McIlroy kembali temui sentuhan terbaik

Oleh Norzie Mohd. Khasbi
norzie.khasbi@utusan.com.my

Rory McIlroy melakukan pukulan di lubang ke-18 pada pusingan kedua Kejohanan Golf Terbuka Malaysia 2011 di Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club (KLGCC) semalam.

KUALA LUMPUR - Selepas tenggelam pada aksi pertama dan tumbang pada pusingan terakhir Masters minggu lalu, bintang Ireland Utara, Rory McIlroy menemui sentuhan terbaik apabila mencatat lapan bawah par 64 untuk berkongsi pendahulu pusingan kedua golf Terbuka Malaysia bersama Alexander Noren, dalam saingan yang diganggu hujan lebat, semalam.

Pemain No. 9 dunia itu tiba di Kuala Lumpur bersama kekecewaan ekoran kegagalannya memenangi kejuaraan Masters selepas mendahului dua pusingan pertama.

Namun, semalam dia mencatat lapan birdie dan bebas bogey di Kelab Golf & Country Kuala Lumpur (KLGCC) untuk mengumpul keseluruhan 11 bawah 133.

Pendahulu pusingan pertama, Noren dari Sweden pula mencatat tiga bawah par 69 pada pusingan kedua kejohanan bernilai AS$$2.5 juta (RM8 juta) itu, sekali gus masih pada landasan untuk memahat nama selaku pemenang.

Pemain England, Simon Dyson turut mencatat pukulan terendah, lapan bawah par untuk melonjak ke tangga ketiga dengan satu pukulan di belakang pendahulu, manakala Stephen Gallacher dari Scotland dan Brett Rumford dari Australia berkongsi kedudukan keempat dengan catatan tujuh bawah par 134.

Bintang remaja Itali, Matteo Manassero yang cemerlang dengan 66 pukulan selepas pusingan pertama kelmarin, mengekalkan kedudukan enam bawah par tetapi hanya selepas mengharungi 12 lubang.

Siddikur Rahman dari Bangladesh pula mengejutkan bintang Asia apabila muncul pemain terbaik Jelajah Asia di KLGCC dengan mengumpul 139 pukulan, lima bawah par untuk terikat di tangga ke-10 bersama Rafael Cabrera-Bello dan Chawalit Plaphol.

Kerancakan kejohanan terganggu hampir tiga jam apabila hujan lebat memaksa ia dihentikan pada pukul 3.37 petang dan hanya disambung semula pada 6.15 petang. Ketika pemain meneruskan saingan, cuaca ssemakin gelap dan 77 pemain tidak dapat menamatkan pusingan kedua.

Sebelum permainan terganggu, McIlroy, yang mengumpul 133 pukulan selepas dua pusingan, mengambil kesempatan penuh atas cuaca baik pada awal saingan di Bukit Kiara, untuk mencatat lima birdie pada sembilan lubang pertama, sebelum menambah tiga lagi menuju sembilan lubang akhir.

"Hari ini saya bermain dengan bagus. Sebenarnya, sudah beberapa hari saya bermain seperti ini, cuma bezanya hari ini saya berjaya melakukan banyak putt yang baik. 11 bawah par selepas dua hari, keputusan yang hebat. Saya masih mampu pergi jauh biarpun tidak banyak meninjau lapangan," kata McIlroy, yang bagaimanapun mengakui, belum pulih sepenuhnya daripada masalah jetlag.

SS Lazio's Zarate (right) fights for the ball with Sampdoria's Accardi during their match at the Olympic stadium in Rome. — Reuters

The Genoa club wowed Italy by their exploits last season but this campaign has been miserable from the outset and could be about to have a very nasty end with the former European Cup finalists a point above the drop zone with six games remaining. 

Almost as soon as they had wrapped up fourth spot last May, coach Luigi Del Neri quit for the bright lights of Juventus and they then lost a Champions League qualifier to Werder Bremen. 

Top strike duo Antonio Cassano and Giampaolo Pazzini left in January for AC and Inter Milan respectively after the former spectacularly fell out with owner Riccardo Garrone and the latter was sacrificed for money. 

