Tiger needs form reversal at The Honda Classic

Tiger Woods and Adam Scott headline a star-studded field set for The Honda Classic starting Thursday. The world's top two ranked players were among those to skip the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship, which was won by Jason Day on Sunday. Phil Mickelson also opted against competing at Dove Mountain and the American slipped from fourth to fifth in the rankings, overtaken by Day. Woods needs to turn around his form if he is to have any chance at the PGA National Golf Club in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. The American 14-time major winner has gone four straight starts on the PGA Tour without a top-10 finish – his longest drought in two years. In contrast, Australian world number two Scott is in fine form coming into the tournament. The US Masters champion has finished no lower than tied for eighth – at the Sony Open – in his last six starts around the world. But Woods and Scott are just two of several players in the field capable of challenging.

Argentina Primera Division Wrap: Colon continue impressive start

Colon's impressive start to the Argentina Primera Division's Torneo Final continued on Sunday with a 3-1 win over River Plate. Gabriel Graciani notched a brace for Colon, who moved to nine points and second position in the Primera Division table. The Santa Fe-based club have never won Argentina's top tier of football but after claiming their third consecutive victory on Sunday, Colon are only behind Godoy Cruz on goal difference. Graciani put Colon in front in the 17th minute at their Estadio Brigadier General Estanislao Lopez, when he ran onto Cristian Sain's pin-point pass over River Plate's defence and then lifted the ball over Marcelo Barovero before being crunched by the visiting goalkeeper. Colon doubled their lead in the 71st minute when substitute Martin Luque produced a mazy run from the left wing, cutting inside one defender and holding off another marker before converting through Barovero's legs. River responded almost immediately with Fernando Cavenaghi poking the ball home after a fine run and pass from Manuel Lanzini. But Colon secured the victory with three minutes left when an unmarked Graciani finished off Luque's cross to the back post. Colon are one of four teams on nine points, with Godoy Cruz (plus five goal difference), ahead of them, while Estudiantes and San Lorenzo trail the second-placed club from Santa Fe on goals scored. Velez Sarsfield, Atletico Rafaela and Rosario Central sit in the next three positions with seven points each. Gonzalo Castellani's hat-trick saw league leaders

Amaechi: Jason Collins´ debut a mixed episode for NBA

Former NBA basketballer John Amaechi believes the debut of openly gay player Jason Collins is both a positive and embarrassing for the league. Collins came off the bench for Brooklyn on Sunday as the Nets claimed a 108-102 win over the Los Angeles Lakers. The 35-year-old became the first openly gay male athlete to play in one of the United States' four major professional sports competitions – the NBA, NFL, NHL or MLB. Amaechi, who played for Cleveland, Orlando, Utah and Houston, came out in 2007 – years after his career finished. The Brit said Collins' debut was a huge moment in the US but also upsetting that it was such a big deal. "The first openly gay player in male team sports, one of the big four, is certainly a significant moment," Amaechi said. "Is it also embarrassing for sport to have this moment in 2014? Probably yes. It would be like people getting excited a female executive was hired. "It's embarrassing we're having these kind of breakthroughs at this stage. It's a very necessary one and he's the perfect guy for it but

Pella outlasts Mayer at Brasil Open

Guido Pella survived a marathon first-round clash against Leonardo Mayer to advance at the Brasil Open on Monday. The two Argentines battled for two hours and 35 minutes on the clay courts in Sao Paulo before Pella came out a 7-6 (7-4) 6-7 (3-7) 7-6 (7-4) winner. Seventh seed Mayer wasted a match point during the third set and Pella held his nerve in the latter stages of the decisive tie-break. There were no breaks of serve during the first set despite both players having their chances. Mayer's opportunity in the 10th game was also a set point but Pella held him off before winning the first three points of the tie-break on his way to taking the opening set. It stayed on serve throughout the second but it was Mayer who stepped up in the tie-break, wining five of six points from 2-2 to level the match. Mayer broke for

Neymar deal was legitimate - Barcelona president insists

Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu insists his club have done nothing wrong in the signing of Neymar. The La Liga giants paid €13.5million to the Spanish authorities on Monday after being charged with tax fraud in the signing of the Brazil star from Santos. Sandro Rosell, president at the time, denied any wrongdoing but stepped down wanting to clear his and the club's name. Bartomeu reiterated that Barca did nothing wrong in luring the 22-year-old forward to Catalonia. Barcelona admitted Neymar cost €86.2m – not €57.1m as they originally said – after payments to the player and his family. "Our partners, they have to keep this in mind. What we said some weeks ago about the contract of Neymar was the truth," Bartomeu said

Mourinho caught on camera dismissing strikers

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho dismissed the quality of his strikers during what he believed was a private chat. The Portuguese, whose team are top of the Premier League and face Galatasaray in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday, questioned how good Samuel Eto'o, Fernando Torres and Demba Ba are. Mourinho believed he was chatting privately to senior representatives from watch manufacturer Hublot. But, during the sponsorship launch, French TV company Canal Plus captured the exchange. "I have a team but no striker," Mourinho said. "It is not possible for us to win the Premier League. "We have Samuel Eto'o. Yes, Eto'o, but he is 32, maybe even 35, I don't know." During an interview with Canal Plus, Mourinho dismissed the potential of signing

Curbishley speaks out post-Fulham

The disappointed Alan Curbishley believes he still has a role to play in the Premier League after being sacked by Fulham. Rene Meulensteen's backroom staff followed through the exit door not long after the Dutchman was replaced by Felix Magath on February 14. Curbishley, Ray Wilkins, Jonathan Hill and Mick Priest were sacked by the Premier League strugglers as German Magath looks to save them from relegation. Former West Ham and Charlton boss Curbishley, 56, said he felt there was room for experienced tacticians to play their part alongside inexperienced managers. "There was a change of manager who decided he wanted to bring his own staff in, and that is always a consequence of managerial changes," Curbishley said. "I understood it, I respected it, but I was a little bit disappointed because, when I went into Fulham, the role I had was something the club needed. "Rene had never been a manager before and

