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Wednesday, November 28, 2018 FOOTBALL Rabia I 20, 1440 AH Neymar and Mbappe GULF TIMES to start against Liverpool: Tuchel SPORT Page 3 CRICKET / PAK VS NZ QNB STARS LEAGUE Al Sadd should Sweet fourteen for have it easy Yasir as Pakistan against Al Khor level series vs NZ Yasir’s figures are the second best match return ever for a Pakistani in Test cricket

Al Sadd announced that their Spanish player Gabi Fernandez is ready for the match against Al Khor today.

By Sports Reporter Al Sadd have registered eight Doha victories, two draws and one defeat (against Al Ahli), while Al Duhail are the only unbeaten side l Sadd should have no in the tournament. problem seeing off Al On the other hand, Al Khor are Khor when they clash in desperate for points as they lie their rescheduled QNB 11th with eight points. They are StarsA League match today at Al very much in the danger zone. Khor Stadium. The Knights have two wins, They were supposed to meet in as many draws and eight defeats the fi fth week of the league but against their name. Their goal the match had to be postponed diff erence is -14 (eight goals for because of Al Sadd’s AFC Cham- and 22 against). pions League engagements. Al Khor coach Bernard Ca- Al Sadd announced that their soni said he was trying his best to Spanish player Gabi Fernandez is keep his players’ morale high af- ready for the match after injuring ter losing to Al Duhail last week. his ankle during the team’s 3-0 “We focused on boosting the win over Al Arabi last week. players’ morale, especially since Gabi’s compatriot and captain we went down fi ghting narrowly Xavi Hernandez, however, will to leaders Al Duhail in the last miss out as he is still nursing a round. We weren’t lucky in that muscle tear he sustained during match and wasted many oppor- their QSL Cup Round 3 drawn tunities,” said Casoni. match against Al Sailiya recently. “We’ll face a strong competi- Abdulkarim Hassan will be tor that has players of great tech- also absent as he is attending nical ability. We’ll play with the the AFC Player of the Year award same spirit that we displayed in Pakistan’s Yasir Shah (centre) celebrates the wicket of New Zealand’s Trent Boult (not pictured) with teammates Hasan Ali (right) and Imam-ul-Haq on the fourth day of the second ceremony in Muscat today. The the Al Duhail match, where we Test in Dubai yesterday. (AFP) left-back has been nominated provided a good level and were for the honour along with Yu- close to a drawn result. We must AFP Lanka in Lahore in 1982. Yasir trapped Watling leg be- man Suzuki and Kenti Misao of put in more eff orts against Al Dubai They are also the best by fore for 27 to end another frus- Scorecard Kashima Antlers. Sadd. a Pakistani bowler against trating the stand and get into Al Sadd are second in the “I’m seeking stability and New Zealand, beating Waqar the Kiwi tail. De Grandhomme PAKISTAN 1st inn 418-5 dec. QNB Stars League table with 26 consistency in our performance. eg-spinner Yasir Shah Younis’s 12-130 in Faisalabad in made just 14 and Sodhi was NEW ZEALAND 1st inn 90 all out points, eight adrift of Al Duhail. I haven’t been thinking about followed his extraordi- 1990. bowled behind his legs for four, The Wolves are sure to go all relegation or play-off . Our aim NEW ZEALAND 2nd inn (o/n nary fi rst innings per- Medium-pacer Hasan Ali unwisely trying to sweep Yasir out as they want to be in strong is to collect maximum points formance with a six was also at his best, taking 3-46 from well outside off -stump. 131-2) contention for the title that they and the best possible ranking in Lwicket haul as Pakistan beat as Pakistan gained a measure of Nicholls stood fi rm amid the J. Raval st Ahmed b Shah 2 have won 13 times, the most by the table. We don’t even think of New Zealand by an innings and revenge for losing the fi rst Test wreckage, striking Bilal Asif T. Latham c Ahmed b H. Ali 50 any team. play-off ,” Casoni added. 16 runs in the second Test in by four runs in Abu Dhabi last for a straight six, before Yasir K. Williamson c Ahmed b Shah 30 Dubai yesterday to level the se- week. nipped one between bat and pad ries 1-1. Resuming on 131-2 and need- to bowl him for 77. R. Taylor c Yasir b Asif 82 The 32-year-old, who took ing a further 197 to make Paki- It was a brave stand from H. Nicholls b H. Ali 77 Nicholls but as skipper Kane 8-41 on Monday, had fi gures of stan bat again, the New Zealand B.J. Watling lbw b Shah 27 6-143 in the second innings for batsmen, led by Ross Taylor Williamson later admitted, the a match haul of 14-184. (82), Henry Nicholls (77) and damage had been done in the C. de Grandhomme b H. Ali 14 New Zealand — following-on Tom Latham (50), dug in to fi rst innings when New Zealand I. Sodhi b Shah 4 after being dismissed for 90 in make things tough for the Paki- lost all 10 wickets for just 40 N. Wagner c H. Ali b Shah 10 the fi rst innings — were bowled stani bowlers. runs in 14 overs. out for 312 soon after tea on the Taylor smashed Hasan’s “We batted better in the sec- A. Patel not out 5 fourth day. fi rst ball of the day to the cover ond innings,” said Williamson. T. Boult c Ahmed b Shah 0 “I came to know yesterday boundary to reach his 29th half “But that session yesterday, Extras (b 9, lb 2) 11 (about Imran Khan’s record) so century in Tests, a welcome re- Ross Taylor was the top-scorer Yasir put us under tremendous Total (all out; 112.5 overs) 312 it’s an honour that my name will turn to form having scored just for New Zealand with 82 runs in pressure and put the ball in the come with him,” said Yasir. 21 runs in the three innings of the second Test. (AFP) right areas and got us for 90. Fall of wickets: 1-10 (Raval), 2-66 “I haven’t bowled as well as this series. That low fi rst innings total was (Williamson), 3-146 (T. Latham), this, especially with the pitch Latham completed his 15th wicket and 57 with BJ Watling always a factor.” 4-198 (R. Taylor), 5-255 (BJ off ering turn and bounce like it Test fi fty but was dismissed the for the fi fth. The end came swiftly as Yasir Watling), 6-270 (de Grand- did. We wanted to put the dis- following ball, a little edge be- Taylor tried to take the attack picked up the last two wickets homme), 7-285 (Sodhi), 8-301 appointment of the fi rst Test hind off Hasan, television um- to the bowlers, hitting seven in the space of four balls, Neil (Nicholls), 9-311 (Wagner) behind us and set up the series.” pire Ian Gould confi rming that boundaries and a six in his 82 Wagner caught at midwicket Bowling: Abbas 15-7-29-0, H. Yasir’s fi gures are the second Sarfraz Ahmed had taken the but grew impatient after being — another man trying to sweep Ali 19-7-46-3, Shah 44.5-9-143-6, best match return ever for a Pa- catch cleanly. tied down. An attempted sweep — and Trent Boult feathering an Hafeez 3-1-6-0, Asif 27-5-61-1, kistani in Test cricket, bettered Harry Nicholls came to the off Bilal Asif ended in a top edge outside edge to Sarfraz behind Sohail 4-0-16-0 only by former captain and cur- crease and set about frustrat- that looped to deep backward the stumps. RESULT: Pakistan won by an rent prime minister Imran Khan ing the Pakistan bowlers, add- square leg where Yasir took a The third and fi nal Test starts innings and 16 runs Al Khor coach Bernard Casoni said his team is not even thinking of who took 14-116 against Sri ing 52 with Taylor for the fourth comfortable catch. in Abu Dhabi from Monday. relegation or play-off . Gulf Times 2 Wednesday, November 28, 2018 CRICKET

FOCUS Best leg-spin bowling ever, says Pakistan coach of Yasir

AFP ets in a Test match is superb.” which is so important at this Dubai With his extraordinary per- level.” formance, Yasir is in sight of Arthur backed under-fi re breaking Australian leg-spinner skipper Sarfraz Ahmed. akistan’s head coach Clarrie Grimmett’s 93-year-old “His work ethic is tireless. Him Mickey Arthur said yes- record of being fastest to 200 and I work so hard together. I was terday that Yasir Shah’s wickets in 36 Tests. so disappointed when people 14-wicket haul in the “Yasir is very comfortable were saying there was a rift be- Psecond Test against New Zealand mentally, and he knows what an tween Saff y and I, because there featured some of the best leg- important cog he is in our Test has never been anything like that spinning ever seen. line up,” Arthur said. “He got his between us.” The 32-year-old, who took rhythm going and we felt he was New Zealand captain Kane 8-41 on Monday, had fi gures of really good.” Williamson said Yasir exploited 6-143 in the second innings for a The victory squares the series the conditions to the best eff ect. match haul of 14-184. at 1-1, setting up an intriguing “He was brilliant,” said Wil- New Zealand — following-on third and fi nal Test in Abu Dhabi liamson. “I mean some of the after being dismissed for 90 in starting from Monday. deliveries that he bowled to guys the fi rst innings in Dubai — were facing fi rst or second balls in bowled out for 312 soon after tea Yasir is very comfortable their innings was very diffi cult to on the fourth day. mentally, and he knows negotiate. His fi gures are the second best what an important cog “To be able to do that so early match fi gures in all Tests for Pa- he is in our Test line up. on in an innings is a big chal- kistan, behind former captain ‘ lenge. So yeah it was one of those He got his rhythm going and and current prime minister Im- we felt he was really good performances from Yasir that we ran Khan’s 14-116 against Sri know how good he is as a bowler Lanka in Lahore in 1982. — Mickey Arthur and he exploited the conditions For New Zealand, Ross Tay- Pakistan coach very well.” lor top-scored with 82, while Williamson hoped his team re- Henry Nicholls made 77 and Tom New Zealand won the fi rst Test spond to a more confi dent Paki- Latham 50. by four runs, also in Abu Dhabi. stan in the fi nal Test. Arthur said Yasir is a match Arthur said his players had “It was a great game in Abu winner. “We knew he had a big worked really hard after the dis- Dhabi and one of our great Test performance inside of him,” said appointing defeat. wins. We know how diffi cult it is Arthur of Yasir, who now has 195 “The guys believe in their own to play Pakistan in these condi- wickets in 32 Tests. ability,” said Arthur, who took tions and now they will be more “That fi rst innings, I think over in May 2016. confi dent. there was a spell of about half an “We discussed exactly what “Hopefully we can build on hour of the best leg-spin bowling went wrong, worked through some of the confi dence we took you will ever see. Fourteen wick- that, to maintain that belief, in the second half of this game.”