Replacements such as on-loan Manchester United forward Federico Macheda have flopped and they have slid down the table. 

"The Garrone family will move forward with Samp even if we are relegated to Serie B," Edoardo Garrone, Riccardo's son, told reporters after attending a training session to galvanise the team. 

"We have no intention of quitting. We've been here in the beautiful moments and we will be here also in the dark ones. We are trying to give our utmost." 

A suspension to Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic might have given Samp a chance at the San Siro today (1845 GMT) but of late, Massimiliano Allegri's side have played better without the Swede, who made a great start to the season but has tired. 

Whether Cassano will play against his former side is unclear with Alexandre Pato and Robinho probably ahead of him in the pecking order as Milan try to maintain or extend their three-point lead over Napoli in their quest for a first scudetto since 2004. 

Napoli, last champions with Diego Maradona in the team in 1990, are keeping up the pace against all the odds and predictions and they host Udinese tomorrow (1845) at an apparently opportune moment. 

Udinese were unbeaten in 2011 before a 2-0 reverse at resurgent Lecce and last Saturday's 2-1 defeat by AS Roma pushed them out of the fourth Champions League qualifying spot now occupied by Lazio, who visit Catania tomorrow (1300). 

Champions Inter, five points behind Milan in third, travel to fourth-bottom Parma in need of a lift today (1845) following their Champions League quarter-final elimination by Schalke 04 on Wednesday. — Reuters

United States businessman Thomas Di Benedetto (right) and UniCredit vice-general director Paolo Fiorientino (left), at a news conference in Boston, Massachusetts. — Reuters pic

The announcement ends years of takeover speculation surrounding the indebted Italian club which is now poised to become the only Serie A side with foreign ownership, unlike the much courted English Premier League. 

The consortium, which bought a 67 per cent stake, is 60 per cent owned by Di Benedetto and 40 per cent owned by Italian bank UniCredit. 

It purchased the stake from Italpetroli, which controlled Roma. "Good things don't come easy," Di Benedetto said during a joint news conference with UniCredit vice-general director Paolo Fiorientino. 

"I never felt that I would give up on the quest for this team." 

Under Italian law, the consortium would need to make a public offer to purchase the remaining 33 per cent stake in the soccer club. 

Di Benedetto has been a partner of New England Sports Ventures which owns the Boston Red Sox Major League Baseball team and English Premier League side Liverpool. 

Cash-strapped Roma are now managed by former player Vincenzo Montella following coach Claudio Ranieri's resignation in February. 

The Italian club lost to Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions league last 16 last month and are sixth in Serie A, three points behind Udinese, having been runners-up last season.

Foreign investors had previously snubbed Serie A and instead were drawn to the more lucrative English Premier League where top stadiums are often full and merchandise sales significantly boost profits, unlike in Italy. Liverpool, Manchester United, Aston Villa and Sunderland are all owned by Americans. - Reuters

MOSCOW: Porto completed a 10-3 aggregate win at Spartak Moscow in the quarterfinals and join Braga, Benfica and Villarreal in the last four.

Porto, who had already won the domestic league last weekend, reached the semifinals in emphatic style with a 5-2 win at Luzhniki Stadium this morning.

They could have been forgiven for taking their foot off the gas after hammering Spartak 5-1 in the first-leg at home, but continued where they left off and won easily in the second.

The Porto goals came from five different players with Hulk, Cristian Rodriguez, Fredy Guarin, Falcao and Ruben Micael all scoring.

Artem Dzjuba and Ferreira Ari struck consolation goals for the hosts.

Braga capped a historic feat for Portuguese teams by holding Dynamo Kiev to a 0-0 draw, despite playing almost three-quarters of the game with 10 men in another match.

Starting the night level after a 1-1 draw in Kiev last week, Braga shrugged off the 28th minute dismissal of Paulo Cesar to earn a goalless draw which saw them through on away goals.

Braga were up against it after Cesar's dismissal for a foul on Andriy Yarmolenko, but they had the best of the chances in the first-half with Rodrigo Lima going closest.

