La Classique on today
PARIS: Paris Saint-Germain and Marseille meet in the biggest game of the French footballing calendar today. This latest edition of what has come to be known as ‘Le Classique’, is one of the most important in years, with PSG coming into the weekend three points clear of Lyon at the top of Ligue 1, and five points above Marseille in third.
The outcome could go a long way to deciding which side are crowned champions at the end of the season, but the possibility of seeing David Beckham finally make his PSG debut in the game adds an even greater element of intrigue. – Sapa-AFP
Afridi does it his way
LAHORE: Pakistan’s all-rounder Shahid Afridi yesterday vowed to play on his own terms and quit on his own terms after being given a possible last chance to improve his performance in one-day matches.
Afridi, who quit Test cricket in 2010, was recalled for Pakistan’s five-match one-day series against South Africa, with the country’s chief selector Iqbal Qasim warning it could be the last chance AUCKLAND: Devastating bowling from Steven Finn and a solid batting display gave England a five-wicket win over New Zealand in the deciding one-day international at Eden Park yesterday, to claim the series 2-1.
After New Zealand were dismissed for 185 in an innings that ended 37 balls short of their 50 overs, England overhauled the target in a rapid 37.3 overs.
The victory gives England a boost going into the first Test on March 6 after earlier winning the Twenty20 series 2-1. – Sapa-AFP LONDON: The co-chairman of minnows Bradford City has hinted that his side could opt out of competing in next season’s Europa League if they beat Swansea City in today’s League Cup final, due to financial considerations.
The League Two outfit are the first team from England’s fourth division to reach a major Wembley final and victory over Premier League Swansea would give them a LOS ANGELES: Kobe Bryant scored 29 of his 40 points in the second half on Friday as the LA Lakers capped an emotional week with a 111-107 NBA victory over the Portland Trail Blazers.
The team, which has had more than its share of dysfunctional moments this season, has been through an emotional five days since the death of 80-year-old owner Jerry Buss. – Sapa-AFP PHOENIX: Ian Poulter reinforced his reputation as a star matchplay exponent by beating South Africa’s Tim Clark 5/3 in the last 16 of the WGC Matchplay championship here yesterday.
MINSK (Belarus): Simon Yates won the last sprint to claim the men’s points race at the track cycling world championships for his first major title, while fellow Briton Jason Kenny took gold in the men’s keirin final. Katarzyna Pawlowska retained her title in the women’s scratch race. – Sapa-AP MADRID: Two Spanish cyclists have denied receiving blood transfusions to boost performance from Eufemiano Fuentes, the doctor at the centre of the Operation Puerto trial.
Cyclist Angel Vicioso testified that he had only met with Fuentes for “sporadic consultations”.
Also, former cyclist Marcos Serrano contradicted testimony from former team director Manolo Saiz, one of five defendants along with Fuentes, by saying he never personally sought out medical treatment from Fuentes. – Sapa-AP
Paintsil gets bail
ACCRA: Former Fulham, West Ham and Leicester City defender John Paintsil was released on bail yesterday after his arrest over allegations that he stabbed his wife, Ghana’s police said.
Police said Paintsil had been arrested on Friday after assaulting his wife and a neighbour in their Accra neighbourhood. – Sapa-AFP HOSTS Crusaders beat Varsity College 41-5 and a Durban Collegians XV beat a College Rovers XV 38-26 in Playa club rugby matches in Durban North yesterday. – Own correspondent CHICAGO: The Chicago Blackhawks set an NHL record for the best start to a season, beating the San Jose Sharks 2-1 on Friday night to give them at least one point in their first 17 games.
Blackhawks rookie Brandon Saad scored a short-handed goal early in the third period to snap a 1-all tie. Chicago (14-0-3) won their fourth straight game to break a mark set by the 2006-07 Anaheim Ducks, who earned points in their first 16 games. – Sapa-AP SEATTLE: A judge dismissed a lawsuit on Friday that sought to block plans to build a $490 million stadium south of the city’s CBD, clearing a major hurdle for an investor group aiming to bring back the city’s sorely missed basketball franchise. The proposed stadium is key to a plan by a prominent Seattle investor to buy the Sacramento Kings, move them to Seattle and, renamed the SuperSonics, replace a team of that name which the city lost to Oklahoma in 2008. – Reuters MELBOURNE: Olympic gold medallist Melanie Schlanger has called for Australia’s head swimming coach Leigh Nugent to be sacked, saying he had not been frank about behavioural problems among his London Games swimmers. Nugent is under fire in the wake of Australia’s worst performance in the Olympic pool in 20 years, which has sparked an investigation into allegations of drunkenness, abuse of prescription drugs and bullying. – Reuters DHAKA: Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan is unlikely to tour Sri Lanka next month after he was advised to undergo surgery on his shin, the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s chief medical officer said yesterday. – Reuters FIRST aiders, sports coaches and the general public are invited to a basic sports strapping course being offered at the Life Healthcare Sharks Medical Centre at King’s Park on March 6 from 1pm. Anybody wishing to attend the course, which will be facilitated by physiotherapist Callie Hugo, or wanting further information, can contact Pippa Rowe from the Sharks Medical Centre on 031 312 7506 or e-mail PRowe@sharksmedical.co.za. The cost of the course will be R544. – Own correspondent THE 2013 Long Tom Ultra and Half Marathons, which had been scheduled to take place on April 6, have been officially cancelled due to financial constraints. For more info, contact the organisers on 012 346 2400 (Race office), 082 557 9604 (Loma), 071 605 1507 (Griselda) or 071 605 1506 (Rialta). – Own correspondent