Sebastian Vettel wins third F1 world championship for Red Bull

Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel won a third consecutive world drivers’ title by three points in the Brazilian GP.
In an incident-packed, rain-affected race, Vettel fought back to finish sixth after dropping to last on lap one following a collision.
His rival Fernando Alonso of Ferrari finished second, meaning he needed Vettel to be lower than seventh.
McLaren’s Jenson Button won after leading team-mate Lewis Hamilton was hit by Force India’s Nico Hulkenberg.
The German was trying to pass Hamilton for the lead with 27 laps to go but lost control on the slippery track and slid into the side of Hamilton’s car.
Hulkenberg, driving the race of his career up to that point, was given a drive-through penalty and finished fifth, behind Alonso’s team-mate Felipe Massa in third and Red Bull’s Mark Webber in fourth.
Vettel becomes the youngest driver in history to win three world titles – at six years younger than Ayrton Senna. He is only the third driver to win three in succession.
“It is difficult to imagine what goes through my head now even for myself,” Vettel said. “I am full of adrenaline and if you poke me now I wouldn’t feel it.
“It was an incredible race. When you get turned around at Turn Four for no reason and it becomes like heading the wrong way down the M25 it is not the most comfortable feeling.
“I was lucky no-one hit me but the car was damaged and we lost a lot of speed, especially when it dried up. Fortunately it started to rain again and I felt so much happier.
“A lot of people tried to play dirty tricks [during the season], but we did not get distracted by that and kept going, and all the guys gave a big push right to the end.”
A breathless and topsy-turvy race, with intermittent rain, created drama from the first lap.
Vettel made a bad start from fourth on the grid and at the fourth corner was first tagged from behind by Lotus’s Kimi Raikkonen and then hit by Williams’s Bruno Senna.
The impact knocked Vettel into a spin, and damaged the rear bodywork of his car, and he was last as he crossed the line at the end of lap one.
Alonso finished the first lap fifth, but seconds later passed Massa and Webber as they went three abreast into Turn One to take third.
In those positions, Alonso would have been champion, but Vettel set about recovering lost ground and by lap eight was remarkably up to sixth place, while Alonso had slipped behind Hulkenberg after running wide at Turn One on lap five.
Through a series of twists and turns at the front, including varying degrees of rain and a safety-car intervention, Vettel was always in control of the championship.
With 20 laps to go, Alonso was fourth behind Hamilton, Hulkenberg and Button, and Vettel seventh.
As rain began to fall harder, Hulkenberg closed on Hamilton and the two collided. So Hamilton’s last race for McLaren ended in a retirement rather than a victory.
More pit stops were needed for the leaders to fit intermediate tyres as the rain intensified, after which Button led from Massa and Alonso, with Vettel seventh.
Massa let Alonso by into second on lap 62, and two laps later Michael Schumacher, driving the last race of his career, moved over for Vettel to rise into sixth place and make his grip on the title more secure.
In the closing laps, Vettel was repeatedly urged by his team to slow down, reminding him that his position was good enough to win the title.
And then in a final dramatic twist, Paul di Resta crashed his Force India coming up the straight on the penultimate lap and the race finished under the safety car, confirming Vettel as champion.
“I’m very proud of the team,” said Alonso. “We lost the championship before today, not in Brazil, this is a sport after all. When you do something with your heart and do it 100% you have to be proud of yourself and your team and we’ll try again next year.”
Race winner Button said: “I want to congratulate the whole team. This is the perfect way to end the season. We have had ups and downs and to end on a high bodes well for 2013.”

Final Brazilian GP top 10

1. Jenson Button – McLaren 1:45:22.656
2. Fernando Alonso – Ferrari +2.754
3. Felipe Massa – Ferrari +3.615
4. Mark Webber – Red Bull +4.936
5. Nico Hulkenberg – Force India +5.708
6. Sebastian Vettel – Red Bull +9.453
7. Michael Schumacher – Mercedes +11.907
8. Jean-Eric Vergne – Toro Rosso +28.653
9. Kamui Kobayashi – Sauber +31.250
10. Kimi Raikkonen – Lotus +1 lap

Final F1 Driver’s Championship standings top 10

1. Sebastian Vettel – Red Bull 281
2. Fernando Alonso – Ferrari 278
3. Kimi Raikkonen – Lotus 207
4. Lewis Hamilton – McLaren 190
5. Jenson Button – McLaren 188
6. Mark Webber – Red Bull 179
7. Felipe Massa – Ferrari 122
8. Romain Grosjean – Lotus 96
9. Nico Rosberg – Mercedes 93
10 Sergio Perez – Sauber 66

West Brom climb to third for the first time in 22 years

West Brom went third in the Premier League after recording four successive top-flight wins for the first time since 1980 with victory at Sunderland.
The club continued its stunning start to the Premier League season on Saturday by climbing into third with a 4-2 victory at Sunderland.