Lima also fired wide from a good position in the second-half as Kiev's expected late assault never materialised.

The visitors' hopes were further hit late on when Goran Popov was sent off for an unnecessary foul on Alan.

Braga will meet Benfica in an all-Portuguese last four clash after Jorge Jesus' men rode an early storm in Holland before securing a 2-2 draw with PSV Eindhoven and a 6-3 aggregate win.

Trailing 4-1 from the first-leg, PSV stunned Benfica by clawing back to a single-goal deficit through Balazs Dzsudzsak in the 17th minute and a Jeremain Lens' strike eight minutes later.

But Benfica held their nerve and gave themselves breathing space when Luisao narrowed the gap just before the break.

Oscar Cardozo's 63rd minute penalty ended PSV's slim hopes.

Spanish outfit Villarreal also sealed their semifinal place and a tie against Porto as they came from behind to claim a 3-1 win against FC Twente in Holland which was enough to send them through 8-2 on aggregate.

Emir Bajrami put the home side ahead at the interval but when Dwight Tiendalli was sent off in the 60th minute and Giuseppe Rossi scored the resulting penalty, it was all over.

Marco Ruben, with another penalty, and Cani completed an easy win.

HOLA!

Barcelona's goal-machine Lionel Messi (pic) has been scoring like nobody's business all this while.

He has already scored a massive 48 goals in all competitions thus far this season — breaking the club record of 47 set by Brazilian Ronaldo.

He is also on the verge of becoming the first player in Spanish football to reach the 50-goal mark considering the number of matches left this season.

But interestingly, Messi has yet to strike against a team managed by Jose Mourinho from eight matches involving Chelsea, Inter Milan and Real Madrid.

There seems to be this jinx.

Barca may have thrashed Real 5-0 in the first El Clasico this season at Nou Camp last November but Messi was not on the scoresheet!

The Argentine will be presented with another chance to break the duck in the second El Clasico at Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday (3am).

A win here for Barca will put them in a pretty good position to retain the Primera Liga title as they will have a 11-point advantage with six matches left.

Can he do it? Chances are he can via an individual solo.

Messi surely hopes he can and in the process assist the team to a favourable result in this tough clash which can turn out to be another blockbuster.

He will try hard despite the expected attention given the no-nonsense Real defence.

Anyway, La Pulga or "The Flea", may well be in "peace of mind" this time in his mission to break the jinx as it is already about three months that his reported break-up with girlfriend Antonella Roccuzzo whom he met when both were five in Argentina.

Apparently, she was the woman he had dated since high school. There will not much pain in the heart.

Oh yes...apparently, he is solo now!

Barca manager Josep "Pep" Guardiola is eagerly anticipating the upcoming four matches against Real, making it clear the Catalans are eager to prove they can take on the best opponents possible.

"It's the chance to compete with one the strongest teams around. No matter how many times we play them, they are still the most powerful team in every sense — the strongest, the ones in the best form, the ones with an unstoppable squad," he told Barca's website.

"We shall accept the challenge and go for it. It doesn't matter what condition we are in. What matters is mentality and desire. This is a gift that any sports person would be delighted to accept. In this situation, all we can do is thank the players, and treat what's happening as a gift."

Guardiola does not believe the pressure will affect his players.

"The lads will deal with the pressure in a very relaxed way, trying to do their job in the best possible way. We can't do any better than that. Now we have to compete with very strong opponents."

After the clash on Sunday, the two rivals will play in the Copa del Rey final on Wednesday.

Finally, the two titans will meet in the semifinals of the Champions League. In short, another three thrilling shows are on the cards.

Barca midfield general Xavi believes a big part of their success is down to the squad being full of "normal people".

"We are all very normal people. The dressing room is very simple, full of people who enjoy football and have great respect for one another. People will judge us as people on how we behave on the field," he told Barca TV.

"Normal people"? Barca are seeking to further bolster their trophy cabinet with a treble this season and defender Gerard Pique admits that though it is possible, it will be tough.

"We have faith. We can win the treble," Pique told El Mundo Deportivo.

