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FOOTBALL / QNB STARS LEAGUE Al Duhail, Al Rayyan get back to winning ways By Sports Reporter took their points tally to eight burst into life with Al Rayyan’s trolled it. Doha and are back in strong contention Yacine Brahimi nearly scoring The deadlock was fi nally bro- for the title. as he collected a pass out wide ken in the 66th minute from a Al Wakrah thus crashed to their and drove a fierce shot across set piece taken short as Mowa- triker Mohamed Muntari second defeat, having lost to Al the face of the goal which re- fak Awad whipped in a low cross led the charge with two Sadd 1-4 in Week 1. They had de- quired a fine finger-tipped save from the right which Kom met goals as Al Duhail got the feated Qatar SC and Al Shahania from Rajab Hamza. with the faintest of touches to better of Al Wakrah 4-2 in by an identical 2-0 margin. Despite such dominance, it steer in at the back post. The aS pulsating Week 4 match of the In the earlier match, Al Rayyan was Al Khor who nearly took a frustration following the goal 2019-20 QNB Stars League at the marched to a deserving 2-0 vic- surprise lead when Ahmed Ham- boiled over leading to Wagner re- Al Sadd Stadium yesterday. tory against Al Khor at the Al moudan broke free of the Al ceiving his marching orders for a Muntari scored in the 36th Janoub Stadium yesterday. Rayyan defence, lunged into the second bookable off ence. and 65th minutes. Ali Afi f (24th The Lions’ marksmen were box and was stopped by some With a one-man advantage Al minute) and Almoez Ali (90+1 Franck Kom (66th minute) and fi ne goalkeeping by Fahad Baker Rayyan turned up the pressure penalty) were the other scorers Abdelaziz Hatem (75th minute). when in on goal. and quickly secured their sec- for Al Duhail. It was Al Rayyan’s first victo- So often on the back foot, Al ond goal of the night. Advancing Mohamed Benyettou (third ry, after three successive draws, Khor started the second half in down the left, Brahimi played the minute) and Ismail Mahmoud and they now have six points, blistering fashion and were un- ball short to Abdelaziz Hatem (49th minute) scored for Al Wak- while Al Khor remained on four fortunate to have a goal ruled out who hit a sumptuous 25-yard, rah. points. by VAR within minutes of the left-footed shot which swerved The victory helped Al Duhail A well-fought first half was restart. After chasing a long ball from left to right and struck the get back to winning path after largely dominated by Al Rayy- over the top, Tiago Bezerra was back of the net past a helpless successive draws against Al Arabi an, with their superior attack- able to beautifully lob the goal- goalkeeper. and Al Rayyan (both 1-1 results). ing strengths on display. With keeper from six yards out. How- Al Rayyan held on to the lead The Red Knights had beaten Qa- neither side creating too much ever, VAR adjudged the player to with ease and closed out the vic- Al Duhail’s Mohamed Muntari (second from left) and Almoez Ali (second from right) celebrate a goal during tar SC 2-1 in the fi rst round. They in the opening stages, it soon have handled the ball as he con- tory for a vital three points. the QNB Stars League match against Al Wakrah yesterday. PICTURE: Noushad Thekkayil

ATHLETICS El Seify up against hammer throw giants and 80m goal 2014 Asiad gold medallist has his work cut out to ensure high position at Worlds Price, Wang in spotlight for By Sports Reporter women’s competition Doha ith four-time cham- pion Anita Wlodarczyk atar’s Ashraf El Seify Wsidelined with injury, has his task cut out the focus here will fall on the US when the men’s ham- trio of DeAnna Price, Brooke mer throw action gets Andersen and Gwen Berry who underwayQ on October 1, and con- occupy the top three spots on cludes with the medal round the the world season’s lists, a first in next day, at the IAAF World Ath- the event for the North Ameri- letics Championships Doha 2019. can athletics juggernaut so late The 2018 Asian Games gold into a season. Indeed, hopes medallist has never hit the 80m are high that one of the three mark in his career but has made it will secure the first medal in his goal, something that will send the event for the US at a World him into the uppermost echelons Championships. of the discipline. Price, the winner of last year’s With a personal best of 78.19, IAAF Continental Cup, appears the 24-year-old will be going up to be the likeliest candidate. against at least six athletes, in- The 26-year-old, who reached cluding defending world cham- the 2016 Olympic and 2017 Challenge standings by more pion Pawel Fajdek of Poland and World Championships finals, than two metres, and owns four his compatriot Wojciech No- has won five of her seven of the season’s 10 best throws. wicki, and Olympic champion competitions and produced the With Wlodarczyk absent, Dilshad Nazarov of Tajikistan, season’s two farthest throws, a Malwina Kopron and Joanna who have been past the 80m 77.43m eff ort in Bloomington in Fiodorow lead the Polish chal- mark in their careers. late June and a 78.24m North lenge. “I want to throw 80m this sea- American record to win the US The 24-year-old Kopron was son, that is my aim. If I make it title in late July. That’s nearly a surprise bronze medallist here in Doha at the World Cham- a metre and a half better than two years ago and threw her pionships, I could be placed in a anyone else in the world. season’s best of 75.23m in her high position,” El Seify was quot- Berry, 30, finished second to final pre-Doha competition to ed as saying on the Doha 2019 Price at the US Championships win the Skolimowska Memorial World Championships website. with a 76.46m eff ort, her sea- on 14 September. In Jakarta last year, the former son’s best, and two weeks later Fiodorow, twice a bronze med- two-time World under-20 took the Pan-American Games allist at the European Champi- champion had beaten Nazarov for crown. Andersen, who reached onships, has a 74.71m season’s gold, but Nazarov won gold ahead a lifetime best of 76.75m this best from early June but has of his younger rival at the Asian Season’s best mark for Qatar’s Ashraf El Seify is 76.21 at Celje, Slovenia, in July. year, has thrown farther than impressed in her run-up to Athletics Championships, which Berry, but like Berry, has strug- Doha, winning the Europe-USA was a test event held in April this in Andújar on September 6. yond 80 metres. Fajdek, mean- gled with consistency. match on 10 September and year for the IAAF World Cham- But Fajdek’s toughest compe- while, has thrown beyond 80 More likely to challenge Price finishing second to Fiodorow pionships at the state-of-the-art tition looks likely to come from metres on three occasions since will be China’s Wang Zheng, the in Chorzow four days later. Khalifa International Stadium. his Polish teammate – and fellow then, topped by a season’s best of bronze medallist in 2013 and Fiodorow was sixth at these History, however, may be on 30-year-old – Nowicki. 80.88m in Cetniewo on August 3. runner-up in London two years championships two years ago. Fajdek’s side as he prepares to The latter, who earned Olym- Nowicki, however, won at the ago. While she hasn’t thrown Others expected to figure in compete in Doha against a formi- pic bronze in Rio, followed up last European Team Championships quite as far – her season’s best the podium chase include Alex- dable fi eld. Fajdek, oddly enough, year by winning the European ti- in his native Bydgoszcz and beat is 76.26m from July’s national andra Tavernier of France, the may have never won an Olympic tle in Berlin with 80.12m, beating Fajdek in their last pre-Doha out- championships – she has been world bronze medallist in 2015 medal, but has three world titles Fajdek, the defending champion, ing, 79.55m to 79.33m. He will the event’s picture of consist- who improved her own national to his name. event by taking bronze at last only 28 but a veteran of the 2009 into second place with a best of be keen to add a world medal of a ency in 2019. Wang has won record to 74.84m in June, and The fi eld also has Denis Luky- year’s European Championships World Championships and Eu- 78.69m. diff erent colour to the bronze ver- 11 of her past 12 competitions, Hanna Malyshik of Belarus, also anov, who is fourth on this sea- in Berlin and stands one place be- ropean U20 bronze medallist in Nowicki leads this year’s world sions he collected in 2015 and 2017. including the Asian title at a world and Olympic finalist son’s world list with 78.97m. low Lukyanov on the 2019 world that same year, has inserted him- list with the eff ort of 81.74m he All in all it looks like being a Doha’s Khalifa Stadium in April, who has reached 74.95m this Bence Halász maintained list with 78.54m. self into the mix in extravagant produced in Poznan on July 2, fascinating struggle. leads the IAAF Hammer Throw year. (IAAF) Hungary’s proud tradition in this Spain’s Javier Cienfuegos, fashion with his eff ort of 79.38m but that was his last throw be- (With inputs from IAAF) Gulf Times 2 Sunday, September 22, 2019 ATHLETICS

Things to look forward to at Doha 2019 Home advantage are scheduled to start at midnight. World marathon record-holder Nothing quite lights up a World and multiple world champion Championship than a home win- Paula Radcliff e is relishing the ner and the 2019 edition in Doha prospect. “It’s exciting from a has a pair of noteworthy gold competitor’s point of view be- medal contenders. cause it’s unique and off ers the In the men’s high jump all eyes best conditions for the athletes,” will be on Qatari superstar Mu- said the 2005 world champion. taz Barshim, who after a lengthy “It’s rare that people think about injury lay-off is slowly returning the best conditions for the ath- to form and will defend his world letes to race in. That has been title in front of his passionate done here and it will celebrate home fans. the iconic Doha skyline and the The host nation’s other heavy- way it all lights up along the weight performer is 400m hur- Corniche at night.” dler Abderrahman Samba, who last year advanced to No.2 on the It’s cool world all-time list with a thunder- ous 46.98 clocking in Paris. Much has been made of the hot conditions likely to greet the Sponsor potential athletes at the World Champion- Qatar’s Abderrahman Samba and Mutaz Barshim will lead the charge ships in Doha. However, local or- The 2019 edition of the IAAF for the host nation at the 10-day event. ganisers should take enormous World Championships is all credit that they have sought to Qatar’s state-of-the-art cooling system has been very eff ective in controlling temperatures. about innovation and for the IAAF President Sebastian Coe. taken to scrap morning sessions address the problem by creating first time national teams will be “We have to absolutely maximise with the introduction of split a state-of-the-art cooling system fans alike. Should it be neces- letes on show will ensure Doha In the field, Cuban long jump permitted to display a logo of a every bit of financial potential in evening sessions with one-hour at the host venue, the Khalifa sary, the technology will likely will prove a real hit. phenomenon Juan Miguel Eche- sponsor on their kit. our sport through those venues, intervals to allow for entertain- International Stadium. prove a major hit. The next generation is led by varria will seek to land a maiden While many may not view this as and we wanted this to be a much ment and family activities across Last year during an impressive the likes of US sprint aces Noah senior outdoor world crown, a hugely significant moment, it more equitable process.” the 10-day programme. demonstration of the innovative Post-Bolt generation Lyles and Michal Norman. On heavyweight Swedish discus as an opening of the door which The event will see the inaugural technology, track temperatures the women’s side, watch out for thrower Daniel Stahl hopes to could make a significant mark Marathons at night mixed 4x400m relay at a World were set to a pleasant 24-26C via It may be the first IAAF World triple sprint European cham- stamp his mark on the event, on the sport. Championship but one of the big- the revolutionary technology Championships not to feature pion Dina Asher-Smith of Great and keep an eye on Germany’s “We only have really big global To avoid the intensity of the day- gest innovations will be the men’s which will guarantee optimal Usain Bolt for 16 years but the Britain and Kenyan steeplechase exciting European long cham- moments every two years,” says time heat, the decision has been and women’s marathons, which conditions for the athlete and galaxy of new emerging star ath- sensation Beatrice Chepkoech. pion Malaika Mihambo. (IAAF)

