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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2019

Slalom king Marcel Hirscher wins Allen’s shutout lifts Blues to Messi penalty lifts Barca as 25record-equalling seventh world title 26 9th straight win over Avalanche 27 Griezmann eclipses Torres

Real suffer shock home defeat

Ramos racks up 25 red cards in 2-1 defeat to Girona

MADRID: Real Madrid’s Spanish defender Alvaro Odriozola (back) challenges Girona’s Spanish defender Raul Garcia during the Spanish League football match between Real Madrid and Girona at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid yesterday. —AFP

MADRID: Real Madrid’s resurgent run skidded after Thibaut Courtois could only parry a shot from vis- points further away than we were yesterday,” said Real But perhaps his biggest mistake was handing the to a halt as they fell to a shock 2-1 defeat at home by iting forward Anthony Lozano. coach Santiago Solari. “We have played a lot of games out-of-form left back Marcelo a first league start since struggling Girona yesterday in which captain Sergio Madrid substitutes Gareth Bale and Vinicius Jr each recently and that leads to not just physical tiredness but Jan 6. Girona attacked Marcelo’s right wing throughout Ramos was sent off in added time, leaving them nine squandered opportunities to level and things got worse mental tiredness too, and that may have played a part in the second half, with Portu enjoying particular freedom. points adrift of leaders Barcelona. when Ramos earned a second yellow card in stoppage us losing energy in the second half.” Madrid had eased They were finally rewarded for their bold attacking Real looked on course for a sixth consecutive league time and was sent off for the 25th time in club football. to a 7-3 aggregate win over Girona in the Copa del Rey approach when Ramos blocked a goal-bound shot with win when Casemiro leapt highest to meet a Toni Kroos Real goalkeeper Courtois came close to salvaging an last month, and with the Catalans sitting one point his hand and a penalty was given. cross and head them in front midway through the first equaliser late on but headed wide, leaving Real third in above the relegation zone and having lost their six pre- Girona’s confidence rocketed after equalising while half. But Girona, who had not won in the league since the standings on 45 points, nine behind table toppers vious games, a home win seemed highly likely. Madrid lacked composure in their attempts to find a November, came out with a vengeance in the second Barcelona, who beat Real Valladolid 1-0 on Saturday way back in the game. half, levelling in the 65th minute with a Cristhian Stuani and seven back from second-placed Atletico Madrid, 1- MARCELO WEAKNESS “More than a historic victory, this was a vital victory penalty after a handball by Ramos. 0 winners over . Solari made six changes from the team that beat as we were on such a bad run,” said match winner Spanish striker Cristian Portu gave Girona an unlike- “It’s a real shame, we have lost three points and our Ajax Amsterdam 2-1 in a Champions League last-16 Portu. “The key factor in this win was the group’s men- ly lead 10 minutes later, nipping in front of Madrid’s direct rivals won, it’s a shame because we were on a first leg, handing breakout forward Vinicius Jr a rest tality, it was so difficult to come here on such a bad run lacklustre defender Marcelo to nod in on the rebound good run and we had reduced the gap, now we’re three after 12 consecutive starts and also benching Bale. but the team always believed in the victory.” — Reuters Cavaleiro sees Wolves into FA Cup q-finals Wanders claims marathon benchmark by 21sec with a time of 59:13 LONDON: Ivan Cavaleiro’s goal was with Newcastle, along with goalkeeper in the last eight, with Cup-holders in Ras Al Khaimah. enough to give Wolverhampton John Ruddy and Romain Saiss. Chelsea playing Manchester United He finished fourth in that race in the United Wanderers a 1-0 win away to Bristol Nuno’s decision-making was shortly before Monday’s draw in a latest record Arab Emirates behind Fikadu Haftu of Ethiopia. Last October the Swiss runner showed his poten- City yesterday that saw the Premier rewarded at both ends of the pitch, repeat of last season’s final. “Of course tial when clipping 12sec off Farah’s eight-year League club end their 16-year wait for with Cavaleiro scoring after he was the goal was important and I’m very in Monaco 5km European 10km record with a 27:32 effort when an appearance in the quarter-finals of played in by the influential Matt happy to score but the most important finishing second in Durban. the FA Cup. Doherty, who hit the post three minutes thing is the team move on to the next In December he bettered Durban when clock- Second-tier Bristol City had their later. Meanwhile 32-year-old keeper round,” Cavaleiro told BT Sport. ing 27:25 to win in Houilles, France. “I got two chances but midfielder Cavaleiro’s Ruddy tipped Bailey Wright’s shot over “It was a tough game, very hard PARIS: Switzerland’s Julien Wanders added another record to his growing collection with a European records and now a world record, my 28th-minute finish at Ashton Gate end- the bar after 69 minutes and then game, they have great players, very world best 5 kilometre time in Monaco yesterday. first one, so it’s amazing,” the Kenyan-based ed their 15-match undefeated run and denied Marlon Pack from the ensuing good players and it was a great win for Wanders, the 22-year-old European record holder Wanders said. nine-match winning streak. corner. Ruddy made an even better us.” Nuno added: “(I’m) very happy for for the 10km and half marathon, clocked 13 min “I was confident,” he added. “The only thing Victory kept alive Wolves’ bid to save to repel a close-range flick from the boys. It’s a tough team. It’s hard to 29sec, while Sifan Hassan also set a new world was I got flu three days ago so it was a challenge win the FA Cup for the fifth time, with Matt Taylor and even had to save a defend when they put so many people best time in the women’s race. for me, I was not sure.” Wanders now changes his the Midlands club last having lifted the shot from opposite number Frank in the box and you just hope for the Ethiopian-born Hassan of the Netherlands who focus to the track. “I hope to do well in Doha (at knockout trophy back in 1960. Fielding after the City goalkeeper came best sometimes.” Asked about the also holds the European half marathon record, the IAAF World Athletics Championships in Cavaleiro was one of three changes up for a corner in stoppage time. draw, the Portuguese coach added: clocked 14min 44sec. Wanders turned up in September-October) in the 5,000m and made by Wolves manager Nuno Wolves now join top-flight rivals “You have to go game by game. I Monaco just nine days after smashing Farah’s half- 10,000m.—AFP Espirito Santo to the side tha drew 1-1 Manchester City, Brighton and Watford would like to play at home.” — AFP