FRIDAY 26 JANUARY 2018 25

I tried to be calm but I was SPORT a like a rollercoaster, up and TODAY’S 7.00am Australia vs down. But I was not afraid of Simona Halep ACTION CYCLING England at SCG losing so maybe that’s why I The world number one from Starting at Caribou Cafe The 4th ODI starts at 6:20am won these match points. Romania is aiming to win her maiden Grand Slam title. near Al Sadd Stadium England leading the series 3-0

Chung can Halep outlasts Kerber in thriller, end ‘Big Four’ era with Federer win sets up title clash with Wozniacki REUTERS MELBOURNE: It is fair bet REUTERS points against American Lauren that few would have picked Davis in a third-round epic. South Korean Chung Hyeon MELBOURNE: World number “I tried to be calm but today (pictured below) to be the one Simona Halep quelled a I was like a rollercoaster, up and player to break the domi- tenacious Angelique Kerber down. But I was not afraid of nance Roger Federer and the fightback and saved two match losing, so maybe that’s why I other members of the “Big points to reach her first won those match points.” Four” have had at the Australian Open final with a She will need to dredge the Australian Open over the last riveting 6-3, 4-6, 9-7 victory on depths of her energy reserves 13 years. Rod Laver Arena yesterday. against Wozniacki if she is to join The 21-year-old has A wildly unpredictable the Grand Slam winners’ circle enjoyed an amazing run over match veered one way, then the after falling at the last hurdle the last two weeks and if he other, before the Romanian twice in Paris. can get past Federer in Fri- ended Kerber’s resistance on her “If it’s going to come, it’s day’s semi-final, it would fourth match point in a spell- going to come,” added the ensure a final without the binding deciding set that pushed 26-year-old. Swiss, Novak Djokovic, Andy both players to the limit of their Halep predicted a marathon Murray or Rafael Nadal for endurance. against former world number the first Former champion Kerber, one Kerber but when she time since who won only five points in charged to a 5-0 lead in 14 min- 2005. losing the opening five games, utes it looked as though she In fact, was jelly-legged at times but might have caught the German barring fought off two match points in on an off-day. 2014 when the 10th game of the third set But Kerber roused herself to Stan before seeing two of her own win 12 of the next 13 points and Wawrinka come and go two games later. although Halep closed the set, won the In the end Halep’s insatiable the touch-paper had been lit and title, no desire for a maiden Grand Slam the match caught fire. Simona Halep of Romania celebrates player title proved the greater force as It felt like Halep was turning her win against Angelique Kerber of apart from an exhausted Kerber struck a the screw when she ran a red- Germany in the women’s semi-final the quartet backhand over the baseline. faced Kerber into the ground to match on day 11 at the Australian has even Halep will now face Den- seize a 3-1 lead in the second set Open in Melbourne. Halep won been mark’s Caroline Wozniacki in the and had a point for 4-1 lead. 6-3, 4-6, 9-7. involved in the men’s final at first Australian Open final But Kerber fought back, Melbourne Park since 2008. between two players still chasing saving two break points at 3-4 With Marin Cilic and Kyle a first major since 1980. On top and then fending off a flurry of were left propping themselves eventually worked her way into as Kerber broke for 6-5, then led Edmund lining up in the other of that the showdown between Halep backhands to hold. up with their rackets, lungs a 5-3 lead. 40-15, only for Houdini-like semi-final, that particular the top two seeds will have the With Kerber in lockdown heaving, as the rallies grew ever Kerber was literally on her Halep to extricate herself with dominance is already des- number one ranking on the line. mode Halep’s patience snapped more excruciating. knees when she struck a sensa- some courageous deep hitting. tined to be broken and Chung “I feel happy. I feel proud in the next game as she put a Kerber won a 22-point tional backhand to win a It was exhausting to watch denying Federer a place in his that I could stay there and fight backhand into the tramlines to exchange featuring drop shots, 26-point exchange to break back as the battle raged on but Halep 30th grand slam final remains till the end,” said Halep who has drop serve before 21st seed moon balls and impossible gets before saving two match points found some extra aggression, a huge “if”. fought for 12 hours and 16 min- Kerber held to level the match. to break at the start of the third, to make it 5-5. Halep began to crashing two forehand winners Defending his title as utes to reach her third grand At various times in the but it took its toll and Halep hit feel the strain, shooting angry for an 8-7 lead before holding second seed, the 19-times slam final and saved