FOCUS SPOTLIGHT All eyes on Walsh will look to Chinese shot keep momentum put star Gong at Doha Worlds Shot putter has won in Paris and retained his Diamond League title in Brussels

fter another nearly 26-year-old twice improved fl awless season, Gong her own Jamaican record, fi rst Lijiao arrives primed to 19.48m in April and again to to successfully defend 19.55m in August when taking herA title. If she succeeds, the the Pan-American Games title. 30-year-old Chinese star will While improving, she has been become just the fourth woman to less consistent than Ealey. do so in the event. Behind that trio, the picture is Gong has won 12 of her 13 less clear. Five other women have competitions in 2019 and has thrown beyond 19 metres out- produced the four best throws, doors this season, Maggie Ewen, capped by her 20.31m eff ort to another US thrower on the rise, win another IAAF Diamond the most recent. The 25-year-old League title, her third straight, in produced the best throw of her Zurich last month. With a gap of career, 19.48m, to win the US- more than 60 centimetres on her Europe match on 10 September. nearest competitor, Gong will But that was the only 19-metre- start as one of the heaviest fa- plus eff ort of the season for the vourites at these championships. multi-talented thrower who won A medal of any kind will be her NCAA titles in the shot put, dis- sixth at the World Champion- cus and hammer during her col- ships, a record for the event. legiate career. Her only loss came at the hand Christina Schwanitz, the 2015 of rising US star Chase Ealey, world champion, is still show- who stole Gong’s thunder in their ing solid form, and can’t be dis- 2019 Diamond League debut in counted in the chase for podium Shanghai, where Ealey reached a spots. The 33-year-old German near-PB 19.58m to beat Gong by has reached 19.37m this season. 14 centimetres. The 25-year-old Brittany Crew (19.28m) of blasted on to the scene on April 6 Canada, Aliona Dubitskaya when she threw 19.67m at the Sun (19.21m) and Sweden’s Fan- Angel Classic in Tempe, Arizona, ny Roos (19.06m) have also her fi rst put beyond the 19-metre breached 19 metres this season mark. She went on to throw be- but will have to produce breakout yond 19 metres in nine of her next performances to be a factor. 12 competitions, and improved to Others to watch include Hun- 19.68m in Zurich, where she even- gary’s world indoor champion In this March 3, 2018, picture, New Zealand’s Tom Walsh celebrates winning the men’s shot put final at the 2018 IAAF World Indoor Championships in Birmingham. (AFP) tually fi nished second. Anita Marton, European cham- World indoor silver medal- pion Paulina Guba of Poland, he current depth in the a season’s best of 22.44m and this year, his only losses com- Compatriot Michal Haratyk, ing 22.17m. list Danniel Thomas-Dodd is and Olympic champion Michelle men’s shot put is such retaining his Diamond League ing at the IAAF Diamond League the European champion indoors No athlete from Luxemburg another solid medal threat. The Carter of the US. (IAAF) that someone could shot put title in Brussels against meeting in Stanford and the fi nal and out, was third in Chorzow has ever reached a World Cham- throw beyond 22 me- a quality fi eld. in Brussels, where he was third. and sixth in Brussels, but ear- pionships fi nal, so should Berte- Ttres in Doha and it might not be The two-time world indoor Darlan Romani joined Crouser lier in the year he set – and then mes make it through the quali- enough for a medal. champion rarely disappoints at and Walsh in the top 10 on the equalled – a national record of fying round, he will have made a Qualifi cation enters fi nal stages To put the unprecedented lev- major championships and has world all-time list after throw- 22.32m. piece of athletics history for his el of shot putting into context, earned medals – three of which ing an IAAF Diamond League Darrell Hill, the 2017 Diamond nation of 590,000. for Doha 2019 Worlds just four of the 16 world shot put are gold – at the past four global record of 22.61m in Stanford. League champion, and 2015 World indoor bronze medal- titles to date have been won with championships. A loss – albeit The Brazilian beat Crouser and world champion Joe Kovacs add list Tomas Stanek is the ninth The IAAF has issued invitations to 130 eligible athletes for ad- throws in excess of 22 metres. with a still respectable 21.90m Walsh at last year’s IAAF Conti- further strength to the USA’s 22-metre man in the fi eld, al- ditional places to the IAAF World Athletics Championships Doha But with a fi eld containing nine – in his fi nal pre-World Cham- nental Cup and has won a host of medal chances in this event. Hill though his throws beyond that 2019 following the final review of entries published on Thursday men with PBs beyond that mark pionships competition in Chor- continental titles in recent years set his season’s best of 22.35m to line were achieved in 2017 and and compared with the published target numbers for each event. – including eight of the top 21 zow might be just what Walsh but will be keen to land his fi rst win at The Match in what was 2018. Nevertheless, the Czech “We have an extra week built into the entry timetable for these men on the world all-time list needed as motivation heading global championships medal in his fi nal competition before the thrower has a season’s best of championships so have been able to open up any available places – then it’s safe to assume there into Doha. Doha. World Championships. Kovacs, 21.67m and will be expecting to to give every opportunity to our leading athletes to compete in will be some big throws in the Olympic champion Ryan Poland’s Konrad Bukowiecki, meanwhile, is close behind Hill at least make the fi nal. our showcase championships,” said IAAF CEO Jon Ridgeon. Qatari capital. Crouser has been in similarly who last year at the age of 20 be- on the 2019 world list with a best Other athletes to look out for “Having now been able to review the final entries, it is clear that Choosing a winner, however, stunning form this year after came the youngest member of the of 22.31m. include Croatia’s 2016 world some qualified athletes are currently not able to attend. Therefore, is a more diffi cult prediction to opening his outdoor campaign 22-metre club with his 22.00m Luxemburg’s Bob Bertemes indoor bronze medallist Filip as a federation that always tries to put athletes’ interests first, we make. with a world-leading PB of heave indoors, looks to be peaking is the newest member of the Mihaljevic, Nigerian record- have the opportunity to open entries for one last short window in Defending champion Tom 22.74m, the longest throw in the at the right time. His four most 22-metre club. The 26-year-old holder Chukwu Enekwechi and some events where we have yet to reach maximum target entry Walsh is as good a starting point world since 1990. Apart from his recent competitions have been: added almost a metre to his PB two-time world U20 champion numbers,” he added. Member Federations and athletes were asked as any. The New Zealander 21.11m win at the Drake Relays, 21.91m, 21.92m, 21.99m and a PB with a national record of 22.22m Jacko Gill, who has set PBs in his to confirm acceptance of the invitation(s) by later yesterday, when has been on a roll over the past he has thrown beyond 22 metres of 22.25m in Chorzow, where he last month, but showed it wasn’t three most recent competitions. the invitational process was scheduled to be finally closed. (IAAF) month, winning in Paris with in all of his other competitions defeated Walsh. a fl uke just a week ago by throw- (IAAF) Gulf Times Sunday, September 22, 2019 3 SPORT

CRICKET India aim to wrap Twenty20 series in Bengaluru IANS turned out to be the standout ryone speaks of very highly in Big hitters like David Miller, Bengaluru performers in Mohali as India Mohali. Dwaine Pretorius and de Kock cruised to a seven-wicket win On Friday, former India cap- need to fi re from the word go. against the young Proteas side tain and NCA head Rahul Dravid Only then can the visitors pose a fter a commanding led by Quinton de Kock. spent some time with the Indian challenge against the hosts. performance in Mo- Team India ticked almost all players during the practice ses- hali, Team India will boxes in Mohali where they fi rst sion and off ered some piece of SQUADS aim to seal the three- restricted the visitors to 149 and advice to all of them, especially India: Virat Kohli (capt), Rohit matchA series when they enter the then chased down the target rid- Pant. Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, K L M.Chinnaswamy Stadium for ing on their skipper Kohli’s un- For the hosts, it will be a case of Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pan- the third and fi nal T20I against beaten 72. continuing with the performance dey, Rishabh Pant (wk), Hardik South Africa today. However, one area of concern they have been delivering in the Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Krunal With a washout in the fi rst — which has now been loom- recent times. Their batting looks Pandya, Washington Sundar, game in Dharamsala, both the ing over the team — will be the in total control, so is there bowl- Rahul Chahar, Khaleel Ahmed, teams were looking to take the form of wicket-keeper-batsman ing and fi elding. Deepak Chahar, Navdeep Saini. upper hand and take an unassail- Rishabh Pant and he will again be Proteas, on the other hand, South Africa: Quinton de Kock able lead in the series in Mohali. in focus in Bengaluru. will have their task cut out. In or- (capt/wk), Rassie van der Dussen However, it was the Men in Blue Pant, who has been warned by der to level the series, the mantra (vc), Temba Bavuma, Junior Dala, who took command at the I.S. head coach Ravi Shastri and bat- for them is actually quite simple: Bjorn Fortuin, Beuran Hendricks, Bindra P.C.A. Stadium and came ting coach Vikram Rathour about score enough runs, i.e. in excess Reeza Hendricks, David Miller, out with a brilliant performance playing careless cricket, threw of 180 and give their bowlers Anrich Nortje, Andile Phehluk- to secure a rather comfortable away his wicket cheaply and something on the Chinnaswamy wayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso win. missed out on an opportunity to pitch which historically has been Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, George India’s Shikhar Dhawan dives to stop a ball during a practice session at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Deepak Chahar and Virat Kohli showcase his talent, which eve- a high-scoring ground. Linde. Bengaluru yesterday. (AFP)

TRI-NATION SERIES FOCUS Pakistan’s Hafeez out of landmark Shakib shines in Sri Lanka tour