Bayern´s Muller to miss Schalke clash

Bayern Munich attacker Thomas Muller has been ruled out of his side's clash against Schalke due to a hamstring injury. Muller struck a brace in Bayern's 4-0 thrashing of Hannover on Sunday before coming off just after the hour-mark. Bayern chief medical officer Hans-Wilhelm Muller-Wohlfahrt has ordered Muller to rest for five days before resuming light training. It rules him out of Saturday's encounter against fourth-placed Schalke. Muller could return against Wolfsburg on March 8, or head coach Pep Guardiola may opt for caution and leave him out until the UEFA Champions League clash against Arsenal three days later. The 24-year-old was on the scoresheet in

Spain - Liga BBVA

Full Time Espanyol 1 - 2 Villarreal

Germany - 2. Bundesliga

Full Time FC Cologne 1 - 1 Greuther Furth

France - Ligue 2

Full Time CA Bastia 0 - 1 Brest
Full Time
Creteil 2 - 3 Lens

Netherlands - Jupiler League

Full Time Jong PSV 2 - 0 FC Emmen

Portugal - Liga ZON Sagres

Full Time Benfica 1 - 0 Vitoria de Guimaraes

Italy - Coppa Italia Lega Pro Play-Off

21:30 Grosseto ? - ? Salernitana

England - Conference South

Postp. Havant and W. ? - ? Whitehawk

Italy - Serie A 26/2/2014

FT Parma 2 - 2 Fiorentina FT SSC Napoli 1 - 1 Genoa

International - Club Friendlies 26-2-14

FT Spartak Moscow 0 - 2 Djurgaarden 20:00 CSKA Moscow ? - ? Molde
21:00 Brommapojkarna ? - ? Hammarby

Match Result- England - FA Cup

FT Hull City 2 - 1 Brighton & Hove Albion FT Sheffield Wednesday 1 - 2 Charlton Athletic

Lowes sets pace at Phillip Island

Alex Lowes set the fastest lap time across the two free practice sessions in the World Superbikes at Phillip Island on Friday. Ahead of the season opening races on Sunday, Britain's Lowes - for Voltcom Crescent Suzuki - clocked a lap of one minute, 31.100 seconds at the famed Australian circuit in second free practice. Italian pair Marco Melandri (Aprilia Racing Team) and Davide Giugliano (Ducati Superbike Team) were second and third quickest, recording best laps of 1:31.137 and 1:31.205 respectively. Lowes' countrymen Tom Sykes, the defending Superbikes champion, and Jonathan Rea - fastest in a weather-affected first practice session - were fourth and fifth quickest. Sykes, for Kawasaki Racing Team, clocked 1:31.395, while Rea's best time of 1:31.436 was far better than his session-topping time of 1:37.033 earlier in the wet for PATA Honda World Superbike. Irishman Eugene Laverty - team-mate of Lowes - was sixth quickest (1:31.448) as he began his bid to better his runner-up finish in the

Late comeback maintains Barca´s unbeaten Top 16 record

Barcelona required a huge fourth-quarter effort to defeat Olimpia Milano 80-70 and remain the only unbeaten side in the Euroleague Top 16. Milan had led for the majority of the first three quarters at the Palau Blaugrana, but Xavier Pascual's charges outscored the Italian outfit 31-18 in the fourth to extend their record to 6-0 in Group E. In the opening half-hour, Barcelona made just one of 11 three-pointers, but sank six from nine in the last quarter to seal their 18th consecutive Top 16 victory. Shooting guard Brad Oleson was a big part of their fourth-quart success, chipping in with 15 points to take his tally for the match to 17. The result was somewhat harsh on the visitors who had performed admirably, with league-leading scorer Kevin Langford totalling 18 points, while Samardo Samuels and Curtis Jerrells added 14 and 12 respectively. Barcelona now have a two-victory lead over Olympiacos at the top of Group E, while Milano sit just outside the top four with a 3-3 record. In Group F, a tense encounter that came down to the final few seconds saw CSKA Moscow defeat Galatasaray 74-71 on the road. Centre Nenad Krstic was the star for the Russians, contributing 24 points after making

Balotelli: It is my duty to lead AC Milan

Mario Balotelli says it is his "duty" to lead Milan after his wonder goal earned a 1-0 victory over Serie A strugglers Bologna. In a match devoid of clear-cut chances, the Italy international wowed the home fans at San Siro with a stunning 35-yard effort that flew into the top corner in the 86th minute. The result was harsh on a Bologna side who had limited the hosts in front of goal for the majority of the match, and themselves had chances to claim the points through Jonathan Cristaldo and Lazaros Christodoulopoulos. But Balotelli's moment of brilliance secured all three points for Clarence Seedorf's below-par side. The former Inter and Manchester City man confessed Milan - who now sit ninth in Serie A - had underperformed, but he wants to be the man to guide them up the table. "I looked at the goalkeeper and saw he was a little off his line, so I hit it with full force and fortunately it went in," Balotelli toldSky Sport Italia. "It's a good goal. The coach gives me confidence, as I am the

Former England international Tom Finney dies at age 91

Preston North End and England legend Tom Finney has died at the age of 91. Finney was one of the original one-club players after he resisted the chance to leave his beloved hometown team of Preston and ply his trade elsewhere. During his illustrious playing career, the former winger made 473 appearances for the Lancashire club, scoring 210 goals, while he also represented England on 76 occasions over the course of 12 years between 1946 and 1958. The news of his death was confirmed on Friday by North End in a statement that read: "Preston North End have been informed of the extremely sad news of the passing of Sir Tom Finney. "Tom was the greatest player to ever play for Preston North End and one of the all-time greats for England. "The thoughts of everyone at the club, and those connected with it, are with his family at this time." Finney was part of the England team that beat Portugal 10-0 in 1947, while he netted twice in their 4-0 win over then-world champions Italy in 1948. The Football Association led the tributes to Finney as they posted on their official Twitter page: "The FA is saddened to hear of the

