Suarez stars for Liverpool in Fulham rout

Chelsea draw as the Reds and Southampton romp to four-goal wins to snatch spots in the English Premier League top three.

 

Chelsea took until the sixth minute of stoppage time to salvage a draw against West Bromwich Albion, while Liverpool and Southampton have turned on the style with four-goal wins in the English Premier League.
Luis Suarez's double powered Liverpool to a 4-0 victory over Fulham, and Southampton easily overcame Hull 4-1 to continue the south coast club's impressive start to the season on Saturday.
Liverpool and Southampton sent Chelsea down to fourth place as the west London club was held to 2-2 at home.
Goals from Shane Long and Stephane Sessegnon put West Brom on course for a first win at Chelsea in 35 years until Steven Reid was penalised for fouling Ramires in the fourth minute of stoppage time and Eden Hazard equalized from
the penalty spot.
Arsenal will finish the weekend top of the standings regardless of whether the north London club can win at Manchester United on Sunday, given its two-point lead over Liverpool.
Chelsea are four points behind the front-runners, although it could have been worse for Jose Mourinho.

Our reaction could be 'die or fight for life,''' Mourinho said. "And our team fought for life. Jose Mourinho, Chelsea manager

The Portuguese manager's 65-game unbeaten league home record at Chelsea was looking under threat until referee Andre Marriner pointed to the spot in stoppage time.

Chelsea winger Eden Hazard cut in from the left and saw his shot parried by Boaz Myhill. West Brom defender Liam Ridgewell then dithered and remained static, leaving Samuel Eto'o to score his third goal of the week.

In the second half, West Brom's Long headed against the outside of the post and then found the target on the hour.
Eight minutes later, West Brom were in front - as Ridgewell made up for the blunder that allowed Chelsea to go in front.
After breaking down the left flank, Ridgewell fed Sessegnon, whose shot easily beat Cech.
West Brom had to soak up sustained Chelsea pressure to protect the lead.
"Our reaction could be 'die or fight for life,''' Mourinho said. "And our team fought for life.''
Fortune favored Chelsea with the late penalty won by Ramires.
"He started going down early, he started going down before the contact,'' said West Brom manager Steve Clarke, Mourinho's assistant at Chelsea during his first stint in charge from 2004-07.
At Anfield, Fulham gifted Liverpool the lead when Fernando Amorebieta headed the ball inadvertently into his own goal in the 23rd minute after Steven Gerrard sent a free kick into the penalty area.
Three minutes later there was another goal, from another header - this time from a Liverpool player as defender Martin Skrtel met Gerrard's corner.
Suarez, who initially thought he diverted Amorebieta's header into the goal, then did get on the scoresheet by slotting home in the 36th.
The Uruguay striker took his tally to eight goals in six league matches since returning from a 10-game biting ban by wrapping up the win in the 54th after Gerrard turned provider again.
Southampton surprise
Surprise package Southampton are just a point behind Liverpool.
Morgan Schneiderlin headed Southampton in front after 16 minutes against Hull after being set up by Adam Lallana, who then won a penalty after being brought down by goalkeeper Steve Harper.
Rickie Lambert converted from the spot on the half hour, before Lallana scored a goal of his own seven minutes later, a fine solo effort after jinking through the defence.
Yannick Sagbo pulled one back for Hull from distance early in the second half but Steven Davis completed the comfortable Southampton win in the 88th after meeting Nathaniel Clyne's cross.
At Villa Park, Aston Vila's four-game scoring drought ended when Leandro Bacuna and Libor Kozak clinched a 2-0 win over Cardiff.
But there were no goals at Selhurst Park, as bottom-place Crystal Palace held fifth-place Everton to end a seven-match losing run. Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard started despite hitting his head before the game when he walked into the wing mirror of the team bus.
Norwich City staged a second-half comeback to beat West Ham 3-1 and ease the immediate pressure on manager Chris Hughton. Norwich were booed off by their fans at half-ltime at 1-0 down but were a much more cohesive unit after the
break.

Watching Zlatan

Let the Zlatan-watching commence.

You cannot call yourself a football fan, and come to Paris without seeing Ibrahimovic.

The Swede, just turned 32, is playing probably the most magical football on the planet right now. This is the Lionel Messi-Cristiano Ronaldo era, but Ibrahimovic is so good that he's being mentioned in the same breath even as those two. That's something.

The last year has been a brutal one for teams coming up against the 6ft 5in striker. When "Ibra" gets you between his teeth, he doesn't let go. Thus his four goals for Sweden against England last November – including that goal – and four more in Paris Saint-Germain's 4-0 thrashing of Anderlecht in the Champions League two weeks ago.

Next to get in the ring, on Saturday, were Nice.

If the south coast team found the conditions of a wet and cold Paris night less than ideal, it soon got hotter in the Parc des Princes. This 1970s ground has one of the best atmospheres in European football, with the tribunes of Boulogne and Auteuil behind each goal competing for decibel levels. All match, and all-standing.

A few years ago a player of Ibrahimovic's calibre playing for PSG would have been almost inconceivable, but – apart from the Qatari cash, and the increasingly-better players around him – you can see why the Swede likes playing here.

Head for heights: Ibrahimovic scores his third to wrap up a 3-1 win and put PSG four points clear in Ligue 1 [AP]

The boy from the rough immigrant-heavy Malmö suburb of Rosengård would be at home among the mecs of Auteuil, even with many of them and their counterparts from Boulogne having been banished in a crackdown on hooliganism (you can imagine the young Ibrahimovic, who happily admits to stealing cars in his youth, joining them in their exile from the Parc).