match 69-minute decider, the players back immediately and looks at her coach Darren Cahill her nerve to finish it grand slam has yet to give up a set as he has moved through the draw on his mission to match Djokovic’s professional era record of six Melbourne Business-like Cilic eases past ailing titles. Djokovic, albeit a Djok- ovic returning from six months on the sidelines, was world number 58 Chung’s Edmund to reach third Slam final most notable victim on his run to the last four and the manner of his victory caught REUTERS backhand winner down the line even Federer’s attention. Marin Cilic of closing it out. It looked bad for “I’m very excited to play MELBOURNE: A business-like Croatia reacts the Briton, who began hobbling Chung. I thought he played an Marin Cilic doused the fire of during his when in pursuit of Cilic’s raids incredible match against Kyle Edmund before crushing men’s semi final on his backhand. Novak,” the 36-year-old said the ailing Briton 6-2 7-6(4) 6-2 match against Tossed around like a rag doll yesterday. to become Croatia’s first Kyle Edmund across the court, Edmund was “I mean, to beat him here Australian Open finalist of Britain at broken at 1-1 when he netted a is one of the tough things to yesterday. the Australian weak retrieve. It prompted only do in our sport, I believe. I Sixth seed Cilic, who won his Open Grand a quiet fist pump from Cilic, who know that Novak maybe quarter-final when Rafa Nadal Slam tennis knuckled down to break him wasn’t at 110 percent, but he retired hurt in the fifth set, was tournament again at 4-2. An 11th ace and a was all right. He was giving it again ruthless against a reduced in Melbourne, volley put him a point from the a fight till the very end. To opponent, ending 49th-ranked BELOW, RIGHT: finish before he wound up his close it out, that was mighty Edmund’s dream run after just Kyle Edmund serve one last time to end impressive. two hours and 18 minutes at a of Britain Edmund’s misery. It looked like “I think it’s an interesting floodlit Rod Laver Arena. argues with the a groin injury that did for the match for me. I’ll definitely Sealing the match with a tournament Briton, but he refused to play the have to look into how I need thumping serve, the 2014 US official during his sympathy card. to play against him because Open champion will bid for his three-set loss to “Yeah, there’s something, but he has some great qualities, second Grand Slam title against Cilic. whatever,” said the Briton. “I’m especially defensively, like today’s winner of Roger Federer definitely disappointed about it, Novak has. and South Korea’s rising star but it’s one of those things where “One thing I know is I’m Chung Hyeon. I have to look at the whole week. going to be playing aggres- He will also enjoy two full It’s been so good ... One of the sive. I don’t know how I’m days off after his centre court biggest tournaments of the going to do that exactly yet.” cakewalk which left the largely agitated Edmund, however, searing forehand to the corner. saved one but Cilic was soon world, and making a good run Although Chung won the pro-Edmund crowd cold on a needed a medical time-out after With only a single forehand roaring in celebration, a and beating top players.” Next Gen Finals last year, his hazy, moist evening. the first set and slowed appreci- winner to his name, Edmund meteoric rise to the top table Everything is in a “good, solid ably in the third. It was a exited the court for a medical of the tennis world is indi- spot”, said the confident deflating end to a match that had time-out but returned still trou- cated by the fact that he will Croatian, who will contest his showed promise when the bled of mind. He lost his temper be bidding to become the first third Grand Slam final after 23-year-old Yorkshireman came at 2-2, arguing with the umpire man in a decade to play his being thrashed by Federer at out in a blaze of shot-making to heatedly after Cilic was awarded first tour final at a Grand Wimbledon. “I’m playing much, grab early break points. a point on a challenge. Slam. much more aggressive,” the Cilic served away the danger “Get the referee, I’m not His run through the tour- 29-year-old told reporters. “I’m and studiously avoided having it,” he snapped before nament has stunned even feeling that I am, for most of the Edmund’s bazooka forehand. being flat-batted by the second him. shots, hitting them really, really Given little latitude on his match official. The blow-up “I’m really surprised,” he good ... Feeling really excited favoured side, a frustrated seemed to help as he served out said. “I make semis, I beat like about the final, too.” Edmund was broken in the sixth to love and kept snapping at Cil- Sascha (fourth seed Alex- It was hard to disagree with game when he slapped a back- ic’s heels all the way to a tie- ander Zverev), Novak, the the 6-ft 6-in (1.98m) Cilic, who hand into the net tape and the break. But from there the big other good players. I never put on a masterclass of clean hit- rebound went wide. Croatian played with sublime playing in second week in ting and was virtually unplay- Cilic calmly broke him again, control, landing a pinpoint serve grand slam, so I’m really able on his first serve. An wrapping up the set with a to claim three set points. Edmund surprised.” 26 SPORT FRIDAY 26 JANUARY 2018