SPOTLIGHT UPDATE Angry Mithali opens fi re over World Big appeal: Kohli Twenty20 exclusion

AFP New Delhi pulls in ad dollars ndian cricket star Mithali Raj has furiously accused cricket leaders of bias for dropping her for last Friday’s IWorld Twenty20 semi-fi nal, which India lost to England. Raj, the highest run-scorer in the women’s international game despite verbal slips and still India’s one-day captain, wrote a furious letter of com- plaint and met Board of Control Kohli, world’s top-earning cricketer, is ahead of the likes of Djokovic and Aguero for Indian Cricket (BCCI) leaders on Monday to vent her anger. dia’s last league game against Reuters “Why are you living in our “For the fi rst time in a 20 year Australia with a knee injury. New Delhi country and loving other coun- long career, I felt defl ated, de- She was declared fi t on the eve tries? I don’t mind you not liking pressed and let down,” said the of the England semi-fi nal but me but I don’t think you should 35-year-old in the letter seen by the selectors stuck with the team eing the highest profi le live in our country...” AFP. that beat Australia. T20 captain athlete in the world’s Kohli later said he was “all for Raj questioned whether “my Harmanpreet Kaur said selectors second most populous freedom of choice” and while services to my country are of any had stuck to a “winning combi- country, India cricket the episode burnished his repu- value to a few people in power nation”. captainB Virat Kohli has built tation as being touchy about who are out to destroy me and “I would also like to point out such a formidable brand across criticism it did little to damage break my confi dence”. that I have nothing against the the spectrum that even his oc- his brand. Raj singled out BCCI commit- T20 captain Harmanpreet Kaur casional brash and indiscreet Quite the opposite, said Tuhin tee of administrators member except for the fact that her call to comments fail to tarnish it. Mishra, managing director of Diana Edulji and national coach support the decision of the coach Watches, cars, sports shoes, sports marketing fi rm Baseline Remash Powar for dropping her to leave me out of the eleven was motorbikes, clothes, ride serv- Ventures. from the team beaten by eight baffl ing and hurtful,” Raj wrote. ices, tyres, snacks, health foods, “Such frankness can actu- wickets by England. “I wanted to win the World headphones — even tooth- ally boost the brand, provided “The brazen support of a COA Cup for my country and it hurts brushes — they have all had the it aligns with the brand’s mes- member is a clear sign of bias me because we lost a golden op- Kohli marketing treatment. sage,” said Mishra, whose fi rm and also that a stance has already portunity.” The 30-year-old cricketer manages other Indian cricketers been taken against me,” said Raj, England lost to Australia in the with tattooed arms and coif- including Ravindra Jadeja and who has played 197 one day in- tournament fi nal. fured hair currently endorses 21 Prithvi Shaw. ternationals, 85 T20 matches “Never did I think she (Edulji) brands including Tissot, Audi, “After all, brands also want to and 10 Tests for India since mak- will use her position against me, Puma, Uber and Hero, pushing be seen as patriotic. ing her 50-over debut in 1999 more after hearing what all I had him into the Forbes’s 2018 list “Sports and Bollywood stars against Ireland. to go through in the Caribbean as of the world’s 100 highest-paid usually avoid controversies, but Raj hit two straight half-cen- I had spoken to her about it.” athletes. fans want their icons to have a turies at the World T20 in the The BCCI did not immediately Coming in at No. 83 on the voice,” he added. West Indies before missing In- comment on Raj’s tirade. back of his estimated $24mn Cornerstone Sport & Enter- income over the previous 12 tainment, the company which months, Kohli is the world’s top represents Kohli, declined to SELECTION earning cricketer and comes discuss his endorsements and in ahead of other high-profi le sponsorships. athletes such as Novak Djokovic According to Forbes, $20mn and Sergio Aguero. of his total comes from endorse- Hafeez survives in It is unlikely he would ever ments and $4mn from salary be able to challenge the likes of and so-called “winnings”, which current Forbes’ No.1 Floyd May- would include prize money. unchanged Pakistan weather or No. 2 Lionel Messi Kohli’s earnings could con- due to cricket’s appeal being tinue to increase thanks to In- mostly tied to a small batch of dia’s strong growth — it is the squad for fi nal Test predominantly Commonwealth fastest growing large economy countries. in the world and that should AFP innings and 16 runs win in the However, he could soon mean many more marketing Dubai second Test in Dubai yesterday. eclipse Mahendra Singh Dhoni dollars — and the obsessive in- New Zealand won the fi rst Test as the highest earning Indian terest in cricket here and across by four runs in Abu Dhabi last sportsman ever. Former India the Indian diaspora. isfi ring opener week. cricket captain Dhoni earned He has smoothed out some Mohamed Hafeez Also retained is off -spinner $31mn in 2015 as he promoted a of his rough edges. He does not survived the chop Bilal Asif who has just fi ve wick- series of brands. endorse soft drinks or skin- yesterday as the Pa- ets to show in the last three Tests Kohli’s success off the pitch is lightening cream anymore, ad- Mkistan selectors named an un- after taking six wickets against matched by his prowess on it. vocates a healthy lifestyle, and changed 15 man squad for the Australia in Dubai last month. A prolifi c scorer of runs, on comes across as a family man third and fi nal Test against New The Pakistan selectors resisted Sunday he produced a match and a leader. Zealand starting in Abu Dhabi the temptation to include dash- winning innings to help India He fi ghts for salary hikes for next week. ing opener Fakhar Zaman who is to victory over Australia and That does not mean he has gram and 27.1mn on Twitter. ranked test batsman, as “over- his players, demands that play- Hafeez has been struggling recuperating from a knee prob- his performances have ensured lost traction with India’s youth. “He speaks his mind, takes rated” and said he would rather ers’ partners be allowed on with his form ever since scoring lem after impressing with 94 and he enjoys rock star status in the “The youth of the country stands, interacts on social me- watch Australian and English tours, and seeks to infl uence a hundred on his comeback Test 66 in his Test debut against the cricket-mad country of 1.3bn. — and more than half of India’s dia — all of it goes well with his batsmen than “these Indians”, who is appointed team coach. against Australia in Dubai last Australians. He wed actress Anushka population are under 25 — can fans,” Lokapally said, describing Kohli responded with both bar- Mishra of Baseline Ventures month. Sharma last year to create a mar- identify themselves with the man Kohli as “complete theatre”. rels. said Kohli’s appeal had evolved. Since then he has managed SQUAD: Sarfraz Ahmed (cap- riage between cricket and Bolly- living their dream,” said Kohli bi- “You should go and live some- “As an aggressive young- just 66 runs in six innings. Ha- tain), Mohamed Hafeez, Imam-ul- wood, India’s two biggest obses- ographer Vijay Lokapally. PREPARED TO SHOCK where else, you know,” he said in ster, he was attractive to certain feez has scores of 20, 10 and nine Haq, Azhar Ali, Haris Sohail, Asad sions, helping give him a ‘family Kohli has a strong social me- His sponsors have had a bumpy a video posted on his personal brands then. As married, mature in the two Tests against New Shafiq, Babar Azam, Saad Ali, man’ image that can appeal to dia presence with over 37mn ride at times. telephone app, which he uses to and responsible captain of the Zealand. Yasir Shah, Bilal Asif, Mohamed a middle class audience — and fans on Facebook and is followed When a cricket fan recently interact with fans and sell mer- team, he is attractive to another Pakistan levelled the three- Abbas, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi, harness its spending power. by more than 25mn on Insta- described Kohli, the world’s top chandise. set of brands now,” he said. match series with a convincing Faheem Ashraf, Mir Hamza. Gulf Times Wednesday, November 28, 2018 3 FOOTBALL

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SPOTLIGHT Time for Liverpool to show Champions Mbappe, Neymar League teeth away from Anfi eld

