Limited

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

Adelaide Crows' no-longer secret "exit clause" with forward Kurt Tippett may be the least of their problems as the AFL investigation turns to allegations of undisclosed third-party payments.

If proven, these claims - that relate to Tippett and his brother Joel who plays with SANFL club West Adelaide - could subject the Crows to heavy sanctions for salary cap breaches.

AFL salary cap investigator Ken Wood has taken to investigating how the Crows may have paid Joel Tippett to move from Gold Coast to Adelaide to ease Kurt's unease.

Adelaide chief executive Steven Trigg on Friday handed to the AFL a letter of agreement reached outside the Crows' contract dealings with Tippett in 2009.

That letter has at least three clauses - the exit demand to trade Tippett to any AFL club of his choice when he chose to leave Adelaide and two deals that could breach the AFL salary cap rules.

Adelaide face harsher penalties for the alleged third-party arrangements than the exit clause written in the 2009 letter between Crows football operations chief John Reid and Tippett's Brisbane-based manager Peter Blucher.

If Wood and AFL integrity officer Brett Clothier find the Crows should have detailed the third-party deals in Tippett's contract, Adelaide will be subject to penalties ranging from fines to losing draft picks.

Trigg's decision to hand the document to the AFL on Friday appears to have been triggered, in part, by rivals Gold Coast Suns becoming aware of Tippett's letter of arrangement with the Crows and seeking AFL scrutiny of the 2009 document.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

Also, Wood had taken interest - before Trigg's declaration - in an interview in The Advertiser earlier this month when Crows chairman Rob Chapman spoke of Joel's move to Adelaide.

Earlier, Crows chairman Rob Chapman insisted the club had nothing to hide after initiating an AFL probe into Tippett's out-of-contract terms at West Lakes.

Chapman also has opened the Adelaide player files to AFL investigator Ken Wood as the special letter between Tippett and the Crows from 2009 brings into question how the club has signed up their squad.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

"We have nothing to hide - and we have opened all the books to the AFL without condition," Chapman said.

"I can give a gold-plated commitment the AFL will find nothing."

Chapman defended his club's officials who allowed Tippett to have a letter detailing the terms by which he was to be traded from Adelaide if he chose to leave the Crows at the end of his three-year contract - as he has asked with a trade to Sydney Swans.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

"Our intent was never to break any rules," Chapman said.

"And we have a history of compliance, no record of any misdemeanours, but if we have now got this wrong, we need to know before the trade is done and we will have to abide by any penalty."

The AFL investigation now puts in question if Tippett can be traded before Friday's 2pm (EDT) deadline - and what happens to his football career if he is suspended for breaching league rules.

Adelaide are understood to have agreed after closing contract talks with Tippett in 2009 to release him at a "minimal cost", supposedly a second-round draft pick.

"Remember three years ago everyone in this state wanted our club to re-sign Kurt Tippett," said Chapman.

"At that time, our people negotiating the deal believed what they were doing was right."

18.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Tiger, Chalmers charge in Malaysia

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

Hot streak ... Tiger Woods fired five birdies on the back nine in Malaysia. Source: Mohd Rasfan / AFP

Tiger Woods wowed huge crowds at the CIMB Classic in Malaysia as he ripped five birdies over his last nine holes to join Australian Greg Chalmers at three shots off the lead following the first round on Thursday.

The 14-time Major-winner, who has surged back to world No.2 after a damaging sex scandal and injury, dropped shots on eight and nine but recovered to card 66 on the par-71 course, trailing leader Troy Matteson.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

On a hot, humid and low-scoring day, Matteson's scorching 63 was only good enough for a one-shot leadover Brian Harman, Jeff Overton and Robert Garrigus, with Gaganjeet Bhullar and Tom Gillis one more back on six-under.

Woods and Chalmers were among six players tied on five-under at Kuala Lumpur's Mines Resort and Golf Club, where the American lifted golf's World Cup with Mark O'Meara on his previous visit way back in 1999.

His round appeared headed for mediocrity after consecutive lip-out bogeys on eight and nine, but after turning at level par a 20-foot birdie putt on the 10th sparked a sudden change in fortunes.

Another birdie at 11, near-misses at 13 and 14 and three birdies in a row from 15 to 17 put the American great firmly in contention in the no-cut, $US6.1 million ($A5.92 million) event, and delighted his hundreds of following fans.

"Turning at even par, I felt like I got run over there,'' Woods said. ``It felt like I had to shoot at least three or four under par on that back nine and I happened to get one more which was nice.

"It's going to take something 20-plus (under par) this week to win the tournament, so you've got to be aggressive and got to go and get it.''

A giant gallery of about 1,000 spectators had crammed the hillside and pathway at the first tee and roared with appreciation as Woods began his first tournament in Asia in two years.

