UK-Sport Summary – Yahoo! Philippines News

October 23rd, 2009 by admin

UK-Sport Summary – Yahoo! Philippines News

Benfica thump Everton, Shakhtar cruise in Europa League

BERNE – Javier Saviola and Oscar Cardozo scored two goals apiece and defender Luisao was also on target as Benfica thumped Everton 5-0 in the Europa League Thursday. Shakhtar Donetsk, who won the UEFA Cup in its last year, Sporting Lisbon and FC Salzburg all won to maintain their 100 percent records at the halfway mark in the group stage.

Germany captain Ballack backs England World Cup bid

LONDON – Germany captain Michael Ballack has joined the list of players backing England’s bid to host the 2018 World Cup, British media reported on Thursday. “The atmosphere and competitive nature of English football has been a great experience, playing with and against the best players in the world,” the Chelsea player was quoted as saying. “England would be a fitting host for the 2018 World Cup.”

Hamburg players in sit-down protest after beating Celtic

GLASGOW – Hamburg staged a sit-down protest after their 1-0 Europa League win over Celtic on Thursday when stewards denied the players the chance to celebrate with their fans, manager Bruno Labbadia said. “I would have wished the situation would not have happened,” Labbadia told reporters.

Chelsea appeal to CAS over FIFA punishment

LONDON against the ban on signing new players imposed on them by FIFA, CAS said on Thursday. Chelsea have also asked for the transfer ban to be suspended until the result of the appeal is decided.

Robinho facing further two weeks on the sidelines

LONDON – Brazil striker Robinho will be out of action for a further two weeks after a setback in his recovery from a stress fracture, Manchester City manager Mark Hughes said Thursday. Robinho has not played since August because of the ankle injury and will not be rushed back into action.

Garcia enjoys home comforts to lead in Castellon

CASTELLON, Spain – Holder Sergio Garcia defied high winds at his home Mediterraneo course on Thursday to take a one-stroke lead in the Castellon Masters. Garcia has yet to win this season after being tipped to topple Tiger Woods as world number one early in the year but an eight-under-par 63 gave the Spaniard hope he can end his poor streak.

Soderling cruises into last eight in Stockholm

STOCKHOLM – Top seed Robin Soderling grabbed another easy win in front of his home crowd on Thursday to reach the Stockholm Open quarter-finals with a 6-1 6-3 victory over Italian Andreas Seppi. The Swedish world number 10, who demolished Ecuadorian Giovanni Lapentti in his opening match, faces Spaniard Guillermo Garcia-Lopez in the last eight where no other seeds remain.

Zvonareva and Safin ousted in Moscow

MOSCOW – Bulgarian qualifier Tsvetana Pironkova crushed top seed Vera Zvonareva 6-0 6-2 in the second round of the Kremlin Cup on Thursday, eliminating the Russian from the women’s season-ending tournament in Doha. Zvonareva’s defeat enabled second seed Jelena Jankovic to clinch the last remaining spot in next week’s WTA championships regardless of her own progress in Moscow.

Sizzling O’Hern takes charge with birdie blitz in Arizona

PHOENIX – Australian Nick O’Hern covered the last nine holes in a blistering seven-under-par 28 to charge one shot clear in Thursday’s first round of the Arizona Open in Scottsdale. Best known for twice beating Tiger Woods at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship, left-hander O’Hern reeled off eight birdies and a lone bogey after the turn to card a sizzling seven-under 63.

Cabrera misses out in Castellon after frantic dash

CASTELLON, Spain – U.S. Masters champion Angel Cabrera failed to make his tee-off at the Castello Masters first round Thursday after flight delays en route from an event in Bermuda. The Argentine had been due to arrive in Spain at around 0530 local time after finishing second in the Grand Slam in Bermuda behind American Lucas Glover but was delayed.