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Monday, November 7, 2016 Safar 7, 1438 AH SA close in on win GULF TIMES as Aussies lose in stiff chase SPORT Page 3

BOXING MANNY PACS UP VARGAS IN VEGAS

‘Fighting Manny Pacquiao is like playing a very fast game of chess. You have to be alert at all times’

AFP Center. row seat for Saturday’s bout. ponent as the Filipino learned early on few times he was able to trade punches Las Vegas “I feel happy,” Pacquiao said. “I’m try- Pacquiao said he was retiring following that he could counter Vargas’ left jab with with Pacquiao. ing every round to knock him down but his April 9 two-knockdown victory over a right to the jaw. He had a big smile on his face while also not be careless.” Bradley in their third fi ght. walking back to his corner after the bell to ilipino southpaw Manny Pacquiao Pacquiao, 59-6 with two drawn and 38 Pacquiao looked impressive in stopping STUMBLING BACKWARDS end the eighth. reclaimed the World Boxing Or- knockouts, showed he still has a lot left in Bradley, showing that he has recovered That’s what happened in the second round “Fighting Manny Pacquiao is like play- ganization welterweight title for the tank but he failed to get the knockout from a shoulder injury which hampered when Pacquiao connected on a right ing a very fast game of chess,” Vargas said. the third time with a unanimous victory that has eluded him for the past him in his mega fi ght against Mayweather counterpunch that sent Vargas stumbling “You have to be alert at all times. He was decisionF victory over former champion seven years. in May 2015. backwards and onto the canvas. very fast but I was able to get in a few Jesse Vargas in his comeback fi ght on Sat- All three judges scored the bout for Pacquiao took seven months off to con- Pacquiao said he had to respect Vargas’ counters.” urday. Pacquiao, two of them by 118-109 and the centrate on his job as a newly elected poli- punching power. Las Vegas boxing fans showed their love The 37-year-old Pacquiao systemati- other by 114-113. tician in the Philippine Senate. After serv- “I’m very careful to go inside because I for Pacquiao. Even with a hometown box- cally dismantled the former welterweight Pacquiao won the WBO title for the fi rst ing his fi rst stint as a rookie senator, he knew he would counter me. I felt I could er in the ring, the crowd was chanting his champion despite Vargas’ size and reach time in 2010 when he beat Miguel Cotto. says the fi re was rekindled and the stage do more but every round I tried to knock name and cheering for Pacquiao to get the advantage. He lost it two years later to Timothy Bra- set for a return to boxing. him out,” Pacquiao said. knockout. He used a short right-handed counter- dley, then got it back by winning the re- On Saturday, both fi ghters felt each oth- Vargas started coming on in the middle The two fi ghters traded heavy blows in punch to fl oor Vargas in the second round match with Bradley in 2014. er out as very few punches were thrown in rounds. the eighth round as Vargas’ face started to en route to a one-sided win in front of a He then lost it last year to the now-re- the fi rst round. His confi dence grew after a strong sixth show some of the damage from Pacquiao’s crowd of 16,132 at the Thomas & Mack tired Floyd Mayweather, who had a front Pacquiao was quicker to size up his op- round which turned out to be one of the potent right hand. Gulf Times 2 Monday, November 7, 2016 BOXING

REACTION Manila likens Pacquiao’s win to bloody drugs war ‘Courage and grit... same qualities we must demonstrate as a nation to rid society of drugs, criminality and corruption’

AFP win eight world championships, then Manila amassing a fortune in commercial en- dorsements before going into politics. But the crowds watching the match he Philippine presidency yes- with Vargas seemed thinner this time in terday hailed the latest victory contrast to other fi ghts when the entire of boxing idol Manny Pacqui- nation seemed to shut down. ao, comparing his resolve to its “There was still a lot of people, just Town bloody and controversial war on not as many as before,” said construc- drugs. tion worker and longtime fan Efran Pacquiao, 37, reclaimed the World Bagaporo, 49. Boxing Organization welterweight ti- He was among the 3,000 people tle for the third time with a unanimous gathered at a square in a Manila suburb decision victory over former champion who rose to their feet in cheers when Jesse Vargas in a comeback fi ght in Las they saw Pacquiao knock Vargas, 27, Vegas. down in the second round. As with previous Pacquiao fi ghts, the But even Bagaporo admitted that match was broadcast on large screens “Vargas isn’t a match for him so the in public plazas and malls so the public fi ght wasn’t so exciting”. could see their hero in action. Pacquiao has also suff ered some “Once again, Manny’s triumph unit- setbacks, losing a long-awaited match ed and brought joy to our people and to American rival Floyd Mayweather our nation,” a palace statement said. in May 2015. He offi cially retired from “The courage and grit displayed by boxing in April after beating American our Filipino boxers in Las Vegas are the Timothy Bradley. same qualities we must demonstrate as After a few weeks in Congress, he an- a nation to rid society of drugs, crimi- nounced a comeback against Vargas. nality and corruption,” it said. But mechanic Bebot De Ocampo, 57, “Government has been success- noticed that both Pacquiao’s prowess fully waging a war on these fronts and and the fans’ fervour seemed to be fl ag- we as a people — emulating our box- ging. ers’ toughness against all odds — must Less than 50 people gathered at a continue the strong gains as we battle mall in the southern city of Digos to see towards victory.” the latest fi ght compared to the more Pacquiao, who parlayed his sport- than 200 who fl ocked there for previ- ing fame to secure election to the Sen- ous matches, he said. ate in May, endorsed President Rodrigo “He has slowed down and his Duterte’s war on drugs, which has left strength has fallen from when he was in more than 3,700 people dead in four his late 20s,” De Ocampo told AFP. months and has been condemned by “He should retire now. He has won human rights groups and foreign coun- a WBO title. Now he can focus on the tries. Senate,” he added. The boxer admitted in September Former government sports commis- that he himself indulged in illegal drugs sioner Richie Garcia also told AFP that when he was an impoverished teenager. Pacquiao should retire, saying only a Manny Pacquiao (right) of the Philippines lands a right to the head of Jessie Vargas during their WBO welterweight championship fight at the Thomas & Mack Center in Over the years Pacquiao has galva- rematch with Mayweather would jus- Las Vegas, Nevada, on Saturday. (Below) Filipino fans cheer as they watch a public screening of the WBO welterweight title boxing match between Pacquiao and Vargas, nised the nation, rising from poverty to tify another comeback. in Marikina, Metro Manila, Philippines, yesterday. (AFP / Reuters) Mayweather invite stirs speculation of second fi ght

Manny Pacquiao showed he still the ring. plenty of energy by dominating Pacquiao beat Vargas with a unani- Jessie Vargas in a WBO title fight mous decision victory to capture the on Saturday — and his rival Floyd WBO belt for the third time. Mayweather was there to see it with After the fight Vargas was asked a ringside seat. if he wanted to see Pacquiao and Pacquiao, who turns 38 next month, Mayweather go at it again. floored Vargas in the second round “Of course,” Vargas said. “I wouldn’t en route to a one-sided victory mind seeing it again. We are still which allowed him to reclaim the very interested in seeing what could WBO welterweight title which both happen again.” he and Mayweather held previously. But both Pacquiao, and his promoter It is a title that Pacquiao surrendered Bob Arum, were non-committal when he lost last year to May- about a second fight with May- weather in the richest fight in boxing weather. history. “Floyd Mayweather is retired. As far The retired Mayweather’s ap- as we’re concerned he’s retired and pearance at ringside Saturday, at we respect that,” Arum said at the Pacquiao’s request, will certainly stir post-fight news conference. talk of a Pacquiao-Mayweather 2. Pacquiao had to skip the event be- “Yes I invited him to come tonight,” cause of a cut from a head butt that Pacquiao said of Mayweather. needed 16 stitches to repair. Asked if he wanted a rematch with Arum did mention other potential Mayweather, Pacquiao said, “We will his daughter just before the fight Pacquiao opponents, including Vasyl see.” started. He watched attentively, then Lomachenko, Terence Crawford and Mayweather took his seat with left before the fighters had cleared Keith Thurman.

UNDERCARD Zou beats Kwanpichit for fi rst world pro title

AFP Zou sent Kwanpichit to the canvas with “I can’t believe I won the title and I Las Vegas a perfectly timed right hook to the side won it against a fi ghter like Donaire,” of the head with about a minute to go in said Magdaleno. “I don’t have the the round. words to describe it.” wo-time Olympic gold med- Zou improved to 9-1 with two knock- Undefeated Magdaleno grew up in allist Zou Shiming claimed outs, with his only loss coming in his Las Vegas but was fi ghting with Mexico the vacant World Boxing Or- fi rst title attempt when he lost to Am- printed on his red and black trunks and ganization fl yweight title with nat Ruenroeng in Macau last year. was serenaded by chants of “Mexico, Ta unanimous decision victory over Zou posted his second straight win Mexico” several times during the fi ght. Kwanpichit Onesongchaigym in a re- over Kwanpichit, pummeling the Thai Coming into the fi ght, Magdaleno was match on Saturday. to defeat with a similar unanimous de- the number one contender, having won The 35-year-old from China easily cision victory in Macau two years ago. eight of his last 10 fi ghts by knockout. outpointed Kwanpichit, winning on all Kwanpichit was riding a two-year, Donaire suff ered just the fourth loss three judges scorecards to capture his 12-bout winning streak since his sole of his career despite doing well at the fi rst world title. Two judges had it 120- loss to Zou. end of rounds late in the fi ght. 107 while the other scored it 119-108. All of his victories during the streak In the 10th, the Filipino wobbled “Now my dream is complete,” said had come by knockout but he was un- Magdaleno with hard right punches at Zou. “I am a pro champ, Olympic able to close in on Zou, who used his the beginning and end of the round. champ and world champion.” superior defensive skills to stay out of The two traded heavy blows in the The Zou-Kwanpichit fi ght opened trouble. 12th with the crowd on its feet for the an impressive three-title undercard Zou gave the Thai plenty of pun- fi nal round. for Manny Pacquiao’s comeback fi ght ishment, especially in the fi rst half of “We defi nitely won the fi ght. Losing against Jessie Vargas at the Thomas & the fi ght, when he used a steady jab never crossed my mind,” said Donaire. Mack Center in Las Vegas. and combination punches to keep the “I never thought I could lose this. I had In one of those title bouts, Jes- more aggressive Kwanpichit at bay. Zou a great second half and I thought I con- sie Magdaleno seized the WBO junior landed a total of 347 punches to just 107 troled the fi ght.” featherweight title with a unanimous for Kwanpichit. In the other title fi ght, Mexican Ol- decision over former champion Nonito ympian Oscar Valdez stopped Hiro- Donaire of the Philippines. DONAIRE, OSAWA DEFEATED shige Osawa of Japan in the seventh Zou, who won gold in 2008 at Beijing Magdaleno beat the multi-division round to retain the WBO featherweight and 2012 in London, started quickly by world champion Donaire in an enter- belt. winning the opening round and then taining fi ght that saw one judge score it Valdez remained undefeated at 21-0 knocking down the Thai in the second. 118-110 for Magdaleno while the other as he was making the fi rst defense of his Zou Shiming (right) throws a right at Kwanpichit Onesongchaigym in the eighth round of their WBO flyweight championship With a big size and reach advantage, two had the American winning 116-112. title against the top-rated challenger. fight at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Saturday. (AFP) Gulf Times Monday, November 7, 2016 3 CRICKET

PERTH TEST SPOTLIGHT Steyn best SA S. Africa close in on paceman ever, says victory as Aussies lose Pollock wickets in stiff chase with high pace in his ninth Test, Rabada showed he can become the perfect long-term replacement for Steyn when he removed Smith (34) and Adam Voges (1) in successive overs

AFP Perth

merging South African paceman Kagiso South African fast bowler Dale Rabada claimed three crucial wickets as Steyn sits with his arm in a sling South Africa closed in on victory against in Perth yesterday. Australia on the fourth day of the opening TestE in Perth yesterday. Reuters Set an intimidating victory target of 539, the Perth home side were wobbling on 169 for four at stumps and facing a potential record defeat against South Africa. ormer Shaun Usman Khawaja was on 58 and Mitchell Marsh Pollock thinks Dale Steyn on 15, with South Africa’s unbeaten record at the will be remembered as ground set to be extended. the best Test bowler An extraordinary piece of fi elding by the di- SouthF Africa has produced even minutive Temba Bavuma removed the dangerous if he never gets back on to the David Warner for 35 to end an opening stand of 52. pitch to claim the record as the Warner dropped the ball in front of him and set country’s most prolifi c - off for a quick single, but Bavuma pounced from taker. cover and unleashed a powerful throw while hori- The 33-year-old paceman zontal and still in mid-air. fractured a bone in his right It rattled the stumps at the non-striker’s end shoulder early on the second day with Warner centimetres out of his ground. of the fi rst Test against Australia The dismissal set the stage for Rabada (3-49) on Friday and Pollock said it was to display his quality in the absence of champion reasonable to question whether pacemen Dale Steyn due to a shoulder injury suf- he would ever return to the Test fered on the fi rst day. arena. Four balls later fellow opener Shaun Marsh (15) “You’d have to,” he told ABC was caught at second slip by Faf du Plessis off the Radio on Saturday. “Given how bowling of Rabada as Australia suddenly slumped old he is, the nature of the injury, to 52-2. it’s between six months and 12 Things appeared to get even darker for the hosts months to recover, he’ll have to when new batsman Khawaja was given out caught South Africa’s Kagiso have an operation, he’ll have to behind fi rst ball against the part-time spin of JP Rabada celebrates after have it pinned. It’s a real blow Duminy. dismissing Australia’s Shaun for him.” Before he was injured A decision review saved Khawaja when it Marsh at the WACA Ground on Friday, Steyn had already re- showed the ball had glanced off his pad rather than in Perth yesterday. moved Australian opener Dave the bat. Warner for 97 to claim his 417th Steven Smith and Khawaja, who was dropped Test victim, four shy of the South on 41 when Hashim Amla could not cling on to a African record held by Pollock. tough chance at fi rst slip, set about rebuilding the SCORECARD ges gave him goosebumps. “I’ve got a bottle of cham- “He’s done it before, today he stepped up pagne in my hotel room I was South Africa first innings: ...... 242 107-2 (1nb), Siddle 26-9-62-2, Marsh 26-4-77-2 (12w), again,” he said.When you are bowling spells at 145 going to present to him because Australia first innings : ...... 244 Lyon 34-3-146-0, Voges 5-1-8-0, Smith 1.1-0-3-1 kilometres an hour that is always exciting. I thought it was just a matter of South Africa second innings Australia second innings “That (over to Voges) is why we are promoting time,” Pollock added. S. Cook c S Marsh b Siddle ...... 12 S. Marsh c du Plessis b Rabada ...... 15 , it gave me goosebumps in the dug- “He deserves to be the lead- D. Elgar c Starc b Hazlewood ...... 127 D. Warner run out ...... 35 out.” ing wicket-taker in our country. H. Amla b Hazlewood ...... 1 U. Khawaja ...... 58 With Steyn absent and little assistance for the Since readmission he’s been the JP. Duminy c Nevill b Siddle ...... 141 S. Smith c de Kock b Rabada ...... 34 spinners, Langeveldt said carefully rotating Raba- ultimate strike bowler, the best F. du Plessis c Nevill b Starc ...... 32 A. Voges c de Kock b Rabada ...... 1 da and Vernon Philander would be the key to suc- Test bowler we’ve produced. He T. Bavuma c Khawaja b M Marsh...... 8 M. Marsh not out ...... 15 cess on the fi nal day. deserves the record so I hope he Q. de Kock c Voges b M Marsh ...... 64 Extras: (b8, lb2, w1) ...... 11 A disappointed Australian fast bowler Peter Sid- does bounce back.” V. Philander b Smith ...... 73 Total: (4 wkts, 55 overs) ...... 169 dle maintained there was still hope for the home Steyn said he thought it would K. Maharaj not out ...... 41 Fall of wickets: 1-52 (Warner), 2-52 (Marsh), 3-144 side. take at least six months for him Extras: (b10, lb13, w17, nb1) ...... 41 (Smith), 4-146 (Voges) “It is defl ating to be in the position we are in, to recover and he would be in no Total: (8 wkts dec, 160.1 overs) ...... 540 Bowling: Rabada 16-2-49-3 (1w), Philander 12-3- we’re in a hard place,” he said.”But we can always great hurry to return, admitting Fall of wickets: 1-35 (Cook), 2-45 (Amla), 3-295 36-0, Duminy 8-1-18-0, Maharaj 17-6-40-0, Cook dream... stranger things can happen if you drag he had probably rushed back too (Duminy), 4-324 (Elgar), 5-346 (Bavuma), 6-352 (du 2-0-16-0 them out to late on day fi ve and we know they are soon after suff ering a shoulder Plessis), 7-468 (de Kock), 8-540 (Philander) Toss: South Africa a bowler down.” injury in December. Bowling: Starc 31-8-114-1 (5w), Hazlewood 37-11- Umpires: Aleem Dar (PAK) and Nigel Llong South Africa had declared their second in- “I didn’t have the full time to nings on 540 for 8 after lunch when Philander was recover... I’ve been dealing with bowled by Smith for 73. this thing for quite some time Australian innings in search of a draw. ges (1) in successive overs. It ended a brisk 72-run stand with Keshav Ma- now, so I probably should have The pair settled in against the part-time bowl- Smith had looked solid but drove at a ball and haraj (41 not out) as the visitors batted the home taken a little bit longer,” he told ers, but when the ball started to reverse swing Ra- got an outside edge to wicketkeeper Quinton de side out of the match after resuming on 390 for 6 Channel Nine at the WACA. bada returned to the attack and ended a 92-run Kock. Rabada’s next over to Voges was outstand- on Sunday morning. “I was wanting to rush and get third-wicket stand with an impressive spell. ing, with a couple of almost unplayable deliveries South Africa’s massive total was underpinned by into that World Cup, I Bowling with high pace in his ninth Test, before he had the new batsman caught behind off 141 from Duminy and 127 from Dean Elgar. wanted to go to the IPL, I wanted the 21-year-old showed he can become the a thin outside edge. The pair put on 250 for the third wicket as part of to play. This is what I do. So I’ll Australia’s Steve Smith (R) and Usman Khawaja (L) perfect long-term replacement for Steyn South Africa bowling coach Charl Langeveldt a remarkable comeback by the tourists after their probably have to take the time take a run in Perth yesterday. when he removed Smith (34) and Adam Vo- was thrilled with Rabada and said the over to Vo- disappointing fi rst day. this time and let it heal properly.”

