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FOOTBALL Monday, November 6, 2017 Safar 17, 1439 AH Juventus close gap as Napoli, GULF TIMES Inter Milan held SPORT Page 2 FOOTBALL/EPL SPOTLIGHT Man City well squad for friendlies ahead as Chelsea with Iceland, Czechs named

By Sports Reporter In 2016, The Scandinavian side pre- beat Man United sented a fi erce appetite for tough foot- ball by beating former world cham- pions England before losing in the Morata ends six-match goalless run with winning strike for the Blues atar national team coach quarter-fi nals to hosts France. This Felix Sanchez has named a great form continued throughout their squad of 23 players for the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifi cation forthcoming international campaign as they dominated Group Qfriendlies against the Czech Republic I which featured the likes of Croatia, Chelsea’s Alvaro Morata scores against Manchester United in London yesterday. and Iceland. Ukraine and Turkey. Qatar will play the Czech Republic on The Czech Republic, a traditional November 11 and Iceland on November powerhouse in international football, 14, both at the Al Duhail Stadium. did not qualify for the 2018 FIFA World The friendlies are part of a three- Cup. match series in Doha, with the Czech Czech Republic competed in Group Republic and Iceland squaring off on C in the European zone where they November 8. fi nished third behind Germany and A QFA offi cial said coach Felix Northern Ireland. Sanchez will be looking to try out some young players in a bid to form a strong Qatar squad side in the build-up to the 2022 FIFA Saad al-Sheeb, Hassan al-Haydous, World Cup. , Musaab Khader, Earlier in October, Qatar beat Singa- Salem al-Hajri, Abdullah al-Ahrak, pore 3-1 in Doha before being beaten by , Ismail Mohamed, the Caribbean island country of Cura- Mohamed Bakri, Al Moiz Ali, Mohamed cao. Muntari, Bassam Hisham, Ahmed Fathi, Iceland, who excelled at the Euro Omar Barry, Ahmed Abdul Maqsoud, 2016 tournament, their fi rst foray into Abdulkareem Salem, Hamad Abidi, the glitzy world of international foot- Ahmed Alaa, Mahdi Ali, Asim Madibo, ball, will also feature at next year’s , Abdulkarim Hassan, World Cup 2018. Ahmed Yassir.

AFP EPL RESULTS AND STANDINGS north London club with several fi ne London saves after injuries meant manager Mauricio Pochettino was without the Tottenham Hotspur 1 Crystal Palace ...... 0 8 Brighton & Hove 11 4 3 4 11 11 15 services of both Hugo Lloris and Michel anchester City were left Manchester City..... 3 Arsenal ...... 1 9Watford 11 4 3 4 17 21 15 Vorm. with a healthy eight-point Chelsea ...... 1 Manchester Utd ...... 0 10 Huddersfield Town 11 4 3 4 8 13 15 “We knew it would be a massive lead at the top of the Pre- Everton ...... 3 Watford ...... 2 11 Newcastle United 11 4 2 5 10 10 14 challenge for us to be ready again and mier League after second- 12 Leicester City 11 3 4 4 16 16 13 fresh (after beating Real) but I am very Mplaced Manchester United suff ered a P W D L F A Pts 13 Southampton 11 3 4 4 9 11 13 pleased,” said Pochettino. The result 1-0 loss away to champions Chelsea 1 Manchester City 11 10 1 0 38 7 31 14 Stoke City 11 3 3 5 13 22 12 was fantastic even if it wasn’t our best hours after the leaders saw off Arsenal 2 Manchester Utd 11 7 2 2 23 5 23 15 Everton 11 3 2 6 10 22 11 performance.” 3-1 yesterday. 3 Totten. Hotspur 11 7 2 2 20 7 23 16 West Bromwich 11 2 4 5 9 14 10 Yesterday’s other English top-fl ight United manager Jose Mourinho, a 4 Chelsea 11 7 1 3 19 10 22 17 Bournemouth 11 3 1 7 7 14 10 clash saw Everton come from two goals former title-winning boss with Chel- 5 Liverpool 11 5 4 2 21 17 19 18 West Ham United 11 2 3 6 11 23 9 down to win 3-2 at hone to Watford sea, saw his latest visit to Stamford 6 Arsenal 11 6 1 4 20 16 19 19 Swansea City 11 2 2 7 7 13 8 in a result which gave caretaker Tof- Bridge end in defeat courtesy of Alvaro 7 Burnley 11 5 4 2 10 9 19 20 Crystal Palace 11 1 1 9 4 22 7 fees boss David Unsworth a fi rst win in Qatar coach Felix Morata’s 55th-minute header that end- charge and bolstered his hopes of tak- Sanchez conducts a ed a run of six game without a goal for ing over full-time at . training session yesterday. the Spain striker. diola had no truck with suggestions his Goals either side of half-time from Victory left Chelsea fourth, nine side had been fortunate to win. and Christian Kabasele put points off the summit. “We won in the best way and we de- Watford on course for all three points Earlier, City were impressive against served by far the victory,” said Guardi- before the Merseysiders pulled one the Gunners, with Kevin De Bruyne fi r- ola after City backed up their midweek back through Oumar Niasse. ing Pep Guardiola’s men into an early Champions League win away to Napoli Dominic Calvert-Lewin made it 2-2 lead at the Etihad before Sergio Aguero with another commanding victory. when the 20-year-old rising star head- made it 2-0 afrom the penalty spot ear- “We fought in the bad moments, ed in a corner. Boro infl ict fresh derby misery on struggling Sunderland ly in the second half. when we were tired, mentally we were And Baines himself completed the Alexandre Lacazette pulled a goal stable. I was pleased with the perform- comeback with a penalty in the last- back for the Gunners but Gabriel Jesus ance. The third goal helped us to win minute of normal time after Hornets London: Marcus Tavernier’s first Grabban, following up after Darren put City 3-1 up in the 74th minute de- the game.” defender Jose Holebas slipped in his league goal gave Middlesbrough a 1-0 Randolph spilt Didier Ndong’s shot spite a suspicion of off side, with Arsene Meanwhile an injury-hit Totten- own box and inadvertently brought win over Sunderland in a northeast only for the Boro goalkeeper to block Wenger’s Arsenal now 12 points behind ham Hotspur, fresh from a superb 3-1 down Aaron Lennon. derby yesterday as the Black Cats the striker’s follow-up. City. Champions League win over holders Adding to the drama in Liverpool was remained firmly rooted to the foot of The decisive moment of the match “The physical level is very good Real Madrid, remained level on points that there were 12 minutes of stoppage English football’s second-tier Champi- came just minutes later when 18-year- but the decisions,” veteran manager with second-placed United thanks to time as a result of Watford goalkeeper onship table. old Tavernier scored from Martin Wenger told Sky Sports. a 1-0 win over bottom-of-the-table Heurelho Gomes receiving prolonged Defeat in this Tees-Wear clash at the Braithwaite’s pull-back at the near “The third goal, at 2-1 we are in Crystal Palace. treatment for a nasty head wound, with Riverside Stadium meant manager- post after former England internation- the game and he (referee Michael Ol- Manchester City’s Argentinian striker Yesterday’s match at Wembley was blood pouring out, before leaving the less visitors Sunderland had now al Stewart Downing had made inroads iver) gives a clear off side goal. And, of Sergio Aguero is awarded a trophy deadlocked until the 64th minute when fi eld in the second half after an acci- gone 14 league games without a win. into the Sunderland defence. course, that kills the game for us. for being Manchester City’s all-time South Korea’s Son-Heung Min let fl y dental clash with teammate Kabasele. Even before teenage striker Tavernier Victory took Middlesbrough into the “They are a top team but that (bad leading goal scorer, ahead of the from 20 yards out. Former Everton player Tom Clev- scored the only goal of the game in top of the Championship table but decisions) makes it even more diffi cult English football match Spurs were also indebted to their erley could have rescued a point for the sixth minute, Sunderland had a left Sunderland a point behind Bolton for you.” between Manchester City and Arsenal third-choice goalkeeper, Paulo Gaz- Watford but he missed a penalty in the chance to take the lead when Lewis Wanderers at the foot of the table. However, City counterpart Guar- at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester. zaniga who marked his debut for the ninth minute of stoppage time Gulf Times 2 Monday, November 6, 2017 FOOTBALL

SERIE A LA LIGA Valverde stays Juve close gap as grounded despite Barca’s fl ying start

