The Guardian from London, Greater London, England • 21

THE GUARDIAN Thursday December 15 1994 SPORTS NEWS 21 Soccer Boxing European Championship, Group Seven: Wales 0, Bulgaria 3 Bruno lines up world title fight of it of the team in defeat was truly disturbing. Jones's critics may say he set the tone of frequently illegitimate Wales aggression, but it was readily adopted, notably by Hughes, whose booking ruled him out of the return in Sofia. Jones avoided a booking unlike Hughes, Melville and Rush despite appearing to place an arm in the much-abused Yordanov's face and a later push into the astonished Penev's chest. Hughes was fortunate to escape the red card for a trip on Yordanov eight minutes after his booking. Jones's endeavour unquestionably lifted his new teammates.

He also once acted as peacemaker. "I honestly think Vinnie gave us a new dimension," Smith said. "His passing was good and he showed passion and pride." But it remains an indictment of the attacking effort that he and Coleman produced Wales's only goal-bound attempts of the game. After five minutes, and stemming from Jones's first foul, Balakov eventually crossed from the left and Ivanov's volley from 22 yards beat Southall for height and pace. An unforced error by Aizlewood ushered in Kostadinov's equally unerring low shot 10 minutes later.

Stoichkov's prime contribution came in the 51st minute and was an act fusing arrogance with sublime ability, as he outmanoeuvred Southall and all but waited for Melville to reach the goal-line before angling the ball past him. WALES: Southall lEvorton). Bowen I Norwich). Aizlewood (Cardiff). Jones (Wimbledon).

Coleman (Crystal Palace). Melville (Sunderland). Phillips (Nottingham Forest). Saunders (Aston Villa). Hush (Liverpool).

Hughes (Manchester United). Speed iLeeds). BULGARIA: Mifchailov; Kremenliev, Ivanov, Tzvetanov, Yankov, Yordanov, Kostadinov (Kiriakov. 74min). Stoichkov, Panev (Slriakov, 74).

Balakov, Letchkov. Referee: Sundell (Sweden). Tottenham's Jiirgen Klins-mann scored one goal and helped create two more for Ulf Kirsten and Lothar Matthaus as Germany beat Moldova 3-0 in Chisiniau in Wales's qualifying group last night. Russell Thomas at Cardiff Arms Park DT WAS a bridge too far for Vinnie Jones, for his adoptive country and for Mike Smith. A defeat delivered almost contemptuously by Bulgaria surely severs links between Wales and Europe and between manager and job.

This embarrassment was the third in succession imposed by eastern European opposition. Worse, it was the heaviest inflicted in a competitive match on Welsh soil in 27 years. Competitive appears a misnomer on this occasion, given an approach by the World Cup semi-finalists that bordered on training-ground disdain. The experience can only fuel Welsh foreboding before the reac- OROUP SEVEN 0 A Pts Bulgaria- 3 0 0 9 1 9 Oermany Georgia-. Moldova Walei Albania 2 0 0 5 1 2 0 2 6 3 2 0 2 5 9 I 0 3 4 11 0 0 3 1 5 6 6 3 quaintance with Stoichkov and distinguished company in Sofia in March.

The quality of the goals delivered by Ivanov, Kos-tadinov and Bulgaria's captain embroidered the gulf in class. Predictably Jones could not be faulted for his application, blending typical muscle and motivation. At the end the Wimbledon midfielder, Wales's 50th and most improbable Jones, delayed his departure from the Arms Park pit-ii vhile kissing the red shirt several times, to noisy approbation by the crowd. Under a new national manager that shirt may prove his only souvenir. Smith's nine-month tenure may now be succeeded by a fresh invitation to John Tosh-ack to make his own return despite the farce of a reign that lasted only 47 days.

Wales's footballing stock has seldom been lower. The style or lack John Rodda THE BBC has lost the other half of a British sporting institution, Frank Bruno, with his move from Mickey Duff promotions to those of Frank Warren and the prospect in May of a fourth world heavyweight title fight, for the WBC crown held by Oliver McCall. With Harry Carpenter's retirement from boxing commentary and now Bruno's fights appearing on 1TV, instead of "Know what I mean, Harry" it will be "Know what 1 mean. Gary It is unlikely to be edifying. Duff took this further loss of influence in Br'tis': boxing with rather mo 'e words than he chose foi Eubank last week.

