CCYCLINGYCLING | Page 6 TENNIS | Page 7 Pogacar wins Osaka hailed as Bernal runs for third Slam, out of steam in anti-racism stage 15 stand

Monday, September 14, 2020 FOOTBALL Muharram 26, 1442 AH New-look Everton GULF TIMES prove too good for Tottenham SPORT Page 2 FOOTBALL / AFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Hilal face Pakhtakor in key Fifteen of West Asia’s top clubs will battle for supremacy in three weeks of non-stop West Asian battle action across four stadiums in Qatar

Today’s matches will be played at Khalifa International Stadium and Al Janoub Stadium. PICTURE: Noushad Thekkayil

By Sports Reporter Doha Al Ain game will be tough, says Al Sadd’s Abdullah al-Breik Sadd’s Salman named in Best est Asia’s top club By Sports Reporter es, and we are now in our best their opening two games to teams begin a battle Doha condition after the strong start Sepahan and Al Nassr. A win for ACL2019 XI royale for suprem- in the league.” Al Sadd in this game will take the acy today as the lu- “We have closed the file of the team closer to the next round. Wcrative Asian Champions League l Sadd first team man- league, and all our focus is now Yesterday’s training session saw resumes in Doha where players ager Abdullah al-Breik on the Champions League. The all the Al Sadd players work hard, and offi cials have to follow strict Aremarked that his side’s players are ready and the spirits as the coaching staff led by Xavi protocols including frequent upcoming clash against Al Ain are high and we have great Hernandez looked to select their testing in view of the coronavirus in the Group D of the 2020 AFC confidence in them all.” options for the starting lineup. pandemic. Champions League will not be He concluded by saying: “We The team worked on their attack, In what has become a new easy, adding that the Wolves are looking for strong start, and with a focus on movement. world order for sport, bio-bub- must double their eff ort and it’s going to be a diff icult match Before the start of the session, the bles, face masks and sanitisers focus, if they are to achieve the against Al Ain.” players gathered around the cen- have become par for the course desired results. Al Sadd’s Rodrigo Tabata (right) and Akram Afif take part in a training Meanwhile, the Al Sadd first tre circle, with the coaching staff QNA with fans totally barred or re- Al-Breik said: “For us, this match session ahead of their AFC Champions League Group D match team squad held their main explaining the key technical points Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia stricted and any breach of proto- is very important, and the players against Al Ain. (Twitter/AlSaddSC) training session yesterday. and also encouraging the players cols inviting strict penalties. realise this, especially as it could The Wolves go into tomorrow’s to give their best in the game. Fifteen teams from the West be crucial in determining our place goal is to reach the farthest their eff orts on the field.” game occupying first place in Goalkeeping coach Xavi Fer- he Asian Football Asian region are competing in in the second round, and therefore point in the tournament, and all “We have so far won 4 points in the group with 4 points from rando implemented intense Confederation (AFC) an- Doha with the UAE’s Al Wahda we should fight from the begin- the remaining matches will be Group D, and we will work dur- two matches, after a draw with training for the three first team Tnounced the ACL2019 forced to pull out because several ning to the end of the match.” like finals. We know that there ing this next match to show our Saudi side Al Nassr and a 3-0 win keepers Saad al-Dosari, Meshaal XI on its website, as voted players tested positive for the vi- The team manager added that are opponents who will face us worth and get another win.” over Sepahan of Iran. Meanwhile, Barshim and Jehad Muhammad, by the fans, from the 2019 rus. all matches in the tournament with all their strength, and this Al-Breik further said: “Every UAE’s Al Ain have not got a point focusing on awareness and reac- edition, just a day before the Four matches will be played will be diff icult, saying: “Our requires our players to double match has its own circumstanc- so far in Group C after losing tion exercises. 2020 AFC Champions League today – two each in groups A and resumes. B – marking the start of three Al Sadd defender Tarek weeks of non-stop action across former Ajax and Rangers striker. tive fi xture was six months ago, against Shahr Khodro, who like Salman was named in the four stadiums in Qatar. “I personally like this central- which saw them defeat Ajman us, do not have any points. We all-star team following his In a key match today, defend- ised format. It allows us to remain 5-2 on Matchday 19 of the UAE have to fi ght in these two games outstanding performances ing champions Al Hilal of Saudi focused on the run of matches Pro League. The Dubai side were to collect maximum points.” in the 2019 AFC Champions Arabia will take on Uzbek giants and try to go as far as possible. on track to win the title, leading Shahr Khodro have not enjoyed League. Pakhtakor at 9pm at Al Janoub We know what is expected of us. by six points with seven games to the easiest of introductions to the Al Hilal’s Ali Al Bulayhi Stadium, with both teams in “We played a match every go when the domestic season was AFC Champions League in their clinched the fans’ vote for good form. three days in the Uzbek League. It halted due to Covid-19. debut appearance. Having navi- centre-back and he partners The two sides have registered was diffi cult, but it will also help That Ajman win was also coach gated Bahrain’s Riff a SC and Qa- Al Sadd defender Tarek Sal- full marks in their opening two us adapt to the upcoming run of Gerard Zaragoza’s only match in tar’s Al Sailiya in the play-off s to man in our rearguard. games in group B, with Al Hilal fi xtures in this competition.” charge of Shabab Al Ahli, having reach the group stage, they were Salman edged Al Ittihad’s Ziy- beating Shahr Khodro FC 2-0 Al Hilal and Pakhtakor share top replaced Argentinian coach Ro- pitted against three-time con- ad al-Sahafi, while Park Ji-soo and Shabab Al Ahli 2-1 while Pa- spot in Group B after two games, dolfo Arruabarrena a week earlier. tinental champions Al Hilal and of Guangzhou Evergrande, khtakor started with a 2-1 win with six points each, but today will And the Spaniard believes ambi- perennials Pakhtakor as well as Urawa’s Tomoaki Makino, over Shabab Al Ahli then swept see at least one of the two sides guity will serve his side well in the 2015 runners-up Shabab Al Ahli. and Sanfrecce Hiroshima’s aside Shahr Khodro 3-0. Al Hilal coach Razvan Lucescu and Pakhtakor coach Shota Arveladze drop points for the fi rst time in the 2020 AFC Champions League. Hayato Araki were also in the Both Al Hilal and Pakhta- (right) address the media yesterday. PICTURES: Noushad Thekkayil 2020 AFC Champions League. “We are here after a long stop- TODAY’S MATCHES running. kor are their respective nations’ Meanwhile, getting off the page. Our last competitive match Group A The ACL2019 XI included goal- most successful sides. Al Hilal continental title. However, the qualities. We won the league and mark will be the aim for both was in March, while our oppo- 6pm: Al Ahli (KSA) vs Al Shorta keeper Abdullah al-Mayoof of regained the Saudi Pro League Pakhtakor encounter will be his came here with huge motivation Shabab Al Ahli Dubai FC and nents have all played competi- (IRQ) at Khalifa International Al Hilal, Al Hilal’s Ali al-Bulayhi, title from archrivals Al Nassr to fi rst against Uzbek opponents. to defend our title.” Shahr Khodro FC when they lock tively in recent months,” said the Stadium Al Sadd defender Tarek Sal- become champions for the 16th “I was surprised and impressed Pakhtakor head coach Shota horns in another group B match 38-year-old. “It will be diffi cult 9pm: Al Wahda (UAE) vs Estegh- man, Al Wahda’s Mohamed time, while Pakhtakor ended a watching Pakhtakor play. They set Arveladze off ered his well wishes today, also at Al Janoub Stadium. for other teams to know about us, lal (IRN) at Khalifa International Barqesh, Al Hilal’s Yasser four-year Lokomotiv dominance themselves up well on the pitch to the Al Hilal players, but down- The two sides suff ered defeat because we have not played com- Stadium al-Shahrani, Al Hilal’s Salem to win their 12th title. and have a strong defensive men- played the impact on his Monday in their fi rst two matches back petitively recently, while they have Group B al-Dawsari, Al Nassr’s Giuliano, Head coach Razvan Lucescu tality,” said the Romanian. opponents. in February. Shabab Al Ahli were all played in their leagues, so we 6pm: Shabab Al Ahli (UAE) vs Al Wahda’s Leonardo, Al Ahli joined Al Hilal in June 2019, lead- “In the Saudi Pro League, the “We are preparing for this beaten 2-1 by both Pakhtakor and have seen them and know more Shahr Khodro (IRN) at Al Janoub Saudi’s Syrian star Omar ing them through the knockout level of competition we face eve- match without putting into con- Al Hilal, while Shahr Khodro lost about them than they do about us. Stadium al-Soma, Al Hilal forward Se- stages of the 2019 AFC Cham- ry week is higher than the Uzbek sideration that they are missing 2-0 to Al Hilal then 3-0 in Uz- “This is the biggest competi- 9pm: Al Hilal (KSA) vs Pakhtakor bastian Giovinco, and Al Hilal pions League and going all the league, but tomorrow’s match players, I don’t even know who bekistan to Pakhtakor. tion in Asia, and we are here to (UZB) at Al Janoub Stadium striker Bafetimbi Gomis. way to help them win their third is one against a team with great the missing players are,” said the Shabab Al Ahli’s last competi- win. Our fi rst two games will be More on Page 3 Gulf Times 2 Monday, September 14, 2020 FOOTBALL