AFP team in both the one-day and Lahore T20 matches. Middle order bats- man Iftikhar Ahmed was recalled to the one-day squad after a four akistan yesterday left year absence. Bangladesh’s win out veteran batsman Cricket tours were suspended Mohamed Hafeez for in Pakistan for six years after a next week’s series start 2009 assault on the Sri Lankan Pagainst Sri Lanka, who are tour- team bus that killed half a dozen ing the country for the fi rst time police offi cers and wounded six since they were targeted in a ter- members of the visiting team. ror attack. Sri Lanka agreed to the current Hafeez, 38, was part of Paki- tour after a favourable security over Afghanistan stan’s fi fth-placed World Cup assessment. squad but has been kept off due Three one-day internationals ‘We needed someone to bat through the innings. And luckily today it was my day’ to his commitments in the Car- will be played in Karachi, the fi rst ibbean Premier League, said head on September 27. AFP said. Mosaddek, who was un- coach and chief selector Misbah- Another three Twenty20 Chittagong, Bangladesh beaten on 19, chipped Naveen at ul-Haq. matches will be played in Lahore mid-on for two runs in the last “He is not out of our plans,” in early October. ball of the penultimate over to added Misbah. hakib Al Hasan smacked Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan plays complete only Bangladesh’s sec- “Whoever is eff ective for the SQUAD: Sarfaraz Ahmed, Babar an unbeaten half-century a shot during the Twenty20 match against ond T20 win against Afghani- team will be included in the fu- Azam, Abid Ali, Asif Ali, Fakhar as Bangladesh ended their Afghanistan at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury stan. ture.” Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Haris So- four-match losing streak Stadium in Chittagong. (AFP) Naveen and Rashid claimed Fellow World Cup team mem- hail, Mohamed Hasnain, Iftikhar toS Afghanistan in Twenty20 in- two wickets each for Afghani- bers Hasan Ali and fast bowler Ali, Imad Wasim, Mohamed ternationals with a four-wicket stan. Shaheen Shah Afridi have also Amir, Mohamed Rizwan, Shadab win in their fi nal league match Earlier, Afi f swung the mo- been left out due to poor fi tness. Khan, Mohamed Nawaz, Usman of the tri-nation tournament in mentum Bangladesh’s way with Sarfaraz Ahmed will lead the Shinwari, Wahab Riaz. Chittagong yesterday. his double strike in the 10th over Shakib hit an unbeaten 70 off of Afghanistan’s innings after 45 balls to guide Bangladesh to Hazratullah Zazai made 47 runs 139-6 in 19 overs after young off 35 balls, putting on 75 runs off -spinner Afi f Hossain led the with Rahmanullah Gurbaz in the bowling eff ort with 2-9, helping opening stand. the home side restrict Afghani- A wicket apiece for Moham- stan to 138-7 in 20 overs. mad Saifuddin, Shafi ul Islam, In pursuit of a modest target, Shakib and Mustafi zur Rahman Bangladesh wobbled at the start left Afghanistan in disarray be- as openers Liton Das (four) and fore Shafi qullah’s 23 off 17 balls Najmul Hossain (fi ve) both fell gave them a glimmer of hope. cheaply before Shakib put on 58 Afghanistan and Bangladesh runs with Mushfi qur Rahim to had already qualifi ed for Tues- steady the innings. day’s fi nal in Dhaka after win- Mushfi qur made 26 off 25 balls, ning two of their previous three but not before he was dropped by matches in a competition that substitute fi elder Najib Tarakai also featured Zimbabwe. off Mohamed Nabi on 14. “Best things are that it’s hap- Medium pacer Karim Janat pened in the group stages. We dismissed Mushfi qur in the 11th have to restart and do the basics over before a fl oodlight disrup- right for the fi nal,” Rashid said. tion enabled Afghanistan’s bowl- “Hopefully I’ll be recovered ers to regroup. soon,” Afghanistan captain says Rashid Khan struck twice after of his tweaked hamstring. “It the delay and debutant Naveen- looks a little sticky, but I should ul-Haq also claimed a wicket as hopefully be OK for the fi nal.” Bangladesh lost Mahmudullah I wanted to go and bowl and (six), Sabbir Rahman (one) and see how it goes, whether it’s too Afi f (two) in quick succession to much or I could recover. It’s 50 or slide to 104-6. 60% fi ne. Mosaddek Hossain cut Rashid late for a brilliant boundary to BRIEF SCORES: ease some pressure on the home Bangladesh: 139 for 6 (Shakib side before Shakib struck the Af- Bangladesh close. the mark in T20s. We’re working the match. “We needed someone 70*, Naveen 2-20) beat Afghani- ghanistan skipper for a four and “If you look at the last few on it. The bowlers bowled well to bat through the innings. And stan 138 for 7 (Hazratullah 47, six in consecutive balls to take months, we haven’t been up to on the wicket,” Shakib said after luckily today it was my day,” he Afif 2-9) by four wickets. Misbah-ul-Haq speaks at a press conference in Lahore yesterday.

GOLF Willett, Rahm share lead aft er third round AFP LEADING THIRD ROUND SCORES Despite his late woes, Rahm An fi res another 66 to lead weather-hit Wentworth, United Kingdom could join Jose Maria Olazabal, 201-Jon Rahm (ESP) 66 67 68, Danny Willett 68 65 68 Seve Ballesteros, Miguel Angel Sanderson Farms event 204-Shubhankar Sharma (IND) 71 67 66, Justin Rose 67 68 69, Chris- Jimenez, Ignacio Garrido and ormer Masters champion tiaan Bezuidenhout (RSA) 68 67 69 Manuel Pinero as a Spanish win- An Byeong-hun got a hot start with four straight birdies on Friday Danny Willett held a share 206-Richie Ramsay 71 68 67, Rafa Cabrera-Bello (ESP) 69 70 67 ner at Wentworth. Willett re- to shoot back-to-back 66s for the clubhouse lead at the weather- of the PGA Champion- 207 Patrick Reed (USA) 70 70 67 covered from a bogey on the fi rst hit Sanderson Farms Championship. An led first-round leaders JT ship lead with Spain’s Jon 208-Andrew Johnston 69 70 69, Francesco Molinari (ITA) 69 70 69, with the aid of six birdies to re- Poston and Tom Hoge by two shots with a 12-under 132 total as the RahmF after a tense third round at main in contention for a seventh Andrew Putnam (USA) 71 67 70, Viktor Hovland (NOR) 69 69 70, Paul second round was suspended because of darkness after storms Wentworth yesterday. Casey 68 69 71, Billy Horschel (USA) 72 65 71 European Tour title and a fi rst on halted play on Thursday. Post and Hoge shot second-round 70s and Rahm was two shots up after 209-Ross Fisher 70 73 66, Paul Waring 70 71 68, Henrik Stenson home soil. were tied for second with fellow Americans George McNeill (67) and the fi rst 16 holes and enjoyed a (SWE) 66 69 74 “This is our biggest tourna- Scottie Scheff ler (66). Australia’s Cameron Percy was alone in sixth stroke of luck on the 17th when 210 Kurt Kitayama (USA) 71 71 68, Rory McIlroy 76 69 65, Alex Noren ment of the year for us Brit- on nine-under through 11 holes. his second shot was heading out (SWE) 69 72 69, Jordan Smith 69 71 70, Bernd Wiesberger (AUT) 74 ish guys, it’s a massive event,” “I’ve been putting a lot better the last couple events, so as long as of bounds before hitting a specta- 67 69. Willett said. “I’ve been here the putts keep dropping, let’s see if I can win this season,” said An, tor. However, the world number 10 straight years and I love the who is trying to strengthen his position to make the International six failed to make the most of his place. The crowds are amazing.” Presidents Cup team as a captain’s pick. The second round will good fortune by pitching to 10 feet up and down from a greenside made it feel a lot worse than it Rory McIlroy hasn’t aban- resume Saturday morning at The Country Club of Jackson in Jack- and then three-putting for a six bunker for a birdie to match his really was. I was really in control doned hope of winning after a son, Mississippi. Storms halted play in the first round and organizers and was also just a few feet from playing partner’s 68. On 15 un- of my game and playing good,” superb 65 which equalled his had to play catchup on Friday. South Korea’s An has made just one driving out of bounds at the last. der par, Rahm and Willett have a Rahm said. “It was not the fi n- lowest score at Wentworth and England’s Danny Willett lines up bogey in two rounds. He opened his second round with four straight After taking a penalty drop an- three-shot lead over Justin Rose, ish I was looking for, I might have left him nine shots off the lead. a shot during the PGA Champi- birdies then added two more on eight and nine for six birdies on other bogey looked on the cards, Shubhankar Sharma and Chris- lost a bit of focus, looking into “I will give it a go for sure and onship at Wentworth Golf Club the front nine. His only blemish came on the par-five fifth hole after but Rahm holed from 20 feet for tiaan Bezuidenhout. the future instead of staying in you never know. But at the same in Surrey, south west of London, hitting his second shot into the water. an unlikely par and Willett got “Man, those last two holes the present.” time I’m a realist,” he said. yesterday. (AFP) Gulf Times 4 Sunday, September 22, 2019 RUGBY WORLD CUP

SPOTLIGHT PREVIEW England’s Vunipola set for ‘emotional’ First-half blitz gets opener against Tonga

AFP Sapporo, Japan

All Blacks home illy Vunipola knows he will be the cause of split loyalties when England open their 2019 World BCup campaign against Tonga in Sapporo today. Not only are Vunipola’s par- ents Tongan, his father Fe’ao, a over Springboks hooker, and uncle Elisi, then the captain and fl y-half, played for ‘It was a full 80 minutes right to the end there that we had to work’ Tonga against England at the 1999 World Cup. That match, which Billy watched, saw Eng- land enjoy a 101-10 win after Tonga had prop Ngalu Taufo’ou sent off after 35 minutes for England flanker Billy Vunipola. punching. Billy and brother Mako were raised in Wales after team, for that game,” said Jones. their father took up a contract “That’s the only game we’re with Pontypool. They were later worried about.” educated in England and the lat- Jones is a seasoned World Cup est generation of rugby-playing campaigner, having been the Vunipola brothers opted to rep- coach of his native Australia when resent the Red Rose. they lost the 2003 fi nal to England “I am Tongan, my parents are before becoming a consultant to and my grandparents are so it 2007 champions South Africa. will be very emotional,” said Billy And four years ago he oversaw Vunipola. “I have to get my head one of the great World Cup upsets right. With the country there when Japan beat the Springboks. will be split loyalties,” the pow- Yet for all his experience, Jones erhouse No 8 added. said: “I’m massively nervous and “They want Tonga to win and I I’m massively excited. want England to win.” “We control the preparation Billy Vunipola will be the only for the games and every coach member of his family involved -all 20 coaches out here - is hav- in today’s match as Mako, an ing this conversation now. They England prop, continues his re- all think they’ve done a great covery from hamstring surgery. job preparing their team, but we Tonga coach Toutai Kefu, when don’t know, do we?” told Vunipola still felt Tongan, “I love it. If I didn’t want that, quipped: “Well he should be I’d have a job where I could catch playing for us then.” the bus at eight o’clock every Jones has picked his strongest morning, wear the same suit, available side for a match title take a briefcase and have my contenders England are expected packed lunch,” he added. to win well against a Tonga team “I could do that and I’d prob- who only a few weeks ago suf- ably do it pretty well, but I love fered a 92-7 thrashing by reign- this part of it: you work really ing world champions New Zea- hard to prepare a team and then land in a warm-up match. you don’t know what is going to But Jones said there was no happen.” question of taking Tonga lightly, Part of that preparation for hence a midfi eld trio of George what will be just the second Ford, captain Owen Farrell and rugby union match at the Sap- dynamic centre Manu Tuilagi, poro Dome has involved speak- with the likes of Vunipola and ing to the England football team Maro Itoje powering the pack. that played and won there, 1-0 “I think World Cups are about against Argentina, during the always picking your strongest 2002 soccer World Cup.

