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Sunday, October 15, 2017 FOOTBALL Muharram 25, 1439 AH Paris St Germain GULF TIMES go six points clear in France SPORT Page 3 EPL Chelsea, Arsenal upset as City hit seven past Stoke Capping a dramatic day, Arsenal trail nine points behind City after Watford snatched a surprise 2-1 victory

AFP Results London Liverpool 0 Manchester United 0 anchester City maintained their Burnley 1 West Ham United 1 blistering start to the season as the Crystal Palace 2 Chelsea 1 Premier League leaders demolished Manchester City 7 Stoke City 2 Stoke City 7-2, while champions Swansea City 2 Huddersfield Town 0 MChelsea crashed to a shock 2-1 defeat at lowly Tottenham Hotspur 1 Bournemouth 0 Crystal Palace yesterday, Watford 2 Arsenal 1 With second-placed Manchester United set- Today: tling for a drab stalemate at Anfi eld earlier in the Brighton & Hove Everton 1230 day, it was their Manchester rivals who provided Albion the thrills as City moved two points clear at the Southampton Newcastle United 1500 top. Tomorrow: Capping a dramatic day, Arsenal trail nine Leicester City West Bromwich Albion 1900 points behind City after Watford came from be- hind to snatch a surprise 2-1 win. Pep Guardiola’s free-scoring City struck But Gunners defender Hector Bellerin con- three times in the fi rst 27 minutes at Eastlands, ceded a 71st minute penalty with a foul on Ri- securing their sixth successive league win in charlison and Troy Deeney slotted home the swashbuckling style. spot-kick. City took the lead through Gabriel Jesus in That set the stage for Tom Cleverley to fi re the 17th minute and Raheem Sterling doubled home in stoppage-time as Watford, who climb the advantage two minutes later with a tap-in to fourth place, handed Arsenal their fi rst loss that capped a fl owing move. in eight games in all competitions. David Silva got City’s third with a simple “It was a scandalous decision, but what can fi nish after another incisive raid in the 27th we do? Nothing. You can talk and talk but at the minute. end of the day they scored,” Wenger said of the Stoke’s Mame Biram Diouf reduced the defi - controversial penalty. cit with a defl ected eff ort in the 44th minute At Anfi eld, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp and City’s defence was breached for just the was left infuriated by United boss Jose Mour- fourth time in the league this season when Kyle inho’s ultra-cautious game-plan. Walker scored an own goal two minutes after Mourinho’s team had just six touches in Liv- the interval. erpool’s penalty area as United goalkeeper Dav- But Jesus’s second goal in the 55th minute id De Gea made a superb save from Joel Matip restored order and his compatriot Fernandinho to maintain the visitors’ unbeaten start to the put the result beyond doubt fi ve minutes later. season. City reached six goals in a game for the sec- Klopp’s spluttering side have only one win in ond time this season as Leroy Sane netted in the eight games in all competitions. 62nd minute. Watford’s Tom Cleverley celebrates scoring the winning goal against Arsenal in the English Premier League yesterday. “I think Man United came here for the point Bernando Silva’s fi rst City strike, in the 78th and they got it,” Klopp moaned. minute, made it 24 goals in his team’s last fi ve Bottom club Palace had lost their opening seven minutes later as the France midfi elder sive league defeat after their damaging 1-0 loss “I’m sure if we played like this, you could not league games. seven league games without scoring a goal, the headed his fi rst Premier League goal from a to Manchester City before the international do this at Liverpool. Obviously for Man United They are the fi rst team to net 29 goals in the worst start to a season in English top-fl ight Cesc Fabregas corner. break.Antonio Conte’s side, beaten three times it is OK.” fi rst eight games of an English top-fl ight cam- history.But stunningly it was Chelsea who However, Chelsea were already without in- this term, are now nine points behind City. Inevitably, Mourinho had no regrets, saying: paign since Everton in 1894-95 and Guardiola were the victims as they fi nally ended that goal jured duo Alvaro Morata and N’Golo Kante and “The performance level today was not up to “The second half was a bit of chess, but my op- said: “We can always do better but I cannot drought at Selhurst Park. they suff ered another setback when Victor Mo- the standard it should be. We played poorly,” ponent didn’t open the door for me to win the deny today was the best performance since I Palace took the lead in the 11th minute ses limped off in the fi rst half. Chelsea captain Gary Cahill said. game.” arrived here. when Yohan Cabaye’s eff ort was defl ected in There was even worse to come for Chelsea as At Vicarage Road, injury-plagued defender Tottenham fi nally won for the fi rst time at “I am here to win, I am not here to entertain, for an own goal by Chelsea defender Cesar Wilfried Zaha restored Palace’s lead with a fi ne Per Mertesacker headed Arsenal in front in the Wembley in the Premier League with a 1-0 vic- but this is the way we want to play. Our confi - Azpilicueta. curling strike in fi rst-half stoppage-time. 38th minute with his fi rst Premier League goal tory over Bournemouth thanks to Christian dence is high.” Tiemoue Bakayoko equalised for Chelsea Chelsea were condemned to a second succes- since December 2013. Eriksen’s deft 47th-minute fi nish.

BOTTOMLINE Sagbo’s superb treble powers Umm Salal to top of QNB Stars League

By Sports Reporter Amado, who gave the home side the lead after Doha he neatly headed home a cross following some good attacking play by Yousuf Muftah. With only 24 minutes on the clock, the game annick Sagbo scored a hat-trick as was eff ectively ended as a contest when Amin Umm Salal eased past Al Arabi 4-1 to was given the marching orders for bringing leap to the top of the standings with 10 down Moayad Fedaily just outside the box, leav- Ypoints in the QNB Stars League yester- ing Al Khor to play the rest of the game with 10 day. men. The Ivorian striker found the net twice in the Vladimir Weiss doubled the advantage in the fi rst half (7th and 41st minute) and then pretty second half. After collecting a lofted through much put the issue beyond doubt with a 57th ball, he smartly rounded the goalkeeper and minute strike as Umm Salal recorded their third confi dently fi red home with two Al Khor de- win in four matches. fenders on the line. Less than 10 minutes later, Adil Rhaili scored the fourth goal for Umm the Slovak’s surging run from outside the area Salal in the 60th minute before Mardik Mardi- saw him taking on four rival defenders before kian pulled one back for Al Arabi in the 75th. fi ring low into the bottom left hand corner to Umm Salal’s lead could be short-lived if de- seal the win. fending champions Al Duhail and Al Sadd earn Al Gharafa will be delighted with the win to full points from their games today. get their turbulent season up and running, while Meanwhile, Al Gharafa put an end to their The Knights will be disappointed and now look disappointing start to the season with a com- to next week’s home fi xture against Al Markhiya. prehensive 3-0 victory at home to Al Khor in the In the last match of the day, Al Sailiya defeat- fi rst QNB Stars League game played after the in- ed Al Kharaitiyat 2-1 to to go second with nine ternational break. points. Vladimir Weiss scored a brace and Diogo Vladimir Weiss (R) scored a brace for Uzbek striker Temurkhuja Abdulkholikov Amado was on target once as Al Gharafa secured Al Gharafa against Al Khor. helped Al Sailiya equalise in the 40th minute three points. after Moroccan Rachid Tiberkanine had put Al As if to add insult to injury,Al Khor goalkeeper ed off evenly, with the fi rst real chance com- Kharaitiyat ahead in the 37th minute. Amin Lecomte will now be suspended after re- ing from Al Gharafa’s Othman al-Yahiri, whose Brazilian Wagner Ribeiro however struck in Yannick Sagbo (13) is congratulated by his Umm Salal teammates after he recorded a hat-trick ceiving a straight red card. speculative eff ort from distance was parried the 65th minute to help Al Sailiya clinch a tough against Al Arbi yesterday. The match at the Al Gharafa Stadium start- by Amin. Halfway through the fi rst half, it was win. Gulf Times 2 Sunday, October 15, 2017 FOOTBALL

SPOTLIGHT Mourinho suggests Klopp as much to blame for boring Premier League draw

Reuters Manchester United side to open up in search of a win. were off ensive — well, you are at home Liverpool manager Jose Mourinho Asked if a point was his target in the and you don’t move anything. I don’t reacts during his team’s game, Mourinho said: “No, we came for know? I was waiting for that and he match against Liverpool. three but in the second half we felt (it didn’t. I think he did well, honestly. anchester United manager was) diffi cult to do that with the match, “The game was never broken, they Jose Mourinho rejected the the dynamic as it was. pressed high, they recovered the ball, so idea that his team went to “I was waiting for Juergen to change I think they were very good by the de- Liverpool for a point and and go more attacking but he kept the fensive point of view. Msaid yesterday’s 0-0 Premier League three strong midfi elders at all times, “The only chance I had to change draw refl ected Juergen Klopp’s tactics where he was having control because I the direction of the game was to bring as much as his own. had only (Ander) Herrera and (Nemanja) on players for one-on-one, players Matic,” said the United manager. with speed and maybe they are going “I was waiting for Juergen to Mourinho noted the absence of mid- to change (the game), but they didn’t,” change and go more attacking fi eld options from the United bench, added Mourinho. but he kept the three strong caused by injuries to Paul Pogba, Mar- However, the Portuguese manager midfi elders at all times, where ouane Fellaini and Michael Carrick, but seemed unconcerned that such a highly he was having control because also defended his approach by high- anticipated game had ended in a dull I had only (Ander) Herrera and lighting that he had brought on attack- stalemate, which left Liverpool seven (Nemanja) Matic” ing players Jesse Lingard and Marcus points behind United. Rashford in the second half. “It depends on what is for you an United, who moved to 20 points from “When I brought on Lingard and entertaining game. One thing is an en- eight games, showed little ambition to Rashford I was waiting for him (Klopp) tertaining game for fans, another thing attack and did not manage a single shot to give me more space to counter but he is an entertaining game for people who on goal in the second half but Mourinho didn’t give me. So I know that probably read football in a diff erent way. That’s said he had been waiting for Klopp’s you think we were defensive and they diff erent.”

