Brit duo qualify for Indy 500
Katherine Legge: Qualified for the Indianapolis 500 British duo Katherine Legge and Pippa Mann qualified for the Indianapolis 500 as four women starters joined this year’s field.
Brazilian Ana Beatriz and Swiss racer Simona de Silvestro, who qualified on Saturday, also made the grid to match the record mark from 2010 and 2011 for female drivers in Indy’s 33-car field.
Legge only agreed to compete for an Indy place at the start of the weekend and just earned her spot with the slowest qualifying speed after a four-lap average of 223.176 mph Mexico’s Michel Jourdain, the only driver who failed to make the field, was unable to threaten Legge’s mark before the qualifying session concluded.
American Ed Carpenter won pole position on Saturday to lead 24 drivers in securing spots in the first eight rows on the starting grid.
Josef Newgarden filled the first of the remaining nine spots, while Graham Rahal and Colombia’s Sebastian Saavedra completed row nine with Frenchman Tristan Vautier on the inside of row 10 alongside Beatriz, with Mann on the outside.
Conor Daly and Buddy Lazier, the 1996 Indy 500 winner, were on the last row with Legge claiming the outside spot.
Scotland’s Dario Franchitti, the defending champion, will start in the middle of row six when the 97th edition of the race starts next Sunday.
Late Milan win seals CL spot
Philippe Mexes: Scored a crucial goal for Milan Sky Bet Football Betting Retrieving latest Sky Bet odds Football Betting 10 Free Bet AC Milan produced a dramatic late fightback to win 2-1 at Siena and book their place in next season’s Champions League at the expense of Fiorentina, while Udinese thumped Inter Milan 5-2.
Milan fell a goal behind to Claudio Terzi (25) and it remained that way until six minutes from time when Mario Balotelli levelled from the penalty spot.
Yet with Fiorentina hammering Pescara 5-1, Milan needed another goal to finish third in Serie A and take the final Champions League berth, and they duly got the job done with three minutes remaining as Philippe Mexes fired home.
Both teams finished the match with 10 men after Milan captain Massimo Ambrosini and Siena’s Christian Terlizzi were sent off for second yellows in the second half.
Fiorentina were a class above relegated Pescara in their encounter but at the end of the night were hugely disappointed to come away with a place in the Europa League as their reward.
Vincenzo Montella’s side won with ease thanks to a hat-trick from Adem Ljajic and goals from Steven Jovetic and Matias Fernandez.
Udinese made no mistake in tying down the final automatic Europa League place by condemning Inter Milan to a 5-2 defeat at the San Siro.
Lazio must pursue Europa League football via the Coppa Italia final after a 1-0 defeat at Cagliari.
Daniele Dessena claimed all three points with a late header.
Walter Mazzarri lost to the club who could well offer him his next job in management as Roma beat league runners-up Napoli 2-1.
Mazzarri revealed after the defeat that he was leaving Napoli after four years, with Roma, Milan and Inter all touted a potential destinations.
Sunday night’s clash was settled by second-half goals from Marquinho and Mattia Destro, while Napoli replied through Edinson Cavani.
Palermo suffered a 3-1 home defeat to Parma in their final outing ahead of their relegation to Serie B.
A late goal from Cyril Thereau denied Atalanta a winning end to the season as Chievo took home a point from a 2-2 draw.
Bologna and Genoa played out a goalless stalemate while Torino and Catania drew 2-2.
Barca and Bilbao secure wins
Pedro: Opened the scoring for Barca Sky Bet Football Betting Retrieving latest Sky Bet odds Football Betting 10 Free Bet Barcelona marked the occasion of their Primera Division trophy presentation with a 2-1 win over Real Valladolid at the Nou Camp, while Rayo Vallecano, Deportivo and Athletic Bilbao also won.
Pedro opened the scoring after Xavi intercepted Jesus Rueda’s pass out of defence and former Barca trainee Marc Valiente’s clumsy own goal put the champions two goals to the good at half-time.
Victor Perez’s late penalty, after Martin Montoya fouled Manucho, denied Victor Valdes a clean sheet on his 500th appearance for the club but could not dampen the party atmosphere.