"We know it will be difficult, we have done it just once before in our history. But now we can do it again.

"The situation is very good in the league as we are eight points clear. We are also in the final of the Copa, and the Champions League semifinals, but still there are many important games that we have to play for the titles.

"But I have great confidence in the team. We are very confident of winning the treble. Now we have options to do so and must aspire to that."

Pique will be in in "a peace of mind" as well to play his role like Messi.

He has surely regained his form after admitting publicly that he is dating Shakira recently. He is really enjoying life, at least for now.

So who will prevail on Sunday? El Loco feels the most Barca will get is a draw.

Don't miss this blockbuster.

Adios!

Roger Federer (FOTO.ANTARA/REUTERS / Hans Deryk )

Berita Terkait

Petenis Swiss yang tidak pernah menang di lapangan tanah liat Monaco itu, dalam dua pertandingan sebelumnya sebenarnya telah memperlihatkan performa yang meyakinkan, namun dalam pertandingan kali ini dia sepertinya tidak mampu bermain lepas dalam menghadapi petenis unggulan ketujuh itu.

Melzer telah unggul 3-2 pada set pertama dengan melakukan "break" ketika Federer sering membuat bola pukulan forehand dia menyangkut di net, dan setelah itu petenis Austria itu berhasil lolos dari sebuah "break-point" sewaktu dia melakukan servis sebelum akhirnya merebut set tersebut.

Hal yang sama juga terjadi pada set kedua, yang membuat Federer terpaksa harus menghentikan langkanya di turnamen itu.

Federer, yang terakhir kali menang di turnamen tenis Doha pada awal Januari, sebelumnya diperkirakan akan bertemu di final turnamen ini melawan petenis nomor satu dunia dan juara bertahan turnamen ini Rafa Nadal, tetapi semua prediksi itu buyar begitu Federer kalah secara mengejutkan di babak perempat final turnamen yang bagi sebagian pembalap top dunia merupakan ajang pemanasan sebelum turun di grand slam Prancis Terbuka bulan depan.(*)

(H-OKS/I015)

Editor: Ruslan Burhani
COPYRIGHT © 2011

Ikuti berita terkini di handphone anda di m.antaranews.com

SURABAYA - PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) Daerah Oprasional (Daops) VIII memastikan tidak akan memberangkatkan KA Kertajaya. Hal itu dilakukan untuk mengantisipasi agar KA tersebut tidak menjadi sasaran pelemparan menjelang pertandingan Semarang United Versus Persebaya 1927, (Sabtu,16/4/2011).

KUALA LUMPUR: Local pro Danny Chia remained the leading flag bearer for Malaysia when rain interrupted second round play of Maybank Malaysian Open golf championship 2011 at the Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club here today.

Chia who managed to complete only 12 of the 18 holes played today, is now tied for 43rd position and has a highly positive chance of making the cut when play resumes tomorrow morning.

Play was suspended at 7.16pm due to failing lights when rain and thunderstorms delayed the proceedings of the second round play from 3.37pm to 6.15pm.

Another local pro, Ben Leong who was the leading Malaysian yesterday, had a disappointing outing today after blowing up with five bogeys in 11 holes.

Meanwhile, A. Sasar who was making his debut in the tournament had decided to withdraw from the competition.

Tomorrow, 77 players will continue play, hoping to make the cut for the final two rounds of the event that offers US$2.5 million (RM8 million).

MONACO (AP): Roger Federer fell 6-4, 6-4 to Jurgen Melzer in the quarterfinals of the Monte Carlo Masters on Friday, the former top-ranked player's earliest loss in a tournament since Wimbledon last year.

The 16-time Grand Slam champion wasted seven break points against the seventh-seeded Austrian in swirling conditions, with clay regularly blowing off the surface of the court.

"I think I should have definitely gotten one of the sets," Federer said. "Every time I had this slight opening, things didn't go my way."

Melzer, a left-hander who broke once in each set, sealed victory when the second-seeded Federer chopped a weak forehand into the net. Melzer next plays No. 4 David Ferrer of Spain, who downed 11th-seeded Viktor Troicki of Serbia 6-3, 6-3.