In punishing midday heat, the 36-year-old solidly parred the first two holes and then went one under on the par-five third with a 250-yard approach shot to just off the green, followed by a chip to two feet.

Woods passed up a nine-foot birdie putt on the next hole, but a precision 120-yard pitch to within two feet put him two under par on the par-four fifth.

As Australian playing partner Marcus Fraser (70) struggled to bogey with two botched iron shots on the sixth, Woods grimaced with frustration as he dropped a short pitch 12 feet from the pin and then left his putt short.

A 15-foot birdie putt on the par-three seventh trickled just wide, and after driving left of the fairway on the eighth a valiant shot over a high overhanging tree left him in a grassy hollow just off the green.

A sizzling chip missed by a matter of inches, but Woods was staggered when his three-foot par putt lipped out for his first bogey.

And it was deja vu on the ninth as Woods bunkered his approach, escaped to within three feet but then lipped out again to drop back to even par in front of a packed clubhouse gallery.

But a rolling, 20-foot putt for birdie on 10 revved up his round.

18.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Do not abandon us: Cadel

Plea ... Evans says cycling has changed and moved on. Source: Tracey Nearmy / AAP

Australian 2011 Tour de France winner Cadel Evans has issued an impassioned plea for fans not to abandon cycling, saying the sport had already "changed and moved on" after years of doping controversies.

His comments come after US rider Lance Armstrong was stripped of seven Tour de France titles, following the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) and then ultimately cycling's peak body the UCI, fingering him as the key figure in a sophisticated, systematic doping scheme.

Evans, who was expected to speak during the announcement of the 2013 Tour de France route in Paris on Wednesday, wrote a diary entry on his website entitled: "Some thoughts".

"Behind the news, hysteria and sensationalism, I hope that people remember that the events being uncovered mostly occurred seven or more years ago, amongst a minority of those involved in a sport which has already changed and moved on," Evans wrote.

He said recent events were "difficult and confronting" for both those involved in the sport and fans, as he urged people to commend the authorities who are succeeding in the battle against doping.

He said the sport had learned from the mistakes of the past and was now at "a level playing field where the hard work, meticulous equipment preparation and natural ability are winning the big beautiful prestigious races.

"For those who are disappointed with the situation right now: do not despair, do not abandon us now we are in our best years, preparing things for our most important moment yet - the future...," he added.

Earlier this week Evans acknowledged meeting a doctor at the centre of the doping scandal, saying he spoke to Michele Ferrari in 2000 but they never discussed anything untoward.

While a number of prominent figures such as disgraced American rider Tyler Hamilton and Australian anti-doping expert Anne Gripper have lauded Evans and his win last year as a victory for clean cycling, Australia has already suffered a number of casualties in the Armstrong doping saga.

Matt White earlier this month stood down as Australia's professional men's road co-ordinator after confessing to taking performance-enhancing drugs while racing as a professional cyclist with the US Postal Service Team and Cycling Australia vice-president Stephen Hodge also resigned from the board after also admitting to doping.

18.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Confidence the key for Stoner

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

Injuries ... Casey Stoner says he doesn't know what to expect from his body at Phillip Island. Source: Roslan Rahman / AFP

Casey Stoner needs just one crucial ingredient to restore his reputation as the world's fastest man on two wheels at Phillip Island on Sunday.

"Just confidence,'' said Stoner in advance of his farewell ride in the Australian Grand Prix.

Chasing a record sixth consecutive victory at the Island, Stoner's body and mind have taken a battering over the past two months.

He admits that since his return from ankle surgery, "there has been something holding me back''.

A frustratingly-slow healing process and the prospect of further debilitating injury have dampened his free-wheeling style that has delivered 37 GP wins and two world titles.

Stoner, 27, and just two races short of retirement in November, is unwilling to predict an outcome for his home race at his favourite circuit.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

"There is a bloody good reason why I can't ride like I really want to,'' Stoner said.

"So for Phillip Island, I really don't know what to expect.

"I know I am not at 100 per cent and, to win at this level, everything has to be very close to 100 per cent to feel fantastic.

"I'm still not riding as free as I would like but there is always time and I have two more races to go.''

Since he won his first Australian GP with Ducati in 2007, Stoner has been untouchable at Phillip Island and has continued his domination since switching to Honda last year.

"I'm just hoping to be competitive at least once more before the end of the season,'' he said.

"The thing is I'm not fully healed. Most people would have waited a lot longer before coming back and I should have but I can't.

"I haven't got much time left before the end of my season.

"If I was in much better shape and I crashed and hit my foot, it would not be a problem but, if I do that now, then I am going to put myself back another four or five months.''

Doctors have told Stoner that any small bump could badly damage his weakened ankle.

"If I dislocate it again, I'm in strife. We are talking broken ligaments - not just torn,'' he said.