SCOREBOARD India (I innings): ...... 187 South Africa (I innings): Pacer Bumrah strikes as India D Elgar c Patel b Kumar ...... 4 A Markram c Patel b Kumar ...... 2 K Rabada c Rahane b Sharma ...... 30 H Amla c Pandya b Bumrah ...... 61 A de Villiers b Kumar ...... 5 take control of Test on day two F du Plessis b Bumrah ...... 8 Q de Kock c Patel b Bumrah ...... 8 V Philander c Bumrah b Mohammed Shami ...... 35 REUTERS second innings and may rue not A Phehlukwayo lbw b Bumrah ...... 9 being able to make deeper M Morkel not out ...... 9 JOHANNESBURG: Seamer inroads into the batting line-up L Ngidi c Patel b Bumrah ...... 0 Jasprit Bumrah took five wick- before the close. Extras (LB14, W9) ...... 23 ets as India seized control of the India had elevated middle- Total (65.5 overs) ...... 194 third and final Test against South order batsman Parthiv Patel (16) Fall of wickets: 1-3, 2-16, 3-80, 4-92, 5-107, 6-125, Africa yesterday, going to the to the top of the order to give 7-169, 8-175, 9-194 Bowling: Kumar 19-9-44-3 (2w), Bumrah 18.5-2-54-5 close of the second day with a them a right/left hand combina- (1w), Sharma 14-2-33-1, Mohammed Shami 12-0-46-1 42-run lead on a treacherous tion in the opening positions. (2w), Pandya 2-0-3-0 wicket at the Wanderers. He made a fast start, but was India (II innings): Bumrah, in this third Test, out to a fantastic catch from M Vijay (batting) ...... 13 ripped through the middle-order Aiden Markram racing in from P Patel c Markram b Philander ...... 16 and cleaned up the South Afri- slip after an inside edge onto his L Rahul (batting) ...... 16 can tail with career-best figures pad from a Vernon Philander of 5-54 as India bowled their (1-11) delivery. Extras (LB4) ...... 4 hosts out for 194. “It was always my dream to Total (1 wkt, 17 overs) ...... 49 With South Africa having play test cricket and to get my Fall of wicket: 1-17 taken a slender lead of seven first five-wicket haul, it’s very Bowling: Philander 5-2-11-1, Rabada 6-1- runs, the tourists reached 49 for good. And to contribute to the 19-0, Morkel 4-1-9-0, Ngidi 2-0-6-0 one wicket in their second team’s success is a good feeling,” innings. Bumrah told SuperSport after the Murali Vijay (13 not out) and day’s play. Indian bowler Jasprit Bumrah (right) celebrates the dismissal of South Maxwell back Lokesh Rahul (16 not out) will “When so much is happen- African batsman Hashim Amla during the second day of the third Test resume on the third day as India ing on the wicket you can get match at the Wanderers in Johannesburg yesterday. in Australia look to set South Africa a chal- over-excited. That was the basic lenging target. message that was given to the ODI squad as With 21 wickets tumbling in bowlers, not to get carried away, Rabada was out five minutes Amla caught at mid-wicket, we were quite far behind the just two days on a wicket that to bowl a disciplined line.” before lunch and South Africa before trapping Andile Phehluk- deficit, so to get to 190 was a cover for Finch has pace, bounce and prodigious The home side started the then lost their way in the middle wayo (9) lbw and seeing Lungi decent effort,” Amla said. REUTERS lateral movement, it appears that second day on six for one after session as AB de Villiers (5), Faf Ngidi (0) caught by wicketkeeper South Africa have an unas- any target above 150 will be dif- dismissing India for 187 and du Plessis (8) and Quinton de Patel as the innings came to a sailable 2-0 lead in the SYDNEY: Batsman Glenn ficult to overhaul. Hashim Amla (61) and night- Kock (8) all failed, the latter two rapid end. three-match series, but are seek- Maxwell has been recalled to the South Africa lacked their watchman Kagiso Rabada (30) out to Bumrah. “We had to scratch around ing a first ever clean-sweep over Australian squad as cover for usual intensity in the Indian put on 64 for the third wicket. The Indian seamer then had for a few runs and at one stage India. Aaron Finch, who was ruled out of today’s fourth one-day inter- national against England in Adelaide with a hamstring injury. Maxwell, who has played 80 ODIs for his country and can be Pakistan finally overcome one of the most destructive bats- men in world cricket on his day, was surprisingly left out when the squad was announced ear- lier this month. Blacks Caps with T20 win Captain Steve Smith and chairman of selectors Trevor AFP field from Pakistan. New Zealand to introduce spin- Hohns had said at the time he “Pakistan were excellent ners Ish Sodhi and Mitchell needed to be more consistent at