Daily News Channel
World number two Roger Federer survived the loss of the second set to see off Chilean Fernando Gonzalez 6-3 5-7 6-2 to reach the quarterfinals of the Masters Series event in Indian Wells. Federer was winning for the 12th time in 13 matches against Gonzalez to earn a clash with Fernando Verdasco of Spain. Verdasco, playing his first match since reaching the semifinals of the Australian Open, beat German Phillipp Kohlschreiber 6-4 3-6 6-1.
Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres combined to destroy Real Madrid’s Champions League ambitions as Liverpool powered into the quarterfinals with four goals on the night and 5-0 on aggregate at Anfield. Former Atletico Madrid striker Torres made the breakthrough from close range after 16 minutes of Liverpool pressure when he fired home from close range before Gerrard’s double destroyed any lingering doubts. “The most important thing for me was to win the game and book our place in the last eight and it was a fantastic team performance,” Gerrard told ITV.
Manchester United received a major boost in their quest for an unprecedented quintuple as injury doubts over central defender Rio Ferdinand lifted ahead of their Champions League last 16 return tie against Inter Milan on Wednesday. Ferdinand turned his ankle in the 4-0 thrashing of Fulham which put United into the semifinals of the FA Cup on Saturday and was rated a major doubt for the the second leg with the two teams tied 0-0 after their San Siro clash a fortnight ago. “Rio is a bit of a concern,” manager Alex Ferguson had told United’s television channel MUTV
Nine passengers were killed when a bus plunged about 2,300 feet (700 meters) into a ravine in Nepal on Sunday, police said. After the final ended in a goalless stalemate after regulation and extra time, United kept their nerve to win on penalties 4-1. After Ryan Giggs scored with the first kick for United, goalkeeper Ben Foster saved Jamie O’Hara’s opening effort for Tottenham to put Harry Redknapp’s men on the backfoot.
Manchester United stayed on course for an unprecedented clean sweep of major trophies this season with a penalty shootout victory over Tottenham Hotspur to win the English League Cup at Wembley on Sunday.
Rory McIlroy continued his dream American debut when he booked a place in the quarterfinals of the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in Arizona. The Northern Ireland teenager, in his first start as a professional in the United States, made it three wins in as many days as he reached the last eight with a 4&3 victory over Tim Clark of South Africa. Clark cut short Tiger Woods’ comeback from an eight-month injury lay-off with a 4&2 victory over the world number one at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club on Thursday — but that victory clearly took its toll and McIlroy capitalized to the full.