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zake201
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May 14 2014, 10:38 AM
Post #1
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SWANSEA -- Manchester Uniteds five-game winning run in the English Premier League ended at Swansea as the leader was held to 1-1 on Sunday. United is just four points ahead of Manchester City after Patrice Evras headed opener was cancelled out by Swansea midfielder Michu. Tempers flared late on when Swansea captain Ashley Williams cleared the ball straight into Robin van Persies head from close range while the United striker was on the ground. Van Persie reacted angrily and squared up to Williams with referee Michael Oliver booking both players. United manager Alex Ferguson called it a "disgraceful act" by Williams and was furious tougher action was not taken by the referee. "The Van Persie situation you can clearly see that he could have been killed," Ferguson said. The Scottish manager wants the English Football Association to investigate the incident despite Williams already being sanctioned during the game. "He should be banned for a long time because that was the most dangerous thing Ive seen on a football field for many years. It was absolutely deliberate," Ferguson said. "The whistle has gone, the game has stopped and he has done that right in front of the referee, he could have killed the lad." But Williams sought to downplay the incident. "I tried to clear the ball, it hit him on the head," he said. "I was trying to clear the ball. He was obviously a bit angry about that. It was a much ado about nothing." Swansea, which is 11th, started strongly with Michu slicing wide early on and forcing United goalkeeper David De Gea into making a save. But United halted the hosts building momentum as it took the lead. Wayne Rooney had already tested goalkeeper Michel Vorm with a stinging drive before Evra netted in the 16th minute, arriving to glance a header in off the far post from a corner from Van Persie. But Swansea recovered well from the blow and Jonathan de Guzman had the ball in the net two minutes later, but the effort was ruled out for Michu blocking off Jonny Evans as the midfielder advanced. The Liberty Stadium fans were further angered when Phil Jones was given only a yellow card for a clumsy lunge on Ben Davies, although replays suggested referee Michael Oliver got the decision right. But Michu levelled in the 29th minute. Evra was caught out by De Guzmans clever run and when De Gea could only parry the Canadians angled shot, Michu was on hand to tap in. Ferguson was visibly angered that Van Persie was not awarded a free kick after he and Chico Flores went to ground following the Spaniards challenge seconds before the equalizer, and the United manager made his feelings known to the referee at the break. The goal added an extra bite to Swanseas play and they had the better of the remainder of the opening half. De Guzman and Wayne Routledge were becoming increasingly influential for the hosts and the former should have done better after working his way into the United box on the byline, only to shoot straight at De Gea with several teammates well placed. But United offered a reminder of its quality in first-half stoppage time when Evra easily got past Nathan Dyer and intelligently pulled the ball back to Rooney, but the England forward fired directly at Vorm. The second half started at a furious pace, with Michu heading over and Routledges close-range strike stopped. At the other end Williams made two superb blocks to stop goalbound efforts from Rooney and Ashley Young after Swansea twice surrendered possession cheaply. United was finally exerting some authority and Van Persie came close to putting them back in front as he cleverly diverted a Rooney cross goalward, only to see his effort cannon away off the crossbar. United substitute Javier Hernandez wasted another presentable chance as he failed to control Van Persies astute pass and Vorm gratefully held the Mexicans deflected strike. Worse was to follow for United when Rooney dispossessed Chico Flores but allowed the defender to get back and intercept a slack pass which should have given Hernandez an easy finish, much to the fury of his manager. Swansea was by now under incessant pressure. Vorm tipped Carricks header against the crossbar while Van Persie and Young were denied as United couldnt find a winner to respond to champion City beating Reading 1-0 on Sunday. http://www.officialstlouiscardinalsstore.com/ . -- The Diamondbacks reinstated outfielder Chris Young from the disabled list and optioned A. http://www.officialstlouiscardinalsstore.com/Adam-Wainwright-Jersey/ . Houston (13-8-10) remained one point ahead of Columbus for the fifth and the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Houston extended its home unbeaten streak to 23 games, with the last home loss coming June 18, 2011, against the Crew. http://www.officialstlouiscardinalsstore.com/Roger-Maris-Jersey/ . -- Yankees closer Mariano Rivera threw his third consecutive scoreless inning in New Yorks 6-3 win over the Houston Astros on Saturday. http://www.officialstlouiscardinalsstore.com/Vince-Coleman-Jersey/ . was known for. Now hes a star in his own right, headlining a big Mexican Independence Day weekend fight card just like his father used to do in his prime. http://www.officialstlouiscardinalsstore.com/Orlando-Cepeda-Jersey/ . Braves general manager Frank Wren confirmed the team traded right-handed pitchers Arodys Vizcaino, a top prospect who had season-ending Tommy John surgery in April, and Jaye Chapman to the Cubs. SALT LAKE CITY -- Chris Paul