Federer credited Melzer's attacking play, but said the Austrian enjoyed most of the luck.

"Either he shanks them and they stay in play, he hits the line," Federer said. "All those things accumulate to something quite frustrating. That's what made it hard."

Federer said he couldn't remember losing to a left-hander other than Rafael Nadal in "seven or eight years."

Federer said the windy conditions were tough on both players.

"I think probably being down in the score didn't help, that the wind started to come maybe after the first set when I was down," Federer said. "Even in the wind, I had all my chances to come back into the match.

"He did well. I think he played aggressive, was able to mix it up. Obviously, I wasted way too many break-point chances today, which was unfortunate."

Federer's loss ruled out an anticipated final against six-time defending champion Nadal, who was facing Ivan Ljubicic of Croatia. Third-seeded Andy Murray of Britain was to face Portuguese qualifier Frederico Gil.

Federer's latest defeat will raise more questions about whether he is slipping further behind Nadal and Novak Djokovic at the top of the game.

The last time Federer lost before the semifinals was at Wimbledon last July, when he was beaten by Tomas Berdych in the quarters. Outside of the Grand Slams, Federer hadn't lost this early since his second-round exit to Ernests Gulbis at the Italian Open nearly a year ago.

Friday's loss was Federer's only defeat this year to a player other than Nadal or Djokovic.

Melzer received treatment on his back after the first game, but had no trouble after that as he beat Federer for the first time in four matches.

Melzer broke Federer to go up 3-2 in the first set, and held for 4-2 after Federer immediately missed a chance to break back.

With Melzer serving for the set at 5-4, Federer missed another chance to break, one of four he missed in the first set alone.

Melzer's aggressive approach paid off in the third game of the second set, when he pushed Federer behind the baseline and forced him into hitting another awkward backhand return into the net on break point.

After holding serve for 3-2, Federer played far more aggressively in the sixth game.

Coming to the net much more, he forced two more break points.

But as dust and clay blew off the surface on center court, Federer scooped one weak return into the net and Melzer saved the other with a forehand winner before taking the game with an excellent drop shot.

Melzer struggled again in the eighth game and, with a perfect opportunity to finally break Melzer with the right side of the court wide open, Federer swung at the ball and sent his forehand pass wide.

MILAN, KOMPAS.com - Pelatih Inter Milan, Leonardo, mengaku tidak terlalu memikirkan soal masa depannya di klub itu. Yang paling penting baginya saat ini adalah membawa tim meraih gelar yang tersisa.

Inter baru saja tersingkir dari pentas Liga Champions setelah Samuel Eto'o dan kawan-kawan ditakulkan Schalke 04 dengan agregat 3-7 di perempat final. Hasil ini ditengarai bisa membuat Leonardo kehilangan pekerjaannya.

Namun, Leonardo tidak ambil pusing soal masa depannya di Giuseppe Meazza . Ia hanya ingin fokus membawa timnya menjuarai Serie-A dan Coppa Italia.

"Saya hanya berpikir soal enam pertandingan yang tersisa di Serie-A dan Coppa Italia. Saya seorang pribadi yang tidak pernah khawatir atas kritik. Sekarang bukan saatnya memberikan penilaian soal masa depan," tegas Leonardo.

Dalam kesempatan itu, Leonardo juga meminta timnya untuk bangkit saat melawan Parma di lanjutan Serie-A, Sabtu 16/4/2011). "Saat ini, yang paling penting menjaga fokus pemain pada tujuan awal kami," tukas pelatih asal Brasil itu. (SKY)

LONDON, KOMPAS.com - Berkaca kepada pengalaman Wayne Rooney yang sempat paceklik gol, Pelatih Chelsea, Carlo Ancelotti, mengaku optimistis Fernando Torres bisa menunjukkan penampilan terbaiknya bersama "The Blues".