AFP Keita and Xherdan Shaqiri. London And while an upturn in for- declared fi t for tunes, particularly defensively, has been seen in an unbeaten aris Saint-Germain’s start to the Premier League sea- struggles to avoid an son, it has not yet cured Liv- embarrassing group erpool’s travel sickness in the Pstage exit in the Cham- Champions League. pions League began when they The visitors failed to muster a fell victim to the aura of Anfi eld single shot on target in losing 1-0 crunch PSG clash and Roberto Firmino’s stoppage to Napoli on matchday two and time winner for Liverpool in Red Star enjoyed their biggest September. night since winning the Euro- Tuchel has won every domestic game since his appointment as coach in the summer But with the roles reversed pean Cup in 1991 when the Serbs and the Premier League side beat Liverpool 2-0 in their fi rst AFP “We cannot control the result, no- headed to the Parc des Princes Champions League victory for Paris body can in football, and for that, no on Wednesday with PSG need- 26 years. matter what the result is, the sun will ing to win to keep qualifi cation “I have only 10 fi ngers,” Klopp shine the next day again and we will for the last 16 in their own hands, quipped when asked to put his eymar and Kylian Mbappe have to get up out of bed and go to the French champions can take fi nger on what went wrong in are set to start for Paris work, whether in a better mood or a solace in the fact Liverpool pack Belgrade. Saint-Germain against not so good mood. a far weaker punch on the road in Unless the German fi nds a way Liverpool in their crunch “It is sport, and we are looking for- the Champions League. to stop the rot extending to fi ve ChampionsN League tie today after re- ward to this challenge.” Anfi eld has long been credited straight European defeats away covering from injuries, coach Thomas Tuchel has won every domestic as the extra man for the fi ve-time from Anfi eld, Liverpool will Tuchel said. game since his appointment as coach European champions, but rarely likely need to beat Napoli by two “They are fi t and in form. They are in the summer, but PSG’s results in has the contrast between Liv- goals to progress to the last 16. fi ne. They did a full training session Europe have been underwhelming, erpool’s highs and lows in the That would not be an impos- today and yesterday. There is no prob- with a 3-2 defeat at Liverpool in Sep- Champions League been as stark sible task. It would rekindle lem, they will start tomorrow,” Tuchel tember being followed by two draws as in the past few months. memories of a Steven Gerrard- said at a press conference at the Parc against Napoli. Roma were reeling 5-0 down inspired 3-1 win over Olympia- des Princes yesterday. Indeed, a 6-1 win over Red Star last after just over an hour of last kos with a two-goal margin of “If they were not fi t they could not month is the French side’s only victory season’s semi-fi nal fi rst leg, PSG victory needed in the fi nal group play but they did not complain at all in their last seven Champions League were outclassed this season de- game of the 2004/05 season — yesterday and today, and for me right matches — not exactly the form of po- spite the narrow margin of the the last time Liverpool won the now there is no risk.” tential winners. dramatic 3-2 victory and Red Champions League. The two most expensive players “We have to play very well to beat Star Belgrade were dismissed se- Yet the investment in the in the world came off injured play- Liverpool. An average performance renely 4-0 in October. summer to back up a run to last ing for their countries in interna- won’t be enough against a team like Indeed, so easily were the season’s fi nal was intended to se- tional friendly matches last week, that. We are talking top level and we Serbs swept aside that concerns cure Liverpool’s position among with Mbappe hurting a shoulder with need to be perfectly prepared. It’s a were raised about the growing the potential Champions League France and Neymar a groin with Brazil. decisive match,” club captain Thiago gulf in resources between Eu- winners, and that means not just Both players have scored 13 goals in Silva told PSG’s offi cial website. ropean football’s elite and once relying on the galvanising eff ect all competitions this season, and the But would they really be so well- great powers now relegated to of an Anfi eld crowd. injuries caused alarm bells to ring at prepared if the two most expensive also-rans by the geographical “I don’t think there is any game PSG as they watched Saturday’s tight players in the world were both absent lottery that leaves them outside in the world where you would say Ligue 1 win against Toulouse from the against Jurgen Klopp’s team? the continent’s top fi ve leagues. beforehand, ‘No chance Liver- stands. Mbappe and Neymar both suf- Last season Liverpool only se- pool,’” Klopp admitted before his PSG come into today’s game in third fered injuries playing in internation- cured victory on the road twice side beat PSG on home soil. place in Champions League Group C, al friendly matches last week, and in Europe and were left hang- “It is a diff erent club to the a point behind both Liverpool and Na- watched Saturday’s 1-0 home win ing on for a 4-2 defeat in Rome club I joined. We got a lot of re- poli with two games left. over Toulouse from the stands. that edged Jurgen Klopp’s men spect because of the way we That means a defeat against last Both of those players have scored 13 through by the odd goal on ag- played last season.” season’s runners-up, coupled with goals this season, while Edinson Cav- gregate. They were then beaten Klopp has restored Liver- a win for Napoli at home to Red Star ani has 10 in all competitions. Their 3-1 by Real Madrid in the fi nal in pool to their place among the Belgrade, and the French champions infl uence on the team is huge. Kiev. heavyweights of the Champions would be eliminated already from a “They’re getting better every day, Two colossal errors by Loris League. competition they are desperate to win. we have time before now and Wednes- Karius in that final pushed But with that status comes the “It is super important that we do no day. It’s good for us. I think they’ll be Liverpool to splash out a then demand to land a knockout blow, lose focus and think about what could able to play,” was Tuchel’s optimistic world record fee for a goalkeep- even against another contender happen,” said Tuchel, who has won all assessment at the weekend. er in Alisson Becker as part of a furnished with a near 500-mil- 14 Ligue 1 games in charge since being Vteran Brazilian Dani Alves made £160mn ($205mn, 181mn euros) lion-euro forward line of Ney- appointed at the Qatar-owned club in his comeback at the weekend after six summer spending spree that mar, Kylian Mbappe and Edison the close season. months out with a knee injury, and his also brought in Fabinho, Naby Cavani. “We have to play this game relaxed, infl uence could be precious as Paris but at the same time 100 % focused on seek to extend their impressive home Paris Saint-Germain’s Brazilian forward Neymar (R) speaks with head coach Thomas Tuchel what we have to do. record in Europe. during a training session in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, west of Paris, yesterday.

BOTTOMLINE Newcastle revival continues with victory at Burnley

Reuters London

ewcastle United surged clear of Newcastle United’s Salomon Rondon in action the Premier League relegation with Burnley’s Ben Mee on Monday. zone after a Ben Mee own goal and Ciaran Clark’s header in Nthe fi rst half helped them to a 2-1 win at Liverpool’s Dejan Lovren and Mohamed Salah during a training struggling Burnley on Monday. session in Paris yesterday. Newcastle celebrated a third successive league victory after failing to win any of their opening 10 fi xtures and moved up to CAREER MOVE 13th place on 12 points from 13 games. The Magpies are four points clear of the relegation zone and three points ahead of 17th-placed Burnley, who Sol Campbell starts stretched their winless league streak to six games. Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez management career praised his team after a solid perform- ance. “We had an idea of how to play, we at Macclesfi eld knew crosses would come from every- where, we defended well, our eff ort and ormer England defender attitude was great,” the Spaniard told Sky Sol Campbell has tak- Sports. en over as manager of “We suff ered a bit at the end but we League Two (fourth tier) could have scored a third goal. Our de- clubF Macclesfi eld Town on an 18 fenders did well because the (Burnley) month deal, the club said yester- strikers are big and then they put another day. big lad up front.” The 44-year-old, who played The kick off was delayed by half an hour for Tottenham Hotspur and Ar- when the referees’ assessor Eddie Wol- senal and won 73 caps for Eng- stenholme collapsed in the tunnel and land, faces a tough task at Mac- was taken to hospital, but once the match clesfi eld who are bottom of the got underway Newcastle dominated the league, with just two wins from opening period. 19 games. The Magpies took a fourth-minute The club, promoted back into lead after a Federico Fernandez shot header from 15 metres, with Newcastle shot and they then held on in the closing get something. We started sloppy with the Football League last season, from 20 metres took a heavy deflection goalkeeper Martin Dubravka caught out stages. two early goals (conceded) and it was an has been without a manager England Under-21s as part of off Mee and Clark then made it 2-0 with of position after a long ball by Mee. Vokes rued the soft early goals and uphill task after that. since Mark Yates was sacked on the Football Association’s plan a superb header in the 23rd minute as he Ritchie was guilty of an astonish- stressed Burnley needed to rediscover last “We have high expectations of ourselves, Oct 8 after failing to win any of which gives black and minority met a fine cross from the left by Matt ing miss just after the break when he season’s home form. there were some positives from the perform- their fi rst 12 league games. ethnic coaches experience in the Ritchie. shot wide from two metres with Burnley “We need to make Turf Moor a fortress ance and we will take that into the weekend.” Campbell, who will be tak- national team set up. He also had Sam Vokes pulled one back for Burnley keeper Joe Hart beaten. Joselu also hit the again,” he said. he added ahead of their trip to fellow strug- ing up his fi rst management po- a short spell as assistant manager shortly before the break with a looping post for Newcastle with a stinging low “We’re still wondering how we didn’t glers Crystal Palace on Saturday. sition, has been working with of Trinidad and Tobago. Gulf Times 4 Wednesday, November 28, 2018 FOOTBALL

DECISION SPOTLIGHT La Liga pursues ‘hardcore’ fans Libertadores Cup in China aft er fi nal to be played Ronaldo’s exit outside Argentina ‘It will be played outside Argentina because the conditions do not exist for the game to be played in Argentina’

Juventus’ Cristiano Ronaldo during training . La Liga has lost fans after his move from Real Madrid this season.