He gave them reason to begin their chants of "Ibra! Ibra! Ibra! Ibra!" soon enough. Within seconds he had opened up space for Edinson Cavani to be released on goal by Javier Pastore, only for play to be pulled back for an infringement.

The threat grew as Ibrahimovic, playing a patient and economical game in contrast to the hurrying style of his strike partner Cavani, got closer to scoring. A chest-down and deflected stab over in the 12th minute, a dummy to allow Cavani to have a strike ruled out for offside 12 minutes later, and a grubbing effort under the keeper and into the net, again ruled out, shortly after.

He then looked like he might just get angry after having his shirt tugged as he ran though on Nice keeper Luca Veronese, with the referee waving away the appeals.

With six minutes to go to half time, the inevitable – and you really feel that with Ibrahimovic, it is inevitable – happened.

A long, dipping cross from Gregory van der Wiel from the right, and under it, a huge Swede. No fancy backflick needed this time, Ibrahimovic's studs steering it past the challenge of Veronese.

Cue one of the only stadium announcers in football who avoids giving a twee feel to proceedings. "Zlataan!" he yelled into his mic, answered by a roar of "Ibrahimovic!" from the crowd, four times. Every goalscorer gets that treatment. What a place to play.

He wasn't quite done for the half. In injury time, he covered ground like a velociraptor to win a free kick outside the box, before heading just wide from the cross.
Damage

In the second half, Ibrahimovic chose to do damage in a different way. No longer alone up front, he dropped deep and took a short pass in space from Maxwell, who sprinted to join nearly everyone else in the box. Let Ibra do it.

He did. The striker's ball forward over the top was perfectly placed at Cavani's feet. An inch further and it was keeper's ball. As it was, Cavani got a touch, was brought down, and Ibrahimovic stroked the penalty to the right of Veronese for 2-0.

I think I want to do better than last year, of course that's what I'm aiming, and my job is to do better. Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Ligue 1 top-scorer in 2012-13

Their superiority seemed to make PSG casual, and a spell of pressure from Nice led to a goal from centre-back Nemanja Pejcinovic with 20 minutes to play. It was hard not to immediately look at Ibrahimovic, alone in the other half, to measure his disapproval.

If he disapproved, he channelled his anger effectively six minutes later. Lucas was brought on as a substitute, and within seconds had provided a regulation cross from the right that Ibrahimovic nodded home for his hat-trick, and his eighth goal in Ligue 1 this season.

There was time for him to dispute an injury-time offside call before the final whistle, after which he stayed on the pitch with the matchball to salute each side of the ground. The French now have a verb, Zlataner, literally meaning "to Zlatan" or to crush in a Zlatan-fashion. Nice had joined the growing list of teams Zlataned by the Swede.

"I think I want to do better than last year, of course that's what I'm aiming, and my job is to do better," Ibrahimovic, who scored 30 goals in 34 games last season, said into Al Jazeera's mobile phone after the match.

"To see that I'm still developing and to work hard…no, I want to do better than last year but the important thing is that the team win and we're ahead now because Monaco lose points, so that's good.

"The team is better today than the last year, it's all about knowing each other and playing more time together. The more you play together, the better it is. And we're more confident now, last year we were champions and this year it's easier to play.

"I think we play now with three central midfielders and I think that's the big change. For me, I play like I played last year I like to move around and play my game."

Bigger tests than Nice or Anderlecht will come if PSG and Ibrahimovic are to go one better than their Champions League quarter-final defeat on penalties to Barcelona last year. Could they even lift that trophy?

If Zlatan keeps playing his game, nothing is impossible.

Messi injury mars Barca win

Lionel Messi out for up to eight weeks after Argentinian gets third leg injury of season in 4-1 win over Real Betis.

 

Lionel Messi will be out from between six and eight weeks after being withdrawn due to injury for the third time this season in Barcelona's clash with Real Betis, which the Catalans won 4-1 to extend their advantage in La Liga.

Messi pulled up as he tried to accelerate with the ball at his feet before being replaced by Andres Iniesta.
His club confirmed on Monday that the 26-year-old will miss the final two matches in the Champions League group stage for Barcelona, against Ajax Amsterdam and Celtic.

Barca have already qualified for the last 16, which takes place in late February.

Messi will also miss Argentina's friendlies against Ecuador, on November 15, and Bosnia, on November 18.

The four-time World Player of the Year has suffered from a series of muscular problems since pulling a hamstring against Paris Saint-Germain back in April.

He returned from that injury just 10 days later to help Barca past the French champions and into the semi-finals of the Champions League.

However, his season was ended by a recurrence of the injury against Atletico Madrid in May.

The Argentine was also substituted with a hamstring problem against Atletico in August and pulled up with a thigh problem in Barca's win over Almeria at the end of September.

Messi has failed to score in La Liga since returning from that injury, marking his longest run without a league goal in over two years.

However, he had appeared to have returned to form when he scored twice in Barca's 3-1 win over AC Milan in midweek.
Barca clear

In his absence on Sunday, Neymar, Pedro and two goals from Cesc Fabregas gave Barcelona a 4-1 win over Betis that put them three clear of Atletico Madrid.

Atletico had been denied a couple of hours on top of La Liga when Juanfran put the ball in his own net late on in a 1-1 draw at Villarreal earlier.

Diego Simeone's side were on course for a victory after a Villarreal own-goal in the second minute.

Juanfran's cross forced Mario to head into his own net under pressure from Koke, and the visitors then put in a typically abrasive performance in an intense tussle.

Villarreal were finally rewarded for their endeavour when Jeremy Perbet got to the line and crossed to the near post where striker Ike Uche slid in with Juanfran, and the Atletico defender poked the ball over the line in the 79th.

