SPORT SATURDAY 18 MARCH 2017 21

ayayayayayayayQatar gear up for World Cup qualifiers

Qatar national team players take part in a training session under the watchful eyes of coach Jorge Fossati in Doha yesterday. Qatar is preparing for the upcoming two matches of the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Iran and Uzbekistan. Qatar will take on Iran in Doha on March 23 before meeting Uzbekistan on March 28 in Tashkent. Iran lead Group A with 11 points from five matches followed by South Korea and Uzbekistan with 10 and 9, respectively. Qatar are in fifth spot with four points from five matches and will have to win maximum points from their remaining five matches to qualify for next year’s World Cup in Russia.

Fitzpatrick, Wawrinka wins Thiem thriller Grillo share Bay Hill lead Vesnina in semis 1000, but here in Indian Wells is -- you know, for me, this tour- Vesnina vanquishes nament is one of the best, not just Miami seven-time Grand the Masters 1000, one of the best AFP Slam champion tournaments in the year and Venus to set up maybe one of the tougher, atthew Fitzpatrick semi-final clash because all the people is playing fired a bogey-free with Mladenovic. here, all the top 20." Mfive-under-par 67 on Carreno Busta avenged a Thursday to match Argenti- semi-final loss to Cuevas in Sao na's Emiliano Grillo for the Paulo this month, where the lead after the first round of Indian Wells Uruguayan went on to win the the Arnold Palmer Invita- AFP title. They played doubles tional at Bay Hill. together in that tournament and The 22-year-old English- hree-time Grand Slam in Rio de Janeiro this year where man seeks his first career US champion Stan Wawrinka they won the title. PGA victory after three Euro- Treached the semi-finals of "I know how he plays, he pean Tour triumphs. England's the ATP Indian Wells Masters for knows how I play," Carreno Paul Casey shared third, one the first time on Thursday with Busta said. "So it was a tough stroke off the pace, with former a hard-fought three-set victory match." US Open winner Lucas Glover over eighth-seeded Dominic Meanwhile, Elena Vesnina and fellow American Charley Thiem. denied Venus Williams another Hoffman while Australians Switzerland's third-seeded great escape, beating the seven- Greg Chalmers and Ryan Ruf- Wawrinka, playing his first tour- time Grand Slam champion 6-2, fels were in sixth on 69. nament in the United States since Pablo Carreno Busta of Spain celebrates hi match point as he defeated Pablo Cuevas in his 4-6, 6-3 to reach the semi-finals Fitzpatrick, who began his US Open victory last year, quarter final match in the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on Thursday. at Indian Wells. his tour of the famed Orlando battled for two and a half hours As Williams shook off a layout on the back nine, bird- to get past the rising Austrian star and the match was only one, two himself facing a match point 12th games as they took the con- lethargic start and began to apply ied the par-5 16th after 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (7/2) and book a points." against his own serve in the 12th test to the tiebreaker. The drama some pressure, Vesnina kept her reaching the green in two and meeting with Spain's Pablo Car- After dropping his serve to -- saving it with a booming fore- was heightened by Cuevas's poise, finishing off the contest on added back-to-back birdies reno Busta. open the match, Wawrinka hand that Wawrinka could do tumble on the first of those her fourth match point after at 18, sinking a 15-foot putt, Carreno Busta saved two broke Thiem twice to seize the nothing with as he forced a tie- match points as he lunged for a fending off six break points in the and one, dropping a match points en route to a 6-1, first set, but Thiem grabbed the breaker that Wawrinka backhand -- necessitating a mid- final game. 25-footer. He birdied the third 3-6, 7-6 (7/4) victory over Uru- break he needed in the third controlled. game medical timeout for She'll play Kristina Mladen- after dropping his approach guay's Pablo Cuevas. game of the second to level the "I think in the third-set tie- treatment on his scraped right ovic for a place in the final after three feet from the cup and Wawrinka, 31, posted the match. break I served really well," said hand after Carreno Busta had the French player's 3-6, 7-6 (7/4), added another at the par-5 450th ATP win of his career and After withstanding two break Wawrinka, who also beat lucky polished off the point with an 6-2 victory over former world sixth, blasting his third shot kept alive his bid for a second points in the first game of the loser Yoshihito Nishioka in a overhead. number one Caroline from a greenside bunker to elite Masters title to go with his third set, Wawrinka broke the third-set tiebreaker in the fourth Things stayed tight in the tie- Wozniacki. four feet and sinking the putt. 2014 Monte Carlo triumph. Austrian en route to a quick 3-0 round. breaker, Carreno Busta gaining "When I was up three-love Grillo endured a wilder "The level was really high lead. "I was really focused to not a match point at 6-4 when Cue- in the first set she was missing ride with birdies at the third tonight," Wawrinka said. "I'm But Thiem, riding high after give him anything. And, again, vas sent a backhand long, and some easy shots," Vesnina said and par-5 fourth holes, then really happy the way I was play- a victory in Rio de Janeiro this it's a great win for me," he said. sealing it with a backhand vol- of Williams. closed the front nine with ing, the way I found a way to win season, wasn't about to go qui- Carreno Busta also battled ley to reach the first Masters "She looked tired and slow birdies on four of the final five it. etly, winning the next three through a tense third set in which semi-final of his career. on the court. Then, all of a sud- holes -- three putts between "He's a strong player, really games. But Thiem was unable to Cuevas was unable to convert "It's an amazing feeling," said den, she started moving around, eight and 13 feet and the last tough to play. I think in general convert a break chance in the match points against the Span- Carreno Busta. "It's my first time hitting great shots, winners from a 47-foot birdie effort at the we played both really high level, ninth game, and he found iard's serve in both the 10th and in the semi-final in a Masters all over the place. ninth. Aspire Academy’s youth team clinches the latest Tri-Series’ Cup

