Adelaide third after 4-1 win over Melbourne City

Adelaide United snapped a run of consecutive losses and cruised past Melbourne City 4-1 on Saturday night in their A-League clash at Hindmarsh Stadium.

The dominant Reds found some much-needed form heading into the finals, the win allowing United to jump temporarily into fourth spot, level on 46 points with Wellington, but ahead on goal difference.

The Phoenix host Sydney FC on Sunday and a win or draw for Wellington would elevate them back above Adelaide and set up another clash between the Reds and City in week one of the finals.

United entered the clash with five starters missing - Marcelo Carrusca and Awer Mabil were rested despite being fit while Nigel Boogaard was suspended.

Midfielders Isaias and Jimmy Jeggo were also not selected with the pair one yellow card away from incurring an automatic ban, but it mattered little as the Reds took City apart from the first whistle.

Craig Goodwin tested City early, forcing goalline saves after whipping in two corners at pace, before Miguel Palanca eventually broke the deadlock on 19 minutes.

Pablo Sanchez danced his way through City's defence before teeing up Palanca who slotted past Tando Velaphi with a low, left-footed drive.

Sanchez doubled United's lead just four minutes later, smashing home from 12 metres after Velaphi could only parry Sergio Cirio's shot.

Jonatan Germano could have pulled one back for the visitors but he blasted over the bar from six metres after Reds keeper Eugene Galekovic spilled Harry Novillo's strike from distance.

In the 33rd minute, Tarek Elrich made it 3-0 with a brilliant individual effort and a contender for goal of the season.

The United fullback picked the ball up inside his own half and slalomed his way down the left flank past four City opponents before coolly finishing past Velaphi.

City started the second half strongly but failed to find a breakthrough while the Reds added a fourth just before the hour.

Goodwin was brought down by Germano inside the area and substitute Cameron Watson stepped up and converted the penalty for his first goal after 105 A-League matches.

The midfielder was forced to re-take his initial successful spot kick after the Reds had encroached inside the area, and he made no mistake at the second attempt.

The visitors did pull one back five minutes later when Aaron Mooy blasted his penalty past Galekovic after he too was brought down inside the area.

City were then reduced to 10 men on 67 minutes when Kew Jaliens was judged to have been the last defender when he fouled Goodwin and Sanchez hit the bar from the resulting free-kick.

United's numerical advantage lasted just three minutes with Michael Marrone dismissed for a tackle on Erik Paartalu.

Western Sydney 1-2 Perth Glory: Keogh clinches Wanderland win

Andy Keogh's second-half winner helped a ten-man Perth Glory complete their tainted campaign on a high with a 2-1 win at Western Sydney Wanderers.

It was a resilient performance from the Glory who opened the scoring early on through Jamie McLaren, only for A-League debutant Liam Youlley to equalise soon after the break.

The result pushed Perth to 50 points and trailing leaders Melbourne Victory only on goal difference, however the Glory's recent high-profile salary cap infringement means they will be relegated to seventh after the completion of this weekend's round.

And with the Wanderers guaranteed of finishing their underachieving campaign in ninth position, little was riding on the result.

The match was delayed for 50 minutes after a torrent of small hailstones carpeted the pitch following a heavy storm which moved across Sydney half an hour before kick-off.

In truth it was only modest Anzac Day entertainment offered up on a slippery pitch at Pirtek Stadium.

With Asian Champions League commitments looming the Wanderers named four teenagers in their side including first-timer Youlley, and Shayne D'Cunha who was making his maiden starting appearance.

Perth Glory started far better and Richard Garcia's looping header hit the post, before the visitors took the lead on 17 minutes.

McLaren followed up last week's hat-trick with the opener after profiting from Rostyn Griffiths' pass, and finishing with a low shot.

Wanderers failed to find any real rhythm until past the half-hour mark with striker Kerem Bulut forcing a sharp save from Glory custodian Danny Vukovic, while Steve Kuzmanovski did likewise soon after.

After the break Garcia deflected a wayward shot onto the crossbar only for De Silva to wildly spoon the follow-up over in one of the misses of the season.

Having threatened to go two goals clear, a poor lapse from Glory allowed the Wanderers their equaliser as an unmarked Youlley drew his side level with a low shot that took three deflections as it trickled through a crowd of legs.

Keogh, however, had the final say midway through the second half after directing an impressive first-time finish inside the far post following superb lead-up from Josh Risdon.