AUCKLAND: Pakistan crushed tonight in all departments and Santner. the international level to get New Zealand by 48 runs in the we weren’t that good in any Fakhar responded by belt- back into the team. second T20 in Auckland yester- department,” New Zealand cap- ing three sixes off Santner’s first The 29-year-old last played day to notch their first victory of tain Kane Williamson said. over, bringing up his maiden T20 for the one-day side on the tour the tour over the Black Caps. “When you catch them on a half century soon after off 26 of India last September. The tourists finally found great day, you get the result we balls. Finch will be assessed ahead form with both bat and ball to got.” Openers Fakhar and Ahmed Rance finally broke through of the fifth ODI in Perth on Sun- level the three-match T20 series Shehzad laid the platform with in the ninth over, deceiving day. England have an after a humiliating losing streak a partnership of 94. Ahmed with a slower ball that unassailable 3-0 lead in the that included a 5-0 ODI series Pakistan’s previous best top- carried straight to Colin de series. whitewash. order partnership during the six Grandhomme on the They set an imposing target limited-over matches played on boundary. of 202 after winning the toss and tour so far was just 14. Fakhar fell in the next over Pollock and electing to bat, with half centu- The pair made the most of but Sarfraz Ahmed and Babar ries for Babar Azam and Fakhar Eden Park’s short boundaries to kept the scoreboard ticking over, Gavaskar Zaman. comfortably dispatch anything taking Pakistan to 137 for two In response, New Zealand’s short or wide for four. They pun- with five overs remaining. criticise Test top order crumbled to 64 for six ished pacemen Ben Wheeler and Sarfraz in particular dis- match pitch under a combination of tight Seth Rance, who both conceded played a confidence that had so bowling and commitment in the 13 runs in an over, prompting far eluded him on tour to make AFP 41 off 24 deliveries. Babar brought up his 50 and JOHANNESBURG: Former Test SCOREBOARD took the team past 200 with a captains Shaun Pollock and Sunil Pakistan Tom Bruce run out Haris ...... 11 four off the final ball of the Gavaskar yesterday criticised the Fakhar Zaman c Sodhi b de Grandhomme ...... 50 Glenn Phillips c Haris b Faheem ...... 5 innings. Pakistan’s bowling pitch being used for the third and Ahmed Shehzad c de Grandhomme b Rance ..44 Colin de Grandhomme st Sarfraz b Shadab ...... 10 attack capitalised on the good final Test between South Africa Babar Azam (not out) ...... 50 Mitchell Santner c Sarfraz b Amir ...... 37 work from their batsmen by dis- and India at the Wanderers Sarfraz Ahmed c Munro b Wheeler ...... 41 Ben Wheeler b Hasan ...... 30 Faheem Ashraf c Santner b Wheeler ...... 0 Ish Sodhi c Babar b Faheem ...... 15 lodging New Zealand’s top order Stadium. Hasan Ali not out ...... 6 Seth Rance c Fakhar b Faheem ...... 1 cheaply. The former South African Extras: (W9, LB1) ...... 10 Trent Boult (not out) ...... 0 Faheem Ashraf ended with and Indian captains were com- Total: (4 wkts) ...... 201 Extras: (B4, W4, NB1, LB8) ...... 17 figures of three for 22 while menting while examining the Fall of wickets: 1-94, 2-96, 3-187, 4-188 Total: (all out) ...... 153 Shadab Khan and Mohammad pitch for SuperSport television Bowling: Boult 4-0-37-0 (1w), Rance 4-0-47-1 (3w), Fall of wickets: 1-25, 2-28, 3-47, 4-52, 5-58 Phillips, Amir each took two wickets. during the tea break on the sec- Wheeler 4-0-36-2 (1w), Sodhi 4-0-32-0 (1w), Santner 6-64, 7-118, 8-152, 9-153, 10-153 Colin Munro was trapped ond day of a match in which 2-0-30-0 (2w), de Grandhomme 2-0-18-1 (1w) Bowling: Mohammad Amir 4-0-28-2, Rumman Raees New Zealand 3-0-27-1 (1w 1nb), Faheem Ashraf 3.3-0-22-3 (1w), Has- lbw for one then, captain Kane Pakistan’s Rumman Raees and Sarfraz Ahmed celebrate the batsmen have struggled Martin Guptill c Umar b Shadab ...... 26 an Ali 4-0-27-1, Shadab Khan 4-0-37-2 (2w) Williamson made a rare golden wicket of New Zealand’s Kane Williamson during the second throughout. Colin Munro lbw Amir ...... 1 Result: Pakistan win by 48 runs duck before Tom Bruce was run Twenty20 international cricket match at Eden Park in Auckland Pointing to cracks and Kane Williamson c Haris b Rumman ...... 0 Player-of-the-Match: Fakhar Zaman out thanks to some sharp field- yesterday. Pakistan won by 48 runs. indentations on a good length, ing from Haris Sohail. with graphics showing extrava- gant movement and unpredictable bounce, Pollock said: “If you’ve got deliveries behaving like this on day two of Sri Lanka beat Bangladesh, reach final a Test match it can’t be judged a good surface.” AFP place in the series and ensured runs and knocked out the upper SCOREBOARD He compared the Wander- Sri Lanka another match against order. Thisara Perera, Dushman- ers pitch to one which was DHAKA: Suranga Lakmal led Sri Bangladesh in Saturday’s final. tha Chameera and Lakshan Bangladesh 8-80, 9-81, 10-82 condemned as “poor” by the Tamim Iqbal c Gunathilaka b Lakmal ...... 