David Luiz Belter Seals Europa League Semifinal Win for Chelsea

Chelsea scored three times in nine minutes to overturn a 1-0 deficit and seal their progression to this season’s Europa League final, where they’ll face Benfica in Amsterdam.

The goals, which came from Fernando Torres, Victor Moses and David Luiz, represented the quickest treble in European club competition this season and helped Chelsea to a 5-2 aggregate win over Swiss champions Basel.

But it was the guests who attacked with conviction from the opening whistle, as Marco Streller’s daisy-cutter narrowly missed Petr Cech’s left-hand post after barely a minute. And while Frank Lampard hit the post in the ninth minute with a shot from distance, Streller came close again in the 26th with a superbly taken volley from Markus Steinhofer’s cross that, again, came close to finding its way inside the far post.

Then, with just a minute of normal time remaining in the first half, Mohamed Salah bagged a deserved opener for Basel.

Just four minutes earlier, the Egyptian international had been denied by a superb Cech stop (and Valentin Stocker might have even been awarded a penalty on a subsequent drive that looked to have hit Ryan Bertrand’s arm). Salah made no mistake on this occasion, though, accelerating past the offside trap to receive Stocker’s ball before finishing calmly past the Chelsea goalkeeper.

It was a different Blues side Basel had to contend with after the restart, however, and Torres began the onslaught after restoring level terms in the 50th minute with a tap-in following Yann Sommer’s initial save on Frank Lampard.

Two minutes later, Chelsea had turned a one-goal deficit into a one-goal advantage on the night and a 4-2 lead on aggregate. Then Victor Moses, pouncing on another rebound inside the area, beat Sommer from in close with his second effort after Gaston Sauro had blocked his first.

And to complete the triple salvo, David Luiz made it 3-1 to the hosts with an absolutely stunning goal just shy of the hour mark.

For a moment—as the midfielder dribbled the ball along the 18-yard box—it looked as though Frank Lampard was going to take a shot. But after seeing David Luiz flying into space, he left the ball for his teammate—jumped out of the way, actually—as the Brazilian unleashed a left-footed belter that arched magnificently inside the top corner of the Basel goal.

From there it was only a matter of holding on to what they already had, and while Torres had a trio of chances to build on the lead, Chelsea were able to cruise to the final whistle with relative comfort.

The Basel fans, who created an impressive match atmosphere throughout the 90 minutes, lit flares and a massive flag on fire during the final minutes, but there were to be no more fireworks on the pitch as Chelsea claimed the 3-1 win.

The London outfit now have a chance to become the first club to win the Champions League and Europa League in successive seasons (in that order) when they face Benfica in the May 15 final at Amsterdam Arena.

Andre Schurrle worrying about Chelsea move? #CFC #ChelseaFC

Bayer Leverkusen attacker Andre Schurrle has reportedly grown concerned that his proposed transfer to Chelsea may not materialise.

The German international is believed to have agreed terms on a five-year contract at Stamford Bridge following talks between the Premier League club and his agent.

However, the Blues have still been unable to agree a fee with Leverkusen, who want Kevin de Bruyne as well as £20m for their player, according to the London Evening Standard.

Chelsea are thought to only want to loan out De Bruyne, though, after he impressed during a stint in the Bundesliga with Werder Bremen this season.

As a result, 22-year-old Schurrle is said to have started to doubt that a move will now happen.

By Liam Apicella

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#IPL6: Chennai add to Pune’s misery, inflict 37-run defeat on hosts #CSK

Suresh Raina worked his way to a superb 63 and Mahendra Singh Dhoni played an explosive 16-ball 45-run knock as Chennai Super Kings strengthened their position at the top of the table with a 37-run win over Pune Warriors in an IPL match, in Pune on Tuesday.

Raina anchored the innings with his 50-ball knock and skipper Dhoni provided the late fireworks as Chennai overcame a slow start to post a challenging 164 for three.

Paceman Mohit Sharma then rocked the Pune top-order in a fiery spell in which he dismissed Aaron Finch (15), T Suman (0) and Yuvraj Singh (5) from which the hosts never recovered and managed just 127 for nine.

Finch was caught behind and Suman was trapped in successive balls in Mohit’s first over. He returned to scalp Yuvraj. Raina’s electric fielding resulted in run out of Robin Uthappa (10) which left the hosts reeling at 43 for four inside fifth over.

As if that was not enough, Luke Wright was run out in an unfortunate manner when Steve Smith played a solid straight drive but the ball touched Albie Morkel‘s foot before hitting the stumps and Wright was caught out of crease.

A terrible mix up meant that Abhihek Nayar too was runout. Smith handed back a simple catch to Ravindra Jadeja a few overs later and with that wicket Pune were on their way to their eighth defeat from 10 matches.

