THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2014 SPORTS

Shock over Bianchi reports UAE coach slams fans ‘MNS’ and ‘BBC’ in Spain LONDON: Marussia expressed shock and anger yesterday at media DUBAI: United Arab Emirates boss Mahdi Ali hammered stay away fans and BARCELONA: While Real Madrid’s fearsome attacking trio of Cristiano allegations that French driver Jules Bianchi had ignored warning flags bemoaned losing out in a club-versus-country row as his side’s three-year Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema has become known collectively and been told to go faster by the Formula One team before he crashed unbeaten ended with an emphatic 4-0 defeat by fellow Asian Cup as “BBC” in Spain, Barcelona are confident “MNS” can be at least as lethal. and suffered critical head injuries in Japan. finalists Uzbekistan. Ali made five changes to the side that had drawn 0-0 with Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez could play a competitive game The British-based team issued a statement rejecting what it referred Asian Cup hosts Australia on Friday for the friendly in Dubai on Tuesday but his together for the first time in the La Liga ‘Clasico’ at Real Madrid’s Bernabeu to as ‘entirely false’ reports about events at Suzuka 10 days ago. replacements fell way short of the mark. stadium on Oct. 25, the day after Suarez’s four-month ban for biting an “The Marussia F1 Team is shocked and angered by these allegations,” it The former UAE international, not known for making so many changes, said opponent at the World Cup expires. said. “At a time when its driver is critically ill in hospital, and the team his lineup had been influenced by local clubs. “The players are under pressure Messi and Neymar have been unable to keep up has made clear that its highest priority is consideration from their clubs because the league resumes in three days and they are think- with Ronaldo’s incredible haul of 13 goals in six La for Jules and his family, it is distressed to have to ing of those matches more than the national team’s friendly,” the coach was Liga outings this term but have the same number respond to deeply upsetting rumours and inaccura- quoted as saying by local media. cies.” Marussia said Bianchi had slowed when the between them and the return of Suarez should “It is also shameful the national team doesn’t have any home support from boost Barca’s already formidable scoring rate yellow warning flags, which tell drivers to be pre- the fans for home games. When we arrive at the stadium, we find a few fans even further. The exploits of the three South pared to stop, were waved by track marshals follow- and that gives the feeling that we are in a strange country. “There is no support Americans on international duty this week ing an earlier accident in the same location involving from our own fans, so how will the players be motivated? The other day, the prompted crowing headlines in the Barcelona- Adrian Sutil’s Sauber. Australians had more support than us in the stadium. I’d rather not play any The team said International Automobile games at home but outside the country. It is really disappointing.” based sports papers, who suggested Messi, Federation (FIA) safety delegate and race The loss was just the third of Ali’s reign, which began in 2012 after he led Neymar and Suarez were shifting into top gear at director Charlie Whiting had confirmed, from the under-23 team at the London Olympics, and first for the UAE at home since exactly the right time. Messi struck twice for Argentina as telemetry data provided by the team, at a a 2-0 defeat by South Korea in a World Cup qualifier in 2011. Timur Kapadze, a second-half substitute against Hong Kong, Suarez net- subsequent news conference in Russia that Server Djeparov and substitute Navruz Alimov scored the goals for the Uzbeks ted a double for Uruguay against Oman and Neymar this was the case. —Reuters with a Mohammed Ahmed Gharib own goal completing the rout. —Reuters cracked four goals past Japan. —Reuters Giants defeat Cardinals