"We were facing very strong opponents that are playing very well and are in good form," Simeone said.

"Defensively we did very well. We didn't have clear chances, but we did control the ball.

"In the second half we improved a bit but it is an important point against a rival for the Champions League positions. I congratulate the players for the effort they are putting in."

Second-placed Atletico moved on to 34 points from 13 games.

Real Madrid sit third with 31 points after Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat-trick in their 5-1 home rout of Real Sociedad on Saturday. Promoted Villarreal are fourth with 24.

Earlier, there were whistles at Mestalla after Miroslav Djukic's Valencia came from behind to draw 2-2 against his former club Real Valladolid with a 75th-minute strike from substitute Sofiane Feghouli.

The hosts got off to a woeful start, Ever Banega hoofing a penalty over the bar after only five minutes, and they then conceded a ninth-minute Javi Guerra header.

Colombia striker Dorlan Pabon's long-range effort put Valencia level in the 29th, and after Valladolid notched a second through Gilberto Garcia just after the re-start, Feghouli rescued a point for Djukic's inconsistent side.

Sevilla ended a run of 22 consecutive road games in La Liga without a win when they triumphed 3-1 at Espanyol.

The Andalusians last won an away league fixture in September 2012, beating Deportivo La Coruna 2-0, and coach Unai Emery was feeling the heat after five games without a win in all competitions.

Quick goals from Federico Fazio and Vitolo gave Sevilla the advantage and Carlos Bacca made sure of the points with an impressive third in the 58th minute, running from the halfway line to fire home.

Fear and hope in World Cup playoffs

Teams will approach last hurdle before Brazil 2014 with contrasting emotions, while Ghana look for reassurance in Egypt.

 

The World Cup playoffs bring a potent mix of emotions along with them when they kick off this week.

For some teams, this is the realisation of all their dreams. Two matches away from reaching a World Cup is huge for the likes of Jordan, Iceland, and Portugal.

Ok, well spotted. Not Portugal. The Iberians are among those for whom the playoffs look more like a crisis than an opportunity.

Consistently good at major tournaments, and boasting one of the two best players in the world in Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal is one of those countries who should be looking to win the competition outright, not scrape into it or – the unthinkable – not qualify.

And that could happen, because the team they have to face is Sweden, with their own talisman and possibly the third-best player in the world, Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

There are going to be some sleep-deprived players taking the field in their national colours this week.

Mexico against New Zealand and Jordan v Uruguay on Wednesday are followed on Friday by Portugal hosting the Swedes, France in Ukraine, Greece at home to Romania and Iceland against Croatia.

Saturday sees Nigeria play Ethiopia and Senegal take on Ivory Coast in the second leg of the African playoffs, followed by Cameroon against Tunisia. They are rounded up by Ghana's almost certain victory over Egypt next week, when Algeria also play Burkina Faso.
Mexico need a lift

First up, Mexico City, as New Zealand visit the Azteca Stadium where the World Cup was lifted by Argentina in 1986.

The confidence that came with Mexico's 2011 Gold Cup win over the United States and their young players' Olympic triumph last year has evaporated since, with a poor qualifying campaign that has seen them risk being only the fourth Mexican team not to qualify for the finals (the others were in 1934, 1974 and 1982).

"We keep telling (the players) what we're playing for, the determination we need, the will to bring back the ticket so Mexico can go to the World Cup," Miguel Herrera, Mexico's fourth coach of this qualifying campaign, said at the weekend.

Herrera is trying to salvage Mexico's qualifying campaign after taking over from Victor Manuel Vucetich this year [AFP]

"On Wednesday we'll be going all-out to get a good advantage. It's important not to concede a goal but also to get a lead."

New Zealand have taken Australia's old position as Oceania's regular playoff contender since the Socceroos' dominance led them to join the Asian ranks, and while they will still be underdogs they have good World Cup pedigree from last time out, finishing unbeaten albeit winless against Slovakia, Paraguay and then-champions Italy.

The flight from Auckland might take it out of them, but the All Whites could be feeling more buoyant than El Tricolor by kickoff.

In the Middle East, Jordan carry the flag for Gulf teams but have a very difficult task against two-time world champions Uruguay, who finished fourth at South Africa 2010.

The Jordanians were thrashed 6-0 by Japan and 4-0 by Australia in Asian qualifying but then came back to beat both those teams in the return, before reaching this stage with a penalty-shootout win over Uzbekistan.

Their challenge against the strike duo of Paris Saint-Germain's Edinson Cavani and Liverpool's Luis Suarez is made even harder by a string of injuries – but these two matches still represent a chance of reaching Brazil for the team ranked 70th in the world.

"Nothing is impossible in football, and we have the right to dream," Jordan midfielder Baha Suleiman told FIFA.com.

The playoff picture in Europe – and particularly the questions of whether it will be Ronaldo or Ibrahimovic going to Rio, and whether France can shake off recent troubles to gain ascendency over Ukraine – will be clearer by the time Africa comes around.

For Ghana, the big question is not over whether they will qualify.

A 6-1 win over Egypt in the first leg is unlikely to be reversed, but there remain fears over security after Al Ahly fans fought police in Cairo on the night of their African Champions League win over Orlando Pirates, at the Arab Contractors Stadium on Sunday.

Ghana are concerned over possible protests against Egypt's military leadership, who own the 30 June Stadium where the match will take place.

FIFA said on Monday they had received governmental guarantees over security at the game, which will be the first international in Cairo since the overthrow of former president Hosni Mubarek in 2011.

Aboutrika inspires Al Ahly to African crown

Egypt veteran scores in last home game before retiring to beat Orlando Pirates and give Cairo team eighth African title.

