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Established 1961 Sport WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2017 Zain celebrates national jet History boys Italy draw Sweden Rampant Reds hit seven to 13ski team world champions 14 in tricky World Cup playoff 15 silence Jurgen Klopp critics MADRID: Real Madrid’s German midfielder Toni Kroos (L) vies with Tottenham Hotspur’s Ivorian defender Serge Aurier during the UEFA Champions League group H football match Real Madrid CF vs Tottenham Hotspur FC. —AFP Real held by Lloris masterclass Result keep both clubs at the top of Group H MADRID: A pair of stunning second-half saves from debut for Real-teed up Ronaldo to head off the post from his cross, Fernando Llorente appeared to be A flowing team move put Toni Kroos clean through Hugo Lloris salvaged a precious point for Tottenham and Karim Benzema pulled the rebound wide with the chopped down by Casemiro inside the area, but Polish and when he was upended by Aurier, Ronaldo stepped Hotspur as they held European champions Real Madrid goal gaping. After a nervous opening 10 minutes, referee Szymon Marciniak was unmoved. up to bury the resulting penalty. Spurs were then bailed 1-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu yesterday. though, Tottenham settled with Harry Kane predictably Despite failing to get the final touch, Kane was out by two outstanding saves from Lloris after the Both sides remain unbeaten in this season’s a constant threat up front. involved once more when restart. The French captain’s outstretched leg diverted Champions League and well placed to progress to the The English international’s Spurs went in front on 28 Benzema’s powerful header from point-blank range to last 16. They each have seven points after Cristiano sensational form saw him minutes as Varane turned safety, much to his former international team-mate’s Ronaldo’s penalty cancelled out Raphael Varane’s own labelled a “complete player” Serge Aurier’s cross into his dismay. And Ronaldo then couldn’t believe his eyes as goal in the first period. by Madrid coach Zinedine Today was own net under pressure Lloris leapt to turn over his rising drive which was The sides meet again with top spot in Group H on Zidane on the eve of the from the striker. headed for the top corner. the line at Wembley on November 1. Borussia game, fuelling speculation a game for Aurier himself then had a A hugely entertaining game continued to swing from Dortmund’s 1-1 draw at APOEL Nicosia means the he could follow Luka long-range effort turned end to end and it was the visitors who had the better Germans and Cypriots remain six points adrift of the Modric and Gareth Bale’s the ‘keepers behind by Navas. And chances to take all three points in the final 20 minutes. group leaders. “At this level it’s a great feeling to get a lead in making a move to Madrid’s frustrations shone Kane had the best opportunity when he was picked out good draw,” Lloris told BT Sport. Madrid in the future. through when Ronaldo was by Llorente’s fine pass, but Navas spread himself well “They put a lot of pressure on. We could have buck- “A point at the Bernabeu, booked for a petulant slap to divert the ball behind. led and conceded a second, but 1-1 at half-time was you’d take that every day of on Jan Vertonghen. However, And the Costa Rican had to be alert again moments good and we kept working together until the end.” An the week,” said Kane. “It shows how far we’ve come as Real demonstrated why they have won this competition later to prevent Christian Eriksen’s drive sneaking in at entertaining encounter got off to a flying start as 18- a team.” Kane’s downward header was turned over by for the past two seasons by restoring order and parity the near post. “Today was a game for the ‘keepers,” year-old Achraf Hakimi-on his Champions League Keylor Navas before he broke free down the left and, before the break. said Navas. — AFP and dominated a Napoli midfield that lacked regular starters Allan and Jorginho, who were Man City beat Napoli 2-1 for third on the bench. Sterling side-footed home left-footed in the eighth minute after Kyle Walker’s goal-bound win in Champions League shot, off a cross by David Silva, was blocked. It was his eighth goal in 11 matches this season, a MANCHESTER: Manchester City scored to City in the return match on Nov. 1. record that was soon matched by Jesus. twice in the first 13 minutes before holding off City is on a maximum of nine points and De Bruyne seized on a poor clearance and a spirited fightback from Napoli to win 2-1 in should need to win only one of its last three threaded a low center across the face of goal the Champions League yesterday, maintaining games to qualify for the knockout stage. that left Kalidou Koubibaly spread-eagled on its 100 percent start to group play. Napoli arrived as not only the leader but the the turf. Jesus couldn’t fail to tap in. Napoli Napoli could have snatched a draw if it had top scorer in Serie A, and with City coach Pep rode its luck, with De Bruyne crashing a 20- converted both of its penalties at Etihad Guardiola labeling them as one of the best meter curler against the bar and Koubibaly Stadium after City scored through Raheem three sides in European soccer. clearing off the line from Jesus, but came into Sterling and Gabriel Jesus. Dries Mertens had Still, there was defeatist talk in the build-up the game before halftime. When Walker pulled a penalty saved by goalkeeper Ederson by Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis, back Raul Albiol as they challenged to get to a Moraes in the first half and Amadou Diawara who said City was such a favorite that Sarri cross, the Italian side was awarded a penalty scored with his attempt in the 73rd. should rest players ahead of a big Serie A but Ederson guessed the right way to parry Top of the Italian league, Napoli could game against Inter Milan at the weekend. out Mertens’ effort. Napoli pushed City back struggle to advance in the Champions League Sarri, for his part, spoke in glowing terms in the second half and didn’t waste a second having lost two of its first three games in about City and its attacking talent. chance from the spot when Fernandinho MANCHESTER: Manchester City’s English defender Kyle Group F. Maurizio Sarri’s team is third, three City lived up to its billing in the first 25 min- tripped Faouzi Ghoulam. Diawara took over Walker (C) concedes a penalty for his challenge on Napoli’s points behind second-placed Shakhtar utes. Picking up where it left off in the 7-2 win penalty duties and beat Ederson, who again Spanish defender Raul Albiol (centre R) during the UEFA Donetsk, and could be on the brink with a loss over Stoke on Saturday, City attacked in waves guessed the correct side. — AP Champions League Group F football match. — AFP.