The Peninsula and Aspire Academy’s sports development initiatives. spire Academy concluded its latest Tri- "I have visited the Academy previously Series football tournament with its youth when I was working with the French club, Paris Adivision team U-11 emerging as the win- Saint-Germain, and the tournament is still as ners, after leading the scoreboard with 13 strong as I remember it. We are very pleased impressive goals in two matches. This round with how our youth team performed against of the Tri-Series football tournament featured Nagoya and Aspire, and we’re grateful to Aspire guest teams Nagoya Grampus FC and FA Academy for inviting us to participate,” Ichale- Malaysia. lene said. Commenting on their remarkable win, “Malaysia has set for itself a similar mission Aspire Academy’s U-11 Head Coach, Fouad Al to what have been achieved by Aspire Academy Fadil, praised his team’s performance and in Qatar, and have also set up several football emphasized that this tournament provides a development initiatives that aim to scout and much-needed experience for young players at develop young local talents to produce Malay- their age. sia’s next generation of world-renowned “I am pleased with the way my team played footballers. It’s a long journey and requires a lot against two strong teams who have different of patience, but it is worth it, and we commend footballing styles. The game against FA Malay- Aspire Academy for its efforts to develop the tal- sia was particularly challenging, yet our ents of its student-athletes,” he added. youngsters stayed motivated and performed The Tri-Series football tournament resumes exceptionally well,” Al Fadil said. from March 19 to 23 and will see youth teams Meanwhile, Saad Ichalelene, Head of from Aspire Academy compete against two Coaching Methodology & Scouting at the world-renowned football clubs from Europe Aspire Academy Under-11 team winners of the Tri-Series football tournament held at Aspire Academy National Football Development Programme in -Atletico Madrid from Spain and Eintracht Malaysia, praised the Tri-Series tournament Frankfurt from Germany. in Doha. 22 SPORT SATURDAY 18 MARCH 2017 India reply strongly after Smith's heroics