"Last Sunday in Sepang, I went thinking I'd just go around carefully, finish the race and not take any risks.''
Stoner's two comeback races, riding with a still weak and inflexible right ankle, have produced a fifth (Japan) and a third place (Malaysia).

The final curtain will be the Valencia GP in November but it is the Island race that is the focus not just for Stoner, but of a near sell-out crowd that is forecast for the Australian Grand Prix.

Spanish riders Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha) and Dani Pedrosa (Honda) will fight out the title and are separated by just 23 points with two races to go.

18.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Gatewood on Cup charge

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

Cup charge ... Gatewood, ridden by Glen Boss, surges past Brigantin to win the Geelong Cup. Source: Wayne Ludbey / News Limited

Former Test cricketer Simon O'Donnell and OTI Racing partner Terry Henderson are sweating on a penalty of at least 1.5kg for their English stayer Gatewood to get into the Melbourne Cup.

Gatewood skyrocketed into Cup contention with victory in the Geelong Cup.

A 1.5kg penalty would lift Gatewood to 53kg, and from 41st to 29th in the order of entry.

Manighar and Seville are ahead of him but are already out, and others would need to fall by the wayside for him to make the 24-horse field.

O'Donnell and Henderson won the Geelong Cup in 2008 with raider Bauer, who was then pipped on the post by Viewed in the Melbourne Cup.

"We are hoping for a big enough penalty to get into the Cup, and then hopefully having another crack at winning it," Henderson said.

Racing Victoria handicapper Greg Carpenter will announce the penalty on Thursday.

"I've got a lot of thinking to do in the next 24 hours along with my colleagues on the handicapping panel," Carpenter said.

"I will need to have a good look at the sectionals and the way the race was run and we need to be comfortable his overall profile is good enough (to gain a sufficient penalty to get into the Melbourne Cup)."

OTI Racing already has My Quest For Peace, fifth in the Caulfield Cup, safely in the Melbourne Cup field.

Gatewood backed up from a luckless run in the Herbert Power Stakes at Caulfield a fortnight ago and will have to complete a rare schedule, for a European raider, of three races in five weeks to win the Cup.

"He can be freshened and happy again going into the Melbourne Cup, where he will like the bigger track and hopefully more pace," Henderson said.

Gatewood came off a farcically slow pace to run 32.09sec for the last 600m to defeat Peter Moody's Chateau Margaux, who is not a Melbourne Cup entry, by three-quarters of a length. Heavily backed French galloper Brigantin was third.

Backed from $13 to $8 for the Melbourne Cup before yesterday's race, Brigantin sits at No.25 in the order of entry and must rely on horses above him dropping out.

A protest by Brigantin's jockey Umberto Rispoli against Luke Nolen on Chateau Margaux for interference on the home turn was swiftly dismissed by stewards.

The extra $27,000 prizemoney if he had been elevated would have taken him into the Cup field.

Jockey Glen Boss stoked up Gatewood from what was a ludicrous pace for the seven-horse field.

The winner ran 10sec outside the race record and slower than a restricted 2400m race earlier in the day.

Boss was excited by Gatewood's finishing sprint.

"I am taken by his splits ... he sprinted quickly," Boss said.

18.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

'There will never be another Prince'

There's only one ... Prince has been with the Titans since they joined the NRL. Source: Colin Whelan / AAP

Gold Coast Titans founding chairman Paul Broughton says the NRL club revolves around Scott Prince but it may learn to benefit from the halfback's mooted UK move.

While the Prince issue remains far from resolved - he met with Titans coach John Cartwright on Wednesday for the first time since being with linked to English Super League club Hull - Broughton said a change at No.7 would ultimately serve the club well.

"The Gold Coast fans will expect whoever wears the No.7 jersey to emulate what Scott has done," Broughton said.

"But there will never be another Scott Prince because the Titans revolved around Scott Prince."

Broughton added: "Look at Melbourne - it's not their seven (halfback) that is the be all and end all, it's their one (fullback), seven and nine (hooker).

"We just haven't had that for Scott to help him along. We never had the players outside of him to take the pressure off him.

"Maybe a change in the format may advantage them because now they will have to do a little bit more themselves.

"It will disadvantage the club in the immediate future but both should benefit in the long term."

Cartwright returned from an off-season break in the United States on Wednesday and met with Prince, the halfback's manager Steve Robinson later saying the situation had not been resolved.

"There's not much to say that has not already been said," Robinson said.

"It's just a matter of finding a resolution."

Hull coach Peter Gentle was certainly not giving anything away.

"We still have a number of irons in the fire and that includes speaking with player representatives in Australia," he told the Hull website.

"We are working towards concluding our recruitment and we still think another pivot is important as we look to balance our squad for 2013."

Prince is contracted to the Titans through to 2013 with an option for 2014 but the veteran is believed to be upset that he's being shopped around by the club to free up money under the salary cap.

