SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2015 SPORTS

BUENOS AIRES: Brazil’s David Luiz (front) fouls Argentina’s during a 2018 World Cup qualifying soccer match in , Argentina on Friday, Nov 13, 2015. — AP

WORLD CUP QUALIFYING Brazil’s fightback thwarts Argentina

BUENOS AIRES: Ten-man Brazil came from only two points from a possible nine. interplay between Argentina’s powerful down the right flank, turning the midfielder level terms through a cleverly worked goal on behind to snatch a 1-1 draw against arch-rivals Friday’s match at the Monumental Stadium attacking front three. inside out before firing in a low cross which 58 minutes. Dani Alves curled a sublime cross Argentina on Friday in a tense World Cup qual- in Buenos Aires had been delayed by 24 hours Angel Di Maria darted inside on a jinking flew across the face of goal. Brazil escaped to the far post with the outside of right boot ifying battle between the two South American after a deluge made the pitch unplayable on run near halfway before releasing Gonzalo however, with no Argentinean attacker on to pick out Douglas Costa, who headed firmly superpowers. A second half strike from Santos Thursday. Argentina, missing a glut of injured Higuain down the right flank. The Napoli strik- hand to meet Di Maria’s centre. Luiz might against the bar before Lima smashed in the player Lucas Lima salvaged a vital point for stars including and Sergio er looked up and picked out Lavezzi with a have leveled for Brazil shortly before half-time rebound on the volley. Buoyed by the goal Brazil after Argentina had taken the lead mid- Aguero, started the stronger against a Brazil superb low cross for the France-based star to but could only head over the bar from close Brazil looked the likelier to grab a winner, with way through the half thanks to an Ezequiel side who welcomed back suspended striker ram past Alisson Becker for 1-0 on 34 minutes. range after Willian’s freekick from the right. Willian going close with a shot deflected over Lavezzi strike. Lavezzi’s Paris Saint-Germain Neymar. Neymar however was largely anony- It was no less than Argentina’s bold attacking Argentina started the second half in the same the bar. Manchester City defender Nicolas team-mate David Luiz was sent off for a sec- mous for long periods as Argentina got on top approach deserved. Argentina might have vein, with Ever Banega only being denied a Otamendi went close with a late header which ond yellow card in the dying minutes but early on and opened up Brazil with ease on taken an early lead after only two minutes, goal from a tight angle when his fierce low flew just wide. In the closing minutes Luiz was Brazil hung on for the draw.The result leaves several occasions. The only surprise was that it when Facundo Roncaglia drew a save from shot struck the foot of the post in the 46th shown a red card for two bookings within as Argentina winless after three games of South took Argentina more than half an hour to get Allison from a wide angle with looping shot. minute. many minutes, but Brazil held on for the America’s marathon qualifying campaign, with on the scoresheet. The goal came after superb Moments later Di Maria embarrassed Luiz But it was Brazil who struck next, getting on draw.—AFP US rout St Vincent 6-1

LOS ANGELES: The United States shook off a nightmare start to launch their 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign with a 6-1 rout of St Vincent and the Grenadines on Friday. Jurgen Klinsmann’s men were rocked when Oalex Anderson put the Caribbean visitors ahead in the fifth minute at the Busch Stadium in St Louis, Missouri. But Bobby Wood equalized six minutes later and the United States cruised from there, with two goals from Jozy Altidore to go with goals from Fabian Johnson, Geoff Cameron and Gyasi Zardes. The United States came into the match off of a Gold Cup flop on home soil and a defeat by Mexico in a crunch playoff for a place in the 2017 Confederations Cup in Russia. So it was especially nervewracking for the crowd to see St Vincent take a quick lead after Anderson seized upon a long ball over the top of : Netherlands’ midfielder Arjen Robben (left) vies with Wales’s midfielder the American defense. He cut and fired it past US Emyr Huws (center) during the international friendly football match between Wales keeper Brad Guzan. Wood responded six min- and Netherlands at in south Wales on November 13, 2015. —AFP utes later, heading a ball from DeAndre Yedlin past St Vincent goalkeeper Winslow McDowall. Johnson extended the lead in the 29th when his Robben’s double seals free kick deflected off the wall and into McDowall’s net. Just two minutes later Altidore 3-2 win for Netherlands made it 3-1. Alone at the far post he headed into an open net after Jermaine Jones had nodded CARDIFF: Arjen Robben scored twice to coach Chris Coleman, who is preparing for on a corner kick. lead the Netherlands to a 3-2 victory his team to play at the Euros next year, was With the US playing aggressively and domi- against Wales in a friendly match in Cardiff encouraged by his squad’s display despite nating possession, Cameron headed in a corner on Friday. The Netherlands, which failed to the defeat. in the 51st. Zardes made it 5-1 in the 58th and qualify for next year’s European Wales was missing its two biggest stars Altidore wrapped up the scoring with his second Championship in France, went ahead in Gareth Bale and , through in the 74th, firing a left-footed blast from inside through striker Bas Dost’s header after 32 injury. “We scored two goals without Bale the area that shot off a defender and into the minutes. equalized for the hosts and Ramsey, which is a big thing when you net. It was just the start to qualifying that the US on the stroke of halftime, converting a look at who was getting the goals for us in needed, and they will try to maintain the rebound after Netherlands goalkeeper the qualification campaign,” Coleman said. momentum when they visit Trinidad and Tobago Jasper Cillessen parried a penalty by Joe “We are building and these lads need min- on Tuesday. The match was played before 43,433 Allen. utes if they are to come with us to France.” fans at the home of baseball’s St Louis Cardinals. ST LOUIS: St Vincent and the Grenadines goaltender Winslow McDowall (left) stops a shot as Robben restored the visitors’ lead nine Netherlands coach Danny Blind was A moment of silence was observed before kick- he collides with St Vincent defenseman Roy Richards and United States forward Jozy Altidore minutes into the second half, before Wales pleased with the response from his players off to pay respect to the victims of terror attacks (17) pressures in the first half of a 2018 World Cup qualifying soccer match Friday, Nov 13, leveled again on 70 through a header from in the team’s first match since missing out in Paris earlier Friday.— AFP 2015. — AP midfielder Emyr Huws. But Robben won on next year’s championship. “It was a hard the match with his second goal in the 81st job to motivate them after we missed out minute, racing clear of the Wales defense on the Euros but the team were focused and slotting past goalkeeper Owain Fon and put a lot of energy in the game,” he Late goal saves Bosnia in playoff with Ireland Williams with a composed finish. Wales said.— AP

