12 Saturday, January 26, 2019 Sports

Ogier leads Monte Carlo opener as Tanak drops back Hosts Brazil get fairly easy draw, Qatar

reuters monte carlo set to face Argentina in Copa America Six-times world champion Sebastien Ogier led the season- agencies rivals he said his aim was to opening Monte Carlo Rally RIO DE JANEIRO triumph. at the halfway stage on Fri- “It’s going to be difficult day after overnight leader Ott FIFA World Cup 2022 hosts and no matter who we play Tanak suffered a puncture and Qatar, making their debut in we have to win,” he told re- dropped down the standings. the South American tourna- porters. “The idea is that we The Frenchman, who has ment as guests, found them- are as good as anyone; we switched from M-Sport Ford selves in a tough Group B just need to keep notching up to Citroen, led Hyundai’s 2018 alongside Argentina, Colom- the victories.” overall runner-up Thierry Neu- bia and Paraguay at the 2019 They could also be with- ville by two seconds after the Copa America draw in Rio de out Lionel Messi. The Barce- day’s six stages in the French Janeiro on Thursday. lona forward took a sabbati- Alps north of the principality. Hosts Brazil were given a cal from international soccer Ogier, who won four of his kind draw and will face Peru, after a disappointing World titles with Volkswagen and the Venezuela and Bolivia. Cup in Russia and has not others with M-Sport, is chas- The third of the three top said whether he will return to ing his sixth successive Monte seeds Uruguay are in perhaps play in Brazil. Carlo win. Hyundai’s Norwe- the most difficult Group C, The Copa America is the gian Andreas Mikkelsen was in along with the other invited oldest international tour- third place while Tanak fell to side Japan, plus Ecuador and nament in the world and is seventh, the Estonian now two reigning champions Chile. Argentina, meanwhile, played between the 10 South and a half minutes off the pace This year’s tournament have reached the last two fi- American nations and invit- after stopping to change a wheel will kick off with Brazil The groups for the 2019 Copa America are displayed during the draw of the tournament, in Rio de Janeiro, nals of the Copa America and ed teams. on his Toyota. against Bolivia in Sao Paulo Brazil on Thursday. The 2019 Copa America will be held in Brazil between June 14 and July 7. (AFP) lost both times on penalties. In addition to Rio de Ja- Neuville moved into the on June 14 and take place in Another loss would extend a neiro and Sao Paulo, matches lead after stage four and was five Brazilian cities. The final perform at the highest level, former Brazil captain Cafu Brazil and Argentina. trophy drought that stretches will be held in Porto Alegre, 3.4 seconds up at lunchtime but is at Rio de Janeiro’s Marac- to play with joy and to be and aided by soccer luminar- The host nation have not back to 1993. Belo Horizonte and Salvador. then lost some 19 seconds after ana stadium on July 7. proud of representing Bra- ies like former Inter Milan won a major title since lifting The two-times World Cup “Undoubtedly, there is going down an escape route “People have questioned zil.” defender Javier Zanetti, Uru- the Copa America in 2007 winners will come to the tour- always a great respect and on the sixth stage when he ap- me about the draw and some “We need to play really guayan Diego Lugano and six and coach Tite, whose side nament with Lionel Scaloni admiration for Brazil’s foot- proached a corner too quickly. said, it’s easy, others said, well, and that’s how you be- times FIFA Player of the year were knocked out the World in charge and although the balling culture,” said Chilean “That mistake cost us the be careful,” Brazil coach Tite come champions.” Marta. It marked the starting Cup at the quarter-final stage interim coach, who has a coach Reinaldo Rueda. chance to hold the lead,” said said. The draw at a cavernous gun for what promises to be last year, is under pressure to contract until after the Copa, “I think that will guaran- the Belgian. “Our responsibility is to Rio concert hall was led by a high pressure year for both deliver some silverware. would not be drawn on his tee a great tournament.” World Fencing John Rahm takes early lead at Grand Prix Qatar begins at Aspire Farmers, Woods opens with 70 afp Los Angeles QNA will be eager to get on the Doha stage. Jon Rahm had two eagles The first day of the