18.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Tigers to unveil Potter this week

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

Mick Potter ... pictured (right) will be unveiled as the Tigers' new coach this week. Source: Gregg Porteous / News Limited

Mick Potter has already been in contact with members of the Wests Tigers backroom staff ahead of his expected unveiling as the NRL club's new head coach later this week.

Potter is set to succeed 2005 premiership-winning mentor Tim Sheens, whose 10-year tenure with the joint-venture club came to an abrupt end last month when he was relieved of his coaching duties with two years left on his contract after the side failed to make the 2012 finals.

Sheens has been offered a new senior role at the club, though there has been no confirmation to date as to whether he will accept the position.

After initially being linked to Manly assistant coach Matt Parish, Potter - the former Catalans, St Helens and Bradford head coach - has emerged as the man to lead the Tigers in a new direction.

It is believed he will sign a two-year deal with the club.

Potter, 49, will have a battle ahead of him as he attempts to placate fans and sponsors unhappy with the direction of the financially embattled club.

The Tigers were early premiership favourites for the 2012 season before inconsistent performances ensured they failed to make the top eight.

Sheens's unpopular decision to offload Beau Ryan and Chris Heighington resulted in a backlash from the playing group, while New South Wales hooker Robbie Farah - once considered part of the furniture at the Tigers - has been linked with a move to Parramatta in 2014.

New Zealand captain Benji Marshall is another whose future at the Tigers has also been the subject of increased scrutiny.

Potter comes highly regarded, having served his apprenticeship with four years as St George Illawarra's Premier League coach.

He then had six years as a head coach in the Super League, steering Catalans to the 2007 Challenge Cup final when the former St George captain was named Super League coach of the year.

18.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Saints land ruckman Hickey

Move ... Tom HIckey is on his way to St Kilda after being traded by Gold Coast. Source: David Clark / News Limited

St Kilda has landed the ruckman it desperately craved with Tom Hickey on the move from Gold Coast in exchange for pick 13.

The Saints and Suns will also swap later picks to seal the deal, while the official paperwork could be lodged with the AFL on Wednesday.

The Saints will receive picks 26, 47 and Hickey. In return, the Suns will get the prized pick of 13 as well as 37 and 57.

The Suns released a statement confirming the trade.

"We were really keen to gain a selection back inside the top 15 since exchanging our first round draft selection for the extremely talented Jack Martin through the trade incentive draft," Suns football operations, Marcus Ashcroft said.

"Our ability to add pick 13 to our selections in the upcoming draft means we will have the ability to draft another elite young player to our club next month."

For the Saints, Hickey boasts enormous upside after an impressive end to 2012 and is poised to lend Ben McEvoy a big hand in sharing ruck duties next season.

Hickey, 21, requested a trade to the Saints to move closer to his girlfriend but talks stalled when the Suns played hard ball, demanding a first-round pick as market interest increased.

The 201cm big man was a zone selection to Gold Coast.

The Saints traded their first pick, No. 12, to GWS in a deal which saw Claremont power forward Tom Lee head to St Kilda.

But Scott Watters' side was gifted pick 13 on Friday from the AFL as compensation for losing Brendon Goddard to Essendon, helping secure Hickey.

The trade means the Suns will now have a first-round selection in next month's draft despite trading pick 2 to the Giants for 17-year-old mini-draft selection Jack Martin.

Despite losing Hickey the Suns still boast a wealth of rising star power in the ruck, with Daniel Gorringe, Zac Smith and Tom Nicholls set to enter their third seasons in the AFL. 

18.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Rio plans union for black players

Rio Ferdinand ... is setting up a union for black footballers. Source: AAP

Manchester United star Rio Ferdinand is setting up a union to protect the interests of black footballers in England.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

Ferdinand has long been a vocal campaigner against racism and the Daily Mail reported that he and other high-profile black players have overseen the first draft of a constitution.

The England defender made headlines last weekend for angering club manager Alex Ferguson by refusing to wear a t-shirt for the Kick It Out campaign, an initiative designed to rid the sport of racism.

Ferdinand believed that not enough was being done to combat the problem after Chelsea's John Terry was handed a four-match ban and fined STG220,000 ($A344,000) last month for racially abusing his younger brother Anton, who plays for Queens Park Rangers.

Rio Ferdinand and his colleagues want to wipe out discrimination in all forms and will hold a series of meetings in London in the coming month.

The union has a working name of The Federation of Black Players.

The news comes after Kick It Out's chairman Herman Ouseley criticised Rio Ferdinand for boycotting the FA-funded campaign.

"Would Rio tell England where to stick their shirt if picked or does he think the FA has done enough to tackle racism?" he said.

"Will he tell Manchester United where to stick their shirt and STG150,000 ($A234,000) a week or have they done enough to tackle racism?"