New Zealand’s Ben Smith (centre) attempts to evade a tackle by South Africa’s Frans Malherbe (left) during their Pool ‘B’ match in Yokohama yesterday. (AFP) Scotland scent World Cup upset over Ireland

AFP ing spree which was against the the pool after yesterday’s defeat. honour in his 50th Test to lead attack which saw lock Scott Ireland may go into the Rugby Townsend has close to his top Yokohama, Japan early run of play. Until then, the “It was a heck of a test match,” the teams on to the fi eld, Pollard Barrett pop up in support for World Cup ranked number one match-day 23 available, includ- Springboks had enjoyed a huge said All Black captain Kieran quickly had the South Africans the try. It took South Africa until in the world, but Scotland are ing a backline stacked with territorial advantage but were Read. “It was a full 80 minutes on the board with a handy pen- the eighth minute of the second not short of confidence and British and Irish Lions, while efending champions unable to cross the line and had right to the end there that we alty. half to score their fi rst try when scent a possible upset in their Ireland are beset by injury with New Zealand bur- to rely on an early Handre Pol- had to work,” said the skipper, With the deft kicking of Faf Pieter-Steph du Toit brushed opening Pool A match today. Rob Kearney, Robbie Henshaw nished their creden- lard penalty for their only points who said the conditions were de Klerk backed by the muscle of aside Aaron Smith to score near Hooker Stuart McInally will cap- and Keith Earls all missing. tials as favourites for in the fi rst half. “tough.” the South African pack, the All the posts. tain the most experienced Test The loss of their combined theD Rugby World Cup with a In a frantically paced second Blacks were pinned deep in their Pollard narrowed the gap fur- team in Scotland rugby history experience could be a telling hard-fought 23-13 win against half, they came within one try ‘HANDLING ERRORS’ own half for most of the fi rst ther with a 40-metre drop goal with 630 caps, considerably factor when Scots fly-half Finn top contenders South Africa in a of regaining the lead before late For the fourth time in as many quarter until a Richie Mo’unga to have the South Africans a try more than the previous record Russell starts directing play blockbuster match in Yokohama penalties made the game safe for matches at this World Cup, the breakout brought them into the away from taking the lead. of 581 against England in 2011 at the International Stadium yesterday. New Zealand. team that scored fi rst fi nished game for the fi rst time. But late penalties by Mo’unga and France in 2003. Yokohama. The impressive All Blacks “We can’t moan about this second. Although South Africa saved and man-of-the-match Beau- “To get a squad that has this Although Scotland have lost cut the Springboks to ribbons performance. They really played Perhaps it was nerves, but that try, Mo’unga landed the den Barrett gave the All Blacks a experience for such a big game six of their past seven games during a fi ve-minute period of well, I think the referee was play was marred by many han- penalty to level the scores and 10-point safety net. is a real bonus,” coach Gregor against Ireland, Townsend said dominance in the fi rst half that good. And we just have to work dling errors from both sides ear- almost immediately set up the “Today was a big game for Townsend said of his side they are coming into form at earned them two converted really hard,” said a magnani- ly in the contest. next scoring move, as a chip both sides and fortunately for ranked seventh in the world. the right time. tries, and then saw off a deter- mous Springbok coach Rassie South Africa’s reputed kick to right wing Sevu Reece us, we came out on top,” said All “Experience is important. Expe- “We have had two of our best mined second-half fi ghtback to Erasmus. staunch defence was exposed by launched a 60-metre move that Black coach Steve Hansen. rience with form, recent form, ever training sessions, so as a register the vital Pool B win. South Africa will still feel 26 missed tackles in the fi rst half fi nished with a try for left wing “It was another titanic strug- and really good physical shape coach, you get excited about Before nearly 64,000 fans in confi dent of qualifying from a as the All Blacks’ pace proved George Bridge. gle between New Zealand and makes it even more valuable things like that,” he said. Yokohama’s International Sta- group that also includes Italy, too much. Infl uential centre Anton Lien- South Africa and hopefully the and that is what we have with In the third match of the day dium, the All Blacks set the game Namibia and Canada but are al- After Springboks backrower ert-Brown sparked New Zea- people watching here today en- this group this weekend.” Italy will take on Namibia. alight with the sensational scor- most certain to fi nish second in Duane Vermeulen was given the land’s next long-range counter- joyed it and got excited by it.”

FOCUS France and Australia survive huge scares AFP Tokyo

rance and Australia both survived huge scares yesterday as the Rugby World Cup roared into life aheadF of the heavyweight clash between defending champions New Zealand and South Africa. A last-ditch penalty miss by Argentina’s Emiliano Boff elli spared France’s blushes as they scraped home 23-21, after Aus- tralia recovered from nine points down to beat a formidable Fiji 39-21. The back-to-back thrill- ers on the fi rst full day of action set up the much-anticipated clash between the All Blacks and the Springboks, considered a po- tential precursor of the Novem- ber 2 fi nal. Australia’s prop Scott Sio carries the ball during their Pool ‘D’ match against Fiji in Sapporo yesterday. (AFP) Action from France–Argentina match in Tokyo yesterday. (AFP) Kieran Read’s All Blacks are chasing an unprecedented third France clicked and they showed Ntamack pushed Les Bleus out Benjamin Urdapilleta slotted narrowly wide. Earlier in Sap- point win. Tolu Latu crashed riod. “They’re such a dangerous straight world title, but come up slick hands and brilliant running to a 20-3 lead at the break but two penalties to give Argentina poro, Fiji put in some thunder- over twice, and Samu Serevi and team, we knew that very well,” against a Springboks team in the as Gael Fickou went over on the Argentina came storming back a 21-20 lead but Camille Lopez’s ous hits and led 21-12 early in the Marika Koroibete also crossed in said Wallabies coach Michael ascendancy under coach Rassie right and Antoine Dupont dotted with two near-identical catch- cool drop goal put France back in second half before replacement the second half following scores Cheika. “It’s what we expected Erasmus. down four minutes later. and-drive tries to Guido Petti front, and it was the unfortunate scrum-half Will Genia inspired by Michael Hooper and Reece (but) we probably didn’t expect After a tense start in Tokyo, The fl awless boot of Romain Pagadizaval and Julian Montoya. Boff elli who skewed his penalty Australia’s recovery and bonus- Hodge in a helter-skelter fi rst pe- to be so far behind.” Gulf Times Sunday, September 22, 2019 5 SPORT

