Badminton: Kien Keat-Boon Heong and Hafiz keep Malaysian flag flying

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s best bet Lee Chong Wei was bundled out of the Korean Open yesterday but compatriots Mohd Hafiz Hashim and Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong reached the Korean Open semi-finals in contrasting fashions at the Olympic Gymnasium in Seoul.

National number one Chong Wei failed to keep his proud record against China’s Chen Jin intact when he went down fighting 21-14, 15-21, 16-21 in a 55-minute battle.

It was Chong Wei’s first defeat to the Chinese in their three meetings and a sign that his “invincibility” against some of the top Chinese players is wearing off.

His winning streak against another Chinese player Bao Chunlai also ended at last year’s world meet. Since then, the Malaysian has not beaten Chunlai.

Hafiz, however, will get a chance to avenge Chong Wei’s defeat when he takes on Chen Jin in today’s semi-finals.

But it will be an uphill task. The 25-year-old Hafiz failed to beat the Chinese in their three meetings last year – losing at the All-England, Thailand Open and the China Masters.

Yesterday, Hafiz made it through by the skin of his teeth, slogging for 51 minutes before beating gritty Indonesian Sony Dwi Kuncoro 21-16, 13-21, 23-21 in the quarter-finals.

National coach Misbun Sidek was pleasantly surprised by Hafiz’s performance. “He likes to strike when the attention is not on him. This is one his best results after a long while and I’m happy.

“He has played Chen Jin many times but in the Thailand Open last year, he had to practically give up because of a knee injury. “If Hafiz feels comfortable and confident with his physical condition, the Chinese will find him a tough opponent tomorrow (today),” said Misbun.

Hafiz’s previous best result in a major tournament was a runner-up finish at the 2005 Danish Open.

Elder brother Roslin, who stole the show at the last year’s Korean Open by emerging as runner-up, could not emulate the feat of his younger brother yesterday.

He lost 18-21, 15-21 to world champion Lin Dan of China – but not after giving the top seed a run for his money.

Lin Dan will take on Chunlai in the semi-final today.

While Hafiz had to go through heart-stopping moments to seal a place in the semi-finals, Asian Games and Malaysian Open winners Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong had it easy in the men’s doubles.

They won a ticket to the semi-finals against South Korean Lee Jae-jin-Hwang Ji-man after only 10 minutes of action.

Their opponents, fellow Malaysians Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah, conceded a walkover after losing the first game 19-21.

Tan Fook was down with a stomach ailment.

Said national doubles coach Rexy Mainaky: “It must be tiring for them to come this far. But whatever the outcome tomorrow, I hope that it will be fair.”

“I received reports that the Koreans (Jae-jin-Ji-man) won their first round match amid strong protests from their opponents (Mathias Boe-Joachim Nielsen Fischer of Denmark) over poor line calls.”

The other semi-final will be between South Korea’s top pair of Jung Jae-sung-Lee Yong-dae and the American-Indonesian combination of Tony Gunawan-Candra Wijaya.

Meanwhile, Kien Keat’s hopes of continuing his winning ways with Wong Pei Tty in the mixed doubles ended when they bowed out 20-22, 15-21 to China’s Xie Zhong-bo-Zhang Yawen.

ARSENAL v MANCHESTER UNITED, 2-1

Sun 21 Jan 2007

Arsenal came from behind to beat Barclays Premiership leaders Manchester United with two late goals at the Emirates Stadium.

Substitute Robin van Persie had cancelled out Wayne Rooney’s early second-half strike with just seven minutes left, before captain Thierry Henry powered in a stoppage-time header to seal a dramatic win for the Gunners and signal their intent to have a say in the destiny of the title and the race for automatic Champions League qualification.

Despite their defeat in north London, United remain six points clear of Chelsea in second place and 12 ahead of Arsenal.

But Sir Alex Ferguson will know that lead could have been more convincing had they remained composed following what was at times a scrappy game, which until the closing moments never seemed destined to stick in the memory.

It had been a positive start by United, playing in their blue change strip, with Ryan Giggs finding space 20 yards out for a curling shot, which flew just wide.