Ranchi Murali Vijay (42) and Indian bowler Ravindra Jadeja (right) runs out Australian batsman SCOREBOARD AFP Cheteshwar Pujara (10) were bat- Josh Hazlewood on the second day of the third match ting at the break after Rahul was at the Jharkhand State Cricket Association (JSCA) Stadium Complex Australia (I innings): 6-395, 7-395, 8-446, 9-449, 10-451 llrounder Glenn Max- out caught behind for 67 off fast M Renshaw c Kohli b Yadav ...... 44 Bowling: Sharma 20-2-70-0 (2nb), Yadav 31- in Ranchi yesterday. D Warner c & b Jadeja ...... 19 3-106-3, Ashwin 34-2-114-1, Jadeja 49.3-8-124- well hailed his bowler Pat Cummins. S Smith not out ...... 178 5, Vijay 3-0-17-0 "awesome" skipper Rahul, who hit 9 fours in his S Marsh c Pujara b Ashwin ...... 2 India (I innings): Steve Smith after the 102-ball stay, registered his fourth P Handscomb lbw b Yadav ...... 19 L Rahul c Wade b Cummins ...... 67 duo's 191-run part- fifty of the series to put on 91 runs G Maxwell c Saha b Jadeja ...... 104 M Vijay () ...... 42 nershipA helped Australia post a with opening partner Vijay. M Wade c Saha b Jadeja ...... 37 C Pujara(batting) ...... 10 formidable first innings total But it was the epic partner- P Cummins b Jadeja ...... 0 Extras (LB1) ...... 1 against India in the third Test in ship between Smith and Maxwell S O'Keefe c Vijay b Yadav ...... 25 Total (1 wkt) ...... 120 N Lyon c Nair b Jadeja ...... 1 Fall of : 1-91 Ranchi yesterday. that steered Australia to the high- J Hazlewood run out (Rahul/Jadeja) ...... 0 Bowling: Hazlewood 9-2-25-0, Cummins 10-1- Maxwell, returning to the est total of the series so far after Extras (B9, LB11, NB2) ...... 22 22-1, O'Keefe 10-3-30-0, Lyon 11-0-42-0 five-day side after nearly three the visitors resumed the day on Total (all out) ...... 451 Still to bat: V Kohli, A Rahane, K Nair, W Saha, R years in the wilderness, cracked 299-4. Fall of wickets: 1-50, 2-80, 3-89, 4-140, 5-331, Ashwin, R Jadeja, I Sharma, U Yadav his maiden Test century on day "I think we were 4-140 and two but it was Smith's unbeaten luckily I had Steve at the other 178 that was the bedrock of the end who is quite experienced," tourists' 451. Maxwell told reporters. Opener Lokesh Rahul led "He probably lifts the team to India's strong reply in the final another level because he makes session with the hosts ending the the game look so easy. day on 120 for one. India still trail "We watch him play and eve- the visitors by 331 runs. ryone's in awe of the way he goes about it. Third Test in "So he's a guy that people feed Ranchi off. And he's a very inspirational leader with the way he's gone Glenn Maxwell and about his career," Maxwell said skipper Steve Smith of his skipper who is the world's Smith though registered the system (DRS) in the last Test. The India's plight was deepened who took three wickets, said post 191-run top-ranked Test batsman. highest score by an Australian 28-year-old Maxwell set the tone by the absence of skipper Virat that Kohli "is fit to play" after partnership. Left-arm spinner Ravindra on Indian soil after sur- for Australia's continued domi- Kohli who has been off the field having taken to the nets and Jadeja claimed his eighth five- passing Michael Clarke's 130 in nance with his first Test ton in just since Thursday afternoon with an added that the pitch has more The Border-Gavaskar haul in his 29th match to Chennai in the 2012-13 series. his fourth game since making his injured shoulder. runs to offer. Trophy series return with figures of 5-124. It was an especially satisfy- debut in 2013. While vice-captain Ajinkya The series between the between the world's Jadeja ran out last man Josh ing innings for the Australian The right-handed allrounder, Rahane stood in as skipper, Kohli world's top two sides is tanta- top two sides is Hazlewood (0) to deny Smith the captain after the build-up to the known for his explosive limited- is expected to don the pads and lisingly poised at 1-1 with India tantalisingly poised at chance of posting the second dou- match had been dogged by accu- overs exploits, was delighted to bat in what remains a crucial Test needing at least a draw to have 1-1. ble century in his 53rd match of sations that he had systematically make an impression in the five- for the hosts. any chance of winning back the his career. abused the decision review day format. Fast bowler Umesh Yadav, Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Pakistan suspend Shakib, Mosaddek put fifth player in De Kock's aggression spot-fixing case pays off for Proteas Bangladesh on top Colombo SCOREBOARD AFP AFP Wellington South Africa's Quinton de Kock Sri Lanka (I innings): ...... 338 akistan cricket AFP celebrates after scoring 50 runs hakib Al Hasan struck his Bangladesh (I innings): Tamim Iqbal lbw b Herath ...... 49 authorities Friday during day two of the second fifth Test century and Soumya Sarkar b Sandakan ...... 61 charged and sus- uinton de Kock's game- Test cricket match against New Mosaddek Hossain scored P S Imrul Kayes lbw b Sandakan ...... 34 pended international changing partnership with a fifty on his debut to put Bang- Zealand at the Basin Reserve in Sabbir Rahman c de Silva b Lakmal ...... 42 player Shahzaib Hasan in QTemba Bavuma left South ladesh in control of the second Wellington yesterday. lbw b Sandakan ...... 0 an ongoing case over Africa feeling comfortable with Test against Sri Lanka in Shakib Al Hasan c Chandimal b Sandakan ...... 116 spotfixing during a an 81-run lead after day two of Colombo yesterday. Mushfiqur Rahim b Lakmal ...... 52 recent league. the second Test against New Zea- The visitors were all out for Mosaddek Hossain st Dickwella b Herath ...... 75 The widening scan- land in Wellington yesterday. 467 runs to establish a 129-run Mehedi Hasan lbw b Herath ...... 24 dal, which has so far At 349 for nine at stumps in lead in the first innings over Mustafizur Rahman lbw b Herath ...... 0 ensnared four other cur- reply to New Zealand's 268 any their Sri Lankan hosts, who Subashis Roy (not out) ...... 0 rent or former national further runs tailenders Vernon were bowled out for 338 on the Extras (B4, LB8, W2) ...... 14 stars, has tainted the Philander and Morne Morkel previous day at the P. Sara Total (all out) ...... 467 recently completed Paki- could add on Saturday would be Oval. Fall of wickets: 1-95, 2-130, 3-192, 4-192, 5-198, stan Super League (PSL), a bonus, de Kock said. Sri Lanka reached 54-0 at 6-290, 7-421, 8-454, 9-454, 10-467 hailed as a step towards The wicketkeeper-batsman stumps on the third day with Bowling: Lakmal 25-3-90-2 (w1), Perera 33-5- restoring international joined Bavuma to turn the game both openers Dimuth Karu- 100-0, Herath 34.1-6-82-4, Gunaratne 7-0-38-0 cricket in the militancy- around with a 160-run stand for naratne and Upul Tharanga (w1), Sandakan 33-2-140-4, de Silva 2-0-5-0 plagued country after the the seventh wicket. unbeaten on 25 to reduce the Sri Lanka (II innings): final in Lahore passed When de Kock went to the gap to 75 overnight. D Karunaratne (batting) ...... 25 without incident. middle South Africa were in Shakib made 116 and U Tharanga (batting) ...... 25 A guilty verdict for trouble at 94 for six and despite received strong support from Extras (B4) ...... 4 the players would prove the pressure he said he knew it SCOREBOARD Mosaddek (75) and skipper Total ...... 54 disastrous for Pakistan was no time for caution. Mushfiqur Rahim, who scored To bat: K Mendis, D Chandimal, A Gunaratne, D New Zealand (I innings): ...... 268 V Philander (batting) ...... 36 de Silva, N Dickwella, D Perera, R Herath, S Lak- cricket, which was last "The mindset I had going in South Africa (I innings): K Maharaj c Williamson b Wagner ...... 1 52 as Bangladesh put in one of mal, L Sandakan rocked by a match-fix- was to somehow shift the pres- S Cook c Neesham b Southee ...... 3 M Morkel (batting) ...... 31 their most impressive batting ing scandal in 2010 that sure back on to them," he said. D Elgar c Neesham b de Grandhomme ...... 9 Extras: (B4, LB5, W12) ...... 21 performances in their 100th Bowling: Roy 5-1-13-0, Mehedi 4-0-20-0, Mustafi- deprived it of three top "I didn't want to get bogged K Rabada b Southee ...... 9 Total (9 wkts) ...... 349 Test match. zur 1-0-6-0, Shakib 2-0-6-0, Mosaddek 1-0-5-0 players including pace- down and the only way I knew H Amla c Nicholls b de Grandhomme ...... 21 Fall of wickets: 1-12, 2-12, 3-26, 4-59, 5-79, 6-94, The Bangladeshi lead man , forward was to play my natural J Duminy c Nicholls b Wagner ...... 16 7-254, 8-290, 9-302 looked like it was going to be

