SPORT Monday 15 January 2018

PAGE | 31 PAGE | 32-33 PAGE | 36 Zidane and Real I’m too old to be Joshua, Parkerer MadridM under fire favourite, set for title after defeat says Federer clash

Qatar coach Felix Sanchez speaks to his team during a training session in Changzhou, China yesterday. Unbeaten will take on hosts China today in an AFC U-23 Asian Cup clash. Confident Qatar take on hosts China with eye on quarter-finals

RIZWAN REHMAT played against Myanmar and THE PENINSULA there were nearly 30,000 Hai powers spectators there,” Ali said of Vietnam CHANGZHOU: Unbeaten We will approach the Qatar’s title winning triumph Qatar will be looking to pick three years ago. up full points against hosts game as if it was a “I think the team will face to 1-0 win China and seal a quarter-finals final. If we can now the same sort of challenge berth when the two sides meet get a result against against China as the stadium over Aussies today in an AFC U-23 Asian China, it would give us will be full. Nevertheless, we Cup clash. even more confidence are ready,” he added. THE PENINSULA Group A leaders Qatar, who going into our next Also today, Uzbekistan take just need one point to secure a on Oman at the Jiangyin Sports KUNSHAN, CHINA: Nguyen quarter-finals berth, have game (in the quarter- Center knowing that a win Quang Hai’s second half beaten Uzbekistan and Oman finals): Qatar coach would also see them through winner earned Vietnam a 1-0 in their two matches to keep Felix Sanchez to the competition’s knockout win over in the AFC their slate clean ahead of their phase. \ U23 Championship 2018 match at Changzhou Sports Uzbekistan’s head coach yesterday and throw the battle Centre. about the defeat against Ravshan Khaydarov is relieved for the quarter-final places in “We will approach the Uzbekistan on Friday, Madd- that his team beat hosts China Group D wide open. game as if it was a final,” Qatar aloni said: “As far as we are on Friday. Australia had no answer coach Felix Sanchez said yes- concerned, we need to reflect “The next game against to Hai’s deflected long-range terday. “If we can now get a on the result of the game Oman is very important for us,” strike and the result leaves result against China, it would against Uzbekistan in a posi- Khaydarov said during a press both teams level on three give us even more confidence tive manner.” conference yesterday. “The win points after two rounds of going into our next game (in Key striker Almoez Ali yes- against China was very impor- matches, with the Olyroos the quarter-finals),” Sanchez terday told reporters the Qatar tant because of the situation we defeating Syria and Vietnam added. team is brimming with confi- found ourselves in following losing to Korea Republic in “To qualify for the next dence having accumulated six the game against Qatar. their respective openers. round would be a good points from two matches. “I think that every team in Victory over Syria in their achievement, but I think fin- “We have a very important this group will now face a bat- final group game on Wednes- ishing first gives you game against China coming up tle to qualify, as all four teams day would be enough to take confidence because you will and we are preparing ourselves still have a real chance to reach the Vietnamese into the last have finished top of a very well. The team is ready for the the quarter-finals,” he added. eight while Australia face a tough group,” the Spaniard said match,” Ali said yesterday. “We Oman coach Hamad Al significant challenge to stay when asked if the team would are doing very well in this tour- Azani said yesterday: “I was alive in the tournament when settle for a draw. nament so far and we already disappointed with the last they take on the Koreans. “I believe that in a long have six points,” he added. result (against Qatar), and for Ante Milicic made eight competition like this, confi- Ali said Qatar team expects sure we will try our very best changes from the team that dence is important, because to see a huge Chinese crowd to qualify. It would be a great handed Syria a 3-1 defeat, with over the course of 90 minutes turning up for the clash today. pity to go out of the competi- George Blackwood, who you can be the first or the last “At the AFC U-19 Champi- tion without having won any scored twice for the Olyroos, team,” he added. onship in Myanmar in 2014, we points.” rested and Bruce Kamau, who Sanchez said China remain claimed his side’s other goal, Qatari players take part in a training a major threat despite losing unavailable due to injury. session on the eve of their AFC U23 to Uzbekistan last week. The fluidity the Austral- “We know that China is a Championship match against China ians displayed in that win very strong team and we will which will be played at the Changzhou was absent in the first half plan well for the match, just as Sports Centre in Changzhou, China against the Vietnamese with we did for the other two teams today. the Southeast Asian side in the group,” Sanchez said. wresting the initiative from “China have shown over Milicic’s team as the half the course of their two games, wore on. even during their defeat to AFC U23 With 18 minutes remain- Uzbekistan, that they have tal- CHAMPIONSHIP ing, Vietnam claimed what ented players and are very well turned out to be the winner. TODAY’S FIXTURES organised,” he added. Australia’s inability to prop- China coach Massimiliano erly clear a corner was Maddaloni said yesterday: “We China vs Qatar punished when Quang Hai need to have confidence 11.00am (Qatar time) struck from distance, with a because we are growing up as deflection taking the shot past a team. We need to face our Uzbekistan vs Oman Izzo. next opponents, who are Qatar, Australia pushed for the 11.00am (Qatar time) in a positive frame of mind.” equaliser but Vietnam held on When asked to comment to record a famous win. 30 SPORT MONDAY 15 JANUARY 2018

Deeney accepts Al Duhail widen gap at the top VAR would THE PENINSULA QSL ROUND 12 REVIEW have ruled out

DOHA: The QNB Stars League equaliser that resumed after a month-long winter break saw a marauding AFP Al Duhail narrowly widen the gap with other title contenders : Troy Deeney had Al Sadd and Al Rayyan follow- no qualms in saying Watford’s ing the Week 12 action. controversial last-gasp equal- In the process, The Red iser against Southampton Knights extended their record of would have been ruled out being the only unbeaten side so had a Video Assistant Refe- far this season. ree (VAR) been in place at Al Duhail have 32 points, Vicarage Road on Saturday. four ahead of both Al Sadd and Abdoulaye Doucore Al Rayyan. Al Sadd retained the sealed a 2-2 draw in the Pre- second position on better goal mier League clash with what difference. most observers regarded as It was a total collapse by a clear handball in the final Qatar SC (0-6), after a few pos- minute. itive results ever since Qatari The French midfielder coach Abdullah Mubarak took stooped to nod Deeney’s charge from Gabriel Calderon, Al Rayyan striker Rodrigo Tabata celebrates scoring a goal against Al Khor in the QSL match on Saturday. header back into the net -- against Al Duhail, who had won only for the ball to miss his their first-phase encounter only head and be swept home with by a 3-2 margin. attacking midfielder Youssef move from basement to 11th on midfielder Mohsine Moutaouali 3-1 win over Al Kharaitiyat to his hand. Moroccan spearhead Youssef Msakni contributed two goals. better goal difference even finally came good on the score close the gap with Al Sailiya to It was possible to make El Arabi continued his ruthless Mohammed Mousa was the other though they were tied on eight sheet, having netted their open- just one point. Al Gharafa put it a case for saying Doucore’s form to notch up a hat-trick, scorer. El Arabi and Msakni took points with Qatar SC. ing goal. Al Sailiya had a week to across Al Ahli 2-1 in a much- action had been inadvertent while captain and Tunisian their goals tally to 19 and 11 Al Rayyan did well even in forget as they were held 1-1 by awaited contest, marked by the rather than deliberate but respectively. the absence of their top scorer Al Arabi, who jumped from ninth debut of both coaches Bulent not as far as Martin Keown QNB STARS LEAGUE STANDINGS Al Sadd sorely missed the Abderrazaq Hamdallah as they to eighth with 10 points, displac- Uygun (Al Gharafa) and George was concerned, with the Al Duhail 12 10 0 2 46 16 32 services of injured Algerian rode on playmaker Rodrigo ing Al Khor by virtue of having Jorge (Al Ahli). It also saw The BBC pundit saying the Wat- Al Sadd 12 9 2 1 30 15 28 striker Baghdad Bounedjah while Tabata’s two-goal effort. scored more goals. Cheetahs’ star signing Wesley ford man had “done a Al Rayyan 12 9 2 1 30 17 28 Al Sailiya 12 6 4 2 26 18 20 being held by Al Markhiya Al Khor just could not find The Peregrines did not live Sneijder make his first appear- Maradona” -- a reference to Umm Salal 12 5 3 4 20 17 19 goalless. their footing against Al Rayyan up to expectations. In fact, Al ance. Al Gharafa climbed from the football great’s blatant Al Gharafa 12 3 4 5 18 18 14 It was a revenge of sorts for after having a productive camp Arabi would have snatched a vic- sixth to seventh with 14 points. handball that helped Argen- Al Ahli 12 4 6 2 14 19 14 Al Markhiya who gave their all. at the Aspire Zone during the tory had it not been for a late Week 12 saw 18 goals being tina knock England out of Al Arabi 12 2 6 4 16 25 10 They had beaten The Wolves in break. The 3-0 victory drew The equaliser. However, Al Sailiya scored in all compared to the the 1986 World Cup on the Al Khor 12 3 8 1 12 24 10 the first phase, but for the over- Lions level with Al Sadd in terms stayed fourth with 20 points, previous week’s 15, with Qatar South Americans’ way to Al Kharaitiyat 12 2 7 3 15 29 9 turned result for fielding an of the number of points collected keeping the first four positions SC vs Al Duhail and Al Rayyan vs lifting the trophy. Al Markhiya 12 1 6 5 8 19 8 ineligible player. (28). They would also be in the standings in tact. Al Khor fixtures the high-scor- However, referee Roger Qatar SC 12 2 8 2 12 30 8 The draw helped The Oryxes delighted that Moroccan Umm Salal came up with a ing ones. East and linesman Derek Eaton either missed Dou- core’s action completely or were happy to let the goal stand as scored. This past week saw VAR Liverpool end City’s introduced into English foot- ball, with Monday’s debut in the FA Cup third round clash between Brighton and Crys- unbeaten run in EPL tal Palace followed by a second apperarance in AFP ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE clever shot in off the post follow- Wednesday’s League Cup English Premier League results yesterday: ing a through-ball by semi-final first leg match LONDON: Liverpool condemned Bournemouth 2 (Wilson 70, Ibe 74) Arsenal 1 (Bel- Oxlade-Chamberlain and just between Chelsea and Manchester City to their first lerin 52) two minutes later Sadio Mane Arsenal. Premier League defeat of the Liverpool 4 (Oxlade-Chamberlain 9, Firmino 59, smashed a shot into the top cor- However, it is still some season yesterday as Arsenal’s Mane 62, Salah 68) Manchester City 3 (Sane 40, B. ner to make it 3-1. way off from appearing in the defeat was marked by the miss- Silva 84, Gundogan 90+1) With City rocking, Mohamed Premier League. ing Alexis Sanchez, who looks set Played on Saturday: Salah scored Liverpool’s fourth “If VAR had come in we to leave the club imminently. Chelsea 0 Leicester City 0 with a left-footed shot from more probably wouldn’t get that Jurgen Klopp sent out an Crystal Palace 1 (Sako 21) Burnley 0 than 35 yards out after Ederson but today we got it. It’s the attack-minded line-up and was Huddersfield Town 1 (Lolley 40) West Ham United 4 had misplaced a clearance. City luck of the draw,” Deeney rewarded with a scintillating 4-3 (Noble 25, Arnautovic 46, Lanzini 56, 61) scored late through Bernardo Silva told Sky Sports. win at a jubilant Anfield, where Newcastle United 1 (Joselu 68) Swansea 1 (Ayew 60) and Ilkay Gundogan but ran out Had Southampton pre- the emotions were in sharp con- Tottenham Hotspur 4 (Son 26, Kane 47, 59, Eriksen of time in their search for a dra- served their one-goal lead it trast to Wenger’s misery after a 81) Everton 0 matic equaliser. would have been their first 2-1 loss at struggling Watford 2 (Gray 58, Doucoure 90) Southampton 2 Earlier, Arsene Wenger left Premier League win in 10 Bournemouth. (Ward-Prowse 20, 44) Chile international Sanchez out matches. At Anfield, Alex Oxlade- West Bromwich Albion 2 (Evans 4, Dawson 55) of his squad to travel to Bourne- Yet Saints manager Mau- Chamberlain’s early strike was Brighton & Hove Albion 0 mouth as transfer speculation ricio Pochettino was still able

