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Saturday, September 2, 2017 TENNIS Dhul-Hijja 11, 1438 AH Changing of the GULF TIMES guard? Not so fast, says Federer SPORT Page 2 TENNIS SPOTLIGHT Kvitova fi rst into Federer and Nadal the fourth round fi ght to advance ‘It was quite a lot of fun out there — I feel quite warmed up by now’

AFP New York

ormer champions Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal battled into the Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic returns a shot to Caroline Garcia of US Open last 32 on Thursday while France during their third round match at the US Open . the women’s draw lost the fi fth seedF from its top eight. after reaching the fourth round DPA Federer recorded his 80th career win in New York at the previous two editions plus New York but he needed fi ve sets for the 2012. Kvitova has been mak- second successive match before claiming a ing progress in her tennis return 6-1, 6-7 (3/7), 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 triumph over etra Kvitova took a huge since her comeback to competi- Mikhail Youzhny. step in her comeback tion at the French Open in May. It was his 17th win in 17th meetings with from a December knife She underwent surgery and the grizzled Russian, who, at 35, is his jun- attack which injured her rehab earlier in the year after ior by just one year. Phands as the 13th seed reached fi ghting off an armed intruder World number one Nadal, meanwhile, the second week of the US Open in her fl at and suff ering cuts and saw off Japan’s world 121 4-6, for a fi fth time yesterday. tendon damage to her hands. 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 after being blown off court in The double Wimbledon win- The Czech won a grass title in the fi rst set. ner advanced with a crushing Birmingham prior to Wimbledon Federer, 36, and the fi ve-time cham- 6-0, 6-4 defeat of France’s Caro- and reached the quarter-fi nals pion at the US Open, next faces another line Garcia, running her record in on hardcourt last month at Stan- 35-year-old, Feliciano Lopez of Spain, for the series to 3-2 as she won her ford, California. In the men’s a place in the last 16. His record against 22nd match in New York. third round, Spanish 12th seed Lopez is just as solid — 12-0. The 27-year-old winner’s re- Pablo Carreno Busta beat Nico- sult in 71 minutes duplicated her las Mahut of France 6-3, 6-4, Daniel, who has never beaten career best at Flushing Meadows 6-3. a top-10 player, paid the price for his all-out assault as Nadal prevailed to book a third round Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates FOCUS date with Argentine lucky loser his victory over Taro Daniel of Japan at the US Open in New York on Thursday night. “It was quite a lot of fun out there — I Serena Williams in feel quite warmed up by now,” said Aus- tralian Open and Wimbledon champion Federer, who fi red 63 winners and 68 un- ered from a set and break down. faced in a stalwart defensive display. Russian eighth seed Svetlana Kuznet- labour: report forced errors. He saw room for improvement after Also going through to the last 32 was sova, the 2004 champion, saw her outside Youzhny admitted he had cramped, converting six of 11 break points. 2009 champion Juan Martín Del Potro, chances of taking the world number one AFP fi liate said. The network also said which meant he could move left to right “I didn’t play very well but I will work the 24th seeded Argentine, who saw off ranking end when she lost to Japan’s Ku- Miami the 23-time singles but not forward and back. hard to fi nd better feelings because I know Spanish qualifi er Adrian Menendez-Ma- rumi Nara 6-3, 3-6, 6-3. champion — who revealed she “That was hard to watch,” said Federer. I can do much better,” he said. ceiras 6-2, 6-3, 7-6 (7/3). Kuznetsova is the fi fth of the top eight was pregnant in April — was in- “But this was probably the best match we became the second Belgian ninth seed David Goffi n beat seeds to lose before the third round after ennis superstar Serena duced overnight. have played against each other.” teenager to make the third round when Guido Pella of Argentina 3-6, 7-6 (7/5), Simona Halep, Caroline Wozniacki, de- Williams — whose ab- Williams and her fi ance, Red- Top seed Nadal, the 2010 and 2013 he stunned Bulgarian seventh seed Grigor 6-7 (2/7), 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 in a marathon fending champion Angelique Kerber and sence from women’s dit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, champion, was rocked by New York-born Dimitrov 7-5, 7-6 (7/3), 6-3. 4hr 12min match. A record was set when Johanna Konta also exited. tennis has shaken up have said they plan to keep the Daniel in the fi rst set. Rublev, just 19 and the world number American Shelby Rogers and 25th-seeded World number one Karolina Pliskova, theT game — has gone into labour sex of the baby a surprise until But Daniel, who has never beaten a top- 53, joins 18-year-old Denis Shapovalov of Australian Daria Gavrilova played out the the 2016 runner-up, downed American at a clinic in West Palm Beach, birth. 10 player, paid the price for his all-out Canada in the last 32 at a Grand Slam event longest ever women’s singles match. qualifi er Nicole Gibbs 2-6, 6-3, 6-4. Florida, local media reported Williams plans to return to assault as Nadal prevailed to book a third for the fi rst time. Their 3hr 33min clash saw Rogers win She was joined in the third round by yesterday. competitive tennis in January, round date with Argentine lucky loser Le- However, 19-year-old Taylor Fritz of 7-6 (8/6), 4-6, 7-6 (7/5). fourth seed Elina Svitolina, one of the Williams, who will turn 36 to defend her Australian Open onardo Mayer. the United States was unable to join Ru- Their second-round tie went past the pretenders to her top ranking, and French later this week, was admitted title, which she won while newly “All the matches are diffi cult but espe- blev and Shapovalov in the next round previous longest of the 3 hours and 23 Open champion Jelena Ostapenko. Wednesday to St Mary’s Medical pregnant. cially here as everyone wants to play their when he lost 6-4, 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 to Aus- minutes it took Johanna Konta to beat Ukraine’s Svitolina reached the last 32 Center, which shut down an en- Her spokespeople were not best and if you don’t play your best it will trian sixth seed Dominic Thiem. Garbine Muguruza in the second round for a third successive year by breezing past tire fl oor to provide security for immediately available for com- be very diffi cult,” said Nadal, who recov- Thiem saved 16 of 18 break points he two years ago. Russia’s Evgeniya Rodina 6-4, 6-4. the megastar, the local CBS af- ment on the report.

BOTTOMLINE Rossi breaks leg in training crash, has surgery AFP “Valentino Rossi had a successful Rome operation on the displaced fractures of The nine-time world champion the tibia and fi bula of his right leg,” his in all categories was on board Yamaha team said in a statement. an endurance bike when the talian motorcycling legend Val- “The surgery went well. This morn- accident happened and was fi rst entino Rossi has undergone suc- ing, when I woke up, I felt already transferred to hospital at Urbino, cessful surgery after breaking his good,” Rossi said. in eastern Italy, and later under- Ileg in a training crash and will He thanked Pascarella and added: went surgery in Ancona have to rest for 40 days, doctors con- “I’m very sorry for the incident. Now fi rmed yesterday. I want to be back on my bike as soon injuries after a motocross training If the 38-year-old is sidelined for as possible. I will do my best to make spill. two months he would miss the next it happen!” Rossi briefl y led the 2017 MotoGP two MotoGP races in San Marino and Doctors said yesterday that Rossi championship after three successive Spain but could possibly return in Ja- would remain in hospital for three to podium fi nishes in Qatar, Argentina pan on October 15. four days and would then begin physi- and the United States. “It will depend a lot on him but I otherapy but would have to rest for a After dropping off the pace he think that he will have to rest at least further 40 days. reignited his dream of an eighth title 40 days,” said Dr Raff aele Pascarella, Dr Pascarella added that a nail in- in the top division with victory in the who carried out the surgery. serted to stabilise the rider’s leg would Dutch Grand Prix at the end of June. “However, he has already said he remain in place for 18 months. San Marino hosts the next race on wants to return as soon as possible.” The nine-time world champion in September 10 with Rossi 26 points be- The nine-time world champion in all categories is lying fourth in this hind leader Andrea Dovizioso. all categories was on board an endur- season’s MotoGP standings after 12 of Rossi’s contract with Yamaha runs ance bike when the accident happened 18 races. until the end of the 2018 season, but and was fi rst transferred to hospital at This is the second time Rossi has an extension until the end of 2019 Urbino, in eastern Italy, and later un- crashed this year. In May he was treat- had been on the table for the past few derwent surgery in Ancona. ed in hospital for chest and stomach months. Gulf Times 2 Saturday, September 2, 2017 TENNIS

SPOTLIGHT GOING THE DISTANCE Rogers edges Gavrilova in record Changing of US Open match the guard? Not so fast, says Federer

Roger Federer of Switzerland ‘Changing of the guard is going serves against Mikhail Youzhny Shelby Rogers in action against Daria Gavrilova. of Russia during their second round to come at some stage. Could match at the US Open on Thursday. AFP be in the records for the longest very well be next year. But I still New York match somewhere. I’m not sur- prised.” predict it’s going to take a few more’ Gavrilova won her fi rst WTA fter playing the long- title last week in New Haven just est women’s match in ahead of the US Open, so had a AFP Australian Open this year. US Open history, win- somewhat upbeat attitude. New York Injuries and loss of form saw him ner Shelby Rogers wept “I’m pretty positive. It’s still seeded at 17 and Nadal on nine. Atears of joy Thursday and loser a great hardcourt series ‘cause I However, they still made the fi nal Daria Gavrilova felt like she wast- ended up winning my fi rst title,” ndy Murray has a hip injury, with Federer winning the title before ed an afternoon. she said. “I’m proud for my eff ort Novak Djokovic is sidelined adding an eighth Wimbledon trophy in After a record three hours and and hanging in there mentally.” with an elbow problem while July. 33 minutes, 62nd-ranked Ameri- Rogers was tearful after em- Stan Wawrinka needs knee Nadal, for his part, claimed a 10th can Rogers outlasted Russian- bracing Gavrilova at the net. surgery,A but Roger Federer insists it French Open and has since regained the born Australian 25th seed Ga- “I’m a very emotional person. could still be years before the old guard world number one ranking. vrilova 7-6 (8/6), 4-6, 7-6 (7/5) I cry a lot... that’s what I do,” she say goodbye to tennis. “We had a little bit with me and Rafa on a fi fth match point in a fi nal set said. “It was a very special mo- While 18-year-old Denis Shapoval- down in Australia. But now we’re talk- that lasted 90 minutes. ment for me, being down in the ov and Andrey Rublev, 19, have kicked ing probably about a bigger group,” “That’s pretty cool, casually third, coming back, having a few the US Open door slightly ajar this added Federer of his and Nadal’s situa- setting records today,” Rogers match points. week, 36-year-old Federer doesn’t see tion in Melbourne. said. “Just so many ups and downs the pair supplanting him or his fellow “That’s going to go down maybe all “I didn’t feel like it was the for both of us. To get through that Grand Slam kings anytime soon. the way to Murray, as well, depending longest match ever, but it’s start- on the winning side was just re- “Changing of the guard is going to if he’s going to be playing at all for the ing to set in a little bit now. Going ally incredible. I just had to let it come at some stage. Could very well be rest of the season. Got a lot of points to to be sore.” all go.” next year. But I still predict it’s going to defend. Their second-round encounter She thanked the crowd for giv- take a few more,” said Federer on Thurs- “If that’s the case, he might drop fur- on Court 10 went past the previ- ing her energy in the third set, day. ther down outside of the top four, then ous longest match on the New saying, “I was just so grateful Many see this US Open as the most things are going to look real weird. I York hardcourts, the 3 hours and to them for staying there 3 1/2 unpredictable in years. think it’s going to be very interesting.” 23 minutes it took British qualifi er hours” to watch the emotional But highly regarded 20-year-old Federer needed a second successive Johanna Konta to defeat Spain’s drama.A rollercoaster today, ups fourth seed Alexander Zverev and fi ve-setter to reach the US Open third Garbine Muguruza 7-6 (7/4), 6-7 and downs for both of us. Just number seven Grigor Dimitrov both round with a 6-1, 6-7 (3/7), 4-6, 6-4, (4/7), 6-2 in the second round in told myself to keep fi ghting,” Rog- failed to get beyond the second round 6-2 win over fellow veteran Mikhail 2015. ers said. and that kind of inconsistency has Fed- Youzhny of Russia. Rogers advanced to a third- “Luckily I pulled it out in the erer believing that the sport’s 30-some- It was his 17th win in 17 matches round matchup Saturday against end. I don’t have to have night- things will still be a force in 2018. against Youzhny in a rivalry stretching Ukraine’s fourth-seeded Elina mares about that.” “I’m not sure if 2018 is going to be back to 2000. Svitolina for a spot in the last 16. Gavrilova isn’t so lucky. wide open just because we don’t know Five-time US Open champion and Gavrilova was frustrated at “In the tie-breaker I was trying how a lot of those top guys are going to third seed Federer had also needed fi ve losing a match she led 4-2 in the to be aggressive and take chances come back,” he said after making the US sets to see off US teenager Frances Tia- third set. but I missed my favorite shot, my Open last 32 on Thursday with his 80th foe in the fi rst round. “I’m pretty disappointed,” she forehand,” she said. career win at the tournament. The 36-year-old will face another said. “It feels like I played 3 1/2 “A lot of emotions in the tie- “What I think is going to be interest- 35-year-old in Feliciano Lopez for a hours for nothing.” breaker. You get nervous but then ing is that their ranking is going to be all place in the last 16. His record against But the Aussie said it was nice (say) ‘I’ll be brave.’ You talk to over the place. We’re going to see some the Spaniard is just as solid — 12-0. she found a spot in the US Open yourself a lot.. interesting draws, to say the least.” “It was quite a lot of fun out there — I record books. “Eventually I will (watch a re- Federer pointed to the examples of feel quite warmed up by now,” said Fe- “It was always going to be me,” play). I think I can learn a lot from himself and old rival Rafael Nadal at the derer. she said. “I was always going to it.”