MLB NBA NBA passes stricter tampering, salary Braves clinch NL cap regulations

AFP comply that there will be con- New York sequences.” Among the ways the league will toughen the tamper- BA team own- ing rules is a random audit of East title with win ers passed stricter communications for fi ve NBA measures to force teams, Silver saying he has compliance with the ability to confi scate peo- ‘Nobody gave us a chance early, playerN tampering and salary ple’s communication devices cap rules on Friday after a wild should he desire under the and it was good to see these off -season where several top new regulations. stars changed clubs. “I’m not looking to take guys get on a roll. That was big’ The tougher regulations devices,” Silver said. “We do over Giants provide for fi nes of up to $10 have the power to take peo- million, voiding of contracts, ple’s devices. That is not forfeiting of NBA draft selec- something certainly in the tions and suspensions of team fi rst instance we would be executives who seek to attract looking to do. I think we can players while they are under create the appropriate cul- contract to another team. ture without certainly on a “We need to ensure that random basis people feeling we’re creating a culture of that’s necessary. We have lots compliance in this league of other tools available to us.” and our teams want to know they’re competing on a level FINES INEFFECTIVE playing fi eld and frankly don’t Fines, Silver said, have proven want to feel disadvantaged if ineff ective at detering viola- they are adhering to our exist- tions. ing rules,” NBA commissioner “There’s a general sense in Adam Silver said. this league that among the “What we are really seeking tools we have to ensure com- again is a cultural change in pliance, fi ning authority unto the league, that all the part- itself may be one of the least ners in the league are essen- eff ective tools,” Silver said. tially saying this is the kind of “So within the power that league we operate.” already has been vested in the The issue came to a head league, there is the ability to after stars Kevin Durant and impact competition directly Kyrie Irving joined the Brook- by suspending executives, lyn Nets shortly after becom- taking away draft picks and ing free agents - when the voiding contracts.” offi cial negotiating period While not vowing a fool- for free agents and clubs had proof system, Silver warned barely begun. potential violators that, “We Other deals that were even- believe through these tools, tually consumated came to we’re dramatically going to light before talks were even increase the likelihood that supposed to start. we’re going to catch you.” There was also concern Some issues the league about players talking with wants to examine, such as each other about possible changing the dates for free moves, such as Kawhi Leon- agency, must be done in con- ard wanting Paul George to junction with the players un- join him on the Los Angeles ion. But moves such as George Clippers while George had a leaving the Thunder for the contract with the Oklahoma Clippers show how much in- City Thunder. fl uence star players can have “The ultimate goal here is on other players and by exten- Atlanta Braves players celebrate in the fountain behind centre field after clinching the NL East division after defeating the San Francisco Giants at SunTrust Park in Atlanta. to ensure compliance and to sion, their teams. PICTURE: USA TODAY Sports ensure that there’s that ap- An individual player’s abil- propriate tension that exists ity to change the fortunes of Reuters RESULTS took the loss, pitching six innings and al- Both teams squandered off ensive oppor- at the team,” Silver said. “So a team “provides enormous Atlanta lowing six runs on seven hits, two walks tunities as the Cardinals went 1-for-11 there is sort of a signifi cant leverage for that player,” Sil- Braves 6-0 Giants and fi ve strikeouts. Beede had won con- with runners in scoring position and the threat that if a team doesn’t ver said. Cardinals 2-1 Cubs secutive 1-0 decisions but had no luck Cubs were 1-for-9. ike Foltynewicz pitched eight in his fi rst career appearance against the Chicago’s Kyle Schwarber led off the Nationals 6-4 Marlins shutout innings to help the Braves. The Braves scored a run in the fi rst eighth inning with a bunt single against Atlanta Braves to a 6-0 win Brewers 10-1 Pirates on Freddie Freeman’s sacrifi ce fl y, giving Andrew Miller, but Willson Contreras Carter signs with Hawks for historic over the visiting San Francisco Indians 5-2 Phillies him 120 RBIs. grounded into a double play. Schwarber, 22nd NBA campaign MGiants, which clinched the organisation’s Atlanta made it 2-0 in the third when Jason Heyward and Nicholas Castellanos Athletics 8-0 Rangers second straight National League East title. Acuna doubled and scored on a single by had two hits each for the Cubs. Vince Carter is set to make NBA history this season after signing The Braves notched their 19th divi- Rays 5-4 Red Sox Ozzie Albies, who fi nished 2-for-4. St. Louis starter Michael Wacha al- with the Atlanta Hawks on Friday, the 42-year-old swingman set sion championship, tying them with the Blue Jays 4-3 Yankees The Braves padded the lead with a pair lowed a run on fi ve hits over four innings. for his record 22nd league campaign. New York Yankees for the most in the Astros 6-4 Angels of two-run homers against Beede. Acuna He was helped out of two jams when Chi- Carter will become the first NBA player to compete in 22 majors since the divisional era started in cleared the fence in right-centre fi eld in cago grounded into double plays, includ- seasons when he takes the court for the first time for the Hawks 1969. The Yankees won their 19th title on Dodgers 12-5 Rockies the fi fth inning and Brian McCann hit his ing with one out and the bases loaded in and his first appearance in a game in 2020 will make him the Thursday. The victory also ensures the Mets 8-1 Reds 12th homer in the sixth. the third inning. Wacha also benefi ted first player to compete in four diff erent decades. Among active Braves of home-fi eld advantage for the NL Twins 4-3 Royals from a line-drive double play by Castel- NBA players, Carter leads with 1,481 games played. Division Series. MOLINA HELPS STREAKING CARDS lanos in the fi rst after Anthony Rizzo led That’s fifth on the all-time list, 130 shy of matching Robert D’backs 9-0 Padres “Last year I kept running around with EDGE REELING CUBS off with a walk. Parish’s career record and 79 behind second-place Kareem blinders on wondering if we were good White Sox 10-1 Tigers Yadier Molina had three hits, including a Starter Alec Mills tossed 4 2/3 shutout Abdul-Jabbar. Only Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James has enough to pull it off ,” Braves manager Bri- Orioles 5-3 Mariners two-run single, and the visiting St. Louis innings for the Cubs, allowing two hits more baskets or minutes played among active NBA players an Snitker said of winning a division title. Cardinals held on to defeat the Chicago and striking out six. The Cubs took a 1-0 than Carter’s 9,186 hoops and 45,491 minutes. “This year, as went, it was like we’re pretty ERA (two earned runs in 26 innings). Cubs 2-1 on Friday for their third straight lead in the second when Schwarber dou- He also ranks third among active players in 3-point baskets good. Nobody gave us a chance early, and Josh Tomlin pitched a scoreless ninth win. The National League Central leaders bled, advanced to third on a groundout with 2,229 after Golden State’s Stephen Curry and Milwaukee’s it was good to see these guys get on a roll. inning to nail down the game in a non- dealt the Cubs their fourth straight loss. and scored on second baseman Tommy Kyle Korver. Carter was the 1999 NBA Rookie of the Year with Just took care of business, winning a lot save situation. He retired Alex Dickerson Chicago trails St. Louis by fi ve games in Edman’s one-out error off a David Bote the Toronto Raptors after being the fifth pick overall in the 1998 of fi rst games and winning a lot of series. on a fl y to centre fi eld for the fi nal out. the division and has fallen three games grounder. NBA Draft. He made eight consecutive NBA All-Star squads from That was big.” The Atlanta off ence was led by Ronald behind the Washington Nationals and two The Cardinals took a 2-1 lead in the 2000-2007. Foltynewicz (8-5) allowed three hits and Acuna Jr. The centre fi elder was 2-for- games below the Milwaukee Brewers in sixth. Paul Goldschmidt and Marcell Dubbed “Air Canada” in his early days for his high-leaping one walk in perhaps his best eff ort of the 2 with a double, a home run, two walks, the wild-card race. Ozuna drew walks against reliever David acrobatic dunks, he helped the 2000 US Olympic capture gold season. He struck out seven. three runs and two RBIs. Acuna has scored Ryan Helsley (2-0) picked up the win Phelps (2-1), and Steve Cishek came on to at the Sydney Olympics. Carter, who turns 43 in January, has Foltynewicz won his seventh straight 126 runs, moving him within fi ve of the in relief as the St. Louis bullpen turned in face Matt Carpenter. Carpenter walked to played mostly a reserve role in recent seasons, making nine decision, and the Braves have won the last modern-era franchise record of 131 set by fi ve scoreless innings. Carlos Martinez got load the bases and Molina followed with a starts in 76 appearances for the Hawks last season, when he 12 games that he has started. Over his last Dale Murphy in 1983. the fi nal two outs for his 22nd save. single to centre, scoring Goldschmidt and averaged 7.4 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.1 assists a game. four starts, Foltynewicz is 4-0 with a 0.69 San Francisco rookie Tyler Beede (5-10) St. Louis won despite being outhit 9-4. Ozuna.

NFL Patriots release Brown Reuters which are the subject of pending team very seriously. There are Taylor for 10 hours on Monday as New York litigation. We have as yet made some things we’re looking into.” it investigates the accusations, no fi ndings regarding these is- After answering a couple of and a meeting with Brown was sues. The investigation is ongo- general questions that stemmed expected at some point. he Antonio Brown era in ing and will be pursued vigor- from Brown’s situation, Beli- The Patriots signed Brown New England is over. ously and expeditiously. chick said he would talk football. earlier this month just hours af- The Patriots an- “As long as Mr. Brown is a free After another Brown-related ter the Oakland Raiders released nounced they are cutting agent, placement on the Com- question was asked, Belichick him. It was reportedly a one- theT controversial wide receiver missioner’s exempt list is not said: “I’m good. Thank you.” year, $15 million deal with a $9 onFriday afternoon, just fi ve days appropriate. If he is signed by a An off season full of tumult million signing bonus. Prior to after Brown caught four passes club, such placement may be- and controversy carried over into his release, Brown spent train- for 56 yards and scored a touch- come appropriate at any time the regular season for Brown. On ing camp in and out of Raiders down in his debut with the team. depending on the status of the Thursday, Sports Illustrated re- facilities, rehabbing a frostbite- “The New England Patriots investigation. Upon the conclu- ported that a female artist who like condition on his feet after are releasing Antonio Brown,” sion of the investigation, he may leveled claims earlier this week a cryotherapy mishap, fi ling the team said in a statement. also be subject to discipline if the that Brown made unwanted grievances with the NFL over “We appreciate the hard work investigation fi nds that he has sexual advances before fi ring her his helmet, arguing with team of many people over the past violated the law or league poli- contacted the NFL claiming the management (reportedly calling 11 days, but we feel it is best to cies.” 31-year-old wide receiver sent general manager Mike Mayock a move in a diff erent direction at Patriots coach Bill Belichick her “intimidating and threaten- cracker), and posting a recorded this time.” abruptly left his news confer- ing” texts. conversation with Raiders coach The NFL later issued a state- ence earlier Friday after being Britney Taylor, Brown’s Jon Gruden to YouTube. ment that read: “Antonio Brown asked repeated questions con- former trainer, fi led a civil suit In 10 NFL seasons (the fi rst was released today by the New cerning Brown. last week accusing him of three nine with Pittsburgh), Brown England Patriots and is current- “I know there are questions incidents of sexual assault or has caught 841 balls for 11,263 ly an unrestricted free agent. Our about Antonio,” Belichick said, rape over a two-year period from yards and 75 touchdowns. He is ANTONIO BROWN offi ce is presently investigating via NBCSportsBoston.com. “We 2017-18. According to multi- a seven-time Pro Bowl selection multiple allegations, some of take all the situations with our ple reports, the league met with and four-time All-Pro. Gulf Times 6 Sunday, September 22, 2019 SPORT

FORMULA 1 MOTOGP Marquez, Quartararo cat-and-mouse act Ferrari’s Leclerc on hits Aragon front row AFP STARTING GRIDS Alcañiz, Spain 1ST ROW 1. Marc Marquez (ESP/ arc Marquez is a Honda) pole for Singapore red-hot favourite 2. Fabio Quartararo (FRA/ to win the Aragon Yamaha-SRT) MotoGP after 3. Maverick Vinales (ESP/ Mroaring to pole position for his Yamaha) home Grand Prix yesterday 2ND ROW ‘I don’t know where Ferrari picked up where the Spaniard will renew 4. Jack Miller (AUS/Ducati- his struggle with French tyro Pramac) their pace but they did a great job’ Fabio Quartararo on the front 5. Aleix Espargaro (ESP/ Grand Prix row, with Maverick Vinales Aprilia) third. 6. Valentino Rossi (ITA/ AFP Reigning world champion Yamaha) Singapore Marquez has won at Aragon 3RD ROW for the past three seasons and 7. Cal Crutchlow (GBR/ the 26-year-old set a blister- Honda-LCR) errari’s Charles Leclerc ing pace in qualifying before 8. Franco Morbidelli (ITA/ secured pole position for taking pole, 0.327sec ahead of Yamaha-SRT) the Singapore Grand Prix Quartararo. 9. Joan Mir (ESP/Suzuki) yesterday as he looks to Last week, Marquez ghosted 4TH ROW claimF a stunning hat-trick of along just behind Quartararo 10. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA/ wins after triumphs in Belgium for 18 laps at the San Marino Ducati) and Italy. GP before fi nally springing 11. Andrea Iannnone (ITA/ The 21-year-old will be joined past the Yamaha youngster on Aprilia) on the front row by champion- the last lap to clinch a capti- 12. Pol Espargaro (ESP/KTM) ship leader Lewis Hamilton in a vating win. Mercedes, with Leclerc’s team- It was his seventh victory mate Sebastian Vettel rounding of the season and Marquez tant to be on the front row so out the top three, ahead of Red explained he had been deter- I said either I crash or I am in Bull’s Max Verstappen and Valt- mined not to come second the front row,” he said of his teri Bottas. again after being pipped on time on the damp track. Despite winning the last two the line in the previous two Dauntingly, while Quar- races on power-friendly tracks, races at Silverstone and the tararo left it all out there Mar- Ferrari had been given little Dutch GP. On Sunday, fans at quez suggested he himself had chance of competing under the the 5.077km Aragon circuit, held back. fl oodlights at the demanding 23- just 160km from Honda rider “I said let’s do a good lap, turn layout in Singapore. Marquez’s hometown Cer- but also you need to control But Leclerc and Vettel tore up vera, can anticipate another the risks. I feel really good. I the script to gatecrash what was mouth-watering duel be- feel much better than in Mis- expected to be a Mercedes and tween the pair. ano for example.” Red Bull party. “Fabio is ready to win a race Also on the front row is in- “I’m extremely happy about and, starting next year, fi ght form Spaniard Vinales, who today. It was a good lap but I lost for the championship,” Mar- started San Marino on pole it a few times,” Leclerc said after quez said after last week’s and came third. completing a 1:36.217 second fi - race. Quartararo said he was In the current world stand- nal lap. surprised by his last-ditch ings, Marquez leads Andrea “I have to thank the team. qualifi cation for the front row. Dovizioso of Ducati by 93 We brought some new bits that “Honestly I did not expect points with six races left to run. worked properly. I worked hard to set this lap time. I was on The off -colour Italian however after a bad Friday and today it the limit everywhere and I said placed 10th in qualifying on his paid off ,” added Leclerc, who re- okay this lap is really impor- Ducati yesterday. corded his fi fth pole position of the season. Hamilton holds a 63-point lead over Bottas of Mercedes in the title race with seven rounds re- maining. The Briton said he would adopt an aggressive approach to Sun- day’s race in search of a ninth vic- tory of the season, as he seeks a sixth world championship. “I don’t know where Ferrari picked up their pace but they did a great job,” said Hamilton, who lapped in 1:36.408. “I’m really happy to be on the Repsol Honda Team’s Spanish rider Marc Marquez celebrates getting front row with them. Tomorrow the pole position at the Aragon Grand Prix yesterday. (AFP) we can be aggressive.” Vettel has suff ered an erratic season while his rookie team- Thomas pulls out of world championships T-T mate has shone for the Italian team. The German was quickest Former Tour de France champion Geraint Thomas has pulled in the fi rst half of the fi nal part (L to R) Mercedes’ British driver Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari’s Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc and Ferrari’s German driver Sebastian Vettel pose out of the men’s time trial at the cycling World Championships of qualifying until Leclerc and together after finishing second, first and third respectively in the qualifying for the Singapore Grand Prix yesterday. (AFP) in Yorkshire, where huge crowds are expected over the next Hamilton edged past him. nine days. An expert time triallist, Welshman Thomas was set “The fi nal attempt should in neighbouring Indonesia had LATE SURGE boss Mattia Binotto told report- we thought the Red Bulls and to feature in Wednesday’s run to Harrogate but will now focus have been better but I was able fl oated over Singapore in the The late season surge repre- ers. “The race is tomorrow and Mercedes would battle for pole. on next Sunday’s road race instead. “I’ve tried to get back into to improve run by run. Maybe I past week, sparking concerns sents a vindication of sorts for we shouldn’t forget that but it’s The Ferraris are fast, they did shape after my post-Tour break, but unfortunately I don’t feel in peaked too early,” Vettel said. the F1 could be aff ected. Air Ferrari, who were impressive in always nice to start at the front a good job and we have to get good enough shape to perform to my best,” said Thomas, who Red Bull’s Alex Albon will start quality hovered around “un- pre-season testing but failed to in Singapore. I still believe Mer- our act together tomorrow,” the has struggled to attain the fitness level that saw him win the sixth on the grid, ahead of Car- healthy” levels in parts of the take that form to the track until cedes are very strong.” Austrian said. 2018 Tour de France. “So the decision was made with my coach los Sainz, Daniel Ricciardo, Nico city Saturday evening but only a after the series returned from its His counterpart at Mercedes, “The statistics are against us and Matt Brammeier at British Cycling to skip the TT and com- Hulkenberg and Lando Norris. light haze was visible and did not summer break at Spa. “It’s even Toto Wolff , was surprised by but the race has not started,” he mit to the team for the road race.” Dense smog from forest fi res aff ect the race. better than we hoped,” Ferrari Ferrari’s pace. “This is a circuit added.