SAN FRANCISCO: sat back in in Game 4 against St. Louis and Shelby Miller. his chair, took a deep breath and pondered “We want to try and win them all here, and another wacky October win for his San finish this thing up,” Vogelsong said. Francisco Giants. A wild pitch, a wide throw and an 18- The wild-card Giants finally got a bunt inning marathon. That’s how these playoff- down, and then the baserunning became a tested Giants have done it so far. breeze. Because come postseason, this “Everybody’s saying: ‘How are the Giants bunch sure finds a way. Pretty? Hardly. And doing it? How are the Giants winning they don’t care about style points. games?’” Blanco said. “We just really believe An errant throw by reliever Randy Choate in each other.” on ’s bunt allowed Brandon This San Francisco walkoff win came 12 Crawford to score the winning run in the years to the day after Kenny Lofton’s single in 10th inning, lifting the Giants over the St. the ninth inning ended the 2002 NLCS Louis Cardinals 5-4 on Tuesday for a 2-1 lead against the Cardinals and sent the Giants to in the NL Championship Series. “Is this a rule the . we can’t hit a home run?” Bochy joked of his It also came on a day Hall of Famer Willie club’s non-conventional ways to win. McCovey surprised players with his return to “We can score runs without hits, we’ve the ballpark after a long stint in the hospital proven that,” third base coach nursing an infection. “How great is that? said, hours after singing the national anthem Huge. He really wanted to be here,” CEO Larry with the Grateful Dead. “I call us the nitty- Baer said. In the Division Series clincher only gritty dirtbags.” Crawford drew an eight-pitch a week earlier against Washington, walk from Choate to begin the inning, end- scored the go-ahead run in a 3-2 win on ing a stretch of 16 straight Giants retired Aaron Barrett’s bases-loaded wild pitch. That since ’s two-out single in the came after winning Game 2 by a 2-1 score in fourth. After failing on two sacrifice attempts, 18 innings. The Giants also scored the tying Juan Perez singled to bring up Blanco. run in the ninth inning of Sunday’s 5-4 Game Blanco fouled off a bunt try, too, but then 2 loss on a wild pitch. “We are finding ways to pushed one to the left side of the mound do it. We play interesting , especially and the left-handed Choate’s sidearmed late in games,” said , who throw sailed past lunging second baseman pitched 1 2-3 innings in relief of Hudson. Kolten Wong, who was covering first. “We Playing without injured catcher Yadier had trouble getting the bunt down,” Molina, the Cardinals had their chances. They Crawford said. “So I was happy he got it squandered Wong’s double in the second down. He put it in a great spot and made before he delivered a wind-aided, two-run those guys make a play, and fortunately (we) triple in the fourth. saw the throw go wide.” Choate blamed him- AJ Pierzynski went hitless in four at-bats self. He has done fielding practice for starting as Molina nursed a strained left decades. “That’s the stuff you dream about oblique. St. Louis returned to AT&T Park in the SAN FRANCISCO: Kolten Wong No. 16 of the St. Louis Cardinals is unable to catch an errant throw by Randy Choate No. 36 allowing the San when you’re a kid, besides hitting the homer,” postseason for the first time since losing Francisco Giants the game-winning run as the Giants win 5-4 in the 10th inning during Game Three of the National League Championship Choate said. “Being out on the mound in a Games 6 and 7 of the 2012 NLCS, which it had Series. — AFP game like that with a crowd like that on the led 3-1. Javier Lopez got the first two outs of road, those are the kinds of challenges I look the 10th before Jon Jay’s single, just the third forward to. I love being out there for that. hit by a left-handed batter against Lopez That’s just what makes that all the more dis- since he joined San Francisco in 2010. Two of Royals edge Orioles appointing, is that ball would get away from those are by Jay this series. me like that.” entered and retired on a full- The Giants had a 4-3 lead before Randal count grounder to third that Grichuk hit a tying homer with one out in the snared and fired to first. “We don’t do any- seventh, chasing Hudson. Right-hander Ryan thing easy,” Bochy said. “We might have got a to take lead in ALCS Vogelsong, unbeaten in five career postsea- little lucky there with Perez when he couldn’t son starts, tries to pitch San Francisco to a 3-1 get a bunt down and he gets a base hit. But lead when he takes the ball Wednesday night Blanco laid down a beauty.” — AP KANSAS CITY: Mike Moustakas had his eye runners on the corners, and Orioles manager It happened in the second inning, when on the ball from the moment it left Adam Buck