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Dutch Eredivisie Roundup, Feb. 12

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Updated Feb 12, 2011 5:51 PM ET
Marcus Berg and Balazs Dzsudzsak each scored twice as PSV Eindhoven blanked AZ Alkmaar 4-0 to stay top of the Dutch league on Saturday.

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Berg slotted a rebound to give PSV the lead after eight minutes then Ola Toivonen played in Dzsudzsak for the second on the stroke of the hour.
Dzsudzsak converted Jeremain Lens' pass in the 66th and Toivonen set up Berg for the fourth in the 77th.
Also, Nacer Chadli's 39th-minute goal was enough to help Twente see off Vitesse Arnhem 1-0.
PSV and Twente are tied on top of the standings. PSV enjoys a superior goal difference over the defending champion.
Battling relegation, Feyenoord secured its first win in 2011, beating Heracles Almelo 2-1 on a pair of goals from Ryo Miyaichi and Diego Biseswar.
Ismo Vorstermans' injury-time goal gave FC Utrecht a point after a 3-3 draw at bottom side Willem II.
Dries Mertens also scored twice for Utrecht while Willem II replied off strikes by Jan-Arie van der Heijden, Juha Hakola and Maceo Rigters.
Dmitri Bulykin netted twice, including a second-half penalty, as ADO The Hague defeated VVV Venlo 3-0. Jens Toornstra got ADO's first in the 53rd.
Third-placed Ajax needs to beat Roda JC on Sunday to stay in the title race.

Cruyff makes Ajax return


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Updated Feb 12, 2011 4:48 AM ET
Johan Cruyff has returned to Ajax on an advisory basis after agreeing to become a member of one of three "sounding board groups".

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A meeting on Thursday night between general manager Rik van den Boog, Ajax's board of directors and Cruyff confirmed the former Holland playmaker's willingness to advise on technical issues.
The other two sounding boards will focus on financial and association matters.
Ajax also announced further talks would be held to determine whether Cruyff's role would be expanded.
Cruyff won eight Eredivisie titles and three European Cups with the Amsterdam club as a player over two spells.
He also coached the club to the 1987 European Cup Winners' Cup crown.
The 63-year-old is equally revered at Barcelona, where he is credited with implementing the club's current pass-and-move style of play.
As a player at the Nou Camp, he won the 1974 Primera Division crown and, as coach, guided them to four Spanish titles and their first European Cup.

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• Report Abuse TripleOpticVision
  
  • 2/12/2011 2:18:43 AM
  some of the worst grammar i have ever seen on a "professional" site in the link to this article. are you hiring editors, fox? because i can promise that wouldn't happen on my watch.
  
• Report Abuse SpidermanItalia
  
  • 2/11/2011 2:15:32 PM
  Vlade Divac has the flop named after him...Flop like Vlade Divac!
  
• Report Abuse marcbarca
  
  • 2/11/2011 2:05:22 PM
  Cruyff is the King.
  
  Well said Maffie.
  
• Report Abuse mightymeath1
  
  • 2/11/2011 9:15:28 AM
  word maffie!
  
• Report Abuse maffie
  
  • 2/11/2011 8:33:45 AM
  Quite simply... A legend. Possibly the GREATEST player of ALL-TIME. Who else has a football move named after him? Surprised it took so long for this to happen.
  

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Cricket World Cup 2011 team guide: Sri Lanka

With many of their games at home, could Sri Lanka replicate the success of 1996?

• Andy Bull, Andy Wilson and Bilal Abood
• guardian.co.uk, Thursday 17 February 2011 09.59 GMT <li class="history">Article history Mahela Jayawardene - here playing in the T20 World Cup last year - could be key to Sri Lanka's chances Photograph: Indranil Mukherjee/AFP/Getty Images Group B
  
  20 Feb v Canada, Hambantota (d/n)
  26 Feb v Pakistanm Colombo (d/n)
  1 Mar v Kenya, Colombo (d/n)
  5 Mar v Australia, Colombo (d/n)
  10 Mar v Zimbabwe, Kandy (d/n)
  18 Mar v New Zealand, Mumbai (d/n)
  World Cup history
  
  Winners in 1996. Finalists in 2007. Semi finalists in 2003. First round in 1975, 1979, 1983, 1987, 1992 and 1999
  The captain
  
  Kumar Sangakkara In one day cricket Sangakkara still captains, bats and keeps wicket, having given up the third of those disciplines in Test cricket. In more than 280 ODIs, he has 10 centuries, a batting average of 36 and a strike rate of 75.
  The coach
  
  Trevor Bayliss Before replacing Tom Moody as Sri Lanka coach in 2007, Bayliss enjoyed a successful career as a middle-order batsman and fine fielder in Australia. His highest first-class score was 163 for New South Wales against Western Australia.
  Key batsman
  