Captain Carles Puyol accepted the trophy but touchingly handed it to coach Tito Vilanova and defender Eric Abidal, both of whom have had treatment for cancer, to lift.
Barca remain on course for a club-record 100 points should they win their remaining two games, away to city rivals Espanyol and at home to Malaga.
At the other end of the table, Deportivo La Coruna beat Espanyol 2-0 to move out of the relegation zone above Real Zaragoza, who lost 2-1 at home to Athletic Bilbao.
Depor took the lead through a wonderful goal by Bruno Gama five minutes into the second half, with Nelson Oliveira making sure of the points with his fine lob in stoppage time.
Zaragoza led through Helder Postiga’s 15th-minute header but were pegged back in the final 10 minutes, Fernando Llorente with a scrappy equaliser before Ibai Gomez backheeled a 92nd-minute winner.
Rayo Vallecano survived a late fightback from Levante to take all three points at the Ciutat Valencia stadium and move up to eighth in the table.
Top scorer Piti gave Paco Jemez’s side a first-half lead which was cancelled out by Robert Acquafresca but then quickly restored by Franco Vazquez.
Piti struck again, this time from the penalty spot, to increase Rayo’s advantage but Vicente Iborra set up an exciting finish to the game by scoring with four minutes remaining.
Bae grabs Byron Nelson glory
Sang-Moon Bae – first PGA Tour win Sang-Moon Bae survived a mid-round wobble to win the Byron Nelson Championship in Texas by two shots.
The South Korean had started the day one-shot behind Keegan Bradley, who had led the tournament from the opening round after a sensational 60.
But Bradley’s hopes of a wire-to-wire victory were undone by a patchy final round 71 that allowed Bae to come past him with a one-under 69 which secured the 26-year-old a first PGA Tour success with a winning total of 13-under.
Bae made his big move on the front nine with four birdies in five holes from the third to the seventh.
With Bradley playing the same stretch in one-over, Bae went from one behind to four in front and appeared to be in total control.
However, the Korean, who lost a play-off at last year’s Transitions Championship in Florida, found water off the ninth tee and racked up a double bogey and made further errors at 10 and 15 to drop back from 16-under to 12-under.
A first birdie of the day from Bradley at the tough par four 15th made it a tie at the top but just when it appeared the American’s victory hopes were back on he stumbled.
Bae nosed in front again with a birdie at the par five 16th as Bradley’s putt for a four from just over three feet lipped out and the Ryder Cup star then bogeyed the short 17th after going over the green.
There was a scare for Bae at 17 when his tee-shot only just cleared the water but a safe par gave him a two-shot cushion heading to the 18th tee and he played the tough closing hole in textbook fashion to secure victory.
Charl Schwartzel finished alone in tied third – three off the winner – after a hugely frustrating day on the greens.
The South African produced some superb ball-striking but couldn’t cash in on it and had to settle for a two-under 68 which wasn’t enough.
Van Gerwen conquers Europe
Michael van Gerwen: Bagged the European Open Michael van Gerwen remained in unstoppable form as the newly-crowned Premier League champion won the European Darts Open in Dusseldorf.
Fresh from his success in London on Thursday, van Gerwen moved on to Germany where he beat Simon Whitlock 6-2 in Sunday’s final to claim another 20,000 in prize money in what is becoming a superb season.
Van Gerwen won six matches over the weekend, including victories over Terry Jenkins, Gary Anderson and Peter Wright to set-up a final with fellow Premier League star Whitlock.
Whitlock could not live with van Gerwen’s 106 average he threw during the final, as the young Dutchman walked away with yet another victory.
“It’s been a brilliant few days,” said van Gerwen.
“I’m a bit tired at the moment but winning is the most important thing, and I’m very glad I saved my best game for the final.
“Simon beat me the last time we played in a final and I knew I needed to play a proper game to beat him, and I think I showed my class with a very good performance tonight.
“The crowd was amazing and even though they were cheering for Simon in the final, they were very nice.
Darts is growing in Germany and the crowds are very good here.