QNB STARS LEAGUE PREVIEW We are not afraid of Al Rayyan coach Duhail, says Caparros By Sports Reporter working overtime and I hope Cristian Doha Nazarit would come good against Al Duhail,” he added. Al Duhail’s assistant coach Bruno l Ahli coach Joaquin Capar- who spoke to the media noted that Al ros said his players are not Ahli had not won a game in the league overawed with the prospect so far, but that did not refl ect on their Laudrup wary Aof taking on champions Al performance. Duhail in Round 4 of the QNB Stars The Portuguese said the team con- League at the latter’s home ground to- tinued to work hard during the break day. even in the absence of professional “This is going to be our toughest game players who were on national duty. so far in the league this season. It’s true “We’re used to this situation (the that we’re up against one of the best absence of professional players dur- teams around. That does not deter us ing the league’s stoppage period). of Al Markhiya from aiming high,” said Caparros. We always show the same intensity in “We’ve had good training sessions preparations to attain the best results,” ‘They’ll defend stoutly and resort to counter-attacks with the help of a few fast players. and our players took the most out of said Bruno. the QSL Cup fi xtures, where we drew Bruno indicated that they also took They also showed their strength through a couple of good games in the QSL Cup...’ one match and lost another. We’ve tak- advantage from their QSL Cup fi xtures en the positives and are working on ar- by fi elding irregular players who do not By Sports Reporter eas for improvement,” added Caparros. get to be a part of the league action. Doha “We never had all our professional Asked about the match versus Al players together due to injuries and Ahli, he said, “Defi nitely, Al Ahli suspensions. The absence of a full will go into this match with all their l Rayyan are leaving nothing team made a big diff erence in our re- strength knowing Al Duhail are strong to chance when they take on sults. Once they’re ready and raring opponents.” He commended team cap- newcomers Al Markhiya in to go, we can achieve many positive tain Youssef Msakni. Around four of the QNB Stars results. But then, our fi rst three games “Msakni is a prominent player and League today. were also against strong sides. we’re very pleased with his perform- Markhiya are yet to earn a point in the “I’m sad that our three attackers ance with the Tunisian national side tournament. Their opening shock vic- could score just one goal so far in the as well. He’s another player who can tory over Al Sadd was later overturned league. That left Meshaal Abdullah make a big diff erence,” Bruno added. because they fi elded an ineligible player but Al Rayyan coach Michael Laudrup was under no illusions they can still be FOCUS a dangerous side. “We’re taking the game against Al Markhiya very seriously as they had beaten Al Sadd in the very fi rst round, Guardiola tries to heal no matter the overturned result for fi elding an ineligible player. We want to win this match,” said Laudrup at his rift with Pochettino pre-match press conference. Laudrup discounted his team’s ‘fa- AFP vourites’ tag in the match, saying any Manchester result is possible. “Of course, we start as the favour- ites. But favourites can lose, so you’ve to ep Guardiola has moved to show your strength on the pitch. We’ve placate Mauricio Pochettino prepared well for this game. Al Markhi- after the Manchester City man- ya are the promoted side, but they’ve ager was accused of disrespect played some tight matches and have byP his Tottenham Hotspur counterpart. good game plans. Pochettino is annoyed that Guar- “They’ll defend stoutly and resort diola recently described Spurs as “the to counter-attacks with the help of Harry Kane team” after citing Totten- a few fast players. They also showed ham, Chelsea and Manchester United as their strength through a couple of good City’s main rivals for the Premier League games in the QSL Cup during the break Al Rayyan coach Michael Laudrup and his Al Sadd counterpart Jesualdo Ferreira (bottom) speak to the media yesterday. title. (Al Markhiya defeated Al Sadd again and England striker Kane has scored 11 of drew with Al Arabi),” added Laudrup. coach Gabriel Calderon was frank about Tottenham’s 21 goals in all competitions The Danish coach underlined the what his team need to do. this season, with nine goals in his last fact that Al Rayyan have many options “So far we’ve only one victory to fi ve matches for club and country. in the attack, with the likes of Sebas- show for our eff orts in our comeback That blistering run has seen Kane tian Soria and Abderrazzak Hamdallah. campaign, so we defi nitely need more score seven goals in his last three games And Rodrigo Tabata, who underwent a of them and points. We seek at least a for Spurs. He also scored two winning surgery after their last league match, is point from this high-profi le fi xture. I’m goals as England completed a success- done in the last two or three years. There expected to take the fi eld in the second very happy to announce that my wards ful World Cup qualifying campaign with is a lot of credit in the way they play, in half. are getting better after every match,” successive 1-0 victories over Slovenia the way they want to show their football Markhiya assistant coach Mohamed said Calderon. and Lithuania this month. in the Premier League, the way they are Ali said his team were confi dent of a “We know that even though Al Sadd Pochettino has bristled at the sug- always attacking.” positive result despite Al Rayyan being took time to settle down, they came gestion that Spurs are a one-man team, Guardiola thought he had a good re- the favourites. back strongly. They’re a side which calling Guardiola’s comments disre- lationship with the Tottenham manager, “We’re all set for the clash. It goes can lift its performance to any level any spectful, but the Spaniard now says it who he believes must have misunder- without saying that Al Rayyan are a time. They’ve the players to do that and was never his intention to belittle them. stood his comments. strong side, so we’re prepared to put up Xavi & Co can tear apart any defence. “I was never disrespectful to my col- “Maybe I should say Pochettino’s a stronger showing than what we did As far as I’m concerned, every match is league. I was never disrespectful in a team when I said Harry Kane’s team,” against Al Sadd in the fi rst round. We’re like a fi nal and I’m preparing my boys press conference. Never,” Guardiola Guardiola said. aiming high and will go all out. that way. Our players are an inspired said. “But I said it because he scored two “We’ve a good batch of players to lot,” he said. To a question what did “When I talked about Harry Kane’s goals more against Huddersfi eld and a choose from and all of them are keen he learn from mistakes from their fi rst team, it was because Harry Kane was goal for the national team and another on giving off their best performances. three league games, the Argentinian scoring a lot of goals. goal for the national team. During the break, we could give chanc- replied that they must mainly tighten “And I know perfectly that Tottenham “I think Mauricio has made a mistake. es to our youngsters in the QSL Cup and their defence. are not Harry Kane alone.” Never in my career have I not been re- they all have valuable experience,” said “Even in the QSL Cup, we scored Guardiola said he has always been spectful. Ali. eight goals, but conceded fi ve. Our de- quick to give credit to Tottenham, who “Maybe I can answer something Asked whether a draw would satisfy fenders need to pull up their socks,” he fi nished second last season, one place where I attack my team or my club, but them, he said. “We target victory as we concluded. above City. never would I be disrespectful about must be collecting maximum number Al Sadd coach Jesualdo Ferreira also “I think last season, the person who Mauricio or Tottenham.” of points. However, we’re realistic too. said he was expecting a tough game as spoke most about appreciating the way Guardiola, meanwhile, is hopeful that One point from this match, considering Qatar SC can throw up a surprise. He Tottenham play was me,” Guardiola City midfi elder David Silva will agree a that Al Rayyan are title contenders, will expressed his happiness to have his full said.“When they lost to Chelsea in the new contract soon. satisfy us.” team ready, especially with the return FA Cup semi-fi nal last season, I said it Silva, who has scored 51 times in 315 Ali concluded the conference, saying of Algerian striker Baghdad Bounedjah, was incredible, because Chelsea had games for City since arriving from Va- they were particularly thankful to the and hoped they would continue their four shots on target and scored four lencia in 2010, has just under two years Qatar Stars League’s Prozone statis- winning ways. goals. left on his current contract. tics, which enable teams to assess the “Baghdad had missed the fi rst three “As I said, Tottenham are one of the He is expected to sign an extension strengths and weaknesses of all teams. league matches with an injury. When a best teams playing. So I’m really disap- through to 2020, with director of foot- “We’ll work on our rivals’ weak player is severely injured and is away for pointed if he said that. ball Txiki Begiristain leading the nego- points,” he added. a long time, he’ll need some time to re- “I don’t know what he said, but I was tiations. Meanwhile, Qatar SC have a big task gain his form and physical fi tness,” said never disrespectful about my colleagues. “It’s about Txiki but I think we’d like on hand when they take on Al Sadd and Ferreira. “I respect a lot what Tottenham have him to stay,” he said. Gulf Times Sunday, October 15, 2017 3 FOOTBALL

LA LIGA LIGUE 1 Late Ronaldo PSG fi ght to go six clear on top

AFP net, who had just parried a shot in what Paris was an excellent performance. His teammate Jeannot’s goal will winner rescues be a contender for goal of the season, Thomas Meunier brace gave running at full tilt he fi red a left-foot- Paris Saint-Germain a hard- ed volley with such force in the 87th fought 2-1 win at Dijon in minute it left PSG keeper Alphonse Ligue 1 yesterday after the Areola rooted to the spot. hostsA thought they’d earned a late draw The rapture was short-lived however through Benjamin Jeannot’s stunning as Meunier again calmly slotted home volley. as Mbappe put the ball on a platter for Real at Getafe The result gives PSG a six-point lead him deep into injury time. over second-placed Monaco who lost “It was a small dose of destiny,” Me- 3-2 at Lyon on Friday. unier told reporters. Zidane’s men jump into second thanks to Sevilla’s 1-0 loss to Athletic Bilbao In a packed and raucous stadium, Di- Meunier has now scored three league jon made a real fi ght of it as a PSG side goals in his last two appearances, fur- AFP deprived of Edinson Cavani, Marco ther strengthening his case for in- Madrid Verratti, Thiago Motta, Thiago Silva clusion in Wednesday’s Champions and Layvin Kurzawa were given a rough League tie at Anderlecht. time by the hosts. “We knew it would be tough but we ristiano Ronaldo struck his Angel Di Maria, Neymar and Kylian were not expecting to have to fi ght like fi rst La Liga goal of the season Mbappe could have scored a hatful and that,” France midfi elder Adrien Rabiot fi ve minutes from time to save PSG hit the woodwork twice before told French television after the game. Real Madrid from losing more their go-ahead goal on 70 minutes. “For them it was their game of the groundC in the title race with a hard- Belgian right-back Meunier held season and their mentality and team fought 2-1 win at Getafe yesterday. his nerve to slot the opening goal past spirit made us use up a great deal of Real looked on course for a comfort- prone Dijon goalkeeper Baptiste Rey- energy.” able three points when Karim Benze- ma fi red the visitors into a deserved half-time lead. However, Jorge Molina’s equaliser early in the second half and an incred- ible miss by Ronaldo left the European champions needing a late saviour. And Ronaldo rode to the rescue and made amends for his earlier profl igacy with an accurate volleyed fi nish into the far corner. Victory takes Real up to second and within four points of Barcelona, who were scheduled to play at Atletico Ma- drid yesterday. “The game is 90 minutes long and we know that we can score at any mo- ment,” said Madrid boss Zinedine Zi- dane. “The fi rst 10 minutes of the second- half caused us problems, but with time and patience we know we could turn the game around and that’s what we did.” Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo kicks the ball during the La Liga match against Getafe yesterday. (AFP) Despite being shorn of Gareth Bale, Dani Carvajal and Keylor Na- returning from an early season fi ve- The equaliser awoke Real from their Liga for the season by fi ring into the far vas through injury and illness, Zidane game suspension. second-half slumber and Guaita pro- corner. surprisingly left Luka Modric and Isco Ronaldo’s fi rst eff ort did at least duced another great double save to Getafe could still have salvaged on the bench after their exertions on produce a stunning save from Vicente block at Ronaldo’s feet before tipping a point in stoppage time when Me- international duty and with one eye Guaita as he drove Benzema’s neat lay- Marcelo’s follow-up eff ort over. hdi Lacen’s shot fl ew inches over with on Tuesday’s Champions League clash off goalward from the edge of the box. Ronaldo drilled a free-kick just Real ‘keeper Kiko Casilla stranded. against Tottenham Hotspur. Guaita was left helpless six minutes wide, but his embarrassing moment Real jump into second thanks to However, that decision backfi red as before half-time, though, when Ben- was still to come 17 minutes from time. Sevilla’s 1-0 defeat to Athletic Bilbao once again Zidane’s men produced a zema latched onto Ronaldo’s pass and With the goal at his mercy as the ball earlier yesterday as Mikel Vesga got lacklustre performance in La Liga. kept his composure to fi re low into the rebounded into his path from a free- the only goal two minutes before half- Real dropped points at home to Va- far corner for his fi rst league goal of kick, the Portuguese somehow skewed time. lencia, Levante and Real Betis to allow the season. wide at the far post. Barcelona to open up a seven-point gap Getafe had barely threatened before Zidane threw on Isco, Theo Her- RESULTS Paris Saint-Germain’s Thomas Meunier (centre) celebrates scoring a goal with at the top of the table and even failed to levelling in fortunate circumstances nandez and Borja Mayoral from the Athletic Bilbao 1 (Vesga 43) Sevilla 0 teammates during the Ligue 1 match against Dijon yesterday. (AFP) fi nd their top form in seeing off Alaves 11 minutes into the second half when bench in the search for a winner. Getafe 1 (Molina 56) Real Madrid 2 and Espanyol in recent weeks. Molina bundled home Francisco Por- And it was Isco who provided the (Benzema 39, Ronaldo 85) Part of Madrid’s problem has been tillo’s low cross despite appearing to inspiration as his through ball released Alaves 0 Real Sociedad 2 (Oyarza- SERIE A Ronaldo’s poor league form since be in an off side position. Ronaldo to fi nally break his duck in La bal 77, Elustondo 81)