cancelled out by Leroy Sane’s Playing today (2000 GMT) swirls over a potential move to to express his disappointment goal shortly before half-time but Manchester United vs Stoke City Manchester City or Manchester in measured terms. three goals in nine scintillating United. “My feeling is like the minutes stunned Pep Guardio- attack, taking the lead in the “Alexis would have played,” players, we are a little bit la’s men. ninth minute when Oxlade- said Wenger, after Arsenal sad,” he said. Two late goals gave City Chamberlain marauded forward leaked two goals in four second- “The last goal is some- hope but they fell just short in and thundered a shot past City half minutes to slip to defeat. thing that surprised me their desperate bid to keep their stopper Ederson. “Alexis would have played, because in the Premier unbeaten run going. The home side held onto but it’s a difficult period for him. League the level of referees The result means that City their lead until five minutes He’s always been committed is good. It’s clear remain 15 points clear of second- before half-time, when Leroy until now but he could have gone Liverpool midfielder Mohamed Salah (left) celebrates scoring a goal (handball).” placed Manchester United at the Sane gathered a raking cross- yesterday and he could go in the with team-mate Andrew Robertson during their English Premier “Everybody makes mis- top of the Premier League table field ball from Kyle Walker and next 48 hours.” League match against Manchester City at Anfield in Liverpool, takes but the problem is at ahead of United’s match at home beat Loris Karius at his near post Wenger, who said Sanchez northwest England, yesterday. this level you have a lot to to struggling Stoke on Monday. with a rasping left-foot shot that had not refused to play, added play for so we are Liverpool leapfrog Chelsea into the Liverpool keeper should that he would be replaced if he week. The Old Trafford club’s possibility of offering one-time disappointed. third spot. have saved. left. willingness to meet Arsenal’s Arsenal target Henrikh Mkhi- “From the bench it is Klopp’s side, in their first Guardiola’s team looked in City remained favourites to £35 million valuation of taryan as part of any deal, has more difficult to see but the match since Philippe Coutinho control after the break before sign the Chile international this Sanchez, who can leave as a increased the chance of the for- referee and the linesman are left to join Barcelona, showed Liverpool’s goal glut. month until Manchester United free agent at the end of the ward joining Jose Mourinho’s closer. I imagine the referee they still have enviable depth in Roberto Firmino dinked a expressed their interest last campaign, together with the squad. is not happy now.” Pochettino eyes new record for goal-machine Kane