Mats point: Federer’s confi dence boosted by early tests FOCUS New York: Playing two five-set matches set, Youzhny changed his game and may not be regarded as the best way hit harder and Federer was caught off to start a grand slam campaign, but guard,” Swede Wilander, at Flushing Teen star Rublev it might be just what Roger Federer Meadows as an analyst for Eurosport, needed to get into the groove at the said in his daily chat with Reuters. US Open, according to former world “It’s not easy to go from ‘I’m gonna win breaks down door number one Mats Wilander. easy’ to suddenly having to focus. It The Swiss, chasing a record-extending took him a while to do that.” 20th major singles title in New York But that might be a blessing in disguise to US Open glory after winning the Australian Open and for the third seed, who needed match Wimbledon this season, ran into a spot practice after not playing for two weeks AFP of bother when he was two sets to one because of back problems. New York, Sept down in the second round against Rus- “He was a bit in trouble but it’s not sian Mikhail Youzhny on Thursday. that bad. Since he did not play for two But Federer prevailed 6-1 6-7(3) 4-6 6-4 weeks, I would not be too worried,” said ussian teen Andrey 6-2 to record his 17th victory against Wilander. Rublev spent years Youzhny in as many encounters. “He looked like he was still a bit cau- beating his head on the “He was playing a guy he had always tious but now he knows that he can walls of success before fiR nding the door this year and beaten and the first five games went leave the worry of his back behind him in 20 minutes, all his shots were in. and focus on playing solid tennis for a smashing it down Thursday at Then towards the end of the second whole match.” the US Open. The 19-year-old from Mos- cow advanced to a Grand Slam third round for the fi rst time by BOTTOMLINE shocking Bulgarian seventh seed Grigor Dimitrov 7-5, 7-6 (7/3), get worse and worse.” 6-3. “It was not that I was not Rublev, ranked 53rd, advanced working or I was lazy. It’s just Japanese teen Osaka fi ghts off nerves to advance to a last-32 date with Bosnian with this work is not going to Damir Dzumhur after dispatch- come results. You going to only AFP comer of the Year, can reach her She also recalled a well- ing a solid contender in Dimitrov, be worse and worse.” New York fi rst fourth round at a Grand meaning supporter yelled in- who was coming off his biggest Rublev won his fi rst ATP title Slam by beating 418th-ranked structions to her in a past match. career title two weeks ago at in July at Umag, becoming the Estonian qualifi er Kaia Kanepi “He was like, ‘Hit your fore- Cincinnati, for his fi rst win over fi rst lucky loser to capture a tour on Saturday. hand. Hit high on her forehand. a top-10 rival. crown since in 2009 sing fi st pumps and And she already has the re- She hits fl at balls. You can do it,’” It’s a far cry from the kid who at Newport. screams to focus her spect of potential last-16 foe Osaka said. “I kind of wanted to struggled in the junior ranks last The Russian had lucky ritu- wandering thoughts Jelena Ostapenko, the reigning ask him what his ranking was. year until tossing out his coach als in Croatia during his break- and shake off stress, French Open champion. “He was nice about it. At least and support staff and starting through week and has one this UJapanese teen Naomi Osaka “She plays really well,” the he wasn’t mean. And I actually over. “The way I was working, it week in New York, eating at the powered into the US Open third Latvian 12th seed said. “She hits did do it twice and it did work. was not the way to be pro tennis same Japanese restaurant ahead round on Thursday, matching the ball hard, has a big serve.” But I was kind of annoyed, be- player,” Rublev said. of matches. her best Grand Slam showing. But Osaka admits her mind cause it’s a solo game, you know.” “I change the team complete- “We went to the same restau- The 19-year-old Asian star, wanders even in workouts. Other youth into the third ly. In that moment starts the real rant for dinner before fi rst match who ousted defending champion “Once I was practicing and round include US 18-year-old work. And now I improve in this and before this match. So two Angelique Kerber in her opener, my whole practice — there’s that wildcard Sofi a Kenin, Russian year. I improve much more than days in a row I went in the same outlasted 90th-ranked Czech commercial that says, ‘If you or 19-year-old men’s contender in all my tennis career.” restaurant,” Rublev said. Denisa Allertova 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 to a loved one has been diagnosed Andrey Rublev and 18-year-old Rublev compared his ef- I’m not playing, so I can go reach the last 32 on the New York with mesothelioma...’ — that’s Canadian qualifi er Denis Shapo- forts to fi nding a door to unlock somewhere else.” hardcourts. match I was like, ‘Oh my God,’ ders during the match,” she said. all I could think about for the valov. progress after banging on walls Rublev was down a break in “(It was) just willpower, be- The hallway is super long so I “And if I’m really pumped up, whole practice,” Osaka said. “I Osaka takes inspiration from in frustration.“When I was jun- each of the fi rst two sets against cause I don’t really think I was started thinking way too much. then I tend to focus really well.” was, like, ‘Why do I keep think- the success of other teen titans. ior, I was working hard. I was not Dimitrov but battled back to playing that good,” Osaka said. But at least I won in the end.” Osaka, who has a Haitian fa- ing this?’ “It’s motivating,” Osaka said. doing some bad things. It’s just claim both. “I felt a little bit stressed be- Showing her emotions after ther and Japanese mother, hit “Then, during the breaks, all “Whenever I see them winning this work was not for the pro,” he “I was just thinking to try to cause it was my fi rst match after key points and great shots kept 35 winners and made the last of I could see was like that com- and stuff , it makes me really said. focus, try to fi ght no matter even playing Kerber. So I felt a little 45th-ranked Osaka’s mind sharp 10 aces on match point after it mercial where this woman was motivated to do the same. And “Let’s say you have a door and if I am losing with a break,” Ru- bit of expectations to win and over the one hour, 52 minute af- withstood an appeal. running in a fi eld. I mean, it was I think in a sense maybe we are you can open the door and I was blev said. that’s why I wasn’t playing so fair. “I was thinking, ‘Please Jesus, a good practice. It’s just my mind pushing each other to do better, trying to open this door from the “And in the end, I was little bit well. “Saying ‘Come on,’ is a way if you’re real...’” Osaka said. “I’m wasn’t there. It was just muscle because I know subconsciously wall, you know? It was hitting lucky. I make a good few returns. “When I was walking down for me to stay concentrated be- glad it turned out to be in.” memory and stuff . That was a I keep track of all their matches the wall. You can work so hard I hit maybe few points close to the hall to go to the court for the cause sometimes my mind wan- Osaka, the 2016 WTA New- weird day.” and stuff .” like this, but you going to only the line.” Gulf Times Saturday, September 2, 2017 3 SPORT

CYCLING / VUELTA A ESPANA FORMULA 1 Bottas pips Trentin seals treble Hamilton in at Vuelta, Froome Monza practice

Reuters Ferrari Kimi Raikkonen was fourth Monza fastest in practice one and two. Quick-Step rider had won The Ferrari fans will take heart that Mercedes also looked strong in Belgian stages four and 10 too ercedes dominated Italian Grand Prix practice at Spa last week- retains lead Grand Prix practice yes- end. Ferrari closed the gap, with Vettel terday with Valtteri Bottas on Hamilton’s tail throughout the race. AFP pipping teammate Lewis They will also be buoyed by the fact MHamilton for the fastest lap of the day, that no driver has won two races in a Tomares, Spain with Ferrari’s Formula One leader Se- row this season. bastian Vettel the best of the rest. “I think going into this weekend we talian sprinter Matteo Trentin Hamilton was quickest in a cloudy need to be fair and say that the track claimed his third win of the Vuel- morning session with some rain, clock- layout suits Mercedes, but the per- ta a Espana on stage 13 as Chris ing a lap of one minute 21.537 seconds formance that we showed last week Froome fi nished safely among the while Bottas was second, but the tables gives us hope,” Vettel had told reporters Ichasing pack to retain his overall lead were turned in the dry afternoon run- on Thursday. yesterday. ning. The Red Bull pairing of Australian Quick-Step rider Trentin continued The Finn pulled out a 1:21.406 while Daniel Ricciardo and Dutch teenager his dominance of the few sprint stages Hamilton — who will oust Vettel from the Max Verstappen followed in fi fth and of the largely mountainous three- championship lead he has held all season sixth places, but both face grid penal- week trek around Spain by pipping if he wins the last European race of the ties after today’s qualifying because of compatriot Gianni Moscon and Den- year on Sunday — was 0.056 slower. power unit changes. mark’s Soren Kragh Andersen to the Vettel, seven points clear of his Brit- Verstappen will have a drop of 15 po- line in a time of 4hr 25min 13sec. ish rival, was third in both sessions sitions while Ricciardo, who fi nished Trentin was also victorious on stag- with the gap closing in the afternoon third in Belgium last weekend, has a 20 es four and 10 as Quick-Step have now to just 0.140. He had been more than a place penalty. won fi ve stages in total. second slower in the opening 90 min- In a surprising move up for strug- “It’s amazing, I came to this race utes at Ferrari’s home track. gling McLaren, whose Honda engine with confi dence but never expected “It’s been a good day, a clean day,” has been short on both performance anything like this,” said Trentin. said Hamilton, who won in Belgium and reliability, Belgian Stoff el Van- “For the team the Vuelta is not fi n- last weekend and is favourite to take a doorne was seventh quickest and Fern- ished and we are betting for more.” record 69th career pole position today. ando Alonso eight. Alonso also has a Froome lost time due to a mechani- “We got the running done, we got 35-place grid penalty, however. cal problem and a crash in Thursday’s through our programme with no Spaniard Carlos Sainz, who also has 12th stage, but he stayed alert near the problems. The car seems nicely bal- a 10 place grid penalty, ended the sec- front of the peloton to fi nish seventh anced here. We just have some work ond session early when his Toro Rosso on the day on the 198.4km ride from to do to eke out a little bit more per- suff ered an engine failure. Coin to Tomares. formance. The virtual safety car was deployed The Briton, who is aiming to be- “It looks quite close between us and near the close when Kevin Magnussen’s come just the third rider to win the the Ferraris, so I anticipate it’s going to Haas stopped on track with a broken Tour de France and Vuelta in the same be similar to the last race in that sense.” suspension. year, retains a 59-second lead over Italy’s Vincenzo Nibali. Today’s stage promises another showdown between the race favour- Quick-Step Floors’ cyclist Matteo Trentin celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the 13th stage of the Vuelta a Espana ites with a gruelling uncategorised in Tomares, Spain, yesterday. (AFP) climb to end the 175km ride from Ecija to Sierra de La Pandera. on the Sierra Nevada on Sunday and STAGE RESULTS OVERALL STANDINGS “It’s very diffi cult to predict what is Froome is expecting this weekend to 1. Matteo Trentin (QST) 4:25:13 1. Chris Froome (SKY) 53:48:06 going to happen in this Vuelta. As we be decisive in his quest to fi nally win 2. Gianni Moscon (SKY) 2. Vincenzo Nibali (BAH) +0:59 saw yesterday things can change so the Vuelta after three second-placed 3. Søren Andersen (SUN) 3. Esteban Chaves (ORI) +2:13 quickly,” said Froome. fi nishes. 4. Michael Schwarzmann (BOR) 4. Wilco Kelderman (SUN) +2:17 “Tomorrow’s fi nal is very steep. I “Sunday’s stage is going to be even 5. Tom Van Asbroeck (CAN) 5. David De la Cruz (QST) +2:23 expect guys like Alberto Contador and harder again up in the Sierra Nevada, 6. Vincenzo Nibali (BAH) 6. Ilnur Zakarin (KAT) +2:25 Vincenzo Nibali want to make up time over 2,500 metres,” he added. 7. Chris Froome (SKY) 7. Fabio Aru (AST) +2:37 at this stage of the race. I expect a very “For sure at the end of a really tough 8. Wilco Kelderman (SUN) 8. Michael Woods (CAN) +2:41 aggressive ride from them.” week, we are going to see some really 9. Alberto Contador (TRE) 9. Alberto Contador (TRE) +3:13 Another summit fi nish also awaits big time gaps in these next two stages.” 10. Nicolas Roche (BMC) 10. Miguel Ángel López (AST) +3:58