BUNDESLIGA Immobile brace ends Juventus run AFP Leaders Napoli, on 21 points, have Heynckes makes winning the chance to pull further ahead when Milan they take on Roma later Saturday. “We had the warning signs against iro Immobile scored a second- Torino, Sassuolo and Atalanta. We have half brace as Lazio won 2-1 in these drops in concentration and pay a Bayern return, Dortmund lose heavy price for them,” Juve coach Mas- Turin to infl ict a fi rst home defeat in two years on Serie A similiano Allegri told Mediaset Pre- championsC Juventus yesterday. mium. Reuters Berlin Hertha players ‘take Juventus’ top scorer Paulo Dybala “Between Bergamo (Atalanta) and a knee’ before match missed a late penalty as Juventus lost today we have dropped fi ve points and at home for the fi rst time since against haven’t realised yet that to win the upp Heynckes made a winning Hertha Berlin players became the Udinese in August 2015. Scudetto you must fi ght every single return to the Bayern Munich latest prominent sportsmen to Since then the six-time defending day. It’s a hard slog. Some were a lit- bench yesterday as the German follow the lead of NFL star Colin champions had notched up 38 wins and tle tired, others carrying knocks, but champions crushed Freiburg Kaepernick and ‘take a knee’ in an three draws. these are not excuses, as we dropped 5-0J to close in on leaders Borussia Douglas Costa, who arrived in Turin fi ve points. act of political protest. Dortmund, who lost to Leipzig 3-2. The entire Hertha team knelt on on loan from Bayern Munich in July, “Now we’ve got an important game The victory moved second-placed the pitch ahead of their Bundesliga got the hosts off to a bright start on 23 on Wednesday against Sporting in the Bayern, who take on Celtic in the game with Schalke yesterday, with minutes with his fi rst goal off a rebound Champions League and we have to Champions League next week, up to 17 team manager Michael Preetz and following a Thomas Strakosha save win.” points, two behind Dortmund who suf- coach Pal Dardai joining them from from Sami Khedira. Dybala came off the bench and his fered their fi rst home loss in 41 Bundes- the substitutes’ bench. But Lazio dominated the second half eff ort hit the bar, but there was more liga matches, 3-2 to RB Leipzig. Kneeling has come to symbolise as Immobile pulled the Romans ahead drama in stoppage time when the Ar- The 72-year-old Heynckes, in his protest against the politics of Don- with a seven-minute double, the sec- gentine striker stepped up for the last fourth stint at the club, took over last ald Trump since the US president’s ond a penalty past Gianluigi Buff on on kick of the game but his penalty was week from the sacked Carlo Ancelotti public dispute with Kaepernick 54 minutes to move top of the Serie A saved by Strakosha. after Bayern failed to win their last and other prominent figures in scorers ahead of Dybala with 11 goals in The last time the two sides met was three matches in all competitions. American sport. eight matches. in the Italian Super Cup, which the Ro- Heynckes, who led Bayern to the The club posted a picture of the The victory moves Lazio up to third, man club won 3-2 in a stoppage-time 2013 treble, could have not picked bet- kneeling players on its Twitter equal on 19 points with Juventus. victory. ter opponents, with Freiburg having account, alongside the words: never won in Munich and having lost Bayern Munich coach Jupp Heynckes during the Bundesliga match against “Hertha stands for diversity, toler- 13 of their 15 previous league matches Freiburg in Munich, Germany, yesterday. (Reuters) ance and responsibility. For a Berlin in the Bavarian capital. which remains open to the world!” Celtic stay top in Scotland, Aberdeen win “It was very important to have a games where they ended up drawing beaten home run. “We are living in the 21st century, good start,” the coach told reporters. 2-2, Bayern cruised to victory. Hoff enheim, in third place, twice not the 18th century, but there are Celtic retained top spot in the Scot- at Partick Thistle. Motherwell added “This gives a lot of support and self Thiago Alcantara capped an out- led against Augsburg but conceded a some people who haven’t devel- tish Premiership yesterday with a 1-0 to Hamilton’s problems as they hit confi dence and security. standing performance with a goal on last-gasp goal to earn a 2-2 draw that oped their ideologies accordingly,” win against Dundee enough to keep back to win 2-1. Ten-man Hearts won “In our current position we should the hour before Robert Lewandowski left them on 15 points. Hertha player Sebastian Langkamp them ahead of Aberdeen on goal at Ross County, despite losing Con- not overestimate the 5-0 victory but it pounced on a defensive error to take Schalke got their fi rst win in four told Sky Sports. diff erence. French midfielder Olivier nor Randall to a second booking. was positive that the team kept want- his goal tally to nine. Bayern com- matches when they stunned hosts “If we can give them a bit of help in Ntcham found the net with a power- ing to score again after the 2-0. It was pleted the rout in stoppage-time with Hertha Berlin 2-0 to climb up to fi fth doing so, then that’s good.” ful low shot from 25 yards just after RESULTS a positive start but we still have a lot of Joshua Kimmich scoring on the break. on 13, three ahead of Mainz 05 who the hour mark. Celtic 1 (Ntcham 61) Dundee 0 work in front of us.” Champions League clubs Dortmund beat Hamburg SV 3-2. Victory kept the visitors ahead of Hamilton 1 (Skondras 15) Mother- The hosts needed only eight min- and Leipzig both had a player sent off ka 54-pen, Burgstaller 78) second-placed Aberdeen after the well 2 (Rose 32, Hartley 51) utes to take the lead with Julian Schus- in the second half in an entertain- RESULTS Mainz 3 (Maxim 2, Bell 52, Latza Dons also won 1-0 away from home. Hibernian 0 Aberdeen 1 (Mackay- ter’s second own goal in consecutive ing match with the visitors in control Bayern Munich 5 (Schuster 8-og, 58) Hamburg 2 (Walace 9, Salihovic Celtic and Aberdeen are six points Steven 38) matches following a fl owing passing throughout. Coman 42, Thiago 63, Lewandowski 90+2-pen) clear of third-placed Rangers, who Partick 0 Kilmarnock 2 (Boyd 39, move from the hosts. Bundesliga top scorer Pierre-Em- 75, Kimmich 90+3) Freiburg 0 Hanover 1 (Sane 36) Frankfurt 2 beat St Johnstone on Friday. Frizzell 63) Kingsley Coman’s diving header in erick Aubameyang struck twice but Hoff enheim 2 (Huebner 52, Uth (Haller 10, Rebic 89) Kilmarnock recorded their first Ross County 1 (Keillor-Dunn 36) the 42nd minute gave them a two-goal Dortmund conceded three goals, one 85) Augsburg 2 (Gregoritsch 75, Vogt Borussia Dortmund 2 (Aubam- league victory of the season to move Hearts 2 (Tavares Cruz da Silva 34, cushion but instead of wasting it as more than the total in the seven previ- 89-og) eyang 4, 64-pen) RB Leipzig 3 (Sabitzer off the foot of the table, winning 2-0 Walker 59) they had done in their last two league ous league matches, to end their un- Hertha Berlin 0 Schalke 2 (Goretz- 10, Poulsen 25, Augustin 49-pen) Gulf Times 4 Sunday, October 15, 2017 SPORT

CRICKET FOCUS Sri Lanka cricket board reconsiders Shakib, De Villiers Pak tour decision

AFP Under the current schedule, Colombo Lahore would host the Twen- ty20 series fi nale following earlier matches between the ri Lanka’s cricket board sides played in the United Arab return for ODI series is reconsidering plans Emirates (UAE), where Paki- to play a match against stan have played their “home” ‘Bangladesh has proven in white-ball cricket that they can perform outside of their country’ Pakistan in Lahore lat- internationals since the am- erS this month after its players bush. expressed security concerns, Since 2009 the only inter- offi cials said yesterday. national team to visit Pakistan Sri Lanka are currently is Zimbabwe, who played fi ve scheduled to play their third limited-overs games in Lahore Twenty20 match in the se- in 2015. ries in Lahore on October 29, But after Pakistan success- just over eight years after its fully staged the fi nal of its do- team was ambushed by gun- mestic Pakistan Super League men in the same city. If it goes tournament in Lahore under ahead, the match would be the heavy security this March, the fi rst played in Pakistan by Sri country hoped international Lanka - or any other top inter- games could once again be national team - since militants played there. ambushed its team bus en route A successful series against to the Lahore stadium in 2009, a World XI team featuring top wounding at least seven players. foreign players in Lahore last But the board cast doubt on month further boosted calls its team’s return to the coun- for cricket to return to the mil- try yesterday, saying it would itancy-racked nation. study security assessments Sri Lanka Cricket chief Thi- provided by both Sri Lanka langa Sumathipala in August and Pakistan governments as appealed for an end to Paki- well as independent reports stan’s isolation - a statement and possibly make a decision welcomed by Pakistani cricket Monday, an offi cial said. offi cials - and urged countries “A few players have ex- to play there. pressed reservations, but He recalled that several Test about 20 players (out of 40 nations did not want to visit contracted by the board) have Sri Lanka at the height of the confi rmed their willingness to Tamil separatist confl ict, when play in Lahore,” the board of- bombs were exploding in the fi cial told AFP. capital in the mid-1990s, but “A fi nal decision is likely to Pakistan and India had toured be taken on Monday.” Sri Lanka at the time.