AFP for the season stands at 20 with improve and score goals.” Champions League. “That is our scoring but we all played well unlucky to get beaten at Liver- 15 league games still to play. Pochettino added: “What is challenge and our target, to reach today, not just me. pool in the last five minutes and LONDON: Tottenham Hotspur “Harry is fantastic and I con- really important to explain to the Champions League, but we “It’s impossible to beat Harry. this week we got thrashed in the manager Mauricio Pochettino gratulate him one more time,” everyone is that although he know that it is difficult to play at He’s one of the best strikers and second half. believes the Premier League said Pochettino after Kane scores lots of goals, his mental- this type of level for a long one of the best players. He works “Obviously it’s something I single-season scoring record of equalled and then surpassed ity is always to work for the team period,” Pochettino added. so hard for the team. He’s have to address now. I didn’t 34 goals is under threat from Teddy Sheringham’s previous and that is what makes him such The manager was also full of younger than me but I’m learn- expect to see it. I’ve seen it and Harry Kane after the striker record of 97 Premier League a special player. In his mind, he praise for Son Heung-Min, who ing from him.” now I have to address it as grabbed two more in a 4-0 goals for the north London club. always tries to help and play for scored Tottenham’s opening While Spurs maintained their quickly as possible. victory over Everton at Wembley. “He can do anything because the team.” goal, hit the post and helped to recent surge in form, Everton “It was a shocking second- Kane made it 10 goals in his of his mentality and how profes- Victory left Spurs level on set up one of Kane’s goals as well slumped to their heaviest defeat half performance. I saw some of last six games in all competitions sional he is. points with fourth-placed Liver- as that of Christian Eriksen. under new manager Sam the good sides of the players last to become Tottenham’s record “He can achieve all that he pool, who face runaway Premier The South Korea star was just Allardyce. week and I saw some of their scorer in the Premier League wants because of his willingness League leaders Manchester City happy to have a full-time role “We’ve seen the inconsistent worst sides in the second half and, after Saturday’s match, the to work. He’s always thinking on Sunday, in a competitive race this season, saying: “I love play- Everton today,” said Allardyce. today, which is massively wor- England forward’s top-flight tally and trying to improve, improve, for a place in next season’s ing now. I want to keep going “Last week we were very rying in terms. MONDAY 15 JANUARY 2018 SPORT 31 Eupen coach Makelele urges ‘staying positive’ ARMSTRONG VAS Qatar’s U-23 team at the U-23 to that which we had at Al Sadd THE PENINSULA Asian Football Confederation SC. But it’ll be a good learning (AFC) Championships in China. experience that’ll help improve : KAS Eupen coach Claude Speaking about the perform- my game in the future, and which Makelele has stressed the impor- ance of the Qatari players at in turn will benefit the national tance of ‘staying positive’ for the Eupen, Makélélé Said: “They’ve team. I like challenges, and I’m second half of the season for the been doing really well. There’s ready to fight for my dreams.” challenges ahead. still more to be done to help them Meanwhile Belgian goal- The former Real Madrid and grow as players and play their keeper, Hendrik Van Combrugge, Chelsea midfielder assumed part in the Qatar national foot- who returns to responsibility as coach at Aspire ball team. But I think their this year for the fifth time, said: Academy owned KAS Eupen experience with KAS Eupen will “One of the key benefits of this from Jordi Auli Condom last help them develop the right out- winter training camp is that it November. Under his supervi- look and attitude.” gives us time to recover mentally sion, the team has enjoyed a Hassan, a regular with the and physically by taking some recent run of positive results but Qatar national team, acknowl- distance away from Belgium and is battling hard to remain to edged that there’s increasing our daily routine. The time we avoid relegation. pressure on the Qatari national spend here is perfect for us as With a squad of 24 players, team to perform well at major players as we benefit from ses- including Qatari international competitions as the 2022 FIFA KAS Kupen coach Claude Makelele of speaks during a press conference during the Winter sions with the coaches where we Abdulkarim Hassan, KAS Eupen World Cup Qatar draws near. training camp at Aspire Academy in Doha yesterday. Club players Abdulkarim Hassan, (left) of Qatar really get to have some quality features a number of Aspire “As Qatari players, we expe- and Hendrik Van Crombrugge (right) from Belgium were also present. Picture: Abdul Basit/The Peninsula time with them. Since we arrived, Academy graduates including rience pressure during major we’ve had training sessions two Abdollah Ali Saei and Ahmed tournaments because there is an or three times each day.” Homam Elamin. Their fellow expectation on us to achieve there. All we can do is give our example, giving us opportunities I wish them the best of luck in Yesterday, KAS Eupen played Qatari teammates at the club good results. Especially since all inorder to achieve the best to join and train with interna- their match against China on a friendly against Chinese Super , Abdulrasheed Ibra- we’ll soon be representing Qatar possible result we can, and hope tional clubs like KAS Eupen. Our Monday,” he added. League side, Guangzhou Ever- him, Youssef Aymam Farahatand at the 2022 FIFA World Cup for the best. Thankfully, organi- Olympic football team is cur- Speaking about his experi- grande, who are also holding and , are currently Qatar,” Hassan said. sations like Aspire Academy rently performing really well at ence at KAS Eupen, Hassan said: their mid-season training camp on international duty with “The pressure will always be support our development by, for the AFC U-23 championship and “It’s definitely a different set up at the Academy. Zidane and Real Madrid Monaco held as cruise under fire after defeat to victory AFP AFP goal handed a 1-0 victory at Caen and also prompted the MADRID: The Spanish press did : Monaco stuttered to a dismissal of home goalkeeper not hold back in their criticism 0-0 draw in the absence of Remy Vercoutre after he took of a “shattered” Real Madrid, a Radamel Falcao at Montpellier umbrage at the Ivorian wing- team “in crisis” after their 1-0 on Saturday, while Marseille er’s exuberant celebration. home defeat at the hands of cruised to a victory over Rennes The veteran Vercoutre was Villarreal in La Liga. that kept them firmly in the incensed by Pepe’s ‘robot’ “Inexplicable” was the front- Champions League race. dance in front of the home fans page headline on Madrid sports Colombian striker Falcao and argued furiously with the daily Marca yesterday, which was again ruled out by a mus- goalscorer over what he felt remarked that the reigning cle injury that sidelined him for was a provocation. Spanish and European champi- cup wins over Yzeure and Nice, Pepe appeared to be play- ons “don’t know what is and Monaco couldn’t break ing it up for a pitchside happening to them” in La Liga. down the league’s meanest camera, and the 37-year-old Just days after Zinedine defence without their top Vercoutre was shown a Zidane signed a new contract scorer. straight red card. However, until 2020, serious questions are Brazilian left-back Jorge Lille also finished the match being asked of the Frenchman’s drew an excellent stop from with 10 men after Fode Ballo- ability to turn things around after Montpellier goalkeeper Ben- Toure was sent off early into two trophy-laden years in jamin Lecomte, who then the second half. charge. pulled off a terrific reflex save Florian Thauvin scored his Real have picked up just one to deny Kevin N’Doram to pre- team-leading ninth goal of the point from their last three league serve a 10th clean sheet of the season but also missed a pen- games and have won only once season. alty as Marseille brushed aside Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo and team-mate Raphael Varane (left) react during the Spanish in five, form that leaves them The stalemate at the Stade Rennes 3-0 at Roazhon Park. League match at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on Saturday. fourth in the table, 16 points de la Mosson snapped Mona- The former Newcastle behind leaders Barcelona, who co’s four-match winning run in winger saw a first-half spot- go to Real Sociedad. Saturday. They are also only one goals this season, while Gareth shows.” Zidane is “an elegant Ligue 1 but sent them a point kick saved by Rennes “No goals, no luck and no point clear of Villarreal in fifth Bale is struggling for fitness and coach but has no answers on the clear of Lyon in second, while goalkeeper Tomas Koubek but explanation,” said sports daily -- not since 2004 have they fin- form and Karim Benzema has blackboard,” according to Folch. leaving them eight points adrift redeemed himself by setting up AS on their front page. ished outside the top three in La been injured. The previously There is a danger that his of leaders Paris Valere Germain for the open- “Everything is going wrong,” Liga. feared ‘BBC’ no longer carries position could become untena- Saint-Germain. ing goal on 35 minutes. wrote editor Alfredo Relano in In Barcelona, the Catalan the same aura. ble if Madrid -- the two-time “A draw is not a good result Thauvin’s ninth assist of his column. “This result sinks press seized the chance to stick “The white collapse is basi- defending European champions because we came to pick up the season drew him level Madrid further into the sombre the knife in. cally the collapse of Cristiano -- lose to Paris Saint-Germain three points,” said Monaco with Neymar, while Hiroki mood that has invaded every- “In crisis”, headlined Mundo and, by extension, that of the in the Champions League last 16, coach Leonardo Jardim. Sakai produced a brilliant one, including Zidane.” Deportivo below a picture of whole ‘BBC’, a trident that died the first leg of which will be “We were lacking quite a goal-line block to deny If they had already all but Cristiano Ronaldo, on the ground months ago now without any- played at the Bernabeu on Feb- few things going forward. We’ll Ismaila Sarr an equaliser, and given up on any hope of retain- with his head in his hands. one having realised,” wrote ruary 14. try to be more competitive on minutes later Germain teed up ing the league title even before Sport focused on the trou- Sport editor Ernest Folch. Frederic Hermel, Madrid- Tuesday (at home to Nice) to Morgan Sanson to rifle in Mar- Saturday’s game, there are now bles in front of goal of Ronaldo, Relano added: “Madrid based correspondent for French achieve a better result.” seille’s second just before even concerns that they could who missed numerous chances started to fall behind because sports daily L’Equipe, noted that Christophe Galtier made a half-time. miss out on a top-four spot at the Santiago Bernabeu before Cristiano was missing; then, Zidane “still doesn’t appear pre- winning start in his first league Thauvin completed the altogether. Pablo Fornals’ magnificent late because when he came back the pared to make any changes to game in charge of Lille after scoring eight minutes from the Real are eight points behind winner for Villarreal, their first goals were not going in; in the his team, despite another replacing the sacked Marcelo end when he nodded in a cross third-placed Valencia, who were ever victory there. end, because the gap at the top defeat... (that) leaves a feeling of Bielsa just before Christmas. from Brazilian midfielder Luiz 2-1 winners at Deportivo on Ronaldo has just four league provoked a disenchantment that powerlessness.” Nicolas Pepe’s 43rd-minute Gustavo. Guardiola delighted by renaissance of attacking style