AFP football league to open an offi ce Shanghai in mainland China, in Beijing in 2014, said Torrents. It added Shanghai in 2016, now panish teams have gener- the headquarters, and the Span- ally reigned over English ish league is pursuing “hardcore” sides in European com- followers. petition and now La Liga Torrents does not expect Chi- wantsS to harness that success to nese fans to dump their Chinese challenge the Premier League’s teams, but La Liga wants to be supremacy in the lucrative China fi rst choice for those supporters market. backing European sides. European football leagues One way it does that is through are vying for popularity in Chi- social media, to go with the sta- na, the world’s second biggest ple of matches — 12 regional sta- economy and home to a growing tions in China show two free-to- number of football fans among air games a weekend. its 1.4-billion population. There is also live-streaming of There are no reliable over- matches. arching fi gures, but the English La Liga does not divulge audi- Premier League is undoubtedly ence fi gures or how much it earns the market leader, with La Liga, from media rights in China, but Germany’s Bundesliga and Italy’s will get 897 mn euros ($1.02 bn) Serie A in its wake. per season from overseas mar- However, Spain — home to kets from 2019 to 2022 for rights. Lionel Messi at Barcelona and Pre-season tours are another Champions League holders Real way to bring fans closer to their Madrid — is chasing down the heroes, with Barcelona sched- Premier League, said La Liga uled to visit China next summer. Greater China Managing Direc- China, along with the United tor Sergi Torrents. States, is La Liga’s biggest over- “La Liga is catching up very seas market, said Torrents. fast and is in second position The league sparked controver- over the other leagues here, es- sy earlier this year with its plan to The president of the South American football’s governing body Conmebol, Paraguayan Alejandro Dominguez, speaks to the press after holding a meeting with the presidents pecially because of the victories stage a game between Girona and of Argentine teams River Plate and Boca Juniors, in Luque, near Asuncion, yesterday. that the Spanish teams had in the Barcelona in Miami in January last years in Europe,” Torrents 2019 — a move that some argued Reuters alternative location. rivals was billed as the greatest to his eye and several other play- Argentina, which this week hosts told AFP in Shanghai. would risk disturbing the bal- Asuncion After drawing the fi rst leg 2-2, fi nal in the competition’s 58-year ers suff ered lacerations caused by a summit of the Group of 20 in- “Chinese fans — like every- ance and integrity of the com- Argentina’s two biggest clubs history. shards of glass from broken win- dustrialized nations. where in the world — are fol- petition and hurting football in were due to have met in the de- Both legs were sold out and dows. The Paraguayan capital of lowing the winners, and La Liga the US. he Copa Libertadores cisive second leg on Saturday at fans and media came from Even though the stadium was Asuncion has been suggested as teams have been winning.” So will China one day stage a soccer fi nal between Riv- River’s Monumental stadium but around the world to watch what fi lled to capacity, Boca said they one venue to host the resched- Sports marketing experts competitive game? er Plate and Boca Juniors the match was called off after many consider to be one of the were in no state to play the game uled game, as has Miami. Cities agree that — thanks mostly to “Not soon. This is something will take place in early several Boca players were hurt most bitter rivalries and impres- and CONMEBOL fi rst delayed in Italy, Brazil and Colombia have Barcelona and Real — La Liga is that is part of our plan in the US. TDecember and will be played out- when their bus was pelted with sive spectacles in world sport. the match and then postponed it also reportedly off ered to host the comfortably second to the Pre- In China we do not have this plan side Argentina after crowd trou- rocks by River fans. However, Argentine football until Sunday. game. mier League in China, albeit a today,” said Torrents. ble forced the game to be post- “It will be played outside Ar- was disgraced after River fans On Sunday, they called the The new date will ensure the distant way off . La Liga is not just about tak- poned last week, organizers said gentina because the conditions do threw stones and missiles at the game off once again after Boca Libertadores champions can Torrents declined to estimate ing from China’s increasingly on Tuesday. not exist for the game to be played Boca bus as it made its way to the complained that a fair contest compete in this year’s Club World the number of Spanish football wealthy consumers, said Tor- The South American Football in Argentina,” CONMEBOL Pres- stadium, breaking windows and could not be guaranteed if the Cup, which starts on Dec. 12 in fans in China, but on the Twit- rents. Confederation (CONMEBOL) ident Alejandro Dominguez told injuring players. game was played at the River the United Arab Emirates. ter-like Weibo platform, La Liga For example, about 200 Span- said in a statement that the game a news conference after meeting Tear gas or pepper spray got stadium. The postponements of The CONMEBOL winners play has about 1.6mn followers. ish coaches have fanned out — the South American equivalent with the heads of both clubs at into the vehicle, disorient- what was supposed to have been their fi rst match in the tourna- The Premier League’s ac- across China to teach football at of the Champions League fi nal the confederation’s headquar- ing players and causing some to a gala occasion for South Ameri- ment on Dec. 18 and could face count has 3.6mn followers while government schools. in Europe — should be played on ters in Paraguay. The showdown vomit. Boca captain Pablo Perez can football was a huge embar- UEFA Champions League win- the Chinese Super League — the Other European leagues and Dec. 8 or 9, but did not specify an between the fi erce Buenos Aires was taken to hospital with cuts rassment to CONMEBOL and ners Real Madrid in the fi nal. country’s domestic competition teams are similarly lending their — has 5mn. expertise as part of President Xi Torrents says that surveys and Jinping’s push to develop foot- BOTTOMLINE analysis of social media show ball in the country, and many are that La Liga is particularly strong opening or helping to run youth in the 16-30 age bracket. academies. He admits it is likely that La The Chinese market has al- Argentina’s hooligans: the endless cycle of violence Liga lost followers to Serie A af- most unlimited potential, but ter Cristiano Ronaldo’s 110-mil- can also be “complicated” be- lion-euro transfer from Real to cause of how fast it changes, said AFP searcher at the University of San authorities,” according to Mon- Hence, in collusion with fi rst wants to put an end to criminal Juventus in July. Torrents. Buenos Aires Martin. ica Nizzardo, the founder of the the clubs and then police, they business in football, least of all But it would have been far In domestic football, for ex- It was a weekend of shame for Salvemos Al Futbol (Let’s Save took control of ticketing resales club bosses,” says Nizzardo. more damaging just a few years ample, new rules handed down Argentine football that unfolded Football) charity. and then parking around the Murzi says there’s no magic ago, he said. at the behest of the government he embarrassing post- after authorities failed to protect It says 305 people have been stadium, as well as food trucks solution but that “investigating “La Liga has created a brand are often swift and severe, such ponement of the Copa Boca’s players on their bus trip killed in Argentina in football and other businesses that off er the collusion between hooligans and in fi ve or six years this com- as a 100 % tax imposed last year Libertadores fi nal thrust across town to River’s Monu- related violence in the last 50 attractive profi ts. and the police would be a good petition has grown a lot,” he said. on the incoming transfers of for- Argentina’s hooligan mental stadium. years. But they have continued to starting point.” La Liga was the fi rst European eign players. Tproblem back into the spotlight, Argentina prides itself on its Because of this, Argentine expand their horizons to “activ- “They work together. The as well as society’s acceptance feverish football fans while Boca football authorities barred away ities outside the football world, police contribute more to the that it is part of football fan cul- and River are lauded for what fans from grounds in 2013, but it like participation in political, problem than to the solution.” ture, analysts say. many acknowledge as the great- has made little diff erence. Four union and criminal acts,” adds Clubs pay for the police to Argentina President Mauricio est derby rivalry in the world. people this year have been killed Murzi. provide security at matches and Real coach backs ‘honest’ Ramos Macri admitted there had been But it has reached the point and 137 in the last 20 years. “The authorities’ approach is that’s an important source of Rome: Real Madrid coach San- Olimpico. a “security failure” on Saturday where behavior otherwise con- The barra bravas were born always the same: to think that revenue that pays police sala- tiago Solari defended captain “It’s the duty of everyone to when Boca Juniors’ team bus sidered unacceptable in society out of a culture that viewed the problem is due to a group ries. Sergio Ramos on Monday after defend him including the press came under attack from River is even celebrated, such as xen- fi ghting against rivals as an ex- of savages, but that’s an overly “All the police know the hoo- claims he gave an irregular dop- whose objective is to search for Plate fans hurling pepper spray, ophobic chanting, insults and pression of passion towards simplifi ed perspective that ligans and it suits them for the ing sample after the Champions the truth,” he said. stones and sticks. threats to murder rivals. one’s own team. leads to erroneous solutions,” hooligans to exist,” says Murzi, League final win over Juventus “If we publish things which are Windows on the bus were The violence is fueled by a The term barra brava — which said Murzi. who also blames the press and in 2017. not true, the profession of jour- shattered with players suff ering belief that football is not “a literally means violent (brava) Several times authorities politicians for feeding the beast. According to German magazine nalism loses its purpose.” cuts and breathing diffi culties clean game with legitimate re- groups (barra) — was coined in have targeted the leadership of “If the press... says it’s a fi nal Der Spiegel, Ramos failed to Ramos, 32, has dismissed anti- from the pepper spray. sults,” experts say. the 1940s by the press to de- the barra bravas, jailing notori- to kill or die for and the presi- declare he had taken dexam- doping allegations against him The presidents of both clubs “If fans feel that the matches scribe hooligans. ous chieftains such as the late dent (Macri) says the losers will ethasone, a banned anti-inflam- as a “lie” and a deliberate at- insist the violence was caused are won through deals amongst But those street brawlers mu- Jose “the Grandfather” Barrita, have to leave the country from matory, ahead of the final at the tempt to tarnish his reputation. by just “10 or 15 misfi ts,” but for club bosses more than on the tated into organized criminals chief of “The Dozen” hooligans embarrassment, the fans feel Millennium Stadium in Cardiff , in Both reigning three-time sociologist Diego Murzi, hoo- fi eld, this feeling of injustice laundering millions in dirty from the Boca neighbourhood in they have a reputation to up- which Real beat Juventus 4-1. Champions League winners ligans — or barra bravas — are provides fertile ground for the money, experts say. Bueno Aires, or Alan Schlenker, hold. “Sergio Ramos is an honest Real Madrid and Italian giants deeply entrenched in the coun- hooligans’ violence,” Murzi, a “In the 1980s they started the head honcho of River’s hoo- “It would have been a sur- man, a symbol not only of Roma are coming off defeats in try’s football-related activities. student of football violence, to acquire a profi le linked to ligans, currently serving life in prise if nothing had happened. Real Madrid but of all Spanish their domestic leagues at the “In Argentina there is a foot- told AFP. crime and in the 1990s they got prison. Argentina is a long way from be- football,” Solari told a press weekend. ball culture in which violence is Off the pitch, hooligans run a commercial edge, using their However, that didn’t prevent ing a country in which there is conference ahead of Tuesday’s The winner is likely to finish top legitimate, and not just by the mafi a empires around Argen- knowledge of football related the hooliganism networks sur- respect for one’s opponent, not Champions League game of Group G and go through to ‘barras’ but by everyone who tine football “in collusion with violence to their own benefi t,” viving with new leaders. just at the sporting level but po- against Roma at the Stadio the last 16. takes part,” said Murzi, a re- the police, clubs and political said Murzi. “The problem is that no-one litically too.” Gulf Times Wednesday, November 28, 2018 5 SPORT

NBA MLB Giants’ Bumgarner Wizards overcome is on trade market Reuters New York

glittering trophy case and a bargain 2019 salary might not be enough to keep Madison Bum- garner with the San Francisco Giants. The ace left-hander is being shopped to oth- Harden’s 54, Durant Aer teams, MLB.com’s Jon Paul Morosi reported Monday. According to Morosi, teams engaging in preliminary discussions with the Giants about Bumgarner include the Milwaukee Brewers and the Philadelphia Phillies. Morosi added that the Atlanta Braves inquired earlier in the off season about Bumgarner but are no longer viewed as a likely trade partner. A Phillies package for Bumgarner might include Zach explodes for 49 Efl in, Morosi reported. The 24-year-old Philadelphia right-hander also has been shopped to the Arizona ‘It’s about our entire team. We had a really good start to the game and kind of let our guard down’ Diamondbacks in talks revolving around fi rst baseman Paul Goldschmidt, The Athletic’s Jayson Stark reported AFP Monday. Los Angeles Bumgarner, 29, will make $12 million next year after the Giants picked up his contract last month. He will be a free agent following the 2019 season. ohn Wall scored six of his 36 points in A four-time All-Star and three-time World Series overtime as the Washington Wizards champion with the Giants, Bumgarner is coming off a outlasted the Houston Rockets 135- season in which he went 6-7 with a 3.26 ERA in 21 starts. 131 in overtime on Monday despite He was sidelined for the fi rst two months with a broken JamesJ Harden’s season-high 54 points. bone in his pitching hand, but he wound up with the Bradley Beal equalled his season-best fourth-lowest home ERA (1.63) in the big leagues. with 32 points and Markieff Morris nishedfi Bumgarner owns a 110-83 career record with a 3.03 with 22 points and 10 rebounds. Wall had ERA and 1,591 strikeouts in 10 major league seasons, all two baskets in overtime and dished out 11 with the Giants. San Francisco’s fi rst-round draft pick in assists. Harden scored 12 points in the fi rst 2007 (10th overall) out of South Caldwell High School in quarter, 11 in the second and 21 points in the Hudson, N.C., he made his big-league debut two years third quarter. His career high is 60 points. later. He started the fourth quarter on the bench In 2014, after helping the Giants to their third title in then added six more as the teams remained fi ve years, he was selected the National League Champi- deadlocked 125-125 at the end of regulation. onship Series MVP and the World Series MVP. Harden missed fi ve of his seven shots in the fourth. In overtime, Harden was one of two from the fi eld and had two free throws. He had 11 turnovers, including three in over- time. “It’s not even about myself,” Harden said. “It’s about our entire team. We had a really good start to the game and kind of let our guard down.” Harden played a season-high 47 minutes and Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni said he knows he is asking a lot of his superstar. “We’re asking you know what? Play (47) minutes, make every play,” D’Antoni said. “There are going to be periods where he’s just gassed.” Wall said Beal enjoys the challenge of facing Harden. “It’s what you dream of,” Wall said. “It’s what you live for, to be on the big stage, a big moment, going against a guy like that.” Eric Gordon scored a season-high 36 for the short-handed Rockets, who played with- out Chris Paul for the second straight game. BRAVES SIGN DONALDSON TO 1-YEAR DEAL Washington’s Otto Porter opened the scoring The Atlanta Braves on Monday night announced the in overtime with 4:47 to play and the Wizards signing of third baseman Josh Donaldson to a one-year, maintained the lead the rest of the way. $23 million contract. Elsewhere, Kevin Durant continued his A three-time All-Star and the 2015 American League hot streak, scoring a season-high 49 points MVP, Donaldson missed 110 regular-season games in Monday as the two-time defending NBA Washington Wizards guard John Wall drives to the basket as Houston Rockets guard Eric Gordon defends in the fourth quarter at Capital 2018 because of a calf injury and hit .246 with eight champion Golden State Warriors beat the One Arena. The Wizards won 135-131 in overtime. PICTURE: USA TODAY Sports home runs and 23 RBIs. Injuries have cost Donaldson 159 Orlando Magic 116-110. regular-season games the last two seasons. Durant’s explosive evening came just was able to knock it down.” the only two Warriors in double fi gures on Donaldson, who turns 33 on Dec. 8, fi nished the 2018 two nights after he torched the Sacramento On Monday, Durant gave the Warriors the Monday. Durant became the seventh player RESULTS season with the Cleveland Indians, who acquired him Kings for 44 in a 117-116 Warrior victory. lead on a three-point play with 79 seconds in franchise history to post consecutive from the Toronto Blue Jays despite the calf injury. He “You not born with anything, you have to remaining before nailing another from be- 40-point games, joining Curry, Thompson, Charlotte 110-107 Milwaukee is a career .275 hitter with 182 home runs since break- craft your skill and your game,” said Durant. yond the arc with 22 seconds to go. Rick Barry, Wilt Chamberlain, Antawn Jam- Minnesota 102-95 Cleveland ing into the league with the Oakland Athletics in 2010. “I feel like I am relaxed in those moments Golden State’s deep talent pool was on ison and Purvis Short. Washington 135-131 Houston He joins what should be one of baseball’s best infi elds, and it is all about getting the best shot I can display as they were without stars Stephen Nikola Vucevic had 30 points, 12 rebounds along with Freddie Freeman at fi rst, Ozzie Albies at sec- San Antonio 108-107 Chicago get. Curry and Draymond Green. Durant got help and six assists for the Magic, who are com- ond and Dansby Swanson at short. “If I focus on getting the best shot from from his supporting cast. Klay Thompson ing off a victory over the Los Angeles Lakers. Boston 124-107 New Orleans The Braves, who went 90-72 last season to win the the start of the game to the end of the game fi nished with 29 points, including six three The Warriors now embark on a fi ve-game Indiana 121-88 Utah NL East, also announced they are bringing catcher Brian then I feel comfortable in the fourth quarter pointers and 19 points in the fourth quarter. road trip that begins Thursday against the Golden State 116-110 Orlando McCann back on a one-year, $2 million contract. The when my team needs me. “Tonight one of The past three games, Durant has scored league-leading Toronto Raptors in which 34-year-old McCann was a seven-time All-Star for the my favourite shots came to me at the end I 125 points and Thompson 91. They were they hope to have Curry back in the lineup. Braves between 2005 and 2013.