BOTTOMLINE DRS makes India debut but debate still rages AFP tracking technology known as ‘Hawkeye’; a wards middle stump but batsmen now often have New Delhi high-audio microphone known as ‘snicko’ to walk after being hit on the pad by balls heading which detects the sound of a ball grazing the for off or leg. bat or gloves; and ‘hotspot’ thermal imaging Bishan Bedi, another legendary Indian spinner, ndia will become the last Test nation to em- which can also determine where a ball makes is delighted India are fi nally using DRS. brace cricket’s decision review system (DRS) contact. “Better late than never,” he told AFP, saying In- this week, ending their resistance to on- ICC general manager Geoff Allardice said In- dia stood to benefi t given the number of spinners Ifi eld technology at a time of growing debate dia’s change of heart stemmed from improve- they employ on their own turning tracks. about its impact on the game. ments which more accurately predict whether “It should be good for the spinners.It cannot While the recent series between England and the ball would have gone on to hit the stumps af- humanly be possible to eradicate human error so Bangladesh fuelled criticism that the constant ter hitting a batsman’s pads. the more we can reduce it, the better.” resort to TV replays has undermined umpires’ “Our aim for a long time has been to make the But while India are now on board, debate confi dence, DRS supporters say the technology is DRS technology better with an end goal of getting about the pros and cons of DRS shows no signs rapidly improving. it used more consistently in international crick- of abating – particularly after 42 decisions were While the other nine teams have been using et,” he said in a conference call from the ICC’s reviewed in last month’s Bangladesh-England DRS for years, the world’s number one Test side Dubai headquarters. series. Sri Lankan umpire Kumar Dharmasena had resisted over doubts about its reliability, Allardice said India’s new coach Anil Kumble had 16 decisions reviewed, eight of which were sparked by a frustrating trial run in 2008. has been key to the change of heart after being a overturned by a colleague scrutinising the slow- India’s master batsman Sachin Tendulkar was DRS proponent in his old position as chairman of motion replays. long rumoured to be at the forefront of the oppo- the ICC cricket committee. The constant reviews drained some of the dra- sition in the dressing room and World Cup win- That the former spinner – who took a record ma from a nail-biting series. ning skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni was also a 619 wickets for India – is a DRS fan is no surprise It reached its nadir at the end of the fi rst Test sceptic. given the system is widely seen to have most ben- when England had to wait several minutes before But opposition has faded since Tendulkar re- efi ted spinners. their victory was confi rmed. tired and Dhoni stepped down as Test skipper (he Figures have shown the number of leg before Allardice acknowledged the number of reviews remains ODI captain). The implementation of the DRS will be a boon for the spinners. wicket (LBW) decisions in favour of spinners has going against an umpire was a factor in deciding India’s agreement to employ DRS for the fi ve- roughly doubled since DRS came into widespread whether they remain on the elite panel which of- Test series against England that begins this week Announcing the U-turn, the country’s cricket and would deploy all the DRS tools in the England usage in 2009. fi ciate in Tests, while insisting the ICC wouldn’t came after an International Cricket Council (ICC) board president Anurag Thakur said India “rec- series. Before, umpires could rarely be persuaded to “jump to a conclusion on the basis of one single presentation last month on upgrades in technology. ognise the enhanced role of technology in sport” DRS comprises three main elements: ball- raise their fi nger unless the ball was arrowed to- performance”. Gulf Times 4 Monday, November 7, 2016 CRICKET

HARARE TEST DEMOTION West Indies star Bravo off ered Undefeated ton by Grade C contract De Silva puts Lanka in charge De Silva came to the wicket with Sri Lanka struggling on 112 for four after they had lost the toss and been asked to bat, but showed greater application than Sri Lanka’s top order as he hit his second Test century in just his fifth match

West Indies batsman Darren Bravo.

IANS it’s important or necessary to Port of Spain give the scale. We have decided that we’re not giving the scale, that the range is suffi cient. You he West Indies Cricket can assume, or you may (ask the Board (WICB) has re- player), if the players want to fused to confi rm wheth- give what their salaries are spe- er star batsman Darren cifi cally (that’s their choice).” BravoT was off ered a lower level Apart from Samuels, the left- Grade C central contract for the handed Bravo is the most ex- upcoming year. perienced member of the West The Trinidad NewsDay re- Indies batting line-up, hav- ported on Saturday that the ing played 49 Tests and scored 27-year-old leader of the West 3,400 runs at an average of 40. Indies batting group was over- He is also a treasured member looked for a top tier retainer, of the one-day team where he and given a Grade C contract has played 94 games and aver- worth $100,000 reports CMC. ages 32. Earlier this week, the WICB According to the newspaper disclosed that Bravo had de- report, Bravo would have joined clined a retainer contract, along the likes of Test novices Jomel with veteran batsman Marlon Warrican and Alzarri Joseph as Samuels and Twenty20 captain players with Grade C contracts. Carlos Brathwaite. Grade A is the highest level WICB Communications contract on off er and is worth Manager Carole Beckford sub- $150,000, with Grade B val- sequently told the NewsDay on ued at $125,000 and Grade C at Saturday the board did not have $100,000. Sri Lanka batsman Dhananjaya de Silva (L) plays a shot as Brian Chari takes evasive action during the first day of the second cricket Test match in Harare yesterday. a policy of releasing information Twenty-three-year-old on player contract scales. opener Kraigg Brathwaite was “No, we wouldn’t give that given a Grade A contract while AFP Scoreboard Fast bowler Carl Mumba limped information. If the players want Test and one-day captain Jason Harare off the fi eld aft er the fi rst over, and to reveal their scales, that’s fi ne Holder secured a Grade B, the Sri Lanka first innings Bowling: Mumba 14-2-54-0, Tiripano seamers Chris Mpofu and Donald but we don’t. We have supplied NewsDay reported. D. Karunaratne c Williams b Masakadza 22-4-63-1, Mpofu 18-4-65-1, Masakadza Tiripano were wayward in their the ranges in the last press re- The WICB earlier this week n unbeaten century from ...... 26 8-2-18-2, Cremer 18-0-57-1, Williams 5-1-8- opening spells as Sri Lanka lease and we thought that was said that the new contracts were Dhananjaya de Silva put Sri K. Silva lbw b Mpofu ...... 37 0, Waller 5-0-23-0. progressed to 62 without loss. suffi cient,” she was quoted as “based on performances from Lanka in control of the second K. Perera c Mumba b Masakadza ...... 4 Zimbabwe: Tino Mawoyo, Brian Chari, saying. October 1, 2015, to September and final Test against Zim- K. Mendis c Moor b Tiripano ...... 26 Hamilton Masakadza, Craig Ervine, Sean 26. At 112 for four, Sri Lanka were under Beckford said, “I don’t think 2016”. Ababwe after a fluctuating first day at pressure for the first time in the series U. Tharanga c Masakadza b Cremer .. 79 Williams, , Harare Sports Club yesterday. D. de Silva not out ...... 100 (wk), (capt), Donald but Tharanga and De Silva were unper- De Silva came to the wicket with Sri A. Gunaratne not out ...... 13 Tiripano, Carl Mumba, Chris Mpofu. turbed. SPOTLIGHT Lanka struggling on 112 for four after Extras: (2lb, 2w, 1nb) ...... 5 Toss: Zimbabwe The pair were content to take a pa- they had lost the toss and been asked Total: (5 wkts, 90 overs) ...... 290 Umpires: Ian Gould (ENG) and Simon tient approach as the pitch flattened to bat, but showed greater application Fall of wickets: 1-62 (Karunaratne), Fry (AUS) out and Zimbabwe tightened up their than Sri Lanka’s top order as he hit his 2-66 (Perera), 3-84 (Silva), 4-112 (Mendis), TV umpire: Marais Erasmus (RSA) bowling, seeing Sri Lanka through to Windies captain second Test century in just his fifth 5-255 (Tharanga). Match referee: Chris Broad (ENG) tea on 187 for four. match. Still to bat: D. Perera, R. Herath, S. Lak- Series: Sri Lanka leads two-match series “We started off badly in the first ses- The right-hander added a crucial 143 mal, L. Kumara. 1-0. sion, but I think we pulled it back quite Holder entirely for the fifth wicket with Upul Tharanga nicely as the day wore on,” said Masa- before finishing unbeaten on 100, as kadza. the tourists closed the day on 290 for were wayward in their opening spells turn to the field soon after, but it was “We would have been happier with focused on game five. as Sri Lanka progressed to 62 without fellow fast bowler Mpofu who struck one or two more wickets, but I think af- “I knew I needed to bat through the loss. The breakthrough came from an before lunch when he trapped Kaushal ter the start that we had, we’ll take it.” IANS the trio of Bravo, Samuels and innings,” De Silva said afterwards. unlikely source, as part-timer Ham- Silva lbw for 37. Tharanga fell for 79 in the final ses- Dubai Brathwaite had opted against “Playing under pressure is my role, so ilton Masakadza made an early entry Although Silva asked for a review, he sion, as he became the first player to be retainer contracts, for the year- it made me comfortable.” to the attack and Dimuth Karunaratne took too long to do so and so his request given out on review in Zimbabwe, with long period ending September Zimbabwe won the toss and elected guided an innocuous straight was denied. Hawk-Eye showed that the third umpire determining that he est Indies Test cap- next year. to bowl first on a pitch boasting a tinge to gully to depart for 26. the delivery from Mpofu would have had edged a delivery from legspinner tain Jason Holder Bravo is the leader of the West of green, but had a chaotic first hour Masakadza then struck in his next missed leg stump. Graeme Cremer. has said he is de- Indies batting group, averaging with the ball. over when ’s decision to Sri Lanka went to lunch on 105 for But De Silva reached three figures termined to avoid 40 from 49 Tests, while Samuels Fast bowler Carl Mumba limped off attack the seamer from the start of his three, and were in trouble soon after shortly before the close of play, and controversialW off -the-fi eld is- is the side’s most senior player the field after the first over, and seam- innings backfired horribly, as he holed the interval when Kusal Mendis edged was accompanied to stumps by Asela sues and focus on his main job with 71 Tests and 187 One-Day ers Chris Mpofu and Donald Tiripano out to long-on. Mumba was able to re- Donald Tiripano behind to depart for Gunaratne, who was unbeaten on 13. of leading the Caribbean cricket Internationals (ODIs). side. Brathwaite, the newly ap- Responding to questions from pointed Twenty20 skipper, is BOTTOMLINE media here on the decision by also a member of both the Test Darren Bravo, Marlon Samuels and ODI set-ups. and Carlos Brathwaite to decline Their decision immediately central contracts, Holder reiter- raised question marks about ated he was powerless over such their respectively futures but administrative matters and was Holder said ultimately it was up more preoccupied with galva- to each payer to take responsibil- Bangladesh to nising the West Indies’ perform- ity for their performances and ances on the fi eld, reports CMC. careers. All three players are mem- “As players we have to be re- bers of the Test squad which fi - sponsible for our own individual nally won their fi rst game in 19 actions (and) take our own per- restart from tomorrow months and fi rst on foreign soil sonal pride onto the cricket fi eld in four years, when they beat and control cricket,” he pointed IANS on Saturday had been suspended and the Rajshahi Kings were still undecided. abandoned due to rain but it was later Pakistan by fi ve wickets in the out. Dhaka Sunday fi xtures had also been postponed “The Governing Council has the au- marked as postponed before Mallick third and fi nal Test in Sharjah on “At the end of the day, that’s owing to a rain forecast. thority to reschedule matches whenever made the decision public in the evening at Thursday. the only thing we can control and The restart will follow the prepared necessary. But in case of a rematch, the Mirpur’s Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket “As I’ve said about all the neg- at the end of the day, cricket will ersistent rainy weather has forced schedule as per the stipulated dates. Four relevant franchises and the BCB, every- Stadium. ative things around West Indies be here to stay and it’s been here the Bangladesh Cricket Board to of the fi rst six matches, earlier scheduled body needs to be unanimous about the When the matches will be replayed was cricket, those things are basi- before us. So, for me, we just go postpone the start of the Bang- from November 4 to 6, will be played later decision. Comilla and Rajshahi will give still being worked out. cally beyond my control,” said out there and control (what we Pladesh Premier League to tomor- in the tournament. their decisions by 10 p.m. tonight (Sun- “We will try to reassign the fi ve or six Holder. can) by playing good cricket.” row, reports bdnews24.com. “We couldn’t even start BPL because day night),” he said. matches on November 10 and 14 and, if “I can’t control who signs The West Indies wrapped up After the opening day’s matches on of the rain. We set 11 days aside in the He said the decision came at a meeting need be, we will hold three matches a day. contracts, I can’t control who’s a diffi cult tour against Pakistan Friday were abandoned, the Barisal Bulls- schedule ... we can now make good use of on Saturday involving the BPL governing November 20 is also an option for the re- here with me. All I can control this week, losing the T20 and Chittagong Vikings tie, too, was washed it amid the unexpected rain. We will re- council, representatives from the seven scheduled matches,” Mallick said. is my destiny on the cricket fi eld ODI series by 3-0 margins and out on Saturday with the teams sharing start the games from Tuesday,” said BPL franchises and broadcasting and ticket- “The people who deal with the fi xtures when I step over that line, and succumbing 2-1 in the Test se- points on all three occasions member secretary Ismail Haider Mallick. ing partners. Bangladesh Cricket Board are on it. There may be a case when we that goes for everybody in the ries. They now head to Zimba- With the tournament yet to see a ball He said Rangpur Riders and Khulna President Nazmul Hassan was present may have to hold three matches a day. dressing room.” bwe for the Tri-Nation Series in- being bowled, the Bangladesh Cricket Titans agreed to a rematch of their fi rst there as well. Then a match will be held in the morn- The West Indies Cricket Board volving Sri Lanka and the hosts, Board (BCB) then said both the matches day-match but Comilla Victorians and The fi rst match on Saturday was also ing.” (WICB) disclosed this week that which begins November 14. Gulf Times Monday, November 7, 2016 5 GOLF

