IN BRIEF (Page 24)

Rallying

Prodrive chief Richards survives helicopter crash

LONDON: Rally supremo David Richards and his wife escaped serious injury on Sunday when the helicopter in which they were flying crashed north of London, police said.

Earlier, Richards had led tributes for former world champion Colin McRae after the Scot, his five-year-old son Johnny, another child and a friend of McRae's were killed on Saturday when their helicopter crashed near his Lanarkshire home.

Essex police said 55-year-old Richards, chief executive of Prodrive who run Subaru's World Rally team, and his wife "walked out of the wreckage" when their helicopter crashed near North Weald airfield after returning from the Belgian Grand Prix.

Prodrive is due to enter Formula One next year as the sport's 12th team.

Soccer

Johnson goal lifts Man City into second place

LONDON: Manchester City moved into second place in the Premier League on Sunday after a goal from teenager Michael Johnson gave it a 1-0 win against Aston Villa.

Johnson powered past three Villa defenders after taking a pass from Brazilian Elano to fire wide of keeper Scott Carson in the 48th minute.

The win on a rainy afternoon at the City of Manchester Stadium saw Sven-Goran Eriksson's men climb from eighth to second place with 12 points from the opening six matches.

Arsenal is top with 13 points, followed by City, Liverpool (11), champion Manchester United (11) and Chelsea (11).

Barca slips further, Sevilla crushes local rivals

MADRID: Barcelona lost more ground in the title race on Sunday with a 0-0 draw at Osasuna while Sevilla showed it is the Primera Liga's form team with a 4-1 stroll past regional rival Recreativo Huelva.

Shorn of regular strikers Samuel Eto'o and Lionel Messi, Barcelona lacked penetration and now languish four points behind leader and arch rival Real Madrid who has nine.

"Again we lacked freshness," said coach Frank Rijkaard.

NBA

Nelson and Warriors agree new contract

NEW YORK: Golden State Warriors head coach Don Nelson will return to the bench this season after agreeing terms on a new contract, the team said on Sunday.

Terms of the deal were not announced but the Contra Costa Times said the deal raised Nelson's base salary from $3.1 million to $5.1 million for each of the next two seasons.

Nelson returned to Golden State for his second stint as head coach before the 2006-07 campaign, leading the Warriors to a 42-40 record and their first trip to the post-season in 13 years.

Tennis

Russia captain eyeing Fed and Davis Cup double

MOSCOW: Shamil Tarpishchev will have little time to savour victory after leading Russia to its third Fed Cup title in four years with a 4-0 thrashing of last year's winner Italy on Sunday.

Tarpishchev, who doubles as Russia's Davis Cup captain, will soon be busy preparing the defending men's champions for this week's semifinal against Germany at the other side of Moscow from the Luzhniki arena, the site of the Fed Cup final.

"I'll enjoy this victory a bit more tonight, but from tomorrow I will start working with the boys," the 59-year-old, who is bidding for the unique double by trying to win both the Fed and Davis Cups in the same year, said.

"I must get them ready for a tough weekend."

(China Daily 09/18/2007 page24)