Aftc 13-year association wrn Bruno through Duffs promotions the BBC could no longer afford the price the heavyweight still requires. The BBC didn't want to continue, not at those prices, and I just had nothing for him," Duff said. "He is entitled to go whore he likes. We've had a good association." Though 1TV came up with the monev in its anxiety to fill the gap left by the loss of Eubank, it is Warren's link with Don King, the American promoter keen to embrace a larger slice of the heavyweight stage, which has made this new part nership possible. Warren will decide who Bruno fights, and after a warm-up in February he will meet McCall.

probably in London. King controls McCall. who in February faces Larry Holmes, another ageing American former world champion. If Holmes were to win. Bruno would face him instead.

Bruno used McCall as a sparring partner when preparing for his fight with Mike Tyson but knows the American has stepped up a league since doing' that chore. If Bruno wins the title, then his agreement with Warren (and therefore King) will be for the rest of his fight-ins; life. How long that may be must be a moot point. Having out-boxed Lennox Lewis for five rounds at Cardiff last year he was caught by a shot which dazed him and he was unable to take the refuge of the canvas recover. New faces in the train-inn 'camp after such a lonM-association with the Duff organisation might bring some fresh ideas to his boxing.

Evander Holyfield. who lost his WBA and IBF heavyweight titles to Michael Moorer in April, will make his return to the ring in China on March against the former WBA title holder Mike Weaver. Derek Williams, the former European and Commonwealth heavyweight champion, hopes to relaunch his career in the new year. Ireland's WBO middleweight champion Steve Collins withdrew from last night's scheduled bout with I.onny Beasley Boston because of illness. Passive onlooker Jones watches as his Wales team-mate Hughes is closed down by a Bulgaria defensive duo of Yankov (No.

5) and YordanovjEFFwiv morgan David Lacey on the Cup Winners' Cup and Uefa Cup quarter-finals London's luck of the draw FA Cup second-round replay: Scunthorpe 1, Birmingham City 2 Cooper breaks the Iron McGhee goes to Leicester should have made it when he rounded Samways but somehow managed to shoot wide. Then Scunthorpe's Bullimoi scored from a quickly taken free-kick on the edge of the area, which at least made fnr an nail-biting last 10 minutes. The Birmingham players were ecstatic as they left the field. Their one defeat in the last 23 games was at Blackburn in the Coca-Cola Cup, and now this ambitious club have another chance to test themselves against the sort of Premiership opposition they aim to join before too long. Scunlbotue United: Hmv Muilti (Sdiisam.

Thornbei Knill. Br.jtlluy. Alexander bu'lifnore Juryotl Ihonipblone rCarmich.iel. rOi. Snutli Birmingham City: Dennett.

Ponle. Whyte Coupei b.imalt. Diibh Uunuwa Cl.indye. UeminiiUfi 'Dohoily H2). Ian ftoferec: CJilkes THE chances of an English team appearing' in one of this season's European finals rose sharply yesterday when the draw for the quarterfinals of the Cup Winners' Cup not only kept Arsenal and Chelsea apart but gave both London clubs winnable, if testing, ties.

Arsenal, the troubled holders, probably felt that fate owed them a favour. One has duly arrived in the shape of Auxerre, who are not exactly pushovers but ought to be beaten over two legs if George Graham's team can reproduce the sort of form which enabled them to overcome Paris St Germain in last season's semi-finals. The message for Arsenal, at home in the first leg, is clear enough: do not slip up at Highbury. Given half a chance Auxerre can be formidable opponents in the Abbe-Deschamps Stadium, as Liverpool discovered when they lost 2-0 there in the Uefa Cup three years ago before winning the return 3-0. Auxerre.

who have climbed steadily in the French league was testimony to fighting qualities in the first tie at St Andrews and again last night when they could have gone ahead twice early on. Both chances fell to the experienced Ian Juryeff. first on eight minutes when he was put through but shot wide, and four minutes later when with only the goalkeeper to beat he was again embarrassingly off target. The misses proved crucial. With hardly a chance to their name in the first City came out in the second and created plenty.

Claridge missed a sitter, then United's goalkeeper Sam ways twice saved well from the Blues striker. It was no surprise when the goal arrived on 63 minutes. Steve McGavin collected Ihe ball on the edge of the area and, as the United defence stood off. the striker turned and hit an unstoppable shot into the top corner. Three minutes later it was 2-0: Claridge's initial shot was parried well by Samways but as the ball broke free Gary Cooper fittingly rifled it home.