5 Bowling: Lakmal 7-1-21-3 (w5), Chameera 5-1-6-2 (w2), Lankan bowlers on a confi- Sri Lanka had to win to Sandakan each claimed two Anamul Haque b Lakmal ...... 0 T Perera 6-0-27-2 (w1), Sandakan 6-0-24-2 (w2) International Cricket Council dence-boosting rampage to remain in the competition and, wickets. Shakib Al Hasan run out Gunathilaka ...... 8 Sri Lanka when South Africa toured India skittle out Bangladesh for 82 coming out of their worst year Bangladesh, who had Mushfiqur Rahim c Mendis b Chameera ...... 26 D Gunathilaka (not out) ...... 35 in 2015. yesterday and guide his side into in international cricket, com- secured emphatic wins in their Mahmudullah c Chameera b Lakmal ...... 7 U Tharanga (not out) ...... 39 “You go to India and get a the final of the Dhaka tri-nation pleted the task in style. past three games, were all out Sabbir Rahman c Sub b Perera ...... 10 Extras (W8, NB1) ...... 9 surface like Nagpur where it tournament. Bangladesh skipper for 82 in 24 overs and clearly Abul Hasan c Dickwella b Perera ...... 7 Total (no wicket) ...... 83 turned too much. This can’t be Openers Upul Tharanga (39) Mashrafe Mortaza won the toss stunned. Nasir Hossain c Dickwella b Chameera ...... 3 Did not bat: K Mendis, D Chandimal, A Gunaratne, N judged a good surface because Mashrafe Mortaza b Sandakan ...... 1 Dickwella, T Perera, S Lakmal, L Sandakan, A Dananjaya, and Danushka Gunathilaka (35) and opted to bat but soon regret- After the match, Chandimal Rubel Hossain c Tharanga b Sandakan ...... 0 D Chameera as a batsman you are never in.” sped to the target 83 in just 11.5 ted his move. Mushfiqur Rahim highlighted Sri Lanka’s planning Mustafizur Rahman (not out) ...... 1 Bowling: Mortaza 2-0-15-0 (nb1, w1), Abul 4-0-25-0, Gavaskar said pitches overs to seal the win for the made 26 but Sabbir Rahman was for this game. Extras (LB4, W10) ...... 14 Nasir 3-0-19-0, Mustafizur 1.5-0-14-0 (w2), Shakib 1-0- needed to give both batsmen and islanders. the only other batsman to reach “We wanted to attack them,” Total (24 overs) ...... 82 10-0 (w5) bowlers a fair chance. “This is what we’re capable double figures, with just 10 runs. said the captain. “We can con- Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-15, 3-16 , 4-34, 5-57, 6-71, 7-79, Result: Sri Lanka win by 10 wickets “You can get a very flat sur- of,” said Sri Lankan captain Lakmal picked up his three trol when we’re fielding. face which is totally in favour of Dinesh Chandimal as he cele- wickets -- openers Tamim Iqbal Especially Suranga bowled really Bangladesh skipper Mortaza our middle order has been batsmen. This is a pitch which is brated the emphatic 10-wicket and Anamul Haque, and number well at the start. Upul and admitted his side had suffered a exposed,” he said. “Hopefully totally in favour of bowlers,” he win that left Zimbabwe in third five Mahmudullah -- for just 21 Danushka finished it really well.” wake-up call. “Good thing that they’ll find out their mistakes.” said. FRIDAY 26 JANUARY 2018 SPORT 27

Qatar Open Amateur Golf Championship begins Defending champion Plerre Verlaar of the Netherlands in action on the opening day of Qatar Open Amateur Golf Championship at Doha Golf Club yesterday. CENTRE: A golfer walks at the DGC. RIGHT: Qatari golfer Saleh Al Kaabi in action on the opening day. Over 100 golfers from 40 countries including 11 professionals are taking part in the contest. PICTURES BY: KAMMUTTY VP/THE PENINSULA

Arsenal set up No Neymar as PSG Manchester City make Cup progress League Cup final AFP that,” said Wenger. AFP “We were not playing in the LONDON: Arsenal started the right position but we amended PARIS: Paris Saint-Germain post-Alexis Sanchez era in style that in the second half and took (PSG) made light of Neymar’s on Wednesday, coming from control of the game.” absence in beating Guingamp behind to beat Chelsea 2-1 on Antonio Conte’s Chelsea, 4-2 to secure their ticket to the aggregate and set up a mouth- missing Alvaro Morata and Cesc French Cup last 16 on Wednes- watering League Cup final Fabregas, had the better of the day as Edinson Cavani was against Premier League lead- first half and had already had a made to wait for his club-record ers Manchester City. goal ruled out for offside by the goal. Pep Guardiola’s City time Hazard opened the scor- Despite PSG’s dominance reached the Wembley show- ing in the seventh minute after Cavani failed to get on the piece the previous evening by Pedro released him through the scoresheet as he pursues a beating Championship side middle. record 157th goal, but it wasn’t Bristol City 3-2 in the second But Arsenal levelled just for the want of trying as he failed leg of their tie and 5-3 over the minutes later after a bizarre to convert a hatful of chances. two legs, staying on course for Rudiger own goal. Nacho Mon- The Uruguayan