EPL SPOTLIGHT Rodgers backs Vardy for another big New-look Everton season as Leicester bounce back AFP trains and works intensely and London he is a natural goalscorer - he is still quick, I suspect he will prove too good have another great season.” rendan Rodgers be- Rodgers had voiced his frus- lieves Jamie Vardy will tration at a lack of funds to Calvert-Lewin again be among the help his side’s chances of suc- Premier League’s most cess in four competitions this gets Toff ees off prolifiB c strikers this season af- season as they return to Eu- ter he scored twice from the ropean football in the Europa to winning start penalty spot in Leicester’s 3-0 League from October. for Tottenham win at West Brom yesterday. But the one new signing The Foxes bounced back they have added made a big AFP from a disappointing end to impact as Castagne’s tower- London last season to get their new ing header from Dennis Praet’s Premier League campaign off cross opened the fl oodgates 11 to a winning start as Timothy minutes into the second half. verton signalled their in- Castagne enjoyed a dream de- “He’s been brilliant. He’s tent for Carlo Ancelotti’s but with the opening goal be- only trained a couple of days fi rst full season in charge fore Vardy secured the points. with us and you’ve seen with as Dominic Calvert- Leicester won just two of his performance, he’s got loads Lewin’sE towering header earned their last 10 games to miss out of qualities and to be coming in their fi rst win over Tottenham on a place in the Champions at the back post like that,” said since 2012 in a 1-0 victory yes- League on the last day of last Vardy. terday. season, but Vardy still claimed “It’s massive for us, espe- Ancelotti has been heav- the golden boot for the league’s cially with how we fi nished last ily backed with the signings of top scorer. season. We’ve not had long to James Rodriguez, Abdoulaye The former England inter- come back in this season, so to Doucoure and Allan, and the national will turn 34 in Janu- start with three points, we’re Toff ees looked a much-improved ary, but Rodgers believes his delighted.” side on the one that fi nished 12th conditioning will ensure he has The goal rocked Albion as last season as they were thor- another big season. Slaven Bilic’s men got a taster oughly deserving winners at the “There are many top strik- of the test that faces them this Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. ers at this level but any team season on their return to the Spurs are also hoping for an would want someone like him Premier League. upturn in Jose Mourinho’s fi rst in there,” Rodgers said. “I’m very disappointed with full season as boss, but the hosts “He’s super cool, clinical the result but the biggest dis- looked short on ideas as they and has still got pace and run- appointment was our reaction slipped to a damaging home ning ability. In that situation to after the goal,” said Bilic. “Our defeat for their aspirations of put us two up he showed great mentality was not the same.” mounting a challenge to get back composure. It’s a great start for Vardy killed the game off as into the top four this season. him to score two goals and very a contest with his fi rst penalty Everton settled the quicker good for the team. after he was hauled back by with their new midfi eld trio “With top quality players, Kyle Bartley in the box. helping to control possession, it doesn’t matter what they’ve And 10 minutes later he but it was on the counter-at- done, doesn’t matter how was deadly from the spot once tack they wasted by far the best much they earn, they want more when Dara O’Shea felled chance of the game. to be the best they can be. He James Justin. Richarlison intercepted Ben Davies’s wayward pass and ac- celerated past Toby Alderweireld and Hugo Lloris before skew- ing high and wide with an open goal to aim at and Calvert-Lewin begging for a cut-back. Everton’s English striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin (second from right) celebrates with teammates after scoring their first goal during the English Son Heung-min was by far Premier League match against Tottenham Hotspur at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London yesterday. (AFP) Spurs’ most dangerous attacking outlet in a performance other- stood up well again to deny Matt as they controlled the game to Digne’s free-kick into the top as twice the Brazilian cut in- wise lacking in inspiration go- Doherty after Tottenham’s best earn a fi rst win over Spurs in 16 corner. Mourinho said on Friday side on his favoured right foot ing forward. The South Korean’s move of the half saw the Irish- games. Tottenham were given he hopes to add another striker and curled eff orts just beyond teasing cross just evaded Harry man teed up by Kane’s dinked a few warnings before the only before the end of the transfer Lloris’s far post. Kane and the far post before he pass. Everton surrendered meek- goal of the game arrived as James window to add some support to However, one goal was enough put Dele Alli in on goal and his ly to a 1-0 defeat when they vis- dragged a shot from inside the Kane, but any new arrival will for a statement win for the visi- shot forced a great save from fel- ited the Tottenham Hotspur Sta- box wide before Richarlison mis- need better service to work with tors and the worst possible start low England international Jor- dium in July without mustering a timed his header at the back post as the England captain did not for Tottenham ahead of a gru- dan Pickford. meaningful shot on goal. from an inch-perfect James cross. have an opportunity to get his elling schedule as they face up James curled his fi rst sight of But the diff erence a few The opener arrived 10 minutes side back on level terms. to eight games in the Europa goal in an Everton shirt just wide, months and fresh faces can make after the break as Calvert-Lewin Everton and Richarlison con- League, League Cup and Premier while at the other end Pickford was on show in the second half rose highest to power Lucas tinued to enjoy all the chances League in the next three weeks.

Greenwood admits to ‘poor judgement’ after balloon incident Manchester United and England forward 18-year-old Greenwood was sent home was poor judgement on my part,” future.” Mason Greenwood apologised and ad- from the England squad in Iceland last Greenwood said in a statement issued by Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette was mitted to showing poor judgement after week along with Manchester City mid- United. “I strongly urge others not to fol- investigated by his club this year follow- a video emerged online which shows fielder Phil Foden for breaching Covid-19 low my example. “As an 18-year-old I am ing a similar incident and several Arsenal him inhaling gas from a balloon. British protocols. “I have now been made aware learning all the time, however, this week I players were warned in December, 2018 media reported that the video was of the health risks associated with this have also learned that I will be judged to for inhaling gas from balloons, believed Leicester City’s Jamie Vardy (left) celebrates after scoring their filmed several weeks ago and shared practice and accept that even trying it, a higher standard because of my career to be nitrous oxide r “laughing gas”. third goal with teammates James Maddison and Harvey Barnes on social media platform Snapchat. The as shown in these historical pictures, as a footballer and I must respect that in (Reuters) during the Premier League match against West Bromwich Albion in West Bromwich, Britain, yesterday. (Reuters)

FOCUS Chelsea’s transfer spend demands title challenge from Lampard AFP London Wolves manager Espirito Santo signs new contract Wolverhampton Wanderers Premier League force. Playing ing the Europa League quarter- gainst a horizon of eco- manager Nuno Espirito Santo an exciting brand of football finals last season. “I feel good. nomic doom for most has signed a new three-year with a squad containing several Ready for it. Looking forward to of European football, contract, the Premier League Portuguese players including it. Working really hard for it, be- Chelsea have set about club said yesterday. The Ruben Neves and Diogo Jota, cause it’s a new cycle, no matter makingA up for lost time with Portuguese joined Wolves in and Spanish winger Adama what you did before, it’s about a £200 million ($256 million) May 2017 and has transformed Traore, Wolves have finished what’s in front of us,” Espirito- spending spree to try and reel in their fortunes, taking them out seventh in successive seasons. Santo said. Wolves begin the Liverpool and Manchester City of the second-tier Champion- They also played in Europe for new season away to Sheff ield at the top of the Premier League. ship and turning them into a the first time in 39 years, reach- United today. The Blues fi nished 33 points behind Liverpool last season, but did achieve club legend Frank important how uncertain the ferent level from last year be- challenging anyone else,” added Lampard’s primary objective of future is: those owned by coun- cause of the diff erent situation,” Lampard. “We should be excited his fi rst campaign in charge at tries, owned by oligarchs,” said said Lampard. “I didn’t come but we should also note a word of Stamford Bridge by guiding the Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, here to fi nish fourth place.” caution. We need to work with Blues back into the Champions who has a far more limited budg- the players and my job is to work League despite a transfer ban et to work with. “We’re a diff er- ‘EXCITED’ LAMPARD with the new players to get them and losing Eden Hazard to Real ent kind of club.” After investing so much in the settled into the team. The work Madrid. Lampard has been re- Lampard is aware that with squad, questions remain wheth- starts now.” warded with some of the most greater resources also comes er Lampard, in just his third Chelsea will not need to wait exciting young attacking talent much greater scrutiny. The season as a manager, is the right long to measure their title cre- in Europe with the signings of former England midfi elder man to take a title fi ght to two dentials as Liverpool visit Stam- Timo Werner, Kai Havertz and played for a host of Chelsea man- of the world’s best coaches in ford Bridge on the second week- Hakim Ziyech. agers that were ruthlessly sacked Klopp and Manchester City boss end of the season. A defence that conceded 54 for not meeting billionaire Rus- Pep Guardiola. Before then, Lampard’s men Premier League goals last season sian owner Roman Abramovich’s Even Lampard’s status with travel to Brighton today for the has also been overhauled with exacting standards. the support may not spare him sort of fi xture they cannot aff ord the arrivals of England inter- After accusations he was los- Abramovich’s grace if Chelsea do to slip up in if they are to keep national left-back Ben Chilwell ing interest in the club, Abram- not at least push Liverpool and pace with the record-setting and former Brazil captain Thiago ovich has loosened the purse City into a three-way title race. points tallies set by Liverpool Silva, while the spending spree strings to an extent not seen “We have fi nished a lot of and City in recent seasons. is not complete with Edouard since he took English football points behind in the last two Werner and Havertz are ex- Mendy expected to join from by storm in the summer of 2003 seasons so we have to fi rst look pected to make their debuts, but Rennes in the coming days to and will expect a return on his at closing the gap and build- injury and a lack of match fi tness solve a problem position in goal. investment. ing confi dence. I’m not jumping means Ziyech, Chilwell and Silva In this file photo taken on March 3, 2020, Chelsea’s head coach Frank Lampard applauds the fans after the “For some clubs it seems less “My expectations are on a dif- ahead making predictions of us miss out. English FA Cup fifth round match against Liverpool at Stamford Bridge in London. (AFP) Gulf Times Monday, September 14, 2020 3 FOOTBALLSPORT

AFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE LA LIGA Villarreal draw with Huesca in Emery Similar goals for bow, Pellegrini gets opening win

Reuters Betis beat Alaves courtesy of Madrid a stoppage time goal from Cris- Al Ahli, Al Shorta tian Tello, giving coach Manuel Pellegrini a winning start in his nai Emery had a dis- fi rst game in charge of the Se- ‘We were not consistent in the league, one game we played very well and the next appointing return to ville club. Tello collected a pass Spanish soccer as his following a short corner and cut game we did no. But this is in the past and we have put it behind us’ Villarreal side could inside on the edge of the area Uonly draw 1-1 at home to promot- to unleash a left-footed strike ed Huesca in an eventful La Liga which crept inside the near post. game which had three goals ruled Veteran goalkeeper Claudio out and a serious-looking injury Bravo made an impressive debut to Villarreal’s Francis Coquelin. for Betis on his return to Spain Also yesterday, Real Betis beat after four years with Manches- Alaves 1-0 while Real Sociedad ter City and did well to keep out earned a 1-1 draw at Real Val- a header from Alaves’ Rodrigo ladolid. Emery’s side had fi rst- Battaglia early in the second half. half strikes from Paco Alcacer Sergio Canales had come clos- and Raul Albiol ruled out before est for Betis with a powerful free Pablo Maff eo, making his Hues- kick which hit the crossbar be- ca debut, gave the visitors the fore teeing up Tello for the deci- lead in the 42nd minute against sive late goal, which got former the run of play. Real Madrid, Malaga and Vil- Maff eo then gave away a pen- larreal coach Pellegrini off to an alty for handball from which Vil- ideal start on his return to Spain larreal’s Gerard Moreno levelled after stints with Manchester in the 68th, while new sign- City and West Ham United. ing Coquelin, making his debut Valladolid took the lead since signing from Valencia, was against Sociedad in the 39th carried off on a stretcher with minute in the day’s other game ten minutes remaining. when Michel tapped into the Huesca could have won the net following fi ne work by Sergi match in a frantic six minutes of Guardiola down the wing. stoppage time, as Joaquin was But they lost their lead due to a denied by Villarreal goalkeeper moment of madness from keeper Sergio Asenjo before team mate Masip, who let a tame free kick Jorge Pulido put the ball in the from Roberto Lopez slip through net for the visitors but the strike his hands and over the line on the was ruled out for off side. hour mark.