Showalter brought in hard-throwing Pearce and J.J. Hardy hit back-to-back doubles Jones’s bat, tracking it against the bright reliever Kevin Gausman. for a 1-0 lead. Guthrie wiggled out of the jam, Hill+Knowlton Strategies lights of . When it settled Butler greeted him with a fly ball to left though, and grinded through five innings into his glove and he tumbled into a dugout field for the tiebreaking run - just the latest against his former team in his first start since expands ME Sports Practice suite, a dozen fans were waiting to pick him example of Kansas City doing all the little Sept. 26. Chen matched him pitch-for-pitch right back up. Just like Moustakas has picked things right. One of the best bullpens in base- until the fourth, when the Royals put together team with new hires up his team during its perfect postseason. ball took care of the rest. one of their quintessential innings: a pair of KUWAIT: Hill+Knowlton Strategies (H+K) is cated regional sports and entertainment The third baseman with the four playoff Winning pitcher Jason Frasor breezed bloop singles, a walk and a tying RBI ground- delighted to announce that it has expanded team to service the specific needs of lead- homers dazzled with his glove Tuesday night. through the sixth, and Kelvin Herrera and out. The Royals played catch up with their its Middle East Sports Practice team with ing global sports brands and event organis- And when Billy Butler drove in the go-ahead nailed down the next two gloves, too. Moustakas made a diving grab to two new hires on-the-ground across the ers. We partner with those who want to run with a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning, the innings. Greg Holland worked a perfect ninth rob Pearce of a single in the fourth. Then in region. Most significant of these is the work with passionate sporting communica- long-downtrodden were for his third save of the series, setting off a the sixth, he tracked that popup by Jones into appointment of Nicola Milan, who joins the tion professionals as we understand exactly on their way to a 2-1 victory over the wild celebration in the stands. foul territory, steadied himself at a railing near team as a Senior Consultant currently based what it takes to sell out events, support new in Doha, Qatar. Nicola has a notable and products, grow sports at grassroots and and a commanding 3-0 lead In all, Kansas City retired the final the dugout, then extended himself to catch prestigious sports background, and brings manage sporting heroes from around the in their AL Championship Series. 16 batters. It was the 13th game to be decid- the ball and tumbled into the stands. extensive experience in the field, particular- region and world.” “It really did fire up the whole stadium,” ed by one run this postseason, matching the “They were both tremendous plays,” Royals ly in bidding for and organising Olympic “We are as ambitious as the athletes we’ve Royals first baseman said of his record set in 2011 and tied last year. Six manager Ned Yost said. The blue-clad crowd and Paralympic Games. worked with, which includes the likes of Rory teammate’s circus catch. “Hats off to the fans games have gone to extra innings, including rose to its feet to give Moustakas a rousing She worked as Assistant to Sebastian Coe McIlory, Novak Djokovic, Nasser Al Attiyah in the dugout suite, pick him up and put him the Giants’ 5-4, 10-inning victory over the cheer, and many fans were still standing when CH, KBE, Chairman of the London 2012 and Majed Bougherra. In light of this, we’re back on the field. That was great. Moose find- Cardinals hours earlier in the NLCS. Butler drove in the go-ahead run in the bot- thrilled to bring such a seasoned professional ing ways to get it done.” “I wish I didn’t have so much stake in it,” tom half of the inning. By the time the Royals’ as Nicola on board and further expand our The entire team has found ways to get it Showalter said dryly. “I’d probably enjoy “Big Three” of Herrera, Davis and Holland had dedicated sports personnel on-the-ground throughout the region. Nicola obviously done. The wild-card Royals have won 10 watching both teams play more than I do.” closed it out, the Royals were on the verge of brings an enormous wealth of knowledge straight postseason games, including all sev- After failing to take the lead in the first two another postseason sweep. “We’ve got to and understanding in