"Should we tell women not to support women against rape groups because they have not done enough to stop rape?"

18.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Zidane statue angers French

Anger ... The statue of Zinedine Zidane headbutting Marco Matterazzi displayed outside a French gallery. Source: Remy de la Mauviniere / News Limited

A row is simmering over a giant bronze sculpture depicting French footballer Zinedine Zidane's infamous headbutt on Italian defender Marco Materazzi in the 2006 World Cup final, which has been placed outside the Pompidou Arts Centre in Paris.

The five-metre tall statue is the work of French, Algerian-born artist Adel Abdessemed, who is being honoured by the Pompidou with a retrospective on his work from October to January.

But its prominent display outside the popular centre has angered the national association of local French football officials who claim that it is not the image of Zidane, who retired after the 2006 World Cup final, that should be promoted.

"By choosing this provocative image, the artist has deliberately opted to ignore all your talents and all the postitive emotions that you were able to share with the people of our country,'' the officials wrote in an open letter to Zidane.

They called on Zindae to use the full powers of his influence to have the statue removed immediately, adding that it would have been better to have highlighted his two headed goals in France's 3-0 win over Brazil in the 1998 World Cup final.

Zidane's headbutt on Materazzi, who he claimed had provoked him, came during extra time in the 2006 final in Berlin with the sides tied at 1-1. He was red carded and thus missed the penalty shoot-out which Italy won.

Pompidou Centre chief Alain Seban expressed shock at the complaints, saying that they amounted to an attempt to censure artistic creativity.

18.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Renegades net big-hitter Samuels

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

Big Bash ... Marlon Samuels has signed with the Melbourne Renegades. Source: Eranga Jayawardena / AP

Marlon Samuels will be the Melbourne Renegades' second international player for the upcoming Big Bash League.

The signing is a coup for the Etihad Stadium-based team with the West Indian having been named in the team of the tournament at the recent World T20 in Sri Lanka.

Samuels, 31, led the West Indies to victory in the final with a match-winning 78 before taking 1-15 with his gentle off-spinners to be player of the final and finishing third in the total runs tally for the tournament.

Renegades chief executive Stuart Coventry said the Jamaican would likely bat after openers Daniel Harris and captain Aaron Finch.

"Marlon is a hard-hitting, genuine No.3 batsman who is an entertainer in every sense of the word," Coventry said.

"He seems to fly under the radar when it comes to receiving credit as an all-rounder, but his broad skill-set was one of the main reasons we brought him on board – he's no one-trick pony."

The Renegades, who have already signed superstar Sri Lankan spinner Muthiah Muralidaran, had been linked with Kevin Pietersen, but the chase for the controversial batsman's signature died down after he was welcomed back into the English squad last week.

Samuels will likely be unavailable for the Renegades' first match, the Melbourne derby against the Stars that opens the BBL on December 7.

He will be the fourth West Indian in the competition with Sunil Narine (Sydney Sixers) and Kemar Roach (Brisbane Heat) already signed and fan favourite Chris Gayle returning for the Sydney Thunder.

18.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Your team's BBL signings

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

Kieron Pollard ... West Indies star is returning to Adelaide. Source: Aijaz Rahi / AP

Which players have your KFC T20 Big Bash League team signed for the 2012-2013 season?

2012-2013 KFC T20 BIG BASH LEAGUE SQUADS

Adelaide Strikers
Johan Botha, Theo Doropoulos, Callum Ferguson, Jon Holland, Phillip Hughes, Michael Klinger, Nathan Lyon, Andrew McDonald, Michael Neser, Kieron Pollard, Gary Putland, Nathan Reardon, Kane Richardson, James Smith, Shaun Tait

Brisbane Heat
Joe Burns, Ben Cutting, Daniel Christian, Peter Forrest, Cameron Gannon, Ryan Harris, Chris Hartley, Nathan Hauritz, James Hopes, Chris Lynn, Alister McDermott, Luke Pomersbach, Kemar Roach, Shane Watson, Daniel Vettori

Hobart Hurricanes
George Bailey, Travis Birt, Aiden Blizzard, Doug Bollinger, Xavier Doherty, Ben Dunk, Michael Hogan, Jason Krejza, Ben Laughlin, Tim Paine, Ricky Ponting, Owais Shah, Timm van der Gugten, Jonathan Wells

Melbourne Renegades
Meyrick Buchanan, Tom Cooper, Brendan Drew, Aaron Finch, Daniel Harris, Jayde Herrick, Michael Hill, James Muirhead, Muttiah Muralitharan, Peter Nevill, Aaron O'Brien, Darren Pattinson, Nathan Rimmington, Ben Rohrer, Will Sheridan, Marlon Samuels