Leverkusen cruise into second round, Hoff enheim need penalties

Bayer Leverkusen scored six brought the hosts level on the goals in the opening 32 minutes hour and sent the game into Al Ahli Saudi FC will take on Al Shorta in their AFC Champions League Group A match today. (AFC) to crush fourth tier club Nor- extra time before a Christian derstedt 7-0 in the German Cup Bickel strike put them in the AFC Asian football returns with tribute to medical heroes campaign “Al Ahli resumed playing in first round yesterday but fellow driving seat. It was again Doha their domestic league, while we Bundesliga club Hoff enheim Croatian forward Kramaric who The return of Asian football will against the pandemic. The message which will be broad- have not played any competitive needed penalties to edge past came to the rescue, earning a celebrate the medical workers #FootballForHeroes video casted live during the matches. matches for a while due to the amateurs Chemnitz. penalty in the 111th and keeping l Ahli Saudi FC and Al who have been the heroes of highlights the various messages After more than six months league’s stoppage,” said Shahad. Leverkusen, who sold attacking his cool to grab the equaliser. Shorta have similar the Covid-19 pandemic when from Asian football stars paying since the suspension of the AFC “We are keeping this in midfielder Kai Havertz and strik- Hoff enheim keeper Oliver ambitions despite the the AFC Champions League re- homage to the frontliners and Champions League on March mind, but we also know if we er Kevin Volland in the close Baumann saved the two first diff erent challenges starts today. The four stadiums healthcare professionals while 4, 2020, the excitement is now reach seven points, we will go season, were missing none of penalties in the subsequent Athey face heading into their through, so we hope to win this where the centralised matches also featuring the AFC doctors building as Saudi Arabia’s Al Ahli their firepower as they scored shootout and Bickel missed the clash today on Matchday Three are scheduled to kick-off in and medical practitioners from Saudi FC take on Iraq’s Al Shorta one and progress.” three times in the opening 12 target with his spot kick to give of the 2020 AFC Champions Doha will be dressed with the the highly-acclaimed #Break- at the Khalifa International Sta- Al Shorta are yet to record minutes through Lars Bender, Hoff enheim coach Sebastian League in group A. slogan – #FootballForHeroes TheChain series which was dium. Meanwhile, United Arab a victory in the AFC Champi- Nadiem Amiri and Lucas Alario. Hoeness a winning debut. Speaking ahead of the match – to pay tribute to the health- launched on March 26, 2020. In Emirates’ Shabab Al Ahli Dubai ons League, having played in Another three goals between at Khalifa International Stadi- care professionals – working addition to the #FootballForHe- are scheduled to battle Shahr the 2004 and 2005 editions of the 21st to the 32nd minute Robben comeback ends um, Al Ahli head coach Vladan tirelessly on the frontlines while roes visuals taking their spots Khodro FC from the Islamic the competition, while Al Ahli quickly ended proceedings at in early injury Milojevic was adamant inju- reminding the Continent’s fans, in strategic places across the Republic of Iran – with both have greater tradition in the the empty BayArena stadium, Bayer Leverkusen scored six ries and his side’s poor form in players and match off icials stadiums, football fans will also matches scheduled to kick-off at competition including reaching after the off icial home team, goals in the opening 32 minutes the last stretch of the Saudi Pro to remain vigilant in the fight be able to see a special tribute 6:00pm. the fi nal in 2012, but Shahad is Norderstedt, had relinquished to crush fourth tier club Nor- League will not deter them from convinced this will not make a the home advantage for this derstedt 7-0 in the German Cup aiming high in the AFC Cham- diff erence when the two sides round. first round yesterday but fellow pions League. are now only focused on the fu- game against Al Raed. miss Saric at the very last mo- lock horns. New Leverkusen striker Patrick Bundesliga club Hoff enheim Al Ahli won just one of their ture. We have had some diffi cult “It is the last of a long list of ment. All players are impor- “Football does not care about Schick, who came on as a sub- needed penalties to edge past last fi ve games in the league, times over the past two months, problems we’ve had, but we tant, but he is one of our four history. Everything is possible stitute, grabbed goal number amateurs Chemnitz. fi nishing the domestic season in but we believe in the future.” come here wishing to play good key players. We hope he returns on the pitch and we only focus seven in the 77th to complete Leverkusen, who sold attacking third place, albeit 14 points be- A win against Al Shorta in football and get good results. soon with us.” on our opponents and the next the rout. midfielder Kai Havertz and hind runners-up Al Nassr and a the Matchday Three fi xture will For me it is important that we In turn, Al Shorta coach Ab- game, so we are hoping to get Hoff enheim were in control for striker Kevin Volland in the whooping 22 behind champions go a long way in the Saudis bid have a lot of players back from dulghani Shahad cited the long our fi rst victory against Al Ahli. much of the game but had to close season, were missing Al Hilal. “We were not consist- to reach to reach the Round of injury. The players looked very stoppage of the Iraqi League due “We are all going into this wait until the 48th minute to none of their firepower as ent in the league, one game we 16, but they would have to do it motivated in our last training to Covid-19 as one of the main match with qualifi cation in our take the lead through Andrej they scored three times in the played very well and the next without the services of Bosnian and I hope we are ready for to- challenges his side faced ahead mind. We have to get a result in Kramaric’s tap-in. opening 12 minutes through game we did not,” said Milojevic. midfi elder Elvis Saric who tore morrow’s game. of their fi rst-ever encounter the two matches against Al Ahli Kevin Freiberger’s fine turn Lars Bender, Nadiem Amiri and “But this is in the past and his Anterior Cruciate Ligament “Saric is one of our most im- with Al Ahli in the AFC Cham- if we are to progress to the next and shot from eight metres out Lucas Alario. we have put it behind us. We (ACL) in the team’s last league portant players and it’s sad to pions League. round.”

QNB STARS LEAGUE Gharafa return to winning ways with 2-1 win over Al Arabi By Sports Reporter Doha Al Ahli go top of the table with third straight win

l Gharafa got back to winning path by beat- ing Al Arabi 2-1 in Week 3 of the 2020-21 season QNBA Stars League at the Al Arabi Stadium yesterday. Jonathan Kodjia (22nd minute) and Sofi ane Hanni (72nd-minute penalty) scored for Al Gharafa. Substitute Hamdi Harbaoui re- duced the margin for Al Arabi in the 87th minute. Al Gharafa had started off their campaign in the new sea- Al Ahil’s Hernan Perez attempts a header against Al Khor during their QSL match yesterday. (QSL) son on a winning note, beating Qatar SC 2-0, but they lost 1-3 to Al Ahli beat Al Khor 1-0 in Week ball from Naif, who passed it to Al Ahli’s Mohamed Diame’s Al Rayyan in Week 2. 3 to complete a hat-trick of fellow defender Robert Melki to bicycle kick from close was col- The Cheetahs, who had fi n- wins in the 2020-21 season QNB avert danger, and shot it home lected by Djibril, but he fumbled ished a creditable fourth in the Stars League at the Al Khor past goalkeeper Baba Djibril. and Naif cleared the ball. 2019-20 season, can take the Stadium yesterday. Al Ahli almost doubled the lead At the other end, Lucca Borges break in the tournament with a Al Gharafa players celebrate their win over Al Arabi yesterday. (QSL) Hernan Perez scored the win- the next minute, but Nabil El could not guide a Helal pass six-point cushion. ning goal in the fourth minute Zhar, after receiving a cross into the goal. Al Khor came on Al Arabi stayed on one point in the team’s second goal. thwarted by goalkeeper Qasim Hanni converted the pen- as Al Ahli stormed into the top from Abdulrasheed Umaru, to the pitch on resumption with that they collected from their 2-2 Alaaeldin was in outstanding Burhan, was Al Arabi’s’s only real alty awarded when Jassem Jaber of the table with nine points, sent his shot against the right Abdulrahman Rajab and Ab- draw with Al Khor in the opener. form and he started off as early attempt at the goal in the open- fouled Alaaeldin. Jassem was having beaten Al Wakrah 2-1 upright. Al Khor made their dulla Al Moraisi as substitutes. The Dream Team had then lost as the third minute, but his shot ing session, while Al Gharafa’s sent off with his second yellow and Al Arabi 2-0 earlier. first attempt in the 23rd minute Lucca and Ibrahim Amada con- 0-2 to Al Ahli. was blocked by Al Arabi’s Khalaf Hector Moreno, with a header, card and Hanni converted from Al Khor remained on two points when Mohamed Al Jabri’s tinued to lead Al Khor’s charge, The encounter featured two Sadd. Alaaeldin was at it again and Homam Elamin, with a left- the spot, sending the goalkeeper as they had held Al Arabi 2-2 powerful long-range shot was even as Al Ahli attackers Perez clubs with rich history and tra- in the ninth minute. This time, footer, also made tries. the wrong way. and Umm Salal goalless. palmed away by Ivanildo Rod- and Umaru each wasted a dition in Qatar football with a goalkeeper Mahmoud Abunada A few minutes after resump- Al Arabi’s goal came when The all-important goal resulted rigues. And Naif headed over chance. Al Ahli’s Mohamed Al passionate fan base. Al Gharafa’s collected his shot. tion of play, Alaaeldin’s beaming Hamdi, who came on for Ab- from a defensive mistake com- the bar the resultant corner Abbassi sent a shot skywards in game invariably revolved around Kodjia volleyed home Alaael- shot fl ew over the bar and Hanni dulaziz Al Ansari, produced a mitted by Al Khor captain kick taken by Helal Mohamed. the 80th minute. He hit his shot Ahmed Alaaeldin, who gave din’s measured cross to give his shot wide of the target after one moment of brilliance. Al Arabi Naif Al Buraiki. Perez quickly There were chances for both wide six minutes later. And the the pass for their fi rst goal and side the lead. Mehrdaad Mo- hour. Kodjia then sent his shot made a late push for an equaliser intercepted and trapped the sides before the first half ended. stalemate continued. earned the penalty that resulted hammmadi’s shot, that was straight to the goalkeeper. that never came. Gulf Times 4 Monday, September 14, 2020 SPORT