tour- on his front nine in a sizzling The Fencing Grand Prix Qa- nament was set for the men’s 10-under 62 Thursday to grab tar 2019 began at the Aspire qualifiers. Qatar’s Moham- a one-shot lead at the Farmers Done on Friday. About 372 mad Ali Mirzaei succeeded in Insurance Open where Tiger players from 55 countries are reaching the second round, Woods is making his 2019 de- competing for top honours in the first time a Qatari fencer but. various categories. has achieved this. The na- Spain’s Rahm, whose first Forty-eight fencers quali- tional team representatives win on the US PGA Tour came fied for the round of 64 primarily comprise young at this event two years ago, is which will see the participa- players looking to gain expe- one stroke ahead of world num- tion of the top 16 seeders in rience from playing with the ber one Justin Rose and Ameri- the world. World champion world’s top 32 players. can Doug Ghim, who both shot Yannick Borel of France, The tournament contin- nine-under 63s. World No.2 Bogdan Nikishin ues on Saturday with wom- “There’s a lot of happiness and World No.3 Sangyoung en’s competitions set to take going on in this area for me, so Park from Ukraine and South the centre-stage. Qatar will I just feel I’m going to play good Korea respectively will also parade 11 female fencers, when I tee up,” Rahm said. make their tournament bow. headlined by both Sara and Fourteen time major win- In the women competi- Haya Diab, Thkrayat al Ab- ner Woods birdied his last hole tions, Tunisia’s Sarra Besbes dulla, Aisha Al Baker, and of the day to post a 70 and is and Italy’s Mara Navarria Noof al Mazrooei. eight shots back of Rahm at the Torrey Pines Golf Course in La Jolla, California. Taiwan’s C.T. Pan is fourth after shooting a 64 and Jordan Spieth is alone in fifth with a Tiger Woods plays his shot from the second tee on the South Course during the first round of the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines Golf seven-under 65. Course in San Diego, California on Thursday. (AFP) The 24-year-old Rahm came into the event as one of Rahm’s last win came in the coming off a tie for 34th at last two. fully I’ll have a better handle on the hottest players on the tour Hero World Challenge in the week’s Desert Classic near Palm “A couple under par on the tomorrow. and his start reflected that as Bahamas in December. He has Springs. South Course is not something “It was nice to have some he eagled both par-fives on his four straight top-10 finishes. Rose shot a bogey-free 63 to sneeze at, but now I have to juice flow in the system again, front nine, including the open- He is the youngest champi- that included an eagle and sev- shoot a low one tomorrow,” said it’s been a while.” ing hole. on in tournament history, win- en birdies. Like Rahm he began Woods, who hit half his fair- He has won this event sev- Rahm, who began on the ning at age 22 and two months. with an opening eagle on the ways and made one 29 foot putt en times, but not since 2013. 10th tee on the North Course, “This is probably my favour- par-five 10th. on the 13th hole. Woods also captured the last of sailed his approach to inside of ite area,” Rahm said. “If you Woods, who is playing his “I felt pretty comfortable his 14 majors at the US Open on 10 feet from the flag and then take into account the town and first official tournament since with everything today,” Woods this course in 2008. rolled in the putt for an eagle. the vibe around Torrey Pines, winning last year’s Tour Cham- said. “I felt like I drove it halfway World number eight Rory The world number seven this is my favourite golf course pionship, finished with five decent and irons were good. McIlroy fired a one-under 71 in also eagled the par-five 17th.H e and golf tournament.” birdies, three bogeys and 10 “Playing at competitive his Torrey Pines debut and de- finished with seven birdies and Rose, who won the Turk- pars for a share of 53rd place. speed again, I didn’t quite hit all fending champion Jason Day of Fencer Mohammad Ali Mirzaei became the first Qatari to make the one bogey which came on his ish Airlines Open on the Eu- He played on the South Course my irons pin high like I normal- Australia shot five-under 67 and second round of the Grand Prix. back nine. ropean Tour in November, is which is the more difficult of the ly do. That’s something hope- is tied for 15th. Chelsea edge out Spurs on penalties to set