SPOTLIGHT Glover grabs lead, Pampling in hunt in Las Vegas

AFP great to see that go in,” Glover off the tee on the way to a double birdie putts.” Los Angeles said. “I made that long one and bogey at the par-3 17th and not everything started to fl ow. I got even a closing birdie could put Leading scores the speed right on that long one. him on top. 198-Lucas Glover 68-65-65 ucas Glover, the 2009 I got a little more aggressive and Australia’s Geoff Ogilvy, the 199-Brooks Koepka 62-67-70, US Open champion who kept that going.” 2006 US Open champion, and Rod Pampling (AUS) 60-68-71 hasn’t won a title in fi ve Glover followed by making American Russell Henley shared 200-Russell Henley 68-69-63, years, fi red on Saturday an eight-foot eagle putt at the fourth on 200. Ogilvy fi red a 66, Geoff Ogilvy (AUS) 67-67-66 La second consecutive six-under par-5 ninth, adding birdie putts running off four birdies in a row 201-Scott Piercy 68-68-65, par 65 to seize a one-stroke lead from seven feet at 11 and six feet starting at the 14th hole, the Harris English 67-67-67, Adam entering the fi nal round of the at 15 and fi nally making a tap-in most spectacular of them from Hadwin (CAN) 70-64-67, Charles US PGA Shriners Hospitals for birdie at the par-5 16th. 25 feet at the par-5 16th. Howell 67-67-67, Pat Perez 66- Children Open. Pampling, whose only US PGA “You’ve got quite a few birdies 66-69, James Hahn 66-66-69 The 36-year-old American, triumphs came at the 2004 In- at the end and I was able to make 202-Tony Finau 72-65-65, John who has not won since taking ternational and in 2006 at Bay a few,” Ogilvy said. Huh 62-73-67, the 2011 Quail Hollow crown, led Hill, fi red a par 71. The 47-year- “I haven’t made everything (AUS) 66-68-68, Kyle Stanley on 15-under 198 after 54 holes old from Brisbane made bogeys but I have had a lot of putts. 67-67-68, Ryan Moore 68-66- with Australia’s Rod Pampling at the par-3 fi fth and eighth but I’m feeling pretty good about it. 68, Matt Jones (AUS) 65-68-69, and American Brooks Koepka between them sandwiched bird- Driving it well and if you’re driv- Brian Harman 70-63-69, Sean sharing second on 199. Glover ies at six and seven, the fi rst from ing it well you have got a good O’Hair 67-66-69, Aaron Wise sank a 17-foot birdie putt on 25 feet. He began the back nine chance around here.” 66-65-71 the opening hole, took his lone with a bogey but birdied the par- Henley fi red a bogey-free 63, 203-Ryan Brehm 67-69-67, Rob- bogey at the third after fi nding 5 13th and parred in from there. including a 21-foot birdie putt at ert Streb 70-66-67, Jon Rahm a fairway bunker, then sank a Koepka made bogeys on three the par-4 fourth. (ESP) 65-69-69, Keegan Bradley 43-foot birdie putt at the par-3 of the fi rst six holes, birdied the “It was fun,” Henley said. “I 67-65-71 eighth that sparked the rest of seventh from 11 feet and then hung in there and made some 204-Michael Kim 69-68-67, his round. birdied four of seven to open the pars when I got myself a little Shawn Stefani 70-66-68, Kyle Lucas Glover of the United States lines up a putt on the 18th green during the third round of the Shriners “I made a nice one. It was back nine. But he found water out of position and I made some Reifers 71-67-66. Hospitals for Children Open in Las Vegas. (Getty Images/AFP)

REPORT OPINION EPGA chief Pelley open to Ryder Cup Olesen holds nerve eligibility changes

AFP players and we are always lis- Belek, Turkey tening to what they have to say as we also want to have the best possible team at the Ryder Cup,” uropean Tour CEO Keith said Pelley in a news conference to triumph in Turkey Pelley hinted there could at the Turkish Airlines Open on be changes to the eli- Saturday. gibility rules for future “We are having discussions ‘But I tried to play steady and clearly the last four holes were tough mentally’ EuropeanE Ryder Cup teams in regarding the qualifi cation sys- the aftermath of their six-point tem now and we will continue to defeat at Hazeltine. have them. A number of losing European “We will adjust the Ryder Cup Team players, including Rory qualifi cation if we feel that we McIlroy and Lee Westwood, need to. We won’t be afraid to suggested following Europe’s make the changes. heaviest Ryder Cup defeat since “I would say that part of our 1981 that the selection criteria job at the European Tour is to get was fl awed. players to come and play because In particular, McIlroy and it is a terrifi c place to play. Westwood singled out England’s “So it is our job as gatekeep- Paul Casey, who elected not to ers of the Tour to provide bigger join the European Tour in a goal prize purses, greater experiences to focus more on the PGA Tour and greater courses so that the – he would have easily qualifi ed players want to play here and for the team had he simply been play more than they need to just a member. to stay a member and so be a Ry- McIlroy said Casey’s absence der Cup player. “defi nitely hurt our side”. “The Ryder Cup is a criti- There was also the scenario of cal component of our Tour and Russell Knox’s 2015 WGC-HSBC it is a sensational event but it Champions victory not counting shouldn’t be the only reason towards Hazeltine selection as why someone wants to be on our he was not a member of the Eu- Tour. That’s our job at hand right ropean Tour at the time. now.” Knox later joined the Tour and Any decision to change the despite fi nishing as the highest qualifying criteria is expected to non-qualifi er was overlooked by be discussed at a meeting hosted captain Darren Clarke. by Pelley just prior to Christmas Pelley has suggested changes to appoint the 2018 European to the qualifying process could Team Captain. mean players who are clearly in Those also set to be present at form – as Casey had been in the the meeting will be the past three weeks prior to the Ryder Cup European Team captains in Jose – are considered for selection Maria Olazabal, Paul McGinley whether or not they are a mem- and Clarke along with Henrik ber of the European Tour. Stenson, who will represent the “We are always talking to our Tournament Players Committee.

JAPAN CLASSIC China’s Feng holds on to claim title

Reuters saw the board when I was on the Tokyo 17th green so I actually knew I Thorbjorn Olesen celebrates with the Turkish Airlines Open trophy yesterday. was leading by three going into the last hole,” Feng said. AFP play steady and clearly the last the biggest purse of his eight- do my best, and just like I said 67-69-66-69 hanshan Feng won back- “Then I hit the drive left and Belek, Turkey four holes were tough mentally year pro career. yesterday, only top fi ve is really, 272 - Pablo Larrazal (ESP) 67- to-back tournaments hit it on the green with my third and it was really diffi cult.” “I was watching the leader really good for me.” 69-68-68 for the fi rst time in her shot and then I thought easy two The London-based player boards around the course and I Masters Champion Danny 273 - Nacho Elvira (ESP) 70-67- career after the world putt but the fi rst putt I just hit it enmark’s Thorbjorn jumped from 32nd to ninth on knew what I had to do, and even Willett failed to regain his Race numberS eight survived a late way too hard and the second putt 69-67 Olesen held on after the Race to Dubai. though my lead was down from to Dubai lead with a closing 274 - Mikko Ilonen (FIN) 74-66- scare to secure a one-stroke vic- I missed and left myself a three his seven-shot lead Olesen’s biggest challenge seven shots to one, it does put round 75 for a disappointing two 67-67, An Byeong-Hun (KOR) tory over South Korea’s Jang Ha- footer and said, it’s time to make was reduced to one came from England’s David pressure on you,” he said. “But to over par tally. 68-69-69-68, Tyrrell Hatton na at the co-sanctioned Japan this putt. I don’t want to lose by toD capture the Turkish Airlines Horsey who had managed to cut win this event means a lot to me Willett needed to fi nish fi fth Classic yesterday. making a triple bogey on the last (ENG) 72-67-67-68 Open’s one million euro win- the Dane’s lead to just one shot as the last three to four months or higher to go past the ab- 275 - Ricardo Gouveia (POR) China’s Feng completed her but I made it and it was pressure ner’s cheque at Belekyesterday. in racing to six under par for his my game has been pretty poor, sent Henrik Stenson but ended 70-68-70-67, Wang Jeung-Hun third and fi nal round with a two- relieved.” Olesen, 26 eventually won round through 12 holes. and I haven’t played well.” the Turkey event sharing 68th (KOR) 67-70-68-70, David Dyrs- under 70 at the Taiheiyo Club’s by three strokes with a fourth Horsey went into the last day Horsey’s eff ort was his best place. dale (SCOT) 67-68-69-71, Adrian tree-lined Minori Course to Feng completed her third round of 69 for a 20-under par sharing second place at 11-un- fi nish since winning a fourth Both Stenson and Willett will Otaegui (ESP) 70-63-71-71 claim her sixth LPGA Tour title, and fi nal round with a tally of 264 on the Regnun Car- der par and while he birdied the Tour title in August last year in be contesting next week’s Ned- 276 - Richard Bland (ENG) 70- one week after winning the Sime two-under 70 to claim her ya course. 15th to go to 18-under the Eng- Denmark. bank Challenge at Sun City in 68-70-68, Raphael Jacquelin Darby LPGA Malaysia in Kuala sixth LPGA Tour title It was Olesen’s fourth Euro- lishman dropped a shot at the South Africa and the second of (FRA) 69-69-69-69, Thongchai Lumpur. pean Tour success and it took next to eventually shoot a round Willett disappointing the Tour’s Final Series. Jaidee (THA) 67-66-70-73, Jorge “I haven’t won at the LPGA for Jang, who beat Feng by a his career earnings through the of 65 and share second place on “I thought, if I could get to Campillo (ESP) 66-69-71-70, two years and I just won back- stroke to win in Taiwan last seven mn euro barrier in his 17-under par. sort of 20, that would be a rea- RESULTS Matteo Manassero (ITL) 66-68- to-back that means Shanshan is month, shot her third straight seventh season on the tour. Joining Horsey in second spot sonable eff ort and put a little bit Fourth round scores 68-74 back,” Feng told reporters. four-under-par 68 but the Ko- “It was a weird feeling com- was China’s Li Haotong who of pressure on Thorbjorn,” said 264 - Thorbjorn Olesen (DEN) Selected Feng continued her bogey- rean was always too far back to ing out today knowing I was capped a similar last round 65 Horsey. 65-62-68-69 279 - Padraig Harrington (IRL) free golf from the previous day mount a serious challenge in the leading by seven as I knew the with four birdies in succession Li, 21 also secured the biggest 267 - David Horsey (ENG) 72-69-69-69 by mixing four birdies with 13 fi nal event on the American- guys would shoot a low number from his 14th hole. cheque of his European Tour ca- 67-67-68-65, Li Haotong (CHN) 290 - Paul Lawrie (SCOT) 69- pars over 17 holes but it was not based circuit’s Asian swing. today, so I had to go out and see Olesen had been level par reer, some 100,000 euros more 66-68-68-65. 70-71-70 all plain sailing for the 27-year- Defending champion Ahn if I could make a few birdies,” he over his outward nine with one than capturing the Volvo China 269 - Bernd Wiesbeger (AUT) 281 - Victor Dubuisson (FRA) old as she three-putted for dou- Sun-ju tied for third at 10-under said. birdie and a bogey before fi nally Open this year. 66-70-66-67 72-69-72-68 ble-bogey on the par-four 18th alongside Japan’s Kotone Hori “After nine holes there were a answering Horsey’s charge with The eff ort has seen the 270 - George Coetzee (RSA) 282 - Lee Westwood (ENG) 70- to fi nish on 13-under 203. and fellow South Koreans Ryu few guys shooting low numbers birdies at the 12th, 14th and 15th Shanghai-born Li move to 41st 64-73-66-67 70-73-69 “Normally I have a habit where So-yeon and Kang Soo-yun. The so all of a sudden there was a lot and while he bogeyed the 16th it on the Race to Dubai. “It’s fan- 271 - Joakim Largergren (SWE) 286 - Danny Willett (ENG) 69- I don’t look at leaderboards $1.5mn event is co-sanctioned of pressure on me. “But I tried to was still good enough to secure tastic for me,” he said. “I already 70-64-70-67, David Lipksy (USA) 74-68-75 when I play but I accidentally by the LPGA of Japan Tour. Gulf Times 6 Monday, November 7, 2016 SPORT

NBA 76ers fans should be excited over Aussie Simmons, says LeBron Injured Australian forward Ben Sim- mons will excite Philadelphia 76ers supporters when he finally gets a chance to play in the NBA, league superstar LeBron James said. LeBron passes Olajuwon James, who shares an agent with the 20-year-old forward from Melbourne, said he thinks Simmons is a talented player and even better person. “I’ve been knowing the kid for quite a while now,” James said. “He’s a good kid, well grounded. on all-time scorers list He’s a great young talent. Philly should be excited to have him.” The 76ers took Simmons with the ‘I felt like if I could do that then I could be more dynamic and make our team better’ first pick in last June’s NBA Draft just days after James and the Cleveland Cavaliers won the NBA Finals, rallying to defeat Golden State in seven games. Simmons suff ered a broken small right toe after rolling his ankle in the team’s final training camp scrimmage and he is not expected to return until early in 2017. James said he has spoken with Simmons about how to handle the enforced layoff and improve his game while unable to play. As for what he told him? That will stay private. “He’s like a little brother of mine,” James said. “I’ll talk to him. But it’s not for news clippings.” James said the thing he likes best about Simmons on the court is “his ability to see the floor. He pushes with a lot of aggression. “He has always got his head up and looking for teammates. That’s a great abil- ity.” The 76ers are trying to bounce back after having a league-worst 10-72 campaign last season. They are 0-5 this season after a 102-101 loss to Cleveland on Saturday.