could hardly be heard over Jay-Zs pounding music as his Los Angeles Clippers teammates sang along in the visitors locker room. And why not? The Clippers had just pulled off a 19-point comeback for their 16th straight victory -- in a venue where they had often struggled. Paul did most of the damage, leading the Clippers (24-6) with 29 points, including the final seven, as Los Angeles squeaked out a 116-114 win Friday night over the Utah Jazz. The Clippers winning streak is the longest in the NBA since Boston won 19 games in a row from Nov. 15 to Dec. 23, 2008. The last time the franchise won three straight in Salt Lake City was 1979-81 when they were the San Diego Clippers. "This one is a great win for us because we kind of needed a challenge," said Blake Griffin, who added 22 points and 13 rebounds for the Clippers. "(We had) to prove not only to everybody else but to ourselves that we can still win close games like this and win a game down 19 in the third quarter." In the opposing locker room, the Jazz were lamenting another one that got away -- the second loss at home to the Clippers during their franchise-record streak. Utah dropped the first by one on Dec. 3 after leading by 14. On Friday, ex-Clipper Randy Foye put up a 3-pointer at the buzzer that was contested by Matt Barnes, but no foul was called. Foye finished with a season-high 28 points for Utah. Foye did his best not to say anything about the officiating. "I felt as though I pump-faked," Foye said. "He knew that I wanted to shoot the 3 and I felt the contact. He made me go straight up and shoot the ball straight down. It was just a tough play." Paul was tough down the stretch, hitting the clinching free throws after getting fouled by Al Jefferson with 3.4 seconds left. "When (DeAndre Jordan) came to give me the ball screen, I wasnt worried about (Gordon) Hayward, I was just worried about Al Jefferson," Paul said. "I could tell (Jefferson) was going to try and blitz me. Anytime two guys try and trap me, Im always going to attack the slower guy. If they wouldnt have called the foul, I was right around Al anyway." Paul sank both free throws this time, after missing one with 18 seconds left that allowed Jefferson to grab the rebound, draw a foul and sink two free throws at the other end to tie it at 114. Paul made sure he hit both the next time. "Man, I couldnt wait to get to the line. I couldnt wait to get to the line," Paul said. "I was mad at myself for missing that last one. I couldnt wait to get to the line to redeem myself." Just like the first game this season against the Clippers, Utah had the upper hand early. The Jazz used a 36-point second quarter to turn a seven-point deficit into a 58-48 halftime lead. Utah reserves did most of the damage. Alec Burks and Earl&nbssp;Watson pushed the pace, big men Enes Kanter and Derrick Favours provided a presence inside and Hayward found ways to score.dddddddddddd Kanters block of Ronny Turiaf ignited the crowd. Haywards 3-pointer tied it at 34 with 7:04 left in the second and he scored 10 straight for the Jazz, who forced eight turnovers in the quarter and held the Clippers to 37.5 per cent shooting. Foye, who kept Utah close in the first with a 13-point quarter on 4-of-5 shooting, gave the Jazz their biggest lead of the half, 54-41, with two more free throws. The Jazz led 74-55 with 8:08 left in the third on a pair of free throws by Paul Millsap. But the Clippers outscored Utah 29-14 the rest of the quarter to pull to 88-84 going into the fourth. Paul provided the offence in the third with 13 points on 4-of-6 shooting. "At the beginning of the third quarter, they made another run at us but then we got a little bit of a rhythm and then started guarding. We started getting some stops and getting out in the open court," Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro said. "Give Utah credit but our guys battled back tonight. They found a way to win and thats what its all about. We stayed together, we weathered the storm when we had to and gave ourselves a chance and we were fortunate to make enough plays." The loss dropped Utah below .500 at 15-16. The Jazz have lost six of their last eight. Jefferson added 22 points for Utah. Hayward had 17 off the bench. The Clippers had six players in double figures. DeAndre Jordan had 16 points and 10 rebounds. "Its all tough," Jazz coach Tyrone Corbin said. "On our home court, we had a lead, we gave up the lead but we continued to fight. We made some mistakes but fought our way through it and had a chance to win the ballgame at the end. Unfortunately they got a lot of free throws." The teams combined for 81 free throw attempts, with Utah making 37 of 40 and the Clippers 33 of 41. Points in the paint were identical and rebounds were close (36-35 Jazz), but the Clippers had a four-point edge on second-chance points. That was enough. NOTES: An unidentified Jazz employee was disciplined and had his access to the team Twitter account discontinued after what team officials deemed an inappropriate tweet regarding the firing of Nets coach Avery Johnson and Brooklyns interest in Phil Jackson. The tweet said Jackson only wants "great players," an apparent reference to ex-Jazz point guard Deron Williams, who had criticized Johnsons offence. ... Jazz point guard Mo Williams still has swelling in his sprained right thumb and remains out indefinitely. ... The Clippers got a scare late in the first quarter when Lamar Odom came up limping. He returned in the second and finished with 12 points. ... The Clippers failed to register a blocked shot despite coming into the game averaging 6.52. ' ' '
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