AFP Etihad Stadium, suffering the first type of teams I like to watch,” he and say: Wow.” Guardiola We want to try to be the best.” trophyless season of his coach- said. includes Liverpool in the list of Few would expect City to MANCHESTER, UK: Pep Guar- ing career last term as City “Barcelona, I love to watch, high-quality attacking teams in stumble in this season’s contest diola (pictured) believes his style finished third in the table. first because I am a fan of the the Premier League. for the Premier League title, of play is gaining traction across The transformation this sea- club, I grew up there, and espe- “I think Liverpool are play- given they are currently 15 points English football after he experi- son has been remarkable, with cially because we are in a ing like Liverpool were in the clear at the top, yet Guardiola has enced a tough first season with City having dropped just four unmissable period in terms of past, with all their history,” Guar- warned it is still possible. Manchester City. points in 22 league matches as seeing their great players, espe- diola said. “In football and in sport, any- Guardiola is pleased to see they remain in contention for an cially one (Lionel Messi). “The fans are demanding thing can happen. Of course, we the high-possession, high-press- unprecedented trophy “I am happy that in Italy, attacking football. Liverpool can lose the title, because you ing and high-intensity approach quadruple. Napoli are playing in a quite sim- have to defend their whole never know what is going to hap- he espouses has found popular- Having faced suggestions his ilar way. I identify quite well with history. pen in the next 13 or 14 games. ity elsewhere in the Premier style could not work in England, how they play and how they “In the 1980s, they domi- “If we maintain our level, the League, complimenting both Liv- Guardiola is delighted to have want to do things. nated the world and European consistency and the way we play, erpool and Tottenham Hotspur proved his critics wrong, adding “It’s the same with Totten- football. I think they are trying then OK, we have a chance. But on the way they play. he loves to see other teams play- ham. Tottenham can drop points, to respect that. you never know.” The former Barcelona and ing his way. but always I see the games and “Some teams try to sit back The Spaniard added: “If we Bayern Munich boss saw his style “I like that, because more think: ‘They played well’. You against us. Liverpool played well start to go down, and lose confi- questioned as he struggled to than a manager, I’m a fan. When always see they have 20, 25, 27 against us. They tried. We want dence, and don’t play well make an early impact at the I have to choose, those are the shots on target. And you see that to do something quite similar. regularly, then we will see. 32 SPORT MONDAY 15 JANUARY 2018 MONDAY 15 JANUARY 2018 SPORT 33 I’m too old to be Halep, Wozniacki eye maiden favourite: Federer Slam in absence of Serena AFP With the 36-year-old other woman. The Ukrainian AFP able to get in as much practice as Williams not ready believes hard work in the off- he wanted. : Simona Halep yet to return, the season is paying dividends. “I’ve Denmark’s Caroline MELBOURNE: Defending cham- “It’s been constantly playing, will sport her “lucky” red dress started to play more consist- Wozniacki reacts as pion Roger Federer says rivals practice how hopefully I can play and says tournament could be ently,” she said. her racquet hangs Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic during the . she is playing better than ever there for the taking by “I’m stronger physically. I from her hair during should be seen as leading contend- With age, I feel “The Hopman Cup went very as both aim for a first Grand a host of players yet have a different look to my a practice session ers for the Australian Open as he well,” he added. “I think it’s going Slam victory when the Austral- to win a game.” in Melbourne is too old to be considered favour- like I play down to be helpful again for me this year ian Open starts today. World number six Karolina yesterday. ite. because the court plays exactly the The world’s two top-ranked led by top seed Halep, Pliskova lost to Svitolina in the The 36-year-old is bidding for my chances just same in Perth and here in players will spearhead the Wozniacki and fourth- Brisbane semi-final but also will a record 20th Grand Slam title and because I don’t Melbourne. charge to succeed Serena Wil- ranked . be a contender for a maiden is in form and fit, unlike the Span- “Yeah, practice is perfect. Noth- liams at year’s first major left Slam behind one of the biggest iard and the Serb who enter the think a 36-year- ing to complain about.” wide open by the withdrawal serves on tour. tournament under injury clouds. old should be Against all expectations as he of the defending champion and Britain’s world number nine But the father-of-four said at returned from injury, Federer new mum. bring the same results in could figure his age and in his 19th Australian a favourite of a blitzed the field to win at Mel- With the 36-year-old Wil- Australia. despite a stuttering start to the Open, he liked to play down his tournament, it bourne Park last year, crowned liams not ready yet to return, “Was a (web)site, in China season. chances. champion again after an epic final the tournament could be there actually, and one of my manag- She reached the at least the “With age, I feel like I play should not be the against Nadal. for the taking by a host of play- ers helped me, and in 24 hours last eight in both of her Austral- down my chances just because I case. That’s why It kickstarted a memorable ers yet to win a Grand Slam led I had the outfit, and it was per- ian Open appearances to date, don’t think a 36-year-old should 2017, and he said it was his high- by top seed Halep, Wozniacki fect. I was lucky,” she said. but slumped out of the Sydney A woman walks past posters of Roger Federer of Switzerland and Serena Williams of the US as Melbourne Park is prepared be a favourite of a tournament, it I see things more light of the year. and fourth-ranked Elina But lucky dress or not, she International in the first round for the upcoming Australian Open tournament. should not be the case,” the world “It was the tournament of the Svitolina. will need to overcome her poor and faces a tricky opener number two said yesterday. relaxed, you know, year for me, no doubt about it. All Last year there were two record at Melbourne Park against competitive American “That’s why I see things more at a later stage of the five-setters, as well,” he said. first-time major-winners while where she has lost in the first . relaxed, you know, at a later stage my career: Federer “Having no expectations was so Serena was on maternity leave round in both of the past two The most dangerous floater Venus to battle Bencic as of my career. nice after all these years always -- Jelena Ostapenko at the years when she opens on Tues- is 2008 champion Maria Shara- “I feel like maybe somebody having expectations, like now this and Sloane day against Australian wildcard pova, who is back in the world’s like a Rafa, with the year that he’s year again.” Stephens at the US Open. Destinee Aiava. top 50 for the first time since had, and Novak with the six titles more Slams - joining Margaret Federer, who can return to But their chances in Mel- Former number one Woz- returning from a 15-month dop- he’s had here, even if it’s unknown Court, Serena Williams and Steffi world number one if he wins the bourne look slim: Stephens niacki is riding high in the ing ban and will open against Australian Open kicks off how he’s feeling, they could very Graf. title and Nadal loses prior to the hasn’t won a match since her rankings again after reaching unseeded German Maria AUSTRALIAN OPEN: well be the favourites, too.” His preparations have been quarter-finals, said he wasn’t get- Flushing Meadows triumph, eight finals in 2017, with victo- Tatjana. ORDER OF PLAY REUTERS Venus Williams of the USA takes part in a But he added “at the end of the good. ting ahead of himself, and was only and Ostapenko was far from ries in Tokyo in September and Former champions aiming practice session ahead of the Australian day, it’s all just talk beforehand. He comes into the tournament taking it one step at a time. her attacking best in first- at the season-ending Tour to go deep into the tournament MELBOURNE: The Australian Open gets Open tennis tournament. The draws are always tough”. on the back of winning the mixed “My focus needs to be early round defeats in Shenzhen and Championship. include evergreen 37-year-old The Australian Open order of play on Monday, Day 1 of under way with a bang today, with last Federer, who had an incredi- teams Hopman Cup in Perth with because I have my own problems, Sydney recently. “I think I’ve improved eve- Venus Williams, who last won the first Grand Slam of the year. (Play starts at 11.00am year’s finalist Venus Williams taking on ble 2017 after returning from fellow Swiss Belinda Bencic, before you know, to get through my sec- Wimbledon champion and rything,” said Wozniacki ahead a Slam in 2008 but last year local time, x denotes seed): resurgent Swiss talent Belinda Bencic in injury, winning not only a fifth Aus- his entourage touched down in tion of the draw, my game,” he said. world number three Garbine of a first-round clash Monday reached two finals -- in Mel- a much-anticipated clash of generations tralian Open but a record eighth Melbourne for the usual commit- “That’s my focus, not the other Muguruza is battling injury with Romania’s Mihaela bourne and Wimbledon -- to get Rod Laver Arena on Rod Laver Arena’s centre court. Wimbledon, opens his title defence ments that come with being a players really further down the line.” problems which could further Buzarnescu. back to world number five, and Jelena Ostapenko (LAT x7) v Francesca Schiavone (ITA) In a sign of Williams’s astonishing lon- against Slovenia’s 51st ranked Aljaz legend of the game. He added that it was “just great aid Halep’s hopes. She lost in the Auckland . Venus Williams (USA x5) v Belinda Bencic (SUI) gevity, 20-year-old Bencic was just a Bedene on Tuesday. “Busy. A lot going on with to be back”. And the 26-year-old Classic final last week to Ger- The German won in Sydney Grigor Dimitrov (BUL x3) v Dennis Novak (AUT) toddler when the American won the first He faces a potential quarter- media, sponsors, practice. It was “I’m so, so happy the Austral- Romanian, who currently has many’s Julia Goerges, but said at the weekend and will hope Not before 7:00 pm (0800 GMT) of her seven Grand Slam titles at Wim- final against David Goffin if he intense,” he said when asked if ian Open, it’s time again. I can’t no clothing sponsor, con- the rain-disrupted tournament to recreate her stunning run to Rafael Nadal (ESP x1) v Victor Estrella Burgos (DOM) bledon in 2000. stays on track to become only the everything was going as planned. believe it’s been a year, but it’s OK. firmed she would wear the had been tough, ideal the championship in Melbourne (AUS x23) v Irina Falconi (USA) Williams continued her late-career fourth player ever to win 20 or But he added that he had been I’ll make the most of it.” same “lucky” red dress in Aus- preparation. two years ago after a poor 2017 flourish at Melbourne Park last year, tralia that she used while “It was a good start to the which saw her drop outside the Margaret Court Arena reaching her first Grand Slam final in eight I feel like maybe somebody like a Rafa, with the year that registering a dominant victory year,” said Wozniacki. world’s top 20. Sloane Stephens (USA x 13) v (CHN) Matthew Ebden (AUS) v John Isner (USA x16) years before being stopped by her cham- at the Shenzhen Open a fort- In-form Svitolina last week Victory for Venus would see he’s had, and Novak with the six titles he’s had here, even if Not before 3:00 pm (0400 GMT) pion sister Serena. night ago. won the Brisbane International her eclipse Ken Rosewall as the (AUS) v (PUR) With new mum Serena absent this it’s unknown how he’s feeling, they could very well be the She found the outfit on the after picking up five WTA Tour oldest player ever to win a Not before 7:00 pm (0800 GMT) year and the women’s tournament wide favourites, too: World number two Federer internet and hoped it would titles last year, more than any major. open, Venus may be as good a chance as ihaela Buzarnescu (ROM) v Caroline Wozniacki (DEN x2) any of her rivals to win her first Grand Kevin King (USA) v Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA x15) Slam since Wimbledon in 2008. But she will first need to get past the Hisense Arena highly rated Bencic, who stormed into the Sofia Kenin (USA) v Julia Goerges (GER x12) top 10 as an 18-year-old before being Timea Babos (HUN) v CoCo Vandeweghe (USA x10) sidelined for much of 2017 after wrist Vasek Pospisil (CAN) v Marin Cilic (CRO x6) surgery. Venus Williams since a knee injury forced him to pull out Not before 6:45 pm (0745 GMT) The injury saw Bencic tumble out of of the season-ending ATP Tour finals but Nick Kyrgios (AUS x17) v Rogerio Dutra Silva (BRA) the top 300 but she has quietly marched continued her late-career declared himself “more or less” happy back up to 78 since returning to action in flourish at Melbourne with his game on Saturday. Show Court 2 September. Danger lurks for a couple of last year’s Park last year, reaching Taylor Townsend (USA) v Magdalena Rybarikova (SVK x19) Like her 37-year-old opponent, Ben- Grand Slam champions in the women’s Dominika Cibulkova (SVK x24) v Kaia Kanepi (EST) cic packed a lot into her teenage years, her first Grand Slam final draw, with French Open winner and sev- Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) v Denis Shapovalov (CAN) reaching the 2014 US Open quarter-finals in eight years before enth seed Jelena Ostapenko taking on the Not before 4:00 pm (0500 GMT) when just 17 before claiming her first WTA being stopped by her seasoned Francesca Schiavone, also a Yuichi Sugita (JPN) v Jack Sock (USA x8) title at Eastbourne the following year. champion sister Serena. winner at Roland Garros, in the opening She has also been in sound form in match at Rod Laver Arena. Show Court 3 the leadup, teaming up with Roger Fed- US Open champion Sloane Stephens, Kevin Anderson (RSA x11) v Kyle Edmund (GBR) erer to win the Hopman Cup for seeded 13th, faces a test against China’s (AUS) v (AUS) Switzerland in Perth. while her opponent will be keen to drag Zhang Shuai in the early match on Mar- Not before 3:00 pm (0400 GMT) Williams has played only one match the veteran American into long rallies and garet Court Arena, the second John Millman (AUS) v Borna Coric (CRO) since being beaten in the WTA Finals find moments to unleash her fierce back- showcourt. Ivana Jorovic (SRB) v Elina Svitolina (UKR x4) decider by Caroline Wozniacki in Octo- hand down the line. Fans hoping for a shakeup of the Simona Halep of Romania ber, a loss to The 2009 men’s champion Rafa men’s game will keenly watch the champion Angelique Kerber at the leadup Nadal, who was beaten in a classic five- progress of third seed Grigor Dimitrov, Sydney International. set final by long-time rival Roger Federer who plays Austrian qualifier Dennis But the veteran has never lost a set to last year, headlines the evening session Novak, on Rod Laver Arena. Bencic in their four matches, their last at Rod Laver Arena with a first round Local hope Nick Kyrgios, seeded 17th, clash in the third round of the 2015 US match against Dominican journeyman is certain to generate a raucous atmos- Open. Victor Estrella Burgos. phere at his favourite Hisense Arena when No easy ride for Kyrgios at Melbourne Park Williams will look