TENNIS Federer beats Kyrgios to put Europe ahead AFP Medvedev reaches fi ft h straight ATP fi nal in St Petersburg Geneva Home favourite Daniil Medvedev reached his fifth 35-year-old Stosur, who has dropped to 129th in consecutive final yesterday by beating Belarusian the world rankings, rallied to win the opening set oger Federer edged out Egor Gerasimov in the last four of the ATP event in on a tiebreak. Nick Kyrgios in a super Saint Petersburg. World number 20 Kenin, who reached the last 16 tie-break to give Eu- The 23-year-old top seed won 7-5, 7-5 against the at the French Open this year, found herself two rope a 5-3 lead after the world number 119 to continue his excellent form games away from defeat at 4-4 in the second openingR session of the second which also saw him lose an epic US Open final to set but switched gears to drag the match into a day of the Laver Cup in Geneva Rafael Nadal earlier this month. decider. yesterday. The 20-time Grand Medvedev, the world number four, broke in the Stosur was unable to match the intensity of her Slam champion, who won his 11th games of each set and will face Croatia’s Borna younger rival and her hopes of a first singles title fi rst match alongside Alexan- Coric in today’s final. since her victory in Strasbourg two years ago der Zverev in Friday’s doubles The 15th-ranked Coric beat Portugal’s Joao Sousa faded as Kenin raced to a 5-1 lead before closing tie, beat Australian Kyrgios 6-7 3-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-1. It was the third straight match out the match on serve. (5/7), 7-5, 10-7 to the delight of that Coric had won from a set down. his home crowd. Bjorn Borg’s “I don’t like (losing the first set), either. I would love holders had seen Team World to be in two sets. Maybe one day, hopefully it’s go- draw level earlier with John Is- ing to come,” he said. ner’s victory over Zverev. The fourth seed was facing defeat late in the sec- The 38-year-old Federer ond set, but he saved three break points in the 11th had won his last two matches game to secure a tie-break, which he won before against Kyrgios in straight sets, racing through the deciding set. but dropped the opener in a tie- break. But he hit back to level the Team Europe’s Roger Federer in action during his singles Laver Cup match against Team World’s Nick KENIN BATTLES PAST match with a break in game 11 Kyrgios in Geneva yesterday. (Reuters) STOSUR TO CLAIM GUANGZHOU CROWN of the second set, before hold- American Sofia Kenin fought back from a set down ing off a late Kyrgios rally in the doubles. Earlier yesterday, Isner super breaker in style. “Maybe the fi rst day, two points given for to overcome former US Open champion Saman- super tie-break to take it on his fought back from a set down to we’re turning the tables just a each victory on the second day, tha Stosur 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-2 and win the Guangzhou third match point. beat Zverev 6-7 (2/7), 6-4, 10-1 little bit,” said world number 20 and three points on off er in each International Women’s Open title yesterday. Later, Rafael Nadal will play and haul Team World level at 3-3 Isner, the highest-ranked play- match on today’s fi nal day. It was the third title of the season for 20-year-old his fi rst matches of the weekend after Europe led by two points er in the visitors’ team. “Team This year is the fi rst time the Kenin following triumphs in Hobart and Mallorca Winner Sofia Kenin (right ) and second-placed when he takes on Milos Raonic after the opening day. World is in this and we’re here to tournament has been played but the third seed was made to work hard by the Samantha Stosur (left) pose with their trophies in the singles, before teaming The big-serving American win, so let’s get it going.” since being added to the ATP Australian wildcard, playing in her first singles final at the Guangzhou Open in Guangzhou, China, up with Stefanos Tsitsipas to lost a fi rst-set tie-break, but hit The scoring system sees one Tour. Europe won the 2018 edi- in 2-1/2 years. Kenin raced to a 4-2 lead before the yesterday. (AFP) face Kyrgios and Jack Sock in back before racing through the point awarded for each win on tion 13-8 in Chicago. Gulf Times Sunday, September 22, 2019 7 FOOTBALL

BUNDESLIGA SERIE A Ramsey, Ronaldo Lewandowski and put Juventus on top AFP sheat and was beaten by Veloso Milan after 21 minutes. Amid confusion in front of the Juve goal after Si- mone Di Carmine missed a Vero- aron Ramsey’s fi rst na penalty, and Darko Lazovic’s Juventus goal on his rebound rattled the bar, Veloso Coutinho fi re maiden start and Cris- pounced to rifl e a long range tiano Ronaldo’s spot- strike past Buff on. kickA winner saw the Italian But Ramsey got the champi- champions seal a comeback 2-1 ons back on level terms 10 min- win over Verona yesterday that utes later on his full debut after put them top of Serie A ahead of coming on late against Atletico, the Milan derby. with a defl ected eff ort past Ve- Bayern to easy win Welsh international Ram- rona goalkeeper Marco Silvestri. sey pulled Juventus level in the Ronaldo put Juventus ahead from 31st minute in Turin in reply to the spot with just his second goal Miguel Veloso’s early Verona this season three minutes after RB Leipzig maintain top spot after their 3-0 victory at Werder Bremen goal, with a well-taken Ronaldo the restart, having missed two penalty ensuring all three points chances before the break. for the hosts just after the break. Verona kept pushing with Buf- It got Maurizio Sarri’s side back fon denying Mattia Zaccagni and winning after last weekend’s Se- Lazovic on front of goal after rie A stalemate at Fiorentina and 89 minutes and Veloso denied a a 2-2 Champions League draw at brace by the post, but Juve held Atletico Madrid midweek. Sarri’s on to take the three points. Carlo side move one point ahead of In- Ancelotti’s Napoli travel south to ter Milan at the top of the table promoted Lecce on Sunday after before Antonio Conte’s side were seeing off European champions playing city rivals AC Milan late Liverpool 2-0 on Tuesday. last night. Italian goalkeeping legend Gi- SERIE A RESULTS anluigi Buff on returned to the Udinese 0 Brescia 1 (Romulo 57); Juventus goal after spending a Juventus 2 (Ramsey 31, Ronaldo season in Paris Saint-Germain to match Paolo Maldini’s Ital- 49-pen) Verona 1 (Veloso 20) ian record of 902 club matches. Playing today (all times GMT): Buff on’s appearances have been Sassuolo v SPAL (1030), Bologna spread across three clubs — Par- v Roma, Lecce v Napoli, Sampdo- ma, Juventus and PSG — with ria v Torino (all 1300), Atalanta v Maldini having spent his entire Fiorentina (1600), Lazio v Parma career with Serie A rivals Milan. (1845) But the 41-year-old — who played his last game for Juventus Played Friday: Cagliari 3 (Sime- also against Verona here in May one 46, Zapata 84-og, Joao Pedro 2018 — could not keep a clean 87) Genoa 1 (Kouame 83)

Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski (left) celebrates with teammate Philippe Coutinho after scoring against Cologne during Bundesliga match in Munich yesterday. (AFP)