NHL Leivo helps Maple Leafs top Bruins Reuters early in the third period, and the New point-blank stops in the fi nal fi ve min- Toronto RESULTS York Rangers continued their success utes before Stone scored on a wrist shot on home ice with a 4-2 victory over the from the right faceoff circle while fall- Toronto 4-2 Boston Ottawa Senators on Monday night. ing to the ice. osh Leivo scored on a power play Florida 4-3 New Jersey Andersson snapped a 1-1 tie 3:26 into Anderson stopped 29 shots and lost his late in the second period to break Washington 4-1 Islanders the third by tipping a wrist shot from fourth consecutive start as Ottawa in- a tie, and the Toronto Maple Ryan Strome into the net for his second creased its league-worst total to 104 goals Leafs went on to defeat the vis- Rangers 4-2 Ottawa career goal. His goal was upheld after allowed. The Rangers opened the scoring itingJ Boston Bruins 4-2 Monday night. Columbus 7-5 Detroit Ottawa challenged it, contending An- with 9:05 left in the fi rst period. Zibane- Travis Dermott, Igor Ozhiganov and dersson committed goaltender inter- jad stripped defenseman Dylan DeMelo in Zach Hyman also scored goals for the on goal in the fi rst period. ference. Kreider scored for the seventh the left corner and made a cross-ice feed Maple Leafs, and Mitch Marner added Pastrnak tied it for the Bruins on a time in his past 11 games, netting his to Staal, who lifted a wrist shot off Ander- three assists. Hyman clinched the game power play at 3:39 of the second pe- team-leading 13th goal with 11:42 left son’s pads and into the net. with an empty-net goal at 18:25 of the riod. The right winger was parked near by fi nishing off an odd-man rush with Ottawa tied it a little over two min- third, his fourth goal of the season. the left side of the net when March- rookie Filip Chytil. utes later following a New York turno- Frederik Andersen made 38 stops in and whirled in from the right wing and Ottawa defenseman Cody Ceci was ver near the neutral zone. Lundqvist the Toronto goal. backhanded a pass through the crease. unable to chip the puck off the boards in made a save on Colin White’s tip-in David Pastrnak scored twice for Bos- Toronto’s Par Lindholm had 16 seconds the Senators’ off ensive zone, and Kevin attempt, but Stone swept the rebound ton, with Torey Krug and Brad March- left in a hooking penalty. Marner set up Hayes gained possession near the blue into the vacated net. The goal was up- and each notching two assists. Jaroslav the fi rst career NHL goal by Ozhiga- line. Hayes sprung Chytil on an odd- held after the Rangers challenged for Halak saved 27 shots for the Bruins. nov at 13:06 of the second, a shot from man rush. Chytil made a cross-ice pass goaltender interference. Bruins defenseman Kevan Miller was the left circle, just after the Bruins had as Ottawa’s Ben Harpur tried to defend, hit in the throat area by a fi rst-period exerted extreme power-play pressure and Kreider fi nished off the play with a JACKETS CRUISE TO BIG LEAD, shot from Toronto’s John Tavares, and during a too-many-men-on-the-ice wrist shot past goalie Craig Anderson’s HOLD OFF WINGS he was taken to a local hospital. penalty that had expired. right arm before Ceci could defend the Pierre-Luc Dubois scored two goals “Looks like X-rays are negative, got it Pastrnak was unchecked in front of play. Marc Staal and Mika Zibanejad and added an assist as the Columbus in the throat. They’re going to keep him the net when he tied the game again at also scored for the Rangers, who im- Blue Jackets held off the host Detroit overnight for observation, make sure 14:22 with his 19th goal of the season. proved to 8-1-0 in their past nine home Red Wings 7-5 on Monday. his breathing stays normal. Hopefully Toronto regained the lead on a power games and 10-4-0 overall on home ice. Artemi Panarin had a goal and two he’s able to fl y back tomorrow, that’s play at 18:38 of the second when Leivo Staal’s goal was his fi rst in 95 games assists, while Josh Anderson, Markus the plan,” Boston coach Bruce Cassidy knocked in a rebound for his fourth since Oct. 7, 2017. Nutivaara, Boone Jenner and Seth Jones said. “I don’t know if there’s a timeline, goal of the season after Tyler Ennis was Zibanejad capped New York’s latest also scored for the Blue Jackets. Ser- if he’s back in Thursday, if it’s that sim- thwarted on his attempt. Boston’s An- home win, providing an empty-net goal gei Bobrovsky made 27 saves. Anthony ple. But right now he’s out of any dan- ders Bjork was off for tripping. with 89 seconds remaining. Mantha had two goals and an assist for ger from what we’ve heard.” Boston led 28-18 in shots on goal af- Mark Stone scored twice for Otta- Detroit, which has lost three straight. Halak stopped Nazem Kadri on a ter two periods. Toronto’s Patrick Mar- wa, which dropped its fourth straight. Gustav Nyquist, Dennis Cholowski and breakaway at 12:01 of the fi rst, and leau, who had an assist, played in his Stone scored in the fi rst period and Mike Green had the other Wings goals. slightly more than a minute later, Bos- 1,600th NHL game, which was marked again with 2:43 remaining after Ander- Jonathan Bernier replaced Jimmy ton’s Colby Cave rang a shot off the To- by a fi rst-period video tribute. son was pulled for the extra attacker. Howard after one period and made 12 ronto goal post. The Maple Leafs made Henrik Lundqvist made 29 saves as saves on 15 shots. Howard gave up three it 1-0 at 17:44 of the fi rst when Dermott RANGERS RIDE STRONG 3RD the Rangers rebounded from back-to- fi rst-period goals on 16 shots. scored from above the right circle on a PERIOD TO WIN OVER SENS back losses to the Philadelphia Flyers Dubois and Anderson scored their Toronto Maple Leafs forward Josh Leivo (right) celebrates after scoring a goal pass from Mitch Marner. Lias Andersson and Chris Kreider and the Washington Capitals. He pro- 11th goals as the Blue Jackets went on to against Boston Bruins in the second period of their NHL game at Scotiabank Boston had a 10-9 advantage in shots scored a little under fi ve minutes apart tected the two-goal lead with several establish a 3-0 Lead. Arena. PICTURE: USA TODAY Sports Gulf Times 6 Wednesday, November 28, 2018 SPORT