West Brom’s fourth successive win took them two points ahead of Chelsea, although manager Steve Clarke’s former club can reclaim its spot in the top three by beating Manchester City on Sunday.
Zoltan Gera put West Brom ahead on the half-hour and Shane Long fired into an empty net before half time after goalkeeper Simon Mignolet fumbled Chris Brunt’s pass.
Sunderland launched a fight back when Craig Gardner’s free kick was deflected home in the 73rd minute.
Romelu Lukaku restored West Brom’s two-goal cushion from the penalty spot before Stephane Sessegnon pulled another back for Sunderland. But Marc-Antoine Fortune had the final say, with West Brom’s fourth in injury time.
The Baggies were brimming with confidence from the start and took the lead in spectacular style when Gera turned neatly and blasted a left-foot shot past Mignolet and inside the post.
Sunderland might have been level within two minutes when the ball fell to John O’Shea inside the penalty area but he curled a right-foot effort just high and wide of the top corner.
Martin O’Neill’s side went close again two minutes before halftime when Sessegnon’s enterprising run ended with a deflected shot which West Brom goalkeeper Boaz Myhill stopped with little difficulty.
However, their hopes were dealt a major blow within seconds with Mignolet’s calamity in goal.
The Belgium goalkeeper went down to collect Brunt’s harmless through-ball as Long close him down, but inexplicably fumbled it into the path of the striker, who was left to tap into an empty net.
The game might have been effectively over within four minutes of the restart when Long ran in on goal, only for Mignolet to partially redeem himself with a vital block.
And Sunderland gave itself hope when Gardner’s free kick clipped Fortune in the defensive wall and flew past the helpless Myhill.
But Adam Johnson’s trip on Liam Ridgewell led to the penalty kick which Lukaku converted in the 81st.
Sessegnon pulled a second goal back from close range for Sunderland after Myhill had parried Fletcher’s header in the 87th. But after Lukaku had hit the post, Fortune ended Sunderland’s hopes with a neat finish in the fifth minute of injury time.
In other results, Manchester United came from behind to win 3-1 against Queens park Rangers, who are yet to record a victory this season. Jamie Mackie had put the away fans in a frenxy before goals from Jonny Evans, Darren Fletcher and substitute Javier Hernandez changed the game for the hosts. Everton were held to 1-1 draw by Norwhich while a goal from Charlie Adam ensured Stoke took the three points against Fulham.
Jordi Gomez scored a hattrick including a late winner as Wigan dispatched a resolute Reading side 3-2 at the Madejski.

AVB was terminated, we then won two trophies. I want to hear you congratulate Mr Abramovich for that... We'd have been crucified if we hadn't reported Clattenburg, says Chelsea chief Buck

•  Buck: 'We're the club most in the public eye anywhere in the world'
• Club stands by claim that Clattenburg used term 'monkey'
• 'There have been a lot of incidents involving Terry and Chelsea'
• Terry does NOT run the club, Abramovich does, claims Buck
• Club officials admit Chelsea’s image has been damaged

Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck has launched an impassioned defence of the club's players in the aftermath of the race-row storm which has engulfed Stamford Bridge following allegations referee Mark Clattenburg racially abused John Obi Mikel.
Buck says Chelsea agonised over the decision but, ultimately, were legally obliged to report Clattenburg in defence of Mikel and fellow midfielder Ramires, who made the initial allegation.
The Blues chief has also backed club owner Roman Abramovich's decision to 'terminate' the tenure of former boss Andre Villas-Boas in a bid to halt the club's side down the Barclays Premier League and save their Champions League aspirations. 

Wise move: Chelsea fans should cheer Abramovich for his decision to sack Villas-Boas

 