Sixers invite singer back after anthem controversy Sevyn Streeter, the singer whose national anthem performance was cancelled by the Philadelphia 76ers in a controversial move last month, will perform it next month, the NBA club announced on Saturday. Streeter was wearing a “We Matter” jersey, a reference to the “Black Lives Matter” campaign in response to controversial police shootings of black men across the United States, when she was de- nied her chance to sing “The Star- Spangled Banner” before the 76ers’ season opener October 26 against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (No 23) dribbles past Philadelphia 76ers guard Gerald Henderson (No 12) and forward Robert Covington (No 33) during the second quarter at Wells Fargo Center. But the 76ers backtracked from PICTURE: USA TODAY Sports their original stance and the ryhthm and blues performer will AFP ter against the host 76ers to move one “I felt like if I could do that then I could move forward. “It’s a great learning rebounds, while New Zealand’s Ste- be wearing the jersey with the “We Washington point ahead of Olajuwon’s career total be more dynamic and make our team experience for us. It’s always great to ven Adams added 14 points and eight Matter” slogan when she sings of 26,946 points. “King” James took better.” have these kinds of games. I know we rebounds. the anthem before Philadelphia’s only 993 career games over 14 seasons He won NBA crowns with Miami have room for improvement.” “Russell is a unique player and he December 16 home game against eBron James scored 25 points to surpass Hakeem “The Dream,” who the next two seasons and took his can aff ect the game in so many diff er- the Los Angeles Lakers. “After a on Saturday, passing Hakeem needed 1,238 games over 18 campaigns third crown, and fi rst with Cleveland, George tests kicking skills ent ways,” Thunder coach Billy Dono- meaningful dialogue with the 76ers Olajuwon for 10th on the NBA to achieve his total. last June. The next target on the NBA Indiana thumped visiting Milwau- van said. “I want him to be aggressive.” organisation, I have accepted their all-time scoring list, as the “It means I’ve played with a lot of all-time scoring list is Elvin Hayes kee 125-107 despite Pacers star Paul In other games, Andre Drummond apology,” Streeter said. “In order to LCleveland Cavaliers remained unbeat- great teammates that have allowed me with 27,313 points. Of the top 10, only George, who had 13 points, being had 19 points and 20 rebounds to lead move forward, it was important to en by defeating Philadelphia 102-101. and entrusted me to do what I do out James, Kobe Bryant and Michael Jor- ejected with 1:42 to play in the third Detroit over Denver 103-86, while re- me that we take action and use this James also added eight rebounds on the fl oor. That’s the number one dan were players that weren’t centers quarter after receiving a technical foul serve guard Jeff Green scored 10 of his as an opportunity to create positive and 14 assists, the last on Channing thing,” James said. “Also it’s a testa- or power forwards with dominating for kicking the ball into the stands. It 18 points in the fourth quarter to pow- change and dialogue throughout Frye’s 3-pointer to create the fi nal ment to me just taking care of my body inside games. hit a fan to whom George apologized. er Orlando over visiting Washington the community.” The 76ers will margin with 65 seconds remaining. and working on my craft throughout James wants the team to improve, “I am grateful that my ejection didn’t 88-86. make a donation to the Boys and The Philadelphia 76ers, winless at my career. “It’s always humbling when even if they are unbeaten and off to cost us a loss,” George said. “I am sure I Girls Clubs of Philadelphia and 0-5, turned the ball over three times in you’re able to put yourself in any cat- their best start since opening 8-0 in will be fi ned. The one thing I really liked RESULTS work with Streeter on multiple the fi nal minute to ensure a victory by egory with the guys that laid the path 1976. about tonight was that we were aggres- Cavaliers 102 76ers 101 community outreach programs the Cavaliers, now 6-0. for you and for the rest of us. So, it’s “We just need to get better,” James sive on both ends of the fl oor.” Magic 88 Wizards 86 promoting inclusion and accept- Kevin Love added 20 points and 11 pretty cool.” said. Being unbeaten “means abso- Russell Westbrook scored 28 points Pistons 103 Nuggets 86 ance. “I am also looking forward rebounds for the Cavaliers while Joel James worked out with former Hou- lutely nothing. On the defensive end and added eight assists, six rebounds Pacers 111 Bulls 94 to returning to Philadelphia in Embiid led the 76ers with 22 points. ston Rockets center Olajuwon in 2011. we need to be a whole lot better. We and three steals for Oklahoma City in Thunder 112 Timberwolves 92 December to perform the national Four-time NBA Most Valuable Play- “I knew he worked guys out that want- have not taken a step backward, but a 112-92 rout of visiting Minnesota. Hawks 112 Rockets 97 anthem wearing my ‘We Matter’ er James scored on a fast-break layup ed to get better and I wanted to expand we’ve had a couple of lulls. We take Enes Kanter came off the Thunder Bucks 117 Kings 91 jersey,” she said. with 6:02 remaining in the fi rst quar- my game in the low post,” James said. care of that and we will continue to bench to score 20 points and grab 10 Clippers 116 Spurs 92

BASEBALL Cooler stadium fi nal attendance solution: Rangers

By Mac Engel Arlington is committed to potential fans every season be- playoff s, were the best team in Fort Worth Star-Telegram entertainment as its main high- cause of our heat. The estima- the American League all season profi le revenue source, and no tion is certainly plausible. How and fi nished 10th in the league in member of this city council wants many times have you been de- attendance at 2.71 million. That’s hile this election on their political gravestone they terred from attending a game not bad but that should have cycle has managed let the Rangers move east. because your face feels as if it been a 3-million-fan attendance to bring out the It does sound like this meas- might melt off ? team. The Rangers were good, worst in so many ure will pass and the city and A new stadium will make club the owners spent a fortune on Wof us, because we can’t agree the club will open this $1 bil- owners Ray Davis and Bob Simp- payroll - eighth in MLB - and on anything, we can all concur lion “joint” venture before 2021. son even wealthier, and this sta- assembled a roster of good pros that we will be thrilled when this Along with new multi-use Texas dium deal is a cash grab, but we fans could easily support. wreck reaches its merciful con- Live!, the whole area will be fun already knew that. That’s every There are no less than a doz- clusion tomorrow. and cool, so just don’t complain team in every city. en theories why a team so good Much to the delight of every about it when it’s done. Combined with Texas Live! didn’t put a butt in every seat for single American - right, left, Because it will not be cheap – which will feature an array of the fi rst two home playoff games, blue or red - we are now mere and you are the one footing the bars, restaurants and hotel/con- or draw more than 3 million fans hours away from the end. bill. It’s your money and if you vention space across the street this season. By late Tuesday night, we will are OK with that, then bring on from the new ball yard – there There is the issue of fi rst- know whether He or She will be what must be the last time for will potentially exist every single pitch start times, the treatment our next President, and whether the next 100 years that the Texas necessary comfort and amenity of Nolan Ryan, the lack of public the city of Arlington approved a Rangers ask the city of Arlington to draw fans. transportation in Arlington, the measure to keep a tax in place to for another thing. And here is what should be a cost of the games, the fact that help fi nance a new stadium for If a new stadium does not fi x legitimate fear in the pit of every it’s baseball, the heat and the in- the Texas Rangers. the problem, nothing will. Rangers offi cial’s stomach – new creased competition in a fl ooded Arlington mayor Jeff Williams Club offi cials are confi dent restaurants and bars plus a roof entertainment market, among was unavailable for multiple in- this vote will pass, but that it and a working AC unit over the other theories. terview requests, but his assist- will not be by a landslide. There place is not a guarantee. For the Rangers, this “prob- ants said he would be after the will be sweaty hands on this vote As evidenced by the franchises lem” is solved with a roof and election. I am sure that’s just a and nervous knots in stomachs in Tampa, Miami, Arizona and AC. And they may very well be coincidence. Tuesday throughout Arlington. A Ranger fan uses a bandana to block the sun during a match. Houston - miserably hot places, right. The only way we will know For the record, I am a big fan There is no logical reason for too - there is no magic pill for ca- is if Arlington voters give the of the Rangers remaining in Ar- a baseball team to move out of a hot summer days of Texas. currently can’t off er to bring fans can’t blame a soul for passing on pacity crowds. Those four cities club more money to build it. In lington but a staunch opponent baseball stadium that opened in The Rangers are banking that to the game. free tickets behind home plate built stadiums with roofs for the fi ve years or so, we will know if of public fi nancing for places of 1994 and is in fantastic shape; the ability to close the doors With AC and a roof, the team during a day game in August, hometown ball team, and those the team was correct. business that are open less than but the club is understand- and blast the AC - arguably the can host a day game in summer which sometimes the club is teams ranked 30th, 27th, 21st and If it works, great. one-third of the year, especially ably frustrated to fi ll in the many single-most important thing secure in the knowledge that forced to play. 17th in 2016 MLB attendance. If it doesn’t, then the Rangers when a perfectly good space is in empty seats that plague this we do as Texans - will provide more than 15,000 people will The Rangers estimate they The Rangers, before their lat- will know for sure and will be out fi ne working order. franchise during the painfully the necessary comfort that they brave the infernal conditions. I lose hundreds of thousands of est late-season collapse in the of favors to ask Arlington. Gulf Times Monday, November 7, 2016 7 SPORT

NFL Neuvirth shaky as Flyers fall to Canadiens One night after a 10-goal loss behind the net and had the that matched the largest mar- puck taken away by Torrey gin of defeat in their proud his- Mitchell, who sent a pass to tory, the Montreal Canadiens an all-alone Phillip Danault were not a happy team. for an easy tap in, giving the Will referees be rough on Rams? They took out their anger on Canadiens a 4-2 lead. the Flyers. After Claude Giroux cut it to By Gary Klein a victory over the Arizona Car- board, that’s all.” games but failed each time in the across, that I’ve ever played Montreal made the most of its 4-3 with a power-play goal Los Angeles Times dinals, a win that ended a four- Several Rams defensive line- fourth quarter. against,” Keenum said. New- shots Saturday night and ral- – and the Flyers still with an game losing streak and improved men scoff ed at Newton’s com- “It’s coming down to two or ton put himself in the best-ever lied past shaky goalie Michal extra attacker because of a their record to 2-5. plaint. “We’re not going into this three plays that we keep missing conversation last season when Neuvirth and the Flyers, 5-4, double-minor penalty – Tomas e’s perhaps the NFL’s It was the aftermath of the game trying to hurt him,” end each game,” receiver Tavon Aus- he led the Panthers to a 15-1 reg- at the Bell Centre to lift their Plekanec fired a left circle shot most magnetic star, Panthers’ victory that got the William Hayes said. “We’re just tin said. ular season and two playoff vic- home record to 7-0. through Neuvirth’s legs to the reigning most val- football world’s attention and going to play the way we play.” Quarterback Case Keenum tories before losing to the Denver The previous night, the Cana- make it 5-3 with 9:03 to go. uable player capable of put the Rams in line for possible Rams Coach Jeff Fisher said it has been responsible for several. Broncos in the Super Bowl. diens were embarrassed in The short-handed goal Ha highlight-reel play every snap. extra scrutiny. was “highly unlikely” that New- He had four passes intercepted Last month, Newton suff ered Columbus, 10-0, for their first secured the win. The Flyers Now, after complaining about The 6-foot-5, 245-pound ton was not having fun. against the Giants - two of which a concussion against the Atlanta regulation loss of the season. dominated the second period, alleged illegal hits in the pocket Newton, citing a low hit by Ari- “Just watch him warm up, were not his fault - but he remains Falcons and was sidelined for The Habs improved to 10-1-1 outshooting the Canadiens, - and taking it all the way to the zona defensive lineman Calais watch him when he scores a the starter with Fisher seemingly one game. despite being outshot overall, 15-3, but allowing the only goal NFL commissioner’s offi ce - all Campbell that was not ruled a touchdown,” Fisher said. “It content to keep No. 1 draft pick He passed for 212 yards and 38-17, and outplayed for much in the stanza and fell into a 3-2 eyes will not only be on Caro- penalty, said he did not feel safe looks like he’s having a blast.” Jared Goff on the sideline. ran for 43 in last week’s 30-20 of the 60 minutes. hole. Montreal scored on its lina Panthers quarterback Cam on the fi eld and that the situa- The Rams enjoyed themselves Keenum faces a Panthers de- victory over the Cardinals. Rookie Travis Konecny scored only good chance of the pe- Newton. tion was taking the fun out of the early in the season when they re- fense that sacked Arizona quar- The Rams could be back to full a power-play goal on a tip-in riod, as a defensive breakdown The offi cials’ gaze will no game. Newton said he wanted bounded from an embarrassing terback Carson Palmer eight strength on defense if corner- to cut the deficit to 5-4 with 3 – Sean Couturier was late doubt be fi xed on the Los Ange- an audience with Commissioner loss to the San Francisco 49ers times last week. back Trumaine Johnson and de- minutes, 44 seconds remain- getting back – led to a four-on- les Rams during Sunday’s game Roger Goodell. and reeled off three consecutive Linebackers Luke Kuechly and fensive tackle Michael Brockers ing. But an interference three rush that produced Alex at the Coliseum. And he got one. victories. Thomas Davis lead a front seven return from injuries on Sunday. penalty against defenseman Galchenyuk’s go-ahead goal It’s the Rams’ fi rst game since Campbell was later fi ned more They entered an October 9 that has helped limit opponents They will need them against Michael Del Zotto with 2:15 left against Neuvirth, who had no losing to the New York Giants in than $18,000. game against the Buff alo Bills in to 80 yards rushing per game. Newton. helped seal the Flyers’ fate. chance on the play. London two weeks ago, a defeat “We’re not looking for any fi rst place in the NFC West. That might not bode well for a “He’s a big dude,” Rams safety Neuvirth allowed five goals on Galchenyuk took a slick feed that dropped their record to 3-4 calls or anything like that extra,” A month later, they are in third Rams off ense that has been un- T.J. McDonald said. “He’s tough 17 shots as the Flyers (6-6-1) from Alexander Radulov and and extended their losing streak said Panthers Coach Ron Riv- place after losses to the Bills, the able to spring running back Todd to bring down - defi nitely a guy had their three-game winning scored from deep in the right to three games. era, who also spoke with Good- Detroit Lions and the Giants. Gurley. you have to gang tackle.” streak snapped. circle. The Panthers, the defending ell. “We’re just looking for the The Rams were in position “Probably the best lineback- A crowd of offi cials will be With 16:08 left, Neuvirth went The Philadelphia Inquirer NFC champions, are coming off rules to be distributed across the to tie the score or win all three ering crew that I’ve ever come watching.

