Malaysia Cup: Gallant Elephants crush Tigers

Malaysia Cup: Gallant Elephants crush Tigers

Sports sabahdaily   6:22 AM

Despite one man down from the 69th minute, Pahang showed the stuff champions are made of when they defeated Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) 5-3 in a penalty shootout to retain their Malaysia Cup title in
the final at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil here tonight.

Playing before a capacity crowd of 90,000 fans and an electrifying “final” atmosphere, both teams were tied 2-2 at the end of regulation play and after 30 minutes of extra time.

Tonight’s victory is the fourth time The Elephants lifted the Cup after 1983, 1992 and 2013 and not only that, they earned a “double” this season, having won the FA Cup earlier.

Both teams went into “full throttle” as soon as referee Nagor Amir Noor Mohamed blew the starting whistle but it was Pahang who drew first blew when their Nigerian import Dickson Nwakaeme scored as early as the 15th minute.
Dickson’ header off a spot kick taken by Azidan Sarudin sailed past JDT keeper Muhd Al-Hafiz Hamzah into goal. Stunned by the deficit, star-studded JDT reorganised their attacks and it paid dividends when Argentinian import Jorge Pereyra Diaz found the equaliser in the 31st minute.

JDT doubled the score three minutes later through a penalty kick which was converted another import player, Luciano Figueroa.

Nagor Amir awarded the penalty to the Southern Tigers after Pahang captain Mohd Razman Roslan was said to have handled the ball in preventing Luciano from shooting at the Pahang goal in the penalty box.

In the second half, Pahang were seen to be having the upper-hand but their attacks were deflected by JDT’s defenders marshalled by their Brazilian import,Marcos Antonio Santos.

Pahang were forced to play with 10 men from the 69th minute after their defender Mohd Saiful Nizam Miswan was given the marching orders for punching Mohd Amri Yahyah in the abdomen.

However, that did not affect the “hunger” of the Pahang players in chasing for the equaliser because just two minutes later, the Pahang strikers beat an offside trap set by JDT which allowed Dickson to earn his brace.

Thereafter, JDT tried to go for the jugular while the Elephants made their own forays in search of victory but the 2-2 score stood right up to end of regulation play and 30 minutes of extra time, forcing the lottery.

In the penalty shoot-out, the five penalties by Pahang were converted by Mohd Razman, Damion Delano Stewart, Mohd Shahrizan Mohd Salleh, Zeshan Rehman and Mohd Hafiz Kamal.

Luciano, Diaz and Hariss Harun were on the mark for JDT but Pahang keeper Mohd Khairul Azhan Mohd Khalid saved the shot taken by Norshahrul Idlan Talaha.

However, it was not all gloom for JDT as their captain Safiq Rahim was named Man-of-the-Match.

Deputy Prime Minster Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin handed the Malaysia Cup trophy to Mohd Razman.

Also present to witness the “clasico’ were FA of Pahang president Tengku Abdul Rahman Sultan Ahmad Shah, FA of Johor president Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim,

Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein and Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.

Pahang coach Zainal Abidin Hassan was all praise for the fighting spirit shown by his boys.

“Tonight’s victory is not due to luck, but because of their burning desire to win against all odds,” he said.

He also took to task Nagor Amir alleging that the referee was biased against Pahang including in deciding to send off Mohd Saiful Nizam which resulted in Pahang having to go on “defensive mode” for long periods of time.

Meanwhile, JDT Head Coach, Bojan Hodak said luck was not on his side to win the match despite being in control for most parts, especially in the second half.
“Statistically, we dominated the game but it was unlucky for us as our players hit Pahang’s goal post twice…Overall, I’m quite happy with my players and we need to focus on the preparations for next season,” said the 43-year Croatian.

-therakyatpost

Lee Chong Wei withdraws from Hong Kong Open after allegations of doping

Lee Chong Wei withdraws from Hong Kong Open after allegations of doping

Sports sabahdaily   12:17 AM

Defending champion Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia will miss next month's Yonex-Sunrise Hong Kong Open for the first time in almost a decade after being allegedly involved in a doping scandal that has shocked the badminton world.

The world number one was in the initial entry list (released on October 17) for the US$350,000 tournament at Hong Kong Coliseum from November 18-23, but when organisers finalised the list over the weekend, his number one seed position was replaced by Chen Long of China, the world number two, while Jan O. Jorgensen of Denmark took the second seeding.