Chelsea last week submitted a dossier of evidence to the FA, including signed witness statements from players, alleging Clattenburg used a term understood to have been interpreted as racist during the 3-2 defeat by Manchester United. Clattenburg denies the claims.
Buck, however, cannot understand why Chelsea have come under fire for reporting the Durham official and believes the club have rightly taken the moral high ground.
Buck, in a sensational interview with the Evening Standard said: 'The reaction has been very unfair,' he says. 'We weren't interested in any confrontation with the referee or anybody else, had no thoughts of revenge on the referee. He made two obvious mistakes (sending Fernando Torres off and allowing Javier Hernandez's offside winner) which changed the tide.
'I felt we had the moral high ground, so I didn’t really feel that bad about the defeat or have that feeling in my stomach. I thought we'd be treated very kindly in the newspapers next day.
'It was made after a great deal of anguish and after talking long and hard that evening about what should we do.'
Buck believes the club were forced into a corner and once the two players involved came forward, they had no option but to make the report.
And the American-trained lawyer stands by the claim that Clattenburg used the term 'monkey'.
'We were guided by obligations that are imposed by the Football Association and also as an employer. FA rule E14 basically says a participant shall immediately report to the association any incident or matter which may be considered to be a misconduct.
'Misconduct is a defined term under the FA regulations and includes such racial behaviour. We also had to consider the Equality Act 2010, which imposes an obligation on an employer to take certain actions if an employee is subject to discrimination by third parties.
Suppose we had tried to sweep this under the rug and said to the various players, "Look, it's not a big deal and the press are going to be all over us, maybe you want to reconsider". If that had leaked out, we would've really been crucified.'

Flashpoint: Mikel and Ramires made allegations about referee Clattenburg

GOURLAY: 'RACE ROWS HAVE BEEN BULLET PRINTS IN OUR ARMOUR'

Chelsea’s chief executive Ron Gourlay (right) has described the race rows that have blighted the club over the last 12 months as ‘bullet prints in our armour’ and charged the younger players at Stamford Bridge to repair Chelsea’s damaged image.

The Champions League winners have struggled to win friends during public disputes fueled by racism allegations, while talismanic captain John Terry and big-spending owner Roman Abramovich have long been polarizing personalities in English football.

‘There are things that have happened that damaged the image,’ Gourlay said, acknowledging that Chelsea has been under fire since Terry’s court case and, more recently, reporting referee Mark Clattenburg for alleged racist abuse. ‘There are bullet prints in our armor. We have learned from the mistakes we have made. Hopefully the football club is in a good position to push forward now.’

He believes the widely admired talent of Juan Mata, Eden Hazard and Oscar is shifting people’s perception.

‘That’s where we want to be,’ Gourlay added. ‘I think people like the way they are seeing Chelsea play football now, and that’s very important because it portrays itself as the image of the club.

‘We are in a very, very strong place,’ the chief executive said on the sidelines of the Chelsea-backed International Football Arena conference in Zurich.

Buck spoke with Chelsea chief executive Ron Gourlay and headed into the team's dressing room after the match with united at 6.15pm. 
And he says he was careful to rule out any misunderstanding from the players involved - as neither uses English as their first language. Buck was reassured both players spoke good English. 
He said: 'I spoke to the players involved, either because they were allegedly the recipient of that abuse or had heard it, three separate times.
'I asked them if they could be mistaken. I asked them, if they might have heard Mikel instead of monkey. I thought I had covered that base.'
The revolving-door policy operated by Blues' owner Roman Abramovich saw Andre Villas-Boas ditched two-thirds of the way through last season.
The decision came just nine months after they had paid Porto £13million for his services.
AVB failed to convince senior members of the squad, like John Terry  and Frank Lampard that he was the man to lead the club forward.
But Buck denies that Terry runs the club, or that player power is too strong at Stamford Bridge.
In fact it was Abramovich's 'termination' of the Portuguese which led Chelsea directly to their ultimate goal; Champions League glory.
'It didn’t take the players to tell us we were not going in the right direction. I knew that, Mr Abramovich knew that.
'When Andre left, we were in a very difficult situation about to be bounced out of the Champions League, doing very poorly in the Premier League.
'The proof is in the pudding: Andre was terminated and we wound up winning two trophies. I want to hear you congratulate Mr Abramovich and Chelsea for making that change.'

Dogged by controversy: Terry race row with Ferdinand came nine years after he was cleared he was cleared of attacking a nightclub doorman (below)

One thing Buck didn't deny was the negative impact of the Terry race-row which has dogged the club over the last 12 months - just the latest in the line of discretions from the club's captain down the years.
'I can't argue with the fact that, over the last 10 years, there have been a lot of public incidents in which Terry and Chelsea were involved. But I don’t accept that we have something in our hearts that says we’re going to chase the referees.
'It’s just not like that at all, honest. Chelsea are not run by John Terry. I don’t know how I can prove it to you but it’s not true. My club are run by Roman Abramovich.'Life in west london changed dramatically the moment the Russian billionaire arrived.

In stark contrast to ken Bates' loud and brash style, Abramovih remains in the margins, allowing his staff to speak on behalf of the club.

