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New Crocs make appearance in wet Stadium Negeri BorneoPost Online | Borneo , Malaysia, Sarawak Daily News » Sports - New 2 Borneo

New Crocs make appearance in wet Stadium Negeri

Posted: 24 Dec 2013 09:08 AM PST

by Matthew T. Umpang reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on December 25, 2013, Wednesday

KUCHING: Sarawak's Iranian import Alirad Abbasfad scored on his debut at Stadium Negeri last Monday night.

The friendly match between the new-look Crocs against Sabah, was marred by heavy rain.

Referee Tiong Eng Tai had to call off the match in the 74th minute as conditions on the pitch got worse.

Both teams were tied 1-1.

Earlier Sabah had taken the lead off a free kick after their player was fouled at the edge of Sarawak's penalty box.

Mitrovic Srecko's well executed kick went straight at the net, leaving goalkeeper Sani Anuar Kamsani no time to dive for a save.

The score at half-time remained at 1-0.

Sarawak launched more attacks from the start of the second half.

They were finally rewarded when Alirad found the net after connecting a pass from a team mate with a header.

The Crocs had a good chance to go ahead when they were awarded a penalty by the referee for a foul in the Sabah penalty box.

But new import Gabor Gyepes failed to put the ball past Sabah goalkeeper Mohd Fadzli Paat.

Other players who made their debut at Sarawak's home ground were Akmal Rizal Ahmad Rakhli, S. Chanturu, Reshafiq Alwi and Rashid Aya.

A visibly relaxed Sarawak head coach Robert Alberts said he was primary concerned about the match fitness of his players.

He added that he was quite satisfied with he saw especially the performance of his team in the second half.

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Arsenal frustrated by Chelsea in goalless stalemate

Posted: 24 Dec 2013 09:06 AM PST

LONDON: Arsenal missed their chance to return to the top of the Premier League after being held to a bruising 0-0 draw by title rivals Chelsea in a spiteful London derby on Monday.

This was the final English top-flight fixture before Christmas, but there was little festive cheer on display at the Emirates Stadium as Chelsea battered Arsenal with a series of bruising challenges.

John Obi Mikel was fortunate to avoid a red card after the Chelsea midfielder crunched into Mikel Arteta, while Arsenal also complained they should have had a penalty for Willian's challenge on Theo Walcott.

It was a frustrating night for Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who failed to secure his first win over Jose Mourinho at the 10th attempt and as a result saw his side waste an opportunity to climb back above leaders Liverpool.

Instead, second placed Arsenal go into the Christmas programme level on points with Liverpool but behind the Anfield outfit on goal difference.

Chelsea, who moved up to fourth and are two points behind Liverpool, finished the more satisfied side after stifling Arsenal with ease and creating the better of the few chances on offer.

"We controlled the game defensively. It was a tactical match, a match where neither side wanted to lose," Mourinho said.

"We want creative players who use the ball and kill opponents. But there are some matches where we have to take one step backwards and play with a different philosophy."

Wenger had admitted Arsenal had a point to prove after last weekend's 6-3 thrashing at Manchester City prompted many pundits to question his team's chances of lasting the pace in the title race, but this spluttering performance will hardly silence the doubters.

Mourinho sent Chelsea out in a 4-5-1 formation, with Fernando Torres as the lone striker, and that cautious approach worked impressively as Arsenal struggled to find any rhythm.

It didn't help that torrential rain and gale-force winds lashed the Emirates throughout the match, making passing something of a lottery.

Frank Lampard made a typically intelligent run to meet Cesar Azpilicueta's cross in the early stages, but for once the Chelsea midfielder's clinical finishing deserted him and he scuffed a mistimed effort well wide.

Mourinho's men finally cast off their defensive shackles just before the break and almost took the lead when Lampard met Eden Hazard's pass with volley against the crossbar.

The ball rebounded to safety, but Arsenal were under the cosh again moments later when Torres tested Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny with a snap-shot on the turn.