AFP spot-kick. “It was important for him here free-kick by playmaker Marcel Sabitzer place at the bottom of the league. Winger Berlin at the Allianz Arena, for the future and saw Leipzig go 2-0 up before midfi elder Javairo Dilrosun weaved past defenders to his confi dence. He is a great player and Konrad Laimer was sent off for a second slot home on 10 minutes before forward we must all help him.” yellow card for the last 26 minutes. Marius Wolf netted in the second half at hilippe Coutinho’s fi rst Bayern Kingsley Ehizibue had been shown a Leipzig grabbed a late third when Ger- the Olympic Stadium before striker Ben Munich goal and a brace from straight red card just before the penalty many striker Timo Werner sparked an Zolinski pulled a goal back for Paderborn. Robert Lewandowski helped the for bringing down Coutinho in the area attack fi nished by Uruguay substitute German champions climb to sec- when the Brazilian was one-on-one with Marcelo Saracchi to score his fi rst goal GERMAN BUNDESLIGA RESULTS Pond in the Bundesliga with a 4-0 thrash- Cologne stopper Timo Horn. Coutinho since joining from Argentinian side River Bayern Munich 4 (Lewandowski 3, 48, ing of 10-man Cologne yesterday. Poland capped a superb display by setting up Plate. Bayer Leverkusen bounced back Coutinho 62-pen, Perisic 73) Cologne 0; star striker Lewandowski put Bayern Ivan Perisic to slot the fi nal goal on 73 from their shock Champions League de- Bayer Leverkusen 2 (Volland 20, Alario 25) minutes as Bayern limbed from fourth. ahead with just 150 seconds gone at the feat to Lokomotiv Moscow in mid-week Union Berlin 0; Hertha Berlin 2 (Dilrosun Allianz Arena after Joshua Kimmich split Having also netted in the mid-week with a 2-0 win over Union Berlin. Kevin 10, Wolf 52) Paderborn 1 (Zolinski 54); the Cologne defence. Champions League win over Red Star Volland and Lucas Alario scored inside Freiburg 1 (Hoeler 24) Augsburg 1 (Nieder- He then doubled the hosts’ lead with Belgrade, Lewandowski has scored in the opening half-hour as Leverkusen re- lechner 39); Werder Bremen 0 RB Leipzig 3 a header from a corner at the start of each of Bayern’s last seven games with 11 sponded after director of sport Rudi Voe- (Orban 13, Sabitzer 35, Saracchi 83) the season half to take his league tally goals in all competitions. He is the fi rst ller had accused them of being “scared” to nine in fi ve games. Coutinho, on loan to score in the fi rst fi ve Bundesliga games against Lokomotiv. Playing today: Borussia Moencheng- from Barcelona, converted a penalty since Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for Second-placed Freiburg wasted the ladbach v Fortuna Duesseldorf (1330), on the hour at the second attempt, af- Borussia Dortmund four years ago. chance to go top as forward Lucas Hoeler Eintracht Frankfurt v Borussia Dortmund ter Lewandowski gave the Brazilian the Bayern briefl y topped the table before gave them the lead only for striker Flo- (1600) chance despite being on a hat-trick. RB Leipzig replaced them in fi rst place de- rian Niederlechner to equalise for Augs- Tomorrow: Wolfsburg v Hoff enheim (1830) “It was a spontaneous decision, we spite fi nishing with ten men in their 3-0 burg in a 1-1 draw. Hertha Berlin climbed Played Friday: Schalke 2 (Serdar 36, Harit didn’t talk about it before the game,” win at Werder Bremen. A fi rst-half header off the foot of the table with a nervy 2-1 89) Mainz 1 (Onisiwo 76) Juventus’ midfielder Aaron Ramsey celebrates after scoring against Lewandowski about giving Coutinho the by defender Willi Orban and a stunning home win over Paderborn, who took their Verona during the Serie A match. (AFP)

LEEDS FRUSTRATED AS DERBY SNATCH LATE POINT LA LIGA London: Championship leaders Leeds It was another dose of Derby despair for London rivals Millwall 2-1 at The Den to were forced to settle for a 1-1 against Derby Leeds, who also lost to the Rams — then go fourth. On-loan Burnley striker Wells Atletico held by Celta Vigo after conceding a last-gasp equaliser at managed by current Chelsea boss Frank opened the scoring after 56 minutes and, Elland Road yesterday. Marcelo Bielsa’s side Lampard — in the Championship play-off after Shaun Hutchinson levelled in the should have been out of sight after creating semi-finals last season. 71st minute, Wells won it 60 seconds later chance after chance while bossing posses- Leeds remain top, on goal diff erence, af- following a howler from Lions keeper Bar- sion. But instead they had only Max Lowe’s ter Swansea could only draw 0-0 at Bristol tosz Bialkowski. Ben Watson’s strike gave 20th-minute own goal to show for their City following Jake Bidwell’s red card for Nottingham Forest a 1-0 win over Barnsley, eff orts. Crucially, Mateusz Klich missed a the visitors in the last minute. Preston sit while Kevin Stewart’s first goal since May second-half penalty for Leeds and Chris third after a 1-0 win at Birmingham thanks 2015 helped Hull win 3-0 at Luton, with Ka- Martin made them pay in stoppage time to a 23rd-minute Sean Maguire goal. mil Grosicki adding a late second and Dan with Derby’s first meaningful shot. Nahki Wells scored twice as QPR beat Potts scoring a stoppage-time own goal.

FOCUS

Atletico Madrid and Celta Vigo players clash during the La Liga match in Madrid yesterday. (Reuters) AAB chess tournament begins with familiar questions to answer either side of half-time as the AFP bdullah Abdulghani & Bros Co Madrid about his side’s creativity and at- match became increasingly high WLL (AAB), the exclusive distrib- tacking threat. Summer signing on intensity but low on quality. utor of Toyota and Lexus in Qatar, Joao Felix started before being Costa wanted a penalty after the is conducting the AAB Chess Open tletico Madrid missed replaced by Alvaro Morata in the hour, claiming he was pushed af- FIDE-RatedA tournament in collaboration the chance to return second half, the Spanish striker ter failing to make contact with with Qatar Chess Association (QCA). The to the top of La Liga available again after recovering Lodi’s cross while Brais Mendez tournament results are linked for individual yesterday as they were from a knee injury. might have scored for Celta had rating purposes with the World Chess Fed- heldA to a goalless draw at home But neither Felix nor Morata, Jan Oblak not been quick to shut eration (FIDE). to Celta Vigo. After coming from or their partner Diego Costa, down Santi Mina’s superb ball The AAB Chess tournament has invited two goals down to salvage a point could conjur up the decisive through. Lodi fi zzed a late shot all rated players to participate without any against Juventus in the Cham- opening, with full-backs Renan past the far post but desperation of the previous rating limitation of 2200. pions League on Wednesday, Lodi and Kieran Trippier by far turned to frustration in the clos- This exciting change makes the AAB Open Atletico failed to sustain the mo- the team’s most eff ective out- ing stages. Lucas Olaza and Costa one of the strongest chess tournaments in mentum in a match of few chanc- lets in the fi nal third. Atletico each picked up a yellow card for the country with high-rated players partici- es at the Wanda Metropolitano. were the better side in the fi rst a skirmish after the fi nal whistle. pating in it, with a woman Grandmaster also Atletico had capitalised on the half but only created a handful of taking part. The tournament also encourag- stumbling starts of both Barce- chances, none of which could be LA LIGA RESULTS es chess enthusiasts to participate as it also lona and Real Madrid by winning classed as clear opportunities. Villarreal 2 (Cazorla 77-pen, On- promotes new players to get rated or im- their opening three league games Trippier’s early free-kick tiveros 89) Valladolid 0; Levante prove their rating on an international level. this season but they are now two should have been headed in by 0 Eibar 0; Atletico Madrid 0 Celta Felipe Monteiro on his fi rst start The tournament will be played in a classical without a victory, following last Vigo 0 chess format of nine rounds Swiss System Abdullah Abdulghani & Bros’ acting CEO and COO of Automotive R K Murugan (centre) weekend’s shock defeat away at for the club but Ruben Blanco and will run for two weekends. inaugurates the AAB Chess Open in the presence of QCA president Hamad al-Tamimi. Real Sociedad. They sit level on did well to react from fi ve yards Playing today (all times GMT): R K Murugan, AAB’s Acting CEO and points with early front-runners and push the ball over the cross- Getafe v Mallorca (1000), Espan- COO – Automotive, opened the tournament number of rated chess players is expected oping the community through sports. With Sevilla, who will host Real Ma- bar. Ruben made another smart yol v Real Sociedad (1200), Va- with the fi rst move in the presence of Ha- to increase. Since it began last year, around the strong partnership with QCA, the tour- drid today. save to deny Lodi’s driven eff ort lencia v Leganes (1400), Athletic mad al-Tamimi, president of the QCA. 30 chess players in Qatar have become rated nament has created a meaningful impact Celta, meanwhile, sit 14th in from 30 yards while Felix found Bilbao v Alaves (1630), Sevilla v A substantial number of participants and received their FIDE rating. The AAB on the lives of the young chess enthusiasts the table, having won only one space at the back post soon after Real Madrid (1900) in the fourth edition of the tournament Chess Open is a Corporate Social Responsi- as well as adult players who are given the of their fi ve games so far, leaving but his prodded fi nish was also Played Friday: Osasuna 0 Real are FIDE rated. With the new format, the bility (CSR) initiative geared towards devel- chance to get world rating. Atletico’s coach Diego Simeone tipped away. Celta held their own Betis 0

Sunday, September 22, 2019 GULF TIMES FOOTBALL

PREMIER LEAGUE SPOTLIGHT Klopp braces for Man City hit eight in test from ‘exciting’ Chelsea young guns

