Woods transferred to LA hospital
Arsenal, Man Utd, Rangers reach Europa League last 16 as Leicester exit
Golf superstar Tiger Woods has been transferred to a Los Angeles medical facility for further treatment, according to a statement Thursday from the hospital where he underwent surgery for serious leg injuries after his car crash.
“Mr. Tiger Woods was transferred to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center for continuing orthopedic care and recovery,” said Anish Mahajan, CEO of the hospital where Woods was first taken.
“On behalf of our staff, it was an honor to provide orthopedic trauma care to one of our generation’s greatest athletes.”
Woods was driving alone Tuesday morning in a Los Angeles suburb on a road notorious for accidents when his SUV hit the center median, crossed into the opposing lane, struck a tree and then rolled over several times.
The 15-time major champion underwent surgery to repair “significant orthopedic injuries” to his lower right leg and ankle.
This included the insertion of a rod into Woods’s shin bone and the use of “a combination of screws and pins” to stabilize his foot and ankle.”
Woods’ latest injuries have cast doubt on the golfing legend’s ability to compete at top level again.
The crash comes just two months after Woods underwent his fifth back operation.
The first officer to arrive at the scene of the crash said it was “very fortunate” that Woods even came out of it alive.
He was found conscious, appearing “calm and lucid” and able to identify himself as “Tiger,” Deputy Carlos Gonzalez said Tuesday.
Woods was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol, said Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva.
PIERRE-EMERICK Aubameyang scored twice including a late winner as Arsenal qualified for the last 16 of the Europa League on Thursday with a 3-2 victory over Benfica in Greece, while Manchester United and Rangers cruised through to the next round.
“Everyone is happy tonight. This is what gives me power every day, take errors from the past and transform to strength,” Aubameyang told BT Sport.
“The team showed a lot of character and we deserved the win. It was a hard game. What we showed tonight will be an example for the future.”
United cemented their place in yesterday’s draw with a 0-0 draw at home to Real Sociedad, having effectively clinched the tie last week with an emphatic 4-0 win on neutral ground in Italy.
Mikel Oyarzabal’s awful penalty miss represented the best chance at Old Trafford for La Real, while Bruno Fernandes rattled the crossbar and Axel Tuanzebe’s header was disallowed for a foul.
Leicester City, who are behind second-placed United in the Premier League only on goal difference, were knocked out after sliding to a 2-0 loss at home to Czech champions Slavia Prague.
Lukas Provod fired Slavia in front just after half-time following a goalless draw in the first leg, and Senegalese teenager Abdallah Sima ensured the visitors extended their run in the competition.
“We didn’t create enough over two legs. We didn’t defend with any intensity. We gave away two disappointing goals. The better team won,” said Leicester coach Brendan Rodgers.
Steven Gerrard’s Rangers progressed following their 5-2 win over Belgian side Antwerp at Ibrox, with five different players on target for the Scottish league leaders.
After a dramatic 4-3 win in the first leg last week, goals from Alfredo Morelos, Nathan Patterson and Ryan Kent put Rangers in control before late penalties from Borna Barisic and Cedric Itten wrapped up the tie 9-5 on aggregate.
“I’m very satisfied, the performance was outstanding in a lot of areas,” said Gerrard.
“The first three were top high-level goals. But, as a perfectionist, we still have to look at the areas we went wrong tonight.”
AC Milan squeezed past Red Star Belgrade on away goals after a 1-1 draw in a clash of former European champions at the San Siro.
Franck Kessie’s early penalty was enough to book Milan’s place in the last 16 despite El Fardou
MANCHESTER City have set their sights on a clean sweep of the four major trophies as the runaway Premier League leaders prepare to host high-flying West Ham this weekend.
To have any chance of putting City under pressure, secondplaced Manchester United must end Thomas Tuchel’s unbeaten start as Chelsea boss.
AFP Sport looks at some of the main talking points ahead of the weekend action in the English top-flight.
Manchester City’s march to the top of the Premier League was not a surprise given their title-winning pedigree, but their recordbreaking surge has fuelled belief that they can achieve greatness.
City chalked up their 19th successive win in all competitions — a record for an English top-flight side — as they eased to a 2-0 victory at Borussia Monchengladbach in the Champions League last-16 first leg on Wednesday.
Pep Guardiola’s side are 10 points clear at the top of the Premier League, face Tottenham in the League Cup final and have reached the FA Cup quarter-finals.
Bernardo Silva, who was on the scoresheet against Borussia, gave
voice to City’s swaggering confidence after they moved a step closer to an unprecedented quadruple.
Unbeaten in 26 matches stretching back to November, Silva said City could set a new standard of excellence after their domestic treble two years ago.
“We know we have good momentum, but this is just the last 16 of the Champions League,” he said. “We have the Premier League, the FA Cup and the League Cup.
“It is going to be a tough season but we are going to try to win them all.”
Manchester United are the
closest challengers to Manchester City, but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men will need a major collapse from their rivals if they are to win the title for the first time since 2013.
Victory at Chelsea on Sunday is essential to keep United’s faint hopes alive.
That will not be easy given the Blues’ revival under former Paris Saint-Germain boss Thomas Tuchel.
Since replacing the sacked Frank Lampard in January, Tuchel has won six of his eight games in all competitions to lift Chelsea up to fifth place.
But United are unbeaten in five
league games and their forward Marcus Rashford believes they are becoming a force to be reckoned with.
“I think we’ve said all season that we’re a team that’s still improving, learning lessons about ourselves every game,” he said.
“We have to concentrate on ourselves and keep giving the best version of us. Ultimately that’s going to make us win the games.”
After spending much of the season cast into exile by Jose Mourinho, Dele Alli’s return to form has given the Tottenham manager a welcome selection headache.
Alli appeared close to leaving on loan during the January transfer window before the club reportedly blocked the England midfielder’s attempt to rejoin his former Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino at PSG.
The 24-year-old has since held clear-the-air talks with Mourinho and has been reintegrated into the squad.
Alli used Wednesday’s 4-0 Europa League win over Wolfsberger to underline his qualities, scoring a brilliant overhead kick and providing two assists.
Ninth-placed Tottenham must beat Burnley on Sunday to get back in top-four contention.