Earlier, Raina showed a lot of maturity while batting as he did the spade work along with S Badrinath (34) while Dhoni batted amazingly in his side’s remarkable recovery later on.

After losing Michael Hussey (5) and Wriddhiman Sahara (13) early, Raina and Badrinath steadied the ship with a 75-run stand for the third wicket.

But it was 61-run unbeaten partnership between Raina and Dhoni for the fourth wicket that spoilt all the good work Pune bowlers had done earlier.

It rained fours and sixes when Dhoni batted as Chennai collected 50 runs in the last four overs. Dhoni punished hapless bowlers with seven boundaries including three sixes, the last one coming off the last ball.

Raina helped himself with five fours and a six.

SRK to lock horns with Akshay, not Salman Khan during Eid

‘Mental’ will not release during Eid this year, leaving the other actors to battle for box-office glory

Salman Khan bows out of the box-office race during Eid this year, leaving Shah Rukh Khan and Akshay Kumar to battle it out.

For the last four years in a row, Eid is exclusively reserved for Salman Khan. And every year, he indisputably wins box-office glory.

This year, however, things are going to be different, with SRK and Akshay Kumar pitched against each other.

Audience will have to choose between SRK’s ‘Chennai Express’ and Akshay Kumar’s ‘Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai Again’, which will hit theatres on August 8.

With the date not so far away, the two actors are working overtime to ensure they meet the Eid deadline.

“Akshay and the unit (of Once Upon…) have been shooting at nights. They’ve also been dubbing throughout the day to make up for lost time. This way, once the shoot is finished, the film can straightaway go into post-production,” reported Hindustan Times.

The situation is similar on the set of ‘Chennai Express’ as well, with the media reporting on how SRK has even set up a temporary business office in Wai, where the movie is being filmed, so that he doesn’t disrupt the schedule.

In fact, Akshay and SRK have put all other movie commitments on hold and are focusing only on their Eid release.

“Akshay has put all other work on hold. Right now, Once Upon… is of utmost importance. All his public appearances, except for a few promotions for the film, have been restricted,” reported the Indian daily.

While the two big stars are working endless hours, Salman Khan is taking it easy.

His brother, and movie director, Arbaaz believes there’s no point in rushing ‘Mental’ to meet the August 8 deadline.

All Salman’s Eid releases, barring the recent ‘Ek Tha Tiger’, were blockbusters. There was ‘Wanted’ in 2009, ‘Dabangg’ in 2010, ‘Bodyguard’ in 2011, and ‘Ek Tha Tiger’ in 2012.

“For his (Salman’s) film to come on Eid, he should have started work as early as January, but they started sometime in March. So it is difficult,” Arbaaz told a news agency.

“There is no need to do a rush job on any film. The stakes are too high, the expectations are too high. So, no need to get fixated because a Salman Khan-starrer is a Salman Khan-starrer.”

Salman is currently shooting for younger brother Sohail’s ‘Mental’

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#ShahRukh – #Aamir together on screen for the first time?

One filmmaker couldn’t have achieved this feat. It’s taken four of them to attempt it together, or so we hear. Sources say that Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan, who were last seen sharing a podium when the multiplexes locked horns with producers over the commission issue, will be seen together for the first time on Indian screen.

The two Khans are expected to be part of a song for Bombay Talkies, the film that is made to commemorate the 100 years of cinema. Bombay Talkies is an amalgamation of four short films made by Karan Johar, Zoya Akhtar, Anurag Kashyap and Dibakar Banerjee. It will have one song that is common to the entire film, expected to play either with the beginning or end credits. Our source indicates that the song will feature most of the top actresses — like Kareena Kapoor, Katrina Kaif, Priyanka Chopra and Deepika Padukone — all dressed in golden-coloured costumes.

The men who are expected to be part of the song are Anil Kapoor, youngsters Varun Dhawan and Sidharth Malhotra and, of course, the Khans, among several others. The dress code for the men is a tuxedo. Aamir has apparently shot his portion of the gaana and the filmmakers are now waiting eagerly for SRK to keep his side of the commitment. A unit member said, “It would have been great to have SRK and Aamir shoot simultaneously.

But since their busy schedules didn’t allow that to happen, now we are waiting for Shah Rukh to can his portion separately.” Well, here’s looking forward to one of those magical on-screen moments when the two Khans are seen together in the same song… if not in the same frame.

A Stranger Behind the Afghan School – #AngelinaJolie

At a school in a bombed-out Afghan village near Kabul, Angelina Jolie is known as an aid worker or engineer — never as one of the world’s most famous film stars. Jolie, a special envoy of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, built the school in Qala-i-Gudar last year and is planning to open more in Afghanistan with profits from a newly-launched jewellery line that she has designed.