sports, as well as en this year, in their first playoff appearance in games of the series, Baltimore managed to zone in on the task at hand,” Holland said. strong relationships with a wide range of 29 years. The only thing that’s slowed Kansas strike first this night, temporarily silencing a “They’re not going to lay down. We under- international sporting organisations, event City so far was a rainout Monday. “We’ve got a frigid, flag-waving capacity crowd. stand that.” —AP committees, government departments and snowball effect going right now,” Butler said. ministers. She comes aboard ahead of our “The confidence couldn’t be any higher. That’s busiest and most exciting autumn for the when you come to the park each day, focus sports team to date.” “I am absolutely delighted to join such a on the next pitch, focus on your job and just passionate and professional team as H+K’s not be the guy to end the streak.” Middle East Sports Practice said Nicola. The Fresh off a combined three-hitter, Kansas Middle East has become a true sporting hub City will send Jason Vargas to the mound for in recent years and is placing huge focus on Game 4 late yesterday, trying to advance to its developing sport at all levels. It is a very excit- first World Series since 1985. Miguel Gonzalez ing time to have moved to the region and I will go to the mound for the Orioles. am very much looking forward to bringing “It’s hard to take advantage of mistakes my knowledge and experience to a new when they’re not making any,” Orioles first sports culture.” baseman Steve Pearce said. “This is tough, Nicola Milan, Senior Consultant in Shrief Fadl also joins the Sports team as a Consultant. An Egyptian national with a pas- man. We’ve got one loss left. We’ve got to find Qatar sion for track and field events, Shrief was pre- a way to start pulling this out. We got to find Organising Committee, for eight years, first viously a Copy Editor and Copywriter for The somebody to get it done.” joining the Organising Committee during the Cairo Post, working closely with the paper’s The Orioles are the 34th team to trail 3-0 in Bid phase in 2004 and working right through sports journalists and assigning stories and a best-of-seven major league postseason the Games and until March 2013. Sebastian editing copy on the local and regional sports series - the only team to come back and win Coe indeed references her in his autobiogra- scene. Shrief brings first class Arabic capabili- was the in the 2004 ALCS phy, ‘Running My Life’ (November 2012): ties as well as strong experience of the against the Yankees, STATS said. “Nicola Milan has seen me through the day Middle East in general, having lived in Egypt, job with unfailing good humour.” Kuwait, Lebanon and the UAE. “It’s been done before, so that gives you a Following her involvement in the 2012 H+K has an impressive Sports Practice in chance,” Jones said. “We’ve won four games London Olympics she moved to Istanbul in the Middle East and is trusted advisor to before. Obviously, not in this situation. But 2013, working for Hasan Arat, Leader of the many of the industry’s high profile sponsors we’ve won four games, four games, four Istanbul 2020 Olympic and Paralympic and sports organisations in the region. games. So start tomorrow, start in the first Games Bid. Nicola studied Sport and Exercise Clients include adidas, Porsche, Porsche GT3 inning and get some runs on the board.” Science at the University of Birmingham in Cup Challenge Middle East, Flash The Royals’ Jeremy Guthrie and Orioles’ the UK and has a life-long passion for sport. Entertainment, HSBC Golf, Qatar Olympic Wei-Yin Chen hooked up in a tense pitching Commenting on her appointment, Committee, Oman Sail - Sail Arabia The Tour, Stephen Reid, Director of Sports Marketing Mubadala World Tennis Championship, FINA duel for five innings Tuesday night, and the for H+K across the Middle East, stated: “Over World Swimming Championships and the game was still 1-all when Chen gave up a KANSAS CITY: Greg Holland No. 56 of the Kansas City Royalsfalls to the ground after a ball the past five years we’ve developed a dedi- World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). leadoff single to Nori Aoki in the sixth. Eric came towards him in the ninth inning against the Baltimore Orioles during Game Three of the Hosmer followed with a one-out single to put American League Championship Series. — AFP