Rovers keep Reds at bay
LIVERPOOL were left frustrated by Championship side Blackburn Rovers, who defended heroically for a goalless result at Anfield yesterday, forcing a replay of their FA Cup quarter-final.
After an even first half, Liverpool dominated the second period, but wave after wave of attack was thwarted.
Kolo Toure headed against a post, while Daniel Sturridge, Philippe Coutinho and Raheem Sterling failed to break down their second tier visitors, despite relentless pressure.
Aston Villa, who beat West Bromwich Albion 2-0 on Saturday, are the only side to seal a semi-final spot so far.
Giant-killers Bradford City travel to Reading on March16 for a replay after their 0-0 draw.
“It was 90 minutes of concentration because they had a lot of the ball and they had some great players out there,” Blackburn captain Matthew Kilgallon said.
“It was just about concentration and working for each other.
“Massive games like this you really enjoy and they’re the ones you tell people about when you finish (playing).”
While third tier Bradford had captured the imagination with their storied march to the quarter-final, Blackburn had gone about their business quietly in dumping out Swansea and Stoke before they arrived at Anfield.
Pre-match renditions of “You’ll Never Walk Alone” had barely ended when Liverpool lost their defensive rock Martin Skrtel.
The Slovakia defender contested a header against Blackburn’s Rudy Gestede but fell heavily on his neck and, after an eight-minute delay, was carried off on a stretcher.
Liverpool had lost just one Liverpool’s Martin Skrtel is tended to by teammate Emre Can as he lies injured after a challenge with Blackburn’s Rudy Gestede, centre right, during the FA Cup quarter-final at Anfield Stadium yesterday. of their previous 21 games in all competitions, but Blackburn coped comfortably in the opening stages and, led by the powerful Gestede, were carving out opportunities of their own.
Craig Conway spurned the best chance of the opening period, blazing high and wide from close-range.
Sturridge’s rasping shot in first-half stoppage time drew a smart stop from Blackburn keeper Simon Eastwood.
Immediately after the break the hosts were indebted to goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, who produced a wonderful save to palm away Alex Baptiste’s bulleted goal-bound header.
Mario Balotelli was introduced midway through the half but was restricted to speculative long-range efforts.
Manchester United take on holders Arsenal in the last of the FA Cup quarter-finals at Old Trafford tonight, but Louis van Gaal says qualifying for next season’s Champions League is the top priority.
United have not won the oldest cup competition in soccer since 2004 will be hoping to move a step closer to lifting the trophy for a record 12th time.
But Van Gaal’s focus is on restoring United to Europe’s elite club competition after the team missed out following their worst Premier League finish in the previous campaign, when they were seventh.
The Dutch manager, who took over at Old Trafford in the aftermath, says his side must treat the FA Cup as a bonus and concentrate on finishing in the Premier League’s top four to secure a Champions League spot.
“I always want to get the goals we have set. And the goals we have set is the top four,” Van Gaal said.
United are fourth in the league with 10 games remaining, 10 points adrift of leaders Chelsea and one behind Arsenal in third, whose own manager Arsene Wenger once said that the “first trophy is to finish in the top four”.
Van Gaal agrees: “I think that for a club the Champions League is the highest level and that’s why he is saying that.”
But the Dutchman says it is still important for his side to beat Arsenal at Old Trafford.
“Every match you play has an influence in the next match. So we are in a ‘rat race’ in the Premier League and the club who wins the FA Cup match has a very good feeling for the next matches,” Van Gaal explained.
“It could be damaging for the team that loses, but you can also react.” – Reuters
Grant Winter TREVOR Fisher jr had come tantalisingly close, but not close enough, to landing a European Tour win in the South African summer.
But the Africa Open, which ended at East London Golf Club yesterday, was one that didn’t get away as the sweetswinging 35-year-old reeled in nine birdies in the final round on his way to an eight-underpar 64, a 24-under 264 aggregate, and victory by five over Matt Ford of England.
Fisher posted a nine-underpar 63 in Saturday’s third round, which meant he was 17 under for the weekend – a subpar blitz which earned him R2.2 million.
“I just felt today was my time because I’ve come close before, and I was leading in 2010 only for Charl Schwartzel to win,” said Fisher.
“When I got in the car this morning to come to the course Bruce Springsteen was playing – it could have been I’m on Fire – and it kind of relaxed me and put me in a good space. And that’s how I felt out on the golf course – nothing fazed me, I hit the ball well, I made some great saves from the bunkers, and I putted well.”
Fisher lost his professional golfer father, Trevor Fisher sr, to cancer two years ago and after lifting the trophy yesterday his son paid tribute to his dad.
“I thought about him the whole week when I was out there on the course. He always told me to breathe slowly and easily and just enjoy the ride, and that’s what I did.”
The South African started the day with a two-shot lead over playing partner Ford and each man made four birdies in the first eight holes, with “Fish” dropping the only shot at the short par-4 fifth.
Ford had rolled in three 15footers and when the pair arrived on the tee at the par-4 ninth, the toughest hole on the course, only one shot separated the two players.
But Fisher, one of the best long-iron players around, rifled a two-iron off the tee and followed it up with a four-iron approach to set up a birdie.
Ford, meanwhile, missed the green in regulation and then failed to convert a short par putt, a turning point in an enthralling battle.
Fisher birdied three of the last four holes, rolling in a 40footer across the green at the par-4 18th for a three. That birdie meant he didn’t drop a single shot on the back nine all week. His victory means he is exempt, for the first time, on the European Tour until the end of 2016.
Spanish duo Eduardo de la Riva and Jorge Campillo and Denmark’s Morten Orum Madsen tied for third on 272, with South Africa’s Jaco van Zyl and England’s John Parry next best on 274.
Fisher’s victory means the Africa Open trophy remains in South Africa – an overseas player has never won the title.