MLB Cubs face deadline to tender contract to Russell By Mark Gonzales “more stability in his life.” The other players and their Yolmer Sanchez ($4.7 million), Scoyoc spent two years as a hit- Chicago Tribune Russell was placed on admin- projected salaries are third base- left-hander Carlos Rodon ($3.7 ting consultant for the Dodg- istrative leave on Sept 21 and man Kris Bryant ($12.4 million), million), infi elder Matt Davidson ers before joining Arizona. He missed the fi nal 11 games of the pitcher Kyle Hendricks ($7.6 mil- ($2.4 million) and infi elder Leury is credited with helping several ddison Russell’s status regular season after his ex-wife, lion), slugging infi elder Javier Garcia ($1.9 million). players across the majors revamp will be further defi ned Melisa Reidy, accused Russell Baez ($7.1 million), left fi elder Kyle their swings, including Dodger on Friday night when of domestic abuse in a late Sep- Schwarber ($3.1 million), left- DODGERS TO HIRE Chris Taylor. the Cubs must decide tember blog post. Russell issued hander Mike Montgomery ($3 ARIZONA ‘STRATEGIST’ The Dodgers also plan to hire whetherA to tender contracts to a statement denying any wrong- million), reliever Carl Edwards Jr. Dino Ebel as their third-base AS HITTING COACH their suspended shortstop and doing. The leave counted toward ($1.4 million) and infi elder Tom- The Dodgers plan on hiring coach. Ebel spent the last 14 seven other arbitration-eligible his suspension, which was levied my La Stella ($1.2 million). Arizona Diamondbacks hitting seasons on the Angels’ staff un- players. by MLB on Oct 3. Any player not tendered a strategist Robert Van Scoyoc as der manager Mike Scioscia. He By tendering a contract to The Cubs acquired closer contract by 7pm on Friday will their hitting coach, according to was the club’s third-base coach Russell, the Cubs will retain his Aroldis Chapman from the Yan- become a free agent. a person with knowledge of the for nine seasons. Ebel spent 17 rights while he is in the midst of kees in July of 2016 – less than The White Sox have six arbi- situation. Van Scoyoc would re- seasons in the Dodgers’ organi- serving a 40-game suspension three months after he complet- tration-eligible players, led by place Turner Ward, who left this zation – six as a player before for violating Major League Base- ed a 30-game suspension for fi rst baseman Jose Abreu (pro- month to become the Cincinnati becoming a coach and manager ball’s domestic-violence policy. violating the domestic-violence jected to receive $16 million by Reds’ hitting coach. – before joining the Angels. The Cubs can continue to de- policy and only after Chapman MLBtraderumors.com) and right Van Scoyoc, 32, has never Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen cide whether to retain him or convinced Chairman Tom Rick- fi elder Avisail Garcia ($8 mil- been a traditional coach for a underwent his scheduled heart trade him by May 3 – when Rus- etts and Epstein that he would be lion). Abreu and Garcia are one professional team. His job with procedure to treat atrial fi brilla- sell’s suspension ends. President a good citizen with the Cubs. season away from free agency the Diamondbacks was to sup- tion in Los Angeles on Monday. Theo Epstein told reporters at Russell, 24, is projected to and are expected to receive plen- ply position players personal- The club announced it “went the general managers meetings earn $4.3 million as a second- ty of trade attention leading up ised, number-driven game plans as expected and Jansen is rest- three weeks ago that he is still year arbitration-eligible player to the winter meetings Dec. 10- on how to attack pitchers. He ing comfortably in the hospital.” monitoring Russell’s behav- according to MLBtraderumors. 13 in Las Vegas. also provided minor and major Jansen posted a video on Twitter iour while talking to him about com, although he won’t be paid The Sox’s other arbitration- leaguers help with mechanics. from his hospital bed to relay a “self-improvement” and adding during his suspension. eligible players are infi elder A Los Angeles native, Van message. Addison Russell

NFL FOCUS Seahawks are on a Can Elliott put himself path to the playoff s, and that’s another in MVP race with a big triumph for Carroll By Larry Stone four victories between them, The Seattle Times it’s well within their grasp _ a 75-percent chance of qualifying for the postseason, according to t was back in May, the fi rst FiveThirtyEight.com. day of rookie minicamp, and That’s even more remark- game against the Saints? Pete Carroll had a bounce in able considering the 0-2 start his step that belied the pre- by Seattle that caused even more ‘If you are able to possess that ball, that keeps their playmakers on the sidelines’ Ivailing narrative of impending speculation about what sort of doom. exit strategy Carroll might use if By Clarence E Hill Jr. The demise of the Seahawks it continued to fall apart. Fort Worth Star-Telegram had been widely predicted. They It looked like a sadly discord- missed the playoff s in 2017 for the ant end to what had been a he- fi rst time since 2011, had dumped roic coaching run in Seattle. nd on Sunday, Dal- mainstays Richard Sherman Except instead of collapsing, las Cowboys running and Michael Bennett (and lost the Seahawks knitted together. back Ezekiel Elliott Kam Chancellor and Cliff Avril Carroll doubled down on his rested. to career-ending injuries), and deeply held tenets of building ASome might say the Cowboys fi red both coordinators as well as teams around a strong running need a miracle to beat the New off ensive-line coach Tom Cable. game and sound defense. Orleans Saints on Thursday at All that upheaval was happen- The transformation of the A&T Stadium. ing amid whispers that Carroll’s roundly maligned (and for good Short of that they will need to message was being disregarded reason) off ensive line has been play a perfect game to beat the in the locker room. More tales astounding - and the key to the Saints, who have the best record of Seahawk dissension would league’s most productive run- in NFL which they’ve achieved emerge at the outset of the sea- ning attack. Even more encour- by winning 10 straight. son. Kumbaya, indeed. aging, the Seahawks showed Cowboys coach Jason Garrett It seemed to be a doomsday against the Panthers they can said if they aren’t the best team scenario for the old coach. Ex- pivot to a passing attack when in the NFL they are playing “as cept Carroll, soon to turn 67, an opponent sells out to stop the good as it gets” on off ense, av- was brimming with enthusiasm run, as Carolina did. eraging a league-leading 37.2 that can’t be faked. He spoke not The personnel decisions of points per game. That includes of the gloom but rather of how Carroll and Schneider have scoring barrages of 45, 41, 48 much the challenge had invigor- proven to be astute. The new and 31 in the month of October. ated him. blood has meshed well with the The Saints have scored less “There’s this rejuvenation to veteran holdovers. than 30 points just once this every season that we have that’s The decision to bet on quar- season. a remarkable part of our busi- terback Russell Wilson rather So while the Cowboys are ness, that sometimes we don’t than accede to the whispers that feeling good and playing well talk about enough,” Carroll said players were chafi ng against riding a three-game winning as the minicamp signalled the perceived favouritism toward streak, they have no interest in start of his 45th year in coaching. him has proven to be the right getting in an off ensive shootout. “The newness, the challenges, one. It’s impossible to imagine Dallas has scored more than the unknown, the expectations this team’s success occurring 30 points just twice this season and the uncertainty of all of it without Wilson. and has six games in which its makes this very exciting.” Whereas an undeniable air of scored 20 or less. It can now be said: Carroll is tension hung over the team last What the Cowboys plan on in the midst of one of the great year, the mood is lighter this sea- doing is try to limit possessions coaching triumphs of his career. son. That comes with winning, and play keep away with a ball In a year where presiding over and the Seahawks have won six control ground game led by El- the early stages of a rebuild (or a of their past nine. liott. “reset,” to use general manager Each loss has been close, and “If you are able to possess John Schneider’s term) seemed the new nucleus is slowly learn- that ball, that keeps their play- to be the best-case scenario, ing how to fi nish, and how to makers on the sidelines,” Gar- with implosion an equally plau- win. rett said. sible outcome, he somehow has The transformation engi- “That is something we would the Seahawks on a playoff path. neered by Carroll has been re- like to be able to do. You want to Their 30-27 comeback victory markable. To revamp a team so be effi cient. You want to able to over the Panthers on Sunday dramatically and yet keep them convert third downs and stay on leaves the Seahawks in full com- in strong playoff contention the fi eld. mand of a wild-card spot, which while trending toward increas- “And make sure those guys would be their seventh playoff ing improvement and growing are standing over there. They berth in Carroll’s nine years. confi dence is a coup. It’s also are great players. They are aw- It’s not a lock, certainly, but now possible to see a new core fully explosive when they get with three games left against the emerging that bodes well for the the chance to get out on the Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott (right) ploughs through Atlanta Falcons’ Damontae Kazee on his way to the end zone on No- 49ers and Cardinals, who own future. fi eld. That is one of the ways vember 18, 2018 in Atlanta.(TNS) you can minimize them.” In other words, get ready for while the team worked on Sun- tinue to carry the load. He is Garrett said the Cowboys ning back of 62, set in 1995 a lot of Zeke, who is in the midst day as they began their prepara- getting stronger and hitting his plan to build on that momen- when also lead the league in of the best three-game stretch tion for the Saints, Elliott took stride. tum and continue to ride Elliott rushing (1,773 yards) and won of his career and feels like he is the day off to rest his body. “I am. I think we got some as they always have. NFL MVP. only getting stronger. He notched 86 touches dur- momentum in this running They rode him to a 13-3 “He has been a really good Elliott has rushed for 100 ing a three-game stretch over 12 game and the off ensive line is record as a rookie in 2016 when player right from the start for us yards in each of the past three days, all wins against the Phila- playing great up front,” Elliott he led the league with 1,631 and he has carried a big burden games to take over the NFL delphia Eagles (27-20), Atlanta said. yards rushing. for us from the start,” Garrett rushing lead and has a career- Falcons (22-19) and Washington “We have been able to run the They rode him as much as said. best 531 yards rushing and re- Redskins (31-23). ball at will the past couple of they could in 2017 when he led “We like to give him the ball. ceiving to during that span. “Just making sure that we’re games. We have to make sure we the league in rushes per game We like to throw him the ball. “I don’t think you have to taking care of my body so I’m don’t take any steps back and and rushing yards per game, He has always responded well to play perfect. That is nearly im- fresh going into this game continue to execute and play despite missing six games due it. He too is one of those where possible,” Elliott said. Thursday night,” Elliott said. well. to an NFL suspension. teams come into the game say- “I don’t think it’s going to If Elliott can continue that “I feel like I am in a good And they are riding him now ing ‘we got to make sure we take perfection. It’s going to streak and the Cowboys can do place right now. I feel like I am as a runner and a receiver. He control No. 21’. He consistently take for us to come out there the impossible by beating the very comfortable with these leads the Cowboys and the comes up with plays and a per- and play physical. Play our style Saints, he can also put himself schemes we have been calling. league in yards (1,074) and car- formance that allows us to have of football and compete. We in the thick of the NFL MVP Coaches have done a great job ries (2017) but also leads the success.” have to make sure are continue race, joining Saints quarterback putting me in runs where I am team in catches (47) and passing If he has that success on to do what we have been doing. Drew Brees and Kansas City comfortable and getting me targets (62). Thursday and the Cowboys beat Same approach we have had the Chiefs quarterback Patrick Ma- going early and letting me get He is currently on pace to the Saints, Cowboys fans need past three weeks.” homes. that momentum and carry it shatter Emmitt Smith’s team to start those MVP chants at So it was no surprise that Elliott said he is ready to con- through the game.” record for receptions for a run- AT&T Stadium. Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll. Gulf Times Wednesday, November 28, 2018 7 SPORT

