Chelsea stay in the title hunt
Chelsea ensured that the Premier League will have a grandstand finish by clinically finishing of a spirited if limited Newcastle side 2-0 at St James' Park. "For the first time the Premier League goes into its final day with two clubs divided purely by goal difference. Chelsea had no doubt they would bring the competition to a head in that manner and felt free to alter the line-up so that Frank Lampard cropped up merely as a substitute and Joe Cole did not take to the field at all," writes Kevin McCarra in the Guardian. "That expertise included the element of calculation that undid Newcastle." (Guardian)
"You usually have one exceptional side a season but this year we have two. Chelsea would be worthy champions but I don't think they will finish first" Newcastle boss Kevin Keegan tips Man U for the Premier League
Flamini begins Emirates exodus
Mathieu Flamini could be the first of many Arsenal players to leave the Emirates after another season of early promise but little tangible success. Flamini left the north London club on a free transfer yesterday for AC Milan, signing a four-year deal at a reported £65,000 a week - £10,000 more a week than Arsenal offered to retain his services. "The French midfielder is unlikely to be the only unwanted departure from Arsenal this summer," writes Matt Hughes in the Times. "Alexander Hleb, the Belarus midfield player, has confided in several of his team-mates that he is planning to join Inter Milan and his representatives are understood to have agreed a four-year deal with the Italian champions. (Times)
Russians waive visa requirement
The Uefa president Michel Platini helped to secure the historic visa waiver announced by the Russians yesterday. "The move follows communication between Platini and the Russia president Vladimir Putin amid fears that the backlog of processing thousands of visas could lead to some fans missing the final," writes Jeremy Wilson in the Daily Telegraph. "Instead of a visa, tickets for the match can be used as a substitute for a 72-hour period from May 19-23." The game is on May 21. "This is great news for football fans," said Platini. "I am therefore extremely pleased that, at my request, all fans travelling with a valid match ticket can use this to enter Russian territory." (Daily Telegraph)
Kiwis post morale-booster win
The New Zealand tourists received a boost yesterday when they polished off an Essex side featuring England faces present and past to win by 92 runs. "Michael Mason was probably the pick of the [Kiwi] bowlers yesterday, spearing down his inswingers on a testing length," writes Simon Briggs in the Daily Telegraph. "He finished with three wickets in the innings, and seven in the match. The day's turning point came when [England opener] Alastair Cook attempted to cream him through extra-cover, perhaps in an attempt to lift the funereal scoring rate, but instead managed only to loop the ball gently to mid-off to fall for 57." (Daily Telegraph)
Ronnie takes third crown
Ronnie O'Sullivan took his third world title last night, effortlessly finishing off the brave but outclassed Ali Carter by 18 frames to eight. "In comparison with his 17-6 semi-final trouncing of Stephen Hendry, O'Sullivan's performance in the final was no more than average - below it in the penultimate session yesterday afternoon - but it was sufficient to pull away from the mentally exhausted Carter, extending his overnight 11-5 lead to 16-8, leaving him needing only two of the scheduled 11 frames in the evening. O'Sullivan polished it off in two," writes Clive Everton in the Guardian. (Guardian)
"Even when I had a big lead I was thinking in the back of my mind that it would be a killer if I lost. When you've got 1,000 people here and millions watching on TV the pressure can make it hard to think straight" Ronnie O'Sullivan reacts to his third Crucible triumph
FIA calls in QC over Mosley
"The world-governing body of motorsport, the FIA, has appointed a leading QC to provide it with an opinion as to whether its president, Max Mosley, was involved in Nazi-style role play during a sado-masochistic orgy with five prostitutes," writes Edward Gorman in the Times. Anthony Scrivener will examine claim-by-claim the evidence against Mosley from the News of the World's series of stories, and will judge whether the 'Nazi' element that the paper has trumpeted was in fact valid. (Times)
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