SPOTLIGHT Karthik recalled for Shakib Al Hasan AB DE VILLIERS ODIs against Kiwis

AFP day internationals against South against Bangladesh ahead of big new guys.” ties over the next year to a large Kimberley, South Africa Africa when they won a series at tours next year.” South Africa have won 14 of 17 number of players, eff ectively home in 2015. But the hosts will Du Plessis explained the one-day matches against Bang- serving notice to players cur- start strong favourites. thinking and plans around the ladesh and triumphed in all six rently in the squad that they need he return of leading all- “Bangladesh has proven in squad rotation policy ahead of previous encounters in South to perform to remain in the mix. rounder Shakib Al Hasan white-ball cricket that they can the summer, which will be an Africa by convincing margins. provides encouragement perform outside of their coun- important process to grow the Bangladesh will be under new SQUADS for Bangladesh ahead of try,” Du Plessis said yesterday. player resource pool. The inju- leadership with veteran bowler South Africa: Faf du Plessis Ta three-match one-day interna- “It was shown recently in the ries to some key fast bowlers will Mashrafe Mortaza captaining the (capt), Hashim Amla, Temba tional series against South Africa Champions Trophy when they also open the gap to assess how side instead of Mushfi qur Ra- Bavuma, Farhaan Behardien, starting at the Diamond Oval in made the semi-fi nals. Their the next tier of players adapt to him, who remains in the squad. Quinton de Kock (wkt), AB de New Zealand captain Kane Williamson (L) and Martin Guptill during Kimberley today. record in Test cricket away from international cricket. Although Shakib’s return from a Villiers, JP Duminy, Imran Tahir, at training session in Mumbai yesterday. (AFP) But Bangladesh, outplayed in home is completely diff erent, “Our policy over the next two brief sabbatical will strengthen David Miller, Wayne Parnell, two Tests against the hosts, will in white-ball cricket they have years is to try and have a look at the tourists, they still rely mainly Dane Paterson, Andile Phehluk- IANS Glenn Phillips and George have to contend with a South shown they are a dangerous side. more players than we usually on the players who suff ered two wayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso New Delhi Worker will join the squad fol- African team strengthened by The Test match victory was nice do,” he explained. crushing Test defeats. Rabada lowing the conclusion of the the inclusion of AB de Villiers, and we dominated them, but we “Over the last two to three Nor was there any encourage- Coach: Ottis Gibson (WIS) NZ A tour against India A,” one of the world’s most dazzling are expecting a diff erent chal- years we have had a settled one- ment for Bangladesh when they Bangladesh: Mashrafe Mortaza icketkeeper- New Zealand Cricket (NZC) limited-overs batsmen. lenge in the one-day series. day unit, there hasn’t been a lot of were convincingly beaten by (capt), Imrul Kayes, Liton Das batsman Dinesh said in a statement. Also back in international ac- “The team mood is the same, guys coming in. We have a vision an invitation team in a warm- (wkt), Mahmudullah, Mehidy Karthik and rookie “Ish Sodhi and Tom Bruce tion for South Africa is JP Du- nothing has changed,” he ex- for the next two years to try and up match in Bloemfontein on Hasan, Mohamed Saifuddin, Mo- pacer Shardul will travel with the squad for miny, who retired from Test plained. see how we can grow players and Thursday, despite Shakib top WThakur have returned to the the ODIs, having been named minul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim cricket after a run of low scores, “It is normal business for us, how they can fi t into the strongest scoring for the tourists with 68. (wkt), Mustafizur Rahman, Nasir Indian One-Day International in the Twenty20 squad. Ross but who remains a highly eff ec- it is back to one-day cricket. eleven in a World Cup side. For South Africa, the series Hossain, Rubel Hossain, Sabbir (ODI) squad for the upcoming Taylor and Worker will return tive one-day player. We want to prove a point in “There are a few players in the is the fi rst step on a road to the Rahman, Shakib Al Hasan, Sou- home series against New Zea- to New Zealand following the In the most recent one-day one-day cricket, last year was a squad for this series,” he said. 2019 World Cup. mya Sarkar, Tamim Iqbal, Taskin land from October 22. conclusion of the ODIs,” the outings for both teams, Bangla- good year for us, bar the Cham- “ We will try to use the oppor- Faf du Plessis has replaced De Ahmed. The Board of Control for statement added. desh reached the semi-fi nals of pions Trophy. There were a lot tunity to play everyone but go- Villiers as the one-day captain Coach: Chandika Hathurus- Cricket in India (BCCI) also the ICC Champions League in of good things that we did to get ing forward our squad will also and together with new coach ingha (SRI) made several changes to the The squad: Virat Kohli England in June, while South Af- ourselves to No.1 in the world, change, we don’t want to just Ottis Gibson will be seeking to squad which took part in the (captain), Rohit Sharma (vice- rica failed to advance beyond the by playing some good dominat- look at 15 players, we want to build a squad capable of chal- ODI FIXTURES recently concluded home se- captain), Shikhar Dhawan, group stage. ing cricket. We are looking to do look a group of 20-plus players lenging for global honours. Oct 15: Kimberley ries against Australia. Ajinkya Rahane, Manish Bangladesh were victorious more of the same this year and over the next few years. It will be West Indian Gibson said the Oct 18: Paarl Opening batsman Lokesh Pandey, Kedar Jadhav, Dinesh in their two most recent one- it will be important to start it a great opportunity to see some intention was to give opportuni- Oct 22: East London Rahul was left out of the 15- Karthik, Mahendra Singh man squad along with pacers Dhoni (wicketkeeper), Hardik Mohamed Shami and Umesh Pandya, Axar Patel, Kuldeep GOLF Yadav. Thakur made his ODI Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, debut against Sri Lanka on Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar August 31 this year. Kumar and Shardul Thakur. Top order batsman Shikhar New Zealand Squads Dhawan, who missed the ODI ODI: Kane Williamson (cap- series against Australia, also tain), Todd Astle, Trent Boult, returns to the squad for the 50- Colin de Grandhomme, Martin Perez widens lead at CIMB Classic over format. The fi rst ODI is Guptill, Matt Henry, Tom AFP or not.” scheduled to be played in Mum- Latham, Henry Nicholls, Adam Kuala Lumpur bai on October 22, the second Milne, Colin Munro, Glenn Leading scores from the third will be in Pune on October 25 Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Tim round while the third match is slated Southee, Ross Taylor, George at Perez took a four-stroke 195 - Pat Perez (USA) 66-65-64 for Kanpur on October 29. Worker lead in the third round of 199 - Xander Schauff ele (USA) New Zealand yesterday T20I: Kane Williamson the CIMB Classic in Ma- 65-67-67 also announced their updated (captain), Todd Astle, Trent laysia yesterday with an 200 - Kang Sung-Hoon (KOR) 15-member squad, adding six Boult, Tom Bruce, Colin de eight-underP 64, as Justin Thomas’s members for the One-Day In- 67-68-65 Grandhomme, Martin Guptill, title defence looked all but over. 201 - Hideki Matsuyama (JPN) ternational and Twenty20 In- Matt Henry, Tom Latham, The 41-year-old Perez’s im- 70-68-63, Keegan Bradley (USA) ternational series against In- Henry Nicholls, Adam Milne, pressive performance put him 65-71-65 dia starting from October 22. Colin Munro, Glenn Phillips, on a three-day total of 21-under 204 - Anirban Lahiri (IND) 67- “Todd Astle, Matt Henry, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, 195, leaving him in a strong posi- 73-64 Henry Nicholls, Colin Munro, Tim Southee. tion heading into the fi nal round 205 - Ollie Schniederjans (USA) of the PGA Tour event Sunday. 72-68-65, Jazz Janewattana- The American shrugged off nond (THA) 70-69-66 Stokes puts Ashes worries aside to wed sweltering heat at the TPC Kuala 206 - Peter Uihlein (USA) 73-68- Lumpur to fi re nine birdies as he 65, Danny Lee (NZL) 73-65-68, England’s Ben Stokes - whose Ashes hopes hang in the balance continued his impressive putting, Lucas Glover (USA) 71-67-68, after he was arrested on suspicion of causing actual bodily which has been the standout fea- Rafa Cabrera-Bello (ESP) 67-70- harm - was married yesterday. The all-rounder tied the knot ture of his game this week. 69 with fiancée Clare Ratcliff e in the southwest of England, with He holds a signifi cant advan- 207 - Stewart Cink (USA) 72- guests including Test captain Joe Root, former skipper Alastair tage over second-placed compa- Pat Perez of the US hits the ball out of the bunker on the first fairway during the third round of the 2017 68-67, Gary Woodland (USA) Cook and fast bowler Stuart Broad. Earlier this week, represent- triot Xander Schauff ele, who sits CIMB Classic in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. (AFP) 66-73-68 atives of Stokes said the cricketer would off er a full explanation four strokes behind him. 208 - Jhonattan Vegas (VEN) of the incident in Bristol last month that could cost him his Schauff ele overcame a fi rst hole can Keegan Bradley are in tied He improved slightly Saturday sure on myself to win,” he said. 72-70-66, David Lipsky (USA) 69- Ashes place “when the time is right”. bogey to end the day on fi ve-un- fourth position. But the shock with a three-under-par 69 but World number three Matsuyama 71-68, Luke List (USA) 70-70-68, The England all-rounder, 26, was arrested following a distur- der-par 67. news of the event has been the he was still languishing far down stormed into contention with Brendan Steele (USA) 67-71-70, bance outside a nightclub late last month.Stokes will not travel South Korea’s Kang Sung- poor performance of Thomas, the leaderboard in tied 24th po- the lowest score of the day, 63. Kyle Stanley (USA) 71-67-70, to Australia with the rest of the England squad for the Ashes Hoon is also a threat heading who has just fi nished a superb sition, 15 strokes off Perez. Perez But he admitted it would be hard Cameron Smith (AUS) 64-71-73 as he waits to learn whether he will face criminal charges but into the fi nal day at fi ve shots be- season and was hoping to tri- insisted he did not feel under to overtake Perez: “You know, 209 - C.T.Pan (TPE) 70-70-69, has not been ruled out of the five-Test series, which starts on hind Perez in third, while Japan’s umph at the CIMB Classic for a pressure to win. with the way Pat is playing, I Paul Casey (ENG) 77-63-69, Ha- November 23. Hideki Matsuyama and Ameri- third successive year. “I’m not going to put pres- don’t know if he can be caught rold Varner III (USA) 72-67-70 Gulf Times Sunday, October 15, 2017 5 SPORT