NHL SPOTLIGHT Sharks routed by Penguins for third Setoguchi, Budaj straight loss

By Curtis Pashelka Jones for a 3-0 Penguins lead. The Mercury News The Sharks went 0-for-4 with the power play in the fi rst two periods, collecting seven shots t’s impossible to stop Sidney on goal in the process. lead Kings to 5-0 Crosby and the Pittsburgh The Sharks were hoping some Penguins when you can’t get changes to their forward lines out of your own way. could jumpstart an off ense that IThe Sharks looked as out of scored just three even strength sync as they ever have under goals in their last two games be- coach Pete DeBoer on Saturday fore Saturday. night, allowing one defl ating Tomas Hertl was moved back goal after another in a putrid 5-0 to the top line with Joe Thornton win over Flames home loss to the Stanley Cup and Joe Pavelski, reuniting a trio champion Penguins. that was together for the fi rst six Crosby scored goals on two games of season and the second ‘It’s been a long time. I can’t even remember the last time I scored. It was a good feeling’ remarkable individual eff orts, half of the 2015-16 campaign. with the second _ just 13 seconds The third line had Patrick into the second period _ enough Marleau playing center between to chase Sharks goalie Martin Mikkel Boedker and Melker Jones, who allowed three goals Karlsson, a trio that had com- on seven shots. bined for just four goals in the But Jones was hardly the big- last seven games. gest culprit as the Sharks lost “We’re just moving things their third straight game before around, trying to fi nd something they begin a six-game road trip that’ll give us a bit of a spark,” Tuesday in Washington against DeBoer said Saturday morning. the Capitals. “It’s not even how we’re playing, The Sharks couldn’t bury any it’s just fi nishing. Just shuffl ing of the handful of quality scor- the deck.” ing chances they had in the Matt Nieto, who turned 24 early going to keep pace with the on Saturday, was back in the Penguins, who scored two more Sharks’ lineup after being a goals on backup goalie Aaron healthy scratch for the last fi ve Dell to close out the second pe- games. He was on the fourth riod with a 5-0 lead. line with Chris Tierney at center Penguins goalie Matt Murray and Micheal Haley on the other made 32 saves for his fi rst shut- wing. Tommy Wingels was a out of the season, as the Sharks scratch. lost by more than four goals for Prior to Saturday, the Pen- the fi rst time in 93 regular-sea- guins had earned points in their son games under DeBoer. last fi ve games (4-0-1) since Crosby came into the game Crosby returned from a concus- with eight points in fi ve games, sion. In those games, Pittsburgh and his two goals Saturday gave has outscored its opponents 19- him an NHL-best eight for the 12. season. It also sucked the life out The Penguins’ lineup was of what had been a vibrant sell- similar to the one they had in the out crowd at SAP Center. Stanley Cup Final in June. De- With 1:32 to go in the fi rst pe- fenseman Kris Letang was in his riod, Crosby’s shot from point- third game back after he suff ered blank range was stopped by an upper body injury Oct. 18. Jones. The rebound went behind Chris Kunitz gave the Pen- the net, where Crosby banked it guins a 1-0 lead just 4:22 into in off Jones’ skate and in for a 2-0 the fi rst, taking a pass from Ev- Penguins lead. geni Malkin at the blue line and The Sharks put 10 straight beating Jones on the glove hand shots on goal in just over a seven side with a perfectly placed wrist minute span before Crosby’s goal shot to the top corner. that killed any possible momen- The Sharks settled down and Los Angeles Kings right wing Devin Setoguchi (No 10) celebrates his second goal of the game with defenseman Kevin Gravel (No 53), centre Nic Dowd (No 26) and right wing tum. Just 13 seconds into the had a handful of quality scoring Dustin Brown (No 23) against the Calgary Flames during the second period at Staples Center. PICTURE: USA TODAY Sports second period, Marc-Edouard chances. Roughly three minutes Vlasic went back to chase down after Kunitz’s goal, Hertl hit the By Lisa Dillman made 24 saves and recorded the such miscue, and that led to his second of the night, contrib- mind making. The trip begins in the puck as it slid toward Jones. post on a wrist shot from be- Los Angeles Times 12th shutout of his career. It was Carter’s opening goal. uted second-period goals to in- Toronto and also stops in Mon- But Crosby was right behind tween the circles. Later, Melker his fi rst shutout as King and fi rst The Flames had just fi nished crease the lead on a night when treal, Ottawa and Winnipeg be- him, and as Vlasic tried to knock Karlsson redirected a shot from since October 28, 2013, when he killing off consecutive minor the Flames had no answers for fore fi nishing in Denver with a the puck toward the boards, Brenden Dillon right on goal that t took until the 12th game was with Montreal. penalties when they were about the Kings’ persistent, over- game against the Colorado Ava- Crosby got his stick in the way was saved by Penguins goalie of the regular season for The victory also evened the to be fl agged again for too many whelming forecheck. lanche. and the rebound went right past Matt Murray. the Los Angeles Kings to do Kings’ record at 6-6 in what men on the ice (defenseman TJ Brown had another strong Drew Doughty and Carter are something that in past years promises to be a season in which Brodie was scrambling to get game in what is proving to be from London, Ont.; games in Ihad become pedestrian and they will need to scuffl e for eve- off the ice after a botched line something of a resurgent season Toronto allow them to visit with almost commonplace. rything they can get. And if they change). In the ensuing confu- for him. He has seven points in family and friends. They fi nally won a game in can get those points against a di- sion, Carter forced a turnover in 12 games this season, compared Toronto’s Air Canada Center regulation. visional rival, so much the better. the neutral zone. with three assists in the fi rst 12 was where Doughty helped It happened Saturday night “That’s how you score,” Kings Dwight King then found an games in 2015-16 Canada win the World Cup of against their Pacifi c Division coach Darryl Sutter said. open lane and dropped a pass That they were fi nally scor- hockey, defeating Kings center rivals, the Calgary Flames, with “How many goals are scored to Carter, who fi red a hard shot ing goals was probably the most Anze Kopitar and the rest of Jeff Carter and Devin Setoguchi by going to the net? It’s tough to past goaltender Brian Elliott. important development for the Team Europe in the fi nal. scoring goals 45 seconds apart score if you don’t go to the net. While the Flames were still Kings during the past 72 hours. in the fi nal minute of the open- It’s not a reward. That’s real. It reeling, Setoguchi scored his Including Thursday’s win RESULTS ing period en route to a com- can’t hit you in the (rear end) fi rst goal in a Kings uniform, over the defending Stanley Cup Colorado 1 Minnesota 0 fortable 5-0 win. and go in the net if you’re not fi nishing off a passing play that champion Pittsburgh Penguins, St. Louis 2 Columbus 1 (OT) “It’s been a long time. I can’t standing close to the net.” began when Dustin Brown went they now have scored eight NY Rangers 5 Boston 2 even remember the last time I Two seasons ago, it was Cal- around Brodie and chipped a goals in the past two games, af- Toronto 6 Vancouver 3 scored (in the NHL),” said Se- gary’s unexpected surge up the pass into the high traffi c area in ter being shut out in their three Montreal 5 Philadelphia 4 toguchi, who played last season standings that cost the Kings a front of the Flames’ goal. previous games. Buff alo 2 Ottawa 1 in Davos, Switzerland, after a playoff spot. Nic Dowd had one crack at it It also means they can now Tampa Bay 4 New Jersey 1 serious drinking problem de- The Flames are a young team and kept the puck alive for Se- head out on the road next week, Edmonton 4 NY Islanders 3 (SO) railed his career. “It was a good on the rise, which occasion- toguchi to jump in and pounce in a far more positive and up- Washington 4 Florida 2 feeling tonight, for sure.” ally forces them to deal with the on the rebound, where he beat state of mind. The Kings Carolina 3 Nashville 2 (SO) Kings goalie Peter Budaj, third consequences of playing an in- shoveled it past Elliott. are just 1-4 away from the Sta- Chicago 3 Dallas 2 on the organisational depth experienced lineup. Kyle Cliff ord, with his rstfi of ples Center this year, but this Los Angeles 5 Calgary 0 chart at the start of the season, The Kings capitalised on one the season, and Setoguchi, with is a swing their players never Pittsburgh 5 San Jose 0 Sidney Crosby. Gulf Times 8 Monday, November 7, 2016 RUGBY

HISTORIC FEAT FOUR NATIONS LEAGUE Thurston stars in Ireland claim fi rst Australia victory AFP phasis from Kiwi coach David Coventry, United Kingdom Kidwell paid quick dividends after the break as a barging Solomone Kata crashed over in ustralia maintained the corner, Shaun Johnson then their unbeaten start missing the resulting kick. to the 2016 Four Na- The infl uential Thurston, win over All Blacks tions as Johnathan who took a late knock and hob- Thurston’sA 10-point haul bled gingerly off the pitch at ‘It has been a long time coming and history (has been) made. We knew they are a great side. proved decisive in a 14-8 win full-time, edged Australia fur- over New Zealand yesterday. ther ahead with two converted You can see how good a side they are and how much it means to our boys to have won’ England and Scotland penalties. served up a rather insipid But their second half show starter, the hosts emerging as and late concentration lapse unconvincing 38-12 winners, underlined that Mal Meninga but the hotly-anticipated en- still has much work to do in his counter between Australia and new green-and-gold post. the Kiwis was a fl at aff air. And a dogged New Zealand Australia seized the early reduced arrears in the dying lead, taking up where they left seconds when Rapana sprung off in their 16-0 win over the the trap with a brilliant try, Kiwis in Newcastle earlier this setting up a grandstand fi nish year. This was the rivals’ fi rst that never seemed likely, with match in England since Aus- a last ditch Johnson score ruled tralia’s 34-2 victory in the 2013 out by the video referee. World Cup fi nal and, for a while, Meanwhile, England recov- the script seemed the same as ered from a horror start against that night back at Old Traff ord. Scotland to keep alive their After just nine minutes the hopes of making the fi nal — Kangaroos went ahead, Darius though they did themselves no Boyd picking out teammate and favours because they now need man of the match Blake Fergu- to beat Australia in London and son, with the Sydney Rooster hope Scotland hold up the Kiwis. winger skipping across the line. Coach Wayne Bennett had Four minutes later and they demanded a response follow- doubled their advantage, smart ing last weekend’s narrow de- work from Michael Morgan and feat to New Zealand and cau- Ferguson setting up scrum half tioned against complacency. Thurston for a smooth team try But his team clearly did not to which he added the extras. listen to his instruction. Australia remained camped No guest nation has beaten on the New Zealand line, with England, Australia or New Zea- Thurston’s precision kick- land since the tournament was ing helping them lay siege and revamped in 2009 but Bennett build pressure. was left fuming as tries from But they nearly paid the Kane Linnett and Matty Rus- Dejected New Zealand players price for their over-confi dence sell, the latter a spectacular look on following their shocking as intercepted a diving eff ort, gave minnows 29-40 defeat to Ireland. (AFP) Boyd pass and sprinted 50 me- Scotland an early two-try lead. tres, before Greg Inglis saved But Elliott Whitehead AFP But New Zealand hit back immediately blushes with a sprawling and crossed for the fi rst two of sev- Chicago with the opening try of the game, George try-saving ankle tap. en England scores, while Mark Moala fi nishing off after Waisake Naholo’s Australia were seeking to Percival, , Jermaine electrifying break. play a complete game, only to McGillvary, and Liam reland ended a century-long losing Fly-half Beauden Barrett scuff ed his be undermined by their han- Farrell also touched down. streak to claim a historic fi rst-ever conversion attempt to leave New Zealand’s dling errors, while New Zea- Dale Ferguson added a late win over New Zealand yesterday, lead at 5-3. Ireland were then handed a land tactics of trying to bully consolation for Scotland, who Isending the All Blacks spinning to a crucial advantage after All Black prop Joe their way up the middle of the will conclude their tournament 40-29 defeat with a scintillating display. Moody was sin-binned for a clear tip tack- pitch were quickly exposed. against New Zealand in Work- Just days after the Windy City erupted in le on Henshaw. But a switch in attacking em- ington on Friday. celebration after the Chicago Cubs landed The ensuing 10-minute period saw Ire- their fi rst World Series baseball crown in land score 12 unanswered point through 108 years, Ireland booted their own 111-year tries from Jordi Murphy and C.J. Stander rugby hoodoo fi rmly into touch. to make it 15-5. No excuses, right team won, Roared on by army of green-clad fans in Barrett closed the gap to seven points says All Blacks coach Hansen a 62,300 crowd at Soldier Field, the Irish with a penalty after Ireland were off side outscored the All Blacks by fi ve tries to four but Sexton restored Ireland’s 10-point lead ew Zealand coach Steve penalties but because of the to seal their fi rst win over the Kiwis in the with a further three-pointer. Hansen off ered no ex- pressure we did and they built 29th instalment of a rivalry dating to 1905. Ireland were forced to make a change Ncuses for his side’s 40- momentum and we were chas- “It has been a long time coming and in the 26th minute when Murphy was 29 loss to Ireland, a defeat that ing them,” he said. history (has been) made. We’re absolutely stretchered off with what looked like a ended their record 18-match New Zealand gave away ecstatic,” Ireland skipper Rory Best said knee injury, replaced by Josh van der Flier. winning streak, and said the seven penalties to only three after leading his team on a raucous lap of Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt (right) has a chat with his New Zealand counterparts, head But the disruption was fl eeting, with “right team” had won the test by a disciplined Irish side, who honor at the famed NFL venue. “We knew coach Steve Hansen (left) and assistant coach Wayne Bennett following his team’s historic scrum-half Conor Murray dummying at Chicago’s Soldier Field. scored two tries during the 10 they are a great side. You can see how good win. It was Ireland’s win over the Kiwis in the 29th instalment of a rivalry dating to 1905. (AFP) Aaron Smith to scamper over for Ireland’s Ireland’s win over the All minutes prop Joe Moody spent a side they are and how much it means to third try. Sexton converted to make it 25-8 Blacks was their first in 29 in the sin bin in the first half. our boys to have won that.” sence through injury of fi rst choice locks seen Ireland pay an emotional tribute to at half-time. meetings, a run stretching “The Irish played very well Ireland were forced to cling on in the Brodie Retallick and Sam Whitelock. beloved former international Anthony Fo- The second half began with New Zea- back 111 years. and congratulations to them,” closing stages after a ferocious New Zealand The further absence of second row Luke ley, who died suddenly last month at the land looking sharper and faster, but it was The All Blacks had become the Hansen was quoted as saying fi ghtback, which saw the All Blacks recover Romano following a family bereavement had age of 42. Ireland who scored next, Sexton feeding first top tier nation to win 18 con- on allblacks.com. “The right from a 30-8 defi cit to go within four points forced them into starting a makeshift pairing As New Zealand lined up to perform Simon Zebo for 30-8. Yet New Zealand secutive tests when they beat side won. We’re not going to at 33-29 with around 15 minutes to go. of Jerome Kaino and Patrick Tuipulotu. their traditional haka, Ireland’s players roared back through tries from replace- Australia last month and were make any excuses about not But with the crowd roaring them home, But New Zealand coach Steve Hansen stood before them in a fi gure of eight — a ment scrum-half T.J Perenara and Ben targeting the overall record held having the right people.” Ireland scored a fi fth and fi nal try through refused to blame the injury crisis for the reference to Foley’s position. Smith to take the score to 30-22. by Cyprus, who racked up 24 Their previous meeting in outstanding centre Robbie Henshaw, con- loss. “The right side won,” Hansen said. “We felt it was the right thing to do,” A Murray penalty put Ireland 33-22 straight wins by beating the likes Dublin in 2013 had ended with verted by replacement fl y-half Joey Car- “The Irish side played very well and con- Best said. “There was a lot of emotion.” ahead but a 64th minute try by All Black of Austria and Luxembourg. New Zealand wiping out an Irish bery, to clinch a famous victory. gratulations to them. Once the game got under way, Ireland debutant lock Scott Barrett, took New Hansen said giving away lead of five points in the 82nd It was New Zealand’s fi rst defeat since “We don’t want to use (the injuries) as wasted no time in exploiting New Zea- Zealand back to 33-27. penalties had put his side on minute with a converted try for their loss to Australia in August 2015. an excuse. land’s weakness at second row. Brother Beauden added the conversion the back foot on Saturday. a 24-22 victory. The two sides Only last month, the All Blacks had set “We trained well enough, we prepared Johnny Sexton kicked Ireland ahead and New Zealand were suddenly within “In the first half they had meet again in Dublin on Nov. 19 a world record for consecutive victories well enough, we thought. We’re not going with a penalty after only four minutes four. Ireland’s defenders resisted furi- all the momentum and we after New Zealand’s visit to Italy with their 18th win in a row. to make any excuses about not having the when French referee Mathieu Raynal ous late pressure, though, and Henshaw talked before the game about and Ireland’s home game with New Zealand’s preparations for the Test right people.” whistled the All Blacks for not rolling away crashed over with four minutes to go to not giving away avoidable Canada next weekend. had been thrown into disarray by the ab- The moments before the match had at the breakdown. complete a magnifi cent win.

BOTTOMLINE Fortune favours the bold as Ireland end hoodoo

AFP point game the key was to keep at- “At 33-29, you get nervous about that Chicago tacking them. We just said we have to for sure,” Schmidt said. “We scored at keep attacking them, and that when the start of the second half and the end they started putting us under pressure of the second half and that was crucial.” reland captain Rory Best revealed we didn’t start diving into lost causes, Best, meanwhile, admitted his team- that a determination to be bold that we kept our defensive shape,” Best mates had been determined to savour had paid off after his team ended a revealed. their moment of triumph after fi nally Icentury-long losing streak against “But we wanted to also keep getting defeating New Zealand. New Zealand yesterday. the ball back, because when we’ve got Best led Ireland’s players on a lap Just days after the Chicago Cubs the ball in our hands we’ve shown we of Soldier Field following the whistle, ended their 108-year wait for a World can be dangerous. That’s what we were soaking up the applause from a large Series baseball crown, Ireland erased trying to do... don’t sit back and hope, contingent of green-clad fans in the their own rugby hoodoo by scoring the go out and grab it.” 62,300 crowd. fi rst-ever win in the 111-year history of The key to victory was Ireland’s abil- “You’ve got to take a moment when- meetings between the two nations at ity to grab scores at pivotal moments, ever you create history,” Best said. Soldier Field. Best said, citing centre Robbie Hen- The victory was even more special Best said Ireland had learned the shaw’s late try which took the Irish 11 given the fact that the All Blacks, back- lessons of 2013, when they had squan- points clear. to-back world champions in 2011 and dered a 19-0 lead against the Kiwis be- “There have been a lot of great Irish 2015, had been on a record 18-match fore suff ering an agonising 22-24 loss teams and players that have come winning streak, he added. in Dublin. “In 2013, we lost it in the last close and we just haven’t been clinical “It’s a massive mark of respect we quarter,” Best recalled. enough to fi nish it,” Best said. “The try have for the All Blacks that it means so The veteran hooker admitted Ire- Robbie got was pivotal.” much to us because they’re such a qual- land had been forced to react after New Ireland’s New Zealander coach, Joe ity side,” Best said. Zealand slashed a 30-8 defi cit to just Schmidt, admitted he had been left “To break our duck against them four points, 33-29, with around 15 min- with fl ashbacks to 2013 as the All Blacks given the year they’ve had is a massive utes left. chipped away at his side’s commanding thing for us. We want to make sure that “When they came back to a four- second-half lead. we celebrate that.”