Bright future: Chelsea's young players can help repair the club's damaged image

But Buck denies the claim this proves Abramovich is aloof and hopes the club are moving down the right track to preserve their position in Europe's elite.

He said: 'It's not true that Mr Abramovich does not care what people think about Chelsea. Rightly or wrongly, Mr Abramovich changed English football forever. I feel very strongly that he hasn't had enough credit for what he's done. Chelsea's heart is definitely not black.
'We have to continue to try to be a good citizen and to do things for our community, country and players and play good football.'

In the line of fire: Chelsea chief executive Ron Gourlay (left) and chairman Bruce Buck at a Chelsea game

UNILAG tops Lagos Inter-tertiary games medal table

The University of Lagos UNILAG have emerged winners of the 4th edition of Lagos Inter-tertiary Games.
Team UNILAG was adjudged the overall best team of the championship with 9 gold, 2 silver and 4 bronze medals.
They dethroned last edition’s winners; Team Lagos State Polytechnic, LASPOTECH to the third position.
Yaba College of Technology, YABATECH came second with 6 gold, 7 silver and 4 bronze medals, while LASPOTECH won 1 gold, 7 silver and 5 bronze medals.
Lagos state Sports Commissioner, Wahid Enitan Oshodi, who was the chief host of the event, commended the students for their spirit of sportsmanship, adding that the state government is looking at ways to increase the number of sports which the students are competing for in the future editions.

Messi surpasses Pele’s mark for goals scored in a year

Brazil football Legend Pele’s milestones for goals scored in one calendar year was beaten yeaterday Argentine forward and Barcelona player; Lionel Messi after scoring his 75th and 76th time in 2012 to move within nine of Gerd Mueller’s all-time record as Barcelona won 4-2 at Mallorca in a la liga clash.
Xavi Hernandez was the key to Barcelona’s victory as he unlocked Mallorca’s defence with a free kick in the 28th minute before Messi struck in the 44th. Cristian Tello added a third goal a minute later at Iberostar stadium.
Their opponent were bent on not giving up the game like that as Mallorca came back to level early in the second half but Messi stepped up to score again the 70th to ensure victory.
It would be recalled that the Spanish giants lost surprisingly to Celtic in the Champions League clash during the week and the Mallorca game can be tagged to be a comeback of the sleeping giant.
This is the latest scoring feat for the Argentina forward, one of the leading candidates for the Ballon D’Or.
Messi scored 73 goals in the 2011-12 season for Barcelona, breaking the previous European club record of 67 goals set by Mueller in 1972-73. He also set a Spanish league record of 50 goals last season and broke Cesar Rodriguez’s 57-year milestone of 232 goals to become Barcelona all-time leading scorer.
Joaquin Caparros’ Mallorca tried to follow Celtic’s defensive blueprint from Wednesday’s upset in Glasgow, but the strategy didn’t last even half an hour.
Xavi Hernandez took full advantage of a foul earned by Cesc Fabregas on the edge of the area. The Spain midfielder bent a beautiful free kick over the defensive barrier that turned goalkeeper Dudu Aouate into yet another spectator as it fell into his net.
Also, second-place Atletico Madrid stayed three points behind the pacesetters by easing past visiting Getafe 2-0 thanks to goals by Adrian Lopez and Arda Turan.
Messi converted Barcelona’s 75 per cent of possession into a deserved second goal when the Argentina forward dribbled by several defenders and unleashed a left footed-shot that Aouate let slip through his hands.
Tello then quickly made it 3-0 by curving a strike from outside the area into the far side of the goal.
When it appeared Barcelona would cruise to the comfortable victory, two errors allowed Mallorca to get back into the game.
Mallorca’s Michael Pereira pulled one back in the 55th after Javier Mascherano lost the ball. Two minutes later, Victor Casadesus made it 3-2 from the penalty spot following Sergio Busquets’ handball in the box.