 Al Ahly's Mohamed Aboutrika underlined his status as the most successful player in African club competition over the last decade by scoring in a 2-0 final win over Orlando Pirates that clinched another African Champions League crown.

His 54th minute strike set up the Egyptians for their second-leg victory over the South Africans in Cairo, and a 3-1 aggregate triumph, to put a successful seal on a stellar career.

Ahmed Abdelzaher added a second goal 12 minutes from time to ensure Ahly lifted the trophy for a record-extending eighth time, after a 1-1 draw in the first leg in Soweto last weekend, and qualified for next month's Club World Cup in Morocco.

Egyptian Aboutrika, playing his last home game before retiring at the end of the year, has featured in five of Al Ahly's Champions League-winning sides in the last eight years, consistently delivering talismanic performances.

He swept home a loose ball from close range after a shot from Ahmed Fathi was blocked by the Pirates defence but fell fortuitously into his path, underlining Aboutrika's uncanny ability to pop up in the right place at the right time.

The goal came at a crucial time for Ahly, who had spent most of the game on the back foot before breaking the spirit of the South Africans and allowing the Cairo club to assume command.

The Egyptian side's success came against a backdrop of political upheaval in the north African country, which has had a major impact on Ahly who have not played outside the Champions League since the domestic league was cancelled in June.

It was only a special concession by the country's military authorities that allowed the final to be played in Cairo, where all major football had been stopped since the overthrow of president Mohamed Morsi's government in July.

Some 30,000 spectators were allowed into the Arab Contractors Stadium, with clashes reported outside between police and ticketless supporters seeking entry.

It was a rare opportunity for Ahly to play in front of a home crowd but they were kept mostly quiet in the first half as Tlou Segolela missed two good chances to give Pirates the lead.

Pirates striker Lennox Bacela went round the keeper soon after Aboutrika's goal but somehow missed the target before the unmarked Abdelzaher swept the ball home for Ahly's second goal.

Aboutrika, who has also won three African Nations Cup titles with Egypt, was substituted to an emotional send off in stoppage time, swamped by the collective embrace of his bench, policemen and photographers as he left the field in triumph.

United back in the game

Robin van Persie scores winner in 1-0 victory over former club Arsenal to put Man Utd within five points of top in EPL.

 

Manchester United striker Robin van Persie's first-half header secured a 1-0 win over his old club Arsenal on Sunday that  thrust the champions back into the Premier League title race.

The Old Trafford defeat checked Arsenal's breakaway and left them with 25 points from 11 matches, two clear of Liverpool who thrashed Fulham 4-0 on Saturday, with United moving up to fifth place on 20.

Manchester City suffered a stunning 1-0 setback at struggling Sunderland, who had taken just four points from their 10 previous games, and dropped to eighth on 19 points.

Ambitious Tottenham Hotspur also hit an unexpected roadblock in losing 1-0 to Newcastle United at White Hart Lane, with visiting goalkeeper Tim Krul making a stunning 14 saves to keep a clean sheet.

Arsenal's Old Trafford trip was a litmus test for both sides, with the North Londoners arriving as the form team eager to end years of hurt at United and charge 11 points clear of  old rivals under new management.

Alex Ferguson may have been watching from the directors' box rather than from the bench but David Moyes' side ensured the outcome remained depressingly familiar for the Gunners, who have now won only one of their last 10 league games against
United.

"This was a big result for us today. Arsenal have been in terrific form this season," said Moyes after his biggest success so far at United.
Shaky

It was Arsenal's first away defeat since March after a run of 15 games unbeaten in all competitions while United showed they were picking up pace after a shaky start to the new era under Moyes.

Former Arsenal favourite Van Persie bagged his seventh league goal of the season when the Dutchman rose to deftly head home a Wayne Rooney corner at the far post in the 27th minute.

He celebrated the goal with abandon, sparing the visiting fans no agonies by racing away in delight and pumping the air with a clenched fist.

Arsenal failed to live up to expectations, creating few chances on a strangely muted evening for their record signing, Germany midfielder Mesut Ozil, and could even have found themselves 2-0 behind after an hour when Rooney shot just wide.

The visitors were without their defensive rock Per Mertesacker, sidelined before the start with a stomach virus that also affected three other Arsenal players.

United had to replace Nemanja Vidic at halftime when the central defender suffered a head injury.

"He's gone to hospital," said Moyes. "It's a terrible clash, it's an accident but hopefully he'll be OK."

On a day of surprises elsewhere, Swansea City fought back from 2-0 down at home to Stoke to go 3-2 ahead but drew 3-3 after Charlie Adam's stoppage time penalty for the visitors.

Ivorian striker Wilfried Bony scored twice in the second half for Swansea.

Gus Poyet's struggling Sunderland pulled off an electrifying 1-0 win over big-spending Manchester City at the Stadium of Light to give their supporters hope of better times ahead.

Second from bottom, Sunderland chalked up a fourth successive 1-0 home win over City thanks to a 21st-minute goal slotted in by Phil Bardsley from the left side of the box.
Pacing

With Uruguayan manager Poyet pacing around on the touchline as Sunderland faced a late City barrage, the Black Cats held on for their first clean sheet in 15 matches and a stunning win over a side who hammered Norwich City 7-0 last weekend.

"They were outstanding," beamed Poyet, who had defender Wes Brown making his first Premier League start in nearly two years, after his third win in as many home games since replacing sacked Italian Paulo Di Canio.

"We tried to plan the game in three days and tried to convince them it was possible, especially to keep a clean sheet against a top, top team."

Krul was the hero at White Hart Lane in what he said was the game of his life.

"I'm delighted, I'm over the moon... this is a highlight of my career," grinned the Dutchman who was man of the match after making more saves than any Premier League goalkeeper in a match this season.