to blow Bencic Nadal, bidding for a 17th Grand Slam he takes on Brazil’s Rogerio Dutra Silva away quickly with her aggressive game, title, has had very limited preparation in the late match. AFP needs to work much more than of business one round at a time.” I can’t expend too much energy better this time around. I feel he currently is.” Kyrgios’s mental strength and on other things. relaxed,” he said. MELBOURNE: Mercurial Nick Kyrgios won his first home attitude always come up in the “I want to kind of ride the “Obviously, winning a tour- Kyrgios (pictured) wants to keep ATP Tour title at the Brisbane conversation about his title highs, not as high as I usually do. nament before you play a Grand Tomic fails to book main draw spot an even keel as the pressure of International and is looking to go chances, but he says he wants to If I lose a match, at the end of the Slam always helps.” home expectations weighs on him further than a quarter-final keepkeep things at an even day it’s a tennis match.match. Kyrgios said he had no injury REUTERS sarcastically at reporters top-10 player and potential at this year’s Australian Open in appearance in Melbourne three keel.keel. “I kind of want to keekeepp it it problems heading into the when asked where he would Grand Slam winner, Tomic's Melbourne. years ago. “I think last even-keeled throughout the tournament. MELBOURNE: Bernard go from there. slide has triggered both con- The tempestuous 22-year-old He is facing Brazilian Rogerio yearyear there were whole year rather than being “Yeah, my knee feel good. My Tomic's (pictured) slide "I just count money, cern and criticism in has the brilliance and talent to Dutra Silva on his favourite periodsperiods wwherehere I suchsuch a rrollercoasterollercoaster rride.ide. I physio flew in, so I’ve had him for down the ATP rankings is set that's all I do. I count my mil- Australia. win his national Open, yet it is his Hisense Arena court in Monday’s waswas really good guess right now that’s what the last two, three days. I’ve had to continue after he fell 6-1, lions," said the former Tennis Australia said it brittle state of mind that oftens first round and could face world andand really bad,” I’m doing.” the luxury of getting treated in my 6-7 (5-7) 6-4 to Italy's Wimbledon quarter-finalist, had reached out to Tomic malfunctions to his detriment. number three Grigor Dimitrov in hehe saisaid.d. KyrgiosKyrgios said he feels room at my hotel,” he said. Lorenzo Sonego in the final who reached the third round out of fear for his "health Roger Federer rates Kyrgios the fourth round, but he is taking “But at ththee betterbetter placed to make a “Haven’t been spending too round of Australian Open at Melbourne Park last year. and wellbeing" in Novem- a threat to the established order it all in his stride. endend ooff tthehe ddayay II jjustust deepdeep run at tthishis yyear’sear’s Aus-Aus- much time around the courts. I’ve qualifying yesterday. "You go do what I did (on ber but declined to offer him in the year’s opening Grand Slam, “I’d like to do well. I’m not needneed to know it’s tralian OpenOpen.. been kind of doing my practice, A former world number court). Bye bye." a wildcard for the Grand but says the volatile Australian is going to say quarter-finals, semi- a long year. “I probably feel a bit getting out of here, and just relax- 17 but now ranked 142, The setback follows on Slam. a work in progress. finals, anything like that. I just ing. So it’s been good.” Tomic will miss out on his from Tomic's forgettable The player was lam- “When he’s on, he’s on and want to take it one round at a Kyrgios said he has the phys- home Grand Slam after 10 2017 season, during which he basted by home media last he’s really difficult to beat... for time,” Kyrgios said ahead of his ical resilience to put together the successive main draw declared himself "bored" by year for bragging in a TV him it’s day to day and then week fifth Australian Open campaign. best-of-five-set matches poten- appearances. tennis at Wimbledon and interview about his wealth by week, can you keep it up?” “Everyone started the year tially over the two weeks. The 25-year-old spoke of feeling "trapped" and prize money despite not Federer said this week. hungry. They can play great qual- “I feel very confident in best- appeared crushed by the during media interviews. trying very hard through his “For him it’s maybe in his ity tennis. I don’t want to look of-five matches. I’ve played a lot defeat and snapped Once touted as a future career. mind and his body because he still ahead at all. I want to take care of them now,” he said. 34 SPORT MONDAY 15 JANUARY 2018 Kohli stands firm for India in Centurion AFP SCOREBOARD captain Faf du Plessis made 63 before the hosts were bowled South Africa (I innings) Bowling: Bumrah 22-6-60-0 (1nb), Mohammed CENTURION: Indian captain D Elgar c Vijay b Ashwin ...... 31 Shami 15-2-58-1, I Sharma 22-4-46-3, Pandya 16-4- out for 335. Virat Kohli stood firm against A Markram c Patel b Ashwin ...... 94 50-0, Ashwin 38.5-10-113-4 Du Plessis battled for 217 a relentless South African H Amla run out (Pandya) ...... 82 India (I innings) minutes and faced 142 balls bowling attack on an attri- A de Villiers b I Sharma ...... 20 M Vijay c De Kock b Maharaj ...... 46 before he was ninth man out, tional second day of the F du Plessis b I Sharma ...... 63 L Rahul c and b Morkel ...... 10 bowled when he went for a big second Test at SuperSport Park Q de Kock c Kohli b Ashwin ...... 0 C Pujara run out (Ngidi) ...... 0 hit against Ishant Sharma. yesterday. V Philander run out (Patel) ...... 0 V Kohli (batting) ...... 85 South Africa added 66 K Maharaj c Patel b Mohammed Shami ...... 18 R Sharma lbw b Rabada ...... 10 Kohli made 85 not out as K Rabada c Pandya b I Sharma ...... 11 P Patel c De Kock b Ngidi ...... 19 runs to their overnight 269 India reached 183 for five at M Morkel c Vijay b Ashwin ...... 6 H Pandya (batting) ...... 11 for six. the close in reply to South Afri- L Ngidi (not out) ...... 1 Extras (LB1, W1) ...... 2 Sharma took two of the ca’s first-innings total of 335. Extras (LB8, NB1) ...... 9 Total (5 wkts) ...... 183 four wickets that fell, finishing It was tough going for both Total (113.5 overs) ...... 335 Fall of wickets: 1-28, 2-28, 3-107, 4-132, 5-164 with three for 46, while off- batsmen and bowlers on a Fall of wickets: 1-85, 2-148, 3-199, 4-246, 5-250, Bowling: Maharaj 16-1-53-1, Morkel 15-3-47-1, Philander spinner Ravichandran Ashwin slow pitch on a hot day. Kohli 6-251, 7-282, 8-324, 9-333 9-3-23-0, Rabada 12-0-33-1, Ngidi 9-2-26-1 (1w) took four for 113. made his runs off 130 balls India dropped three with eight fours. Rahul falling to a sharp return was one of four bowlers to catches, all off Ashwin. Kagiso South Africa’s four fast catch to Morne Morkel and take a wicket each. He built up Rabada, who made 11, was bowlers operated in short Cheteshwar Pujara being run impressive pace, with one dropped by a diving Kohli at spells while left-arm spinner out attempting a single off the delivery timed at 150.5 km/h. slip when he had one, with the Keshav Maharaj bowled a first ball he faced. Having come close to dis- batsman taking two runs. lengthy spell and broke the Pujara played Morkel to missing Kohli leg before He was then put down at biggest partnership of the mid-on and set off for a run. wicket -- the Indian captain point off the next ball when innings when he had Murali New cap Lungi Ngidi made was saved by a faint inside Hardik Pandya was obstructed Vijay caught behind for 46. good ground, slid to pick up edge on a ball which was by fellow fieldsman Moham- Vijay and Kohli put on 79 the ball and hit the stumps at crashing into his stumps -- he med Shami. for the third wicket after two the bowler’s end from a prone had Parthiv Patel caught Du Plessis was dropped by Jason Roy celebrates wickets fell in two balls with position. behind. wicketkeeper Patel off Ashwin after scoring his century. the total on 28, with Lokesh The powerfully built Ngidi Earlier, South African when he had 54. Roy’s record 180 steers England to win in first ODI AFP fast bowler by taking 14 off his next over as the tourists raced MELBOURNE: Opener Jason past 50 in the fifth over. Roy recorded the highest-ever He was seemingly trapped one-day international score by lbw by spinner Adam Zampa an England player as the tour- on 91, but a review showed the ists finally had something to ball hit him outside the line of celebrate with a five-wicket off stump and the decision was win over Australia yesterday. overturned. After their wretched Ashes Roy wasted little time mak- campaign, in which they were ing the most of that piece of beaten 4-0, the tourists chased fortune, driving the next ball India’s captain Virat Kohli plays a shot against South Africa yesterday. down a hefty Australian total at just over a leaping Aaron Finch the Melbourne Cricket Ground on the long-on boundary for six. to win with seven balls to spare He reached his hundred just in the opener of the five-match moments later from 92 balls, SL appoint ODI series. Set 305 to win, Roy’s with nine fours and three sixes. Bangladesh, SL seek to daring 180 helped England Fittingly, the 27-year-old Lakmal as make 308 for five. passed team-mate Alex Hales’s The successful chase was England record knock of 171 Chandimal’s rebuild in tri-nation also a record for a one-day against Pakistan in 2016 with a international at the MCG, chip just over the head of a deputy AFP Mashrafe Mortaza eclipsing Australia’s 297 for four despairing Australian fielder. against England in 2011, and He finally fell to Starc after AFP DHAKA: Bangladesh, Sri vindicated captain Eoin Mor- skying one into the outfield, Lanka and Zimbabwe all have gan’s decision to bowl first. having faced 151 balls -- hitting COLOMBO: Sri Lanka have a point to prove when they Having been an onlooker 16 fours and five sixes. named Suranga Lakmal vice- battle each other in a tri- for the Test series, Roy was an Roy was still coming to captain for the upcoming nation one-day tournament unlikely hero. But he rode his terms with his achievement two-match Test series in in Dhaka today. luck to produce a record in lim- after the match. Bangladesh, the island’s The home nation, with- ited-overs cricket for England “Incredibly special, I don’t cricket board said yesterday. out a coach, are licking their and also a new benchmark for have too many words right Lakmal, 30, replaces wounds from a disastrous a batsman at the MCG in a one- now,” he said. “Halesy was Lahiru Thirimanne, who was tour of South Africa. Sri Lanka day international. pretty disappointed.” dropped from the squad after have just had their worst year The swashbuckling right- Australian captain Steve Chandika Hathurusingha in international cricket. And hander lived dangerously Smith praised Roy for his bold took over as head coach last Zimbabwe are on edge after throughout his innings, charg- knock. month. a thrashing by the Proteas ing along at better than a run a “He didn’t give us a chance, Dinesh Chandimal that blunted their run-up to ball and reaching his half-cen- and he chanced his arm,” Smith remains captain for the Test a crucial World Cup qualify- tury off only 32 balls. said. “They got off to an abso- series, which follows a one- ing tournament in March. He survived a run-out scare lute flyer and we couldn’t pull day international tournament The event, staged at Dha- and an lbw decision which was them back.” with Bangladesh and ka’s Sher-e-Bangla National overturned upon review, and Roy had a willing partner Zimbabwe. Stadium, is Bangladesh’s first lofted several balls just out of in Test captain Joe Root, who Sri Lanka Cricket last home engagement in more return to his native Sri Lanka. re-appointed as Sri Lanka’s the reach of frustrated Austral- had been tormented all tour by week announced Angelo than a year, and follows three Hathurusingha makes his limited over captain ahead of ian fielders on the way to his the Australians and was in no Mathews would return as heavy ODI defeats in South debut as Sri Lanka’s coach in 2019 World Cup, for which fifth ODI century. mood to let a rare victory slip. skipper for limited-overs Africa in October. this tournament. they were the final team to Roy was just five when Root made an unbeaten 91 cricket ahead of the 2019 Bangladesh have become The 49-year-old former qualify. Mitchell Starc could have run and he and Roy put on 221 -- World Cup, just six months a strong one-day team in batsman resigned in the mid- Meanwhile underdogs him out with a direct hit. He an English ODI record -- for the after he stepped down from recent times, notably reach- dle of the South Africa tour, Zimbabwe, who face Bangla- duly punished the Australian third wicket. the post. ing the Champions Trophy though the decision was only desh in the first game of the Mathews had quit last July semi-finals last year. But they made public in December. tri-nation competition Mon- SCOREBOARD amid repeated bouts of injury were brutally exposed by the Hathurusingha travels to day, are looking for a lift Australia Plunkett 10-0-71-3 (3w), Rashid 10-0-73-2 (2w), Ali 10- but says he is fit to return. Proteas, as defeats by 10 Bangladesh with his own ahead of hosting a World Cup A Finch c Bairstow b Ali ...... 107 0-39-1 TEST SQUAD wickets, 104 runs and 200 problems, as his new team 2019 qualifying tournament D Warner c Root b Wood ...... 2 England Dinesh Chandimal (cap- runs highlighted how much come out of a demoralising in March. S Smith c Buttler b Rashid ...... 23 J Roy c sub (Richardson) b Starc ...... 180 tain), Suranga Lakmal (vice further they have to go. year. Former World Cup win- Last month they lost a T Head b Plunkett ...... 5 J Bairstow c Paine b Starc ...... 14 M Marsh b Rashid ...... 50 D Hales c Stoinis b Cummins ...... 4 captain), Dimuth Karu- “This tri-nation tourna- ners Sri Lanka won only five Test in South Africa by an M Stoinis c Root b Woakes ...... 60 J Root (not out) ...... 91 naratne, Angelo Mathews, ment is really important for of 29 one-day internationals innings and 120 runs inside T Paine c Ali b Plunkett ...... 27 E Morgan c Smith b Cummins ...... 1 Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal us. Everyone is upset after the in 2017. two days of what was P Cummins c Roy b Plunkett ...... 12 J Buttler c Starc b Stoinis ...... 4 Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva, South Africa tour. Now, if we The country’s cricket intended to be a historic four- M Starc (not out) ...... 0 M Ali (not out) ...... 5 Niroshan Dickwella, Roshen can win this tournament, eve- authorities changed captain day day-night Test. The A Tye (not out) ...... 4 Extras (LB5, W4) ...... 9 Silva, Rangana Herath, Dilru- rything can be changed,” said twice in six months after match lasted just 907 balls. Extras (LB7, W7) ...... 14 Total (for 5 wkts) ...... 308 wan Perera, Dushmantha skipper Mashrafe Mortaza. influential all-rounder Angelo The three teams will play Total (for eight wkts) ...... 304 Fall of wickets: 1-53, 2-60, 3-281, 4-288, 5-302 Fall of wickets: 1-10, 2-58, 3-78, 4-196, 5-205, 6-285, Bowling: Starc 10-0-71-2 (2w), Cummins 10-0-63-2 Chameera, Lakshan The task has been made Mathews stepped down in each other twice in the two- 7-296, 8-300 (1w), Tye 10-0-43-0, Stoinis 6-0-33-1, Zampa 10-0-72-0 Sandakan, Akila Dananjaya, more difficult by the resigna- July, highlighting the turmoil week tournament, which Bowling: Woakes 10-0-65-1 (1w), Wood 10-0-49-1, (1w), Marsh 2-0-15-0, Head 0.5-0-6-0 Lahiru Gamage and Lahiru tion of coach Chandika in the national game. ends with a final on January Kumara. Hathurusingha, who chose to Mathews has been 27. MONDAY 15 JANUARY 2018 SPORT 35 Couturier scores two more goals in Flyers’ victory over Devils