Wenger was growing increasingly vexed on the touchline and he was furious when referee Mike Dean refused to even book Mikel for his aggressive lunge on Arteta.

Mikel's eyes were on the ball when he went into the tackle and Arteta slid in with equal intent, but it was the Chelsea midfielder whose follow-through contained more menace and could easily have left the Spaniard nursing a serious injury.

Arsenal's anger increased when they appealed in vain for a penalty after Willian's challenge caught Walcott on the foot without making contact with the ball.

Willian squandered a golden opportunity to add to Arsenal's angst when he shot straight at Szczesny after a rapid break caught the hosts out-numbered.

Arteta was the victim of another crunching tackle from Ramires, but the Brazilian escaped with just a booking.

By now Walcott, usually so mild mannered, had had enough and the winger responded by chopping down Azpilicueta, earning a yellow card of his own.

The tone of an already fiery match became ever more combustible after Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic caught Mesut Ozil and then started a bout of shoving with an incensed Kieran Gibbs.

Arsenal's Tomas Rosicky sought retribution and went into the book for a crude foul on Ivanovic.

It was Arsenal who finished the stronger, with Giroud firing into the side-netting and then forcing Cech to block at his near post.

Bacary Sagna's header was cleared off the line by Azpilicueta, but neither side deserved to take the points on an ugly night. – AFP

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Federer at 2014 crossroads, Serena eyes history

Posted: 24 Dec 2013 09:03 AM PST

PARIS: Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray open the 2014 season in Abu Dhabi on Thursday with Roger Federer hoping his absence isn't an indicator of more misery ahead.

World number one Nadal provided the comeback story of 2013, winning 10 titles, including a record eighth French Open and a second US Open which took his majors haul to 13.

Djokovic defended his Australian Open crown while Murray claimed Britain's first Wimbledon mens' title in 77 years.

But while the big three start their new campaigns with a leisurely three-day stroll in the Gulf, record 17-time major winner Federer begins his 17th season as a professional in Brisbane and with his career at a crossroads.

In 2013, the world number six failed to reach a Grand Slam final for the first time since 2002 and his second-round defeat at Wimbledon ended his run of 36 consecutive Grand Slam quarter-final appearances.

Federer will turn 33 in August but is acutely aware that his great hero, Pete Sampras, quit at 31 and at the top of his game, having secured a fifth US Open.

His record against the sport's big three also makes for worrying reading — he is 10-22 against Nadal having lost all four matches against the great Spaniard this year and 9-11 when up against Murray, losing their one clash in 2013.

He is still ahead in his rivalry with Djokovic at 16-15 but lost both their meetings this year while the Serb has taken six of their last eight matches.

The Swiss goes into 2014 having severed his ties with long-time coach Paul Annacone, one of a number of players to have tweaked their back-up teams over the winter.

"For me, it's pretty simple: this is what I used to do as a little boy. It's something that always is there in your DNA," said Federer, who will be playing a warm-up tournament in Australia for the first time in 11 years.

After Brisbane, where he is top seed, Federer heads for the Australian Open, a title he has captured on four occasions but where he has fallen in the semi-finals on his last three visits.

Nadal missed the UAE tourament in 2012 as well as the Australian Open as he nursed a knee injury for seven months, but he had a record-setting 2013, losing just seven times in 82 matches. The 27-year-old is now just four majors behind Federer and with five years on his long-standing rival, is widely expected to pass the mark of the Swiss whose last major was the 2012 Wimbledon title.

Djokovic stunned tennis by hiring Boris Becker as his new head coach, a decision prompted by his desperate desire to improve a record that reads six Grand Slam titles but also six defeats in finals at majors.

As well as defending his Australian Open title, Djokovic also has another big date lined up for early in the new year, marrying longtime girlfriend Jelena Ristic to whom he got engaged in September.

Murray missed the closing tournaments of 2013 to undergo back surgery and once his Abu Dhabi stint is over he will join Nadal as the leading attraction in Doha which, along with Brisbane and Chennai, opens the competitive season.

