Advertisement
The sun sets behind the Olympic stadium in London yesterday. Matt Dunham/AP/Press Association Images
Early Doors

The Morning Score: Tuesday

Who’s ready for a “Super Tuesday” of sport? More importantly, who writes these awful puns? Here’s the morning’s news.

1. #RAFA BENITEZ Former Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez remains tight-lipped on the prospect of him becoming Chelsea’s next manager, but insists that he is willing to listen to any offers which come his way.

The Spaniard spoke to TheScore.ie during a visit to Trinity College, Dublin yesterday to speak at the university’s Philosophical Society.

2. #SIX NATIONS Rory Best is in line to captain Ireland against Scotland this weekend after captain Paul O’Connell was ruled out of the remainder of this year’s Six Nations with a knee injury.

O’Connell picked up the knock during Sunday’s drawn game against France, as did scrum-half Conor Murray, and both now face a race to be fit in time for Munster’s Heineken Cup quarter-final against Ulster next month.

3. #SETANTA SPORTS CUP Defending champions Shamrock Rovers took a step towards the Setanta Cup semi-finals with a 2-0 win at home to Cliftonville last night. Billy Dennehy and Colin Hawkins scored in either half to set up Rovers ahead of the return leg in two weeks’ time.

Elsewhere, it was a good night for the other League of Ireland clubs in action. Romuald Boco and Mark Quigley were on the scoresheet as Sligo Rovers won 2-0 at home to Glentoran; David McDaid bagged a crucial away goal four minutes from time to give Derry City a 1-1 draw away to Linfield; and Bohemians took a hard-fought 0-0 draw away from their trip to Crusaders.

4. #CHAMPIONS LEAGUE It’s that time of the week again. Arsenal will have it all to do when the last 16 of the Champions League resumes tonight. The Gunners need to overturn a 4-0 deficit at home to AC Milan if they are to progress to the quarter-finals of this year’s competition.

In the evening’s other game, Benfica trail Zenit St Petersburg 3-2 ahead of tonight’s second leg in Lisbon. Here’s how both games are shaping up.

5. #PARIS-NICE Ireland’s Nicolas Roche is in 63rd place overall after two days of this year’s Paris-Nice cycling race. Yesterday, Bradley Wiggins gained the overall lead in the Paris-Nice cycling race after Belgian Tom Boonen won the second stage.

6. #CHELTFEST Peddlers Cross, seen as one of Sprinter Sacre’s main challengers for the Arkle Trophy at Cheltenham, will skip the race to take his chance in the Jewson Novices’ Chase instead.

Hulk kicks the ball harder than you’ve ever seen before*

In the swing: for Rory, this one’s been coming