Every ticket’s sold out and you want to see that.” Next up for the globe-trotting darts stars is a trip to the Middle East where they will take part in the inaugural Dubai Duty Free Darts Masters next week.
“I’m so happy with my game at the moment and I hope I can continue this form in Dubai as well because I want to do well there,” added van Gerwen.
“I fly to Dubai on Monday and I’ll have a couple of days off when I get over there but I’ll be preparing for the Dubai Masters.
I’m looking forward to it and it’s very exciting.” Whitlock will join van Gerwen, and the likes of Phil Taylor, Adrian Lewis, James Wade and Raymond van Barneveld in heading to the Dubai Duty Free Darts Masters, and he added: “I’m looking forward to every tournament I play right now and hopefully I can win in Dubai.”
Mazzarri confirms Napoli exit
Walter Mazzarri: Napoli coach has confirmed he is leaving Sky Bet Football Betting Retrieving latest Sky Bet odds Football Betting 10 Free Bet Napoli coach Walter Mazzarri has confirmed he will be leaving his position after leading the club to second place in Serie A this season.
Mazzarri’s final game at the helm proved to be Sunday’s 2-1 defeat at Roma and he has been strongly linked with taking charge at Stadio Olimpico in the summer.
Though Mazzarri declined to speculate on where he will be going, he has decided it is time for a change after four years at Napoli.
“My future won’t be here,” Mazzarri told Sky Italia after the defeat at Roma.
“I want to thank all those who have been close to me in these last four years.
“I’ve closed my cycle here.
“I thought of having a lot of respect to have avoided announcing this earlier.
I tried to get Napoli as high as possible and, if I would have spoken before, there probably would have been problems.
“I thank president Aurelio De Laurentiis for trying to change my mind and thanks to everyone who has helped us to have a sensational season.
“At this point, I think it’s right changing, or having a rest.
If I have offers, I will evaluate them.
If I have the right stimulus, I’ll go, otherwise I’ll have a rest.
“There aren’t any problems with Napoli.
Out of respect for Napoli, I have never wanted to talk with others until now.
From tomorrow, I’ll evaluate my future.” Rafa Benitez, who took charge of his final match as interim Chelsea manager on Sunday, has been mooted as a contender to replace Mazzarri at Napoli.
Di Canio criticises Bardsley
Phil Bardsley: In hot water with Paolo Di Canio Sky Bet Football Betting Retrieving latest Sky Bet odds Football Betting 10 Free Bet Sunderland manager Paolo Di Canio has hit out at defenders Phil Bardsley and Matthew Kilgallon over their late-night antics in a casino.
Former Manchester United full-back Bardsley, 27, was pictured in Sunday’s newspapers lying in a heap of 50 notes and was omitted from Di Canio’s squad for the final-day 1-0 defeat at Tottenham.
Di Canio said of the situation: “I saw the picture on a website and moments later he was out of my squad.
How can I play a player that probably is blurry for three, four days after what’s happened? “I want to deliver a very clear message: there is no excuse to behave like he did.
They went out because Wigan lost the game and we stay up.
“I could understand it if we had won the Champions League or maybe the FA Cup.
We have to respect the dignity of the club, and the fans.
“I thought that at Swindon…
arrogant, ignorant footballers because they’ve not had many chances to stay at the top level.
I have to tell you unfortunately I found a worse environment in terms of discipline in this club.
“This is what I’ve found in the last few weeks so we have to change completely.”
Carberry inspires Royals win
Michael Carberry struck a superb 96 as defending champions Hampshire eased to a five-wicket triumph over Durham at the Ageas Bowl to stay top of Group B in the Yorkshire Bank 40.
Carberry was out, caught at the wicket off Mark Wood with one run needed, but the damage had been done as Hampshire judged a run-chase perfectly to reach their target of 242 with five balls to spare.
Rain reduced the match to 36 overs each and Hampshire captain Jimmy Adams chose to bowl first and was soon justified as Durham struggled to 45-4 in the 11th over.
But Ben Stokes and Will Smith led a fightback with rapid fifties, Stokes punishing the Hampshire bowlers with an aggressive 87 off 71 balls in an innings that included six fours and four sixes before being stumped off Chris Wood (3-37).