Fans click a picture with Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas (right) ahead of practice SPOTLIGHT for the Italian Grand Prix in Monza, Italy, yesterday. (Reuters)

Armstrong seeks to delay fraud trial until 2018 Hamilton pens poetic tribute to Diana

AFP using performance enhancing drugs, Postal Service (USPS). ing schemes ever seen in sport. Britain’s triple world Formula One in the Wind, which he performed at Washington said there was a scheduling confl ict Armstrong’s legal team had unsuc- After years of denials and despite champion Lewis Hamilton paid tribute Diana’s funeral in Westminster Abbey that would prevent one of his lawyers cessfully attempted to avert the trial, his suspension for life, he fi nally ac- to Princess Diana yesterday by pen- in 1997. Hamilton, 32, illustrated the from appearing on November 7 when arguing that USPS had not suff ered knowledged to American television ning a poem in her honour a day after tribute with several photographs of isgraced cyclist Lance Arm- proceedings are due to get underway. damages as a result of his doping and host Oprah Winfrey in January 2013 the 20th anniversary of her death. the princess alongside the Van Mor- strong sought yesterday Emphasizing that it was important had in fact largely benefi ted from the that he doped throughout his career, Hamilton posted the poem, which rison song Into the Mystic. to delay until next year his to him to be represented by John Kek- $32mn it paid in sponsorship to Arm- including in all seven of his Tour wins he called “England’s Rose”, on his Diana was killed in a car crash in a long-awaited battle against a er, his lawyer since 2011, Armstrong strong’s Tailwind Sports Corp . from 1999-2005. Instagram account. Paris road tunnel on August 31, 1997. $100mnD lawsuit over whether he com- asked that a new date be set that is “no But US District Judge Christopher Former Armstrong teammate Floyd The sparsely punctuated poem starts: In a separate tribute on Twitter, Ham- mitted fraud by doping, currently set sooner than late Spring 2018.” Cooper ruled the issue could be de- Landis fi led a lawsuit in 2010 accusing “The day we lost our Nations Rose, ilton acknowledged the anniversary for trial in November. The US Justice Department is seek- cided by a jury alone. Armstrong of fraud, and that suit was Tears we cried like rivers flowed, The with a quote often attributed to In an application to the federal court ing $100mn in damages from Arm- Armstrong was banned for life in later joined by the government, which earth stood still, As we laid her to rest.” the Princess. “I don’t go by the rule in Washington where the case will be strong, claiming he defrauded the August 2012 after the US Anti-Doping wants Armstrong to reimburse the The poem bears a passing resem- book,” he wrote. “I lead from the heard, Armstrong, who was stripped government when he cheated while Agency reported he actively took part US Postal Service for what it paid his blance to Elton John’s song Candle heart, not the head.” of his seven Tour de France titles for riding for a team sponsored by the US in one of the most sophisticated dop- team, plus damages.

BOTTOMLINE Ricciardo: I look at Seb or Lewis and think: ‘If only I had your car’

By Giles Richards than Vettel’s qualifying time. but Ricciardo has wrung six podiums At Monza on Sunday the gap to the The Guardian He was in a Toro Rosso by midway from it, including one win in Baku and front remains and the Australian will through the next season and stayed third at the last round in Belgium. He be starting on the back foot with a there while Vettel won his next three has learned to embrace every moment, 20-place grid penalty after Red Bull That lucky bugger,” is how Dan- titles, before being promoted to the despite not being where he wants to be. opted to change engine components. iel Ricciardo describes his former dominant senior squad in 2014. He had “I milked every minute of that po- Lewis Hamilton topped the time sheets Red Bull teammate Sebastian every reason to smile but what followed dium,” he says of the fun he was having in fi rst practice and he was second to his Vettel but the usual chasm-wide was a shock to the system as Mercedes orchestrating the crowd at Spa. “I am team-mate Valtteri Bottas in the after- grin“ belies any malice. It is a light- ran away with the turbo-hybrid era. loving the podiums because we know noon session, with Vettel in third only hearted riposte to a serious predica- Ricciardo has not been in a battle for we don’t have the car to be there. But I just over a tenth in arrears. However ment that sees the Australian, in his the title since. see Seb and Lewis up there all the time both the Red Bulls were a second off the fourth season with the team, again un- “In the second half of 2013 Sebastian and obviously I want to be that guy.” pace over the two runs. able to challenge for the Formula One had more wins than we have had as a He admits that not competing with Hamilton trails Vettel by seven points world championship while Vettel, who team since then,” he says. “I came into the two title contenders remains hard in the title fi ght and is looking to ensure won four titles for Red Bull, is once the team thinking this is the best car on to take. “There is some frustration,” he he makes no repeat of last year’s race more at the sharp end of the fi ght with a the grid so that was one little frustra- says. “I look at Seb or Lewis and think: when he was dominant in qualifying resurgent Ferrari. tion I had to deal with.” ‘If only I had your car.’ I acknowledge only to have a poor start and for Nico Ricciardo’s upbeat attitude is more The 28-year-old is not exaggerating. they are at the top of their game but I Rosberg to take the win. He will want to than just that of a typically good-hu- Vettel won the last nine races in 2013. Red feel I could be there as well.” take the overall record of F1 pole posi- moured Aussie. He has learned to deal Bull have won six since – fi ve by Ricciardo His contract with Red Bull concludes tions from Michael Schumacher with with disappointment and emerge the and one by his team-mate Max Verstap- at the end of next season and, while he his 69th but knows Sunday is what re- better man for it. pen. That he could challenge with the insists he is not thinking about where ally matters. The Italian Grand Prix should prove right machinery was clear from his debut he will be in 2019, he does concede that “The race is the most important part another tough task for Red Bull, with season with Red Bull. He outdrove Vettel, the team must build a more competitive of the weekend,” Hamilton said. “This their cars struggling on the power- who would leave for Ferrari at the end of car. He still believes it can be done and weekend the ultimate goal is to win, to hungry straights of Monza. But if they the year. Ricciardo won three, Vettel none that, when his chance comes, putting in put a dent in the lead Vettel has had all do fi nally give him a ride to challenge and he out-qualifi ed the world champion Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo sits in his car in the team garage during practice for the the hard yards these past four years will season. He’s had that smile on his face with, which he believes they will next by 12 to seven. Italian Grand Prix in Monza, Italy, yesterday. (Reuters) have proved worthwhile and he might all year long because he’s had that lead, year, Ricciardo will relish it all the more. Unfortunately the car dropped even even have earned some luck. so I’m looking forward to turning that When Vettel won his fi rst title in further off the pace the following year going to be a championship year. I pionship fi ght but if I hold on to the “I have gone past the days of it be- upside down.” 2010 Ricciardo drove the Red Bull in and they fi nished fourth in the con- thought we had the tools to do it but we frustration it is not going to make me ing demotivating, I can see the bigger Vettel, who took his debut win here the end-of-season young driver test in structors’ championship. It was a low didn’t. I held on to it for quite a while perform better. I have years left ahead picture,” he says. “Everything you can in 2008 for Toro Rosso, will be hop- Abu Dhabi. His form would have been point from which Ricciardo came to and became a more frustrated, unhappy of me, I have to be smart in how I deal learn from is an opportunity to become ing the tifosi can spur him on to spoil noted by the new champion. The track terms with there being more to F1 than person. I wasn’t my typical self often with it.” stronger. The day I do get a champion- Hamilton’s plans – the Scuderia are at Yas Marina had improved by about turning in some fast laps. enough. He has proved he has speed and for- ship winning car I will run with it. I will celebrating the 70th anniversary of 1.5 seconds since the season decider but “I learned from 2015,” he says in “I changed my perspective. I am midable racecraft. The Red Bull was capitalise on every part of that beauti- the manufacture of their fi rst Ferrari- Ricciardo’s time was still 1.3sec quicker Monza. “I had built up that that was frustrated that we are not in a cham- once again slow to start this season ful thing.” badged car this weekend. Gulf Times 4 Saturday, September 2, 2017 SPORT

MLB SPOTLIGHT Astros land Verlander in last-minute trade Sanchez and Bird By Anthony Fenech a 3.49 ERA and 1.19 WHIP and Detroit Free Press six All-Star appearances. Last season, he fi nished second for the American League Cy t was the deal that had to Young Award and this season, happen, a match made in he has surged in the second- heaven for two organisa- half. tions trending in much For the Astros, they receive power Yankees past Idiff erent directions. a proven postseason pitcher At approximately 11:59pm (Verlander is 7-5 with a 3.39 on Thursday night, Detroit Ti- ERA in 16 playoff starts) who gers ace Justin Verlander was should sit atop their starting traded to the Houston Astros rotation. for three prospects, accord- They are all but assured of ing to multiple persons with the American League West knowledge of the situation. division title and with a top- Boston Red Sox 6-2 The two teams had talked ranked farm system, could extensively about Verlander aff ord to part with prospects ‘The most important thing is to worry about your own team and not what others are doing’ leading up to the July 31 trade like Perez, Cameron and deadline and intermittently Rogers. over the next month, but fi nal- “I think he’ll add a dimen- ly came to an agreement with sion we don’t have,” Astros less than a half hour to go be- owner Jim Crane told MLB. fore the waiver trade deadline. com. It was then up to Verlander to “I think he’ll add a dimen- waive his full no-trade clause, sion in the playoff s, hopefully, which he did shortly before the when we get there. I think it’s 11:59pm deadline. great for the team, I think the In exchange for Verlander, players will be excited and fans the Tigers received right- will be excited.” hander Franklin Perez, out- fi elder Daz Cameron (son of Cubs acquire Mariners OF former Gold Glove outfi elder Leonys Martin Mike Cameron) and catcher The Cubs made a late night Jake Rogers. acquisition on Thursday be- Perrez is the Astros’ third- fore the 11pm CDT deadline, best prospect, according to acquiring Mariners outfi elder MLB Pipeline, with Cameron Leonys Martin and cash for 9th and Rogers 11th. The Ti- a player to be named later or gers are also believed to be cash. Martin, a 29-year-old sending at least $10 million left-hander hitter from Cuba, to the Astros (via Yahoo’s Jeff hit .174 in 115 at-bats for Seattle Passan), with Verlander signed this year, and .307 in Triple-A. through 2019 with a vesting He spent fi ve years with option in 2020. Verlander, 34, Texas and two with the Mari- makes $28 million in each of ners and is a .248 career hitter the next two seasons. with 38 home runs. The departure of Verlander Martin has not yet been means these Tigers are nearly added to the Cubs 40-man unrecognisable. They are now roster, but will be eligible for a team stripped of a franchise the postseason when he ar- player and are fully embrac- rives since he was in the or- ing rebuild mode, which was ganisation before September 1. signalled Thursday afternoon Martin won’t be called up when they traded leftfi elder on Friday, but it expected to Justin Upton to the Los Ange- join the Cubs soon and be em- les Angels. ployed as a spare outfi elder Verlander, 34, is arguably and pinch-runner. the best Tigers right-hander He cleared waivers last week of all-time. In 13 seasons with after being designated for as- the team, he was 183-144 with signment by the Mariners.