Melbourne Stars
Shane Warne, Jackson Bird, James Faulkner, Pete Handscomb, John Hastings, Brad Hodge, David Hussey, Glenn Maxwell, Clint McKay, James Pattinson, Rob Quiney, Matthew Wade, Cameron White, Luke Wright, Lasith Malinga

Perth Scorchers
Ashton Agar, Tim Armstrong, Michael Beer, Jason Behrendorff, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Patrick Cummins, Ben Edmondson, Herschelle Gibbs, Brad Hogg, Michael Hussey, Simon Katich, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Joe Mennie, Albie Morkel, Marcus North, Tom Triffitt, Adam Voges

Sydney Sixers
Brad Haddin, Josh Hazlewood, Moises Henriques, Josh Lalor, Brett Lee, Nic Maddinson, Ian Moran, Sunil Narine, Stephen O'Keefe, Kurtis Patterson, Daniel Smith, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Dominic Thornely, David Warner

Sydney Thunder
Sean Abbott, Shahid Afridi, Cameron Borgas, Ryan Carters, Michael Clarke, Mark Cosgrove, Adam Coyte, Scott Coyte, Luke Doran, Jason Floros, Chris Gayle, Rhett Lockyear, Dirk Nannes, Gurinder Sandhu, Chris Tremain, Usman Khawaja, Chris Rogers, Martin Guptill, Matt Prior

18.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Lithuania hails Wallabies win

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

Thanks ... The Wallabies draw with the All Blacks saves Lithuania's world record winning streak. Source: Adam Head / News Limited

Mighty minnows Lithuania paid tribute on Monday to Australia for halting the All Blacks' unbeaten run, which threatened to end the Baltic nation's oddball record for the longest series of victories in the sport.

The Lithuanian Rugby Federation's general secretary Irmantas Kukulskis said they had been waiting with bated breath as the All Blacks edged ever closer to their 18-match record, recognised by the International Rugby Board.

New Zealand's 16-match run ended when the Wallabies held them 18-18 in the Bledisloe Cup in Brisbane on Saturday.

"We were waiting for this moment and today we can only thank the Australian national team for helping us to keep this record,'' Kukulskis said.

"Rugby is not very popular in Lithuania. We're amateurs and the federation's run by enthusiasts,'' he said.

"So we're very glad and proud to have such a record,'' he added, although the Lithuanians are fully aware that their unbeaten run came against much smaller fry than the All Blacks' opponents.

Lithuania play in European rugby's third tier -- not counting the top-flight Six Nations, from which promotion and relegation are not automatic.

In April 2010 they chalked up their 18th consecutive victory, in a European Nations Cup match against Serbia.

Their four-year winning streak ended a month later when they lost to Ukraine in a Rugby World Cup qualifier.

"We are a small country, and this record attracts attention. It's a pleasure to hear the name of Lithuania among such greats as Australia or New Zealand,'' said Kukulskis.

"This is sport, and we understand the record may be broken one day,'' he added.

The sport is very much a minority interest in the republic of three million people, where basketball is king.

But there are enough hardy souls to run a domestic league and a national team whose members include a handful who play in Sweden or English rugby's lower tiers.

Lithuania only returned to the global sporting fold after breaking free from five decades of Soviet rule in 1990.

18.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

'Lance has no place in cycling'

Lance Armstrong ... (insert caption here) Source: Thao Nguyen / AAP

The Intenational Cycling Union has handed Lance Armstrong a life ban and stripped him of his seven Tour de France titles after recognising the sanctions imposed by United States Anti Doping Agency (USADA).

UCI president Pat McQuaid confirmed USADA's findings in a press conference beamed around the world from the governing body's headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, on Monday night (EDT).

In a long address to the media, McQuaid called it "a landmark day for cycling" and said that despite all the pain the sport was going through, "cycling has a future".

But he said Armstrong had no place in cycling and that the one time pin-up boy of the sport "deserved to be forgotton by cycling".

McQuaid succeeded Hein Verbruggen as president of world cycling after Armstrong's seventh and final Tour victory in 2005 and is credited with boosting the body's anti-doping program, notably with the pioneering blood passport programme.

The Irishman was under pressure to answer how Armstrong and his teams managed to dope for so long without being detected. But he rejected calls to quit.

Armstrong's sporting reputation as the cancer survivor who fought back to win cycling's most gruelling and celebrated race has been shattered since the revelations, leading to sponsors leaving him in droves.

There has also been fears of a wider withdrawal of financial backing for the sport after Dutch sponsor Rabobank said it was ending the sponsorship of its professional cycling team after a 17-year association.

The sponsor described professional cycling as "sick" to its core and unlikely to recover in the foreseeable future.

The strongly-worded comments went to the heart of claims of failings at the UCI and in particular to McQuaid, who has been criticised for failing to see the extent of doping within the sport.