Birmingham were well on top by that stage and Claridge Martin Thorpfe TO BIRMINGHAM the spoils, but for little Scunthorpe some booty. After finally seeing off the pesky Third Division side from south Humberside, City now have a third-round tie against Liverpool. "A 25,000 sell out I'm not rubbing my hands but our owner David Sullivan is." said the Blues' manager Barry Fry. However, for hard-up Scunthorpe their little Cup run. helped bv two appearances on Sky.

will earn 160,000. enough to give the Glanford Park bank managers happier Christmas. This game also brought to an end the Iron's remarkable FA Cup record, unbeaten at home in 27 ties before last night, stretching back to 1976. But Birmingham have an impressive record of their own 19 games without defeat now reflecting the emerging quality of a team fast climbing the Second Division and. on paper, hot favourites to win this game.

That they had such a struggle England's surplus strikers must Graham faces transfer inquiry Brugge in the Champions' League. Chelsea's memories of Bruges are rather more distant: they beat them on the way to their Cup Winners' Cup triumph in 1971, losing 2) in Belgium before winning 4-0 at Stamford Bridge. The English clubs have done well to avoid Sampdoria and Porto, who meet in one of the other ties, reuniting David Piatt with Bobby Robson. And Arsenal and Chelsea would prefer the ties they have been given to encounters with Feyenoord or Real Zaragoza, the other survivors. In the Uefa Cup quarter-finals the three Italian sides, Ju-ventus, Lazio and Parma, have been kept apart.

Lazio's encounter with Borussia Dortmund, the German league leaders, looks the pick of the ties. EUROPEAN CUP WINNERS' CUP: Feyenoord Real Zaragoza: Sampdoria FC Poito: Arsenal Auxerre: Club Brugge Chelsea (ties tu be played over two legs on March 2 and March 161 UEFA CUP: Einlrdctll Frankluit Juvenlus: lazio Ooiussia Dortmund; Bayer Lcverkusen Nantes. Parma Odensc (February 23 and March 14) still pass test last season, he would have had a hat-trick. Fowler and Barmby, who replaced Cole and Sutton with just under a quarter of an hour remaining, also missed a succession of chances. At least the match proved again how good an organiser of scratch teams Venables is.

England kept their shape and their discipline despite making live substitutions. Otherwise, the main lesson of the evening was not to stage low-key internationals on Merseyside on cold winter nights when the football can be seen live on BSkyB and the area has a high density of dishes. An entertaining game deserved a bigger gate than Tuesday's paltry 7,431. Cleveland 90. Indiana 83.

LA Lakers 115. Dallas 108; Houston 93. Washington 85; Chicago 98. Detroit 78: Sacramento 112. Goldon Slate 10.

EUROPEAN CUP: Group PAOK Salonika 57. Real Madrid 73 Group Jovontut Bada-lona 56, Limoges 61 (ul) Rugby Union McEWAN'S INTER-DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIP: South 19. Edinburgh Disl 19. CLUB MATCHES: Harlequins 70. West London Insl 2'j: Nuneaton 57.

HM Prisons 24 Cricket THIRD TEST (Chandigarh) Final day: Wesl Indies 443 and 301-3 dec. India 387 and 114 IBoniamin 5-65. Walsh 3-34). Wost Indies won by 243 runs lo level series 1-1. Bobsleigh WORLD CUP (Allenborg.

Ger) Two-mam 1. Germany I (C langcnrK-U Kahlerl) Imin 56.59soc: 2. Germany II IH SpiesS Paler) 1.56.96: 3. Swilzorland II (R GoelschiG Ack-lin) t.57.35: 4. Germany III (S DosllhalerT Platzor) t.57.41: 5.

Italy I (G HuborA Tarlag-ha) 1.57.44; 6, Brilain I (M ToulP Lennox) 1.67.69 Snooker EUROPEAN OPEN (Antwerp): Second round! Parrott (Eng) bl Roe lEng) 5-3. Guarler-llnals: Bond (fc'no) tit Dohorly lire) 6-3; Parrott bl GnlMlis Wal) 5-2. Chess MOSCOW OLYMPIAD: Round 13: Russia 3. England 1 (Kasparov bl Shorl. Krammk drew with Adams.

Bareev drew with Speol-man. Tiviakov bl Hodgson); Hungary 2. after an. indifferent start, reached the' last eight in the Cup Winners' Cup with an impressive recovery against Croatia Zagreb, who were beaten 3-0 in France after winning the first game 3-1, and a more comfortable victory by 4-2 on aggregate over Besiktas. Chelsea were to have opened their quarter-final against Club Brugge at Stamford Bridge but Uefa, not wanting two games in London on the same night, has switched the first leg to Belgium.

Obviously this will suit Glenn Hoddle's who in the previous rounds survived difficult second legs away to Viktoria Zizkov and FK Austria through hard-fought draws. Like Chelsea, Club Brugge qualified for this season's tournament because their conquerors in the cup final, Anderlecht, won the league. In the first round the Belgian side made a meal of overcoming Sligo Rovers but they did better in eliminating Panathinaikos. Two seasons ago Rangers took three points off Club present depth of England's attacking strengths overlooked two things. First, the likes of Cole.