Ahead of FA Cup tie, Guardiola up League Cup final showdown against City says Quadruple talk is ‘fantasy’ Reuters But a visit from rivals Tot- LONDON tenham, with a Wembley final afp were stunned in the FA Cup at stake, provided the incen- Manchester fifth round by Wigan last Chelsea produced the per- tive for a far sharper display, season, is clearly taking no fect response to manager Mau- with Hazard at the heart of Pep Guardiola insists talk of risks against Sean Dyche’s rizio Sarri’s weekend criticism Chelsea’s attacking endeav- Manchester City winning an Burnley. to beat London rivals Totten- our. unprecedented quadruple is And he has ruled out us- ham Hotspur on penalties on “I think that they reacted a “fantasy” as he prepares to ing unproven young players, Thursday and set up a League well tonight,” Sarri, who has return to FA Cup action. as he did against Burton in Cup final showdown against never won a trophy told re- City are the only English midweek, when City continue holders Manchester City. porters. “But I didn’t attack club left with a chance of win- their FA Cup campaign. Trailing 1-0 from the semi- my players. I just said we had ning the Premier League, the Philippe Sandler, Eric final first leg, Chelsea turned a problem. The reaction was FA Cup, the League Cup and Garcia, Phil Foden and Ian the tie on its head with goals very good but we need to have the Champions League this Poveda-Ocampo were all used by N’Golo Kante and Eden motivation with continuity season. in a tie City eventually won by Hazard in the first half but now. Guardiola’s side booked an aggregate 10-0. Fernando Llorente struck for “In the last three or four their place in the League Cup Pep Guardiola But none will feature Spurs in an enthralling Stam- matches we were not able to Final, where they will meet against Burnley, with Guar- ford Bridge duel. be dangerous. Tonight was Chelsea in February, after win in his first two years in diola saying: “They have to be Christian Eriksen scored Chelsea’s players react after winning the Carabao League Cup semi better.” defeating third tier minnows charge at the Etihad Stadium. prepared just in case. We now Tottenham’s first spot-kick final second leg against Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge Sta- It was all in vain for Po- Burton Albion this week. “We are able to try to win have everyone fit except Vin- but team mate Eric Dier, the dium in London on Thursday. (EPA-EFE) chettino’s side as they faltered They sit four points be- tomorrow (Saturday). That is ny (Kompany), everyone can hero of England’s World Cup with a domestic final in sight. hind leaders Liverpool in the all I can assure you. Anything play, tomorrow there will be shootout win over Colombia Chelsea into their 15th cup fi- trophy since beating Chelsea “We are disappointed but Premier League and return to else is fantasy,” Guardiola told no players from the academy.” last year, fired over and Lu- nal in 17 years. in the 2008 League Cup final. it’s a massive success to get to European action next month reporters. France defender Benja- cas Moura’s penalty was well- Spurs, who were without After Chelsea’s 2-0 week- the semi-final with all the cir- when they have a favourable “Always we try to have min Mendy, out for over two saved by goalkeeper Kepa Ar- Harry Kane, scorer of a pen- end Premier League defeat at cumstances,” he said. last 16 draw against German a strong team. The fact it is months with a knee injury, rizabalaga. alty in the first leg, and Eng- Arsenal, Sarri raised eyebrows “We’re so disappointed side Schalke. against a Premier League like also made a return against Chelsea’s penalties were land team mate Dele Alli, both by accusing his players of be- to lose in that way, but it can This weekend, City play Burnley, we are going to play Burton. more clinical and David Luiz because of injury battled hard ing “difficult to motivate” and happen. The players were Burnley in the FA Cup fourth with the best team to win the “He had his first 25 or 30 slotted past Paulo Gazzaniga but their wait for silverware publicly demanded more of brave and with all the circum- round -- the only domestic game, we believe.” minutes after a long time out to seal the victory and send goes on. They have not won a his Belgium forward Hazard. stances I can only feel proud.” competition Guardiola did not Guardiola, whose side so we will see,” said Guardiola.