Chelsea beat United to reach FA Cup semifinals
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte got the upper hand on Jose Mourinho for the second time this season as his doublechasing side beat 10-man Manchester United 1-0 at Stamford Bridge to reach the FA Cup semifinals on Monday.
N’Golo Kante’s precise 51st minute strike was enough for Conte’s team to break United’s hold on the Cup after the visitors had Ander Herrera sent off after 35 minutes for a second yellow card — both for fouls on Eden Hazard. Premier League leaders’ Chelsea’s reward is a Wembley clash with Tottenham Hotspur next month, while the other semifinal will be between Arsenal and Manchester City.
United, who face a Europa League last 16 tie on Thursday against Russian side Rostov, were missing the suspended Zlatan Ibrahimovic and injured Wayne Rooney and offered little threat once Kante had beaten David de Gea with a precise low shot.
KERBER ADVANCES
Angelique Kerber might yet celebrate her return to No 1 with an Indian Wells title after battling past Pauline Parmentier 7-5, 3-6, 7-5 to reach the fourth round on Monday.
Parmentier, the world No 62 from France, had the two-time Grand Slam champion from Germany on the ropes with a break and a 4-1 lead in the third set.
But Kerber fought back with a break in the seventh game and another in a marathon 11th game that gave her a 6-5 lead and a chance to serve for the match.
America’s Venus Williams booked a fourth-round berth with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Lucie Safarova.
Third-seeded Stan Wawrinka continued his dominance of Philipp Kohlschreiber, rolling past the German 7-5, 6-3 on Monday to reach the fourth round.
BENGALURU FC WIN
A goal each from Sunil Chhetri and Sandesh Jhingan helped Bengaluru FC beat Mohun Bagan 2-1 in their AFC Cup match. Mohun Bagan took the lead as Yusa Katsumi scored off a penalty in the 37th minute but the home side pumped in twice in the second half to emerge winners in the first leg of the home and away tie.
DURBAN’S NO TO CWG
South Africa voiced disappointment that Durban had been stripped of the 2022 Commonwealth Games, blaming financial disagreements but vowing to host major events in future. Commonwealth Games chiefs confirmed Monday they were looking for a new venue after Durban failed to meet “key obligations” during its preparations.
FORCE INDIA GOES PINK
Force India’s Formula One cars will sport a new pink livery this season after the team signed a sponsorship deal with Austrian water technology company BWT. Team co-owner Vijay Mallya said in a statement on Tuesday that the deal, which will make the cars stand out at the Australian season-opener next week, was one of the most significant partnerships in Force India’s 10-year history. No financial details were given. “Changing the colour of our cars is an indication of the strength of this new partnership and a real statement of intent from BWT,” added Mallya.