Curry’s 30 lead Netherlands picks Warriors rout Dick Advocaat as of Jazz16 121-95 national19 coach WEDNESDAY, MAY 10, 2017 Bouchard beats fallen idol Sharapova in Madrid Page 18 TURIN: Juventus’ defender from Brazil Alex Sandro (up) heads the ball during the UEFA Champions League semi final second leg football match Juventus vs Monaco yesterday at the Juventus stadium. —AP Alves sends ruthless Juve into final TURIN: A stunning Dani Alves volley helped Juventus stroll into Allegri made only one change from last week’s first leg line- were soon being treated to some slick entertainment that at thump the loose ball into the roof of the net. The deflated body their second Champions League final in three years yesterday as a up but was soon forced to restore it as Germany midfielder times left the visitors looking like spectators. Paulo Dybala made language of Monaco’s young side told its own story and any 2-1 win on the night completed a 4-1 aggregate victory over out- Sami Khedira, returning from suspension, lasted only 10 min- amends for slicing Gonzalo Higuain’s knockdown wide from the doubt about the outcome disappeared a minute before the inter- classed Monaco. Brazilian wing-back Alves’s 25-yard strike fol- utes before limping off to make way for Claudio Marchisio. For edge of the area by deftly playing his fellow Argentinian into a val. Subasic did well again to keep out Dybala’s effort with another lowed Mario Mandzukic’s opener for the treble-chasing Italian Monaco, the loss of Nabil Dirar to injury in the warm-up meant one-on-one with Monaco goalkeeper Danijel Subasic. It was the close-range stop and he got a firm fist to the resulting corner. champions as any semblance of a contest was snuffed out by half- a hasty return for Benjamin Mendy as coach Leonardo Jardim kind of chance the striker usually gobbles up but this one was But the clearance fell invitingly for Alves 25 yards out and time. Teenage superstar Kylian Mbappe pulled a goal back for the opted to match Juve’s 3-5-2 set-up. The results were initially fluffed with a semi-shanked attempt to dink the ball over the the Brazilian’s volley was timed sweetly enough to beat the principality club after the break, his sixth of the competition. encouraging and Mbappe squeezed a fifth-minute shot past goalkeeper. Mandzukic had a similar chance but saw his toe- Monaco goalkeeper to his left by sheer pace. Comprehensively But there was never any realistic prospect of them threatening Gianluigi Buffon from a tight angle and held his head in his poked effort saved by Subasic before Andrea Raggi’s last-ditch outplayed, Monaco restored a bit of pride when Mbappe to overturn a 2-0 deficit from last week’s first leg. It will be the ninth hands as it came back off the inside of the post, although the block denied Dybala. pulled a goal back midway through the second period. time Juventus, runners-up in 2015, have contested the final of offside flag had come up. But a goal was coming and it duly arrived 12 minutes before Portugal midfielder Joao Moutinho was the architect, working Europe’s elite club competition. And on this evidence, Massimiliano the break after a move that began with a Buffon throw out. his way into the left side of the box. His cross was clipped low Allegri’s sinewy, battle-hardened squad stand a good chance of Subasic kept busy Dybala supplied Alves on the right and his deep cross picked out from the byline and Mbappe showed quick feet to bundle it adding to the club’s meagre return of two triumphs when they The home supporters had to wait quarter of an hour to see Mandzukic advancing on the back post. Again Subasic saved at over the line in a manner reminiscent of a young Thierry Henry, meet either Atletico Madrid or Real Madrid in Cardiff on June 3. their side emerge meaningfully from their own half. But they close range but the rebound fell kindly for the Croatian striker to also once a Monaco prodigy — AFP Middlesbrough relegated as Infantino vows to Chelsea close in on EPL title fight racist ‘idiots’ MANAMA: FIFA president Gianni Infantino said he intends to Conte said. “Because in this season, Cesc at the start didn’t play a talk with Pescara midfielder Sulley Muntari, the victim of lot. And then through hard work, he improved a lot. And then he’s racist abuse in Italian football, and vowed to fight racist Chelsea 3 playing in every game. “This development of Cesc is our develop- “idiots”. Muntari was booked for complaining about racist ment, because we started the season with a lot