Ireland captain Rory Best celebrates with his kids following his team’s 40-29 victory over New Zealand in Chicago. (AFP) Gulf Times Monday, November 7, 2016 9 SPORT

TENNIS Murray’s rise to top ‘amazing accomplishment’: Navratilova cotsman Andy Murray’s career shows how determined achievement in becoming and focused he is,” she added. Smen’s tennis world number Navratilova, who spent 332 one is exceptional women’s ten- weeks atop the women’s stand- Murray celebrates nis legend Martina Navratilova ings and accrued 18 Grand Slam told the BBC yesterday. singles titles, said Murray had Murray, 29, moved to the top shown real character to battle of the rankings for the first time his way to the top ranking. in his career after replacing “To keep going and going long-time incumbent Novak and thinking I can improve is Djokovic when Milos Raonic testament to his character,” the pulled out of their semi-final in 60-year-old said. top rank with fi rst Paris on Saturday. Murray’s predecessor as Brit- The Scot’s climb to the ATP ish number one Tim Henman rankings’ summit — the first Brit- — who was ranked a career high on to do so since computerised fourth in the world on three rankings came in in 1973 — caps a occasions from 2002 to 2004 — remarkable year which has seen believes he can stay at the top him win a second Wimbledon for a while to come. crown and mount a successful “I don’t think Andy was ever Paris Masters title defence of his Olympic title in Rio. going to settle for second best,” “Since Roger Federer became Henman told BBC Radio. “Now number one its been him, Rafael he’s reached number one I don’t ‘Thanks to my team and my family. This has been an incredible journey for Nadal and Novak Djokovic at the think for any moment in time he’s top of the rankings,” Navratilova going to take his foot off the gas.” me to get to the top of the rankings, I could have not done it without all of you’ told BBC Radio. “If Andy stays fit and healthy, I “It’s some pretty rarefied air can see him being the dominant Reuters to get into as its been a pretty force going forward. If you’re going Paris exclusive club for some time. to put a number on it, you’d like To get to number one is an him to get to 52 weeks at the top. exceptional thing, it’s an amaz- Who knows from there?” added ndy Murray celebrated his rise ing accomplishment. The fact the 42-year-old, who reached five to the world number one rank- it came this late in his playing Grand Slam singles semi-finals. ing with a 6-3, 6-7(4), 6-4 vic- tory against John Isner to claim hisA maiden Paris Masters title and his eighth title of the season yesterday. WTA ELITE TROPHY The Briton, who will take over from Novak Djokovic at the top of the ATP rankings today, survived a barrage of aces against the towering American to win his Kvitova powers past 14th career Masters tournament. The three-times grand slam champion gave little breathing space to Isner, who Svitolina for Zhuhai title was hoping to clinch his fi rst Masters title after two lost fi nals. AFP Murray will be the top seed at the sea- Beijing son-ending ATP World Tour fi nals at the O2 Arena in London from Nov 13-20. “Thanks to my team and my family who wo-time Wimbledon were commenting back home. This has champion Petra Kvitova been an incredible journey for me to get of the Czech Republic to the top of the rankings, I could have not defeated Ukrainian Elina done it without all of you,” said Murray. TSvitolina in straight sets to take The double Olympic champion entered the title at the $2.2-million WTA the contest with a 7-0 record against Isner Elite Trophy in Zhuhai yesterday. and his recent form, which had helped him Number three seed Kvitova to win six of his eight previous tourna- dispatched the fourth seed 6-4, ments since losing the French Open fi nal, 6-2, a month after she marked suggested he would have the upper hand. a return to form by winning the Murray, who now has 43 titles to his name, Wuhan Open. broke in the sixth game on his fi rst opportu- “China’s a lucky place for me! nity when Isner sent a backhand long. The Five British sports stars who topped the world It’s an amazing week and I’m American, who served a total of 18 aces, had really lucky I was able to compete two chances to break back in the following Five athletes who became the fi rst Briton to either be ranked fi rst in their sport or win here,” Kvitova said in her victory game as he opened up a 40-15 lead. a blue riband title aft er Andy Murray became men’s world number one on Saturday.. speech, according to the WTA Murray saved the fi rst with a routine Harold Abrahams (Athletics) website. volley after managing to lob his 2.08-me- him conclusively to become Britain’s first Open in 1955 and the 1958 Australian title The 26-year-old has now tre opponent, and forced Isner to bury a Mention his name and it drums up memo- undisputed heavyweight world champion she reached her peak in 1961 and beat reached six Asian fi nals and won backhand into the net on the second. ries of hit movie ‘Chariots of Fire’. The of the post-war era and indeed remains the compatriot and favourite Cristine Janes in three of them. He bagged the opening set with an un- 25-year-old Abrahams benefited when fel- last undisputed champion to this day. the Wimbledon final in three tight sets. She Svitolina, 22, was looking to returned serve having made only four end what had been a promising sion and wrap up the opening low Briton Eric Liddell refused to compete Nick Faldo (Golf) won four other titles that year and reached unforced errors. Isner earned three break in the 100 metres at the 1924 Olympics as the US Open semi-finals which was enough season on a high, but was unable set. Kvitova carried her momen- points thanks to a splendid drop shot fol- it was run on a Sunday and that clashed Never the most loved of British sportsmen for her to be credited as the number one to hold any of her fi rst three serv- tum into the second, sweeping lowed by a forehand winner. Murray saved with his religious beliefs. Abrahams’ deci- even at home because of what was perceived women’s player in the world. ice games. aside her Ukrainian opponent to them all, the last one with a second-serve “I just felt that she played a secure victory in one hour and 10 sion to employ a professional coach Sam as rather a humourless personality. He de- Mike Hawthorn (Formula One) ace, and staved off another one to stay level. Mussabini paid off handsomely as he took servedly finally got the world number one slot little bit aggressively than me minutes. In the tiebreak, Isner went 4-2 up when gold. He went on to cut a piece off the gold in the rankings in 1990, taking it off Australian Known to the French as ‘Papillon’ (‘butterfly’ in the beginning of the match,” The WTA Elite trophy is a Murray double faulted, and the American medal to use as his wedding ring in 1936. Greg Norman, whom he would memorably for his penchant for wearing bow ties when Kvitova said in her post-match year-end event involving the 12 closed it out with a booming forehand interview. highest ranked women who did Lennox Lewis (Boxing) steam past to take the Masters in 1996 when he raced) he showed great resilience in winner to send the contest into a decider. the ‘Great White Shark’ suff ered a spectacular carrying on competing after the tragic 1955 “So I was a little bit trying to not qualify to play at the WTA Both players looked clumsy but it was Born in England but won Olympic gold for meltdown. He would be number one on four Le Mans 24 hour race in which 84 specta- get the rhythm to play a little bit Finals in Singapore last week. Murray who played a tighter game in the Canada in 1988 as his family moved there occasions for a total of 97 weeks, the longest tors and a driver were killed, partly sparked more aggressive, maybe a little Kvitova, who has never been end, ending the contest on his fi rst match when he was 12. However, he switched back of his stays on top was for 81 weeks. because of Hawthorn braking on entering the bit longer rallies, that I can go to higher than two in the world point when Isner netted a backhand volley. the game and be able to play.” rankings, said she had been in- and became a British citizen once again, Angela Mortimer (Tennis) pits. He went on to win that race and three Murray said he took special pride in sceptics believing he was using it as a flag of years later was crowned Formula One world The title comes in a year of spired by Angelique Kerber’s rise reaching the world number one ranking in an convenience. Whatever he initially won, lost Britain hasn’t had a women’s number one champion despite winning just one race as he stark highs and lows for the to the top, and also congratulated era when Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal and No- and then regained the WBC title in a bizarre since the WTA came into being in 1973. finished second in the season ending Moroc- Czech, who scooped an Olympic newly-crowned men’s number vak Djokovic—arguably some of the greatest bout with holder Oliver McCall, who started However, prior to that the country could can race which was enough to seal victory bronze medal but failed to get one Andy Murray. players ever—have dominated the game. crying in the middle of the contest. Lewis lay claim to having the top player in the ahead of Stirling Moss, who won four GPs further than the round of 16 at “The number one spot is still “That’s the most satisfying thing, re- then set his sights on the unified title and world in the partially-deaf Mortimer, who that campaign. Announced his retirement im- any of the Grand Slams. missing in my career. I know how ally. It’s been such a diffi cult thing to do after controversially drawing with Evander steadfastly refused to wear dresses and mediately afterwards and was killed in a road Kvitova began slowly and diffi cult it is. We just saw how during my career because of how good Holyfield got a deserved rematch and beat insisted on shorts. Having won the French accident in January 1959, aged just 29. trailed 4-1 in the opening set after Angie did it. It’s a great thing to the guys around me have been, the guys struggling to hold serve and mak- have for sure,” she said. ahead of me,” the Briton said. “It has been ing a string of unforced errors. “I told him (Murray) really, really hard to do it, been really dif- in June, but an impressive series of victo- “I was so far behind in terms of points, ray said. “But things can turn around The big-hitting Czech, how- congratulations because I think fi cult. Obviously they are three of the best ries leading to titles in Wimbledon, Bei- and the amount of matches it would take quick in sport, and it’s just a strange ever, eventually found her range it’s a great achievement. I think players that have ever played the game.” jing, the Shanghai Masters and Vienna, me to win. I never expected to do what I sport. You had Novak losing yesterday to with her fi rst serve and cranked he did everything he possibly Murray was far behind Djokovic after combined with his rival’s loss in the Paris had done after the French Open, so I was a guy against whom he’d won 14 times in a up the aggression to win the could to be there, so I’m really the Serb beat him in the French Open fi nal quarter-fi nals, propelled him to the top. really down after I lost that match,” Mur- row. Stuff can turn around quick...” next fi ve games in quick succes- happy for him.”

MOTORSPORT/ RALLY JEDDAH Thirty entries from seven nations received so far

Agencies Two all-Kuwaiti teams have entered Jeddah, Saudi Arabia Yazeed al-Rajhi Rally Jeddah well ahead of the fi nal deadline. Salem and Fares al-Thafi ri will take part, while FIA Middle East ith just over a week to go Rally Championship regulars, Meshari before entries close for and Mubarak al-Thafi ri, have a second this year’s Rally Jeddah, car at their disposal for a fi rst attempt at WSaudi Arabia’s leading the Saudi event in the T1 category. rally star Yazeed al-Rajhi is one of 30 Rally Jeddah is being organised by competitors from seven nations to so the Jeddah Government and Abdullah far confi rm their intention of taking S Bakhashab Establishment under the part in the two-day event on Nov 17-18. supervision of the Saudi Arabian Motor The rally is sponsored by Mohamed Federation (SAMF) and the patronage Yousef Naghi Motors (MYN Motors)— of HRH Prince Mishaal Bin Majid Bin Land Rover—the offi cial car of the rally, Abdulaziz al-Saud, Governor of Jed- which will also supply the offi cial course dah and head of Rally Jeddah’s higher opening car and additional vehicles for organising committee. offi cials. Additional support and exten- Other members of the committee sive planned media coverage comes from include Prince Sultan Bin Bandar al- the MBC Group, while Al-Arabia adver- Abdullah Bakhashab Faisal, president of the SAMF, Dr Hani tising has planned marketing campaigns Mohamed Aburas and Major General and Al-Madina newspaper and Total Abdullah Mohamed al-Qahtani. Oils off er further support to the candi- World Cup for Cross-Country Rallies. winner Ibrahim al-Muhanna, last year’s as he aims to claim a hat-trick of wins The popularity of the event can be seen Elie Semaan has been appointed as the date event for the 2017 Gulf Challenge. Rally offi cials are expecting several T2 winner Monif al-Salmani, Mohamed across the Kingdom’s western deserts. by the number of local drivers who have clerk of the course and will work closely Al-Rajhi, from Riyadh, won the in- other teams to enter the event as the and Ahmed al-Malki, Ahmed al-Gasha- “Taking part in rallies in my home already entered the rally.” alongside his deputy Ahmed Mutaba- augural rally with French navigator Alex deadline looms, but al-Rajhi has already mi, Saleh al-Abdulali, Rajeh Farhan al- country is special and I would not miss The entry list so far shows competi- ghani, who is also in charge of the modi- Winocq in 2014 and returned last year to been joined on the entry list by a long Shammeri Mohamed al-Tuwaijri and this event for the world,” said al-Rajhi. tors entered in both the FIA T1 and T2 fi ed route for this year’s event, which dominate with regular German co-driv- list of Saudi Arabian drivers, including Motab Saud al-Shammeri. “It now has a regular place in the FIA categories from seven nations: Saudi includes a timed selective section of er Timo Gottschalk, with whom he has the experienced former MERC driver Al-Rajhi will be partnered by regional motor sporting calendar and I Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, the UAE, France, around 220km in a day’s route of 378km. tackled select events in this year’s FIA Ahmed al-Sabban, previous Ha’il Rally Gottschalk again in two weeks’ time, am looking forward to taking part again. Russia and Germany. Entries close on Sunday (November 13). Gulf Times 10 Monday, November 7, 2016 FOOTBALL

LA LIGA STAYING ON Ronaldo extends Real deal to 2021 Bale double puts AFP Madrid

ristiano Ronaldo looks set to retire at Real Ma- drid after agreeing a bumper new fi ve-year Real Madrid fi ve contractC to be signed today that ties him to the Spanish giants until 2021. “The offi cial event for the re- newal of Cristiano Ronaldo’s con- tract will take place tomorrow, Monday 7 November at 1:30pm Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo. in the presidential box at the San- points clear at top tiago Bernabeu stadium,” Madrid “It is his dream to end his ca- said in a statement yesterday. reer here. I am happy that he can “The Portuguese forward will renew and fi nish with this white ‘An easy game doesn’t exist and you saw that the first-half was diff icult for us. Once extend his contract until 30 June shirt like I did a long time ago.” 2021 at the event attended by As well the individual acco- you score a goal it is a diff erent game and we controlled the match much more...’ club president Florentino Perez lades of winning the Ballon d’Or and the player himself.” in 2013 and 2014 for the world’s Ronaldo, 31, follows in the best player since joining Madrid, footsteps of Gareth Bale, Luka Ronaldo has won eight trophies Modric and Toni Kroos as the with Los Blancos. latest Real star to agree a contract Most notably he scored in the extension in recent weeks as the 2014 Champions League fi nal club prepares to serve a one-year against Atletico Madrid as Real transfer ban imposed by FIFA. ended a 12-year wait to win their According to UK media reports 10th European Cup. Bale’s lucrative new six-year deal Ronaldo was Atletico’s scourge will earn the Welshman as much again as he netted the winning as £600,000 ($750,000) a week penalty in a shootout victory to before tax. once again win the Champions However, Ronaldo, whose League in May. previous deal expired in 2018 is His only title came un- expected to remain the highest der Jose Mourinho in the 2011/12 earner at the Santiago Bernabeu. season. Ronaldo is already the world’s However, arguably Ronaldo’s highest paid sportsman ac- crowning glory came in leading cording to American magazine Portugal to their fi rst ever inter- Forbes, raking in $88 million national tournament win at Euro between his salary and endorse- 2016. ments in 2016. After suff ering knee ligament Ronaldo has shot himself into damage in the Euro 2016 fi nal, the Real record books by plun- Ronaldo has endured a slow start dering 371 goals in 360 games in to this season. his eight seasons since swapping His scoreless performance Manchester United for Madrid for against Leganes extended his a then world record fee in 2009. worst ever goal drought at the And Madrid boss Zinedine Zi- Bernabeu to fi ve matches. dane called on Ronaldo to end his However, Madrid’s confi dence playing days in Spain like he did in handing out a huge deal that when retiring from club football will secure Ronaldo’s position as in 2006. the world’s highest paid sports- “What he has to do is fi nish man has not been shaken. his career here,” said Zidane after “There is nothing wrong, he is yesterday’s 3-0 win over Leganes not worried,” insisted Zidane. extended Madrid’s lead at the top “He looks good, he is moti- of La Liga. vated, he likes to scores goals and “Cristiano is unique for what even more so in this stadium, but he has done and what he is doing. he is calm.”

