D Friday, November 6, 2009 METROSPORT 23 SOCCER Europa lEaguE group C Hamburg........ 0 Celtic ..............0 Att 45,037 Rapid Vienna. 0 H Tel-Aviv .......3 Att 49,000 Yadin 13 Vermouth 65 Natcho 70 P W D L F A Pts Hapoel 4 3 0 1 12 6 9 Hamburg 4 2 1 1 5 5 7 Rapid 4 1 1 2 5 9 4 Celtic 4 0 2 2 2 4 2 group E Basle.............. 3 CSKA Sofia ....1 Gelabert 35 Yanchev 61 Frei 41 pen, 67 Att 15,252 Roma ............. 2 Fulham............1 Riise 69 Kamara 19 pen Okaka Chuka 76 Att 20,000 P W D L F A Pts Basle 4 3 0 1 7 2 9 Roma 4 2 1 1 5 4 7 Fulham 4 1 2 1 4 4 5 CSKA Sofia 4 0 1 3 2 8 1 group I AEK Athens ... 2 BATE Borisov.2 Blanco 1 Rodionov 17 Manduca 39 Volodko 26 Everton .......... 0 Benfica ...........2 Saviola 63 Cardozo 76 P W D L F A Pts Benfica 4 3 0 1 9 1 9 Everton 4 2 0 2 6 8 6 BATE 4 1 1 2 5 7 4 AEK Athens 4 1 1 2 4 8 4 GOLF HSBC CHAMPIONS (Sheshan International GC, Shanghai) Collated first round scores (Gbr & Irl unless stated, par 72): 64 Nick Watney (USA). 66 Shane Lowry, Martin Kaymer (Ger), Ryan Moore (USA). 67 Tiger Woods (USA), Anthony Kim (USA), Paul Casey, Wen-Tang Lin (Tpe). 68 Pat Perez (USA), Nick Dougherty, Matt Kuchar (USA), Jyoti Randhawa (Ind). 69 Soren Kjeldsen (Den), Rodney Pampling (Aus), Jason Dufner (USA), Garth Mulroy (Rsa), Brian Gay (USA), Alvaro Quiros (Spa), Phil Mickelson (USA), Henrik Stenson (Swe). 70 Koumei Oda (Jpn), Ross Fisher, James Kingston (Rsa), Alexander Noren (Swe), Ernie Els (Rsa), Camilo Villegas (Col), Lee Westwood 71 Jerry Kelly (USA), Retief Goosen (Rsa), Oliver Wilson, Scott Strange (Aus), Stewart Cink (USA), Chapchai Nirat (Tha), Chih- bing Lam (Sin), Mark Murless (Rsa), Mark Brown (Nzl), Thongchai Jaidee (Tha) More Benfica misery for Everton EVERTON suffered Europa League despair last night as they crashed at home to Benfica. The visitors, who trounced the Toffees 5-0 when they played in Portugal a fortnight ago, took the lead in the 63rd minute through Javier Saviola before sealing victory 13 minutes later through Oscar Cardozo. Victory would all but have secured Evertons place in the knockout stages. EVERTON 0 BENFICA 2 Picture: Action Images Roy sees red as nine-man Fulham lose out Off: Konchesky SOCCER EuROPA LEAGuE FuLham manager Roy hodgson raged at the injustice his team suffered during their defeat at the Stadio Olimpico. The Cottagers felt key decisions by referee Kevin Blom greatly hindered their chances of progressing in Europe. They took a deserved 1-0 half-time lead through a Diomansy Kamara penalty, after the striker had been brought down by Romas marco andreolli. But Fulham substitute Erik Nevland got a straight red card early in the second half for a foul on Daniele De Rossi. Roma then scored through John arne Riises defelected effort in the 68th minute and Stefano Okakas header inflicted Fulhams first defeat in the competition. Paul Konchesky was also sent off late in the game for the visitors and hodgson said: You cannot be happy in the face of injustice. I accept the situation but Im not happy. I think the two red cards were very harsh. To play in the second half down to ten men is a bitter pill to swallow. The defeat leaves Fulham third in Group E, two points behind Roma. ROmA 2 FulhAm 1 Defiant Celts left praying for a miracle Tony Mowbray is refusing to give up on the Europa League, despite a goalless draw at Hamburg which last night left his Celtic side needing a miracle to qualify from Group C. although the Hoops boss was buoyed by an encouraging display in Germany, the visitors failed to get their first victory in the group and remain at the bottom of the table on two points five behind second-placed Hamburg, with two games remaining. The Parkhead men need to beat Hapoel Tel aviv at home and rapid Vienna away while hoping that Hamburg, third in the bundesliga, lose both their games. That scenario is decidedly unlikely, but the Celtic boss said: we will try and get the points which are in front of us, and what will be will be. Every other game doesnt seem to be as close there has been a 5-1 and a 3-0 but regarding the group, we have two matches left and we have to take maximum points. That has got to be our focus at the mo- ment. obviously we have to look at the league games, but when the European games come along we have to try and take maximum points and see if that is enough. once again, Mowbray watched his side fall