Reuters cries of “Freedom” from fans heard Napoli, Inter held throughout the match. Madrid “You can see it’s not distracting us,” Valverde said. ‘It seemed like a cursed game, we needed to be calm, sharp and not too hasty’ arcelona boss Ernesto Val- “There’s been a lot of questions but verde says Spain’s Liga title people who come to the Nou Camp AFP race remains wide open de- come to express themselves peaceably Milan spite his side’s imperious start and that’s what they do. They support- toB the season. ed us and we played for them today.” Their 2-1 victory over Sevilla on Sat- All eyes were on Lionel Messi as he uventus closed the gap at the urday means they have taken 31 points made his 600th appearance for the top of Serie A with a 2-1 win from a possible 33 available this season, club. over bottom club Benevento only failing to win when they drew 1-1 For once, however, it was not the yesterday as leaders Napoli away to Atletico Madrid last month. mercurial Argentine that was his side’s wereJ held by Chievo and Inter Milan They currently have an 11-point ad- hero as Paco Alcacer netted twice. drew 1-1 against Torino. vantage over rivals Real Madrid, who Captain Andres Iniesta, however, Amato Ciciretti’s fi rst-half opener host Las Palmas on Sunday, while Va- was full of praise for Messi and his for Benevento stunned Juventus be- lencia, their nearest rivals, remain four achievement, suggesting many more fore Gonzalo Higuain and Juan Cuad- points back. appearances are on the way. rado scored after the break to seal Valverde, however, is refusing to get “It’s very hard to get to those num- three points for the six-time defend- carried away. bers. I’m sure that the number 600 is ing champions. “We’re top, and that means we’re not much lower than the number he will Napoli drew 0-0 in Verona and have missing anything. We go into the inter- end up with,” Iniesta said. “I just hope 32 points from 12 games, one point national break happy and after that we that they come accompanied by tro- ahead of Juventus who move ahead of have a very tough schedule,” he said. phies.” Inter, now another point back in third. “We need to continue strong as we Despite their battling performance, are and not look back. We just need to YESTERDAY’S RESULTS newcomers Benevento, nicknamed ‘Le focus on ourselves.” Levante 1 (Unal 90+1) Girona 2 Streghe’ (The Witches), have now lost Valverde also said that the current (Borja Garcia 58, Stuani 84) their fi rst 12 games of the campaign, political tension in Catalonia is not im- Celta Vigo 3 (Gomez 16, Aspas 22, matching the worst start to a season in pacting on his players. 26) Athletic Bilbao 1 (Raul Garcia 38) any of Europe’s big fi ve leagues set by There were banners in support of the Villarreal 2 (Sansone 68, 76) Malaga 0 Manchester United in 1930. politicians who have been arrested fol- Real Sociedad 3 (Willian Jose “It seemed like a cursed game, but lowing last month’s banned independ- 12, Januzaj 28, Oyarzabal 46) Eibar 1 we needed to be calm, sharp and not ence referendum, while there were also (Jordan 72) too hasty,” said Juventus coach Mas- similiano Allegri. Benevento looked determined to gatecrash Juve’s 120th anniversary Juventus’ Juan Cuadrado (right) celebrates with teammates after scoring during the Italian Serie A football match against celebrations when Ciciretti struck Benevento in Turin yesterday. (AFP) from a free-kick that left Wojciech Szczesny helpless — the fi rst time this late in the match rattled the crossbar. season that a team have opened the Genoa sack Juric aft er derby defeat “The draw leaves something of a scoring against the champions. bitter taste in the mouth, we made Higuain got the equaliser after 57 Genoa announced yesterday they have sacked coach Ivan Juric after this some mistakes where we usually man- minutes when he met Blaise Matuidi’s weekend’s Serie A derby defeat against local rivals Sampdoria. The club age things in a diff erent way,” said In- knockdown with a volley into the top made the announcement in a brief statement a day after a 2-0 defeat at ter coach Luciano Spalletti. corner, and Cuadrado sealed the vic- home left them third from bottom with just six points from 12 games. It is the “We had an opponent on our level in tory with a 66th-minute header. second time that the 42-year-old former Croatian international has been fired front of us, a team of substance.” “These games are always compli- by Genoa, having previously coached the club from June 2016 to February Torino moved up to seventh with 17 cated,” continued Allegri. “Winning 2017. A former midfield player with the club from 2006 until his retirement points from 12 games. games is never easy or to be taken for in 2010, Juric returned to the coaching position last April in place of Andrea Seven-time European champions granted.” Mandorlini. Former Genoa coach Davide Ballardini, who has been at the helm AC Milan, in the midst of a poor run Napoli — after falling 4-2 to Man- twice before, is being touted by local media as a possible replacement. The of form in Serie A and sitting ninth, chester City in the Champions League club have won nine Serie A titles — the last in 1924. will be looking for some relief later in midweek — dropped two points as when they go to struggling Sassuolo they struggled with the absence of in- in a game which could be decisive for jured trio Pepe Reina, Faouzi Ghoulam Lazio, however, after the capital club confi dent, but instead it was a good coach Vincenzo Montella’s future. and Arkadiusz Milik. had their match against Udinese in response from the players. They are RESULTS “We were coming off a diffi cult run of Rome called off at the Stadio Olimpico still hungry,” said Roma coach Eusebio Inter Milan 1 (Eder 79) Torino 1 SPOTLIGHT games and are lacking sharpness,” said because of heavy rain. Di Francesco. (Falqué 59) coach Maurizio Sarri of his unbeaten Meanwhile, Roma — fresh despite Earlier Inter fought back after Iago Fiorentina 2 (Veretout 9, Simeone side’s second draw of the campaign after their midweek 3-0 Champions League Falque put Torino ahead on 59 min- 39) Roma 4 (Santos da Silva 5, 30, a goalless stalemate with Inter. rout of Chelsea — stayed in touch in utes, with Eder coming off the bench Manolas 50, Perotti 87) “We created the chances, but some fi fth with a game in hand after a thrill- to snatch a point 11 minutes from time Chievo 0 Napoli 0 Germany’s Loew players lacked brilliance and didn’t ing 4-2 win over Fiorentina in Tus- after a neat touch from captain Mauro Cagliari 2 (Ceppitelli 28, Farago 85) have the guile to fi nish them off . Chie- cany, with Brazilian Gerson scoring a Icardi. Verona 1 (Zuculini 6) vo did what they had to do.” fi rst-half brace. But the hosts missed a golden op- Juventus 2 (Higuain 57, Cuadrado “I was afraid of this match, because portunity for the winner at San Siro 65) Benevento 1 (Ciciretti 19) ‘STILL HUNGRY’ after the win over Chelsea there was a which would have put them joint top Atalanta 1 (Cristante 23) SPAL 1 wary of ‘strongest Inter remain clear of fourth-placed risk that we might have become over- after a powerful Matias Vecino eff ort (Rizzo 63)

BUNDESLIGA England in years’

AFP Cup in Russia, with Loew’s Germany Berlin enjoying a perfect record of 10 wins out of 10 in the process. The clash at Wembley starts a run of ermany head coach Joachim friendlies against top-class opposition Wagner stakes Germany Loew launched a charm of- for Germany. fensive ahead of Friday’s in- They host France in Cologne on No- ternational friendly at Wem- vember 14, then play Spain and Brazil Gbley by insisting this is the strongest in March 2018 in crunch preparation England side in recent years. games for their defence of the World claim to face England The Germans have won all of their Cup. last six matches against old rivals The Germans will have a point to AFP England at the iconic Wembley, a run prove against France following their Berlin Hoff enheim’s Sandro Wagner (left) stretching back to 1982. defeat in the European Championship in action against Cologne during However, Loew says the recent form in Marseille. their match in Cologne, of Gareth Southgate’s England team “Kylian Mbappe, Antoine Griez- andro Wagner made a case to Germany, yesterday. (AFP) commands the world champions’ re- mann, Paul Pogba and Thomas Lemar face England in Germany’s spect. are all excellent players,” enthused forthcoming friendly interna- “My opinion is the (England) team Loew. tional by netting twice in Hof- hasn’t been this strong in years,” Loew “The fi rst 15 players in the French fenheim’sS 3-0 win at the Bundesliga’s told German daily Die Welt yesterday. team are all very well trained and very bottom side Cologne yesterday. “They rely far less on long balls. comfortable on the ball, they are fast The Germans face Gareth South- “All the big clubs in England have and very athletic,” said Loew. gate’s England at Wembley on Friday coaches who put a lot of value on The Germans host Spain on March before hosting France four days later in putting together combinations of 23 next year in Duesseldorf before tak- Cologne in friendlies designed to test passes. You also see it in the national ing on Brazil at Berlin’s Olympic Sta- the defending champions before next team, where there is more emphasis on dium four days later. year’s World Cup in Russia. tactics.” After Loew’s side hammered the Se- The burly Wagner, who has scored Loew’s Germany are unbeaten in 19 lecao 7-1 in the semi-fi nals of the 2014 fi ve goals for Germany in fi ve appear- matches since losing 2-0 to France in World Cup, Loew was eager to talk up ances, drilled home a penalty on 56 the semi-fi nals of Euro 2016. the current Brazil team. minutes, then netted a header from a Both England and the Germans won “Brazil have a whole diff erent na- cross by ex-Leicester City player An- their respective qualifying groups to tional team and they cannot be com- drej Kramaric on 80 minutes. book their place at next year’s World pared to 2014,” said Loew. Hoff enheim had taken the lead af- ter just nine minutes when midfi elder Dennis Geiger stabbed the ball home at the second attempt. The result lifts Hoff enheim to fi fth, featured eight times for Germany and VAR disallowed two Wolfsburg goals. minutes when his shot went in, having seven points behind leaders Bayern scored six goals, played his fi rst 90 The hosts looked to have levelled hit both posts, to put Wolfsburg 2-1 up Munich who are now four-points clear minutes since September. with six minutes gone when defender at the break. at the top after Saturday’s 3-1 win at He set up Yussuf Poulsen’s equaliser, Robin Knoche slid the ball over the Hertha levelled at 2-2 when Dutch , who drop to third. then netted an 85th-minute winner af- goal-line, but the VAR saw an off side defender Karim Rekik headed home Cologne remain rooted to the bot- ter the Brazilian Jonathas gave Hanover in the build-up. from a free-kick on 53 minutes. tom, eight points from safety after 11 the lead at Leipzig’s Red Bull Arena. With twenty minutes gone, Wolfs- Moments later Divock Origi, on loan games with pressure growing on Aus- The result left Leipzig second in the burg’s Germany striker Mario Gomez from Liverpool, made it 3-2 for Wolfs- trian coach Peter Stoeger. table, four points behind Bayern. crashed a penalty across the crossbar. burg when the ball hit his stomach and Wagner’s double in Cologne is well Later yesterday, Wolfsburg were de- Yunus Malli then slammed home a went into the goal. timed after Germany’s fi rst-choice nied their fi rst win since August in a right-footed goal six minutes later for Ex-Leipzig striker Davie Selke came striker Timo Werner underlined his topsy-turvy 3-3 draw at home to Her- Wolfsburg, who were again denied a goal off Hertha’s bench to score at the sec- form after a neck injury with a goal tha Berlin in a fi rst-half dominated by as the VAR spotted another off side. ond attempt to equalise on 83 minutes. and assist in RB Leipzig’s 2-1 come- the video assistant referee. However, Malli was not to be de- The result leaves both teams in mid- back win at home to Hanover 96. Striker Vedad Ibisevic put Hertha nied. His header on 41 minutes stood table with Wolfsburg having drawn The 21-year-old Werner, who has ahead after just 20 seconds before the before Gomez added a second on 44 their last seven league games in a row. Gulf Times Monday, November 6, 2017 3 FOOTBALL

LIGUE 1 FOCUS El-Karti seals African Champions League for Marseille hit fi ve, Wydad Casablanca