"These kind of games don't happen very often. Three points away at Tottenham is a fantastic result."

The focus was on both goalkeepers from the start, with Hugo Lloris left out of the Tottenham squad on medical advice after the French international had been knocked unconscious at Everton last week.

His 42-year-old replacement Brad Friedel had to make a couple of saves early on but was powerless to prevent the livewire Loic Remy firing Newcastle in front after 13 minutes.

The France striker picked up a beautifully-measured pass from Yoan Gouffran to dart around the American keeper and stab his seventh league goal of the season.

Brazil welcome Iran and South Korea

Despite boycotting tournaments in the past, North Korea are invited to 2014 Asian Games in Incheon by South Korea.

Iran won 1-0 at South Korea on Tuesday in a result that secured both teams a spot at next year's World Cup, but the hosts only just scraped through and had to wait until after the final whistle to know their fate.

Iran finished top of Group A in the final stage of Asian qualifying, while South Korea finished second, level on points with Uzbekistan but holding second place by virtue of goal difference. Uzbekistan came from behind to win 5-1 at home against Qatar in a simultaneous game.

The storming finish ultimately came up short, leaving the Uzbeks on a plus-five goal difference while South Korea was plus-six.

The winning goal came in the 60th minute. Kim Young-gwon failed to clear a speculative ball forward and Reza Ghoochannejad robbed him of possession, sprinted clear and sent a well-placed curling left-foot shot beyond goalkeeper Jung Sung-ryeong.

South Korea, not wanting to put their fate in the hands of the game in Uzbekistan, pressed forward strongly for the remainder of the game but could not equalise.

Kim almost made up for his mistake, but his close-range shot in the 86th minute produced a reflex save from keeper Rahman Ahmadi and Jang Hyun-soo's follow-up was also blocked.

As Iran players, coach Carlos Queiroz and officials celebrated wildly on the pitch, the South Korean squad and fans were kept in suspense while the last couple of minutes of the Uzbekistan game were played out, before they knew they were also through to next year's tournament in Brazil. 

South Korea's trip to Brazil will be their eighth-straight World Cup appearance - including one as co-host in 2002 - while Iran qualified for the World Cup for the fourth time, having missed out on South Africa 2010.

Federer claims first title of season

A week away from Wimbledon, world number three Roger Federer defeats Mikhail Youzhny in three sets to win Halle Open.

Roger Federer clinched his first title of the season before the start of his Wimbledon defence when he battled back from a set down to beat Russia's Mikhail Youzhny 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-4 and win the Halle Open on Sunday.

The world number three, who has now won the Wimbledon warm-up event on grass six times, needed to dig deep for his 77th career title and extend his head-to-head with Youzhny to an impressive 15-0.

"I have won a lot in my career but not recently," said Federer, whose last tournament win was in August 2012 in Cincinnati.

"I am happy it worked for me today.

I have won a lot in my career but not recently Roger Federer , 17-time Grand Slam winner

"I was satisfied with my game in the past 10 months. Maybe people thought I was playing badly. That was not the case. I was playing well but when it mattered the others were just better. Today it worked well," he said in a courtside interview.

The 31-year-old won three break points in the first game but Youzhny's powerful serve got the world number 29 out of early trouble. 

The Russian, who defeated three seeded players en route to the final, held serve and matched Federer's skill on grass with hammering groundstrokes. 

Federer, who has now beaten Youzhny five times at Halle since 2002, saved a set point at 5-6 but conceded another in the tiebreak for the Russian to take the lead with a well-placed volley.

Federer improved his first serve and refused to buckle, finally getting his first break when Youzhny double-faulted for 5-3 before he served out the second set.

The Swiss patiently waited for his next break opportunity and got it after a sizzling exchange of groundstrokes, Federer going 4-3 up and holding serve to clinch his maiden 2013 title after two hours and two minutes. 

"He just played better," said Youzhny, whose battling spirit won him a lot of crowd support.

"In fact he has been playing better all my life."

Wimbledon starts a week on Monday.

Lorenzo wins Catalunya MotoGP to close gap

Spaniards make up the podium with Jorge Lorenzo finishing ahead of Championship leader Dani Pedrosa and Marc Marquez.

Reigning world champion Jorge Lorenzo cut compatriot Dani Pedrosa's lead in the championship standings to just seven points with his third career win at the Catalunya MotoGP on Sunday.

The 26-year-old Spaniard, who was winning for the third time this season following his victories in the Qatar and Italian Grand Prix', moved from third on the grid to first on his Yamaha before the first corner and was never overtaken.

Pedrosa meanwhile extended his run of podium finishes to five races as he held off a late charge from his Honda teammate Marc Marquez to finish second with the rookie back in third.

Lorenzo, who has hit back strongly in the title race having won the last two races with Pedrosa having won the previous two, said that it had been hell riding in the race.

"I knew that the start would be crucial and I couldn't afford to let Dani get away from me," said Lorenzo, who also won the world title in 2010.

"I got lucky and actually passed him and although he pressured me for a while he let up at halfway and I was able to relax a bit. It was a nightmare race to ride in because of the temperature."

Defensive race

Lorenzo revealed touchingly that the special designed helmet - it was designed by a friend of his who suffers from Downs Syndrome - he had worn for the race would now be offered up for sale.

Pedrosa was not too disappointed at the end result even if it saw his lead reduced in a category he has yet to emerge from victorious having finished runner-up in the world championship three times.

"I had to ride a defensive race for most of it as Marc (Marquez) was really attacking me," said the 27-year-old.