who has since made a game, but obviously a little more F du Plessis c Watling b de Grandhomme ...... 22 Bowling: Southee 27-7-98-2 (1w), de Grandhomme even bigger at one stage before Thursday but Mushfiqur was

T Bavuma c Neesham b Wagner ...... 89 23-7-52-3, Wagner 21-1-96-3 (1w), Patel 12-0-53-0, comeback. aggressive than usual." Q de Kock c Watling b Neesham ...... 91 Neesham 12-2-41-1 (2w) Sri Lankan skipper Rangana his usual composed self on Fri- The Pakistan Cricket De Kock made 91 and Herath polished up the last day morning as he brought his Board (PCB) said Hasan Bavuma 89 and following their three wickets for 13 runs and 17th Test half-century with a was charged on three departure Philander and Morkel slipped in line and length. De Kock survived an early finished with 4-82. glorious off-drive off Dilruwan counts from during the continued the stubborn resist- Neil Wagner, who took the anxious moment against his Herath -- Test cricket's Perera through extra cover. PSL. ance with an unbeaten 47 for the wickets of Bavuma, described the nemesis Jeetan Patel, who has most successful left-arm spin- Mushfiqur survived a close The scandal surfaced last wicket. day as "a see-saw" and said taken his wicket cheaply the four ner -- in the process became shout for lbw after completing on February 10 when Philander was not out 36 at despite conceding the lead the times they have met in the past only the second Sri Lankan his fifty before Lakmal broke Islamabad United play- the close, three runs short of conditions meant New Zealand month. after Muttiah Muralitharan to through his defence with an in- ers Sharjeel Khan and being the sixth South African to were still in the game. As his timing and confidence claim 1,000 first-class swinger that kept low. Khalid Latif were sus- complete the 100 wickets and "After losing the toss and grew, de Kock took a four and wickets. Shakib, who rushed to 18 pended and expelled 100 runs double, while Morkel being put in we're pretty happy six off successive Southee deliv- Left-arm spinner Lakshan off eight balls on Thursday from the PSL on charges was on 31. with the position we're in. There's eries and handed out the same Sandakan also impressed afternoon, completed his 50 off of receiving offers from "The plan is to keep going at lot of cricket left to play," he said. punishment to Wagner as he among the Sri Lankan bowl- 69 balls with a single off Lak- a suspicious man linked them to try and get as many runs "It's obviously a lot easier raced to his eighth Test 50 in 55 ers, finishing with figures of mal after surviving a run out to an international bet- as we can. A lead of 80 is very now to bat on. It's flattened out balls. 4-140. while on 40. ting syndicate. handy and any more runs we get quite a bit, obviously, that's quite Bavuma had a let-off on five It was Sandakan who He hit 10 boundaries over- A third Islamabad from now is a bonus," de Kock good for us. Once the moisture when he skied a Wagner bouncer ended Shakib's 131-run seventh all in his 159-ball innings, United player, Moham- added. in the morning goes away, after and de Grandhomme slipped wicket stand with Mosaddek bringing up his century by mad Irfan, was also Three overs before lunch, it lunch it's a lot easier to bat on." when moving to take what when the Bangladesh talisman sweeping Dilruwan Perera to suspended on Tuesday was New Zealand with their tails The first session belonged to should have been a regulation lofted a catch to Dinesh Chan- the boundary. for not reporting offers in the air having taken their the New Zealand seamers as catch. dimal at midwicket. Mosaddek then added 33 from bookmakers. fourth wicket of the morning, but Colin de Grandhomme removed However there was little Skipper Mushfiqur earlier runs with Mehedi Hasan (34) to While former Paki- it was to be another 39 overs Hashim Amla for 21 then Faf du risk-taking after that in his 160- shared a 92-run sixth wicket stretch Bangladesh's advantage stan opener Nasir before they would strike again Plessis for 22. ball innings, until he eventually partnership with Shakib to before Herath underlined his Jamshed was also provi- when Jimmy Neesham removed Tim Southee also bowled fell when he hooked a Wagner help revive the tourists' innings quality. Bangladesh's innings sionally suspended on de Kock after tea. nightwatchman Kagiso Rabada bouncer to Neesham at square after a shaky end to their run ended when Mosaddek was charges of being a "go It ended a quality counter- for nine and Wagner saw off JP leg. De Grandhomme and Wag- chase on day two. by wicketkeeper Niro- between" in the spot-fix- attack which saw the South Duminy for 16 before de Kock ner each have three wickets The visitors lost three shan Dickewella after hitting ing incident. African pair grow in boldness as and Bavuma batted South Africa while Southee has two and Nee- wickets in the space of seven seven fours and two sixes in his the New Zealand seamers back into the match. sham one. balls in the final half-hour on debut Test knock. SATURDAY 18 MARCH 2017 SPORT 23 Barca, Real Madrid get tough draws