  Mahela Jayawardene After captaining his country to the 2007 World Cup final, and defeat by Australia, he has handed the reins to Kumar Sangakkara which could make him even more single-minded about scoring match-winning runs. An old head at 33, but not quite old enough to have played in the 1996 triumph. Could this be his year?
  Key bowler
  
  Lasith Malinga Slingy action, crazy hair, and already secure in World Cup legend after taking four wickets with consecutive deliveries against South Africa in comfortably the most memorable moment of the last tournament, although the match was still lost. Probably a more intelligent performer now and can bat too, as Australia have already discovered during the winter.
  Success depends on
  
  They have a trio of heavy run-scorers in Jayawardene, Sangakkara and Tilakaratne Dilshan. All three are capable of producing match-winning innings. Then throw in three excellent spinners in Muttiah Muralitharan, Ajantha Mendis and Rangana Herath, the pace of Malinga and the all-round talent of Angelo Mathews. They can beat anyone.
  Prediction
  
  Final If the first round pans out as it should they will get to play a home semi-final after beating the fourth qualifier from Group B, that should give them enough of an advantage to see them to the final.
  The squad
  
  Kumar Sangakkara (capt & wk), Mahela Jayawardene (vice-capt), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Dilhara Fernando, Rangana Herath, Chamara Kapugedera, Nuwan Kulasekara, Lasith Malinga, Angelo Mathews, Ajantha Mendis, Muttiah Muralitharan, Thisara Perera, Thilan Samaraweera, Chamara Silva, Upul Tharanga
  

Cricket World Cup 2011 team guide: Australia

Australia have won three World Cups on the trot. Don't discount a fourth

• Andy Bull, Andy Wilson and Bilal Abood
• guardian.co.uk, Thursday 17 February 2011 10.22 GMT <li class="history">Article history Ricky Ponting with the Cricket World Cup at the Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg, in 2003 Photograph: Jon Hrusa/AP Group A
  
  21 Feb v Zimbabwe, Ahmedabad (d/n)
  25 Feb v New Zealand, Nagpur (d/n)
  5 March v Sri Lanka, Colombo (d/n)
  13 March v Kenya, Bangalore (d/n)
  16 March v Canada, Bangalore (d/n)
  19 March v Pakistan, Colombo (d/n)
  World Cup history
  
  Winners in 1987, 1999, 2003 and 2007. Finalists in 1975 and 1996. First round in 1979, 1983 and 1992
  The captain
  
  Ricky Ponting Born in Launceston, Tasmania, Ponting is the eldest of four siblings. He has played in the last three successful World Cup campaigns, captaining the team in 2003 and 2007.
  The coach
  
  Tim Nielsen A former South Australian cricketer, who played first-class cricket but never reached international level. He took over as coach for Australia in 2007.
  Key batsman
  
  Ricky Ponting Returning from the broken finger he suffered in his third losing Ashes series as captain, so not short of motivation. Has the chance to make history with a fourth consecutive triumph.
  Key bowler
  
  Shaun Tait Express pace, and full length that can make turgid pitches irrelevant. Has given up first class cricket to protect his fragile body for 50-over and Twenty20 games.
  Success depends on
  
  The ability of their pace attack to blow teams away early in the innings. Between Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson and Tait they have no shortage of firepower up front, but if they get caught on a flat patch their spin bowling is absolutely threadbare and the opposition will race away from them. Expect to see them bowl teams out for 150 or else concede 350.
  Prediction
  
  Quarter-final A last-eight match-up against England seems likely. After the 6-1 shellacking the Australia have just given them that should really only go one way, but this time England should have their first choice bowling attack back, Graeme Swann and all.
  The squad
  
  Ricky Ponting (capt), Michael Clarke (vice-capt), Doug Bollinger, Callum Ferguson, Brad Haddin (wkt), John Hastings, David Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Jason Krejza, Brett Lee, Tim Paine (wkt), Steve Smith, Shaun Tait, Shane Watson, Cameron White.
  

Dutch Eredivisie Roundup, Feb. 6

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Updated Feb 6, 2011 11:44 AM ET
Defending champion FC Twente wasted a chance to dislodge PSV Eindhoven from the top of the Dutch league Sunday after being held to a 1-1 draw at Utrecht.
ADO The Hague's shock win at PSV on Saturday handed Twente a chance to claim top spot for the first time in 2011.

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The two sides are now level on points at the top, but PSV has a superior goal difference.
Leon de Kogel and Nana Asare combined to give Utrecht a 37th-minute lead only for Nacer Chadli to level five minutes after the break.
Ajax moved into third, three points behind the leaders, after a 2-0 win over De Graafschap Friday.
Tim Matavz netted three including a 55th-minute penalty to help FC Groningen demolish Willem II 7-1.
Andreas Granqvist opened the scoring for Groningen before further goals from Fredrik Stenman, Thomas Enevoldsen and Dusan Tadic completed the rout. Andreas Lasnik converted a 52nd-minute penalty for the bottom side.
Willy Overtoom scored a second half goal to give Heracles Almelo a 1-0 win over Roda JC. Also Sunday, Vitesse Arnhem drew 1-1 against Feyenoord.
On Saturday, it was: Excelsior Rotterdam 1, AZ Alkmaar 0 and VVV-Venlo 3, NAC Breda 0.