Sutton. Fowler and Barmby need to be confronted by something more formidable than a Second Division centre-back from Birmingham City before their potential as internationals is properly assessed. And second, for each goal England scored on Tuesday at least three other shots failed to hit the target. The higher the level of competition the less acceptable does this sort of ratio become. To be fair to Cole, he is still not fully match-fit after a period spent resting sore shins.

On his form for Newcastle earlier this season, not to mention UNIBONO LEAGUE: Cup: Third round: Bishop Auckland 2. Emley 2. BEAZIR HOMES LEAOUE: Southern Division: Wealdslonc 1. Clcvedun Tn 1. Or Martens Cup: Third round: Rushdon Diamonds 3, Baldock Tn 0: VS Rugby 1.

Worcester 3. NORTHERN COUNTIES EAST LEAGUE: Cup: Second round: Postponed: Sheffield Luulh Ulrt GREAT MILLS LEAGUE: Premier Division: Cicdilon Utd 0. Tiverton Tn 5 POHTINS LEAGUE: First: Blackburn 1. Sunderland 0 (aban 52min, log). Noltm Forest 2.

Derby 0. Postponed: A Villa Man Uld: Leeds Tranmere. Second: Barnsloy 2. Huddorslieki 2: Blackpool 1. Shelf Wed 2.

Middlesbrough 2. Burnley Newcastle 4. Bradlord 0: York 1. Lcicoster 2. AVON INSURANCE COMBINATION: First: Brighton 1, Wimbledon Charlton 5.

Portsmouth PalacoO. Southampton 1: Ipswich 2. Swindon Luton 1. Tottenham 2. Second: Cardill 0, Plymouth Eitetor t.

Swansea Hereford 4. Bournemouth Yeovil 4. Bath 0. LEAGUE OF IRELAND: Premier Division: Cork 0. Shelbuurnc 1.

EUROPEAN U-21 CHAMPIONSHIP: Qualifying Group Seven: Moldova 1. Germany 1. Rugby League ALLIANCE: First Division: Bradlord 1s, Halifax 24: Leeds 32. Hull 12. Basketball 7 UP TROPHY: SemMinals, second leal Shotliold BB.

Doncaslor 64 (agg: 163-133); Thames Valley 105, Worthing 91 (192-182). BUDWEISSR LEAGUE: Birmingham 9B. Leopards 93 (o-l). NBA: Atlanta 85, Minnesota 83; Philadelphia 105. Miami 90: Charlotte 107.

Milwaukee 101: THE managers' merry-go-round stopped, started and continued again last night when Reading's Mark McGhee ended Leicester's search for a new manager after a late change of heart. McGhee had said yesterday that he was staying at First Division Reading, after a 10-hour meeting with the chairman John Madejski and directors dragged into the early hours. But the former Celtic and Newcastle striker is now leaving for the Premiership and taking his assistant Colin Lee with him. McGhee said: "I spoke to Leicester's chairman on Monday and I told my chairman I was leaving. Later he persuaded me to change my mind and I said I would stay.

But I had a sleepless night and my gut feeling was that I had made the wrong decision. So I changed my mind, which I am entitled to do, and I accept it's my fault for all the confusion." Joe Jordan, the Bristol City manager, has been charged by the FA with bringing the game into disrepute. He was reported by the referee Keith Cooper for an outburst from the dugout in the home game against Grimsby on December 3. Billy Ayre resigned as-manager of the Endsleigh League's bottom club Scarborough yesterday. He said he had been invited to resign by the chairman John Russell because of poor results.

Birmingham have made a new offer for Stockport's striker Kevin Francis. After bidding 100,000, they are now offering 400,000 down and 400,000 once Francis has made 60 appearances. Czech Rep VA: Germany 3. Philippines 1: Estonia 2. Armenia 2.

Denmark 2. Netherlands 2. France Ukraine 3: Bosnia 2. Russia Juniors 2. Bulgaria 2.

united Slates 2. Standings: Russia 34: Bosnia 33: England. Russia Juniors 32H: Germany. Bulgaria 32. United States.

Hungary. Ukraine. 3IX Women's Olympiad: Round 13: Azerbaijan 1. England 1. Italic mil.

Bellin bl Hunt! Squash WORLD SUPER SERIES I Bombay) Second round: Hands (Engl bt Steel NZ) 15- 9. 15 11 15 6, Harris (Eng) bl Van dor Hath ISA) 15-10. 15-9. 15-5: Welns IGei) bIP Gregory (Eng) 15-13. 14-15.