Champions League against comeback kings Barce- probably the absolute top draw lona. English champions that lay in the pot," said the Holders Real Madrid Leicester play their first quarter- former Germany striker. will face Bayern finals in the top-tier European "All football fans in the world Munich in the quarter- competition against Atletico can look forward to it." finals as Juventus Madrid as France's Monaco clash Real Madrid director Emilio were drawn against with Borussia Dortmund over Butragueno, however, appeared Barcelona. two legs in April. downcast. Ancelotti, who led 11-time "It is one of the worst draws winners Real to their tenth we could have got without a Champions League title in 2014, doubt but it is also for them," said English champions was looking forward to a special Butragueno. Leicester play Atletico tie. "We would have liked to Madrid as Monaco "It is going to be exciting to have faced them further on in the clash with Borussia play against them. We are very competition," the former Span- Dortmund. confident and want to win the ish international said. Champions League this season," "It is not the best draw, but said Ancelotti, who also won the we too have top quality players Nyon Switzerland European title twice with AC with a lot of experience and it is AFP Milan."I think we have the abil- a great tie. For sure the whole ity to beat Real Madrid." world will be watching these two olders Real Madrid will Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz games." face their former coach Rummenigge was relishing a Italian giants Juventus can HCarlo Ancelotti's Bayern 'classic' as his five-time winners avenge their narrow 2015 final Munich in the Champions League target more than just a sixth defeat against Barcelona, but quarter-finals as Juventus were straight semi-final appearance. face the daunting task of muting The UEFA Champions League cup is pictured prior to the ceremony for the quarter-final draw of drawn yesterday "This is a classic, which is the competition's top marksman Lionel Messi. Barcelona's dra- the UEFA Champions League football tournament at the UEFA headquarters in Nyon, yesterday. matic comeback from 4-0 down in the last 16 first leg, crushing bookmakers to slash the odds Real on both occasions, last year everyone at the club but, before Paris Saint-Germain 6-1 in a making Atletico third favourites on penalties. the players can begin to think Neymar-inspired rout, was to lift the trophy in the June 3 "Facing a team who have about these games, we have Pre- ample warning for any rival. final at Cardiff behind Barcelona reached the final in two of the mier League matches to come Juventus vice-president and Bayern. last three seasons is a massive that are of huge significance to Pavel Nedved hinted at the size The Foxes will travel to the challenge but it's just the kind of our season. They will be our sole of the task ahead of them. Spanish capital for the first leg tie you expect in the quarter- focus." "You need to be at your best in the week beginning April 10, finals of the Champions League," France's free scoring Monaco for 180 minutes or more to over- with the second match the fol- said Leicester replacement man- were drawn to meet Thomas come Barca," said former lowing week. Leicester are ager Craig Shakespeare. Tuchel's Borussia Dortmund midfielder Nedved. England's sole representatives "Atletico Madrid are a very meaning goalking Pierre Emerick "It's a fascinating tie. Juve following the elimination in the good team with some fantastic Aubameyang goes back to his old have improved a lot since 2015 last 16 of Manchester City and individuals with experience in club. "I saw Monaco's match and this team can play without Arsenal. the competition, but we'll be against Manchester City and I am fear against Barcelona." Diego Simeone's Atletico ready to give everything to aware that they have a goal dif- A screen displays the names of the clubs that will be facing Leicester landed last year's have reached the Champions progress. ference of +58 in the league. It's each other during the quarter-final draw of the UEFA beaten finalists Atletico Madrid, League final in two of the last "It will be a brilliant occasion a difficult match," said Dortmund Champions League football tournament in Nyon, yesterday. a draw which prompted British three seasons, losing to city rivals for our supporters and for chairman Hans Watzke. Man United draw Anderlecht Real return fires up Bayern Munich's in Europa League last eight Alonso, Ancelotti Nyon Switzerland Vanden Stock said the United tie AFP was "the hardest possible draw Berlin June and wants to hang up his for us" but believes his side can AFP boots by winning the European anchester United will pull off an upset. title with his third club in the face Belgian club Ander- "You never know, we didn't ayern Munich's Carlo final in Cardiff on June 3. Mlecht in the Europa think we would beat Zenit Ancelotti and Xabi Alonso He clearly has no desire to League quarter-finals after yes- either," he said referring to the Bare relishing facing their bow out in his final season at terday's draw in Nyon, which away goals win over the former club Real Madrid when the hands of Real's stars such saw France's Lyon land Turkish Russians. two of the favourites for the as Gareth Bale and Cristiano champions Besiktas. "It's a team at Champions Champions League title clash Ronaldo. Jose Mourinho's side are the League level with a lot of qual- in the quarter-finals. "Wow! It will be a great only English club left in the com- ities. If we were to qualify, I Holders Real play Bayern quarter-final between two his- petition after labouring to a 2-1 would light a few candles." away on Wednesday