I got lucky and actually passed him and although he pressured me for a while he let up at halfway and I was able to relax a bit. It was a nightmare race to ride in because of the temperature Jorge Lorenzo, Yamaha rider

"It was not a perfect race for me as I was never close enough to Jorge to pass him. It's not a good feeling from this race but still I am relieved to be in the overall lead."

Marquez, who earlier this season became at 20 the youngest ever winner of a race in the category when he won the Grand Prix of the Americas, said that Pedrosa had doena skilful job in fending him off.

"As I prepared to attack Dani he braked early and that forced me to as well which cost me valuable time," he said.

"I pushed 100% on the last lap and really made back that ground but he held on and I can only be happy with finishing on the podium." 

In another day of baking hot conditions at the Montmelo track the majority of the action arrived very early in the race as Lorenzo got alongside Pedrosa on their way into the first corner and almost collided with him before slipping down the inside of the Honda rider to move into the lead.

Marquez also had a great start as he jumped from sixth on the grid to third by the first corner as he passed Cal Crutchlow, Alvaro Bautista and Nicky Hayden.

However, worse was to come for all three of those riders as with many of the field struggling for grip on the sweltering track, they crashed out with barely two laps of the race completed.

That left the path clear for six-time world champion Valentino Rossi to move up to fourth, but the Italian never threatened to catch the Spanish trio at the front who began to build up a comfortable advantage.

Pedrosa stayed on Lorenzo's backwheel for the first-half of the race but the world champion managed to pull away slightly in the closing laps to ensure his position was never under any threat.

The focus then turned to a fascinating battle for second as Marquez showed little respect for the seniority of his teammate Pedrosa as he chased down the championship leader in the final stages with the two almost touching wheels at one point.

However, Pedrosa held on to move onto 123 points with six of the 18-race long campaign gone, whilst Lorenzo moves onto 116 and Marquez, remarkably in his first season in MotoGP, strengthens his position in third ahead of Crutchlow with 93 points.

Major chance for Phil Mickelson

After being runner-up five times at the U.S. Open, American Phil Mickelson has another great opportunity to claim prize.

For all those runner-up finishes, with so much heartache chasing the major he covets, Phil Mickelson has never had a better chance to win the U.S. Open.

It's the first time he has ever had the outright lead going into the final round. Of the nine players within five shots, only one has the experience of winning a major. And Tiger Woods went from contender to middle-of-the-pack by matching his worst U.S. Open score as a pro.

Despite a bogey on the final hole at Merion - the 18th was so tough it didn't yield a single birdie in the third round - Mickelson was the sole survivor to par Saturday with an even-par 70 that gave him a one-shot lead over Hunter Mahan, Steve Stricker and former Masters champion Charl Schwartzel.

I just stood and admired it... It was one of the best shots I've ever hit Phil Mickelson, U.S. Open leader

Mickelson celebrates his 43rd birthday Sunday - on Father's Day in the United States, no less. He left Merion on Monday and didn't return until three hours before his tee time on Thursday so he could attend the eighth-grade graduation of his oldest daughter.

"It's got the makings to be something special," Mickelson said.

"But I still have to go out and perform, and play some of my best golf."

He has been good enough to play 54 holes in 1-under 209.

And he was close to perfection when he stood on the par-3 17th hole with a 4-iron in his hand, 253 yards away from the orange wicker basket attached to the pin, the signature look at Merion. He was one shot behind Luke Donald until a pure swing and an 8-foot birdie putt gave him the lead.

"I just stood and admired it," Mickelson said.

"It was one of the best shots I've ever hit. I mean, it just was right down the center of the green and I was hoping it would kind of get the right bounces. It left me a beautiful uphill putt that I could be aggressive with and I made it. That was fun to do that because that's just not a hole you expect to get one back."

Four others players who had been under par late in the round couldn't hang on.

Donald twice made poor swings with a 2-iron, and it cost him three shots. Mahan, Schwartzel and Justin Rose all finished bogey-bogey.

Bogey tournament

There was trouble everywhere at Merion, and it didn't take much to find it. One swing cost Ian Poulter, who drove out-of-bounds on the 15th. One decision cost Nicolas Colsaerts, who tried to hit a shot under a tree on the 18th and made triple bogey.

That left Mickelson alone at the top for only the second time in a major - he won the 2006 Masters with the lead.

The U.S. Open, however, has been nothing but trouble for Mickelson.

"I don't think I feel any more pressure than anybody else who wants to win... the U.S. Open," Mickelson said.

"This is a tournament for years I've had opportunities, I've come close to, and it would mean a lot tomorrow if I could play some of my best golf - certainly if I can play the way I have been."

Woods is out of contention after finishing third round 10 shots behind compatriot Mickelson [GALLO/GETTY]

Saturday was more about weeding out the pretenders for this U.S. Open - and one of them turned out to be Woods. He started out just four shots out of the lead, and made a bending, 12-foot birdie putt on the opening hole. It never got any better for the world's No. 1 player.

He made seven bogeys the rest of the way and didn't add another birdie. It was the fourth time he shot 76 in the U.S. Open, but never when he started out so close to the lead. Now, he's 10 shots behind.

"It certainly is frustrating," said Woods, who has been stuck on 14 majors since winning the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines.

"I'm playing well enough to do it, and unfortunately just haven't gotten it done."

Thirty players were separated by only five shots at the start of the third round. By the end of the day, there were just 10 players separated by five shots, including amateur Michael Kim. He was tied for third until losing four shots on the last three holes.

Mickelson chose not to carry a driver, and he had to be flawless again on the long closing hole. He swung the 3-wood with confidence throughout the back nine and drilled another. With some 250 yards left, another fairway metal took him just over the green. His chip came out some 10 feet short and he missed the par putt to end a streak of 12 holes without a bogey.