CRICKET RUGBY New dawn for Wallabies with 16 England win second uncapped players in bumper squad AFP Australia squad Sydney ODI aft er dramatic Jermaine Ainsley, Allan Alaalatoa, Tom Banks, ixteen uncapped play- Angus Bell, Filipo Daugunu, ers were included yes- Pone Fa’amausili, Folau terday in new coach Fainga’a, Jake Gordon, Ned Dave Rennie’s fi rst Hanigan, Will Harrison, Dane WallabiesS squad, with the Haylett-Petty, Reece Hodge, youthful line-up “chomping Michael Hooper, Tom Australia collapse at the bit” ahead of a corona- Horton, Trevor Hosea, Len virus-aff ected Rugby Cham- Ikitau, Harry Johnson-Holm- pionship. es, Marika Korobiete, Noah Woakes, Archer and Curran take three wickets each as hosts win by 24 runs The New Zealander took over Lolesio, Jack Maddocks, in July with Australia languish- Tate McDermott, Fraser ing just seventh in the rankings McReight, James O’Connor, and a host of experienced play- Brandon Paenga-Amosa, ers calling it quits following Hunter Paisami, Jordan last year’s World Cup. He has Petaia, Matt Philip, Joe Pow- been closely following the Su- ell, James Ramm, Lukhan per Rugby AU tournament and Salakaia-Loto, Pete Samu, his bumper 44-man squad for Rob Simmons, Irae Simone, Tests later this year combines Scott Sio, James Slipper, La- a smattering of experience and chie Swinton, Matt Toomua, plenty of young prospects as Taniela Tupou, Jordan he looks to rebuild for the next Uelese, Rob Valetini, Nic World Cup in France. White, Harry Wilson, Liam “This is a really exciting day Wright, Tom Wright. for us,” said Rennie. “We’ve picked this squad on form and on potential and restrictions as we can’t bring I know the whole group are players in and out but each of chomping at the bit to get one them is there on merit.” stuck in and push their case He already has some injury for a Wallaby jersey.” problems after a bruising Su- He didn’t name a cap- per Rugby AU playoff game tain, but incumbent Michael on Saturday between the Reds Hooper (99 Tests) was in- and Rebels. cluded and has made clear he Hooker Jordan Uelese ap- is keen to remain in the role. pears to be the biggest worry Lock Rob Simmons (100 after leaving the fi eld with Tests), prop James Slipper what looked like a shoul- (96), and the likes of Scott der injury. His Rebels cap- Sio, James O’Connor and Matt tain Dane Haylett-Petty also Toomua all bring big-match limped off , with playmaker experience. But Rennie is Toomua and Reds’ outside looking to the future with 16 back Jordan Petaia joining the uncapped players and a fur- walking wounded. ther 13 with fewer than 10 ap- The four-nation Rugby pearances in a Wallabies jersey. Championship is due to be Among the fi rst-tim- played in Australia between ers were Queensland Reds’ November 7 and Decem- scrum-half Tate McDermott, ber 12, after governing body England’s Chris Woakes (centre) celebrates the wicket of Australia’s Aaron Finch (right) in the second ODI at Old Traff ord in Manchester, United Kingdom, yesterday. (Reuters) fl anker Fraser McReight, and SANZAAR opted against early NSW Waratahs’ goal-kicking frontrunners New Zealand as AFP a head injury suff ered batting in the nets. sensation Will Harrison, all 21. host. Manchester, United Kingdom Scorecard But Stoinis was left powerless by fast ‘Tahs prop Angus Bell, son Australian quarantine regu- bowler Archer’s superbly straight and of former Wallabies prop Mark lations were considered more rapid bouncer that got the all-rounder in Bell, is the youngest at just 19. relaxed, with teams able to ENGLAND AUSTRALIA ofra Archer starred as world cham- a tangle before the ball lobbed to Buttler. Other newcomers include train together in large groups pions England staged a stunning J. Roy run out (Stoinis) 21 D Warner c Buttler b Archer 6Archer, having taking 2-22 in his initial exciting centre Noah Lolesio, while in mandatory 14-day fi ghtback to beat Australia by 24 J. Bairstow c Carey b Starc 0 A Finch b Woakes 73 fi ve overs, was somewhat surprisingly re- Brumbies teammate Irae Si- isolation. runs in the second one-day inter- J. Root c Finch b Zampa 39 M Stoinis c Buttler b Archer 9moved from the attack by Morgan. mone and Melbourne Rebels’ This was important given nationalJ at Old Traff ord yesterday. An increasingly assertive Finch, hit pair Pone Fa’amausili and neither South Africa nor Ar- Australia, cruising to a modest victory E. Morgan lbw b Zampa 42 M Labuschagne lbw Woakes 48 on the helmet by an Archer bouncer, Trevor Hosea. gentina have resumed com- target of 232, were dismissed for 207 as J. Buttler lbw b Cummins 3 M Marsh b Archer 1slammed Rashid for six on his way to a Back-rower Isi Naisarani petitive rugby since the pan- England levelled this three-match series S. Billings b Zampa 8 A Carey st Buttler b Rashid 36 66-ball fi fty. and midfi elder Tevita Kurid- demic brought sport to a halt at 1-1. Marnus Labuschagne (48) gave his rani were the major omissions, earlier this year. Australia were in command at 144-2, C. Woakes c Carey b Hazlewood 26 G Maxwell b Woakes 1skipper sound support in a third-wicket and Rennie opted against any To compensate, the All but they lost four wickets for three runs in S. Curran c Carey b Starc 1 P Cummins b Curran 11 stand of 107 before he was lbw on review foreign-based players. Blacks’ two Bledisloe Cup 21 balls — including captain Aaron Finch T. Curran b Marsh 37 M Starc c Buttler b Curran 0to Woakes. “When we picked the Tests against the Wallabies, for a well-made 73 — to be 147-6, the Archer then bowled Mitchell Marsh be- squad, we had to consider how due to be played in Australia, new-ball duo of Chris Woakes (3-32) and A. Rashid not out 35 A Zampa c Archer b Curran 2fore Woakes cleaned up Finch and Glenn we will handle the rigours of will now be in New Zealand. Archer (3-34) returning to do the damage. J. Archer not out 6 J Hazlewood not out 7Maxwell. the Test calendar ahead,” said Dates have not been con- And when left-arm paceman Sam Cur- Extras (lb5, w8) 13 Extras (lb11, nb1, w1) 13 Morgan, having called for England to play Rennie. “It is obviously a big fi rmed, but October 17 and 24 ran, recalled alongside brother Tom, took on the kind of slow pitches they can expect squad which is due to Covid appear most likely. Total (9 wkts, 50 overs) 231 Total (all out, 48.4 overs) 207 two wickets in two balls to remove Pat when the next T20 and 50-over World Cups Cummins and Mitchell Starc, after Woakes Fall of wickets: 1-20 (Bairstow), 2-29 Fall of Wickets: 1-9 (Warner), 2-37 are staged in India, saw his top-order strug- and Archer had completed their maximum (Roy), 3-90 (Root), 4-107 (Buttler), (Stoinis), 3-144 (Labuschagne), 4-145 gle on a slightly sluggish surface after he 10-over stints, Australia were 166-8. 5-117 (Morgan), 6-140 (Billings), 7-143 (Marsh), 5-145 (Finch), 6-147 (Maxwell), won the toss on a sunny afternoon. Twelve positives in latest Sam Curran then had Adam Zampa (S Curran), 8-149 (Woakes), 9-225 (T 7-166 (Cummins), 8-166 (Starc), 9-176 Starc struck an early blow when he had Premiership Covid-19 tests caught at mid-off from a well-disguised Curran) (Zampa), 10-207 (Carey) Jonny Bairstow caught behind for a duck. slower ball, to leave Australia on the brink Bowlers: Starc 10-1-38-2 (3w); Hazlewood Bowling: Woakes 10-1-32-3, Archer 10-2- Jason Roy hit four fours in his 21 before Six players and six members of staff in the English Premiership of an extraordinary defeat at 176-9. 10-2-27-1; Cummins 10-3-56-1 (3w); Marsh 34-3, Curran 10-2-28-0, Rashid 9.4-0-67-1, he was run out by Stoinis’ direct hit from have tested positive for Covid-19 in the latest round of testing, Leg-spinner Adil Rashid ended the 8-1-49-1 (2w); Stoinis 2-0-20-0; Zampa Curran 9-0-35-3 cover as Test captain Joe Root set off for a Premiership rugby said on Saturday. The Premiership said 1,031 match with eight balls to spare when he 10-0-36-3. RESULT: England won by 24 runs risky single. players and staff had been tested and the 12 positive cases were had Alex Carey stumped by Jos Buttler. Root, who struggled to make 39 off 73 from eight diff erent clubs. However, the positive tests would Earlier Australia’s attack, with left- balls and he was out when he edged Zam- not aff ect the staging of this weekend’s six matches. “Those armer Starc (2-28) and Josh Hazlewood (1- scored with 42 but could not prevent his ets and Archer obliged when he had David pa to Finch at slip. who tested positive and their close contacts are isolated and 27) once more setting the tone, restricted side slumping to 149-8 before a ninth- Warner caught behind for just six off a Finch recalled Cummins and then saw assessed in line with the PHE-agreed guidelines,” the Premier- England to 231-9. wicket stand of 76 between Tom Curran 91.1mph delivery — the fourth time the left- the paceman snare England dangerman ship said in a statement, referring to Public Health England. “No Adam Zampa took an impressive 3-36 (37) and Rashid (35 not out) kept the hosts handed opener had fallen to the fast bowler Buttler lbw for just three. specific details as to clubs or individuals will be provided under from a maximum 10 overs to follow the in the game. in as many international innings this tour. Zampa removed Morgan lbw on review any circumstances.” leg-spinner’s 4-55 during Australia’s 19- Marcus Stoinis was again in at number and then had Sam Billings, fresh from his In 10 weeks of testing so far, 37 players and 24 members of staff run win on Friday. ARCHER STRIKES three, with star batsman Steve Smith maiden ODI hundred on Friday, chopping have tested positive. (Reuters) England captain Eoin Morgan top- England desperately needed early wick- omitted after missing Friday’s match with on for eight.

FOCUS Warne makes Royal return to Rajasthan as mentor AFP IPL teams often keep retired play- New Delhi ers on as coaches and mentors to help IPL a good warm-up for India-Australia series: Chappell motivate younger ad senior members in the dug-out. Former Australian captain Ian Chappell to playing conditions, adapting to inter- ustralian spin legend Shane Warne, who took 56 wickets in his says the coming IPL season will be good national competition has been testing for Warne is returning to the 52 games with the Royals, will link up practice for India’s players ahead of their players,” Chappell wrote on the Cricinfo Rajasthan Royals, the IPL with fellow Australian and head coach highly anticipated series Down Under in website. side he captained to victory, Andrew McDonald, who was his team- December. “It’s made life diff icult and diff erent even asA a mentor for the upcoming season mate at Victoria from 2003-07. Indian and international cricketers - in- in a team environment but imagine the in the United Arab Emirates, the club Warne, regarded as one of the great- cluding several Australians - are currently individual’s dilemma in enforced isolation said Sunday. est leg-spinners in the history of in the United Arab Emirates ahead of the with a tour looming.” Warne - who was the Royals skipper cricket, picked up 708 wickets in 145 virus-delayed Indian Premier League But those cricketers taking part in the when they clinched the Indian Premier Tests during his 15-year international Twenty20 tournament which starts on T20 competition at least have “some League cup in its inaugural edition in career. September 19. challenging IPL cricket” in the lead-up to 2008 - will join the team in the UAE The world’s richest cricket league The coronavirus pandemic halted major the series, Chappell added. and also represent the club as its am- will be played outside India for the sporting events around the world, with Chappell cited the example of former bassador. third time after being held in South players forced indoors and unable to England batsman Ravi Bopara, who he “It’s always a great feeling to be Africa in 2009 and the UAE in 2014 train with the teammates. said used the IPL matches to lift his game. back with Royals, my team, my fam- because it clashed with the national Virus concerns mean India are unlikely to He went on to score back-to-back centu- ily. It’s exciting to be working across all elections. have any practice games before they tour ries on the West Indies tour in 2009. elements of this franchise that I love,” The virus-delayed tournament will Australia for four Tests and three one-day The series for the Border-Gavaskar Warne said in a statement. start on September 19 in the UAE, and internationals in December-January. trophy is a part of the ICC Test champi- “Hopefully, we can have a success- draw stars ranging from England’s Jos “With venue bubbles, isolation rules, so- onship, which India leads ahead of Tim ful season and achieve big things in the Buttler to Australians Steve Smith and cial distancing, and a number of changes Paine’s Australia. (AFP) coming months.” David Warner. Gulf Times Monday, September 14, 2020 5 SPORT

NBA NHL LeBron sparkles Dallas Stars take 3-1 lead as Lakers storm over Knights AFP hour) slapshot past Khudobin on Los Angeles the powerplay. Pavelski tied it up about four minutes later with his ninth goal amie Benn scored the of the postseason. tiebreaking goal and An- Andrew Cogliano forced a ton Khudobin stopped 32 turnover for the Stars in the Ve- into West fi nals Jshots as the Dallas Stars gas’ end and the puck went to beat the Vegas Golden Knights Pavelski whose backhand hit the 2-1 to take a commanding lead in stick of a Knight defender and ‘Every game is a learning experience for us. Every game is another their Western Conference fi nal defl ected up over the shoulder of series. Lehner into the net. opportunity for us to get better. We want to continue to build’ Despite being heavily outshot “I was happy to see that one go for the second straight game, in,” Pavelski said. the Stars got the victory thanks Benn scored the winner on the to superior goaltending and an powerplay at 19:01 of the second ability to make the most of their by wristing home a shot after scoring chances and now have a Lehner failed to control the re- 3-1 playoff series lead. bound. It was another frustrat- Benn and Joe Pavelski both ing off ensive performance by the scored in the second period af- Knights whose only goal Satur- ter defenceman Alec Martinez day came from a defenceman. had opened the scoring for Vegas They are being led in scoring Los Angeles Lakers forward earlier in the period. this postseason by defenceman LeBron James (23) dunks the ball Benn’s goal came with under Shea Theodore, who has seven against the Houston Rockets in a minute to go in the second and goals, 11 assists and 18 points. game five of the second round of from then on it was a matter of “All we need is to fi nish,” Ve- the 2020 NBA Playoff s at ESPN Russian goalie Khudobin closing gas coach Peter DeBoer said. “I Wide World of Sports Complex. the door in the third. think the eff ort’s there. PICTURE: Kim Klement-USA “Unbelievable team eff ort, I think we’re creating a lot of TODAY Sports I would say. I really appreciate really good looks.” that. It’s huge, huge, huge,” said Vegas have outshot the Stars Khudobin. by a wide margin in the series Vegas goaltender Robin Leh- 130-92. Vegas forward Mark ner was less busy making just 18 Stone went to the dressing room total saves. Game fi ve is tonight with an injury after taking a shot in the quarantine bubble in Ed- from Pavelski off his right foot. monton. He returned in the third but There was no scoring in the appeared to still be in some pain. fi rst period. Martinez scored to The winner of the series will make it 1-0 Vegas at 7:44 of the play either the New York Island- second by hammering a 92 mile ers or the Tampa Bay Lightning per hour (148 kilometres per in the Stanley Cup fi nals.