MLB SPOTLIGHT It’s all lining up for rested Dodgers Yankees still can’t as they aim for a World Series berth

By Dylan Hernandez last four division series, the Los Angeles Times Dodgers went against another solve Keuchel in division champion and Ker- shaw made a second start on f Clayton Kershaw looked three-days’ rest. well-rested on the eve Their division series last of the National League year was particularly exhaust- Championship Series, it’s ing. In addition to making Ibecause he was. two starts in a four-day span, He smiled. He cracked jokes. Kershaw pitched the ninth in- loss to Astros “It was kind of fun yester- ning in a Game 5 victory over day watching them duke it the Nationals in Washington. ‘We can win the big games where we’re up by a lot, or we’re down by a few late’ out while we were kind of sit- When the Dodgers entered the ting around,” he said. Kershaw NLCS against the Cubs, they By Erik Boland was talking about the Chicago were the walking dead. Newsday Cubs and the Washington Kershaw’s second start Nationals, who required the of the Championship Series maximum fi ve games to decide counted as the left-hander’s t was a return to the bad old their NL division series. fi fth appearance in 16 days. days of the 2015 American The Cubs advanced, but not He lost. Compare that to this League wild-card game. Or, without starter Jose Quintana year. When Kershaw pitches really, just about any other pitching in relief and closer in Game 1 of this rematch with Itime the Yankees have faced Wade Davis recording a seven- the Cubs, he will be pitching Houston’s Dallas Keuchel. out save in a game that lasted for the fi rst time in eight days. The Yankees solved one long- four hours and 37 minutes. “It’s certainly better to be time tormentor in the American If that wasn’t draining at home and not have to deal League Division Series when enough, the Cubs’ chartered with the travel that they had they twice beat up Cleveland’s overnight fl ight from Washing- to endure last night and to be Corey Kluber, but Game 1 of the ton to Los Angeles made a de- able to set your rotation, get American League Champion- tour to New Mexico because of guys rested,” Dodgers manager ship Series showed they still a medical emergency. The Cubs Dave Roberts said. have work to do against Keuchel. landed Los Angeles around A signifi cant percentage of The bearded Astros left- noon Friday with bags under postseason series are won by hander has made a career of their bloodshot eyes. Their the inferior team. The sport stumping Yankees hitters and workout at Dodger Stadium often fails to properly reward did so again Friday night, pitch- later in the day was cancelled. the top teams for what they ing seven shutout innings in a 2-1 So, for the second consecu- did over the six-month regular Game 1 victory in front of 43,116 tive round of this postseason, season. Look at the Cleveland fans at Minute Maid Park. the Dodgers will have in front Indians. They had the best Keuchel, who came in 4-2 of them a beat-up opponent record in the American League with a 1.41 ERA in six career with a dishevelled rotation and and they’re already eliminat- regular-season starts against the exhausted bullpen. ed. Yankees, allowed four hits and a The road to the World Series Here is an instance where walk and struck out 10, joining is wide open for them. the format did what it was Mike Scott and Nolan Ryan as Go ahead and call the Dodg- supposed to. When Zack the only pitchers in Astros histo- ers lucky, but remember this: Greinke failed to complete the ry to record at least 10 strikeouts They earned their luck. fourth inning of a victory over in a postseason game. Baseball people like to say the Colorado Rockies in the The Yankees, who got a solid the regular season has no ef- wild-card game, the Arizona outing from Masahiro Tanaka fect on the postseason, but Diamondbacks were forced to (two runs and four hits in six in- that’s not the case here. The turn to their prospective start- nings), got a few chances against Dodgers are in the position er for Game 1 of the NLDS, Keuchel but stranded fi ve and they are in because they won Robbie Ray. With Ray unavail- had a runner, Greg Bird, thrown more games than any other able for the opening game of out at the plate in the fi fth to team in the major leagues. the series, the Diamondbacks end the inning. They went 1 for 5 The Dodgers have won fi ve instead started Taijuan Walk- with runners in scoring position consecutive division cham- er, who lasted only an inning. and stranded seven overall. pionships, but this is the fi rst The Diamondbacks never re- Keuchel more than resem- time in that stretch they post- covered and were swept by the bled the pitcher who routinely Houston Astros centre fielder George Springer (No 4) and shortstop Carlos Correa (No 1) celebrate after beating the New York Yankees during ed the league’s best record and Dodgers. Up next are the Cubs, dominates the Yankees, includ- game one of the 2017 ALCS playoff series at Minute Maid Park. PICTURE: USA TODAY Sports earned the NL’s top seed. As who spent the last week in a ing that 2015 wild-card game at much as the Dodgers down- physically and emotionally the Stadium, when he outdueled Giles struck him out swinging The Yankees nearly cut that Keuchel then struck out the base of the wall. played that in previous years, demanding series against an Tanaka by allowing three hits in at a slider. Giles struck out Starlin defi cit in half in the fi fth. Bird Sanchez and retired Gregorius Keuchel, who started the sixth it mattered. In each of their evenly matched opponent. six innings in a 3-0 victory. Castro and Aaron Hicks to begin led off with a single and Altuve on a grounder to second to end at 86 pitches, struck out Sanchez Chris Devenski replaced the ninth. Bird homered to right booted Holliday’s grounder to the 16-pitch inning. and Gregorius. Correa made a Keuchel in the eighth, an inning fi eld, but pinch hitter Jacoby second to put runners on fi rst Keuchel retired Castro on a nice pick on Castro’s grounder, in which the Yankees got the go- Ellsbury, batting for Matt Holli- and second with none out. grounder to start the second, with the 6-3 putout ending the ahead run to the plate. Devenski day, struck out on a nasty slider Keuchel got Todd Frazier to fl y then struck out Hicks looking 11-pitch inning. walked Brett Gardner with one to end it. to center, struck out Gardner on and Bird swinging, making it four “It just shows you how good of out, prompting Astros manager The Astros’ initial hit came a nasty 2-and-2 slider and got strikeouts through two. a team we really are,” right fi elder A.J. Hinch to call on closer Ken with one out in the bottom of the ahead of Judge 1-and-2, but the Gardner got the Yankees’ fi rst Josh Reddick said. Giles for a fi ve-out save. With fourth when Jose Altuve, who led rookie ripped a full-count slider hit, slashing a single to left with “We can win the big games Aaron Judge up, Gardner went to the American League in hitting for a single to left. two outs in the third, but Judge where we’re up by a lot, or we’re second on a wild pitch. (.346) and had a league-best 204 Third-base coach Joe Espada struck out. down by a few late, or we’re up Judge, who was 1 for 20 with hits, reached on an infi eld single. sent Bird, never to be confused The Yankees didn’t score in by one or two late. It just shows 16 strikeouts in the ALDS but al- With Carlos Correa at the with the fl eet-footed on the bas- the fourth but did hit Keuchel this team has every aspect cov- ready, had a hit in ALCS Game 1, plate, Altuve stole second. Cor- es, and he was nailed at the plate hard. After Sanchez struck out ered.” grounded to third. Gary Sanchez rea then laced a hanging 2-and- on a perfect throw by Gonzalez looking, Gregorius scalded a “Tanaka was good again. He walked to bring up Didi Grego- 1 slider to left for an RBI single. to Brian McCann. grounder on which Altuve made was able to confuse us and to rius, whose two homers off Klu- Marwin Gonzalez’s groundout In the fi rst, Keuchel struck out a diving stop for a 4-3 putout. control the plate,” Astros centre ber in ALDS Game 5 led the Yan- moved Correa to second and Yuli Gardner on four pitches but fell Castro lashed a single to left and fi elder George Springer said. Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner works out kees to the deciding victory over Gurriel’s ground smash up the behind Judge 3-and-0 before Hicks blasted one to dead center, “If it wasn’t for Dallas, who a day prior to game 1 of the NLCS against the Chicago Cubs at the Indians. middle made it 2-0. walking him. where Springer ran it down at knows?” Dodger Stadium. PICTURE: USA TODAY Sports

NHL Capitals hand Devils their fi rst loss of the season

By Andrew Gross loss as they face the Rangers at Conference last season with season but said this game was The Record (Hackensack, N.J.) Madison Square Garden on Sat- a conference-low 183 goals, diff erent. “You really count this urday night. Friday’s game was looked uncharacteristically as the fi rst one, I think,” Johans- the second in a stretch of six of sluggish in the fi rst period com- son said. “The other ones don’t he Devils are no longer seven for the Devils against teams pared to their fi rst three games. really stand. It’s not the same. undefeated and too that qualifi ed for the playoff s last That led to Oshie giving the You almost felt like, in camp, you many penalties are to season and it was Marcus Jo- Capitals a 1-0 lead at 15:49 after scrimmaged out there. This is blame. hansson’s fi rst chance to face his defenseman John Moore turned something else.” TThe Capitals scored three former teammates in the regular the puck over to Backstrom at The Devils fi nally scored on power-play goals, including two season after the Devils acquired the Devils’ blue line. Taylor Hall’s power-play goal on a momentum-swinging four- him from the salary cap-strapped The Devils also surrendered from the left circle, his fi rst goal minute high-sticking minor to Capitals for a second- and third- the fi rst goal at Toronto, though of the season despite the fact Pavel Zacha in the third period, round pick on July 2. they tied that game up just 34 that he came into the game lead- for a 5-2 win on Friday night at The Devils had surprised seconds later and led 2-1 at the ing the team with 14 shots. Prudential Center. some, though not themselves, fi rst intermission. “I didn’t score in the presea- Nicklas Backstrom, who had with their strong start as they The Devils then faced their son either,” Hall said. “I don’t to leave pre-game warmups af- had outscored their opponents, fi rst two-goal defi cit of the sea- want to grip stick too tight but at ter getting hit on his helmetless 16-6, and were coming off a 6-3 son. Blake Coleman - who later the same time, I’ve got to score, head by a puck, had a goal and win at Toronto on Wednesday fought Andre Burakovsky in the I’ve got to fi gure something out.” three assists for the Capitals night as they handed the skilled second period and Tom Wilson in It was the fi rst traction the (3-1-1), T. J. Oshie scored twice, Maple Leafs their fi rst loss of the third period - was called for Devils had gained in the game Alex Ovechkin scored his ninth the season. But after Palmieri delay of game after clasping his and it was short-lived. Jakub goal and Braden Holtby stopped brought the Devils within one hand on the puck at 7:30 and, just Vrana defl ected ex-Devil Devan- 21 shots. goal, Zacha’s inadvertent high 31 second later, Backstrom found te Smith-Pelly’s shot from the Kyle Palmieri, who had a goal stick into Lars Eller’s face at Ovechkin open in his favorite right circle past Schneider with - the 100th of his career - and 4:10 of the third period drawing spot, the left circle, and Ovechkin 59.1 seconds remaining in the an assist for the Devils (3-1-0), blood swung the game. beat Schneider to the short side. second period as the Capitals brought them within 3-2 just 53 Oshie made it 4-2 with a one- Before the game, Johansson took a 3-1 lead. seconds into the third period with timer at 5:26 and Backstrom fol- was asked why Ovechkin was a backhander at the crease while lowed with another power-play such an eff ective scorer. RESULTS Cory Schneider made 23 saves. goal at 7:02 as Ovechkin’s shot “I think he’s got a pretty good Red Wings 6 Golden Knights 3 The Devils, outskated on Fri- went in off his teammate’s skate. shot,” Johansson said, smiling Senators 6 Flames 0 day and chasing the puck for The Devils, who have not and drawing laws. Avalanche 3 Ducks 1 much of the game, have lit- reached the playoff s since 2012 Johansson had already played Capitals 5 Devils 2 TJ Oshie (No 77) of the Washington Capitals skates against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Centre tle time to dwell on their fi rst and fi nished last in the Eastern the Capitals twice in the pre- Blue Jackets 3 Rangers 1 in Newark, New Jersey. The Capitals defeated the Devils 5-2. (Getty Images/AFP) Gulf Times 6 Sunday, October 15, 2017 SPORT