QATAR STARS LEAGUE Goals galore in round six Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale celebrates after scoring a goal during his team’s La Liga match against Leganes yesterday. The opening four games of stadium between Al Sailiya AFP Bale also scored Real’s fastest ever Results his protests towards referee Miguel Ma- round six of the QSL season and El Jaish, in which both Madrid Champions League goal in midweek teu Lahoz too far. saw an astonishing 21 goals sides shared an incredible ten against Legia Warsaw, but his fi ne strike Real Madrid 3 Leganes 0 “There is nothing wrong, he is not from four games. Ahead of the goals, with Jaish eventually in the Polish capital was forgotten as Real Espanyol 0 Athletic Bilbao 0 worried,” said Zidane about Ronaldo’s second set of games tonight, running out 6-4 winners. Sabri areth Bale scored twice as Real blew a two-goal lead to draw 3-3. Celta Vigo 2 Valencia 1 slump in form. QSL online has decided to Lamouchi’s side grabbed five Madrid extended their La Liga There was to no such comeback from “He looks good, he is motivated, he look over some of the mo- goals in the first half including lead to fi ve points with a 3-0 La Liga newcomers Leganes on their fi rst likes to scores goals and even more so in ments that mattered. a brace for Brazilian attacker win over Leganes yesterday. ever league visit to the Santiago Berna- eff ort infuriated the off -colour Cristiano this stadium, but he is calm.” Al Sadd got the goal fest start- Romarinho. GBale signed one of the most lucra- beu after Bale had awoken Madrid from Ronaldo, who was waiting for the ball to Real received a huge boost ahead of a ed with a comprehensive 4-0 Al Sailiya mounted a spirited tive deals in football history on Monday their slumber in the fi rst 30 minutes. be squared. hugely demanding two-month stretch thrashing against Al Shahania. comeback in the second half to keep him at the European champions Bale outsprinted the Leganes defence Spanish media reports yesterday sug- after the upcoming international break Wolves midfielder Xavi put in scoring three second half until 2021. as he latched onto Isco’s through ball and gest Ronaldo is on the verge of sealing his as Luka Modric made his return as a a captain’s performance, grab- goals to make the scoreline The Welshman earned his bumper new rounded Jon Ander Serantes before slot- own mega contract extension at Madrid. second-half substitute after a month out bing his sides second goal 5-4 going into the final 25 wage as he struck twice in seven fi rst- ting home from a narrow angle. However, he endured another frustrat- due to knee surgery. with 35 minutes on the clock. minutes. Fortunately for El half minutes before Alvaro Morata added His second was a scrappier fi nish as ing afternoon as he was kept scoreless Morata rounded off a comfortable af- Up in Al Khor, four goals Jaish, flying Uzbeki winger a third 14 minutes from time. Bale pounced on a loose ball inside the for the fi fth time in eight La Liga appear- ternoon for Zidane’s men when he col- where split between Al Khor Sardor Rashidov popped up “An easy game doesn’t exist and you area from Toni Kroos’s free-kick to bun- ances this season. lected Kroos’s pass before fi ring home at and Lekhwiya. Djamel Belma- with a goal on the 77th minute saw that the fi rst-half was diffi cult for dle home from close range. The Portuguese has now gone fi ve the near post. di’s side where leading the tie to ensure that El Jaish will go us,” said Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane. Serantes prevented Bale completing games without scoring at the Bernabeu And Madrid even kept their fi rst clean 2-1, however that all changed into the international break “Once you score a goal it is a diff erent his hat-trick twice within a minute at the — his longest drought since joining Real sheet in 11 matches as victory stretches when Madson converted from top of the QSL standings. game and we controlled the match much start of the second period. seven years ago. their unbeaten run in all competitions to the penalty spot to give Jean Interestingly with the glut of more in the second-half.” Bale’s decision to go alone with his fi rst He was also booked early on for taking 28 games. Fernandez’s side a deserved goals, three players are mak- share of the spoils with a 2-2 ing their claim for the Mansor draw. Muftah award for the top BUNDESLIGA Whilst the QSL match of the scorer at the end of season. week saw three penalties Thanks to grabbing two goals given as Al Rayyan edged in their respective matches, out Al Ahli 2-1. The Lion’s Romarinho and Bagdad talismanic captain Rodrigo Bounjah join Yusef El Arabi on Tabata struck his fourth and eight goals for the season. The fifth of the season, whilst Al trio of professional players Newbies Leipzig equal record Ahli captain Meshal Abdulla will be looking to add to their converted from the spot to personal tally, and aid their ensure a nervy 25 minutes for side to title glory when the head coach Michael Laudrup. QSL resumes after the interna- to draw level with Bayern The goal rush came at Al Ahli tional break on Nov. 18. AFP peatedly rejecting the tag of Results QSL Talking Points Berlin ‘Bayern’s Hunters’, which the German media is eager to bestow Saturday A quick look at the highlights their attentions to finding a new upon them. Bayern Munich 1 Hoff enheim 1; of Round 6. head coach over the interna- undesliga new boys RB “This is a dream, but we Bayer Leverkusen 3 Darm- tional break, one who will be Leipzig drew level on won’t blow things up to say stadt 2; SV Hamburg 2 Borus- Change of leadership able to push the side away from 24 points with Bayern we’re hunting Bayern,” insisted sia Dortmund 5; Ingolstadt 0 Last week saw two clubs the relegation zone. Munich at the top of the 20-year-old Werner after his Augsburg 2; Freiburg 0 Wolfs- relieve their head coaches With four sides set to drop tableB yesterday with a record- two goals. burg 3; Eintracht Frankfurt 1 of their duties. Al Arabi down to the Qatar Gas League, equalling 3-1 win over Mainz. A falsely triggered fi re alarm Cologne 0; dismissed their Uruguayan clubs are not wasting any Leipzig have now matched delayed kick-off by three min- head coach Gerardo Pelusso, time in getting rid of under Bayern’s run of seven wins and utes at Leipzig’s Red Bull Arena, Yesterday after their round four loss to preforming head coaches. three draws from their fi rst ten but the 43,000 spectators barely Leipzig 3 Mainz 1; Schalke 3 Lekhwiya 4-2. Arabi have had German league games. had time to fi nd their seats when Werder Bremen 1; a slow start to the league and Could Muaither beat the They equal the record for a Werner gave Leipzig the lead. that put pay to Pelusso’s stint drop? team in their fi rst Bundesliga Left winger Forsberg had his with the dream team. The club Performance of the weekend season, set by MSV Duisburg, shot blocked, but Werner tapped who fi red home off his left foot is now on the hunt for a new has to go to Muaither who left who also went ten games un- home the rebound for his fourth to make it 3-0 at the break. manager, who will be charged it late to stun Al Arabi 2-1 on beaten in the 1993/94 campaign. goal of the season with three Mainz coach Martin Schmidt with drastically improving the Thursday evening. A last-gasp Timo Werner and Emil Fors- Leipzig’s forward Timo Werner (C) and Mainz’ French midfielder minutes gone. brought on defender Stefan Bell fortunes of the side. deflected strike from Hamad berg scored all three Leipzig Jean Philippe Gbamin in action yesterday. Werner returned the favour for winger Jairo Samperio for the Likewise Al Kharaitiyat dis- Mansour gave the Stallions all goals and it threatened to turn by out sprinting Mainz’s Nige- second half, but Forsberg and missed Bosnian coach Amar three points, and their second into a rout as the hosts wasted chance to match the Bavarian Their pre-Christmas show- rian defender Leon Balogun and Werner both had second-half Osim, following a 2-0 defeat to consecutive win of the season. four clear chances with the giants’ points tally, but stay sec- down with Bayern at the Allianz steered the ball into Forsberg’s chances and could have added Umm Salal. The Thunders are The early form of fellow scoreline fl attering Mainz, who ond on goal diff erence. Arena on Tuesday December 20 path for the Sweden international four more goals. currently in twelfth place in the promoted Al Shahania would drop to tenth. Leipzig, who were only founded is building to be a top-of-the- to double their lead on 21 minutes. Werner went off to loud ap- QSL standings, and are without have served as inspiration for After Bayern were held to a 1-1 in 2009, earned their place in Ger- table clash. A minute from the break, plause, making way for Scotland a win in four QSL games. Al Muaither, who are currently in draw at Munich’s Allianz Arena many’s top fl ight this season with But Leipzig are keeping their Forsberg also sprinted past Balo- winger Oliver Burke for the fi nal Kharaitiyat will now be turning eleventh place. on Saturday, Leipzig seized their four promotions in seven years. feet fi rmly on the ground, re- gun before squaring for Werner, 20 minutes. Gulf Times Monday, November 7, 2016 11 FOOTBALL

SPOTLIGHT LIGUE 1 Disputed penalty hands leaders Nice Zlatan double fi res fi rst loss of season Man United to 3-1 win over Swansea Swedish star Zlatan Ibrahimovic struck twice before half-time after France midfielder Paul Pogba had produced a stylish opener as Manchester United ran riot Caen’s French head coach Patrice Garande looks on. AFP “We conceded just before Paris the break and that’s never good. We should have gone in 0-0 at the break. And able-toppers Nice suf- then we tried to do it all too fered their fi rst Ligue 1 quickly. We had a couple of defeat of the season yes- chances and that’s all you terday when they went should normally need” Tdown 1-0 after a hotly disputed penalty at Caen. against a deep sitting defence The southern side still top and midfi eld. Ligue 1 with 29 points ahead of “They were well organised at Monaco on 26 while champions the back with fi ve defenders and Paris Saint Germain are third on were very compact, diffi cult to 23 ahead of their Sunday night get past,” Favre explained. game at home to Rennes. A stinging Balotelli drive on Nice have surprisingly set the the hour after a quick-fi re pass pace in France this season under from Younes Belhanda hit the new coach Lucien Favre and with bottom of the Caen post and was added zest in front of goal in- their best opportunity. spired by Italian centre forward On Saturday Radamel Falcao Mario Balotelli. continued his return to promi- But after a tough defeat in the nence with a brace as Monaco Europa League in midweek and kept up their superb form by an away match at the very op- thumping Nancy 6-0 at the Sta- posite end of France at Caen they de Louis II. suff ered their fi rst league reverse Falcao’s goals, the second of of the campaign. which came from the penalty The goal came from the pen- spot, were followed by a Kylian alty spot and was converted by the Mbappe strike moments after his Croat Ivan Santini after the referee second-half introduction. decided Ronny Rodelin had been Guido Carrillo added two late fouled in the area on 42 minutes. goals either side of a Fabinho “We conceded just before the penalty as the principality club break and that’s never good. We moved clear in second place. should have gone in 0-0 at the The win also underlined Mo- break,” lamented Favre. naco’s status as the most prolifi c “And then we tried to do it all side in Europe’s big fi ve leagues too quickly. We had a couple of — they are averaging three goals chances and that’s all you should a game after 12 matches and have normally need,” he said. scored at least six goals on three The win lifts Caen, themselves separate occasions since the start early pacesetters in Ligue 1 last of October. Manchester United’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic celebrates scoring their second goal against Swansea with Phil Jones and Juan Mata Action yesterday. season, on to 13 points and three “We are doing better this points above the relegation zone. year, providing a spectacle,” said AFP was never any chance of a fi ghtback from Marouane Fellaini came within a yard in an attempt to limit the damage. Despite Nice fi elding a strong coach Leonardo Jardim. Swansea the hapless hosts. of making it 2-0 two minutes later after Having been booed from the fi eld at line up with their top scorer “We are also pleased to have United started as they have in so many a sublime piece of footwork from Ibrahi- half time, Swansea made two changes in Alassane Plea with seven league the best attack in Europe ahead games this season, with a degree of hesi- movic. personnel. goals, and Balotelli with six lead- of Barcelona with Messi, Suarez latan Ibrahimovic eased the pres- tancy. They were clumsy in the midfi eld Swansea simply had no answer to Jeff erson Montero and ing the attack, they came up and Neymar.” sure on Jose Mourinho as the and lacking direction or accuracy in the United’s incisive raids and it came as no entered the fray as Bradley sought a way Manchester United striker’s dou- fi nal third. surprise when Ibrahimovic lost his mark- back into the game ble sealed a 3-1 win at struggling Still, what stood in front of them was er on the edge of the box and beat Fabian- By now, United were happy to go SCOTTISH PREMIERSHIP ZSwansea yesterday. a Swansea team equally short on confi - ski with a fi ne strike from 20 yards in the through the motions. With only one victory in their previ- dence. 21st minute. They continued to pass the ball with ous seven Premier League games, Unit- With only one league win this season, United sensed their opportunity to kill ease and comfort and denied Swansea a ed manager Mourinho had come under ’s side are languishing in the the contest and duly set off in pursuit of a foothold until the 69th minute. Drab Rangers held to mounting pressure at Old Traff ord. relegation zone. third. It came 12 minutes from the inter- Gylfi Sigurdsson whipped in a free kick However, for one day at least, it was So, once United settled, they enjoyed a val when Ibrahimovic popped up in acres from the right and van der Hoorn beat all smiles for United as they poured even glut of possession. and beat Fabianski from eight yards. David De Gea with a fi rm header from 1-1 draw by bottom greater misery on a Swansea side that And as Pogba became increasingly in- The Swansea fans responded with calls eight yards. look destined for a long struggle to avoid fl uential, so the visitors began to ask seri- of ‘we want our club back’ and suggest- Rejuvenated and sensing a chance, relegation. ous questions of Bradley’s team. ing the decision to sell to the current Swansea gave it their all in the fi nal 20 side Ross County Swedish star Ibrahimovic struck twice The fi rst of those came on 15 minutes American owners was all about greed. minutes. Sigurdsson came into his own before half-time after France midfi elder when Pogba and created It was little more than a training and Barrow and Montero caused prob- AFP like we’ve been on it can be dif- Paul Pogba had produced a stylish opener the danger and Swansea couldn’t clear ground run out thereafter for United, lems out wide. Glasgow fi cult at times but I thought they as United ran riot. their lines, leaving Pogba to hit an un- who popped the ball around with in- However, United remained fi rm and showed their togetherness to- Mike van der Hoorn got a consolation stoppable shot from 20 yards into the top creasingly ease and confi dence, while duly helped themselves to three valuable day,” McIntyre said. for Swansea in the second half, but there corner of Lukasz Fabianski’s goal. Swansea retreated towards their own goal points and a boost in confi dence. angers missed the “We got into some good areas chance to reclaim sec- and if we had taken a bit more ond spot in the Scot- care with the fi nal pass we might SERIE A tish Premiership after a have hurt Rangers more than we frustratingR 1-1 draw with bottom did.” of the table Ross County at Vic- Hill — who made his profes- toria Park yesterday. sional debut for Tranmere in The Glasgow giants got off to 1997 — rose high to get on the the perfect start as 38-year-old end of a Josh Windass corner and Clint Hill capitalised on some plant a header beyond Scott Fox Pjanic helps Juve beat Chievo poor defending to power home a into the far corner. header in the eighth minute. The visitors came close to AFP lobbed it over the head of Nico- Results However, County claimed adding another when Lee Wal- Milan las Spolli only to send his follow- an equaliser in the 26th minute lace released Kenny Miller in the up over the crossbar. Pescara 0 Empoli 4 (Mac- when the unmarked Andrew box but the veteran striker’s shot The Croatia striker fi nally carone 12, 44, Pucciarelli 23, Davies was allowed the freedom was pushed into the side netting osnia midfi elder Mi- broke the deadlock eight min- Saponara 89) of the Rangers penalty area to by the County ‘keeper. ralem Pjanic silenced utes after the restart after Chievo 1 (Pellissier 66) Juven- head past Wes Foderingham. A second goal looked inevita- his critics with a superb controlling Juan Cuadrado’s tus 2 (Mandzukic 53, Pjanic 75) Neither side could add to ble for Rangers but Ross County free-kick winner as in- perfectly-weighted ball to beat Genoa 1 (Ocampos 24) Udi- their tally in the second half as responded in the 26th minute jury-depletedB Juventus laboured Stefano Sorrentino down low Rangers dropped points for the when some sloppy defending nese 1 (Thereau 11) to a 2-1 win at Chievo to stretch from 18 yards. Palermo 1 (Nestorovski 71) AC seventh time in 12 league games allowed them to grab only their their Serie A lead yesterday. Juve should have earned a Milan 2 (Suso 15, Lapadula 82) since their return to the Scottish tenth goal this season. Roma have the chance to re- penalty on the hour but Higuain Sassuolo 0 Atalanta 3 (Gomez Premiership. Davies was left unmarked at duce the gap to four points later opted to stay on his feet as he 19, Caldara 24, Conti 43) It leaves them in third trailing the back post which allowed him when they host Bologna at the was being dragged back by the bitter rivals Celtic, who defeated time and space to plant a bullet Stadio Olimpico. shoulder by Mariano Izco. Inverness Caledonian Thistle header past Foderingham from In a hard-fought encounter Moments later Gianluigi Buf- to his right and Cuadrado beat 3-0 on Saturday, by a massive 11 former Rangers player Chris that saw defender Andrea Barza- fon got down low to save Lu- three three players on his way points with the leaders also hav- Burke’s corner. gli stretchered off after just four cas Castro’s snapshot from fi ve to skewing wide of Sorrentino’s ing a game in hand. Rangers dominated in the sec- minutes, Juventus were given yards out, although a minute near post. Rangers manager Mark War- ond period but were unable to another reminder their bid for a Juventus midfielder Miralem Pjanic (R) celebrates with teammates later the Juve ‘keeper was sent At Palermo, Suso was the star burton was deeply disappointed profi t from their possession and record sixth consecutive league at the end of the Serie A match against Chievo Verona. the wrong way as Sergio Pellissi- of the show for AC Milan in a 2-1 to watch his side draw for the succession of corners. title is far from being a formality. er, on his 400th Serie A appear- win that saw Josip Posavec per- fi fth time this season. They thought they had been Although Napoli are now nine The champions were al- on his arm in an early challenge ance, levelled from the spot after form heroics for the hosts. “Our level of performance awarded a penalty in the 67th points adrift after their 1-1 draw ready without defender Giorgio and was stretchered off . being hauled down by makeshift When Palermo ‘keeper was nowhere near as good as last minute when Jason Holt went at home to Lazio on Saturday, Chiellini for the trip to Verona Still missing strikers Paulo defender Stephan Lichtsteiner. Posavec spilled the defl ection week’s was (the 3-0 win over down under Erik Cikos’ chal- AC Milan maintained their pur- and coach Massimiliano Al- Dybala and Mark Pjaca, Allegri Pjanic earned a lifeline when he from a cross into the area on the Kilmarnock) and we have to ask lenge but instead referee Andrew ple patch with a precious 2-1 win legri dropped Leonardo Bonucci had no choice but to deploy was fouled by Spolli and stepped quarter-hour, Suso pounced why,” Warburton said. Dallas booked the midfi elder for at Palermo. to the bench after he suff ered Mario Mandzukic alongside up to fi re a sumptuous free kick quickly to fi re into a virtually “We must move the ball better simulation. It moved Vincenzo Montella’s a thigh injury in a midweek Argentine Gonzalo Higuain al- into the top right-hand corner. empty net from 10 yards. and take care with our decision County fi nished strongly men up to provisional second Champions League draw with though by the end both players But the champions’ fi nishing Ilija Nestorovski’s 71st minute making.” with Liam Boyce fi ring wide and place at fi ve points behind Ju- Lyon. were struggling. was terrible. equaliser raised Palermo’s hopes Ross County manager Jim substitute Tony Dingwall twice ventus, whose bid for glory at But Bonucci was forced into Mandzukic spurned a fi rst- Stefano Sturaro notably fi red of earning a share of the points, McIntyre was proud of his play- having shots blocked while Alex home and in Europe is exacting action to replace Barzagli after half chance when he controlled over on a one-on-one with Sor- but Milan were a class above the ers. Schalk’s late swerving eff ort was a heavy toll. the Juve veteran fell awkwardly a long ball from midfi eld and rentino when he had options Sicilians. “When you’ve been on a run saved by Foderingham. Monday, November 7, 2016 GULF TIMES FOOTBALL