April 12 at toric clubs," said Alonso, 35, aggregate win over Russian side Anderlecht coach Herman Munich's Allianz Arena with the who won the 2010 World Cup FC Rostov in the last 16. van Holsbeeck was also looking return at Madrid's Bernabeu six with Spain. United are favourites to win on the bright side of a tough days later in a clash of Europe's "It is perhaps the hardest the competition for the first time draw. titans. possible draw, but in the quar- A screen displays the names of the clubs that will be facing in Solna, Sweden on May 24 "It is of course a very nice Ancelotti led 11-time win- ter-finals all opponents are which could earn them a pas- fixture. A unique opportunity for each other during the quarter-final draw of the UEFA Europa ners Real to their tenth hard. sage into next season's our players to take on such a League football tournament at the UEFA headquarters in Champions League title -- 'La "For me, of course this is a Champions League, a fact not team and show themselves in Nyon, yesterday. Decima' -- in 2014 with Alonso, special game. lost on Juan Mata, who scored Europe." who was suspended for the Lis- "I'm glad to be able to play United's winner against It will be the fourth meeting Celta Vigo's shoulders as they Lyon are seen as second bon final, urging his side on in Madrid again, but I also know Rostov. between the sides, with United take on Belgian club Genk. favourites behind United to lift before he joined Bayern for the the Bernabeu is always a diffi- "I still think we have the winning the three previous ones. Two former winners were the trophy after overcoming AS 2014/15 season. cult place to go, but first we chance to get to the Champions Their record European vic- pitched together as Dutch Roma and were upbeat despite "It is going to be exciting to have a home game. League through the Premier tory was against Anderlecht, a giants and 1992 champions a tough draw. play against them. We are very "We want to continue our League. I still think we can win 10-0 rout at Old Trafford in the Ajax face Germany's Schalke "They're a great team and confident and want to win the strong series before our own a lot of games and get into the European Cup preliminary 04, who won in 1999, in home there'll be an amazing atmos- Champions League this season," fans and get a good result. third or fourth positions," he round in 1956. and away ties to be played on phere," said Lyon advisor said Ancelotti, who also won the "We know Madrid well and said. Anderlecht are currently top April 13 and 20. Bernard Lacombe. European title twice with AC will be ready." "But we will take it very seri- the Belgian league ahead of the Schalke's Dutch striker Besiktas director Ali Naibi Milan in 2003 and 2007. Bayern are on a Champions ously. It's very important - it play-offs. Klass-Jan Huntelaar, formerly warned: "Playing the second leg "I think we have the ability League record run of 17 con- could be one more trophy and it Spanish sides have won of PSV Eindhoven, tweeted in front of our own crowd will to beat Real Madrid." secutive home wins, but have means we play Champions seven of the last eleven second- "Amsterdam, Amsterdam, help. Lyon have experienced and There will be a master a score to settle with Real. League." tier European titles and hopes Amsterdam," to show his delight talented players, so it'll be verses pupil clash when Bay- They were the last team to Anderlecht president Roger of further domination rest on at landing his former rivals. difficult." ern take on Real. win a European match in Real's current coach Zine- Munich when Pep Guardiola's dine Zidane was Ancelotti's Bayern was thrashed 4-0 in the assistant when Madrid lifted the 2014 semi-finals -- with Ance- European title three years ago lotti in charge of Real -- as Sweeping changes are impossible: Guardiola by beating Atletico Madrid 4-1 Sergio Ramos and Ronaldo after extra-time in the final. scored twice. Zidane then matched Ance- In the past, Real fans Manchester knockout round by Monaco on With the Premier League overhaul of his squad in the lotti by winning the Champions regarded Bayern as 'La Bestia AFP Wednesday, losing the second title realistically out of reach, close-season, but the manager League in his debut season as Negra', the black beast who leg 3-1 after winning their home City can now only win the FA insists such a strategy would not head coach last year. used to knock their club out of ep Guardiola has said it tie 5-3. Cup in Guardiola's debut season be feasible. Another side plot to the Europe and Munch's Germany would be impossible to It was the first time in Guar- and they meet Arsenal in the "A lot of people say about mouth-watering quarter-final goalkeeper Manuel Neuer Pmake sweeping changes to diola's illustrious managerial semi-final at Wembley on April our performance in Monaco that sees Bayern's defensive mid- believes Zidane's squad are not his Manchester City squad in the career that his team had failed 23. we will have to change 12 or 13 fielder Alonso face former relishing the tie. wake of their shock Champions to reach at least the semi-finals City's status as one of the players. But it is impossible team-mates. "We have the coach who League exit. of Europe's elite competition, world's wealthiest clubs has led today to do that. You have to be Alonso, who also won the knows the Real team the best, City were dismissed from the which he won with Barcelona in to speculation Guardiola will a little bit more realistic," Guar- 2005 Champions League title they are an interesting and dif- tournament in the first 2009 and 2011. implement an extensive diola told reporters yesterday. with Liverpool, will retire in ficult opponent," said Neuer. SPORT