Reuters Abdeladim Khadrouf was a whisker Casablanca away from giving Wydad the lead when his shot from the just inside the penalty area defl ected off Ahly’s Hussein El- Balotelli sent off oroccan club Wydad Casa- Sayed and smashed into the post. blanca secured a fi rst Af- Ahly had another chance to claim a rican Champions League precious away goal when Moemen Za- title in 25 years as Walid El- kareya found himself one-on-one with MKarti’s second-half goal secured a 1-0 Laaroubi just past the half-hour mark, win over record eight-time winners but could not beat the Wydad keeper. Al Ahly at the Stade Mohammed V on The home side began to exert greater Saturday. control in the second half and grabbed in Nice victory Wydad won the tie 2-1 on aggregate the lead thanks to the strength of El- to end their long wait for a second win Karti as he outmuscled two Ahly de- ‘He wanted to win the ball and had no intention to hurt anyone’ in Africa’s elite club competition, with fenders to head home Achraf Bencharki’s victory coming in front of their raucous cross from the right on 69 minutes. AFP home supporters, who booed every Ismail Haddad might have added Paris touch of the ball from Ahly players. a second when he was teed-up from The win ends a stellar campaign for close-range, but this time Ahly keeper Wydad, who have been particularly Sherif Ekramy made a fi ne stop. arseille fans made their strong at home with all seven games The visitors pushed forward for the feelings clear to Patrice won and just a single goal conceded equaliser they needed to level the tie, Evra as the Mediterranean underlining their dominance. but were unable to break down the res- side put their European Ahly’s Moroccan striker Walid Azaro olute home defence. Mtroubles behind them by romping to a had the fi rst opening when he looked to Wydad have now qualifi ed for the 5-0 win over Caen in Ligue 1 yesterday. turn the ball home from close-range, Club World Cup that will be played in Evra, 36, was not involved in the but was denied by Wydad goalkeeper the from Decem- game at the Velodrome having been Zouheir Laaroubi. ber 6-16. suspended by his club for aiming a karate kick at the head of one of his team’s own supporters prior to Thurs- day’s Europa League defeat to Vitoria Guimaraes. But a banner at one end of the ground carried the slogan “This Game is Over” in English, parodying Evra’s favourite slogan of “I love this game”. Another banner read: “We don’t want you in our colours anymore. Evra get lost.” Chants also rang out insulting the former Manchester United and Juven- tus left-back, who was red-carded af- ter the incident, which occurred in the pre-match warm-up before the game in Portugal. Without him Marseille ran riot, stretching their unbeaten run in the league to seven games as they climbed provisionally up to third above Nantes. Olympique de Marseille’s Florian Thauvin celebrates after scoring the fifth goal during the Ligue 1 match against Caen at Luiz Gustavo put the home side the Velodrome stadium in Marseille yesterday. (AFP) ahead just before the break, sweeping home after a Florian Thauvin shot had after the match and thought it was too been blocked. hard on him. But now he’s ok.” Thauvin then made it 2-0 just after Elsewhere yesterday, Lille eased the the restart before Morgan Sanson got pressure on coach Marcelo Bielsa with the third. But Thauvin was the main a 3-0 win away at bottom club Metz. threat and the winger crossed for Ko- Nicolas Pepe scored a brace, in- stas Mitroglou to head in before he cluding one from the penalty spot, Wydad Casablanca players celebrate winning the CAF Champions League after completed the scoring with his second either side of a Fares Bahlouli effort their final against Al Ahly in Casablanca, Morocco, on Saturday. (Reuters) of the afternoon. as Lille won for the first time since the opening weekend of the cam- RELIEF FOR BIELSA paign. They remain second from UPDATE Earlier, Mario Balotelli scored the bottom. only goal of the game as Nice beat Di- Lyon can reclaim third place later jon 1-0, only for his afternoon to be with a win away to Saint-Etienne in marred when he was sent off late on. the Rhone derby, one of the biggest Scolari confi rms The Italian striker converted a pen- fi xtures in French football. alty fi ve minutes from half-time after On Saturday, Edinson Cavani scored a foul on Alassane Plea in the area for his 100th and 101st league goals for Evergrande departure his sixth league goal of the campaign. Paris Saint-Germain as the leaders He was then sent off for the third cruised to a 5-0 win at Angers to stay Reuters one knows where we are heading, but I time in Ligue 1 since moving to Nice four points clear of Monaco. Hong Kong hope Evergrande club can have a bright at the start of last season, receiving a The reigning champions went one future. straight red card for chopping down better, thumping Guingamp 6-0. “I don’t know if I will come back to Dijon defender Cedric Yambere from uiz Felipe Scolari confi rmed China. I will make my decision care- behind with a minute left. Nice’s Mario Balotelli (right) reacts after receiving a red card from French referee RESULTS his departure from champions fully. My football life has taken me all Balotelli remonstrated with the Olivier Thual during the Ligue 1 match against Dijon yesterday. (AFP) Nice 1 (Balotelli 40-pen) Dijon 0 Guangzhou Evergrande but re- over the world, but China is one the fourth offi cial as he went off but Nice Marseille 5 (Luiz Gustavo 43, fused to rule out coaching in the three best places that I’ve ever worked.” held on to end a run of four succes- point and one place above Dijon. anyone,” said Nice coach Lucien Favre LChinese Super League again after se- Scolari led Guangzhou to the title Thauvin 47, 81, Sanson 52, Mitroglou sive league defeats and six consecutive “Without criticising anyone, it of Balotelli’s sending-off . 76) Caen 0 curing a third league title in a row. this season despite rivals Shanghai losses in all competitions. seems a bit harsh. He wanted to win “But it is true that a tackle from be- Metz 0 Lille 3 (Pepe 45+2-pen, 87, World Cup winner Scolari took over SIPG spending more than $150 mn They climb back up to 15th, one the ball and had no intention to hurt hind is a straight red. He was annoyed Bahlouli 67) from Fabio Cannavaro in June, 2015 and over the last two years to lure big-name led Guangzhou to three league crowns players like Brazilians Oscar and Hulk as well as the Asian Champions League to the club. Evergrande clinching the SPOTLIGHT and Chinese FA Cup. crown with two rounds to spare. He originally signed an 18-month They fell short elsewhere, however, contract with the club before extending with SIPG knocking them out in the his deal for another year at the end of Chinese FA Cup semi-fi nals and Asian Rodgers proud of his record-breaking ‘Bhoys’ last season, but has decided to end his Champions League quarter-fi nals, a association with the seven-time CSL trophy Scolari won with Evergrande in winners. 2015. AFP ample of that. “My story with Evergrande is fi n- Chinese media have linked Italians Glasgow “This St Johnstone team are diffi cult ished,” the 68-year-old Brazilian said Carlo Ancelotti and Cannavaro with to break down but eventually they got yesterday. the coaching position at Guangzhou there with their quality and fi tness. “But my story with China may con- who are expected to name Scolari’s eltic manager Brendan Rodg- “It is a remarkable achievement and tinue. I will carefully think about it. No successor within the next week. ers said he was proud of his I think they deserve all the credit they players for overcoming every get for it.” challenge they have had to Rodgers has yet to be beaten by a faceC on their way to breaking their own Scottish side since taking charge at 100-year-old British record unbeaten Celtic Park in May 2016, but he says FIFA corruption trial opens in domestic run. it is getting harder to keep up their re- The Scottish champions extended markable run. New York their domestic unbeaten streak to “You play in some big games here at 63 games with a 4-0 thrashing of St Celtic and with a big expectancy. And It was the raid that changed the face South American football off icials. Johnstone at McDiarmid Park. as the run goes on teams increase their of the world’s most popular sport. Jury selection is scheduled to begin In the process they stretched their level even more,” he said. Swiss police swooped in on a five- Monday at the federal court in lead at the top of the Scottish Pre- “Every game against Celtic is a mas- star Zurich hotel at dawn, arresting Brooklyn. Opening statements could miership to three points following Ab- sive game but everyone wants to be the seven football off icials at US request. begin on November 13. erdeen’s 2-2 draw away to Hamilton fi rst team that beats Celtic. Two and a half years later, the only It will be a hugely complicated Academical. “Of course that will happen at some defendants detained in the United trial, expected to last weeks if not The Scottish champions eclipsed point, but how the players are coping States who continue to profess their months, with prosecutors expected the Celtic team of Willie Maley who Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers and Scott Brown shake hands after the game with that, and the level of their foot- innocence will go on trial. to present 350,000 pages of evi- went 62 league games unbeaten — against Bayern Munich in Glasgow on Tuesday. (Reuters) ball, is really admirable.” When US prosecutors unveiled a dence and dozens of witnesses. pre-League Cup whilst the Scottish Rodgers fi nished his debut season years’ long investigation on May 27, The most high-profile defendant is Cup was not played during World War “You just need to look back at that who has restored his reputation at without defeat as he led Celtic to a do- 2015, the allegations were dumb- Jose Maria Marin, 85, former presi- I — between 1915 and 1917. side that Willie Maley had. I grew up Celtic after being fi red by Liverpool in mestic treble. founding: a quarter of a century of dent of Brazil’s Football Confedera- Rodgers’s team are now joint-third being aware of players from that era so October 2015, said people may sniff at Despite it only being November, endemic corruption in the heart of tion — the sport’s organizing body in UEFA’s all-time domestic unbeaten that tells you the level and quality of the level of opposition in Scotland but many are already tipping them to re- FIFA, football’s governing body. in one of the premier soccer-playing records list, alongside Moldovan side that team. It’s an incredible feat by the insisted players had to cope with ex- peat last season’s feat. They will have a Forty-two off icials and marketing ex- nations in the world. Sheriff Tiraspol. players and a wonderful example of ternal factors too. chance to retain the League Cup when ecutives, and three companies were Also in the dock is former FIFA vice Gibraltar’s Lincoln Red Imps (88) — professionalism and of creating high “This is a group of players who have they face Motherwell in the fi nal on indicted in an exhaustive 236-page president Juan Angel Napout, 59, who ironically began Rodgers’s tenure standards every single day. had to deal with everything — poor November 26. complaint detailing 92 separate and Manuel Burga, who led soccer in last year with an embarrassing defeat “The level of consistency they have pitches, tiredness after Champions “People will think it because of our crimes and 15 corruption schemes to Peru until 2014 and a one-time FIFA in a Champions League fi rst leg match shown is absolutely remarkable. League games, going behind in games consistency and level but it only takes the tune of $200 mn. development committee member. — are ahead of them. “It hasn’t just happened overnight. and playing in big semi-fi nals and cup something to happen in the game for it The charges included racketeering, A US jury will now decide their fate. And out in front are the great Steaua It’s something that has been created. fi nals,” said Rodgers. to go against you — a bad decision or you wire fraud and money laundering con- If convicted they will be sentenced Bucharest team of the late 1980s, with It’s a mentality and a desire to work.” “They’ve had to cope with every- make a mistake,” Rodgers admitted. spiracies. But only three people are ac- by Judge Pamela Chen. The worst 104. “For us to break that record is thing you would need to as a profes- “So, it would be very, very diffi cult. tually going on trial — three fabulously counts against them carry a maxi- special,” Rodgers, who was marking ‘A REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENT’ sional footballer and they’ve come “My job is to ensure that the players wealthy and once formidably powerful mum sentence of 20 years in jail. his 400th game as a manager, said. The 44-year-old Northern Irishman, through it and today was another ex- are never complacent.” Gulf Times 4 Monday, November 6, 2017 SPORT