striker is on an unprecedented quadruple. real headed powerfully the verge of becoming PSG’s all- After a goalless first leg, the goalwards from a corner, which time scorer after drawing level visitors took an early lead at the then took a double deflection with Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s Emirates through Eden Hazard off Marcos Alonso and then benchmark in the 8-0 rout of but Arsenal were level soon Rudiger, leaving Willy Cabal- Dijon last week. afterwards via a bizarre Anto- lero flat-footed in the Chelsea Neymar left the pitch after nio Rudiger own goal and goal. that Ligue 1 outing angered at scored the winner in the sec- Willian was forced off booing directed at him from Parc ond half through Granit Xhaka. before half an hour and Conte des Princes fans when he Arsene Wenger has an out- threw on Barkley for his Chel- stepped up to take a penalty standing record in the FA Cup sea debut but the former rather than allowing Cavani a Paris Saint-Germain’s players react after Guingamp scored an own goal during their French Cup with Arsenal but in more than Everton man struggled to make shot at the record. 21 years in the job he has never an impact on the game. round of 16 in Paris on Wednesday. The world’s most expensive won the League Cup, which he A rejuvenated Arsenal player was missing from PSG’s has often used to blood young started the second period on the 2-1 loss at Lyon on Sunday and support to the Brazilian. “To boo return on Saturday, but I hope missed the final touch,” he said. players. Guardiola on the other front foot and edged in front in again for this Cup tie with our players runs contrary to our he’ll be ready at the latest for In the tie of the round Lyon hand will be desperate to claim the two-legged tie when Xhaka according to the club “a pain in values,” “Neymar PSG Cup Lille (on February 3). It was a edged Monaco 3-2. the first silverware of his time reacted quickly to prod home his right thigh”. united for Paris”, home support- hard knock and the risk is get- Steven Jovetic opened the in charge at City, who are chas- a deflected Alexandre Lacazette A section of the club’s fans - ers wrote on banners in the ting another blow,” said Emery. scoring for Monaco but Betrand ing glory on four fronts. cross with about half an hour ‘Collectif Ultras Paris’ (CUP) stands. Tackled about Neymar, Adrien Rabiot opened the Traore quickly levelled with Wenger was unable to field to go. - conveyed a message of PSG coach Unai Emery said: scoring for PSG in the 21st Mariano Diaz bagging a the cup-tied Henrikh Mkhitar- Alex Iwobi had a golden “He’s continuing his recovery minute followed smartly by double. yan, who joined the club from chance to seal the win, with with the physio, I hope he’ll be Lucas Deaux’s own goal, with Rony Lopes gave Monaco Manchester United earlier this Caballero making a fine save to back with the team very soon. Javier Pastore and Marquinhos hope but Lyon held on to join week in a swap deal with keep Chelsea in the tie. “He (Neymar) is here, in completing the round of 32 win PSG in the next round along with Sanchez moving in the other But Conte’s men, lacking a Paris, and he’s a great player. We after the break. second division Auxerre and direction while Ross Barkley cutting edge, could not find the Neymar is here, in Paris, must show him affection.” Marcus Thuram and Yeni topflight Caen but only on pen- made his debut for Chelsea as inspiration they needed to take and he’s a great player. Another high profile absentee Ngbakoto were on the mark in alties from lowly fifth-division a first-half substitute. the game into extra-time and We must show him was Kylian Mbappe, who was either half for Guingamp from outfit Canet-en-Roussillon. “In the first half we gave Arsenal held on to claim a affection, says PSG coach stretchered off after a clash with the penalty spot. On Cavani’s On Tuesday, Marseille Chelsea too much respect and deserved victory. Unai Emery Lyon’s Anthony Lopes. record hunt Emery said: “Today claimed a 2-0 win at fourth-tier distance. We were a bit scared The final takes place at “He’s fine, we’ll see if he can he created lots of chances, but Epinal. to go for it and we suffered from Wembley on February 25. Real suffer humiliating Copa del Rey exit