7-15. 15-12. w-14: Martin lAust bt A Kirkland Engl IS-10. 15-8. 15-7 Fixtures (7 30 unless sidled) Soccer PONTICS LEAGUE! First Division: Liverpool Covcnlry 7.0i: Stoko Ever ton (7 0).

Second Division: Man Man si told Oldham Birmingham (7.0). Basketball BUDWEISSR LEAOUE: Derby Sunderland (8.01 Rugby League ALLIANCE: First Division: SI Helens Warrington: Wakotiold Trinity Dowsbuiy; Wigan Ryodalo-York. to know the score? David Lacey FOR Terry Venables, the 2-0 win achieved by the England team over Jack Charlton's Republic of Ireland side at Anfield on Tuesday was more a matter of confirmation than revelation. The England coach was able to remind himself of the number of promising young strikers clamouring for attention compared with the relative thinness of his options elsewhere. He saw Cole score one goal and Fowler, hurrying to join the lengthening queue behind Shearer, hit another.

Yet some rather extravagant remarks afterwards about the Results Soccer EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP Qualifying Group Seven Wales (0) Bulgaria 2) 3 20.000 Ivanov 5. Kostadinov 15 Staichkov 51 Albania 0, Georgia Moldova 0. Germany 3. Group Onei Israel 1. Romania 1.

Croup Three: Turkey 1. Switzerland 2 Group Five: Malta 0, Norway 1: Netherlands 5 Luxembourg 0. Group Eight! Finland 4. San Marino 1 Oreeet Scotlai Flnlam 0 11 0 8 2 9 0 3 1 3 2 Rut San Marino Faroe FA CUP Second-round replay Scunthorpe (0) 1 Birmingham (0) 2 Bullimoro 80 McGavin 63 6.280 Coopor 66 (Birmingham homo lo Liverpool) ITALIAN CUP: Quarter-ftnal, aecond leg: Napoli 1, Lazio 2 lagg: 1-3); Roma 3, Juvenlus 1 lagg: 3-4). SCOTTISH LEAGUE: First Division! Postponed: Clydebank Hamilton.

FEDERATION BREWERY NORTHERN LEAGUEt First Division! Shildon Tow Law Tn 3. Robert Reid QC and Steve Cop-pell, the chief executive of the League Managers' Association, is also investigating the transfers of Pal Lydersen to Arsenal and Torben Piechnik and Stig Bjornebye to Liverpool. Meanwhile, the Norwegian agent Rune Hauge. said of; reports about Graham and Ar; senal's purchase of. Jensen: "None of it is true." Asked if-that was the same as saying that Graham received no money from the deal, Hauge replied: "I- comment on details of the story." Norwegian sources denied rpnnrtt; thar will antmnr before the tax police today.

Rugby Union The former Ireland full-back Jim Staples makes his first-team debut for Harlequins in their PUkington Cup fourth-round tie against Saracens this Saturday. The three-quarters Spencer Bromley and Lawrence1 Boyle also make their cup bows for Quins. Chess Garry Kasparov continued: his' jinx on Nigel Short last night as the top-seeded Russians ended England's gold medal hopes at the Moscow Olympiad with a 3 -1 victory, writes Leonard Bar-den. Kasparov beat Short in 42-niove Sicilian, Julian Hodg-' son resigned to Sergei Tiviakov-and the other two games were drawn. England are still in contention for the silver and bronze medals before today's final, round but need at least 2i points from four games to overcome their inferior tie-breaks.

GEORGE GRAHAM is expected to appear before a Premier League commission this afternoon to give his version of events surrounding the transfer of John Jensen from the Danish club Brondby. The manager will be part of Arsenal's delegation at the first of a series of Premier League meetings investigating possible irregularities in transfers of four Scandinavian players. Rick Parry, the League's chief executive, said yesterday: "The Commission of Inquiry intends to conduct a thorough and rigorous inquiry. There will be no whitewashes." The three-man team of Parry, Sport in brief Athletics The German sprinter Katrin Krabbe said yesterday that she was five months pregnant and was postponing a planned comeback after her doping ban. She said she would not risk a repeat of her miscarriage earlier this year.

Bobsleigh Mark Tout and Lenny Paul finished sixth in a two-man World Cup event in Altenberg. Germany yesterday. The No. 1 British pair had a combined time of lmin 57.89sec after two runs, l.Msec behind the winning Germany 1 team. Skiing The triple Olympic champion Alberto Tomba has a cracked rib but is expected to race in a World Cup giant slalom at Val d'Isere on Sunday.

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