AGENCIES NHL RESULTS NEW YORK: Sean Couturier remained NY Islanders 7 NY Rangers 2 red hot on Saturday night by scoring Pittsburgh 4 Detroit 1 two goals, including the tiebreaking tally late in the second period, as the Minnesota 4 Winnipeg 1 Philadelphia Flyers beat the reeling Boston 4 3 New Jersey Devils 5-3 in Newark, New Philadelphia 5 New Jersey 3 Jersey. Colorado 4 Dallas 1 The two-goal game was the third in a row for Couturier, who has nine Edmonton 3 Las Vegas 2

goals in his past seven games and 25 Anaheim 4 Los Angeles 2 goals overall this season. His previous San Jose 6 Arizona 5 single-season high for goals was 15 in 2014-15. Wayne Simmonds scored in the winning goal in the fourth round of second period, and Travis Konecny a shootout, and Boston continued its and Michael Raffl added insurance roll with a victory over host goals in the third period for the Fly- Montreal. ers, who have won four straight. Goalie The Bruins have gone more than Brian Elliott recorded 26 saves. a month without losing in regulation Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (left) in action. The Devils have lost six straight. time, producing a 9-0-3 record in that Wild 4, Jets 1 span, with the latest win coming Matt Dumba scored two goals against their former head coach, while Mikael Granlund added a goal Claude Julien. and an assist as host Minnesota beat The game also had a scary inci- Winnipeg. dent when Montreal’s Phillip Danault The Wild came out strong early, was hit in the head by a puck shot by Warriors rally to thanks to a 23-shot first period where Boston captain Zdeno Chara and was it took an early 1-0 lead, and Winni- taken off the ice via stretcher. peg couldn’t come back. According to the Canadiens, Dan- Winnipeg’s Mathieu Perreault ault was taken to hospital but was scored 47 seconds into the third awake and moving. He was to remain period, but Dumba answered with hospitalised overnight. edge past Raptors goals at 6:23 and 13:32. Meanwhile, defenceman Darnell Islanders 7, Rangers 2 Nurse scored on a wrist shot 53 sec- AFP Anthony Beauvillier and Mathew onds into overtime on Saturday night Barzal each scored twice in the all- as the Edmonton Oilers notched a LOS ANGELES: Klay Thomp- New York clash at Madison Square 3-2 win over the Vegas Golden son delivered 26 points and Garden. Knights at T-Mobile Arena in Las Kevin Durant tallied 25 as the Beauvillier ran his season tally up Vegas. reigning NBA champion Washington to seven goals, while Barzal now leads Drake Caggiula and Leon Draisaitl Golden State Warriors held Wizards guard all NHL rookies with 15. Barzal also picked up assists on Nurse’s game- on to defeat the Raptors John Wall had three assists in the contest. winner as Edmonton won both ends 127-125 in Toronto on Satur- (right) in action Jordan Eberle contributed four of a back-to-back and beat the Golden day. on Saturday. assists in the Islanders’ second straight Knights for the second time this sea- The Warriors recorded win following a season-high, five- son. Vegas still leads the Western their league-best 19th road game losing streak. Conference with 61 points, two more win of the season as they Penguins 4, Red Wings 1 than the Central Division-leading won the battle against a Rap- Evgeni Malkin scored two goals Winnipeg Jets. tors team lying second in the and assisted on two more to lead Pitts- Nurse also had two goals Friday, Eastern Conference. burgh to a home victory over Detroit. including the third-period game-win- They didn’t make it easy, Malkin has scored five goals over ner in Edmonton’s 4-2 victory over however, blowing a 27-point the last three games. the Arizona Coyotes. halftime lead before hanging Phil Kessel supplied a goal and two Cam Talbot stopped 34 of 36 shots on for the victory. assists, and Sidney Crosby contributed to earn the win for the Oilers, who DeMar DeRozan helped a goal and an assist. killed off all six Golden Knights power spark Toronto’s rally with a Bruins 4, Canadiens 3 (SO) plays. Marc-Andre Fleury saved 27 of 42-point performance for the Toronto to within 121-119 the second half. You knew in Elsewhere, Zach LaVine Brad Marchand scored the 30 shots in the loss for Vegas. Raptors, who lost to Golden with just over two minutes this building they would scored 14 points in his first State for an eighth straight left, but Durant countered to make a run. I didn’t think it game in 11 months, rookie time. give the Warriors a four- would be that big,” said Lauri Markkanen added 19 Two-time league MVP point lead. DeRozan Curry. points and the host Chicago Stephen Curry scored 24 responded, cutting the Rap- All the Raptors coaching Bulls edged the Detroit Pis- points for the Warriors after tors’ deficit to 123-122 with staff and players wanted to tons 107-105. missing the last two games 63 seconds remaining. talk about after the game was Chicago made 17 three- with an ankle injury. After Curry surprisingly perceived poor officiating. pointers to win for the 13th Durant came up with missed two free throws with A frustrated DeRozan time in its last 20 games. some clutch baskets down 45 seconds left, Durant’s bas- said it seemed like all three In Washington, John the stretch to secure the win. ket with 21 seconds officials were against them. Wall scored 23 points and DeRozan’s layup moved remaining made it 125-122. “Being out there it felt added 16 assists as the Curry then made amends by like we played five on eight,” Washington Wizards beat NBA RESULTS making two free throws with he said. “Some of those calls the Brooklyn Nets 119-113 in two seconds left. was terrible, period.” overtime. San Antonio 112 Denver 80 Toronto’s Fred VanVleet Raptors coach Dwane Bradley Beal added 24 Toronto 125 G’ State 127 nailed a three-pointer at the Casey added: “There were points and Marcin Gortat had Chicago 107 Detroit 105 buzzer to round out the some tough calls in the sec- 16 points and 13 rebounds for Washington 119 Brooklyn 113 scoring. ond half. It is mind boggling the Wizards, who needed Charlotte 91 O’ City 101 After the game, Curry when you ask the officials, their first overtime victory of

