Real Madrid In commanding Lead

All the second Half goals Helped Real Madrid take Over Apoel Nicosia by 3-0 . Benzema and Kaka's 2 goals Helped of at least half percent chances of going into semis.The first Cypriot team to ever reach the last eight held out until the 74th minute when Kaka, on as a second-half substitute, crossed for Benzema to score the opening goal.

Kaka tapped in the second in the 82nd after Marcelo went on a determined run to the byline and managed to cut the ball back as he was falling.

Benzema, who missed an open goal in the first half, added his second goal in the last minute of normal time when he connected with a perfect pass from Mesut Oezil.

Madrid coach Jose Mourinho had high praise for APOEL for its performance on Tuesday and throughout the tournament.

"APOEL created many difficulties and I believe we won the game because we played well," Mourinho said. "What they've done, having reached this far is fantastic, and we needed to play to the maximum of our ability to win. They were great in defense and they deserve our respect.

"The dream of the Champions League looks like it's over. It looks very, very, very difficult for APOEL to beat us 4-0 or 4-1 in the Bernabeu. But I think the next dream is to be in the Champions League again."

APOEL coach Ivan Jovanovic agreed that his team's tournament looks certain to end after the return leg on April 4.

"Real has advanced to the next phase of the Champions League, that's for sure," Jovanovic said. "As a team we'll try our best as we have done so far, as we bid farewell to the Champions League.

"I think the score is just. We managed to contain Real as much as we could up to a point. But the pressure on us in the second half was great and, after the first goal, it was easier for Real because there was a sense of disappointment among our players."

But support from the home crowd inside the packed GSP stadium never waned as about 22,000 orange-clad fans chanted ceaselessly, even when their team trailed 3-0. At the start of the match, fans unfurled a giant banner showing a finger knocking down the queen on a chessboard, alluding to Madrid.

Madrid controlled play from the start, besieging the APOEL goal and forcing the Cypriot team into a defensive shell to stifle Madrid's potent attack, which has scored an average of three goals in each of the team's eight previous Champions League matches.

"It was important for us to always be in control, because if you can't win at least you're not going to lose 1-0 and make it difficult for yourself," Mourinho said.

"We knew that the last part of the game would be difficult for them, and we knew that for Kaka and Marcelo to come in when the other team was a bit tired was the right moment to do it."

A volley from an unmarked Oezil from inside the box in the 12th was pushed away by APOEL goalkeeper Dionisios Chiotis.

Cristiano Ronaldo's header from inside the box three minutes later sailed just over the crossbar. In the 28th, Ronaldo latched onto a through pass from Fabio Coentrao inside the box, but his high, angled shot was well saved by Chiotis.

Benzema looked certain to give the visitors the lead their dominance deserved in the 34th when Nuri Sahin delivered a pass across goal - only for the French striker to scoop the ball over the bar from close range and with the goal gaping.

Ronaldo missed again in the 43rd when his flick from Oezil's pass rolled wide.

Nine-time champion Madrid continued to be frustrated in the second half.

Ronaldo misses with a long-range effort in the 49th before his free kick in the 67th cannoned off the wall and fell for Oezil, whose shot was blocked.

APOEL, meanwhile, were limited to a few attacking forays by Brazilian forward Ailton Almeida.

Madrid finished the match with 20 attempts on goal to APOEL's zero, but it took the introduction of Kaka in the 64th minute to provide the spark for the visitors to emphasize the gulf in class.

Kalou The real superstar For Chelsea

Chelsea defeats Benfica In Their Own home ground at 1-0 Following Kalou's  75th minute goal helped Chelsea win an excellent Match, as the English side took a fantastic away victory in their Champions League quarter-final first leg.A superb display from Roberto di Matteo's side was rewarded with the Ivorian's goal 15 minutes from time, after Chelsea had survived a couple of scares and also hit the post through Juan Mata.

Di Matteo made six changes from the side which was held to a goalless draw at home by Tottenham at the weekend, one of which was the inclusion of Fernando Torres instead of Didier Drogba as Chelsea's lone striker.

The Spaniard led the line well for the Blues in the first half and was to prove influential later on, as he linked well with Salomon Kalou and Juan Mata throughout the evening, causing the Portuguese side problems with his movement and willingness to pull wide to receive the ball.

Paulo Ferreira replaced Jose Bosingwa at right-back in the starting XI and there was a nervy moment for the defender early on when he swiped at and missed a free-kick into Chelsea's area, and as impressive as the visitors were going forward Benfica were equally dangerous when allowed inside Chelsea's half.

The first real chance of the game came 20 minutes in, and despite Chelsea's better work-rate up front it fell to Benfica. Bruno Cesar fed Oscar Cardozo who, one step ahead of John Terry, brought the ball down on his chest and half-volleyed wide.

Torres continued to plough the line up front, turning and volleying well over in what was a confident attempt on goal, and David Luiz showed composure to juggle the ball inside his own six-yard area before clearing as each side sought a clear-cut opening.