Torres dibeli Chelsea dari Liverpool dengan harga 50 juta poundsterling atau sekitar Rp 705 miliar pada 31 Januari lalu dan belum mencetak gol sampai saat ini. Bahkan, spekulasi menyebutkan, pemilik Chelsea, Roman Abramovich, kecewa dan berencana menjual penyerang asal Spanyol itu pada musim depan.

"Tentunya, dia tidak bahagia dan kecewa. Namun, tidak mudah baginya melewati masa-masa ini. Dia harus menunjukkan karakternya," jelas Ancelotti.

Ancelotti menilai, apa yang dialami Torres pernah dialami Rooney bersama "Setan Merah" awal musim ini. Ia kesulitan mencetak gol. Oleh karena itu, Ancelotti mengaku tetap mendukung Torres. Mantan pelatih AC Milan itu bahkan yakin Torres akan membayar lunas kepercayaan itu.

"Rooney pernah mengalami situasi yang sama. Dia bermain buruk dan tidak mencetak gol. Namun, setiap orang di klub tetap percaya kepadanya. Setiap orang yakin dia bisa bangkit dan dia benar-benar bangkit. Kini, Rooney telah kembali dan tampil fantastis," tukas Ancelotti. 

"Torres merupakan pembelian yang fantastis, bukannya hanya untuk saat ini tetapi juga untuk masa depan. Tidak benar kalau kami mengadili dia saat ini. Kami harus menunggu. Dia akan menjadi pemain yang fantastis bagi Chelsea di masa depan," lanjutnya. (GM)

City tekad sekat United

LONDON – Manchester City akan berusaha memastikan Manchester United gagal meraih gelaran treble musim ini apabila kedua-dua musuh setempat itu bertemu pada saingan separuh akhir Piala FA di Stadium Wembley awal pagi esok.

Bagi City pula, mereka sudah pasti berusaha menggunakan peluang terakhir ini untuk menamatkan kemarau kejuaraan mereka sejak sekian lama.

Namun persiapan City sedikit terjejas apabila mereka bakal turun tanpa penyerang utama, Carlos Tevez yang mengalami kecederaan hamstring.

Selain itu, keharmonian kem City turut tampak kurang baik ketika ini setelah James Milner menunjukkan reaksi tidak puas hati sewaktu dikeluarkan pada aksi menentang Liverpool awal Selasa lalu.

Menurut pemain pertahanan United, Rio Ferdinand, tanda-tanda perselisihan faham di kem City itu disifatkannya sama sekali tidak akan dibenarkan di kem United di bawah kendalian pengurus, Alex Ferguson.

"Kamu tidak akan nampak pemain menggelengkan kepala atau menunjukkan rasa tidak puas hati ketika dikeluarkan atau merajuk ketika diletakkan di bangku simpanan di United.

"Ini kerana semua pemain berasa selesa dan gembira bersama kelab ini serta mereka memang mahu bersama kelab ini. Jadi andai ini berlaku, pasti akan membuatkan pengurus kami tidak berasa gembira," kata Ferdinand.

Sementara itu, pengurus City, Roberto Mancini yang beberapa kali menolak tanggapan berlaku ketidakharmonian dalam pasukannya bakal mempertaruhkan Edin Dzeko dan Mario Balotelli atau salah seorang mereka bagi mengisi ketiadaan Tevez.

"Balotelli pasti sedar dia perlu memikul tugas yang lebih berat sepanjang ketiadaan Tevez.

"Jika dia diturunkan, pasti dia berpeluang melakukan yang terbaik dan mampu mengubah nasib malangnya musim ini dengan membawa City ke final," katanya. – AFP

Selangor pasang perangkap

Oleh WAN FAKHRUL BAKAR
fakhrul@kosmo.com.my

TIADA ruang akan diberikan kepada para pemain Perak apabila berdepan Selangor pada perlawanan tumpuan menemukan dua pasukan teratas Liga Super itu di Stadium Shah Alam malam ini.

Demikian strategi yang akan diatur pengurus merangkap ketua jurulatih Selangor, K. Devan apabila pasukan bimbingannya itu menanti kunjungan Perak yang baru saja membelasah Kelantan 4-0 di Ipoh pada Selasa lalu.