New York Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez hits an RBI single against the Boston Red Sox during the fifth inning at the Yankee Stadium. PICTURE: USA TODAY Sports

By Pete Caldera the Yankees toward a 6-2 victory was his fi rst since August 24, at once-comfortable AL wild-card ninth. He walked in a run before The Record(Hackensack, N.J.) before 43,309 fans. Detroit, a game that descended lead. getting the last two outs, in- Boston’s lead is still 4{ games into a three-round brawl after “The most important thing is ducing a fl y out of pinch-hitter over the second-place Yanks Sanchez was hit by a Michael to worry about your own team Mitch Moreland - batting as the C Sabathia came out (71-62), who out-hit the Red Sox Fulmer fastball following his and not what other teams are tying run -to end it. roaring, shouting in the (76-58) by a 14-4 count in taking fourth homer in three games at doing,” said Yankees manager Three straight one-out sin- direction of the Red Sox the fi rst of a four-game set. Comerica Park. Joe Girardi, who learned before gles by Brett Gardner, Hicks and dugout. Continuing a trend of rescuing On Friday, Sanchez is expect- Thursday’s game that the charg- Sanchez gave the Yankees a 2-1 CThe veteran lefty had just reg- his mates after a defeat, Sabathia ed to hear his appeal of a four- ing Angels had just added Justin lead in the fi fth, with an assist istered two strikeouts to end the (11-5) gave up one run - due to a game suspension for throwing Upton via trade from Detroit. from ex-Yankee Eduardo Nunez. fi rst inning, stranding the bases successful Red Sox replay chal- punches at Miguel Cabrera, al- Sabathia is now 8-0 with a loaded and showing there was lenge - and allowed the Yanks ready on the ground during the 1.44 ERA in 10 starts this year RESULTS life in the Yankees after a de- time to fi nd a winning route fi rst phase of a fi ght-fi lled game following a Yankees loss. He gave St. Louis 5 San Francisco 2 moralising three-game sweep by against lefty Eduardo Rodriguez that featured eight ejections. up four hits and fi ve walks, and Milwaukee 6 Washington 3 Cleveland. (4-5). And if it’s immediately re- four of his six strikeouts came in Chicago Cubs 6 Atlanta 2 And just maybe, there was a After Aaron Hicks (2 for 4) duced to three games, Sanchez the fi rst two innings. Philadelphia 3 Miami 2 reason to believe in that fast- lined into a double play start- wouldn’t be eligible to play until After David Robertson deliv- NY Yankees 6 Boston 2 fading chance at an AL East title. ed by Rodriguez, the slugging Monday’s series opener at Balti- ered two scoreless innings, an Toronto 11 Baltimore 8 Gary Sanchez and Greg Bird Sanchez drove a game-tying, more.Winners of seven straight ineff ective Dellin Betances -who Arizona 8 LA Dodgers 1 each belted home runs on Thurs- solo homer to right. games entering Thursday, the hadn’t pitched since Saturday - Houston 5 Texas 1 Justin Verlander day night, boosting Sabathia’s Sanchez ended August with Orioles were among a wave of loaded the bases on a walk and Minnesota 5 White Sox 4 six gutty innings and sending 12 homers on the month. And it clubs threatening the Yanks’ two hit batsman to open the Cincinnati 7 NY Mets 2

NFL Rams fall to Green Bay Packers in preseason fi nale

By Gary Klein every single opportunity, espe- a broken fi bula in last weekend’s with or without a new contract. Los Angeles Times cially moving toward that Sep- loss to the Chargers.In the next Perhaps the most disruptive tember 10 date,” McVay said of two days, McVay and general defensive force in the NFL, Don- the starters’ pregame activities, manager Les Snead will trim the ald has two years remaining on he passes were crisp, the adding, “I thought we got some roster from 90 players to 53. his rookie contract. He is due to routes precise and the excellent work in. And I got a lit- “Anytime that you’re going to earn $1.8 million this season and catches resulted in numer- tle workout in myself.” have to let 37 guys go, that’s nev- $6.9 million in 2018. ous trips to the end zone. The opener against the Colts er a fun decision, but that’s part The three-time Pro Bowl TQuarterback Jared Goff con- has been McVay’s focus from the of this business,” McVay said. pick is believed to be seeking a nected with receiver Robert moment the Rams opened train- “But there’s still a human ele- deal that would make him the Woods on a sideline pattern, ing camp in late July. ment that you never lose sight of league’s highest-paid defensive Sammy Watkins over the mid- It continued through the and that’s never fun when you’re player, and possibly more. dle. Tavon Austin and other preseason and was refl ected in in this situation.” According to McVay and Rams Rams receivers also burned be- McVay’s decision to sideline Former USC running back players, Donald has been work- leaguered defensive backs for big players such as linebackers Rob- Justin Davis made a fi nal bid ing out in Pittsburgh for the last yardage and touchdowns. ert Quinn and Mark Barron and for a roster spot by rushing for six weeks. But Donald would It was several hours before the cornerback Kayvon Webster un- 55 yards in 17 carries. He also probably have to report this Rams’ preseason fi nale Thurs- til the games count. caught two passes for 21 yards. week to be ready in time to play day night against the Green Bay On Thursday, it wasn’t only Davis overcame two fumbles in in the opener. Packers, and Sean McVay was projected starters that were held the fi rst preseason game and in McVay said “we know there’s putting his skill-position start- out. Backup quarterback Sean four games ran for 147 yards in 36 progress to be made” in discus- ers through a fast-paced work- Mannion did not play, giving carries. “I just came in with the sions with Donald’s representa- out at empty Lambeau Field _ veteran Dan Orlovsky a chance mindset just to leave everything tives, but he was optimistic that with the rookie coach playing to play every snap. on the fi eld, leave no doubts be- Donald would report. McVay, defensive back. When it was Receivers Pharoh Cooper cause that’s the only thing I can however, would not give a specif- over, the starters retired to the and Josh Reynolds, who back do at this point,” Davis said of ic date as a deadline for Donald’s locker room and later emerged in up Woods, Watkins and Cooper his performance Thursday. “It’s arrival to play against the Colts. sweatshirts for the game, watch- Kupp, also sat out. up to the coaches’ hands at this “Every single day is so vital ing and encouraging Rams re- The Rams came out of the point so I just wanted to leave it and important,” McVay said. serves in a 24-10 defeat. preseason with two key players all out there.” “Obviously, the closer you get The Rams can now prepare unavailable. Defensive lineman Along with roster cuts, the the higher the level of urgency for their regular-season opener Dominique Easley suff ered a major issue for the Rams over there is. “But that urgency has against the Indianapolis Colts. season-ending knee injury early the next few days will be whether always been high for us, but I “We just want to be mindful in training camp and tight end defensive lineman Aaron Donald think the feeling right now is Los Angeles Rams tight end Johnny Mundt spins into the end zone to score a touchdown during the of making sure we capitalize on Temarrick Hemingway suff ered ends his holdout and reports, defi nitely optimistic.” fourth quarter against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. PICTURE: USA TODAY Sports Gulf Times Saturday, September 2, 2017 5 SPORT

GOLF LPGA South Korea’s Chun seizes early lead at McIlroy chomping Portland Classic