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• Report Abuse SpidermanItalia
  
  • 2/6/2011 1:29:44 PM
  Nice title race in the Netherlands...nice to see Dutch league get on the main page
  

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Cricket World Cup 2011 team guide: Kenya

Despite the return of Steve Tikolo Kenya are unlikely to progress past the first round but will hope to beat Canada

• • 
    

• Andy Bull, Andy Wilson and Bilal Abood
• guardian.co.uk, Thursday 17 February 2011 09.23 GMT <li class="history">Article history The Kenya batsman Steve Tikolo has come out of retirement to play in his fifth Cricket World Cup. Photograph: Tony Marshall/EMPICS Sports Photo Agency Group A
  
  20 Feb v New Zealand, Chennai
  23 Feb v Pakistan, Hambantota (d/n)
  1 Mar v Sri Lanka, Colombo (d/n)
  7 Mar v Canada, Delhi (d/n)
  13 Mar v Australia, Bangalore (d/n)
  20 Mar v Zimbabwe, Kolkata
  World Cup history
  
  Semi-finals in 2003. First round in 1975 (as part of East Africa), 1996, 1999 and 2007
  The captain
  
  Jimmy Kamande Originally a fast-medium bowler, Kamande reinvented himself as a spin bowler in 2004 following concerns about his bowling action. He succeeded Maurice Ouma as national captain in late 2010.
  The coach
  
  Eldine Baptiste The former all-rounder appeared in 10 Tests (all of which resulted in West Indian victories) and 43 one-day internationals for West Indies. He was appointed head coach of Kenya in 2009.
  Key batsman
  
  Seren Waters Steve Tikolo has come out of retirement for his fifth World Cup but these days the best bat in the side may be 20-year-old opener Seren Waters. Surrey signed him up after he scored almost 900 runs for Cranleigh School and he averaged 43 in the Second XI Championship last season.
  Key bowler
  
  Shem Ngoche Collins Obuya, once of Warwickshire, had to quit bowling leg-spin when he came down with a bad case of the yips. So Shem Ngoche is the main spinner, a slight little slow left-armer. He does not turn the ball much but bowls a mean line from around the wicket.
  Success depends on
  
  A relative understanding of the term "success". Beating Canada and giving Zimbabwe a good game will be a fair achievement for a side who are still rebuilding after suffering severe problems with their domestic set-up in the wake of making the semi-finals in 2003.
  Prediction
  
  Group stages They should beat Canada but will struggle to trouble anyone else.
  The squad
  
  Jimmy Kamande (capt), Tamnay Mishra, James Ngoche, Shem Ngoche, Alex Obanda, David Obuya (wk), Collins Obuya, Nehemiah Odhiambo, Thomas Odoyo, Peter Ongondo, Elijah Otieno, Maurice Ouma (wk), Rakep Patel, Steve Tikolo, Seren Waters.
  

Kenny honoured to lead Reds


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Updated Feb 16, 2011 7:15 PM ET
16/02/2011 18:19 +0100

The 59-year-old won the European Cup three times in seven years in an era when the Reds dominated both at home and abroad. However, the ban imposed on English clubs after the Heysel Stadium disaster robbed him of the chance to extend that tally as a manager, having taken over from Joe Fagan after that fateful night in 1985. He did eventually get to take sides into Europe when the exclusion was lifted, but Blackburn and Newcastle were nowhere close to being on the same level as the all-conquering team Dalglish played in. That was reflected in his results, with just three wins and three draws in 12 games. So 9,393 days after his first spell in the Anfield dugout began, Dalglish prepares to take charge of the Reds in Europe for the first time when they face Sparta Prague in the last 32 of the Europa League. "It is not the first time I should have qualified," he said. "The reason why I never managed [Liverpool in Europe] before was because the government, through FIFA, decided to ban us. "We could have been up there challenging but we could only do what we were allowed to do and play in the competitions we were allowed to. "We had some fantastic success and it was great credit to everyone involved then. Europe wasn't to be. "Whether we'd have done well in Europe is hypothetical. People would discuss it but it was irrelevant. "We just got on with it and in a way it helped us. Maybe if we'd have been involved in Europe we'd have tripped up in a few more games. That could have jeopardised our success. "It is a great honour for me to be involved with Liverpool, irrespective of the competition, but to be involved in Europe gives that extra little plus." Liverpool head into the first leg with an unbeaten record in Europe this season, achieved under former manager Roy Hodgson. Dalglish was keen to pay tribute to that success, but insists they have to build on it. "It is now up to us to carry on the good work which was done by Roy and the players to get us this far," he said. "The competition we are involved in only seems to be unimportant to people who are not involved in it. "How do you define important? It is important because it is the next game. We will be doing our best to get the results everyone wants." Sparta have not played a competitive match since November as the Czech League closed down for their winter break, but Dalglish will not underestimate their hosts. "They haven't played too many games. We've seen them play several times on tape so we know roughly what we are up against," the Scot added. "We don't know how it is going to affect them, not having played for two and a half months in a competitive game. "We know Sparta are a good side but we are not here to be pessimistic." Liverpool have travelled without Steven Gerrard and Daniel Agger (both recovering from injuries) and Christian Poulsen, whose wife is expecting a baby. Dalglish has included youth team quintet John Flanagan, Conor Coady, Jack Robinson, Tom Ince and Raheem Sterling, the latter of whom would become the club's youngest player at the age of 16 years and 71 days if he were to feature on Thursday. Club record signing Andy Carroll has also travelled to Prague but his involvement will purely be on a training and integration basis as he continues his recovery from a thigh problem.