Blanc pleased as PSG extend Ligue 1 lead

Laurent Blanc was left satisfied after watching Paris Saint-Germain extend their unbeaten home record to 25 games against Valenciennes. Goals from Ezequiel Lavezzi and Zlatan Ibrahimovic plus an own goal from Gary Kagelmacher secured a 3-0 win for the Ligue 1 leaders, and saw them widen the gap at the top to eight points. PSG were rarely tested by their opponents and while they were frustrated in the opening half, they quickly secured the victory with two goals in as many minutes after the break. Blanc was pleased with the performance as his team dominated possession and created 20 chances on the Valenciennes goal. "I am satisfied with the team," he said after the win. "It was sometimes awkward, especially in the first half. "When you can kill the game, you must kill it. This time we did it in the 50th minute. "(Scoring) three goals and not conceding is not bad." PSG now prepare for their UEFA Champions League last-16 clash against Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday, with Blanc's side travelling to Germany for the

Seedorf: Belief key for Balotelli

Milan coach Clarence Seedorf was unsurprised by Mario Balotelli's stunning winner in his side's 1-0 victory over Bologna on Friday. The Italy international unleashed an incredible 40-yard strike which found the top corner in the 86th minute at the San Siro. It was the kind of strike Seedorf knows Balotelli can produce and the coach said self-belief was the key to the 23-year-old's goal. "It's the kind of goal Mario knows how to score, as he has these weapons in his armoury," Seedorf toldSky Sport Italia. "The great thing is that the team continues to believe in the result, as you don't score goals like that unless you believe." The goal came during a week in which Seedorf, whose side are 10th in the league, said Balotelli still had work to do to be considered a champion. But the Dutchman felt his words were taken out of context and believes Balotelli will, eventually, become a champion. "People like to take my words out of context. I didn't say Mario isn't a champion, but that he will become a champion. I believe in him a great deal and I believe in the man he is becoming," he said. "I only think positive things towards him. What position do I like him best in? I like Balotelli, full stop. He can play on the right or the

Gomez set to face Inter

Fiorentina striker Mario Gomez is set to make his return from injury against Inter, likely to play a 'little part' on Saturday. The Germany international has been sidelined since September with a knee injury, and was left on the bench during his side's Coppa Italia semi-final win over Udinese. Gomez, who left Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich in the off-season, could still play a major role as Fiorentina look to seal a place in Europe this campaign. He appears set to play some part against Inter at the Stadio Artemio Franchi, according to coach Vincenzo Montella. "Mario is training well. He's enthusiastic about playing, but he's still not physically in top condition," Montella told a news conference on Friday. "Hopefully he'll be able to play a little part tomorrow, but we'll have to wait and see. "This game's a game in and of itself. It's a whole different story to the

Gomez set to face Inter

Fiorentina striker Mario Gomez is set to make his return from injury against Inter, likely to play a 'little part' on Saturday. The Germany international has been sidelined since September with a knee injury, and was left on the bench during his side's Coppa Italia semi-final win over Udinese. Gomez, who left Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich in the off-season, could still play a major role as Fiorentina look to seal a place in Europe this campaign. He appears set to play some part against Inter at the Stadio Artemio Franchi, according to coach Vincenzo Montella. "Mario is training well. He's enthusiastic about playing, but he's still not physically in top condition," Montella told a news conference on Friday. "Hopefully he'll be able to play a little part tomorrow, but we'll have to wait and see. "This game's a game in and of itself. It's a whole different story to the

Tsonga, Berdych favourites in Marseille

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga will be out to defend his Open 13 crown when the tournament gets underway in Marseille on Monday. The charismatic 28-year-old Frenchman claimed his second Open 13 title last year after overcoming Tomas Berdych in three sets in the final of the ATP 250 event. Tsonga, however, returns home on the back of a disappointing straight-sets defeat to Marin Cilic in the second round of the Rotterdam Open. Despite his loss to the in-form Croatian, Tsonga, who is seeded third for the tournament, will draw confidence from the fact that five of his 10 career titles have come on French soil. Top-seeded Czech and last year's finalist Berdych will also make his way back to Marseille for another year. Berdych, a semi-finalist at this year's Australian Open, enters the

Maradona appeals to EU over tax bill

Diego Maradona is appealing to the European Union to step in as arbitrator in his ongoing feud with the Italian authorities. Italy's tax department accuse the Argentine legend of owing €39 million in unpaid taxes, a charge Maradona insists is completely unfounded. The authorities claim the mammoth tax bill was built up during Maradona's memorable stint with Napoli between 1984 and 1991. During that period, Maradona guided Napoli to their only two Serie A titles, the Coppa Italia, Supercoppa Italiana and the UEFA Cup. "It's important that people know the truth. I really don't have to hide anything," Maradona told reporters on Friday. "I don't even have €40m to give to the

East more than a two-team race, says James

The Indiana Pacers and Miami Heat are flying high but reigning MVP LeBron James says the Eastern Conference is far from a two-horse race. Indiana (40-12) lead the East and are well on track to go deep in the play-offs once again after reaching the third round last season. While defending champions Miami (37-14), who eliminated the Pacers en route to the title, are second in the East having won eight of their past 10 games. The Toronto Raptors (28-24) and Chicago Bulls (27-25) are third and fourth respectively but still well adrift of the East's top two. However, speaking ahead of Sunday's All-Stars match in New Orleans, James is refusing to accept the Eastern Conference is a foregone conclusion. "This is more than a two-team race," James told reporters on Friday. "There are a lot of good teams in the Eastern Conference. "It's been a slow start for us as a whole, but there are so many good teams you can't just count on us and one other team. I respect every team we go against." James reserved special praise for the

Warner: South Africa ´lazy´ in the field

Australia opener David Warner labelled South Africa as 'lazy' in the field after he survived several chances to post a century. Warner clubbed his sixth Test ton off 118 balls and shared a 206-run stand with debutant Alex Doolan to help Australia to a lead of 479 at stumps on day three. The explosive opener benefited from four reprieves from the Proteas with 12th man Dean Elgar, Alviro Petersen and Graeme Smith all dropping catches when Warner was on 26, 27 and 51 respectively. Vernon Philander also missed a run-out chance when Warner was on 106 before he was finally dismissed for 115. The 27-year-old blasted 13 boundaries and two sixes in his century that he likened to 'backyard cricket'. "You are going to be a bit tired in the field, and it looked pretty lazy out there the way that they were fielding," Warner said. South African AB de Villiers said he was embarrassed by his team's efforts in the