ATHLETICS BEACH VOLLEYBALL QATAR MASTER Younousse and Tijan aim for title hat-trick Ignored no longer, young partner Zachery Schu- By Sports Reporter Doha bert, the Australian has not set any goal in this edition. McHugh, who won three atar players Cher- Asian crowns with Isaac Kapa if Younousse and in 2012, 2014 and 2016, had a Ahmed Tijan are memorable time at the 2018 aiming for a hat- Commonwealth Games when Baker bolsters trickQ of titles at the Aspire he and Damien Schuman Beach Volleyball Qatar Master, emerged as champions. Later which starts today. the Australian sport authori- “This is a home tournament. ties separated them with an aim It is quite important for us. And to build two strong teams for after winning both the Asian the 2020 Olympic qualifi ca- Games and the Asian Cham- tion race. Australia has fi elded pionships, all eyes are on us,” two pairs in the Qatar Master US sprint hopes Younousse, who won the event this time. Apart from McHugh last year with Jeff erson Santos and Schubert, the other duo ‘He doesn’t need to be best starter. He understands the 100 is a diff erent philosophy’ Pereira, said. consists of Schuman and Cole The star Qatari pair were Durant, which had lost in the crowned the Asian champions pre-quarters last year. in Satun, Thailand, in Sep- “My team has been a bit up tember and after having won and down this season mostly the gold medal at the 18th due to injury. This week we are Asian Games in Jakarta in Au- here at the Aspire Zone in Qa- gust 2018. They are currently tar. This is a great opportunity ranked 10th in the world. for us to get out and play all With the qualifying round out,” McHugh said. of the Aspire Beach Volleyball “I don’t think that we have Qatar Master yesterday being any expectations this week. scrapped due to lack of extra Cherif and Tijan are playing entries, the main round will really good volleyball this year now begin today with 16 top and they are among the top 10 pairs of the continent. players in the world. They also Besides Younousse and Ti- won the Asian championships jan, Qatar’s second pair con- this year so they will be a team sists of Tamer Abdelrasoul to beat,” he said. and Assam Mahmoud. The The other teams to watch third pair comprises of Nasser this year are Iran and Kaza- Ahmed al-Meer and Hamad khstan. In September, Iran’s al-Kuwari. Arash Vakili and Bahman Sa- “Here, we’ll try to play our lemiinjeboroun were the Asia best and just keep our level Championship fi nalists against high as we did in the Asian winners Younousse and Tijan Games and the Asian Cham- of Qatar. Kazakhstan’s Alex- pionship. I feel that it will take andr Dyachenko and Alexey care of the results itself,” You- Sidoranko have won both the nousse said. Asian Championship (2013) Commonwealth Games and Asian Games (2014). This winner and last year’s runner- year, they were third in the up Chris McHugh plans to use Asian Championship in Satun, the tournament for his prepa- Thailand, beating their com- rations for the next season. patriots Dmitriy Yakovlev and With a new and talented Sergey Bogatu.

Ronnie Baker of the US celebrates after winning the men’s 100m final in London Diamond League. (Reuters)

Reuters “He has all the tools to be a huge. That was one thing I was race is defi nitely the end,” he At least one indoor race is on New York 9.7 (seconds) guy, and I think the super pleased with.” said. “I feel like I accelerate re- the schedule in the long build- era of 9.7 to win just about eve- The oldest, at 25, of the young ally, really well and have good up to the world championships rything is upon us. I don’t think American triumvirate that has strength and can hold my speed in late September. merican sprinter Ron- it is going to take 9.6 to win in fl exed its sprinting muscles, for a pretty good amount of Baker also plans to work with nie Baker has never Doha or Tokyo (at the 2020 Ol- Baker is not as well known as time.” Fort Worth nonprofi t Hope Farm seen a world outdoor ympics).” Coleman, 22, the world 100m His ability to focus, though, as he did in the off -season. championship in per- A standout indoor collegiate silver medallist or Noah Lyles, needs a bit of attention. “They mentor young boys sonA but after his sparkling 2018 runner, Baker claimed the 2017 21, the Diamond League 200m “It’s not so much the crowd or with single parents... without season the world indoor bronze U.S. 60m title and a year later, winner and world 300m indoor anything,” said the distant rela- fathers,” he said. “I’m going to medallist is probably check- at the American world trials, record holder. tive of U.S. 100m record holder spend time with them. Kind of Qatar’s Cherif Younousse (left) and Ahmed Tijan ing the weather for next year’s became the third fastest at 60m The U.S. also has the defend- Tyson Gay. “Sometimes I just give them a positive male fi gure.” worlds in Doha. with a run of 6.40 seconds to ing world champion in the 100, get sidetracked by the guys in In a friendly competition with “He has turned himself into a fi nish behind Coleman. Justin Gatlin, who will be 37 next the race. Learning to tune that other athletes, he also raised legitimate medal threat, and not But it was outdoors that the February. out is going to be a huge key for $2,500 in a week for the organi- Pique’s Kosmos looks to add Fed Cup just indoors,” four times Olym- Texas-based sprinter really burst But Baker can no longer be me moving forward.” sation, Baker said. to Davis Cup; but separate events pic sprint medallist Ato Boldon onto the international scene. overlooked. Running more 200s also It was all part of a “dream” told Reuters. “Something happened in the would help, Boldon said. 2018. The Kosmos investment group the two events would be kept Only world indoor record CONSISTENCY PAYS last 12 to 16 months. He’s a dif- “The last bunch of guys who “I never imagined myself be- is out to acquire the women’s apart even though they would holder Christian Coleman has “I had such an amazing sea- ferent guy,” Boldon said. have dominated the podium, ing the fastest in the world, or Fed Cup tournament rights af- be staged them in the same run faster than Baker’s 9.87 sec- son,” Baker said in a telephone “He looked like he was going whether it be (Usain) Bolt, Gatlin even being top fi ve in the world,” ter landing the men’s Davis Cup week. Founded by Barcelona onds over 100 metres this year, interview. “Five PRS (personal to be another typical 60 metres or others, all have one thing in he said. from next year onwards. footballer Gerard Pique, Kos- and Baker was more consistent records), two or three world specialist. But in the last calen- common. I call it being married “Track was never my fi rst Kosmos’ executive tennis direc- mos won the Davis Cup rights with fi ve of the nine top times leads.” dar year I have watched Ronnie to the 200. dream. I wanted to play basket- tor Javier Alonso told reporters in an ITF vote in August on a including the yearly lead until Four Diamond League victo- fi gure out his last 40 metres to “You have to run the 200 as ball.” in Madrid yesterday they were 25-year contract worth 3 billion Coleman passed him in late Au- ries and a second to Coleman in the point where he doesn’t re- much as you run the 100. That’s College and success in athlet- asked by the International Ten- dollars. Kosmos will change gust. the Diamond League 100m fi nal ally need to be the fi rst out of the where you get the ability to be a ics changed his mind, said Baker, nis Federation (ITF) to look into the 118-year-old event from a “If he continues on this path, added to the success. blocks. great 100m runner. When you who did both in high school. the issue and “our idea is to join season-long knock-out event he is going to be a medal threat “I ran 13 (100m) races last sea- “He doesn’t need to be best are running 200s often, the 100 So how fast can he run? them [Davis and Fed Cup] at into a week-long finals with 18 in the next two world champi- son outdoors. I lost three of them starter in the race. He under- doesn’t feel long.” “That’s the one thing I won’t some point.” However, Alonso teams, played in November at a onships and the next Olympics,” and I came second every single stands the 100 is a diff erent phi- Only twice did Baker run the talk about,” Baker said. “I’m just insisted there were no plans for neutral venue, 2019 and 2020 said Boldon, now a respected time,” Baker proudly recalled. losophy.” half-lap race in 2018 with a cou- going to train and let the num- a mixed tournament but that in Madrid. analyst. “The consistency for me was “I think the best part of my ple planned for 2019. bers fall where they may.”

FOCUS Spectacular beginning to Men’s Hockey World Cup IANS merised the jampacked audience Bhubaneswar with a theatrical production and dance ballet titled ‘The Earth Song’. he Men’s Hockey World The Kalinga Stadium is also Cup opening ceremony ready with fl ags of the partici- got off to a scintillating pating countries already hoisted. start amidst stunning All banks, fi nancial institutes, Tfi reworks and captivating per- government offi ces and educa- formances by Bollywood stars at tional institutes across the state the Kalinga Stadium yesterday. remained closed after 1.30pm in Chief Minister Naveen Pat- view of the opening ceremony. naik declared the tournament In order to present the artistic open at the opening ceremony. side of the city to visitors, beau- Some of the best known Bolly- tiful 3D murals have been cre- wood stars like Shah Rukh Khan, ated across the city. From walls Madhuri Dixit and music maes- to fl yovers to school boundaries, tro AR Rahman descended here these have already been styled to signal the start of the world with street art. cup, which has gripped the en- During the World Cup, a city tire state. fest will be organised from De- From the rendition of the cember 1 to 16. Musicians and hockey anthem ‘Jai Hind India’ singers like Vishal and Shekhar, by Rahman to Bollywood diva Shankar Ehsaan Loy, Farhan Madhuri Dixit’s mesmerising Akhtar, Shaan, Shreya Ghoshal, dance performance, the show Sona Mohapatra, Rituraj Mo- was spellbounding. hanty, Noorani Sisters and The crowd erupted in joy when Krishna Beura will perform at Shah Rukh was taken in a pro- IDCO Exhibition Ground over cession in a Rath in the ground. the course of the festival. On the other hand, Madhuri, Moreover, audiences will also along with over 1,000 artistes be entertained by popular stand- Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, actor Shah Rukh Khan, FIH President Narinder Batra pose with the captains of 15 countries participating in the Men’s Hockey World Cup 2018 including 800 students, mes- up comedian Biswa Kalyan Rath. during the Men’s Hockey World Cup 2018 opening ceremony at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar yesterday. (IANS)