Mick: Derby days so important


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Updated Feb 16, 2011 11:10 AM ET
Mick McCarthy accepts Wolves' two impending showdowns against Black Country rivals West Brom could define their season.
Wolves take on the Baggies on Sunday knowing they still have to face their neighbours at Molineux before the season ends.

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Wanderers may have lost to Arsenal last weekend to go rock-bottom of the Premier League, but they have claimed some impressive scalps this term over giants such as Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool.
After watching his men struggle against less high-profile sides, McCarthy feels it is their fellow relegation candidates they must now target, particularly with things so tight in the bottom half of the table.
He told the Express & Star: "It's what we do against West Brom, Blackpool and the rest that will define our season. We aren't where we are because of our result on Saturday against Arsenal.
"We are where we are because of our results against West Ham, Wigan, Bolton and Fulham.
"Suddenly if we were on 27 points, things would look much brighter."
McCarthy believes Wolves and Albion face similar dilemmas this season because of their leaky defence.
He said: "That's why both teams are where they are. On Saturday they drew 3-3 against West Ham and we got pumped."
Despite being in the basement of the standings, Wolves' players remain optimistic and McCarthy feels they are right to stay confident.
He added: "I would hope the players are bullish about these last 12 games. Arsenal are better than us, so why beat ourselves up about it?
"We didn't play particularly well on Saturday but when we beat Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool we certainly did.
"The national press want to say those results happened because the opposition didn't perform at their best, but wasn't it because little old Wolves slapped them and played well?
"We tried to do the same on Saturday but Arsenal did it to us."

Coyle: No dilemma over strikers


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Updated Feb 16, 2011 11:01 AM ET
Bolton boss Owen Coyle insists trying to accommodate three strikers into his starting line-up is not proving a thorny issue.
The arrival of Daniel Sturridge on loan from Chelsea in January provided competition for captain Kevin Davies and Johan Elmander and, with the new man scoring three times in as many games, it is Swede Elmander who has had to make way.

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Sunderland 1-2 Tottenham | Recap Bolton 2-0 Everton | Recap Fulham 0-0 Chelsea | Recap Birmingham 0-2 Newcastle | Recap

The 29-year-old, who has not scored a Premier League goal since the 2-0 win over West Brom on Boxing Day, has played wide on the right in the last two matches.
Elmander's contract runs out in the summer and Coyle will leave it to the striker to decide whether he wants to stay on at the Reebok Stadium, but he is adamant the forward's position on the field is not a bone of contention.
The Trotters manager said: "There's absolutely no dilemma about playing any of my players anywhere. Wherever they're asked to play, they know it's for the good of the team, and they'll give everything they can for the team.
"I think we have very gifted individual players but their strength will be as a group and what they bring to the team. Johan Elmander has played off to the right, he's played in midfield, as the main striker, behind the main striker and to the left.
"Johan Elmander's a terrific footballer and a very nice lad to go with it. His contract's up in the summer and we've been very transparent about it."
With Sturridge cup-tied, Elmander could rejoin Davies up front on Wednesday night when Bolton travel to Wigan for their FA Cup fourth-round replay.
A trip to Fulham on Sunday is the prize on offer and, although Coyle confirmed he will make around six changes to the side that beat Everton 2-0 last weekend, it is a competition he is desperate to do well in.
The local rivals have proved very well matched in recent meetings, with all but one of their last six matches ending in draws, and the Bolton boss is expecting a tough test again after Wigan held Liverpool to a 1-1 draw last time out.
"They will have been boosted by a great performance and a great point at Anfield," he said. "It's a local derby, the games have always been tight affairs and I think tomorrow night will be the same. But it will be two teams going out to win the game.
"I love cup competitions and particularly the FA Cup. I know people have been critical of it for whatever reason but I've always loved it. Everybody dreams of getting to Wembley and being in that cup final and I'm no different."