GOLF FOCUS India’s Kapur wins home event in New Delhi Club problem solved,

AFP me. To be able to win in front of all Wie feels bullish again New Delhi my friends and family is wonderful,” Indian golfer Shiv Kapur poses he added. with the winning trophy after Seven golfers were tied at the sec- winning the Panasonic Open India Reuters “You can get the exact same shaft ndia’s Shiv Kapur, playing on ond spot with 14-under 274 at fi nish, golf tournament on the Asian Tour Ibaraki, Japan and the exact same head and they’re his home course in New Delhi, with American Paul Peterson (71) the at the Delhi Golf Club . diff erent,” said the 28-year-old from took an Asian tour title yester- only exception among other Indians. Hawaii, whose four LPGA victories in- Iday a with four-under 68 on the Peterson, the 29-year-old south- ichelle Wie appears to be clude the 2014 US Women’s Open. fourth day of the Panasonic Open In- paw from Arizona who won the Czech back to close to her best “It’s such a personal connection dia tournament. Masters last year, was tied with Kapur nearly two months after an you have with your club. Playing with Kapur stayed three strokes ahead at the end of day’s play on Saturday. emergency appendectomy, broken clubs the last couple of weeks, of the fi eld dominated by other Indian Peterson’s eff orts for his first Asian Mand she probably would have got there you’re so used to seeing a certain shot. golfers. Tour title fell short yesterday with sooner were it not for issues with her It just took a while for me to get used to “I grew up playing golf here and three birdies and two bogeys. clubs. it and trust my shots.” told myself I got to win at the Delhi The six Indians tied at the second There is an old saying that a good A while maybe, but not too long. Golf Club one day. So no words can spot of the $400,000 Asian Tour worker never blames his or her tools, After opening with a 76, Wie found actually describe how I’m feeling event were Karandeep Kochhar (66), but it seems Wie had every justifi ca- her groove and went 11 shots better in right now,” Kapur said in a statement. SSP Chawrasia (69), Om Prakash tion for doing so. She wondered why the second round before closing with “It’s amazing to have two wins this Chouhan (69), Ajeetesh Sandhu (65), something was not quite right with her a 70 to fi nish 14 strokes behind winner year and I’ve to thank a lot of people Sudhir Sharma (69) and Chiragh Ku- game at last week’s LPGA event in Ma- Shanshan Feng. for believing in me and supporting mar (64). laysia, but it took a while to identify the Healthy again, and now with un- problem, and an absolute shocker with damaged clubs, Wie is bullish about a three-wood, for her to realise that her her future. SPOTLIGHT clubs were the cause. She missed six weeks after her ap- “I hit one shot that went like 30 de- pendix forced her to pull out of the Ca- grees right and I looked at the face and nadian Pacifi c Women’s Open before it was concaved a little bit,” Wie told the fi nal round in August and have the Reuters after fi nishing equal 46th at organ removed. the TOTO Japan Classic yesterday. She has played four LPGA events in “I looked at the fi ve-wood and driver Asia since returning to action, and ad- and they were all looking the same. mits it has taken a while to get to the “It was weird. I’ve never had that stage where she feels good about her Rose rides late happen before. It wasn’t obvious. Bro- game. ken club is the last thing you think of. It “I felt incredibly rusty,” Wie said. just took a while for me to fi gure it out.” “It just took me a while to get back Wie think her clubs got damaged in tournament (form) and the last two travelling, though it will always remain days I’ve just felt like my old self, really a mystery. getting back into it. Whatever the cause, she was able to “I’m really excited about the next get them replaced here before the fi rst two weeks,” she concluded, referring birdie blitz to round, but pro golfers will tell you that to this week’s Blue Bay LPGA in China, no two clubs feel exactly the same, even followed by the season-ending CME if they have the identical specifi cations. Group Tour Championship in Florida.

China’s Feng defends Japan Classic title take Turkey title China’s Feng Shanshan carded a final-round four-under par 68 to defend her Japan Classic crown and take her eighth LPGA title with a two-stroke win over Ai Suzuki yesterday. ‘Today was a diff erent type of win but then they are all diff erent in their own way’ Feng became the first player on the LPGA Tour to defend a title this season with a total of 19-under par 197 at the Taiheyo Club’s Minori Course in Ibaraki. AFP “That was my goal, before I started the week, to defend my title,” said Feng. Antalya, Turkey ferent in their own way, and to “My caddie told me: ‘This week, you’re going to be first. Two weeks ago, you fin- hole that birdie putt on 18 was ished third. Last week, you finished second, so you know what comes after that’.” special as a lot of tournaments Feng held a two-shot lead over Japan’s Suzuki going into the final round but had ustin Rose moved closer I have won have been two putts a rollercoaster start, with two bogeys and two birdies in the first four holes. to a second European on the 18th green.” The Chinese Olympic bronze medallist tucked away her first par at the fifth and Tour No. 1 title when suc- Rose, who won the Race to from then on played blemish-free golf. cess in the Turkish Air- Dubai title in 2007, moved from Feng’s sixth birdie of the round at the 17th proved enough to hold off the charg- linesJ Open at Antalya yesterday No. 3 on the Race to Dubai to ing Suzuki, who fought all the way but blew her final chance with a bogey at the earned the Englishman back- replace second-ranked Sergio 18th when a birdie would have forced a playoff . to-back victories for the fi rst Garcia and now only trails com- time. patriot Tommy Fleetwood by Rose birdied three of his clos- 134,893 euros. Freak injury rules out Stenson ing four holes in a fi nal round Fleetwood posted a last day six-under par 65 for a one stroke 68 for a share of 23rd on eight- Sweden’s top-ranked Henrik Stenson will miss the remainder of the European win at 18-under par tally on the under par. Tour season with a freak “Superman” injury. Regnum Carya course. Rose also has moved to the Stenson suff ered a bruised rib in a promotion on the eve of the WGC-HSBC The Rio Olympic champion top of the European Ryder Cup Champions in Shanghai last month before bravely finishing joint runner-up and world No.6 went into the fi - standings and closer to a fi fth behind England’s Justin Rose. nal day trailing by two shots but European Team cap. The Swede, however, aggravated the injury during this week’s Turkish Airlines after a third birdie of his round Frittelli eventually shared Open won again by Rose and this was reflected in shooting a disappointing at the ninth, Rose found himself second on 17-under with Bel- four-under par tally on the Regnun Carya course in Antalya. among three sharing the lead at gium’s Nicolas Colsaerts who The problem has ruled Stenson out of the season closing Nedbank Challenge in 14-under par. signed for a 66. South Africa and the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai. South African Dylan Frit- 21 spots to 18th on the Race Last month in Shanghai, Stenson had joined World No. 1 Dustin Johnson and telli seized the clubhouse lead to Dubai. “It’s a huge result for China No. 1 Li Haotung in a promotion event, ‘hovering’ above Japan’s Hideki at 17-under par after a round of me as I was really looking at the Matsuyama who was guarding the trophy he won a year ago. a seven-under par 64 that in- last three events to try and peek “I am not Superman given certain people thought I was Superman so if you saw cluded seven birdies and with inside the top 30 in the rankings, the promotion in Shanghai you know what I mean,” Stenson said. three of those at the 5th, 6th and he said. “I have been feeling it when I swing so it has been rough this week and while 8th holes resulting from chip- “So I am looking at two more I was not 100% last week, I guess the travel and the way things progressed it in’s. Rose then tied Frittelli with big events that could push my started getting worse rather than better.” a four-metre birdie at 16 ahead way into the Top-10 hopefully.” of holing a three-metre birdie at And Colsearts was pleased the last. with his best eff ort since he Drunk Scottish players kicked out of team The win is Rose’s 10th Euro- shared third in May’s BMW PGA pean Tour success and comes Championship and jumping Captain Danny Brough is among three Scotland players kicked out of the Rugby just a week after he captured 25 spots to 24th on the Race to League World Cup for misconduct, team management said yesterday. the WGC-HSBC Champions in Dubai with those in the top-30 Brough, Sam Brooks and Johnny Walker all remained in Christchurch yester- Shanghai. at the end of the season secur- day while the rest of the team flew to Cairns to prepare for their match against “This is an incredibly sweet ing a place in next year’s Open Samoa next weekend. moment and it is like a bus as Championship at Carnoustie. Reports said the trio were refused entry onto a flight to Australia for being you wait ages for one and two “This week has been great intoxicated. turn-up at once,” he said smil- for my confi dence opening with The misconduct allegations follow Scotland’s landslide 74-6 defeat to New ing. two 64s and to birdie three holes Zealand in Christchurch on Saturday to leave them winless after two games in “Today was a diff erent type in succession from the 15th was the tournament. File photo of Justin Rose of win but then they are all dif- very important for me, he said.

RUGBY Hansen happy with All Blacks ‘composure’ AFP New Zealand players at Twickenham travelling well,” said Barbarians coach “The jersey means a lot to them and Twickenham, United Kingdom set to retain his place for the November Robbie Deans, himself a former All it’s a week that is very special in a play- Fiji swamp Wales, Kumuls fi ght off Ireland in World Cup 11 clash against France in Paris, the fi rst Blacks fullback. “They’re giving teams er’s life. full international of a trip also featuring a sniff . They gave us a fair amount of “This is the way rugby should be... Sydney: Jarryd Hayne set a new Vunivalu scored a hat-trick of tries to ew Zealand coach Steve Tests against Scotland and Wales. encouragement in the fi rst half.” It’s a player’s game and sometimes record for Rugby League World Cup follow up his opening round brace for Hansen praised the “com- By contrast, the bulk of the team that But Deans, previously the coach of coaches forget that,” said Deans, who tries as Fiji steamrolled Wales 72-6 to five tries in the tournament. posure” shown by an experi- kicked off on Saturday in a match where both the Crusaders and Australia, add- coaches the Panasonic Wild Knights in close in on the quarter-finals along The PNG Kumuls overcame a spirited mental All Blacks side after a crowd of more than 62,000 witnessed ed: “They’re in no hurry to give up their Japan. “The cross-pollination is stimu- with the Papua New Guinea Kumuls Ireland 14-6 in steamy Port Moresby Nthey came from behind to launch their nine tries in total, won’t be in action status as the best team in the world. lating.” yesterday to continue their unbeaten start to the tour of Europe with a 31-22 win over the again until the All Blacks play a “French “They’re also building depth. All the Deans cited the eff ect of playing for The NRL superstar scored one of Fiji World Cup and all but book their spot Barbarians at Twickenham. XV” in Lyon on November 14. players exposed to this create a pool the Barbarians on Crusaders fl y-half Bati’s 14 tries to swamp the hapless in the last eight. The world champions were in dan- “A young side, we had to show some that are hungry.” Richie Mo’unga, one of their three try- Welshmen in Townsville to top Pool Kumuls winger Garry Lo was the ger of defeat after falling 17-5 behind in composure. A new skipper (Barrett), he The Barbarians, who pushed Aus- scorers on Saturday. D with their second emphatic win of diff erence, running for a game-high Saturday’s fi rst half against a Barbar- showed a lot,” said Hansen. tralia close with former Wallaby boss “Richie Mo’unga was with us last the tournament after smashing the 200 metres, breaking 15 tackles and ians side where 10 of the starting XV “There was a lot of good stuff there Alan Jones as their coach before losing year off the bench. He’s a starter now United States 58-12 in their opening scoring a try. were from New Zealand and not a sin- and some good learning,” he added af- 31-28 in Sydney the previous weekend, and knocking on the door for the All match. His performance was a highlight in an gle member of the matchday 23 a native ter returning to the scene of New Zea- have seen the future of their showpiece Blacks. Hayne has now scored a record 14 error-riddled contest, with both sides European — a sign of how things have land’s 2015 World Cup fi nal win over fi xtures repeatedly called into question “It will happen, it’s inevitable, and World Cup tries, eclipsing Australians pushing the pass and struggling to changed for a 127-year-old invitational Australia. during a professional era of ever more experiences like this accelerate that.” Bob Fulton and Billy Slater. execute when it mattered most. team once built on British and Irish “We’ll see how they grow now be- congested schedules and mounting Deans’ comments were underlined It proved a one-sided procession as Leading 8-6 at half-time, PNG could players. tween now and Lyon, that group.” concerns over player welfare. by Barbarians captain Andy Ellis, now the Fijians overwhelmed Wales to not put the game away and it left the But three converted tries in six sec- New Zealand may remain top of the But Deans, who also guided the Bar- enjoying his third stint with the club. hold a match-winning 42-6 advan- door open for an unlikely Irish victory. ond-half minutes turned the tide, with world rankings but they have occasion- barians to a 31-31 draw with South Af- “I feel like I’m a seven-year-old tage at half-time. It got little better in But the match-clinching try came captain for the day Beauden Barrett ally looked fallible this year, this with rica at Wembley last year, was adamant again running out on Hagley Park (in the second term with Fiji adding 30 from an error, with Watson Boas toe- — leading the side for the fi rst time in the British and Irish Lions holding the they deserved their place in the modern Christchurch) in the frost and playing more points and keeping the Welsh- ing forward a wayward Ireland pass place of rested regular skipper Kieran All Blacks to a 1-1 draw in a three-match game. rugby because I love playing rugby,” men pointless. before regathering and scoring under Read — adding the goal-points. series. “It’s thriving, it’s alive and well,” he said the former New Zealand scrum- Melbourne Storm winger Suliasi the posts with two minutes to go. Fly-half Barrett was one of the few “They’re vulnerable, but they’re still said. half. “I think that’s pretty cool.” Gulf Times Monday, November 6, 2017 5 SPORT