AFP| last week in front of the home Portland crowd at the CP Women’s Open in Ottawa, Canada, didn’t show any signs of fatigue. hun In-Gee, who is Like Chun, Henderson is at the bit to defend seeking her fi rst vic- comfortable hitting shots tory of 2017 after four on the Columbia Edgewater runner-up fi nishes, Country Club layout. ‘Winning last week is big, because fiC red a six-under 66 to grab the “I think it just suits my eye. I fi rst-round lead at the LPGA love tree-lined courses and it’s I’m probably guaranteed to be in Tour’s Portland Classic on so green everywhere you look. Thursday. The grass is very lush, and I the top five going into Atlanta’ South Korea’s Chun has a love that,” said Henderson. Boston title one-shot lead over group of six “Just playing here I have AFP playoff points list after this event golfers that includes Canada’s so many incredible memo- Norton, United States advance to the BMW Champi- Brooke Henderson and Moriya ries from two years ago, and onship, set for September 14-17 Jutanugarn of Thailand. last year, and I just try to feed at Conway Farms Golf Club in Chun also has six top-three off the energy and adrenaline eigning FedExCup Illinois. Then the top 30 players results on the year. She likes that I felt over the past couple champion Rory McIl- following the BMW Champi- the tree-lined course and says years.” roy believes his strong onship will qualify for the Tour it is not only pleasing to the eye Moriya, who leads the LPGA record at Boston will Championship at East Lake Golf but ideal for her game. Tour in birdies this season, proveR invaluable as he seeks to Club in Atlanta, beginning Sep- “Coming here everyone added a half dozen more to her defend his Dell Technologies tember 21. said the course is really good. tally. Championship crown on the A points reset will take place I agree. I like big trees. It’s “It’s always very nice to second leg of the PGA Tour play- prior to the Tour Championship, amazing,” said Chun. “Greens come back to this golf course,” off s. giving all players in the fi eld a are very consistent and in re- she said. “It’s just like a diff er- The battle for golf supremacy mathematical opportunity to ally good condition. I was con- ent style. More like old-style, is down to the top 100 golfers win the Tour title. fi dent on the course.” but it’s really nice.” and McIlroy is up for the chal- As Johnson alluded to, the She fi nished with seven lenge at the par-71, 7,342-yard top-fi ve players control their birdies, including three in a Leading first-round scores course located about 40 kilome- own destiny and would claim row on the back nine starting 66 - Chun In-Gee (KOR) tres (25 miles) southwest of Bos- the playoff bragging rights with at the par-four, 13th. Her lone 67 - Nasa Hataoka, Cindy ton, Massachusetts. a victory at East Lake. bogey came on the par-three LaCrosse, Moriya Jutanugarn “I’m a big believer that it is a Four players, comprising J.B. 11th. (THA), Brooke M. Henderson little bit horses for courses like Holmes, Scott Piercy, Brandt Chun is one shot ahead of (CAN), Cheyenne Woods, you hear, and Boston is defi nitely Snedeker and Sweden’s Henrik six golfers at fi ve-under 67, in- Nicole Broch Larsen (DEN) a track that sets up well for me,” Stenson, are skipping this event cluding Japan’s Nasa Hataoka, 68 - Dani Holmqvist (SWE), McIlroy said. because of injury. Denmark’s Nicole Broch Brianna Do, Jacqui Concolino, “I’ve been lucky enough to Piercy and Snedeker are Larsen, Americans’ Cindy La- Lee Il-Hee (KOR), Lee-Anne win at a couple of courses multi- out for the rest of the year and Crosse and Cheyenne Woods, Pace (RSA), Amelia Lewis, Lexi ple times in my PGA Tour career, Stenson, who has been red-hot Moriya, and two-time defend- Thompson, Candie Kung (TPE), and I think just mentally you’re lately, has a sore knee. Spaniard ing champion Henderson. Wichanee Meechai (THA), Aditi just a lot more comfortable. Sergio Garcia and Aussie Adam Henderson, who played Ashok (IND) “You’ve hit great shots on Scott chose not to play last week that golf course before, you’ve at The Northern Trust but are shot low scores, and you’ve seen back in action this week. SPOTLIGHT birdies out there. That’s the thing – once you know you can Day to take on Spieth at make birdies on a golf course, it Australian Open makes it easier to do that again.” Former world No.1 Jason Day will Woods cleared to start battle two-time winner Jordan Spi- JB Holmes, Scott Piercy, eth at this year’s Australian Open in Brandt Snedeker and Henrik Sydney, organisers said yesterday. short-game practice Stenson, are skipping this Australia’s top-rated golfer, now event because of injury ranked No.9 in the world, will be Reuters only Jack Nicklaus, Woods has contesting his national champion- Los Angeles barely competed over the last Do it again indeed. The ship for the fi rst time in four years two years amid repeated sur- Northern Irishman won at this at The Australian course from No- gery on his back. course in 2016 and 2012, join- vember 23-26. iger Woods has made a He has still managed to gen- ing Fijian-Indian Vijay Singh as Current world No.2 and three- step toward returning erate headlines off the course, the only golfers to win this event time major winner Spieth is re- to competitive golf after however, after being arrested more than once. turning to defend the crown he won being cleared by his doc- for a DUI near his home in Singh won in 2008 and 2004. last year in a play-off . “The Aus- Ttor to work on his short game. Florida in May. Toxicology re- World number one Dustin John- tralian Open holds a special spot in Woods, 41, last played in a ports revealed he had a variety son moved to the top of the my heart,” Day said. “I’d love to get competitive tournament at of drugs in his system at the playoff standings with a win last my name on that trophy one day – the Dubai Desert Classic in time of the arrest. week over Texan Jordan Spieth. hopefully this November.” January. He withdrew from the Woods apologised to fans “Winning last week is big, His best result at the tournament event with back spasms and and blamed the incident on because I’m probably guaran- was tied fourth in 2011. Day has underwent a fourth back sur- prescription medication he teed to be in the top fi ve going 14 top-10 fi nishes in the 28 major gery in April. was taking to manage pain into Atlanta, which is where you championships he has completed, “(Doctor) gave me the ok to from back surgery. want to be,” Johnson said. including victory at the 2015 US start pitching,” Woods wrote In mid-June, Woods an- “Because you win the tour- PGA Championship. He is also a on Twitter and posted a video nounced he was receiving nament, you win the FedExCup 10-time winner on the US PGA that showed him hitting balls “professional help” to man- championship and that’s the Tour. The Australian Open winner with a wedge from just off the age his use of medications for biggest thing for me.” will receive a minimum of 32 World green. A winner of 14 major back pain and insomnia and The top 70 players on the Golf Ranking points. Rory McIlroy during a practice session in Norton, Massachusetts. (Getty Images/AFP) championships, second to checked himself into a clinic.

FOCUS Lakers are the joke of NBA aft er tampering fi ne By Bill Plaschke dent smacks of all three things, penalty, so much that, in an huge fi ne can probably be paid in Los Angeles Times all of which could have been unusual move, her lawyer Adam Lonzo Ball jersey revenue, that’s completely avoidable with a lit- Streisand was quoted on the not the point. This could have tle foresight, a little discern- club’s offi cial letterhead with a been worse. This could have cost hen the Lakers be- ment, and maybe a little, you pledge that sounded as if it came the Lakers a draft pick. This could gan remodelling know, front-offi ce experience? directly from her. have even cost them a chance to their front offi ce The league’s investigators “We can assure the fans that sign George next summer. by installing Magic found that Pelinka, the former the Lakers will be hyper-vigilant Do not underestimate the WJohnson six months ago, boss agent, had illegal contact with going forward to make sure this is sudden weakness in the knees of Jeanie Buss issued a statement Aaron Mintz, the agent of former never an issue again,” Streisand the NBA when it is being pres- with unmistakable expectations. Indiana Pacers star Paul George. said. Yes, one could reasonably sured by a mid-market team to “Today I took a series of ac- The Lakers had been warned to argue that this new Lakers front punish a large-market team. tions I believe will return the steer clear while George was still offi ce should be commended for Have we already forgotten how Lakers to the heights Dr. Jerry under contract. being proactive. Johnson and the NBA vetoed the Lakers trade Buss demanded and our fans Hello? This is the one guy the his relentless smile are slowly for Paul simply because some rightly expect,” Buss said. Lakers did not need to tamper restoring the Showtime brand. whiny owner in Cleveland com- Being hit with the largest tam- with. George has long been tell- Pelinka and his smarts have en- plained about competitive bal- pering fi ne in NBA history is not ing everybody that he wants to gineered the necessary exits of ance a couple of years before exactly a “height.” return to his Los Angeles-area D’Angelo Russell (attitude) and LeBron James returned to build a When Rob Pelinka was named roots and play for the Lakers Timofey Mozgov (contract). super team in Cleveland? general manager in March, his when he becomes a free agent Remember, Mitch Kupchak Fair or not, the tampering con- statement was equally clear. next summer. He doesn’t need was quietly criticised for being viction off ers a peek into the win- “The Lakers are a gold stand- convincing. He doesn’t need one of the only league executives dow of how this new Lakers front ard for sports franchises in the pitching. And it certainly doesn’t who didn’t tamper with Kevin offi ce operates, and it’s not a good world, so we all share a respon- require breaking league rules to Durant before the free-agency look. sibility to pursue excellence in make it happen. period last summer. At least For the sake of a brand that is everything we do,” Pelinka said. The Pacers knew all this, they these guys are trying, right? bigger than both of them, John- Being sloppy enough to cost were bitter about it, and they One could also argue the ri- son and Pelinka should not be your organisation $500,000 is were probably just waiting for diculousness of fi ning the Lak- afraid to dial it back a tad. They not quite “excellence.” the Lakers to make a move on ers for tampering in a summer can be daring without being Sure, the NBA tampering rules their unhappy star before they where the Clippers traded po- daredevils. They can continue to are a joke. Everybody talks. Eve- gave him up for lesser value in a tential free agent Chris Paul to do solid work without the swag- rybody sells. Everybody tampers. one-sided trade with Oklahoma his desired location in Houston ger. They are trying to create the But that the Lakers were care- City. Pelinka had to see this, and Lakers president of basketball operations Magic Johnson (left) with general manager Rob Pelinka at three days before the opening of sort of culture that will be at- less enough to actually get con- yet he contacted Mintz anyway. Thomas and Mack Centre for the Summer League opener against the Clippers. (Los Angeles Times) the free-agent window. tractive to two max players next victed of tampering on Thursday It could be indicative of the sort Paul didn’t receive some sort summer, a duo that could consist makes them the national butt of of recklessness that is not al- The NBA fi rst warned the Lak- be able to talk to George if they tampering, but it was blatant of contractual assurances with of James and George. that joke, and runs completely ways attractive to potential free ers about potential tampering crossed paths, Johnson said, enough to raise eyebrows beyond the Rockets before the deal was Those players need to know contrary to the smart and savvy agents looking for that old-fash- when Johnson gave a wink-wink “We’re gonna say hi because we Johnson’s wink, at which point done? It was just luck he ended they will fi nd a smart, stable en- culture that Jeanie Buss is try- ioned Lakers stability. invitation to George during an know each other. You can’t just the Lakers should have gone into up where he wants to play? No vironment when they get here. ing to rebuild. No more Jim Buss Then again, maybe Pelinka April interview with talk-show say, ‘Hey, I want you to come to the weeds instead of sticking tampering here? Right. They need to know they are go- shenanigans, right? No more ac- was just following the lead of his host Jimmy Kimmel. the Lakers, even though I’ll be their necks out. Here’s guess- What is beyond argument is ing to a Lakers organisation that quisition embarrassments? No boss, as it was Johnson’s silliness In answering Kimmel’s ques- wink-winking like, ‘You know ing Jeanie Buss would agree. She that the Lakers got caught doing is once again so powerful and more chaos? that helped land the Lakers in tion about whether the Lak- what that means, right?’” was apparently not thrilled with something unnecessary, untime- self-assured, it had no need to Not so fast. This latest inci- this mess in the fi rst place. ers’ basketball president would It wasn’t enough to constitute her front offi ce after Thursday’s ly, and just dumb. Even though the tamper. Gulf Times 6 Saturday, September 2, 2017 SPORT

FOOTBALL CRICKET Surrey skipper Arsenal’s continuing Batty glad no harm malaise at the heart done by ‘deadly’ arrow attack