of problems. But abuse during a match at Cagliari and subsequently suspend- through hard work, together we found the right way. “Cesc is ed, although that sanction was later lifted. showing (himself) to be a fantastic player and I’m pleased for him. The Ghanaian then walked off the field in protest in the Because I saw in this season that he put himself in this team in final minutes of the game. Infantino told reporters yesterday Middlesbrough 0 every moment, if he played or didn’t play. Now he’s deserving this.” that he intended to talk with Muntari and would give him FIFA’s “full solidarity”. The FIFA president also said he would be Boro ‘devastated’ discussing the issue with Italian Football Federation LONDON: Chelsea manager Antonio Conte said his side were Needing victory to stand a realistic chance of preserving their President Carlo Tavecchio about the issue. “Of course I will “another little step” from the Premier League title after they top-flight status, Boro succumbed to a defeat that sent them into speak to Tavecchio, I will speak to Muntari as well... we will crushed Middlesbrough 3-0 to move to within touching distance the Championship alongside northeast rivals Sunderland. Conte work together,” Infantino, who is in Bahrain for Thursday’s of glory. Tottenham Hotspur’s surprise defeat at West Ham United made a point of saluting Boro’s travelling fans after the game. “It’s FIFA Congress, said. Asked what could be done about the last week handed Chelsea the initiative and they can now seal a great to see a team that got relegated and to see the fans clap- issue, Infantino said: “Fight. Continue to fight. It’s good to second title triumph in three years if they win at West Bromwich ping the players and the players staying there to receive the bring these things out when they happen. We have to work. Albion on Friday. “We’re very close. We must be honest. But we applause and to clap the fans,” said the Italian. We have to work on the people.” need to do another little step and win another game,” Conte told “It’s important to celebrate your win, but also to have great Infantino said the protocol, established by UEFA in reporters after Monday’s match, which condemned respect and clap this type of situation. “Because I think this situa- Europe, with a series of stadium announcements leading up Middlesbrough to relegation. “For sure now I’m a bit relaxed. This tion happens only in England. In Italy it’s very, very difficult to see to a possible stopping of the game, should be applied. step was big for us, a big win. “Now we need to do another step. a team getting relegated and the players receive (applause).” Boro “Unfortunately idiots, there are always idiots everywhere but We have the possibility to do this on Friday against West Brom. manager Steve Agnew said his dressing room was “devastated”. we have to fight them,” he said. Muntari said he had com- “For sure it won’t be easy, because West Brom is a really good “We’ve worked so hard for a number of years to get back into the plained that parts of the crowd, including a group of chil- team, a physical team, and we must pay great attention.”We are Premier League and we know how tough the Premier League is,” dren, had hurled racist insults at him from the start of the very close, but we need another step to become champions of he said. “Obviously we’ve come up short.” game in Cagliari on April 30. The player said the referee told him to stop talking to the crowd and ended up showing him the Premier League, which would be a fantastic achievement for Agnew, who took over in a caretaker capacity after Aitor the yellow card for dissent in the 90th minute. The decision us.” While victory at West Brom will deliver the title, Chelsea also Karanka was sacked in March, would not be drawn on whether to punish Muntari has been widely criticized and the player have home games against Watford and Sunderland in which to he would like the role on a permanent basis. “I don’t think it’s himself has said FIFA and UEFA are not taking the issue of snare the three points they need to make it across the finish line. about my situation. It’s about the football club,” he said. “We all racism seriously. Cesc Fabregas was Chelsea’s match-winner, inventively creating know it’s a Premier League football club in terms of everything But FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura rejected that goals for Diego Costa and Nemanja Matic either side of half-time about it-the supporters, the stadium, the training ground.