NFL Cowboys owner backs banned rusher Elliott

AFP in a fair way,” Jones said. “We are home game against the Los Ange- Panthers said Friday they had Los Angeles trying to get that looked at, and les Chargers is set to be played as identifi ed a fan who punched EZEKIEL ELLIOTT we got a setback yesterday.” scheduled today despite the poor a fellow spectator, leaving the Jones said the team will sup- air quality caused by fi res raging 62-year-old bloodied during a allas owner Jerry Jones port Elliott as the running back in Northern California. game against the Philadelphia called the court deci- seeks to have his suspension “Sunday’s game against the Eagles on Thursday. sion that reinstated the overturned. “It’s not the thing Chargers remains scheduled for Video of the incident created NFL’s six-game ban of to do right now to get into how 1:25pm at the Oakland-Alameda a stir on social media, showing a CowboysD running back Ezekiel we will respond, but we sup- County Coliseum,” the Raid- man clad in a Cam Newton jersey Elliott a “setback” and said he port Zeke,” Jones said. “I’m very ers said in a statement posted on punching another man several didn’t think the player had been familiar with all of the facts and their website. times. treated fairly. details of this case. Very famil- More than 30 people have Several other fans attempted The fi fth US Circuit Court of iar. More than anything I’ve ever died in the fi res that have swept to stop the aggressor, who de- Appeals in New Orleans voted 2-1 done regarding law. Zeke did not through California’s wine coun- parted with a female companion, in favour of the NFL in a ruling get treated fairly here.” try, leaving thousands of people apparently before stadium secu- on Thursday that a court in Texas Elliott, 22, was suspended homeless and burning more than rity personnel arrived. couldn’t block the suspension. on August 11 for violating the 190,000 acres (76,000 hectares) The Panthers said they had re- The NFL promptly said the ban league’s personal conduct policy, of land. viewed the video and identifi ed was in eff ect, although Elliott, his after allegations he assaulted his A pall of smoke has reached the culprit. lawyers and the NFL Players As- ex-girlfriend. The punishment south to Oakland, where the “We are working with the sociation were expected to make was handed down by Goodell Raiders cut their training short Charlotte Mecklenburg Police further challenges. on August 11 after a 13-month for a second day in a row on Department to pursue charges Jones, speaking on a Dallas ra- league investigation, although Thursday because of poor air to the fullest extent of the law,” dio programme, said NFL com- Elliott, the fourth overall selec- quality. Lance Emory, Panthers execu- missioner Roger Goodell had the tion in the 2016 draft, was never Some players wore masks un- tive director of risk manage- authority to impose suspension, arrested nor charged by police in der their helmets as they ment, said in a statement. but reiterated his belief that the the incident. He has rushed for practised. “The Carolina Panthers are process in Elliott’s case wasn’t fair. 393 yards and two touchdowns The NFL said on Thursday committed to a fan-friendly and “The question was ultimately in fi ve games this season. it was in close communication family-friendly stadium experi- going to be does (Goodell) have to with both teams as it continued ence. The behaviour exhibited follow in practice a fair way, and Raiders game set for today to monitor air quality in the Bay by the perpetrator is unaccept- Zeke and his team and the Cow- amid air quality concerns Area. able and will not be condoned at boys do not think that it was done The Oakland Raiders’ NFL Meanwhile, The Carolina Bank of America Stadium.”

NBA RUGBY Hunt recalled to Wallabies squad for Lakers looking fi nal Bledisloe test

Reuters “In the last camp in June, Melbourne he pretty much forced his way into the team. He’s probably got a bit more competition now nside centre Karmichael as we’ve built the squad over to put up a much Hunt has been recalled the Rugby Championship.” to the Wallabies’ 34-man Lock Rory Arnold, loose squad for the fi nal Bledis- forward Lopeti Timani and Iloe Cup test against the All the uncapped Queensland duo Blacks in Brisbane next week. of fl anker Adam Korczyk and The dual code interna- winger Izaia Perese, have also tional missed the entire Rugby been recalled. Australia, who Championship due to an ankle won their last start away to Ar- stronger defense injury but proved his fi tness for gentina, will bid to snap a sev- Brisbane City in the domestic en-match losing streak to the ‘If he faces you up, you know he’s going to take two slow dribbles’ National Rugby Championship All Blacks dating back to 2015. last weekend, the team said in a By Tania Ganguli media release yesterday. SQUAD Los Angeles Times Queensland Red Hunt made Forwards: Allan Alaalatoa, an impression during the June Rory Arnold, Adam Coleman, internationals against Fiji, Jack Dempsey, Tetera Faulkner, he Lakers’ Kyle Kuzma Scotland and Italy, his fi rst Ned Hanigan, Michael Hooper was going to have to Wallabies appearances, but (captain), Sekope Kepu, Adam guard Utah Jazz forward will have stiff er competition Korczyk, Sean McMahon, Joe Johnson on Tuesday for a spot in the matchday 23 Stephen Moore, Tatafu Polota- Tnight, a man entering his 16th against the All Blacks. Kurtley Nau, Tom Robertson, Izack season in the NBA, who’d earned Beale will be expected to retain Rodda, Rob Simmons, Scott the nickname “Iso Joe” for his the starting number 12 jersey Sio, Lopeti Timani, Lukhan Tui, tendency to gravitate toward for the dead rubber test at Lang Jordan Uelese isolation plays. Park on October 21 where New Backs: Kurtley Beale, Israel What started as a pejora- Zealand will bid to sweep the Folau, Bernard Foley, Will Gen- tive nickname is now a compli- three-match series. ia, Reece Hodge, Karmichael ment, and Johnson would be a “We’ll see how Hunt goes Hunt, Samu Kerevi, Marika problematic assignment for the at training, how he plays this Koroibete, Tevita Kuridrani, rookie. weekend in NRC and then how Billy Meakes, Izaia Perese, Luckily, Kuzma had some he goes in training,” Wallabies Nick Phipps, Joe Powell, Curtis help. Not on the court, but off it. coach Michael Cheika said. Rona, Henry Speight. He had a veteran who could help him face this challenge, one who has spent more than a decade in the NBA learning the minutia of players’ tendencies. “If he faces you up, you know he’s going to take two slow drib- bles,” Corey Brewer told Kuzma. “So you have to kind of play with him, you have to try to jump at him and get him off his rhythm. Because if he gets into his rhythm and he makes the hang dribble, he’s going to shoot the jumper, he’s not going to miss it. That’s why he’s called ‘Iso Joe.’“ Brewer advised Kuzma before the game. He reinforced it during the game. “One time he posted up, and I told him, ‘You can’t just back off him because if he goes to your body fi rst, you’re dead,’“ Brewer said. “You have to go to him fi rst and try to get him off balance, I guess you could say. Lot of little things people don’t understand about basketball.” Brewer’s tutelage is in the hope of fi xing the Lakers’ most con- sistent and troubling problem Kyle Kuzma (No 0) of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates with his teammate Jordan Clarkson during the game against the Minnesota Timber- over the last several seasons. In wolves on September 30 at the Honda Centre in Anaheim, California. (AFP/Getty Images) the last four, the Lakers have ranked last in defensive rating it kind of becomes how you ac- urged him to think more about been better. Their preseason de- are going to be better than last Women’s NBA team plans move to Vegas twice, 29th once and 28th once. cept it and we have to break that defense. “I started guarding all fensive rating is about middle of year,” Brewer said. “We are not Once shunned by US sports leagues over concerns gambling Most of the Lakers roster has mind-set and create this new one the teams’ best players and just the pack. They beat the Sacra- going to be 30th, come on now. ties could erode fan faith in uncompromised results, Las Vegas never played on a competent de- and that takes time.” made that one focus of mine and mento Kings 75-69 in Las Vegas. That’s horrible. ... When I was appears ready to welcome its third pro sports team in 16 months. fensive team, and it’s a problem Fixing the problem takes the it carried over to the league,” Against the Jazz, they gave up in Houston, when we were in the ESPN reported the San Antonio Stars of the Women’s NBA will be that predates coach Luke Walton, whole village. It takes constant Caldwell-Pope said. “It just gets 105 points, but there were signs locker room, we could see the sold to an undisclosed buyer who will relocate the team to Las Ve- who took over the team after be- and repetitive drill work. Indi- me going. I like to pressure guys. of progress. standings, where you were of- gas for the 2018 season, citing unnamed sources. The Stars, owned ing on the coaching staff of the vidual attention from the as- Turn the ball over, get a steal or Some of the players’ mind- fensively and defensively. And we by the Spurs Sports and Entertainment group that owns the NBA’s Golden State Warriors, one of the sistant coaches. And it takes make them throw a bad pass.” sets are changing. Walton said wanted to be the No. 1 team off en- San Antonio Spurs, said Thursday they were in negotiations to sell best defensive teams in the NBA. veterans willing to mentor young A low point for the Lakers this Jordan Clarkson seems to care sively and be a top 10 defensively. the team to a buyer that would move the club but did not specify “It’s not only building the hab- players, to teach them how to preseason came in their third more about defense this season. I feel like over here, we should be where. “This was an extremely diff icult decision as all of us at SS&E its and identity and creating the play defense in the NBA. game. Facing the Denver Nug- Caldwell-Pope said he sees the a top-fi ve off ensive team and a are proud of what the Stars have accomplished on the court and culture that we want in place, but Brewer has helped young play- gets, they gave up 41 points in potential for a great defender in top-10 defensive team.” in the San Antonio community,” a team statement said. Should the to do that you have to break old ers. So has Kentavious Caldwell- the fi rst quarter and 74 by halft- Brandon Ingram. He also likes A long road lies between the Stars move to Vegas, they would join the National Hockey League habits and old ways of thinking,” Pope, signed during the summer ime. Walton lamented the lack of what he sees from guards Vander Lakers currently and that lofty Vegas Golden Knights, an expansion team finalised in June of last Walton said. “There is defi nitely in part for his ability on defense. eff ort and spoke to the team the Blue and Josh Hart. goal. But reaching for it might year that begin its opening season earlier this month, and arrive a part of you, anything in life, if Caldwell-Pope said those next day to make clear that what Brewer believes the group can help the Lakers crawl from a ahead of the NFL Oakland Raiders, who are set to move to Las that is what you know and part skills started when he was in col- he saw was unacceptable. change things. basement that has become so Vegas in 2019 or 2020 and eventually into a new stadium. of what you experienced in life, lege at Georgia, where a coach Since then, the Lakers have “I am 100 percent sure that we comfortable. Gulf Times Sunday, October 15, 2017 7 SPORT