Bae grabs one-shot lead at Riviera

South Korean Sang-Moon Bae carded a bogey-free round to hold a one-stroke lead at the Northern Trust Open on Friday. Bae produced a faultless round en route to his five-under par 66 as the second round was suspended due to darkness at the Riviera Country Club in California. But only three players inside the projected cut were unable to complete their rounds. Bae started the day in second position but five birdies, two of those in succession at the 16th and 17th, propelled him to the top of the leaderboard at nine under. Australian Aaron Baddeley (65) and American Robert Garrigus (67) are one shot adrift heading into the third round. Baddeley, who has not won a PGA Tour title since his triumph at Riviera in 2011, climbed up the leaderboard late in the day after birdying his final four holes, while Garrigus produced an eagle at the 17th. American Charlie Beljan is in sole possession of fourth spot, two shots off the pace. Compatriot Dustin Johnson surrendered his overnight lead following a round of 70, which included three bogeys. Johnson is joined by fellow Americans Brian Harman (69), William McGirt (67) and Jim Furyk at six under. American quartet Blake Adams (70), George McNeill (68), Jason Allred (64) and Scott Brown (67), and South African Charl Schwartzel (68) are all a shot further back. In-form American Jimmy Walker, who claimed his third title of the

Ferrer, Almagro reach Copa Claro semis

Top-seeded Spaniard David Ferrer cruised into the semi-finals of the Copa Claro after disposing of compatriot Albert Ramos in straight sets. The two-time defending champion needed just over an hour to record a 6-1 6-2 victory in Buenos Aires on Friday. Ferrer, who reached the semi-finals at the Australian Open in January, was dominant from the outset in the all-Spanish affair. The 31-year-old won 80 per cent of his first-service points and took advantage of two break point opportunities as he raced away with the opening set. Ramos showed some improvement in the second as he saved two break points, but he could not avoid defeat at the hands of last year's French Open finalist. Ferrer will now meet fellow Spaniard and fourth seed Nicolas Almagro as he continues his bid for a third successive Copa Claro title. Almagro, the 2011 champion, was pushed by eighth-seeded Frenchman Jeremy Chardy but prevailed 7-6 (9-7) 6-3 after an hour and 43 minutes on court. Also on Friday, Italian second seed Fabio Fognini advanced to the

MVP would ´mean a lot´ to Durant

Oklahoma City Thunder star Kevin Durant says being crowned MVP for the first time would mean a lot. Reigning MVP LeBron James, who has won the accolade on four of the past five occasions, has been favourite to retain the honour for most of the season. But a sizzling month of basketball in January, which saw Durant average 35.9 points in the absence of injured team-mate Russell Westbrook, has seen the five-time NBA All-Star move into contention for the individual honour. Durant is averaging a league-high 31.5 points, well ahead of Carmelo Anthony (27.3), James (26.5), Kevin Love (25.8) and Stephen Curry (24.6). "It would mean a lot," Durant told reporters ahead of Sunday's All-Stars match in New Orleans. "I mean - MVP in this league - you can't ever downgrade that. "Whoever you are, no matter how many you've won, you can't downgrade MVP. "Of course, the ultimate prize is to win the

Nishikori rallies in Memphis, Hewitt exits

Kei Nishikori is on track to defend his US National Indoor Tennis Championships title after progressing to the semi-finals on Friday. The Japanese top seed rallied to overcome Russian Alex Bogomolov Jr 3-6 6-3 6-2 in two hours and 18 minutes at the ATP 250 event in Memphis. Nishikori, who lifted last year's crown thanks to a straight sets win over Spaniard Feliciano Lopez in the final, will now contest his second semi-final of 2014 having reached the last four at the Brisbane International in January. Standing in the way of the Japanese star's second successive title is Michael Russell, who stunned third-seeded Australian Lleyton Hewitt in straight sets. The American reached his third career ATP Tour semi with a 6-3 7-6 (8-6) victory over the veteran. Russell had several match points in the tie-break before

India in control in Wellington

India hold the upper hand in the second Test after New Zealand struggled to be 24-1 at stumps on day two in Wellington. Zaheer Khan (1-7) struck in the second over of New Zealand's second innings as the hosts stuttered to be 222 runs behind at the close of play on Saturday. Peter Fulton was the only wicket to fall, misjudging Zaheer's delivery to be dismissed lbw for one. Hamish Rutherford (18) and Kane Williamson (four) weathered the storm to remain unbeaten heading into day three. Earlier on Saturday, Ajinkya Rahane hit a maiden Test ton as India were bowled out for 438 in their first innings. Rahane made his way to the crease with the

India in control in Wellington

India hold the upper hand in the second Test after New Zealand struggled to be 24-1 at stumps on day two in Wellington. Zaheer Khan (1-7) struck in the second over of New Zealand's second innings as the hosts stuttered to be 222 runs behind at the close of play on Saturday. Peter Fulton was the only wicket to fall, misjudging Zaheer's delivery to be dismissed lbw for one. Hamish Rutherford (18) and Kane Williamson (four) weathered the storm to remain unbeaten heading into day three. Earlier on Saturday, Ajinkya Rahane hit a maiden Test ton as India were bowled out for 438 in their first innings. Rahane made his way to the crease with the tourists in a precarious position of 165-5 but the 25-year-old stepped up to the plate, smashing 118 off 158 deliveries. Shikhar Dhawan (98) and Ishant Sharma (26) resumed on Saturday with India 100-2. The pair added another 41 runs before Ishant fell victim to the

Hughton told improvement is needed

Norwich chief executive David McNally warned manager Chris Hughton he must keep the side out of the relegation zone. Hughton's men have flirted with dropping into the bottom three in the Premier League and sit a point clear of 18th-placed Sunderland. Norwich have just six wins in 26 league games and only one in their past 11 heading into the final stages of the campaign. Bottom side Fulham axed their second manager of the campaign on Friday, replacing Rene Meulensteen with Felix Magath. McNally said Hughton was aware just what was required from his team to avoid a similar fate. "All I would assure Norwich supporters is we are watching it very carefully. The whole board is aware of the