Saturday 18 March 2017

PAGE | 21 PAGE | 22 PAGE | 23 Wawrinka wins De Kock's aggression SweepingSw changes Thiem thriller at pays off for are impossible, Indian Wells SSouthouth AfricaAfrica sayssays Guardiola

UAE's Majid Al Balooshi celebrates on winning the Elite Class of GCC Road Cycling Championships at Al Balooshi tops Elite Class, Losail yesterday. Qatar's Khalfan finishes second

RizwanRizwan RRehmatehhmam t Podium winners at the Elite Class of GCC The Peninsula Road Cycling Championships, UAE's Majid Al Balooshi (centre), Qatar's Musa Khalfan (left) ajid Al Balooshi and Kuwaiti rider Abdulhadi Alajmi pose of the UAE for a photograph during the presentation stormed to a ceremony at Losail yesterday. commanding win on the final Mday of the GCC Road Cycling Championships yesterday. Al Balooshi topped the 117.2km race in a time of 2:48.10. Qatar's Musa Khalfan secured the second spot to bring delight in the home camp as the region's top cycling championship came to a close. Khalfan registered a time of 2:48.43 to claim the second spot. The Qatari finished ahead of Abdulhadi Alajmi of Kuwait. Alajmi clocked a time of 2:48.47. Jaber Al Mansoori of the UAE finished in fourth spot Khlafan second position UAE riders finished top Qatar Cycling Federation (2:48.50) while Nasser Al Amri was the only victory for the (8:25.50) while Bahrain (QCF) president Dr Mohamed of the UAE completed the top 10-member hosts team. (8:38.53) ended in second Al Kuwari also felt that Qatar 5 in the Elite Class. “Yes, it is a good win for place. Kuwait (8:39.07) team is not strong right now. A total of 16 riders com- Qatar. The conditions were grabbed the third spot. “Moosa won a good race pleted the race that saw light tough. We were racing amidst The four-day event was today. But I feel we had a drizzle making slippery roads light drizzle at the start and organised by Qatar Cycling strong team in the past, but this a bit tough to negotiate. cross-winds,” Khlafan said. Federation (QCF). time we are not that strong. Regional cycling giant “I'm very happy, because "It was an exciting period UAE riders are very good and Yousif Mirza finished in 7th spot. in the crosswinds, I was the of competitions the past four they have dominated the "It was a tough race on a last to make it into the lead days," Jamal Al Kuwari, the races, but we have some plans windy day. But we have a good group and it felt a bit like a QCF Secretary General, said. for our team and hopefully we team and we controlled the headwind at the finish. So I "UAE riders have done will have a good team in the race well today. The credit for had to go from a long way exceptionally well. They have coming years,” said Dr Al my win goes to the entire back in the sprint," he said. a good side. Musa Khalfan did Kuwari, while watching the team,” Al Balooshi said. In the team classification, well on the last day," he added. riders at the finish line.