But he still had the lead. It was the first time only one player remained under par through 54 holes at the U.S. Open since 2007 at Oakmont, when there was none. Mickelson was tied for the 54-hole lead at Winged Foot in 2006, where he lost a one-shot lead on the final hole by making double bogey. 

Of his five runner-up finishes, that one stung the most. But he's back for another try to win his national championship. The challenge has never been more severe - not from any player, but from Merion.

Mickelson has one piece of history working against him. In the four previous U.S. Opens at this classic course, no one with the lead going into the final round has ever gone on to win.

"I love being in the thick of it," Mickelson said.

"I've had opportunities in years past, and it has been so fun, even though it's been heart-breaking to come so close a number of times and let it slide. But I feel better equipped than I have ever felt heading into the final round of a U.S. Open."

Pique: Spanish exodus not good for La Liga

With more Spanish players choosing to leave country to ply their trade, Barca's Gerard Pique worries for league's future The exodus of top Spanish players from cash-strapped La Liga is a good thing for the national team but bad for the domestic league, according to Barcelona and Spain defender Gerard Pique. Jesus Navas became the latest international to move abroad when he left Sevilla to join Spain team mate David Silva at Manchester City this month. Nine members of the Spain squad contesting the Confederations Cup in Brazil now play outside their home country. On the one hand it's good for the national team but on the other it's a little bit bad for La Liga because players are leaving who are from your country Gerard Pique, Barcelona defender Heavyweights Real Madrid and Barcelona, the world's richest clubs by revenue, can afford the best players and dominate La Liga as a result. They have 13 Spanish internationals between them. However, financially troubled clubs in the second rank like Atletico Madrid, Valencia and Sevilla have been forced to cash in on their prize assets, who are increasingly seeking a new challenge and better wages away from Spain. "On the one hand it's good for the national team but on the other it's a little bit bad for La Liga because players are leaving who are from your country," Pique said in an interview with As sports daily published on Sunday. "For the player it's very positive going abroad because you develop a great deal as a person, you get to know another place, another culture," said the 26-year-old, who spent three seasons at Manchester United before returning to his boyhood club. "And if it's in England, where almost all the players are going, the football is amazing, the atmosphere, the stadiums. "There is a lot of respect for the players and it's also a very, very competitive league."

Brazil safe and ready for sporting events

The Confederations Cup is just one of the tournaments landing on Brazil's doorstep and organisers say they are ready.

Safety is always a concern at major sporting events. And Brazil has one or two to host over the next few years.

But authorities say nation is ready after investing $1billion into security for upcoming Confederations Cup, World Cup and Olympic Games.

Al Jazeera's Gabriel Elizondo reports from Rio de Janiero.

Messi surpasses Maradona goal tally

Argentina thrash Guatemala in a friendly as Lionel Messi overtakes Diego Maradona with his 35th international goal.

Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick to help a second-string Argentina record an easy 4-0 away win over Guatemala in a friendly and overtake Diego Maradona's international goals tally.

Messi, who came on as a substitute in recent World Cup qualifiers against Colombia and Ecuador, was given a place in the starting line-up and gave Argentina a 15th minute lead with a left-foot shot from outside the penalty area.

Messi, scoring his third hat-trick for his country, provided the cross for Augusto Fernandez to head in the second in the 35th minute before converting a penalty himself four minutes later.

He completed his hat-trick four minutes after halftime when Ezequiel Lavezzi produced a low cross from the right and he casually side-footed the ball in from 12 metres after being left completely unmarked.

Apart from Messi, coach Alejandro Sabella fielded a largely experimental line-up for Friday evening's match in Guatemala City's Mateo Flores stadium.

Messi, whose previous hat-tricks were against Switzerland and Brazil last year, was substituted in the 67th minute after taking his tally of international goals to 35, which Argentine media said was one more than Diego Maradona's total and put him level with Hernan Crespo as the team's second highest scorer.

Gabriel Batitusta holds the record with 56 goals.

"That was the least important thing," Messi told TyC Sports when he was asked about overtaking Maradona's tally.

Suarez sells himself to Spain

Following another controversial season in England, Luis Suarez speaks of the lure of Barcelona and Real Madrid.

Liverpool striker Luis Suarez's open courting of Spanish giants Real Madrid to make a bid for him continued on Saturday as he once again said he would find it hard to turn down an offer if they came knocking in the next few months.

The 26-year-old Uruguayan signed a contract tying him to the Premier League club until 2018 just last August, but he has endured another controversial season in England and ended the campaign serving a 10-game ban for biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic.

"I think every player aspires to be at the top and if you ask any eight-year-old child they will tell you that one day they would want to go to Real Madrid or Barcelona. They are big teams and everyone wants to go there," he told Spanish sports daily Marca on Saturday.

"Firstly, I have a contract with the club. But if one day they wanted to sign me, Liverpool would listen to the offer, as they have with other players and as all clubs do.

"Then the teams would have to come to an agreement, although, of course, the word of the player, in this case mine, is important. If one needs a change, they have to listen to the player."

Suarez was one of the Premier League's standout players last season with 23 goals and five assists in just 33 appearances. 

Liverpool love

However, Suarez was also banned for eight matches in the 2011/12 season for using racist language towards Manchester United defender Patrice Evra and he repeated his belief that the English press have gone overboard in criticising some of his on-field antics.

"Simply (I want) the people to not remember me for this, that they don't attack me as a person for this. I prefer footballing, technical criticism than for the attitudes I have had once in a while. This is what distresses me currently in the Premier League."