Smith (50) and Ryan Pringle (26) then put on 74 valuable runs for the seventh wicket before pace bowler David Griffiths (3-42) returned to remove them both.
Durham’s score always looked vulnerable despite claiming the wicket of James Vince to the second ball of the Hampshire innings.
That brought together Carberry and Adams and the experienced second-wicket pair put on 133 in 18 overs before Adams slogged Scott Borthwick to Mark Wood at mid-wicket after making 67 from as many deliveries.
George Bailey and Sean Ervine each helped Carberry keep pace with the run-rate so that with three overs left Hampshire required 28.
It was then that Liam Dawson took control, smashing an unbeaten 37 off 21 balls with sixes off Chris Rushworth and Wood and four other boundaries.
Carberry departed looking for the winning run and with a century in his sights but his 86-ball innings had been the key to Hampshire’s third victory in this season’s competition.
Halsey confirms retirement
Mark Halsey bowed out of the game at Manchester City Sky Bet Football Betting Retrieving latest Sky Bet odds Football Betting 10 Free Bet Referee Mark Halsey has bowed out of football and hopes his story can inspire other cancer-sufferers.
The 51-year-old took charge of a game for the final time in Norwich’s shock 3-2 win over Manchester City at The Etihad on Sunday having beaten non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 2009.
Halsey said after that match: “It’s been a fantastic career for me, with ups and downs.
“I have had three great years since I have come back from my illness and hopefully I have been an inspiration for all those men, women and children out there living with cancer, and shown them we can beat this, that we can get back out there.
Hopefully I have done a lot for them.
“It was a great game, a great advert for the Premier League.
It was a great reception I got at the end, unbelievable.
I never thought I’d get that and it shows the respect I’ve got.
It was just absolutely magnificent.
“I don’t think I have seen a referee get something like that before.
I wasn’t expecting it, not at all.
At Man City I think the fans have got an affinity with me.
They think I helped put them back on the map in 1999 in that play-off final at Wembley.
“It was a great day for me and my family.
My family have been there for me.
My wife has got leukaemia, she was there for me when I was battling my cancer.
“I have also got to say a big thank you to the PGMOL (Professional Game Match Officials Limited) for giving me the opportunity to become a professional referee.
“Chris Hughton (Norwich manager) gave me a hug and said a few more words to me.
It was fantastic.”
Parry puts Surrey in a spin
A first five-wicket haul in one-day cricket for Stephen Parry helped Lancashire to a seven-run win over Surrey at Old Trafford in their YB40 clash.
The left-arm spinner claimed 5-17 and seamer Wayne White chipped in with 4-35 to help Lancashire claim their first YB40 win of the season.
The hosts had been struggling at 59-5 before Karl Brown hit 80 to lift them up to 176-9 from their 40 overs, and their bowlers managed to tie Surrey down to 169 all out.
Lancashire, who suffered a blow before the game with stand-in skipper Simon Katich forced out with a back spasm, struggled after being put in, with Stephen Moore going in the first over.
Jonathan Lewis then clinched the wicket of Ashwell Prince for seven and Chris Tremlett accounted for Steven Croft and captain Paul Horton.
Gary Keedy, returning to face Lancashire for the first time since leaving at the end of last season, struck with his first ball with Wayne White caught behind for five but Brown’s 80 boosted Lancashire’s total.
Steven Davies and Jason Roy got Surrey off to a flier in reply to Lancashire’s 176-9, scoring at more than seven an over until Parry bowled Roy for 18 with his first ball to end the 60-run stand.
He bowled Davies for 36 in his next over and then claimed two wickets in three balls, holding a catch off his own bowling to account for Vikram Solanki and then trapping Gary Wilson lbw.
Parry, Steven Croft and fellow spinner Simon Kerrigan continued to strangle Surrey, who went 13 overs without a boundary, and when Croft bowled Rory Burns for four they were 91-5.
The visitors never really recovered from that as Lancashire sealed victory when Jade Dernbach was caught by Kerrigan off White from the final ball.
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