Moto2 and Moto3 pre-season test England under-18 Pedrosa confident team named ahead ahead of new season of Qatar tour

The Peninsula "I've always had a good connection The Peninsula with Michelin. Despite the initial problems hird at the last official test, Dani Ped- with adaptation, we are constantly improv- oach Neil Dewsnip has named the England rosa closed preseason with a good ing," Pedrosa commented on moving into Under-18 squad of 21 ahead of their tour to Tfeeling and a positive progression – Michelin tyres. CQatar and Saudi Arabia. after also finishing high up the order in "Without a doubt today, with the small The English juniors will kick-off at the Aspire Australia and Malaysia. The Repsol Honda differences between riders, everything is Academy in Doha, when they play two games rider, who has achieved at least one vic- key." against Qatar and then head to Saudi Arabia where tory in each of his 11 seasons in MotoGP, Pedrosa sees the talent level in MotoGP they will play three games. is sure to be one of the men to beat when has gathered World Champions from dif- According to a report on www.thefa.com, Tot- the season gets underway on March 26 at ferent categories and generations. tenham Hotspur’s Samuel Shashoua is back in the QMMF Racing team's Italian Moto3 rider Lorenzo the Losail International Circuit. "The category is always the maximum squad for the first time this season, while Reece Dalla Porta in action during the final pre-season Commenting on his approach to into expression of bikes and riders. In recent James and Edward Nketiah have been introduced test at Losail International Circuit yesterday. the 2017 MotoGP season during an inter- years it has gathered World Champions to the fold for the first time. view with MotoGP, the 31-year old Spanish from different categories and generations," The England Under-18s have enjoyed a fruit- BOTTOM: QMMF Racing Team's Moto2 riders rider said: "The word would be ‘excited’. I he said. ful 2016, losing just one of their six games since Mishal Al Naimi and Saeed Al Sulaiti. They will come into it with enthusiasm and the Making a prediction about a possible defeating Italy 2-1 in September, and triumphed be in action at Losail track tomorrow. desire to show my best." champion of the new season, Pedrosa said: in the Triangular Tournament on home soil in Commenting on his new bike, Pedrosa "I see the usual candidates, but with the November. said: "A bike is always evolving. It's about unknown of how Viñales will handle the Dewsnip had said that success in Qatar and looking for the balance between bike and pressure of being a contender. It's differ- Saudi Arabia will be important. rider, and that’s where we are, with more ent being a surprise winner to being “Winning is very important to us. Part of the and more connection between both." obliged to win." development pathway is learning to win, be it against Poland on a wintery November night in Stevenage, or against Saudi Arabia in the 40 degree heat of Qatar. We’re looking forward to the chal- lenge,” Dewsnip told www.thefa.com.

SQUAD: Ellery Balcombe (Brentford), Ryan Schofield (Huddersfield Town), Jake Turner (Bolton Wanderers), Morgan Feeney (Everton), Japhet Tanganga (Tottenham Hotspur), George Tanner (Manchester United), Reece James (Chelsea), Jonathan Dinzeyi (Tot- tenham Hotspur), Tolaji Bola (Arsenal), Sadou Diallo (Manchester City), Marcus McGuane (Arsenal), Tristan Nydam (Ipswich Town), Tariq Uwakwe (Chelsea), Andre Dozzell (Ipswich Town), Elliot Embleton (Sunderland), Reiss Nelson (Arsenal), Jonathan Leko (West Bromwich Albion), Samuel Shashoua (Tottenham Hotspur), George Repsol Honda team rider Dani Pedrosa in action during the final MotoGP pre-season Hirst (Sheffield Wednesday), Edward Nketiah (Arse- testing at Losail International Circuit in this March 10 file photo. nal), Joshua Tymon (Hull City)