AFP purple and gold and for us to just try to Davis for much of the fourth quarter. “It’s very, very frustrating. Especially Miami continue the legacy and just play great “Everything is falling into place. When the amount of work individually I put in,” basketball for our fans.” I got here the goal was to win a champi- he said. “But I’ve got to keep chipping This will be James’s 11th career confer- onship and now we are eight wins away,” away. I’ve got to keep going and keep go- eBron James had 29 points, 11 re- ence fi nals but when asked by reporters said Davis. ing until I can’t go anymore. bounds and seven assists as the how it feels, he changed the subject to Once again the James Harden-led “I feel like we’re a piece away and Los Angeles Lakers advanced to talk about the group as a whole. Rockets put up little resistance as Hou- we’ve just got keep trying to figure their fi rst NBA Western Con- “Every game is a learning experience ston, after surprising the Lakers in it out. Keep trying to put the pieces Lference fi nal in a decade with a 119-96 for us. Every game is another opportu- game one of the series, lost their fourth around me and Russ to get us where blowout win over the Houston Rockets nity for us to get better. We want to con- straight and their third in a row by more we want to go,” said Harden. Tempers on Saturday. tinue to build,” said James. than 10 points. flared in the fourth quarter both on and Anthony Davis tallied 13 points and 11 They will face either the Los Angeles Harden led the Rockets with 30 points off the floor. rebounds, Kyle Kuzma had 17 and Marki- Clippers or the Denver Nuggets in the and Russell Westbrook scored just 10 in The brother of Lakers Rajon Rondo eff Morris fi nished with 16 for the Lakers, next playoff round. The Clippers lead the loss. Harden had a disappointing se- now has the dubious honour of being the who eliminated the Rockets in fi ve games that series 3-2. ries, delivering another series of fourth- fi rst fan thrown out of a bubble game af- in the quarantine bubble in Orlando, The Lakers got off to their best start of quarter playoff disappearing acts that ter he exchanged words with Houston’s Florida. the series, dominating the opening plays have pockmarked his career. Westbrook. Los Angeles advanced to their fi rst NBA to take a 35-20 lead at the end of the fi rst “Tough season for us. Obviously it The public is not allowed in the arena fi nal four since the Kobe Bryant-led Lak- quarter. Their only lull of the game came didn’t end the way we wanted it to. So, because of the coronavirus pandemic ers beat Phoenix for the conference title in the start of the second quarter when we just got to fi gure it out,” he said. but players are allowed to invite a limited and then defeated Boston for the 2010 NBA Houston briefl y woke from their slumber In the past fi ve years, Harden has shot number of family and friends to watch championship, the last time they won. and cut the lead to seven, 38-31. less than 25 % from beyond the arc in the games in person. “It’s the reason I wanted to be a part But the Lakers outscored the Rockets post-season fourth quarters and over- Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni, whose of this franchise is to take them back to 33-18 in the third to take full command. time. He fi nished two-of-eight from contract expires at the end of the season, Vegas Golden Knights right wing Reilly Smith (19) moves the puck a place they were accustomed to being. They drained 19 three-pointers and shot three-point range on Saturday. couldn’t say whether he will be back. against Dallas Stars center Mattias Janmark (13) during the third And that’s competing for a champion- 52 % from the fl oor. Harden said Saturday all they need to “We’ll see what happens. I had four period in game four of the Western Conference Final of the 2020 ship,” said James. With the game in hand, the Lakers sat become great is to add one more piece to years. Hopefully it keeps going, but you Stanley Cup Playoff s at Rogers Place on Saturday. PICTURE: Perry “It’s an honour for me to wear the three-time NBA champion James and the puzzle. just never know,” he said. Nelson-USA TODAY Sports

BOTTOMLINE Twenty years aft er Sydney Olympics, Freeman’s Olympic legacy endures

AFP was an existing (400m) world light the cauldron, with her brating through her while she to be on the advisory board for Sydney champion, she’d had silver in the face plastered on posters every- warmed up. “It’s like a beast. Brisbane’s bid to host the 2032 Atlanta Olympic Games and she where. I’m nervous using that descrip- Olympics. was indigenous. And I think that While her part in the open- tion because I don’t want peo- “We will forever hold her in hen Cathy Freeman was very important. ing ceremony was an emotional ple to feel insulted. But it had a the highest regard,” he said. lit the cauldron in “I took Cathy to dinner in moment, it paled in comparison beast-like presence,” she said. Sydney won the bid to host Sydney to launch Los Angeles and she said to me: to delivering on the track in the “I remember saying to my- the fi rst Games of the new mil- the “best-ever” ‘Why me?’ And she named a lot 400 metres, an event that cap- self, ‘Just do what you know.’” lennium in September 1993, WOlympics 20 years ago, then great Australians,” he added. tured the world’s attention. On autopilot, Freeman ran the edging Beijing. donned a full bodysuit to become “And I said, ‘You’re a current The much-hyped race was race of her life, accelerating past It proved to be the last Ol- the fi rst Aboriginal to win an in- world champion, you’re Aborig- shrouded in controversy be- Jamaica’s Lorraine Graham and ympics before the 9/11 terror dividual gold medal, she etched inal and this will play a part in the fore it even started, with key Britain’s Katharine Merry on attacks in New York and, with her name in sporting folklore. reconciliation of our country’.” challenger Marie-Jose Perec the fi nal bend to the thunderous security not such a pressing Her exploits remain the defi n- The identity of the cauldron- dramatically fl eeing Australia roars of the 112,000-strong Ol- priority, there was a party at- ing moment of a Games which lighter was shrouded in secrecy ahead of their showdown. ympic Stadium crowd. mosphere in Sydney. also saw 17-year-old Ian Thorpe until seconds before Freeman France’s triple Olympic gold During her victory lap, she North and South Korea burst on the scene, gaining in- emerged from the shadows in a medallist claimed she was draped herself in both the Aus- marched as one at the opening stant stardom with his three luminescent white costume to threatened and insulted, and tralian and Aboriginal fl ags in ceremony and four East Timor- golds and two silvers, and the carry the Olympic fl ame on the that the pressure to beat Free- defi ance of Olympic rules, re- ese athletes competed under debut of fellow teen swim sensa- fi nal part of its journey from man was too much to bear. inforcing the message of recon- the Olympic fl ag as their coun- tion Michael Phelps. Greece to open the Games. Despite being written into ciliation. “I only have to cast my try awaited independence from In a country still struggling It stands as a defi ning im- Olympic history, Freeman rarely mind back to that night where Indonesia. to reconcile itself with its in- age to this day and capped an talks of that night. people, for that small moment Multiple world records were digenous peoples, long-time epic opening ceremony that Notoriously private, she de- in time, became equal,” she said. set with then-IOC president Australian Olympic Commit- celebrated Australian culture, clined to speak with AFP, but “That’s so powerful. Every- Juan Antonio Samaranch fa- tee president John Coates, now emphasising its Aboriginal her- opened up to the Sydney Daily one is just there celebrating a mously calling it “the best Ol- IOC vice-president, recognised itage. Telegraph’s weekly magazine victory and it’s one of the great ympic Games ever”. Freeman could be a pivotal fi g- Seen as a symbol of unity, Stellar in her only print inter- privileges of my life to witness. While Freeman was the star, ure. Freeman carried the weight of view ahead of the anniversary. Even though I am ordinary, Thorpe was also a major suc- “I was the one who asked her a nation’s political and sport- Freeman, 47, said she could it’s an extraordinary story.” cess story, setting the fi rst world Cathy Freeman of Australia powering over the finish line in the 400m to light the cauldron,” he told ing hopes on her shoulders even still recall, as if it were yester- Coates remains in touch with record of the Games in winning final at the Sydney Olympic Games on September 15, 2000. AFP in an interview. “For me, she before people knew she would day, the noise of the crowd vi- Freeman and has convinced her the 400m freestyle. Gulf Times 6 Monday, September 14, 2020 SPORT

CYCLING SPOTLIGHT Reza ready to make a stand amid Pogacar wins as BLM movement

Reuters during a Tour de France stage. Lyon The Swiss said he had been misunderstood. That day, Reza was backed by Bernal runs out of fter years of keeping his team manager, Jean-Rene quiet on the matter, Bernaudeau. Kevin Reza, the only “I do not tolerate racism... It’s ABlack rider in the Tour unacceptable, unacceptable,” de France peloton this year, says Bernaudeau, who helped several he is ready to make his voice Black riders turn professional, heard amid the Black Lives Mat- said at the time. ter movement. “I got Albasini on the phone. steam in stage 15 The 32-year-old, who turned I told him what I thought of his professional in 2011 and rides for attitude. He tells me that’s not French outfi t B&B Vital Concept, true. But I trust Kevin and he was Roglic retains overall lead after the 17km ascent of the Grand Colombier mountain would like his peers to express upset.” support for the BLM movement Reza still has vivid memories AFP but with professional cycling be- of that day. Culoz, France ing largely an all-white business, “He’s (Bernaudeau) a manager Reza is on his own. with a big heart who never lets “It’s a shame. You can see his riders down. He’s someone I neos leader Egan Bernal’s the big names in sport giving respect a lot and that I just don’t defence of the Tour de themselves the means to speak, forget,” Reza said. “I trusted him France was left in tatters to make noise, to show their completely on this, I knew he was Iafter the Colombian lost solidarity with this movement,” going to fi ght for me.” several minutes on the fi rst ma- Reza, who was born on the out- The same year, he featured on jor mountain of the race yester- skirts of Paris to a family that a “Black, White, Beur (Arab)” day, as rookie Slovenian Tadej originated from the French over- French championships podium Pogacar won stage 15. seas region of Guadeloupe, told with Arnaud Demare and Nacer Jumbo-Visma’s Primoz Reuters. Bouhanni. Roglic retained the overall “I’m Kevin Reza, I don’t carry “Some people were clearly not lead after the 17km ascent of as much weight in world sport as happy with that podium,” said the Grand Colombier moun- Lewis Hamilton in Formula One Reza, 24 at the time. tain as his key challenger Ber- or Lebron James in the NBA.” He did not specify who was nal slipped to eight minutes Reza, however, believes he can unhappy at the diverse winners’ and 25 seconds behind in the make a diff erence. podium. yellow jersey standings. Ber- “I’m thinking about putting “At the time it was too hard for nal’s Ineos formerly known as things in place, about being able me to fi ght on my own because I Sky have won seven of the last to show my support for this was much younger,” he said. eight Tours and the mountain movement. It’s not always easy “I was really focused on my meltdown marks something of and it’s tricky to go headlong and Tour de France, I didn’t want to a turning point for the British not think about exactly what you spread myself too thin and may- team. want to do,” he explained. be I wasn’t too aware of what was Dutch team Jumbo led the “But that doesn’t mean that I going on around me, of the noise peloton up the Grand Colom- don’t support this movement.” it was going to make. bier’s 17km climb in their yel- While he does not believe the Things are diff erent now. low and black outfi ts with a re- professional peloton to be racist, “But looking back, today I’m lentless high tempo, but Roglic Reza said he has suff ered racism 32, I have 10 years of career be- brushed off any suspicions of while racing. hind me, so I feel really free and doping from the press pack. In 2014, he accused Michael ready to fi ght and move forward,” “At six a.m. this morning I Albasini of using a racial slur said Reza. had a complete doping control, and just had another one right now,” Roglic said looking fl ab- bergasted by the question. “There is nothing to hide from my side. You can defi nite- The peloton in action during the 15th stage of the Tour de France yesterday. ly trust me,” Roglic added in his typical deadpan delivery. Pogacar said he had bided his Pogacar explained in his calm riders, some of whom had their company in a haggard struggle Third on the day behind Aus- time and just kept up. lucid and confi dent style. dreaded nasal swabs early in the up the hill already several min- tralian Richie Porte, Roglic at- “I need to be conservative, Asked how he felt about the day as the fi nal Covid-19 test- utes adrift. tacked fi rst, but his 21-year old the perfect scenario would have Tour’s decisive penultimate ing round of this Tour started, Often described as the Giant compatriot had the edge over been to take the yellow jersey, stage 20 next Saturday, an indi- and will be concluded on the of the Jura the Grand Colombier the fi nal 50m. but we live in the real world. vidual time trail run over 20km rest day on Monday. was alternatively dubbed ‘an “Unfortunately I was a bit “I don’t know what hap- of rolling terrain before a 7km The fi rst ascent of the Mon- excellent mountain’ because of short on the last climb, but it pened to Bernal, but Jumbo set climb up the Planche des Belles tee de la Selle de Fromontelle the breadth of the road off ering was a great day for us,” said the a terrible pace and some rid- Filles, Pogacar said he could was the steepest and Ineos rider so much room for manoeuvre. Jumbo leader. ers paid for it,” the UAE leader hardly wait. Luke Rowe, no wilting violet, But it proved the ruin of Ineos Roglic leads Pogacar by 40 explained Another casualty “I did the re-con of the shook his head in disbelief and as Bernal slipped off the back seconds with six stages remain- was Nairo Quintana, who also Planche but that was just a trial laughed during one 18% sec- of the pack with 15km still to ing, with Rigoberto Uran in dropped out of the running for run. It’ll be diff erent after three tion. Sprinters and best friends climb, few had predicted how- third at 1min 34sec, and Miguel the overall lead. weeks racing. I’m really looking double stage winner Caleb ever the extent of his colossal 7 Angel Lopez and Adam Yates “It was hot and all three forward to it though.” Ewan and green jersey wearer minutes loss over the remainder rounding out the top fi ve. climbs were really hard,” The race left Lyon with 157 Sam Bennett kept each other of the course. Kevin Reza of France (R) in action at the Tour de France.