AFP against Valencia. London Liverpool head to Chelsea having won all of their open- Watford demolition, ing fi ve league matches but with urgen Klopp warned Liv- only one away win against top erpool yesterday to brace six opposition in their previous for a fi erce fi ght with 12 attempts. Despite his praise the Chelsea youngsters for Chelsea’s young tyros, Klopp thatJ remind him of the thrill- must fancy his chances of ending ing Borussia Dortmund sides that frustrating streak against a Leicester stun Spurs that took Germany and Europe team still looking for their fi rst by storm. Klopp, whose Premier home win under Lampard. League leaders take on Chelsea Liverpool had their own mid- City fall one goal short of equalling the biggest Premier League margin of victory at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, week blip in the Champions built a dynamic team in his seven League, with a 2-0 loss at Na- AFP years at Dortmund fuelled by poli bringing the holders back London gifted prodigies including Mario down to earth after their superb Goetze, Nuri Sahin, Shinji Ka- start to the domestic season. But gawa and Robert Lewandowski. Klopp’s team sit fi ve points clear anchester City powered to He sees more than a few simi- of champions Manchester City their record Premier League larities between Dortmund thanks to their perfect start. win as the champions scored teams that won the Bundesliga in The Reds have already beat- fi ve times in the fi rst half of consecutive seasons and reached en Chelsea on penalties to win Man incredible 8-0 thrashing of Watford, the Champions fi nal in 2013, the European Super Cup after a while Leicester enjoyed a VAR-assisted and the way Chelsea boss Frank 2-2 draw in Istanbul in August. 2-1 victory over Tottenham yesterday. Lampard has put his faith in the “There are diff erent ways to win Inspired by Bernardo Silva’s hat-trick, Blues’s kids. away games, we have to fi nd a Pep Guardiola’s side ripped woeful Wat- “It’s a really exciting team, it way to fi nd one,” Klopp said. ford to pieces at the Etihad Stadium, reminds me a little bit of my team “We go there to get a result, eclipsing a 7-0 success against Norwich at Dortmund years back when you can’t go to Chelsea and have in 2013 which stood as their previous they were really young, even a guarantee that you are going to biggest top-fl ight win. Although City younger than this Chelsea team,” win the game, they are just too fell one goal short of equalling the big- Klopp said. “People always talked strong for that. I think in 2016, gest Premier League margin of victory — about how young they are but we won against all of the top six Manchester United’s 9-0 demolition of they only played because they and had all of the problems. Now Ipswich in 1995 — their swaggering dis- were that good, they didn’t play we are much more successful play was the perfect way to erase the bit- because they were that young. winning all the other games.” ter taste from last weekend’s shock defeat They brought in Christian Pulisic While Liverpool have their sets at Norwich. in the summer and all the players sight on a fi rst English title since Second-placed City move to within around him have the same val- 1990, Lampard knows Chelsea two points of leaders Liverpool, who ue — Tammy Abraham, Mason are likely to have to settle for a face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge today. Mount, (Callum) Hudson-Odoi. top four challenge following the “When you shoot on target fi ve times for A good team, all my respect. transfer ban and close-season fi ve goals — the quality of players we had They are a proper contender for departure of Eden Hazard to Real made the diff erence,” Guardiola said. pretty much everything.” Madrid. “What I like the most is normally when Academy graduates Abraham, Continuing the development it’s 5-0 at half time the second half is not Mount and Fikayo Tomori have of Abraham, 21, Mount, 20, and serious, it’s boring but we did the opposite all enjoyed strong starts to Lam- company is essential to Chelsea’s and we were more aggressive and made a pard’s fi rst season in charge, with progress and Lampard is eager very good second half. People still don’t Chelsea’s transfer ban forcing for Mount to face Liverpool to understand, journalists, pundits, former their new manager to give the further his education. “He has players, losing games is part of life. We youngsters an opportunity that got a chance. We saw the image can lose the games but the important was hard to come by in previ- of the tackle which made it look thing is the approach and how we react.” ous years of big spending by the really bad. Hopefully it is not so City had crushed Watford 6-0 in last Blues. bad,” Lampard said. season’s FA Cup fi nal and they picked up Abraham already has seven “We are trying, the good thing where they left off at Wembley with a goal goals this season, while Mount is about Mason is his attitude is so inside the fi rst minute at the Etihad Sta- hopeful of featuring this week- good that he will give everything dium. Kevin De Bruyne played a superb end after recovering from an to play for this club. We will have ball in from the right, leaving David Silva ankle injury suff ered in Tues- every opportunity to try to get with the simple task of poking home from day’s Champions League defeat him there.” close range for his fi rst goal of the season. The champions doubled their lead in the seventh minute after Watford keeper Ben Foster conceded a penalty with a foul on Riyad Mahrez. Sergio Aguero coolly slotted in the spot-kick for his eighth goal Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva (centre) celebrates with teammate David Silva after scoring the team’s seventh goal as Watford’s in six games this term. Will Hughes (left) reacts during the English Premier match in Manchester yesterday. (AFP) Guardiola had rested Raheem Sterling, but even without their star winger City proved their credentials to gatecrash the side against Son Heung-min. “The emo- mouth survived a late barrage of pressure were rampant and they made it three in top four as they came from behind to beat tion of the game changed. The belief it before Callum Wilson sealed their third the 12th minute when Mahrez’s free-kick Tottenham. Harry’s Kane’s improvised gave to Leicester made things happen dif- league win this season. It was Bourne- hit Watford’s Tom Cleverley in the head 29th-minute opener as he stumbled be- ferently in the last 10 minutes,” Pochetti- mouth’s fi rst ever win at Southampton at and defl ected past Foster. Astonishingly, fore fl icking home put Tottenham ahead. no said. “I’m only going to say that we all the 16th attempt. City scored again in the 15th minute, De However, the game swung Leicester’s accept that system in the game and now I Bruyne’s corner nodded on by Nicolas way after Tottenham defender Serge Au- am not going to complain.” ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE RESULTS Otamendi for Bernardo to head home. rier’s goal midway through the second Burnley beat Norwich 2-0, with Chris Burnley 2 (Wood 10, 14) Norwich 0; Everton By the time Otamendi fi nished off half was ruled out by the fi nest of mar- Wood scoring in the 10th and 14th min- 0 Sheff ield United 2 (Mina 40-og, Mousset Aguero’s cross in the 18th minute, City gins for off side by VAR. The hosts built on utes. Sheffi eld United piled pressure on 79); Leicester 2 (Pereira 69, Maddison 85) had established the fastest 5-0 lead in that lift immediately as Ricardo Pereira Everton manager Marco Silva, whose Tottenham 1 (Kane 29); Manchester City 8 the Premier League era. The joint biggest equalised before James Maddison struck side were booed off after a 2-0 defeat at half-time lead in Premier League his- the winner from long range fi ve minutes Goodison Park, the damage done by Yerry (D.Silva 1, Aguero 7-pen, Mahrez 12, B.Silva tory wasn’t enough for City and Bernardo from time. Mina’s 40th-minute own goal and Lys 15, 48, 60, Otamendi 18, De Bruyne 85) struck again with a close-range fi nish By contrast, Tottenham have now won Mousset’s 79th-minute strike. Watford 0; Newcastle 0 Brighton 0 after another fl owing move in the 48th just two of their fi rst seven games of the On Friday night, Bournemouth moved Playing today: Arsenal v Aston Villa (1530 minute. Bernardo completed his fi rst season in all competitions and Mauricio into fourth place with a 3-1 win against GMT), Chelsea v Liverpool (1530 GMT), Premier League treble on the hour with a Pochettino admitted the VAR contro- south-coast rivals Southampton. Eddie Crystal Palace v Wolves (1300 GMT), West tap-in from De Bruyne’s cross. De Bruyne versy had played a role in their latest fl op. Howe’s side took control in the local der- Ham v Man Utd (1300 GMT) set City’s new record mark in the Premier Pochettino bemoaned the momentum by at St Mary’s thanks to fi rst half goals Played Friday: Southampton 1 (Ward- League when the Belgium midfi elder swing given to Leicester by the long stop- from Nathan Ake and Harry Wilson. scored the eighth in the 85th minute. page in play prior to Aurier’s strike being James Ward-Prowse’s penalty reduced Prowse 53-pen) Bournemouth 3 (Ake 10, H. At the King Power Stadium, Leicester ruled out for an extremely marginal off - the defi cit after half-time, but Bourne- Wilson 35, C. Wilson 90+5) Liverpool’s German manager Jurgen Klopp. (AFP)

Injury-hit PSG without LA LIGA Icardi, Sarabia for Lyon trip Zidane would quit Real Madrid without backing Paris: Paris Saint-Germain’s four points behind the leaders. injury problems worsened yes- “It was tough last year (2-1 AFP Asked if he regrets coming back, Zidane terday as forwards Mauro Icardi Lyon win) and it will be hard Madrid said: “No, that’s easy to answer. It would and Pablo Sarabia were ruled again this year, I’m expecting a be easy to say yes in what is a diffi cult out of today’s Ligue 1 game at Lyon in top form,” said German time but it wouldn’t be true. I’m happy Lyon. Star striker Kylian Mbappe Tuchel. “We have to do the same inedine Zidane believes he has to be back and to start again. It’s a diffi - has also failed to recover from a things as against Real, but it’s the backing of Real Madrid but cult time at the moment but all I’m going thigh injury suff ered in August, not easy. It’s the challenge of admits he would leave if he ever to do is work harder and try to put things leaving PSG coach Thomas playing with the same spirit, the felt he had lost the club’s support. right. We all have to try to be together, ZZidane has come under scrutiny after united. When I hear all these questions, it Tuchel without five attacking same intensity.” players, with Edinson Cavani Yesterday, Marseille were enduring his worst ever defeat as Ma- makes everything seem gloomy but when and Julian Draxler also still held 1-1 by Montpellier in a drid coach on Wednesday, a 3-0 loss to you win everything changes. Things look sidelined. match that saw two Andy Delort Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions ugly at the moment but you have to keep “It’s still too risky (to play goals disallowed for off side for League. working.” Mbappe),” said Tuchel. “He’s the visitors and three red cards The result also followed an under- Jose Mourinho is the favourite to suc- very close (to playing again), in added time at the end of the whelming start in La Liga, which has seen ceed Zidane and the Portugese has hardly but it (his recovery) is not over.” game. Andre Villas-Boas’ Mar- Madrid claim two wins and two draws kept a low-profi le in recent weeks. Earlier Winger Sarabia, a close-season seille could have knocked off from games against Celta Vigo, Real Val- this month, Mourinho attended a press signing from Sevilla, picked up PSG of top spot with a victory. ladolid, Villarreal and Levante. After event in Madrid, where he said his time at a knock in Wednesday’s 3-0 On Friday, Nantes too missed returning from Paris, Zidane gave his the Santiago Bernabeu had been his “best Champions League victory over the chance to go top after Lu- players the day off on Thursday, which experience” as a coach. Real Madrid, while Icardi, on dovic Ajorque’s last-minute pen- surprised those high up at the club, ac- “I know how it works,” Zidane said. loan from Inter Milan, is still yet alty saw Strasbourg come from cording to reports in the Spanish press. “It’s not about whether it bothers me to reach peak fitness. behind to win their first match Asked if he felt like his methods were or doesn’t bother me. If you lose, things The French champions will of the season 2-1. Ajorque struck being questioned, Zidane said in a press have to change. Things are diffi cult now likely start with a front three of from the spot after Jean-Ricner conference on Friday: “No, not at all, the but that’s the reality.” Neymar, Angel Di Maria and Eric Bellegarde was brought down opposite. I think the club helps us all to Real Madrid’s coach Zinedine Zidane (centre) and players attend a training session in Zidane is boosted by the return of mid- Maxim Choupo-Moting at the in the area, capping a powerful be strong and supports all the people that Madrid yesterday. (AFP) fi elder Fede Valverde for today’s game at Groupama Stadium. Lyon were second-half display that also work here. If it’s ever not like that it would the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium but widely tipped to be PSG’s clos- featured a smart Dimitri Lienard probably be best to leave.” their families, they have to be able to rest. hoping for a response after his side’s mis- Luka Modric and Isco are out with thigh est challengers for the league leveller in the 66th minute and On his decision to give the players a day We have seven games in 21 days. They erable performance in midweek. Since and hamstring injuries respectively, title this term, but Sylvinho’s moved Strasbourg out of the off , Zidane added: “It’s not a question of need time away and I understand that.” Zidane returned as coach in March, Ma- while Marcelo has a back problem. Marco men sit eighth in the early table, relegation zone. whether they deserve it or not. We have to Madrid face La Liga’s early frontrun- drid have won seven, drawn four and lost Asensio is a long-term absentee with a give them time off . They need time with ners Sevilla today, when Zidane will be fi ve of their matches in all competitions. knee injury.