BERLIN, March 5-- German-Iranian midfielder Fereydoun Zandi played down the importance of the World Cup qualifying match between triple Asian champs Iran and Japan, scheduled to take place at Tehran’s Azadi Stadium on March 25, IRNA reported.
“It’s an important match and a victory in that game would be very important but if it does not happen, we still have every chance to qualify for 2006 World Cup in Germany,“ the FC Kaiserslautern player told IRNA in an exclusive interview on Saturday.
“In general it’s home match for us and if we want to survive the qualification, we have to win our home games,“ added Zandi who stressed he did not feel any special pressure ahead of the crucial Japan encounter.
The 26-year-old player said he felt comfortable in his new role as a defensive half-back in Iran’s recent World Cup qualifier against Bahrain in Manama on February 9.
“This position suits me well at any rate although I have not played it very often.
But I still have to improve my tactical play at that position. I am also able to use my offensive qualities in that role,“ added Zandi whose father is Iranian and mother is German.
Asked about the recent woeful performance by Iranian national team captain Ali Daei against Bahrain, Zandi rejected the harsh criticism in the Iranian sports media.
“Ali Daei is a player who is always good for a goal and I believe, one should not think negatively about him,“ he stressed.
Comparing the mentality of Iranian footballers with German players, Zandi said he liked the Iranian mentality because it was ’more relaxed and loose’, especially when it came to game day preparations.

WELLINGTON,
New Zealand,
March 5--Australia crushed New Zealand by 122 runs at Napier on Saturday to complete a 5-0 sweep of their one-day series, Reuters reported.
Australia captain Ricky Ponting smashed his 16th one-day century and his deputy Adam Gilchrist belted 91 to help the world champions pile on 347 for five from their 50 overs.
An understrength New Zealand could only manage 225 for eight in reply with Craig McMillan top scoring for the hosts with 63.
Michael Kasprowicz was the pick of the Australian bowlers, capturing three wickets for 36 runs.
“We’ve played some great cricket on this tour,“ Ponting said.
“To come here and win 5-0 was what we hoped to do.“ The Kiwis had gone into the series ranked number two in the world but the heavy loss dropped them down to third behind Sri Lanka.
“I’m not too sure what to say, we’ve been well and truly thumped by a magnificent side,“ New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming said.
“It’s not easy to take 5-0 but we’ll cop it on the chin and move on and become a better side for it.“
Ponting blasted the last two balls of the Australia innings over the ropes for six to finish unbeaten on 141 after Gilchrist had fallen agonisingly short of his hundred.
Gilchrist struck nine fours and four sixes before he drove Tama Canning straight to Craig Cumming at short cover to miss out on his ton.
After missing the fourth match because of a minor leg injury, Ponting was even more destructive than Gilchrist, hammering 10 boundaries and five sixes in a chanceless knock that set a host of batting records.
The skipper’s unbeaten total was his second highest score in 221 one-day internationals and the highest by an Australian against New Zealand.
It was also the highest by any player on New Zealand soil while Australia’s total set a new team record at MacLean Park in Napier.
New Zealand’s slim chances of winning were dealt a serious blow even before they began their innings when all-rounder Chris Cairns was unable to bat after tearing his hamstring in the field.
The Kiwis made a reasonable start with Fleming (35) and Hamish Marshall (28) scoring freely but neither was able to go on and make a big score.
McMillan’s 63 came off 69 balls and featured seven fours and a six.
Wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum also chipped in with 36, including two sixes.
The teams will now play each other in three test matches.

Lyon's defender Eric Abidal (l) vies with Caen's midfielder Anthony Deroin during their French L1 football match, Friday. (AFP Photo)