But Messi received a chested pass from Alexis Sanchez and smashed the ball into the top corner to restore Barcelona’s two-goal advantage and crush Mallorca’s hopes.
Messi’s seventh double of the season increased his league-leading tally to 15 goals. He has 20 in all competitions this season.
Pele scored 75 goals for Brazil and Santos in 1958. Mueller had 85 in 1972 for West Germany and Bayern Munich.
With strikers Gonzalo Higuain and Karim Benzema injured, Cristiano Ronaldo scored for Madrid in the 21st after receiving a gash above his left eye in a collision with an opposing player.
Madrid coach Jose Mourinho said that Ronaldo was having trouble with his vision by halftime and had to be substituted. Mourinho sent on an extra defender looking to protect his slim lead with the water-logged pitch encumbering almost every attack.
Madrid, even without its three top scorers, almost scored twice more as Pepe and Sergio Ramos both hit the crossbar.
But Mourinho’s tactic backfired when Levante substitute Angel Rodriguez held off Pepe to control Obafemi Martins’ pass and slot the ball beyond goalkeeper Iker Casillas in the 62nd.
Madrid had another golden opportunity when Jose Callejon was fouled by David Navarro on the edge of the area, only for goalkeeper Gustavo Munua to block Xabi Alonso’s resulting spot kick in the 73rd.
As time ticked down, Mourinho sent on Morata in the 83rd and one minute later the forward met Alonso’s free kick to head it by Munua.
“I was very happy to help the team,” said the 20-year-old Morata. “Two years ago Munua saved a clear goal for me. I have had more chances and I knew that one day the goal would arrive and today was the day.”

Chelsea on the verge of losing Neymar to Barca

London club Chelsea may have to do without Brazilian playmaker; Neymar (possibly to replace Ivorien Didier Drogba) if nothing extra is done to lure the player to England, as his Brazilian team-mate Dani Alves urged him to join Barcelona.
Neymar a long-term target of Chelsea may move to Spain instead of the Premier League after Barcelona right back Alves said he would be a success at the Nou Camp.
Chelsea also has Brazilian stars such as Oscar who could sway Neymar to join Stamford Bridge, if the need arises.
Alves said “Obviously anybody would want to play for Barcelona,” Alves said.
“If Barcelona is interested in Neymar and if next month, next year or in two years he comes, I don’t know.
“I hope he does come here because, as I’ve already said, he would get better as a player and he would also improve the team.”
20-year-old Brazil striker would have been signed by the Blues last summer but according to report, the deal didn’t go well.

If I could bring one player back to Anfield it would be Xabi, Gerrard tells fans on Twitter

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard revealed the one former team-mate he would bring back to the club, given the chance, would be Real Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso.
The England skipper also believes Luis Suarez is the best striker he has played alongside.

Gerrard, in a Twitter question and answer session for sponsors adidas, picked Suarez ahead of the likes of Robbie Fowler, Michael Owen and Fernando Torres - all great goalscorers at Anfield - and England team-mate Wayne Rooney.

Tweet success: Gerrard thanks supporters after answering their questions on social networking site Twitter

Asked who is the greatest striker he had played with Gerrard opted for Suarez, who has scored seven of Liverpool's 13 Barclays Premier League goals this season and produced a wonder strike against Newcastle on Sunday.

Top track: Gerrard revealed his favourite pre-match anthem is Dakota, by the Stereophonics

Gerrard also singled out the Uruguay international as the player who messes about most in training - 'He's a nuisance!' wrote the 32-year-old.
The Reds captain also revealed, given the opportunity, he would jump at the chance to bring Alonso back to the club.
'Xabi Alonso - best midfielder I've played with, I miss playing with him,' he wrote.
The feeling appears to be mutual with the Madrid midfielder confident Gerrard, who marked his 600th match for Liverpool at the weekend, would slot seamlessly into Spain's World Cup and European Championship-winning side.
'Absolutely, there's no doubt,' said Alonso.
'He could play in any national team in the world because he has so many great qualities.
'He is flexible. He can play at the English pace or he can associate with the ball very well.
'He is a very intelligent player, so he could play anywhere - not just any national team but any club in the world.
'But he has been a one-club man and that's something I really admire.'
Alonso believe Gerrard had a significant impact on his career, having moved to Merseyside from Real Sociedad in 2004.

Get him back: Gerrard revealed he would love Liverpool to re-sign Real Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso

'He was a great influence to me,' he told Real Madrid TV in an interview on behalf of Liverpool's official website.
'When I arrived at Liverpool I was 22 and he was the captain, he was the main man at the club.

'For me he was a reference, the way he behaved with his team-mates and with the supporters as well.
'I learned a lot from him. We are great friends and we still keep in touch.
'He is so inspirational. In the key moments he has that different thing, that spark that is difficult to define.

Simply the best: Gerrard rates Luis Suarez as the finest striker he has played alongside

'He'll absolutely be remembered as one of the greats. For me he is already one of the greats.'
Gerrard and Suarez seem unlikely to make this week's Europa League trip to face big-spending Anzi Makhachkala in Moscow.
Although victory in the Russian capital would strengthen the Reds' position at the top of Group A manager Brendan Rodgers has one eye on Sunday's trip to Chelsea and with Suarez as his only fit senior striker he does not want to risk him.
It means he is likely to field a much-changed side from the one which drew with Newcastle.