SPOTLIGHT PREDICTION ‘Fantastico’ Chelsea Ruthless Reds can get better: Conte crush Watford to take pole position Chelsea’s Eden Hazard with manager Antonio Conte. AFP showing his talent with all the London Chelsea players. But the most Mane scored twice, while Coutinho, Can, Firmino and Wijnaldum were also on the important thing is that I’m see- ing that Eden is fantastic with scoresheet as Liverpool produced the kind of performance that will fuel title talk ntonio Conte claimed the ball and he is fantastic with- Chelsea can still im- out the ball.” AFP prove, despite record- Marcos Alonso hit the second Liverpool ing his best win as to claim his fi rst goal for the club, managerA of the club so far, de- with Diego Costa then hitting the scribing his side’s 5-0 thrashing third, before Pedro completed iverpool climbed to the top of the of Everton as “fantastico”. the scoring. Premier League table for the fi rst The Italian had been pressed Everton didn’t have a chance time under Jurgen Klopp with a to off er a word from his own and, having switched from his dazzling 6-1 demolition of Wat- language for the display and, own attempt to play a three- Lford at Anfi eld yesterday. having chuckled about the one man defence as early as the 36th Sadio Mane scored twice for the Reds, he picked, then spoke seriously minute, coach Ronald Koeman while Philippe Coutinho, Emre Can, about how the true value of this praised how the Italian ha made Roberto Firmino and Georginio Wijnal- victory is how it instils confi - that formation work. dum were also on the scoresheet as Liv- dence in the system and his on- “I never saw a team playing erpool produced the kind of performance going work with the squad. so well this system,” the Everton that will fuel talk of a serious title chal- “You have to show that you can manager said. lenge on Merseyside. win with the idea of playing good “This system is very diffi cult After a 1-1 draw in the north London football. It’s important to put to play against, the movement of derby between Arsenal and Tottenham these players in the best situation the players. earlier in the day, Klopp’s side had the op- to exploit their talent,” said Conte. “Chelsea showed us today a portunity to knock Chelsea off top spot. “I’m very pleased because to- very high level of football – in They duly delivered with a breathtak- day there was a fantastic atmos- every aspect of football. I did not ing display which owed much to the bril- phere with our supporters. We expect that big a diff erence on liance of Brazil internationals Roberto must continue to work together the pitch, but it happened. Firmino and Philippe Coutinho. with the players, the club, the “I think after playing out of Liverpool were without centre-back supporters and then to improve this system, fi ve wins in a row, Dejan Lovren, who missed out with a vi- step by step. We can improve. We they (Chelsea) score a lot, they rus, so Lucas Leiva slotted in alongside can improve.” don’t concede any goal, it’s Joel Matip. It is diffi cult to see how Eden enough for them. It’s the best Watford manager Walter Mazzarri also Hazard can improve, having put way for them, and of course made an enforced change as Sebastian in one of his fi nest displays for some key players in that team Prodl was ruled out with an abductor injury Chelsea. are showing the highest level of and replaced in defence by Daryl Janmaat. He scored twice, opening the football.” Watford, who came into the match on scoring after 18 minutes, before “How they work, how they the back of three clean-sheets, were ini- driving home the best strike of run, how they press – we can tially disciplined defensively as they sat the game on 54 minutes after a learn from them.” back and looked to hit Liverpool on the brilliant exchange of fl icks with Despite the rout, Conte was counter attack. Pedro. still reluctant to talk of title chal- However, Liverpool’s pressure was That makes it seven goals in 11, lenges. unrelenting as they poured forward in his fi nest start to a season since “We don’t want to send a mes- search of the opening goal and it felt like moving to Stamford Bridge. sage to the other teams. It’s im- it would only be a matter of time before “He’s playing fantastic foot- portant to send a message to our- the net would bulge. ball,” Conte enthused. “He’s selves,” he said. By the half-hour mark they had a two- goal advantage with Coutinho instru- Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino (L) celebrates scoring their fourth goal with Philippe Coutinho against Watford yesterday. mental. OPINION A cleverly worked short corner with Results and standings either, as Liverpool scored twice more James Milner allowed Coutinho to pick before the hour mark. out Mane, who escaped the attentions of Arsenal 1 Tottenham Hotspur 1 Lallana got the byline and cut the ball Janmaat and glanced a header high into Hull City 2 Southampton 1 for Firmino to tap the ball home from Liverpool, Chelsea the net. Liverpool 6 Watford 1 close range in the 57th minute as the ram- Slick and energetic passing has fea- Swansea City 1 Manchester United 3 pant Reds scored four in a match for the tured prominently in Liverpool’s play Leicester City 1 West Brom 2 fi fth time this season. have physical edge, this season and their second goal was Liverpool’s fi fth owed much to Firmi- another example as Mane and Firmino STANDINGS no’s strength and determination as he combined on the right fl ank. No. Team P W D L F A Pts shrugged off Jose Holebas and, even says Wenger 1 Liverpool 11 8 2 1 30 14 26 though Watford had superior numbers INTENSITY 2 Chelsea 11 8 1 2 26 9 25 back, he picked out Mane, who slid the The ball found Coutinho on the edge of Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp and 3 Manchester City 11 7 3 1 25 10 24 ball home from close range. the box and he cut back inside with his Sadio Mane celebrate after the game. 4 Arsenal 11 7 3 1 24 11 24 Out-classed Watford were able to fi rst touch to create a shooting oppor- 5 Tottenham Hotspur 11 5 6 0 15 6 21 give their supporters something to cheer tunity and then struck a powerful low forthcoming as the intensity from 6 Manchester United 11 5 3 3 16 13 18 when Janmaat arrowed a low shot into eff ort past Watford goalkeeper Heurelho Klopp’s side continued and they eff ec- 7 Everton 11 5 3 3 15 13 18 the net from the corner of the box with 15 Gomes. tively ended the game as a contest before 8 Watford 11 4 3 4 15 19 15 minutes left. Watford’s afternoon went from bad to half-time. 9 Burnley 11 4 2 5 11 15 14 The last word was Liverpool’s, though, worse as Gomes limped out of the action A high ball forward was knocked out 10 Southampton 11 3 4 4 12 12 13 as saw his shot parried having landed awkwardly as he attempt- wide to Adam Lallana and the England Relegation zone by Pantilimon in stoppage-time and fel- ed to keep out Coutinho’s goal and was midfi elder curled it into the box for Can, 18 Hull City 11 3 1 7 10 24 10 low substitute Wijnaldum knocked the replaced by . who guided his header back across goal 19 Swansea City 11 1 2 8 10 21 5 rebound into the net as the Reds went top If the Hornets had hoped for some and past Pantilimon. 20 Sunderland 11 1 2 8 9 21 5 of the league for the fi rst time since 2014. sympathy from Liverpool it was not There was no respite in the second half And they’re looking solid. Arsenal’s French manager Arsene Wenger.

Reuters ing day defeat by Liverpool, but BOTTOMLINE London Wenger said his side had strug- gled physically against a Totten- ham side who began and fi nished iverpool and Chelsea the derby stronger. have an advantage in the “We were a bit too stretched title race because they are and our level dropped,” Wenger not playing in Europe this said. “When we were questioned Returning Kane rescues Spurs Lseason, Arsenal manager Arsene physically in the fi nal 30 minutes Wenger said after yesterday’s we were not good enough to win AFP sult,” said Pochettino, echoing mate Theo Walcott, Mesut Ozil draw with Tottenham Hotspur the game.” London Wenger. “It’s been a very dif- dragged a shot wide and Alex denied them top spot. His opposite number Mauricio fi cult game for us, but 11 games Iwobi curled tamely at Spurs Arsenal could have entered the Pochettino, whose side are also unbeaten in the Premier League, goalkeeper Hugo Lloris. international break leading the juggling the Champions League arry Kane marked his we need to be very pleased.” Walcott then rattled the Premier League but after going with domestic action, was the return from injury Spurs welcomed back talis- right-hand post with a fi erce in front against their north Lon- happier manager after the re- with the equaliser as man Kane after seven weeks out drive from the edge of the box don rivals they ran out of steam turning Harry Kane’s penalty Tottenham Hotspur with ankle ligament damage, and three minutes before half- and drew 1-1. cancelled out Kevin Wimmer’s Hdrew 1-1 at Arsenal yesterday to but Dele Alli was absent due to time, Arsenal struck. A rampant Chelsea thrashed fi rst-half own goal. keep their arch rivals from the a knee injury that will keep him Ozil arced a free-kick into the Everton 5-0 on Saturday to go Tottenham are still unbeaten Premier League summit. out of action for England over box from a deep position on the top with 25 points and Liver- in the Premier League but have Arsenal took the lead late in the international break. right and in trying to prevent the pool responded with an equally drawn four in a row to fall fi ve the fi rst half courtesy of Kevin Visiting manager Pochettino ball reaching the red shirts rush- emphatic 6-1 victory over Wat- points off the pace. Wimmer’s own goal, but Kane set his side out in a bold 3-4-2-1 ing in, Wimmer succeeded only ford to move above them with 26 “We showed that we could be levelled from the penalty spot formation and it seemed to take in heading it past Lloris. points from 11 games. fl exible today,” Pochettino, who early in the second period after a Arsenal by surprise. The system The goal refl ected Arsenal’s “It’s a bit easier to prepare for switched to a back three of Eric foul on Mousa Dembele by Lau- freed Spurs’ full-backs to get growing threat, but within six the games because you don’t have Dier, Wimmer and Jan Vertong- rent Koscielny. forward even more than usual, minutes of kick-off in the sec- the intensity of the Champions hen, told reporters. The result prevented Arsenal Danny Rose crossing for Kyle ond half their lead had vanished. League games,” Wenger, whose “All teams have good and bad from supplanting Chelsea as Walker to head over early on, After gliding into the box side have 24 points, told report- moments in the season, we have leaders and opening up a six- Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane (L) celebrates scoring his while Kane headed inches wide from deep, Dembele was felled ers when whether Liverpool and had some bad moments but are point gap over Spurs, who re- team’s first goal from the penalty spot yesterday against Arsenal. from Christian Eriksen’s cross. by Koscielny and Kane chipped Chelsea had an advantage. still unbeaten (in the Premier main fi fth, three points below But as Arsenal began to com- the ensuing penalty down the “But if you asked them both League) so I can only smile about Arsene Wenger’s men. looked a bit more fl at physically defeat in his fi rst fi ve top-fl ight mit more people forward, so middle for his fi fth goal in four they would like to be in there so that,” he said. “It was a game of high inten- and less sharp. North London derbies. they began to expose frailties in a league games against Arsenal. you can’t complain about it. “Now we have two weeks to sity,” said Wenger, who felt the “The desire was there. Maybe Although Spurs have gone three-man back line marshalled It was Spurs who came closest “It’s a physical advantage for try and recover all the players. penalty awarded by referee Mark the result was fair.” seven games without a win in all unconvincingly by Wimmer, to snatching the points, Erik- sure, especially after the Euro- We need all our squad fi t be- Clattenburg was “harsh”. Wenger has now gone fi ve competitions, they have avoided who was making his fi rst league sen’s free-kick from wide on the pean weeks. But we have to live cause we can’t rotate in the way “In the fi rst half we always league games without beating defeat in their opening 11 league appearance of the season. left evading everyone to bounce with that and it’s not an excuse. we would like to keep them fresh. looked like we could score eve- Spurs for the fi rst time, while games for only the third time in After Francis Coquelin had against the same post Walcott It’s very tight after 11 games.” Maybe that’s been the problem. ry time we crossed the half- Mauricio Pochettino is the fi rst the club’s history. seen a thumping volley inad- had wobbled in the fi rst half. Arsenal are still unbeaten in “But today the feeling was way line. In the second half we Tottenham manager to avoid “A draw is maybe the fair re- vertently blocked by team- And so it ended in a tie. all competitions since an open- fantastic.”