McLeish denies defender unrest


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Updated Feb 16, 2011 12:49 PM ET
Alex McLeish has rubbished the idea that Scott Dann and Roger Johnson are unhappy over Birmingham's failure to discuss new deals with them.


It has been suggested that defenders Dann and Johnson are upset because negotiations over new contracts for the duo have been postponed.
But McLeish said: "That is absolute news to me, that is absolutely laughable. I've got a great dressing room. It's news to me unless they're talking behind my back.
"I haven't seen Scott Dann for about three or four weeks because we've given him some time off to recuperate from his injury, so he's in the sun somewhere.
"There's nothing in it. It's not the best time to talk about contracts and I think the players agree with that.
"I'm sure they'd love us to say 'here's another X amount per week and we'll sign you for another two years' but it's not appropriate at this moment in time and the players accepted that. No unrest, absolutely not."

Turner close to Cats comeback


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Updated Feb 16, 2011 9:28 AM ET
Sunderland defender Michael Turner is hoping to make his first-team comeback away to Everton at the end of the month.
Turner has been sidelined since late November due to a knee ligament injury and his last appearance was in the 2-2 home draw with the Toffees in the Premier League on November 22.

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The centre-half is now eyeing up the reverse fixture at Goodison Park next weekend for his return as he looks to help the Black Cats improve at defending set-pieces.
"It's up to me to get back fit and get back into the team," Turner told the Sunderland Echo.
"It would be nice to come back into a team who are doing well and flying high, though. It makes it easier than if the team is struggling for form and victories.
"It's not all about the two at centre-back. It's about other players in the team doing their job defensively.
"We've defended well from all positions most of the year. Against Stoke, they sent all their big guns forward and they all know exactly where the ball is going.
"They're well drilled and practice every day on situations like that. It's always difficult defending set-pieces like that.
"It was frustrating that we couldn't deal with the bits and pieces."

Birmingham City 0-2 Newcastle


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Updated Feb 15, 2011 7:30 PM ET
Goals from Peter Lovenkrands and Leon Best secured Newcastle a 2-0 Premier League win over Birmingham at St Andrew's on Tuesday night.
Newcastle registered their first victory of the post-Andy Carroll era.

Lovenkrands opened the scoring after four minutes and then Best struck early in the second period to wrap up the points for the Magpies.
Birmingham enjoyed a fair share of possession but lacked a cutting edge as they suffered their first defeat in six games.
Newcastle had picked up only two points from three games since Carroll's £35million departure to Liverpool on the final day of the January transfer window.
But they looked the more threatening throughout the 90 minutes, with Jose Enrique surging forward from left-back to good effect. They were well marshalled in midfield from skipper Kevin Nolan and were a constant threat on the counter-attack.
Nikola Zigic, who had scored in the previous three games, posed the biggest threat for the home side.
Newcastle got off to a dream start in the rainswept conditions with Lovenkrands putting them ahead after only two minutes.
Enrique's original cross was cleared after he had skipped past Sebastian Larsson but Jonas Gutierrez pounced on the loose ball and delivered a testing low centre to the near post.
Lovenkrands was first to react and he slid in front of Roger Johnson and drilled his shot past Ben Foster. It was his fourth goal of the campaign.
Blues looked shaky and more good play by Enrique found skipper Nolan inside the box but he did not extend Foster.
Former Newcastle striker Obafemi Martins showed good skill to get past Mike Williamson but Steve Harper was alert to the situation.
Birmingham were now in the ascendancy possession-wise and Johnson headed just wide from Larsson's free-kick
Then Harper did well to turn aside Zigic's shot on the turn from inside the box after good play by Barry Ferguson.
Nolan became the first player to be yellow carded for bringing down Bentley in full flight after 36 minutes.
Midfielder Craig Gardner came close to equalising five minutes before the interval. The midfielder hammered a 20-yard drive just wide after being teed up by Larsson who cut into the box before pulling the ball back.
Newcastle doubled their lead four minutes into the second half through Best's fifth goal of the campaign as Birmingham were again caught cold.
Gutierrez delivered a left-wing cross to the far post and Best got above the normally-dependable Johnson to head home.
Barton was yellow-carded for a challenge on Liam Ridgewell.
Larsson made a crucial challenge to deny Best a second goal after good play by Cheik Tiote
Magpies boss Alan Pardew brought on Nile Ranger for the limping Lovenkrands after 65 minutes.
Johnson was well wide with an acrobatic effort while at the other end Foster gathered a rising drive from Tiote.
Zigic had a great chance to reduce the arrears but headed over from Ridgewell's pinpoint cross when unmarked.
Johnson forced Harper to save his low header from Bentley's centre and substitute Kevin Phillips miskicked inside the box when well placed.
But Birmingham seldom threatened to salvage anything tangible from the game.