Lee, who celebrated his 32nd birthday last week, has won the men's singles crown three times in Hong Kong since 2005, including an easy straight games victory over Sony Dwi Kuncoro of Indonesia last November.

"His absence is a big shock," said Hong Kong team head coach Tim He Yiming. "Lee is always well received in Hong Kong and is a household name, not only because of his skills, but also his pleasant attitude as a gentleman and a player. We know little about the alleged doping case and, hopefully, it can be cleared sooner and not later."

According to the rules, if a player has tested positive for a banned substance in the A sample, he would not be allowed to take part in any tournament until the result of the B sample is also released. In compliance with the World Badminton Federation and the World Anti Doping Agency regulations, the name of the athlete involved will also not be disclosed at this stage.

Reports from Malaysia confirmed that one of its top shuttlers had failed a doping test at the world championships in Copenhagen in August and is waiting for the results of the B sample to be completed either on November 4 or 5. It is also reported the banned substance involved is dexamethasone, which belongs to a class of corticosteroids.

-scmp.com

Lee Chong Wei identified as athlete who failed drug test

Lee Chong Wei identified as athlete who failed drug test

Sports sabahdaily   12:06 PM

PETALING JAYA: Lee Chong Wei, Malaysia’s darling of badminton, has been reported by The Star Online as the top athlete who failed a recent drug test.

Lee was picked at random to be tested for drugs after a tournament recently and expressed his utter shock when informed later that he had failed the test.

He had requested a second test be carried out for the “B” sample 16 days later, the results of which have not been made known yet.

Earlier Bernama reported that the Ministry of Youth and Sports (KBS) would not tolerate any athlete testing positive for drugs.

Saying athletes could not go on blaming their coaches or medical specialists when they failed drug tests, Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said it was up to the athletes themselves to ensure the food, supplements and treatments they took were free of substances banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

Khairy also said the ministry upheld its “zero tolerance” policy when it came to the issue of doping among athletes.

He reiterated this in light of an investigation now being conducted by the National Sports Institute (ISN) and the Malaysian Anti-Doping Agency (Adamas) regarding the case.

-fmt

'Real Madrid would be wise to sign Lucas Silva'

'Real Madrid would be wise to sign Lucas Silva'

Sports sabahdaily   8:05 AM

Real have been linked with a move for 21-year-old midfielder Silva amid reports of Sami Khedira's possible departure from the Spanish capital, with Arsenal and Chelsea rumoured to be admirers of the latter.

Silva has quickly become one of the hottest properties in Brazilian football, having emerged from Cruzeiro's youth team in 2012.

The Brazil youth-team international has been a regular for Cruzeiro in 2014, making 19 appearances as the defending Serie A champions sit top of the table.

And veteran Baptista, who spent three years at the Santiago Bernabeu, believes Silva has the quality to succeed in La Liga.

"It would be a wise move," Baptista told Marca of Real potentially signing Silva. "The first day I saw him I knew he was a player that would turn heads and I told him so.

"He's a two touch player, a quality that would fit right in Spain or the Premier League. In Brazil, players hog the ball, but Lucas plays it quickly.
"He is ready to make the giant leap to Europe and into a big club like Madrid, but he needs time to settle, because it's not an easy club.

"But in terms of footballing ability, there's no doubt he'd fit in very nicely at Real Madrid. He's a player brimming with talent."

Despite strong links to Real Madrid, reports in British media have linked Chelsea with stealing him away to Stamford Bridge from under Carlo Ancelotti's nose.

-my yahoo sport

Ronaldo hits third hat-trick in five games

Ronaldo hits third hat-trick in five games

Sports sabahdaily   12:51 PM

Cristiano Ronaldo scored his third hat-trick in five games as Real Madrid moved into the top four for the first time this season with a 5-0 win over Athletic Bilbao on Sunday.

It took Ronaldo just two minutes to extend his scoring streak to eight games as he headed home Gareth Bale's cross and Karim Benzema made the game safe when he doubled Madrid's lead just before half-time.

Bale teed up Ronaldo once more to make it 3-0 and the Portuguese then turned provider for Benzema to tap home his second of the game.

Ronaldo rounded off the scoring two minutes from time when he unintentionally deflected Pepe's effort home to take his tally for the season to 17 goals in just 11 matches in all competitions.

Victory takes Real back to within four points of leaders Barcelona behind Valencia and Sevilla, but ahead of champions Atletico Madrid who drop down to fifth.