AFP in the Champions League last 16 where made the semi-finals but needed a 3-2 they face Paris Saint-Germain in three penalty shoot-out to defeat Alaves who MADRID: Real Madrid crashed to a weeks’ time, are 19 points behind Bar- won 2-1 for a 3-3 aggregate. humiliating Copa del Rey exit on celona in the Spanish title race. On Tuesday, Sergio Escudero’s goal Wednesday when they were knocked The fans let their feelings known by after just 24 seconds set Sevilla on their out by little Leganes in the quarter- booing off the team at half-time. way to a 3-1 win over Atletico Madrid finals, adding to the atmosphere of crisis Leganes have a budget of just 45m and a place in the semi-finals. Sevilla, at the European champions. euros -- six times less than the 675m finalists in 2016, had won the first leg Real lost 2-1 in the second leg at their euros commanded by mighty Real. 2-1. Bernabeu home as the tie finished 2-2 Even without Cristiano Ronaldo and Meanwhile, Brazilian playmaker on aggregate with their modest city Gareth Bale, who were rested on Philippe Coutinho has been named in neighbours going through on away goals Wednesday after starring in the 7-1 rout the Barcelona squad for Copa del Rey despite having lost the first leg 1-0 last of Deportivo La Coruna at the weekend, clash against Espanyol, his first call-up week. Real’s second-string side should still since his 160 million euros ($194m, Javi Eraso gave Leganes a 32nd have had enough firepower for a side £142m) move from Liverpool. minute lead before Karim Benzema lev- languishing in 13th spot in La Liga. Coutinho, who has been handed the elled after 47 minutes but Brazilian But Leganes put on an inspired dis- number 14 shirt vacated by China- striker Gabriel Pires then hit the winner play, despite backs to the wall late in the bound Javier Mascherano, had been Leganes’ Gabriel (centre) celebrates with with a firm header eight minutes later. game, to make the semi-finals for the sidelined by a thigh injury since his team-mates after scoring their second goal It was a depressing evening for Zin- first time. drawn-out transfer saga came to an end against Real Madrid on Wednesday. edine Zidane’s side who, despite being In the night’s other game, Valencia on January 6. SPORT Friday 26 January 2018

PAGE | 25 PAGE | 26 PAGE | 27 Halep outlasts Bumrah’s five-wicket Real suffer Kerber in haul swings third Test humiliating Copaopa thriller to in India’s favour del Rey exit reach final QSL: Clinical Al Sadd thrash Al Gharafa 4-0

RIZWAN REHMAT who take on Al Rayyan in a QNB STARS LEAGUE of the ball. Despite being down Al Sadd’s THE PENINSULA round 14 clash tomorrow. on the pitch, Jugurtha flicked the Jugurtha In the sixth minute, Al Yesterday’s Results lose ball into the net to consoli- Hamroun DOHA: In a dominating Gharafa captain Wesley Sneijder Al Sadd bt Al Gharafa 4-0 date Al Sadd’s lead, giving celebrates his performance, Doha giants Al found Carlos inside the Al Sadd Today’s Matches himself a brace and taking his goal against Sadd yesterday crushed former box but the latter’s deflection 4:30pm: Al Sailiya vs Al Markhiya overall tally to 8 goals in the Al Gharafa champions Al Gharafa 4-0, from close range missed the tar- at Al Ahli Stadium season.

yesterday. thanks largely to a brace each by get. In the 7th minute, feared Al 6:40pm: Qatar SC vs Al Arabi In the 52nd minute, Jugurtha Jugurtha Hamroun and Hassan Sadd striker Al Haydos went at Qatar SC Stadium missed an easy deflection from Al Haydos. long-range on a shot that sailed close range when he was pro- In a game played at Thani Bin past the Al Gharafa goalpost vided with a neat cross from the Jassim Stadium, the home turf of without causing any harm. net from close range. It was right flank. Al Gharafa, Hamroun scored his In the 15th minute, Al Ghara- Jugurtha’s seventh goal of the In a spell of 14 minutes, Al two goals in the first half (33 and fa’s Tamir Gamal charged into season. Seconds from the end of Sadd star and Qatar national 45) while Al Haydos found the the Al Sadd box but his low show the first half, Jugurtha scored his team forward Al Haydos struck net twice in the second half (73 beat goalkeeper Saad Abdulla but second goal after a cross from twice - first in the 73rd minute and 87) to complete a resound- missed the goalpost narrowly. Hamid Ismail. as he deflected the ball into the ing win for Al Sadd who are hot In the 33rd minute, Al Sadd The Algerian deflected the net on a Jugurtha cross. on the heels of points QNB Stars broke the deadlock in scoring. ball towards the Al Sadd goal but Three minutes from the end, League points leaders Al Duhail. Al Haydos outran and out- Al Gharafa keeper Burhan Al Haydos scored his second goal Coached by Portuguese Jesu- witted marker Carlos before blocked the shot. Jugurtha, how- with another close-range strike aldo Ferreira, Al Sadd (34 points) slipping a cross to Jugurtha who ever, made the most of a fumble as Al Sadd completed a dominat- are a notch behind Al Duhail (35) calmly deflected the ball into the by Burhan who had lost control ing show. Al Markhiya Eyeing 3rd spot, Qatar out rope in Yemen’s Hamzan to defy chill and Korea THE PENINSULA