Jessica Ennis pulls out of Birmingham grand prix with injury

&#8226; Jessica Ennis suffering from inflammation of left ankle
&#8226; World champion focusing on European Indoor Championships

• Anna Kessel
• guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 16 February 2011 15.25 GMT <li class="history">Article history Jessica Ennis has struggled to recover from an ankle injury and will miss Saturday's Aviva Grand Prix. Photograph: Dave Thompson/PA The world and European champion heptathlete Jessica Ennis has withdrawn fromthe Aviva Birmingham grand prix suffering with an inflamed left ankle. Ennis was set to compete in the 60m hurdles and 60m sprint, but has been receiving medical treatment for the past few days and has been advised to take a more cautious approach ahead of the European Indoor championships in Paris.
  "I am working with my team to prepare an intense treatment programme and I'm putting all of my energy into being in the best shape for the pentathlon on 4 March at the Championships in Paris," said the 25-year-old
  "Withdrawing from the grand prix is not an easy decision and I am really frustrated, but nipping injuries in the bud is really the best thing to do &#8211; and I really want to be at my best for Paris."
  Ennis had complained of a painful niggle in her left ankle at the UK Trials in her home city of Sheffield last Saturday, opting to retire early from the high jump after clearing 1.88m to secure the British title.
  Ennis then underperformed in the shot put, throwing 85cm short of the personal best of 14.61m she set last month, although she said the injury was not related to her performance. She then withdrew from the second day of competition where she had been scheduled to line up in the long jump and 60m hurdles.
  Ennis is unlikely to be fazed by the setback having suffered a similar disruption to her preparations ahead of the World Indoor Championships in Doha last year, when she went on to win. Then she had been forced to sit out 10 days of training and competition &#8211; missing the UK Trials as well as the Birmingham grand prix &#8211; after straining a ligament in her right foot over the 60m hurdles at the Glasgow grand prix last January. But a resilient Ennis travelled to Doha fully recovered and went on to set a new British and championship record in the pentathlon of 4,937 points, just 54 points short of the world record.
  

Double Olympic champion Sarah Ayton quits

&#8226; Sarah Ayton retires as demands of motherhood take toll
&#8226; Sailor 'feeling like I can't give it my full attention'

• Press Association
• guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 16 February 2011 13.01 GMT <li class="history">Article history Sarah Ayton with her husband Nick Dempsey and son Thomas. The double Olympic champion has announced her retirement. Photograph: John Stillwell/PA The double Olympic sailing gold medallist Sarah Ayton has announced she is to retire from the sport with immediate effect.
  Ayton, 30, won in the Yngling class at the Athens Games with Shirley Robertson and Sarah Webb, and triumphed again in Beijing with Webb and Pippa Wilson. But she has called time on her attempt to become the first British woman to win three consecutive Olympic golds at London 2012.
  Ayton, who is married to the Olympic bronze medal-winning windsurfer Nick Dempsey, began her 2012 campaign in April 2010, nine months after giving birth to the couple's first son Thomas.
  She was sailing with Skandia Team GBR in the two-person 470 class with Beijing Olympian Saskia Clark, but the demands of Olympic classes sailing and motherhood have proved a relentless juggling act which left her drained and unhappy.
  "To succeed at the highest level as an Olympic athlete you ultimately have to be pretty single-minded, and that's something that just doesn't sit happily when you're a mum as well," Ayton said. "Winning gold is what Olympic sailing is all about, so working towards 2012 and feeling like I can't give it my full attention has made me question why I am doing it, especially when it involves missing out on important time with Thomas.
  "I am really looking forward to focusing my time and energy on Thomas and to supporting Nick, who is working harder than ever on his own Olympic campaign.
  "My sailing career has always been about the Olympics and I remain passionate and excited about London 2012, so I hope there will be lots of other ways to remain involved over the next 18 months in the build up."
  Ayton is sad that her decision not to pursue a third gold medal in London will have an impact on Clark. "I've really enjoyed sailing with Saskia Clark, who's a fantastic talent," she said. "I'm upset to be letting her down, but I know she's got 2012 firmly in her sights and is looking carefully at her options."
  

Double Olympic champion Sarah Ayton quits

• Sarah Ayton retires as demands of motherhood take toll
• Sailor 'feeling like I can't give it my full attention'