"Saya dapati benteng pertahanan Perak cukup berdisiplin dan gawang mereka paling sedikit dibolosi setakat ini. Jadi kita kena cari jalan bagaimana untuk memecah kekebalan mereka.

"Selain itu, barisan pertahanan kami pula tetap perlu berjaga-jaga dengan gerakan sayap mereka yang cukup pantas serta pelu memastikan bahagian tengah tidak dikuasai sepenuhnya oleh Shahrulnizam Mustapa dan K. Nanthakumar.

"Apa pun kita tak boleh bagi ruang langsung kepada pemain-pemain Perak dan kita sendiri perlu beraksi pada tahap yang lebih tinggi daripada biasa demi memastikan tiga mata penuh di laman sendiri," kata Devan ketika dihubungi Kosmo! semalam.

Tanpa Yosri Derma Raju yang digantung selepas mengumpul tiga kad kuning, pertahanan tengah Selangor malam ini bakal dikemudi Khairul Anuar Baharum dan Nasriq Baharom.

Manakala ketua pasukan, Amri Yahyah yang kembali selepas penggantungan satu perlawanan akan bergandingan dengan Fadzli Saari di bahagian serangan.

Biarpun Selangor sudah dua kali tewas di Stadium Shah Alam pada musim ini iaitu kepada Kelantan dan T-Team, Devan yang baru menyambut hari jadi ke-50 pada Selasa lalu tetap menganggap ia gelanggang keramat Red Giants.

"Bertemu Kelantan pada aksi pertama musim ini memang kita tidak beraksi baik tetapi ketika tewas kepada T-Team minggu lalu, kami telah beraksi dengan baik tetapi nasib tidak menyebelahi.

"Jadi saya mahu barisan depan Selangor tidak membazir peluang terhidang supaya kita tidak melakukan kesilapan sama ketika bertemu T-Team," jelas Devan yang berharap Selangor kekal selaku pendahulu liga selepas tamat perlawanan ke-12 itu.

Hodgson percaya wibawa Torres

LONDON - Pengurus West Bromwich, Roy Hodgson yakin penyerang baru Chelsea, Fernando Torres (gambar) pasti akan menemui sentuhan jaringannya meskipun masih kebuntuan gol setakat ini.

Torres merupakan penyerang yang diharapkan Hodgson ketika dia menjadi pengurus Liverpool sebelum penyerang Sepanyol itu berhijrah ke Chelsea pada penghujung Januari lalu manakala Hodgson dipecat sebelum diambil West Brom.

Selepas beraksi 11 perlawanan bersama Chelsea, Torres masih gagal menjaringkan sebarang gol.

Biarpun yakin Torres akan kembali menemui sentuhannya, Hodgson tetap berharap penyerang berusia 27 tahun itu tidak menembusi gawang West Brom ketika kedua-dua pasukan bertemu di Hawthorns malam ini.

"Prestasi Torres ketika ini tidak mengejutkan saya kerana dia sememangnya tidak berada pada prestasi terbaik sejak dari awal musim ini bersama Liverpool.

"Dia kemudian berhijrah ke Chelsea dan semua berharap dia terus meledak tetapi itu tidak berlaku. Tapi saya rasa dia tetap berusaha keras ke arah itu," kata Hodgson.

Pengurus West Brom itu turut menyatakan bahawa Chelsea akan tetap menuai hasil daripada pelaburan besar mereka ketika membeli Torres pada baki perlawanan musim ini.

"Kamu pasti akan dapat melihat Torres menjaringkan gol dan memberi sumbangan bermakna kepada Chelsea dalam beberapa perlawanan terakhir ini.

"Tapi saya lebih berharap Torres dapat menjaringkan beberapa gol sebelum kami bertemu Chelsea kerana tidaklah Torres mencari gol sulungnya ketika bertemu pasukan saya.

"Tapi saya tidak akan berasa iri hati jika Torres berjaya meledak satu gol ketika bertemu kami selagi kami pula berjaya mendapatkan dua gol dan menang," jelas Hodgson. - AFP