"I know how hard it is to win the majors," Murray, who lost his first four Grand Slam finals, told Sky Sports News.

"It may never happen again, I might not win another one but I just want to give myself the best chance to do that. Hopefully I'll give myself an opportunity to win another one."

The WTA Tour starts in Brisbane and Auckland and will conclude with a new home in Singapore for the season-ending championships.

Six of the world's top 10 will be in Brisbane led by defending champion Serena Williams.

The American will be 33 in 2014 but her rock-solid confidence and iron will are as intimidating as ever.

Williams ended 2013 with 11 titles while triumphs at the French and US Opens took her Grand Slam haul to 17, one off the mark shared by Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova and just five away from Steffi Graf's Open Era record of 22.

Williams enjoyed a match record of 78 wins against just four defeats, claimed the season-ending WTA Championships title and became the oldest number one player.

Victoria Azarenka, comfortably Williams' biggest rival, also features in Brisbane as does Maria Sharapova who was forced to shut down her 2013 campaign at Cincinnati in August because of a shoulder injury.

Sharapova has hired Sven Groeneveld, the former coach of Monica Seles, in an effort to knock Williams off her perch.

However, Sharapova has a 2-14 record against the American with both those wins coming way back in 2004.

World number two Azarenka has won just three of her 16 meetings against Williams, although she split their four clashes in 2013 and for a second successive season took her great rival to three sets in the US Open final. — AFP

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James scores 38 as Heat hold off Hawks in overtime

Posted: 24 Dec 2013 09:01 AM PST

MIAMI: LeBron James scored 38 points with eight rebounds and six assists to lead the Miami Heat to a 121-110 victory over Atlanta in an NBA overtime thriller on Monday.

Michael Beasley added two crucial free throws with less than 10 seconds to play, giving the Heat a lead they wouldn't relinquish.

Neither team led by more than three points in overtime. Miami trailed 119-116 when Chris Anderson's layup with 1:08 left in the extra period narrowed the gap to 119-118.

Kyle Korver and Paul Millsap both missed three-point attempts for the Hawks and on the ensuing Heat possession James got a pass to a driving Beasley who was fouled.

Beasley made both free throws to put the reigning NBA champion Heat ahead by one point.

Out of a timeout, Atlanta's rookie big man Pero Antic inbounded from the left sideline and lobbed the ball to Korver who was denied at the rim. Anderson grabbed the rebound and was fouled, making one more free throw with three-tenths of a second left to account for the final margin.

Ray Allen, starting in place of injured Heat star Dwyane Wade, scored 19 points and calmly drained three free throws to knot the score at 111-111 with less than 10 seconds left in regulation, sending the game into overtime.

Anderson scored 12 points and Beasley added 10 for the Heat, who notched their fifth straight win. — AFP

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Mourinho taunts Arsenal after fiery draw

Posted: 24 Dec 2013 09:00 AM PST

LONDON: Jose Mourinho accused Arsenal of "crying" about decisions that went against them after Chelsea bullied their way to a fiery 0-0 draw at the Emirates Stadium.

Mourinho's side subjected Arsenal to some ferocious challenges as they hassled the Gunners out of their stride in Monday's bruising London derby.

John Obi Mikel was fortunate to avoid a red card after the Chelsea midfielder crunched into Mikel Arteta, while Arsenal also complained they should have had a penalty for Willian's challenge on Theo Walcott.

There were several other bone-jarring tackles that left Arsenal players writhing in agony, and Gunners boss Arsene Wenger seething on the touchline. But Chelsea manager Mourinho refused to apologise for his team's no-holds-barred approach and instead took the opportunity to get one more dig in on old rival Wenger and his players.

"They like to cry, that's tradition," Mourinho said.

"I prefer to say that English people – and I give one example, (Chelsea's) Frank Lampard – would never provoke a situation like that.

"Players from other countries, especially some countries, they have that in their blood.

"I prefer English blood in football and English blood in these situations is 'come on, let's go.'"

Asked about Mikel following through into Arteta's shin, Mourinho insisted it was a fair challenge.