AFP thing into the air. London “Let’s hope it’s a couple of people of operations who will feel pretty ashamed in the morning when they realise what hap- urrey captain Gareth Batty pened.” Arsene Wenger’s consistent failure to purchase leaders and address problems voiced his relief after no one There have been several high- was injured following a bi- profi le terror incidents in Britain in in the middle of the pitch continues to amaze and appal in equal measure zarre attack by a “deadly” recent months, including one at Lon- arrowS that saw a match against Mid- don Bridge — just a couple of miles By Richard Williams dlesex abandoned at The Oval and from The Oval — on June 3 which The Guardian the ground evacuated on Thursday. killed eight members of the public The arrow, reported to have a metal and saw the three attackers shot dead tip, landed near the Surrey fi elder Ol- by police. f Brian Clough was displeased with lie Pope and close to the pitch during But a statement issued by Lon- a performance, his players knew the County Championship fi xture. don’s Metropolitan Police Force, about it. The players alerted the umpires, said the arrow attack was “not being There was an occasion at half- who promptly halted play, with fi eld- treated as terrorism-related” at this Itime during a Nottingham Forest match ers and batsmen running to the safety stage. when, unhappy with a couple of failed of the changing rooms before a crowd “Police were made aware at stepovers and a cross that went behind of more than 1,000 spectators was 16:35hrs (1535 GMT) on Thursday, 31 the goal, he punched the culprit, Nigel advised to take cover. August of reports that an arrow or Jemson, in the stomach. Police evacuated the ground, with crossbow bolt had been loosed into Understandably enough, that’s not the umpires eventually abandoning The Oval cricket ground,” said Scot- going to happen in an Arsenal dressing the First Division fi xture, which was land Yard. room when Arsène Wenger confronts deep into the fi nal day of four, as a “At this early stage it is believed his players in the middle of another draw. that the object came from outside of catastrophic display. The trouble is that No one was injured and, according the ground. nothing is going to happen. to a statement issued by the Metro- “There have been no arrests. We During Alex Ferguson’s quarter- politan Police, it is believed the arrow retain an open mind as to motive. century at Old Traff ord, Manchester was fi red from outside The Oval in Enquiries continue.” United very seldom crumbled in the Kennington, south London. Pictures soon emerged on social way that has become all too familiar Batty, who was fi elding some 25 media of Paul Baldwin, one of the to Arsenal’s fans. When United looked yards from where the bolt landed, match umpires, holding the pink- as if they might be in danger of a melt- said: “It was a pretty tasty arrow with coloured bolt. down, Ferguson would do something. a proper metal end. Surrey chief executive Richard Anything. “I did archery as a kid and that was Gould said the club had ensured all Like the day in the spring of 1996 not a normal archery arrow. spectators “were moved to a position when, on the way to their third title “The umpires dealt with it very of safety” after the umpires “took im- under Fergie, they went to Southamp- well. There were no questions asked mediate action” in suspending play. ton and found themselves 3-0 down at Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger (second from left) looks on during the EPL match against Liverpool on Sunday. (AFP) — we went off very quickly. “We don’t know whether this half-time. What the manager did next “Someone saw it in fl ight, there projectile was placed deliberately or went down in legend. During the inter- club at Stamford Bridge in March 2014. ures, with Granit Xhaka the latest. be the real thing – although if he is, was a noise when it landed but it hap- whether it was simply fi red by some- val, he made them change their kit. They don’t see him talking to the Abou Diaby was never fi t and Math- shouldn’t it have been a case of the Liv- pened so quick. It is a deadly weapon body from a distance and we just The grey away strip, he said, was man sitting next to him – Steve Bould, ieu Flamini and Francis Coquelin were erpool defence trying to adapt to him? for sure, if it had hit someone it would happened to be the landing spot, so making it impossible for them to pick his assistant – because he never does, at not good enough. Lassana Diarra and But it’s the heart of the team, in have caused some serious damage. It we don’t even know necessarily that each other out with their passes. So least in public. Bould’s stone face might Alex Song certainly were good enough the hole that Kanté would have filled, just shows the world we live in.” it was done on purpose,” Gould also he sent them out for the second half disguise a desire to initiate a conversa- – good enough, anyway, to play 87 La where Arsenal’s problems loom larg- told BBC Radio London. in their alternative away kit, blue and tion about the way things are going, but Liga games for Real Madrid and 39 for est. The day before their collapse at ‘ASHAMED’ The match was stopped after the white. That didn’t save the match, but Wenger’s own expression does not ap- Barcelona respectively in that position Anfield, Sam Clucas made his debut The former England off -spinner fi rst ball of the 69th over with Mid- they did win the second half 1-0 with a pear to encourage debate. after Wenger had let them go. for Swansea City, following a £16.5mn added: “If it is a crossbow rather than dlesex 214 for seven in their second goal from Ryan Giggs to salvage a scrap After the 4-0 pasting at Anfi eld on He had two chances to sign N’Golo transfer from Hull City, and won a longbow it is probably someone innings. John Simpson was 88 not out of self-respect. Sunday, it was seemingly left to Petr Kanté and missed both of them. In universal applause for his role as the messing around and not understand- and former England batsman Nick Almost a decade later Lee Sharpe Cech, the goalkeeper, to raise his voice other positions there have been a string team’s defensive midfield player in ing the implications of fi ring some- Compton unbeaten on 28. told this newspaper that the grey strip in the dressing room. Ever since sanc- of disasters. Who knows what he saw the win at Selhurst Park. hadn’t made any diff erence. They had tioning Gilberto Silva’s premature de- in Sébastien Squillaci, Yaya Sanogo or Clucas is 27. Released by Leicester been able to see each other perfectly parture in the summer of 2008, Wenger Shkodran Mustafi ? City’s academy at 16, he played a season well. But Ferguson showed that he was has been asked time again why his side In the last decade he has failed to for Nettleham in the Central Midlands not going to accept the fi rst-half per- has no leaders on the pitch of the kind help so many of his young British play- league while studying for a sports de- formance without doing something to who, when the going is tough, know ers realise their potential that the de- gree before moving on via Lincoln City. change it. Anything. how to direct, motivate and inspire parture of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain He played for Jerez Industrial while All Wenger does in such a situation their colleagues. for Liverpool now looks like a test case. spending a fruitful 18 months with is lean forward in his padded chair, rub It’s a question to which he has per- If, under Jürgen Klopp, the player suc- Glenn Hoddle’s academy for rejected his face, and look distraught. The Sky fected a dead-bat answer, and three ceeds in fulfi lling the huge promise he young pros in Spain, then Hereford Sports cameras close in on him, wait- FA Cup successes in the past four years showed as a teenager, the verdict will be United, Mansfi eld Town and Chester- ing for some telltale gesture of distrac- have just about provided him with the obvious. fi eld. tion, something either embarrassing or evidence that, in a one-off match, to- Then there are the Frenchmen. Not a CV, one imagines, that would potentially symbolic, or both, like the day’s Arsenal can still get their hands Right from the beginning, when Nico- attract Wenger’s interest. Afterwards habitual fumbling with the zips on his on a trophy. But in terms of achieving las Anelka, Emmanuel Petit, Patrick Clucas spoke on Match of the Day of quilted jackets. competitive consistency, he has no an- Vieira, Robert Pires and Thierry Hen- how he had been attracted to the idea They don’t see him change anything, swer at all. ry swept all before them, Wenger has of working not just with Paul Clement, not even the players’ kit. That’s be- Gilberto Silva was the club’s last cen- tended to favour signing his compa- Swansea’s head coach, but also Claude cause he never does, beyond a handful tral midfi eld player worthy of the name. triots. He is still at it, except that now Makélélé, Clement’s assistant. of substitutions late in the game. And Wenger’s best midfi elders of the last he tends to sign the wrong ones. He “He played in my position,” Clucas so a half-time score of 3-1 will turn in- decade – Tomas Rosicky, Cesc Fàbre- acquired Alexandre Lacazette in July said – a bit of an understatement, since exorably into an 8-2, as it did six years gas, Santi Cazorla – have been inside for what could turn out to be £53mn some would say Makélélé invented it – ago this week at Old Traff ord. A 2-1 at forwards or playmakers. The number of but put him among the substitutes on “so you’re working with the best.” the Etihad will become a 6-3, as it did in failures in the crucial defensive-mid- Sunday because, apparently, he is still Which member of the current Ar- 2013. A 4-0 will become a 6-0, as it did fi eld role since the Brazilian’s departure trying to adapt to the . senal squad could put his hand on his in his 1,000th match in charge of the must now be approaching double fi g- Perhaps Lacazette will turn out to heart and say that? England cricketer Gareth Batty. (AFP)

BOTTOMLINE Steve Brown appointed CEO of Pregnant Chinese begs England’s Rugby Football Union

England’s national governing body for calm under the gun for rugby union, The Rugby Football Union (RFU), have appointed Steve AFP Brown as their new chief executive Shanghai off icer, replacing Ian Ritchie, who announced his retirement in May. Brown joined RFU as chief financial lympic shooting champion off icer in 2011 and was promoted to Yi Siling had to contend chief off icer for business operations with a very personal distrac- after serving as managing direc- tion at the Chinese National tor of England Rugby 2015, the Games:O her kicking unborn child. organising committee responsible The 28-year-old, who won a gold for hosting the 2015 Rugby World medal in 10 metre air rifl e at the London Cup. “This is the job of a lifetime for 2012 Olympics and a bronze last year at me,” Brown said on the RFU website. the Rio Games, came a distant 28th place (www.englandrugby.com) “I’m in qualifying in Tianjin on Thursday. thrilled to be given this opportunity But the former world number one to lead a sport I love, in an organisa- had a good reason for her relatively tion I have been proud to work for poor showing at the National Games — over the last six years, and I look Former Wallabies captain Stephen Moore. she is more than fi ve months pregnant. forward to leading the team as we Yi repeatedly whispered to her un- work to grow the game at every next week to be with his wife who hooker available for selection for born baby while taking aim, “My dear, level.” Brown will start his new role is expecting their third child, team the Test with Argentina in Can- please keep calm when mum shoots,” as CEO on Monday. off icials said yesterday. The 122-Test berra on September 16. The squad reported the state Xinhua news agency. hooker will not travel with the squad otherwise remains unchanged, with “The most obvious thing is the fact to Perth this weekend to remain the Wallabies currently third on the that my baby kicks me sometimes,” Yi Moore to miss at home in Brisbane awaiting the Rugby Championship table after told Xinhua, explaining the challenges Wallabies’ South birth. Waratahs hooker Tolu Latu just one bonus point in the opening of competing while pregnant. “We deem will join the squad after overcom- two rounds. South Africa top the this experience a good and special pre- Africa Test ing a neck injury that ruled him out standings following two convincing natal education. It’s great to compete in of the opening two Bledisloe Cup wins against Argentina. At home the National Games with my child.” Former captain Stephen Moore will Tests against New Zealand. Moore the Wallabies have won 24 of the 37 Yi and her husband sought the advice miss the Wallabies’ Rugby Cham- will re-join the squad following the Tests against South Africa including of doctors before getting permission to pionship Test against South Africa match against South Africa with the the last three Test matches. take part in the competition. Gulf Times Saturday, September 2, 2017 7 FOOTBALL