NBA SPOTLIGHT Nets bring out the best in Lopez Clippers struggle on ly, really young,” Walton said. By Tania Ganguli Los Angeles Times “Even (Kentavious Caldwell- Pope) is young, he just seems like a vet relative to our other rook Lopez insisted players. But having Brook, –twice–that Friday someone we can throw the night’s game was just ball to when we’re not mak- another for him. ing shots, or another team’s on defensive end, lose BIt wasn’t awkward, he said. a run and he can get us a post “Typical,” Lopez said. “I felt bucket ... comfortable out there. It was “He bails us out a lot.” another game to me.” Becoming the veteran of Except, it was diff erent, the group came suddenly to whether Lopez admitted it or Lopez, but on Friday night he not. He was facing the team showed how important that with which he spent all of his can be for his team. 113-104 to Grizzlies previous nine NBA seasons – “I feel like I’ve experienced the team that he had hoped to a lot of diff erent situations out ‘We were awful defensively in the first five minutes. We clicked and started getting lead to a diff erent era of suc- there and I try to just have that cess. Instead, what he saw calming eff ect,” Lopez said. stops and running. This is the first game in three games that we got our pace back’ was one rebuild after another “ ... The special thing about before Brooklyn traded him to this group is we have a lot of AFP the Los Angeles Lakers. young guys, but they play be- Los Angeles In the Lakers’ 124-112 win yond their age. They also have over the Nets, Lopez shined. that sort of calm, comfortable, He scored 34 points (including confi dent eff ect.” he Memphis Grizzlies six three-pointers) and had 10 used a balanced off en- rebounds. Timo returns sive attack and some He also became the fourth Most of the focus was on timely fourth quarter player in the NBA this year to D’Angelo Russell’s return to Tbaskets to defeat the Los Angeles notch 30 points, 10 rebounds Staples Center, but another Clippers 113-104 on Saturday at and three blocked shots in player returned in a starting Staples Center arena. a game, joining DeMarcus role after being traded to the Mike Conley tallied 22 points Cousins, Karl-Anthony Towns Nets. and was one of seven players to and Anthony Davis. Timofey Mozgov got light score in double fi gures for the “He was great,” Nets coach boos during pregame intro- visiting Grizzlies, who led most Kenny Atkinson said. “He was ductions. The Lakers gave of the fi rst half behind some effi - good from the three-point him a contract worth $64 mil- cient off ensive play as they con- line. When he was posting, I lion over four years during the nected on almost 44 percent of thought defensively he was summer of 2016 and benched their three-point attempts. good. He was protecting the him by January. Memphis (6-3) got key con- rim. Credit to him, he’s a very The Russian big man tributions off the bench from good player.” wasn’t interested in off ering guards Tyreke Evans and Mario Atkinson was the coach who his thoughts on having been Chalmers, who scored 20 and 12 fi rst encouraged Lopez to ex- traded. points respectively, as well as 13 tend his range to beyond the “To the trade?” Mozgov points from Brandan Wright and three-point line, making him said, when asked for his reac- 10 by Chandler Parsons to keep a very valuable player for the tion. “Uhh, I don’t want to talk the Clippers at bay. modern NBA. about it. There’s bad things Conley’s off ence was a wel- His six makes (out of nine going on, there’s good things come addition as the Grizzlies attempts) Friday night made going on. I’d rather (keep it) in snapped a two-game losing skid. Lopez the fi rst Lakers center house.” “He still isn’t 100 percent,” in franchise history to have Mozgov has started all nine Memphis head coach David fi ve or more three-pointers in games for the Nets this year Fizdale said of Conley. a game. and averaged 4.8 points with “But you could see a diff er- His three-point shooting 5.1 rebounds in 15.8 minutes ence in places he is on the fl oor was part of what the Lakers per game. when he’s a little healthier. Any liked about him, but he hadn’t “We just started the sea- time he’s playing well, we’re in made more than two in any son,” Mozgov said. the game.” previous game this season. “Season is long. You’ve got The Grizzlies cooled off from What Lopez had brought to be ready for all the stuff . three-point range in the second was what Lakers coach Luke New team. Everybody’s still half, closing the game at 41.9 Walton called a calming pres- trying to understand each oth- percent from beyond the arc. ence for the team. er. It’s hard to say right now By comparison, the Clippers “Our young players are real- what is exactly going on.” shot a miserable four-of 26 over- all from three-point range. Despite their poor three- Memphis Grizzlies guard Mike Conley shoots the ball over Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan during the first quarter of their NBA Chiefs activate Liberian-born linebacker Hali point shooting, the Clippers game at Staples Centre. PICTURE: USA TODAY Sports kept it close, pulling level mid- Liberian-born linebacker Tamba Hali, fighting back from knee way through the third quarter. eight assists and seven assists and at home, have played in front of injuries, was activated Saturday by the Kansas City Chiefs ahead Forward Blake Griffi n buoyed the Klay Thompson scored 15 points small crowds in their new home, of their NFL game Sunday at Dallas. Clippers in all phases with a sea- for Golden State, which has won Little Caesars Arena. Hali, 34, had been on the physically unable to perform list. He son-high 30 points, 11 rebounds, three straight and six of its last But they hope wins like Sat- practised Friday with the team for the first time since the end of two assists and two steals. seven. Will Barton had 21 points urday’s will bring out the fans as last season. Hali could help the Chiefs (6-2) ease the loss of line- Griffi n was one of fi ve Clippers and eight rebounds and Em- Detroit have now won fi ve of its backer Dee Ford against the Cowboys (4-3). Ford has been ruled to score in double fi gures along manuel Mudiay scored 15 points last six games and improved to out for the game after suff ering a back injury in Kansas City’s with guards Patrick Beverley (23) for Denver, which lost the second 2-0 on the start of a fi ve-game 29-19 win Monday over Denver. Hali has made 89.5 career sacks, and Lou Williams (13), center game of a home back-to-back. homestand. sharing 44th on the NFL all-time list. He made 34 tackles and 3.5 DeAndre Jordan (12) and forward The Warriors improved to 7-3 Avery Bradley led the way sacks playing in all 16 games for Kansas City last season. Danilo Gallinari (10). on the season as they blitzed the with 24 points, Harris scored 20 After leaving Liberia at age 10 to escape his homeland’s civil war “We were awful defensively in Nuggets with a dominant third points, and Andre Drummond and be with his father, Hali turned to American football in hopes the fi rst fi ve minutes,” Clippers quarter. had 16 points and 19 rebounds. of raising money to bring his mother to the United States. He head coach Doc Rivers said. The Warriors outscored the The Kings lost their seventh became a US citizen in 2006. “We clicked and started get- Nuggets 27-6 during a stretch straight game and have started The Cleveland Browns are making Joe Thomas the highest-paid ting stops and running. This is where it turned a fi ve-point lead 1-8 for the fi rst time since the off ensive lineman in the NFL for 2018 with a restructured con- the fi rst game in three games into an 87-61 advantage halfway 1990-91 season. tract, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported on Saturday. Thomas that we got our pace back.” through the third quarter. is expected to be paid $13.5 million in base salary and bonuses, a Elsewhere, Kevin Durant RESULTS raise of $3 million for the 10-time Pro Bowl tackle. The 32-year- scored 25 points, Stephen Curry Red-hot Pistons Pistons 108 Kings 99 old is currently on the mend after sustaining a triceps injury dur- had 22 points and 11 assists, and In Detroit, the Pistons are off Pelicans 96 Bulls 90 (OT) ing the third quarter of a loss to the Tennessee Titans on Oct. 22, the Golden State Warriors rout- to a 7-3 start following a 108- Grizzlies 113 Clippers 104 Klay Thompson of the Golden State Warriors drives to the basket which ended his streak of consecutive snaps to begin his career ed the Denver Nuggets 127-108. 99 victory over the Sacramento Timberwolves 112 Mavericks 99 against Will Barton of the Denver Nugget at the Pepsi Centre in at 10,363. He was placed on injured reserve. Draymond Green had 15 points, Kings. The Pistons, who are 4-1 Warriors 127 Nuggets 108 Denver. (Getty Images/AFP)