The Hollywood star visited Qala-i-Gudar in 2011, and she retains an avid fanbase among residents who have never seen any of her films and have no idea about her global fame as an actress. Acting is controversial in the country, with many conservative Afghans associating it with un-Islamic behaviour and even prostitution. Homaira, aged 13, is one of 250 pupils at the all-girls school who has benefited from the new facilities, which opened for their first full academic year last month.

“We used to study in the backyard of the mosque, it was hard,” Homaira said. “Now we are so happy to have a school. It’s a beautiful place.” Asked who built her school, Homaira smiled and answered, “the beautiful American lady.” The two-storey building, 30 kilometres (20 miles) north of Kabul, has large windows and neat rows of desks. On the outside, which is painted light blue, is a plaque proudly boasting of its founder.“Through the generous contribution of Angelina Jolie UNHCR Special Envoy,” it reads.

Even headmaster Gul Rahmman Ayaz appeared ignorant of Jolie’s superstar celebrity, apparently believing she was a senior UNHCR official. “Is she?” Ayaz asked doubtfully after learning Jolie was an actress. “Well whatever, she is a great woman, very kind woman,” he added with a smile.
“She was very humble. She sat on dust. She didn’t behave like a movie star,” Ayaz said, remembering Jolie arrived in a UN-marked vehicle and wore a modest black outfit and brown headscarf.

Messi is ‘fundamental’ to #Barca, says Iniesta

The Blaugrana playmaker believes the Argentina international is needed if the club are to win trophies, however, he is confident they can overcome PSG without him

Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta says Lionel Messi is an integral part of the team and his team-mates depend on him.

The Argentina international picked up a hamstring injury in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final against PSG shortly after he put the Catalans ahead and is a doubt to play in the second leg with the score finely poised at 2-2.

And the Spaniard concedes Messi, who missed the weekend’s match against Mallorca, is a fundamental part of Barcelona squad.

“We will see today [Tuesday] and tomorrow if Leo Messi can play. It all depends on how he feels. They will decide if he can play or not,” he told a press conference.

“He sustained an injury so they need to talk to take a decision. Without a doubt, there is Messi dependence in the team in the sense that he’s a fundamental player, but then there’s no Messi dependence because we’re a team and lots of players can score goals.

“We need to reach June with all the options to win titles. Leo is a fundamental and decisive player for us: he’s the No.1.”

Meanwhile, Iniesta also hailed the impact of Cesc Fabregas, who netted his first hat-trick of his career in the 5-0 demolition of Mallorca on Saturday.

“I am lucky enough to have such a complete player alongside me as Cesc,” he continued.

“He helps my game and the team’s performance. He interprets exactly where his team-mates are on the pitch and that’s fundamental.

“He interprets our game perfectly well. He played at a very high level when he left the club and now we are fortunate enough to have him back here.

“I hope he carries on playing as well as he is until the end of the season and he helps us win titles.”

The 28-year-old is not underestimating the threat Paris Saint-Germain carry. but insists if Barca play to their best then they should win.

He added: “PSG are very fast when it comes to reaching our penalty area. They have technically very good players, a very complete squad with a lot of talent.

“We have to take all that into account, but we just have to do our job. If we play well, the opposition will suffer and we will have a good chance of winning the match.”

Long-term absentee Eric Abidal made his comeback at the weekend following a liver transplant in April last year and Iniesta was delighted to have the Frenchman back playing.

He said: “It was incredible to see Éric Abidal back on the pitch. It made our hair stand on end, as you say. It was a unique moment.

“He’s an example for many people who might be going through difficult moments. To see someone like Abi, who is back playing football after everything he’s been through, is incredible.

“He’s a great example for all those people who could need an example like him.”

Rare Beatles guitar set to fetch $200k at auction

A VOX custom-made guitar played by the music legends, John Lennon and George Harrison in mid 1960’s is expected to fetch between 200,000 to 300,000 dollars at an auction on May 18.

The guitar, which was built by Mike Bennett and Dickey Denney, was used by Harrison in ‘I am the Walrus’ and Lennon used it during a video session for ‘Hello, Goodbye,’ the New York Daily News reported.

Bids will be taken at New York’s Hard Rock Cafe, as well as online at JuliensLive.com.

A signed copy of The Beatles’ ‘Please Please Me’ will also be auctioned and is expected to fetch 30,000 to 50,000 dollars.

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#Barcelona: #Messi, #Xavi, #Iniesta, soccer in its pure form

Every time Xavi moves the ball elegantly to open holes in the rival defense, Andres Iniesta feints so much and so fast in a small area that the defenders risk their waists and legs trying to stop him and Leo Messi receives his passes to accelerate to the speed of a gazelle, shoot and score, Barcelona is invincible.

Milan found this out in the quarter final of the Champions League. Milan, with Colombian defender Cristian Zapata as a regular first-team player, relied on its advantage from the first leg in San Siro (2-0) to get past the qualifying round at Camp Nou.