Januzaj invited to play for Kosovo

Manchester United teenager Adnan Januzaj could make his international debut after being invited to play for Kosovo next month. Januzaj, born in Belgium to Kosovar-Albanian parents, has quickly become one of the most sought-after players in world football following a bright start to his senior career at Old Trafford. The 19-year-old is wanted by England, Serbia, Albania, Turkey, Croatia and Belgium after his seemingly effortless transition to top-flight football. England manager Roy Hodgson has moved to secure the services of Januzaj, who would qualify to represent them when he is 23. Under FIFA rules, a player has to have lived in a country for five years before he can represent them. But Kosovo are hoping to lure the winger for their first international friendly against Haiti on March 5, even if it just a one-off appearance. "We are in discussions with Adnan's family and to have a player of his amazing talent play in our very first match would be hugely symbolic," said Eroll Salihu, the

Stars pay tribute to Late Finney

A host of football stars have paid tribute to Tom Finney following the death of the England and Preston North End legend at the age of 91. Finney, who was knighted in 1998, spent his entire career with Preston, making 473 appearances for the Lancashire club, scoring 210 goals, while he also represented England on 76 occasions over the course of 12 years between 1946 and 1958. The news of his passing was confirmed on Friday by North End. Here we look at the reaction of the football world to the death of a man considered to be one of his country's greatest ever players: "Sir Tom Finney has left us. One of the greatest players this country has ever seen, and a true gentleman" - England's second highest goalscorer Gary Lineker takes to Twitter to hail Finney. "I'm proud to say I grew up on the same street as Sir Tom Finney. Very sad to hear of his passing" - Former Preston, Everton and Republic of Ireland midfielder Kevin Kilbane expresses his sorrow on Twitter. "Sad to hear of the

Round two completed at Africa Open

Round two of the Africa Open was completed on Saturday but the start to the third round was delayed by fog. Friday's play was cut short by rain at East London Golf Club in South Africa with John Hahn safely in the clubhouse on 16 under, leading by two shots. A handful of players had to finish their second rounds on Saturday but American Hahn's advantage remained intact. The cut was set at minus five and that meant the end of the road for several home favourites, including Wallie Coetsee, Bryce Easton and Louis de Jager, all of whom fell one shot short. Having experienced heavy rain during the

Negredo eyes World Cup spot

Manchester City striker Alvaro Negredo has set his sights on securing a starting berth at the FIFA World Cup for defending champions Spain. The 28-year-old is enjoying a prolific campaign for both club and country, with 26 goals in 38 appearances. And the former Sevilla man, who has 10 goals from his 21 international caps, is hopeful of getting the nod to lead the line for Vicente del Bosque's men in Brazil. "It would be fantastic to be the centre-forward for Spain in the World Cup," he said in quotes reported byThe Manchester Evening News. "But there is a tremendous competition. "You can only do your thing, play well, score goals and hope that the coach has an eye on you." Negredo's transition from La Liga to the

Seedorf notes Milan improvement

Milan coach Clarence Seedorf has noticed an improvement in team spirit since he took over at San Siro in January. The Dutchman assumed the reins after Massimiliano Allegri's departure last month and has tasted defeat just twice in six games, with Mario Balotelli scoring four times since Seedorf's arrival. Balotelli continued his impressive run of form against Bologna on Friday, netting a superb winner four minutes from time as Seedorf's men recovered from their defeat to Napoli. The former Milan midfielder said team spirit had improved in recent weeks but warned that his side still have work to do. "Let's say I have seen an improvement in the level of team spirit and unity," he said. "A beautiful game against teams like Bologna is difficult. At the

Ibrahimovic unworried by under-par PSG

Paris Saint-Germain striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic felt the Ligue 1 leaders were not at their best despite extending their advantage on Friday. The Sweden international scored between an Ezequiel Lavezzi effort and a Gary Kagelmacher own goal to send PSG eight points clear at the summit ahead of Monaco's trip to Bastia on Saturday. Ibrahimovic was pleased to see PSG extend their unbeaten league run to nine games, even if Laurent Blanc's men failed to find top gear. "It was important to win," he told the club's official website. "We did not play our best game but we took the three points. "If we continue, we will reach our goal at the

Cissokho defends under-fire Toure

Aly Cissokho has leapt to the defence of under-fire Liverpool team-mate Kolo Toure after a couple of costly errors from the Ivorian. Toure was at fault for West Brom's equaliser in the 1-1 draw at The Hawthorns earlier this month, and the centre-half scored a comical own goal to leave his side trailing after eight minutes at rock-bottom Fulham on Wednesday. Liverpool recovered from that early setback but Toure's displays have attracted criticism as Brendan Rodgers' side try to keep pace in the Premier League title race. Frenchman Cissokho, however, has no doubt as to Toure's ability and he hailed the 32-year-old's impact on his own development, particularly as the former Manchester City man can speak French. "Kolo has been a big influence on me," the left-back said in quotes reported byThe Independent. "He has marked my card on many occasions. For example, he told me what to expect when we went to play Stoke at the Britannia. He explained to me it would be windy, the ball would be in the air all the time and I'd be up against big, strong lads. "There are a lot of youngsters in the squad and people like Kolo and Steven Gerrard are very important, especially in the middle of a match. They are a voice out on the park, telling us to slow things down or play a longer game. "Simon Mignolet also speaks French and that’s important for

Sheffield Wednesday FA Cup match postponed

Sheffield Wednesday's FA Cup fifth-round tie with Charlton Athletic at Hillsborough has been postponed due to "adverse weather conditions".