Verbruggen, who stepped down in in 2006 but remains honorary president, ran the UCI during Armstrong's golden era - a time when USADA's report says Armstrong and teammates evaded dope tests either by hiding or being tipped off in advance.

The Dutchman has also been accused of protecting Armstrong - even accepting a donation to cover up a positive dope test.

The cyclist's cancer backstory and Tour triumphs from 1999 to 2005 were seen as key to restoring cycling's tattered image after a string of high-profile doping scandals in the 1990s.

Armstrong's Tour victories are unlikely to be re-awarded, the race's director Christian Prudhomme has said. The void avoids further headaches, given that the majority of riders who finished on the podium have also been implicated in doping.

Additional reporting: Justin Davis, AAP

18.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Glory finish over top of Heart

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

Dylan MacCallister ... was on the losing side as the Heart visited the Glory. Source:AAP

A goal in either half propelled Perth Glory to a 2-0 win over Melbourne Heart and top spot on the A-League ladder.

The Glory had the better of the chances at nib Stadium on Sunday night with both goals coming from corners - Dean Heffernan grabbing the first and Billy Mehmet the second to secure the relatively comfortable victory without stars Shane Smeltz and Bas van den Brink.

Coming off last season's heartbreaking grand final loss to the Brisbane Roar, the Glory have now sandwiched two home wins around a 1-0 loss away to the Central Coast Mariners.

		P	W	D	L	GD	Pts
1	Adelaide	3	2	0	1	2	6
2	Perth	3	2	0	1	2	6
3	Newcastle	3	2	0	1	0	6
4	Wellington	3	1	2	0	2	5
5	Brisbane	3	1	1	1	4	4
6	Central Coast	3	1	1	1	0	4
7	Heart	3	1	1	1	-1	4
8	Sydney	3	1	0	2	-2	3
9	Victory	3	1	0	2	-5	3
10	Western Sydney	3	0	1	2	-2	1

The Glory controlled the majority of the contest and deservedly came away with full points, taking some air out of the Heart's impressive opening to the season which had yielded a win and draw over the opening two weeks under new coach John Aloisi.

The Heart got close to an early goal with a well-taken free kick from David Williams that Fred just put over the crossbar, before the Glory seized control of the match.

---

Re-live the game as it happened with our A-League Match Centre, featuring video highlights and all the key stats!

---

Heffernan had two golden chances in the 11th minute, both tremendously saved by the Heart on the goal line, while Mehmet was a constant menace in the box.

The Glory were eventually rewarded for their efforts when Heffernan tapped in a corner from Liam Miller in the 38th minute.

Heart captain Fred was substituted at halftime with his right eye swelling up after a first half clash with Glory defender Michael Thwaite.

The move worked in Melbourne's favour with his replacement Josip Tadic helping to give the visitors some drive in attack.

But the Glory refused to take their foot off the pedal, Mehmet missing with a header before Steve McGarry blew the day's easiest opportunity when he shot high when alone in the box.

Chris Harold missed an outstanding chance to make it 2-0 in the 84th minute when he missed when presented with a one-on-one with Heart keeper Clint Bolton, Mehmet eventually confirming the points when he turned in a corner four minutes from time.

18.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Bo van Pelt wins Perth International

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

Bo van Pelt ... plays out of the bunker on the way to his Perth International win. Source:AAP

World No.24 Bo van Pelt prevailed in the battle of the Americans to win the inaugural $2 million Perth International at Lake Karrinyup on Sunday.

Van Pelt started the day one stroke clear of countryman Jason Dufner, and two ahead of 20-year-old Argentine Emiliano Grillo.

Grillo, who led by as many as five strokes early in his third round, failed to keep the fire burning on Sunday, shooting a tame two-over 74 to leave van Pelt and Dufner to fight it out for the trophy.

World No.10 Dufner had his moments, chipping in for birdie on the par-five seventh, and also sending a beautiful approach shot to within 15cm of the hole at the par-four 14th.

But van Pelt was up to the challenge, carding a four-under 68 to finish 16-under for the tournament and two clear of Dufner.

He pocketed $US333,330 ($A323,103) for the win, and said he was looking forward to defending his title next year.

But while the win gave van Pelt something to celebrate, it was tinged with sadness as he dedicated his first European Tour victory to popular caddie Scott Steele, who died of a heart-attack on Friday at the age of 55.

"To see that he had passed on was tough news," van Pelt said.

"Scotty has been great to me ever since I was a rookie.

"The best way to honour a guy like that was to have a great attitude, to have a lot of energy.

"That's how he lived his life. He was a good man that will be sorely missed by anyone who ever came in contact with him."

Spain's Alejandro Canizares finished third at 11-under, with Kiwi Michael Hendry two strokes further back in fourth.

Grillo dropped two shots on his final three holes to finish at eight-under, but his equal fifth-place finish should be enough for the world No.516 to retain his European Tour card for next year.