TENNIS SPOTLIGHT Pavlyuchenkova and Gavrilova sweep into A Rafa vs Roger Hong Kong fi nal

AFP Gavrilova’s stuttering quarter-fi nal Hong Kong win against world 155 Lizette Cabre- ra on Friday night had been liberally sprinkled with 16 double faults and 20 show in Shanghai aria Gavrilova produced her unforced errors in the second set alone. best performance of the week to cruise into the Hong Kong TARGET PRACTICE Spaniard beat Cilic for shot at his first Shanghai title; Swiss beat Del Potro Open fi nal with a 6-0, 7-5 de- The player nicknamed Dasha had featD of Jennifer Brady yesterday. promised to practise her serve and AFP She will face Anastasia Pavlyuchenk- her Saturday morning’s work paid off Shanghai ova in today’s fi nal after the Russian handsomely as she gave away only two Nadal sues sixth seed also completed a comforta- double faults in the match. ble win, 6-3, 6-4 against China’s Wang “I did hit a lot more second serves afael Nadal and Roger Fed- ex-French Qiang in the second semi-fi nal. today than usual (in practice),” she ad- erer will meet in today’s fi nal Naturalised Australian seventh seed mitted. of the Shanghai Masters, just minister for Gavrilova, who was born in Moscow, “I just made it more clear in my head the latest chapter in their sto- sped through the fi rst set in 22 minutes, where I was going to hit the second riedR rivalry. 100,000 euros dropping just four points on her own serve, actually making a smaller target The celebrated duo have faced one serve as her American opponent looked than just hitting it anywhere.” another 37 times, with the Spaniard Rafael Nadal is seeking 100,000 overawed in her fi rst WTA Tour semi- Gavrilova fi nished the contest with and world number one Nadal winning euros ($118,000) in damages from fi nal. the shot of the day, a sliced backhand 23 of their contests. former French sports minister “I feel like today was my best per- dropshot winner from the baseline on And the 31-year-old Nadal, who has Roselyne Bachelot after she ac- formance since I’ve been in Asia,” said match point. never won the Shanghai Masters, will cused the Spanish tennis legend a delighted world number 22 Gavrilova, “I’m really excited to be in the fi nal be slight favourite this time because he of a dope test cover-up. who broke the American’s serve seven here,” she said in her third appearance goes into the showdown on a terrifi c Nadal is suing Bachelot, who times on the way to a dominant win. at the Hong Kong Open. run of form, and his opponent faces a served as sports minister between Pavlyuchenkova had it slightly “I’ve reached the quarters, the semis quicker turn around. 2007 and 2010, over remarks in tougher against the 48th-ranked and now the fi nal.” Nadal, a 16-time Grand Slam cham- March 2016 on French television. Wang, being broken three times on her The Australian is now eyeing a sec- pion, triumphed at the US Open and She alleged that Nadal faked an own serve. ond WTA title after winning her maid- then last week at the China Open for injury in 2012, when he missed the But the Russian ranked 21 always had en tour crown at New Haven in August his sixth title of another remarkable final six months of the season due enough fi repower to subdue China’s on the eve of the US Open. campaign. to knee problems, in order to hide number three, who has been suff ering But today’s fi nal would be a tough But he was forced to survive a roll- a positive drug test. with a fl u-type virus all week. battle, predicted Pavlyuchenkova. ercoaster with fourth seed Marin Cilic Neither Nadal nor Bachelot were “I played Wang in Tokyo recently and “I think the last time we played each in their semi-fi nal, saving three set at the court hearing in Paris on came through a tough match 6-2 in the other was Moscow last year in the points in the opener before pulling Friday. third,” said Pavlyuchenkova. quarter-fi nals,” said Pavlyuchenkova. through 7-5, 7-6 (3). The player’s lawyer, Patrick Mai- “So I was pleased to get it done in two “I was a really tough three-set match The Swiss Federer, the world sonneuve, told the court that the sets today in tricky conditions with the and I thought I wasn’t fi t enough for number two chasing a second Shang- doping accusation could have had wind.” that one. hai crown, rolled back the years to “major consequences” for Nadal It was Brady who was blown away “Tomorrow will be a diff erent match fi ght back from a set down and defeat concerning his “existing or future by Gavrilova in the fi rst set as the sear- as there it was indoors and she seems in Juan Martin del Potro 3-6, 6-3, 6-3. sponsors”. ing heat of earlier in the week gave way really good shape here. The 36-year-old Federer had said Maisonneuve said his client had to a blustery autumnal day, the world “She’s really going well, grinding that he wanted revenge over the 16th- “asked me to put to bed once and number 70 winning just 11 points in the well. But I will try to stay aggressive seeded Argentine for defeat in the for all what Mrs Bachelot said by fi rst set. and play my game tomorrow.” quarter-fi nals at the US Open this passing on to you his medical file” summer. which he said revealed a very seri- And he got it. ous left knee injury. FOCUS Del Potro, the 2009 US Open cham- Bachelot’s lawyer Olivier Chap- pion whose career has been blighted puis argued that at fault was the by wrist injuries, quickly allayed fears International Tennis Federation’s that his latest problem would be a ma- anti-doping programme, which he Sharapova storms past jor handicap. Rafael Nadal of Spain prepares to receive a service from Marin Cilic (not pictured) claimed “has always been aston- The 29-year-old fell and hurt his of Croatia during his Shanghai Masters semi-final yesterday. Nadal faces Roger ishingly lax”. left wrist in winning his quarter-fi nal Federer (below) of Switzerland in the tournament final today. (AFP) He added: “There is a vast gap Peng into Tianjin fi nal on Friday and there were suggestions between the success he enjoys he may not even make Saturday’s and the weakness of anti-doping match. controls. But he showed no ill eff ects in stun- “What sponsor has abandoned ning the pro-Federer crowd to break Rafael Nadal because of these for 4-2 in the fi rst set. comments? None,” he claimed, And Del Potro grasped set point suggesting the court award following a thrilling rally that had the symbolic damages to Nadal if his spectators whooping, only for 19-time client is found guilty of one euro. Grand Slam champion Federer to in- The 16-time Grand Slam winner explicably shank his volley out of the has never failed a drugs test and court. vehemently denies ever using a The second set went with serve un- banned substance. til Federer, going after a 94th singles After Bachelot’s accusation, Nadal title, made the breakthrough on the explained last year why he was Del Potro serve to inch ahead. taking legal action against her. Del Potro began showing irritation, “I am tired about these things. I let engaging in a series of discussions with it go a few times in the past. No the umpire, including demanding Fed- more.” He added that he expected erer be warned for triumphantly hitting better of a person who was “minis- the ball away after winning the game. ter of a big country and a great Federer sent the match into a decid- country like France”. ing third set and he got the break early “The way doesn’t matter,” he said tled, only to squander three set points “If somebody like her, who should to tee up another Nadal meeting. with a smile. as Nadal hung on grimly. be serious, can say this stupid Federer, the older man, could be at “We are at the highest level of our In the next game Nadal capitalised, stuff then now is the moment to a slight disadvantage because he has a sport so nobody wins easy. breaking Cilic on the way to claiming say, ‘OK, from now everybody who Maria Sharapova of Russia hits a return against Peng Shuai (not pictured) of China shorter time to rest having played the “And if you want to compete in the the fi rst set. is going to speak of this kind of during their WTA Tianjin Open semi-final in Tianjin, China, yesterday. (AFP) second match of the day. most important events of the year With the crowd fi rmly in his favour, stuff with no proof then I’m going and try to go for the victories, for sure the Spaniard broke Cilic again in the to do the same and take legal ac- Reuters bled on her own serve. ‘TOUGH MATCH’ you’re going to have tough matches, third game of the second set, only for tion against that person.’ Bengaluru Peng, ranked number 25 in the world, Croatia’s Cilic had only ever got the and today was one of them.” Cilic to break back for 3-3 when Nadal “I know how much I did to be had no answer to Sharapova’s power better of Nadal once in fi ve previous Nadal put Cilic under immediate put his simple volley into the net. where I am, and I know 100 per- hitting from the baseline and gave up meetings, but he made him work hard pressure in the Croat’s fi rst two serv- They exchanged a further break cent my values.” ormer world number one Maria another break en route to conceding for this latest win. ice games. apiece to race into the tie break, be- A verdict is expected on Novem- Sharapova eased past defend- the fi rst set. Nadal said he was just glad to be in But the 29-year-old Cilic, the 2014 fore a grateful Nadal pulled away at ber 16. ing champion Peng Shuai 6-3, Sharapova, who is yet to drop a set the fi nal. US Open champion, eventually set- the last. 6-1 at the Tianjin Open yes- in Tianjin, raced into a 3-0 lead at the terdayF to reach her fi rst WTA fi nal in start of the second but suff ered a brief almost two and a half years. bout of nerves while serving for the MOTOGP Sharapova, who returned to the tour fi fth game, when she was forced to save in April following a 15-month dop- three break points. ing ban, will meet teenaged Belaru- The 30-year-old turned the tables sian Aryna Sabalenka, who is ranked on Peng in the very next game, breaking 102 and made her fi rst WTA fi nal after her opponent once again before closing Zarco snatches shock Japan pole beating Italy’s Sara Errani 6-1, 6-3 in out the contest in 78 minutes. the other semi-fi nal. It will be Sharapova’s fi rst WTA fi nal The Russian, who is currently ranked since she defeated Spain’s Carla Suarez AFP tle bit to attack more to understand 86, broke her Chinese opponent in the Navarro to win the Italian Open in May Motegi, Japan diff erent things because I saw that opening game and rarely looked trou- 2015. Valentino was on slicks too,” said Mar- quez. amaha’s Johann Zarco pro- “But anyway, I’m happy because the duced a sizzling lap yesterday front row was the main target and we US eager for Winter Games despite LA to claim a surprise pole for are there, we are in front of our main the Japanese Grand Prix with rivals so this is important.” 2028 commitment MotoGPY world champion Marc Mar- Vinales admitted his hopes of quez qualifying in third. catching Marquez were hanging by a US Olympic off icials are eager to there is no confusion with the prepa- With only a minute remaining in a thread after a dismal qualifying, the see the Winter Games return to rations for 2028.” wet Motegi session, the Frenchman Spaniard missing out on an automatic the country in 2026 or 2030 even Probst said there was the possibility Zarco clocked a quickest time of one spot in second qualifying. though doing so would create chal- the International Olympic Commit- minute, 53.469 seconds for his sec- “Every time I go out on the track and lenges for Los Angeles as it prepares tee (IOC) might award 2026 and ond career pole in the MotoGP class, see myself in 10th position, I see the title to host the Summer Games in 2028. 2030 Winter Games simultaneously, pipping Ducati’s Danilo Petrucci and slipping away,” said the Yamaha rider, Leaders of LA’s bid committee have as it did this year where Paris won championship leader Marquez. complaining of a traction problem. said hosting a Winter Games in the the 2024 Summer Games while LA Petrucci fi nished 0.3 seconds be- “Especially because my rivals are years surrounding 2028 could hurt landed the 2028 event. hind Zarco with Marquez a further in the fi rst positions,” added Vinales, their ability to sell corporate partner- “If the IOC considers the possibility tenth off the pace to complete the who trails Marquez by 28 points. ships and infringe on its exclusive of a dual award of 2026 and 2030, front row, followed by Aprilia’s Aleix “For sure, it’s a shame but I can’t do rights to use the Olympic rings in its we certainly want to be in that con- Espargaro, Ducati’s Jorge Lorenzo and anything more with the bike we have marketing. versation. We want to be at the table Dani Pedrosa’s Honda. Yamaha Tech3 rider Johann Zarco of France (centre) celebrates his pole position right now, it’s impossible.” “During my comments at the As- for that discussion,” he said. “We were ready to fi ght,” said Zarco, with team members after the Japanese Grand Prix qualifying session in Motegi, Meanwhile, seven-time champion sembly I put a stake in the ground USOC would need to identify a city who claimed his fi rst pole in the Neth- Japan, yesterday. (AFP) Rossi qualifi ed 12th on the grid for and said we are interested in hosting by next March if it decided to bid for erlands almost four months ago. Yamaha as he continues his return to the Winter Games,” USOC Chairman the 2026 Games, USOC CEO Scott “I’m just so happy, it’s perfect mo- lead in the title race could be boosted ha’s Valentino Rossi paid for his de- fi tness after a double leg fracture. Larry Probst told reporters following Blackmun said. Salt Lake City was tivation because in your rookie season with his closest rivals Andrea Dovizio- cision to switch his Honda to slick Marquez, chasing a sixth victory of a meeting of the US Olympic and the last US city to host the Winter you expect that maybe one time pole so and Maverick Vinales back in ninth tyres, has a 16-point advantage over the season this weekend, wrapped up Paralympic Assembly in Colorado. Games in 2002 and is expected to be position was good enough.” and 14th respectively on the grid. Dovizioso with four races left. his third MotoGP world title at last “Ideally that’s probably 2030 so in the running for any future events. Marquez’s chances of extending his Spaniard Marquez, who like Yama- “This time maybe I sacrifi ced a lit- year’s Japan race.