PARIS, March 5--Lyon’s push for a fourth successive French league title came to a shuddering halt on Friday when they slumped to a 1-0 defeat at struggling Caen just three days after they were also knocked out of the French Cup, AFP reported.
Despite dominating the second half with Sylvan Wiltord posing all sorts of dangers for the Normandy team, it was Caen who carved the only goal of the night to secure their first home win since October.
It came from Sebastien Mazure in the 71st minute who beat Gregory Coupet with a rasping drive after being set up by good work from Cyrille Watier and Reynald Lemaitre.
The defeat means that Marseille can cut Lyon’s lead at the top to just five points if they beat St Etienne on Sunday.
Caen were worth their three points on Friday against a Lyon side who, after falling to Clermont in the last 16 of the French Cup in midweek, must gather up their confidence ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League clash with Werder Bremen.
They hold a 3-0 first leg lead in that tie which is just as well given their poor performance on Friday.
Mazure was twice denied by Coupet in the first ten minutes with the Lyon keeper saving well from 15m on both occasions.
On the half-hour mark, Mazure chipped the ball over the bar after working his way past Mickael Essien and Cris.
Florent Malouda had Lyon’s best chance after being set up by a Juninho free-kick.
Despite constant Lyon pressure in the second half, Caen should have added a second goal 10 minutes from the end Zoran Jovicic missed his kick in front of an empty goal.
Marseille coach Philippe Troussier has warned Japanese international defender Koji Nakata to brace himself for a culture shock when he makes his French Legaue debut.
Nakata, brought from Kashima Antlers in the winter transfer window, could make his debut in Sunday’s match with St Etienne after finally receiving a work permit.

TORONTO, March 5--Phil Mickelson continued his scorching play at the Doral Open on Friday, firing a second round six-under-par 66 for a two shot lead over Billy Andrade and into position for a third title in four events, Reuters reported.
Riding a wave of momentum from back-to-back PGA Tour strokeplay wins in Phoenix and Pebble Beach, Mickelson was in flawless form on an overcast day at Miami’s Doral resort going bogey free on the Blue Monster to sit at 14-under 130.
It marked the ninth consecutive round the US Masters champion has owned or shared the lead in a strokeplay event.
“It was a little tougher today with the wind but I was able to play bogey-free golf and that was nice,“ Mickelson said.
Andrade matched Mickelson with a 66 to reach 12-under while Spain’s Jose Maria Olazabal continued to show flashes of the form that carried him to two Masters titles, scoring a three-under 69 to sit one shot further adrift on 133.
With four of the world’s top six ranked players within six shots of the leader, including number one Vijay Singh and number two Tiger Woods, the final two rounds of the $5.5 million event are set up for a spectacular finish.
Woods, Singh, defending champion Craig Parry of Australia and David Toms, winner of the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship last weekend, are among a group of 11 golfers lurking five shots back at nine-under 135.
US Open champion and world number five Retief Goosen of South Africa and world number six Sergio Garcia or Spain are also in contention, one stroke further back at eight-under.
Woods and Fiji’s Singh enter the weekend with the number one ranking up for grabs.
In the last two weeks, Woods has twice let opportunities to reclaim the top spot slip through his fingers and he will be determined to not let it happen a third time.
A win at Doral would put Woods back on top of the world, as would a second place finish if Singh is outside the top five.

Cleveland Cavaliers LeBron James (r) shoots under pressure from Philadelphia 76ers center Samuel Dalembert during third quarter NBA action in Philadelphia, Friday. (Reuters Photo)

TORONTO, March 5--Allen Iverson scored 31 points while Chris Webber added 24 points with 12 rebounds as the 76ers beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 98-89 in National Basketball Association play in Philadelphia on Friday, Reuters reported.
Samuel Dalembert added 15 points for the Sixers, who won for the second time in four games since picking up Webber from the Sacramento Kings.
Iverson added nine assists as the Sixers played their best game since acquiring the perennial All-Star Webber, who struggled at times in his first few games in Philadelphia. LeBron James scored 34 points for the Cavaliers, who have now lost a season-high five consecutive games and seven straight on the road.
The Cavaliers also made a season-high 27 turnovers as they continue to fall behind Detroit after leading the Central Division for most of the season.
Zydrunas Ilgauskas added 22 points and 11 rebounds for Cleveland.
In other games, Grant Hill scored 29 points as the Magic beat the New York Knicks 111-89 in Orlando.
Dwight Howard added 20 points and 15 rebounds for the Magic, who ended New York’s three-game winning streak. Stephon Marbury led New York with 22 points.
In Washington, Jason Richardson scored 34 points as the Golden State Warriors beat the Wizards 103-90.
In Boston, Antoine Walker and Ricky Davis both scored 18 points as the Celtics beat the Charlotte Bobcats 104-84.
In Miami, Dwyane Wade scored 22 points as the Heat beat the slumping Sacramento Kings 104-83.
In Minneapolis, Wally Szczerbiak scored 28 points as the Minnesota Timberwolves stopped the Milwaukee Bucks 103-97.
In New Orleans, P.J. Brown and J.R. Smith both scored 14 points to lead the Hornets past the Utah Jazz 92-85.
In Memphis, Shane Battier scored 33 points as the Grizzlies got past the Toronto Raptors 86-75.
In San Antonio, Tim Duncan had 31 points and 13 rebounds as the Spurs edged the Chicago Bulls 102-99.
In Portland, Stephen Jackson and Reggie Miller both scored 24 points as the Indiana Pacers beat the Trail Blazers 106-97.
In Los Angeles, Kobe Bryant scored 40 points as the Lakers got by the Dallas Mavericks 108-103.