FOCUS GOLF Stuard, Hahn, Percy share PGA Tour lead in Napa Ineos back to the AFP of birdies, that’s the name of me,” said Percy — who strug- drawing board San Francisco the game this week,” said Stu- gled throughout the round with ard, whose six-under 66 put a fl are up of pain in his ribs. Reuters nant self. Ineos-Grenadiers, for- him on 16-under 200. “This week it freed up, and Paris merly known as Team Sky, had rian Stuard rolled in Hahn also played without then today the last few shots on won all the editions of the Tour a six-foot birdie putt a bogey, fi ring fi ve birdies in a the range really hurt,” he said, but one — when Chris Froome at the 18th to join a fi ve-under 67 for his share of adding that it prevented him neos-Grenadiers will need crashed out in 2014 — since 2012, Bthree-way tie for the the lead. from turning completely after to go back to the drawing crushing the fi eld by setting a US PGA Tour Safeway Open “I just had a goal in mind to- impact with the ball. board if they are to stand a devilish pace on the climbs. The lead on Saturday alongside day just to kind of have a clean “But I managed to keep it in Ichance to win the Tour de tables have turned, however, as James Hahn and Australian scorecard,” said Hahn, who re- play and hit a few nice wedges France next year following de- Roglic’s Jumbo-Visma team took Cameron Percy. turned in January after being at the end there and got around fending champion Egan Bernal’s up that role, leaving Dave Brails- The trio topped a crowded sidelined almost eight months in a good score.” spectacular failure yesterday. ford’s squad hanging for dear life. leaderboard on a day when with an elbow injury. Overnight leader Sam Burns The Colombian cracked in the A rival team’s sports director more than half a dozen play- “Would have been nice to struggled to a one-over par 72 fi nal ascent of the 15th stage, a who declined to be named told ers held or shared the lead at birdie a couple of the par fi ves, that left him a stroke off the terrifying 17.4km-climb at an Reuters that Ineos-Grenadiers Silverado Resort in Napa, Cali- but anytime you birdie three lead on 201. He was tied with average gradient of 7.1%, los- had been hiding their weakness fornia. Stuard, chasing a sec- out of the four par threes I think Mexican-born Norwegian ing 7:20 to stage winner Tadej since the beginning of the Tour, ond career PGA title to go with you’re doing something good.” Kristoff er Ventura, who carded Pogacar and his fellow Slovenian suggesting that Bernal had raced his 2016 Zurich Classic crown, Percy carded a four-under a 66, and Harry Higgs, who and overall leader Primoz Roglic. too much since the season re- started the day fi ve adrift. par 68, moving to 16-under followed his second-round 62 Bernal is now 13th overall, 8:25 sumed in August. But he got rolling with bird- with his fourth birdie of the with a 70. off the pace and he will be won- “Riding the Route d’Occitanie, ies at the third fourth and fi fth. day, with a 32-foot putt at the Stewart Cink, the 2009 Brit- dering what he has to gain on the Tour de l’Ain and the Crite- He made a four-foot birdie putt 10th. Bogeys at 11 and 14 fol- ish Open champion, carded a 65 the Tour in the fi nal week within rium du Dauphine, it was mission at 12 and a two-footer at 14 be- lowed, but he birdied 16 and 17 to head a group on 202 that also a team who are not even a pale impossible, especially this year,” fore picking up a stroke at the to get back atop the board in the included Argentina’s Emiliano shadow of their usually domi- he said. par-fi ve 18th, despite fi nding quest for a fi rst US PGA Tour ti- Grillo (65), Scotland’s Russell the rough off the tee. tle at the age of 46. Knox (70), Doug Ghim (69) and “You’ve got to make a bunch “It would mean the world to D J Trahan (70). Van der Poel takes penultimate stage Rome: The Netherlands’ “I wanted to try it, but the fin- Mathieu Van der Poel won the ishing lap was really hard with penultimate seventh stage of a lot of steep climbs. I’m quite Henderson, Korda share LPGA ANA Inspiration lead the Tirreno-Adriatico as Briton amazed to finish it off on such Simon Yates held onto the a tough stage,” he added. Los Angeles: Brooke Hender- Lexi Thompson. Canada’s Hend- testing downhill birdie putt at 16. face in the tournament’s regular her wedge out of the rough leader’s blue jersey yesterday. Mitchelton-Scott’s Yates, 28, son fired an eagle and six birdies erson, who celebrated her 23rd “Being a major championship, schedule slot in March. failed to clear the water. Alpecin-Fenix’s Van der Poel, remains on top of the overall in a seven-under par 65 on Satur- birthday on Friday, started the you’ve really got to stay patient “You just have to go with what She needed four shots to reach 25, was part of a breakaway standings with a 16 seconds day to join Nelly Korda atop the day six adrift of overnight leader and know bogeys are going to the course gives you and just the green and missed a 12-foot with 50km to go to the fin- advantage over Poland’s Rafal third-round leaderboard in the Korda but got things going happen,” said Henderson, whose expect bogeys and try to make a bogey putt. Korda responded ish line in Loreto on Italy’s Majka and 39sec ahead of 2018 LPGA ANA Inspiration. early with a 15-foot eagle at the nine LPGA titles include a major lot of birdies to counter them.” with birdies at the 11th, 12th and east coast and edged Ruben Tour de France winner Geraint Her sizzling eff ort in the Califor- second hole at Mission Hills in triumph at the 2016 Women’s Korda, ranked third in the world 15th — landing her approach at Guerreiro, who finished in Thomas. nia desert heat gave her a 12-un- Rancho Mirage, California. Birdies PGA Championship. and chasing her first major title, the 12th within three feet. second place and local Matteo Today’s final stage is a 10.05km der par total of 204, where she at the fourth, sixth, seventh and “The rough out there is very topped the leaderboard after “It was a disappointing front nine, Fabbro in third inside the final individual time trial around was joined by Korda who signed ninth saw her make the turn at thick and you’re just praying it’s each of the first two rounds. but I was really proud of the way kilometre. the town of San Benedetto del for a one-under 71. six-under for the day. sitting up if you hit it in there,” But the 22-year-old American’s I fought on the back nine,” Korda “It was a really difficult stage. Tronto on the Adriatic Coast They were two strokes in front of She held the solo lead after a added Henderson, who said it march slowed with a bogey at said. “Never gave up and there’s From the beginning, the race as Yates eyes being the first Australian Katherine Kirk, South birdie at 11 and followed up her Mission Hills was a “totally diff er- the fifth, followed by a double- still 18 more holes to be played, was on and it never stopped,” Briton to win ‘The Race of the Korean Lee Mi-rim and American only bogey of the day at 13 with ent” course than the one players bogey at the par-four sixth where so much golf.” Van der Poel said. Two Seas’. Gulf Times Monday, September 14, 2020 7 SPORT

TENNIS FOCUS Nadal renews Djoko Osaka hailed for rivalry in quest for 10th Rome title