TRANSFERS South Korea captain blames fans over draw Seoul: South Korea’s captain said the raucous support had has upset his team’s fans by made the team’s job harder. Barkley says no to blaming them for disrupting “It was quite diff icult to on-field communications dur- communicate with the guys ing a home draw with Iran that because it was noisy out left their World Cup hopes in there,” Kim said when asked the balance. where South Korea had to The 0-0 against 10-man Iran improve. “We could yell all we leaves the Taeguk Warriors wanted and still couldn’t hear Chelsea in dramatic having to defeat Uzbekistan each other well. We prepared in Tashkent on Tuesday to be ourselves for a situation like certain of a place at a ninth this, but it was still frustrating successive World Cup finals. that I couldn’t hear the guys,” Any other result will leave he added. their Russia 2018 fate in the South Korea have had a hands of third-placed Syria, bumpy qualifying campaign, end to deadline day who will be facing Iran — the losing coach Uli Stielike after Group A winners — in Tehran. a run of poor results includ- On Thursday, Iran played most ing defeats to China, Iran and of the second half at the Seoul Qatar, and Kim’s comments England decides to stay at Everton; Llorente, Aurier move to Spurs World Cup Stadium a man infuriated fans. As anger down after Saeid Ezatolahi’s mounted, Kim issued an apol- Reuters red card, but South Korea ogy yesterday through a team London could not find a way through, off icial over what he called a despite being roared on by a “slip of the tongue”. noisy crowd of 63,000. “I apologise to all the fans helsea suff ered a dramatic late The kick-off had been who came out to cheer us on,” blow on transfer deadline day delayed by half an hour to give Kim said. “I didn’t mean to say when Everton midfi elder Ross more supporters a chance to those things. There were so Barkley rejected a move to the get to the game, in a country many things going through my PremierC League champions after travel- notorious for long working head, and I made a mistake. I ling to their training ground for a medical. hours. But Kim Young-Gwon deeply regret that.” On a day of frenetic spending that took the Premier League total to a record far above 1bn pounds ($1.29bn), Antonio Conte’s side also missed out on two of their other targets — Alex Oxlade-Cham- berlain and Fernando Llorente. England midfi elder Oxlade-Cham- berlain signed for Liverpool and Span- iard Llorente joined Tottenham Hotspur in deals worth 35mn pounds and 12mn pounds respectively. But the champi- ons still managed some business, paying Torino 23mn pounds for defender Dav- ide Zappacosta and reportedly pushing through a late deal for Danny Drinkwater. Special dispensation was requested from the FA to register Leicester City’s midfi elder after the offi cial deadline, one Iran’s Morteza Pouraliganji is pleased after draw against South of several deals due to come through late. Korean in the World Cup qualifying match. (AFP) However welcome those signings will be for Chelsea, they may not compensate for the snub delivered by England mid- fi elder Barkley who arrived at their Cob- SPOTLIGHT ham training ground late on Thursday only to turn round and head back north. Everton’s majority shareholder Farhad Ross Barkley, who is sidelined with a hamstring injury, wants to make a decision about his future when he was fully fit. Moshiri said Barkley had turned up at Barcelona give up the west London club’s Cobham training Alexis Sanchez was another player a high-profi le transfer request which led midfi elder Renato Sanches on loan from base only to undergo a dramatic change of staying put, although for diff erent rea- to the Dutch international’s exclusion Bayern Munich. heart as the transfer deadline clock ticked sons, as Arsenal turned down a 60mn from fi rst team training. Another Portugal Euro 2016 winner, Coutinho chase down. “The two clubs agreed a deal of pounds bid from Manchester City after But the Merseyside club did agree a fee Adrien Silva, was due to join Leicester in a 35mn pounds, I think personal terms were failing to secure his potential replace- to sell French defender Mamadou Sakho late deal with the Foxes also signing Aus- Barcelona: Barcelona have fi - pool have refused to backtrack agreed and after medical (sic) we heard ment, Monaco’s Thomas Lemar, despite to Crystal Palace for 24mn pounds. tria’s Aleksandar Dragovic from Bayer nally abandoned their quest on their intention not to sell from Paul Martin, Ross Barkley’s agent, a 92mn pounds bid reportedly being ac- West Bromwich Albion’s Jonny Evans Leverkusen. Every Premier League club to land Liverpool’s Philippe Coutinho. Barcelona have been that he had changed his mind,” said Mo- cepted by the French club. is also staying put despite being linked brought in at least two players in the win- Coutinho, 25, after having a se- under huge pressure to reinvest shiri. He added that Barkley, who is in British media speculated that the with a move to Arsenal or Manchester dow, with Watford and promoted Hud- ries of bids for the Brazilian re- the 222mn euros the club banked the fi nal year of his contract at Everton, France winger would have preferred a City, who still ended up as the window’s dersfi eld Town the busiest teams with jected, Spanish media reported from Neymar’s world record wanted to “reconsider his position” in switch to Liverpool, who were reported to top spenders after lavishing in excess of each making 13 signings. yesterday. transfer to Paris Saint-Germain the January transfer window. “It was a big have made their own bid, a possible indi- 200mn pounds on players. Brighton & Hove Albion left it late to The transfer deadline for last month. surprise but this is football,” Moshiri said. cation that Brazilian midfi elder Philippe Spurs are traditionally busy on dead- bring in goalkeeper Tim Krul on loan Spanish clubs was closing at The Catalans have splashed The BBC later quoted a source close to Coutinho could be en route from Anfi eld line day and completed the signing of from Newcastle United and defender midnight local time yesterday, 24 192mn euros on fi ve signings, 23-year-old Barkley saying the midfi eld- to Barcelona. Although that deal looked Llorente from Swansea and paid PSG Ezequiel Schelotto from . hours after the rest of Europe’s including 105mn on 20-year-old er did not have a medical and wanted to unlikely, the transfer window in Spain 23mn pounds for Ivorian Serge Aurier. Everton, one of the window’s most pro- major leagues. French winger Ousmane Dem- make a decision about his future when he closed yesterday. Liverpool failed to lure Swansea re-signed striker Wilfried lifi c spenders, lavished a further 10mn However, despite reportedly bele in a deal that could yet rise was fully fi t. He has been sidelined with a central defender Virgil van Dijk from Bony from Manchester City and, in one of pounds on Hajduk Split’s teenage striker making an off er of up to 160mn to 145mn depending on perform- hamstring injury after a hernia operation. Southampton, who refused to sell despite the day’s surprises, brought in Portugal Nikola Vlasic. euros for the playmaker, Liver- ance related bonuses.

ROUND-UP FOCUS Neymar moves into sprawling Lovren testifi es in graft trial AFP side Lyon. But furious outbursts from Mamic dur- Osijek, Croatia ing his questioning saw the defendant banned from future sessions in which evidence is presented. mansion near PSG training ground The 58-year-old is being tried along with three iverpool defender Dejan Lovren testifi ed others: his brother and former Dinamo Zagreb aris Saint-Germain’s Brazilian yesterday in the multi-million euro cor- coach Zoran Mamic, former club director Damir superstar Neymar has moved into ruption trial of former Dinamo Zagreb boss Vrbanovic, and a tax inspector. a fi ve-storey, 1,000-square-metre Zdravko Mamic, considered the most pow- The Zagreb football club was supposed to receive (10,800 square foot) mansion in Lerful man in Croatian football. Mamic is accused nearly nine million euros for Lovren’s transfer to Pthe posh western Paris suburb of Bougival, of abuse of power and graft that cost Dinamo more Lyon, but prosecutors say Dinamo paid nearly half sources said yesterday. The town has been than 15 million euros and the state 1.5 million euros, of the money into Lovren’s account and he then home to a host of celebrities in the past with the cash allegedly embezzled through fi cti- transferred it to the Mamic brothers. including French actor Gerard Depardieu tious deals related to player transfers. Lovren told the court that he had simply paid the and Brazilian footballer Ronaldinho, and is Lovren, 28, appeared as a witness to provide de- money as a “loan” to Zoran Mamic and that most of just a few kilometres from the PSG training tails on his 2010 transfer from Dinamo to French it had since been returned to him. centre in the nearby town of Saint-Ger- main-en-Laye. “The move began last week,” an informed WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS source said. Neymar had been camping in a luxury Paris hotel since his transfer to PSG last month. The property, an architect’s home built in the 1950s, is on a hillock and Lippi tells China to keep believing has 5,000 square metres of grounds and an indoor pool, a real estate professional said. The house rented by Paris Saint-Gernain’s Brazilian superstar Neymar is pictured in AFP aoting to win a soft penalty with “It’s an exceptional property and very Bougival, a posh western Paris suburb, yesterday. (AFP) Shanghai just a few minutes left. impressive. The house has never been on The 31-year-old forward Gao the market,” he said, adding that Neymar of his country’s Euro 2016-winning squad, Signings have included Portuguese had the hopes of China’s 1.3bn was renting it. At 25, Neymar became the was allowed to leave the Portugal team striker Andre Silva, Turkish midfi elder and arcello Lippi said population resting on his shoul- world’s most expensive footballer when he camp hours before Thursday’s World Cup free-kick specialist Hakan Calhanoglu, his China side must ders. But he kept his nerve to was snapped up by PSG in a 222-million- qualifi er victory against the Faroe Islands. Swiss leftback Ricardo Rodriguez, Argen- improve and were stroke in the penalty and China euro ($264mn) move. Despite being under Leicester, the surprise 2016 Premier tine midfi elder Lucas Biglia, Italy defender lucky to snatch a late climbed off the bottom of Group contract, Barcelona were powerless to stop League champions, want to strengthen Leonardo Bonucci and Croatia forward M1-0 home win over Uzbekistan A with just their second victory the transfer as the French side met the buy- their midfi eld after selling Danny Drinkwa- Nikola Kalinic. to keep alive their slender World in nine games. out clause in Neymar’s contract. ter to title-holders Chelsea on Thursday. Cup hopes. A Gao Lin penalty Lippi, 69, told his side to for- FRANCE HERO LEMAR HAPPY with six minutes left at an en- get about the other teams in the SILVA AWAITS GREEN LIGHT MILAN CONFIRM 230MN EUROS STAYING PUT AT MONACO ergised Wuhan Sports Center group and just ensure they win in FOR LATE LEICESTER MOVE SPENT IN TRANSFER SPLURGE Monaco star Thomas Lemar insists he is Stadium ensures that China’s Qatar, who tumbled to the foot of Sporting Lisbon and Leicester City an- AC Milan have confi rmed that they more than happy to stay with the French wafer-thin chances of making mit that luck was on our side to- the table with a 3-1 defeat to Syr- nounced yesterday they had reached agree- splurged over 230mn euros in the transfer champions after playing a starring role Russia 2018 will go down to the night. But the match also shows ia. “We need to concentrate on ment for the transfer of Portugal interna- window which closed on Thursday in their in his country’s thumping win over the fi nal game on Tuesday at Qatar. that the team still has a lot to do ourselves to improve in the fol- tional Adrien Silva to the Premier League bid to re-establish themselves as a major Netherlands. “I am a Monaco player and I China will need to win in Doha to improve,” added the Italian, lowing days, I have not compared club after the summer deadline expired. force in European football. The club’s chief am very happy there. Now I am going to go and rely on other results going tasked with revamping the for- with other teams,” Lippi said. Portuguese giants Sporting said they were executive Marco Fassone added that the and have a good season with my club, try to their way if they are to snatch an tunes of the perennially undera- Iran top the group and have “awaiting confi rmation from FIFA” that the club’s wage bill would be between 110mn keep progressing and advancing in my ca- unlikely third place in Group A chieving Chinese national team. already qualifi ed for Russia, with deal could go through after Silva reportedly and 120mn euros for the fi nancial year. reer,” the 21-year-old winger, scorer of two and with it a play-off spot. China went into the clash with South Korea second on 14 points, agreed to join Leicester two hours after the Former Italy prime minister Silvio goals in France’s 4-0 World Cup qualifying “I always tell my players: when Uzbekistan — who are still in the followed by Syria and then the transfer window shut on Thursday. Berlusconi sold the club to a Chinese-led victory, said. there is still a theoretical chance, running for a fi rst World Cup fi - Uzbeks, both on 12. China have A Leicester statement issued several consortium in a 740 million-euro deal in Asked where he would be going once the we have no reason to give up. nals appearance — knowing only nine points. Guangzhou Ever- hours later confi rmed that international April. After a series of mediocre mid-table current international get together was over, We should make every eff ort to a win would do. The hosts cre- grande target man Gao said: “We clearance from football’s global governing fi nishes, the new owners are now hop- Lemar added that he would be Monaco achieve it,” Lippi, who master- ated several chances and were the created this victory through our body was the only stumbling block, as they ing to rebuild the seven-times European bound. He had been strongly linked with minded Italy to a World Cup tri- better side but appeared to run own eff orts. “I felt pressure (for saw it, in Silva’s move to the Midlands club. champions and turn them into one of the a big-money move, with both Arsenal and umph in 2006, said. out of ideas as the clock ticked the penalty) because everyone’s The 28-year-old midfi elder, a member continent’s top teams. Liverpool both credited with fi rm interest. “From a professional view I ad- down, only for defender Feng Xi- hopes were resting on me.”