MELBOURNE, Australia, March 5--Renault’s Giancarlo Fisichella took provisional pole for Sunday’s season-opening Australian Grand Prix after the weather turned first qualifying into a lottery on Saturday, Reuters reported.
While the Italian had all the luck, the heavens opening just as he crossed the line at the end of his timed lap, the rain poured on the hopes of Ferrari’s seven times world champion Michael Schumacher.
Schumacher, utterly dominant in Melbourne last year when he won from pole position, was the slowest driver to complete a lap, behind even the two Minardis and 27.4 seconds slower than Fisichella.
With the starting grid now determined by aggregate times after a final session on Sunday morning, there was little chance of the German clawing his way back or of the top order changing much either.
“All I can say today is that we were unlucky,“ said Schumacher, whose team had to switch him hurriedly from dry to rain tyres.
“Obviously this result will impact greatly on the race. All the same we will try and bring home some points or even something better. I don’t think a podium is out of the question, but it will be very difficult.“
Toyota’s Jarno Trulli joined compatriot Fisichella on the overnight front row, albeit more than two seconds off the pace, while Australian Mark Webber was third fastest but with a 3.5 second lag on the leader.

RALEIGH, USA,
March 5--Former triple Olympic champion Marion Jones plans to run ’a full schedule’ of outdoor meetings, beginning with California’s Mt SAC Relays in April, her agent said on Friday.
“She will just sprint this year. There will be no jumping,“ Charles Wells told Reuters in a telephone interview from Madrid where he is attending the European indoor championships.
Jones has not competed since failing to win a medal at last summer’s Athens Olympics.
She won three golds and two bronzes at the 2000 Sydney Games.
Wells said Jones planned to run a 400 meters at the Mt SAC Relays in Walnut, California, April 15-17, and to compete in a 4x100 or 4x200 meters relay at the Kansas Relays in Lawrence, Kansas, on April 21-23.
The remainder of her schedule, which will consist primarily of 100 and 200 meters competitions, has not been finalized but Wells said he was negotiating for meets in Mexico and with promoters of various European meets, including Rome.
Jones has been under scrutiny for the past year by the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) in connection with the BALCO doping scandal.
She has never failed a doping test or been charged with a doping offence.

CARSON, USA, March 5--Andy Roddick defeated Mario Ancic 4-6 6-2 6-1 6-4 to help the US draw level at 1-1 with Croatia in their first round Davis Cup World Group tie after the opening singles on Friday, Reuters reported.
In the first match, Ivan Ljubicic spoiled Andre Agassi’s return to the competition with a 6-3 7-6 6-3.
Confident after reaching four ATP finals this year, the Croat immediately seized control of the first set by breaking Agassi to 2-0 when the American erred on a forehand. Agassi broke back to 3-4 but Ljubicic broke the eight-times grand slam champion to 5-3 when he forced him into a forehand error and then won the set with a 130-mph ace.
Agassi improved midway through the second set, playing a brilliant game by mixing in drop shots with hard baseline blows and breaking Ljubicic for a 4-2 lead.
However, Agassi could not maintain his momentum, failing to serve out at 5-3 when on set point he missed a forehand down the line.
Ljubicic regained his confidence to take it to a tiebreaker, where he ripped five winners including two aces to take it 7-0.
A clearly frustrated Agassi began to press in the third set and in the sixth game, he and McEnroe got into a loud argument with chair umpire Lars Graf when he over-ruled a line call on game point. Agassi swore at the official, but couldn’t get Graf to change his mind and he was then broken in the game to 2-4 when he double faulted.
Ljubicic won the contest when he boomed an ace down the middle. Agassi was despondent after the loss.