Fullback Denis Kramer was then sent off after picking up two soft cautions leaving Glory to hang on for the second win in three matches since the salary cap penalties were announced.

Barcelona to face old boss Pep Guardiola's Bayern, Juventus draw Real Madrid in Champions League semi-finals

Champions League holders Real Madrid will face Juventus and Barcelona will take on Bayern Munich in the semi-finals following the draw made at UEFA headquarters in Switzerland.

Real, seeking an 11th title, will be at home in the second leg against the Italian side which is making its first appearance in the semis for 12 years.

The other tie, with the first leg in Spain, is a repeat of the 2013 semi when Bayern hammered Barcelona 7-0 on aggregate before going on to beat Borussia Dortmund to win their fifth European Cup.

"Of course, it will be very tough. It would be unfair to say Real or Juve would be easier," Paul Breitner, Bayern's representative at the draw, said.

"On Tuesday we played one of the best halfs in the history of the Champions League (when they scored five goals against Porto). We have to do that over the entire two games against Barcelona."

The semi-finals will take place on May 5/6 and 12/13 with the final in Berlin on June 6.

Olympiakos Qualifies to the 2015 Euroleague Final Four in in Madrid!

Olympiacos survived a tough test against FC Barcelona in Piraeus tonight clinching a vital third victory in the EuroLeague playoff series. The victory propelled the Reds into EuroLeague Final Four. They will now take on CSKA in the semifinal clash in Madrid. Vassilis Spanoulis (193-SG-82, agency: Beo Basket) led the hosts with 17 points and 5 assists.

It was a do-or-die battle for the Catalan team and they started the game with the right attitude. The visitors snatched a 17:16 lead after ten minutes. FC Barcelona started to clear off in the second frame. The Spanish side built a 37:29 halftime advantage. Alex Abrines made it a 10-point lead for FC Barcelona early in the second half. However Vassilis Spanoulis scored 7 points in the third quarter for the hosts and helped Olympiacos tied things up at 50 heading into the fourth frame. The teams traded baskets throughout the final period. Juan Carlos Navarro gave FC Barcelona a 67:66 lead with 32 seconds remaining. But Vassilis Spanoulis answered with a layup to put Olympiacos in front 68:67 with 6 seconds to go. Juan Carlos Navarro knotted things up at 68 with a free throw at the other end but Georgios Printezis (206-PF-85, agency: Octagon Europe) drained a buzzer-beating triple and iced the victory for Olympiacos. He finished with 14 points, while Evangelos Mantzaris (196-G-90) added 11 points for the winners. Ante Tomic (217-C-87, agency: XL Basketball Agency) answered with 13 points for FC Barcelona. Tomas Satoransky (201-PG-91) had 12 points and 7 rebounds in the loss.

Olympiacos: Vassilis Spanoulis 17, Georgios Printezis 14, Evangelos Mantzaris 11

FC Barcelona: Ante Tomic 13, Tomas Satoransky 12    

Greece Could Be Banned By FIFA Over Government Soccer Violence Crackdown

Greece’s Football Federation (EPO) could be suspended from international football over government interference should a proposed new sports law be voted in, Fifa and Uefa have warned.

Following continuous problems with crowd trouble, the Greek government has put together a new set of regulations in an attempt to crack down on violence at sports events.

Fifa and Uefa have strict rules aimed at protecting member federations’ independence in running their own affairs and sent a joint letter to the EPO president, Giorgos Girtzikis, warning that it “would have no option but to refer the case to the relevant bodies for immediate sanctions, including the suspension of the Hellenic Football Federation (EPO).”

The bill, entitled “Measures for the confrontation of violence in Greek sports and other provisions“, will be initially reviewed by the cultural affairs committee from 27-30 April 27-30 and then discussed in parliament on 4-5 May.

Stavros Kontonis, the deputy minister for education, culture and religious affairs, criticised Fifa and Uefa in a strongly worded media statement, accusing both governing bodies of showing little interest in helping solve the issues of violence which have caused matches in Greece to be suspended three times just this season.

“It appears that they are not interested in solving the evils plaguing Greek football, but are instead seeking ways to offend the Greek constitutional order and the Greek people, especially the country’s football fans, which have to put up with the current scene of rot and corruption, something which the government is trying to overturn,” Kontonis said.

Kontonis has invited Fifa and Uefa to Athens ahead of the planned three-day discussion of the bill.