Sunday, October 15, 2017 GULF TIMES SPORT

HATHAB EQUESTRIAN TOUR Al-Qadi clinches feature class in opening Hathab leg Hamad Nasser al-Qadi rides SIEC Lonnie in a faultless performance to win 130/140cm class

By Sports Reporter Doha

amad Nasser al-Qadi and his 12-year-old bay SIEC Lonnie put on a spectacular show to clinch the feature class in the fiH rst leg of the Hathab Equestrian Tour series yesterday. At the spectacular Al Shaqab arena, al-Qadi marshalled his ride perfectly, as SIEC Lonnie fl ew around the arena, shooting to the top of the leaderboard with the fastest time of 68.88 seconds in the 130/140cm class. The faultless performance earned al-Qadi QR10,500 in prize money. “SIEC Lonnie was in great form to- day, he was in good shape as well com- ing into the tournament. I am very pleased with this performance. This new series is a very good competition and it’s great to compete in front of home fans,” a delighted al-Qadi said. In second place was Saeed Nasser al- Qadi, who came home in 73.32 seconds with his 14-year-old bay Daydreamer EC. Even though Saeed had no faults, his timing was way off the winning time of Hamad, as he had to be content with QR8,400. Hamad Nasser al-Qadi combined with St Lucia to settle for third place Hamad Nasser al-Qadi receives the winner’s trophy from Ignacio Escobar, ambassador of Spain, after winning the feature class and QR6,450. They took out a fence, at the Hathab Equestrian Tour series at Al Shaqab arena yesterday. PICTURES: Lotfi Garsi Hamad Nasser al-Qadi in action. which cost them four seconds. Meanwhile, in the 120/130cm class, Saeed Nasser al-Qadi came out on top Tickets for thrilling LGCT Final at Al Shaqab with Jessico 4. The winning time was available online 36.45 seconds as Saeed took home QR5,000 for his eff orts. Mohamed Said Tickets for what promises to be a al-Thani and Bassem Hassan Moham- Haidan (Corrado’s Coriana) was sec- thrilling Longines Global Champions ed, both of whom were part of the ond, while Hamad Nasser al-Qadi (Ja- Tour season finale in Doha are avail- show jumping team that represented zly) was third. able now online. Al Shaqab will again Qatar in the Rio Olympics last year. In the Future Riders 70/85 cm Class, provide the perfect backdrop for the With something there for the entire Barzan Azzam Saleh, astride Ilse, pow- world’s premiere 5-star show jumping family, fans can also get behind the GCL ered to victory in 47.74 seconds. Fahad event, the LGCT and Global Champi- home city team Doha Fursan Qatar. Abdulkarim Abed with Kashmir was ons League finale this November 9-11. Al Shaqab, member of Qatar Founda- second (48.26 secs), while Sheikh Kha- World’s top riders battle for the final tion, will host the final stage of the lid bin Ali al-Thani combined with Sita places in the overall LGCT Ranking 15-leg 2017 circuit that has seen thrill- (48.51 secs) for third place. and teams battle for the Global Cham- ing action in unique locations such In the Future Riders class pions League title in a knife-edge as Miami Beach, London, Berlin and (85/100cm), Ali Mohamed al-Qadi climax to the 2017 season. Shanghai. Al Shaqab is also celebrat- guided Friedrichshof Dark Dream to the Spectators will be able to witness ing its 25th anniversary this year. To top spot. Tamim Nasser al-Qadi (Aqee- Olympic, National and European mark this occasion, there will be a na) was second place. champions compete alongside Qatari special celebration as part of the LGCT The second leg of the new show riders, including Sheikh Ali bin Khalid programme on November 11, 2017. jumping series will be held on October 27-28 at Al Shaqab. The 12-leg com- petition carries a total prize money of Time: 68.88 seconds. Prize money: 3. Hamad Nasser al-Qadi (Jazly) 41.47sec QR1mn with the events spread across QR10,500 seven months. 2. Saeed Nasser al-Qadi (Daydreamer Future Riders’ 70/85 cm A brainchild of Qatar Olympic Com- EC) 73.32 secs. QR8,400 1. Barzan Azzam Saleh (Ilse) 47.74 mittee president His Excellency Sheikh 3. Hamad Nasser al-Qadi (St. Lucia). seconds. Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani, the series 72.44 secs. QR6,450 2. Fahad Abdulkarim Abed (Kashmir) is being conducted jointly by Qatar 4. Hamad Towaim al-Marri (BCO Come 48.26 secs. Equestrian Federation (QEF) and Al On Boy Z). 87.95 secs. QR4,650. 3. Sheikh Khalid bin Ali al-Thani (Sita) Shaqab. 48.51 secs. Medium Tour 120-130cm RESULTS 1. Saeed Nasser al-Qadi (Jessico 4) Time: Future Riders class 85/100cm Big Tour — One round against the 36.45 seconds. Prize money: QR5,000. 1. Ali Mohammed al-Qadi (Friedrichshof clock 130-140cm 2. Mohammed Said Haidan (Corrado’s Dark Dream) 1. Hamad Nasser al-Qadi (SIEC Lonnie). Coriana) 39.68 secs. 2. Tamim Nasser al-Qadi (Aqeena) Medal winners of the Future riders class 70-85cm pose with the off icials.

SPOTLIGHT Chiefs win touch rugby tournament

By Sports Reporter day of touch action. The supporters re- Doha ally turned out in droves and were treated with a touch footy bonanza. “The calibre of the competition, par- he Chiefs won the Qatar Touch ticularly in the semis and the fi nals was – Hurricane Touch Rugby Rum- outstanding. Congratulations to the ble Cup with a 1-0 win over the winners, who overcame not only the op- Cockatoos in the fi nal. position but also soaring playing condi- TTim Newnham crossed over for the tions.” winning try early in the second half and For his part Hurricane Storm TRC with it claimed Man of the Match at the president Hans Thomasz said, “We, the Iranian School grounds in Doha on Fri- organising committee, set a high stand- day. ard for ourselves before the competition The organising committee decided to and I can fairly say, we achieved every reduce playing time for both the fi nals, a goal with pride. decision that was welcomed by the players. “The championship was great, the The undefeated Cockatoos went into matches fast and furious, the support- the fi nals as favourites. However, they ers rallied behind their teams, families failed to capitalise on their younger op- enjoyed themselves and our partners ponents’ mistakes. They struggled to provided us positive feedback. Thank convert possession into points and opted God everything went to plan. to play up the centre rather than using “The initiative to open up the tourna- their speed out wide. With the shortened ment was a big hit amongst teams. The playing time almost guaranteeing the pool of participants was evenly spread fi rst scorer success the Chiefs stuck to a and as the results indicate, it was very simple driving plan and their single try hard to pick an early winner.” was enough to seal their victory. Event sponsors and partners included The Touch Rugby Rumble, normally Bloomsbury Holiday Resort – Sri Lanka, reserved for invitational colleges only, Ooredoo, Well On Restaurant, Puncha’s was opened to all clubs, teams and play- Rent A Car, Blue lake Insurance Brokers, ers for the very fi rst time. The choice to Al Safa Polyclinic, McDonalds, Total open up the competition was welcomed Sports, Al Jabr Opticians, Nice Drink- by all enthusiasts who rushed to register ing Water and Ali Bin Ali Pepsi, Dr Philip their participation. Mwashe, Harun Roy and Qatar Touch. The all-day event was a huge success with over 500 supporters turning up to RESULTS cheer their favourite team on. Cup Final: Chiefs 1 - Cockatoos 0 Speaking after the event, Qatar Plate Final: Untouchables - 3 Mavericks 0 Touch’s Samuel Rico said, “What a great Bowls Final: Bandits 2 - Babies 1 Chiefs players celebrate with the winners’ trophy and off icials after the Hurricane Touch Rugby Rumble Cup final on Friday.