Dallas 101 LA Lakers 107 praised the Raptors for the ‘Did you see it?’ ‘No I didn’t the season to avoid being way they fought back. see it.’ ‘Wasn’t my call.’ I have swept by the Nets in the sea- LA Clippers 126 Sacramento 105 Sean Couturier (centre) of the Philadelphia Flyers in action. “They played amazing in got to have an explanation.” son series. Patriots roll past Titans; Eagles clip Falcons

AFP Massachusetts, the Titans seized a 7-0 pundits who branded them underdogs lead. against the Falcons despite Philadel- LOS ANGELES: The Super Bowl cham- But the Patriots responded with a phia’s number one seed in the National pion New England Patriots beat the vengeance, with three second-quarter Football Conference. Tennessee Titans 35-14 on Saturday to touchdowns giving them a 21-7 halft- Expectations for the Eagles dipped move within one win of a return to the ime lead that they stretched to 35-7 when quarterback Carson Wentz suf- NFL’s championship showcase. before the Titans tacked on another fered a season ending knee injury on But the Atlanta Falcons, the team the touchdown in the fourth quarter. December 10. Nick Foles -- who has Patriots stunned in last season’s Super Brady completed 35 of 53 passes for struggled to convince since replacing Bowl, won’t get a shot at redemption 337 yards and three touchdowns as he Wentz -- finished the game with 246 after falling 15-10 to the Philadelphia set an NFL record with his 10th career passing yards, making 23 of 30 attempts. Eagles. post-season game with three TD passes. Foles overcame a slow start to set Another milestone night for super- Danny Amendola posted his first up a touchdown for LeGarrette Blount star quarterback Tom Brady saw the career 100-yard receiving game, catch- from one yard on a brave fourth down Patriots roll past the Titans and into their ing 11 passes for 112 yards. play in the second quarter to give the seventh straight American Football Con- James White scored two touchdowns Eagles a 6-3 lead. ference title game. and Chris Hogan and Rob Gronkowski Rookie kicker Jake Elliott booted three They will face either the Jackson- scored one apiece while the Patriots field goals as the Eagles advanced to a ville Jaguars or Pittsburgh Steelers for defense sacked Titans quarterback Mar- meeting with either the Minnesota Vikings a berth in the February 4 Super Bowl. cus Mariota eight times. or the New Orleans Saints in the National Rob Gronkowski (foreground) makes a touchdown on Saturday. In frigid temperatures at the Patri- In Philadelphia, the Eagles didn’t Football Conference championship game ots’ Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, mind admitting they were motivated by next weekend in Philadelphia. MONDAY 15 JANUARY 2018 SPORT 36 To get that missile Tom Hoge said after local threat on your phone, emergency authorities released CRICKET RALLYING an alert mistakenly warning of you don’t know what’s an incoming ballistic missile South Africa vs India Al Attiyah still in going to happen. attack. second Test (day 3) in limelight as Dakar Centurion. Rally continues

Al Attiyah leads longest stage at Dakar Rally Sainz captures Dakar lead

REUTERS Carlos Sainz of Spain and co-pilot Lucas Cruz drive their Peugeot on Saturday.