Arsenal - without suspended Brazilian Gilberto - struggled to break the visitors down in midfield but eventually started to see more of the ball.

Henry flashed in an angled shot from the left touchline which flew straight at United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar.

Referee Steve Bennett - who earlier this season sent Gunners boss Arsene Wenger to the stands - soon had to diffuse another potential flashpoint when full-back Emmanuel Eboue and Rooney tussled on the touchline, with both players raising their arms.

Good work from Alexander Hleb and Cesc Fabregas then got Emmanuel Adebayor away down the right.

His cross was deflected past the on-rushing Mathieu Flamini and Tomas Rosicky flashed the loose ball over the crossbar from 18 yards.

As the half-hour mark passed, Fabregas’ goal-bound strike from 25 yards was headed behind by Nemanja Vidic.

Arsenal then created the best chance of the game so far.

Adebayor got away on the right again and his cross hung up perfectly for Henry at the far post.

However, the normally clinical Frenchman could only head the ball straight back at Van der Sar.

Henry had a strong claim for a penalty turned down when Gary Neville appeared to miss the ball and clip the striker as he ran across the United skipper just inside the area.

Giggs was flagged onside following a chip through by Paul Scholes, but he could not make the most of the opportunity as Jens Lehmann comfortably collected his cross-cum-shot from the left.

In the final minute of the first half, Henry tested Van der Sar with a low 25-yard strike after his initial free-kick had been blocked by the wall.

There was still time for Lehmann to make a superb fingertip save onto the bar to turn over Rooney’s brilliant half-volley, after the ball had dropped to him some 25 yards out.

The veteran Germany international then turned Henrik Larsson’s powerful header around the post from the resulting corner.

Arsenal started the second half in more determined fashion, but United continued to win the midfield battle and after 53 minutes they took the lead.

Cristiano Ronaldo fed Patrice Evra on the overlap down the left and the full-back dashed forward to drill the ball across the six-yard box.

Kolo Toure could only touch it on towards the far post, where Rooney was on hand to head in his first goal for eight matches.

Arsenal had little option but to raise their own tempo in order to avoid a first defeat at the Emirates Stadium.

However, once again the visitors were resolute in defending the final third.

With 24 minutes to go, Hleb was replaced by Van Persie.

His fellow Holland international Van der Sar needed treatment after being accidentally kicked by Vidic following a goal-mouth scramble.

United seemed content to sit back on their lead as the match entered the closing stages, but that proved a costly mistake.

With just seven minutes to go, Fabregas won the ball on the right, just outside the penalty area.

Rosicky took possession and drilled over a low cross into the six-yard box.

Henry flicked it on towards the back post where Van Persie arrived on cue to smash the ball up into the roof of the net for his 13th goal of the season - although it was later revealed the striker had broken a metatarsal in the process.

Just when it seemed the match was set to end all square, Henry was perfectly positioned to meet Eboue’s pinpoint cross with a bullet header which gave Van der Sar no chance.

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Crucial win thanks to a Reyes free kick gives the Whites a share of the top spot

Mission accomplished. Real Madrid will leave Mallorca with three points in hand thanks to a an absolutely beautiful free kick. The Whites had their fair share of chances to open up a bigger lead against a scrappy Mallorca who fought until the final whistle. Sergio Ramos withdrew in the second half due to injury. The second consecutive League victory gives the Madridistas a share of the top spot in the League table.

Capello was finally able to use the same back line that played during the second half of the Betis match. Youth teamer Torres got his fourth consecutive start and played along the left wing, Sergio Ramos occupied the right flank, and Helguera and Cannavaro were paired up as centre backs. From the midfield up, everything was as expected with so many players injured. Diarra and Gago joined forces in the centre midfield, Reyes and Robinho took the wings, and Higuaín and Van Nistelrooy led the attack.

Mallorca came out of the starting blocks the hungrier side and quickly made their way to the visitors' third, but Ibagaza's cross was cleared by the defence. The islanders had little trouble moving the ball as Madrid tried to get organised on the pitch. In minute 7, Maxi López was the next to fire a warning shot after a give-and-go with Ibagaza. Casillas made the save with ease

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Webber officially a Piston

January 16, 2007

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) -- The Detroit Pistons hope Chris Webber can do for them what Rasheed Wallace did in 2004: come on board midseason and spark a run to an NBA championship.