Jese learning from ambition of Ronaldo, Ancelotti

Real Madrid forward Jese has praised the ambition of team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo and coach Carlo Ancelotti. The 20-year-old is a product of the club's youth system and has forced his way into the first team this season, making 25 appearances in all competitions. And Jese, who has scored seven goals this term, paid tribute to the influence of Ancelotti and Ronaldo as Real continue to fight for silverware on three fronts. "What has most impressed me about Cristiano Ronaldo and what I have most learned from him is the ambition that he has every day," he toldChampions Magazine. "Ancelotti is a winner that always wants his team to do better, and that's important. He has helped me to tactically position myself better." Jese has scored in four of his last five games for Real, with Ancelotti's men in contention to

Rahane thanks Dravid, Tendulkar after maiden Test ton

India's Ajinkya Rahane thanked Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar after recording his maiden Test century against New Zealand on Saturday. Rahane's knock of 118 off 158 balls, in his fifth Test match, helped India into the ascendancy as they closed their first innings on 438. With Peter Fulton (one) then bowled lbw by Zaheer Khan in the second over of the hosts' second innings, India lead by 222 runs after day two of Test two in Wellington, with Rahane revealing that the guidance of legendary Indian batsmen Dravid and Tendulkar played an important role in his development. "I have been following him (Dravid) from my childhood. He is my

A-League: Sydney 2 Perth Glory 1

Sydney earned a much-needed 2-1 victory over Perth Glory in Saturday's A-League meeting at Allianz Stadium. The result eased the pressure on under-fire coach Frank Farina as Sydney halted their slide down the table courtesy of strikes from Ranko Despotovic and Terry Antonis. Rostyn Griffiths responded for Perth, who are now four without a win, but the visitors missed the chance to leapfrog Sydney in the table, even after Aaron Calver's late dismissal. A run of just one win in nine had left Farina with some questions to answer, but Despotovic handed the hosts the ideal start, turning home Alessandro Del Piero's assist with 17 minutes gone. The crowd were treated to an odd spectacle on the half-hour mark when the Glory won an indirect free-kick on the edge of

Buffon: Osvaldo will take Juve chance

Juventus captain Gianluigi Buffon has backed on-loan striker Pablo Daniel Osvaldo to seize his chance to impress at the Italian champions. Osvaldo is currently on loan at the Juventus Stadium from Premier League side Southampton for the remainder of the season. Having been suspended by Southampton following a training-ground incident, Osvaldo will now look to help fire Juve to a third straight title. With a chance to win silverware and secure a place in Cesare Prandelli's FIFA World Cup squad for the competition in Brazil later this year, Juve goalkeeper Buffon is confident that Osvaldo will be out to make his

Simeone: No excuses for Atletico slip-up

Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone refused to make excuses after his side's shock 2-0 loss to Almeria on Saturday. Simeone's men failed to take their chance to stay three points clear atop La Liga with the surprise loss to a team sitting 13th. Verza struck twice in the final 10 minutes for Almeria at the Estadio de los Juegos Mediterraneos, including the second from the penalty spot after Atletico goalkeeper Daniel Aranzubia saw red. Simeone was unwilling to complain about his team's busy run of tough matches or the controversial red card to Aranzubia. "The opponent tried to play their game. In the first half we could have done better, we created some chances, but football has these things, sometimes you win, some are tied and you lose some," the Argentine said. "We do not seek excuses, we will not blame the referee, or the wind, or the ball. "The opponent did a great job and

Back-to-back Napoli performances pleases Benitez

Napoli coach Rafael Benitez was full of praise for his 'quality' team after their 3-1 win over Milan on Saturday. The Spaniard's men maintained their three-point advantage in third place in Serie A thanks to Gonzalo Higuain's second-half brace. It was their first win in three games in all competitions after losing to Atalanta in the league, and being narrowly beaten by Roma in the Coppa Italia. Benitez hailed his team for their efforts in consecutive big games. "I have to compliment my players, as against Roma and now Milan they played with intensity, pace and quality," he told Sky Sport Italia. Benitez played down the impact of Higuain, who struck in the 56th and 82nd minutes to lead Napoli to victory. He preferred to focus on the team and was pleased to once again be playing against a side who wanted to attack. "Clearly Gonzalo can make the difference, but his team-mates helped him a great deal and we created so many chances tonight. We could've scored a lot more," Benitez said. "In recent weeks we had basically beaten Bologna and conceded at the 93rd minute,

´Beautiful´ Balotelli tears no concern, says Seedorf

Milan coach Clarence Seedorf insisted Mario Balotelli's crying was nothing unusual during his side's 3-1 loss to Napoli on Saturday. Gonzalo Higuain's second-half brace sunk Milan at the Stadio San Paolo, but the attention was on Balotelli post-game. The Italy international burst into tears on the bench after being substituted in the 73rd minute of the Serie A loss. But Seedorf said Balotelli was free to express himself and described the moment as 'beautiful'. "We are players and there are times when we express ourselves that way. I see nothing wrong or abnormal in that. I experienced it at times too," he told Sky Sport Italia. "He too needs to grow in general. He played very well against Cagliari, while tonight perhaps didn't make the most of the space. "These are things we can all improve on and I'm happy he has so many areas to improve, as I can help him through that education." Speaking to Mediaset Premium, Seedorf said:

Primeira Liga Wrap: Nacional win, Setubal hang on

Real Madrid moved to the top of the table thanks to their 4-2 win over Villarreal and Almeria beating Atletico Madrid 2-0. Real played out an entertaining encounter and although two delicate finishes from Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema gave them a two-goal lead by the 25th minute, the hosts made it hard for themselves. Mario brought Marcelino Garcia Toral's side back into the contest just before the break with a powerful finish, only for Jese Rodriguez to reinstate the two-goal deficit in the 64th minute. An unstoppable Giovani dos Santos free-kick about 30 yards again put the pressure back on Carlo Ancelotti's side, but Benzema finished a deadly counter-attack in the 76th minute to wrap up the win, seeing them go top on goal difference. Atletico generally controlled the first half against Almeria, but they found their hosts in a particularly defiant mood as they hassled and harried the visitors,

Primeira Liga Wrap: Nacional win, Setubal hang on

Nacional ensured they will end week 18 of the Primeira Liga season in fourth place with a 2-0 win over Belenenses. Striker Jorge Djaniny got the home team up and running with a 26th-minute opener and substitute Saleh Gomaa came on to give Manuel Machado's team breathing space by doubling the advantage midway through the second period. The result leaves Nacional five points behind third-placed Porto, who host Pacos Ferreira – two points and a place behind third-bottom Belenenses - on Sunday, while fifth-placed Estoril are four points back ahead of their Monday night trip to Academica. Elsewhere on Saturday, Vitoria Guimaraes lost 3-2 at 10-man Vitoria Setubal as an unlikely comeback bid fell just short. The hosts took an early lead through Ricardo Horta and, during a nightmare 10-minute period for Guimaraes during the second half, Ramon Cardozo and Rafael Martins added goals two and three before Francois was sent off for collecting two booking in quick succession. Nevertheless,