AFP Nadal could play either Greek Rome, Italy third seed Stefanos Tsitsipas or seventh seeded Italian Fabio Fognini for a place in the fi nal. third Grand Slam, afael Nadal returns to Nadal has a 61-6 tournament competition after a six- record, having not lost before the month break chasing a quarter-fi nals since 2008. tenth Italian Open title Djokovic will start against ei- inR Rome against his greatest rival ther Italian Salvatore Caruso or Novak Djokovic before his bid for a qualifi er, with a potential semi- a 13th Roland Garros crown later fi nal clash against France’s fi fth this month. seed Gael Monfi ls or tenth seed- anti-racism stand The Spaniard has won on the ed Swiss Stan Wawrinka. red clay of the Foro Italico, nor- US Open fi nalists Dominic 22-year-old from Japan beat former number one Azarenka in US Open final mally played in May but which Thiem and Alexander Zverev, the starts behind closed doors in 2017 winner, both pulled out af- AFP Rome today, a record nine times, ter their runs in Flushing Mead- Tokyo, Japan including the last two editions. ows, with injured Roger Federer World number one Djoko- also sidelined. vic, a four-time Rome winner aomi Osaka’s victory and fi ve-time runner-up, lost to HALEP TOP WOMEN’S SEED in the US Open was Nadal last year in the fi nal. Former French Open cham- hailed yesterday by The 33-year-old is the top pion Simona Halep headlines media and offi cials in seed ahead of world number two the women’s event which also NJapan, who broadly welcomed Nadal, in the tuneup for the fi nal includes defending champion her campaigning for victims of Grand Slam of the season at the Karolina Pliskova and two-time racial injustice and against po- French Open which begins on Rome winner Elina Svitolina. lice brutality. September 27. Serena Williams withdrew due Public broadcaster NHK Djokovic won the French Open to a left Achilles tendon injury broke into its regular news pro- in 2016, with Nadal having won sustained in her US Open semi- gramme to fl ash the news of the the last three titles since. fi nal defeat. 22-year-old’s latest Grand Slam Nadal, 34, has not played since The former world number one, triumph, after she beat Victoria winning in Acapulco at the end a four-time Rome champion, Azarenka 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 to add to of February, skipping the US joined 2019 US Open winner Bi- winning the 2018 US Open and Open over coronavirus concerns. anca Andreescu and two-time the 2019 Australian Open. Djokovic tested positive for Wimbledon winner Petra Kvi- “Osaka achieved the feat of coronavirus in June after an ex- tova in skipping the Italian event winning a record third title in hibition tournament he organ- which will also be without world the Grand Slam singles as an ised, but the Serb won his 80th number one Ashleigh Barty and Asian player,” said the daily career title at the Cincinnati newly-crowned US Open cham- Nikkan Sports. Masters last month. pion Naomi Osaka. Japan’s men’s tennis number He also captured his 35th ATP World number two Halep won one Kei Nishikori, who with- Masters crown, matching Nad- the Prague title a month ago, and drew from the US Open after a al’s all-time record, with the pair will face either Anastasija Sev- positive coronavirus test, con- battling to pull ahead in Rome astova or Jasmine Paolini in the gratulated his fellow player on this week. second round. her triumph — tweeting a string Djokovic arrives in Rome after Former French Open cham- of emoticons of likes, muscles his bid for an 18th Grand Slam pion Garbine Muguruza opens and Japanese fl ags. ended amid controversy at the against American Sloane Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, US Open a week ago when he was Stephens. who is scheduled to step down disqualifi ed after accidentally Venus Williams, the 1999 this week due to health prob- striking a female line judge with Rome champion, has a tough lems, tweeted: “Congratula- Naomi Osaka of Japan poses with the US Open trophy the morning after winning the women’s singles final at the USTA Billie Jean King a ball during his last-16 match. start against US Open fi nalist tions on your second win at the National Tennis Center in the Queens borough of New York City yesterday. (AFP) Nadal opens his Rome chal- Victoria Azarenka, with the win- US Open. Thank you for the lenge on Wednesday against ner taking on third seeded Sofi a sensation. I hope you will con- fought it out and showed the her prize money of $3 mn. 0-40 to hold for a 4-1 lead. be held behind closed doors. 27th-ranked fellow Spaniard Pa- Kenin. tinue playing outstandingly.” best result, bringing up the Azarenka, 31, sprinted to the Azarenka saved four break Osaka was the fi rst woman to blo Carreno Busta, the recipient Dutch player Kiki Bertens and Media and supporters also importance of diversity to the fi rst set in just 26 minutes, domi- points to make it 4-2 as she bat- win the US Open singles fi nal of a fi rst round bye, after his run Swiss Belinda Bencic are among backed 22-year-old Osaka’s world. I’m greatly encouraged.” nating Osaka with an 88 percent tled to keep the contest alive. from a set down since 1994 and to the US Open semi-fi nals. the six top ten players in the fi eld. protest against racism on and off But the Mainichi daily report- success rate on her fi rst serve. When she broke Osaka in rises to third in the WTA rank- the court. ed mixed reactions from some The Japanese was unchar- game seven, the set was back on ings. “The victory embodied the sponsors in Japan. acteristically sloppy, hitting a serve. She also becomes the fi rst feeling of bereaved families who “I don’t think she needed to whopping 13 unforced errors. But Osaka immediately broke Asian player to win three Grand hope to prevent a repeat of trag- do that while she’s fi ghting her Azarenka then went 2-0 back after Azarenka pushed a Slams, overtaking China’s Li Na edies and change society,” the way to the top. If possible, we’d ahead in the second set before forehand wide to leave herself on two. Mainichi Shimbun daily said. like her to attract more atten- Osaka fought back to break her the opportunity of serving for Azarenka, a two-time Grand Osaka walked onto the court tion with her tennis skills,” said opponent’s serve twice and take the match and title. Slam champion, was playing in before the fi nal wearing a mask a source linked to a Japanese a 4-3 lead. On Osaka’s second champi- her fi rst major fi nal since losing bearing the name of Tamir Rice, corporate sponsor of Osaka’s, The momentum had quickly onship point, Azarenka found the 2013 US Open to Serena Wil- a 12-year-old African-American according to the daily. swung in Osaka’s favour and she the net. liams. boy who was shot dead by a broke a third time to push the The last few years of the white police offi cer in Cleveland, ‘TOUGH MATCH’ match to a deciding set. ‘THIS WAS FUN’ former world number one’s ca- Ohio in 2014. Osaka, the fourth seed, over- “I just thought it would be very After touching racquets with her reer have been disrupted, fi rstly Osaka, of Japanese and Hai- came her unseeded opponent embarrassing to lose this in un- opponent, Osaka lay down in the by injury then by a custody bat- tian heritage, wore diff erent inside a near-empty Arthur der an hour so I just have to try middle of the court and looked tle over her son, born in Decem- masks for each of her seven Ashe Stadium at Flushing as hard as I can and stop having up at the sky in celebration. ber 2016. matches in the tournament, Meadows. a really bad attitude,” said Osaka, “I always see everyone sort But she enjoyed a fairytale run honouring victims of racial in- It brought 22-year-old Os- explaining the turnaround. of collapse after match point. in New York, clinching the West- justice and police brutality. aka’s haul of tennis major tro- Osaka enjoyed the fi rst break- But I always think you may in- ern & Southern title before reach- “She is brave. I’m proud phies to three after her victories through of set three in game four jure yourself so I wanted to do it ing Saturday’s US Open fi nal, of her,” Osaka’s 75-year-old at the 2018 US Open and 2019 when she broke Azarenka’s serve safely,” Osaka said. where she lost for the third time. grandfather, Tetsuo Osaka, told Australian Open. to take a 3-1 lead. The match was watched by “I want to thank my team for reporters of her stand. “I didn’t really enjoy that. Azarenka then blew a golden just a few dozen people, mostly sticking with me, for believing Fumio Kishida, one of three It was a really tough match for opportunity to get back into offi cials, journalists and event in me,” Azarenka said. “It’s been candidates to succeed Abe, me,” Osaka said following her the match, wasting three break staff after the coronavirus pan- a long road of getting here, but Rafael Nadal (left) beat Novak Djokovic in 2019 Rome final. (Reuters) tweeted: “I respect her as she 1hr 53min victory that delivers points as Osaka recovered from demic forced the tournament to this was fun,” she added.

MOTORCYCLING Kecmanovic claims fi rst ATP title in Kitzbuehel Maiden MotoGP for Morbidelli; Dovizioso takes lead Serbia’s Miomir Kecmanovic before Hanfmann launched a captured his maiden ATP title comeback attempt with a break AFP to strengthen his grip on the “When I found myself around by beating German Yannick of serve. Misano Adriatico, Italy championship. 12th position I said to myself, Hanfmann 6-4, 6-4 in the Gen- But the German, playing in his The 23-year-old started on ‘I’m not going to stop there’ and erali Open final in Kitzbuehel, first title clash since Gstaad in pole after American Remy Gard- I kept pushing.” Austria, yesterday. 2017 after coming through the ranco Morbidelli ner retired from the race after The 21-year-old, ranked 47th in qualifying rounds, was broken charged to his fi rst ever breaking his hand and foot in the MotoGP results (top 10) the world, converted three out and ran out of steam towards MotoGP win yesterday warm-up and crossed the line 1. F Morbidelli (Yamaha-SRT) of four break points to win his the end of his first meeting with as Andrea Dovizioso 0.799sec ahead of another Ital- 42:02.272 first Tour trophy in his second Kecmanovic. capitalisedF on Fabio Quartararo ian, teammate Marco Bezzecchi. 2. F Bagnaia (Ducati-Pramac) +2.217 final, having finished runner-up Kecmanovic is the fourth player crashing out of the San Marino “It’s a big win. Without doubt 3. J Mir (Suzuki) +2.290 to Lorenzo Sonego in Antalya to win a maiden Tour title this race to take the championship my best race. I’m going to party 4. V Rossi (Yamaha) +2.643 last year. year, joining Ugo Humbert lead. tonight but not with too many 5. A Rins (Suzuki) +4.044 Kecmanovic started strongly (Auckland), Casper Ruud (Bue- Italian Morbidelli’s domi- people,” said Marini. 6. M Vinales (Yamaha) +5.383 to claim the opening set and nos Aires) and Thiago Seyboth nated at Misano Adriatico and Both Marini and Bezzecchi 7. A Dovizioso (Ducati) +10.358 took a 2-0 lead in the next Wild (Santiago). fi nished ahead of countryman race for the Sky Racing “VR46” 8. J Miller (Ducati-Pramac) +11.155 Francesco Bagnaia, riding for team owned by Rossi, and Bez- 9. T Nakagami (Honda-LCR) +10.839 Tig downs Bouchard in Istanbul Ducati-Pramac, and Suzuki’s zecchi is third in the champion- 10. P Espargaro (KTM) +12.030 Spanish rider Joan Mir in his ship, 27 points behind Marini Standings (top 3) fi nal for maiden WTA crown maiden victory in motorcy- ished back in seventh but his The only negative for the after moving above Spaniard 1. A Dovizioso (Ducati) 76 pts cling’s elite class. nine points put him six ahead of home crowd, the fi rst to be al- Jorge Martin, who could not race 2. F Quartararo (Yamaha-SRT) 70 Patricia Maria Tig rallied from ian Open and Roland Garros in “I don’t know how it feels, I Frenchman and pre-race leader lowed to watching racing live following a positive coronavirus 3. J Miller (Ducati-Pramac) 64 a set down to beat Canada’s 2014 before slipping to 272 in still have to process everything,” Quartararo, who scored nothing this season due to the corona- test. Eugenie Bouchard 2-6, 6-1, 7-6 the rankings, showed plenty of he told BT Sport. after fi rst coming off the track virus pandemic, was Valentino John McPhee fi red himself Moto2 results (top 3) (4) in the final of the TEB BNP fight to force a tiebreak in the “It’s a good thing, a good feel- on lap eight and again later in Rossi failing to grab his 200th back into contention in the 1. L Marini (Kalex) 40:41.774 Paribas Tennis Championship final set. ing. I’m very happy, I’m enjoying the race when already well off MotoGP podium after he was Moto3 championship after win- 2. M Bezzecchi (Kalex) +0.799 Istanbul yesterday to claim her The 26-year-old saved seven the moment now. The only thing the pace. overtaken by Mir on the fi nal lap ning earlier and closing in on 3. E Bastianini (Kalex) +0.897 maiden WTA crown. match points in the contest but I can say is thanks to my team, Dovizioso is also 12 points to fi nish in fourth. overall leader Albert Arenas, Standings (top 3) Romanian Tig, ranked 88 in Tig was not to be denied in the to my people, all the people that ahead of Australian Jack Miller, who crashed out. 1. L Marini (Kalex) 112 pts the world, dropped the first decider, as she held her nerve have been working with me.” who fi nished a place behind the ROSSI DISCIPLES DOMINATE Briton McPhee is third in 2. E Bastianini (Kalex) 95 set tamely but raced through to close out the victory in two Yamaha SRT’s Morbidelli, 25, Ducati rider, after six Grands MOTO2 the standings, 14 points be- 3. M Bezzecchi (Kalex) 85 the next to level the contest at hours and 29 minutes. who started second on the grid, Prix. Rossi will have been cheered by hind Arenas, after surging to one set apiece as her opponent Bouchard, who was playing in overtook pole sitter Maverick The 34-year-old will now be his half-brother Luca Marini the front from 17th place on the Moto3 results (top 3) let the advantage slip with a her first WTA final since 2016 Vinales on the fi rst lap and never eyeing his fi rst MotoGP cham- extending his lead at the top of Moto3 starting grid and pipping 1. J McPhee (Honda) 39:48.952 number of errors amid a nervy and stunned top seed Svetlana relinquished his lead, fi nishing pionship after fi nishing behind the Moto2 standings to 17 points Japanese rider Ai Ogura, who 2. A Ogura (Honda) +0.037 display. Kuznetsova en route the title over two seconds ahead of Bag- six-time champ Marc Marquez, with his fi fth win in seven races had started in pole position, by 3. T Suzuki (Honda) +0.232 But qualifier Bouchard, a clash in Turkey, won her only naia on a great day for Italian who is out for the rest of the this season. 0.037sec. Standings (top 3) former top-five player who trophy on the Tour six years riders in front of a limited crowd 2020 campaign due to breaking Marini took advantage of “It was a crazy race. Starting 1. A Arenas (KTM) 106 points reached the Wimbledon final ago when she prevailed in on home soil. his arm in the opening race, in his main rival and compatriot 17th on the grid was very diffi - 2. A Ogura (Honda) 101 and semi-finals at the Austral- Nuremberg. Fellow Italian Dovizioso fi n- each of the last three seasons. Enea Bastianini fi nishing third cult,” said the Scot. 3. J McPhee (Honda) 92

Monday, September 14, 2020 GULF TIMES SPORT

HORSE RACING Qatar Arc Trials a huge success at ParisLongchamp Tarnawa wins feature in the QREC-sponsored ParisLongchamp meet

Sheikh Ali bin Jassim al-Thani, ambassador of Qatar to France, presented to the trophies for Qatar Cup — Prix Dragon (Group 1 PA), which was won Christophe Soumillon rides Tarnawa to Qatar Prix Vermeille (Group 1) victory on the Qatar Arc Trials day at by Fazza Al Khalediah under Christophe Soumillon yesterday. PICTURES: Zuzanna Lupa and Scoopdyga ParisLongchamp in Paris, France, yesterday.