UYUNI: Spaniard Carlos Sainz seized the lead in the Dakar Rally from Peugeot team-mate Stephane Peterhansel on Saturday after the defending champion struck a rock and lost an hour and 45 minutes repairing his car. Sainz, father of the Formula One driver of the same name, won the 425km timed sec- tion of the 727km seventh stage from La Paz to Uyuni to lead Toyota’s Qatari driver Nasser Al Attiyah by an hour and 11 minutes. Peterhansel, who had been 27 minutes ahead of Sainz after leading the rally from Peru into Bolivia, hit trouble while trying to overtake a motorbike at the 186km mark and came to a halt. The Peugeot’s left rear wheel, upper sus- pension link, shock absorber and radiator were all damaged. The Frenchman was helped back on the road by compatriot and team mate Cyril Despres, the five-times Dakar winner who American event after this year, will now be Yamaha rider Adrien van Beveren reclaimed had long dropped out of contention for the hoping 2010 Dakar winner and two-times the overall lead from Argentina’s Kevin Bena- Nasser Al Attiyah of Qatar and co-pilot Matthieu overall victory. world rally champion Sainz keeps out of vides, on a Honda. Baumel of France drive their Toyota. They were Peterhansel ended the stage third overall, trouble in motorsport’s most gruelling endur- Van Beveren was three minutes and 14 leading yesterday’s longest stage. an hour and 20 minutes off the lead. ance test. seconds clear of his rival. The rally finishes Peugeot, who are pulling out of the South In the motorcycle category, French in Cordoba, Argentina, on January 20.

Joshua, Parker Europe dominate singles set for world to defend EurAsia title title clash AFP REUTERS Sung-hoon denied Matthew Fitzpatrick victory with two LONDON: Heavyweight boxing moved KUALA LUMPUR: A domi- late birdies in their halved closer to having an undisputed world nant Europe won eight of the match. champion after it was announced 12 singles matches against Atwal’s side won the final yesterday that Britain’s Asia yesterday to rally from two matches to add some (pictured below) and New Zealand’s behind and successfully respectability to the score- will meet for a multiple title defend their EurAsia Cup title line with China’s Li Haotong bout in on March 31. with a 14-10 victory in and Yuta Ikeda of Japan Joshua will put his World Boxing Asso- Malaysia. beating Paul Dunne and Ross ciation and International Boxing Federa- Arjun Atwal’s Asia had led Fisher. tion belts on the line against Parker, the the third edition of the bien- World Boxing Organisation champion. nial match-play contest fol- EURASIA CUP RESULTS Matchroom Boxing, Joshua’s pro- lowing the opening two days Overall result: Europe 14 Asia 10 moters, said the bout would take place at of fourballs and foursomes but Singles matches: the 74,500 capacity Principality Stadium, were swept aside when the Alex Noren (SWE) bt Nicholas Fung (MAS) best known for staging Wales rugby union players were sent out alone at internationals. 4&2 the Glenmarie Golf and “I would like to announce the official Rafa Cabrera Bello (ESP) bt Gavin Green Country Club. news that myself and Joseph Parker will Thomas Bjorn’s visitors (MAS) 4&3 be fighting on March 31 at Principality Sta- began yesterday with a 6 1/2-5 Tommy Fleetwood (ENG) bt S.S.P. Chawrasia dium in Cardiff,” said Joshua. 1/2 deficit but turned the Team Europe’s players pose with the trophy after winning the Eurasia Cup golf tournament. (IND) 2&1 “It is a unification heavyweight cham- scoreboard blue in eight of the Paul Casey (ENG) lost to Poom Saksansin pionship fight. We all know what hap- first nine matches to secure 1-up to seal Europe’s pretty poorly during the deficit when he beat Paul (THA) 1up pened last time I was in a unification heav- their title defence when Bel- triumph. middle, then made a couple Casey 1-up but Henrik Stenson Henrik Stenson (SWE) bt Hideto Tanihara yweight championship fight -- it was gium’s Thomas Pieters scored “It was mostly up to them of very good birdies.” re-established a two-point (JPN) 2&1 gruelling, it was interesting and we both the winning point. last night and they wanted to Alex Noren started cushion with his 2 and 1 win Bernd Wiesberger (AUT) bt Phachara left the ring with masses of respect,” the The victory will act as a go out and show what they are Europe’s charge in the first over Hideto Tanihara. Khongwatmai (THA) 2&1 28-year-old added. welcome boost for Bjorn, who really about and they certainly game when he erased Asia’s Bernd Wiesberger and Alexander Levy (FRA) bt Kiradech Aphibarn- “These fights aren’t easy because there will also captain Europe at the did that today.” slender advantage with a 4 Alex Levy recorded respective rat (THA) 3&1 is a lot on the line, so respect to team Ryder Cup in France this Sep- Belgian Pieters raced to a and 2 win over Malaysian victories over Thailand’s Pha- Thomas Pieters (BEL) bt An Byeong-Hun Parker for taking the challenge. I am tember, with the hosts looking 4-up lead against An but the Nicholas Fung. chara Khongwatmai and Kira- (KOR) 1up looking forward to it, training camp is to regain the trophy they lost South Korean fought back to Rafa Cabrera Bello then dech Aphibarnrat to put under way and before you know it March Tyrrell Hatton (ENG) bt Anirban Lahiri (IND) to the United States at Hazel- level the match. beat Gavin Green 4 and 3 to Europe on the cusp of victory 31 will be upon us.” tine in 2016. Pieters then holed a put the defending champions before Pieters gave Europe an 2&1 Joshua, the London 2012 Olympic “I’m delighted the way seven-foot putt at the 15th to ahead before 2017 Race to unassailable lead. Matthew Fitzpatrick (ENG) halved with super-heavyweight champion, unified the these 12 came out today. They regain the lead and then won Dubai winner Tommy Fleet- Englishman Tyrrell Hatton Kang Sung-Hoon (KOR) WBA and IBF titles with a dramatic and have been fantastic all week. the next hole to ensure his wood gave Europe their third continued his strong form Paul Dunne (IRL) lost to Li Haotong (CHN) hard-fought win over Wladimir Klitschko We had a really good group team would retain the trophy. point in a row with a 2 and 1 with a 2 and 1 win over India’s 3&1 at Wembley in April before retaining both

and we worked hard,” Bjorn “It’s always nice to get the victory against S.S.P Anirban Lahiri for his third Ross Fisher (ENG) lost to Yuta Ikeda (JPN) belts against Carlos Takam in a late-stop- said after Pieters beat An winning point,” he said. “I got Chawrasia of India. point of the week, before 1up page win in Cardiff in October. Byeong-un of South Korea off to a good start, then played Poom Saksansin cut the South Korean Kang Parker, 26, became the WBO cham- pion in December 2016. He made his British debut last year with a majority points win over challenger Hughie Fury, a cousin of former world Hoge leads amid Hawaii missile scare heavyweight champion Tyson Fury. Parker’s performance against Fury did REUTERS Waialae Country Club in with a lot of work to do, six and play another solid round, not impress some ringside observers. Honolulu. shots back after carding a 66 get it in the fairway and go “To get that missile threat that was highlighted by an from there.” HAWAII: Unheralded Tom on your phone, you don’t eagle at the par-four second, Kizzire started his round Hoge (pictured) birdied the know what’s going to where he holed out from 175 poorly with a double bogey at final two holes to take a one- happen,” Hoge said after yards. the first but, aided by a pep stroke lead after an eventful posting a 16-under 194 total Leader Hoge, 28, who talk from his caddie, settled third round of the Sony Open after 56 holes. hails from North Dakota, has down before roaring back into in Hawaii on Saturday. Halfway leader Brian not finished higher than fourth contention with five consec- On a day when the pres- Harman could not maintain in 75 starts on the PGA Tour, utive birdies from the sixth sure of making putts was put his blistering pace but but is hopeful that the his lim- hole. into perspective after local remained in the hunt for a ited experience of being in The 31-year-old admitted emergency authorities third PGA Tour victory with a contention will help him over that drawing on his recent released an alert mistakenly 68 that put him one shot back, the finish line. success in Mexico, where he warning of an incoming bal- alongside Patton Kizzire (64). “I’ve been close a few notched his first tour victory listic missile attack, Hoge Defending champion times,” he said. in November, had helped him signed for a six-under 64 at Justin Thomas left himself “I’m just going to go out recover.