La Liga: Almeria 2 Atletico Madrid 0

Ten-man Atletico Madrid's title challenge was struck a blow on Saturday after Almeria snatched an unlikely 2-0 win in Andalucia. Atletico went into the game leading La Liga and looking to put the pressure on defending champions Barcelona - who play Sevilla on Sunday - but they met a resilient Almeria side and struggled against the relegation battlers. Clear-cut chances were rare in the first half as Diego's speculative effort from just outside the area was as close as either side went, while Atletico were denied penalty claims just before the half-hour mark. Jose Antonio Verza put Almeria ahead 10 minutes from time when his cross found the net and he doubled his tally six minutes later from the penalty spot, with goalkeeper Daniel Aranzubia sent off for hauling down Jonathan Zongo. The result leaves Atletico on 57 points, level with Real Madrid, who go top on goal difference. Atletico coach Diego Simeone was without key trio Thibaut Courtois, Luis Filipe and David Villa for the

All still to play for, says Bruce

Hull City manager Steve Bruce is not resting on his laurels despite Saturday's 2-0 Premier League win at Sunderland. The hosts were reduced to 10 men as early as the third minute when Wes Brown was dismissed for a professional foul on Shane Long just outside the area. Long and new strike partner Nikica Jelavic duly punished Sunderland by each scoring a header to bring their opponents back down to earth with a bump following their 3-0 derby success over Newcastle United last week. It was a sweet return to the Stadium of Light for Bruce, who was sacked as Sunderland manager in November 2011, but he insisted there was still a lot of work for his side to do if they are to avoid relegation back to the Championship. "We're four points off the bottom three but we are tenth," he said

Sharapova progresses, Kerber knocked out

Top seed Maria Sharapova eased her way into the last four of the Open GDF Suez with a straight-sets win over Kirsten Flipkens on Friday. Sharapova won the opening four games of the match to exert her dominance at the WTA Premier event and a further three breaks in second set saw her record a 6-2 6-2 win against the eighth seed. She won 75 per cent of points on her first serve and made the most of the Belgian's struggles, wrapping up an easy win in just 69 minutes on the hard court. The Russian will face her compatriot Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the semi-finals after she came from a set down to upset fourth seed Angelique Kerber 5-7 6-3 7-6 (7-3). Pavlyuchenkova struggled to hold her serve early in the match as the German took the early initiative with the first set.

Graham ends Hull loan, moves to Middlesbrough

Sunderland's Danny Graham has ended his loan spell at Hull City and moved to Middlesbrough on a temporary basis for the rest of the season. Graham moved to the KC Stadium in July on a season-long loan, but fell down the pecking order after Hull captured Nikica Jelavic and Shane Long from Everton and West Brom respectively. Hull have therefore agreed to terminate Graham's loan, enabling the former Swansea City forward to return to Middlesbrough, where he began his career. News of Graham's switch was confirmed by Hull on their official Twitter account, with a message reading:

Ince signs Palace loan, Dobbie returns to Blackpool

Crystal Palace have completed the loan signing of coveted Blackpool winger Tom Ince, who moves to Selhurst Park until the end of the season. Liverpool academy graduate Ince has been linked with a wide array of clubs during the January transfer window, with Stoke City, Swansea City and Hull City reported to be among those interested in securing his services. However, the 22-year-old will now spend the remainder of the season working under Tony Pulis at Selhurst Park as Palace seek to continue their recent resurgence and secure Premier League survival. Crystal Palace Football Club are delighted to announce the signing of Tom Ince on a loan deal until the end of the season," read a statement on Palace's official website.

England reach tour curtain call in Sydney

England's miserable tour of Australia finally comes to an end after the third Twenty20 international in Sydney on Sunday. The tourists' return home could not come soon enough after losing the Ashes series 5-0, the one-day international campaign 4-1 and already being 2-0 down in the T20s. Friday's eight-wicket loss in Melbourne was followed by England Test coach Andy Flower stepping down. That defeat, which came after England managed just 130-9 batting first, saw them slip to eighth in the world rankings. England could return to sixth – and relegate Australia to eighth – if they improve dramatically and claim the final match on their tour. But that would require a huge turnaround with the hosts having dominated the opening two games of the 20-over series.

Bifouma joins West Brom on loan

Espanyol's French striker Thievy Bifouma has joined West Bromwich Albion on loan until the end of the season. Thievy, 21, has made just 11 appearances in La Liga this campaign – including nine off the bench – and netted three goals. The English Premier League club have agreed a €500,000 loan fee, with another €100,000 in potential add-ons. Reports suggest a €4million deal could make the deal permanent in the off-season. A France Under-21 international, who can play either through the middle or out wide, Thievy has struggled to hold a regular place at Espanyol. West Brom coach Pepe Mel hailed Thievy's flexibility and goal-scoring ability. "Thievy is a good striker. He is quick, can score goals and is able to play across the front three positions," he said. West Brom sporting and technical director Richard Garlick said Thievy provided the team with something different up front.

Barca stay unbeaten, Gala beat Zalgiris

Barcelona continued their unbeaten start to the Euroleague top 16 with a 63-56 win over Panathinaikos on Friday. The Group E leaders edged past the second-placed Greek outfit to seal a fifth straight win in a frenetic contest in Athens. Barca took a commanding 44-32 advantage into the second half, but the hosts fought back admirably and had reduced the deficit to five by the end of the third quarter. However, the Spanish side hung on to strengthen hopes of a place in the quarter-finals, with Marcelinho Huertas' 17 points proving key to the Catalan side's fortunes. Zalgiris Kaunas remain winless at the bottom of Group F as Galatasaray earned only their second victory of the top 16 stage with a 90-83 triumph. Galatasaray held a five-point lead at the interval and, despite superb showings from Martynas Pocius (26 points) and Robertas Javtokas (21 points, 9 rebounds), Zalgiris were unable to turn things around. Anadolu Efes continued the theme of Turkish success as they overcame Laboral Kutxa 72-66. The Istanbul side led 37-34 at the end of a tight first half and quickly pulled away in the second half to ensure a second consecutive win. Elsewhere, Lokomotiv Kuban held off Partizan to seal a 87-81 victory. The contest was finely poised going into the fourth quarter in Belgrade, with Lokomotiv holding a slender three-point lead. And it was the Russians who finished the stronger of the two sides, outscoring the Serbian side 24-21 in the final period as Lokomotiv moved just one game adrift of top spot.