DOHA: QNB Stars League THE PENINSULA “We need to evaluate some team Al Markhiya took on players because there are some board Yemeni player Ammar DOHA: Qatar coach Felix doubts,” said Sanchez of the Hamzan till the end of this Sanchez believes his players physical condition of his players season in a bid to further have the character to overcome after five games. consolidate their ranks. He the disappointment of not reach- “We will test and tomorrow will wear jersey No.40. ing the final of the AFC U23 morning we will decide. The move followed the Championship 2018 to secure “As for the conditions, it’s Qatar Football Association’s victory over Korea Republic in different to what we are used to decision to allow Yemen’s the third place play-off today. but it’s not an excuse. Many of players to be registered as Sanchez’s side lost in a pen- them have played outside Qatar resident players in its first and alty shootout to Vietnam while with these conditions so it won’t second division clubs due to the Koreans were eliminated by affect us.” the adverse circumstances Uzbekistan to set up the encoun- The Koreans, meanwhile, prevailing in that country. ter between the two, with the will go into the game without Accordingly, only one Qataris appearing in the third Jang Yun-ho who was sent off Yemeni player can be regis- place play-off for the second during their 4-1 extra-time loss tered by a team and the rule tournament in a row. against Uzbekistan, leaving is applicable till the end of this “This is the game that coach Kim Bong-gil to decide season. Qatar’s players share light who will replace the Jeonbuk Earlier, Al Markhiya moment in snow on the eve Hyundai man in central signed striker Leonardo Hen- of their third place play-off in midfield. rique Santos de Souza from Kunshan, China yesterday. “We are ready for the last South Korean club Busan As for the conditions, match, the third place match, IPark till the end of this sea- even though our players are son. The Brazilian signed the it’s different to what nobody likes to play, but we need minutes, so it is not easy. But our game was tough,” he added. exhausted because we played deal in the presence of Al we are used to but it’s to make the last effort to play a players have a very positive The Qataris arrived in Kun- extra time, but our players will Markhiya Sports Club Vice- not an excuse. Many good game tomorrow,” Sanchez mentality and they know that shan on Wednesday evening do their best,” he said. President Jamil Obaid after afc.com of them have played was quoted as saying on . sometimes football has this. from Changzhou and woke up “Our players are well pre- successfully passing his med- “Our players are going to do “I think they are ready and, yesterday to a blanket of snow pared and they know how ical at Aspetar. outside Qatar with their best like they did in all the of course, we plan for the game over the city, providing unfamil- important this match is. They are De Souza replaced these conditions so it other games to play a good game. for tomorrow. Yesterday and iar conditions for Sanchez’s eager to get third place and Burkina Faso striker Alain won’t affect us, says “The situation is we didn’t today we will see how the play- team. they’ll do their best. Tomorrow Traore, who parted ways with qualify (for the final) without los- ers are doing, especially But he does not think the is the last match in this tourna- Yousef Adam-coached Al Felix Sanchez ing any games. We had four physically because it’s been a frigid temperatures will provide ment and they will give their all,” Markhiya by mutual victories and one draw after 120 long tournament and the last cause for concern for Qatar. he added. consent. Al Rayyan tie crucial for Al Duhail: Oliveira Ahli’s Chikhaoui to return from injury THE PENINSULA contenders too. These kind of games make our players more enthusiastic DOHA: Al Duhail’s assistant coach on the pitch.” THE PENINSULA Chikhaoui had played an Bruno Oliveira has termed tomor- “Certainly, the contest will be influential role and scored Al row’s QNB Stars League (QSL) clash exciting for the fans too. We know DOHA: Al Ahli will get back the Ahli’s only goal even though against Al Rayyan as ‘one of the most fully well that we cannot score many services of injured attacking they lost to Al Gharafa 1-2 in important games’ as his side look to goals in all matches, like what hap- midfielder Yassine Chikhaoui Week 12. retain their lead. pened last week against Al Arabi (pictured) when they face Umm Meanwhile, the Brigadiers Al Duhail will host The Red when we won by a solitary goal, and Salal in Week 14 of the QNB will sorely miss striker Moham- Knights in what has been dubbed as we are prepared for any scenario. Stars League tomorrow. med Muntari as he is yet to ‘Match of the Week’. Al Duhail are on top of the stand- The Tunisian had missed recover from an injury. “We are ready to face Al Rayyan. ings with 35 points with Al Rayyan their last-round match with Al Al Ahli are seventh on 15 This will be one of the most impor- being placed third with 31 points. Khor, which ended in a 2-2 points. Umm Salal had beaten tant games for us this season,” Al Sadd climbed to second spot draw, due to muscle cramp. Al Ahli 2-0 in the first phase. Oliveira said ahead of the match. with 34 points after a 4-0 rout of Al “They are one of our title Gharafa yesterday.