They had been told that Barcelona was in crisis, that it was less forceful, that it was letting more goals in and that Messi was unhappy because things were not going well for him.

Wrong.

Barcelona, with Xavi and Iniesta in charge, returned to what it had always been, in other words, the crushing dominator, the total soccer team able to sink its rival. And Messi ready to rock Camp Nou with a historic come-from-behind effort. He racked up two goals, both passes from Xavi and Iniesta, and Milan advanced in the Champions League with a resounding 4-0 (the other two scored by David Villa and Jordi Alba).

After the disappointment of the defeat at San Siro and the fall to Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey and in the League, conjecture about “the Flea’s” poor form were shelved Tuesday night at Camp Nou, when the team and the fans needed him most.

Messi did not fail. And not just that. He kept his legend growing. Thanks to his two goals, Messi, with 58, became the second highest scorer in the Champions, surpassing Ruud Van Nistelroy of Holland. The only one ahead of him is now Raul, of Spain, with 71. Since he’s just 25, no one doubts that Messi will break the record held by one of the brightest stars in the history of Real Madrid. The Argentine has added seven this season and could increase the count in the quarter finals.

Messi, Xavi, Iniesta, a golden trident. When it works, and it almost always does, all the rival teams can do is pray that the rout isn’t scandalous.

Messi, Xavi and Iniesta the best in the world?

Few strategies can withstand these three stars of world soccer. Milan’s manager, Massimiliano Alegri, admitted this himself after last night’s match: “Barcelona can lose two matches in a season, but it is still the best team in the world. It has the three best: Messi, Xavi and Iniesta. So it’s easier.”

Alegri was impressed with the fact that Iniesta continued to feint in minute 90 “with incredible brilliance.” The man who scored the goal that gave Spain the World Cup South Africa has that extraordinary virtue. If he gets possession of the ball, there’s no way to get it away from him.

Messi (25), Xavi (33) and Iniesta (28) have been finalists for the “Balon d’or” in recent years. The Argentine star has won the last four. Xavi was third in 2009, 2010 and 2011, Iniesta second in 2010 and third in 2012.

Only Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal, with Real Madrid, who won it in 2008, has been enshrined among the stars of Barcelona.

All the Italian sports press could do was surrender to this stellar Barcelona. “Messi, a Martian night,” reads the headline in La Gazzetta dello Sport, which shows praise for “the Flea:” “God of the balon,” “monstrous,” “ferocious.” And it also highlighted the other two “prongs” of the Azulgrama trident: Xavi (“he’s always there”), Iniesta (“electric movement”).

Barcelona enjoys the great fortune of having the world’s three best soccer players in their positions. They are the ones who make the difference, the stars who can destroy any strategy.

And it has Leo Messi. They say that all he needs is a World Cup to attain the stature of Argentine soccer legend Diego Armando Maradona. His only problem in reaching that historic soccer height is that Xavi and Iniesta don’t play on the Argentine national team. That’s all.

Shane #Watson has worked as hard as anybody around his cricket: Ricky #Ponting

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has lent his support to under-fire vice-captain Shane Watson, saying he backs Shane’s decision to return home at the time of the birth of his first child.

Watson was barred by team management from taking part in the third Test against India in Mohali along with three other cricketers for disciplinary reasons.

The all-rounder flew back home to be by the side of his wife Lee Furlong. The couple announced Thursday the birth of their son Will.

“Shane worked as hard as anybody around his cricket, there’s no doubt about that,” Ponting was quoted as saying by The Age.

“He’s obviously made a blue here – I don’t like to refer to it as homework because it wasn’t homework – not getting his tasks done that were given to him by the coach.”

“I’ve never known him to be anything other than a very good team player and a great bloke to have around your team.”

Ponting, who Thursday scored his 80th first class hundred in a Shield match against Victoria, praised Watson’s commitment and passion for the game and asked the media not to look too much into high-performance manager Pat Howard‘ comments on Watson’s team commitment.

“I loved every moment that I played with Watto,” he said.

“To tell the truth, I think I understood him and his personality as well as anyone that I ever played with.”

“I tried to get as close to him as I could.”

Ponting said, “I tried to know him as well as I could both on and off the field and I actually felt by doing that I got as much out of him as I could as a player.”

Ponting said Howard’s comments were made under pressure.

“Pat’s known Shane for 12 months and (Australian captain) Michael (Clarke) and Shane have known each other for the best part of 20 years,” he said.

Ponting, who also returned home from Sri Lanka two years ago to be alongside his wife, said Watson’s decision to fly back home was the right one.

“(It’s) obviously a personal decision and he probably doesn’t care how it looks,” he said.

“What the girls go through when we’re away is hard enough as it is but there’s certain things in your personal life you don’t want to miss.”

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