Transfer round-up of Ligue 1

Monaco moved to fill the void left by the injury to Radamel Falcao on transfer deadline day by signing Dimitar Berbatov on loan from Fulham. The Bulgarian moves to the principality club until the end of the season and will attempt to help Monaco, who sit second in Ligue 1, win the French title after star striker Falcao suffered ligament damage in a Coupe de France tie in January. Toulouse defender Aymen Abdennour joins Berbatov at the Stade Louis II, with the Tunisia defender moving to Monaco on loan with a view to a four-year deal at the end of that spell.

Cornelius heads back to Copenhagen

Denmark striker Andreas Cornelius has returned to Copenhagen after just half a season with Premier League side Cardiff City. Cornelius arrived in south Wales on a five-year deal at the beginning of July in a club-record transfer for Cardiff, believed to be worth around £8million. However, he was unable to gain regular first-team football, with his only starts coming in the FA Cup. The 20-year-old will now seek to relaunch his career on familiar soil, having scored 18 league goals for Copenhagen last season. A statement on the Danish club's official website read: "FC Copenhagen have re-signed the club’s former top scorer, Andreas Cornelius, from Premier League side Cardiff City. "Cornelius has agreed a five-year contract with the Lions and transfers with immediate effect." Expressing his relief at the move, Cornelius added: "I didn’t have a second of doubt that this was where I wanted to be, especially with the situation as it was in Cardiff.

Transfer round-up of Premier League

Fulham secured the services of Greece international Konstantinos Mitroglou in one of the Premier League's biggest deadline day moves. Mitroglou signed a four-and-a-half-year deal after Olympiacos accepted an undisclosed bid, while Fulham were also able to secure the services of Everton defender John Heitinga on a free transfer and Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Lewis Holtby on loan until the end of the season. In addition, head coach Rene Meulensteen brought in two young midfielders, Ryan Tunnicliffe and Larnell Cole, from Manchester United, with both signing deals until the summer of 2017. There were also a number of departures at Craven Cottage, with Dimitar Berbatov joining Monaco on loan, Philippe Senderos completing a permanent move to Valencia and Aaron Hughes moving to Championship outfit Queens Park Rangers after being released. Chelsea signed Saint-Etienne's 19-year-old defender Kurt Zouma for an undisclosed fee on a five-and-a-half-year deal,

France on top of Australia, Britain stuns USA

France were the big winners in the opening matches of the Davis Cup World Group first round, as they took a 2-0 lead over Australia. Richard Gasquet and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga both recorded straight-set victories in the first two singles matches, meaning France need only a win in the doubles on Saturday to confirm their place in the quarter-finals. After a tight first set against Nick Kyrgios, Gasquet dominated a tie-break before winning 7-6 (7-3) 6-2 6-2 in just over two hours. Tsonga doubled France's lead with a 6-3 6-2 7-6 (7-2) victory against Lleyton Hewitt, putting France in a comfortable position. Great Britain took a surprise 2-0 lead over the United States at Petco Park in San Diego.

Spaniards out in force in Vina del Mar

Nicolas Almagro marks his return from injury at the Royal Guard Open starting Monday as Horacio Zeballos looks to defend his title. Spanish world number 17 Almagro missed the Australian Open due to a shoulder injury and will be looking for his first ATP World Tour title since May 2012. He will have plenty of competition with countrymen Tommy Robredo, Marcel Granollers, Guillermo Garcia-Lopez and Pablo Carreno Busta all in the field. Zeballos shapes as being the main threat after his surprise victory in the final in Vina del Mar last year. The 2013 tournament marked the return of 13-time grand slam winner Rafael Nadal from a seven-month injury lay-off.

Klopp unimpressed with Dortmund´s struggle past Braunschweig

Borussia Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp lamented his side's failure to put Eintracht Braunschweig away earlier after a 2-1 win on Friday. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang opened the scoring on 31 minutes against the Bundesliga's bottom side, who levelled early in the second half through Benjamin Kessel. Aubameyang earned Dortmund, who are third in the league, victory with a neat left-footed finish on 65 minutes. Klopp praised his team for their attitude against the struggling side, but would have liked to have the result sealed earlier. "We are Borussia Dortmund and we are ready to work for three points. It doesn't matter where it is, against whom, or when.

Cabaye can adjust to PSG quickly, says Blanc Laurent

Paris Saint-Germain coach Laurent Blanc is confident Yohan Cabaye will settle quickly after the midfielder made his debut on Friday. Second-half goals from Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Alex saw PSG to a 2-0 win over Bordeaux, lifting them six points clear atop Ligue 1. New signing Cabaye was introduced after 68 minutes and the former Newcastle man rattled the post with a header. Blanc believes Cabaye is smart enough to quickly adapt to PSG's style and always planned to bring him on during the second half. "We had planned to involve him 20 or 30 minutes. It also depended on the match," he said. "I'm not worried about it. He's smart, he knows how we want to play and he understands our philosophy. He will adapt to our system without much problem."

Jones, Watson on top at TPC Scottsdale

Australian Matt Jones and American Bubba Watson share a two-shot lead after the second round of the Phoenix Open on Friday. Jones produced a second straight six-under 65 at the TPC Scottsdale in Arizona, while Watson followed up his opening 64 with a 66. The duo sit at 12 under at the halfway mark of the PGA Tour event, two shots clear of their respective countrymen. Australia's Greg Chalmers (67) and the United States' Harris English (67) sit at 10 under to be in the hunt heading into the weekend. The big-hitting Watson holed six birdies on his first 13 holes after starting on the back nine before an indifferent finish. Jones was far steadier, producing three birdies on his first four holes before a bogey at the par-four ninth slowed his momentum.