Bruno Cesar had a solid if unchallenging shot from distance saved by Petr Cech, but it was the Chelsea player's opposite number Artur who had to really work when after some excellent build-up play between Torres and Kalou, Raul Meireles let fly with a fierce low shot which the Brazilian goalkeeper had to get down low to his left to turn round the post.

Starting the second half strongly Benfica had a Cardozo shot blocked by David Luiz on the line before shouts for a penalty were turned away when Maxi Pereira fired the ball into Terry's arm, but it would have been a harsh spot kick to give.

Chelsea went agonisingly close on the hour mark when Juan Mata latched onto a long ball, rounded Artur and struck the outside of the post from a very tight angle, but shortly after they could just have easily been a goal down when Jardel had a free header well saved by Cech. Moments later Terry got a crucial toe on a through ball from substitute Rodrigo with Cardozo lurking threateningly behind him.

Chelsea's goal came on the counter and it was a superbly worked one, with Ramires winning the ball in a dogged challenge before giving it to Torres just inside Benfica's half. The Spaniard held Jardel off well, raced clear down the right and picked Kalou out perfectly as the Ivorian slid in to give the Blues the lead in the 75th minute.

Benfica tried - tiredly - to manufacture an opening, substitute Nolito shooting over, and Chelsea could have dealt a major blow when substitute Daniel Sturridge broke clear. With a numerical advantage he passed to Mata, but the forward's chip was overcooked and sailed over the bar.

Chelsea held out through five minutes of added time to repel some last-ditch Benfica attacking, Ashley Cole cutting a Nicolas Gaitan cross out and narrowly avoiding putting the ball into his own net, and there were justifiably jubilant scenes from Di Matteo and his players at full time as they secured a precious away-goal advantage to take to Stamford Bridge for the return leg next Wednesday.

Fabrice Muamba suffered & EPL evaluation

The English Premier League will review its medical procedures after Bolton midfielder Fabrice Muamba suffered a cardiac arrest on the pitch, chief executive Peter Scudamore said Tuesday. Scudamore praised officials and medical staff for saving Muamba’s life during the FA Cup quarter-final at Tottenham on Saturday and said he wanted to ensure other players receive the best possible care. Experts say the swift treatment that 23-year-old Muamba received when his heart stopped probably prevented him from suffering brain damage. The level of care he received after collapsing at White Hart Lane owed much to lessons learned when Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech suffered a fractured skull five years ago. Chelsea’s then-manager Jose Mourinho was heavily critical of the delay in Cech being transferred to hospital and an official complaint from the Blues prompted a review by the Premier League and the Football Association. That led to measures being introduced that included an ambulance at stadia for the exclusive use of players, and club doctors attending every game. Speaking to a sports business breakfast in London, Scudamore said: “Incidents and events shape policy, shape developments, shape progress. What we will certainly be doing is looking at every aspect of what happened. “If there are ways and means of making it better in the future — just like we did in 2006-07 following the Petr Cech incident — we will do everything we can to make sure we reduce to the point of elimination, if we possibly can, things like that. “There are no guarantees but we will do whatever we can to improve.”Scudamore admitted the Cech incident had been “a wake-up call” for the Premier League. He added of Muamba: “It’s been a difficult three days for everybody involved in the game, particularly those closest to Fabrice. “The whole of the last three days, we’ve played out lots of scenarios, clearly. “Let’s hope, God willing, that the progress he’s making continues to be made and that he makes as decent a recovery as he can. “In some ways, his life, if it is saved — and let’s hope it has been saved — is as a result of the things a lot of us put in place after what happened with Petr Cech.” Friends of Muamba who visited him in hospital on Monday, three days after he collapsed, said he was speaking and moving.

Casey Stoner is fastest as Jerez testing ends

Casey Stoner set fastest time of the three day Jerez test. The Honda rider posted a 1:38.780 lap to beat Yamaha s Jorge Lorenzo by 0.173 of a second. Stoner s Honda team mate Dani Pedrosa was third while Lorenzo s Yamaha team mate Ben Spies was fourth in a pattern which has been repeated in testing. Cal Crutchlow s Tech 3 Yamaha was fifth and Ducati s Valentino Rossi, multiple world champion, was sixth - much his best position of the test. The preseason testing featured 22 bikes in all, including Claiming Rules Teams models (CRT). These bikes are allowed concessions by the organisers to allow independent teams to run on a lower budget. It is hoped the budget option should boost the number of riders in MotoGP from the regular 16 who rode in 2011.

Pakistan-Australia ODI series 2012

Pakistan plan to host their one-day series against Australia this August in Sri Lanka, a senior board official said on Tuesday. “In principle we have decided to hold the series against Australia in August in Sri Lanka but we are negotiating with the Sri Lankan board for a favourable deal,” Pakistan Cricket Board chief operating officer Subhan Ahmed told Reuters. Four one-day internationals and three Twenty20 games are planned. “The venues in Sri Lanka where we will hold the matches will be decided soon. The Australians have also not expressed any reservations over playing in Sri Lanka,” Ahmed said. Pakistan have been playing their “home” series in the UAE venues of Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah since foreign teams refused to visit the country after a 2009 gun attack on the Sri Lanka side. Ahmed said UAE had been ruled out of contention because the weather in August would be too hot. “In case we don’t reach a cost effective deal with the Sri Lankan board, South Africa is the other alternate neutral venue for us,” Ahmed said. The PCB has invited Bangladesh to break the mould and play a one-day series in Pakistan in April. Ahmed said the PCB was still waiting for a positive response from the Bangladesh board.

