SPORTS Sunday, August 6, 2017 23 PSG stroll to

Paris Saint-Germain’s Brazilian forward arrives on the football field during his presentation to the fans opening win Paris and on this evidence he won’t atmosphere, the fans pushed on goal, but the Uruguayan aris Saint-Germain be needed for humdrum us to win and I hope they will slipped his shot just past the celebrated the arrival of domestic matters as the continue to do so the whole post. PBrazilian superstar Neymar in newly-promoted visitors were season,” added Emery. Like Arsenal in the Premier festive style with a comfortable nonchalantly dismissed. “We controlled the match League, PSG were often guilty 2-0 victory over Amiens in “This (signing) shows the with our possession and of over-playing the ball, and their opener yesterday. ambition from both sides: chances. when Angel Di Maria slotted The in we’re trying to improve and “If there had been more into an empty net after a Paris reverberated to the for Neymar this bet is also to clarity, we could have scored mesmerising move, it was sound of Neymar’s name take a step forward,” said PSG more goals and had an easier ruled out for Cavani having chanted over and again coach Unai Emery. win.” been offside when playing the before kick off as the world’s “Our ambition is to get Amiens had given notice of penultimate pass. most expensive player was closer to winning trophies and the extent of their ambition There was a festive presented to fans. the Champions League is one right from kick-off, rugby- atmosphere and an almost “Paris is magic,” said of those.” style pumping the ball deep casual confidence amongst Neymar as he vowed to “win Last season’s top scorer into PSG territory and out of the PSG players that the goals lots of trophies” for his mega- opened the play for a throw-in. would come as they wove rich employers following his scoring three minutes before Thereafter they spent most intricate patterns around 222-million-euro ($264m) the break with Javier Pastore of the match camped on the the pitch, multiplying the Paris Saint-Germain’s Uruguayan forward Edinson transfer from Barcelona. notching the second 10 edge of their own area. tricks and flicks as Amiens’ Cavani (C) controls the ball Neymar has been bought minutes from time of a one- Six minutes in and PSG overworked defenders held on to bring Champions League sided affair. carved Amiens open with grimly. Di Maria’s cross was cut out pass to Pastore rather than glory to PSG’s Qatari owners “There was a great slick passing to put Cavani in On a rapier counter-attack, as he tried to pick out a return shoot himself. (AFP)

Kei Nishikori faces Liverpool end pre-season unbeaten Dublin in the Europa League on Moreno and Ager Aketxe, but stretching to iverpool ended their Thursday. combined to set him up again connect his shot went wide of Zverev in semi-final globetrotting pre-season Liverpool were without five minutes later, the 22-year- Simon Mignolet’s goal. Washington and Zverev. unbeatenL after easing to a 3-1 the injured Daniel Sturridge, old headed wide again. Williams reacted with op-10 rivals Kei “I’m sure it’s going to be a win over Spanish side Athletic , a possible The opening goal didn’t take frustration but made up for Nishikori and Alexander tough match,” Nishikori said. Bilbao at Lansdowne Road in transfer target for Barcelona, long to come, with Firmino, it moments later when he ZverevT advanced to a semi- He has been playing really Dublin yesterday. and , but still who scored twice from the spot blocked Dejan Lovren’s final showdown at the ATP well.” Jurgen Klopp’s side warmed fielded a strong team. in midweek against Atletico attempted clearance and and WTA Citi Open on “Kei has been in the top 10 up for next Saturday’s Premier Belgium striker Divock Madrid, doing so once more placed a controlled finish past Friday while second-ranked for a long time now,” Zverev League opener at Watford with Origi should have had the Reds after Inigo Lekue conceded a Mignolet to level the score. Simona Halep retired with said. “He’s going to be a tough an emphatic friendly victory, ahead inside 10 minutes when soft penalty by grappling with Firmino put Moreno heat fatigue. test on the hardcourts.” leaving them unbeaten inside Joel Matip delivered a perfectly the Brazilian. through on Kepa Arrizabalaga Ninth-ranked Nishikori, Saturday’s other semi-final 90 minutes over eight games weighted slide pass to put him Bilbao were threatening on just before the break but the 2015 champion on the sends US eighth seed Jack that included a 3-0 win over through on goal. the counter attack against a the full back, who had been Washington hardcourts, Sock -- a 7-5, 6-4 winner German champions Bayern But the striker pulled his rocky Liverpool defence, with impressive in attack, fired right saved three match points over Canadian third seed . attempt wide, and after Alberto Inaki Williams setting up at the goalkeeper. (AFP) in a tension-packed second Milos Raonic -- against The Reds went into set before rallying to beat South African an early lead through 225th-ranked American 15th seed Roberto Firmino, before 20-year-old Tommy Paul Kevin Inaki Williams levelled 3-6, 7-6 (10/8), 6-4 after two Anderson, before half time. hours and 40 minutes. who blasted Klopp made “It was a great battle,” 21 aces to defeat 10 changes at Nishikori said. “He almost 200th-ranked the break, and had it. Happy to win.” Indian qualifier Yuki teenage duo Zverev, a 20-year-old Bhambri 6-4, 4-6, Ben Woodburn German seeking his fourth 6-3, after ousting top and Dominic ATP title of the year and seed Dominic Thiem on Solanke added ranked a career-high eighth, Thursday. two more goals took only 57 minutes to “I definitely have the belief to seal victory. eliminate Russia’s Daniil in myself that I’m able to win The Premier Medvedev 6-2, 6-4. this tournament,” Anderson League side “I felt so good from the said. “If I play my best tennis were up against start,” Zverev said. “It was a I have a chance to do very a weakened great match for me. It’s just well.” (AFP) opposition, with all coming together now.” the Spaniards making It will be the first career Kei Nishikori of 11 changes to meeting between Nishikori Japan competes the side that beat Dinamo Bucharest Liverpool’s Brazilian Roberto Firmino (C) runs through the Bilboa defence