“We hope that both federations understand the serious, accumulating problems of Greek football and that they will engage constructively and actively in the process of consolidation, democratisation and transparency,” he added.

Nick Kyrgios falters in injury comeback match

Greek -Australian Nick  Kyrgios has paid the ultimate price for a late-match toilet break, failing to capitalise on two match points in a jarring loss to fellow prodigy Elias Ymer at the Barcelona Open.

Seeded 16th, Kyrgios twice had the match on his racquet but could not dispatch 19-year-old Ymer before losing 2-6 7-5 7-6 (9-7).

Ymer claimed post-match Kyrgios’ decision to have a toilet break midway through the third set when 4-1 up snapped the Australian’s momentum.

“I just kept competing. He went to the toilet when I was 4-1 down and it broke his momentum,” Ymer said.

Regarded as the best young Swedish prospect in a generation, Ymer trailed 30-40 in the 10th game of the second set and rallied from 1-4 down in the third before saving a second match point at 5-6 in the tiebreak.

“Playing Nick is always going to be so tough,” Ymer said.

“He’s the one who showed us it’s possible to play against the big guys.

“He inspired me a lot when he reached the Wimbledon quarter-finals last year. I know him well.

“In juniors we played together all the time. It’s the first time I’ve won two matches on the ATP World Tour.

Ranked 192nd in the world, Ymer already has played Davis Cup for his country.

Ymer is attempting to follow in the illustrious footsteps of grand slam champions Bjorn Bjorg, Mats Wilander, Stefan Edberg and Thomas Johansson.

Ymer has two younger brothers whom the Swedes hope will rekindle their dormant game.

The teenager upset Dutchman Thiemo de Bakker with a three-set win in the opening in Barcelona.

Seeded 16th and, like Ymer, a wildcard invitee, Kyrgios had not played since injuring his leg against Romanian Grigor Dimitrov in Indian Wells in March.

The Canberran also lost in first-round doubles with Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta.

Ymer next faces Spanish third seed David Ferrer

Roars Stay Alive With 1-0 Win Over Beijing

Brisbane Roar's AFC Champions League campaign is still alive after a brave 1-0 victory over Beijing Guoan in China on Wednesday night.

Needing a win to stay in the hunt for a round of 16 berth, former Beijing Guoan striker Andrija Kaluderovic marked his return to a packed Workers Stadium with the decisive goal for the Roar late in the first half.

The Serbian, who was contracted to the Chinese Super League outfit for two years from 2012 but spent most of that time on loan to other clubs, tucked away a neat ball from rising talent Devante Clut to continue his rich vein of goalscoring form.

But the odds are still stacked against Brisbane following Suwon Samsung Bluewings' dramatic 2-1 comeback victory over Urawa Red Diamonds in the other Group G match played on Wednesday.

It means Beijing and Suwon are both tied on 10 points, with the Roar back in third place on seven points and Urawa out of contention.

Brisbane must beat Urawa in their final home game on the Gold Coast on May 5 and make up a goal difference deficit of four to have any hope of advancing.

But Beijing and Suwon will meet in the other group match, which will be held simultaneously, and a draw there will eliminate the Roar and ensure safe passage to the round of 16 for both teams.

Roar interim coach Frans Thijssen named his best possible side in China, choosing to start marquee man Thomas Broich and his understudy Clut together for the first time.

Matt McKay, Luke Brattan, Brandon Borrello and Kaluderovic also played after they were among a host of players rested from Brisbane's A-League clash with Melbourne Victory on Saturday night.

Despite their fresh legs, Brisbane were on the back foot for almost the entire first half, holding on through wave after wave of Beijing attacks.

But they delivered the ultimate sucker-punch five minutes from the break.

The move was swift - McKay found Clut in an advanced position, and the youngster used the outside of his foot to loft the ball over the home side's defensive line.

It fell perfectly for Kaluderovic, who was calm with the finish and also his celebration, out of respect for his former club.

That gave the Roar a 1-0 lead but they quite easily could have been several goals down had Beijing Guoan made the most of a litany of chances - they had a whopping 12 shots to three before halftime.

Brisbane were much better in the second stanza, enjoying several good passages of play and standing firm whenever their opponents went forward.

Goalkeeper Jamie Young was kept busy throughout the night, making several important saves - including a diving effort to keep out a free kick from Pablo Batalla on the hour mark.