Defending Australian Open winner Greg Chalmers was in the hunt for a top-three finish, but a double-bogey on the 16th and bogey on the 17th saw him tumble to 10th at seven-under.

"I wish I could have one swing back - the tee shot off the 16th when I made a double bogey," Chalmers said after shooting a one-under 71 in his final round.

"I figured out after nine holes today I was never going to win the tournament.

"But I was in a good position to have a top-three or top-five position, and I blew it over the last few holes."

Former world No.3 Paul Casey produced one of the best rounds of the day, shooting a five-under 67 to make a surge up the leaderboard.

But his three-over 75 on Friday cost him any real chance of victory, with the Englishman forced to settle for a tie for fifth at eight-under along with Grillo, Scott Jamieson, Rhys Davies and David Howell.

18.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Pedrosa wins in wet Malaysia

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

Pedrosa ... keeps his title hopes alive with a win in Malaysia. Source:AAP

Spain's Dani Pedrosa stormed to victory in the Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix on Sunday, keeping his championship title chase alive on a rain-soaked circuit.

The Honda rider passed pole-sitter and Yamaha ace Jorge Lorenzo, who is the championship points leader, midway through a race which saw a number of riders crashing out.

Organisers put out the red flag on lap 13 of the 20-lap race to stop the event.

Pedrosa's Australian teammate Casey Stoner, recovering from an ankle injury, was third after starting from the second row.

With his first ever win in wet conditions, Pedrosa - who started second on the grid - can narrow the points gap with his countryman Lorenzo.

Pedrosa, who is battling for his first ever MotoGP crown, is now just 22 points adrift of Lorenzo, who has 321 points. Stoner has 230.

There are two more races left for the 2012 season, in Australia and Valencia.

Lorenzo charged away from the pack at the start. But as more rain began to hit the circuit, Pedrosa brilliantly picked up speed on his arch-rival.

"It is my first winning in the wet and I am very happy. I could get some rhythm and maintained a constant lap," he said.

Lorenzo said the red flag came out just as Pedrosa overtook him.

"I was struggling when heavy rain poured on the track. I am lucky to be second. It (the 20 points obtained for second place) is good for the championship title," he said.

18.48 | 0 komentar | Read More

Redbacks cruise to bonus point win

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

Klinger ... made crucial runs in South Australia's win over Queensland. Source: Sarah Reed / News Limited

Run gluttons Phil Hughes and Michael Klinger feasted on Queensland to deliver South Australia a crunching nine-wicket victory in Sunday's one-day match at Adelaide Oval.

ODD - Adelaide Oval

21 October 2012 - Day 1, Session 2

South Australia 1st Innings

P. Hughes	95	104	9	2	91.35
C. Ferguson	18	31	2	0	58.06
B. Ipson	10.1	0	48	0	4.72

Responding to Queensland's 189 all out, the Redbacks cruised to 1-192 in the 37th over, banking a bonus point for reaching their target within 40 overs.

Hughes (95 not out) and Klinger (72) cashed in after Redbacks paceman Kane Richardson ripped through the Bulls' batsmen to take 6-48, the equal third-best bowling figures by a South Australian in a domestic one-dayer.

Only seven bowlers have returned better domestic one-day figures than Richardson, who claimed four victims in an eight-ball span.

His teammates Hughes and Klinger then cracked a 138-run opening partnership from 24.1 overs to ensure Queensland remain winless from their opening two games in the tournament.

Hughes continued his prolific start to the season for his adopted state, the left-hander now second highest run-scorer in the one-day cup and third highest in the Sheffield Shield.

The ex-NSW batsman faced 104 balls, struck nine boundaries and his second six sealed the triumph.

The former Test opener was rapt to help deliver SA's first win in any format this season.

"It was nice to get a few runs and I thought Maxy (Klinger) batted beautifully," Hughes said.

"But it was all set up with the ball and in the field, it all really clicked tonight.

"For Richardson to get the six wickets, it really set it up."

Hughes said the bonus point could be precious in the later stages of the one-day competition.

"It (the bonus point) was always in the back of our minds," he said.

"It was just about getting a partnership, and we had that 100-plus run partnership which was crucial."

Earlier, Richardson's purple patch with the ball began when Bulls recruit Usman Khawaja tarnished his polished start.

Khawaja moved with ease to 57 by smacking Richardson for a leg-side six, but tried a reckless repeat three balls later and was caught at wide mid-on.

In Richardson's next over, the quick claimed three victims and the Bulls were in the midst of sliding from 1-89 to 7-131.

Only late resistance by Joe Burns (51) and Brad Ipson (33), who put on 57 runs for the eighth wicket, added a semblance of respectability for the visitors, who were bowled out in the 49th over.

18.48 | 0 komentar | Read More