NHL Crawford records 2nd shutout as Hawks beat Wild By Chris Hine periods of the season in which ford’s skate swiped it away to lowed. Chicago Tribune they didn’t score a goal. preserve the 0-0 tie. Meanwhile The New York They led the Wild 16-9 in Early in the second period, the Rangers made sure goaltender shots on goal and generated snakebitten DeBrincat couldn’t Roberto Luongo’s surprise return lackhawks captain pressure on Dubnyk through- capitalise on another scoring from injury would not be success- Jonathan Toews said the out the period. Alex DeBrincat chance in close. This time he ful with a 5-4 overtime victory Blackhawks and Wild nearly scored his third goal of was on a 2-on-1 rush with Ri- over the Florida Panthers at the have used each other as the season off a rebound on the chard Panik. Panik sent DeBrin- BB&T Centre on Saturday night. “measuringB sticks.” doorstep, but center Eric Staal cat a pass that hit DeBrincat in Kevin Shattenkirk recorded The only problem with that got his stick in there to swipe stride and DeBrincat lifted the his second goal of the contest this season is those measuring away DeBrincat’s chance. puck, only the puck hit the post. at 1:08 of overtime to give the sticks aren’t particularly long. Michal Kempny tallied four The Hawks again outshot the Rangers their third straight The Hawks entered Saturday in shots on goal in the period while Wild in the second period, 9-8, win and fi fth in their last seven fi fth place in the Central Division Ryan Hartman had three. The but their power play continued games. The score came following while the Wild were last –not ex- Wild had their best chances on a its malaise by going empty twice a 2-on-1 rush with Shattenkirk actly where the two teams are ac- power play late in the third peri- in the period. taking the feed from Rick Nash customed to seeing one another. od after Nick Schmaltz commit- After scoring a power-play for the winner. “The playoff s come around, ted a hooking penalty at 17:35. goal in their victory over the Fly- you want to make the run for the Nino Niederreiter appeared to ers on Wednesday, it seemed the RESULTS Cup you’re probably going to score the fi rst goal of the game power play could be poised for a Rangers 5 Panthers 4 have to go through one of these with a defl ection from the slot. breakthrough. But two attempts Blues 6 Maple Leafs 4 two teams,” Toews said. “It’s a The goal horn went off for a sec- in the second period failed to Capitals 3 Bruins 2 long season but these games ear- ond and the goal light went on generate much in the way of scor- Golden Knights 5 Senators 4 ly on are very important.” behind the net. But the offi cial ing chances. The Hawks mounted Lightning 5 Blue Jackets 4 (SO) In that important game, the closest to the net waved no goal just two shots combined on the Avalanche 5 Flyers 4 (SO) Hawks defeated the Wild, 2-0, and play pair of man advantages. Canadiens 5 Jets 4 (OT) after Artem Anisimov provided continued. It turned out to be But Crawford, coming off his Stars 5 Sabres 1 the winning goal 14 minutes, 18 the correct call. fi rst shutout of the season, was Coyotes 2 Hurricanes 1 seconds into the third period. On replay the puck hit the a stalwart in net again through Blackhawks 2 Wild 0 Alex DeBrincat added an empty- post and appeared to be sliding the fi rst 40 minutes, preventing Canucks 4 Penguins 2 Chicago Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford eyes the puck as teammate Jan Rutta (right) defends the net goal. The Hawks began Sat- over the goal line, but at the last a number of close Wild chances Sharks 2 Ducks 1 (S0) crease in the second period against the Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Centre in St. Paul, Minn. urday playing one of their best instant, goaltender Corey Craw- and limiting the rebounds he al- Predators 4 Kings 3 (OT) (Minneapolis Star Tribune/TNS) Gulf Times 6 Monday, November 6, 2017 SPORT

PREVIEW Dettori looks to end Melbourne wait on Almandin Reuters winner Damien Oliver losing his trophies from 2003-05. Melbourne ride on the race favourite after Long shots have often raced being suspended for 20 races for away with the prize, including “improper riding” during the Prince of Penzance which defi ed rankie Dettori will look lead-up Cox Plate. 100-1 odds in the 2015 running to end a quarter-century Local businessman Lloyd Wil- and made jockey Michelle Payne of frustration in Aus- liams, who captured a record the fi rst woman to ride a Cup tralia’s most prestigious fi fth Cup win as an owner when winner. horseF race when the fl amboyant Kerrin McEvoy rode gelding Al- Dettori will also be up against jockey rides last year’s winner mandin to victory in a sprint last a raft of top quality foreign- and favourite Almandin in the year, was quick to swoop on the trained entrants including the A$6.2 million Melbourne Cup on Italian as a replacement. Aidan O’Brien-prepared Johan- Tuesday. “Obviously I am very grateful nes Vermeer, a 10-1 shot. The 46-year-old Italian has that I have the ride on Alman- Irish master trainer O’Brien won virtually every trophy of din, although it was in diffi cult has enjoyed a stellar year and set signifi cance in thoroughbred circumstances. I am very sad for a world record for top-level wins racing but victory in the gruel- Damien Oliver,” Dettori wrote in when Saxon Warrior won the ling two-mile handicap at Flem- a blog for a sponsor. Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster ington Racecourse has proved “I have been good friends with last month. elusive. Lloyd Williams for over 20 years There will be a battle for brag- Dettori made his Melbourne and he takes me under his wing ging rights in the O’Brien family, Cup debut with a ninth place every time I come to Australia.” though, with Aidan’s son Joseph fi nish on Drum Taps back in 1993 Dettori’s CV notwithstanding, preparing entrants US Army and has only two placings from history is against German-bred Ranger and Rekindling. his 15 campaigns, second place Almandin’s bid for back-to-back Darren Weir-trained Humidor on Dynamite in the 2015 running wins. is the top-rated locally-prepared his most recent near-miss. Only four horses have achieved contender after impressing in a Serendipity has played a part the feat in the race’s 156-year runner-up fi nish behind cham- in this year’s bid, with Austral- history, with the great Makybe pion sprinter Winx at the leadup ian jockey and three-times Cup Diva the last with a hat-trick of Cox Plate.

HORSE RACING HOCKEY Indian women beat China 5-4 to clinch Gun Runner claims Asia Cup title

IANS It was a much-needed 1-0 Kakamigahara, Japan lead for India. Though China launched a counter attack soon after, the Indian defend- ndia created history as ers were up to the task in de- Breeders’ Cup Classic they edged past China 5-4 nying them success. via shootouts to win the India began the third quar- women’s Asia Cup hockey ter rather positively as they Ititle here yesterday. persisted with an aggressive With this, India also quali- attack. fi ed for next year’s World Cup They dominated the ball as Continental Champions. possession with accurate It was skipper Rani who passing, rotating the ball and as Arrogate falters scored the winning goal for testing China’s patience. Neha India while Savita made a Goyal and Lilima Minz show- ‘He’s just not the horse he was. He has run so many incredible races that I really great save in sudden death to cased good dribbling skills ensure India the 5-4 score in to steer past the Chinese de- think he’s just losing interest. That’s what it is. It’s time (for him to retire)’ the penalty shootout. fenders but a second goal was Earlier, it was Navjot Kaur not to come by even as the who scored India’s lone goal clock ticked away to the third in the 25th minute. It was in hooter. 2004 when the Indian Wom- On China’s part, they stayed en’s Team lifted the Asia Cup disciplined in their defence to after beating Japan 1-0 in the deny India a chance to score fi nal. through a penalty corner. It was advantage China right The fi nal quarter was tense at the start as a stick check in as China won a penalty corner the circle saw India concede a through a successful video re- penalty corner in only the sec- ferral in the 47th minute. ond minute of the game. Tiantian Luo kept low as she However, Savita was at her improvised from the injection usual best to pad it away while to fi nd the right corner of the an alert Deep Grace cleared the post, scoring a sensational ball. equaliser for China. Soon after, the Indian for- The following minutes saw wards launched a swift at- both teams play at par with tack with Navneet Kaur and each other not allowing either Vandana working in tandem of them to stay in control. to fi nd space in the Chinese With nine minutes left for defence but an attentive Wang the fi nal hooter, India upped Na averted the danger. their attack desperately at- China, meanwhile, won tempting to fi nd a gap in the their second penalty cor- 15-yard mark but the Chinese ner but Savita was spot on defenders were resolute in not yet again to pad away Meiyu allowing any room for error. Liang’s fl ick. With the fi rst Meanwhile, China won quarter ending in a stalemate, their fourth penalty corner India came back looking de- of the match with a little less termined to fi nd a break- than three minutes to go for through. the fi nal whistle. The Indian forwards kept But it was brilliantly saved the pressure on China as they by rusher Sunita Lakra and made brave forays into the almost immediately, India striking circle. launched a counter attack but Navjot Kaur came close to only to send the ball wide off converting a fi eld goal in the the target and complete the 17th minute but her diving ef- full-time in a stalemate re- fort was blocked even as skip- sulting in a shootout. per Rani made a quick attempt In the penalty shootout Rani to fi nd a defl ection. scored twice while Monica, It was not until the 25th Lilima Minz and Navjot scored minute when India found a goal each to ensure India re- its fi rst breakthrough when claimed the Asia Cup title af- Navneet Kaur and Rani played ter 13 years. Jockey Florent Geroux celebrates after riding Gun Runner to a win in the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Day Two of the 2017 Breeders’ Cup World Championship in Del Mar, California. (AFP) give-and-take before pene- Savita was adjudged Goal- trating the circle only to assist keeper of the Tournament AFP Gun Runner. Anita last year. Arrogate took his two days. nile Turf. A strong European Navjot who took a clear shot while Monica won the Woman Del Mar, United States “The confi dence that he gives record career earnings to $17.4 challenge was denied in the $2 on goal. of the Match award. you is unbelievable.” million with a dead heat for fi fth Living legend million Mile on the turf track, Asmussen said he had no with Gunnevera, behind War Andre Fabre, the 27-time won by the Mark Casse-trained un Runner stamped qualms at seeing Gun Runner Story. But he left jockey Mike champion trainer in France, sad- World Approval. Cavendish sprints to victory in Japan himself America’s horse take an early lead, even though Smith and Baff ert puzzling over dled Talismanic for a convincing The gray gelding, ridden by of the year Saturday front-runners hadn’t fared well his seeming inability to get to victory in the $4 million Breed- John Velazquez, ran down the Britain’s Mark Cavendish produced a blistering late surge to win with a dominant victory this week. grips with the Del Mar dirt track, ers’ Cup Turf. leaders in the fi nal stages to beat the Tour de France’s Saitama Criterium on Saturday, overshad- Gin the $6 million Breeders’ Cup “We let Gun Runner be who with Baff ert saying the trouble “The man is a living legend,” O’Brien’s Lancaster Bomber by 1 owing crowd favourite Chris Froome in a sprint finish. The Classic as defending champion he is,” Asmussen said. “The year was likely deeper. Godolphin chief executive Joe 1/4 lengths. Olympic medallist and 30-time Tour de France stage winner Arrogate disappointed. that he has put together, the rac- “He’s just losing interest and Osborne said of the 71-year-old At 5-2, he was a rare favourite pipped Japanese riders Fumiyuki Beppu and Yusuke Hatanaka The Steve Asmussen-trained es that he has run, the way that I think that’s what it is,” Baff ert Fabre. “He has got Breeders’ to come in a winner on a day that to claim victory in the fifth edition of the criterium, held just Gun Runner, who has gone from he has come back from them, the said. “He has run so many in- Cups, Classics, Group Ones. saw Bar of Gold, priced at 66-1, north of Tokyo. Froome, who captured his fourth Tour de France strength to strength since he way that he trained leading into credible races that I really think “He’s just a master trainer and win the Filly & Mare Sprint and title this year, had no response as Cavendish broke away from a was bested by Bob Baff ert’s Ar- this race is special. he’s just losing interest. That’s trained this horse perfectly. So, 30-1 shot Stormy Liberal win the peloton that also included Marcel Kittel and Greg van Avermaet rogate in the Dubai World Cup in “The year that this horse has what it is,” he said again. “It’s it’s just a great result for us by Turf Sprint. to win the 19-lap race over a three-kilometre course. “It was a flat March, leapt to the front out of put together is a little hard to time (for him to retire).” our stallion, and bred by us and Stormy Liberal gave local course so I was expecting it to be a sprint,” said Cavendish, who the gate. top. I think he’s better today The 1 1/4-mile Classic capped everything. So it just ticks all the trainer Peter Miller a fi rst Breed- finished runner-up in the morning’s keirin-style event. “I tried to With jockey Florent Geroux than he has ever been.” a two-day, 13-race Breeders’ boxes.” ers’ Cup winner, and Miller soon save my energy for the final and lucky I did because when the aboard, he held off a challenge That’s something Baff ert Cup program worth $28 million. Wuheida, trained by Charlie had another when Roy H tri- breakaway went, I was fortunate to get them before the end.” from Collected, beating the Baf- couldn’t say of Arrogate, who While the showpiece turned Appleby and ridden by William umphed in the Sprint on dirt. Cavendish’s Japan victory follows back-to-back wins by world fert-trained colt by 2 1/4 lengths. has failed to impress in two de- into a showcase for US runners Buick, won the Filly & Mare Turf. Trainer Chad Brown was a champion Peter Sagan, who was disqualified from this year’s Another Baff ert-trained feats since his triumph in Dubai. – Aidan O’Brien’s Churchill On Friday, Ireland’s O’Brien two-time winner on the week as Tour de France after barging into the Briton and leaving him in 3-year-old, West Coast, was “He’s just not the horse he was the top European fi nisher in extended his record of Group/ well, his Good Magic taking the a crumpled heap. Froome, who this year became the first rider third. “He knows who he is, and was,” Baff ert admitted of Ar- seventh – a trans-Atlantic con- Grade One victories in a calendar $2 million Juvenile after Rushing since 1978 to win the Tour and the Vuelta a Espana double in the he accepts it, and he feels up to rogate, who gave Baff ert a third tingent of more than 30 horses year with his 27th as Fall won the Juvenile Fillies Turf same year, failed to finish inside the top 30. it all the time,” Asmussen said of straight Classic win at Santa found cause to celebrate over the Mendelssohn won the Juve- on Friday. Gulf Times Monday, November 6, 2017 7 SPORT