• Press Association
• guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 16 February 2011 13.01 GMT <li class="history">Article history Sarah Ayton with her husband Nick Dempsey and son Thomas. The double Olympic champion has announced her retirement. Photograph: John Stillwell/PA The double Olympic sailing gold medallist Sarah Ayton has announced she is to retire from the sport with immediate effect.
  Ayton, 30, won in the Yngling class at the Athens Games with Shirley Robertson and Sarah Webb, and triumphed again in Beijing with Webb and Pippa Wilson. But she has called time on her attempt to become the first British woman to win three consecutive Olympic golds at London 2012.
  Ayton, who is married to the Olympic bronze medal-winning windsurfer Nick Dempsey, began her 2012 campaign in April 2010, nine months after giving birth to the couple's first son Thomas.
  She was sailing with Skandia Team GBR in the two-person 470 class with Beijing Olympian Saskia Clark, but the demands of Olympic classes sailing and motherhood have proved a relentless juggling act which left her drained and unhappy.
  "To succeed at the highest level as an Olympic athlete you ultimately have to be pretty single-minded, and that's something that just doesn't sit happily when you're a mum as well," Ayton said. "Winning gold is what Olympic sailing is all about, so working towards 2012 and feeling like I can't give it my full attention has made me question why I am doing it, especially when it involves missing out on important time with Thomas.
  "I am really looking forward to focusing my time and energy on Thomas and to supporting Nick, who is working harder than ever on his own Olympic campaign.
  "My sailing career has always been about the Olympics and I remain passionate and excited about London 2012, so I hope there will be lots of other ways to remain involved over the next 18 months in the build up."
  Ayton is sad that her decision not to pursue a third gold medal in London will have an impact on Clark. "I've really enjoyed sailing with Saskia Clark, who's a fantastic talent," she said. "I'm upset to be letting her down, but I know she's got 2012 firmly in her sights and is looking carefully at her options."
  

2012 Olympics admits aquatics centre is a race against time

Target end date for construction of the £262m structure has already slipped from April to June this year

• • 
    

• Owen Gibson, sports news correspondent
• guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 15 February 2011 22.33 GMT <li class="history">Article history The £268m Aquatics centre, which has soared in cost from the £73m originally cited in London's bid book, will contain two 50-metre pools, a 25m diving pool and associated training facilities. Photograph: Dominic Lipinski/PA A new National Audit Office report into the 2012 Olympics has underlined the extent to which security costs have risen and warned that timing is "becoming tight" to hand over the aquatics centre to organisers.
  But the fifth NAO report into preparations for the Games concludes that preparations are going well overall and that the Olympic Delivery Authority, the body charged with spending £8.1bn of public money constructing the Olympic venues, remains on course to deliver.
  The ODA's recently appointed chief executive Dennis Hone has acknowledged that it faced a race against time to hand over the Zaha Hadid-designed aquatics centre to the organising committee by July.
  The NAO reports that the target end date for construction of the £262m structure has already slipped from April to June this year "because the design and fabrication of the roof steel, which proved more complex and protracted than envisaged, has affected the rest of the project".
  In response to earlier NAO calls to finalise the cost of venue security during Games-time, which was not separately accounted for in earlier versions of the budget, the overall cost has risen.
  Although the NAO reports that the Home Office has predicted it will be able to deliver policing for £475m, rather than the £600m originally budgeted for, the £282m allocated to Locog to provide venue security from within the overall £9.3bn public sector funding package has pushed the overall cost £757m.
  Although it acknowledges that risks have been reduced as the construction phase of the project nears completion, the NAO warns that the final cost remains "inherently uncertain". Of the original £2.75bn in contingency funding, £974m remains.
  "As there can be no guarantee that the remaining contingency will be sufficient to cover further unknown risks to the Games, the GOE should have plans for how it will meet any requirement for extra funding which cannot be met from within the remaining contingency," said the NAO.
  The report also calls on the government to carry out work to estimate the net benefits that will accrue to the UK that can directly be attributed to the Games, in order to help it measure progress towards delivering on legacy targets.
  "Good progress is being made in the preparations for the 2012 London Games which will begin in 17 months. All construction and infrastructure projects are forecast to be completed on time, albeit in two cases with little room to spare before the deadline for handover to Locog, the Games organiser, and operational planning has improved," said Amyas Morse, head of the NAO.
  "However, the final cost of the Games to the taxpayer is inherently uncertain and as the Games near there will be less flexibility to make savings in response to any unforeseen financial pressures."
  Lord Coe, the Locog chairman, said he was confident that the 8.8m tickets for the Games due to go on sale on 15 March would sell out. This week, the schedule and pricing details were published for the first time.
  

Copa Libertadores Roundup, Feb. 15

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Updated Feb 16, 2011 7:44 AM ET
Vicente Sanchez and Matias Vuoso scored early in each half as Mexican club America had a 2-0 win against Nacional of Uruguay on Tuesday in the Copa Libertadores group stage.
Sanchez arrived at the back post to score in the fourth minute from Miguel Layun's low cross and Vuoso hit the second from the edge of the area in the 49th to give America victory at the Azteca stadium.
"It's important at home to get all three points. I'm happy for the result and pleased for my teammates who put in a lot of effort," Vuoso said.