short in front of goal. Celtic had recorded just 13 shots on target in the previous three Group C games and although that statistic improved against Hamburg, the crucial goal failed to appear. Parkhead striker Scott McDonald missed two sitters as the visitors edged an open first half. but throughout an entertaining game which could have gone either way stand- in Hoops goalkeeper Lukasz Zaluska made a series of fine saves. It was a frustrating performance again, Mowbray conceded. we should have come in at half-time 2-0 up. we had a cou- ple of clear-cut chances that didnt go in. The Europe campaign has been like that this season. It has been very tight, and things havent fallen our way. Hamburg: Rost, Rincon, Rozehnal, Mathijsen, Aogo, Elia, Jarolim, Ze Roberto, Jansen (Trochowski 83), Pitroipa (Torun 87), Berg. Celtic: Zaluska, Hinkel, Caldwell, Loovens, Daniel Fox, Robson (McGinn 75), Crosas, NGuemo, McGeady (Fortune 59), Samaras, McDonald (Naylor 59). Att: 45,037 Ref: Carlos Velasco Carballo (Spain). MATCH FACTS hAmBuRg 0 CElTIC 0 Consoling words: Celtic boss Tony Mowbray with Georgios Samaras gAA Clonakilty boss afraid of facing AFL man Walsh CLONaKILTY boss mick ONeill has revealed his fears of shattering Tommy Walshs aussie Rules dream. Kerry allStar Walsh will play his last Gaa match on Sunday when club side Kerins ORahillys take on Corks Clonakilty in the munster club SFC. ONeill admitted he would hate to see Walsh pick up an injury that impacts on his two-year St Kilda contract. It would be most unfortunate if he got injured, ONeill said. Wed be known as the team that stopped him going to australia. Obviously we all hope nothing like that happens. Tommy has all the attributes to make it out there. hes perfect for their type of game. McNamara: Lost support of players Clare: We wont repeat Cork crisis CLarE chairman Michael oneill insists the banner County will not descend into the sort of strike that split Cork hurling in two last winter. oneill confirmed that a letter signed by 27 of the 28 county players calling for manager Mike Mcnamaras removal has been received by the county board. Mcnamara will respond officially when he presents a potentially explosive end-of-season review to the board next Tuesday night. In the meantime, oneill has revealed he will hold separate talks with the manager and some Clare players in a bid to find a middle ground. Despite the bitter standoff, oneill is confident the issue will not follow the same pattern as last winter in Cork. I dont see this as being similar to any other situation in the country, claimed oneill. Its an internal problem that we have in Clare at the minute. There certainly is no fear in my mind of that [repeating what happened in Cork]. but if the board continue to support Mcnamara, who has year left on his deal, a strike may be inevitable. nothing has changed, said oneill of the boards support for Mcnamara. Meanwhile, Limericks hurlers will meet tomorrow to discuss boss Justin McCarthys axing of a dozen top players. Ex-skipper Damien reale has already quit in protest at the shock move and others are tipped to follow. u BROTHERS Brian and Joe Sheridan kicked Seneschalstown to their second Meath SFC title in three years at Pirc Tailteann last night as they beat Wolfe Tones 2-8 to 1-8. AllStar nominee Joe and fellow Meath forward Brian hit the vital goals in a decisive 60-second burst midway through the first half. A third brother, midfielder Damien, was named man of the match. Wolfe Tones keeper David Nolan was sent off and while Cian Ward kicked 1-5 in the second half there was no way back for the 2006 champions. No worries: Raul raul Tax change will not deter big names from Spain rEaL MaDrID captain raul believes the games biggest stars will continue to move to La Liga despite the scrapping of tax advantages for big-earning foreign players. The Spanish government are to raise the amount of tax foreigners earning above 600,000 pay from the current 24 per cent to the 43 per cent that Spaniards have to pay. The Spanish football league have already voiced their concerns about the proposed changes, but raul doubted whether a change to the law would mean fewer star players moving to Spain in the future, saying: I dont think so. The great players will keep coming. RESulTS By NEIL MACKAy index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html