Wednesday, November 28, 2018 GULF TIMES SPORT

CHESS Carlsen and Caruana head to tie-breaker aft er Game 12 draw By Bryan Armen Graham move 20. “I just wanted a position crement after the 60th move. If soon found himself nearly 50 after a game that had lasted two The Guardian that was completely safe, [but] that game is drawn, black will be minutes behind on the clock. hours and 57 minutes, sending the where I could put some pressure. declared the winner. After Carlsen castled follow- match to today’s tie-breaker. If a draw hadn’t been a satisfactory Carlsen, who in addition to his ing a 12-minute think, Caruana “I was a bit surprised by the he world championship result, obviously I would have ap- No 1 ranking is the world’s top- delivered a surprise move (21. draw off er,” said Caruana, who battle between Mag- proached it diff erently.” rated rapid player and top-rated Rh2!?) that cost him in the opin- is looking to become the second nus Carlsen and Fabiano The 27-year-old champion blitz player (compared to Caru- ion of the evaluation engines, but American-born player to capture Caruana will be decided from Norway, making his third ana’s respective ratings of No 8 earned praise from the Russian the world championship after Tin a quickfi re tie-breaker after defence of the title he captured and No 16), is widely regarded as grandmaster Alexander Grischuk Bobby Fischer in 1972. “I can never Monday’s Game 12 ended in a 31- from Viswanathan Anand in a strong favourite in the format, from the commentary booth: be better [than move 31]. And I move draw. The result shocked 2013, will play as white in today’s not least due to a 13-year un- “The deepest move in the match don’t really have any active ideas. onlookers in light of the cham- fi rst tiebreak stage after a draw- beaten record in tie-breakers. But so far,” he said. If anything, black is better. At least pion’s advantages in position ing of lots following Monday’s Garry Kasparov said on Monday Even after the champion ex- I thought I was over the worst of it. and time, and left the best-of- game. The tiebreak will consist of that Carlsen’s hasty draw off er pended another 10 minutes be- I thought it was much more dan- 12-games match in a historic 6-6 a best-of-four rapid match with betrayed a lapse of nerve in the fore playing 21. ... Rac8, Carlsen gerous a few moves ago.” deadlock. 25 minutes for each player with reigning champion. was ahead in development with He added: “I’m mainly relieved The latest bloodless result, the an increment of 10 seconds after “In light of this shocking draw more than a half-hour advantage because I thought it was quite 12th draw between the world’s each move. If that is not enough off er from Magnus in a superior in time. He pressed the initia- close today.” top two players in as many con- to break the deadlock, they will position with more time, I recon- tive with 22. ... Bg6 23. Rc2 f5 and Both players bristled at the tests, ensured the €1mn ($1.14mn) play up to fi ve mini-matches of sider my evaluation of him being Fabiano Caruana (right) of the US makes a move during round 12 of the Caruana’s dubious 25. f4 sent the notion that a world title match showdown in London will go down two blitz games (fi ve minutes the favourite in rapids,” the long- World Chess Championship Final against Norway’s Magnus Carlsen in computers haywire. The chal- consisting solely of draws could as the fi rst title match in which for each player with a three- time world No 1 wrote on Twitter. London on Monday. (Reuters) lenger’s position appeared in- undercut the sport’s popular- no decisive results were managed second increment). If all fi ve “Tiebreaks require tremendous creasingly diffi cult to hold after ity, addressing the central talk- in the offi cial 132-year history of mini-matches are drawn, it will nerves and he seems to be losing Carlsen was fi rst to deviate from challenger was off ered a chance 26. ... e4 27. Be2 Be8 28. Kb1 Bf6 ing point of their three-week world championship play. come down to one sudden-death his.” those lines with 8. ... Ne7 and for a draw by repetition shortly 29. Re1 a4 30. Qb4 g6. psychodrama. “We work with the “I wasn’t necessarily going for ‘Armageddon’ match in which Caruana, as white, played Caruana quickly fell behind on after but bravely opted to play Which made Carlsen’s deci- match that we have,” Caruana the maximum,” said Carlsen, who white receives fi ve minutes, black into the Sveshnikov variation in time after the champion played a on with 15. Be3. Yet Caruana’s sion to off er a draw after 31. Rd1 said. “If the powers that be want all but admitted he was content to receives four minutes and both Monday’s classical fi nale, as he novelty with 12. ... h5. temporal problems compounded Ra8 nothing short of mystifying. A to change it, then we’ll work with move directly to a tie-breaker after will receive a three-second in- did in the eighth and 10th games. The 26-year-old American over the next few moves and he relieved Caruana gladly accepted something else.”

FORMULA 1 SPOTLIGHT Mick Schumacher Rollercoaster F1 moves up to season leaves highs Formula Two and lows at Mercedes While Hamilton won his fifth title, Bottas finished the season without a single win

Reuters London

ercedes Formula One boss Toto Wolff joked at Sunday’s Abu Dhabi Grand MPrix that he would be booking himself into rehab after a roller- coaster season that ended with his team winning both titles for the fi fth year in a row. If he did, the Austrian might fi nd one of his drivers there al- ready. Valtteri Bottas started the year determined to fi ght, and beat, teammate Lewis Hamilton to the title but the Finnish driver ended it mentally drained and further away than ever from his goal. “He said to me he just wants Reuters think that Mick has the maturity to disappear back home, re- London and skills needed to make it.” charge the battery, forget, re- The young German said the cover and recuperate and then move was “a logical step” on come back next year,” Wolff told ichael Schumacher’s the ladder and would help him reporters. “I can understand the 19-year-old son improve his skills and gain more frustration.” Mick has moved a experience. Mercedes have hailed Bot- step closer to follow- “I can’t thank the Prema fam- tas as a team player, a driver Ming his father into Formula One ily enough for what we achieved who does not play politics, and after the Prema team announced together as a team, especially Hamilton has said they could be that he will race for them in For- this year, how we continued to Formula One’s best pairing ever. mula Two next season. develop together,” he added. The statistics are less compli- The series feeds into For- The young Schumacher will be mentary, however. mula One, and this year’s top testing with Prema in Abu Dhabi Bottas, who was testing three fi nishers — George Russell, later this week. again in Abu Dhabi yesterday, Lando Norris and Alexander Al- Five times world champion was alone among the top three bon — have all secured seats with Lewis Hamilton said in October teams’ drivers in failing to win a In this November 24, 2018, picture, Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton (left) celebrates pole position with second-placed teammate Valtteri grand prix teams for 2019. that he expected Schumacher to race in 2018, the fi rst winless in Bottas ahead of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. (Reuters) Mick Schumacher won the go all the way. a Mercedes since Michael Schu- Formula Three European cham- “There will 100 percent be a macher in his fi nal 2012 season. yond next year, said on Sunday. replaced, after the Finn fi nished son’s haul of 11 wins, for a career make the Finn’s task any easier. pionship this year with eight Schumacher back in Formula Since the V6 turbo hybrid era fi fth on track on Sunday. “We’ve tally of 73, with 11 poles. He also “He’s actually driven stronger wins, seven pole positions and One, partly because of the name, began in 2014 Mercedes have al- CAN DO BETTER seen him do better and I hope he became the fi rst driver to score after winning the driver’s title,” 14 podium fi nishes. That title but secondly because he’s doing ways had both drivers fi nish the Some of it is down to bad luck, can fi nd his way again.” more than 400 points in a cam- Wolff said. means he is already qualifi ed to a great job,” the Mercedes driver season in the top three — until Hamilton’s genius and the rise Hamilton won more than paign and won the title with two “I feel he’s just so embedded race in Formula One. said then. Bottas. of Ferrari and Red Bull as chal- twice as many races as anyone races to spare. in the team and integrated that “He is an extremely talented Michael Schumacher won a The Finn ended up fi fth over- lengers in the toughest season else this year but Mercedes had The Briton signed off with a the driver’s title felt incomplete, and dedicated racer, working record seven Formula One cham- all, a slide from third last year, yet for Mercedes as the team to their least dominant showing of victory and intends to start next which for a driver is really strange. with him is a pleasure and we pionships, including fi ve in a row and dismissed by some as no beat, but there were also painful the last fi ve seasons. They won 11 season in similar fashion, when “When you look at his face, can’t wait to begin this adventure with Ferrari, and also holds the more than a useful wingman for mistakes. of 21, compared to 12 in 2017, 19 he will be chasing a sixth world there was almost more relief and together,” said Rene Rosin, prin- record for race wins with 91. Hamilton — even if he did take “Confi dence is not at the in 2016 and 16 in 2015 and 2014. crown and closing in on Schu- happiness about sealing the con- cipal of the Mercedes-powered The 49-year-old, whose pri- the award for most fastest laps. highest and he needs to try and Ferrari won six, their biggest macher’s all-time record of 91 structors’ title (than the drivers’). team, in a statement yesterday. vacy is closely guarded, has not “It’s been a mentally pretty pick it up again in the winter, tally since 2008, while Red Bull’s wins. “That’s why he just didn’t “This series is not an easy been seen in public since he suf- tough year so I need a break,” because he can do better,” said four was their most since 2013. The bad news for Bottas is that take the foot off the throttle un- one due to its learning curve for fered severe head injuries in a Bottas, who has no guarantee of retired 2016 world champion Hamilton made the diff erence Mercedes have seen a change in til the very end. That is some- rookies, especially with the in- skiing accident in France in De- staying in his coveted seat be- Nico Rosberg, the man Bottas — equalling his best ever sea- their champion, which will not how a new Lewis.” troduction of the new car, but we cember 2013.

BOTTOMLINE Diminished rally not a ‘discount Dakar’, says race director

AFP South America. physical preparation. The dunes, the “With the sand, we dive into the “They raise the standard of competi- Jean-Louis Schlesser back in 2000. Paris But this year Argentina, Chile and sand, are very challenging environ- heart of the DNA of the Dakar,” says tion, they make it even more demand- “I have always loved the dunes,” said Bolivia all pulled out for reasons of aus- ments.” Lavigne. “The origins, the mythology ing,” says Lavigne. the Frenchman at the course launch. terity, leaving Peru as the sole host of The change is refl ected in the reduc- of the Dakar is built around the Sahara, “The more people, the stronger it is “It’s a complicated landscape and he 2019 Paris-Dakar Rally will the 41st edition. tion of the rally from 9,000 kilometres its dunes, its great stretches of sand. in terms of competition and uncertain- everything can happen very quickly. not be a “cut price” edition in “It will not be a discount Dakar,” race over 14 stages in 2018 — when it went Here, we are at the heart of the matter.” ty. They all have strengths, weak points You can easily be trapped. Reading the spite of being hosted for the director Etienne Lavigne told AFP at through Peru, Argentina and Bolivia — to The shorter course is unlikely to put off that they will have to manage. sand can be complicated. Sand special- fi rst time by a single country, the unveiling of the course in Paris yes- 5,000 kilometres across 10 stages in 2019. the competition with all the big names of “They will have to come to grips with ists will probably tell you something raceT director Etienne Lavigne told AFP terday. the recent past such as multiple winners this, and over ten days there are many else. yesterday. “This is an extraordinary edition. It DAKAR DNA Carlos Sainz, Stephane Peterhansel and genuine contenders for victory.” “It’s so random, you have to know Since the race switched for security is the fi rst time that the Dakar will take According to Lavigne, however, it will Cyril Despres, among the 334 vehicles — Nine-time World Rally champion how to avoid traps, dunes. You can lose reasons in 2009 from its original route place in a single country. still present a touch challenge to the cars, motorbikes, quad bikes, SxS (bug- Sebastien Loeb also returns for the 30 minutes looking for a way point or from Paris to the Senegalese capital “This year, we will have to face dif- drivers and riders because it is predom- gies) and trucks — to have registered for fourth time, hoping to become the fi rst 30 minutes to tank.” Dakar, it has enjoyed multiple hosts in fi cult terrain that requires very good inantly across sand. the start on January 6. privateer to win the Dakar Rally since The race ends in Lima on January 17.