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In other opening group fixtures Tuesday, Paraguay's Libertad beat Mexican club San Luis 2-1 and Velez Sarsfield of Argentina won 3-0 against Venezuela's Caracas. Santos of Brazil was held to a scoreless draw by Deportivo Tachira in Venezuela, while Deportes Tolima of Colombia won 1-0 against Paraguayan club Guarani.
The Copa Libertadores is Latin America's top club competition.
After six qualifying fixtures, the remaining 32 clubs are split into eight groups of four. The top two in each group qualify for the last 16, with the final scheduled for June.
The winner of the Copa Libertadores earns a place in the Club World Cup to be held in Japan in December against the other continental champions.
America's victory over Nacional gave it an early lead in Group 3.
"We had a lot of chances to score more, but the important thing is we got the win. We are looking to win the competition and that's what we are aiming for," Vuoso said.
Brazil's Fluminense hosts Nacional on February 23, while America travels to Argentinos Juniors a day later in the group's next fixtures.
Meanwhile, fellow Mexican club San Luis, which reached the last 16 stage last year, suffered a home reverse in its opening Group 1 match against Libertad.
Nicolas Pavlovich opened the scoring for the Paraguayan club with a firm header in the 19th minute and Sergio Aquino scored the winning goal from the penalty spot in the 56th after Juan Manuel Cavallo had leveled for San Luis in the 40th.
The other two teams in the group, Once Caldas of Colombia and Peru's Universidad San Martin, play on Wednesday.
In Group 4, long-range strikes from Maxi Moralez and David Ramirez set 2004 champion Velez Sarsfield on the way to a 3-0 win over Caracas.
Luis Pena was sent off in the 12th minute for Caracas, with Moralez scoring in the 45th and Ramirez in the 61st.
Juan Manuel Martinez sealed the win with a penalty in the 84th for Velez.
Chilean clubs Union Espanola and Universidad Catolica open in the same group on Wednesday.
In Group 7, second-half substitute Danny Santoya scored the winning goal as Deportes Tolima had a 1-0 win over Guarani.
"The match was very tight and we have to get used to that. We didn't play well but we won," said Santoya.
Tolima sprung a surprise by beating Brazil's Corinthians in the qualifying round.
Guarani will play at Cruzeiro of Brazil on February 22 and Tolima will travel to Estudiantes of Argentina in the group's next fixtures.
In Group 5, Brazil's Santos failed to find a way past Deportivo Tachira in a scoreless draw in Venezuela.
The Brazilian club, Libertadores champion in 1962 and 1963 with Pele in its ranks, went closest to scoring when forward Neymar backheeled a ball to Danilo who hit the post in the 33rd minute.
Tachira receives Colo Colo of Chile on March 1, while Paraguay's Cerro Porteno visits Santos a day later.
Group play in the rest of the Libertadores continues Wednesday and Thursday.

Boca midfielder Riquelme injured again

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Updated Feb 16, 2011 3:16 PM ET
Juan Roman Riquelme expects to miss Boca Juniors' match on Saturday against Racing because of his latest injury, raising questions about the health of the 32-year midfielder.

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Riquelme said on Wednesday his right ankle was healing slowly since he sprained it during Sunday's stunning 4-1 loss against Godoy Cruz in their opening game of the Clausura.
Riquelme had surgery on his left knee in May 2010, played only a handful of games, then missed the final four games of the Apertura with Achilles' tendinitis.
"It has been a long time since I've been healthy," said Riquelme, who played with Barcelona and Villarreal in Spain before returning to Boca in 2007.
Riquelme tried to downplay the injury and said "it's a long season," suggesting he hoped to return for a match in 10 days against All Boys.

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Fabiano says time at Sevilla coming to end

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Updated Feb 16, 2011 3:06 PM ET
Sevilla striker Luis Fabiano says his time with the Spanish club is coming to a close.

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The Brazil striker appears intent on leaving the team at the end of the season after saying Wednesday that "my cycle (at Sevilla) is coming to an end."
Luis Fabiano's sixth season with the club has seen his playing time drop, with the 30-year-old forward scoring nine goals.
The former Sao Paulo striker has scored 101 goals with Sevilla and helped the club win back-to-back UEFA Cup titles, a European Supercup and a Copa del Rey.
Luis Fabiano says "I'm only thinking about the rest of the season" as the club prepares for Thursday's Europa League match against FC Porto, the team he left to join Sevilla.

Mendilibar set to coach Osasuna, replacing Camacho

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Updated Feb 15, 2011 11:40 AM ET
Osasuna has reached an agreement with Jose Luis Mendilibar to replace the fired Jose Antonio Camacho as coach.

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The club says on its website that Mendilibar has agreed to lead the relegation-threatened team for the last 15 games and then until the end of the 2011-12 season.
The 49-year-old Mendilibar led Valladolid from 2006 to 2010 before being fired with the club trying to stave off relegation. Valladolid was eventually relegated.
Mendilibar will make his debut Sunday at the club's Reyno de Navarro Stadium against Espanyol. Osasuna is in the last drop spot in 18th place following Sunday's 1-0 loss to Real Sociedad.
Camacho, a former coach of Spain and Real Madrid, is the sixth Spanish league coach fired this season.