CRICKET Anderson claims 4 as England draw tour opener AFP to try to get into the tour. he also represented Durham’s Perth, Australia “We’ve got two fi rst-class second XI on a couple of occa- games coming up that we want sions. to be fi t for and get the cobwebs Twenty-one year-old Clint ngland pace spearhead out.” Hinchcliff e also took to the James Anderson claimed England’s bowlers initial- England attack as the bowlers four wickets as England’s ly struggled to make break- fl agged on a hot day in Perth. opening Ashes tour throughs, with opening bats- Anderson’s new ball partner matchE ended in a draw against a men Jake Carder (22) and Josh Stuart Broad (1-64) took time youthful Western Australia XI in Philippe (88) putting on 80 for to fi nd his rhythm, conceding Perth yesterday. the fi rst wicket. 32 runs from his fi rst fi ve overs, Anderson fi nished with four It was paceman Craig Overton while seamer Jake Ball returned a for 27 as the second-string WA who had Carder caught in the tidy 1-31 off 12 overs. side reached 342 in reply to the deep. Philippe, 20, looked set for Crane (2-75) and Overton (2- tourists’ 349 for six declared in a century, stroking 16 bounda- 70) did their Test debut chances the two-day warm-up game. ries in his 92-ball innings before against Australia no harm with England’s all-time leading he was stumped advancing to good spells on the fl at WACA Test wicket-taker was driven a off -spinner Mason Crane in the Ground pitch. few times in his fi rst spell of the over after lunch. The WA XI were bowled out tour and went for 18 in his fi ve “Jimmy Anderson wasn’t too for 338 but kept batting for the overs, but he tightened things up impressed early doors,” Philippe fi nal few overs to give England in his second and third bowling joked when asked what England additional practice time with spells. thought about his sparkling in- the ball. The fi rst of the fi ve-Test “You could probably see from nings. Ashes series begins in Brisbane the fi rst session that we were “I just sort of laughed it off , on November 23. pretty rusty as bowlers,” Ander- because it was great to be there. England begin their second son told reporters. It was a great experience.” warm-up match against a Crick- “We didn’t get it right. The Philippe scored heavily in club et Australia XI in Adelaide on point (of this warm-up match) is cricket for Taunton this year and November 8. England’s James Anderson bowls during the two-day match against a Western Australian X1 at the WACA ground in Perth yesterday. (AFP)

FOCUS SPOTLIGHT England supremo Strauss eager for Flanagan, Kamworor Stokes ‘clarity’

AFP the police it’s very hard for us London to put a timeline on anything. “What we all want is clar- ity on what that situation is ngland chief Andrew and how much cricket he will win NY Marathon Strauss has admitted be missing for England. We’re the ongoing absence keen to get into that and move ‘This is a moment I’ve dreamed of since I was a little girl. It’s indescribable’ of Ben Stokes from the this forward but we’re in the tourE of Australia is a “blow” hands of the police. AFP to the team but said the all- “Ben has been and is de- New York rounder’s future involvement veloping into a world-class in the Ashes was largely out of cricketer. The fact he’s not out his hands. there at the moment is a blow halane Flanagan became Joe Root’s squad left Eng- to the England team.” the fi rst American woman land without vice-captain Strauss was the last Eng- in 40 years to win the New Stokes who remains at home land captain to lead the side to York City Marathon yes- awaiting the outcome of a po- a Test series win in Australia, terday,S joining Kenya’s Geoff rey lice probe into his involvement overseeing a 3-1 victory in Kamworor in winning a fi rst ma- in a brawl outside a Bristol 2010/11. jor marathon crown just fi ve days nightclub on September 25. England hold the Ashes fol- after a deadly Manhattan truck The England and Wales lowing their 3-2 home suc- attack that left eight people dead. Cricket Board have not yet cess in 2015 but their most Flanagan, coming off a back ruled key man Stokes out of recent tour of Australia ended injury that kept her from racing the Ashes series, which starts in a humiliating 5-0 defeat in at Boston, captured her break- with the fi rst Test in Brisbane 2013/14. through title at age 36 in 2hrs on November 23. Strauss said the memory of 26mins 53secs and was in tears “The situation in a word that whitewash would spur on the podium. is complicated,” Strauss, the those on the receiving end, “This is a moment I’ve dreamed ECB’s director of England such as current captain Root, of since I was a little girl,” Flana- cricket, told BBC Radio on to greater heights now. gan said. “It’s indescribable. Sunday. “I was involved in a 5-0 These are the moments we dream “There’s two diff erent po- drubbing in 2006 and I used of to realise our potential and see tential disciplinary procedures that as a very strong base for how incredible we can be.” he has to go through, one is the retribution,” said Strauss. “I’m Expanded security lined the ECB’s own internal one and sure the guys who were there route of the world-famous race, the other is any potential po- last time and suff ered the which saw an estimated 50,000 lice action,” the former Eng- chastening defeat at the hands runners from more than 125 na- land captain added. of Mitchell Johnson will want tions compete over 26.2 miles “Until we know more from to put that right.” (42.1km) across the city streets. New York’s recent tragedy re- vived memories of the 2013 Bos- ANNOUNCEMENT ton Marathon that was targeted Geoff rey Kamworor of Kenya (left) and Shalane Flanagan of USA pose with their medals after New York City Marathon. PICTURE: USA TODAY Sports by bombers, but the carnage also helped inspire Flanagan’s trium- champion, was three seconds marathon runner-up, was sixth in despite the deadly attack. Hayle(Ethiopia)2:11:52 phant run. back with Ethiopia’s Lelisa De- last year’s Rio Olympic marathon. “This day is incredibly impor- 5.Tadesse Lanka drop Mendis, “It has been a tough week for sisa third in 2:11:32. Kamworor, She was the 10,000m runner-up tant for New York and the entire Abraham(Switzerland)2:12:01 New Yorkers and a tough week 24, settled for second in 2015 to at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. country,” De Blasio said. “We’re 6.Michel for our nation and I thought Kenyan Stanley Biwott after be- Kenya’s Mary Keitany, who was standing up to terrorists. Butter(Netherlands)2:12:39 Silva for India Tests what better gift than to make our ing overtaken late in the race. chasing her fourth consecutive “We have 2 million people 7.Abdihakem nation and our people smile,” Kipsang, 35, won in Tokyo ear- New York women’s victory, set- along this route. It goes off on Abdirahman(US)2:12:48 AFP and Roshen Silva. Flanagan said. “I thought of that lier this year but quit after 30km tled for second, 61 seconds behind schedule despite an attack in our 8.Koen Naert(Belgium)2:13:21 Colombo when I began to feel the pain.” in September’s Berlin Marathon. Flangan, with Ethiopia’s Mamitu city this week. This sends a mes- 9.Fikadu Girma(Ethiopia)2:13:58 Lanka hires Samaraweera Not since Miki Gorman in 1977 Eritrea’s Ghirmay Ghe- Daska third in 2:28:08. sage to the whole world. “Look at 10.Shadrack Kiptoo as batting coach had a US woman won on the “Big breslassie, the 2016 winner, After a slow pace in the fi rst that unity. Look at that example Biwott(US)2:14:57 ri Lanka yesterday Sri Lanka Sunday an- Apple” streets. Kamworor took started strong in defending his half of the race, Keitany took the - live and let live. It’s everyone WOMEN’S dropped the out-of- nounced it was contracting his fi rst victory at the distance in crown, surging ahead twice but lead just after the midpoint and getting together for a common 1. Shalane Flanagan (US) 2:26:53 form top order bats- former Test batsman Thilan his seventh marathon start. being overtaken quickly by the surged at 15 miles, shrinking the cause - it doesn’t matter what 2. Mary Keitany (Kenya) 2:27:54 men Kusal Mendis and Samaraweera as the batting Two years after losing the lead pack each time. Kamworor made front pack to nine before slowing background you are from. This KaushalS Silva from the squad coach to groom the national 3. Mamitu Daska (Ethiopia) late in the 26.2-mile race, Kam- his move at mile 21 and held off the pace once again. At 21 miles, event is life affi rming every year 2:28:08 for a three-match Test series team in the run up to the 2019 woror held off compatriot Wil- the fast-closing Kipsang at the Keitany, Flanagan and Daska but this year more than ever.” 4. Edna Kiplagat (Kenya) 2:29:36 against India starting in Kolk- World Cup. The 41-year-old son Kipsang to win in an unof- line in Central Park. pulled away and at mile 23, Flan- 5. Allie Kieff er (US) 2:29:39 ata next week. Samaraweera, who retired fi cial time of 2hrs 10mins 53secs. “New York is very amazing. agan grabbed the lead for good. RESULTS 6. Sara Dossena (Italy) 2:29:39 The board brought back from Test cricket in 2013, had “I’m so happy. I feel so great The course is fantastic,” Kam- New York City Mayor Bill MEN’S 7. Eva Vrabcova Nyvltova (Czech all-rounders Dasun Shanaka been a batting consultant for to be the champion,” Kamworor woror said. “I’m looking forward de Blasio said the event being 1.Geoff rey Republic) 2:29:41 and Dhananjaya de Silva to the the Bangladesh team, Sri Lan- said. “This is my fi rst marathon to coming back next year.” staged as planned was “a terror- Kamworor(Kenya)2:10:53 8. Kellyn Taylor (US) 2:29:56 squad led by Dinesh Chandimal. ka cricket said in a statement. victory. I’m so happy and so ist’s worst nightmare” for bring- 2.Wilson Kipsang(Kenya)2:10:56 9. Diane Nukuri-Johnson (Bu- Former skipper and all-rounder “SLC announces today the delighted.” ‘Message to the world’ ing together people from a va- 3.Lelisa Desisa(Ethiopia)2:11:32 rundi) 2:31:21 Angelo Mathews has recovered recruitment of former Sri Kipsang, the 2014 New York Flanagan, the 2010 New York riety of cultures with resiliency 4.Lemi Berhanu 10. Stephanie Bruce (US) 2:31:44 from a recurring calf injury and Lankan right hand batsman was included in the squad. Thilan Samaraweera as batting During Sri Lanka’s home coach to the national team for BOXING series against India, the hosts a period of three years,” it said. lost all nine games - three Samaraweera is due to join Tests, fi ve one-day interna- the Sri Lanka squad before tionals and a lone Twenty20 they leave for India later this Champ Wilder KOs Stiverne in fi rst round of rematch - between July and September. week to play three Tests, three After playing the fi rst Test one-day internationals and AFP right-left to the head as the de- fence of his heavyweight title. Just 20 seconds later, he sent a doping test. in Kolkata from November 16- three Twenty20 games. New York fenceless Canadian was pinned It was his second win over Stiverne back to the canvas with “So much frustration. Man .... 20, the teams move to Nagpur Sri Lanka currently has an against the ropes. the 39-year-old former champ a heavy right hand that landed it just seems like my career has for the second, which starts on interim head coach - South Stiverne then slumped to the Stiverne who came into the re- like a club to the side of the head. been crazy. So many guys duck- November 24. The fi nal Test African Nic Pothas - who took ndefeated champ De- canvas and stayed motionless for match 15 pounds heavier and By this time Wilder was hav- ing me and so many guys using will be played in Delhi between the place of Graham Ford af- ontay Wilder destroyed some time before being helped having fought just once since ing his way with Stiverne as he PEDs,” said Wilder. December 2-6. ter he quit in June, midway Bermane Stiverne by up and into a chair where he was losing the belt to Wilder in Janu- sealed the victory with a four- Wilder was so confi dent that through a 45-month contract. knocking out the out- examined by the ring doctor at ary 2015. punch combination that sent he would win again that he Squad: Dinesh Chandi- Sri Lanka has had a dismal of-shapeU challenger with one the Barclays Center arena in New He won the fi rst fi ght with a Stiverne awkwardly back into vowed to retire if he lost. record recently losing all nine mal, Dimuth Karunaratne, second left in the opening round York. one-sided unanimous victory the ropes as referee Arthur Mer- Stiverne blamed health issues Dhananjaya de Silva, Sadeera international games during a to retain his WBC heavyweight “I know I am the best. I just and the rematch was even easier. cante frantically tried to inter- for his failure to muster much re- Samarawickrama, Angelo home series against India be- championship yesterday. want to prove that I am the best,” On Saturday, he fl attened vene and stop the onslaught. sistance to Wilder’s onslaught in Mathews, Lahiru Thirimanne, tween July and September. The 32-year-old Wilder deliv- said Wilder, who has 39 wins and Stiverne with 45 seconds left in The Canadian earned another their fi rst meeting but the beefy Rangana Herath, Suranga Lak- They won a two-match ered an explosive performance 38 knockouts. “I got the heart of the fi rst round with a left fol- crack at Wilder in September, boxer’s his biggest mistake the mal, Dilruwan Perera, Lahiru Test series against Pakistan, as he fl oored Stiverne two times a lion. I am the king.” lowed by a straight right that taking the rematch on short second time around appeared Gamage, Lakshan Sandakan, but lost all fi ve one-day inter- in the opening round before fi n- Wilder was the heavy favour- landed fl ush on the face of the notice after the scheduled chal- to be spending too much time Vishwa Fernando, asun nationals and the three T20 ishing him off with a punishing ite going into this the sixth de- Haitian-born challenger. lenger, Luis Ortiz, of Cuba, failed around the buff et table. Shanaka, Niroshan Dickwella matches last month.