"The love that I have for Liverpool I will never forget. I love the city, the club and the fans. They have received my family very warmly. We are all happy there. I don't have to say or demonstrate it.

"They all love me there, but I ask for respect for what they have suffered due to what has been said, because my family can suffer at hearing these things that are far removed from football."

With Argentine striker Gonzalo Higuain looking set to leave Real Madrid, the nine-time European champions are expected to be in the market for a striker and have also been linked with a move for Suarez's international teammate Edison Cavani.

However, it is unlikely the Spanish side will make any moves in the transfer market until they appoint a coach for next season with Paris Saint-Germain boss Carlo Ancelotti still the favourite to succeed Jose Mourinho.

Suarez and Cavani meanwhile are currently on international duty with Uruguay at the Confederations Cup with the Copa America champions due to get their campaign underway against world champions Spain on Sunday evening.

Japan make history with Wales win

A depleted Welsh side are overpowered by Japan who record first win over a major rugby power to level series in Tokyo.

Rugby minnows Japan claimed a first win over Six Nations champions Wales on Saturday after a clinical display against an inexperienced Welsh side sealed a 23-8 victory that tied their two match series.

Wales, shorn of the majority of their first team who have been selected to tour Australia with the British and Irish Lions, dominated possession and territory in the opening half but struggled to turn that into points with Japan, who will host the Rugby World Cup in 2019, defending resolutely.

"I'm very proud of the team. They have created a history today to become the first Japanese team to beat a top 10 team in the world," said Japan coach Eddie Jones.

"Obviously Wales haven't the best 15 players, but today we played a very good game of Test rugby and it's another step forward for the team."

I'm very proud of the team. They have created a history today to become the first Japanese team to beat a top 10 team in the world Eddie Jones, Japan coach

Ayumu Goromaru made the most of Japan's rare forays into the opposing half by slotting two penalties, while Wales flyhalf Dan Biggar kicked one as the 'Brave Blossoms' went into the break 6-3 ahead.

Wales were quick out of the blocks in the second period and eventually found a hole in the disciplined Japanese defence after moving the ball right then left, with Biggar floating a lovely long pass wide for winger Tom Prydie to cross for a 45th minute try.

Japan, who have won just one match in seven World Cups, did not drop their heads and Australian Rugby League convert Craig Wing brushed through a tackle by Welsh prop Rhys Gill to cross for a try five minutes later.

Goromaru converted from out wide to put Japan 13-8 ahead and it got even better for the Asian Five Nations champions in 10 minutes later when they crossed for a second try.

The fleet-footed Japanese continued to find holes in the Wales backline, taking them into the 22 and, after sucking in defenders, created a huge overlap to allow openside flanker Michael Broadhurst to touch down in the corner.

Goromaru converted again and added a 77th minute penalty to secure Japan's biggest win to date.

Wales won the first test 22-18 in Osaka last week.

Asian presence felt at U.S. Open

South Korean-born Michael Kim and Taiwan's Pan Cheng-tsung are mixing it with the Americans after second day at Merion.

Amateurs Pan Cheng-tsung of Taiwan and South Korea-born Michael Kim kept the flag flying high for Asia with stunning performances in difficult conditions at the U.S. Open on Friday.

Americans Phil Mickelson and Billy Horschel are joint leaders after day two with a one-shot lead at one-under.

Pan birdied two of his first nine holes to lie joint third at level par midway through the weather-delayed second round while Kim was a further stroke back, after covering his first 11 holes in two under.

Both players will aim to stay in contention for the year's second major championship when they return to Merion Golf Club's challenging East Course on Saturday to resume at 1115 GMT.

"I'm really happy with my performance," Pan, 21, told reporters after covering the outward nine in two-under during a round where the average score in the 155-strong field was almost five over par.

"Two under, that's a good score for me and I'm very satisfied with my performance this afternoon. But it's still early in the tournament. Two more days, and I've got 45 holes to go."

Asked if he felt any pressure challenging for the major widely regarded as the most gruelling to win, Pan replied: "Actually I'm very excited to see my name on the leaderboard. 

"The reason I don't feel pressure is because the holes are hard and I am just trying every shot hard."

Belonging

Pan is making his second appearance in a U.S. Open, having missed the cut in last year's championship at the brutally difficult Olympic Club outside San Francisco, and he relishes the major environment. 

"This atmosphere here is great," said the Taiwanese, who at the age of 15 in 2007 became the youngest player to reach the quarter-finals of the U.S. Amateur since Bobby Jones.

"I came to the U.S. Open 2011 and I just fell in love with this kind of atmosphere. I feel I belong to that kind of place.

Trying not to think about it too much. Low expectations and whatever happens, happens tomorrow Michael Kim, South Korean-born golfer

"I'm not saying I'm good enough, but I love this kind of feeling and the competition is great. I just want to be here always."

Kim, who earned a U.S. Open spot for the first time after making two birdies in his last three holes in sectional qualifying, made a promising start to Friday's second round after teeing off at the par-four 11th.

He offset a bogey at the par-four 14th with a birdie on 16 to cover Merion's difficult closing stretch in level par, then edged up the leaderboard with further birdies at the first and second before play was suspended for the day in fading light.

"I got off to a pretty solid start, parred the first few holes and I definitely could have made birdie on all of them," the 19-year-old said. 

"And then I hit a poor drive on 14 and made a bogey.

"But I made a really good birdie on 16, and kind of came back. I just tried to get through that 14-through-18 stretch in even par, because then you're making up shots on the field."

Asked what his expectations were heading into the weekend on a layout known for its thick rough and narrow fairways and now running faster and firmer, Kim replied: "I'm not sure. 

"Trying not to think about it too much. Low expectations and whatever happens, happens tomorrow."