A fourth defeat in five league games for Athletic, meanwhile, means Ernesto Valverde's men end the weekend in the relegation zone.
"We are improving in some aspects and we are growing," said Ronaldo, who equalled the record of scoring 22 hat-tricks in La Liga also held by Telmo Zarra and Real Madrid legend Alfredo di Stefano.

"The team played a great game and scored five without conceding, so we are very happy."

And Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti lauded the contribution of his front three.
"All of the front three were fanastic. Cristiano scored three, Karim two and Gareth gave two assists and worked very hard for the team.

"Having the three of them working together is fundamental for the team."
Bale provided the opener on his weaker right foot as he managed to pick out a perfect cross for the unmarked Ronaldo to head home at the back post.

Athletic 'keeper Gorka Iraizoz then made a smart save low to his right to deny Ronaldo a second and Benzema just couldn't stretch to turn home another Bale cross as the hosts piled on the pressure.

However, the Basques settled midway through the half and Iker Muniain's spectacular dipping volley from the edge of the area forced Iker Casillas into action with a fingertip save.

Crucially Real managed to get the second goal before half-time, though, as Benzema rose highest to head Luka Modric's corner in via the crossbar.
Bale wasted a great opportunity to make it 3-0 five minutes into the second-half as he blazed over with just Iraizoz to beat.

However, the Welshman made amends five minutes later when he raced onto Benzema's pass and squared for Ronaldo to tap home his second of the night.
Bale came close again when he shot just wide after being set up by a lovely backheel from James Rodriguez and was then flagged offside when he did finally have the ball in the net.

Madrid were continuing to open up the Athletic defence at will and made it 4-0 21 minutes from time when Ronaldo unselfishly squared for Benzema to roll into an empty net rather than going for a hat-trick.

Ronaldo did then go in search of his third hat-trick in five games, forcing Iraizoz into a flying save with a powerful header.

However, the World Player of the Year wasn't to be denied and registered his 26th hat-trick for the club, albeit with some fortune when he deflected Pepe's effort past the helpless Iraizoz.

Earlier, Sevilla moved into third with a convincing 4-1 home win over bottom side Deportivo La Coruna.

Cameroonian midfielder Stephane Mbia continued his fine scoring form as he opened the scoring midway through the first-half, but Deportivo levelled soon after thanks to Haris Medunjanin's free-kick.

However, Sevilla responded as Colombian international Carlos Bacca restored their lead before half-time and Mbia and Vitolo secured the three points with further goals after the break.

-afp

Lin shatters Lee’s golden dreams at Asian Games

Lin shatters Lee’s golden dreams at Asian Games

Sports sabahdaily   10:54 PM

INCHEON: China’s Olympic champion Lin Dan shattered world number one Lee Chong Wei’s dreams of Asian Games gold on Sunday with a 22-20, 12-21, 21-9 in the semi-finals.

The Malaysian’s final Asian Games ended in heartbreak as he pulled back from a game down against his long-time nemesis but faded in the decider.

In the final, defending champion Lin is likely to face China’s world title-holder Chen Long, who takes on Hong Kong’s Wei Nan in the other semi.

But Lee, 31, will be left to ponder the ruins of what was undoubtedly one of his last chances to outclass Lin on one of the sport’s big stages.

The first game already had the hallmarks of a classic as both players punched back fast returns and forced each other to dive for long shots.

Lee started stronger, going into the break 11-5 up, but Lin quickly battled back with smashes and deft net shots, suddenly turning on the power for 13-13.

Lee pulled ahead again with a three-point lead only to be brought back to 20-20 and lose it 22-20 as Lin unleashed cross-court drives which left the Malaysian sprawling.

The second saw Lee pull ahead 11-7 and this time he managed to fend off an attempted Lin comeback with delicately angled net play and a determination to get back every shot, lunging to whatever Lin threw at him to take the game 21-12.

But the Chinese superstar turned the tables in the third, romping to an 8-2 lead which Lee could not close. Both players used everything in their armoury with powerful Lin firing pistol shots that bounced of Lee’s racquet.

Despite some flashes of brilliance from a scampering Lee, who flicked one lightning-fast backhand return from the net which Lin hardly saw, it was not enough and he lost the third by a yawning 12 points.

It was the latest in a string of high-profile Lin victories in badminton’s best rivalry, including in the 2010 Asian Games final in Guangzhou.


- AFP