Hold your tongue, Real coach Ancelotti tells Bale agent
MADRID: Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has hit back at Gareth Bale’s agent for suggesting the Wales winger’s teammates do not pass to him enough, telling Jonathan Barnett it would have been better to keep quiet. Bale’s disappointing second season in Spain hit a new low with a poor performance for the holders in last week’ Champions League defeat at Juventus and he again failed to spark in Saturday’s 2-2 La Liga draw at home to Valencia. The 25-year-old has been whistled by disgruntled fans at the Bernabeu, a startling turnaround for a player who scored in the finals of the Champions League and the King’s Cup last term, but has a chance to redeem himself when Real host Juve for the return leg on Wednesday. “This is a world in which a lot of people talk and sometimes they talk too much,” Ancelotti told a news conference on Tuesday. “Bale’s agent spoke who has never been to one of our training sessions, who doesn’t know the atmosphere we have, who spoke from outside,” added the Italian. “Bale has never had problems with his teammates and his teammates have never had problems with Bale. “So too many words and it would have been better to stay quiet. We are happy with Bale’s season.” Ancelotti confirmed Real would have forward Karim Benzema available on Wednesday when they will seek to keep alive their hopes of a record-extending 11th European Cup crown. Benzema has been sidelined for around a month with a knee problem and Real have lacked potency in attack without the France international. “He has recovered well but he is a player who hasn’t featured for a month,” said Ancelotti. (Agencies)
East Bengal hold Kitchee SC
Kolkata: East Bengal struck two late goals in the second-half to hold hosts Kitchee SC 2-2 and conclude their campaign on a high in the AFC Cup football tournament at the Mongkok Stadium here on Tuesday. Down 0-2 in the second-half, it was their inspirational Nigerian forward Ranti Martins (80′) who brought the I-League runners-up back into the game before Cavin Lobo (89′) sealed a fine away draw. Having already assured the knockout berth, the Hong Kong giants drew first blood when Lam Ka Wai gave them a 14th minute lead while Xu Deshuai (59′) doubled the lead in the second-half. In fact, East Bengal had earned a 1-1 draw against the same outfit in the home leg too. East Bengal thus ended their campaign with five points with one win, two draws and three losses in group F table. The red-and-gold brigade’s only win was in the home leg fixture when they blanked Balestier Khalsa FC 3-0 at the Vivekananda Yuva Bharati Krirangan on April 14. Kitchee on the other hand made the last-16 finishing second behind table-toppers Johor Darul Ta’Zim of Malaysia. (PTI)
Persipura down Bengaluru 3-1
Bengaluru: A lacklustre Bengaluru FC suffered another 1-3 loss at the hands of Indonesian club Persipura to end second in Group E of the AFC Cup football tournament at the Shree Kantirava Stadium, here on Tuesday. Starting from a 1-3 deficit in their away game in March, Bengaluru, who have booked their last-16 berth, once again faltered against the table-toppers, whose attack was just too good on the day. By the virtue of topping the group, Persipura will now host Bengaluru in the single-leg pre-quarterfinals clash. The Blues did draw first blood via an Udanta Singh strike in the 23rd minute but the visitors soon gained ground and kept up the pace. Argentinean midfielder Robertino Pugliara answered by finding the net in the 29th minute as the two sides went into half-time at 1-1. But the second half completely belonged to Persipura, who after a barrage of attacks found success in the 73rd minute when Indonesian medio Imanuel Wanggai took the team ahead. Defender Ruben Karel Sanadi then cut through the Begaluru defence four minutes later to take the game away from the hosts. (PTI)
Inter-school cricket: BK Bajoria, Jail Road Boys’ register wins
SHILLONG: BK Bajoria School defeated Laitumkhrah Bengalee School by 77 runs in a league match of the the 7th Babu Ondromoni Dkhar Memorial Senior Cricket Tournament organised by the Shillong Cricket Association at the SCA Cricket Ground, Polo on Tuesday. Powered by a swashbuckling unbeaten 74 off just 50 balls by Ram N. Chauhan and 38 runs off 31 balls by Mukesh Kr. Rai, the Bajorians scored 150 runs for the loss of two wickets in the allotted 15 overs after electing to bat first. In reply, Laitumkhrah Bengalee School could only manage 73 runs of the 15 overs losing five wickets in the process. Jacques D. Shira top-scored with 33. Sayam Jain grabbed two wickets for Bajoria. In the second match of the day, Jail Road Boys’ trounced Mawprem Modern School by 65 runs. Put into bat, Jail Road piled up a competitive 136/3 in 15 overs. Bishnu Mahato scored 68 off 51 balls. In reply, Mawprem Modern’s chase ended at 71/7 in 15 overs. Ricky Sah top-scored with 34 runs off 29 balls while Chadrashekhar Roy and Tengbert R. Sangma scalped three wickets each for Jail Road Boys’.