The Miami tennis tournament

Roddick beat Roger Federer 7-6 (7-4) 1-6 6-4 in the third round. American Andy Roddick upset third seed Roger Federer 7-6 (7-4) 1-6 6-4 in the third round of the Miami Masters tennis tournament. Roddick, who is seeded 31st, will play either Argentina s Juan Monaco or Gael Monfils of France in the fourth round. Meanwhile, defending champion Novak Djokovic defeated No.27 seed Viktor Troicki 6-3 6-4 in an all-Serb third round matchup at the tournament. The world No.1 Djokovic, who won Miami titles in 2007 and 2011, saved seven of eight break point opportunities as he beat Troicki for the 11th consecutive time. Djokovic finished with two aces, one double fault and won 73 per cent of his first-serve points in the 85-minute match. "Generally I feel that I have been playing well," Djokovic said. "I did have some ups and downs, especially in today s match, but I m confident that I can raise the level of my performance in every match." Djokovic next plays 17th seed Richard Gasquet of France. On the women s side of the draw, Serena Williams rallied from a break down in both sets to beat Sam Stosur 7-5 6-3 in a rematch of the 2011 US Open final. Ranked 11th, Williams is playing in her first tournament since January after being sidelined by a left ankle injury. She hit 20 aces and lost only six points on her first serve, but she had to rally after being broken in the first game of each set against the No.5-ranked Stosur. Women s top seed Victoria Azarenka survived a scare from 16th seeded Dominika Cibulkova, gutting out a 1-6 7-6 (9-7) 7-5 victory in the fourth round. Cibulkova made Azarenka, of Belarus, work to protect her season long match win streak which now stands at 26. "It felt like she closed her eyes and just went for everything, and me, I couldn t really open my eyes," Azarenka said. "It was like I was blinded. "But my coach came to the court, kicked me a little bit that I have to at least try to change something. It was like a snowball. I kept rolling ... and I didn t really adjust. "In the end I tried to change something. But it was more about fighting in my heart today." Azarenka advances to face France s Marion Bartoli, who easily defeated Maria Kirilenko 6-1 6-2 earlier in the day. World No. 2 Maria Sharapova defeated fellow Russian Ekaterina Makarova 6-4 7-6 (7-3) to set up a quarter-final clash with China s Li Na.

Record for Cristiano Ronaldo

Ferenc Puskas formerly held the record for the fastest player to reach 100 goals.  Cristiano Ronaldo became the fastest player to reach 100 goals in the Spanish league by scoring a brace to help leader Real Madrid rebound from consecutive draws with a 5-1 rout of Real Sociedad on Saturday. Gonzalo Higuain scored before both Ronaldo and Karim Benzema hit doubles as Madrid showed no signs of missing the guiding hand of suspended coach Jose Mourinho. Madrid stayed six points clear at the top of table following 10-man Barcelona s 2-0 victory at Mallorca where Lionel Messi netted his 55th goal of the season in all competitions. Madrid great Ferenc Puskas formerly held the record for the fastest player to reach 100 goals after doing so in 105 matches in the 1960s. Ronaldo needed 92 games to score 101.

Nadal Quits as vice president of player council

Rafael Nadal resigns as ATP players' body vice-president after lack of movement on changes to ranking system, Rafael Nadal believes the current ATP tour rankings allow players insufficient time to recover between tournaments The tensions at the top of men’s tennis were thrown into relief yesterday by the news that a frustrated Rafael Nadal has quit his role as vice-president of the player council.
Nadal ’s resignation appears to have had little to do with the main issue preoccupying the player council at present, which is the size of their pay packets at the four grand slam tournaments.
Rather, it has been triggered by the lack of movement on Nadal’s pet project, the introduction of a two-year ranking system. He has argued repeatedly that this is the best way to prolong the careers of the leading players, by making it easier for them to withdraw from tournaments when they have physical ailments.
But Roger Federer , who is supposed to workwith Nadal as president of the player council, has stated his own objection to the two-year idea. “I think it would make thingsrather boring,” he said in December. “It would be a struggle for lower-ranked players to make the breakthrough.”
The other main point of difference betweenthe sport’s two most famous players was around the appointment of the new ATP chief executive, a post that was given to Brad Drewett around the turn of the year.
Nadal backed the application of former Wimbledon champion Richard Krajicek, believing that as a top-10 player from the 1990s, Krajicek would be more likely to feel sympathetic towards his complaints of overload.
But Federer took the view that Krajicek, who now works as tournament director of the Rotterdam Open, was insufficiently experienced in the business world. The result was that Drewett, formerly the director of the ATP’s operations in the Pacific and Asian regions, came in as a compromise candidate.
The player council consists of 12 members, including six members of the world top 100 in men’s singles.