Monday, November 6, 2017 GULF TIMES SPORT

HORSE RACING / BREEDERS’ CUP Declarationofpeace wins Qatar Juvenile Turf Sprint Stakes

Agencies Del Mar, California

eclarationofpeace sat in last position in running for the Qatar Juvenile Turf Sprint Stakes (L) at Del Mar on Saturday, but, under Ryan Moore, put up a super performance to snatchD a victory for Aidan O’Brien on the second day of the Breeders’ Cup. The colt edged out Charlie Appleby-trained Sound and Silence at the post for the win. Declarationof- peace was coming off a third place in a Listed race at Dundalk. “He ran very well at Dundalk. He really likes the fast ground here. He would have won easier with a better run,” Moore said after the race. Khalid bin Yousif Khalifa al-Sada, General Consul of Qatar in Los Angeles, and QREC’s Abdulrahman Mo- hamed al-Naama presented the trophies to winners in the presence of Abdulrahman Mohammed Ali Yousif al- Sheeb, third secretary of the General Consulate of Qatar in Los Angeles, and Abdurahman Ali Abdulla Mohamed al-Nuaimi, Diplomatic Attaché at the General Consu- late of Qatar in Los Angeles. Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club’s (QREC) head of riding and training, This race is named in honour of the partnership Abdulrahman Mohamed al-Naama, presents trophies to winners of Qatar between Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club, and the Juvenile Turf Sprint Stakes in the presence of Khalid bin Yousif Khalifa Breeders’ Cup. On February 25 this year in Doha, dur- al-Sada, General Consul of Qatar in Los Angeles at Del Mar, California, on ing the HH The Emir’s Sword Festival, the Breeders’ Jockey Ryan Moore rides Declarationofpeace to victory in the Qatar Juvenile Turf Sprint Stakes (L) at Del Mar, California, Saturday. (JDG) Cup Dukhan Sprint inaugurated this deal. on Saturday. QNB STARS LEAGUE Sights from the World SBK Big Three win Prize Giving Ceremony as League takes a break Tournament will resume on Nov. 18 after a two-week break

By Sports Reporter Doha

he top three teams all won in the seventh round of QNB Stars League even though there were a couple of changes in the fi rst fourT positions. Al Duhail’s 4-2 win over Al Khor saw them get back on track after being held by Al Gharafa in the previous round. It (From left) Third-placed World Superbike rider Tom Sykes of Kawasaki Racing Team, second-placed rider Chaz also helped them maintain their lead in Davies of Aruba.it Racing – Ducati, champion Jonathan Rea of Kawasaki Racing Team, World Supersport cham- the standings with 19 points from six pion Lucas Mahias of GRT Yamaha and runner-up Kenan Sofuoglu of Kawasaki Puccetti Racing at the Prize Giving victories and one draw. ceremony at the Losail International Circuit on Saturday. (WSBK) Tunisian professional Youssef Msakni was the star of the show as he scored two goals and set up another for Luis Martin Junior. In the process, Msakni upstaged his Moroccan strike partner Youssef El Arabi, who did not score a goal for a change yet has 11 to his credit. Al Khor, playing under new coach Omar Najhi who replaced Frenchman Laurent Banide, only had Madson’s Al Rayyan’s Mousa Haroun (right) celebrates after scoring a goal against Qatar SC two-goal eff ort to show. The Knights during their QNB Stars League match. Rayyan won 2-0. slipped from ninth to 11th spot. Al Sadd defeated a fi ghting Al Ahli scorer. And Qatar SC stayed rooted to stayed sixth with seven points, while Al 2-1 on the back of Qatar international the bottom with no end in sight for their Markhiya moved up one place to 10th Hassan al-Haydous’ brilliance that saw miserable run. with fi ve points. him score a goal and assisting Baghdad One of the most notable points was Al Arabi suff ered the ignominy of Bounedjah for the other. But that was Al Sailiya’s 3-2 defeat of Umm Salal to having conceded a last-gasp equaliser not enough for them to stay second as leapfrog them to the fourth spot. The against Al Kharaitiyat, but that earned Al Rayyan displaced them after blank- match was expected to be fought keenly them promotion from 10th to ninth ing Qatar SC 2-0. Both Al Sadd and Al and, indeed, it was. Wagner Ribeiro was even though they parted ways with Tu- Rayyan had 18 points and same goal once again Al Sailiya’s hero with a dou- nisian coah Qais Yaakoubi. diff erence (nine), but the latter came ble and The Peregrines took their points Round 7 saw 20 goals being scored, second having scored more number of tally to 15 with fi ve victories, while Umm with Al Duhail vs Al Khor game the goals (19 as against The Wolves’ 17). Salal stayed on 13. highest-scoring (six goals) one fol- Despite the defeat, Al Ahli remained Al Gharafa yet again showed incon- lowed by Al Sailiya vs Umm Salal (fi ve). in eighth position with fi ve points. sistency while being held by freshers Al Two matches were drawn (Al Gharafa Al Rayyan’s easy win over a hap- Markhiya 1-1. The Cheetahs had done vs Al Markhiya and Al Kharaitiyat vs Al less Qatar SC was inspired by Rodrigo extremely well to draw with formida- Arabi). Tabata, who was his usual self by don- ble Al Duhail by an identical scoreline The tournament will resume on No- ning the playmaker’s role fully well. He in the previous round. Nevertheless, vember 18 after a two-week break, scored their second goal as well, de- Al Gharafa, who now have the most which will accommodate the third and fender Mousa Haroun being the other number of draws (four) among all teams, fourth rounds of QSL Cup. WSBK champion Jonathan Rea of Kawasaki World Supersport champion Lucas Mahias of GRT Yamaha receives Racing Team poses with his trophy. his trophy from QMMF president Abdulrahman al-Mannai.

General view of the Prize Giving ceremony at Losail International Circuit on Saturday. Al Duhail players (in red) celebrate their 4-2 win over Al Khor.