"It was a hard one, an aggressive one. Football is for men, or for women with fantastic attitude!" Mourinho said.

"Football is a game of contact. English football, winter, water on the pitch, the sliding tackles become at a fantastic speed. So be proud, play with pride."

As well as having to contend with Chelsea's aggressive tactics, Arsenal were also trapped in Mourinho's tactical straitjacket.

The Portuguese coach has never lost to Wenger in 10 meetings and this rarely looked like being the first defeat as his 4-5-1 formation stifled the life out of an already anxious Arsenal.

Arsenal's frustrated fans responded by chanting "boring Chelsea" at the final whistle.

Responding to the terrace jibes, Mourinho said sarcastically: "I'd agree. I played against them 10 times and I never lost.

"'Funny, funny Jose.' 10 times, they don't win once. What do you want to call me?"

Fourth placed Chelsea are just two points behind leaders Liverpool heading into the busy Christmas schedule, and Mourinho was adamant his defensive tactics were the right choice on a night when torrential rain and gale-force winds made smooth passing almost impossible.

"We came to win, but it was very important not to lose, because if we lose we are five points behind the leaders," Mourinho said.

"And, with a point, we are two points behind Liverpool and Arsenal. That's a completely different picture. We tried to win, but we are not unhappy with the point."

Wenger inevitably saw it rather differently, but he was careful not to be drawn into a war of words with Mourinho.

"Of course I can understand that," he said with a wry smile when told Mourinho said he thought referee Mike Dean had a good game.

"It's Christmas, so let's give everyone their own opinion and I can have mine.

"I don't think he (Dean) had a great game at all.

"On the pitch it (Mikel's foul) looked bad, but the referee was in a good position." — AFP

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Suarez dreams as race goes into festive overdrive

Posted: 24 Dec 2013 09:00 AM PST

LONDON: Few players have undergone the transformation from sinner to saint that Luis Suarez is experiencing this season and the prolific Uruguay striker is now dreaming of winning the Premier League with Liverpool.

Liverpool went top of the table by beating Cardiff City 3-1 on Saturday, Suarez scoring twice to take his season's tally to 19 goals from 12 league matches ahead of the busy Christmas holiday programme which offers no let-up in the title race.

The Anfield club visit fellow contenders Manchester City on Thursday before travelling to Chelsea on Sunday and Suarez, who missed the opening five matches of the season following a ban imposed last season for biting an opponent, is a man reborn.

"It is my dream, I hope to win the league and a big trophy with Liverpool," he was quoted as saying on the club website on Monday.

Suarez signed a new four-year contract last week and according to the Daily Telegraph newspaper is scoring goals "to make the likes of (former Anfield greats) Ian Rush, Roger Hunt and Robbie Fowler appear like they were occasional marksmen".

The race for the title reaches the halfway stage with four rounds of matches over Christmas and New Year including the weekend programme which concluded on Monday with Arsenal's 0-0 draw with Chelsea at the Emirates.

Arsenal, who led the way from mid-September until Liverpool went top on Saturday, remain second behind The Reds on goal difference.

With Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho extending his unbeaten run against counterpart Arsene Wenger to 10 matches, Liverpool head into Christmas as the top side for the first time since 2008.

Unlike Germany where there is an unofficial 'winter champion', no such accolade exists in England but historically it is no bad thing to top the table at this time of the year.

The top team at Christmas in the 21 completed Premier League seasons has won the title 10 times. Seven of the last nine champions, and all of the last four title winners, were first on Dec 25.

The last team to be first at Christmas and miss out on the title were Liverpool in 2009. This time last year eventual champions Manchester United held a four-point lead over Manchester City going into Christmas and were 11 clear of third-placed Chelsea but this season the race is much closer.

Liverpool now have 36 points and the leading eight teams are separated by only eight points, down to champions United with 28.  Despite varying ups and downs in the first half of the season the top eight – Liverpool, Manchester City, Arsenal, Everton, Chelsea, Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United all have realistic hopes of finishing in the top four. — Reuters

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