Agencies It was the fi rst win for this colt Paris, France owned by E.P.E. Bloodstock Ltd. QATAR PRIX DU PONT DE he Qatar Arc Trials day, GRENELLE: Femina Continues sponsored by Qatar Rac- Her Ascent ing and Equestrian Club, Femina was the easy winner took place at ParisLong- of the Qatar Prix du Pont de Tchamp yesterday with the run- Grenelle at ParisLongchamp. ners aspiring for the biggest races Trained by Carlos Laff on-Pari- and titles on the weekend of the as for Wertheimer & Frère, she Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe came here off a win at Deauville lining up for their fi nal prepara- on August 16. Ridden by Maxime tion. Sheikh Ali bin Jassim al- Guyon, she ran in mid-division in Thani, ambassador of Qatar to the 1,400m race. Coming to the France, presented the trophies to outside in the straight, she de- the winners of the Qatar Prix du molished her rivals with a devas- Petit Couvert (Group 3) and the tating acceleration to fi nish over Qatar Cup — Prix Dragon (Group a length in front of Troilus, with 1 PA), which is the fi nal rehearsal Ronan Thomas (right) rides Air De Valse to victory in the Qatar Prix Du Barakatle in third. for the Qatar Arabian World Cup Petit Couvert (Group 3) yesterday. Mickael Barzalona-ridden Anthony Van Dyck beat super stayer Stradivarius in Qatar Prix Foy (Group 2). (Group 1 PA). The card included QATAR PRIX MIROMESNIL: nine races and all of them were phe and will therefore have to be almost a year after fi nishing sec- Longchamp. Quickly out of the gradually moving to the rail and ARC TRIALS: Prince Hamlet For Predetermined Proves His marked by the name of Qatar. supplemented. ond in the Dubai Kahayla Classic starting gate, she took the lead Anthony Van Dyck dug deep to Spain Worth Soumillon said: “I waited be- (Group 1 PA) in March 2019. and controlled the race from the hold off Stradivarius by only a There was a highly contested Owned and trained by Jacques QATAR PRIX VERMEILLE: fore I found a good stride. When Back at ParisLongchamp, he off . She held off a strong attack few metres. Naganol Gold took photo fi nish in the Qatar Grand Bertin, Predetermined was not Tarnawa floors the opposition I saw Pierre-Charles Boudot ad- dominated the Qatar Cup (Group from the favourite Wooded, in third place. Handicap des Arc Trials. Prince one of the most prominent com- Owned by Aga Khan, the fi lly vancing, I followed him and he 1 PA), giving a courageous per- the colours of Al Shaqab Racing, Hamlet, ridden by Tony Piccone, petitors in the Qatar Prix Miro- Tarnawa outclassed the opposi- took me to the lead. Then I just formance under Soumillon to de- who took second place. English QATAR PRIX DU PIN: Earthlight won by the absolute minimum in mesnil, a handicap over 1,300m. tion in the Group 1 race. Ridden by needed to slow her acceleration. feat Messi Bel and Lightning Bolt. raider Lady In France came in As Expected front of True Romance and Ro- However, he was the one who Christophe Soumillon, Tarnawa She’s really fast. It isn’t me who third. It was mission accomplished nan Thomas on the line. Prince won the race, adding a fi fth vic- initially settled at the rear of the decides whether or not to run QATAR PRIX DU PETIT for Earthlight, the hot favourite Hamlet came here off a win last tory to his account. pack. In the fi nal turn, she came in the Arc. This win, however, COUVERT: A First Group Win QATAR PRIX FOY: Anthony coming into the Qatar Prix du time out in San Sebastian. After sitting in fi fth position in to take the lead from Laburnum, bodes well for the autumn.” For Air De Valse Van Dyck Beats Super Stayer Pin. Never under pressure, the a race led by Duquesa Penguin, and placed an extraordinary ac- Air De Valse was the surprise Stradivarius colt, winner of two Group 1s as QATAR PRIX HAXO: Prosecco Predetermined showed a nice celeration in the straight. Raabi- QATAR CUP: Fazza Al Khalediah winner of the Qatar Prix du Petit Favourite in the Qatar Prix Foy a two-year-old, found his stride Opens The Day turn of foot 150m from the line, hah, who sat last for a long time, Returns To Form Couvert (Group 3) under Ronan (Group 2), the super stayer to put some disappointing starts The 2020 renewal of the Qatar easily taking the lead, accompa- fi nished very quickly to take Winner of the Qatar Arabian Thomas. Coming here off a good Stradivarius lost to the Irish raid- as a 3-year-old behind him. He Arc Trials opened with the Qa- nied by jockey Arnaud Bourgeais. second place coming a long way World Cup in 2018, Fazza Al Kha- second place in the Barrière Prix er Anthony Van Dyck, ridden by fi nished in front of Tropbeau tar Prix Haxo, the fi rst handicap Carrying top weight in the race, back, just ahead of Dame Mal- lediah is one of the best pure Ara- de Meautry (Group 3) for her fi rst Mickael Barzalona. The French and Manjeer respectively. He is of the year for two-year-olds. It he won by two-and-a-half liot. Tarnawa had only raced once bians in the world when his legs career start at Group level on jockey put his partner in the lead, trained by André Fabre and was was Prosecco, for trainer Andrea lengths. Heptathlete looked to this year, winning a Gr3 in Cork. are not troubling him. Owned August 30 at Deauville, she con- with a steady pace. Stradivarius ridden by Barzalona. Marcialis and jockey Boudot who make a showing, but he could not Tarnawa has not been entered in by Polska AKF SP Z.O.O, he was fi rmed that she is a Group class travelled on his fl anks. He ac- won with a strong fi nish in front follow the eventual winner in his the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triom- ruled out of the competition for on the quick ground at Paris- celerated in the straight, while QATAR GRAND HANDICAP DES of Vents Contraires and Akamu. acceleration and fi nished second.

FORMULA 1 Hamilton takes 90th win in crazy Tuscan GP Reuters a record 222nd points fi nish in a AlphaTauri was launched into for the second time and took Mugello, Italy race with three standing starts. Verstappen’s car after contact away his hard-earned advantage. “All those restarts, the focus with Romain Grosjean’s Haas and He ended up 11th. that’s needed during that time, Kimi Raikkonen’s Alfa Romeo. ewis Hamilton celebrated it’s really, really hard,” said the The retirement was Verstap- RESULTS (top 10) his 90th Formula One Briton, who started on pole but pen’s second in a row and third of 1. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) win, one short of Ferrari lost out to Bottas initially. the season. 2:19:35.060 great Michael Schumach- He turned the tables at the fi rst The front wing of Vettel’s Fer- 2. Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes) Ler’s all-time record, after a crazy standing re-start and retained rari was also damaged in contact +4.880 Tuscan Grand Prix yesterday that the lead at the second. with Sainz, his replacement at 3. Alexander Albon (Red Bull) twice had to be stopped and re- The race was Ferrari’s 1,000th the Italian team next year. +8.064 started. championship grand prix but the The race was red-fl agged again 4. Daniel Ricciardo (Renault) The six-times world cham- best the sport’s most successful with 13 laps remaining when Ca- +10.417 pion’s Finnish teammate Valtteri team could manage was eighth nadian Lance Stroll crashed his 5. Sergio Perez (Racing Point) Bottas completed the Mercedes for Charles Leclerc while team- Racing Point at the second Ar- +15.650 one-two in a crash-strewn race mate Sebastian Vettel fi nished rabbiata turn after a puncture, 6. Lando Norris (McLaren) +18.883 at the Ferrari-owned Mugello 10th. leaving the car a wreck. 7. Daniil Kvyat (AlphaTauri) circuit north of Florence in cen- This time Ricciardo seized sec- +21.756 tral Italy. RICCIARDO FOURTH ond from Bottas at the re-start 8. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) Red Bull’s British-born Thai Australian Daniel Ricciardo was only to be retaken by the Finn. +28.345 driver Alexander Albon, whose fourth for Renault, after looking Albon then passed him with eight 9. Kimi Raikkonen (Alfa Romeo) Dutch teammate Max Verstappen good for a fi rst podium since he laps to go. +29.770 retired in the gravel after a second joined the French team from Red The race, the fi rst of the Cov- 10. Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) corner collision, took third place Bull at the end of 2018, with Racing id-ravaged season to have a lim- +29.983 for his fi rst career F1 podium. Point’s Mexican Sergio Perez fi fth ited crowd, was the second in a Fastest lap: Lewis Hamilton Hamilton’s sixth win in nine and McLaren’s Lando Norris sixth. row to be red-fl agged and the (Mercedes) 1:18.833 on 58th lap races this season sent him 55 Mercedes, celebrating their fi rst since Brazil 2016 to have two points clear of Bottas, with eight 100th win in the modern era, are Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton prepares to get out of his car after his Tuscan GP victory yesterday. (Reuters) such stoppages. Drivers’ standings (top 3) rounds remaining, and the Briton now 152 points clear of second- Only 12 drivers fi nished, with 1. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) 190 pt also took an extra point for fast- placed Red Bull in the construc- and controlling the pace. Latifi also caught up. None were “It’s defi nitely not a nice feel- AlphaTauri’s Daniil Kvyat sev- 2. Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes) 135 est lap at a circuit making its F1 tors’ standings. Debris was scattered across injured. ing to do 280kph and suddenly enth and Raikkonen ninth after a 3. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) 110 debut. The race was stopped eight the main straight after McLaren’s “Everyone in front of me fi nd three cars in the middle of fi ve second time penalty. “It was all a bit of a daze. It laps in following a collision Carlos Sainz piled into the back thought the race was going and the straight.” Williams’ George Russell, still Constructors’ standings (top 3) was like three races in one day,” among backmarkers who sped up of Alfa Romeo’s Antonio Gio- we were all fl at out until someone The safety car had been de- without an F1 point, ran as high 1. Mercedes 325 pts gasped Hamilton, who fi nished too early when the safety car had vinazzi with Haas’s Kevin Mag- realised the race was not on,” said ployed initially after Italian as eighth and was in a scoring po- 2. Red Bull 173 4.880 seconds clear of Bottas for peeled off with Bottas leading nussen and Williams’ Nicholas Sainz. Grand Prix winner Pierre Gasly’s sition when the race was stopped 3. McLaren 106