ZENICA: A late goal by striker Edin Dzeko res- Sky Sports: “It was a good night’s work, as a sitter on the hour, allowing Randolph to parry cued a 1-1 draw for Bosnia after the first leg of team, it was a good performance. “We’ll con- a feeble close-range effort after a ricochet Spain’s late show ends their Euro 2016 playoff with Ireland was ham- centrate and try to get fit for (the return leg from a poor clearance fell for the left winger. pered by poor visibility on Friday. The Irish on) Monday night. It’s going to be a tough With the fog getting thicker, Brady stunned England unbeaten run took an 82nd-minute lead through midfielder game, we’ve got the away goal but we’ve got the home crowd with a darting solo run and a ALICANTE: Spain struck twice in the final 20 “The assessment of the result is it is obviously Robbie Brady, after thick fog had descended to go out there as if it’s 0-0 again.” clinical strike with eight minutes to go, minutes as goals from Mario Gaspar and Santi disappointing to lose,” said Hodgson. “For 70 on the Bilino Polje stadium, before Dzeko The game was played under tight security, though Dzeko grabbed a draw three minutes Cazorla ended England’s 15-match unbeaten minutes I thought we worked hard defensive- replied with a neat finish. The players were amid fears of crowd trouble with several hun- later after substitute Ognjen Vranjes found run in Alicante on Friday. Villarreal right-back ly. We always knew how good they are at barely visible throughout the second half of a dred Irish fans in the stadium, but it was an Bosnia’s top scorer in the heart of the penalty Gaspar scored a sensational volley to open the keeping the ball. “We were hoping that on a disjointed match during which the home side incident-free playoff after the home support- box. Ireland need only a goalless draw in the scoring when he swivelled in mid-air to turn counter-attack we could cause them some had the upper hand but fell behind against ers had applauded the visiting team’s national return leg in Dublin to reach next year’s tour- home Cesc Fabregas’s pass. And Cazorla problems. We had moments in the game, but the run of play. anthem. Bosnia dominated the opening half nament in France, but Bazdarevic was confi- sealed the win for the European champions we didn’t profit from those moments.” “It was difficult to relay instructions to the as winger Edin Visca and full back Mensur dent Bosnia still had a good chance of pro- when he slotted home from the edge of the Hodgson kept his pre-match promise to players in the second half because we could Mujdza found space to operate on the right gressing. “It’s not a good result but we are area six minutes from time. leave captain Wayne Rooney on the bench barely see anything at all from the dugout,” flank against an Irish team missing several key hopeful we can swing the tie our way and I “It is a prestigious result against a very with Harry Kane and Ross Barkley given their strong team that threatened us the whole chance to shine. And it was the visitors who Bosnia coach Mehmed Bazdarevic told BHT players through injury and suspension. still believe we are the better team,” said the game,” said Spain coach Vicente del Bosque. had the first two openings, but neither television. “We are a bit disappointed with the Ibisevic missed the best chance in the 22nd former Yugoslavia midfielder. “However, we England boss Roy Hodgson meanwhile Raheem Sterling nor Barkley could find the result but I have to admit that we didn’t play minute when he volleyed wide while Ireland have to improve our final pass and take our lamented his side’s inability to take advantage target when well-placed on the edge of the well, perhaps because we weren’t composed keeper Darren Randolph saved an Ervin chances because it’s going to be a very diffi- of their few counter-attacking opportunities. box.—AFP enough. Ireland defender Ciaran Clark told Zukanovic header. Senad Lulic then missed a cult task.” — Reuters