Saturday, September 2, 2017 GULF TIMES FOOTBALL

WORLD CUP QUALIFIER I’m staying put, insists defi ant France rout Netherlands, Japan coach Tokyo: Japan coach Vahid Halilhodzic hit back at his critics yesterday, vowing to continue in the job after lead- ing the Blue Samurai to their Ronaldo bags hat-trick sixth successive World Cup. Following Thursday’s 2-0 home win over Australia in Ronaldo showed no signs of ring-rustiness in Portugal’s 5-1 win over the Faroe Islands their penultimate Asian quali- fier for next year’s finals in AFP Russia, the firebrand Franco- Paris Bosnian revealed that he had thought about quitting for “personal reasons.” ylian Mbappe scored the fi nal But a defiant Halilhodzic — goal as France cruised to a 4-0 who reports suggested was win over 10-man Netherlands facing the axe if Japan lost in a key 2018 World Cup quali- to the Socceroos — insisted Kfi er on Thursday night, while Cristiano yesterday that he was going Ronaldo’s hat-trick propelled Portugal nowhere. “A lot of people to victory elsewhere. were very disrespectful,” the Antoine Griezmann put the home 65-year-old told reporters. side ahead inside 14 minutes at the “Many people here just Stade de France before Kevin Stroot- criticising me despite the fact man’s sending-off led to the Dutch be- Japan were top of the group. ing overwhelmed in the fi nal half hour. If we weren’t I would accept Thomas Lemar scored twice, the fi rst it of course, but a lot of it was from a stunning volley, and Mbappe gratuitous criticism. I’ve re- capped an already memorable day on a sponded with results,” added personal level by netting his fi rst inter- Halilhodzic. national goal at the death. “Yes I did think about my A far superior French side are fi rmly future, for private reasons as back on track in their quest to make it I spoke of yesterday. But to to Russia next year after their shock 2-1 those who attacked me I say: defeat in Sweden in June. This result, bad luck for you but I’m going coupled with Sweden’s 3-2 defeat in to carry on doing my job — Bulgaria, leaves Les Bleus three points until when, we’ll see.” clear at the top of qualifying Group A. Goals from Takuma Asano “A complete performance,” was and Yosuke Ideguchi secured how France coach Didier Deschamps Japan’s progress to Russia as summed it up. “It was a very positive a new generation of young- match and we have another coming in sters blew away Australia, three days (against Luxembourg). And I watched from the bench by am not going to say that Sweden losing senior players such as Keisuke is a bad thing.” Honda and Shinji Kagawa. Meanwhile, after failing to make it “I arrived in Japan with the to the 24-team Euro on French soil last task of getting the team to the year, the Netherlands are in a battle World Cup,” said Halilhodzic. even to fi nish second and grab a place in “I’m not a robot. I can’t hide the two-legged play-off s in November. my emotions and it’s too late Dick Advocaat’s side are fourth, three at my age to change. Perhaps points behind second-placed Sweden I am not as diplomatic as my with three qualifi ers remaining, includ- predecessors — and some ing a meeting with the Swedes in Am- people might not like that — sterdam in October. France’s Kylian Mbappe (left) celebrates after scoring a goal against the Netherlands as teammates Thomas Lemar (centre) and Alexandre Lacazette join in. (Reuters) but I’m proud of my record. France should top the section and Everybody makes mistakes. Deschamps has enough quality at his into the box and fi nishing through the and for Robben to hit the bar on a miser- In Group H, PSG’s Thomas Meu- GROUP B Nobody is perfect, but Japan disposal for his team to be genuine legs of goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen. able night for the Netherlands. nier and Romelu Lukaku both scored At Budapest: Hungary 3 (Kadar 6, Szalai took a great step forward last contenders to win the World Cup. At a The Dutch were already struggling to Currently serving a fi ve-match ban hat-tricks in Belgium’s 9-0 drubbing 26, Dzsudzsak 68) Latvia 1 (Freimanis 40) night.” packed Stade de France he left Mbappe stay in the game even before Strootman in Spain with Real Madrid, Ronaldo of minnows Gibraltar that leaves them At St Gallen, Switzerland: Switzerland 3 Halilhodzic has faced criti- on the bench at the start as the 18-year- was dismissed just after the hour mark showed no signs of ring-rustiness as he six points clear of Greece, held 0-0 by (Seferovic 43, 63, Lichtsteiner 67) Andorra 0 cism since Japan began the old’s loan move from Monaco to Paris after picking up a second yellow card in opened the scoring in Portugal’s 5-1 win Estonia. At Porto, Portugal: Portugal 5 (Ronaldo 3, final round of Asian qualifiers Saint-Germain was made offi cial little a little over fi ve minutes. Arjen Robben over the Faroe Islands in Oporto with an 29-pen, 64, William Carvalho 58, Nelson Ol- with a shock 2-1 home loss to over an hour prior to kick-off . squandered their best chance to equal- acrobatic volley inside three minutes. RESULTS OF EUROPEAN 2018 iveira 84) Faroe Islands 1 (Baldvinsson 38) the United Arab Emirates. But New Barcelona winger Ousmane ise before Monaco winger Lemar put He scored a penalty and went on to WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS Thursday’s victory against a Dembele had not even been named France out of sight in the 72nd minute, complete his hat-trick to make it 14 GROUP A GROUP H disappointing Australia side in the squad, while Bayern Munich’s sending a stunning left-foot volley into goals in this qualifying campaign and 78 At Paris: France 4 (Griezmann 14, Lemar At Piraeus, Greece: Greece 0 Estonia 0 appears to have saved the Kingsley Coman won his fi rst cap since the top-right corner after the ball broke international goals in 144 appearances 73, 88, Mbappe 90+1) Netherlands 0 At Nicosia: Cyprus 3 (Christofi 65, Laban former Algeria coach’s job. the Euro 2016 fi nal loss to Portugal at to him on the edge of the box. for his country. The reigning European At Luxembourg: Luxembourg 1 (Da Mota 67, Sotiriou 76) Bosnia and Herzegovina 2 Japan travel to Jeddah to the same ground. France were out- That was his fi rst international goal, champions, for whom William Carval- 60) Belarus 0 (Sunjic 33, Visca 44) face Saudi Arabia in their final standing, opening the scoring when and he was provided with his second ho and Nelson Oliveira also scored, are At Sofia: Bulgaria 3 (Manolev 12, Kostadi- At Liege, Belgium: Belgium 9 (Mertens 15, Group B game on Tuesday, but Djibril Sidibe found Griezmann and the on a plate by Griezmann two minutes still three points behind Group B leaders nov 33, Chochev 79) Sweden 2 (Lustig 29, Meunier 18, 60, 67, Lukaku 21, 38, 84-pen, Halilhodzic has already turned Atletico Madrid forward played a one- before the end. There was still time for Switzerland, whose 3-0 defeat of An- Berg 44) Witsel 27, Hazard 45) Gibraltar 0 his thoughts to Russia. two with Olivier Giroud before running substitute Mbappe to sweep in a fourth, dorra maintained their perfect record.

SPOTLIGHT FOCUS Brazil on top as Chile, Argentina struggle Chiellini deals Italy late AFP blow for Spain clash Montevideo AFP Madrid hilippe Coutinho shrugged off his transfer disappointment with a goal as Brazil beat Ec- taly’s plans for a vital World Cup uador to guarantee top spot in qualifi er away to Spain today were PSouth America’s 2018 World Cup qual- dealt a huge blow when veteran ifying race on Thursday night while defender Giorgio Chiellini injured Chile and Argentina stumbled once Ia calf muscle in training yesterday. The more. Liverpool star Coutinho, who Juventus centre-back has been ruled had seen his hopes of a dream move out for both the trip to Madrid and to Barcelona dashed earlier Thursday Tuesday’s qualifi er at home to Israel. as the transfer window slammed shut “Giorgio Chiellini will not be avail- with no agreement, produced a scintil- able to (Giampero) Ventura for the Az- lating second-half display in a 2-0 vic- zurri’s next two encounters with Spain Spain’s coach Julen Lopetegui (right) tory over Ecuador in Porto Alegre. and Israel,” the Italian Football Fed- poses with captain Sergio Ramos in The 25-year-old has not played for eration said in a statement. Victory for Madrid yesterday. (AFP) Liverpool this season, offi cially side- either side at Real Madrid’s Santiago lined by a back problem as the intrigue Bernabeu is likely to be decisive in de- game will demand of us.” over a move to the Camp Nou swirled. ciding which side qualifi es directly for A big turnout at the Bernabeu may However Coutinho showed no sign of the World Cup in Russia next year. not be such a big advantage for the injury after coming on for Renato Au- Both countries are tied on 16 points hosts if Barcelona defender Gerard gusto in the second half, enlivening atop Group G of European qualifying Pique continues to be jeered by the the hosts after a goalless fi rst 45 min- with second place only good enough home fans while playing for Spain. utes before a restless home crowd in for a perilous two-legged playoff in Barca and Real Madrid’s rivalry means Porto Alegre. New Barcelona signing November. However, a 1-1 draw when Pique and Real and Spain captain Ser- Paulinho opened the scoring for Bra- the sides met in Turin last October and gio Ramos have frequently clashed on zil, lashing home from close range in Philippe Coutinho (right) of Brazil celebrates his goal against Ecuador with teammate Willian. (Reuters) a better goal diff erence means Spain and off the field. the 69th minute after Willian’s corner. hold the upper hand. “We can’t pre- But the two have formed a formida- Coutinho then fashioned Brazil’s sec- wire, with only two points separating deserved win for Paraguay, who moved audacious lob from 40 yards as Argen- dict the future, but we recognise the ble partnership in central defence for ond, playing Manchester City’s Gabri- second-placed Colombia (25 points) up to sixth spot with 21 points — just tina goalkeeper Sergio Romero back- importance of the game. For sure, that the past fi ve years at international level el Jesus into space behind the Ecuador and fi fth-placed Argentina (23 points). two points behind Argentina, who re- pedalled, only for the ball to fl y just has not escaped us,” said Spain boss and Ramos has repeatedly pleaded for back four with a lofted pass. Paraguay also thrust themselves into main in fi fth place. over. The draw means Uruguay remain Julen Lopetegui yesterday. “After this the treatment dished out to Pique to Jesus wrong footed the covering Ec- contention with arguably the per- Argentina meanwhile endured an- in third place in the standings on 24 game we have three more that we have stop. “Pique has been exemplary with uador defence with a sublime fl ick and formance of the day on Thursday, a 3-0 other frustrating outing after being points, one behind second-placed Co- to play and win, but the objective is to the national team and I ask all the fans then headed into the path of Coutinho away win over Chile in Santiago. held to a 0-0 draw by Uruguay in Mon- lombia, who were held to a 0-0 draw beat a great Italian team.” to back us and make us feel at home,” who fi nished emphatically. The defeat capped a miserable 24 tevideo. Argentina dominated the early against already-eliminated Venezuela Lopetegui is unbeaten in 10 games said Ramos. The win was Brazil’s ninth con- hours for Chile’s unsettled Arsenal exchanges but their challenge fi zzled in San Cristobal. as national team boss since Vicente del “We need to be realistic and aware secutive qualifying victory and gives star Alexis Sanchez. Like Coutinho, out in a dreary second half display lit- Bosque’s successful reign was brought that tomorrow we have a huge test the fi ve-time World Cup winners an Sanchez had also seen his hopes of a tered with fouls on both sides. RESULTS OF SOUTH to an end by a 2-0 defeat to Italy at with a World Cup at stake and a great 11-point cushion with three games transfer evaporate on Thursday, with For Uruguay, the quicker-than- AMERICAN QUALIFIERS Euro 2016. However, Spain have only team facing us. On the bright side, we remaining, meaning they cannot now a mooted move to Manchester City expected return of Luis Suarez — just At San Cristobal, Venezuela: Venezuela beaten Italy once from open play in 11 are playing at home, with our fans and be overhauled at the top of the table. stalling. two weeks after a knee injury — could 0 Colombia 0 competitive meetings. in a unique setting like the Bernabeu.” The top four teams in South Ameri- Sanchez barely featured in a disap- not invigorate their attack. Suarez au- At Santiago: Chile 0 Paraguay 3 (Vidal “We need to be prepared to be at The emergence of another Real fa- ca’s round-robin competition qualify pointing display by the Chileans, who thored one of Uruguay’s best chances 24-og, Caceres 55, Ortiz 90+3) our best at the Bernabeu on Saturday vourite has helped sell out the Berna- automatically for next year’s fi nals in fell behind after midfi eld talisman Ar- late in the fi rst half after Edinson Cav- At Montevideo: Uruguay 0 Argentina 0 because we will need it,” added Lo- beu as 21-year-old prodigy Marco Russia, with the fi fth-placed team fac- turo Vidal scored a spectacular headed ani pounced on an Argentina slip near At Porto Alegre, Brazil: Brazil 2 (Paulinho petegui. “What concerns us is to be as Asensio looks set to make his fi rst ing a play-off . own goal in the fi rst half to put Para- halfway and passed to the Barcelona 69, Coutinho 76) Ecuador 0 good a team as we can be in every mo- competitive international start after The scramble for automatic qualify- guay ahead. Further goals from Vic- star. At Lima: Peru 2 (Flores 55, Cueva 59) ment of the game, to read the game, scoring four goals in fi ve games so far ing spots promises to go down to the tor Caceres and Richard Ortiz sealed a Suarez looked up and attempted an Bolivia 1 (Alvarez 72) and reach that level of excellence the this season.