TOP 100 SPORT SITES
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| Plucky Carlisle denied shock by inches EVERTON manager David Moyes summed up an afternoon on which his team could well have suffered another third-round embarrassment with three simple words to his opposite number Greg Abbott: “You were unlucky.” feeds.timesonline.co.uk |
Max Mosley says Formula One door will be shut on Briatore Flavio Briatore may be celebrating a decision by the French courts to lift his lifetime ban from motor sport for his role in “Crashgate”, but the man who was instrumental in imposing that sanction says there is still no possibility of the Italian working in Formula One again. feeds.timesonline.co.uk |
Colts see off Ravens, while Saints shine • Peyton Manning excels as Colts end losing run• New Orleans Saints overwhelm Arizona CardinalsTwo touchdowns in two minutes at the end of the first half helped the Indianapolis Colts beat the Baltimore Ravens 20-3 last night and advance to the AFC Championship game.The Colts, the AFC's top seed, will host the winner of today's match between the New York Jets and the San Diego Chargers for a Super Bowl place after they ended a losing run in playoff games following a bye."It's a myth that you can't win at home after a bye week, but I didn't believe in it," the Colts quarterback Peyton Manning told reporters after completing 30 of 44 passes for 246 yards. "I thought we came out sharp on both sides of the ball really from the get-go, kind of set the tempo of the game."Manning broke the game open with touchdown passes to Austin Collie and Reggie Wayne in the final 2:06 of the first half. The scores turned a 3‑3 tie into a 17‑3 Colts lead from which Baltimore, one of the league's top defensive teams, never recovered.Seven penalties and four turnovers only compounded problems for the Ravens against an aggressive Indianapolis defence."The defence did a tremendous job," the Colts coach Jim Caldwell said. "When you look at what Baltimore's been able to do to teams over the last few weeks, our defence did indeed play hard and played well."Baltimore did not score a point after the Ravens' first drive, which ended with Billy Cundiff's 25-yard field goal to tie the score at 3-3.The visitors failed to make a first down in the second quarter and Ray Rice, who rushed for 159 yards in Baltimore's opening-round win over New England, gained only 67 against the Colts.Manning, however, had Indianapolis on the move late in the second quarter with a 10-yard touchdown pass to the rookie Collie capping a 75-yard drive, and a 64-yard effort that ended on Wayne's three-yard catch.Meanwhile two touchdowns from an explosive Reggie Bush helped the New Orleans Saints to a 45‑14 win over the Arizona Cardinals, sweeping them into the NFC title game.Although the Cardinals made the perfect start by going in front with only 19 seconds gone, through a Tim Hightower 70-yard run, the Saints quickly hit back and established supremacy.Three first-quarter touchdowns delighted a raucous Louisiana crowd and put the game firmly in the hands of a New Orleans team looking like the side who won their opening 13 games of the season."I thought in all three phases we played a real good game," Saints' head coach Sean Payton said. "We talked about turnovers being all important and protection too, and that was the case."Arizona, who gave up two turnovers, struggled to respond as they conceded 45 points for the second successive game. With key players missing through injury the Cardinals, who had spectacularly beaten Green Bay 51‑45 in the wildcard round, failed to protect the quarterback Kurt Warner."We were playing with a depleted secondary today and that hurt us," said Arizona's head coach Ken Whisenhunt, who blamed missed tackles and the turnovers for the loss.Warner, who after the game declined to reveal whether he will retire, suffered a rib and chest injury that took him temporarily out of the game in the second quarter. The touchdowns from Lynell Hamilton, Jeremy Shockey and Bush allowed New Orleans to lead 35‑14 at the break. Although Warner later returned he was unable to lead a comeback.Bush's first score had come from a brilliant, weaving 54-yard touchdown run and the Saints running back made sure of the victory with an 83-yard punt return in the third. The quarterback Drew Brees threw three touchdowns for 247 yards for the Saints, who will face the winner of Sunday's clash between the Dallas Cowboys and Minnesota Vikings.Payton paid tribute to Bush. "He is as healthy as he has been," he said. "He is a dynamic player and he played real well today."NFLUS sportguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Wolves swoop for Belgian loan signing • Geoffrey Mujangi-Bia joins until end of season• Attacker can play on either wing or centrallyWolverhampton Wanderers have confirmed the loan signing of Geoffrey Mujangi-Bia. The attacking midfielder has joined from the Belgian club Charleroi until the end of the season and Wolves have an option to sign the player permanently at the end of the season.The 20-year-old Congo-born player has two caps for Belgium and arrived in Wolverhampton last Saturday, where he has been training since the game against Wigan."We've very pleased to have signed Geoffrey," said the club's manager, Mick McCarthy. "He's a player who [we have] been tracking for a while and will add some creativity and firepower to our squad. He's an attacking midfielder who can play on the right or the left as well as centrally."Mujangi-Bia can also play as a striker and has scored seven goals in 48 appearances in the Belgian First Division with Charleroi. Wolves are hoping he will make his debut in Saturday's FA Cup tie against Crystal Palace."I first heard about the interest a couple of weeks ago and am very happy to have signed," said Mujangi-Bia. "I've played in England once before with the Belgium Under-21s and it's been my dream to play in the Premier League. It was good to meet the manager this week and I'm looking forward to playing for him."Wolves' chief executive officer, Jez Moxey, added: "We are very pleased to have Geoffrey. He comes to us with excellent credentials and because he is only 20 years, he has enormous potential."He is highly respected in Belgium and regarded as one of their most talented young players. This has been a difficult transfer window so far but we hope at least one or maybe two players will follow this signing."Wolverhampton WanderersCharleroiTransfer windowPremier LeagueTom Bryantguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Rafael Nadal knows importance of putting Andy Murray in his place in Australia If there is any doubting the significance of his Australian Open quarter-final against Andy Murray tomorrow, Rafael Nadal dashes such thoughts in a sentence. “This match can change a lot the situation for me,” the defending champion said. Perhaps the British observers in Melbourne ought not to obsess with how much more might it change for Murray. feeds.timesonline.co.uk |