Webber does, too, because winning a title would fill the biggest void on his resume.

"I'm excited to be home in Detroit, but I'm more excited about being on this team," Webber said Tuesday after signing with his hometown team. "If this was not a good team, it would not be that much fun.

"This team was already great before I got here, so in no way am I acting like I'm doing this team a big service. I'm part of a great machine."

Webber will make about $650,000 with a prorated contract for the veteran's minimum to play the rest of the season. The Pistons have the second-best record in the Eastern Conference and are the first team since the early 1990s to advance to four straight conference championships. But they appear to need some help this season

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MANCHESTER UNITED v ASTON VILLA, 3-1

MANCHESTER UNITED v ASTON VILLA, 3-1 Sat 13 Jan 2007

Michael Carrick celebrated his first goal for Manchester United as Sir Alex Ferguson's side cemented their place at the top of the table.

The £18million buy from Tottenham Hotspur may have taken time to open his account but the midfielder is certainly not fazed by the big stage.

Old Trafford hosted a record crowd of 76,073 as United continued to put the squeeze on Chelsea.

However, Aston Villa helped them with some poor defending and have now failed to win in 12 games.

United winger Cristiano Ronaldo was presented with his Barclays Player of the Month award before kick-off and marked the occasion by taking his tally to 13 goals, with Park Ji-Sung also on target.

United ran the show from the off and Henrik Larsson almost made the breakthrough in the fourth minute after being set up by Gary Neville.

The on-loan striker peeled away from his marker to power in a header that was superbly tipped away by Thomas Sorensen.

United took the lead in the 11th minute after Gary Cahill’s miskick six yards out.

Park was first to react and found the corner with his effort for his first goal of the season.

United made in 2-0 two minutes later with Carrick finally showing his scoring prowess, taking a ball from Park in his stride and hitting a half-volley that went under Sorensen’s body.

There was a scare for United in the 26th minute when Gabriel Agbonlahor sprung the offside trap and homed in on goal, but Edwin van der Sar stood tall to make a good block and preserve United’s two-goal advantage.

United went 3-0 ahead in the 34th minute after Park won possession off Gavin McCann.

The South Korea midfielder found Carrick and his cross was headed home at the far post by Ronaldo.

Villa boss Martin O’Neill was left shaking his head in disbelief at a series of errors.

United were controlling the midfield and Paul Scholes released Carrick in the 43rd minute but he lofted his effort high over the bar.

A minute later Wayne Rooney should have extended their lead after good work by Ronaldo.

The England striker turned quickly on the edge of the area only to drag his effort wide of the post.

Villa reduced the deficit after 51 minutes when Agbonlahor scored from close range after a good run and cross from Milan Baros.

Rooney was putting in a hard shift with little reward and came close to finding the target after 63 minutes.

He carved out an opening for himself but Sorensen was equal to his effort from an acute angle.

United threw on an additional striker a minute later with Louis Saha replacing goalscorer Park.

The Frenchman, who has made a swift recovery from the groin injury he suffered at Newcastle United, was quickly into action and saw his goal-bound effort blocked on the line by Cahill as United stepped up the pressure.

Larsson came close to scoring in the 72nd minute when he got away from Liam Ridgewell on the edge of the area.

He rattled in a shot but Sorensen got down quickly to turn his effort away at the post.

A minute later Rooney was out of luck his curler from 20 yards coming back off the bar.

Larsson came off in the 79th minute and was replaced by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who scored a late winner in the cup victory last weekend.

United failed to add to their first-half tally, but their victory keeps Chelsea at arm's length.

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Juve beats Cesena 2-1 to claim share of Serie B lead

Tuesday January 16, 2007

TURIN, Italy (AP) -- Alessandro Del Piero and David Trezeguet scored Tuesday and 10-man Juventus beat Cesena 2-1 to claim a share of the lead in Italy's Serie B with Napoli.

Del Piero tapped in from close range in the 17th minute and Trezeguet scored with a header in the 25th

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Good Bye Madrid.......hello USA !